USA > West Virginia > Wetzel County > History of Wetzel County, West Virginia > Part 7
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COL. ROBERT MCELDOWNEY.
CAPT. JOHN McCASKEY.
Captain McCaskey was born in Steubenville, Ohio, February 19, 1834. When a boy he came with his parents to New Mar- tinsville and continued to reside there until the war, when he enlisted in the army, and was electd first lieutenant in Com- pany C, Fifteenth West Virginia. He was afterwards pro- moted to captain and commanded Company C in some of the hardest fought battles of the war. After he returned from the war in 1862, he was appointed Justice of the Peace, which of- fice he held until his death .. He was also receiver of both county and circuit courts. At one time he held the office of mayor of New Martinsville for a number of terms. While in the army he contracted pulmonary consumption, which caused his death, dying September 22, 1882.
ELIJAH MORGAN.
Elijah Morgan was born in Green district, Wetzel county, in the year of 1840. He was a delegate to the constitutional convention that determined that they would not take arms against the Union. He then enlisted in 1861 in Company H, First West Virginia Infantry, and remained in the army until the close of the war, taking part in some of the most important battles, and the last battle of Bull Run. He was not in the regiment long until he was commissioned sergeant. He was a grandson of Morgan Morgan, whose name has been frequently mentioned in this book.
ALEX. HART, Sheriff of Wetzel County.
CAPT. BASIL T. BOWERS.
Basil T. Bowers was born in Cuyahoga county, O., in the year of 1837. In the year of 1861 he came to Wetzel county with the intention of studying law at that place. At this time the civil war was coming on and there was very little business for law- yers. Early in May of the same year he obtained authority to enlist volunteers for service in the United States army, and enlisted the first volunteers from Wetzel and Tyler counties, then Virginia. In Wetzel he enlisted George Dillon, Sam Mc- Collough, Wm. Branford, C. Frankhouser, John Fouler, Henry Gehring, Felix Hill, David Kirkland, Leonard Roberts, James A. Robinson, and others. In Tyler he enlisted J. B. Smith, Fred Garrison, Samuel Spencer, Wm. Gorrell, James Fardyce, (who was probably the first Union soldier enlisted in Tyler county), Jackson Jounkins, R. D. Kelch, Marion Moore, Hiram White, James M. Kay, Peter D. Moore, Jacob Ritchie and oth- ers. These volunteers formed a part of Company E, Second regiment of Virginia volunteers, and were mustered into the United States service June, 1861, at Camp Carlisle, at Wheel- ing. Captain Bowers served in the United States army from 1861 until 1865, when he was mustered out at Brazos Santiago, Texas. After the war he returned to Wetzel county, where he has made his home ever since, engaged in his profession.
CAPT. FRIEND CLAY COX.
Wetzel county has produced no more knightly son or finer gentleman than Friend C. Cox, and this volume would be in- complete without a loving tribute to his memory.
Friend C. Cox was the son of Friend Cox, a sketch of whose life we publish, and Susan Thistle Cox, his wife, and was born April 21st, 1844. The stirring events leading to the civil war between the States, which so profoundly stirred men's souls, made a man out of the boy of sixteen or seventeen, whose un- usually handsome face and person and brilliant mind had al- ready made him a leading figure in the life of both New Mar- tinsville and the county. His influence had been felt in local politics, and the campaign of 1860 found him making ringing speeches for Breckenridge & Lane. Those were stirring days in Wetzel, and the outspoken sympathizer with the Southern cause soon heard rumors that his arrest had been planned by zealous Federal partisans, whose active efforts sent many em- bryo Confederates to Camp Chase and similar safe retreats.
But the activities of young Friend Cox were not to thus be confied. He promptly left home, telling his mother he intend- ed to embark on the lower river, with a relative who owned a steamer; and, with Robert McEldowney and other brave spir- its, he made his way to the Confederate lines. He enlisted as a member of the Shriver Grays, a company organized at Wheel- ing, and served through the war as a member of the immortal Stonewall Brigade.
Of Friend Cox, the soldier, we need not speak at length, for his record is one with that of the invincible battalion, whose achievements will be studied and analyzed as long as men learn the art and science of war and find inspiration in the record of
JOHN W. KAUFFMAN, Clerk of Circuit Court.
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heroic deeds. He knew not fear, and one who fought by his side has said that amid the whistle of bullets and the shriek of shells he was the genius of battle incarnate; and General James A. Walker, the last commander of the Brigade, in a re- cent letter to a personal friend, says of Captain Cox: "He was as brave as any knight who ever drew sword, and I loved him." Although the youngest of them all, he attained the highest rank of any of the sons of New Martinsville who served in the war. For gallant conduct on the field of battle he, by success- ive promotions, reached the position of Captain and Adjutant- General of the Stonewall Brigade, which rank he held at the time of the surrender. His war record is well epitomized in the sentence uttered at the time of his death by a leading news- paper man of West Virginia: "He bore the reputation of a gal- lant soldier and a valued officer."
Subsequent to the civil war Captain Cox engaged in business in Baltimore, St. Louis, and New York City. From the last named city he returned to his native town to die, having con- tracted consumption while in the army. His death occurred on the 26th day of January, 1876.
Handsome, courtly, knightly, loved and admired by his friends, both men and women, old Wetzel may well be proud that she produced him, and her younger sons may well emulate the vigor and intensity with which he met life's problems. This inadequate tribute can best be classed in the language of one of his dearest friends: "It is difficult for one who feels his loss as a personal bereavement, to write fittingly of the dead, much less to offer consolation to the living; but if gentleness and kindness, and courage and generosity, and all the virtues which make men esteem and love each other, are reckoned in the final settlement, our Friend will have a part in the first resurrec- tion."
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JUDGE M. H. WILLIS.
Judge M. H. Willis, present Judge of the 4th Judicial Cir- cuit, was born near Mole Hill, Ritchie county, W. Va., January 31, 1862. He received a sound English education, and at the age of sixteen began teaching school, during vacation being engaged in ordinary farm work. Later he attended the Har- risville High school, and subsequently the State University at Morgantown. His education was finished at the Northern In- diana Normal School at Valparaiso, Indiana, where he took a collegiate course, and was valedictorian of his class of seventy- six graduates. From this school Mr. Willis was graduated in 1886 with the degree of B. S. Having completed his studies he resumed teaching in Dakota, and later taught in Wisconsin. Having chosen law as a profession he in the meantime applied himself diligently to its study. In 1889 he came to West Un- ion, and was for three years principal of the West Union gra- ded schools. For two years he was principle of Mt. Wesley Academy at Berkeley Springs, W. Va., retaining, however, his residence in West Union.
Mr. Willis was admitted to the bar in 1890, and since the spring of 1893 has been actively engaged in the practice of law with success. His court papers are models of neatness and accu- racy. As a counselor and adviser he is safe, reliable and con- servative. He is a clear thinker, a logical reasoner, and is regarded as one of the ablest advocates of the Doddridge coun- ty bar. Possessing thorough scholarship and an analytical mind, he closely investigates his cases and rarely forms a wrong conclusion. As showing the high regard in which he is held in his profession, it might be mentioned that at a recent term of the circuit court of Ritchie county in the absence of
JUDGE M. H. WILLIS, Judge of the Fourth Judicial Circuit of West Virginia.
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Judge Freer, he was chosen Special Judge of that court. His work as such commended itself to the bar and he was highly complimented by both press and bar for the fairness and accu- racy of his decisions. In 1900 he was elected Judge of the . Fourth Judicial Circuit, which position he still holds, perform- ing the duties of said office with ability.
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EX-JUDGE T. P. JACOBS.
No man of public life in Wetzel county is better known throughout the State of West Virginia than is Ex-Judge T. P. Jacobs, of New Martinsville. As a lawyer, judge and politi- cian, he has won distinction and success. He was born near Cumberland, Allegheny county, Maryland, in 1852, and his parents came to West Virginia when he was quite young. He secured his early education in the public and private schools of the State and graduated from the West Virginia University at Morgantown . Mr. Jacobs was elected Judge of the Fourth Judicial Circuit in 1888 as a Republican, which position he held until 1896. He is still living at New Martinsville, where he enjoys one of the finest residences in the county, devoting much of his time to the practice of his profession.
E. L. ROBINSON, Prosecuting Attorney of Wetzel County.
BANKS OF WETZEL.
THE WETZEL COUNTY BANK.
It commenced business January 1st, 1890. W. S. Wiley is president; S. J. Elliott is vice president, and J. E. Bartlett is cashier. The bank has a capital of $35,000.00, and surplus of $28,929.30. W. E. Maple is assistant cashier. The directors are J. E. Bartlett, J. W. Leap, Henry Koontz, R. C. Standiford, S. J. Elliott, W. S. Wiley and C. C. Eisenbarth.
THE NEW MARTINSVILLE BANK.
It was opened June 1, 1897, with S. R. Martin as president, and J. W. Alderson as cashier. It has a stock of $25,000.00, surplus of $12,000.01. S. R. Martin is president; D. H. Cox is vice president; John A. Mandi is cashier; J. M. Schmied is as- sistant cashier. The directors are S. R. Martin, D. H. Cox, E. S. Duerr, F. W. Clark, J. W. Lentz, Wm. Ankrom and Charles J. Beck.
THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK
Began business the 21st day of March, 1900, with S. B. Hall as president; F. P. Lowther as vice president and J. Lee Harne as cashier, who are the present officers. The capital is $50,000. The directors are S. B. Hall, J. W. Kauffman, H. R. Thompson, A. E. McCaskey, A. C. Ruby, Robert Morris, R. C. Leap, .F P. Lowther, F. F. Morgan, A. T. Fair, Amos Joliffe, W. M. Garner, J. R. Parr, Felix Abersold and T. M. Jackson.
SMITHFIELD BANK.
Is located at Smithfield. I. D. Morgan is president and W. A. Lewis is cashier. The capital stock is $25,000.00.
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BANK OF LITTLETON
Opened June 1st, 1901, with J. A. Connelly as president, and B. A. Pyles as cashier, and has a capital stock of $25.000.
CHURCHES OF NEW MARTINSVILLE.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
Meetings of this church were held many years prior to the building of the meeting house in the old court house and old school house. The old building was erected in 1854, under the pastorate of Rev. J. J. Dolliver, who was succeeded by Rev. Wm. Williamson. Rev. G. D. Smith is the present incumbent. A very beautiful church building was erected in 1901 by the members of the church under the supervision of Rev. Smith, who is constituted an efficient worker.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH (SOUTH.)
Rev. G. B. Page was the pioneer Methodist preacher, who came here in the year of 1856, and was followed by Rev. C. M. Sullivan, of the Parkersburg district, who preached occasion- ally, when he could get off from his other work. After the meeting of the general conference in New Orleans in the year of 1866, Rev. R. A. Claughton re-established the church here. He was succeeded by Rev. E. Kendal. Rev. Gosling is the pre- sent incumbent.
ST. ANNE'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
This church was organized at New Martinsville in the year of 1881, when Rev. A. Buchanan was appointed minister. He was succeeded by Rev. I. Brittingham. The present minister is Rev. Burkhardt.
THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
This church was organized in the year of . ., and has con-
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tinued to grow from its organization. The present minister is Rev. Light.
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.
The Catholic Church was organized in the year of 1865.
NEWSPAPERS OF WETZEL.
The first paper issued in Wetzel county was issued by Daniel Long, in 1870, under the name of the "Wetzel Independent," and published at New Martinsville. In 1872 Mr. Long changed its name to the Labor Vindicator, and continued its publica- tion until 1876, when it was suspended. After a short time the name of the paper was taken up by W. W. Roberts and published at Hundred, with W. W. Roberts as editor, until 1900, when he died, and the paper is now owned and edited by his son, C. W. Roberts.
The Wetzel Democrat was issued in 1877 with W. S. Wiley and Robert McEldowney as editors, and Dan Long as pub- lisher. The editorial management remained the same until 1900, when Colonel McEldowney died. The paper then came into the hands of C. C. Westerman, who is the present editor and publisher.
The Messenger was published at New Martinsville in 1876 by J. E. Hart. It was afterwards purchased by E. E. Eisenbarth, with T. P. Jacobs as editor. It was then transferred back to Hart, who published it under the name of the Wetzel Repub- lican. The present publishers are Smith & Fitch. The pre- sent editor is Robert Smith.
The Smithfield Derrick is published at Smithfield. It was not issued until 1901. Mrs. R. C. Walker is publisher and R. C. Walker is editor.
The New Martinsville News is a new paper published by a number of Wetzel county citizens.
THE JENNINGS GANG.
A book was written in 1874 on the Jennings gang, but of course contains a great deal of fiction, to make a book of its size, although it was based on facts; and the writer by many has been accused of being one of the gang, and it is a fact that he served two terms in the penitentiary for forgery. Whether John Jennnigs was the chief of the Jennings gang, as has been stated, I will leave it to the reader to decide. It is said that he at one time ordered Jack away from the house, upon which he was shot upon by him, and merely escaped with his life. They often had long combats, in which he would beat his father up wonderfully, and when the old man would get on top of him, he would hallow that he was killing him. That shows what an inhuman creature he was, and we shall describe him later as one of the gang and the most treacherous of their number.
JOHN JENNINGS.
We will first give the life of John Jennings. He was a native of Monongalia county, W. Va., and at the time of his death was fifty-two years of age. He bore the reputation of being an honest man, up to the time of the civil war. When the war broke out he took very ardent sides with the Union cause, and denounced with bitterness the principles of secession. He enlisted in the 15th W. Va. infantry, and remained in the ser- vice but six months, when his devotion for his wife and chil- dren, made him desert his regiment and come home. But he had no more than got home, when he found that he had been followed by a military officer, with a company of soldiers. He succeeded in escaping them. Squads of men were sent, from time to time, with instructions to arrest him, but he always
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succeeded in escaping. He knew the hills of Wetzel county as well as he knew the hills around the old homestead, and could easily escape hundreds of men. He also had so many rela- tions throughout the locality which was searched, that it was almost impossible to secure his arrest. Owing to the de- termination of the military authorities to capture him, he was compelled to abandon the comforts of home, and become a wanderer, and sleep in the woods, or at the home of a near rel- ative. Hunted from one place to another by squads of sol- diery, he began to be looked on by many as an outlaw. When he was about to be driven into desperation by the home guards President Lincoln came to his rescue, and issued a pardon to all deserters, who would come back to their respective regi- ments. He at once rejoined his regiment, and, it is said, was treated like a dog by his comrades. They would not speak to him, only in a commandng way, and would make him set his tent off by itself, when in camp. On the way home, after the disbandment of the army, he was forcibly seized, and thrown overboard of the steamer that was carrying them home. He was then compelled to walk to his destination. He was twice married, both of his wives being good, respectable women, and devoted to their husband. His first wife died, it is alleged, from exposure and fatigue, incurred by her in carrying him food and clothing while he was a fugitive. After he had been discharged from the service of the government, he married one Mrs. Sallie Huff, a woman of good reputation, and of consider- able intelligence, who was devoted to him during his long and weary trials. He had by his first wife nine children, five sons and four daughters. All his sons, except one, who was called little John, and William, who was drowned accidentally long before the gang broke out, were members of the gang, and on or before that John Jennings was one of our best citizens and was often selected as a juryman. One of the girls married Al- fred Spicer, a respectable farmer and good citizen, living in this county. One of the other girls was less fortunate, eloping
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with a married man. Jennings was a man of energy, courage and indomitable will, and a man who would sacrifice anything necessary for a friend, but who would shoot down whom he considered his enemy as he would a dog. His residence, which was the headquarters of the gang, was situated in a quiet place between two streams, Dulin and Big Fishing creek. It was situated on an isolated piece of ground some distance from the main road, surrounded with heavy timber and dense under- brush. The woods contained secret paths, known only to the members of the gang. If John Jennings was not the chief of the Jennings gang he harbored them, as most fathers would have done, when it came to the time of driving them away from home. It will be impossible to give a life of all of the mem- bers of the gang, but of those whom were known to be mem- bers of the gang, we will first give a sketch of Frank Jennings.
FRANK JENNINGS.
One of the most desperate and reckless criminals the State has ever been cursed with, says Stienmetz, in his sketch of him. He was a young man not more than twenty-four years of age. No less than a half dozen, if not more, have been spent in criminal pursuits. He had little intelligence, and a com- mon school education. Tall, strong and athletic, of a pleasant expression; he was as straight as an Indian, and was the most feared of the gang when a boy. He bore the reputation of a dare devil, but nothing criminal was imputed by him un- til the years of 1864-65. He did more criminal business than did any other member of the gang, with the exception of Benjamin Barcus. He was in all of the deeds committed by the gang, but was charged of but one, on which he was sen- tenced to five years in the penitentiary at Moundsville, but succeeded in escaping before more than one-half of his term was out. His daring recklessness was shown on that occasion. The building of the penitentiary was not completed yet, and the walls of the same were inclosed by a stockade of two-inch
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plank, sixteen feet high. A sentry box was erected on each side of the stockade; in each of these a guard was placed, who was armed with a seven shooter. This stockade, having been exposed for a number of years, was beginning to decay. On one occasion a severe rain storm, followed by a violent wind, was seen approaching, and the guards were beginning to fear that the stockade would fall down, and that was all that stood between over one hundred convicts, and many of them fearless desperadoes. These convicts knew that they were to face the seven shooters, and freedom was their own. As the storm neared them they gathered in groups discussing plans of es- cape. All eyes were turned toward Frank Jennings, as their leader. Not since the death of Woodford L. Crews had the penitentiary received a more daring criminal than Frank Jen- nings. He willingly consented, but they must swear to follow him. He knew that many would, when the trying moment came, fail. He knew that he could rely upon but a few, if any. But he told them that as soon as the stockade fell that a rush must be made, and that no regard must be paid for orders, and not to pay any attention to their seven-shooters. All consented and professed eagerness to follow, and congregated under one of the large sheds in the yard, anxiously waiting the coming storm. The officers saw the movements of the men and knew what those movements meant, and stationed all of the men they could spare at that place. The storm came on and raged with terrible fury, the rain falling in torrents, and the wind blowing a perfect gale. The decaying stockade trembled and swung back and forth, eagerly watched by guards and officers without and by a band of excited convicts within. Yielding to the force of the tornado, it at last fell with a crash, and the barrier between them and liberty was down. With a shout, a rush was made, Frank Jennings at the head of the column. They were valiently met by the little squad of guards armed with carbines and ordered to halt and desist. Not heeding their admonitions, they continued to advance and the guards
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were compelled to fire. Every man halted and turned back save one, and that was Frank Jennings. Running at the top of his speed, he cleared the fallen timbers at a bound, regard- less of the shouts and threats of the guards, and though half a dozen shots were fired at him, he succeeded in effecting his escape, and in forty-eight hours was received with open arms at the headquarters of the gang, but he did not remain there, for he knew that officers would be after him in a few hours. His confederates had a score of hiding places for him, and he well knew where he would be safe. In the course of a few days two of the officers of the penitentiary came to New Mar- tinsville and engaged the services of several citizens to aid them in their efforts to capture Frank Jennings. They waited patiently until after dark before they made known the nature of their visit, or before they undertook to solicit the services of others, thinking that they would succeed in locating his retreat and capture him without difficulty. Foolish men! Their ar- rival had been expected long before they left the county seat. Frank had been informed of the fact, and of their plans and in- tentions. The spies of the gang were near them, conversing with them, denouncing the course of Frank Jennings and all who bore the name, and then they told tales of how much dan- ger there was in seeking such men; that Coal Run was espe- cially unsafe; that the villains would be within four feet of the road, shoot down the officers in the darkness and effect their escape. So misled, deceived and terrified were they, that they actually returned to Moundsville without having accomplished their object; in fact, without attempting it. So this ended the chase after Frank Jennings. He remained in the county un- molested until the death of his father. He did not at all times keep himself concealed. He was frequently seen on the Doolin road and scores of times escaped from his father's house by se- cret paths, to the opposite side of the hills, among his friends. The next thing would be news of his robbing a house or souit other crime. A portion of the time his retreat was in a small
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cabin, from which he had an outlook in every direction, with a subterranean passage of nearly two hundred yards, ending in a ravine, from which he could escape in any direction. The en- trance to the underground channel was effected by raising a board or plank in the floor, which, after descending, he could draw after him and securely fasten it to its original position. Should his foes even succeed in forcing their way into his cabin, which was impossible without loss of life, for he always was armed, he could be in the ravine long before they could discover his way of escape or explore the passage when once found. He could well adapt himself to his surroundings, and when necessary could easily put on the mask of hypocrisy and profess religion. None could be more devout than he; none could shout louder, sing more vigorously, or pray more ear- nestly, and such feeling addresses-how ungrateful he had been; but thank God, the scales have fallen from his eyes; he could now see how good God had been to him, and an hour later he could have been indulging in quite a different strain. He was no doubt the leader of the gang, and was always on the alert.
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