USA > West Virginia > Summers County > History of Summers County from the earliest settlement to the present time > Part 47
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Lee Walker is a Democrat, but not an office-seeker. He takes an active interest in the success of his party. He now owns valu- able property on the Court House Square, at the triangle on the corner between Avis and Hinton, at the junction of the two towns.
MAHON.
Captain Charles B. Mahon is the only citizen of that nanie in the county, and is one of the pioneers of Hinton, and a veteran railway employe, but retired from railway affairs several years ago, and has become one of the leading and enterprising citizens of the coun- ty. Since retiring from railroad work he has been engaged in mer- cantile affairs and other business enterprises. He is a native of Hanover County, Virginia. At the close of the war his father's plantation was devastated and in ruins, and laid waste by both ar- mies, and all labor gone, so that young Mahon had to start on the ground floor and work his way up therefrom. He made his way on foot to the Kanawha River during the construction of the C. & O. Ry., and began labor in a stone quarry in Montgomery, having walked overland through the mountains, across the Alleghenies by White Sulphur and on. On the completion of that railroad he en- gaged as a brakcman, and was later promoted to conductor, run- ning from Montgomery to Hinton. He finally abandoned railroad work and began the mercantile business, having in the meantime married Miss Carry Scott, a daughter of the veteran hotel man, Hiram Scott, who operated the New River Hotel on the present
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HISTORY OF SUMMERS COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA.
site of the Chesapeake Hotel until his death, being one of the first hotels opened in Hinton when it was a village. Captain Mahon is one of the pillars of the Presbyterian Church, and it is largely indebted to him for its steady development, growth, popularity and influence. He has amassed a handsome fortune, being vice-presi- dent of the National Bank of Summers, and one of its principal stockholders from its formation. He is interested in the New River Milling Co., Greenbrier Springs Co., Hinton Water, Light & Sup- ply Co., and largely interested in other leading local enterprises.
ADKINS.
One of the oldest families of people in all this region of the New River Valley was that of Adkins, or Atkins. They are said to have come into this region during the time of the Revolutionary War, and were first discovered living under cliffs on the Summers side of the river from New Richmond Falls, supposed to be the magnificent cliffs in the canyon at the month of Laurel Creek which empties into New River half a mile from the mouth of Lick Creek at New Richmond Post Office. They were hunters and trappers in the earliest days, and have so continued as long as there was game in this region, and there are descendants scattered one place and another throughout this region and adjoining counties. Once in a while you find a member of the generation rising above the common level, but no great advancements have been made in the race. There was Parker Atkins, a man noted for his nose, the end of it being half the size of a man's fist ; Riley Atkins, known as the "Chestnut Mountain Lawyer"; Leonard Atkins, living in the Chest- nut Mountain country ; Albert Atkins, one of the most intelligent, lives near Hinton. Hen Atkins, one of the race, was drowned in Laurel Creek with L. M. Alderson's wedding suit on. Mr. Alder- son was married twice, and this was the suit he had purchased for his first marriage. He said that he sold a steer to secure this broad- cloth suit. Sometimes the name is spelled Atkins and sometimes Adkins. The Gills were supposed to have come into the country about the same time and to have lived about the same way. The Gills and Atkins have intermarried. There is an intelligent family by the name of Atkins now residing in the Little Bluestone country of a different generation. A thriftless, harmless, indolent, unam- bitions race of people as a race, but without malicious cunning or dangerous, indigenous races are the Gills and Adkins. Possibly the ancestors were Tories who emigrated into this then fastness to escape military service.
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HISTORY OF SUMMERS COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA.
MICHAEL N. BREEN.
Mr. Breen is one of the brave soldiers who wore the gray, and fought for the "lost cause"-one of the bravest of the brave. Col- onel Wright was his chief in command at the battle of South Moun- tain. His captain was the gallant William McComas, of Giles Coun- ty, Virginia, whose widow still survives and lives near Newport. General Reno, the Indian fighter of the West, commanded the Fed- erals. Breen was a gunner in charge of his gun, named by him "Old Kate"; J. Mat. Peters was his sergeant. A desperate on- slaught was made by Reno at this fight at South Mills, in South Carolina, to capture the Confederates while marching through the Dismal Swamp. The Federals outnumbered the Confederates two to one. Wright made a stand, placing two pieces of MeComas' battery in a narrow road, one being a rifle cannon, "Old Kate," while Reno's forces had six guns in an open field. After eight hours of incessant cannonading-a regular artillery duel-the uncon- querable spirit of the brave and fearless Confederate gunners, Mike Breen and Mat. Peters, with their cool and accurate aim. disabled the Federal guns, and drove them from the field under the protec- tion of their fleet, which lay anchored in the bay. Seven or eight Confederates were killed and twenty wounded. Reno lost three hundred of his men, and a great amount of his equipments. The
brave Captain McComas was killed and the ammunition of his men exhausted. Colonel Wright then gave orders to his men to retire. Peters and Breen refused to do so. They were attacked by a crowd of Zouaves. Twelve charges of cannister had been reserved to meet this charge of the Zouaves. Breen and Peters waited patiently until they came within thirty yards, when Breen gave the command. Their enemies were paralyzed and stood still, and "Old Kate" belched forth her missiles of death, and there the attacking squad- ron met its Waterloo at the hands of these fearless men, who re- mained masters of the field, and limbered their guns and took their seats on the limber chests. Here Sergeant Peters was shot and bad- ly wounded, and was placed in an ambulance by Breen and carried away. The battle and little army were saved by the bravery of these two gallant soldiers, who never met again until very recently, and both are now gray-headed veterans of the "lost cause." Breen fought throughout the war. A very affecting scene was the meeting of these old comrades-in-arms. after a lapse of forty years. Breen and Peters were ordered court-marshaled for refusing to obey orders
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HISTORY OF SUMMERS COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA.
and give up their guns at this fight; but of course the order was never executed. They saved the battle, and were not likely to be cashiered and shot for disobeying orders. Captain Breen, as he is now usually called, remembers and talks of "Old Kate," his rifle cannon, as he would of a loved member of his family. Captain Mc- Comas was a very estimable and gallant gentleman. General R. E. Lee, in his correspondence, speaks in highest terms relative to this battle, and as having known him (Captain McComas) personally, and of his good qualities. He was killed by a minnie ball, and his men, who had fought for four hours with the most indomitable courage, were thrown into despair at his fate.
Mr. Breen is a native of Kerry County, Ireland, and emigrated to this county sixty-six years ago. He was one of the "bosses" that constructed the Big Bend Tunnel, and was so engaged for the four years of the building of this tunnel. He was a stone mason by trade, but for the last few years of his life, being in comfortable circumstances, has devoted himself to agriculture. His father, after emigrating to this country, was a contractor on the old James River Canal, and the family resided for some time in Botetourt County, Virginia, then in Giles County, from where M. N. Breen enlisted in the army of the Confederacy. He fought in the battle of the Wil- derness, Seven Days' Fight around Richmond, and all of the great battles of that war. His gun, "Old Kate," was the only one saved from the fight at Elizabeth City, where he fought all day. There were thirty-two pieces of artillery in Captain McComas' corps. He crossed the ocean in a whaling vessel, which required six weeks in the passage. After the construction of the C. & O. Railway, he married Miss Sarah Ballengee, a daughter of Isaac Ballengee, who once owned the land on which Hinton is built. They have eight children, four sons and four daughters-Walter, George, Richard and Mike : the girls being Mary J., Nancy, Ellen and Nora. He now resides in comfort on his farm on Tug Creek, a short distance be- low Hinton, and is a respected citizen. He occupied the position of road surveyor for a number of years, school trustee, and is an active supporter of the Democratic policies.
An ode of a Confederate soldier to his faithful old gun, which he called "Kate," by M. N. Breen :
"The Zouaves who charged, in double quick strain, Whilst making the charge, were mostly all slain ; To their sorrow and dismay, they thought it no fun Charging bold rebels who manned the old gun (Kate).
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The few who escaped made a very bad run,
As Kate belched her last greeting, at setting of sun ;
The undaunted old warriors who mann'd the old gun (Kate), Had announced to the world the battle was won.
The missiles of death, belched forth by old Kate (cannon), Were accurately sighted, although it was late ;
The angels from heaven, hovering around the old gun (Kate). Cheering the bold rebels till the battle was won."
CLARK.
One of the kindliest "old-time" gentlemen it has been my good fortune to know and number among friends is Charles Clark, now residing in Mercer County, near the Summers line, at Tophet Post- office, but for many years a citizen of the county, and one of the pioneer enterprising generation now fast passing away. He has al- ways been a big-hearted, loyal, honest citizen, having for his own financial good too much confidence in the integrity of his fellow- citizens.
Mr. Clark was born near Malden, in Kanawha County, Virginia, now West Virginia, May 20, 1824, and in his youth followed steam- boating on the Ohio River ; but his principal occupation for many years, and until about 1870, was that of boring and developing salt wells. In 1849 he removed into Mercer County and began pros- pecting for salt, and first examined the present place known as Mer- cer Salt Wells property for a company (Kinney, Eskridge & Co.) of Staunton, Va., beginning his investigations May 26, 1849. After concluding his investigations there, he rode horseback to Staunton, Va., to make his report on same. Upon this report he was provided with the necessary funds, and Mr. Clark sent to Cincinnati, Ohio, to purchase the equipments for boring the well. By September 1, 1849, the equipment was in place, and the well completed within ninety days after the first lick was struck, and salt water struck in sufficient quantity to produce fifty bushels of salt per day at a depth of 600 feet. The boring was continued until 800 feet in depthi had been reached. In those days the machinery and manner of boring were crude, the power being entirely horse-power. The plant for making the salt was then erected as quickly as the supplies could be provided. The first salt was produced in the spring of 1850, and was manufactured continuously until 1861, when the entire plart
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HISTORY OF SUMMERS COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA.
was burned down by bushwhackers in sympathy with the Union forces, or Union citizens, the property then being owned by the late Anderson Shumate.
The property was later rebuilt in 1862, by Mr. Clark and Win. Crump, and operated until 1866 continuously, when the enterprise ceased to be profitable on account of scarcity of fuel, and was per- manently closed down, and there is now nothing to show for this once celebrated and widely known enterprise except a large stone smokestack still standing. People secured salt from this "furnace" for many miles, carrying it away in wagons, boats, old-fashioned batteaux, and on horseback. During the last years of the Civil War salt sold for $5.00 per bushel in Confederate money. People from the Green Sulphur neighborhood carried salt from this well on horseback, a distance of forty miles, as well as from Kanawha in wagons after the war. We paid $9.00 per barrel for the salt. A team would transport a load of wheat or bacon to the salt wells, a distance of 160 miles, and exchange it for salt, return and sell it for that price per barrel. One barrel in those days would usually last an ordinary Lick Creek farmer a year, or longer. After the railway was built. it suddenly dropped from $9.00 to $2.50.
Mr. Clark, after he abandoned the salt manufacturing business, engaged in the lumber business and farming, and is now spending his old age on a farm on the Mercer line. His children have all grown to manhood and womanhood. He was first married to Ar- thelia Thompson, a daughter of Captain James Thompson, whose murder is detailed in another section of this book. on the 23d day of March, 1852. By this marriage he reared a family of ten children, seven of whom are still living. His first wife died May 10, 1876. He was again married on the 13th day of April, 1884, to Mrs. Mary J. McCorkle, another daughter of Captain Thompson, her first hus- band having died several years before, leaving two sons, James Mc- Corkle, who was engaged in the drug business at Hinton until his death, several years ago: the other John T. McCorkle, who is now residing with his mother, he having been a great traveler ; traveled over the entire West and Northwest, occupied in mining and pros- pecting, being a mining engineer by profession. He volunteered in the Spanish-American War, was seriously wounded in the Philippine Islands, while serving his country in those faraway islands, engaged in aiding Uncle Sam with powder. etc., in the work of assimilation of which we read so much. Mr. Clark now resides on the old Captain James Thompson homestead.
He at one time owned the fine farm at the mouth of Big Blue-
CHARLES CLARK, Enterprising Citizen of the Early Days.
MRS. NANIE B. MCLAUGHLIN, A Daughter of the Ancient Settler, Charles Clark.
THE NEW YOR! PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONE.
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HISTORY OF SUMMERS COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA.
stone River, now owned by John W. Barker, and there for many years his generous hospitality and real old Virginia geniality was enjoyed by the public for miles around. His latch-string always hung on the outside to all who passed his way. In the early days, his hospitable mansion was the resting-place of many a footsore and weary student making his way to or from the Concord Normal School, as in the old days many of us took up our grips and walked to and from those old halls of learning, and many of us remember when we stopped with Mr. Clark, because, first, we did not have the "change" to pay for a night's lodging; and secondly, because we knew there would be no charge if we had an abudance. We knew we were welcome with Mr. Clark, without money and with- out price.
Mr. Clark's children were Charles Allen, who was superintendent of free schools of the county, and later graduated in law at the West Virginia University, and is now located in the practice of his profession in the city of San Francisco, having married Miss Ella Haynes, of Monroe County. He has been a great traveler ; was elected to a judgeship in Washington State, and also prosecuting attorney, which positions he resigned for more attractive occupa- tions. Lewis, a jeweler of Radford, Virginia, and Joe, a soldier in the United States Army in the Philippines: Lizzie, who married A. T. Maupin, of Athens ; Nannie B., who first married I. W. Bruce, an enterprising pharmacist, and after his death the Rev. Harvey McLaughlin, an eloquent minister, and most excellent citizen of Summers; Emma, who married G. Lilly (she died several years ago; Mr. Lilly is now residing in the State of Florida, and is engaged as a traveling salesman) ; Lucy, who married John Wise, a locomotive engineer on the C. & O. Ry., and who was killed by being overcome by the deadly fumes in the Big Bend Tunnel; and Jennie, who married Captain Charles Schweichert, a passenger con- ductor on the C. & O. Ry., were his children.
THE FOWLER FAMILY.
The Fowler name is no more mentioned among those of the residents of the county, but no complete history of our territory would be perfect without mention of this illustrious family. The impress of a family of people with the strong characteristics of the Fowlers will be felt in any community in which they have made their habitations.
The founder of the Fowler family in this State was Dr. Thomas
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HISTORY OF SUMMERS COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA.
Fowler, who died at his large and elegant old-time Virginia planta- tion "Indian," as he named it, on April 2, 1858, in the 60th year of his age. He was born in the State of Tennessee, having been a na- tive of Cocke County. When quite a young man he located at Tazewell, Va., and later emigrated to the mouth of Indian Creek, then in Monroe County. He married Priscilla Breckenridge Chap- man, daughter of Isaac Chapman, of Giles County, Va. She died at the age of 73, at "Indian." She, as well as her husband, figured in the trials and events of the carly settlement of that land, and in the events of the early settlements of the progress of peace and or- der and society there.
She was a pattern of the noble womanhood bred in her day. She. like her cotemporaries, rose to a peculiar dignity of character that was imparted to the exigencies of the early days and the brave part they sustained in social life. Trial and familiarity with the prac- tical philosophy of a daily life gave strenth and nobility of mien to female virtue and grace. Mrs. Fowler was an estimable lady-a member of that community of brave and admirable ladies. Dr. Fowler's plantation was located on the thoroughfare much trav- eled in ante-railroad days, being on the old Red Sulphur Turnpike, and among the wayfarers in that day were the leading people in politics, commerce and public concerns generally. and the beautiful residence of Dr. Fowler gave rest and recreation to the fatigued traveler, which gave the place a widely spread fame. Dr. Fowler lived at Tazewell from 1826 to 1835, the date of his emigration to the land now known as West Virginia, and of Summers County.
Dr. Thomas Fowler was a direct descendant of the English Fow- lers, among his ancestors there having been the Lord Mayor of London, and another, an English Episcopal bishop of that name. Dr. Fowler's grandfather came to America direct from England. He was an eminent physician, became a large owner of slaves, and acquired into one plantation a large part of the territory around Indian Creek, on which he erected a fine brick mansion on a beau- tiful eminence overlooking the New River, and almost opposite the Crump mansion on the noted Crump's Bottom, across the river. This brick mansion is still standing, and will stand for ages. The walls are very thick, of brick and mortar, with fine locust doors and window facings. and dressed stone basements. The building is located on one of the most beautiful natural locations in all the country.
The lands of Dr. Fowler have been divided up, and are now held by many farmers. The mansion, with about 150 acres of the
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HISTORY OF SUMMERS COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA.
home place, is now owned by Mr. Tabor, of Arkansas, who pur- chased from Captain C. R. Price some three years ago. Chas. A. Baber, Ward Simms, Dr. Wykel and a number of others own the remainder of the lands.
At the time of the Emancipation Proclamation of President Lincoln the estate of Dr. Fowler owned a number of slaves, who, with their descendants, reside in the county, among them is Susan Muse, who lives in Hinton, and her son Samuel. Hon. I. C. Fowler, a few years ago learned accidentally that Susan's lot in Hinton was advertised for sale for non-payment of taxes. He immediately sent the writer a check to redeem the lot, and something for Aunt Susan besides; Patrick Lee was another of his slaves, with Oliver Lee and Amy Banks, his children, who live in Hinton at this time ; Willis Dickinson, Beverly Stanard and others of his slaves now live at Stockyards. A number of these colored people remained long after their emancipation at the Fowler place, and were loath to leave their old masters, so greatly were they beloved, and some remained with them on the old place until the last of the Fowler descendants had parted with the last remnant of the estate. Patrick Lee and his wife, "Aunt Sallie" (the latter still living in Hinton), were deeded about 150 acres to enable them to spend their old age in comfort, free and without a cent's pay, by the children of Dr. Fowler, Mrs. Pearis, Mrs. Johnson and Hon. I. C. Fowler, so kindly did they feel towards these faithful servants.
Dr. Fowler left surviving him six children, Hon. I. C. Fowler. of Bristol and Abingdon, who died in 1905; Dr. Allen Fowler, who died in May, 1902, in Salt Lake City, where he located after the war, having accumulated a large fortune and acquired a great reputation as a physician and surgeon.
Hon. I. C. Fowler was five times elected to the House of Dele- gates of Virginia, and was the Speaker of that body. He was a politician of character and a statesman of ability-stumped the State in the days of the Funders and the Readjusters; was one of the trusted followers, counsellors and lieutenants of Gen. William Mahone in his political career in the Old Dominion. He, with his brother, Elbert Fowler, founded the "Bristol News." a newspaper, at Bristol, Virginia-Tennessee, and was its chief editorial writer for many years. He was a brilliant, forceful and clear-cut writer. He was later appointed by Judges Paull and Bond as clerk of both the U. S. District and Circuit Courts, which positions he held until his resignation on account of failing health. when his son-in-law. Stuart F. Lindsay, was appointed as his successor. He was a
-
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HISTORY OF SUMMERS COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA.
soldier in the Confederate Army and a Republican in politics.
The second son of Dr. Thomas Fowler died in Texas in 1867. The third son, Hon. Elbert Fowler, died in Hinton, March 21, 1884. A more extended sketch will be found elsewhere in this book.
There were two daughters, Amanda L., who married Dr. Thos. Pearis, died several years ago; Mary, who married Hon. James D. Johnston, also died a few years ago; he was one of the eminent lawyers of Southwest Virginia. The only child of Dr. Fowler now living is Mrs. Amanda Pearis, who resides in Roanoke, Va. She had two children, Fowler Pearis, a mining engineer of note, who recently died while in the employment of the Norfolk & Western Railway Company; and Miss Louise, who resides with her mother in the city of Roanoke. Hon. I. C. Fowler left no sons. Dr. Allen Fowler was never married. Hon. Elbert Fowler left two sons, Bailey and Elbert, who are now citizens of Georgia. The daughters of I. C. Fowler are Mrs. Stuart F. Lindsay, Mrs. Mary Louise Preston and Mrs. Priscilla Chapman Fowler Goodwyn.
ELBERT FOWLER.
Hon. Elbert Fowler was a native of Summers County, son of Dr. Thomas Fowler, born at the mouth of Indian Creek, "Indian," in Monroe County, on the 24th of November, 1843, and was of a family of two sisters, Mrs. Mary Johnson and Mrs. Amanda L. Pearis; and two brothers, Hon. I. C. Fowler and Dr. Allen Fowler.
Hon. I. C. Fowler was a Confederate soldier and made his home in Virginia after the war, he and Elbert Fowler founding the "Bristol News." and later, he was Speaker of the House of Dele- gates of Virginia for five terms, and afterward appointed clerk of the United States Court, and resided at Abingdon, which position he held until near the date of his death within the last twelve months.
Dr. Allen Fowler was also a Confederate soldier, who immedi- ately after the war emigrated to Salt Lake City, Utah, and became one of the most celebrated physicians of that country, and died but recently, a wealthy man.
Elbert Fowler joined the Confederate Army when a boy about eighteen years of age. He was educated partly at Emory and Henry Colleges, and after the war he went to McGill University, Montreal, Canada, where he graduated. Returning, he and his brother, I. C., founded the "Bristol News" at Bristol, Tennessee
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HISTORY OF SUMMERS COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA.
and Virginia. Later, in the year 1871 or 1872, he founded the "Border Watchman" at Union, Monroe County, West Virginia, which is still existing, and is owned and edited at this time by the Hon. Albert Sidney Johnston, as the "Monroe Watchman," which is one of the ablest edited papers and one of the most reliable in the State or any other State, Mr. Johnston being one of the most chivalrous and true-hearted citizens of any commonwealth.
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