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ALER'S HISTORY 
 
 OF 
 
 MARTINSBURGAND BERKELEY CO,, W.VA. 
 
Court House, Martinsburg, Berkeley County. 
 
ALER'S HISTORY, 
 
 OF 
 
 MARTINSBURG 
 
 AND 
 
 BERKELEY CeUNTY, 
 
 WEST VIRGINIA. 
 
 From the origin of the Indians, embracing their Settlements, Wars and 
 Depredations, to the first White Settlement of the Valley; also 
 including the Wars between the Settlers and their mode 
 and ma7iner of living. Besides a variety of valua- 
 ble information, consisting of the past and 
 present History of the County, including 
 a complete sketch of the late Wars, 
 Strikes, early Residents, Organi- 
 sations, etc., accompanied by 
 personal sketches and in- 
 teresting facts of 
 the present 
 day. 
 
 By F. VERjYO.Y .ALER. 
 
 Price $2.00 ; Sold Only by Subscription. 
 
 PKISTED FOK THE AUTHOR BY 
 
 THE MAIL PUBLISHING COMPANY, 
 HAGERSTOWN, MD. 
 
 &0 
 
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1888, by 
 
 P. Vernon Aler, 
 in tlie Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. 
 
 All Rights Reserved. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 In idle wishes fools supinely stay, 
 Be there a will, then wisdom finds a way. 
 
 — Burns. 
 
 ^ N i:>resenting tliis work to the public I feel 
 that a great responsibility has been undertaken. 
 It may, no doubt, meet with the harsh criticism of 
 many ; but as a consolation I feel satisfied that 
 nothing but facts have been stated, and that every reader 
 interested in the growth, prosperity and history of 
 Berkeley County will appreciate this honest attempt. I 
 have ventured this work on the market, feeling confident 
 that the interested class — the people that have labored 
 for our City and County — the ones that owe and feel a 
 debt of gratitude to their forefathers for the present 
 stage of their existence and welfare of the County — will 
 sustain me in my efforts. 
 
 The present generation, now enjoying the benefits of 
 this soil, perhaps, have a very small conception as to the 
 manner in which it was settled, cultivated and reared to 
 its present state of prosperity. Perhaps many may doubt 
 the credibility of these chapters, but I would ask a peru- 
 sal and careful examination of early history, and by in- 
 formation from our old citizens, you will find my collec- 
 tions have not fallen far short of facts. Several attempts,, 
 in various ways, have been made to give a history and 
 reminiscence of our County ; but as yet none had been 
 published full and complete, until the introduction of 
 this work. It will be found to contain from the origin 
 of the Indian and White Settlers, and their early war- 
 fares, to the present day, accompanied by a complete 
 history of both Martinsburg and Berkeley County. 
 
Preface. 11 
 
 For days, weeks and months, and at times into the mid- 
 hour of night, constant and laborious work has been a 
 theme and pleasure, to dive into the torn and rusty- 
 pages of an old Court docket— some half-printed histo- 
 ries, published over half a century ago— or some old 
 newspapers upon which ink was almost invisible, and 
 then to scan the hand-writing of years gone by, that one 
 would hardly recognize as the English language. 
 
 To the following gentlemen, Berkeley's most able and 
 respected citizens, I owe a debt of gratitude for their as- 
 sistance in the work of publishing this small history : 
 Senator C. J. Faulkner, C. W. Doll, Esq., James M. 
 Yanmetre, Esq., Capt. Wm. Hoke, Hon. E. B. Faulk- 
 ner, J. W. Curtis, Esq., and Stuart W. Walker, Esq., 
 who acted at times as my critic and rendered valuable 
 assistance. Considerable information has been taken 
 from a small history of the valley published by Samuel 
 Kercheval in 1833. 
 
 I look around me and see the young of both sexes with 
 hearts bounding high with hope, forms elastic with 
 health and eyes bright with the enjoyment of life, and 
 then the thought of the rude settlements, life and civili- 
 zation of our fore-parents touches the tenderest chord. 
 To tell them of how they performed the journey of life, 
 hand in hand, interrupted now and then by the savage 
 warfare, and after all lived in harmonious companion- 
 ship, I have published this work. It has been with me 
 an honest and earnest task, in the object of which I am 
 sure you will feel interested. I only hope that you will 
 find little to criticise and nothing to condemn, in the na- 
 ture and style of the means by which I have sought to 
 accomplish it. Then I shall feel that my undertaking 
 has been crowned with success by a non-condemnatory 
 people in a worthy and honest purpose. 
 Yours very truly, 
 
 F. Veisnon Alek. 
 
CONTENTS, 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 Introductory 15 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 Origin of the Indian Settlements. The differeni; Tribes. Their 
 
 Wars, Customs, Habits, etc 25 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 First Settlements of the Valley. Locations, Land Titles, Dwellings, 
 
 etc 32 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 The Indian Warfare. Forts Established, etc. The Wars between 
 the Settlers and Indians, and the manner in which they carried 
 
 on their Barbarism 38 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 Houses, Furniture, Diet and Dress of the early Settlers. Interest- 
 ing and amusing Scenes of centuries back of our Foreparents... . 47 
 CHAPTER V. 
 Northern Necli of Virginia. Berlicley County laid off. The Land 
 Grants, etc., from Lord Fairfax's time to the establisliment of 
 
 the County 54 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 Martinsburg established. The Lots laid off by the first Commission- 
 ed Sheriff'. Sale of Lots, with terms to purchasers 61 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 Report of Hon. C. J. Faulliner on Adjustment of the Boundary Line 
 
 between Virginia and Maryland 67 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 Historical Sketches of the early Inhabitants, etc., by the late Hon. 
 
 Charles James Faulkner 87 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 Slavery— Mode and Manner of Punishment;— Freedom 200 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 The late War of tlie Rebellion. The different Companies of Berkeley 
 County, Federal and Confederate, witli full Names, Happenings, 
 
 etc : 209 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 Historical Reminiscence of Martinsburg from 1835 until the year 
 
 1861, by John W. Curtis 249 
 
Cvnients. 13 
 
 CHAPTER xir. 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 Commencing and ending of Strikes. A full and complete detail of 
 
 the Happenings, Incidents, etc 300 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 Life of the late Hon. Charles James Faulkner, by Col. Frank X. Burr. 314 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 The Churches— Organization and present Condition 343 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 Berkeley County in 1810. Topographical Description. Natural 
 Curiosities. Mineralogy and Lithology. Inhabitants, Towns, 
 
 Manufactories, etc 368 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 Present situation of the Town and County— Journalism in the 
 County — County Court and Officials— Martinsburg Schools — 
 
 Heme Organizations, Lodges, etc 377 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 Personal Sketches of the Enterprising Public and Professional Men 
 
 of the present day - 397 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 Biography of Martinsburg's Business Men 412 
 
INTRODUCTORY. 
 
 HE Indian origin and settlements contained 
 in the following chapters will be found to em- 
 brace every particular trait and detail so famil- 
 iar to the race. Berkeley County, without doubt, 
 will be found to be among the most historic pages of the 
 world's history. For centuries its soils were inhabited 
 by the most barbarous races, whom, it seems, carried out 
 the habits and customs of ages past to their fullest ex- 
 tent. From what particular part of the old world the 
 aboriginals found their way to this continent is a ques- 
 tion which has given rise to much disquisition among 
 philosophical and learned historians. However, it ap- 
 pears to be a settled opinion that America first received 
 its inhabitants from Asia, and in Mr. Snowden's History 
 of America many able and ingenious arguments are ad- 
 vanced in support of this opinion. This is a matter, 
 however, familiar to our people of the present day, and 
 to describe the customs of the old world, from whence 
 they originated, will perhaps, prove of interest to the 
 reader. Mr. Snowden states : 
 
 "The custom of scalping was a barbarism in use with 
 the Scythians, who carried about thern. at all times this 
 savage mark of triumph. A little image found among 
 the Kalmucs, of a Tartarian diety mounted on a horse 
 and sitting on a human skin, with scalps pendant from 
 the breast, fully illustrates tlie custom of the ancient 
 Scythians, as described by the Greek historian. The 
 ferocity of this race to their prisoners extended to the 
 remotest part of Asia. The Kamtschatkans, even at the 
 time of their discovery by the Russians, put their priso- 
 ners todeath by the most lingering and excruciating tor- 
 
16 Introductory. 
 
 menls. A race of the Scythians were named Anthropo- 
 phagi, from their feeding on human flesh. The people 
 of Nootka Sound still make a repast on their fellow 
 creatures. The savages of North America have been 
 known to throw the mangled limbs of their prisoners 
 into the horrible caldron and devour them with the same 
 relish as those of a quadruped." 
 
 These usages were continued for centuries, and have 
 been described by many as of a horrid experience. 
 Among the aboriginal Americans these practices are said 
 to be in full force at the i^resent day. 
 
 FIRST SETTLEMENT OP VIRGINIA. 
 
 After giving the foregoing brief sketch of the proba- 
 ble origin of the Indians in America, it is deemed an im- 
 portant part of this work to give a brief history of the 
 first settlement of Virginia, and the laws then in force, 
 which will not be unacceptable to the general reader. 
 The author, having access to the large law libraries of 
 Faulkner & Walker, has been enabled to gain much val- 
 uable information, and would refer the reader wishing 
 to make a deeper research, to Hening's Statutes at Large, 
 vol. 1, page 57. 
 
 Charters to two separate companies called the "Lon- 
 don and Plymouth Companies," for settling colonies in 
 Virginia, were granted by James I, King of England, on 
 the 10th day of April, 1606. On the 20th of December, 
 1606, Capt. Christopher Newport was sent to Virginia 
 by the London Company with a colony of one hundred 
 and five persons, and instructions to settle on the island 
 of Roanoke, now in North Carolina. However, by stress 
 of weather, they were driven North of their destination, 
 and entered Chesapeake Bay. From here they ascended 
 what they called the James River, and on a beautiful 
 peninsula commenced the settlement of Jamestown about 
 May, 1607. This was the first permanent settlement in 
 
Introductory. 17 
 
 the country. King James granted several subsequent 
 charters to the company for the better ordering and gov- 
 ernment of the colony, "and in the year 1619 the first 
 legislative council was convened at Jamestovs^n, then 
 called 'James City.' " The following is the commission 
 to Sir Francis Wyatt, the first Governor under that ordi- 
 nance and constitution, to call a meeting of the General! 
 Assembly : 
 
 "y/ie Treasurer and Coinpawifs Commission to Sir - 
 Francis Wyatt, Governor^ and Council, which said 
 Council are to assist the Governor in the administration 
 of justice, to advance Christianity among Indians, to 
 erect the colony in obedience to his majesty and in main- 
 taining the people in justice and christian conversation, 
 and strengthening them against enemies. The said Gov- 
 ernor, Council and two burgesses out of every town, hun- 
 dre;d or plantation, to be chosen by the inhabitants, to 
 make up a General Assembly, who are to decide all mat- 
 ters by the greater number of voices ; but the Governor 
 is to have a negative voice, to have power to make orders 
 and acts necessary wherein they are to initiate the poli- 
 cy of the form of government, laws, customs, manner of 
 trial and other administration of justice used in England, 
 as the company are required by their letters patent. Ko 
 law to continue or be of force till ratified by a quarter 
 court to be held in England and returned under seal. 
 After the colony is well framed and settled, no order of 
 quarter court in England shall bind till ratified by the 
 General Assembly." 
 
 "Dated 24th July, 1621." 
 
 ''Instructions to Governor Wyatt.'' 
 
 "By instructions dated 24th July, 1621 : To keep up 
 religion of the Church of England as near as may be ; to 
 be obedient to the King and do justice after the form of 
 the laws of England, and not to injure the natives ; and 
 to forget old quarrels now buried. 
 
 "To be industrious and suppress drunkenness, gaming 
 
.18 Introductory. 
 
 •and excess in deatlis ; not to permit any but the Coun- 
 ■ oil and heads of hundreds to wear gold in their cloaths 
 ' or to wear silk till they make it themselves. 
 
 "Not to offend any foreign princes; to punish pira- 
 cies ; to build fortresses and block-houses at the mouths 
 of the rivers. 
 
 "To use means to convert the heathens, viz., to con 
 verse with some ; each town to teach some children fit 
 tor the college intended to be built. 
 
 "After Sir George Yeardley has gathered the present 
 .year's crop, he is to deliver to Sir Francis Wyatt the 
 hundred tenants belonging to Governor's place ; Yeard- 
 'ley's government to ex]pire the 18th November next, and 
 then Wyatt to be published Governor ; to swear the 
 Council. 
 
 "George Saudis appointed treasurer, and he is to put in 
 execution all orders or court about staple commodities ; 
 to whom is allotted fifteen hundred acres and fifty ten- 
 ants ; to the marshall. Sir William JSTewoe, the sanie ; to 
 the company's deputy the same; to the physician iive 
 hundred acres and twenty tenants, and the same to the 
 secretary. 
 
 "To review the commissions to Sir George Yeardley, 
 Governor, and the Council, dated 18th November, 1618, 
 for dividing the colony into cities, boroughs, &c., and to 
 observe all former instructions (a copy whereof was sent) 
 if they did not contradict the present ; and all orders of 
 court (made in England.) 
 
 "To make a catalogue of the people in every planta- 
 tion, and their conditions ; and of deaths, marriages and 
 christenings. 
 
 "To take care of dead persons' estates for the right 
 owners ; and keep a list of all cattle, and cause the sec- 
 retary to return copies of the premises once a year. . 
 
 "To take care of every plantation upon the death of 
 their chief ; not to plant above one hundred pounds of 
 tobacco per head ; to sow great quantities of corn for 
 
Introductory. 19 
 
 their own use, and to support the multitudes to be sent 
 yearly ; to inclose lands ; to keep cows, swine, poultry, 
 &c., and particularly kyne, which are not to be killed 
 yet. 
 
 "Next to corn, plant mulberry trees and make silk, 
 and take care of the Frenchman and others sent about 
 that work ; to try silk grass ; to plant abundance of 
 vines and take care of the vignerors sent. 
 
 "To put prentices to trades, and not let them forsake 
 their trades for planting tobacco or any such useless 
 •commodity. 
 
 "To take care of the Batch sent to build saw-mills, and 
 seat them at the falls that they may bring their timber 
 by the current of the water. 
 
 "To build saw-mills and block-houses in every planta- 
 tion. 
 
 "That all contracts in England or Virginia be per- 
 formed, and the breaches punished according to justice. 
 
 "Tenants not to be enticed away ; to take care of those 
 sent about an iron work, and especially Mr. John Berke- 
 ley, that they don't miscarry again, this being the great- 
 est hope and expectation of the colonies. 
 
 "To make salt, pitch, tar, soap, ashes, &c., so often 
 recommended and for which materials had been sent ; to 
 make oyl of walnuts and employ apothecaries in distil- 
 ling lees of beer and searching after minerals, dyes, 
 gums and drugs, &c., and send small quantities home. 
 
 "To make small quantity of tobacco, and that very 
 good ; that the houses appointed for the reception of 
 new-comers and public storehouses be built, kept clean, 
 &c. ; to send the state of affairs quarterly and a duplicate 
 next shipping. 
 
 "To take care of Capt. Wm. Norton and certain Ital- 
 ians sent to set up a glass house. 
 
 "A copy of the^treatise of the plantation business and 
 ■excellent observances made by a gentleman of capacity 
 
20 Introductory. 
 
 is sent to lie among the records, and recommended to 
 tlie councillors to study. 
 
 '•Mr William Clayborne, a surveyor, sent to survey the 
 planters' lands and make a map of the country. 
 
 ''Chief officers that have tenants reprimanded for 
 taking fees, but require that the clerks have fees set for 
 passes, warrants, copies of orders, &c. 
 
 "Governor and Council to appoint proper times for 
 administration of justice, and provide for the entertain- 
 ment of the Council during their session, to be together 
 one whole month about state affairs and lawsuits ; to. 
 record plaints of consequence ; to keep a register of the 
 acts of quarter sessions and send home copies. 
 
 "If a Governor dies, the major part of Council to choose 
 one of themselves within fourteen days, but if voices be 
 divided the Lieutenant Govei'n or shall have the place, 
 and next the marshal], next the treasurer, and one of 
 the two deputies next. 
 
 "Governor and chief officers not to let out their tenants 
 as usual. 
 
 "The Governor only to summon the Council and sign 
 warrants and execute, or give authority to execute 
 Council orders, except in cases that do belong to the 
 marshall, treasurer, deputies, &c. 
 
 "The Governor to have absolute authority to deter- 
 mine and punish all neglects and contempts of authority 
 except the Council, who are to be tried at the quarter 
 sessions and censured. Governor to have but the cast- 
 ing voice in Council or court, but in the Assembly a neg- 
 ative voice. 
 
 "Thatcare be taken that there be no engrossing com- 
 modity or forestalling the market. 
 
 "All servants to fare alike in the colony, and their 
 punishment^for any offences is to serve the colony in 
 public works. 
 
 "To see that the Earl of Pembroke's thirty thousand 
 acres be very good. 
 
Introduetory. 21 
 
 "To make discoveries along the coast and find a fish- 
 ery between James River and Cape Cod. 
 
 "As to raising staple commodities, the chief officers 
 ought to set examples and to aim at the establishment 
 of the colony. 
 
 "And lastly, not to let ships stay long, and to freight' 
 them with walnut and any less valuable commodity. 
 
 The Governor administered the following oath to the 
 Council : 
 
 "You shall swear to be a true and faithful servant 
 ' unto the king's majesty, as one of his Council for Vir- 
 ' ginia. You shall in all things to be moved, treated, 
 ' and debated in that Council concerning Virginia or 
 ' any the territoiies of America, between the degrees of 
 ' thirty-four and forty-five from the equinoctial line 
 ' northward, or the trades thereof, faithfully and truly 
 ' declare your mind and opinion, according to your heart 
 ' and conscience ; and shall keep secret all matters com- 
 ■ mitted and revealed to you concerning the same, and 
 ' that shall be treated secretly in that Council, or this 
 ' Council of Virginia, or the more part of them, publi- 
 ' cation shall not be made thereof ; and of all matters of 
 'great importance, or difficulty, before you resolve 
 ' thereupon, you shall make his majesty's Privy Coun- 
 ' cil acquainted therewith, and follow their direction 
 ' therein. You shall to your uttermost bear faith and 
 ' allegiance to the King's majesty, his heirs, and lawful 
 ' successors, and shall assist and defend all jurisdictions, 
 ' preheminences, and authorities granted unto his ma- 
 ' jesty and annexfc unto the crown against all foreign 
 ' princes, persons, prelates or potentates whatsoever, be 
 ' it by act of jiarliament or otherwise ; and generally, 
 - in all things, you shall do as a faithful and true ser- 
 ' vant and subject ought to do. So help you God and 
 ' the holy contents of this book." 
 
 The foregoing instractions were drawn up by the 
 Council, and it appears, were intended as the general 
 
22 Introductory. 
 
 principles for the government of the colony. They go 
 far to prove that hopes were entertained that the Indians 
 were disposed to be at peace, and evidences an amicable 
 state of feeling towards the natives. Unfortunately 
 their hopes were blasted, for lo ! in less than one year 
 after, this state of peace and tranquility was changed 
 into one of devastation, blood and mourning. On the 
 22nd of March, 1622, the Indians committed the most 
 bloody massacre on the colonists recorded in the annals 
 of our country. This year has been stated by historians 
 as the American revolution, and was remarkable for 
 massacres of the colonists by the Indians, which were 
 executed with the utmost subtility, and without any re- 
 gard to age, sex or dignity. 
 
 In 1623, the following year, the Colonial General As- 
 sembly, by statute, directed ''that the 22nd day of March 
 be yearly solemnized as holliday," to commemorate the 
 escape of the colony from entire extirpation. These 
 bloody massacres produced, on the part of the whites, 
 a most deadly and irreconcilable hatred toward the na- 
 tives, and accordingly, we find that a long continued and 
 unabating state of hostility was kept up. At the legis- 
 lative session of 1623, laws were enacted in relation to a 
 defense against the savages. About one hundred years 
 later the Indians were driven east of the Blue Ridge 
 Mountains, and scattered over the surrounding country, 
 hence, their origin on Berkeley soil. 
 
 The foregoing extracts are considered sufficient to 
 enable the reader to form some opinion of the spirit, 
 character and customs of the early settlers of our coun- 
 try ; particularly as it relates to their sufferings and 
 difficulties with the Indian tribes, and goes far to prove 
 their origin in our country and the veracity of the con- 
 tents of this book. 
 
 Some may ask, of what interest are the extracts from 
 Hening's Statutes at Large? In return I would ask, who 
 would place confidence in my work without it was based 
 
Introductory. 23 
 
 on a reliable foundation ? The extracts, after given a 
 study and careful consideration, will prove of mucli in- 
 terest and enable the reader to form a quaint idea of the 
 origin and introduction of our laws, customs, religion, 
 habits, manufactures, etc., of the present day in our 
 country and county. 
 
 Prior to the Independence of the United States, the 
 popular branch of Virginia Colonial Legislation was 
 known as "The House of Burgesses." It enacted its 
 laws under the provincial charter granted by the English 
 government, to whom its allegiance was due. The 
 "House of Burgesses," by its enactments from time to 
 time laid ofE the territory into counties, as the interests 
 of its increasing population demanded. 
 
 At a session of the legislature, Frederick and Augusta 
 were laid oflE about the year 1738, and included all the 
 vast region of country west of the Blue Ridge mountain. 
 Previous to that time the county of Orange included all 
 the territory west of the mountains, and was taken from 
 Spotsylvania in 1734, which had previously crossed the 
 mountain and took in considerable part of what is now 
 known as Page County. Spotsylvania was laid off in 
 1720, and was reduced by the laying off of Frederick 
 in 1738. The first court of justice was held in this county 
 in 1743. The county of Hampshire was next taken from 
 Frederick and Augusta in 1753. The first court held in 
 this county was in December 1757. Berkeley and Dun- 
 more were taken from Frederick in 1772, and in 1777 the 
 name oE Dunmore was altered to Shenandoah. 
 
 I deem it a ]particular and interesting part of this work 
 to give the dates of the establishment of these counties, 
 as the following chapters in various ways relate 
 to them. It will be noticed that Berkeley was among 
 the earliest, and many incidents happened on its soil, 
 before the laying off of other counties. It- included all 
 that territory composing Jeffersod County from 1772 
 until 1801, a period of nearly thirty years. Martinsburg 
 
24 Introductory. 
 
 was laid off in the month, of October, 1778, by Adam 
 Stephen, Esq., and consisted of one hundred and thirty 
 acres. In October, 1786, Charlestown (then in the county 
 of Berkeley and now the seat of justice for the county of 
 Jefferson) was established. It consisted of eighty acres, 
 and was laid off by Charles Washington, a brother of 
 the illustrious George Washington. He laid off his own 
 land into lots and streets, and in honor of his act the 
 town bears his christian name to the present day. In 
 the month of October, 1787, Middletown, (now called 
 Gerardstown,) in the county of Berkeley, was estab- 
 lished, with one hundred lots laid off by Wm. Gerard. 
 Darkesville, also in Berkeley County, was laid off in Oc- 
 tober, 1791. The establishment of these towns are among 
 the earliest of the vallev. 
 
CHAPTER I. 
 
 ORIGIN OF THE INDIAN SETTLEMENTS. 
 I^kROM ancient history it appears tliat this entire por- 
 H^ tion of country (Berkeley County) was inhabited by 
 various tribes of Indians. From the best evidence ob- 
 tained from deep researches, we find the settlement of 
 this valley and present county was commenced in the 
 year 1732. Long and bloody wars were carried on by 
 contending tribes of Indians known as the Delaware and 
 Catawba tribes. They were engaged in these wars at the 
 time the valley was first known by the white people, and 
 continued for years after the county was numerously 
 inhabited bj^ white settlers. 
 
 The two great branches of the Potomac and Shenan- 
 doah rivers seem to have been the favorite jjlaces of resi- 
 dence of the Indians. Along these streams are to be 
 found numerous signs and relics at the .present day. In 
 the bank of the river, a short distance below the forks, 
 human skeletons and articles of curious workmanship 
 are constantly being unearthed. Indian mounds are 
 scattered over the entire county, and it is no unusual oc- 
 currence to hear that Indian pipes, tomahawks, axes, 
 utensils, etc., are being ynt found. Their cui)S and pots 
 were made of a mixture of clay and shells, and though 
 the vrorkmanship was rude, yet they were strong in tex- 
 ture. There are mauy other places on all our Avater 
 courses, to wit. Cedar Creek, Stony Creek and Opequon, 
 as well as the larger Avater courses, that exhibit evidences 
 of ancient Indian settlements. 
 
 This portion of the country was inhabited chiefly by 
 a tribe known as the Tuscarora Indians, their place of 
 residence being on Tuscarora Creek, from which the 
 
26 Origin of the Indian Settlements. 
 
 creek derived its name. Along this stream are a num- 
 ber of Indian graves now marked, vrhile many have 
 been plowed down. Skeletons and bones of unusual size 
 have been turned up by the plow. It appears to the author 
 that no reflecting man can view so many burying places 
 broken up — their bones torn up with the plow— reduced 
 to dust and scattered to the winds — without feeling some 
 degree of melancholy regret. It is to be lamented for 
 another reason. If those mounds and places of burial 
 had been permitted to remain undisturbed, they would 
 have stood as lasting monuments in the history of our 
 country. Many of them were doubtless the work of 
 ages, and future generations would have contemplated 
 them with gr^t interest and curiosity. But these mem- 
 orials are rapidly disappearing, and the time, perhaps, 
 will come when not a^ trace of them will remain. 
 
 It is in no way wonderful that this unfortunate race of 
 ]3eople reluctantly yielded, and with all their force re- 
 sisted the intrusion made upon their rightful and just 
 possessions by people who were strangers to them from 
 a foreign country. But, perhaps, this was the fiat of 
 Heaven. In the creation of this globe God probably in- 
 tended it should sustain the greatest possible number of 
 his creatures. And as the human family, in a state of 
 civil life, increases with more rapidity than a people in 
 a state of nature or savage life, the law of force has been 
 generally resorted to, and the weaker compelled to give 
 way to the stronger. It is a fact undeniable that the 
 greater portion of our country has been obtained by th6 
 law of force. However, as a matter of consoling reflec- 
 tion, there are some exceptions to this arbitrary rule. 
 Several respectable individuals of the Quaker society 
 thought it unjust to take possession of these lands, and 
 adopted measures to effect sonie way of compensating 
 the Indians for their just rights. Upon inquiry no par- 
 ticular tribe could be found that claimed a priority over 
 the soil. It was considered by the various tribes a com- 
 
Origin of the Indian Settlements. 27 
 
 mon hunting ground, and neither claimed authority to sell. 
 
 To confirm the authenticity of this statement it is 
 deemed proper to publish the following letter, written 
 by Thomas Chaulkley to a monthly meeting that was 
 held on Opequon on the 21st of May,* 1738, and is a 
 strong evidence. The following is from the original 
 copy: 
 
 "Virginia, at John Cheagles, 21st May, 1738. 
 "■To Friends of the Monthly Meeting at Opequon : 
 
 Dear friends who inhabit Shenandoah and Opequon .- 
 Having a concern for your welfare and prosperity, both 
 now and hereafter, and also the prosperity of your chil- 
 dren, I had a desire to see you, but being in years and 
 heavy, and much spent and fatigued with my long jour- 
 neyings in Virginia and Carolina, makes it seem too hard 
 for me to perform a visit in person to jovl, wherefore I 
 take this way of writing to discharge my mind of what 
 lies weighty thereon ; and 
 
 "First. I desire that you be careful (being far and back 
 inhabitants) to keejj a friendly correspondence with the 
 native Indians, giving them no occasion of offense, they 
 being a cruel and merciless enemy, where they think they 
 are wronged or defrauded of their rights, as woeful ex- 
 perience hath taught in Carolina, Virginia and Maryland, 
 and especially in New England, etc.; and 
 
 "Second. As nature hath given them and their fore- 
 fathers the possession of this continent of America (or 
 this wilderness) they had a material right thereto in jus- 
 tice and equity ; and no people, according to the law of 
 nature and justice and our own principle, which is ac- 
 cording to the glorious gospel of our dear and holy Jesus 
 Christ, ought to take away or settle on other men's lands 
 or rights without consent, or purchasing the same by 
 agreement of parties concerned ; v.rhich I suppose in your 
 case is not yet done. 
 
 "Thirdly. Therefore my counsel and christian advice 
 
 *The people of tliat day numbered tlie month. 
 
28 Origin of the Indian Settlements. 
 
 to you is, my dear friends, that the most reputable 
 among you do with speed endeavor to agree with and 
 purchase your lands of the native Indians or inhabitants. 
 Take example of our worthy and honorable late proprie- 
 tor, William Penn, who by his wise and religious care 
 in that relation hath settled a lasting peace and com- 
 merce with the natives, and through his prudent man- 
 agement therein hath been instiumental to plant in peace 
 one of the most flourishing provinces in the world. 
 
 "Fourthly. Who would ran the risk of the lives of 
 their wives and children for the sparing a little cost and 
 pains ? I am concerned to lay these things before you, 
 under an uncommon exercise of mind, that your new and 
 flourishing little settlement may not be laid waste, and 
 (if the providence of the Almighty doth not intervene,) 
 some of the blood of yourselves, wives or children be 
 shed or spilt on the ground. 
 
 ' 'Fifthly. Consider you are in the province of Virginia, 
 holding what rights you have under that government, 
 and the Virginians have made an agreement with the 
 natives to go as far as the mountains and no further ; 
 and you are over and beyond the mountains, therefore 
 out of that agreement, by which you lie ox^en to the in- 
 sults and incursions of the Southern Indians, who have 
 destroyed many of the inhabitants of Carolina and Vir- 
 ginia, and even now have destroyed more on the like 
 occasion. The English going beyond the bounds of their 
 agreement, eleven of tliem were killed by the Indians 
 while we were traveling in Virginia. 
 
 "Sixthly. If you believe yourselves to be within the 
 bounds of William Penu's patent from King Charles the 
 Second, which will be hard for you to prove, you being 
 far southward o£ his line, yet if done that will be no 
 consideration with the Indians without a purchase from 
 them, except you will go about to convince them by fire 
 and sword, contrary to onr principles ; and if that were 
 
 *3 
 
Origin of the Indian Settlements. 29 
 
 done they would ever be implacable enemies and the 
 land could never be enjoyed in peace. 
 
 "Seventhly. Please to note that in Pennsylvania no 
 new settlements are made without an agreement with the 
 natives, as witness Lancaster County, lately settled, 
 though that is far within the grant of William Penn's 
 patent from King Charles the Second ; wherefore you 
 lie open to the insurrections of the Northern as well as 
 Southern Indians ; and 
 
 "Lastly. Thus having shown my good will to you and 
 to your new settlement, that you might sit every one 
 under your own shady tree where none might make you 
 afraid, and that you might prosper naturally and spirit- 
 ually, you and your children ; and having a little eased 
 my mind of that weight and concern (in some measure) 
 that lay upon me, I at present desist and subscribe my- 
 self, in the love of our Holy Lord Jesus Christ, your real 
 friend, T. C." 
 
 This good man proves, through his most excellent let- 
 ter, that Quakers were among our earliest settlers, and 
 that they were early disposed to do justice to the natives 
 of the country. It is highly probable that the white 
 people might have obtained possession of the soil grad- 
 ually without so much loss of blood if they had first 
 adopted and adhered to this humane and just policy of 
 purchasing the Indians' lands. 
 
 Historians and records give considerable evidence of 
 proof that repeated purchases were made, covering the 
 lower portion of the county, while records show that 
 nearly all of the upper portion was purchased. Tradi- 
 tion relates that several tracts of land were purchased by 
 Quakers, near what is now known as Apple-Pie Ridge, 
 and that the Indians were never known to disturb them 
 while residing on the land so purchased. 
 
 It, however, affords matter of curious speculation and 
 interesting reflection to the inquiring mind, to notice in 
 this chapter several of the wars that took place in and 
 
30 Origin of the Indian Settlements. 
 
 near this county. That nations are frequently urged to 
 war and devastation by the restless and turbulent dispo- 
 sition so common to mankind, particularly among their 
 leaders, is a question of little doubt. The glory and re- 
 nown (falsely so termed) of great achievements in war, is 
 probably one principal cause of the wars frequently car- 
 ried on by people in a state of nature. 
 
 We have already stated the Indians that inhabited this 
 portion of the country were known as the Dela wares and 
 Catawba tribe. Tradition relates that these two tribes 
 of Indians exterminated a tribe called the Senedos that 
 resided on the Shenandoah River, near this county. An 
 aged Indian frequently visited the settlers, and on one 
 occasion informed an old settler, Benjamin Allen, that 
 these "tribes of Indians had killed his whole nation, 
 with the exception of himself and one youth ; that this 
 bloody slaughter took place when he (the Indian) was a 
 small boy." From the tradition it is probable the affair 
 took place some time shortly after the middle of the 
 seventeenth century. Tradition also relates that an old 
 Indian visited Mayor Andrew Keyser' s grandfather, of 
 Pennsylvania, and asked for something to eat, appear- 
 ing to be much agitated. After refreshing himself he 
 was asked what disturbed him. He replied, "The South- 
 ern Indians — Delawares and Catawbas — have killed my 
 whole nation." History states that evident signs of the 
 truth of this tradition are yet to be. seen — that near the 
 place of residence of the Senedos, on the north fork of 
 the Shenandoah River, an Indian mound, when first 
 seen, was 18 or 20 feet high, but is now ploughed dGwn. 
 
 The Delawares were afterward in constant wars with 
 the Catawbas, and at times inflicted the most cruel pun- 
 ishments. The former, we are told, was a much larger 
 and stronger tribe than the latter, and tortured the Ca- 
 tawbas to death with all the wonted barbarity and 
 cruelty peculiar to the savage character. 
 
 A party of Delaware Indians, as tradition relates 
 
Origin of the Indian Settlevxents. 31 
 
 crossed the Potomac near Oldtown, in Maryland, witli a 
 female Catawba prisoner. A short distance from this 
 place occurred a very remarkable instance of their sacri- 
 fices. They cruelly murdered their prisoner and moved 
 on. The next day several of them returned and cut off 
 the soles of her feet in order to prevent her from pursu- 
 ing and haunting them on the march. 
 
 This great tribe made the last sacrifice of their Catawba 
 prisoners, near Pennsylvania. A number of prisoners 
 were slowly tortured to death, and during their pro- 
 tracted and cruel sufferings their tormentors used the 
 most insulting language, tantalizing and threatening them 
 with the terrible vengeance of their nation as long as they 
 could speak. 
 
 This bloody tragedy soon reached the ears of the Gov- 
 ernor of Pennsylvania, and he at once commanded and 
 required all the authorities, both civil and military, to 
 interpose and prohibit a repetition of such acts of bar- 
 barity and cruelty. 
 
CHAPTER II. 
 FIRST SETTLEMENTS OP THE VALLEY. 
 ^N the year 1732, Joist Hite with his family, and his 
 ^ sons-in-law, viz : George Bowman, Jacob Chrisman and 
 Paul Froman, with their families ; Robert McKay, Robert 
 Green, William Duff, Peter Stephens, and several others, 
 making sixteen families in all, removed from Pennsylva- 
 nia, cutting their road from York and crossing the Co- 
 hongoruton* about two miles above Harper's Ferry. 
 Hite settled on the Opequon. Peter Stephens and several 
 others settled at Stephensburg and founded -the town. 
 The several families settled in the same neighborhood, 
 adjoining each other, where they could find wood and 
 water most convenient. The most authentic information, 
 handed down from one generation to another, leads us to 
 believe that Hite and his party of immigrants were the 
 first settlers west of the Blue Ridge. 
 
 John and Isaac Vanmetre next obtained a warrant 
 from Governor Gooch for locating 40,000 acres of land, 
 in the year 1730. They sold or transferred part of their 
 warrant to Joist Hite ; and from this warrant emanated 
 several of Hite's grants. Of the titles to the lands on 
 which Hite settled, with several other tracts in the neigh- 
 borhood of Stephensburg, the originals are founded on 
 this warrant. In 1734 Richard Morgan obtained a grant 
 for a tract of land in the immediate neighborhood of. 
 siiepherdstown. Thefirst settlers on this tract numbered 
 about twenty-five. 
 
 Tradition relates that a man by the name of John How- 
 ard, and his son, previous to the first settlement of our 
 
 *Cohongoruton is the ancient Indian name of the Potomac, from its 
 junction with the river Shenandoah to the AUeghaney Mountains. 
 
■ First Settlements of the Valley. 33 
 
 valley, made explorations and discovered the charming 
 South Branch Valley. They crossed the Alleghaney 
 mountains, and on the Ohio killed a very large buffalo, 
 which they skinned, and stretching his hide over ribs of 
 wood made a kind of boat. In ihis frail bark they de- 
 scended the Ohio and Mississippi to New Orleans, where 
 the French apprehended them as suspicious characters,, 
 and made them prisoners. However, they were dis- 
 charged, from whence- they crossed over to England. 
 Lord Fairfax,* living in England at the time, heard of 
 Mr. Howard's arrival, and sought an interview with him.. 
 Mr. Howard gave him a description of the fertility and 
 immense value of the South Branch, which determined 
 his lordship to secure it at once in manors. Notwith- 
 standing the selfish monopoly on the part of Lord Fair- 
 fax, numerous tenants were induced, by the great fertility 
 and value of the country, to take leases, settle and im- 
 prove the lands. At an early jjeriod many immigrants 
 settled on Capon, (anciently called Cacaphon, which is 
 said to be the Indian name) ; also on Lost river. Along 
 Back Creek, Cedar Creek, and Opequon, pretty numer- 
 ous settlements were made. The two great branches of 
 the upper forks of the Shenandoah were among our ear- 
 liest settlements. Surveys were made on a warrant along 
 the Opequon, north of Winchester, to Apple-Pie Eidge, 
 by an enterprising Quaker, named Ross. Numerous im- 
 migrants of the Quaker profession removed from Penn- 
 sylvania, and as early as the year 1738 held regular 
 monthly meetings on Opequon. The west side of the 
 Shenandoah below the forks were first settled by over- 
 seers and slaves. Another survey was granted, which 
 lies immediately below the above lines, running a con- 
 siderable distance into the county of Jefferson. The 
 greater portion of the country between North mountain 
 and the Shenandoah River, at the first settling of the 
 
 *Tlie reader should note Lord Fairfax, as considerable mention is made 
 in the following chapters. 
 
34 First Bdilevients of the Valley. 
 
 valley was one vast prairie, and afforded the finest pos- 
 sible pasturage for wild animals. The country bounded 
 in the larger kinds of gam?, such as the buffalo, elk, 
 deer, bear, panther, wild-cat, wolf, fox, beaver, otter, 
 and all other kinds of animals, wild fowl, etc., common 
 to forest countries, were abundant. 
 
 The country, now the county of Shenandoah, between 
 the Fort and North Mountains was also settled very 
 -early. The settlements through-.i the valley i^rogressed 
 witliout interruption for about twenty-three years. The 
 Indians suddenly disappeared in the year 1754, and 
 ■crossed the Alleghaney mountains. Settlers west of the 
 - Alleghaney moved into their midst and invited them to 
 ^move off. The Indians did not object to the Pennsylva- 
 inians settling the country, from, the fact of William 
 !Penn's treatment toward them. They believedall Penn's 
 raeii to be honest, virtuous, humane and benevolent ; but 
 fatal exj^erience taught them quite a different lesson, and 
 they soon found Pennsylvanians were little better than 
 others. The natives held in utter abhorrence the Vir- 
 ginians, whom they designated as "Long Knife," and 
 were literally opposed to their settling in the valley. 
 Tradition informs us of the fact, that the Indians and 
 white people resided in the same neighborhood for sev- 
 eral years after the first settlement, and that the Indians 
 were friendly and peaceable. During this period many 
 good, substantial dwelling houses had been erected, and 
 the settlements were in a flourishing condition. 
 
 Some years previous to the first settlement of the val- 
 ley, a man by the name of John Vanmetre, from New 
 York, discovered the fine country onthe Wappatomaka, 
 {the ancient Indian name of the South Branch of the 
 Potomac.) He was a kind of wandering Indian trader, 
 and became well acquainted with the Delawares. A 
 company was formed among them, and under his com- 
 mand marched to the South for the purpose of invading 
 the Catawbas. However, the Catawbas had anticipated 
 
First Settlements of the Valley. , 35 
 
 them and encountered and defeated tliem with immense 
 slaughter. When Mr. Yanmetre returned to New York, 
 he advised his sons, that if they ever migrated to Vir- 
 ginia, to secure a part of the South Branch bottom. He 
 described it as "The Trough," and the finest body of 
 land he had ever seen. One of his sons, Isaac Vanmetre, 
 ■who was about to migrate, took his father's advice, and 
 about the year 1736 or 1737, settled in Virginia. Mr. 
 Vanmetre returned to New Jersey shortly afterward, and 
 in 1740 came back, only to find other settlers on his place. 
 He went back to New Jersey again, and in 1744 returned 
 with his family to make a permanent settlement. In the 
 meantime a large number had settled in the neighbor- 
 hood, and already much progress could be noted. 
 
 Maj. Isaac Hite once stated, "that numerous parties 
 of Indians in passing his grandfather' s house on Opequon, 
 would call, and that but one instance of theft was ever 
 committed." The Indians charge the white people with 
 teaching them the knowledge of theft and other vices. 
 After the chiefs had received information of a theft search 
 was made until the article found, and the one in posses- 
 sion of it was punished severely. These facts go far to 
 show their high sense of honesty and summary justice. 
 An educated old Cherokee chief in a conversation with 
 Col. Barrett, one of the commissioners for running the 
 bouiidary line of Indian lands in 1815-16, remarked : 
 
 ' ' That before their fathers were acquainted with the 
 whites, the red people needed but little, and that little 
 the Great Spirit gave them, the forest supplying them 
 with food and raiment ; that before their fathers were 
 acquainted with the white people, they never got drunk, 
 because they had nothing to make them drunk, and 
 never committed theft because they had no temptation 
 to do so. It was true that when parties were out hunt- 
 ing, and one party was unsuccessful, and found the game 
 of the more successful party hung up, if they needed 
 provision they took it ; and this was not stealing — it was 
 
30 First Sdtltments of ike Valley. 
 
 the law and custom of the tribes. Red people never 
 swore, because they had no words to express an oath. 
 The red people meet once a year, at the feast of new corn, 
 extinguish all their fires and kindle up a new one, the 
 smoke of which ascends to the Great Spirit as agreateful 
 sacrifice. Now what better is your religion than ours* 
 The white people have taught us to get drunk, steal, lie, 
 cheat and swear, and with a knowledge of these vices 
 they uphold them ; therefore, we are injured by acquain- 
 tance with them." 
 
 To say the least of this untutored old man, his opinion, 
 religion excepted, was well founded and conveys a severe 
 rebuke upon those who boast of superior advantages of 
 the lights of education and a knowledge of tke religion 
 of God. From this digression let us again turn our at- 
 tention to the early settlers. 
 
 In 1763 many of them were giving their time and atten- 
 tion to rearing large herds of horses, cattle, hogs, etc. 
 Some of them became expert, hardy and adventurous 
 liunters, and depended chiefly for support and money- 
 making on the sale of skins and furs. Considerable 
 attention was given to the culture of the pea vine, which 
 grew abundantly fat in the summer season. The Hites, 
 Frys, Vanmetres and others raised vast stocks of horses^ 
 cattle and hogs in those days, upon v.'hicli Lord Fairfax 
 highly comm^ented at times. 
 
 The majority of our first immigrants were principally 
 from Pennsylvania, comj)Osed of native Germans or Ger- 
 man extraction. A number, however, were direct from 
 Germany, and several from Maryland, New Jersey and 
 New York. These immigrants brought with them tlie 
 religion, customs and habits of their ancestors. They 
 constituted three religious sects, viz: Lutherans, Men- 
 onists and Calvanists, with a few Tunkers, and were very 
 strict in their worship. 
 
 Land was the object whicli invited the greater number 
 of these people to cross the mountain ; for as the saying 
 
First Settlements of the Valley. 37 
 
 tlien was, "it was to be liad here fur the taking up." 
 Building a cabin and raising a crop of grain, however 
 small, of any kind, entitled the occupant to four hundred 
 acres of land, and a pre-emption right to one thousand 
 acres more adjoining, to be secured by a land office war- 
 rant. This right was to take effect i! there happened to 
 be so much vacant land, or any part thereof, adjoining 
 the tract secured by the settlement right. There was, at 
 an early period of our settlements, an inferior kind of 
 land title, denominated a "tomahawk right," which was 
 made by deadening a few trees near the head of a spring, 
 and marking the bark of some one or more of them wdth 
 the iidtials of the name of the person who made the im- 
 provement. These rights were often bought and sold. 
 Those who wished to make settlements on their favorite 
 tracts of land, bought up the tomahawk improvements, 
 rather than enter into quarrels with those who made 
 them. Other improvers of the land with a view to actual 
 settlement, and who hap[)ened to be stout veteran fel- 
 lows, took a very different course from that of purchas- 
 ing these rights. When annoyed by the claimants under 
 the tomahawk rights, they deliberately cut a feAV good 
 hickories, and gave them what was called in those days 
 "a laced jacket," or a sound whipping. 
 
 The buildings occupied a low situation, and tbe tops 
 of the surrounding hills were the boundaries of the tracts 
 to which the family mansion belonged. Our forefathers 
 were fond of farms of this description, and believed that 
 they were attended with the convenience, "that every- 
 thing comes to the house down hill." 
 
CHAPTER III. 
 
 THE INDIAN WARFARE. 
 ^ii^BOUT the year 1756 tMs whole frontier was left ex- 
 ^^ posed to the incursions of the Indians and French, 
 who had returned to this neighborhood after the defeat of 
 General Braddock by the French and Indians combined. 
 In the spring of the year a pavty of fifty or more Indians, 
 with a French captain at their head, crossed the Allegha- 
 ny Mountains, committing on the white settlers every 
 act of barbarous war. Capt. Jeremiah Smith, living in 
 what is now known as Frederick County, raised a party 
 of twenty men and marched out to meet the savages. At 
 the head of Capon River he fell in with them, when a 
 fierce and bloody battle was fought. Smith killed the 
 captain with his own hand. After having killed five 
 other Indians and wounding a' number, the savages gave 
 way and fled. Only two of Smith' s men w-ere killed. On 
 searching the body of the Frenchman a commission and 
 written instructions were found in his possession to meet 
 another party of about 50 Indians at Fort Frederick*, to 
 attack the fort, destroy it, and blow up the magazine. 
 Fortunately, the other party of Indians were encountered 
 low down on the North Branch of the Capon River by 
 Capt. Joshua Lewis, with a party of 18 men, when one 
 Indian was killed and the others broke and ran off. 
 Previous to the defeat of this party they had committed 
 considerable destruction of the property of the white 
 settlers, and took a Mrs. Horner and a girl about 13 
 years of age prisoners. Mrs. Horner was the mother of 
 seven or eight children, and never returned to her family. 
 
 *Foi-t Frederick is situated about 12 miles from JIartinsl)urg-, in Mary" 
 laud. 
 
The Indian Warfare. 39 
 
 The girl, Sarah Gibbons, was a prisoner 8 or 9 years be- 
 fore she returned home. 
 
 These Indians dispersed into small parties, and carried 
 the work of death and desolation into several neighbor- 
 hoods, in the counties now Berkeley, Frederick and 
 Shenandoah. About 18 or 20 of them crossed the North 
 Mountain at Mill's Gap, in the coilnty of Berkeley, killed 
 a man by the name of Kelly, and several of his family. 
 This massacre occurred about one mile from Gerards- 
 town. The Indians then passed on to the present site of 
 Martinsburg. About two miles from the latter place a 
 stockade was built, and known as the John Evans fort, 
 in which the neighboring people generally took shelter. 
 (The land on which this fort stands is now situated south 
 of onr town, and owned by a Mr. Fryatt.) A small party 
 of Indians attacked the dwelling house of a Mr. Evans, 
 a brother to the owner of the fort ; but being beaten off 
 they went in pursuit of a reinforcement. In their ab- 
 sence, Mr. Evans and his family made their escape to the 
 fort. The Indians returned and lired the house, which 
 was situated three miles south of town, near the Big 
 Spring. These Indians took a female prisoner on the 
 same day, at John Strode' s house. A boy by the name 
 of Hackney, on his way to the fort, met and advised her 
 not to go to the house, as Strode' s entire family had gone 
 to the fort, and the Indians had possession of the house. 
 She disregarded the advice of the boy, went to the house, 
 was seized by the Indians and made a prisoner. The boy 
 went back to the I'ort and told what had happened ; but 
 the men had all turned out to bury Kelly, and went in 
 pursuit of the Indians, leaving nobody to defend the fort 
 but the women and children. Mrs. Evans armed herself, 
 and called on all the women, who had firmness enough to 
 aim, to join her ; and such as were too timid she ordered 
 to run bullets. She then made a boy beat "to arms" on 
 a drum. The Indians became much alarmed at this, and 
 after firing Strode' s house made a hasty retreat, when 
 
40 The Indian Warfare. 
 
 tliey discovered the paity of white men just mentioned 
 and fired upon them, to no effect. The Latter finding the 
 Indians too strong for them, retreated to the fort. 
 
 After a captivity of three years, the girl spoken of as 
 being made a prisoner, returned to her home. Mrs. 
 Evans is the great-grandmother of our worthy and esti- 
 mable citizen, Mr. James M. Vanmetre, now living a 
 short distance south of town, and other brothers scattered. 
 Tillitson Evans, six brothers, and many others of her 
 great-grand children are living at the present day. 
 
 The Indians, from thence, passed on to Opequon, and 
 the next morning attacked Neally's fort, massacred most 
 of the people, and took a number of prisoners, among 
 whom were a Mr. Cohoon and wife, and a family of small 
 children. Mrs. Cohoon being nnable to travel fast 
 enough, her husband was forced ahead, in order to mur- 
 der her. Cohoon, however, heard her screams, and that 
 night made his escape. 
 
 The Indians proceeded as far as the vicinity of Fort 
 Pleasant* with several prisoners, and then divided them- 
 selves into two parties, in order to watch the foit. At a 
 late hour in the night, Mrs. Neff, a prisoner, escaped to 
 the fort and informed the inmates of the Indians where- 
 abouts. On the following day another party joined the 
 fort, and on the next morning sixteen men, well mounted 
 and armed, left the fort with a view to attack the Indi- 
 ans, who Avere soon discovered by their camp fires. The 
 whites separated in two parties, intending to close in 
 upon the Indians, but however were discovered by the 
 latter, who were alarmed by the barking of a dog. The 
 Indians cautiously moved off between the two parties of 
 white men unobserved, and taking a position between 
 them and their horses, opened a most destructive fire. 
 The whites stood their ground with great firmness and 
 
 *Fort "Pleasant was a strong stoclvade ivith block houses, erected on the 
 lands formerly oivnod by Isaac Vanmetre, on the South Branch of the 
 Potomac. 
 
Tlie Indian IVarfare. 41 
 
 bravery, nnd a desperate and bloody conflict ensued. 
 Seven of the whites -svere killed and four Avounded. 
 Three Indians fell in this conflict and several were seri- 
 ously wounded. The men of the fort were compelled to 
 retreat, and their horses were secured by the victors. 
 Just before this action commenced, Mr. Vanmetre, an 
 old man, mounted his horse, rode upon a high lidge. and 
 witnessed the battle. He returned with all speed to the 
 fort and gave notice' of the defeat. He was killed by the 
 Indians in 1757. 
 
 Wear about this year a Mr. Williams resided on Pat- 
 terson's Creek. Hearing of the approach of the Indians 
 he repaired with his neighbors to Fort Pleasant forsecu- 
 rity, a distance of nine miles. Alter remaining here a 
 few days, supposing their houses might be revisited with 
 safety, Mr. AV., with seven others, crossed the mountain 
 for that purpose. On reaching tlie creek they separated 
 and Mr. Williams went to his farm alone. Having tied 
 his horse to a bush lie commenced salting his cattle, 
 when seven Indians stepped between him and his horse 
 and demanded a surrender. His only answer was a ball 
 from his rifle that laid one of their number low to the 
 ground. The Indians then retreated to the house, and 
 barricading the doors began tiring through the windows. 
 Mr. Williams hid behind a hominy block in a corner, 
 from which he fired at Lis assailants through the cracks 
 of the building, as opportunity offered. In this way he 
 killed five out of tlie s^-ven. The remaining two would 
 not give up their prey, but resolved to proceed more cau- 
 tiously, and going to the least exposed side of the house, 
 pne was }aised upon the shoulders of the other to an 
 opening in the logs some distance above the level of Mr. 
 Williams, who consequently did not observe their manoj- 
 uvre, and in this way the Indian shot him. His body was 
 instantly taken, cut in quarters and hung to the four 
 corners of the building. His head was stuck upon a 
 fence stake in front of ihe door. « 
 
42 The Indian Warfare. 
 
 In the year 1757, a numerous body of Indians crossed 
 the Alleghany, and, as usual, divided themselves into 
 small parties, hovering about the different forts, and 
 committing many acts of murder and destruction to 
 property. iS'ear about the year 1758, a party of about 50 
 Indians and 4 Frenchmen penetrated into the neighbor- 
 hood of Mill Creek, now in this county. This was a 
 pretty thickly settled neighborhood, and among other 
 houses, George Painter had erected a large log one, with 
 a commodious cellar. On the alarm being given, the 
 neighboring people took refuge in this house. Late in 
 the afternoon they were attacked. Mr. Painter attempted 
 to fly, but had three balls shot through his body and fell 
 dead. The others surrendered, and the Indians then 
 dragged the dead body back to the house, threw it iu) 
 plundered the house, and set fire to it. While the house 
 was in flames, consuming the body of Mr. Painter, they 
 forced from the arms of their mothers four infant chil- 
 dren, hung them up in trees, shot them in savage sport, 
 and left them hanging. They then set fire to a stable, 
 containing a parcel of sheep and calves, thus cruelly and 
 wantonly torturing to deaili the inoffensive dumb ani- 
 mals. The Indians then made a hasty retreat, taking 
 with them about 48 prisoners. After si.K days' travel 
 they reached their villages west of the Alleghany moun- 
 tains. A council was held and determined u^Don to sac- 
 rifice their helpless prisoner, Jacob Fisher, a lad 12 or 13 
 years old, who was, with his parents and other children, 
 taken captive:^. They first ordered the boy to collect a 
 quantity of dry wood. The poor little fellow shuddered, 
 burst into tears, and told his father they intended to 
 burn him. "I hope not," said his father, and advised 
 him to obey. When he had collected a sufficient quan- 
 tity of wood to answer their purpose, they cleared and 
 smoothed a ring around a sapling, to which they tied 
 him by one hand, then formed a trail of wood around the 
 tree and set it on fire. The poor boy was then compelled 
 
Tlie Indian Waffare. 43 
 
 to run around in this ring of fire until his lope wound 
 Mm up to the sapling, and then back until he came in 
 contact with the flame, whilst his infernal tormentors 
 were drinking, singing, and dancing around him with a 
 horrid joy. This was continued for several hours, during 
 which time the savages became beastly drunk, and as 
 they fell prostrate to the ground, the squaws would keep 
 up the fire. With long, sharp poles, prepared for the 
 purpose, they would pierce the body of their victim 
 when he flagged, until the poor, helpless boy, fell and 
 expired with the most excruciating torments. The family 
 were compelled to be witnesses of the heart-rending 
 tragedy. 
 
 These outrages of the Indians drove many of the white 
 settlers below the Blue Ridge, and broke up the settle- 
 ments through this locality. About the year 1758 there 
 were two white men who disguised themselves in the 
 habit of Indians, and appeared in the neighborhood of 
 the present site of Martinsburg. Supposed to be Indians 
 they were pursued and killed, and it was no uncommon 
 thing for scoundrels and rascals to act in this manner. 
 Their object Avas to frighten people to leave their homes, 
 that they might rob and plunder them of their valuable 
 articles. xVt Hedge's fort, on the present road from Mar- 
 tinsburg to Bath, west of Back Creek, a man was killed 
 while watching the spring. In the years 1773-74, nu- 
 merous conflicts and bloody battles occurred between 
 the Avhites and Indians. About the 1st of May, 1774, 
 during Gov. Dunmore's reign, tLe whites were growing 
 in strength, and in large numbers commenced war on the 
 savages with marked effect. 
 
 TUASSACKE AT FOKT KEALLY IN 175G— ROilANTIC STORY 
 OF ISABELLA STOCKTON, OF BERKELEY COUNTY. 
 
 [Extract from an historical address delivered by the 
 late Hon. Charles J. Faulkner, at the University of West 
 Virginia, in June, 1875 :] 
 
 "There is one incident connected with the early his- 
 
44 Tlte Indian Warfare. 
 
 tory of the county in -ttiiicli I reside which mayj^ossibly 
 prove interesting to the fairer portion of my audience. 
 It rests upon authentic evidence. I si:)oI-ie of the mas- 
 sacre of NeaUy Fort, on the Opeqnon Creek, in the 
 county of Berkeley. It was about daylight, on the 17th 
 •of September, 1706, that a roving baud of Indians sur- 
 prised that little fort and murdered and scalped all they 
 found in it. On their return from this bloody work they 
 passed the house of Wm. Stocktoa, east of the North 
 Mountain, who, about one hour before their arrival, un- 
 conscious of danger, had gone with his wife about two 
 miles distant to perform the last duties to a dying neigh- 
 bor, leaving their children at home. The Indians seized 
 two of these children, George, a boy of fourteen years, 
 and Isabella, a girl then ten years of age, and carried 
 them off as captives to the north. George, who was ^ 
 youth of remarkable energy and spirit, after a captivity 
 •of three years, made his escape and returned to his home 
 in Berkeley County, with his feelings deeply embittered 
 against the Indians and their allies, the French. Isa- 
 bella Stockton, after being with them something up- 
 wards of a month, was sold by them to a wealthy Cana- 
 dian trader, who took her to his home near Montreal, 
 and being touched by the artless manners and prepos- 
 sessing qualities of the child, bestowed, with his Avife, 
 every care on her educaiion and training which the con- 
 dition of the country then permitted. At sixteen years 
 of age she had developed into a girl of extraordinary 
 beauty and attractions. At this time there arrived from 
 France a nephew of the trader of the name of Jean Bap- 
 tiste Plata, a young man highly educated and of the no- 
 blest and most chivalric ti aits of character Living in 
 the same house with Isabella, a mutual attachment soon 
 sprang up between them, and in about one year he made 
 known to his uncle his purpose to ask her hand in mar- 
 riage. The uncle approved his pur])ose, and the young 
 man opened the subject to Isabella. She told liin'i that 
 
Tlie Indian Warfare. 45 
 
 slie could not disguise from him her deep altacliment to 
 him, but she felt compelled to disclose to him what she 
 had never before breathed !o tiny human being— some- 
 thing of her early history. When but ten years of age 
 she had been torn as a captive from her parents by the 
 Indians, and had been sold to his uncle. The images of 
 her dear father and mother had been continually present 
 to her mind from that day to this. Her dreams had 
 kept their faces and features as fresh and vivid in her 
 memory as if she had seen them every day, and she did 
 not feel that she could, with satisfaction to herself, 
 change her relations in life until she had once more revis- 
 ited her home in Virginia, and if her parents were still 
 alive, to ask their consent to the proposed marriage. 
 The young Frenchman promptly offered to take her to 
 her parents, not for a moment doubting that they would 
 cordially ratify his union with their daughter. He ac- 
 cordingly procured the necessary horses from his uncle, 
 and they started on their long and perilous journey. 
 They arrived safely in the county of Berkeley, and he 
 delivered her into the embraces of her astonished and 
 delighted parents. For a few days all was gladness and 
 joy. But as soon as it was communicated to them that 
 the young Frenchman was engaged to and desired their 
 daughter in marriage, then all the animosity of the per- 
 secuted settler sprang up in their bosoms. A Frenchman 
 at that day was more hateful to a West Virginia back- 
 woodsman than even a Shav/nee Indian, for they regarded 
 them as the instigators and fomenters of all the cold- 
 blooded murders and barbarities which had drenched 
 their settlements in blood. His proposal of marriage 
 was rejected ; he was even ordered to leave the house, 
 but he lingered long enough in the neighborhood to ma- 
 ture an arrangement with Isabella by which he might 
 effect her escape and both return to Canada. Availing 
 himself of the opportunity when the father and George 
 were absent on a hunt across the North Mountain, the 
 
46 27^-6 Indian Warfare. 
 
 two lovers started upon their journey northward. The 
 day after their departure the father and son returned, 
 when the enraged father, discovering the flight, gave his 
 orders to the fiery and impetuous George to go imme- 
 diately in pursuit and "to bring Isabella back, dead or 
 alive, for he would rather see her a corpse than hear of 
 her marriage with a Frenchman." Meanwhile the fugi- 
 tives had crossed the Potomac ; they had forded the 
 Juniata, and they had reached the west bank of the Sus- 
 quehanna, in the county now called Lycoming, in Penn- 
 sylvania, where they were detained by a sudden rise in 
 the waters of that river. Here the furious and maddened 
 George, whose temper had not been improved by a three 
 year's servitude among the Indians, overtook the aston- 
 ished lovers. The scene that followed was as brief as it 
 was bloody. lie demanded the return of his sister. She 
 refused to go back. Her lover interposed, and in two 
 minutes the brave and chivalrous Frenchman lay a bleed- 
 ing corpse in the arms of the agonized Isabella. B[istory 
 does not inform us what disposition was made of the 
 dead body of Jean Baptiste Plata, but the lovely Isabella, 
 crushed in all her earthly afl'ections, was brought almost 
 a raving maniac to her father s house. Ten years elapsed 
 before her mind recovered its accustomed tone and vigor, 
 when she married a gentleman of the name of Wm. 
 McC leery, and they removed from Berkeley to Morgan- 
 town." •"^ 
 
 Plowever, for quite a lengthy period afterward the In- 
 dians continued hostile and bitter in their depredations. 
 Powerful armies of the whites were raised, and have at 
 last succeeded in almost terminating Indian existence. 
 
CHAPTER IV. 
 
 HOUSES, FURNITURE, DIET AND DRESS OP THE 
 EARLY SETTLERS. 
 CORRECT and detailed view of the origin and 
 mode of living, and their progress from one condi- 
 tion or point of wealth, science and civilization, to 
 another, is always highly interesting, even when received 
 through the dusky medium of history. But when this 
 retrospect of things past and gone is drawn from the rec- 
 ollections and experiences of old and venerable citizens, 
 and handed down to the rising generation, the impres- 
 sions it makes on the heart are of the most vivid, deep 
 and lasting kind. The municipal, as well as ecclesiasti- 
 cal institutions of society, whether good or bad, in con- 
 sequence of their long continued use, give a corresponding 
 cast to the public character of society, whose conduct 
 they direct, and the more so because in the lapse of time 
 the observance of them becomes a matter of conscience. 
 The settlement of a new country in the immediate neigh- 
 borhood of an old one," is not attended with much diffi- 
 culty, because supplies can be readily obtained from the 
 latter ; but the settlement of a country very remote from 
 any cultivated region, is a very different thing ; because 
 at the outset, food, raiment, and the implements of 
 husbandry, are obtained only in small supplies and with 
 great difficulty. The task of making new establishments 
 in a remote wilderness, in time of profound peace, is 
 sufficiently difficult ; but when, in addition to all the 
 unavoidable hardships attendant on this business, those 
 resulting from an extensive and furious Avarfare with 
 savages are superadded ; toil, privations and sufferings, 
 are then carried to the full extent of the capacity of men 
 
48 Houses, Furniture, &g., of the Early Settlers. 
 
 to endure tliem. Suck v/as the wretched condition of 
 our forefathers in making their settlements here, and to 
 all their difliculties and privations, the Indian war was a 
 weighty addition. 
 
 The following histor}' oC the i)0verty, labors, suflfer- 
 icgs, manners and customs, of our forefather?, will 
 api.)ear like a collection of "tales of olden times," with- 
 out any garnish of language to spoil the original portraits, 
 by giving them shades of coloring which they did not 
 possess. 
 
 A spot was selected on a ])ieceof land for their habita- 
 tion, and a day appointed for commencing the work of 
 building their cabin. The fatigue i)arty consisted of 
 choppers, whose business it was to fell the trees and cut 
 them off at proper lengths — a man with his team for 
 hauling them to the iJace and arranging them — and a 
 carpent'ir, if he might be called such, Avhose business it 
 was to search the Avoods for a jiroper tree for making 
 clapboards for the roof. The materials for the cabin 
 Avere mostly prepared on the first day, and sometimes the 
 foundation laid in the evening ; the second day was 
 allotted for the raising. In the morning of the next day 
 the neighbors collected for the raising. The first thing 
 to be done was the election of four corner men, whose 
 business it was to notch and place the logs, the rest of 
 the comjjany furnishing them with the timbers. In the 
 meantime the boards and puncheons were collected for 
 the floor and roof, so that by the time the cabin AA'as a 
 fev? rounds high, the sleepers and floor began to be laid. 
 Openings were afterward made for the door, windows 
 and chimney. The roof was formed by making the end 
 logs shorter until a single log formed the comb of the 
 roof. Oq these logs the clapboards were placed and lap- 
 ped over each considerable distance, which were held in 
 their proper places by logs being placed upon them. 
 
 The Germans were more uniform in the building of 
 their cabins, and their barn was usually the best build- 
 
Houses, Furniture, &c., of the Early Settlers. 49 
 
 ing on the farm. Their dwelling houses were seldom 
 raised more than a single story, with a large cellar un- 
 derneath. In the upper floor garners for holding grain 
 were very common. A piazza was a very common appen- 
 dage, in which their saddles, bridles and very frequently 
 the wagon or plow harness were hung up. 
 
 In the above has been given a description of the dwel- 
 lings of the early settlers, and to make mention of the 
 furniture, diet and dress used in those days may proba- 
 bly prove of interest. The furniture for the table for 
 several years after the settlement of this locality consisted 
 of a few pewter dishes, plates and spoons, but mostly of 
 wooden bowls, trenchers and noggins. If the latter were 
 scarce, gourds and hard- shelled squashes made up the 
 deficiency. The iron pots, knives and forks were brought 
 from the east side of the moantains, along with the salt 
 and iron, on pack-horses. The table was generally fixed 
 in one corner of the stove room, with permanent benches 
 on one side. Their beds were filled with straw or chaff, 
 with a fine feather-bed for the covering. 
 
 These articles of furniture corresponded very well with 
 the articles of diet on which they were employed. Hog 
 and hominy were proverbial for the dish of which they 
 were the component parts. Johnny cake and pone were, 
 at the outset of the settlement of the country, the only 
 forms of bread in use for breakfast and dinner. At sup- 
 per milk and mush were the standard dish. When milk 
 was not plenty, which was often the case, owing to the 
 scarcity of cattle or the want of proper pasture for them, 
 the substantial dish of hominy had to supply the place 
 of them. Mush was frequently eaten with sweetened 
 water, molasses, bear's oil, or the gravy of fried meat. 
 Every family cultivated an acre or more, which they 
 called "truck patches," and raised a variety of vegeta- 
 bles. The natural result of this kind of rural life was to 
 produce a hardy and vigorous race of people. It was 
 
50 Houses, Furniture, &c., of the Early Settlers. 
 
 tills race of i^eople who liad to meet and breast the vari- 
 ous Indian ivars and the storms of the revolution. 
 
 On the frontiers, and particularly amongst those who 
 were much In the habit of hunting, 'and going on scouts 
 and campaigns, the dress of the men, resembled partly 
 that of the Indian and the civilized nations. The hunt- 
 ing skirt was universally worn. This was a kind of loose 
 frock, reaching about half way down, with large sleeves 
 and a belt. This skirt was generally made of llnsey, 
 sometimes of coarse linen, and a few of dressed deer 
 skins. A pair of moccasins answered for the feet much 
 better than shoes, and were made of dressed deer skin. 
 In the latter years of the Indian war the J'oung men be- 
 came enamored of the Indian dress, and adopted It almost 
 entirely. 
 
 The reader will, naturally, desire a sketch of the dress 
 adopted by the women ; and the younger minds will more 
 especially desire an idea of the weddings of those days. 
 A description of the ceremony adopted will, doubtless, 
 prove very interesting, in which will be, described also 
 the women's dress : 
 
 For a long time after the first settlement of this locality, 
 the inhabitants in general married very young. There 
 "was no distinction of rank and very little of fortune. 
 On these accounts the first impressions of love resulted 
 in marriage, and a family establishment cost nothing 
 more than a little labor. The practice of celebrating the 
 marriage at the house of the bride began at an early 
 period, and it should seem with great propriety. She 
 was also given the choice to make the selection as to who 
 should perform the ceremony. In those days a wedding 
 engaged the attention of a whole neighborhood, and both 
 old and young engaged in the frolic with eager anticipa- 
 tion. This is not to be wondered at, when it is told that 
 a wedding was almost the only gathering which was not 
 accompanied with the labor of reaping, log-rolling, build- 
 ing a cabin, or planning some scout or campaign. 
 
Houses, Farniture, &c., of the Early Settlers. 51 
 
 On the morning ol the wedding day, the groom and 
 his attendants assembled at the house of his father, for 
 the purpose of reaching the mansion of his bride by noon, 
 which was the usual time for celebrating the nuptials, 
 and which for certain must take place before dinner. Let 
 the reader imagine an assemblage of people, without a 
 store, tailor or mantuamaker, within an hundred miles, 
 and an assemblage of horses, without a blacksmith or 
 saddler within an equal distance. The gentlemen dress- 
 ed in shoepacks, moccasins, leather breeches, legging, 
 and linsey hunting shirts, all homemade. The ladies 
 ■dressed in linsey petticoats and linsey or linen bed-gowns, 
 coarse shoes, stockings, handkerchiefs, and buckskin 
 gloves, if any ; if there were any buckles, rings, buttons 
 or ruffles, they were relics of old times, family pieces 
 from parents or grand-parents. The horses were capari- 
 soned with old saddles, bridles or halters, and pack- 
 saddles, with a bag or blanket thrown over them— a rope 
 ■or string as often constituted the girth as a piece of leather. 
 
 The march, in double file, was often interrupted by the 
 narrowness and obstructions of the horse paths, as they 
 were called, for there were no roads. These difficulties 
 were often increased, sometimes by the good, and some- 
 , times by the ill will of neighbors ; by felling trees and 
 tying grape vines across the way. Sometimes an ambus- 
 cade was formed by the wayside, and an unexpected dis- 
 charge of several guns took place, so as to cover the 
 wedding company with smoke. Let the reader imagine 
 the scene that followed this discharge— the sudden spring 
 ■of the horses, the shrieks of the girls, and the chivalric 
 bustle of their partners to save them from falling. Some- 
 times, in spite of all that could be done to prevent it, 
 some were thrown to the ground ; if a wrist, elbow, or 
 ankle happened to be sprained, it was tied with a hand- 
 herchief, and little more was thought or said about it. 
 
 Another ceremony commonly took place before the 
 party reached their destination When the party were 
 
52 Houses, Furniture, &o., of the Early Settlers. 
 
 within about a mile of the bride's house, t^yo young men 
 would single out to run for the bottle ; the worse the 
 path, the more logs, bush and deep hollows, the better, 
 as these obstacles afforded an opportunity for the greater 
 display of intrepidity and horsemanship. The English 
 fox chase, in point of danger to the riders and their 
 horses, was nothing to this race for the bottle. The start 
 was announced by an Indian yell, when logs, bush, mud- 
 holes, hill and glen, were speedily passed by the rival 
 ponies. The bottle was always filled for the occasion^ 
 and there was no need of judges. The first that reached 
 the door was handed the prize, and returned in triumph 
 announcing his victory over his rival by a shrill whoop. 
 The bottle was given the groom and his attendants at the 
 head of the troop, and then to each pair in succession, to 
 the rear of the line. After giving each a dram, he placed 
 the bottle in his bosom and took his station in the com- 
 pany. The' ceremony preceded the dinner, which was 
 a substantial backwoods feast of beef, pork, fowls and 
 sometimes venison and bear meat, with plenty of cab- 
 bage, potatoes and other vegetables. 
 
 After dinner dancing commenced with four handed 
 reels or square sets and jigs, and generally lasted until 
 the next morning. About 9 or 10 o'clock a deputation 
 of the young ladies stole off the bride and put her to bed. 
 This would be unnoticed by the hilarious crowd, and as 
 soon as discovered a deputation of young men in like 
 manner would steal off the groom and place him snugly 
 by the side of his bride. The'dance still continued, and 
 when seats happened to be scarce, which was often the 
 case, every young man, when not engaged in the dance, 
 was obliged to offer his lap as a seat for one of the girls, 
 which was sure to be accepted. During the hilarity the 
 newly married couple werenot forgotten. Late in the 
 night one would remind the company that the new cou- 
 ple stood in need of refreshments. The bottle was then 
 called "Black Betty," which was sent up the ladder,. 
 
Houses, Furniture, <£c., of the Early Settlers. 53 
 
 generally accompanied by a quantity of beef, bread, iwrk 
 and cabbage sufficient to afford a good meal for half a 
 dozen hungry men . During the festivity ' 'Black Betty' ' 
 was called out, and in taking a dram they would say, 
 "Here's health to the groom, not forgetting myself, and 
 here's to the bride, thumping luck and big children." 
 
 Being in perpetual hostility with the Indians, big chil- 
 dren were considered of much importance, and this ex- 
 pression was thought to be of a very proper and friendly 
 wish. It often happened that some neighbors or rela- 
 tions, not being asked to the wedding, took offense, and 
 as a mode of revenge they adopted the plan of cutting off 
 the manes, f oretops and tails of the horses of the wedding 
 company. The feasting and dancing often lasted several 
 days, and on their return the race for "Black Betty" 
 was the same as before. After these ceremonies several 
 days rest were required before they could return to their 
 ordinary labors. 
 
 Some of my readers may doubt the veracity of this 
 statement, but I would state, that in presenting this 
 book to the public, I have tried to give the facts as cor- 
 rectly as possible. This extract has been sketched from 
 an old history published in 1833, and is vouched for by 
 several very old citizens You may ask why this un- 
 pleasant portrait of our forefathers has been presented ? 
 In turn I would ask why are you pleased with the his- 
 tories of the blood and carnage of battles, and delighted 
 with the fictions of poetry and the novel romance ? It 
 is a true state of society and manners which are fast van- 
 ishing from the memory of man, depicted with a view 
 to give the young people of to-day a knowledge of the 
 advantage of civilization. 
 
CHAPTER V. 
 
 NORTHERN NECK OF VIRGINIA. 
 
 ^^pHARLES II, King of England, granted to the ances- 
 iM tors of the late Lord Fairfax all the lands lying be- 
 tween the head- waters of the Rappahannock and Potomac 
 to Chesapeake bay. This immense grant included the 
 territory now comprising the counties of Lancaster, Nor- 
 thumberland, Richmond, Westmoreland, Stafford, King 
 George, Prince William, Fairfax, Loudon, Fauquier, 
 Culpeper, Madison, Page, Shenandoah, Hardy, Hamp- 
 shire, Morgan, B,erkeley, Jefferson and Frederick. It is 
 said that the first grant to the ancestors of Fairfax was 
 only intended to include the territory in the Northern 
 Neck, east of the Blue Ridge ; but after Faixfax dis- 
 covered that the Potomac river headed in the Alleghaney 
 mountains, he returned to England, and instituted hig 
 petition in the Court of King's Bench for extending his 
 grant into the Alleghaney mountains, so as to include 
 the territory composing the present counties of Page, 
 Shenandoah, Hardy, Hampshire, Morgan, Berkeley, Jef- 
 ferson and Frederick. A compromise took place between 
 Fairfax and the Crown, but previous to the institution 
 of Fairfax's suit, several individuals had obtained grants 
 for large bodies of land west of the Blue Ridge, from the 
 colonial government of Virginia. In the compromise it 
 was expressly stipulated that the holders of lands, under 
 what were then called the King's grants, were to be 
 quieted in their right of possession. 
 
 Joist Hite and his partners had obtained grants for a 
 large body. Fairfax, under the pretext that Hite and 
 others had not comiDlied with the terms of their grants, 
 took it upon himself to grant away large quantities of 
 
Nortliern Neck of Yirginia. 55 
 
 these lands to other individuals. This high handed pro- 
 ceeding on the i)art of his Lordship, produced a law suit, 
 which Hite and his partners instituted in the year 1736, 
 and in the year 1786 it was decided. The plaintiiTs re- 
 ceived a large amount of money for the rents and profits, 
 and a considerable quantity of land. 
 
 In the year 1736 Fairfax entered a caveat against Hite 
 and his partners, alleging that the lands claimed by them 
 were within the bounds of the Northern Neck, and con- 
 sequently his property. This was the beginning of the 
 controversy, and led to the suit instituted by the latter. 
 However, all the parties died before the suit was decided. 
 The immense Fairfax estate has passed out of the hands 
 of Fairfax's heirs. The lands, (as observed in a preced- 
 ing chapter,) were granted by Fairfax in fee simple to 
 his tenants, subject to an annual rent of two shillings 
 sterling per hundred acres, which in the aggregate 
 amounted to a very large sum. To this Fairfax added 
 and required the payment of ten shillings sterling on 
 each fifty acres (what he termed composition money,) 
 and which was paid on issuing the grant. In the year 
 1742 he opened his office in the county of Fairfax for 
 granting out land. A few years after he removed to the 
 county of Frederick, and settled at what he called 
 "Greenway-Court," about 12 or 14 miles south-east of 
 the x^resent Winchester, where he kept his land office 
 during his life. He died in the autumn of 17S1, very 
 soon after the surrender of Cornwallis. It is stated that 
 when he heard of the capture of Cornwallis, he called his 
 servant to assist him to bed, saying, "It is time for me 
 to die." He never left his bed again until consigned to 
 the tomb. He had, prior to his death, made a donation 
 to the Episcopal society of a lot of land, upon which a 
 large stone building was erected as a place of public 
 worship. To the church was attached a large burial 
 ground, in which his remains were interred. 
 
 In the year 1785 the legislature of yirginia passed an 
 
56 Nortliern Neck of Virginia. 
 
 act in wMch, among other provisions, (in relation to tlie 
 Northern Neck,) is the following : 
 
 '■^And he it further enacted, That the landholders 
 within the said district of the Northern Neck shall be 
 forever hereafter exonerated and discharged from com- 
 position and quitrents, any law, custom or usage to the 
 contrary notwithstanding." This action of the State 
 freed the people from a vexatious and troublesome tax- 
 ation. Fairfax' s representatives soon sold out their in- 
 terest in his private estate in this country, and it is be- 
 lieved there is no part of this vast landed estate remain- 
 ing in the hands of any branch of the Fairfax family. 
 Chief Justice Marshall, the late Raleigh Colston, Esq., 
 and the late Gen. Henry Lee, purchased the right of 
 Fairfax's legatees — who were then in England — to what 
 is called the Manor of Leeds, which cpntained about 15U,- 
 000 acres ; South Branch Manor, 55,000 acres ; Patter- 
 son's Creek Manor, 9,000 acres, and various other tracts 
 of land of immense value, the most of which had been 
 leased out for long terms of lives. 
 
 This profligate manner of granting away lands in im- 
 mense bodies was unquestionably founded in the most 
 unwis-e and unjust policy. Such are the blessings of 
 kingly governments. It tended m.ore to tie and bind 
 down the speedy settlement and improvement of the 
 country, instead of advancing its interests for a more 
 rapid development. But, alas, the disgusting, high- 
 sounding title of "My Lord" is no longer applied to poor, 
 frail humanity. 
 
 It appears that Lord Fairfax, among others, was an 
 attentive officer in the time of the Indian wars. He had 
 more at stake and the command of greater funds than 
 any other individual of his day, therefore it behooved 
 him to be active. The Indian hostilities retarded the 
 settlement of his large domain, and of course lessened his 
 revenue. It is said that he was remarkable for his eccen- 
 tricities and singularity of disposition and character, and 
 
Nortliern Eeck of Virgiaia. 57 
 
 that lie had an insatiable passion for hoarding up English 
 gold. He never married, and of course left no child to 
 inherit his vast estate. All his property, or the greater 
 portion of it, was devised to his nephew in England, the 
 Rev. Denny Martin, on condition that he would apply 
 to the Parliament of Britain for an act to authorize him 
 to take the name of Lord Fairfax. This was done, and 
 Denny Lord Fairfax, like his uncle, never marrying, he 
 devised the estate to Gen. Philip Martin, who, never 
 marrying and dying without issue, devised the estate to 
 two old maiden sisters, who sold it to Messrs. Marshall, 
 Colston and Lee. 
 
 It is proper, before the subject of Lord Fairfax's grant 
 is dismissed, to inform the reader that a few years after 
 the war of the revolution an attempt was made to confis- 
 cate all that part of his landed estate devised to his 
 nephew, Denny Martin, (after Denny Lord Fairfax.) 
 But Messrs. Marshall, Colston and Lee having purchased 
 the estate, a compromise took place between them and 
 the State Government. The sale of the estate of Lord 
 Fairfax by his legatees in England, and the devise and 
 sale of the real estate of the late Co). T. B. Martin, is the 
 last of the history of the Fairfax interest in the Northern 
 Neck, a territory comprising about one-fourth of the 
 whole of the present limits of Virginia. 
 
 BERKELEY COUKTY LAID OFF. 
 
 The twx) counties of Frederick and Augusta were laid off 
 at the session of the Colonial Legislature in the year 
 1738, and included all the vast region of country west of 
 the Blue Ridge. Previous to that time the County of 
 Orange included all the territory west of the mountains. 
 Orange was taken from Spotsylvania in the year 1734, 
 the latter having previously crossed the Blue Ridge and 
 took in a considerable part of what is now the County of 
 Page. Previous to laying off the County of Orange the 
 territory west of the Blue Ridge, except the small part 
 
58 ISoriliern Necli of Virginia. 
 
 wMch lay in Spotsylvania, does not appear to have 
 been included in any county. 
 
 Thus it appears that a little moie than one hundred 
 years ago Spotsylvania was a frontier county, and that 
 the vast region west of the Blue Ridge, with its millions 
 of people, has been settled and improved from an entire 
 wilderness. The country for more than a thousand miles 
 to the west has been, within this short period, rescued 
 from a state of natural barbarism, and is now the seat of 
 the fine arts and sciences, of countless millions of wealth 
 and the abode of freedom, both religious and politi- 
 cal. Judging from the past, what an immense prospect 
 opens itself to our view for the future. Within the last 
 half century this great portion of country has poured 
 out thousands of emigrants, who have contributed to- 
 wards peopling the North, East, South and West, and 
 immigrations still continue. 
 
 It has been already stated that Frederick County was 
 laid off in the year 1738. Berkeley was taken from 
 Frederick in the year 1772. The first Sheriff was Adam 
 Stephen, who was constituted and appointed by a com- 
 mission from the Governor for Berkeley County on the 
 18th day of April, 1772. A number of justices were ap- 
 pointed for the county, and their commission for their 
 appointment is herewith given, as taken from the origi- 
 nal copy now on file in the Clerk's Office, which doubtless 
 will prove of interest to the reader : 
 ''Berkeley County, s. s. 
 
 "Be it remembered that at the house of Edward Bee- 
 son, the Nineteenth Day of May, Anno Domini 1772, a 
 Commission of the Peace and a Commission of Oyer and 
 Terminer from his' excellency Lord Dunmore dated the 
 17th Day of April in the year aforesaid directed to Ralph 
 Wormley, JacobTIite, Van Swearengen, Thomas Ruther- 
 ford, Adam Stephen, John Heavill, Thomas Swearengen, 
 Samuel Washington, James Hourse, William Little, 
 Robert Stephen, John Briscoe, Hugh Lyle, James 
 
JSortliern Neclc of Virginia. 59 
 
 Strode, William Morgan, Robert Stogdon, James Seaton, 
 Robert Carter Willis, and Thomas Robinson, Gentle- 
 men and also Dedimus' s for administering Oaths, directed 
 to the same Persons or any two of them ; where pro- 
 duced and read, whereupon the said Van Swearengen, 
 having first taken the usual oaths to his Majesty's Per- 
 son & Government repeated and subscribed the Test 
 taken, the Oaths of a Justice of the Peace, of a Justice 
 of the County Court in Chancery & of a Justice of Oyer 
 and Terminer, which were administered to him by the 
 said James House & William Little, he the said Van 
 Swearengen, then administered the same oaths unto 
 Thomas Swearengen, Samuel Washington, James Hourse, 
 William Morgan, William Little, James Strode, Robert 
 Stephen, Robert Stogdon, Robert Carter Willis, & James 
 Seaton, who severally took the same & Repeated & Sub- 
 scribed the Test : Court Proclaimed, at a court held for 
 Berkeley County the 19th Day of May, 1772. Present : 
 Van Swearengen, James Strode, 
 
 TTios. Sioearengen, Rotert Stephen, 
 
 Samuel WasMngton, Robert Stogdon, 
 
 Mmes Hourse, Robert C. Willis, 
 
 William Morga/n, and. 
 
 William Little, James Seaton, 
 
 Gent. Justices. 
 William Drew was the first clerk oE the Court, and 
 was appointed by a commission from Thomas Nelson, 
 Esq. James Theith, John Magill, George Brent, George 
 Johnston, Philip Pendleton and Alexander White were 
 the first attorneys licensed to practice law in the court 
 of the colony. Alexander White was appointed the 
 first deputy attorney for this county under commission 
 of the Attorney General of the colony. In those days 
 when courts of law were resorted to as a means of jus- 
 tice, it was to be had at but little trouble, and the offen- 
 der was dealt with in the most strict and hurried man- 
 ner. In looking over the first -court docket of this 
 
60 Northern Neck of Virginia. 
 
 county the author could surprise the people of the pres- 
 ent generation were he to make mention of the most cruel 
 manner in which punishments were inflicted. Slavery 
 was then carried out in its true sense, regardless of na- 
 ture or humanity. Again, it is much of a curiosity to 
 see the manner in which the proceedings were conducted. 
 
CHAPTER VI. 
 
 MARTINSBURG ESTABLISHED. 
 
 p g/Mjy-y^tAJ 
 
 IpAIlTINSBURG was established in the month of 
 
 ^^ October, 1778, and was named after Col. T. B. 
 Martin, of whom mention has been made in the previous 
 chapter as the last holder of the estate of this j)ortion of 
 country prior to its being laid off. The following is an 
 extract from the law at the time our present city was es- 
 tablished : 
 
 "Whereas it hath been represented to this present 
 General Assembly that Adam Stephen, Esq., hath lately 
 laid off one hundred and thirty acres of land in the 
 county of Berkeley, where the Court House now stands, 
 in lots and streets for a town, etc.; Be it enacted, etc., 
 that the said one hundred and thirty acres of land laid 
 out into lots and streets, agreeable to a plan and survey 
 thereof made containing the number of two hundred and 
 sixty-nine lots, as by the said plan and survey, relation 
 thereunto being had, may more fully appear, be and the 
 same is hereby vested in James McAlister, Joseph Mitch- 
 ell, Anthony Noble, James Strode, Robert Carter WilliSy 
 William Patterson and Philip Pendleton, gentlemen, 
 trustees, and shall be established a town by the name of 
 Martinsburg." 
 
 Tradition relates an animated contest that took place 
 between Sheriff Adam Stephen and Jacob Hite, Esq., in 
 relation to fixing the seat of justice for this county and 
 by which the latter lost his life. It may probably prove 
 interesting to the reader : 
 
 Hite contended for the location thereof on his own 
 land at what is now called Leetown, in the county of 
 Jefferson. Stephen advocated Martinsburg, and pre- 
 
62 Martinshurg Esiahlished. 
 
 vailed upon it until Hite became so disgu^3ted. and dis- 
 satisfied that he sold out his fine estate and removed to 
 the frontier of South Carolina. His removal proved 
 fatal, for he had not long settled in that State before the 
 Indians murdered him and several of his family in the 
 most shocking and barbarous manner. It is said that 
 the evening before this bloody massacre took place, an 
 Indian squaw who was much attached to Mrs. Hite, 
 called on ber and warned her of the intended plot, and 
 advised her to remove with her little children to a place 
 of safety. Mrs. Hite immediately communicated the in- 
 telligence to her husband. He would not believe the 
 information, observing "the Indians were too much 
 attached to him to do him any injury." The next morn 
 ing, however, when it was fatally too late to escape, a 
 party of Indians, armed and painted in their usual war 
 dress, called on Hite and told him they were determined 
 to kill him. It was in vain that he pleaded his friend- 
 ship for them and the many services he had rendered 
 their nation. Their full purpose was fixed and nothing 
 could appease them but his blood and that of his inno- 
 cent, unoffending and helpless wife and children. They 
 commenced their barbarous work by the most cruel tor- 
 tures, cutting him to pieces, a joint at a time, and while 
 he was thus in the most violent agonies they barbarously 
 murdered his wife and several of her little offspring. 
 After they had dispatched Mr. Hite, his wife and sev- 
 eral of the children, they took two of his daughters, not 
 quite grown, and all of his slaves as prisoners. They 
 also carried off what plunder they choose, and their booty 
 was considerable. Mr. Hite kept a large store and dealt 
 largely with the Creek and Cherokee tribes. It was 
 afterward stated that a man by the name of Parish, who 
 was an intimate friend of and went to Carolina with 
 Hite, grew jealous of the latter's popularity with the In- 
 dians, and instigated the savages to commit the murder. 
 On the 20th day of August, 1779, on motion of Adam 
 
Martinshurg Estahlislied. 63 
 
 Stephen, Sheriff, the plat for Martinsburg was ordered 
 to be recorded, with terms to purchasers, as follows : 
 ''The purchasers of any of the lots in the above town is 
 to build on the purchased lot a good dwelling house, to 
 be at least twenty feet long and sixteen feet wide, with 
 stone or brick chimney to same, in two years from the 
 time of purchase, and, on failure, the lot to return to the 
 proprietor." 
 
 The first court was held in the dwelling house of Ed- 
 ward Beeson, situated on the land now owned by Mr. A.. 
 J. Thomas, at the north end of the city. The building 
 was a rude log house and consisted of one story and a 
 half. The lirst Court House erected was bnilt of stone, 
 {and a very odd looking one at that,) and located where 
 the present fine structure now stands. The first jail was 
 a log building, erected in the middle of the Square, with 
 the Market House attached to the rear end. The first 
 church built west of the Blue Ridge Mountain is the one 
 standing at the present day on Tuscarora, about two 
 miles from the city. The Falling Waters church was 
 the next. A number of the buildings, solidly constructed 
 of stone and of early date, are yet standing at an age of 
 over one hundred and fifty years, and presenting an air 
 of defiance to the ravages of time. From their present 
 state there is but little doubt that they will perhaps 
 stand the trials and tribulations of the world for centu- 
 ries to come. 
 
 Among the early settlers a number of old commissions 
 were issued by prominent Governors and Lieutenant 
 Governors of Virginia, appointing sheriffs, justices and 
 overseers of the poor, dated from the expulsion of 
 George, Earl of Dunmore, his Majesty's Lieutenant Gov- 
 ernor of the colony of Virginia, and Vice-Admiral of the 
 same, in 1772 to the Governorship of Henry A. Wise in 
 1859. There are two papers signed by Patrick Henry, 
 the young orater who rebelled against the British Ministry 
 and stirred within the breast of the American people an 
 
64 Mariinsljurg Established. 
 
 independence that led to deeds of valor. These were dated 
 "Council Chamber, Williamsburg, Dec. 9th, 1776." The 
 next was signed by Thos. Jefferson, who afterward be- 
 came President, and as an example lor model simplicity 
 but few after Presidents have ever attained to. This 
 paper bears an impression of the first wax seal of the 
 Virginia Commonwealth. Benjamin Harrison was the 
 signer of two commissions. Beverly Eandolph (17S8,) 
 James Wood (1793,) and Robert Brooks (1799,) also sent 
 commissions. Among the number are the well-known 
 signatures of Jno. Tyler, who succeeded Harrison as 
 President, and James Monroe, also afterward President. 
 Among the signatures of the Governors discernible were 
 the names of Geo. W. Smith, James Barbour, James P. 
 Preston, Lieutenant Governor Peter Y. Daniels, Lieu- 
 tenant Governor Tate, John Randolph, Henry A. Wise, 
 (Virginia's war Governor,) Tillitson Tozewell and James 
 McDowell. Among the men were statesmen and patriots 
 whose noble traits are revered by many of the Virginia 
 peojDle. Many pages of American history have been 
 scattered broadcast containing their acts of heroism and 
 manliness. 
 
 Among the early residents were three noted generals 
 of the revolutionary war — Horatio Gates, Alexander 
 Stephen and Charles Lee. As an evidence of the Avell- 
 known eccentricity of the former, is the following ex- 
 tract from his will, copied from the original, and on file 
 in the office of the County Clerk : 
 
 "I desire, most earnestly, that I may not be buried in 
 any church or church yard, or within a mile of any 
 Presbyterian or Anabaptist meeting-house ; fur, since I 
 have resided in this county, I have kept so much bad 
 company when living that I do not chuse to continue it 
 when dead. I recommend my soul to the creator of all 
 worlds and all creatures, who must, from his visible at- 
 tributes, be indifferent to their modes of worship or creeds 
 whether Christians, Mohammedans or Jews; whether 
 
Martrn&bxirg Established. 65 
 
 more or less absurd ; as a weak mortal can no more be 
 answerable for his persuasions, notions or even scepti- 
 cism in religion, tlian for the color of his skin." 
 
 The will was presented to the Berkeley County Court 
 for record April 15th, 1783, in his own hand- writing. 
 Another extract is taken from the County Court records 
 under date of November 20th, 1776 : 
 
 "Proclamation being made for the trial of a negro man 
 belonging to General Horatio Gates, committed to the 
 goal of this county, and for breaking open the cellar of 
 the said General Gates and feloniously taking from 
 thence a cliest of money and clothes ; who being brought 
 to the bar and it being demanded of him whether he was 
 guilty of the offense wherewith he stands charged, or 
 not guilty, he says he is guilty. It is, therefore, the 
 judgment of the Court that he be remanded back to the 
 goal from whence he came, and there to continue till 
 the third Friday in December next ; then from thence to 
 be taken and hanged by the neck till he is dead. It is 
 the opinion of the said Court that the said slave is worth 
 seventy pounds." 
 
 MAJOE GENERAL ALEXANDER STEPHEN. 
 
 Each one of these noted Generals was cashiered. 
 Alexander Stephen for becoming drunk and neglecting 
 to bring his troops forward to the support of the balance 
 of the army at the battle of Monmouth. His remains 
 lie buried upon the premises of the late Hon. C. J. Faulk- 
 ner, on the south edge of town. A monument was com- 
 menced to his memory, but was advanced no further 
 than the placing of three broad stones. It was supposed 
 that the other portion was used to a more appropriate 
 purpose. 
 
 MAJOR GENERAL CHARLES LEE. 
 
 Gen. Lee was at one time a rival of Gen. Geo. Wash- 
 ington, and an aspirant for the position of Commander- 
 in-Chief of the army, and while the latter modestly urged 
 upon Congress to relieve him from the responsibility and 
 
66 Martinslurg JEsiablished. 
 
 appoint some one ^Ybo^l he imagined could more credi- 
 tably fill the position, the former, by intrigue and with 
 importunity, sought and failed to obtain it. This led 
 Gen. Lee to entertain feelings of envy and hatred toward 
 Gen. Washington, much to the latter' s regret, who did 
 his utmost to dispel them. Gen. Lee at this time lived 
 about ten miles from IMartinsburg, in a long, low house, 
 the back room of v\iiich was his bed-room, the next the 
 -dining-room, then the kitchen, in which his slaves and 
 ■dogs remained, and in front was a sort of sitting or re- 
 ception room. Gen. Washington at one time, wdtli the 
 intention of trying to regain the good will of Gen. Lee, 
 wrote to him informing him that, trusting that it would 
 be agreeable, he would do himself the honor of dining 
 with him on the following day. Upon his arrival, how- 
 ever, he found the house closed, and fastened to the front 
 door was this message : "No bread or bacon cooked to- 
 day." There wasn't much of the boasted hospitality of 
 the dominion exhibited by this, but it is excusable from 
 the fact that General Lee came from England and had 
 not been a resident of the Commonwealth long enough 
 to become addicted to the habits of the pyeople. 
 
 The three heroes — Gates, Stephen and Lee — were in 
 the habit of frequently meeting at the residence of the 
 latter, in the summer and fall of 1782, and crack jokes, 
 drink wine and compare notes of their army experience. 
 Upon one occasion, after a lengthy sitting and free in- 
 dulgence in the spirits, which were ardent, General Lee 
 obtained the floor and remarked : ' 'The County of Berke- 
 ley is indeed to be congratulated. She can claim as citi- 
 zens three noted Major Generals of the revolutionary 
 war. You, Stephen, distinguished yourself by getting 
 drunk when you should have remained sober, and was 
 cashiered for advancing when you should have been re- 
 treating, while youT humble servant covered himself with 
 glory and laurels and was cashiered for ]:etreating when 
 he should have been advancing." 
 
CHAPTER VII. 
 
 BEPORT OF HON. C. J. FAULKNER ON AD.JUST-' 
 
 MENT OF THE BOUNDARY LINE BETWEEN 
 VIRGINIA AND MARYLAND. 
 
 8?HE State of Maryland, in 1832, set up a claim to a 
 considerable tract of territory on the north-Avest 
 border of Virginia, including a part of the Northern 
 Neck. It was then the late Hon. Charles James Faulk- 
 ner distinguished himself, and won the respect and es- 
 teem of his people. Maryland pushed the claim with 
 much earnestness, and the Executive of the State in 
 appointing a commission to collect and embody the nec- 
 essary testimony, on behalf of Virginia, selected Mr. 
 Faulkner. This gentleman, in taking up this interesting 
 question, worked with an untiring zeal and energy, and 
 on the 6th day of November, 1832, made a most able re- 
 port on " the settlement and adjustment of the western 
 boundary of Maryland." The author deems it of suffi- 
 cient interest to every Berkeley citizen, to insert in this 
 work the report in full. It is as follows, from the origi- 
 nal copy : 
 *' Report of Charles James Faulkner relatioe to the 
 
 Boundary line between Virginia and Maryland ; 
 
 Mabtiwsburg, Nov. 6, 1832. 
 
 Sir : — In execution of a commission addressed to me 
 by your Excellency, and made out in pursuance of a 
 joint resolution of the General Assembly of this State, 
 of the 20th of March last, I have directed my attention 
 to the collection of such testimony as the lapse of time 
 and the nature of the inquiry have enabled me to procure 
 touching "the settlement and adjustment of the western 
 boundary of Maryland." The division line which now 
 
68 Boundary Line. 
 
 separates the two States on the west, and which has 
 heretofore been considered as fixed by positive adjudica- 
 tion and long acquaintance, commences at a point where 
 the Fairfax stone is planted, at the head spring of the 
 Potomac Kiver, and runs thence due north to the Penn- 
 sylvania line. This is the boundary by which Virginia 
 has held for near a century ; it is the line by which she 
 held in 1786, when the compact made by the Virginia and 
 Maryland Commissioners was solemnly ratified by the 
 legislative authorities of the two States. 
 
 An effort is now made by the General Assembly of 
 Maryland, to enlarge her territory by the establishment 
 of a different division line. We have not been informed 
 which fork of the South Branch she will elect as the new 
 boundary, but the proposed line is to run from one of the 
 forks of the South Branch thence due north to the Penn- 
 sylvania terminus. It is needless to say that the substi- 
 tution of the latter line, no matter at which fork it may 
 commence, would cause an important diminution in the 
 already diminished territorial area of this State. It 
 would deprive us of large portions of the counties of 
 Hampshire, Hardy, Pendleton, Randolph and Preston, 
 amounting in all to almost half a million of acres— a sec 
 tion of the Commonwealth which, from the quality of its 
 soil, and the character of its population, might well ex- 
 cite the cupidity of a government resting her claims upon 
 a less substantial basis than a stale and groundless pre- 
 tension of more than a century's antiquity. Although 
 my instructions have directed my attention more partic- 
 ularly to the collection and preservation of the evidence 
 of such living witnesses "as might be able to testify to 
 any facts or circumstances in relation to the settlement 
 and adjustment of the western boundary," I have con- 
 sumed but a very inconsiderable portion of my time in 
 any labor or inquiry of that sort, for who indeed, now 
 living, could testify to any "facts or circumstances" 
 which occurred neMy a century ago \ And if such indi- 
 
Boundary Line. 69 
 
 viduals were now living, why waste time in taking depo- 
 sitions as to tlios« "facts,-' in proof of which the most 
 ample and authentic testimony was taken in 1736, as the 
 basis of a royal adjudication \ I have consequently 
 deemed it of more importance to procure the original 
 documents where possible; if not, authentic copies of 
 such papers as would serve to exhibit a connected view 
 of the origin, progress and termination of that contro- 
 versy with the Crown, which resulted, after the most 
 accurate and laborious surveys, in the ascertainment of 
 those very "facts and circumstances" which are now 
 sought to be made again the subjects of discussion and 
 inquiry. In this pursuit I have succeeded far beyond 
 what I had any ground for anticipation ; and from the 
 almost forgotten rubbish of joast years, have been ena- 
 bled to draw forth documents and papers whose interest 
 may survive the occasion which redeemed them from 
 destruction. 
 
 To enable your Excellency to form a just conception of 
 the weight and importance of the evidence herewith ac- 
 companying this report, I beg leave to submit with it a 
 succinct statement of the question in issue between the 
 governments of Virginia and Maryland, with some ob- 
 servations showing the relevancy of the evidence to the 
 question thus presented. 
 
 The territory of Maryland granted by Charles I, to 
 Lord Baltimore, in June, 1632, was described in the grant 
 as "that region bounded by a line drawn from Watkins's 
 point on Chesapeake Bay to the ocean on the east; thence 
 to that part of the estuary of Delaware on the north 
 which lieth under the 40th degree, where New England 
 is terminated ; thence in a right line by the degree afore- 
 said, to the meridian of the foundation of the Potomac ; 
 thence following its course by its farther bank to its con- 
 fluence." {MarsJiaW s Life of Washington, vol. 1, ch. 
 II, pp. 78 — 81, 1st edition.) 
 
 It is plain that the western boundary of this grant was 
 
70 Boundary Line. 
 
 tlie meridian of the fountain of the Potomac, from the 
 point where it cut the 40th degree of north latitude to 
 the fountain of the river ; and that the extent of the 
 grant depended upon the question, what stream was the 
 Potomac? So that the question how in controversy- 
 grows immediately out of the grant. The territory 
 granted to Lord Baltimore was undoubtedly within the 
 chartered limits of Virginia : (See Int Charter of April, 
 1606, sec. 4, and the 2d Clmrter of May, 1609, sec. 6 ; 
 1st Hen. Stat, at Large, pp. 58 — 88.) And Marshall says 
 that the grant "was the first example of the dismember- 
 ment of a colony, and the creation of a new one within 
 its limits, by the mere act of the Crown ;" and that the 
 planters of Virginia presented a petition against it, 
 "which was heard before the privy council (of England) 
 in July, 1633, when it was declared that Lord Baltimore 
 should retain his patent, and the petitioners their remedy 
 at law. Jo this remedy they never thought proper to 
 resort." 
 
 Whether there be any record of this proceeding ex- 
 tant, I have never been able to learn. The civil war in 
 England broke out about ten years after, and perhaps 
 the journals of the proceedings of the privy council were 
 destroyed. Subsequently to this, we are informed by 
 Graham, the planters, " fortified by the opinion of emi- 
 nent lawyers whom they consulted, and who scrupled 
 not to assure them that the ancient patents of Virginia 
 still remained in force, and that the grant of Maryland, 
 as derogatory to them, loas utterly void, they presented 
 an application to the Parliament, complaining of the un- 
 just invasion which their privileges had undergone." 
 {Graham's History, vol. 2, p. 12.) But as the Parlia- 
 ments of those days were but the obsequious ministers 
 of the Crown, that application, it is presumed, likewise 
 shared the fate of their former petition to the privy 
 council. 
 
 The present claim of Maryland, then, must be founded 
 
Boundary Line. 71 
 
 on the supposition that the stream whicli we call the 
 Potomac was not ; and that the stream now called the 
 South Branch of the Potomac, was in fact tlie Potomac 
 intended in the grant to Lord Baltimore. I have never 
 been informed which fork of the South Branch she claims 
 as the Potomac (for there is a North and a South fork of 
 the South Branch) ; neither have I been able to learn 
 what is the evidence, or the kind of evidence, on which 
 she relies to ascertain that the stream which is now 
 called the South Brancli of the Potomac, but which at 
 the date of the grant to Lord Baltimore was not known 
 at all, and when known, known for many years only as 
 the Wappacomo, was tlie Potomac intended by Lord Bal- 
 timore' s grant. For this important geographical fact I 
 refer to the numerous early maps of the chartered limits 
 of Virginia and Maryland, some of which are to' be seen 
 in the public libraries of "Washington and Richmond. 
 
 The question, which stream was the Potomac 1 is sim- 
 ply a question which of them, if either, bore the name. 
 The name is matter of general reputation. If there be 
 anything which depends wholly upoti general accepta- 
 tion which ought and must be settled by prescription it 
 is this question which of these rivers was and is the Po- 
 tomac? The accompanying papers, it is believed, will 
 ascertain this fact to the satisfaction of every impartial 
 inquirer. 
 
 In the twenty-first year of Charles II. a grant was 
 made to Lord Hopton and others of what is called the 
 j^orthern Neck of Virginia, which was sold by the other 
 patentees ta Lord Culpeper, and confirmed to him by 
 letters patent in the fourth year of James II. This grant 
 carried with it nothing but the right of soil and the inci- 
 dents of ownership, for it was expressly subjected to the 
 jurisdiction of the government of Virginia. Of this 
 earlier patent I believe there is no copy in Virginia. The 
 original charter from James II. to Lord Culpeper ac- 
 companies this report, marked No. 1. They are both 
 
72 Boundary Line. 
 
 recited in tlie colonial statute of 1736, (1 iJew. Code, cJi. 
 89.) The tract of country thereby granted was "all that 
 entire tract, territory and parcel of. land lying and being 
 in America and bounded by and within the heads of the 
 rivers Tappahannock alias Rappahannock, and Qnir- 
 iough alias Potomac rivers, the course of the said rivers 
 as they are commonly called and known by the inhab- 
 itants and description of their parts and Chesapeake 
 Bay." 
 
 As early as 1729, in consequence of the eagerness with 
 which lands were sought on the Potomac and its tribu- 
 tary streams, and from the difficulties growing out of 
 conflicting grants from Lord Fairfax and the Crown, the 
 boundaries of the Northern Neck proprietary became a 
 subject which attracted deep and earnest attention. At 
 this tinie the Potomac had been but little explored, and 
 although the stream itself above its confluence with the 
 Shenandoah was known as the Cohongoroota, or Upper 
 Potomac, it had never been made the subject of any very 
 accurate surveys and examinations, nor had it j^et been 
 settled by any competent authority which of its several 
 tributaries was entitled to be regarded as the main or 
 pricipal branch of the river. It became important, there- 
 fore, to remove all further doubt upon that question. 
 
 In June 1729, the Lieutenant Governor of Virginia ad- 
 dressed a communication to the Lords commissioners of 
 trade and plantation affairs, in which he solicits their at- 
 tention to the ambiguity of the Loid proprietor' s char- 
 ter growing out of the fact that there were several streams 
 which might be claimed as the head springs of Potomac 
 River, among Avhich he enumerates the Shenandoah, 
 and expresses his determination "to refuse the suspen- 
 sion of granting of patents, until the case should be fair- 
 ly stated and determined according to the genuine con- 
 struction of the proprie-tor' s charter." This was fol- 
 lowed by a petition to the King in council, agreed to 
 by the house of burgesses of Virginia, in June 1730, in 
 
Boundary Line. 73 
 
 whicli it is set forth, among other matters of complaint, 
 "that the head springs of the Rappahannock and Poto- 
 mac are not yet known to any of your Majesty's sub- 
 jects ;" that much inconvenience liad resulted to grantees 
 therefrom, and praying the adoption of such measures 
 as might lead to its ascertainment to tlie satisfaction of 
 all parties interested. 
 
 Lord Fairfax, who, by his marriage wi^h the only 
 daughter of Lord Culpeper, had now succeeded to the 
 proprietorship of the Northern Neck, feeling it like 
 wise due to Ms grantees to have the question relieved 
 from all further difficulty, preferred his petition to the 
 King in 173:1, praying that his majesty would be pleased 
 to order a commission to issue, for running out, marking 
 and ascertaining the bounds of his patent, accordins to 
 the true intent and meaning of his charter. An order 
 to this effect was accordingly directed by the King ; and 
 three commissioners were appointed on behalf of the 
 Crown, and the same number on behalf of Lord Fairfax. 
 The duty which devolved upon them was to ascertain 
 by actual examination and survey, the true fountains of 
 the Eappahannock and Potomac Rivers. To enable them 
 more perfectly to discharge the important trust confided 
 to them, they were authorized to summon persons before 
 them, to take depositions and affidavits, to search i^apers 
 and employ surveyors, chain- carriers, m^arkers, and other 
 necessary attendants. The commissioners convened in 
 Fredericksburg, on the 26th of September, 1736, and pro- 
 ceeded to discharge their duties, by taking depositions, 
 appointing surveyors, and making every needful and 
 requisite preparation for the survey. Thety commenced 
 their journey of observation and survey on the 12th day 
 of October, 1736, and finished it on the 14th of Decem- 
 ber, of the same year ; on which day they discovered 
 what they marked and reported to be the first fountain 
 of the Potomac River. Separate reports were made by 
 the commissioners, which reports, with all the accom- 
 
74 Boundary Line. 
 
 panying documents, papers, surveys, plans, &c., were, 
 on tlie 21st of December, 1738, referred to tlie council for 
 plantation affairs. That board, after hearing counsel, 
 made a report on the 6th day of April, in which they 
 state, "that having examined into the several reports, 
 returns, plans and other papers transmitted to them by 
 the commissioners appointed on behalf of the Crown, as 
 likewise of Lord Fairfax, and having been attended by 
 counsel on behalf of your Majesty, as likewise of Lord 
 Fairfax, and having heard all that they had to offer 
 thereujDon, and the question being concerning that boun- 
 dary which ought to be drawn from the first head or 
 spring of the river Rappahannock to the first head or 
 spring of the river Potomac, the committee do agree 
 humbly to report to your Majesty as their opinion, that 
 within the words and meaning of the letters patent, 
 granted by King James II, bearing date the 27th day of 
 September, in the fourth year of his reign, the said boun- 
 dary ought to begin at the first spring of the South 
 Branch of the river Rap]3ahannock, and that the said 
 boundary be from thence drawn in a straight line north- 
 west to the place in the Alleghany Mountains where that 
 part of the Potomac River, loliich is now^ called Cohon- 
 goroota, first rises." The Cohongoroota is known to be 
 the stream which the Maryland writers term the North 
 Branch of the Potomac, but which is recognized in 
 Virginia, and described on all the maps and surveys 
 which I have ever yet seen, as the Potomac River, from 
 its first fountain, where the Fairfax stone is located, to 
 its confluence with the Shenandoah ; there being, prop- 
 erly speaking, no such stream as the North Branch of 
 the Potomac. This report of the council for plantation 
 affairs was submitted to the King in council on the 11th 
 of April, 1745, and fully confirmed by him, and further 
 order made, directing the appointment of commissioners 
 to run and work the dividing line agreeably to his de- 
 cision thus made. Commissioners were accordingly ap- 
 
Boundary Line. 75 
 
 pointed, wbo.having provided themselves with surveyors, 
 chain- carriers, markers, &c., commenced their journey- 
 on the 18th of September, 1746. On the 17th of October, 
 they planted the Fairfax stone at the spot which had 
 been described and marked by the preceding commis- 
 sioners as the true head spring of the Potomac River, 
 and which has continued to be regarded, from that pe- 
 riod to the present time, as the southern point of the 
 western boundary between Maryland and Virginia. A 
 joint report of these proceedings was made by the com- 
 missioners to the King, accompanied with their field 
 notes ; which report was received and ordered to be filed 
 away among the records of his Majesty's privy council. 
 Thus terminated, after a lapse of sixteen years, a pro- 
 ceeding which had for its object, among other matters, 
 the ascertainment of the first fountain of tJie Potomac 
 River., and which resulted in the establishment of that 
 "fact" by a tribunal of competent jurisdiction. This 
 decision has now been acquiesced in for near a century ; 
 and all the topographical description and sketches of the 
 country have been made to conform to it. I say acqui- 
 esced in, for it is impossible to regard the varying, fluc- 
 tuating legislation of Maryland upon the subject, at one 
 session of her General Assembly recognizing the line as 
 now established, {see comjpact of 1785, session Acts of 
 1803, 1818 and others,) at another authorizing the ap- 
 pointment ef commissioners to adjust the boundary, as a 
 grave resistance of its conclusions, or such a continual 
 claim, as under the usage of international law would bar 
 an application of the principles of usucaption ^cn^ pres- 
 cription. {See Vattel, p. 251. Grotius, lib. 2, c«p. 4. 
 Wolf us. Jus. Nat. par. 3.) 
 
 Jurisdiction in all cases relating to boundaries between 
 provinces, the dominion and proprietary government, is 
 by the common law of England exclusively vested in the 
 King and council (1 Ves. sen p. 447.) And notwith- 
 standing it may be a question of boundary between the 
 
76 Boundary Line. 
 
 Crown and a Lord j)roprietor of a province, (such as that 
 between Lord Fairfax and the Crown,) the King is the 
 only judge, and is presumed to act with entire im- 
 partiality and justice in reference to all persons concern- 
 ed, as well as those who are parties to the proceedingbefore 
 him, as others not parties who may yet be interested in 
 the adjustment. {Yesey, ib.) Such is the theory and 
 practice of the English Constitution ; and although it 
 may not accord precisely with our improved conceptions 
 of juridicial practice, it is nevertheless the law which 
 must now govern and control the legal aspect of the pres- 
 ent territorial dispute between Virginia and Maryland. 
 It does not appear by the accompanying papers, that 
 Charles Lord Baltimore, the then proprietor of Maryland, 
 deputed an agent to attend upon his part in the exdmi- 
 nalion and survey of the Potom,ac River. It is possible 
 he conceived his interests sufficiently protected in the 
 aspect which the controversy had then assumed between 
 Lord Fairfax and the Crown. Certain it is. that it no- 
 where appears that he ever considered himself aggrieved 
 by the result of that adjustment. That his government 
 was fully apprised of what was in progress, can scarcely 
 admit of a rational doubt. For it is impossible to con- 
 ceive that a controversy so deeply affecting not only the 
 interests of Lord Baltimore, but all who were concerned 
 in the purchase of land in that section of the country, 
 and conducted with so much solemnity and notoriety, 
 could have extended througli a period of sixteen years, 
 without attracting the attention of the government of 
 Maryland — a government ever jealous because ever doubt- 
 ful of the original tenure by which her charter was held. 
 But had Lord Baltimore even considered himsplf ag- 
 grieved by the result of that settlement, it is difficult 
 now to conceive upon what ground he would have ex- 
 cepted to its justice or questioned its validity. Could 
 he have said that the information upon which the de- 
 cision was founded was imperfect ? Or that the proceed- 
 
Boundary Line. 77 
 
 ings of the commissioners were cliaiacterized by liaste, 
 favoritism or fraud ? This the proceeding of that board 
 still preserved, would contradict For never was there 
 an examination conducted with more deliberation, pros- 
 ecuted with more labor, or scrutinized with a more jeal- 
 ous and anxious vigilance. Could he have shown that 
 some other stream ouglit to have been fixed upon as the 
 true head spring of the Potomac \ This, it is believed, 
 is impossible, for although it may be true that the south 
 branch is a longer stream, it nevertheless wants those 
 more important characteristics which were then consid- 
 ered by the commissioners and have been subsequently 
 regarded by esteemed geographers as essential in distin- 
 guishing a tributary from the main branch of a river. 
 {See Flint's Geography, vol. 2, p. 8S.) Lastly, would he 
 have questioned the authority of the Crown to setile the 
 boundaries of Lord Fairfax' s charter without having pre- 
 viously made him a party to the proceeding ? I have 
 before shown the futility of such an idea. Besides, this 
 would have been at once to question the authority under 
 which he held his own grant, for Baltimore held by vir- 
 tue of an arbitrary act of the second Charles. His grant 
 was manifestly made in violation of the chartered rights 
 of Virginia, and carried into eifect not only without the 
 acquiescence, but against the solemn and repeated re- 
 monstrances of her government. Was Virginia consulted 
 in the "dismemberment" of her territory? Was she 
 made a party to that proceeding by which, "for the first 
 time in colonial history, one new province was created 
 within the chartered limits of another by the mere act of 
 the Crown?" But the fact is that Charles Lord Balti- 
 more, who lived for six years after the adjustment of this 
 question, never did contest the propriety of the boun- 
 dary as settled by the commissioners, but from all that 
 remains of his views and proceedings, fully acquiesced 
 in its accuracy and justice. {See treaty wiihthe Six Na- 
 tions of Indians at Lancaster in June, 1744.) 
 
78 Boundary Line. 
 
 The first evidence of dissatisfaction witli tlie boundary 
 as established, which the researches of the Maryland 
 writers have enabled them to exhibit, are certain instruc- 
 tions from Frederick Lord of Baltimore, (successor of 
 Charles) to Governor Sharp, which were presented by the 
 latter to his council, in August 1753. I have not been 
 able to procure a copy of those instructions, but a recent 
 historian of Maryland, and an ingenious advocate of her 
 present claim, referring to them, says. "His instruc- 
 tions were predicated upon the supposition that the sur- 
 vey might iDossibly have been made loitli tlie knowledge 
 and concurrence of Ms predecessor., and hence he denies 
 \^x% 'power of the latter to enter into any arrangement as 
 to the boundaries, which could extend beyond Ms life 
 estate, or conclude those in remainder." {M^ MaliorC s 
 History of Maryland, p. 6'i.) 
 
 What were the precise limitation of those conveyances 
 made by the proprietors of Maryland, and under which 
 Frederick Lord Baltimore denies the power of his prede- 
 cessor to enter into any arrangement as to the boundaries, 
 which could extend beyond his life estate, I am not able 
 to say — my utmost researches having failed to furnish 
 me with a copy of them — but they were so far satisfac- 
 tory to his Lordship's legal conceptions, as to induce 
 him to resist even the execution of a decree pronounced 
 by Lord Hardwicke, in 1750, (1 Ves. sen. pp. 444 — 46) 
 upon a written compact as to boundaries, which had 
 been executed by' his predecessor and the Penns, in 1732. 
 To enforce submission to that decree, the Penns tiled a 
 bill of reviver in 1754, and after an ineffectual struggle of 
 six years. Lord Baltimore was compelled with a bad 
 grace to submit, and abide by the arrangement as to the 
 boundaries which had been made by his predecessor. 
 To this circumstance, in all probability, was Lord Fair- 
 fax indebted for his exemption from the further demands 
 of the proprietor of Maryland. For Lord Frederick, no 
 ways averse to litigation, had by this time doubtless be- 
 
Boundary Line. 79 
 
 come satisfied that i\iB poioer of liis predecessor did not 
 extend beyond his life estate, and might even conclude 
 those in remaind.er. Be tliat as it may, however, certain 
 it is that the records of Maryland are silent upon the 
 subject of this pretension, from September 1753, until 
 ten years subsequent to the compact between Virginia 
 and Maryland in 1785. 
 
 An opinion prevails among some of our most distin- 
 guished jurists, resting solely upon traditionary infor- 
 mation, that about 1761, Frederick Lord Baltimore 
 presented a i:)etition to the king and council, praying a 
 revision of the adjustment made in 1745, which petition 
 was rejected, or after a short time abandoned, as hope- 
 less. If there ever A\'as such a proceeding, I can find 
 nothing concerning it in the archives of Virginia. 
 
 Be that as it may, it is certain that ever since 1745 
 Lord Fairfax claimed and held, and the commonwealtli 
 of Virginia constantly to this day has claimed and held 
 by the Cohongoroota, that is by the northern branch, as 
 tJie Potomac ; and whatever Lord Baltimore or his heirs, 
 and the State of Maryland may have claimed, she has 
 held by the same boundary. There was no reason why 
 Lord Fairfax, being in actual possession, should have 
 controverted the claim of Lord Baltimore, or Maryland. 
 If Lord Baltimore or Maryland, ever controverted the 
 boundary, the question must, and either has been deci- 
 ded against them, or it must have been abandoned as 
 hopeless. If they never controverted it, the omission" to 
 do so, can only be accounted for, upon the suppo- 
 sition that they know it to be hopeless. If Maryland 
 ever asserted the claim — seriously asserted it, I mean — 
 it must have been before the revolution, or at least during 
 it, when we all know, she was jealous enough of the ex- 
 tended territory of Virginia. T7ie claim must liave had 
 its origin before the compact between the two states, of 
 If arch 1785, {See 1 Rev. Code, ch. 18.) We then held 
 by the same boundary by which we now hold ; we held 
 
80 Boundary Line. 
 
 to what loe called and now call the Potomac ; slie then 
 held to what loe call the Potomac. Is it possible to doubt 
 that this is the Potomac recognized by the compact ? 
 That comjjact is now 47 years old. 
 
 I have diligently inquired whether, as the Potomac 
 above the confluence of the Shenandoah was called the 
 Cohongoroota, the stream now called the south branch 
 of the Potomac ever had any peculiar name independ- 
 ently of its relation to the Potomac— I mean, of course, 
 any peculiar name known to and established among the 
 English settlers — for it is well known it bore the Indian 
 name of Wappacomo. L never could learn that it was 
 known by any other name but that which it yet bears, 
 the south branch of the Potomac. Now that very name 
 of itself sufficiently evinces that it was regarded as a 
 tributary stream of another river, and that river the Po 
 tomac, and that the river of which the south branch was 
 the tributary, was regarded as the main stream. 
 
 But let us for a moment concede that the decision of 
 the King in council was not absolutely conclusive of the 
 present question ; let us concede that the long acqui- 
 escence of Maryland in that adjustment has not pre- 
 cluded a further discussion of its merits ; let us even 
 suppose the compact of 1735 thrown out of view, with 
 all the subsequent recognitions of the present boundary 
 by the legislative acts of that State, and the question be- 
 tween the two streams now for the first time presented 
 as" an original question of preference ; what are the facts 
 upon which Maryland would rely to show that any other 
 stream than the one now bearing the name is entitled to 
 be regarded as the main branch of the Potomac % It 
 were idle to say that the south branch is the Potomac 
 because the south branch is a longer or even larger stream 
 than the north branch, which Virginia claims to hold 
 by. According to that sort of reasoning the Missouri, 
 above its confluence with the Mississippi, is the Missis- 
 sippi, being beyond comparison the longer and larger 
 
Boundary Line. 81 
 
 stream. The claim of the south branch, then, would 
 rest solely upon its greater length. In opposition to this 
 it might be said that the Cohongoroota is more frequent- 
 ly navigable, that it has a larger volume of water— iJiat 
 tlie valley of the south hrancJi is, in the grand scale of 
 conformation, secondary to that of the Potomac— thai 
 the south branch has not the general direction of that 
 river, which it joins nearly at right angles — that the- 
 valley of the Potomac is wider than that of the south-, 
 branch, as is also the river broader than the other. And^' 
 lastly, that the course of the river and the direction of' 
 the valley are the same above and below the junction of 
 the south branch. {See letters accompanying this re- 
 port. No. 26.) These considerations have been deemed 
 sufficient to establish the title of "the father of waters" 
 to the name which he has so long borne. {See History 
 and Geography of Western States, vol. 2, Missouri.) 
 And as they exist in an equal extent, so should they 
 equally confirm the pre- eminence which the Cohongo- 
 roota has now for near a century so proudly and peace- 
 fully enjoyed. 
 
 The claim of Maryland to the territory in question is 
 by no means so reasonable as the claim of the great Fred- 
 erick of Prussia to Silesia, which that prince asserted 
 and maintained, but which he tells us himself he never 
 would have thought of asserting if his father had not 
 left him an overflowing treasury and a powerful army. 
 
 With this brief historical retrospect, presented as ex- 
 planatory of the accompanying testimony, I will now 
 lay before your excellency, in chronological order, a list 
 of the documents and papers referred to in my prece- 
 ding observations. 
 
 No. 1. Is the original grant from King James II to 
 Thomas Lord Culpeper, made on the 27th September, in 
 the fourth year of his reign. 
 
 No. 2. Copy of a letter from Mayor Gooch, Lieuten- 
 
82 Boundary Line. 
 
 ant Governor of Virginia, to the lord's commissioners 
 for trade and plantation's, dated at Williamsburg, June 
 29th, 1729. 
 
 No. 3. Petition to the King in council in relation to 
 the Northern Neck grants and their boundaries, agreed 
 to by the house of burgesses June 30th, 1730. 
 
 No. 4. The petition of Thomas Lord Fairfax to his 
 IMajesty in council, preferred in 1733, setting forth his 
 grants from the crown, and that there had been divers 
 disputes between the Governor and Council in Virginia 
 and the petitioner, and his agent, Robert Carter, Esq., 
 touching the boundaries of the petitioner's said tract of 
 land, and praying that his Majesty would be pleased to 
 order a commission to issue for running out, marking and 
 ascertaining the bounds of the petitioner's said tract of 
 land. 
 
 No. 5. A copy of an order of his Majesty in his privy 
 council bearing date 29th of November, 1733, directing 
 William Gooch, Esq., Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, 
 to ajppoint three or more commissioners, (not exceeding 
 five,) who in conjunction with a like number to be named 
 and deputed by the said Lord Fairfax, are to survey and 
 settle the marks and boundaries of the said district of 
 land, agreeably to the terms of the patent under which 
 the Lord Fairfax claims. 
 
 No. 6. Copy of the commission from Lieutenant Gov- 
 ernor Gooch to William Byrcl, of Westover ; John Roi- 
 inson, of Piscataway, and John Grymes, of Brandon, 
 appointing them commissioners on behalf of his Majesty, 
 with full power, authority, &c. , &c. 
 
 [I have not been able to meet with a copy of the com- 
 mission of Lord Fairfax to his commissioners— they were 
 William Beverly, William Fairfax and Charles Carter. 
 It appears by the accompanying report of their proceed- 
 ings that "his lordship's commissioners delivered to the 
 King's commissioners an attested copy of their commis- 
 sion," which having been found upon examination more 
 
Boundary Line. 83 
 
 restricted in its authority than that of the commission- 
 ers of the Crown, gave rise to some little difficulty which 
 was subsequently adjusted.] 
 
 No. 7. Copy of the instructions on behalf of the right 
 honorable Lord Fairfax to his commissioners. 
 
 No. 8. Minutes of the proceedings of the commission- 
 ers appointed on the part of his Majesty and the right 
 honorable Thomas Lord Fairfax, from their first meeting 
 at Fredericksburg, September 25th, 1736. 
 
 No. 9. Original correspondence between the commis- 
 sioners during the years 1736 and 1737, in 'reference 
 to the examination and survey of the Potomac River. 
 
 No. 10. The original field notes of the survey of the 
 Potomac River, from the mouth of the Shenandoah to 
 the head sj)ring of said Potomac River, by Mr. Benja- 
 min Winslow. 
 
 No. 1 1. The original plat of the survey of the Potomac 
 River. 
 
 No. 12. Original letter from John Savage, one of the 
 surveyors, dated January 17, 1737, stating the grounds 
 upon which the commissioners had decided in favor of 
 the Cohongoroota over the Wappacomo as the main 
 branch of the Potomac. The former, he says, is both 
 wider and deejjer than the latter. 
 
 No. 13. Letter from Charles Carter, Esq., dated Jan- 
 uary 20, 1737, exhibiting the result of a comparative ex- 
 amination of the north and south branches of the Poto- 
 mac. The north branch at its mouth, he says, is twenty- 
 three poles wide, the South branch sixteen, &c. 
 
 No. 14. A printed map of the Northern Neck of Vir- 
 ginia, situate betwixt the rivers Potomac and Rappahan- 
 nock, drawn in the year 1737, by William Mayo, one of 
 the King's surveyors, according to his actual survey in 
 the preceding year. 
 
 No. 15. A printed map of the courses of the rivers 
 Rappahannock and Potomac, in Virginia, as surveyed 
 
84 Boundary Line. 
 
 according to order in 1736 and 1737, (supposed to be by- 
 Lord Fairfax's surveyors.) 
 
 Xo. 16. A copy of a separate report of tlie commission- 
 ers appointed on behalf of the Crown. [I have met with 
 no copy of the separate report of Lord Fairfax' s commis- 
 sioners.] 
 
 ISTo. 17. Copy of Lord Fairfax's observations upon 
 and exceptions to the report of the commissioners of the 
 Crown. 
 
 No. 18. Copy of the report and opinion of the right 
 honorable the lords of the committee of council for plan- 
 tation ailairs, dated 6th April, 1745. 
 
 JSTo. 19. The decision of his Majesty in council, made 
 on the 11th of April, 1745, confirming the report of the 
 council for plantation ailairs, ai,id further ordering the 
 Lieutenant Governor of Virginia to nominate three or more 
 persons (not exceeding five) who, in conjunction with a 
 like number to be named and deputed by Lord Fairfax, 
 are to run and mark out the boundary and dividing line, 
 according to his decision thus made. 
 
 No. 20. The original commission from Thomas Lord 
 Fairfax to the honorable Wm. Fairfax, Charles Car- 
 ter and William Beverly, Esqs., dated 11th of June, 
 1745. 
 
 [Col. Joshua Fry, Col. Lunsford Lomax and Maj. 
 Peter Hedgeman, were appointed commissioners on the 
 X)art of the Crown.] 
 
 No. 21. Original agreement entered into by the com- 
 missioners preparatory to their examination of the Po- 
 tomac River. 
 
 No. 22. The original journal of the journey of the com- 
 missioners, surveyors, &c., from the head spring of the 
 Potomac in 1745. [This is a curious and valuable docu- 
 ment, and gives the only authentic narrative now extant 
 of the planting of the Fairfax stone. J 
 
 No. 23. The joint report of the commissioners ap- 
 
Boundary Line. 85 
 
 pointed as well on the part of the Crown as of Lord Fair- 
 fas in obedience to his Majesty's order of 11th April, 
 1745. 
 
 No. 24. A manuscript map of the head spring of the 
 Potomac River, executed by Col. George Mercer of the 
 regiment commanded in 1756 by Gen. Washington. 
 • No. 25. Copy of an act of the General Assembly of 
 Maryland passed February 19th, 1819, authorizing the 
 appointment of commissioners on the part of that State, 
 to meet such commissioners as may be appointed for the 
 same purpose by the Commonwealth of Virginia to set- 
 tle and adjust, by mutual compact between the two gov- 
 ernments, the western limits of that State and the Com- 
 monwealth of Virginia, to commence at the most western 
 source of the north branch of the Potomac River, and to 
 run a due north course thence to the Pennsylvania line. 
 
 No. 26. Letters from intelligent and well-informed in- 
 dividuals residing in the country watered by the Poto- 
 mac and its branches, addressed to the undersigned, sta- 
 ting important geographical facts bearing upon the pres- 
 ent controversy. 
 
 There are other papers in my possion not listed nor 
 referable to any particular head, yet growing out of and 
 illustrating the controversy between Lord Fairfax and 
 the Crown ; these are also herewith transmitted. 
 
 There are other documents again not at all connected 
 with my present duties, which chance has thrown in my 
 way, worthy of preservation in the archives of the State. 
 Such, for example, as the original '■^plan of the line be- 
 tween Virginia and Nbrt?i Carolina, lohich loas run in 
 the year 1728, in the spring and fall, from the sea to 
 Peters' sUreeTc, by the Hon. Wm. Byrd, Wm. Dandridge 
 and Richard Fitzwilliams, Esqrs., commissioners, and 
 Mr. AlexW Irwine and Mr. Wm. Mayo, surveyors, and 
 from Peters' s Creek to Steep Rock Creek, loas continued 
 in the fall of the year, 1749, by Joshua Fry and Peter 
 Jeff er son.''' 
 
86 Boundary Line. 
 
 Such documents, should it accord with the views of 
 your excellency, might be deposited with ' ' the Virginia 
 Historical and Philosophical Society," an institution of 
 recent origin, yet founded upon the most expanded views 
 of public utility, and which is seeking by its patriotic 
 appeals to individual liberality, to wrest from the rava- 
 ges of time the fast- perishing records and memorials of 
 our early history and institutions. 
 
 With sentiments of regard, I am, very respectfully, 
 your obedient servant, 
 
 Charles. Jas. Faulkner. 
 
 To John Floyd, Esq., Governor of Virginia. 
 
 The controversy between the two States pended for 
 some time after Mr. Faulkner's report, and in addition 
 to Col. John B. D. Smith, of Frederick, and John S. 
 Gallaher, Esq., of Jefferson, were appointed commission- 
 ers on the part of Virginia. 
 
CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 HISTORICAL PEN SKETCHES OF THE EARLY 
 
 RESIDENTS OF BERKELEY COUNTY, 
 
 WITH HAPPENINGS, Etc. 
 
 BY THE LATE HON. CHAS. JAMES FAULK NEK. 
 
 |HESE papers were prepared and written over fifteen 
 years ago, and like nearly all of Mr. Faulkner's 
 writings, relate in some manner to Berkeley County. 
 Among tlie papers, tlie author found one package marked 
 "Memorabilia" — or ihings to be remembered. Mr. 
 Faulkner prepared these sketches to accompany the 
 "Berkeley Centennial Celebration," but the pamphlet 
 was never published. 
 
 HORATIO GATES, 
 
 A Major General in the army of the United States. 
 He was a native of England. He was with Braddock at 
 the time of his defeat, 1755, and was shot through the 
 body. He then purchased an estate in Berkeley County, 
 Virginia, where he resided until the commencement of 
 the American war in 1775, when he was appointed by 
 Congress Adjutant General, with the rank of Brigadier 
 General. The success which attended his arms in the 
 capture of Burgoyne in October, 1777, filled America 
 with joy. Congress passed a vote of thanks, and ordered 
 a medal of gold to be presented to him by the President. 
 August 16th, 1780, he was defeated by Cornwallis at 
 Camden. He was superceded by General Greene, but in 
 1782 restored to his command. After peace, he retired 
 
88 Historical Pen Sketches. 
 
 to Ms farm, called "Traveler's Rest," in Berkeley Coun- 
 ty, where lie remained till 1790, wlien he went to reside 
 at New York. He died on the 10th of April, 1806, aged 
 77 years. 
 
 ALEXANDER WILSON. 
 
 Born in Paisly, Scotland, July 6th, 1766— emigrated 
 to the United States, July 14th, 1794— settled in the 
 County of Berkeley, now in "West Virginia, shortly after 
 his arrival, as a weaver. His residence here was marked 
 by great poverty, and does not seem to have left very 
 pleasant impressions on his mind, if we may judge by 
 the following lines extracted from one of his poems — 
 
 Tarewell to Virginia— to Berliieley adieu, 
 Where, like Jacob, our days have been evil and few. 
 So few— they seemed really but one lengthened curse, 
 And so bad that the Devil only could have sent worse. 
 
 He was a man of unconquerable resolution and energy, 
 and of enthusiastic devotion to natural science. He had 
 completed the seventh volume of his great work on orni- 
 tholigy before he died, and was engaged, when seized 
 with his last illness, in collecting the materials for the 
 eighth volume. Of the many active men whose biogra- 
 phies are before the public, there is not iDerhaps one 
 whose life presents such heroic resolution in the pursuit 
 of science. He died August 23, 1813, and was buried in 
 Philadelphia. 
 
 DR. RICHARD McSHERRY 
 
 Was born in the County of Berkeley, upon the farm 
 known as "Retirement," near Leetown, on the 28th of 
 May, 1792, and was the eldest son of Richard and Anas- 
 tatia McSherry, who both lived and died on the estate. 
 He was educated at an academy at Fredericktown, Mary- 
 land, then at Hagerstown, and lastly at Georgetown Col- 
 lege, D. C, where he went through a full course of 
 instruction. He commenced the study of medicine under 
 
Historical Pen SketcJies. 89 
 
 Dr. Sanniel J. Creamer, a graduate of Edinburg, and a 
 very accomplislied physician, residing at CliarlestoAvn. 
 From thence he went to Philadelphia, and entered the 
 ofiice of Prof. Nathaniel Chapman, of the University of 
 Pennsylvania, at which University he graduated in med- 
 icine in 1816. Meantime, while attending the lectures, 
 the war of 1812 broke out, and he joined a company from 
 his native county, and marched to encounter our British 
 invaders ; and upon the death of the medical officer at- 
 tached to the command, he was commissioned in his 
 place, and served as a surgeon in the army /until the end 
 of the war. In 1816, he commenced the piactice of his 
 profession in Martinsburg, and enjoyed an extensive and 
 lucrative practice until 1871, when he withdrew from the 
 practice. He was married in January, 1817, to Miss Ann 
 C. King, daughter of Mr. Greorge King, Georgetown, 
 whose family were of the early Maryland colonists. He 
 died in Baltimore, at the residence of his son, on the 20th 
 of December, 1873, and his remains were interred in the 
 Catholic cemetery of Martinsburg. 
 
 No man enjoyed a more enviable reputation than Dr. 
 McSherry. Asa physician he stood in the first rank of 
 his profession and by constant study, kept progress with 
 the advance of medical science. His mild and amiable 
 temper, bland and courageous deportment to all, made 
 him a general favorite. His reading extended beyond 
 the scope of his professional studies, and his familiarity 
 with history and general literature, made him at all 
 times an agreeable companion. He was kind and charit- 
 able, and bore throughout life a reputation of unsullied 
 integrity. 
 
 JOHN MYERS. 
 
 Born in the County of Berkeley, about the year 1765, 
 and lived all his life in the mountainous districts of the 
 county. He was a man of striding appearance, about 
 six feet, four inches in height, with no superfluous flesh, 
 and with a countenance indicating great natural intelli- 
 
90 Historical Pen Sketclies. 
 
 gence and intrejiid daring. His whole life was spent in 
 hunting bears, deer and other game of the forest. He 
 was universally known by the name of "Hunter John 
 Myers." The chase was his pastime and his means of 
 support. His rifle was unerring in its aim, and rarely 
 did a wolf, bear or deer escape him. There was a savage 
 wilderness in his features, which indicated very clearly 
 how little he had mingled in the haunts of civilized life. 
 If he was not the original from which the novelist' Cooper 
 painted his celebrated character of Natty Bumppo, or 
 Leather-Stocking, he has by the force of imagination 
 delineated with extraordinary accuracy the hunter of 
 Berkeley. Myers, like Leather-Stocking, stands hall way 
 between savage and civilized life ; a man with all the 
 freshness of nature about him, and whose like is only 
 to be seen at this day, amidst the wild and unbroken 
 forests of the west. He died about the year 183.'i. 
 CHARLES D. STEWART. 
 
 For nearly half a century this gentleman held the office 
 of deputy Sheriff of this county. Each successive senior 
 magistrate as he attained the Sheriffalty, was pleased, as 
 the law then stood, to farm out for a fixed compensation 
 the discharge of its duties to one so distinguished for his 
 honesty and humanity as Charles D. Stewart. Few men 
 ever passed through so protracted an official service with 
 so little complaint of his conduct. He was prompt in 
 the execution of process, tender, yet firm and decided, 
 and he administered his charities so quietly and silently 
 that his left hand scarcely knew what his right had be- 
 stowed. He died of the choTbra in 1854. 
 RAWLEIGH COLSTON 
 
 Was born in England ; married Elizabeth Marshall, 
 sister of Chief Justice John Marshall ; purchased a large 
 estate upon the Potomac River in the County of Berke- 
 ley, upon which he erected a handsome mansion. He, 
 in conjunction with his brother-in-laws, John and James 
 JMarshall, purchased from the devisees of Thomas Lord 
 
liisiorical Pen SketcJies. » 91 
 
 Fairfax, all their proprietary fights in the Northern 
 Neck of Virginia. Lord Fairfax being an alien at the 
 period of our revolution, and the State of Virginia treat- 
 ing him as such, and alien creditors and landlords having 
 acquired rights under the treaty of peace of 1783, and 
 Jay's treaty of 1764, much perplexity and diflBculty ex- 
 isted in this and other counties embraced in the North- 
 ern Neck as to their land titles. These difficulties were 
 adjuted by a compromise between those purchasers and 
 the Commonwealth of Virginia, made on the 10th of 
 December, 1796, by which the State confirmed the title 
 of all persons claiming under Fairfax to the lands which 
 had been specifically appropriated or reserved by Lord 
 Fairfax or his ancestors for his or their use ; the pur- 
 chasers relinquishing their title to all the waste and un- 
 appropriated lands in the Northern Neck. Under this 
 compromise, patents were issued without controversy for 
 all lands not then covered by patents from Lord Fairfax. 
 
 Mr. Colston was a man of literary tastes, and of large 
 commercial information, and took an active interest in 
 the cause of religion. On the 13th of June, 1814, he was 
 elected president of a Bible Society then organized in the 
 County of Berkeley, and his address to the public in 
 support of that cause, published in the Martinsburg 
 Gazette, of that period, is a document marked by literary 
 ability and deep Christian feeling. He died in 1823, and 
 was buried at Honeywood, his county seat, in this 
 county. 
 
 He left a large family of sons and daughters, among 
 whom were Edward Colston, a representative in Congress 
 from this district ; Mary, a lady of extraordinary beauty 
 and accomplishments, married to John Hanson Thomas, 
 of Maryland, a lawyer of great genius and promise, who 
 died in early life, and Susan, married to Benjamin Wat- 
 kins Leigh, one of Virginia's distinguished sons. 
 
 LIEUTENANT DAVID HUNTER, 
 
 Son of Col. Moses Hunter, was born in Berkeley county. 
 
92 Historical Fen Skeiclies. 
 
 When quite a young man lie was appointed an officer in 
 thft United States army, and was assigned to duty on the 
 northern frontier. He was killed on the 11th of Novem- 
 ber, 1813, near Williamsburg, on the shores of the St. 
 Lawrence, Canada. He was advancing with great intre- 
 pidity upon a formidable column of one of the best ap- 
 pointed detachments of the British Army, under a show- 
 er of musketry and grape shot scarcely ever equaled, 
 and was exhorting his men to behave in a cool and de- 
 termined manner, when he was struck by a canister shot, 
 which in a few minutes terminated his existence. 
 DANIEL BEDINGER 
 
 Was born in Berekley County. When in his sixteenth 
 year he ran away from home and joined a company of 
 volunteers and served throughout the revolutionary war. 
 He was captured at the battle of Brandywine on the 11th 
 of September, 1777, and was detained as a prisoner of 
 war until the British army evacuated Philadelphia in the 
 summer of 1778. After his exchange as a prisoner of 
 war, although he had suffered incredible hardships du- 
 ring his captivity, he promptly returned to the army. — 
 He bore the rank of ensign during the Avar, and was ap- 
 pointed Kavy Agent at Gasport, Virginia, by President 
 Jefferson, and remained in office during his administra- 
 tion. When the old frigate Constitution was dismantled 
 he purchased the masts, which were used in the portico 
 of the house which he built near Shepherdstown, and 
 which house, then the property of Edmund I. Lee, who 
 had married his daughter, was, by order of General 
 Hunter, burned during the late civil war. He was a man 
 of vigorous and original mind, with a decided talent for 
 poetical satire, and lines from some of his i)oems are, 
 after a lapse of nearly half a century, in the memory of 
 many persons. He died at his residence near Shepherds- 
 town in March, 1818, aged 54 years. 
 
 ABRAHAM SHEPHERD, 
 
 A captain in the revolutionary war. He volunteered as 
 
Historical Fen SketcJies. 93 
 
 a private in June, 1775, in the Berkeley County company, 
 commanded by Hugli Stephenson. He was elected a 
 lieutenant of that company in the place of Lieut. Thomas 
 Hite, who declined the commission, and marched with 
 the company to Boston in July, 1775. At the expiration 
 of its term of service, which was one year, he was com- 
 missioned the senior captain in a rifle regiment comman- 
 ded by Col. Hugh Stephenson. He was very energetic 
 in filling his company, having enlisted out of the old 
 company twenty men to serve for three years, and return- 
 ing to Berkeley in a short time enlisted seventy- one and 
 marched them to the field of operations in the north. 
 On the 4th of October, 1776, he arrived with his company 
 at Bergen Point, opposite Jlew York, where he found 
 Col. Kawlings in command of the regiment, Stephenson 
 having in the meantime died. On the 12th of Novenber 
 he was engaged for three successive days in severe skir- 
 mishing at King's bridge. On the 16th he was engaged 
 in a severe action with the enemy, in which Col. Raw- 
 lings and MaJ. Williams were severely wounded and 
 taken from the field, and the command of the regiment 
 devolved upon him. Finding himself overpowered by 
 superior numbers he returned slowly to Fort Washing- 
 ton, about half a mile distant from the scene of action. 
 The fort was captured and all in it made prisoners of war. 
 Cap. Shepherd remained a prisoner until May, 1778. He 
 then returned to Berkeley County and remained there 
 until 1779. In the meantime the fifteen Virginia regi- 
 ments were, by a resolve of Congress, reduced to eleven, 
 and many olthe officers became supernumerary. Capt. 
 Shepherd called upon Gen. Washington and claimed his 
 right to be in active service as a senior captain in the 
 Virginia line. Gen. Washington regretted the necessity 
 that compelled so many valuable officers to retire as su- 
 pernumeraries, and added that if the country should 
 hereafter want their services they would be notified to 
 Join the army. Capt. Shepherd consequently retired 
 
94 Historical Pen SJietc7tes. 
 
 from active service as a supernumerary for the remain- 
 der of the war. He received a letter from Gen. Wash- 
 ington butt^vo months before the General's death, speak- 
 ing of him as a "valuable oflicer in the revolutionary 
 war." He never filled any public civil employment, but 
 Avas an active supporter and liberal contributor to local 
 improvements. He died on the 7th of September, 1822, 
 in the 69th year of his age. 
 
 PHILIP NADENBOUSCH, 
 Born in Bedford, Pa., on the 20lh of October, 1773, 
 emigrated to 13erkeley County on the 4th day of July, 
 1799. He was commissioned a magistrate in 1807, and 
 was twice commissioned sheriff of Berkeley County. He 
 was the presiding justice of the county court for more 
 
 than twenty years. He died on the Tth day of 1863. 
 
 He bore the reputation of an intelligent magistrate and 
 of an upright man. 
 
 LEVI HENSHAW, 
 
 Born in Berkeley County on the 22d day of July, 1769. 
 He was for many years an active magistrate and member 
 of the County Court of Berkeley, and in 1821, 1822, 1830 
 and 1831, was elected a member of the House of Dele- 
 gates of Virginia. He ^as highly respected and esteem- 
 ed, and died at his residence on Mill Creek in the County 
 of Berkeley on the 9th of September, 1743. 
 JOEL WARD 
 
 Was born in the County of Berkeley on the 4th of May, 
 1781. He was for many years one of the most influen- 
 tial citizens and magistrates in the county. The grasp 
 and power of the intellect vvere admitted by all who come 
 into contact with him. He was in 1819, 1820 and 1828 
 elected to the legislature from this county, and always 
 discharged his public duties with singular fidelity and 
 conscientiousness. He resided near Bunker Hill, on Mill 
 Creek, where he died on the 17th of February, 1837. 
 REV. BERNARD C. WOLFF, D. D. 
 
 Was born in Martinsburg, Berkeley County about 
 
Historical Pen Sketches. 95 
 
 the year 1795. He was the son of George Wolff, Esq., 
 one of our most conscientious and respectable magistra- 
 tes. When the writer of this sketch first became ac- 
 quainted with the son in 1822, he was working at his 
 trade of saddler in Martinsburg, then in the 28th year of 
 his age. His intelligence, extensive reading and liter- 
 ary attainments, were the subject of general remark ; 
 while his frank and fascinating manners, social tempera- 
 ment public and unaffected piety, made him a universal 
 favorite. Every enterprise looking to the educational 
 moral and religious interests of this community found 
 in him an ardent advocate and energetic supporter. It 
 was therefore not a matter of surprise when it became 
 known, that he, then in the 36th year of his age, decided 
 to devote himself to the office of the holy ministry. — 
 After several years of preparatory study in the theolo- 
 gical seminary of the German Reformed Church at York, 
 Pa., he received a call to the reformed Church at Easton, 
 in that State. In this field he labored for nine years, 
 and in the spring of 1845 was called to take charge of the 
 Third Reformed Church in Baltimore. A vacancy occur- 
 ring in the theological seminary at Mercersburg, he was 
 elected to fill the vacant position, and in 1854 entered 
 upon his duties as professor of dogmatic and pastoral 
 theology. Owing to declining health, he resigned his 
 professorship in 1864, and removed to Lancaster city.— 
 Here he devoted much attentionto the interests of Frank- 
 lin and Marshall College. Aboiit two years before he 
 died, he was attacked with paralysis and his active labor 
 on earth ceased. Gradually failing in his physical 
 strength, but with his mental powers still active, he 
 calmly and peacefully departed this life on the 31st day 
 of October, 1870, while the last rays of an autumn sun 
 was illuminating the western sky with a flood of 
 glory. 
 
 Bernardo. Wolff was no ordinary man. He was the 
 model of a christian gentleman, always kind and cour- 
 
06 Historical Pen Sltetclies. 
 
 teous, yet tirai and decided in liis principles, and untir- 
 ing in his work. His views of the ministry were of the 
 most exalted character, and his conduct and conversa- 
 tions in the life fully corresponded with his concep- 
 tions of its divine missioa on earth. 
 
 COL. DAVID HUNTER 
 
 Was born in York, Pennsylvania, on the 3rd of May, 
 1761. Sometime during his early boyhood his parents 
 came to Virginia and settled near the site of Martins- 
 burg, on what is still known as the "Ked House Farm." 
 The i)recise date of his coming is unknown, but there is 
 reason for believing that the settlement was made du- 
 ring the Governorship of Lord Dnnmore, and before the 
 establishment of Berkeley County in 1772. 
 
 David, the youngest son of the family, acquired the 
 rudiments of his education, in a log school house loca- 
 ted near the present crossing of Queen and Burke streets, 
 walking the whole way from his father' s house (about 
 two miles to the northward) through unbroken forests. 
 Of his earlier life the traditions are few and vague and 
 scarcely worth reading. He was for sometime employed 
 as deputy assistant in the Clerk's office of Berkely 
 County, held by his brother, Moses Hunter, between the 
 years 1735 and 1748. About the year 1787 or '88 he went 
 to England on some business connected with the inter- 
 ests of his family, and after his return about 1792, he 
 married Elizabeth, eldest daughter of Philip Pendleton, 
 and sister of the late Philip C. Pendleton. The county 
 Clerkship becoming vacant bj' the death of his eldest 
 brother, David Hunter, competed for the place with 
 Major Henry Bedinger. Bedinger was elected by the 
 vote of the magistrate, but it being apparant that some of 
 the electors had been controlled by improper influences, 
 the election was contested by Col. Hunter in the courts. 
 After several years of litigation his case was sustained, 
 and he was put in possession of the office in 1803, and 
 held it until his death. About the year 1811 while walk" 
 
Historical Pen Sketches. 97 
 
 ing out witli some friends on the Walnnt Flats, near 
 Stephen's Dam, he attempted to leap a narrow gulley, 
 fell and broke his leg, from the effects of which he was 
 lame for life. Hence the cane and limp which are re- 
 membered by all who knew him in his latter days. 
 
 As the flower of his life passed during the interval be- 
 tween the Revolution and the War of 1812, Colonel Hunter 
 was never in the military service and his title was proba- 
 bly derived from a commission in the militia, and while 
 he was one of most generally esteemed and influential 
 men in the district, the possession of the responsible and 
 (then) lucrative Clerkship, effectually debarred him from 
 seeking political distinction, then, as now, more honora- 
 ble than profitable. He was nevertheless, like most of 
 the gentlemen of his circle at that day, a strong Federal- 
 ist, and when that party rejoiced in the downfall of 
 Napoleon Bonaparte in 1813, he was chosen to preside at 
 a barbecue dinner given in honor of the event by the 
 Federalists of Berkeley and adjacent Counties of Virgin- 
 ia and Maryland. This celebration took place on the 
 l'6th of September, 181S, at Swearengen's Spring on the 
 Potomac River above Shepherdstown, and was cleverly 
 caricatured as "the Cossack Celebration" in some satiri- 
 cal verse written by a gentleman of the opposite party, 
 and well remembered to this day. The motives and jus- 
 tification of the assembly are set forth however, in a 
 document, still extant, bearing evidences of the sincerity 
 and ability of its framers, and well worth perusal at this 
 
 day. 
 Colonel Hunter died on the 22nd of March, leaving a 
 
 large family of sons and daughters, only one of whom it 
 is believed, is still living. 
 
 From the traditions of his earlier life, we learn that 
 Colonel Hunter was a person handsome, athletic and 
 graceful, courteous and dignified in manner ; in conver- 
 sation full of humorous and entertaining anecdotes, the 
 result of travel and observation, rather than reading and 
 
98 Historical Pen Sketclies. 
 
 books. He was especially remarkable for tis strong 
 practical sense and keen insight into character, rarely 
 erring in his Judgment of men with whom he came in 
 contact ; yet kindly and generous withal— leaving the 
 impression both in physique and character, of one of the 
 finest tyiDes among our early settlers. 
 
 MAJOR GENERAL THOMAS SIDNEY JESSUP 
 "Was born in the County of Berkeley, in 1788 and en- 
 tered the army in 1808 as a second lieutenant of the sev- 
 enth infantry. So rapid was his promotion, that in 1812 
 he was brigade major, and acting adjutant general to 
 Brigadier General Hull. In 1813 he was major of the 
 19th infantry ; transferred in 1814 to the 25th infantry 
 as brevet lieutenant colonel, for distinguished and 
 meritorious bravery in the battle of Chippewa, of the 
 5tli of July, 1814. In November of the same year, he 
 was breveted colonel for gallant conduct and distin- 
 guished skill in the battle of Niagara, of the 25th of July, 
 1814, in which he was severely wounded. On the reduc- 
 tion of the army in 1815, we was retained in the first 
 infantry, and in 1817 was lieutenant colonel of the third 
 infantry. In 1818 he was appointed adjutant general 
 with the rank of colonel ; and the same year, Quarter- 
 master General, with the rank of Brigadier General ; and 
 was breveted Major General in May, 1828, for ten years 
 meritorious service. He was assigned to the command 
 of the army in the Creek nation, Alabama, in 1836, and 
 succeeded Gen. Call in Florada on the 8th of December, 
 1836 ; was wounded in action with the Seminole Indians 
 near Jupiter Inlet on the 24th of January, 18.38 ; and was 
 succeeded by Col. Z. Taylor on the 15th of May 1838 ; 
 whereupon he returned to the duties of his department, 
 which he managed with distinguished ability. 
 
 He continued at the head of the Quartermaster' s de- 
 partment of the United States, until the period of his 
 death, which occurred on the 10th day of June, 1860. — 
 The writer of this sketch, who was himself at one time 
 
Historical Pen Sketches. 99 
 
 Chairttian of the committee on military affairs of the 
 House of Eepresentatives, knew Gen. Jessup well, and 
 had an opportunity of estimating his valuable services to 
 the country. To his fine military capacity in the field, 
 he added great administrative ability. In the manage- 
 ment of the vast concerns of the Quartermaster's depart- 
 ment, he evinced great foresight, but the labor developed 
 upon him by the Mexican war, in managing the details 
 of the campaign in a far distant country, can only be 
 properly appreciated by those who shared in its diflicul- 
 ties and responsibilities. A grateful country must ever 
 bear in honorable remembrance the services of the vet- 
 eran soldier and gentleman whose name and fame will 
 go down to posterity as a portion of the brightest mili- 
 tary records. 
 
 ROBERT COCKBURN, JR., 
 
 The son of Robert Cockburn, of Cockburn Hill, east of 
 Martinsburg, was born in 1775. When I first knew the 
 father he was, at least 80 years of age. His long, flowing 
 white hair, covering his shoulders and reaching far down 
 his back, and his snowy beard sweeping to his waist, 
 gave a striking and picturesque appearance to the old 
 man. It was said, that he had been college-bred ; that 
 he had been educated in the best schools in Scotland and 
 that he had amassed a rich fund of classical lore and his- 
 torical knowledge. 
 
 "Cockburn Hill," as it was then called, with its exten- 
 sive orchard of cherries was well known to every boy in 
 Martinsburg ; and often has many an idle and truant 
 urchin roused the excitable temper of the old hermit by 
 pillaging his fruit before it was quite ripe. When ma- 
 tured and proper to be eaten, no one could be more 
 generous and liberal than he was in the license granted 
 to gather it. 
 
 He had two sons, Adam and Robert. Adam was a 
 dull and stupid boy ; Robert the genius of the family, 
 and upon him did the hopes of the old man repose. He 
 
100 Historical Pen Sketches. 
 
 was smart, loquacious, disputatious, and brimful of 
 egotism, pertness and conceit. He had an extravagant 
 idea of his scholarship and of his poetical talents. He 
 selected the vocation of a schoolmaster. The birch and 
 the ferule were no idle implements in his hands. He 
 was self indulgent to his own vices, but inexoiably severe 
 on the peccadilloes of his pupils. He had all the learn- 
 ing at that period of our educational history, deemed 
 necessary to an instructor of youth. 
 
 'Twas certain he could write and cypher, too, 
 Lands he could measure, terms and tides presage 
 
 And e'en, the story ran, that he could guago. 
 In arguing, too, the parson owned his slvill. 
 For e'en tho' vanquished he could argue still. 
 
 But it was not in his character of a schoolmaster that 
 he became entitled to be noticed in these humble 
 sketches. His gay, frolicsome and social temper — his 
 familiarity with all games and pastimes at rural enter- 
 taiments, his capacity for extemporaneous rhyming — 
 made him the hero of all apple-butter boilings, quilting 
 parties, cotillion assemblies and corn-husking festivities, 
 for miles around. No party was deemed complete unless 
 graced by the presence of ''Bob Cockburn." He sang, 
 played on the fiddle, told funny stories and extemporized 
 verses for the relief of those who were amerced in poetical 
 forfeits. But such a round of dissipation in those days 
 of apple-jack and whisky — when no temperance lecturer 
 had ever been heard of in the land — in the course of a 
 few years began to tell on the habits of the frolicsome 
 pedagogue — his nose began to blush — his eyes became 
 weary and inflamed — and he soon fell under the domin- 
 ion of that tyrant who has never been known to show 
 mercy or compassion to his helpless victims. 
 
 Bob was a patriot as well as a poet ; at least I am jus- 
 tified in thinking so from a poem of his which I have 
 seen in an old number of the Martinsburg Gazette and 
 what is the only specimen of his poetical genius which 
 
Historical Pen Sketclies. 101 
 
 has survived " tlie wreck of the matter and the crash of 
 worlds." I can only take a short extract from it. 
 
 It was written in June, 1818, one of the gloomiest pe- 
 riods of our last war with Great Britian. Norfolk, Ports- 
 mouth and all the towns and cities on the Chesapeake 
 Bay and James River were threatened by a powerful 
 navy and military force of the enemy. Two of the finest 
 companies from "old Berkeley " were then at the scene 
 of battle, encountering tlie pestilential air of the swamps 
 of Norfolk, and the fire of the enemy, in protecting the 
 sacred soil of Virginia from invasion, pillage and mur- 
 der. 
 
 The poem commences by representing a Berkeley 
 youth deeply enamored of a charming girl dwelling on 
 the crystal waters of the Tuscarora. He vows his love 
 in most passionate terms ; declares that for years her en- 
 chanting image has wholly absorbed his heart, and asks 
 in a delirium of despair, toJiat he shall do to assure him 
 of the reward of his long and devoted affection for her. 
 The Tuscarora maiden, in the spirit of Boadicea, thus re- 
 plies to him : 
 
 If }'0U sincerely wish my favor 
 
 Then you possess a patriot mind ; 
 Your country droops, advance to save her, 
 
 Nor sighing, linger liere behind. 
 Hear the inspiring shouts of praise — 
 
 On to glory ! — loud they call you ! 
 See youthful heroes crowned with bays 
 Their envied lot may yet befall you. 
 
 Robert Cockburn diedonCockburn Hill in 1834, in the 
 49th year of his age.. 
 
 JOHN R. COOKE 
 
 Was born in 1788, in Bermuda, the son of Dr. Stephen 
 Cooke and Catharine Esten. He came, with his parents, 
 to Alexandria, thence to the vicinity of Leesburg, where 
 his father had a place called the '-Forest." He never 
 went to college, as his eyes suddenly failed him whilst 
 
102 Historical Pen Sketches. 
 
 preparing for it. He settled in Martinsburg about 1810, 
 where he commenced the practice of law. In 1814 he 
 was elected to the House of Delegates from the county. 
 He married in Martinsburg a daughter of Col. Philip 
 Pendleton, and continued his residence there for a period 
 of nearly twenty years. He subsequently removed from 
 this county to Winchester, thence to Baltimore and 
 thence to Richmond. Enjoying a high degree of popu- 
 larity, political position might with him have been a mat- 
 ter of easy attainment, but, earnestly devoted to his pro- 
 fession, he resisted the appeals of that character whi ch were 
 frequently made to him. He was, with great unanimity, 
 elected a member of the Constitutional Convention of 
 Virginia of 1830, and there exhibited the nerve and abil- 
 ity to grapple with such intellectual giants as Leigh, 
 Upshur, Randolph and Tazewell in the discussion of the 
 great question of extended suffrage and equal represen- 
 tation before that body. His professional abilities were 
 of the highest order and universally recognized. In the 
 celebrated Randolph will case, argued in 1836, his great 
 and peculiar powers of argumentation were strikingly 
 exhibited. E. V. Sparhawk, the reporter of that trial, 
 a very competent judge, and who heard- all the argu- 
 ments in the case, thus speaks of Mr. Cooke's effort: 
 "It was a masterly production. He classifies and ex- 
 pounds his facts with great strength and clearness, and 
 arranges his authorities and arguments in the most for- 
 cible manner. His method of arguing is superior to any 
 man at the bar. Instead of dividing his strength upon 
 the separate points, his whole speech was but one point, 
 for the support of which all the other various facts and 
 considerations of the case were brought together in pyra- 
 midal strength and harmony." 
 
 Mr. Cooke was a bold, trenchant and vigorous writer. 
 His able and elaborate pamphlets published in 1825 en- 
 titled "The Constitution of 1776," followed by "The 
 Convention Question," in 1827, and then again by "An 
 
Historical Pen Sketches. 103 
 
 Earnest Appeal to the Friends of Reform" in 1828, at- 
 tracted the attention of the whole State to him and 
 largely contributed to the passage of the law organizing 
 the Constitutional Convention of 1829 and 1830, of which 
 he himself was an active and conspicuous member. Mr. 
 Cooke opened the " great debate" in that body by an 
 unsparing attack upon the then existing constitution of 
 Virginia, and asserted for himself, beyond all question, 
 the position of leader of the friends of reform in a body 
 composed of the ablest men from Western Virginia. 
 
 In 1835 he yielded to the importunity of his friends 
 and very reluctantly accepted the Whig nomination for 
 Congress in this District. Once accepted, however, he 
 entered into the canvass with his usual and characteristic 
 energy and pluck. His address to the people in the sev- 
 eral Court Houses of the district were models of lucid 
 statement, pungent, invective and eloquent demonstra- 
 tion. The writer of this heard his address in Martins- 
 burg. The court-room was crowded to excess. Not a 
 man stirred or left the hall during the two hours that he 
 was speaking. It was one of the most logical, perspicu- 
 ous and powerful arguments that he ever hurled from 
 the hustings. 
 
 E"o one was better qualified to judge of his intellectual 
 merits than the late James Marshall, of Winchester. In 
 1866 he thus spoke of Mr. Cooke to a friend : 
 
 " The finest faculty of his mind was his power of rea- 
 soning — his clearness of Judgment. His narrative in a 
 case was the best I ever knew. It might be said of him 
 as Webster said of Hoffman, that his case " once stated, 
 was already argued." He was very rash inhis charities, 
 unbounded I may say in liberality. His power of labor 
 was very uncommon. I never saw such great labor. He 
 had the clearest mind I ever savsr. If a witness or any 
 one in a case was acting dishonestly, he attacked him 
 without mercy. He was remarkable in philippie. He 
 had a very keen appreciation of equity, morals and man- 
 
104 Historical Pen Sketdies. 
 
 ners, and if they were wanting on such occasions he con- 
 ceived a great contempt for the individual and denounced 
 him bitterly and powerfully. He had a great practice." 
 
 David Holmes Conrad, in a letter, refers to him as 
 "the model of lofty courtesy, chivalry and generosity." 
 Another said that when he died ' ' he did not leave an 
 enemy on the bosom of the spacious earth." 
 
 This apparent hyperbole is undoubtedly near the truth. 
 He was a man of extraordinary suavity and amenity — of 
 unvarying sweetness of temper. In social life he rarely 
 exhibited any feelings of anger, and was characterized 
 by a remarkable patience and benevolence. His gener- 
 osity knew no bounds. He seemed to place no value 
 upon money. He gave it away to everybody and to 
 every object. 
 
 He died in the city of Richmond in December, 1854, 
 in the 67th year of his age. 
 
 MAGNUS TATE 
 
 Was born in Berkeley County in 1760. He was a man 
 of superior intelligence and a farmer by occupation. He 
 was twice elected from the county to the House of Dele- 
 gates of Virginia, in 1797 and 1798. He was commis- 
 sioned a magistrate in 1799, and twice commissioned 
 Sheriff of the county in 1819 and 1820, and elected to the 
 House of Delegates in 1803, 1809 and 1810. He had much 
 of the old Virginia character about him in his tastes and 
 habits. He was fond of dogs and horses, and in his 
 younger days a keen fox hunter. His house was the 
 abode of a generous hospitality, and the lovers of whist, 
 music and the dance could always find an opportunity 
 there to gratify their appetites for pleasures. 
 
 In January, 1815, he announced himself a candidate 
 for Congress for the district composed of the counties of 
 Berkeley, Jefferson, Hardy and Hampshire, and he was 
 triumphantly elected. His address to the freeholders of 
 the district prior to the election is all that now remains 
 of this gentleman to show the temper of the man and 
 
Historical Pen Sketches. 105 
 
 the character of his intellect, and certainly his descend- 
 ants have no reason to be ashamed of it, either upon the 
 score of its sentiments or of its ability. We give it 
 entire : 
 
 " To the freeholders of the district composed of the coun- 
 ties of Berkeley, Hampshire, Hardy and Jefferson : 
 Fellow Citizens : — I offer myself to your considera- 
 tion as a candidate to represent you in the next Con- 
 gress of the United States. It is possible the curious 
 may be disposed to inquire why I have become a candi- 
 date without the sanction of a committee. To this in- 
 terrogatory I answer that the recent method of nomina- 
 ting candidates by committee, however highly I may in- 
 cline to appreciate the practice, is, nevertheless, as it 
 seems to me, no way preferable to the ancient custom 
 which everyone understands. Again, I have been in- 
 duced to declare myself at this time and in this way by 
 the request of my friends, who think with me it is the 
 wish of a majority of the freeholders of the district. If, 
 however, we should be mistaken in this particular,-what- 
 ever the result may be, I will cheerfully submit to when 
 fairly ascertained on the day of election. All I desire is 
 to give the people an opportunity of making a selection, 
 and all I ask is an unbiased expression of public opin- 
 ion. This manner of proceeding appears perfectly con- 
 genial with the first principles of our government, with 
 all our political institutions, and consequently can be 
 liable to no rational objection. Here, perhaps, it may 
 not be improper to premise that I trust my deportment 
 on this occasion will be found fair and manly, and that 
 if I should meet with an opponent he shall receive from 
 me all the politeness and decorum due from one gentle- 
 man to another. 
 
 To those gentlemen in the upper parts of the district 
 with whom I have not the pleasure of a personal ac- 
 quaintance, I am pursuaded I shall be exonerated from 
 the charge of egotism and of complimenting myself when 
 
106 Historical Pen SJcetcJies. 
 
 they are informed that I am a farmer, in the middle 
 walks of life, and that if honored with their suffrages 
 my circumstances are such that I will neither be driven 
 from the path leading to the prosperity of oar country 
 by want or poverty, nor allured from it by avarice or am- 
 bition. 
 
 Citizens of the district, if an ardent attachment to my 
 native soil ; if many friends and relatives whom I esteem 
 and venerate ; if a numerous progeny intertwined with 
 every moral perception of my heart ; if either or all these 
 considerations firmly combined can rivet a man to his 
 country and to liberty — these motives, these induce- 
 ments, which, in my estimation, are the most powerful 
 that can operate on the human mind, shall be left by 
 me, as pledges." 
 
 He was associated in his legislative labors with such 
 men as Henry Clay, Daniel Webster, John C. Calhoun, 
 William Lowndes, John Randolph, William Gaston, 
 Philip P. Barbour, Henry St. George Tucker and a host of 
 others, all members of that House almost equally distin- 
 guished by their geniuses and reputations. In those 
 days the committees of the House were few and small, 
 and the active business of the body was left in the hands 
 of its leading statesmen. Not as now, when every man 
 in Congress, no matter how inferior, must have his hour, 
 and grind out that hour in a written speech, whether lis- 
 tened to or not, or whether written by himself or by a 
 clerk in the departments. The rule now is to put every 
 member on some committee. The rule then was to put 
 on committe duty only the most competent and distin- 
 guished. 
 
 Mr. Tate lived almost two and a half miles southwest 
 from Martinsburg, on a farm since purchased by Wm. 
 Walker. He left a large family of sons and daughters. 
 
 He died on the 30th of March, 1823. 
 JOHN BOYD, 
 
 Father of Gen. Elisha Boyd and a native of England, 
 
Historical Pen Slietches. 107 
 
 "Was one of the earliest settlers in the County of Berke- 
 ley. He acquired his land in this county by original 
 grant from Lord Fairfax, the patents of which are still 
 preserved by his descendants. He resided near the North 
 Mountain, about five miles v^est of Martinsburg. He v^^as 
 a man of herculean frame of body, and some anecdotes 
 are related of his hand to hand conflicts with the Indians, 
 which demanded all his activity and strength, but in 
 which he was generally victor. 
 
 He was married about the year 1754, to Sarah Gryfyth, 
 a native of Wales, and died in the year 1800, leaving 
 eight children, born in the following order, to wit : 
 Charles, Margaret, Fulton, John, William, Rachel, Bay- 
 ley, Elijah, Mary, Munford and Elisha ; the first born on 
 the 13th of April, 1756, and the last on the 6th of Octo- 
 ber, 1769. 
 
 His widow, Sarah Boyd, survived him some years, dy- 
 ing in 1S06. With the exception of Elisha, the children 
 were among the earliest emigrants to Kentucky. It is 
 said that Hon. LennBoyd, of Kentucky, for several years 
 Speaker of the Hoiise of Representatives, was one of 
 that stock, and his striking resemblance to Gen. Boyd 
 in stature, feature and general appearance would seem 
 to confirm that remark. 
 
 WILLIAM SMITH, 
 
 most generally known as "Burgess Billy Smith," was 
 born in Sleepy Creek about the year 1747, in that por- 
 tion of the colony of Virginia which was subsequently 
 embraced in the County of Berkeley. He had an insa- 
 tiable ambition to become a member of the legislature. 
 Shortly after the creation of the County of Berkeley in 
 1772 he became a candidate for the House Burgess, and 
 continued his candidacy, without success, for several 
 years, from which he acquired the soubriquet of " Bur- 
 gess Billy." After the revolutionary war was ended and 
 the State constitution of 1776 was adopted, dividing the 
 legislative department into a Senate and House of Dele- 
 
108 Historical Pen Sketches. 
 
 gates, he pressed his claims for election to the House of 
 Delegates from year to year, but still without success. 
 When Morgan was formed into a separate county in 1820 
 he regularly entered the field every year for a seat in the 
 legislature. At the April election in 1830 the aspirations 
 and struggles of a long life were gratified by an election, 
 but the adoption of the new constitution in the follow- 
 ing August set aside the election and dashed and disap- 
 pointed the hopes of his life. He never afterward had 
 the heart to aspire to the place, and died a few years 
 afterward, deeply impressed with the incapacity of the 
 people to select competent and proper agents to serve 
 them. He was a man of remarkable astuteness and cun- 
 ning, and although unable to read or write, no one was 
 ever found smart enough to take advantage of those de- 
 ficiencies. He was said to have been the first child born 
 in the Sleepy Creek Valley. 
 
 HENRY CLAY. 
 When this illustrious statesman was Secretary of State 
 under the younger Adam-S, and when, like the an tiered 
 monarch of the forest, he was almost driven to bay by 
 the fierce blood-hounds of party under the foul and loath- 
 some cry of "bargain and corruption," he sought, in 
 July, 1827, a temporary refuge from this pitiless storm 
 of calumny in a visit to some of his cherished friends in 
 Berkeley County. He spent some days in Martinsburg, 
 and it is needless to say that he was received here with 
 all the enthusiasm due to his exalted genius and i^atriot- 
 ism. He decided to pay a brief visit to the Berkeley 
 Springs, and a gentleman now residing in our county, 
 accompanied him in a carriage. When, about 2 o'clock 
 in the day, they reached what was called the Halfway 
 House, a sort of tavern kept by Dick Sheckles, a man of 
 enormous proportions, fat and unwieldy, and weighing 
 near four hundred pounds, they found the old landlord 
 sitting in the shade before his house, indalging in Ms 
 usual habit in the hot days of summer, of keeping him- 
 
Historical Pen SJcetches. 109 
 
 self cool by burying bis feet in tbe earth and piling it 
 up around bis legs nearly as bigb as bis knees. Tbe 
 arrival of tbe carriage did not in tbe least disturb tbe 
 placidity of tbe unwieldy landlord. Wben Mr. Clay ap- 
 proached tbe bouse bis traveling companion presented 
 bim to Mr. Sbeckles, saying : " Permit me to introduce 
 to you tbe present Secretary of State, Henry Clay, of 
 Kentucky." Witb tbat tbe old gentleman gazed for a 
 moment at tbe tall, spare and erect figure before bim, 
 and rising to bis feet said : ' ' Did you say tbis was Henry 
 Clay, of Kentucky ? Wby, I tbougbt be was a great big 
 man like a king ! " "No, Mr. Sbeckles," said Mr. Clay, 
 ' ' you are more kingly in your proportions tban I am. 
 Yoii see in me nothing but a broken down public ser- 
 vant, worn almost to a skeleton by State and tbe calum- 
 nies of my enemies." 
 
 In May, 1844, Mr. Clay was invited by a public mass- 
 meeting of bis friends in tbis county to visit Martins- 
 burg and to partake of tbe hospitalities of the county. 
 We take an extract from the letter of invitation, as it 
 contains some facts worthy of remembrance : 
 
 Maktinsbueg, Va., March 14tb, 1844. 
 To the Hon. Henry Clay : 
 
 SiE — Tbe County of Berkeley boasts of some historical 
 recollections connected with your fame, which she is not 
 disposed shall at the present period be lost sight of or 
 forgotten. She looks with a becoming pride to tbat sa- 
 gacity which prompted her sons some twenty years ago 
 to seek to give in your person that direction to public 
 sentiment which it is now receiving from the patriotism 
 and sagacity of tbe whole Union. It was here, in this 
 very county — by action of the people in primary assem- 
 bly, on the 14tb of June, 1824, tbat your name was first 
 presented to the people of Virginia, as a candidate for 
 tbat exalted station, for which you now stand nominated 
 in tbe hearts of near two millions of your admiring coun- 
 trymen. It was here — in this county— that tbe electoral 
 
110 Historical Fen Slietcltes. 
 
 ticket was framed and announced, whicli presents your 
 claim to the suffrages of your native State. The short 
 period which elapsed after the annunciation of that 
 ticket, connected with the circumstance, that your claims 
 were brought in competition with an elder of the Repub- 
 lican party, holding the same general principles of policy 
 with yourself, and also a native of this State, prevented 
 your receiving that support in this commonwealth, which 
 none at that time denied to be due to your patriotism, 
 exalted character and eminent public services. Still 
 Berkeley by her recorded vote, preferred you then, as 
 she has ever preferred you since and as she prefers you 
 now, to all living statesmen, as the representative of her 
 principles in the administration of the national govern- 
 ment. She gave you her confidence without reserve in 
 1824, and she has continued that confidence without 
 change or shadow to the present hour. She has with an 
 abiding' faith sustained you amidst all the fierce and 
 bitter conflicts of party, confidently looking forward to 
 the day now reaching its meridian splendor — when your 
 name would kindle its just enthusiasm in every patriotic 
 bosom, and all sections of this vast country hail you as 
 the hope of this great Republic. 
 
 The invitation was declined for the reason set forth in 
 his reply : 
 
 Washingtojs-, D. C, May 1st, 1844. 
 Gentlemen : 
 
 I feel greatly flattered, honored, and obliged by the 
 invitation which you have transmitted to me to visit 
 Berkeley County and, partake of its hospitality, and by 
 the friendly sentiments which accompany it. I feel, 
 with gratitude, and acknowledge with pleasure, my great 
 obligations to Berkeley, for its uniform and ardent at- 
 tachment and confidence for me ; and I should be most 
 happy, under other circumstances, to meet and exchange 
 friendly salutations with my fellow citizens of that coun- 
 ty ; but considerations, both of a public and private 
 
Historical Pen Sketches. Ill 
 
 nature, in my judgment, require oi me hereafter to avoid 
 attendance upon large assemblages of my fellow citizens 
 and I hope that the determination, to which I have come, 
 on that subject, will command the approbation of you, 
 gentlemen, and of those whom you represent. So numer- 
 ous and constant are my occupations and so frequent 
 have been the invitations which I have received, and am 
 still receiving to public assemblages, that I am compelled 
 to be much briefer, in my replies, than I would wish 
 to be. 
 
 I pray you gentlemen to accept yourselves and tender 
 to those whom you represent my respectful and grateful 
 acknowledgments. I am with great respect, 
 
 Your friend and obedient servant, 
 
 H. Clay. 
 
 Mr. Clay's second visit to the County of Berkeley was 
 in January, 1848. He was then going to Washington to 
 argue a case before the Supreme Court of the United 
 States. Having some days to spare, he determined to 
 spend a short time in this county, with a friend. The 
 presidential question wa's then agitating the public mind, 
 and it had not been determined whether the nominee of 
 the Whig party would be General Taylor or himself. 
 The private mansion at which he stopped was freely 
 opened to all his friends and there are many now living 
 amongst us who "will remember with delight, the wonder- 
 ful power and fascination of his conversation, when in 
 unrestrained intercourse with his friends. 
 
 He spoke with his characteristic frankness and free- 
 dom of the pending Presidential canvass ; made no secret 
 either of his work or of his expectation of receiving the 
 nomination of the approaching Whig convention ; read 
 a correspondence between himself and Gen. Z. Taylor, 
 embracing several letters in which the old hero of Buena 
 Vista whilst freely conceding the superior .party claims 
 of Mr. Clay to the nomination, and expressing his indi- 
 vidual wishes that he might receive it, declares that he 
 
112 Historical Pen Sketclies. 
 
 had no agency whatever in having his name presented in 
 competition vyith Mr. Clay's, yet with modest firmness 
 stated, that it was not his business to interfere with the 
 progress of public sentiment, and the convention must 
 be left free to make its selection in the best interests of 
 the party and country. 
 
 The writer of this has never known Mr. Clay to be 
 more joyous and cheerful than upon the occasion of this 
 last visit to the County of Berkeley. He felt indeed 
 that he was in the house of his friends. He seemed 
 eager to promote universal enjoyment around him. He 
 encouraged the dance, music — caressed the children, told 
 amusing anecdotes to the ladies ; and when in his graver 
 moments, he retired to the library, and there, surrounded 
 by many of our citizens, portrayed the characters of our 
 leading public men and expatiated upon what he deemed 
 the true policy of the Government, all felt that they were 
 in the presence of a patriot, orator and statesman, of 
 whom the country might indeed be justly proud. 
 
 I have pondered over the inquiry, How was it that this 
 bold and unequalled leader of a great party, this noblest 
 type of American manhood, this most prominent orator, 
 patriot and statesman of his day, could never reach the 
 goal of his lofty andhonorable ambition — the Presidency? 
 Was he too bold, too independent, too little of the poli- 
 tician to suit the then cravings of party cupidity ? Is it 
 a position only suited to men of inferior and moderate 
 abilities % Are all of our really great men to be hereafter 
 excluded from the enjoyment of its honors % Was it 
 attributable to the secret influences of rival candidates, 
 that Mr. Clay lost his nomination % Was it to be ascribed 
 to that natural jealousy which great, brilliant and com- 
 manding minds attract % Was it to the office seeking 
 demagogues who fill our conventions, and who are ever 
 on the alert to find out whom they think the most 
 "available" candidate, without regard to merit? Or 
 was it to that caprice and ingratitude which so often 
 
Historical Pen Sketches. 113 
 
 darkens the liistory of Republics, and wMcli causes them 
 to banish from their confidence, a citizen because they 
 are tired of hearing everybody styling him "Aristides 
 the Just V These are questions which it may be well at 
 some future day to consider, and to find their solution if 
 possible. 
 
 MARTIN VAN BUREN, 
 
 Eighth President of the United States, made a visit to 
 Martinsburg ia 1830, whilst Secretary of State under 
 General Andrew Jackson. He stopped at the Globe 
 Hotel, then kept by William Kroesen. The writer of 
 this sketch made a respectful call upon him, and spent 
 a pleasant evening in his company. His trip was one 
 simply of recreation. He spoke of the pleasure which 
 he derived from his excursion, and was emphatic in his 
 praise of the soil and scenery of this Valley, He was 
 not at that time much of a favorite with our people, of 
 either party, and but little enthusiasm was manifested 
 at his presence. 
 
 FISHER AMES. 
 
 This distinguished orator and statesman, at the close 
 of the session of Congress of 1796, being then in feeble 
 health, paid a visit to the warm springs in the County of 
 Berkeley, in the hopes of obtaining some relief from his 
 increasing debility. He thought he derived much benefit 
 from drinking the water ; also from our pure and fresh 
 mountain air, and relaxation from the unremitting cares 
 of public life. In this visit he was the object of the most 
 friendly and respectful attention, individual and public. 
 Contrary to his expectations, he found many friends of 
 the Washington administration during this visit, not. 
 withstanding the lead taken by the Representatives of 
 Virginia in opposition to that policy. In one of his let- 
 ters from Berkeley he observes "Virginia has been mis- 
 represented to us, as much as the measures of govern- 
 
114 Historical Pen Slielclies. 
 
 ment have been to them ; and many good men -are here 
 to be found friendly to the federal cause." 
 
 From his visit toBerlceley in 1796 his health continued 
 to decline, with partial and iiattering intermissions until 
 death. He was a striking example of magnanimity and 
 patience under suffering. Retaining always the vigor 
 and serenity of his mind, he appeared to make those re- 
 flections which became his situation. When speaking 
 of Ms illness, he observed, "I trust I realize the value 
 of tliose habits of thinking which I have cherished for 
 some time. Sickness is not wholly useless to me. It 
 has increased the warmth of my affection for my friends. 
 It has taught me to make haste in forming the plan of 
 my life, if it should be spared, more for private duties 
 and social enjoyments, and less for the splendid empti- 
 ness of public station, than yet I have done." 
 
 After an extreme debility of two years, the frame 
 which had so long tottered was about to fall. With 
 composure and dignity he met the approach of his disso- 
 lution. 
 
 Fisher Ames will ever rank among the great statesmen 
 of this country. Excepting Daniel Webster, I know of 
 no public man of the North whose fame rests upon a 
 more indisputable basis of genius and merit. His speech 
 in the House of Representatives on the British Treaty of 
 1790 has been regarded as one of the finest specimens of 
 Congressional eloquence ever uttered in that body — and 
 many passages of it of surpassing brilliancy are remem- 
 bered and quoted to this day, although near a century 
 has elapsed since they were delivered. 
 
 WM. H. CRAWFORD, 
 
 In his visit to the Berkeley Springs, spent several days 
 in Martinsburg, going and returning in the summer of 
 1824. He was in the early part of that year, beyond all 
 question, the most formidable candidate for the Presi- 
 dency. He had withdrawn from the canvass in favor of 
 
Historical Pen SketcJies. 115 
 
 Mr. Monroe and was considered in some sense his des- 
 tined successor. He was nominated as such, by a Con- 
 gressional caucus on the 14th of February, 1824— that 
 being the mode which up to that day had been adopted 
 by the Democratic party to indicate its choice for the 
 Presidency. But the powerful opposition of four Demo- 
 cratic competitors — Calhoun, Jackson, Adams and Clay 
 — followed by a severe attack of paralysis, blasted his 
 prospect of election, he receiving but the solid votes of 
 Virginia and Georgia and portions of the votes of Ifew 
 York, Maryland and Delaware. 
 
 It was to get relief from this crushing affliction that he 
 visited the Berkeley Springs in the summer of 1824. But 
 the healing waters of those celebrated springs were im- 
 poetnt to give the desired relief. During his passing 
 visits to Martinsburg he received the warmest sympathies 
 of its citizens, who vied with each other in showing him 
 every attention and tespect. 
 
 THOMAS DAVIS, M. D., 
 
 Was born in Kentucky, and was a favorite protege of 
 the distinguised Dr. Lewis Marshall of that State. He 
 became a resident and citizen of this county about the 
 year 1820. He practiced his profession as a physician 
 for about ten years in Martinsburg, but his excessive 
 devotion to literature and history caused him to become 
 indifferent to the practice of his profession, and after his 
 marriage to the daughter of a very wealthy farmer of the 
 county, he abandoned it altogether and retired to the 
 country. He was a man of acute and powerful intellect, 
 of extensive reading and a vigorous and forcible writer. 
 In literary attainments and in profound historical re- 
 search, he was almost without an equal. He left here 
 for Natchez in 1843, vs^ith a view there of resuming the 
 practice of his profession. Within a month after his 
 arrival there, the yellow fever broke out with fearful 
 mortality, and he fell a victim himself to the fearless 
 
116 Historical Pen Sketches. 
 
 discliarge of his professional duties. The writer of this 
 paid a visit to his grave in January, 1845, and dropped a 
 tear to the momory of one of the noblest and truest of 
 men. He founded the Martinsburg Library, which for 
 so many years was supported and cherished in this place ; 
 and in the important session of 1831 represented this 
 county, with signal ability, in the House of Delegates of 
 Virginia. 
 
 ■^s' 
 
 JOHN S. GALLAHER 
 
 Was born in Martinsburg, Berkeley County, Va., De- 
 cember 1st, 1796. His only school education was ob- 
 tained between the ages of five and twelve, in the old 
 stone school house in the north-eastern portion of the 
 town, under thetiiition of "an excellent Irish gentleman 
 of the olden time," Capt. Jas. Maxwell, long the County 
 Surveyor. On the fourth day of April, 1809, he entered 
 the printing office of Mr. John Alburtis, editor of the 
 Berkeley and Jefferson Intelligencer., afterwards the 
 Martinsburg Gazette. 
 
 After an apprenticeship of five years, Mr. G. worked a 
 few weeks in Baltimore, principally upon Nile' s Regis- 
 ter. In August, 1814, being in Charlestown, in charge of 
 the Farmef s Hepository, while its editor, Capt. Kich- 
 ard Williams, was in the military service at Norfolk, 
 Mr. G. joined the volunteer rifle company of Capt. 
 George W. Humphrey's, and served a month. In the 
 course of this service the company had part in the sharp 
 conflict at the White House Bluff, on the Potomac, in 
 which Com. Porter undertook, with a few small field 
 pieces and some riflemen, to stop the British vessels then 
 descending the river, ladened with flour and other stores 
 captured at Alexandria. On the conclusion of his mili- 
 tary service, Mr. G. worked about a year in the office of 
 the National Intelligencer, the model newspaper con- 
 ducted by those well known gentlemen, Messrs. Gales 
 and Seaton. 
 
Historical Pen Sketches. Ill 
 
 In May, 1821, Mr. Gallaher, with, his younger brother, 
 Eobert, (who died in August following, after only four 
 days' sickness, of a malignant fever then prevailing,) 
 commenced the i^ublication of the Harper' s Ferry Free 
 Press, now tlie Virginia Free Press — a paper whicli ac- 
 quired great popularity. Mr. G. also published for four 
 years, a literary paper called The Ladies' Garland. 
 
 In 1827 he purchased the Farmef s Repository, at' 
 Charlestown, and merged it with the Free Press, now 
 published by his brother, H. N. Grallaher, and his nephew, 
 W. W. B. Gallaher. 
 
 lu the spring of 1830, Mr. Gallaher was elected a mem- 
 ber of the Virginia House of Delegates, with the veteran 
 Daniel Morgan as his colleague. The amended Consti- 
 tution of 1829 being adopted, this election of delegates 
 was set aside, and in October, 1830, John S. Gallaher and 
 Edward Lucas were chosen. In this first session under 
 the new Constitution, much of the legal talent of the Old 
 Commonwealth was in requisition, and it was deemed no 
 light honor to be a colleague of such men as Benjamin 
 Watkins Leigh, Richard Morris, Thomas Marshall, Jas. 
 M. Mason, James McDowell, etc. 
 
 Mr. Gallaher was re-elected for fonr successive terms, 
 with slight opposition, except in 1833, when, having 
 given a "State's Right's Vote" (in the nullification era), 
 which displeased some of his ultra Whig supporters, a 
 spirited canvass ensued, but he was re-elected by an 
 increased majority. In the spring of 1835 he declined 
 further legislative service, and removed to Richmond to 
 take chief management of the Richmond Compiler, 
 which he held for nineteen months. 
 
 At the close of his term, the elder Governor Floyd, in 
 1832, appointed Charles James Faulkner, of Berkeley, 
 John S. Gallaher, of Jefferson, and John B. D. Smith, of 
 Frederick, Commissioners to settle, in conjunction with a 
 like number from Maryland, the boundary line between 
 the two States, but Maryland did not appoint Commis- 
 
118 Historical Pen STcetclies. 
 
 sioners, and nothing was done. Mr. Faulkner has since 
 had the matter in charge under a new appointment, and 
 has made much progress in the collection of interesting 
 data. 
 
 In January, 1837, Mr. Gallaher purchased a third in- 
 terest in the Richmond Whig, and for three years was 
 associated with those eminent journalists, John Hamp- 
 den Pleasants and Alexander Moseley. In 1840 he sold 
 his interest in the Whig to his partners, and published 
 for nine months a popular campaign paper — the Toeman, 
 in support of Harrison and Tyler. In the contest of 
 that year the Whigs came within 1,400 votes of carrying 
 the State. 
 
 In the autumn of 1841 Mr. Gallaher returned to Jeffer- 
 son, in connection with his favorite Free Press, and in 
 the spring of 1842 was again elected to the House of 
 Delegates, and served two sessions. In 1844 he was 
 nominated for the Senate by a Whig convention, and was 
 elected in the then Democratic district of Jefferson, Fred- 
 erick and Clarke, by a majority of 62 votes, in opposi- 
 tion to John Bruce, a gentleman of ability and scholarly 
 attainments — his predecessor, Robert Y. Conrad, an 
 eminent lawyer, having declined a re-election. This dis- 
 trict, the same year, gave Mr. Polk a majority of one in 
 the Presidential election. 
 
 In connection with Mr. Gallaher' s career as a State 
 Senator, it may not be out of place to mention, that near 
 the close of President Tyler's term, in a conversation on 
 the subject of the annexation of Texas, so confident was 
 the President of the success of that measure, and of the 
 consequent war with Mexico, that he offered Mr. G. a 
 command in the army. This compliment was respect- 
 fully declined, for two reasons ; first, that his term of 
 civil service had not expired, and secondly, that his 
 military aspirations had been satisfied with the command 
 of a well- drilled company of riflemen at Harper' s FCTry. 
 
 In 1848 Mr. Gallaher was again nominated for the Sen- 
 
Historical Pen Sketches. 119 
 
 ate, and after an active canvass, was defeated by a 
 majority of 22 votes, tlie principal opposition to liim 
 being on account of a school bill for the County of Jef- 
 ferson, matured by Mm and carried tlirougb both Houses. 
 Jefferson County having an area about 25 miles square, 
 is particularly well adapted to an experiment with free 
 schools ; and the system, by the aid of the remakable 
 John Yates, a wealthy land holder, and the largest tax 
 payer in the county, was successfully put into active 
 operation, and resisted several attempts to repeal the 
 act. Mr. Gallaher, in his retirement, had the proud sat- 
 isfaction of seeing 27 schools, free for the poor, firmly 
 established and successful until broken up by the disas- 
 trous four years' war, which also destroyed the labors of 
 forty years of his life. 
 
 On the 22nd of October 1849, Mr. Gallaher was ap- 
 pointed by President Taylor to succeed that eminent ac- 
 countant Peter Hagner, as Third Auditor of the Treasury, 
 who had held the position from its creation in 1817, a 
 period of 32 years. Declining health was the cause of 
 Mr. Hagner' s retirement. 
 
 Mr. Gallaher served as Auditor through President 
 Taylor and Fillmore' s terms, and was removed in April 
 1858, by President Pierce, to make room for Francis 
 Burt, of South Carolina, a personal friend of Jefferson 
 Davis, then Secretary of War. This change was made 
 in opposition to the wishes of many prominent Demo- 
 cratic members of Congress, who were satisfied with the 
 incumbent, and strongly protested against his removal. 
 
 Being prevented by the exigencies of the war from re- 
 turning to Virginia, as he desired to do, Mr. Gallaher, 
 accepted a position in the office of the Qoartermaster 
 General, at Washington, which position he continued to 
 hold until a few months before his death, when age and 
 disease rendered him unable to discharge its duties. 
 
 He died at his residence in the city o£ Washington on 
 the 4th of February 1877, and his remains were conveyed 
 
120 Historical Pen SJceiches. 
 
 to tlie Presbyterian church in. Charlestown and interred 
 in Edge Hill cemetery, in sight of his beloved hills, and 
 beneath the soil of his native State. 
 
 No one took a livelier interest in the ''Berkeley Cen- 
 tennial Celebration" than Mr. Gallaher. It seemed to 
 touch the innermost chords of his heart, and to "vvake up, 
 in vivid coloring, all the reminiscences of his early life. 
 He anxiously desired to be present at the ceremonies of 
 the day, but circumstances put it out of his power. For 
 a few weeks preceeding the celebration scarcely a day 
 passed that the Chairman of the Committee on Corres- 
 pondence did not receive some communication from him 
 — referring in that kind and genial spirit, so character- 
 istic of the man— to those old citizens of the county, 
 whom he had known, loved and respected in his younger 
 days. It is due to him and cannot fail to interest our 
 readers to make some extracts from this correspondence. 
 
 Washington, D. C, June 13, 1872. 
 Hon. C. J. Faulkner, Chairman, Mariiasburg, W. Va.: 
 
 Dear Sir ; I am proud of my native county and have 
 had frequent occasions to refer to her honored history. 
 
 It would be egotistical in me to recount the ordinary 
 events of my school-boy days during my attendance un- 
 der twelve years of age in Capt. James Maxwell's old 
 school house, in the northeastern portion of Martinsburg, 
 over the site of which the locomotive now plies its busy 
 wheels. The teacher being an adept in mathematics, and 
 County Surveyor, had a number of grown up young men 
 as students. I recollect TiUitson Fryatt, Robert V. 
 Snodgrass, Jacob Myers, Dennis McSherry and Lawrence 
 Wilmer among these. Three of them I met, after a lapse 
 of twenty years, in the legislature of Virginia. 
 
 Among my earliest recollections of eminent public 
 men I may cite a discussion at the old Court House in 
 Martinsburg between Alfred H. Powell, Federalist, and 
 Henry St. George Tucker, Republican, for the position 
 of State Senator. It was a rich, intellectual treat to me. 
 
Historical Pen Sketches. 121 
 
 a discussion between two courteous and polislied gentle- 
 men, strongly impressed on my youthful memory as a 
 model of forensic eloquence. Both these gentlemen were 
 afterward eminent members of the national Ilouse of 
 Representatives. 
 
 My memory naturally carries me back to the era in 
 which prominent men of Berkeley were in the vigor of 
 life and usefulness, such as Col. Elisha Boyd, Judge 
 Philip C. Pendleton, Col. William Gregory, Maj. An- 
 drew Waggoner, Maj. Jas. Faulkner, Capt. Rob't Wil- 
 son, Capt. James Mason and others, who were in mili- 
 tary service in the war of 1812. 
 
 Among the regular army officers of 1812 who went to 
 the northern frqntier from Berkeley, I remember Capt. 
 Lewis B. Willis, Capt. Hiram Henshaw, Lieuts. John 
 Strother and David Hunter, the latter of whom was 
 killed in Canada. 
 
 I cannot omit a reference to an early friend who kindly 
 stimulated my ambition when struggling with adverse 
 fortune— I mean the late JohnR. Cooke, eminent at the 
 bar, and in the Constitutional Convention of Virginia — 
 a gentleman in every sense of the term, "with a heart 
 open to melting charity." Nor do I forget my appren- 
 tice days on the old Martinsburg Gazette, published by 
 John Alburtis, one of the most even-tempered gentlemen 
 I ever knew, and who, like my old teacher, Capt. Max- 
 well, seemed ever gratified at my success. 
 
 Well do I remember the venerable Edward Beeson — 
 Beeson's mill, Beeson' s orchard, (from which urchins 
 like myself, of tender years, often were supplied with 
 fruit) and Beeson's meadow, on Tuscarora Creek, upon 
 which an Indian tribe of that name had frequent san- 
 guinary battles with other tribes. The tradition on this 
 subject is sustained by the frequent finding of arrow 
 heads and various imjjlements of Indian warfare. Other 
 objects of interest abound. This recital may not be 
 worth the time to read it, but the very suggestion of 
 
122 Historical Pen Sketclies. 
 
 one's birtli-place awakens memories of hills and valleys, 
 teeming fields and gushing fountains, such as old Berke- 
 ley is blessed with most abundantly. 
 
 It would be interesting to ascertain how many now 
 survive who trod those hills and valleys and laved in 
 those waters, 
 
 Just one hundred years ago ! 
 
 Yours truly, 
 
 John S. Gallaiiek. 
 
 In another letter of the following day he mentions : 
 "Ephraim Gaither, the dignified and gentlemanly pro- 
 prietor of the Globe Hotel ; Philip ISTadenbousch, long a 
 magistrate, whose sons v*rorthily represent the name ; Col. 
 George Porterfield, also a popular magistrate and 
 the Chesterfield of the County Court; Charles D. 
 Stewart, for over fifty years the faithful deputy 
 sheriff of the county ; Rev. William Riddle, the 
 preacher and teacher ; Michael McKewan, Luke 
 Pentiney, Alexander Cooper, Thomas C. Smith, Dr. 
 Erasmus Stribling, Dr. J. S.- Harrison, Jacob Hamme,' 
 Geo. Doll, Geo. Wolff, Adam Young, Wm. Somerville, 
 the well remembered postmaster ; Conrad Roush, An- 
 thony S. Chambers, James P. Erskine, Jacob Poisal, 
 John H. Blondell, W. Long, Ezekiel Showers, John 
 Stewart, Conrad Hogmire, Daniel Burkhart, John Mat- 
 thews— bat my pen must stop; columns would not suf- 
 fice to make up the record of my old friends and ac- 
 quaintances." 
 
 John S. Gallaher was a man of strong and vigorous in- 
 tellect, discixjlined and improved to the highest point of 
 which it was susceptible. His judgment was sound, 
 practical and discriminating ; his temper mild, just and 
 generous ; his habits those of constant and assiduous 
 labor. Free from his business emx)loyments he delighted 
 in history and Belles Letters, and his taste in literature 
 was refined and chaste. He was patriotic and public 
 spirited, and liberal in all his views of national and State 
 
Historical Pen SlieicJies. 123 
 
 policy. He was a careful and correct, but not dashing 
 and flowing writer. He had none of the qualities of a 
 public speaker, yet he always had at command such a 
 fund of practical good sense, and was so familiar with 
 the recognized maxims of hnman life that a few short, 
 pithy sentences from him from the stump reached their 
 mark more effectually than more accomplished oratory, 
 and his sayings were remembered and treasured up by 
 his audience. He was kind, grateful, charitable and 
 whole-souled, and was universally esteemed for his in- 
 tegrity and for his merits and attainments as a self-made 
 man. 
 
 FELIX GRUNDY 
 
 Was born on Back Creek, in the County of Berkeley, 
 on the 11th of September, 1777. His father was a native 
 of England, who settled in early life in the valley of Vir- 
 ginia. In 1780 he removed to Kentucky. The early 
 childhood of Mr. Gfrundy was passed amid the perils and 
 sufferings of Indian warfare. A striking picture is given 
 in his own eloquent language in a speech delivered by . 
 him in the Senate of the United States in February, 1820, 
 from which, however, we can only take a very short ex- 
 tract : 
 
 " Mr. President, I was too young to participate in these 
 dangers and difficulties, but I can remember when death 
 was in almost every bush, and every thicket concealed 
 an ambuscade. If I am asked to trace my memory back 
 and name the first indescribable imjoression it received it 
 would be the sight of my eldest brother, bleeding and 
 dying under the wounds inflicted by the tomahawk and 
 scalping knife. Another and another went in the same 
 way. I have seen a widowed mother plundered of her 
 whole property in one single night, and from affluence 
 and ease reduced to poverty in a moment, and thereby 
 compelled to labor with her own hands to educate her 
 last and favorite son, Avho now addresses you." 
 
 He was educated at Bardstown Academy, studied law^ 
 
124 Historical Pen SketcJies. 
 
 and soon became distiuguislied at the bar. He com- 
 menced his public career at the age of twenty-two, as a 
 member of the convention for the revising of the consti- 
 tution of Kentucky ; was afterward, for six or seven 
 years, a member of the legislature of that State. In 1805 
 he was elected one of the judges of the Supreme Court 
 of Kentucky, and was soon after made Chief Justice. In 
 1807 he removed to Nashville, Tenn., and became emi- 
 nent as a lawyer. From 1811 to 1814 he was a represent- 
 ative in Congress from Tennessee, and during that period 
 gave to the war measures of President Madison against 
 Great Britain such ardent support that he was familiarly 
 know as the " war hawk" of democracy. From 1829 to 
 1838 he was United States Senator, and in the latter year 
 was appointed by President Van Buren Attorney Gen- 
 eral of the United States ; in 1840 he resigned this posi- 
 tion and was again elected Senator. He died at Nash- 
 ville, Tenn , Dec. 19th, 1840. Whilst a member of the 
 Senate he made a visit to Berkeley County to examine 
 the spot where he had passed his early boyhood. But 
 he found nothing but a dilapidated stone chimney to 
 mark the i)lace where had stood the cabin with its clap- 
 board roof which had shielded his childhood from the 
 storms of winter. 
 
 MICHAEL ROONEY 
 Was born in Ireland. His enemies contended that he 
 had been a Corsair in early life, but this was believed to 
 be an idle slander. Certain it is that he spent some years 
 amidst the perils of the sea, in the British service, and 
 he there acquired the reputation of an expert sailor and 
 skilful navigator. He was familiar with the dead lan- 
 guages and thoroughly versed in some of the higher 
 branches of mathematics. He emigrated to the County 
 of Berkeley about forty years previous to his death, and 
 purchased a large body of land on Cherry Run in that 
 county, his dwelling-house having been built on the 
 western side of that small stream. He was one of the 
 
Historical Pen SJceiclies. 125 
 
 most zealous and indefatigable magistrates of the Coun- 
 ty, and took special and peculiar pride in the discharge 
 of all the duties of that position. When the County of 
 Morgan was formed in 1820, and Cherry Run made the 
 dividing line between it and Berkeley, thus throwing 
 him into the County of Morgan, he promptly abandoned 
 his substantial residence in that county and erected a 
 new dwelling house on the Berkeley side of that run, a 
 few yards distant from his former residence, that he 
 might preserve his domicil in Berkeley and continue his 
 magisterial functions. His strange and peculiar features 
 and appearance, and his indomitable will and imperious 
 temper; the ardor with which he entered into the exam- 
 ination of every case before him, and the sharpness and 
 point with which he commented upon the law and facts 
 as they arose in the progress of the trial, made his court 
 at the old Robert Snodgrass tavern, on Back Creek, a 
 place of great attraction and resort for the neigborhood 
 for many miles around. He was elected high Sheriff of 
 the county, and died in 18 — , leaving a will emancipating 
 his slaves, providing for their transportation to the colo- 
 ny of Liberia, and appointing Chas. James Faulkner his 
 agent, with full power to carry his benovelent views into 
 effect. But a testator often intends what he cannot ac- 
 complish. He could emancipate, but he could not trans- 
 port without the consent of his freedmen. They received 
 their emancipation papers with becoming gratitude, but 
 they declined his generous offer to transport them across 
 the ocean to that fiery continent from which their ances- 
 tors had been probably torn more than a century before. 
 They concluded that this country was quite good enough 
 for any white or black man to live in. 
 
 GEORGE PORTERFIELD 
 
 Was born in Berkeley County in the year 1740 ; in 
 early life he was once or twice exposed to the imminent 
 risk of losing his life from the Indians then inhabitating 
 or making incursions into this county. His brother 
 
126 Historical Pen SketcTief, 
 
 Charles, then a youth about twenty years of age, was 
 killed not far from his father's house by a body of In- 
 dians who had the previous day attacked ISTealy's fort, 
 near the Opequon, massacred the inmates and took off 
 several prisoners on their retreat. Mr. Porterfield ^vas 
 among the most popular magistrates of the county, and 
 when acting as senior justice of the county court, pre- 
 sided with unusual dignity. He was SherifE of the county, 
 and in 1808 and 1810 one of its representatives in the 
 legislature. In 1814 he was elected chairman of the 
 meeting for the organization of the Berkeley County 
 Bible Society. He was remarkable for the equanimity 
 of his temper and for his invariable courtesy, pleasant 
 address and politeness. He died in 1824. 
 
 MARIA COOPER. 
 
 Born in Berkeley County ; a lady of great intelligence, 
 brilliant conversational powers, and of great religious 
 fervor and piety. No person was ever more universally 
 loved and esteemed in this community ; and of the hun- 
 dred and eleven estimable persons who fell victims to 
 the cholera pestilence in the fall of 1754, there was not 
 one whose death was so universally lamented. She left 
 a will, bequeathing a large portion of her estate to chari- 
 table purposes. Among seven other bequests contained 
 in her will was one for the founding of an academy in 
 Martinsburg ; but this, with all the other bequests in 
 her will for charitable purposes, was declared by the Su- 
 preme Court of Appeals of West Virginia, to be invalid 
 and thus, an institution which in anticipation of this 
 fund, and to do honor to her memory, was incorporated 
 as the Martinsburg Cooper Academy, perished under the 
 illiberal policy and stern decree of the court. She pub- 
 lished some time before her death a small work compos- 
 ed of original and selected matter, that gave evidence of 
 high literary taste, and which proved that she was as 
 graceful in composition as she was brilliant in conver- 
 
Historical Pen Sketches. 127 
 
 sation. She died in October, 1854, of an attack of the 
 cholera. 
 
 JAMES STEPHENSON 
 
 Was born on March 20, 1764. He commanded a com- 
 pany in the disastrous defeat of General Arthiir St. Clair 
 in 1791, when thirty-eight officers and five hundred and 
 ninety- three men were slaughtered by the Miami In- 
 dians, and twenty- one officers and two hundred and forty- 
 three men were badly wounded. He was present at the 
 quelling of the whiskey insurrection in Pennsylvania, 
 and was promoted to the office of Brigade Inspector. He 
 served in 1800, 1801 and 1802 as a delegate from Berke,- 
 ley County to the Virginia Assembly, and was a repre- 
 sentative in Congress from this district from 1803 to 1805, 
 from 1809 to 1811, and again from 1822 to 1825. He 
 raised a large and interesting family of children, boys 
 and girls, and lived in the house now owned and occu- 
 pied by D. H. Conrad. He died in August, 1833. An 
 anecdote is told of an arranged duel between Major 
 Stephenson and General Darke, both men of tried and 
 approved courage. They were to fight with swords. 
 Stepenson, who was a small man, came to the ground 
 armed with a rapier. Darke, a man of gigantic propor- 
 tions, brought with him a broad sword, as large as an 
 ordinary mowing scythe. When the seconds were about 
 to place them in position for the combat the disparity 
 of size of both the men and of their weapons was so irre- 
 sistably ludicrous that the seconds burst into an uncon- 
 trolable fit of laughter, which soon communicated its 
 effect to the principals ; the duel was averted, all points 
 of honor settled and the two brave old soldiers shook 
 hands and continued warm friends the rest of their lives. 
 
 JOHN MILLER 
 
 Was born on the Tuscorora Creek in Berkeley county. 
 He was distinguished for his courage as an officer in the 
 last war with Great Britain ; soon after the struggle he 
 was appointed Register of the Land Office, in Missouri ; 
 
128 Historical Pen SketcJies. 
 
 subsequently elected Governor of the State, and was a 
 Kepresentative in Congress from 1837 to 1843. Died near 
 Florissant, Missouri, March. 13, 1846. 
 
 WILLIAM CREIGHTON, 
 
 Born in Berkeley county, Virginia, October 29, 1778 ; 
 graduated at Dickenson College when quite young ; 
 studied law and was admitted to the bar at the age of 
 twenty ; in 1798 he settled in Chillicothe, Ohio, devoted 
 himself to his profession, and holding many positions of 
 public trust. He was the first Secretary of State, for 
 Ohio ; and was a Delegate in Congress from 1813 to 1817, 
 and again from 1827 to 1833. Died at C hillicothe, October 
 8, 1851, having for many years previously declined all 
 public office. 
 
 JOHN KERNEY 
 
 Was born in Berkeley county. The following extract 
 is taken from an original certificate executed on the 17th 
 of June, 1791, by William Darke, late Lieutenant Colonel 
 commanding in Virginia Line, now in the possession of 
 the writer of this sketch : 
 
 "I was, and am well acquainted with Captain John 
 Kerney, of the county of Berkeley, Virginia ; he en- 
 gaged in the American service as first Sergeant to a com- 
 pany in July, 1775, in Col. Hugh Stevenson's regiment of 
 infantry ; he was taken prisoner at Fort Washington, 
 suffered a long and painful imprisonment after which he 
 continued in the American army and behaved as a brave 
 and distinguished soldier, 'til he was appointed a lieu- 
 tenant in a State Reginlent, commanded by Col. Joseph 
 Crockett, after which he succeeded to the command of a 
 company in said regiment, and served until it was dis- 
 banded, which was not until the end of the war. During 
 his whole service, he merited the esteem of his superior 
 officers, and of his country." 
 
 Subsequent to the war, he retufned to the county of 
 Berkeley, held the position of a justice of the peace and 
 
Historical Pen Sketclies. 129 
 
 member of the County Court, until about tlie year 1805 
 lie emigrated to Kentucky, wliere lie died. 
 
 NATHANIEL WILLIS 
 
 Was born in Boston, June 1780. When twenty-one 
 years of age lie established the first newspaper in Mar- 
 tinsburg, which was called the BerTceley Intelligencer. 
 He continued to edit that paper until 1S03, when he sold 
 out to John Alburtis, left Martinsburg, removed to Port- 
 land, Maine, where he established the Eastern Argus. 
 He was an active Journalist for many years. He finally 
 moved to Boston and died there May ^6, 1870, nearly 
 ninety years of age. It has been supposed by some that 
 his distinguished son, N". P. Willis, the j)oet and jour- 
 nalist, was born whilst his father resided in Martinsburg, 
 but this is an error. N. P. Willis was born in Portland, 
 Maine, Jan. 20, 1806. 
 
 WILLIAM ALBURTIS 
 
 Was born in Martinsburg, and commissioned 2nd 
 Lieutenant of infantry in the regular army of the United 
 States on the 8th of March, 1827 ; promoted to the rank 
 of first Lieutenant in July 1839 ; commanded in sortie 
 from Fort Brooks, Orange Creek, March 2nd, 1841, 
 against the Seminoles ; was breveted as captain in 
 August 1842, "for gallantry and good conduct in war 
 against the Florida Indians ;" was killed 11th of March, 
 1847, by a cannon shot at the siege of Vera Cruz. 
 
 JAMES R. STEPHENSON, 
 
 Son of Major James Stephenson, born in Martinsburg; 
 entered the military academy at West Point in 1818 ; 
 graduated with great distinction, and commissioned sec- 
 ond Lieutenant of infantry in July 1822 ; promated to a 
 first lieutenancy October 1825 ; commissioned a captain, 
 December 1834. Died 26th of November, 1841, at Pilat- 
 lea, Florada. 
 
 MAJOR ANDREW WAGPONER, JR., 
 
 Son of Major Andrew Waggoner, of Revolutionary 
 
130 Historical Pen SketcJies. 
 
 memory, was born near Bunker Hill, in the County of 
 Berkeley, on the 24th of October, 1779. I have no infor- 
 mation of his occupations and employments in early life. 
 He was elected a member of the Honse of Delegates from 
 this county, 1811. When war was declared in June 1812, 
 hj the United States against Great Britain, all the heroic 
 -g^ualities of his nature, and which he had so largely in- 
 herited from his gallant father, promptly developed them- 
 ; selves. He first volunteered as a private, soon was pro- 
 . moted to a captaincy, and then commissioned as a major 
 ■ of infantry. He was on Craney Island, in command of a 
 i battalion of the 4th Reg. of Va. Infantry, when the at- 
 vtack upon that Island was made by a combined military 
 -and naval British force, on the 22nd of June 1813, and 
 Jllthoiigh from the successful operations of the Artillery 
 in repelling the attack, both by land and Aviter, the in- 
 fantry was not called into action, yet, all were impress- 
 ed with the daring courage, and animated by the noble 
 patriotism which he displayed on that occasion. He had 
 to an extraordinary degree, the confidence of those under 
 his command. Popular in his manners— frank and man- 
 ly in his bearing — decisive in his movemens — with a face 
 beaming with intrepidity and devotion to his country, 
 he w^as the idol of the soldiery. N"o one doubted, had 
 the enemy reached the Island, how gallantly he would 
 have borne himself amidst the storm of battle. 
 
 After the war he removed from the County of Berke- 
 ley, to the vicinity of Point Pleasant, in Mason County, 
 Virginia, to take possession of some valuable land on the 
 Ohio River, in that county, which had been granted to 
 his father in consideration of his Revolutionary service. 
 
 He was elected a member of the House of Delegates of 
 Virginia, from the County of Mason in 1886. He soon 
 became as great a favorite among the members of the 
 Legislature, as he had been among the soldiers. All 
 local measures for the benefit of his constituents Avere 
 carried without opposition and almost by acclamation. 
 
Historical Pen Sketclies. 131 
 
 It being understood that lie was on Craney Island, during 
 that battle, a resolution was introduced into the body, 
 without his knowledge, to vote him some signal honor 
 for his assumed services in that conflict. But he prompt- 
 ly put a stop to the intended complimentby saying : "It 
 is true I was on that Island during the attack ; but my 
 command was not called into action. The artillery did 
 the work, and I cannot be the instrument of robbing 
 Major Faulkner who had supreme command of the ar- 
 tillery, of the honor and merit which belong to him." 
 After this frank and manly declaration, all further pro- 
 ceedings in his honor, were dropped. 
 
 His estate was contiguous to Point Pleasant, the county 
 seat of Mason, and he was almost a daily visitor of that 
 interesting and old fashioned Virginia town. No man 
 in the county was more generally loved and respected, 
 and none whose sudden death was more universally la- 
 mented. He was killed on the 30th of March 1863, by a 
 fire from a detachment of Federal soldiers, stationed in 
 that neighborhood, as he was passing from the town to 
 his farm. His son, Charles B. Waggoner, was a member 
 of the recent Constitutional Convention of this State, 
 and now holds an important office in the county. 
 
 CHARLES ROBERTS 
 
 Was chiefly remarkable for his longevity. He was a 
 native of Oxfordshire, in England, but had resided in 
 this county about eighty years. He died in Berkeley 
 County, Feb. 17th, 1796, aged 116. During his life, he 
 never knew sickness. 
 
 CAPT. NAPOLEON B. HARRISON, U. S. N., 
 
 Youngest son of Dr. John S. Harrison and Holland 
 Williams Stull, was born in Martinsbnrg, Va., February 
 19th, 1823. Entering the naval service of the United 
 States as Midshipman February 28th, 1838, he acquired 
 experience in his profession under various commanders 
 in the West Indies, Brazil, the Coast of Africa and the 
 Pacific Squadron. In 1844 he was promoted to the rank 
 
132 Historical Pen SketcJies. 
 
 of Passed Midshipman, and under Commodore Stockton, 
 during the Mexican war, he was distinguished among 
 the younger officers for courage and ability. He here 
 took part in the land expedition which rescued General 
 Kearney's command from a desperate position and on 
 another occasion, having volunteered to carry an impor- 
 tant message to a distant command in an open boat, he 
 was carried out to sea and unable to make land for five 
 or six days. The violence and persistence of the storm 
 was matched by thefirmness and skill of the young sailor, 
 who finally brought back his boat and crew unharmed. 
 In 1850 he was on duty at then Washington Observa- 
 tory and in the year 1853 promoted to a lieutenancy and 
 served as naval store keeper in the East Indies, Japan 
 and on the coast of Africa. 
 
 In 1862 Lieut. Harrison was fjlaced in command of the 
 gun boat "Cayuga," attached to the Mississippi Squad- 
 ron under Com. Farragut. In his dispositions for for- 
 cing the passage of the river, the Commodore arranged 
 his fleet in three divisions, and in this programme, the 
 Cayuga being a light armed vessel of only seven guns, 
 stood last in the first division. 
 
 This undistinguished position was a source of great 
 mortification to her gallant commander, who, neverthe- 
 less prepared to do his duty with patriotic resignation. 
 In the meantime Capt. S. P. Lee, who had volunteered 
 to lead the attack, objected to Capt. Bailey making the 
 "Oneida' his flagship, fearing that the presence of the 
 Division Commander would obscure his own position. 
 
 Baily promptly ordered the Oneida to the rear of his 
 division, and proposed to Lieutenant Harrison, to make 
 the "Cayuga" his flagship. 
 
 This unexpected transfer to the van of battle and post 
 of danger was hailed with great delight. Just before day- 
 break on the 28d of April, 1862, Lieut. Harrison led the 
 advance of the national fleet. Passing Forts Jackson 
 and St. Philip, with their hundred blazing guns, the 
 
Historical P&n SketcJies. 133 
 
 "Cayuga" ruslied into the midst of the enemy's fleet of 
 iron-clads, rams and fire ships above the forts, and there 
 sustained herself for half an hour unsupported. 
 
 During this brief and unequal fight, she repelled all 
 attacks and destroyed three vessels of the adverse flotil- 
 la, and when relieved by the advance of the national ves- 
 sels, she passed up the river with forty shot holes in her 
 hull and rigging, and only six men wounded. She next 
 covered the encampment of the Chalmette Regiment 
 with her guns, and forced it sTirrender, with six thous- 
 and men. Next day, alone, she attacked the Chalmette 
 Batteries, and persisted until the Hartford came up and 
 the Batteries surrendered. 
 
 Captain Bailey, in his ofiicial report says: "From 
 first to last, Lieutanant Commander Harrison showed a 
 masterly ability in steering his vessel past the Forts 
 under a hurricane of shot and shell, and, afterwards, in 
 maneuvering and fighting her among the gun-boats, I 
 cannot say too much of him." 
 
 The chivalric courage and intelligent coolness exhibi- 
 ted by Commander Harrison in this tremendous engage- 
 ment, impressed all who were near him, and won for 
 Mm the respect and admii-ation of the whole service. 
 The following characteristic anecdote is currrent among 
 his brother officers : During the hottest fire he found a 
 gunner skulking ; seizing the recreant by the collar, and 
 dragging Mm before Captain Bailey, he said, "Captain, 
 here' s a fellow skulking ; shall I shoot him or boot him?" 
 The commander recommended the lighter punishment 
 and the man was expedited back to his post with a vig- 
 orous kick. The remedy was efficacious and the man 
 stuck to his gun afterward doing good service. 
 
 In recognition of his conduct in this engagement, Lieu- 
 tenant Harrison was advanced to the rank of Commander, 
 his commission bearing date July 15th, 1862. 
 
 He was soon after ordered to the "Mahaska," of the 
 
134 Historical Pen SketcJies. 
 
 James River fleet, and rendered efficient service during 
 McClellan's operations at Harrison' s Landing. 
 
 Late in the same year, in command of the flagship 
 "Minnesota, he was with the North Atlantic Squadron, 
 and took an active part in the naval operations on the 
 coast of South Carolina, terminating in the evacuation 
 of Charleston. 
 
 After the peace Commander Harrison had charge of 
 the navy yard at Portsmouth, New Hampshire, where 
 he remained until 1868. On the 28th of April, this year^ 
 he was commissioned Captain, and soon after ordered to 
 duty at the Annapolis Navy School as Commandant of 
 Midshipmen. From here, one year later, he was order- 
 ed to the command of the "Congress," flagship of the 
 North Atlantic Squadron. While at Key West the 
 "Congress" encountered a terrible norther, and in his 
 solicitude for the safety of the vessel. Captain Harrison 
 so exposed himself to the storm that he died two days 
 after. 
 
 His remains are buried in Oak Hill Cemetery, George- 
 town, D. C, and he leaves behind him the reputation of 
 a gallant, able and faithful officer and an honorable, 
 amiable and agreeable gentleman. 
 
 LEWIS P. W. BALCH, 
 
 The first Judge appointed for the Berkeley circuit after 
 the close of our late civil war. He was far advanced in 
 life when elevated to the bench, but jpreserved much of 
 the vigor and eccentricity of his mind. He was eminent- 
 ly fitted to perform the duties expected of him at that 
 sad period of our history. He was a slave to popular 
 prejudice, intolerent in his opinions and overbearing in 
 his conduct. He was inordinately vain of his judicial 
 position, and brought his authority to bear on the unfor- 
 tunate rebels, if not with the bloodthirstiness, certainly 
 with all the buffoonery and vindictiveness of a Jeffrey. 
 The character of his judicial administration may be in- 
 ferred from the following extract from one of his opin- 
 
Historical Pen SketcJies. 135 
 
 ions : ' 'Common fame is prima facie ground for putting 
 a person on trial for an offense. It is the duty of a mag- 
 istrate to arrest on sucli evidence, and the onus protan- 
 di of innocence is on the accused." There was much 
 freshness and originality in the character of his mind, 
 while his heavy and grotesque figure, his bombastic and 
 theatrical airs upon the bench, with the quaint and char- 
 acteristic opinions to which he gave utterance, offorded 
 a rich fund of entertainment to the usually crowded 
 court room. 'A keen sense of the ludicrous was irresista- 
 bly inspired by his appearance. He presided on this 
 circuit from March 1865 to March 1866 ; but even his 
 own party could tolerate him no longer. An accurate 
 sketch of his personal appearance, has been preserved 
 by one of our best native artists, and as we have rarely 
 had such a specimen of judicial eccentricity, if not 
 monstrosity, in this section of the country, he may be 
 regarded as the natural outgrowth of the diseased and 
 disjointed period in which he officially flourished ; it is 
 hoped, that the picture may be engraved and perpetua- 
 ted, as a reminiscence of times never to be seen again. 
 
 He died at his residence near Leetown, in the County 
 of Jefferson, in 1868. 
 
 REV. WM. HILL, D. D. 
 Was born in Virginia on the 3rd of March, 1769. In 
 1785, he entered Hampden Sidney College. He gradua- 
 ted at that college in 1788, and was licensed to preach 
 the gospel by the Presbytery of Hanover, July 10th, 1790. 
 Immediately after his license, he settled in Berkeley 
 County. His stated field of labor was missionary ground, 
 and though "his labors here were prosecuted through 
 many discouragements, they were marked by great vigor 
 and boldness, and were followed by highly important 
 results. He had already acquired a high reputation as a 
 commanding and effective pulpit orator. In January 
 1800 he left his residence in Berkeley County, and took 
 charge of the Presbyterian Church in Winchester. In 
 
136 Historical Pen STcetcJies. 
 
 1816 the degree of Doctor of Divinity was conferred upon 
 him by Dartmouth University. He died on the ICth of 
 November 1852, in Winchester, in the 84th year of his 
 age. His funeral sermon was preached by the Rev. A. H. 
 H. Boyd, D. D. 
 
 His power as an extemporaneous preacher was very re- 
 markable. He had not the learning and the close logical 
 reasoning of Kice, nor the chaste and flowing style of 
 Speece, nor the splendid imagination of Kirkpatrick ; 
 but there was a combination of excellencies in his preach- 
 ing which made him a great favorite. His commanding 
 person, his clear and powerful voice, the vividness of his 
 conceptions, the distinctness and pungency of his ap- 
 peals, and the deep earnestness visible in his counte- 
 nance and manner of delivery, imi^ressed his audience 
 with the conviction that what he said was truth, and 
 such truth as involved their most vital interest. 
 
 THOMAS WORTHINGTON 
 
 Was born in the County of Berkeley in 1796 ; emigra- 
 ted to Ohio, and settled in Ross County in 1798. In 1803 
 he was a member of the State Constitutional Convention. 
 He was a Senator in Congress, from Ohio, from 1803 to 
 1807, and again from 1810 to 1814, when he resigned ; and 
 from 1814 to 1817 he was Governor of Ohio. After his 
 retirement from that office, he was appointed a member 
 of the iirst Board of Canal Commissioners in which 
 capacity he served until his death, which occurred 1827. 
 
 THOMAS VAN SWEARINGEN 
 
 Was born in Berkeley County, Virginia, and elected 
 a representative in Congress from 1819 to 1821. He died 
 in 1823 from a fatal bilious fever, which carried off the 
 most prominent citizens of Shepherdstown. 
 
 WILLIAM MACKEY 
 
 Was born near Belfast in the north of Ireland in 1738. 
 He emigrated to this country about 1762, landing at 
 
Historical Pen SkeicJies. 137 
 
 Philadelphia, and thence removing to the CnmberJand 
 Valley, Pa He volunteered in the Revolutionary army 
 in the beginning of the war, was promptly commissioned 
 as captain, and continued in service until its close. At 
 the battle of Brandywine, he fell, severely wounded, 
 charging, at the head of his company. 
 
 The battle of Brandywine (so called from the small 
 creek near which it occurred) was fought on the 11th of 
 September, 1777, and was one of the most interesting of 
 the early conflicts of the Revolution. It grew out of the 
 determination of General Washington to save, if possi- 
 ble, from capture, the city of Philadelphia, then the 
 capital of the States, and the seat of the Continental 
 Congress. If the magnitude of the prize at stake, the 
 number of the troops engaged and the character of the 
 military leaders on both sides, could give dignity to any 
 battle, this possessed those elements in an eminent de- 
 gree. General Sir Wm. Howe, aided by Lord Cornwallis 
 and Gen. Knyphausen, had landed from the British fleet 
 a well disciplined and admirably equipped army of 18,000 
 men — looking to the capture of Philadelphia. General 
 Washington, assisted in his command by Gens. Green, 
 Wayne, Muhlenburg, Sullivan. Stephens and Maxwell, 
 with an inferior force of 13,000 poorly equipped men, 
 was equally determined to save the city. The hostile 
 armies met near the Brandywine Creek. The battle was 
 fierce and bloody. On our side there was a loss of 1,000 
 killed and wounded. On the side of the British but 
 546 killed and wounded, this disparity of loss resulting 
 from the superior arms and equipments of the enemy. 
 Among the wounded was the Marquis de Lafayette. 
 Our army was defeated, Philadelphia fell into the hands 
 of the enemy. Washington made a masterly retreat and 
 few prisoners were taken— none but those who were left 
 severely wounded on the field of battle. Among those 
 was Capt. Wm. Mackey. After several months impris- 
 onment, he was exchanged, when he joined his regiment. 
 
138 Historical Pen Sketches. 
 
 still suffering from his wounds, and continued in service 
 until hostilities ceased. 
 
 Shortly after the close of the war he removed to Mar- 
 tinsburg, where he continued to reside until his death. 
 He had two children, William Mackey, and Sarah, mar- 
 ried to James Faulkner. His residence was in the house 
 directly ojpposite the Episcopal Church in Martinsburg. 
 
 After the termination of the Revolutionary war, being 
 entitled by his service and position to be a member of 
 the Society of the Cincinatti, composed exclusively of the 
 ofScers of that army, who had served until the end of 
 the war, he received his diploma as such, which bears 
 the honored signatures of Greorge Washington, as 
 President and General Henry Knox, as Secretary and 
 which may be seen gracing the walls of Chas. James 
 Faulkner, his grandson, at Boydville. 
 
 As there may not be any future occasion to refer to 
 this Society of the Cincinnatti, an institution which has 
 excited so much attention and even hostile discussion in 
 this country, a brief reference to it may not be uninter- 
 esting. 
 
 It was an association founded by the officers of the 
 American Revolutionary Army, after the peace of 1783. 
 Its object was to commemorate the success of the Revo- 
 lution and to perpetuate sentiments of patriotism, be- 
 nevolence and brotherly love, and the memory of hard- 
 ships experienced in common. The original draft of the 
 Constitution was made by General Knox and it is still 
 extant. At the second general meeting of the Society in 
 1787, Washington was elected President General, and 
 was re-elected trienially during his life. He was suc- 
 ceeded by Hamilton and the Pinckneys, and the Society 
 was in all its vigor during the last visit of Gen. Lefayette 
 to the United States, in 1824-5, who was then its only 
 surviving Major General. It has branches in several of 
 the States, but the general Society meets trienially in 
 iSTew York, of which Hamilton Fish is at this time the 
 
Historical Pen S7ieic7ies. 139 
 
 President. It admits of honorary membership, among 
 whom are to be found the names of Benj. Franklin, 
 Andrew Jackson, Winiield Scott, Z. Taylor, U. S. Grant, 
 etc. The oldest male decendant of any ofTicer of the 
 Revolution is entitled to regular membership. 
 
 William Mackey died in Martinsburg in 1812, and was 
 buried with military honors. His wife preceded him to 
 the grave a few years, she having died on the 23 of Oct. 
 1810. His will bears date the 28th of April, 1812, and is. 
 recorded in the Clerk's office of the County Court of 
 Berkeley. By it, he devises his property generally to 
 his grandson, J. H. Mackey, and his military lands in 
 Ohio, to which he became entitled by virtue of his Revo- 
 lutionary services,- to his grandson, Charles James 
 Faulkner. 
 
 The Martinsburg Gazette, of Friday, the 23rd of Oc- 
 tober, 1812, contains the following notice of his death : 
 
 "The deceased was born in Ireland, though no native 
 son of America was ever more attached to the institutions 
 of this country. He was one of the few surviving heroes 
 of the Revolution that gave independence to the coun- 
 try. He entered the contest soon after the commence- 
 ment of hostilities, and continued his useful services in 
 the arduous struggle until our liberty was established. 
 No one of equal grade rendered greater service to the 
 country, and but few suffered as much. Blest with a 
 strong constitution and filled with that ardor and enthu- 
 siasm, so natural to his countrymen, his zeal was uncon- 
 querable. At the memorable battle of Brandywine he 
 had the command on a company, posted in one of the 
 most important and dangerous situations ; this post was 
 supported by Capt. Mackey and his brave company, un- 
 til every individual in it, except himself and one of his 
 subordinates were killed. In this dreadful conflict Capt. 
 Mackey was shot through the breast and made a prisoner. 
 He %vas soon after exchanged, but a considerable time 
 elapsed before the severity of his wound enabled him 
 
140 Historical Pen Sketches. 
 
 again lo join the army. He was engaged in many other 
 severe trials in which he was always distinguished for 
 his determined courage and usefulness." 
 COL. WILLIAM CRAWFORD 
 
 Vfas born in Berkeley County. During the French 
 war he distinguished himself by his bravery and good 
 conduct, and was much noticed by Gen. Washington, 
 who obtained for him an ensign' s commission. He was 
 a captain in Porbs' exjiedition in 1758. He was half 
 brother to Col. Hugh Stephenson, of Berkeley county, 
 who commanded a rifle regiment in 1776. At tlie com- 
 mencement of the revolution, he raised a regiment by his 
 own exertions, and held the commission of Colonel in 
 the Continental Army. He was one of the bravest men 
 on the frontier, and often took the lead in parties against 
 the Indians, across the Ohio. In 1782, he accepted the 
 command of an expedition to ravage the Wyandott and 
 Moravian Indian towns on the Muskingum. On this ex- 
 pedition he was taken prisoner and put to death by the 
 most excruciating tortures. 
 
 Dr. McKnight, a fellow jjrisoner, who subsequently 
 made his escape, and who was an eye witness of the 
 scene, thus describes the death of the brave Col. Craw- 
 ford : "He was stripped naked, severely beaten with 
 clubs and sticks, and made to sit down near a post which 
 had been planted for the x:)urpose, and around which a 
 lire of poles was burning briskly. His hands were then 
 pinnioned behind him, and a rope attached to the band 
 around his wrist and fastened to the foot of a post about 
 lifteen feet high, allowing him liberty only to sit down 
 or walk once or twice around it, and return the same 
 way. His ears were (hen cut off, and while the men 
 would apply the burning ends of the jioles to his flesh, 
 the squaws threw coals and hot embers upon him. For 
 three hours he endured these excruciating agonies with 
 the utmost fortitude. "When faint and exhausted, he 
 commended his soul to God, and laid down on his face. 
 
Historical Pen Sketclies. 141 
 
 He was tlien scalped and burning coals being laid on Ms 
 head and back by one of tlie squaws, lie again rose and 
 attempted to walk, but strength failed him, and he sank 
 into the welcome arms of death. His body was thrown 
 into the fire and consumed into ashes." 
 
 COL. HUGH STEPHENSON, 
 
 Of the Eevolutionary Army, born in Berkeley county. 
 In June 1775, under a resolution of Congress, li^ raised 
 a company of volunteers in Berkeley county to serve one 
 year in the Continental Army. William Henshaw, Geo. 
 Scott and Thomas Hite were elected Lieutenants of this 
 company. Among the privates were Robert White, after- 
 wards Judge of the General Court of Virginia ; Joseph 
 Swearingen, Gen. Samuel Findlay, Maj. Henry Bedinger, 
 Maj. Michael Bedinger, Abraham Shepherd and Nathan- 
 iel Pendleton, Esq., of New York. A few days previous 
 to the departure of this company for Boston, Lieut. Hite 
 resigned his commission and Abraham Shepherd was 
 elected Lieutenant in his place, by the unanimous vote 
 of the company. The company marched to Boston in 
 July, 1775. Before the expiration of its term of service 
 General Washington recommended to Congress the rais- 
 ing of a rifle regiment, which was accordingly organized 
 by the appointment of Hugh Stephenson as colonel, 
 Rawlings as lieutenant colonel. Otho H. Williams was 
 the senior captain of the regiment. In August, 1776, 
 Col. Stephenson died and was succeeded in the command 
 of the regiment by Col. Rawlings. Stephenson's will, 
 now on record in the County Court of Berkeley, bears 
 date the 20th of July, 1775, to which there is a codicil 
 annexed, bearing date the 3rd of March, 1776, and ex- 
 ecuted at "Roxbury Camp, New England." The will 
 was presented for probate on the 20th of November, 1776. 
 Among the executors appointed by the will is the name 
 of his half brother. Col. Wm. Crawford— the bravest of 
 Indian fighters, whose sad and excruciating death is men- 
 tioned in another part of these sketches. 
 
142 Historical Pen SketcJies. 
 
 REV. MOSES HOGE, D. D. 
 Born in Virginia, February 15, 1752 ; in 1787 moved to 
 the county of Berkeley. He resided in this county for 
 upwards of thirteen years, and acquired great popularity 
 as a minister throughout this section of the State. In 
 1801, in consequence of the failing health of Mrs. 
 Hoge, he left the county of Berkeley for a more southern 
 climate. In 1807, he was appointed President of Hamp- 
 den Sidney College. In 1810, as a testimonial of his 
 great learning and eminence as a minister, the degree of 
 Doctor of Divinity was conferred upon him by the col- 
 lege of New Jersey. He possessed a mind of uncom- 
 mon Tigor, capable at once of accurate discrimination 
 and profound research, and richly stored with scientific 
 knowledge. He died on the 5th of July, 1820, in the 
 69th year of his age. 
 
 JOHN MORE 
 
 Was born in Berkeley county in 17SS. He was a Rep- 
 resentative in Congress from the State of Louisiana from 
 1841. to 1843, and again from 1851 to 185.3. Died in 
 June, 1861. 
 
 JOHN FRYATT SNODGRASS. 
 Born in Berkeley county, Virginia, March 2, 1804 ; was 
 a lawyer by profession, and practiced in Parkersburg, 
 Virginia. He was a member of the Virginia Constitu- 
 tional Convention, assembled at Eichmond in 1850, and 
 was a representative in Congress from 1853 until his death, 
 which occurred while trying a case in Court in Parkers- 
 burg, June 5th, 1854. A sketch of his private, professional 
 and political character may be seen in the Congressional 
 Glole of the 9th of June, 1854, made by Hon. C. J. Faulk- 
 ner, then a member of the House of Representatives in 
 announcing his death to that body. 
 
 ALMON SORTWELL, 
 For many years principal of the Martinsburg Academy. 
 He was a native of one of the ISiew England States, but 
 
Historical Pen 81cetc7ies. 143 
 
 possessed but few of the cliaracteristics of tliat steady 
 and cool headed people. Striking and intellectual in his 
 physiognomy, he labored under the same deformity in 
 one of his feet that tortured the soul of Lord Byron dur- 
 ing his life. In many respects the temper and character 
 of the two men were not unlike. Fiery and intractable 
 in his temper, constantly laboring under the suspicion 
 that his club foot was an object of observation, his ex- 
 treme sensitiveness especially in society, generated the 
 most painful feelings in those around him. And yet, 
 when he could forget his deformity, he was replete with 
 wit, vivacity and good humor. He was a profound 
 scholar, and did ample justice to the youths whose edu- 
 cation was entrusted to him. He died in 1834. 
 
 JOHN STROTHER, 
 
 A son of Benjamin Strother, was born at Park Forest, 
 in Berkeley coimty, November the 18th, 1792. At thir- 
 teen years of age he was placed in the county clerk's 
 office at Martinsburg, and became an inmate of the family 
 of David Hunter, then clerk of Berkeley county. When 
 war was declared against Great Britain, in 1812, he vol- 
 unteered for the defence of Norfolk, as second lieuten- 
 ant in Capt. Faulkner' s artillery company, but having in 
 the meantime applied for a commission in the regular 
 army, he received a notification of his appointment to a 
 lieutenancy in the 12th infantry, in camp near Fredericks- 
 burg. He thereupon resigned his commission in the 
 State company, was succeeded by Edward Colston, join- 
 ed his regiment on the Canada frontier, was engaged 
 under Wilkinson in the unsuccessful enterprise against 
 Montreal ; participated in the famous passage of the Long 
 saut of the St. Lawrence, and was in the command of his 
 company at the battle of Crisler's Field, where out of 
 twenty-four men present for duty, the company lost eight 
 killed and wounded. For good conduct in the battle, he 
 was promoted, and afterwards appointed adjutant of the 
 regiment. After the war, he returned to Martinsburg, 
 
144 Historical Pen Sketches 
 
 and on the Sth of September, 1S15, was married to Eliza- 
 beth Pendleton, eldest daughter of David Pendleton. In 
 1829 he was elected clerk of the County Court of Berke- 
 ley made vacant by the death of David Hunter, and held 
 that office until 183:^, when a change in the constitution 
 of Virginia making a new election necessary, he was 
 superseded by Harrison Waite, Esq. In 1832 he was ap- 
 pointed by Judge Richard Pafker to the Clerkship of the 
 Supreme Court of law and chancery for the county of 
 Berkeley, and continued in that office until by another 
 change in the Constitution it became elective by the peo- 
 ple, when he declined competing for the office, and re- 
 tired from its duties after having been connected with 
 the Berkeley clerkship for forty-five years. Constrained 
 by the limited income of his office, and by ill-health, 
 brought on by the close confinement to his clerical duties, 
 he had some years previously, in 1833, opened a board- 
 ing house at Berkeley Springs, and latterly, between 
 1845 aud 1848, erected a large hotel at that place. The 
 remainder of his business life was devoted to that enter- 
 prise. In the recent troubles which agitated the country, 
 he was a firm and intrepid champion of the rights of the 
 Union, and asserted his opinion with a courage that com- 
 manded the respect of both friends and enemies. He 
 died at the Berkeley Springs on the 16th of January, 
 1862, in the midst of his family, his last words express- 
 ing solicitude for his beloved country, and his absent son, 
 then serving in the Federal army. His remains were 
 carried to Martinsburg, where they were interred with 
 masonic and military honors. 
 
 JOHN S. HARRISON 
 
 Was one of the most highly educated and accomplish- 
 ed physicians that up to that day had sought a home in 
 Berkeley county. Descended from one of the most re- 
 spected of the old families of Maryland, he was born on 
 West river, Anne Arundel county in 1790. At the age of 
 thirteen, he was sent to St. John's College, in Annapolis, 
 
Historical Pen Sketches. 145 
 
 and there spent six years in completing Ms elementary, 
 classical and scientific studies. At the age of twenty he 
 was sent to Europe, where he spent four years in the 
 medical and surgical instructions of France and England, 
 preparing himself for the practice of his profession. In 
 1805 he was married to Holland Williams Stull, the niece 
 of that distinguished patriot and hero of the Revolution, 
 General Otho Holland Williams, after whom she waa 
 named. In 1S06 he removed with his young bride to- 
 Martinsburg, which he sought as a permanent home, pur- 
 chasing as a residence the property at the northwest cor- 
 ner of King and German streets, which he occupied dur- 
 ing his life. 
 
 His pleasant and social manners, frank and manly de- 
 portment, with the general recognition of his high 
 attainments in his profession soon introduced him to a 
 profitable practice ; and as there were no physicians at 
 that time in the county, beyond the limits of Martins- 
 burg, his practice was soon co- extensive with the county. 
 His patients had unbounded confidence in his skill and 
 judgment and his opinion upon all medical c^uestions 
 soon came to be regarded as oracular. 
 
 He was a man of ardent temperament and gave expres- 
 sion to his views on all subjects with frankness and de- 
 cision. He was a Jeffersonian Democrat, and regarded 
 as one of the acknowledged leaders and representatives 
 of that minority party in this county. 
 
 At that day what were called the "Federalists" had 
 complete control of the county. Most of its then leading 
 and influential families adhered zealously to the princi- 
 ples of that party, such as the Pendletons, Hunters, 
 Colstons, Waggoners, Porterfields, Orricks, Newkirks, 
 Shearers, Snodgrasses, Campbells, Vanmetres, Gorrells, 
 Burns, Boyds, Tabbs, Stephensons, Wevers, Tates, &c. 
 There was much exclusiveness in the distribution of pat- 
 ronage, and it rarely happened that one of the opposite 
 
146 Historical Pen Sketclies. 
 
 party vi'as Lonored by any ofS<;ial or political preferment. 
 
 The Federalists wrecked their party by violent oppo- 
 sition to the war of 1812-13 with Great Britain. The 
 military and naval victories of that war and its glorious 
 and triumphant results utterly annihilated all opposition 
 to the conquering Democracy. From that time a more 
 conciliatory spirit was manifested by the ruling party, 
 and among the first evidences of that change of policy 
 was the recommendation in 1818, of Dr. Harrison for a 
 seat as a justice of the peace, upon the bench of the 
 County Court of Berkeley. He accepted the position 
 and for near ten years discharged its duties with intelli- 
 gence and promptness. 
 
 Upon the death of Maj. Faulkner in 1817, he qualified 
 under his will, as one of his executors, and by his kind, 
 generous and parental attention to the writer of this 
 sketch, justified the confidence reposed in him. 
 
 For some j'ears before his death he was confined to the 
 house by a severe attack of gout, under which he suffer- 
 ed until he expired in October, 1838. 
 
 He left a large and interesting family of children, some 
 of whom and the descendants of others are still in this 
 community. 
 
 REV. ANDREW H. H. BOYD, D. D., 
 
 Second son of Gen. Elisha Boyd, was born at Martins- 
 burg, in the year 1814. He received his academic edu- 
 cation at Martinsburg and Middleburg ; when fourteen 
 years old, he entered the junior class of Jefferson College, 
 and graduated with distinction in 1830. Shortly after 
 entering college he joined the Presbyterian Church and 
 resolved to preach the gospel. After graduation in Jef- 
 ferson College, he spent two years at New Haven, to 
 perfect himself in particular studies ; completed a regular 
 course of theological education thereafter at Princeton ; 
 and subsequently visited Europe and attended lectures 
 delivered by the celebrated Dr. Chalmers and Sir Wil- 
 liam Hamilton in Edinburg, Scotland. He was licensed 
 
Historical Pen Slcetches. 147 
 
 to preach tlie gospel by the Presbytery of Wincliester in 
 1837 ; entered upon his first charge over the churches of 
 Leesburg and Middleburg in 1838 ; accepted a call to 
 Harrisonburg in 1840 ; and to Winchester in 1842. He 
 was called, during all parts of his ministry to a number 
 of distinguished churches in the great cities, but being 
 wholly independent in his pecuniary circumstances, pre- 
 ferred to remain in Winchester, to the people of which 
 city, and the County of Frederick, he exhibited a strong 
 attachment. His prominence as a citizen during the late 
 civil war, residing within the Confederate limits, caused 
 him to be seized as a hostage, and held in retalliation for 
 the arrest of other citizens attached to the cause of the 
 Union. He bore the illegal and unjustifiable imprison- 
 ment consequent upon this seizure with all the patience 
 and fortitude of a Christian minister, but a fatal blow 
 was given to his health by the rigors of his long impris- 
 onment. He never' enjoyed a day of perfect health after 
 his restoration to liberty. His valuable ministry of three 
 and twenty years at Winchester was terminated after a 
 mournful and protracted illness on the 16th of December, 
 1865. A funeral address was pronounced over his re- 
 mains by Eev. Joseph C. Stiles, of Georgia, which was 
 published in pamphlet form and is worthy of extensive 
 perusal. 
 
 Dr. Boyd was a man of fine intellect. He was endowed 
 with quick and clear perception, a sound, discriminating 
 and comprehensive judgment, and especially with strong 
 and active reasoning faculties. He loved study and ever 
 felt both its necessity and obligation. He was a man of 
 extensive and useful information. On almost every 
 topic of literature and science he discoursed like one who 
 had given exclusive attention to those subjects, while in 
 his proper department of didactic and polemic theology, 
 ecclesiastical history and biblical criticism, few men in 
 the country had made such eminent attainments. 
 
 During his illness the presbytery met in Winchester 
 
148 Historical Pen Sketches. 
 
 and appointed a committee to convey to Dr. Boyd their 
 christian salutations and to assure him of their sincere 
 condolence in the painful and protracted trial which he 
 was then enduring. He received the distinguished atten- 
 tion with such humble and touching gratitude to his 
 brethren, and in such calm and assured submission to the 
 will of Grod, that on the return of the committee the 
 chairman reported to presbytery that "he had seen Bun- 
 yan's Pilgrim on the banks of the river, joyfully await- 
 ing his transportation to the opposite shore." 
 THOMAS MASLIN, 
 Son of Wm. and Ann M. Maslin, was born in Gerards- 
 town, Berkeley County, on the 28th day of October, 1808. 
 At the early age of fifteen years and with but a very lim- 
 ited education, he was placed in a store at Harper's Fer- 
 ry and continued there and in similar situations until in 
 1830, when he removed to Moorfield. In 1831 he com- 
 menced the mercantile business in that place without 
 capital and relying exclusively upon his own energy, in- 
 tegrity and capacity for business. In this pursuit he 
 continued actively and successfully for a period of thirty 
 years. In 1837 he was commissioned a magistrate of 
 Hardy County, and continued to hold that office until the 
 magistry became elective under the constitution of 1850. 
 Under that new system he was elected to the same office, 
 and was made presiding Justice of the County Court until 
 the County of Hardy was embraced in the newly created 
 State of West Virginia. When the Bank of the Yalley 
 established a branch at Moorefield, in 1853, he was elect- 
 ed a director and made President, and re-elected every 
 year until the bank was closed by the war. In 1861 he 
 was elected by an almost unanimous vote of the people 
 to represent the County of Hardy in the Virginia State 
 Convention, called together by the exigencies of the 
 opening civil war. In 1871 he was elected by a large 
 majority to represent the counties of Hardy and Grant in 
 the .Constitutional Convention of West Virginia. He 
 
Historical Pen SJceiches. ' 149 
 
 also filled various other ofiices in tliat county — was trea- 
 surer of one turnpike company and President of another. 
 He died at Moorfield on the 21st of September, 1878, 
 after a protracted illness of more than a year. 
 
 JOHNSTON MAGOWN, 
 
 For m.any years one of the most efficient and active 
 magistrates in the County of Berkeley. He resided in 
 Martinsburg, and kept his office in the frame building 
 attached to the Stewart Hotel. He was a man of strong 
 mind, with clever common sense views of the law. Few, 
 if any, appeals were ever taken from his decision, for all 
 had abounded confidence in his integrity and sense of 
 justice. He possessed much quaint and original humor. 
 His memory was stored with anecdotes, and being a bach- 
 elor, with none of the cares of a family about him, his 
 office, in which he also slept, was the regular resort of a 
 coterie of visitors during the long evenings in winter. 
 He died after a short illness, in 1886, to the regret of all 
 who knew him. 
 
 MAJOR GEN, ADAM STEPHEN. 
 
 There is now upon the lands of Charles J. Faulkner 
 and within the recently enlarged limits of Martinsburg, 
 the remains of a monument, under which repose the ashes 
 of this distinguished soldier and patriot. By whom this 
 structure was erected — Avhether by the executors and 
 legatees of the deceased, or by the grateful contributions 
 of his countrymen, is not known. There is nothing in 
 the will nor in the detailed account of the executors to 
 throw any light on the subject. The design of the mon- 
 ument is obviously a rectangular pyramid, with abase of 
 twenty feet square. Its supposed altitude from the ver- 
 tex to the plane of the base may have been from six to 
 nine feet. It has now an elevation of a little more than 
 four feet. The large stones used in its construction — 
 some of them twelve feet in length, are hard silicious 
 mountain stones, and must have been transported, at 
 great expense, from a distance, as they are not natives 
 
150 Historical Pen SlcetcJies. 
 
 of this valley. I think a careful examination of the re- 
 mains will lead to the conclusion (contrary to the present 
 popular belief) that the monument was once finished ac- 
 cording to its original design, but being much exposed 
 and unprotected — a play spot for the boys — the apex was 
 first thrown off , and stone after stone injured and re- 
 moved, leaving only what remains of the original struc- 
 ture. It is at present within the limits of our city, and 
 since it has been in the possession of its present proprie- 
 tor since 1339, (now thirty -three years ago) has been pro- 
 tected from further injury. 
 
 General Stephen's life and fortunes are intimately iden- 
 tified with the County of Berkeley. He was one of the 
 earliest immigrants to this locality — he became the own- 
 er of large tracts of land in this neighborhood; he was 
 one of the most active agents in having the County of 
 Berkeley established, and one of the 'most prominent 
 actors in its early civil and judicial history. It was upon 
 Ms land that the city of Martinsburg was Ipcated ; here 
 he lived a long and prosperous life, and in her soil have 
 his remains been interred. The people of Berkeley, there- 
 fore, should feel an interest in learning something of his 
 history, and a pleasure in seeing his memory vindicated 
 from any unjust and unmerited reproach cast upon it. 
 
 General Stephen was born about the year 1718, and is 
 believed to have been a native ,"of Pennsylvania. He em- 
 igrated to this portion of Virginia about 1738, a few years 
 after the first settlements were made in this valley. He 
 must have derived the most of his land by direct grant 
 from Lord Fairfax. 
 
 Miliiary History. 
 
 The earliest notice we have of the military movements 
 of Adam Stephen, is in immediate connection with Wash- 
 ington. Information reached the colonial authorities at 
 Williamsburg, that the French and Indians had taken 
 possession of the northwestern portion of Virginia, on 
 the Monongahela, murdering and driving away the set- 
 
Historical Pen Sketches. 151 
 
 tiers of that section. The General Assembly autliorizecl 
 the raising of six companies for the recovery of that ter- 
 ritory. The command of this force was tendered to 
 Washington, but because of his youth he declined it in 
 favor of Col. Joshua Fry, an experienced English officer, 
 and Washington became Lieutenant Colonel. Stephen 
 had raised a company from the settlers hereabouts, and 
 by Washington' s order, met him with his company at 
 Winchester on the 20th of March, 1754. This assembled 
 force started for the frontiers, but Col. Fry having died, 
 the command necessarily devolved upon Washington, 
 and Stephen, in June, 1854, was appointed Major. On 
 August the 14th, same year, the regiment was re-organ- 
 ized with Washington as Colonel, Stephens as Lieut. 
 Colonel and Andrew Lewis as Major. They pursued 
 their difficult and wearisome march through the wilder- 
 ness until they reached the Great Meadows, and there 
 unexpectedly encountered a hostile force, greatly supe- 
 rior to their own, and were defeated in battle. They 
 took shelter in Fort Necessity, but they were, after a 
 gallant resistance, compelled to surrender, but upon 
 terms which allowed them to march out with flying col- 
 ors and with all the honors of war. Col. Stephen was 
 then placed in command of Fort Cumberland, the frontier 
 out post of that period. In 1755 he was in the memora- 
 ble battle of the Monongahela, usually called Braddock's 
 defeat, and was wounded, though notseriously. In 1756 
 he resumed his command of Fort Cumberland. • In 1757 
 he accompanied Washington in his expedition to Fort 
 Du Quesne, where they recovered possession of that ter- 
 ritory, and captured Fort DuQuesne, which they subse- 
 quently named Fort Pitt, the site of the present city of 
 Pittsburg. In the same year he proceeded, by order of 
 Congress, to the South, to quell the hostilities of the 
 Creek Indians in that section. In August, 1763, the col- 
 onial government ordered out a force of 1,000 men— 500 
 of whom were to be raised from this section of the colony 
 
152 Historical Fen Sketches. 
 
 and were placed under tlie command of Steplien, for ser- 
 vice on the Nortli-western frontier ; and 500 to be raised 
 in Greenbrier and tlie adjoining counties, and placed 
 under the command of Col. Andrew Lewis, to protect 
 the South-western portion of our territory. The object 
 of these exioeditions was to repel an attack upon our 
 people, by a formidable alliance of Shawnees, Delawares, 
 Wynadotts and other Indian tribes, acting in alliance 
 with Pontiac. 
 
 Sir Jeffery Amherst, then in command of all the British 
 forces in America, thus notices these exijeditions in a 
 letter of the 27th of August, 1763, addressed to Sir Wil- 
 liam Johnson, Superintendent of Indian affairs : 
 
 ''An effectual stop will be put to these outrages ; par 
 ticularly as Col. Stephen with a body of 500 men of the 
 Virginia militia, is advanced as far as Fort Cumberland 
 and Bedford, with a view not only of covering the fron- 
 tiers, but of acting offensively against the savages. That 
 public- spirited colony has also sent a large body of the 
 like number of men under the command of Col. Lewis 
 for the defence and protection of the South-west fron- 
 tiers. AVhat a contrast this makes between the Penn- 
 sylvanians and Virginians, highly to the honor of the 
 latter ; but places the former in the most despicable light 
 imaginable." 
 
 Again, in a letter of September the 14th, 1763, to the 
 same person, he says : 
 
 ''The attemjDts against the Shawnees are certainly very 
 necessary, and I heartily wish Col. Stephen success in 
 his expedition. His chief danger will be his retreat ujj 
 the river." 
 
 Mr. Bancroft thus describes the sad condition of our 
 frontier in June, 1763, which it was the object of the 
 expedition under General Stephen to avenge and re- 
 dress : 
 
 "Nor was its garrisoned stockades only that eucoun- 
 the fury of the savages. They roamed the wilderness. 
 
HLstorieal Pen SJietches. 153 
 
 massacring all whom they met. They struck down more 
 than a hundred traders in the woods, scalping every one 
 of them ; quailing their gushing life blood, mutilating 
 their bodies. They prowled around the cabins of the 
 husbandman on the frontier, and their tomahawks struck 
 alike the laborer in the field or the child in the cradle. 
 They passed the mountains and spread death even to 
 Bedford. The unhappy emigrant knew not if to brave 
 danger or to leave his home and his planted fields for 
 wretchedness and poverty. Nearly five hundred families 
 from the frontiers of Virginia fled to Winchester, unable 
 to find so much as a hovel to shelter them from the 
 weather, bare of every comfort, and forced to lie scat- 
 tered in the woods." {nol. 5t7i, page 124.) 
 
 After aiding to quell these hostile Indian movements. 
 Col. Stephen returned to the east and was placed in com- 
 mand of Fort Loudon at Winchester, charged with the 
 protection of our entire Northwestern frontier. 
 
 All further dangers being removed from the frontiers, 
 our troops were disbanded and Col. Stephen, now a'Brig- 
 adier General in the State Militia, returned in 1768 to his 
 home in Berkeley County — after fourteen years of al- 
 most continuous service in defense of the people and ter- 
 ritory of Virginia. 
 
 That General Stephen at that period enjoyed in a high 
 degree the confidence of Washington is not only obvious 
 from the preceding narrative, but is further shoAvn by 
 the fact that when, in 1756, he was required to visit Bos- 
 ton on important public business, he left Col. Stephen 
 in command of all the troops in the per vice of Virginia. 
 
 In continuation of the history of his military service 
 we pass for the present over the intervening period of 
 time. 
 
 At the commencement of the revolutionary war he was, 
 in December, 1775, commissioned by Virginia Colonel of 
 one of the regiments raised by that State. Isaac Reed 
 was at the same time chosen Lieut. Colonel, and Robt- 
 
154 Historical Pen STcetclies, 
 
 Lawson Major of this regiment. On tlie IStli of Febru- 
 ary, 1776, he was transferred, wLtli Ms regiment, to the 
 Continental line. On the 4th of September, 1776, he 
 was appointed by Congress a Brigadier General of the 
 Continental troops, and on the 9th of February, 1777, 
 promoted to the rank of Major General. Gen. Stephen 
 was with Washington in 1776, at the battles of Trenton 
 and Princeton — in his celebrated retreat of ninety miles 
 through the Jerseys — the most critical and disastrous 
 campaign of the war, but which was marked by brilliant 
 stratagems and daring exploits. He continued with him 
 in 1777, and at the battle of Brandy wine was in ' com- 
 mand of a division as Major General, giving entire satis- 
 faction by his bravery and good conduct. 
 
 We now approach the most painful period of the mili- 
 tary history of General Stephen. On November the 4th, 
 1777, was fought the battle of Germantown. Washing- 
 ton was defeated. The enemy triumphed. Gen. Ste- 
 phen was charged with " unofScer-like conduct,"' and 
 the specification was that he was "intoxicated" on that 
 day. He was found guilty and dismissed from the army. 
 
 The friends of General Stephen, whilst not questioning 
 a fact ascertained by a court of competent jurisdiction, 
 have neverthless complained of the harshness and un- 
 kind ness of the sentence of dismissal. They thought in 
 view of his long and valuable military services and in 
 view of the further fact, that his intoxication in no wise 
 contributed to the disasterous befeat of that day, it 
 should have been overlooked, or a milder penalty inflic- 
 ted. They say, further, that as strict a deciplinarian as 
 Washington v/as, he was more than usually severe and' 
 exacting in this case, with a view of creating a vacancy 
 in that high grade of the army, for his friend and favor- 
 ite, the Marquis de Lafayette. On the 26th of November, 
 1777, he wrote to the President of Congress, urging for 
 military and political considerations, the appointment of 
 Gen. Lafayette to a division of the army. This authority 
 
Historical Pen Slcetches. 1 55 
 
 was given to liiin by Congress on the 1st of December, 
 and in three days afterwardsit was proclaimed in general 
 orders that he was to take command of the division re- 
 cently under General Stephen, who had been dismissed 
 from the army. 
 
 I have read with great interest, the account of the 
 battle of Germantown, as given by our best historians to 
 see if our defeat was in any way attributable to the mis- 
 conduct of General Stephen, or of the division of which 
 he had commanded, and I cannot find a single imputa- 
 tion upon his conduct, personally, during the battle- 
 none upon his division excei)t what is satisfactorily ex- 
 plained. 
 
 Washington Irving in his ''Life of Washington," re- 
 ferring to the delay of General Knox, in this battle, says: 
 
 "This half hour's delay of nearly one half of the army, 
 disconcerted the action. The divisions and brigades 
 thus separated from each other, by the skirmishing upon 
 Chew's house, could not be reunited. The fog and smoke 
 rendered all objects indistinct at thirty yards distance ; 
 the different parts of the army knew nothing of the posi- 
 tion or movements of each other, and the commander-in- 
 chief could take no view nor gain any information of the 
 situation of the whole. 
 
 "Green and Stephen, with their divisions, having had 
 to make a circuit, were late in coming into action, and 
 became separated from each other, part of Stephen's 
 division being arrested by a heavy fire from Chew's house 
 and pausing to return it. 
 
 "At this moment a singular panic seized our army. 
 Wayne's division, which had pushed the enemy nearly 
 three miles, was alarmed by the approach of a large body 
 of American troops on its left flank, which it mistook for 
 foes, and fell back in defiance of every efl'ort of its officers 
 to rally it. In its retreat it came upon Stephen's divi- 
 sion, and threw it into a panic, being in its turn mistaken 
 
156 Historical Pen Sketches. 
 
 for tlie enemy ; thus all fell into confusion and our army 
 fled from its own victory." 
 
 Mr. Bancroft, who may be regarded as one of the most 
 impartial and perhaps one of the most censorious of our 
 historical critics, in describing that battle, utters not a 
 word in disparagement of Gen. Stephen. 
 
 " His (Washington's) plan was to direct the chief at- 
 tack on the enemy's right, to which the approach was 
 easy ; and for ihat purpose, to Greene, in whom of al-l 
 his generals he most confided, he gave the command of 
 his left wing, composed of Greene and of Stephen, and 
 flanked by Macdougall's brigade." 
 
 Again, " Greene should by this time have engaged the 
 British right, but nothing was heard from any part of 
 his wing." Again, "and where was Greene? From 
 some cause, which he never explained, he reached the 
 British outpost three quarters of an hour later than the 
 troops of Washington ; then at a very great distance from 
 the force, which he was to have attacked, he formed his 
 ■whole wing, and thus in line of battle, attempted to ad- 
 vance two miles or more through marshes, thickets and 
 strong and numerous post and rail fences. Irretrievable 
 disorder was the consequence ; the divisions became 
 mixed and the line was broken." 
 
 Again, " Greene on that day, ' fell under the frown' of 
 the Commander-in-Chief. Had the forces entrusted to 
 him acted as efficiently as the troops with Washington, 
 the day might have been fatal to Howe's army." 
 
 Thus Greene and Woodford are censured by the histo- 
 rian, for their conduct in this battle ; not a word of 
 censure is cast upon Gen. Stephen. From all which I 
 infer, that whilst he may have been proved to have been 
 intoxicated on the day of battle, there is nothing in these 
 accounts to shov>' that his into.x:ication disqualified him 
 for command, or that the country sustained any injury 
 from his improper indulgence in the use of liquor. 
 
 Thus ended the military career of this distinguished 
 
Historical Fen Sketclies. 157 
 
 soldier, after a service of 14 years in fighting the French 
 and Indians, and two in figliting the enemies of our lib ■ 
 erty and independence. I liave seen no evidence in his 
 previous career, and none in his subsequent life, that he 
 vras habitually addicted to the use in excess of ardent 
 spirits. For this one violation of military discipline he 
 seems to have been treated with unusual harshness. 
 Civil History. 
 
 After the return of Gen. Stephen from military servi- 
 ces, in 1768, he gave his attention to his private affairs, 
 and was chiefly instrumental in having the county of 
 Berkeley created, by an act of the General Assembly. 
 Its limits were so arranged as to make the present site of 
 Martinsburg about the centre of the county. So perfectly 
 was this understood that the justices appointed by Lord 
 Dunmore assembled at that point on the 19 th of May, 
 1772, and formed the first court of the county. General 
 Stephen was one of the justices so appointed and also at 
 the same time commissioned first High Sheriff of the 
 county. Prompt arrangements were made for the erec- 
 tion of all the necessary county buildings, and there 
 being no town then established, it was only known as the 
 Berkeley Court House. Gen. Stephen being withdrawn 
 from the county, by his services in the Revolutionary 
 army, no steps were taken for the establishment of a 
 town, until his return in 1777. In 1778 Martinsburg was 
 by an act of General Assembly laid out on 130 acres of 
 land, granted for that purpose by Gen. Stephen. 
 
 Mr. Bancroft, incorporated into his great historical 
 work, a letter of Gen. Stephen, written in advance of 
 the war, vindicating the position then being taken by 
 the colonies, that would have done honor to the patriot- 
 ism and public spirit of a Henry or a Jefferson. 
 
 In 1788 Gen. Stephen and Gen. Darke. were elected by 
 the voters of Berkeley county to the convention which 
 assembled in Richmond on the 2nd of June of that year 
 to determine whether Virginia would give her consent to 
 
158 Historical Pen SketcJi.es. 
 
 tlie adoption of our present Federal Constitution. It is 
 -difficult to imagine a higher and more important trust 
 that could have been confided to two of her citizens. 
 The convention was nearly equally divided on the ques- 
 tion of the ratification or rejection of that Constitution. 
 In favor of its adoption were such men as Jas. Madison, 
 John Marshall, Edmund Pendleton and Geo. Wythe ; 
 for its rejection were such men as James Monroe, Patrick 
 Henry, George Mason and Theodore Bland. The vote 
 stood 89 for adoption, 79 against it. It is almost un- 
 necessary to say that the delegation from Berkeley stood 
 by the Constitution in all their votes from the beginning 
 to the end of the session. For this alone, if for nothing 
 •else, we owe them a debt of gratitude. 
 
 The speech delivered by Gen. Stephen in favor of the 
 adoption of the Constitution may be seen on pages 642, 
 643 and 644 of Elliot's debates of that convention, and 
 does great credit to his ability, eloquence and patroit- 
 ism. The speech is so honorable to him that it should 
 ■be incorporated into this sketch but it is too long for 
 present publication. 
 
 Gen. Stephen, died in Martinsburg in 1791, possessed 
 of a large real and personal estate. His will, bearing 
 ■date the 5th of June, 1791, was admitted to record in the 
 Winchester District Court, at the September term, 1791. 
 He has left many descendants in the States of Virginia 
 and West Virginia, and many collateral relatives, the 
 grand children of his brother Kobert. 
 
 Gen. Stephen, at his death, must have left many valua- 
 ble papers in the hands of his executors, and especially 
 his military correspondence. But after inquiry I learn 
 that not a single paper has been preserved to throw light 
 upon his long and eventful career. A sketch of his life 
 •can only be gleaned from the general histories and pub- 
 lic records of the country. 
 
 MOSES T. HUNTER, 
 
 Born in 1790, was the son of Moses Hunter, one of the 
 
Historical Pen Sketches. 159 
 
 early clerks of Berkeley, County, and one of the Presi- 
 dential electors wlio cast the vote of Virginia for George 
 Washington. He was educated at Princeton, New Jer- 
 sey, and after completing his collegiate course com- 
 menced the study of law in Winchester, under Henry St. 
 George Tucker, his brother in-law, at that time one of 
 the most eminent and successful practitioners in Vir- 
 ginia. When admitted to the bar he took up his resi- 
 dence for a brief period in Martinsburg, but his tastes at 
 that time being more to literary than to legal pur- 
 suits, he removed to his fine estate called the "Red 
 House" farm, inherited from his father, about one mile 
 north of the town. 
 
 The "Red House" was a well-known spot in the 
 annals of Berkeley County. It was, as stated, the prop- 
 erty of his father, Moses Hunter, and it was here that 
 the court held its session from May 19, 1772, until by 
 virtue of a writ obtained by Gen. Stephen from the Sec- 
 retary' s office its sessions were removed to Morgan's 
 Spring, near the present site of Martinsburg. 
 
 The jail, a temporary wooden structure, was located in 
 the public square, where the old market house subse- 
 quently stood, near the property of Admiral Boarman. 
 The Clerk's office was at the corner of Queen and John 
 streets. Where the stocks or whipping post and pillory, 
 (An essential inheritance from our English ancestors) 
 were placed, I have no means of ascertaining. I can well 
 remember its dark and menancing outline when I was a 
 boy. It stood directly opposite the Court House door— 
 about thirty feet from the present curbstone, and more 
 than once have I witnessed the writhings and contortions 
 of human flesh, both of whites and blacks, under the lash 
 of the jailor, as I passed to and from old James Ander- 
 son's school house. The pillory as a punishment, was 
 established in England as early as the reign of Henry 
 III, and only abolished during the reign of the present 
 
160 Historicil Pen SketcTies. 
 
 Queen, Victoria, in June, 1837, a few years subsequent 
 to its abolition in this State. 
 
 The residence of Mr. Hunter in the country was in no 
 wise profitable to him. He had no taste for agriculture ; 
 he lived extravagantlj^, spent his money wastefully; and 
 his house and furniture having been consumed by fire, 
 he determined to return to Martinsburg and enter earn- 
 estly upon the practice of his profession. His circuit 
 embraced the counties of Berkeley, Jefferson, Morgan 
 and Frederick ; especially the District Court of Chan- 
 cery, held at Winchester, which had jurisdiction over 
 some fifteen or twenty counties. It was in Jefferson that 
 he seemed to make his deepest impression upon the pop- 
 ular mind, and there, that he attained his largest and 
 most lucrative practice. 
 
 When I first recollect Mr. Hunter, which was in 1825, 
 he was of medium height and strongly tending to corpu- 
 lency, but for a person of his bulk, active and alert on 
 his feet. His countenance, when in one of his gay and 
 pleasant humors, beamed with a benevolent expression ; 
 his eye sparkled with wit and intelligence, and his 
 demeanor was marked by courtesy and affability, but in 
 his crabbed and disagreeable moods — and they were by 
 no means uncommon — his face became as dark as a thun- 
 der cloud, his tongue was tipped with venom and sar- 
 casm, and his manners were repellant, morose and offen- 
 sive. He had some of the finest qualities of an orator — 
 a rich and poetic fancy, a brilliant imagination, wit, hu- 
 mor — a taste enriched by classical reading and high 
 powers of logical analysis. His voice was the most agree- 
 able that I have ever heard at the bar — musical from its 
 lowest to its highest tones — and was admirably adopted 
 to give effect and emphasis to whatever he said, whether 
 in the department of wit, humor, sarcasm, pathos or de- 
 nunciation. His powers of vocal mimicry were extraor- 
 dinary, and if there was anything peculiar, quaint or lu- 
 dicrous in the voice or deportment of the witnesses, he 
 
Historical Pen Sketclies. 161 
 
 could reproduce them afc llie bar in a manner to covulse 
 tlie court room with laughter. He vras the only lawyer 
 lever saw who could literally "laugh a case" out of 
 court. His keen sense of the ridiculous was such that 
 he would seize upon every incident in the prgress of a 
 trial that was capable of being perverted into a source of 
 humor and fun, and drive the jjoor plaintiff or defendant 
 out of court amidst the laughter of bench, bar, jury andi 
 bystanders. His style of writing was rich, classical,, 
 perspicuous and condensed, the best specimens of which 
 that I have seen were his 4th of July oration delivered ia 
 1825 and printed in the Martinsburg Gazette of that pe- 
 riod, and his Masonic oration, delivered in 1826 in the 
 old Presbyterian church on King street, now a ruin. I 
 heard them both, and was delighted with their delivery, 
 and have often since read them with much pleasure. 
 
 When a youth, just from college, the writer of this 
 sketch would often saunter to the Court House to hear 
 the able lawyers then practising at this bar. The cases 
 which now dwell most especially in his memory were 
 those of James Parsons vs. James Gibson, and William 
 Vance vs. James Parsons, all leading and influential men. 
 They were both celebrated causes and removed from 
 Hampshire to this county, and both cowhiding assaults 
 and batteries, growing out of the same ugly feud. 
 Among the counsel engaged were Alfred H. Powell, John 
 E. Cooke, Moses Hunter, Wm. Nayler and Elisha Boyd. 
 They gave rise to much eloquent speaking, but were 
 finally compromised to the satisfaction of all parties. 
 
 The case of Alexander Stephens and Isaac S. Lauck vs. 
 Matthew Ransone, was also among the causes celebres in 
 its day. Both plaintiffs and defendants were owners of 
 large merchant mills near Martinsburg, and all were men 
 of large influence and great wealth. Ransone was 
 charged with deliberately diverting the Tuscarora stream 
 so as to deprive the lower rival mill of its proper supply 
 of water. The case was fought with determined zeal and 
 
162 Historical Ten Bkeiclies. 
 
 obstinacy on both sides. Cooke's opening was in Ms 
 finest style of perspicuous narrative. Powell and Boyd 
 put forth their strongest powers in the defense. Hunter 
 .commenced his closing argument with the quotation : 
 
 "When Greek meets Greek, 
 
 Then comes the tug of war," 
 
 alluding to the wealth, energy and influence of the con- 
 testants, and followed it with one of the most striking 
 and masterly arguments that I ever heard at our bar. 
 The jury brought in a small verdict for the pjlaintiffs — 
 'but it Avas accepted without costs — a sort of drawn battle. 
 
 The first civil case in which I ever appeared at the bar 
 "was an action of ejectment, brought by my client, Jonas 
 Hedges, vs. the well known Hunter John Myers, to re- 
 cover a tract of land on the Meadow Branch, west of the 
 North Mountain. Both had patents for the same land, 
 but Hedges held the elder patent. The case was in the 
 county court. Hunter was my opponent. He vehemently 
 assailed the validity of the Hedges' patent for vagueness 
 in its entry and irregularity in its issue. He dwelt with 
 power and effect upon the ungenerous conduct of Hedges 
 in securing his patent in the manner he did, and upon 
 the noble and primitive virtues of the great Natty Bump- 
 po, of Berkeley. It was in vain that I presented the 
 clear and indisputable law bearing on the subject — he 
 carried court and jury by storm. The law was submerged 
 under the flood of his eloquence. My client was turned 
 out of court. But his triumph was only short lived. I 
 removed the case by writ of supersedeas to the Superior 
 Court, where the ruling of the county court, admitting 
 impropei? evidence and giving wrong instructions, were 
 reversed, the verdict set aside and the case sent back 
 with such instructions as precluded all further contro- 
 versy. Hedges recovered his land, with costs in both 
 courts. 
 
 Some idea may be formed of the high powers of Mr. 
 Hunter, as an advocate and jurist, when we find the fol- 
 
Historical Pen SJceiclies. 163 
 
 lowing notice of his first effort at the bar, in a written 
 opinion, delivered by Chancellor Carr in the District 
 Court of Chancery, held at Winchester : 
 
 " These points were maintained with great ability, and 
 I must be .permitted to say that I have seldom heard so 
 powerful an argument as that delivered by the opening 
 counsel. It gives me pleasure, in passing, to pay this 
 just tribute to the first essay in our court of a young 
 practitioner." 
 
 A high compliment to be embraced in a judicial opin- 
 ion from the peij of Dabney Carr. 
 
 Mr. Hunter was a Democrat, and as such, had given 
 his ardent support to Mr. Clay in 1824. His speech in 
 support of the Kentucky statesman, in the Berkeley 
 Court House, w&s much admired at the time, and pre- 
 sented some of the most captivating views of Mr. Clay's 
 noble and lofty character. But he had an unextinguish- 
 able hatred to the Adams family, and when Mr. Clay by 
 his vote and influence made John Quincy Adams Presi- 
 dent in 1825, Mr. Hunter gave him up and joined the cry 
 of that opposition, which in the language of Richard M. 
 Johnson, had combined to crush' the administration for 
 the "original sin of its election, even tho' its acts should 
 prove it as pure as the angels of heaven." 
 
 Although the storm of political excitement was raging 
 wildly in the Spring of 1827, in Tennessee, Kentucky and 
 some of the Northern States, its influence was not felt in 
 the county of Berkeley. We had then no railroads, tel- 
 egraphs, or telephones — few newspapers were taken 
 beyond the county, and outside intelligence reached us 
 slowly through the weekly or semi-weekly lumbering 
 stage coach. An evidence of the total absence of party 
 feeling is found in the fact that in April, 1827, Edward 
 Colston, Federalist, and a Clay man, and Moses T. Hunt- 
 er, Democrat, and a Jackson man, were both elected to 
 the House of Delegates without opposition, and with the 
 •concurrence of all the voters of the county. 
 
164 Historical Pen SJcetcJies. 
 
 Mr. Hunter' s career in the Legislature opened brilliant- 
 ly, but terminated painfully. lie made some speeches 
 whicli gave him high repiitation — whilst his attic wit, 
 his captivating conversational powers, his wealth of an- 
 ecdote and his pungent satire, made him a great favorite 
 in the social circle. But Richmond was not at that time 
 a safe place for one having the tastes and propensities of 
 Mr. Hunter. He relapsed into habits of dissipation, 
 under which his system became disordered, and he was 
 attacked with a serious, and which proved fatal malady. 
 
 He returned to Martinsburg in bad health and died, 
 after a long and painful illness, on the 4th of June, 1829, 
 at the residence of his brother-in law. Chancellor Tucker, 
 in Winchester, in the 39th year of his age. 
 
 There are some now living in this county, who can re- 
 call with pleasure the many occasions when they have 
 hung with rapture upon the glowing eloquence, powerful 
 argument, brilliant and irresistable flashes of wit and 
 humor that marked his professional efforts. 
 
 EDWARD COLSTON 
 
 Was born at Honeywood in the County of Berkeley, 
 in 1788. He graduated with distinction at Princeton 
 College, New Jersey, in 1806. He passed through a reg- 
 ular course of legal studies, municipal and international, 
 with no view to the practice of the profession, but to 
 qualify himself for the intelligent discharge of any pub- 
 lic duty which in a RepiTblic like this, the people might 
 devolve upon him. He was an ardent Federalist, in 
 perfect accord with the predominant sentiment of this 
 county, and as a young man of talent and high promise, 
 was cordially welcomed as an important accession to the 
 party. At twenty -five years of age he was elected a 
 member of the House of Delegates ; and when but twenty 
 nine years old, elected a member of the United States 
 Congress from the district composed of the counties of 
 Berkeley, Jefferson, Hampshire and Hardy. 
 
 In June, 1814, he was married to'Jane Marshall, daugh- 
 
Historical Pen Sketches. 165 
 
 ter of Charles Marshall, of Fauquier County. She died 
 on the 5th of March, 1815, in giving birth to a child, ten 
 months after marriage, and in the 21st year of her age. 
 The papers of that day are full of tributes to her many 
 virtues and entrancing loveliness. The child was buried 
 in the same grave with the mother. 
 
 When Mr. Colston took his seat in the 15th Congress 
 (1st Monday of December, 1817), he found himself asso- 
 ciated in his legislative labors with many distinguished 
 men, among whom were Henry Clay, General Harrison, 
 subsequently President ; Henry Baldwin, John Sergeant, 
 Philip P. Barbour, John Floyd, K. M. Johnson, subse- 
 quently Vice-President ; Henry St. George Tucker, 
 Charles Fenton Mercer, etc. Although but a young man 
 and a young member, he took an active and prominent 
 part in the proceedings of that body. His speeches on 
 the "Commutation of soldiers' pay," for relief to the 
 " Surviving Revolutionary soldiers," in favor of "the 
 Internal Improvement powers of Congress," upon "the 
 Migration of Slaves," upon " the Reduction of the Staff 
 of the Army," and especially his elaborate speech on the 
 resolution of the Military Committee condemning the 
 conduct of General Jackson, for the execution of Arbut- 
 not and Ambrester in the Seminole war, show not only 
 his ability and self reliance, but the extent of his infor- 
 mation, and his capacity to take a leading part in any 
 deliberative assembly. He seems to have participated in 
 all the discussions of that body ; to have grappled in 
 debate with the foremost intellects, and to have main- 
 tained his opinions with firmness and ability. 
 
 Alter the close of his most creditable service in Con- 
 gress, Mr. Colston found it necessary, in consequence of 
 the increasing age and infirmities of his father, to give 
 his attention to the Honeywood estate in this county and 
 also to the extensive landed possessions of his father, in 
 Virginia and Kentucky. 
 
 Mr. Colston was elected to the House of Delegates from 
 
166 Historical Pen SJcetcJies. 
 
 this county in 1S23 and 1824, and was again a candidate 
 for Congress in 1825. In this contest he was defeated by 
 Wm. Armstrong of Hampshire. The Martinsburg Ga- 
 zette of the 28th of April, 1825, in referring to the defeat 
 of Mr. Colston : 
 
 "We were present on Monday last and heard Mr. 
 Colstoa address the voters. He exposed in a concise, 
 eloquent and convincing manner the glaring calumnies 
 that had been industriously circulated against him, and 
 left a deep impression on the minds of the people of the 
 gross injustice which had been done him by those slan- 
 ders and which had resulted in his defeat." 
 
 No doubt Mr. Colston was grossly caluminated in that 
 canvass, but the real cause of his defeat was the disor- 
 ganization and disruption of the party of which he had 
 been so conspicuous a member. The Federalists ceased 
 to exist as a National party after the close of the war 
 with Great Britain, and whilst that may not have been 
 the direct issue involved, yet he had been too distin- 
 guished in its history, not to be made to share the conse- 
 quences of its fall. Some amend, however, was made to 
 his disappointed ambition by his unanimous election to 
 the House of Delegates, in 1826, by the voters of Berke- 
 ley. He was again re-elected in 1827, 1833 and 1834. 
 
 Whilst in Richmond he formed the acquaintance of 
 Miss Sarah Jane Brockenbrough, the intelligent and ac- 
 complished daughter of Judge William Brockenbrough, 
 to whom he was married — from which marriage has re- 
 sulted a highly educated and interesting family of sous 
 and daughters. 
 
 Mr. Colston was commissioned a magistrate of the 
 County Court in 1818, and no one could have taken a 
 more lively interest in Ihe performance of its important 
 and responsible duties than he did. His intelligence, 
 his knowledge of law, his integrity, his high sense of 
 justice, gave to all his decisions, whether on the Bench 
 or in 2:)ais, a weight and authority accorded to but few 
 
Hisiorical Pen Sketches. 167 
 
 of liis bretlaren. He was also commissioned High. Sheriff 
 of BeT-keley County and acted as such, in 1844 and 1845. 
 
 Although a Federalist and concurring with his party 
 in opposition to the declaration of war against Gfreat 
 Britain, yet when war was declared by the constituted 
 authorities, he volunteered as a member of CaptainFaulk- 
 ner's Artillery Company, soon reached the rank of Lieu- 
 tenant and was present, near Norfolk, when the combined 
 military and naval attack was made by the British upon 
 the defences of that important city. He bore the repu- 
 tation of a brave and conscientious soldier. 
 
 Mr. Colston was a member of the Episcopal church — a 
 sincere and practical Christian and an ardent promoter 
 of all institutions and enterprises looking to the advance- 
 ment of religion, and to the spread of the life saving- 
 doctrines of the Redeemer of the world. 
 
 Mr. Colston died suddenly — unexpectedly, in the 
 twinkling of an eye — from some affection of the heart, 
 on the 23d of April, 1851. He left a will, devising his 
 whole property, subject to the payment of his debts, to 
 his estimable widow, Sarah Jane Colston, and appointing 
 her, Chas. J. Faulkner and his brother-in-law, Willough- 
 by Newton, of Westmoreland County, Va., executors of 
 his will. 
 
 An intelligent gentleman from Eastern Virginia, who 
 had just come from spending two weeks at Honeywood, 
 thus speaks to the w^riter of this sketch, of Mr. Colston, 
 in 1838 : 
 
 "I consider Edward Colston, the finest specimen of a 
 country gentleman whom I have yet met in Virginia. 
 His manners are courteous, polite and dignified ; his con- 
 versation highly instructive and interesting, and his hos- 
 pitality free, and cordial, without being oppressive. He 
 is fond of agriculture, history and general literature. He 
 has a noble inheritance and a magnificent library. He is 
 loved by all his neighbors, for Ms kindness and charities 
 and they look up to him as a friend, adviser and coun- 
 
168 Jffistorical Pen Sketches. 
 
 sellor. He has a cliarming family and a deliglitful resi- 
 dence. What more need any man want to ensure his 
 happiness in this world ?" 
 
 It is deeply to be regretted that Mr. Colston did not 
 himself cherish the views expressed by this intelligent 
 visitor. He was unhappily not content with the rich 
 blessings which then surrounded him. The activity of 
 his mind led him to engage in milling enterprises and 
 speculations. He became, in the honesty and unsuspect- 
 ing integrity of his heart, the sport of fortune, and the 
 victim of accomplished villains, and that " noble inheri- 
 tance" has thus passed from his widow and children, to 
 discharge forged obligations and unfortunate specula- 
 tions in trade. 
 
 JAMES FAULKNER, 
 
 Son of George and Rebecca Faulkner, was born on the 
 2nd of April, 1776, in the county of Armagh, Ireland, a 
 few miles from Newry. The family, as the name itself 
 sufficiently indicates, was of English origin, their ances- 
 tor having emigrated to Ireland in the reign of William 
 and Mary. Having been left an orphan by the death of 
 both his parents, at the early age of ten years, he accep- 
 ted the kind offer of Richard McSherry, a friend of the 
 family, to accompany him upon his return to America. 
 They arrived in the port of Baltimore in the latter part 
 of 1786. 
 
 Richard McSherry had some years before emigrated 
 from that part of Ireland, and had gone to the Island of 
 Jamaica to improve his fortunes. He was a man of ener- 
 gy and enterprise, and soon got occupation as the manager 
 of a large sugar plantation. He remained there for sever- 
 al years, until he succeeded in accumulating quite a res- 
 pectable fortune. He then visited the United States, and 
 purchased a tine farm in the then County of Berkeley, 
 near to the present village of Leetown. Not being able 
 to get immediate possession of his purchase, he availed 
 himsels of the interval to pay a visit to his old home in 
 
Historical Fen Slieiclies. 169 
 
 Ireland. It was upon his return from this visit, that the 
 boy Faulkner accompanied him to America. It is said 
 that Eichard McSherry was the first person who intro 
 duced from Jamaica into this country, the tomato and 
 okra, as esculents for the table. 
 
 Young Faulkner was brought to Martinsbmg- and 
 placed under the charge of Michael McKewan, an Irish- 
 man, who then kept a retail store in that town. He re- 
 mained in his service until he was of age, in 1797, when 
 he purchased the property at the southeastern corner of 
 Burke and Queen streets, and commenced business on his 
 own account. 
 
 On the 15th of December, 1803, he was married to 
 Sarah Mackey, only daughter of William Mackey, of 
 Martinsburg. 
 
 He was not particularly fond of the mercantile busi- 
 ness, and from 1804 until 1808, he spent much of his time 
 in correspondence with Hon. James Stephens, and Hon. 
 John Morrow, the representatives in Congress from this 
 district ; with Henry Dearborn, the Secretary of War, 
 and President Jefferson, in endeavoring to gratify his 
 military tastes by procuring a commission in the regular 
 army of the United States. But our arm.y was then small 
 — there were few vacancies or promotions, and his efforts 
 in that direction were unsuccessful. 
 
 Towards the close of Mr. Jefferson's administration in 
 1809, the relations between this countrj^ and Great Bri- 
 tain had become very critical. The affair of the Chesa- 
 peake had occurred ; the sensibilities of the nation were 
 deeply aroused by the habitual impressment of our sea- 
 man ; by the contemptuous deportment of England to 
 our representatives, and by the destruction of our com- 
 merce, and an intense war spirit prevaded the land, 
 which was alone held in check by the extraordinary in- 
 fluence of Mr. Jefferson, and by his determined peace 
 policy. It nevertheless became apparent to all men, that 
 unless Great Britain altered her conduct to this county. 
 
170 Historical Pen SkeicJies. 
 
 wliich was hardly anticipated, war would be inevitable 
 in a year or two. It was under these circumstances that 
 Mr. Faulkner, unable to procure a position in the regular 
 army, determined to organize a volunteer artillery com- 
 pany in Berkeley County, to meet any of the probable 
 demands of war. This was promptly accomplished. 
 James Faulkner was elected Captain,* Robert Wilson 1st 
 Lieutenant and William Long 2nd Lieutenant. Among 
 the names familiar to our people who thus volunteered 
 as privates, were John E.. Cooke, Edward Colston, John 
 Alburtis, Alexander Stephen, William Campbell, James 
 Newkirk, Tillotson Fryatt, Adam Young, Jacob Snyder, 
 John Mathews, Jacob Poisal, Chas. Pendleton, James 
 Shearer, Nicholas Orrick, and some fifty others. It will 
 be conceded that no other vounteer company in the State 
 was better drilled ; was comijosed of more reliable ma- 
 terial, or could boast of men more determined to stand 
 by their country in any hour of difBculty or trial. 
 
 On the ISth of June 1812, war was declared by the 
 United States against Great Britain. During that year 
 and the earlier part of 1S13, the fighting was mainly con- 
 fined to the Canada frontier, where notwitstanding some 
 brilliant victories upon our part, the British, aided by 
 the Northwestern Indians under Tecumseh, inflicted 
 some severe defeats upon our armies. 
 
 In the Martinsburg Gazette of the 7th of February, 
 1S12, is found the following extract from an address to 
 the artillery company : 
 
 "You have upon two former occasions, volunteered 
 your services to the government, the commander hopes 
 your patriotic and military pride will not be damped by 
 the circumstance that you' have not been ordered into 
 actual service. He flatters himself that as there is now 
 every probability of a war that you will authorize him to 
 offer your services to march wherever you may be require 
 ed. He returns his thanks to those patriotic young men 
 not belonging to the company, who enrolled themselves 
 
Historical Pen Sketclies. 171 
 
 to march witli Mm on a former occasion, and flatters him- 
 self that they, and others who feel a desire to serve their 
 country in the ranks of its defenders, will come forward 
 and join the parade on Saturday, the 22nd inst., the an- 
 niversary of the birth of the immortal Washington. 
 
 James Faulknek, 
 
 Fel). Ith, 1812 Captain 1st M. Artillery. 
 
 As early as March, 1812, there were satisfactory rea- 
 sons to believe that a formidable military and naval dem- 
 onstration of the enemy would, in the course of th& 
 summer, if not earlier, be made upon Norfolk and Ports- 
 mouth, in Virginia. Accordingly general orders were 
 issued on the 24th of March, for the assembling of a con- 
 siderable portion of the State militia at those points. 
 Among the companies so ordered into service was Captain 
 Wilson's Berkeley Artillery, for such it then was. Cap- 
 tain Faulkner had been, early in March, promoted to the 
 rank of Major of Artillery, was thus separated from his 
 company ; and was ordered by Governor Barbour to re- 
 port to him at Richmond, and to take command of all 
 the artillery companies then assembled at the capital. 
 He reported to the Governor on the 10th of April, and 
 taking command of these companies he proceeded with 
 them to the seat of war. 
 
 Early in June Admiral Warren with a large naval and 
 military force arrived in the Chesapeake Bay ; the land 
 force being under the command of Gen. Sir Sidney Beck- 
 with. The appearance of this formidable force in the 
 Chesapeake Bay created much uneasiness in the more 
 considerable cities situated upon its waters. Baltimore, 
 Annapolis and Norfolk were threatened. But the fleet 
 directed its course toward Hampton Roads, and it was 
 evident that the cities of Virginia were to receive the 
 blow. 
 
 About four miles west of Norfolk and commanding 
 the approach to that city, lay Craney Island. This was 
 the exposed outpost of our military line— the nearest in 
 
172 Historical Pen SJcetclies. 
 
 contact with the enemy— a position of great importance 
 as the liey to the harbor, and which it was indispensa- 
 ble that the enemy should possess before they could reach 
 the cities of Norfolk and Portsmouth. 
 
 Among the general orders issued by Major General 
 Taylor, Commander-in-Chief, on the 13th of June, are 
 the following : 
 
 "Major Faulkner of the regiment of Artillery will to- 
 morrow take the command of all the artillery and fortifi- 
 cations of Craney Island. 
 
 The commander of artillery will direct Capt. Wilson's 
 company of artillery to some place near the entrench- 
 ments in the rear of Fort Norfolk." 
 
 On the 22nd of June occurred the battle of Craney 
 Island. I am not disjjosed to repeat the details of that 
 battle. They can be seen in the various histories of the 
 late war with Great Britain, and in the recently illustra- 
 ted history of that war by Benson J. Lossing, which con- 
 tains a portrait and autograph signature of Major Faulk- 
 ner. 
 
 It can also be seen in the elaborate report of a Com- 
 mittee of the House of Delegates of Virginia, who Avere 
 appointed to take testimoney, and to make a thorough 
 examination into the details of that battle, and which re- 
 port, with the resolutions and evidences accompanying 
 it, unanimously concurred in by the House, is the proud- 
 est monument that could be erected to the memory of 
 Major Faulkner. 
 
 It is sufficient to say the battle of Craney Island was 
 won ; that it was won exclusively by the artillery enga- 
 ged in its defence ; that a force of near 3,000 British 
 soldiers were signally repulsed ; that the cities of Nor- 
 folk and Portsmouth were saved and that the results of 
 that battle were hailed throughout the country as a 
 National balm for our defeats on the northwestern 
 
 ft 
 
 frontier. 
 
 On the 5th of July Major Faulkner was placed in com- 
 
Historical Pen Sketches. 173 
 
 mand of Forts Barbour and Tar and a mile of breastwork 
 extending between tlie two forts, with his headquarters 
 at Norfolk. 
 
 Major Faulkner was not a man of robxist constitution, 
 but rather of delicate physical organization, and the effect 
 of that low-land summer climate, with the fatigues and 
 exposures of the service, gave a shock to his system from 
 which he never recovered. Pie was an invalid from the 
 close of the war until his death, which occurred on the 
 11th of April, 1817, in the 41st year of his age. He was 
 buried with military and masonic honors in the Norborne 
 cemetery, where a granite monument now stands erected 
 to his memory. 
 
 Postcript. — When the facts connected with the battle 
 of Craney Island were under examination by the Legisla- 
 ture of Virginia, Major Faulkner' s official report of that 
 battle was not before the committee. Indeed, it was not 
 knowh that any copy of it had been preserved or was in 
 existence, as the substance of it had been incorporated 
 into the account of the battle as given by Major General 
 Robt. B. Taylor, then Commander- in Chief. Since that 
 that time a copy of it has been found, in the hand-writ- 
 ing of the author, inclosed in a letter to Col. Elisha Boyd 
 under date of the 6th of July, 1813. It is deemed un- 
 necessary to iDublish it in full, as in all its prominent 
 facts it is in harmony with the received histories of that 
 battle and in accord with the conclusions of the legisla- 
 ture. Had it been before the committee it would have 
 removed all doubt upon one point upon which the com- 
 mittee expressly refrained from announcing any opinion ; 
 that was to whom the credit was due for the successful 
 shot which sunk Admiral Warren's barge. 
 
 The committee say : 
 
 " Scarcely had the enemy been driven, by our well di- 
 rected fire, from' their assailing position on the land, when 
 fifty of their largest barges, filled with men from the 
 ships supposed to contain about 1,500 sailors and ma- 
 
174 Historical Pen Sketclies. 
 
 rines, begun to approacli withm the I'aDge of our artil- 
 lery. Tliey were advancing towards the island, in col- 
 umn order, in two distinct divisions, one following the 
 channel between the island and the main land, led on by 
 Admiral Warren's barge, the Centipede, a boat ujDwards 
 of fifty feet in length, rowing twenty-four oars, with a 
 brass three pounder in her bow, under the command of 
 Capt. Hanchett, of his Majesty's ship Diadem ; the other 
 directing its course to some point on the north of the 
 island. Whilst the barges were approaching. Captain 
 Emerson observed to Major Faulkner 'Are they near 
 enough to fire?' 'No, sir,' replied the commander of 
 artillery, 'let them approach a little nearer.' In a few 
 moments afterwards the word ' fire ' was given, when our 
 whole battery, except the disabled pieces, opened upon 
 the nearest division of boats a brisk and heavy discharge 
 ■of grape and canister. The barges, however, continued 
 to advance in the face of this destructive fire until they 
 could no longer maintain themselves under it, when the 
 Centipede and the boats immediately following her were 
 observed to change their direction toward the division of 
 barges aiming at the north of the island, at which mo- 
 ment the Centipede was sunk by a shot from one of the 
 guns passing through the boat, in the wake of the after- 
 thwart, wounding several, and among them Capt. Han- 
 chett, the commanding officer of the division, severely in 
 the thigh. At this time, so quick and galling was our 
 fire, that the enemy were thrown into the greatest con- 
 fusion, and the order was soon after given for a hasty re- 
 treat to the ships." 
 
 Again the committee say : 
 
 ' ' Much of the eclat which attached to the guns under 
 the immediate command of Lieut. Weale, resulted from 
 the general impression and belief that it was a shot from 
 the 18-pounder which passed through and sunk the Cen- 
 tipede. Whether that result was produced by a shot 
 from the eighteen, or one of the six-pounders, this com- 
 
IlistoriGCcl Pen Sketches. 175 
 
 mittee will not undertake to determine. There are strong 
 and confident statements and opinions sustaining either 
 view, which will be found in the appendix accompany- 
 ing this report." 
 
 Had this report been before that body there could have 
 been no doubt announced on this point, for Major Faulk- 
 ner expressly states in his report: "Captain Emerson 
 and Lieutenant Neale informed me that their guns were 
 pointed and in readiness to bear upon the leading boat, 
 which proved to be the Admiral's barge. I immediately 
 ordered them to fire, when the second fire of Lieut. Neale 
 had the desired effect and sunk the barge." 
 
 He concludes Ms report as follows : 
 
 "The of&cers principally enged in the action were 
 Captain Rook, of the ship Manhattan ; Lieut. Neale, of 
 the frigate Constitution ; Capt. Emerson, Lieuts. Howie 
 and Godwin and Sergeants Young and Butt, of the Ports- 
 mouth Artillery, who, for their skill and bravery in re- 
 pelling so large a force of the enemy, deserve the thanks 
 of the country. Lieuts. Shubrick, Saunders and Breck- 
 enridge, of the Constellation, with their crews, as brave 
 and determined a set of men as I ever saw, gave substan- 
 tial aid and assistance in the defense." 
 
 MAJOR HENRY BEDINGER, 
 
 Was born at Little York, Pennsylvania, October 16th, 
 1753. His father emigrated to Berkeley County in 1758. 
 In June, 1775, he volunteered in a company raised in the 
 County of Berkeley, under the command of Capt. Hugh 
 Stephenson, which marched in July of that year to the 
 siege of Boston. At the expiration of one year, their 
 term of service having expired, this company was dis- 
 banded. Immediately thereafter a rifle regiment was or- 
 ganized, of which Hugh Stephenson was appointed Col- 
 onel and Abraham Shepherd commissioned as senior Cap- 
 tain of one of the companies. Young Bedinger was 
 commissioned as Third Lieutenant in this company, and 
 his original commission as such signed by John Hancock, 
 
176 Historical Pen Sketches 
 
 President of Congress, may be seen, framed and hanging 
 in the house of his grandson, H. B. Davenport, Esq., near 
 Charlestown. After three days' severe fighting at King's 
 Bridge, this regiment, then commanded by Colonel Raw- 
 lings, was forced to capitulate, and surrendered them- 
 selves as prisoners of war in the capture of Fort Wash- 
 ington. This occurred on the 16th of November, 1777, 
 and Lieut. Bedinger was confined as a prisoner on Long 
 Island until the summer of 1781. After having thus en- 
 dured the rigor of imprisonment for four years, \q was 
 exchanged, and, returning to the army, he was commis- 
 sioned a Captain in the 4th Virginia Regiment and or- 
 dered to Yorktown, but before he reached that point the 
 surrender of Lord Cornwallis and his army had taken 
 place. At the close of the revolutionary war he returned 
 to Shepherdstown, then in the County of Berkeley, and 
 there entered into the mercantile business. Upon the 
 death of Moses Hunter he was, in August, 1798, elected 
 Clerk of the County Court of Berkeley, when he removed 
 to Martinsburg, its county seat. Prior to this time he 
 had been elected and served one year as a member of the 
 House Delegates of Virginia. The validity of his elec- 
 tion as Clerk of the County Court was vigorously con- 
 tested by Col. David Hunter, his competitor for that 
 office. This led to protracted litigation, in which the 
 ablest counsel in the United States wexe employed — John 
 Marshall, Luther Martin and Walter Jones being of the 
 number, and party spirit then running very high, Bedin- 
 ger being a Jeffersonian Republican, and Hunter an ar- 
 dent and prominent Federalist, the contest excited deep 
 interest throughout the cotintry. The venue of the trial 
 of the case was changed by the General Court of Virginia 
 at its November term, 1799, from the Winchester District 
 Court to Staunton, but subsequently sent back to Win- 
 chester. The suit resulted in a judgment, rendered De- 
 cember, 180B, setting aside the election of Major Bedin- 
 ger and the transfer of the office to his opponent, Col. 
 
Historical Pen Sketches. 177 
 
 Hunter, Some of tlie remains of that litigation are to be 
 seen upon tlie records of our courts as late as 1830. He 
 was a member of the Society of the Cincinnatti, and his 
 diploma as such, handsomely framed, still adorns the 
 parlor of one of his decendants. After his amotion from 
 the office of Clerk, he removed to his fine estate "Pro- 
 tumna," five miles south of Martinsburg. He was a 
 careful farmer and an enthusiastic cultivator of fine fruits. 
 He possessed an extraordinary memory and delighted in 
 his hospitable mansion to dwell upon the incidents o| 
 our revolutionary war. He could remember, with great 
 distinctness, even in very advanced life, the company, 
 regiment, rank and service of almost any officer in the 
 Virginia line, and it was through his retentive' memory 
 that many received that justice from their country which 
 otherwise, from lost and mutilated records, they could 
 never have obtained. He bore the reputation of a pa- 
 triot and good citizen up to the period of his death, which 
 occurred on the 14th of May, 1843, then nearly ninety 
 years of age. 
 
 ALEXANDER WHITE 
 
 Was among the earliest of those who presented their 
 licenses and qualified as practitioners of law in this coun- 
 ty. This was on the first day that the first court was 
 held in Berkeley county. May 19th, 1772. The proper 
 oath of an attorney-at-law was duly administered to him, 
 PhUip Pendleton and four others. On the same day, as 
 the record reads. 
 
 "Alexander White having produced a commission from 
 the Attorney General of this county, appointing him 
 deputy attorney for this county, the same being read, he 
 having taken the usual oath, and sworn Deputy King's 
 attorney for this county." 
 
 Mr. White was elected the first member of Congress 
 from this District, under the present Constitution of the 
 United States. He was a man of marked punctuality 
 and system, and a slight evidence of this may be seen in 
 
 12 
 
178 Historical Fen SlcetcTtes. 
 
 the fact, that he was the only member of Congress from 
 Virginia who was present on the first day of its session. 
 The Annals of Congress are meager in the debates of that 
 period, although accurate so far as they give the sub- 
 stance of the remarks made — a practice that shouldnever 
 have been departed from. Mr. White took a prominent 
 part in all the debates of that term of Congress, and as 
 our enlightened statesmen were then laying the founda- 
 tion of our legislative system, the subjects before them 
 were necessarily numerous, important and interesting. 
 He bore the reputation of a man of learning, of great 
 ability and of ardent patriotism. 
 
 Mr. White was re-elected to the 2nd Congress in 1791, 
 over his two competitors. Generals William Darke and 
 James Wood. 
 
 In 1798 he was commissioned as magistrate of Berke- 
 ley county. 
 
 Mr. White was dragged from his retirement to repre- 
 sent the county of Berkeley in the House of Delegates 
 of Virginia, during the important sessions of 1799 and 
 1800, when the celebrated report and resolutions of Mr. 
 Madison were the subject of such earnest debate, and 
 which gave such an impulse to the Revolution which 
 brought Mr. Jefferson into power. 
 
 As has been already stated Alexander White was the 
 first representative in Congress from this District under 
 the present Constitution of the United States. That 
 election occurred on the 2nd of February, 1789. At that 
 time no census had been taken of the population of the 
 States, and the Constitution provided "until such enum- 
 eration was made," Virginia should be entitled to ten 
 members in the House of Representatives. The General 
 Assembly therefore laid off the State into ten districts, 
 making the counties of Berkeley, Hampshire, Shenan- 
 doah, Hardy, Monongalia, Ohio, Randolph and Fred- 
 erick the first district. It was from this district that Mr. 
 White was elected in 1789^ and re-elected in February, 
 
Historical Pen STcetclies. 179 
 
 1791. After the census of 1790 was completed and Con- 
 gress liad fixed the ratio of reprsentation, Virginia be- 
 came entitled to 19 representatives and the legislature 
 then divided the State into 19 districts making "Berke- 
 ley and Frederick" the first District, which so continued 
 until after the census of 1800. The first election under 
 this apportionment was on the third Monday in March, 
 1793, when Robert Rutherford was returned. He was 
 re-elected in 1795, General Daniel Morgan in 1797 ; and 
 David Holmes, subsequently Governor of Mississippi 
 and U. S. Senator from that State, was then elected and 
 continued in Congress until the District was changed 
 under the apportionment of the census of 1800. 
 
 HON. ROBERT RUTHERFORD, 
 
 Of Berkeley was elected to the 3rd Congress in 1793, 
 from the District composed of the counties of Berkeley 
 and Frederick. He was re-elected to the 4th Congress 
 in 1795, thus serving four years as a representative in 
 <^0Dgress from this District. He was a candidate for re- 
 flection to the 5th Congress but was defeated by General 
 Daniel Morgan. He contested Morgan's election before 
 the House, but the decision was in favor of the right of 
 Morgan to the seat. 
 
 Mr. Rutherford does not seem to have participated 
 very actively in the general debates of the House, and 
 yet, in January, 1794, he delivered quite an elaborate 
 speech on "The Commerce of the United States," and in 
 March, 1776, participated in the great debate of that 
 period upon the "Constitutional PoAvers of Congress," 
 in reference to treaties and in April, 1696, gave his vievv^s 
 at large in opposition to the provision for carrying the 
 British treaty into effect. All his views would seem to 
 class him with the Democratic rather than the Federal 
 side of the House. 
 
 It might afford some interest to take a few extracts 
 from these speeches (especially as the reporter declares 
 them to be authentic, they "having passed the revision 
 
180 Historical Pen Slcetclies. 
 
 of the Speakei") as illustrative of Mr. R's. views and 
 opinions, but they must be passed by for the present. 
 
 Feeling that he w.as, in his public course, acting in op- 
 position to the recommendations of Washington, he thus 
 refers to their personal relations : 
 
 "Much stress has been laid on the patriotism of the 
 President, which makes it necessary for me to reply, lest 
 I may be taken for one uninformed. I have had the 
 honor of tlie President' s acquaintance well nigh, or quite, 
 forty years, and lie has supported every character with 
 merit, dignity and unswerving attention. I have acted 
 with, him on trying occasions, sometimes equal, often- 
 times in a subordinate sphere, and tho' senior in point of 
 years, yet, I uniformly looked up to him as a parent — 
 my kead and my guide ; yet I am independent of the 
 President — an unchangeable friendship excepted." 
 
 Judging of Mr. Rutherford by the impression made 
 upon me by his speeches in Congress I would say that he 
 was a man of strong and original mind — konest and sin- 
 cere in all his convictions — upright and independent in 
 kis bearing, but not of muck mental cultivation, nor 
 deeply imbued witk tke facts of history, nor the lessons 
 of statesmanship. 
 
 I have heard traditionally and seen in print many an- 
 ecdotes of Mr. Rutkerford illustrative of kis komely 
 manners, tke simplicity of kis dress, tke frugality of kis 
 mode of living, and of kis awkwardness in society, but 
 tkese stories may or may not be true — and as tkey touck 
 none of tke substantial merits of a man — are not worthy 
 of being remembered or repeated. 
 
 GENERAL DANIEL MORGAN 
 
 Represented this county and district in the 5tk Con- 
 gress of tke United States — tkat is from 1797 to 1799. 
 Tke military kistory of tkis distinguisked soldier, kas 
 been so frequently written and is so familiar to tke pub- 
 lic mind, tkat it need only kere be briefly glanced at. 
 
Historical Pen Sketdies. 181 
 
 He is mentioned in these sketches only because of his 
 connection with the County of Berkeley. 
 
 He was bom in Kew Jersey in the year 1737. At the 
 age of eighteen, he emigrated to Virginia and obtained 
 employment from farmer Roberts, of Berkeley County. 
 He delighted in the management and use of his team, 
 and acquired throughout life, the subriquet of the " old 
 wagoner." He shared in the perils of Braddock's de- 
 feat, probably as a wagoner, and was wounded by a bul- 
 let through his neck and cheek. The profit of his busi- 
 ness as a wagoner enabled him to purchase a tract of land 
 in Frederick County, where he lived at the commence- 
 ment of the Eevolutionary War. In June, 1775, he was 
 appointed a captain by Congress. He was in the expedi- 
 tion against Quebec, and contributed to the capture of 
 Burgoyne. He defeated Tarlton in January, 1781, in the 
 battle of Cowpens, taking upwards of 500 prisoners. For 
 this action Congress voted him a gold medal. Soon af- 
 terwards he retired from the army and returned to his 
 farm. 
 
 The excise, or as it is most usually called ''The whis- 
 key Insurrection," is an interesting episode in our early 
 history. It was the first open, defiant and formidable 
 opposition of the Federal government, after the adoption 
 of our present constitution. It grew out of an act of 
 Congress imposing an internal revenue duty on distilled 
 spirits. Much dissatisfaction existed throughout the 
 United States at the imposition of this excise duty. But 
 itwasiu Western Pennsylvania, and especially in the four 
 counties of Alleghany, Washington, Green and West- 
 moreland, that this dissatisfaction broke out in open re- 
 bellion. The revenue ofiicers were seized, tarred and 
 feathered. The houses and barns of those supposed to 
 be friendly to the Government were burnt. Many acts of 
 extreme violence were perpetrated. No civil process 
 could be executed. LaAvlessness universally prevailed. 
 Armed bands of forty and fifty, and even as high as five 
 
182 Historical Fen Sketc7ies. 
 
 hundred, were organized to resist the government. It 
 was boldly asserted that the insurgents could bring into 
 the field seven thousand well armed troops. It could not 
 be supposed that such men as President \Yashington 
 and Secretary Hamilton would tamely submit to see the 
 new Government thus paralyzed and defied in the per- 
 formance of one of its most important and vital functions. 
 A proclamation was issued by President Washington, 
 calling upon the insurgents to disperse. This not being 
 obeyed, a requisition was made upon the States of Penn- 
 s.ylvania, New Jersey and Virginia for 15,000 troops to 
 crush the insurrection. The requisition was promptly 
 complied Avith. General Henry Lee, of Virginia, was 
 placed in command of the army. Gen. Morgan was as- 
 signed to the command of the Virginia troops. Hamilton 
 left the Treasury Department and remained during the 
 expedition at the headquarters of the commanding gen- 
 eral. Washington proceeded toward the scene of strife 
 as far as York, and designed taking command in person, 
 but public business (Congress then being in session) called 
 him to Philadelphia. The appearance of this formidable 
 army in the disaffected district under such able, popular 
 and experienced commanders soon brought the insurgents 
 to their senses. They rapidly disbanded and dispersed. 
 Some of the leaders were indicted for treason, but no con- 
 victions followed, and Gen. Morgan, with a body of Vir- 
 ginia militia, was left for some time in the disaffected 
 district to see that no further violence was attempted. 
 
 In 1797 Gen. Morgan was elected from the district com- 
 posed of the counties of Berkeley and Frederick, as a 
 member of the 5th Congress. His opponent was Robt. 
 Rutherford, whom he defeated. The election was con- 
 tested before the House, but the committee reported in 
 favor of Morgan, and as Rutherford did not appear to 
 contest the conclusions of the report, it was unanimously 
 concurred in by the House. 
 
 General Morgan submitted no motion and made no 
 
Historical Pen Skeiclies. 183 
 
 speech during his term of service. He was a rough, un- 
 educated man, and while he felt perfectly at home on 
 the field of battle, he, with sensible modesty, knew his 
 deficiencies in civil life, and felt like a child in the pres- 
 ence of the enlightened statesmen then around him. But 
 if he did not know how to speak, he knew how to vote 
 with his party, and if the records of Congress be searched 
 there will be found no name that adhered so loyally to 
 its allegiance to the Federal organization as Daniel Mor- 
 gan. He had able and accomplished leaders in the per- 
 sons of Harrison, Gray, Otis and Robert Goodloe Har- 
 per, to point out to him the path of party duty, and he 
 followed them with the same unfaltering fidelity with 
 which he had followed Washington in the field of battle. 
 He voted for the bill to j)unish "usurpation of Executive 
 authority," and against the repeal of the alien and sedi- 
 tion laws, and at the close of his term published an ad- 
 dress to his constituents vindicating the administration 
 of the elder Adams. JSTo one doubts that he was an hon- 
 est and conscientious politician, however much they may 
 differ in opinion from him. 
 
 When, in view of a war with France, a provisional 
 army was organized in 1798, President Adams favored 
 the appointment of General Morgan to its command, sub- 
 ject, of course, to the supreme command conferred upon 
 Washington. But General Washington insisted upon 
 that position being given to Hamilton, which was ac- 
 ceded to with a bad grace by Adams, as he hated Hamil- 
 ton most cordially. 
 
 Morgan died in Winchester on the 6th of July, 1802, 
 aged 65 years. 
 
 DAVID HOLMES, 
 
 Born in Winchester, was the son of Col. Joseph 
 Holmes, of Frederick County. Va., and a brother of 
 Major Andrew Hunter Holmes, so distinguished during 
 the recent war with Great Britain for his talents and 
 high military qualities. He was killed in the battle of 
 
184 Historical Pen SJietclies. 
 
 Mackinaw, on tlie nortliern frontiers, on the 4tlL of Au- 
 gust, 1814, and a sword voted to Ms heirs by the General 
 Assembly of Virginia, in consideration of his gallantry 
 and good conduct. Also brother to Judge Holmes, who 
 occasionally presided in this judicial circuit, and brother 
 to Ann Holmes, married to Gen. Elisha Boyd, of this 
 county. He was a member of the 5th, 6th, 7th, Sth, 9th 
 and 10th Congresses. 
 
 At the close of his service in Congress he was, in 1809, 
 appointed by President Madison Governor of the terri- 
 tory of Mississippi, and when admitted into the Union 
 as a State he was elected Governor by the people. He 
 was subsequently, in 1820, elected a Senator in Congress 
 for six years, from the same State, but resigned before 
 the end of his term of service. He died in Winchester 
 on the 20th of August, 1832. 
 
 Although twelve consecutive years a member of the 
 House of Representatives, and six in the Senate, the 
 records of Congress show nothing but his votes. It does 
 not appear that he ever submitted a motion or made a 
 remark in either body. And yet there must have been 
 something very remarkable in the intellect and bearing 
 of a man who could, with a different constituency, thus 
 pass so triumphantly through all the stages of political 
 life, without any of the advantitious aids of public 
 speaking. When elected to the Sth Congress he was a 
 resident of Shenandoah. Gen. Morgan then represented 
 Berkeley and Frederick in that Congress. In 1799 (6th 
 Congress) Holmes having removed back to Winchester, 
 was elected from the district of Berkeley and Frederick ; 
 so in the 7th Congress he represented this district. 
 When the district was re-arranged after the census of 
 1803, he represented Frederick and Shenandoah from 
 1803 to 1809, thus consecutively representing three dis- 
 tinct districts of the State within the twelve years of his 
 service in the House. 
 
 Gov. Holmes was a man of modest and retiring habits. 
 
Historical Pen Sketches. 185 
 
 ..but of captivating manners, and bore the reputation of 
 marked ability and of great integrity of character. He 
 was the uncle of David Holmes Conrad, now residing in 
 this county, after whom he was named. 
 
 GENERAL ELISHA BOYD 
 
 Was born in the County of Berkeley, at the eastern 
 base of the North Mountain, on the 6th of October, 1769. 
 Up to the age of 14 he enjoyed only the limited means 
 of education which the common country schools of that 
 period afforded. During that time he attended a small 
 school not far from the present site of Martinsburg. Our 
 thriving town was then a forest, and whilst its eligible 
 locality, its gushing springs and valuable water power 
 invited to such a destiny, few, if any at that time, con- 
 templated it as a seat of population, manufactures and 
 trade. 
 
 In 1785 he was entered as a student of Liberty Hall 
 Academy, (so baptised amidst the revolutionary fires of 
 1776,) in Rockbridge County, Va., a most excellent and 
 patriotic institution then under the rectorate of the Rev. 
 William Graham, largely patronized throughout the 
 south, and yielding a rich harvest of patriots and states- 
 men. Although bearing the modest title of an academy, 
 it had all the attributes of a college, with power to hold 
 land, confer degrees, etc. Like the great Virginia State 
 University, springing from the germ of '"Albemarle 
 Academy," it grew into "Central College," and then 
 reached its present grand proportions ; so did this spir- 
 ited academy, expanding in dignity, reputation and im- 
 portance, first develop into "Washington College," and 
 recently— in 1871— into "Washington and Lee Universi- 
 ty." Amongst those well known in our State who were 
 associated with young Boyd as schoolmates, were Dr. 
 Archibald Alexander, of Princeton, Hon. John Baker, of 
 Jefferson County ; Chancellor John Brown, Judge John 
 Coalter, Col. James McDowell and many others distin- 
 guished for their worth, learning and ability. 
 
186 Historical Pen Sketclies. 
 
 He studied law in the office oE Col. Philip Pendleton,, 
 one of the garliest as well as one of the ablest lawyers 
 that ever qualified for practice in onr courts. Mr. Boyd 
 was elected to the House of Delegates in 1797, with Rich- 
 ard Baylor as his colleague, and also in 1796, with Wil- 
 liam Lamon as his colleague. In 1798 he was chosen by 
 the County Court of Berkeley as its attorney for the 
 State, which office he continued to fill for forty years. 
 He was married in 1795 to Mary, the daughter of Major 
 Andrew Waggoner of revolutionary memory, by whom 
 he had one child, a daughter, Sarah Ann Boyd, who was 
 married to Philip C. Pendleton on the 25th of November, 
 1813. For forty years he gave his almost undivided time 
 to the practice of his profession and to attention to his 
 several farms in this county, varied at occasional inter- 
 vals by military service, a seat in the House of Delegates 
 and Senate of the State, and in the Constitutional Con- 
 vention. During all this time he had probably the 
 largest and most lucrative practice of any lawyer in this 
 section of Virginia. 
 
 Some years after the death of his first wife he was, in 
 1806, married to Ann Holmes, daughter of Col. Joseph 
 Holmes and sister of Gov. Holmes and Major Andrew 
 Hunter Holnies. By her he had four children — Ann Re- 
 becca Holmes, married to Humphrey B. Powell, of Lou- 
 don County ; John E. Boyd, Rev. Andrew H. H. Boyd 
 and Mary, married to Charles J. Faulkner. 
 
 Mrs. Ann Boyd died on the 20th of July, 1819. An 
 eloquent and impressive funeral sermon was preached 
 over her remains by the Rev. J. B. Hoge, which was 
 printed in pamphlet form, and copies of it are carefully 
 preserved by the family. 
 
 He had command of the 4th Regiment of Virginia mil- 
 itia in 1814 during the war with Great Britain, when the 
 cities of Norfolk and Portsmouth were threatened by a 
 second attack oi the British land and naval forces. The 
 Norfolk Herald, 1814, contains an interesting correspond- 
 
Historical Pen Sketches. 187 
 
 ence between the ofBcers of that regiment and Col. Boyd 
 when the term of service of that regiment was about to 
 expire. It bears date the 1st of August, at Camp Peach 
 Orchard. The officers say that they cannot permit the 
 occasion to pass by "without paying to Col. Boyd the 
 tribute of their highest respect and esteem." "They 
 have at all times felt confident that when the hour of 
 danger arrived that on his patriotism and courage they 
 could, with the utmost confidence, rely to lead them on 
 in defense of the country." They also take pride in de- 
 claring that whatever military knowledge they have ac- 
 quired is due to that strictness of military discipline 
 which has uniformly characterized the 4th Regiment 
 since he had the command of it. "And if they ever 
 should again be called into the service of their country, 
 it is their wish that they should be placed under his com- 
 mand." To this complimentary letter Col. Boyd re- 
 plied, which is also published in the same paper. He 
 was subsequently elected a brigadier general by the Gen- 
 eral Assembly of Virginia. He was a member of the 
 convention of 1829-30, which framed the first amended 
 Constitution of Virginia, serving in that body with Mad- 
 ison, Monroe, Marshall, Giles, Tazwell, Leigh, Barbour, 
 Johnson and many other of the most distinguished men 
 of Virginia. 
 
 In the election which occurred after the adoption of 
 the "Amended Constitution" in 1830, he was chosen 
 without opposition, and by the unanimous vote of the 
 counties of Berkeley, Morgan and Hampshire, to a seat 
 in the Senate of Virginia. 
 
 He was commissioned a magistrate of the County of 
 Berkeley, in 183S, upon the resignation of his office of 
 State's attorney. 
 
 He was an earnest and sincere advocate for a reform of 
 the "Old Constitution" of Virginia, and for placing its 
 government upon a mo/e liberal and republican basis. 
 He was generally selected as Chairman of the county 
 
188 Historical Pen SJcetclies. 
 
 meeting held here, and a delegate to the State Reform 
 Convention. 
 
 He took an active interest in the educational institu- 
 tions of the county ; and had the principal agency in es- 
 tablishing the Martinsburg Academy, not far from his 
 residence. 
 
 He was a third time married and then to Elizabeth 
 Byrd, of the Westover family, who died on the 16th of 
 November, 1839, leaving no issue. 
 
 Gen. Boyd departed this life on the 21st day of Octo- 
 ber, 1841, and was buried in the family graveyard ad- 
 joining Norborne Cemetery. 
 
 He was a man of vigorous mind, and of indomitable 
 energy and perserverance. His power at the bar consis- 
 ted in his unflaging attention to business, his thorough 
 capacity to master details, and in his earnest, direct and 
 manly appeals to the common sense and intelligence of 
 courts and juries. He was a man of perfect system and 
 of extraordinary capacity for labor ; and he commanded 
 universal conlidence by his stern and unbending integri- 
 ty of character. 
 
 HON. JOHN BAKER 
 
 Was born in Berkeley County, '.Virginia, about the 
 year 1769. He was entered as a student of Liberty Hall 
 Academy, Rockbridge County, Va., between the years 
 1783 and 1789, and among his fellow students of that 
 period, were Dr. Alexander, of Princeton, and General 
 Boyd of this county. He took up his residence itf Shep- 
 herdstown, on the Potomac River, then the most flourish- 
 ing town in the lower valley, and soon rose to the dis- 
 tinction of an able and accomplished lawyer. 
 
 He Avas nominated by the Federal party, and elected 
 to the 12th Congress from the District of Berkeley, Jef- 
 ferson and Hami^shire, embracing the term from 1811 
 to 1813. 
 
 The Annals of Congress give no report .of any speech 
 
Historical Pen SketcJies. 18& 
 
 made by him, yet tlie Martinsburg Gazette, of January 
 tlie 24th, 1812, publishes some very forcible and eloquent 
 remarks made by him in Committee of the Whole, on 
 the 26th of December, 1811, in favor of pensioning the 
 surviving oflBcers and soldiers of the Revolutionary War. 
 The omission of this speech from the ' 'Annals' ' is to be 
 explained by the fact, that it was delivered in the Com- 
 mittee of the Whole, and no report, it seems, vs^as usual- 
 ly made at that time of speeches made in the Committee. 
 
 On the 4th of February, 1812, he jjresented a petition 
 from Jefferson County, asking Congress to make certain 
 improvements near Georgetown, that would give to the 
 farmers of the npper county a choice of markets for their 
 flour between Alexandria and Georgetown. It was sta- 
 ted that 300,000 barrels of flour were then annually con- 
 veyed to market by the river, in boats, and the trade 
 was increasing. 
 
 Mr. Baker was an ardent and uncompromising Feder- 
 alist, and voted steadily with his party against a declara- 
 tion of war against Great Britain, and all other measures 
 in aid of that belligerent movement. He was one of the 
 34 members of Congress who published, after the rising 
 of Congress, an able and elaborate defence of their op- 
 position to the war. The Federalists of Berkeley were 
 much pleased with his votes and on the 12th of 
 August 1812, gave him a public dinner to express their 
 approval to his course in Congress. Among the toasts of 
 that occasion was the following : 
 
 "The war rashly and unnecessarily begun. May it be 
 speedily terminated by an honorable peace." 
 
 The sentiment announced in honor of Mr. Baker was 
 "A disciple of Washington and true to his principles." 
 
 In the summer of 1813 Shepherdstown was visited by 
 a violent bilious epidemic, scarcely less fatal than the 
 yellow fever. Many of her most prominent citizens fell 
 under the terrible visitation. Among the number was 
 Hon. John Baker, who died on the 18th of August, 1823, 
 
190 Historical Pen Skdclies. 
 
 leaving an estimable widow and an interesting family 
 of children. One of his daughters was married to T. W. 
 Gilmer, Governor of Virginia, and Secretary of the 
 Navy. 
 
 Mr. Baker was universally respected for his high at- 
 tainments as a lawyer — for his many virtues as a private 
 citizen — for his courage, firmness and consistency as a 
 politician. 
 
 COL. EDMUND P. HUNTER 
 
 Was born in Martinsburg on the 24th of March, 1809, 
 and after enjoying the advantages of a collegiate educa- 
 tion at Jefferson College, was admitted to the Berkeley 
 bar, in 1831. Shortly aftervvads he became the proprie- 
 tor and editor of the Martinsburg Gazette, and continued 
 as such until March 1845, when he was succeeded in the 
 control and management of the paper by James E. Stew- 
 art, Esq. 
 
 On the 2nd of August, 1832, he was married to Martha 
 Crawford, daughter of Captain John Abell, an intelli- 
 gent and highly esteemed farmer of Jefferson county. 
 The author of this sketch participated in the ceremony, as 
 first groomsman, and for some days enjoyed the kind 
 hospitality of that charming and interesting family. 
 
 This may be an appropriate occasion to notice very 
 briefly the history of that venerable journal. It was es- 
 tablised in 1801 by Nathaniel Willis, the father of the 
 distinguished poet, K. P. Willis and then called the 
 Berkeley Intelligencer. In 1803, he disposed of his in- 
 terest in the paper to John Alburtis, who at first styled 
 it the Berkeley and Jefferson Intelligencer, but a news- 
 paper soon making its appearance in the recently formed 
 County of Jefferson, its name was changed to the Mar- 
 tinsburg Gazette, which name it retained until the open- 
 ing of our civil war, when its publication altogether ceas- 
 ed. It was under the control of John Alburtis from 1803 
 until 1823, of Washington Evans from 1823 until 1833, of 
 Col. Edward P. Hunter, from 1833 to March, 1845 ; of 
 
Historical Pen Sketcltes. 191 
 
 James E. Stewart and subsequently of Stewart & Gregg, 
 from March 1845 to March 1847. It then passed into the 
 hands of Charles H. Lewis, and lastly under the control 
 of A. T. Haupin, boasting, a continuous and prosperous 
 existence of sixty years. 
 
 In May 1832, he attended as a member the memorable 
 "Young Men's Convention," in Washington city, upon 
 which occasion Mr. Clay appeared before that body and 
 electrified it with one of his most eloquent and stirring 
 speeches. 
 
 General Boyd having held the ofiice of county attorney 
 for forty years, resigned it at the March court, 1838, 
 when an animated contest took place for the succession, 
 between Edmund P. Hunter and David Holmes Conrad. 
 The power of appointment was then vested in the county 
 court, and the justices having been all summoned for 
 the purpose, a full court was present. The contest exci- 
 ted unusual interest and for a time its result was deemed 
 doubtful. But Hunter obtained a majority of the votes 
 and was declared elected. It is unneceseary to say that 
 he filled the office for many years, not only with ability, 
 but with justice to the State and with judicious clemency 
 to the accused. 
 
 He enjoyed a high degree of popularity in the county, 
 and was elected a member of the House of Delegates of 
 Virginia, in 1834, 1835, 1839 and 1841. His course as a 
 member of that body gave great satisfaction to his con- 
 stituents, as it was uniformly marked by dilligent atten- 
 tion to their local interests, and by a faithful expression 
 in their sentiments on all the questions of State and na- 
 tional policy. 
 
 He was Colonel of the 67th Regiment of Virginia mili- 
 tia and took a deep interest in all the details of its or- 
 ganization. When dressed in full military costume it 
 would be difficult to find a more striking realization of 
 imposing manhood than he presented. 
 
 He was an ardent and enthusiastic member of the 
 
193 Historical Pen Sketches. 
 
 Masonic order, and worthily rose to the highest honors 
 of the craft in Virginia. 
 
 He was in the latter portion of his life a sincere and 
 exemplary member of the Episcopal Church, and exhib- 
 ited in his conduct, a thorough conviction of the truths 
 of revealed religion. 
 
 In September, 1854, the Asiatic cholera — that terrible 
 pestilence ''which walketh in darkness, and wasteth in 
 noonday" — struck the affrighted population of Martins- 
 burg. There are those amongst us yet, who can well 
 remember the alarm and terror which its unwelcome ap- 
 pearance excited here. Hundreds fled from the place 
 with precipitation. Many families whose wealth and 
 means ought to have caused them to stand by their 
 friends in their sad affliction, abandoned their homes for 
 the mountains and cities. The carnage was that of a 
 battle field. One hundred and eleven of our citizens fell 
 victims to its fury. Among the first of those who per- 
 ished was the lamented Colonel Edmund P. Hunter, who 
 died on the 7th of September, 1854, in the 45th year of 
 his age. 
 
 Edmund P. Hunter was not endowed with any very 
 high or extraordinary quality of intellect,- but he pos- 
 sessed such a rare combination of excellent qualities, 
 both moral and intellectual, as more than compensated 
 for the want of any particular brilliancy of parts. He 
 was a man of sense and of good judgment ; lucid in his 
 mental perceptions, and capable of expressing his con- 
 victions with clearness and force. Superior to all artifice 
 himself, he was proof against the arts of sophistry and 
 deception in others. He was a fair speaker and a sound 
 and manly reasoner, and these, with his open-heartedness 
 and honesty of character, made him always formidable 
 at the bar. He had something of his father's fondness 
 for broad humor and a joke, which occasionally flashed 
 out in the trial of a case, but was more particularly ob- 
 servable in the social circle. All his impulses were kind 
 
Historical Pen Sketches. 193 
 
 and generous. His hospitality was proverbial. He was 
 a stranger to envy, hatred, malice, and all uncharitable- 
 ness. He was firm and steadfast in his friendship, and 
 ever outspoken and candid in the expression of his opin- 
 ions. I dare not penetrate the domestic sanctuary and 
 speculate, to what extent, his loss must have agonized 
 that sacred circle ; but I can truly say, that his friends, 
 and brethren of the bar have never ceased to lament the 
 day that deprived them of his joyous presence and at- 
 tractive companionship. 
 
 The sweet remembrance of tlie just 
 Shall flourish when he sleeps in dust. 
 
 GENERAL WILLIAM DARKE, A DISTINGUISHED WEST VIR- 
 GINIA PIONEER. 
 \_By Virgil A. Lewis, of Mason City, IV. Va.,i?i W. Va.Sc/wol Journal.'] 
 
 In the settlement of the western wilderness, what is 
 now West Virginia can boast of pioneers whose names 
 are as honored and should occupy as high a place upon 
 the temple of fame as any that appear in the pages of 
 pioneer history. But alas ! many of them have been 
 lost in oblivion, while those known to us, some who 
 merit enduring monuments, scarce found a tomb. The 
 great Roman lyric poet informs us that, "The names of 
 the heroes who flourished before the days of Agamem- 
 non were lost for want of a recording pen." This is true, 
 too, of many of those who first planted the standard of 
 civilization within the present confines of West Virginia. 
 What a valuable contribution to the literature of the 
 State would the record of their lives be ? But much is 
 irretrievably lost. Then let that which has survived the 
 lapse of a century, be carefully preserved and cherished 
 by a generation now enjoying the fruits of the toils and 
 privations of the men and women who reared the first 
 cabin homes within the confines of the "Little Mountain 
 State." 
 
 13 
 
194 Historical Pen SJietcJies. 
 
 On the bank of Middle Creek, a tributary of Opequon 
 River, ■ in tlie soutliern part of Berkeley County, stands 
 the little village of Darkesville, which was made a town 
 by an act of the Virginia Legislature December 7, 1791, 
 when Washington had served two years of his first term 
 as President of the United States. Who that now visits 
 the little town or sees dimly marked on the map of the 
 State, "Darkesville P. O." stops to enquire why it was 
 so called ? And who, that does, will not be surprised to 
 learn that it commemorates one of the most distinguished 
 'names which appear in frontier jlnnals — that of General 
 William Darke. 
 
 He was born near Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in 1736, 
 and in 1741, when but five years of age, accompanied his 
 parents south of the Potomac, where they reared their 
 cabin home within a few miles of the present site of 
 Shepherdstown, now in Jefferson County, W. Va. Here 
 they were on the outmost boundary of civilization, while 
 to the west of them lay the vast, untrodden American 
 wilderness. Their nearest neighbors appear to have been 
 Thomas Shepherd, the founder of Shepherdstown, and 
 Robert Harper, whose name is preserved in that of Har- 
 per's Ferry. Here, among wild solicitudes, young Darke 
 grew to manhood. Nature made him a nobleman ; he 
 was endowed with a herculean frame ; his manners 
 rough ; his mind was strong but uncultivated, and his 
 disposition was frank and fearless. From infancy he 
 was familiar with " war's dread alarm," for throughout 
 his youthful years he had listened to the recital of the 
 bloody drama then being enacted on the frontiers of 
 Virginia and Pennsylvania. This familiarity with the 
 story of savage warfare aroused wdthin him a spirit of 
 adventure and daring, and he longed to engage in ' ' strug- 
 gles fierce and wild." The opportunity soon came. In 
 the spring of 1755, General Edward Braddock arrived in 
 Alexandria, Virginia, with an army of two thousand 
 men, consisting of the 44th and 48th Royal Infantry 
 
Historical Pen Skeiclies. 195 
 
 Regiments. Tliis force proceeded up the Potomac, and 
 at Fort Cumberland— now Cumberland City, Maryland 
 — was joined by a regiment of Virginia Provincials, in 
 tlie ranks of wMcli were many Valley men, one of them 
 being William Darke, then but nineteen years of age. 
 
 The march into the wilderness began. Slowly the 
 splendid pageant moved on ; the long line of scarlet 
 uniforms contrasting strangely Avith the verdure of the 
 forest, while strains of martial music filled the air — 
 sounds so strange beneath the dark shades of the Ameri- 
 can forest. It was the evening of the 8th of July, 1775, 
 when the English columns for the second time reached 
 the Monongahela, at a point ten miles from Fort Du- 
 quesne. On the next day a crossing was effected, and 
 ,once across the stream the order to march was given, but 
 scarcely was the column in motion when Gordon, one of 
 the engineers, saw the French and Indians bounding 
 through the forest. At once a deadly fire was poured in 
 upon the English, who returned it with but little effect. 
 Braddock formed the regulars into squares, as though he 
 iad been maneuvering in the fields of Europe, and thus 
 they were shot down in heaps. Of the twelve hundred 
 men who crossed the Monongahela, sixty-seven officers 
 and seven hundred privates were either killed or wound- 
 ed. Braddock was among the fallen, and of all his aides, 
 Washington alone was left. Many Virginians were among 
 the dead, but a sufficient number were left— among 
 whom was William Darke — to form a line and cover the 
 retreat of the shattered army back to Port Cumberland, 
 whence Colonel Dunbar marched the regulars back to 
 Philadelphia, and the Virginians returned to their fron- 
 tier homes, there to withstand a storm of warfare then 
 raging fiercer than ever before. 
 
 During the next fifteen years. Captain Darke was en- 
 gaged in defending the Virginia frontier against the in- 
 cursions of the savages, and associated with him in the 
 •same daring and noble work, were many destined to leave 
 
196 Historical Pen Sketches. 
 
 a name beliind them, and some to leave an impress upon 
 the age in ■which they lived. Among them were George 
 Washington, George Rogers Clark, William Clark and 
 Andrew Lewis. 
 
 When the storm of revolution came, Captain Darke 
 hastened to join the patriotic army in which, because of 
 meritorious service, he was soon promoted to the rank of 
 lieutenant colonel. He, together with the greater part of 
 his regiment, was taken prisoner at Germantown and de- 
 tained on board a prisonship until November 1, 1780, 
 when he was exchanged and returned to his post in the 
 army. During the next spring he recruited his regiment 
 (known as the "Hampshire and Berkeley regiment") at 
 the head of which he marched to Tidewater, Virginia, 
 and was actively engaged during the siege of Yorktown, 
 at which place, ou the 19th of October, 1781, he witness- 
 ed the surrender of Cornwallis' army to the combined 
 forces of America and France. At the close of the Revo- 
 lution, Colonel Darke, like his illustrious chieftain, re- 
 turned to his home and engaged in agricultural pursuits 
 until called upon to serve his State in another capacity 
 than that of a soldier. 
 
 Soon it was seen that while the Articles of Confedera- 
 tion had bound the country together in the time of war, 
 they were not adapted to the new order of things ; and 
 for the purpose of forming "a more perfect union," the 
 Federal Constitution was framed. Its firmest supporters 
 were the great men who had led the armies of the Re- 
 public and achieved its independence. 
 
 The convention which assembled in Richmond in June, 
 1788, to ratify that instrument, was composed of some of 
 the most illustrious men of Virginia. The names of Mar- 
 shall, Madison, Monroe, Mason, Nicholas, Henry, Ran- 
 dolph, Pendleton, Lee, Washington, Wythe, Harrison, 
 Bland, Grayson and a host of others, shed a lustre on 
 the deliberations of that august body, which has never 
 been surpassed in the annals of the Old Dominion. The 
 
Historical Pen Sketclies. 197 
 
 debates display a degree of eloquence and talent, cer- 
 tainly, at that time unequalled by any gathering of pub- 
 lic men in this country. There sat General Adam Ste- 
 phen, the founder of Martinsburg, and General William 
 Darke, as the delegates from Berkeley county. Both 
 were ardent Federalists, and both voted for the ratifica- 
 tion of the Federal Constitution, despite the powerful 
 opposition at the head of which was the immortal 
 Henry. 
 
 From the halls of the convention General Darke re- 
 tired to his Berkeley county home, where he continued 
 his agricultural pursuits until the renewal of the Indian 
 war in 1791. With it came the call to arms and once 
 more General Darke, aroused by the military spirit within 
 Mm, entered the army as colonel commanding the Sec- 
 ond Virginia Regiment. Descending the Ohio his force 
 reached Fort Washington — now Cincinnati — where the 
 army was collecting for invasion of the Indian county. 
 General Arthur St. Clair was placed in command, and in 
 October of the above named year the march into the 
 wilderness began. 
 
 On the 3rd of November the army encamped near the 
 present boundary line between Indiana and Ohio, on the 
 bank of the St. Mary' s river, a tributary of the Wabash, 
 but which St. Clair believed to be a branch of the Miami 
 of the Lake. Here, at day break the next morning, it 
 was attacked on all sides by the combined strength of 
 the western tribes, at the head of which was the distin- 
 guished chieftan Little Turtle, and for five dreadful hours 
 was continued a slaughter unparalleled in the annals of 
 forest warfare. 
 
 At the time of the attack Col. Darke's regiment, 
 together with two battalions, occupied the second line, 
 and when the first gave way his regiment received almost 
 the entire shock of battle, the men executing every order 
 of command. During the dreadful hours which followed, 
 
198 Historical Pen SketcJies 
 
 he was the coolest man on that bloody and chaotic field, 
 and his escape seems to have been almost miraculous. 
 Possessed of a tall, striking figure, in full uniform and 
 mounted on horseback, he headed three desperate charges 
 against the enemy, in each of which he was a conspicu- 
 ous mark. His clothes were cut in many places, but he 
 escaped with only a slight flesh wound. In the last charge 
 the ensign of his regiment, a youth of seventeen, was 
 shot through the heart and fell in the rear of the regi- 
 ment, which was then returning to its original position. 
 An Indian, attracted by his rich uniform, sprang nj) 
 from the grass and rushed forward to scalp him. Col. 
 Darke, who was then at the rear of the regiment, sud- 
 denly wheeling his horse, dashed at the savage and cleft 
 his skull with his broadsword. By this act he drew upon' 
 himself the rapid discharge of more than a dozen rifles, 
 but escaped and joined his regiment, though forced to 
 leave the body of the ensign to the enemy. Among the 
 killed in this charge was Captain Joseph Darke, the 
 youngest son of the Colonel. At length the troops yet 
 alive began a rapid retreat which was covered by Darke's 
 regiment to Fort Jefferson, a distance of thirty miles, 
 which they reached the same night. Here a council of war 
 wag held and Colonel Darke urged the exiDediency of an 
 immediate attack, believing that the savages flushed with 
 victory were unprepared for a second contest, but he was 
 overruled. 
 
 Stowed away among the archives in the office of the 
 Secretary of War at Washington, dej)Osited there dur- 
 ing the administration of that office by General Henry 
 Knox. "The Artillerist of Revolution," is a production 
 in Y/hich is told a melancholy tale of sadness and woe. 
 It is the official report of General St. Clair, written after 
 the return of the shattered army to Fort Washington, 
 and bearing date K'ovember 9, 1791. In it he speaks at 
 length of the heroic bravery exhibited by his men when 
 hundreds of them were being shot down on the banks of 
 
Historical Pen SlietcJies. 199 
 
 the St. Mary — falling under' the fierce fire of an unseen 
 enemy— and then says : 
 
 "Colonel Darke was ordered to make a charge with a 
 part of the second line and to turn to the left flank of 
 the enemy. This was executed with great spirit, and at 
 first promised much success. The Indians instantly gave 
 way and were driven back three or four hundred yards ; 
 but for want of a sufficient number of riflemen to pursue 
 this advantage, they soon returned, and the troops were 
 obliged to give back in their turn. At this moment they 
 had entered our camp by the left flank, having pursued 
 back the toops that were stationed there." 
 
 From the same sad recital we are, told farther on, that 
 Col. Darke's Yirginians made a second charge, in which 
 every commissioned officer of the regiment was killed 
 except three, and of them — Captain Greaton — was dan- 
 gerously wounded. Of the Virginians who yielded up 
 their lives on that fatal field, eiglity are said to have been 
 from Berkeley county, now in West Virginia. Long 
 years after the mournful story of their fall was rehears- 
 ed around the hearthstones in the mountain homes of 
 West Virginia, old soldiers chanted "St. Clair's Defeat," 
 which told in plaintive accents how 
 
 "We lost nine hundred men on the banks of the St. Mary." 
 
 From Fort Washington Col. Darke returned to Berke- 
 ley county, which he almost continuously represented in 
 the General Assembly until his death which occurred 
 November 20, 1801, when he found a grave near the spot 
 where early in life he had found a home. 
 
 Thus passed to rest a representative of the Pioneer 
 Age, which was to West Virginia what the Heroic Age 
 was to Greece. The men with whom he lived and acted 
 were as fearless and hardy a race as ever braved the per- 
 ils of the wilderness. Time has waged a merciless war- 
 fare upon the memorials of the age in which they lived, 
 and that which has survived should be placed beyond 
 the possibility of destruction. 
 
CHAPTER IX. 
 SLAVERY— MODE AND MANNER OF PUNISH- 
 MENT—FREEDOM. 
 
 ilSTORY records no data for the introduction of 
 H Negroes, or slaves, that were held in bondage in 
 this county, earlier than the time of Lord Fairfax, about 
 the year 1738. It will be noticed that in several of Fair- 
 fax' s grants, a number of slaves were included, at which 
 period he kept over a hundred at one time. They were 
 then sold and purchased at that day, in the same manner 
 as we would handle dumb brutes at the present day. 
 The earliest Court record concerning slavery, dates back 
 to April 17, 1772, when a commission was received by the 
 first justices who were appointed to transact the business 
 of the county, by the Governor of the Colony. The fol- 
 lowing is taken from the original copy, now on file in the 
 County Clerk's office : 
 
 " Virginia, set. : John, Earl of Dunmore, his majesty's 
 lieutenant and governor general of the colony and domin- 
 ion of Virginia, and vice-admiral of the same. To Ralph 
 Wormley, Jacob Hite, VanSweaiingen, Thomas Ruther- 
 ford, Adam Stephen, John Neville, Thomas Swearingen, 
 Samuel Washington, James Hourse, William. Little, 
 Robert Stephen, John Briscoe, Hugh Lyle, James Strode, 
 William Morgan, Robert Stogdon, James Seaton, Robert 
 Willis and Thomas Robinson, gentlemen of the County 
 of Berkeley ; greeting : Whereas, pursuant to an Act 
 of Assembly, made at a General Assembly, begun and 
 liolden at the capitol, in the city of Williamsburg, in the 
 fifth year of his present Majesty's reign, entitled an act 
 for * amending the act entitled an act directing the trial 
 of slaves committing capital crimes, and for the more' 
 effectual punishing of conspiracies and insurrections of 
 
Slavery. 201 
 
 them, and for the better government of Negroes, Mulat- 
 toes and. Indians, bond or free,' the governor, or com- 
 mander-in-chief of this colony, for the time being, is 
 desired and empowered to issue commissions of Oyer and 
 Terminer, directed to the justices of each county, respect- 
 ively, empowering them, from time to time, to try, con- 
 demn and execute, or otherwise punish or acquit all 
 slaves committing capital crimes within their county : 
 Know ye, therefore, that I, the said John, Earl of Dun- 
 more, by virtue of the powers and authorities to me given 
 by the said act, as commander-in-chief of this dominion, 
 do assign and empower you, the said [the above named 
 parties] or any four or more of you, whereof any of you, 
 the said [the above named parties] shall be one, justices, 
 in such manner, and by such ways and methods, as in 
 the said acts of the General Assembly, are directed, pre- 
 scribed and set down, to enquire of and to hear and de- 
 termine, all treasons, petit treasons, or misprisons thereof, 
 felonies, murders or other offences, or capital crimes 
 whatsoever, committed or perpetrated within the said 
 county, by any slave or slaves w^hatsoever ; for the better 
 performance whereof, you, or any four or more of you, 
 as aforesaid, are hereby required and commanded to meet 
 at the court house of the said county, when thereunto 
 required by the sheriff of the said county, for the trial of 
 any slave or slaves, committing any of the offences above 
 mentioned, and any such slave or slaves, being found 
 guilty, in such manner, and upon such evidence, as the 
 said acts of the General Assembly do direct, to pass 
 judgment as the law directs for the like crimes, and on 
 such judgment to award execution, or otherwise to ac- 
 quit, as of right ought to be done, or to carry into execu- 
 tion any judgment by you given on such trial. Given 
 under my hand, and the seal of the colony, at AVilliams- 
 burg, the 17th day of April, 1772, in the twelfth year of 
 the reign of our Sovereign Lord, George the Third. 
 
 DTJNMOIiE." 
 
202 Slavery. 
 
 The first offence committed and recorded is as follows : 
 "Pliil, Sambo, Joe, Will, Jack, Sam, Anthony, Ede, 
 Hannah, Peggy, Betty and Peg, negroes, belonging to 
 Mathew Whiting, being bound to appear at this court 
 for stealing hogs, the property of John Cranes, appear- 
 ed according to their master's recognizance ; on hearing 
 the same it is the opinion of the Court that the said Jack, 
 Joe, Phil and Will, are guilty of the said offence, and it 
 is ordered that the sheriff give them thirty-nine lashes 
 on their bare backs, at the public whipping-post, well 
 laid on, and that the others are not guilty ; ordered that 
 they be discharged." 
 
 To give the reader an idea of the treatment toward 
 slaves, in this section of country, it may prove of inter- 
 est to publish the following extract as told by Samuel 
 Kerch eval : ' 'My residence was in a neighborhood where 
 slaves and convicts were numerous, and where tortures 
 inflicted upon them had become the occurrences of almost 
 every day, so that they were viewed with indifference by 
 the whole population of the neighborhood as a matter of 
 course. I had not been long in my new habitation, be- 
 fore I witnessed a scene which I shall never forget. A 
 convict servant, accused of some trivial offense, was 
 doomed to the whip, tied with his arms axtended up- 
 wards to the limb of a tree, and a bundle of hickories 
 thrown down before him, which he was ordered to look 
 at, and told that they should all be worn out on him, 
 and a great many more, if he did not make confession of 
 the crime alleged against him. The operation then be- 
 gan by tucking up the shirt over his head, so as to leave 
 his back and shoulders naked. The master then took 
 two of the hickories in his hand, and by forward and 
 backhanded strokes, each of which sounded like a wagon 
 whip, and applied with the utmost rapidity and with his 
 whole muscular strength, in a few seconds lacerated the 
 shoulders of the poor miserable sufferer with not less 
 than fifty scourges, so that in a little time the whole of 
 
Slavery. 203 
 
 his shoulders had the appearance of a mass of blood, 
 streams of which soon began to flow down his back and 
 sides. He then made a confession of his fault, one not 
 worth naming ; but this did not save him from further 
 torture. He put his master "to the trouble of whipping 
 him and he must have a little more." His trousers were 
 then unbuttoned and suffered to fall down about his feet ; 
 two new hickories were selected from the bundle, and 
 so applied, that in a short time his posteriors, like his 
 shoulders, exhibited nothing but laceration and blood. 
 A consultation was then held between the master and 
 the bystanders, who had been coolly looking on, in which 
 it was humanely concluded "that he had got enough." 
 A basin of brine and a cloth were ordered to be brought, 
 with which his stripes were wased, or salted as they 
 called it. During this operation the suffering wretch 
 writhed and groaned as if in the agonies of death. He 
 was then untied and told to go home, and mistress would 
 tell him what to do." 
 
 " It frequently happened that torture was inflicted 
 upon slaves and convicts in a more protracted manner 
 than that above described. When the victim of cruelty 
 was doomed by his master to receive the lash, several of 
 his neighbors were called on for their assistance. They 
 attended at the time and place appointed. A jug of rum 
 and water were provided for the occasion. After the 
 trembling wretch was brought forth and tied up, the 
 number of lashes which he was to receive was determined 
 on. Who should begin the operation was decided by 
 lot or otherwise, and the torture commenced. At the 
 conclusion of the first course the operator, pretending 
 great weariness, called for a drink of mm and water, in 
 which he was joined by the company. A certain time 
 was allowed for the subject of their cruelty " to cool," 
 as they called it. When the allotted time had expired 
 the next hand took his turn, and in like manner ended 
 with a drink,, and so on until the appointed number of 
 
204 Slavery. 
 
 lashes were all imposed. This operation lasted several 
 hours, and sometimes half a day, at the conclusion of 
 which the sufferer, with his hands swollen with the cords, 
 was unbound and suffered to put on his shirt. His exe- 
 cutioners, to whom the operation was rather a frolic than 
 otherwise, returned home from the scene of their labor 
 half drunk. Another method of punishment still more 
 protracted than this was that of dooming a slave to re- 
 ceive so many lashes during several days in succession, 
 each whipping, except the first, being called ' ' tickling 
 up the old scabs." Wagoners in the neighborhood have 
 been known to fasten the slaves, and, with a jug of rum, 
 amuse themselves by making the deepest scores on their 
 back for wages." 
 
 It has been stated by several in their writings that 
 through the Shenandoah Valley slaves were treated with 
 the utmost cruelty, and the further South it penetrated 
 the worse the barbarity. 
 
 The following is taken from an old court docket of 
 1792 : "At a court held in Berkeley County the 4th day 
 of November, 1792, for the examination of Nell, a Mulatto 
 woman slave, on suspicion of feloniously stealing from 
 Amos Davis one muslin sheet, one white linen sheet, one 
 girl's slipp, one flannel petticoat, a large shawl, one 
 white linen handkerchief ruffled, and one black lace tip- 
 pett. PeeshiStt : John Cook, David Hunter, James Max- 
 v/ell, John Kerney and Nicholas Orrick, Gentlemen Jus- 
 tices. The Peisojter being led to the bar, and it being 
 demanded of her Avhether she was guilty of the facts 
 wherewith she stood charged or not guilty, said that she 
 was in nowise thereof guilty. Whereof sundry witnesses 
 were examined, on consideration of whose testimony, 
 and the circumstances attending the same, it is the opin- 
 ion of the Court that she is guilty of petit larceny only. 
 Therefore it is ordered that the sheriff do take her to 
 the public whipping post and there give her thirty- nine 
 
Slavery. 20,5 
 
 lashes on her bare back, well laid on, and then discharge 
 her." 
 
 The old dockets show a number of similar cases, in 
 which both male and female were treated with the utmost 
 and most cruel barbarity. 
 
 I might here relate many other methods of torture, 
 such as the thumb screw, sweating, the birch, etc. ; but 
 it is enough — the heart sickens at the writing of such 
 cruelties. There are several incidents that occurred in 
 our present town, worthy of note, of which Capt. Wm. 
 Hoke, now living, is my informant : 
 
 For a long while a whipping post and pillory stood in 
 front of the Court House, (the present site) and was con- 
 siderably used. It was afterwards removed to the East 
 side of the present jail, and stood between it and the 
 building adjoining, then used as the Clerk's office. 
 Capt. Hoke says he saw three negroes whipped here, 
 Hannah Henson, Taylor Piper and George Casion ; and 
 Jim Piper placed in the pillory. The pillory was built 
 above the whipping post, about ten feet from the ground 
 and had a small platform. It was composed of an upright 
 piece, and a top piece laid crosswise, in the shape of a 
 cross. In the top piece was a hole large enough to admit 
 the neck, while a smaller one on each side was made for 
 the two arms. Casion had committed a petit larceny of 
 some kind, and was doomed to the pillory for three or 
 four hours. The day was very rainy, and a number of 
 small boys formed a brigade, under the command of 
 Adam Cockburn, somewhat larger. They then proceeded 
 to rob the hen-nests that were expected to hatch in a 
 short while, and carried off the contents. With their 
 hats nearly filled with eggs, they marched to the pillory 
 and formed in a line in front. Here quite a lively time 
 was had by firing at Casion' s head, and occasionally, 
 when a rotten egg would strike, a loud yell went up. 
 In those days this was considered big sport, and partici- 
 pated in by nearly all the boys of the neighborhood. 
 
206 Slavery. 
 
 I asked tlie Captain v»fliether the autliorities made any 
 objection, to which he replied, "No, and I wouldn't 
 doubt but what the authorities put the boys up to it." 
 
 Many wars, bastiles, prisons, crosses, gibbets, tortures, 
 scourges and fires, in the hands of despots, have be6n 
 the instruments of spreading desolation and misery over 
 the earth. Those means of destruction, and their exten- 
 sive use in all ages, are regarded as indices of the de- 
 pravity and ferocity of man. From the bloodstained 
 pages of history, one now turns with disgust and horror, 
 and pronounces an involuntary anathema on the whole 
 of his race. The time came, however, in which the mas- 
 ter and slave changed situations. The American Revo- 
 lution was the commencement of a new era in the history 
 of the world. The issue of that eventful contest snatch- 
 ed the scepter from the hands of the monarch, and 
 placed it, where it ought to be, in the hands of the 
 people. 
 
 After the foreign war conducted by the United States 
 (which ended February 2, 184S,) the slavery question 
 was considerably agitated, and as years went by the dis- 
 cussion of its merits increased in bitterness. As the 
 country grew rapidly in wealth and population, many 
 began to hope for some compromise that might preserve 
 the national peace, and deemed the abolition of slavery 
 expedient. As each presidential election went by the 
 issue became more clearly — that of slavery or freedom. 
 In 1860 Abraham Lincoln was elected President by the 
 Republican Party on a platform which, while leav- 
 ing to each State the right to order and control its 
 own domestic institutions, insisted that freedom was 
 the normal condition of all the territory of the United 
 States. On the other hand, the Southern States had 
 made the declaration that the election of a President 
 pledged to oppose the extension of slavery would be a 
 violation of their constitutional rights and a moral inva- 
 sion of the slave States. In adherence to this declara- 
 
Slavery. 207 
 
 tion, ia December, 1860, South Carolina seceded from tlie 
 Union, and her example was followed by Mississippi, 
 Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Texas, Virginia, 
 Arkansas, Tennessee and North Carolina. Shortly after, 
 (April following,) hostilities were opened by the Confed- 
 erates and a severe conflict ensued. On the 1st of Janu- 
 ary, 1863, President Lincoln issued the Emancipation 
 Proclamation. The war continued until April, 1865, in 
 the conduct of which nearly 1,800,000 Union soldiers had 
 been enlisted and a debt of $2,000,000,000 was incurred. 
 During this conflict the negro, (with all due respect to 
 his race) took his stand, and no sooner had the order "to 
 arms" been given than he had taken up in defense of the 
 Union. Numbers have fallen and shed their blood upon 
 the battle plain with a courage that far surpassed many 
 of the white soldiers. 
 
 A few weeks after his inauguration for the second 
 term, in April, 1865, President Lincoln was assassinated 
 at Washington, D. C, by J. Wilkes Booth, who was 
 hunted dowa and killed a few days later. Vice-Presi- 
 dent Johnson became President, and the work of politi- 
 cal reconstruction was begun. The Thirteenth Amend- 
 ment to the Constitution, abolishing slavery within the 
 United States and places subject to their jurisdiction was 
 duly ratified and proclaimed. In April, 1866, the Civil 
 Rights Bill was passed by Congress over the President's 
 veto, thus insuring protection to the freed slaves and giv- 
 ing to the federal courts enlarged jurisdiction in the mat- 
 ter. In the following June the Fourteenth Amendment 
 was passed, whereby equal civil rights were guaranteed 
 to all, irrespective of race or color. 
 
 At the present day this race of people is represented 
 in almost every trade and profession throughout the 
 country. Our county is largely inhabited by them, 
 among whom are to be found energy and enterprise. 
 Some own considerable property and are well to do. 
 They have built and ably support churches and schools 
 
208 Slavery. 
 
 of their own, and deserve much credit for the manner in 
 which they have prospered under such marked disad- 
 vantages. 
 
CHAPTER X. 
 
 LATE WAR OF THE REBELLION— BERKELEY 
 
 COUNTY'S SITUATION. 
 
 INTEODTJCTOEY REJIAEKS. 
 
 |ISTORY indicates that the old County of Berkeley 
 was well represented in the different wars, for 
 nearly one hundred and thirty years past, which form so 
 important apart of the country's history. First, in the 
 year 1755, the French and Indian war broke out, before 
 this county was formed, and the citizens of this section 
 shared in the disastrous defeat of General Braddock. 
 They afterwards served under George Washington, the 
 illustrious Colonel who built Fourt Loiidon in the fall of 
 that year, and established himself at Winchester, Fred- 
 erick County. A terrible conflict with the Indians fol- 
 lowed, and these intrepid men took a gallant part, con- 
 tinuing to serve their country against the frequent attacks 
 of the cruel savages, while their depredations lasted. In 
 1774, two years after the county was formed, a full rep- 
 resentation of Berkeley's gallant sons shared in the 
 dearly bought victory over the Indian allies of the Brit- 
 ish Government, at Point Pleasant. It occurred in the 
 Summer of that year, and was virtually the first battle of 
 the Revolutionary War. About eighty of the volunteer 
 soldiers from Berkeley, under Colonel Drake, were 
 killed in St. Clair's defeat by the Indians. The pages of 
 the country's history, during the Revolutionary War, 
 have been embellished and brightened by the heroic 
 deeds of many of Berkeley's patriotic sons, who aided 
 materially in the cause. The names of many of her gal- 
 lant sons, who enlisted and served during the long, dark 
 days of that struggle, are not mentioned in history, but 
 
 14 
 
210 War of the Rebellion. 
 
 its fjages record tlieir deeds. A number of tliem arose to 
 the highest distinction in the army. They were again 
 called upon in the War of 1812, and the county was rep- 
 resented by about 200 men, in the troops which gained 
 one of the most brilliant victories of this war — at the 
 battle of Craney Island, June 22, 1813. In 1844-45, in 
 the war with Mexico, the valorous deeds of Berkeley 
 and Jefferson County men are an important matter of 
 history. 
 
 On the 17th day of April, 1861, Virginia passed the 
 ■ordinance of secession at Richmond, and the people of the 
 State were called upon to take a decided stand upon one 
 Bide or other in this important issue. Credit must be 
 given those who, after a calm deliberation, and from 
 principles which their best Judgment declared to be 
 righteous, took up arms, or exercised their best talents 
 in advocating the caxise of the State. Too much credit 
 cannot be given to those who sundered the tender ties 
 that bound them to the homes of their nativity or adop- 
 tion, sacrificed or endangered all their property interests, 
 and devoted their lives to the defense of the Union — 
 from a high sense of loyalty to the General Government. 
 " Greek met Greek," brother encountered brother, friend 
 stood opposed to friend upon many a hard-fought and 
 bloody battle-field on the soils of Berkeley and Jefferson 
 Counties, and southward in the valley. The adoption of 
 a neutrality was attempted by some, who, perhaps, were 
 the ones to suffer most in the sacrifice of property during 
 the war. They were looked upon with susijicion, and 
 little leniency was shown them by either party. The 
 character of the questions at issue were deemed to be too 
 grave and important to be regarded with indifference by 
 any citizen. 
 
 The minds of the grandsons of Berkeley Avere pervaded 
 in 1861, by the same spirit which animated the heroes of 
 1776 and 1812, and emulating their noble example, a full 
 representation volunteered who were vdlling to take up 
 
War of tlie Rebellion. 211 
 
 arms, and, if need be, sacrifice tlieir lives in defense of 
 the principles whicli they had adopted. These heroic 
 men enlisted on both sides. Men equal in intelligence 
 and courage, honesty of purpose and stubborn determi- 
 nation, whose forefathers had fought side by side for the 
 independence of their country during the Revolutionary 
 War ; only differing, perhaps, in the circumstances and 
 influences which had educated them into a decided opin- 
 ion upon the great questions then at issue. This state of 
 affairs was not by any means confined to Berkeley and 
 Jefferson Counties; as it was very general along the bor- 
 der, and notably so here. These men, as heroes, met 
 each other in battle, and did not pause to consider 
 whether the quondam friend, in deadly array against 
 him, came there ' ' through error, perversity, conscience, 
 weakness or chance," but duty of the hour which gov- 
 erned them was to do or die for the cause which they 
 had espoused. 
 
 GOING TO WAR. 
 
 Berkeley and Jefferson Counties saw much of the war, 
 being located at the northern portal of the Shenandoah 
 Valley — that bloody arena where so many tremendous 
 conflicts occurred. Details of the marching and counter 
 marching of armies, and their frequent engagements, 
 which are incident to this locality, can be read in many 
 a well-written work, and no attempt will be made to 
 record them here in fall, but an account of some of the 
 interesting occurrences will be given. 
 
 The following reflections of "A Virginian," as he 
 leaves the home of his boyhood, to take up arms in de- 
 fense of his country, against his native State, but echo 
 the sad thoughts entertained by thousands of others, 
 who, through a lofty devotion to principle, abandoned 
 their homes and cut asunder the closest ties of kindred 
 and friendship, to follow where their duty called them. 
 From the front porch of a house at Fairview, (on the 
 turnpike,) can be had a beautiful and comprehensive 
 
212 War of the Rebellion. 
 
 view of the Slienaudoali Valley, extending as far up as 
 the Massanutten Mountain, above Front Royal and 
 Strasburg. The towns of Williamsport, Martinsbiirg, 
 and Shepherdstown are distinctly visible, while the sites 
 of Harper's Ferry, Charlestown and .Winchester can be 
 distinguished. Upon this azure map the whole circuit of 
 the late campaign could be satisfactorily traced. An old 
 resident living near by stated to the author that he often 
 visited this spot, and that "each field, each house, each 
 clump of trees, recalled some friendly face, some youth- 
 ful sport, some genial hour of past delight. There, from 
 childhood to maturity, I had lived, opiilent in friend- 
 ships and social sympathy. That fair valley was now 
 the land of mine and my country's enemies ; among them 
 I could see whole squadrons of my kindred and former 
 friends — the kindly and generous companions of the 
 olden times. It mattered little to me now how they came 
 to be there — through error, perversity, conscience, weak- 
 ness or chance. The Potomac that flowed between us 
 now, rolled a fathomless gulf of blood and fire. On this 
 side I was alone. There was neither friend nor kinsman, 
 nor neighbor to whom I might turn for countenance or 
 counsel in those hours of soul-weariness, which oppress 
 one whose individuality is too heavily taxed. On this 
 side I found none nearer to me than the acquaintances of 
 yesterday, marching together as champions of a common 
 cause, but strangers to the heart. I felt the weight of 
 my position. I was an exile indeed — poor, weary and 
 dispirited. Yet I had taken my course after calm and 
 full deliberation. I had asked no man's counsel, and 
 confided my conclusions to one alone." 
 
 FIRST APPEARANCE OF "GRIM VISAGED WAR" IN 
 MARTINSBURG. 
 
 On the 13th of June, 1861, General Johnston, who in 
 command of the Confederate Army of the Shenandoah, 
 had occupied Harper' s Ferry, after burning the railroad 
 bridge and other property at that place, retreated to 
 
War of the Rebellion. 213 
 
 Wincliester. At tliis time, General Patterson was ad- 
 vancing, with his army, from Pennsylvania, en route 
 throiigh Maryland, for Virginia ; General McClellan was 
 also on his way, through Western Virginia, toward the 
 valley. General (afterward "Stonewall") Jackson (in 
 anticipation of the arrival of the Federal troops) was 
 sent, with his brigade, to the neighborhood of Martins- 
 burg, to aid Stewart' s cavalry in destroying what they 
 could of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad stock, and 
 thus check the advance of these opposing armies. 
 
 What was known as the "Colonnade Bridge," a beauti- 
 ful structure, erected in Martinsburg by the company as 
 an especial compliment to the city, was at that time des- 
 troyed. The citizens who witnessed it will never forget 
 this, the first appearance in the city of the terrible reali- 
 ty of the war which followed. The bridge was fired one 
 calm and beautiful evening, about eight o'clock, and the 
 saddening effect upon the minds of the large concourse 
 of people who witnessed the destruction was a lasting 
 one. After the burning of the bridge, the troops, by 
 fire, partially destroyed thirty-five large locomotives that 
 stood in the yards west of the bridge. This was a sad 
 error on the part of the Confederates, for there was noth- 
 ing to prevent their running these engines to Winchester, 
 via Harper's Ferry and the Winchester and Potomac 
 Railroad. Some time afterward, these same engines had 
 their wheels furnished with broad iron tires, by the Con- 
 federates, and were hauled a distance of twenty-two 
 miles, over the Martinsburg and Winchester turnpike to 
 the latter place, where they were put in repair and used. 
 Thirty-two horses were required to each engine, to ac- 
 complish this feat, and the task of getting them up the 
 hills, through the streets of the city, and on to the 
 straight road to Winchester was accompanied with great 
 difficulty. At the same time the machinery of the rail- 
 road shops was taken, and used in the arsenals at the 
 South during the war. It is a remarkable fact that this 
 
214 War of iJie Rebellion. 
 
 machinery and all the locomotives bnt one were regain- 
 ed by the company after the close of the war. 
 
 ARRIVAL OF PATTERSON'S TROOPS IN THE CITY. 
 
 On the 2nd of July, 1861, Patterson and his troops 
 forded the Potomac at Williamsport, and advanced, by 
 the main pike, towards Martinsburg, and Jackson, at the 
 same time, fell back toward Falling Waters, over the 
 main road leading from Martinsburg to that village. On 
 the morning of the 3rd of July, a company of Patterson's 
 infantry encountered a small force of cavalry near a 
 school house, a few miles north of Martinsburg, where a 
 skirmish ensued, and one of the Confederates was killed, 
 the balance retreating. In the afternoon, the whole col- 
 umn marched into Martinsburg, amid demonstrations of 
 joy and welcome on the part of ihe great majority of her 
 citizens. A detachment of troops was sent forward to 
 reconnoitre, and Jackson was encountered in a position 
 where he had formed his men in line of battle, with four 
 guns directly across the turnpike, along which the for- 
 mer were advancing. A sharp encounter here ensued, 
 which lasted about an hour, when Jackson continued his 
 retreat, joining the main army under Johnston, at Win- 
 chester. 
 
 An order which had been issued to Patterson to ad- 
 vance to Winchester and give battle to the Confederates 
 under Johnston, was countermanded, and on the 9th of 
 July, the former renewed a previous application to trans- 
 fer his army to Leesburg, making that his base of opera- 
 tions, which was granted, but an order from General 
 Scott directed him to continue demonstrations in front 
 of Winchester, until after the battle of Manassas, which 
 was expected to occur on the 16th. On the 15th, Patter- 
 son's army proceeded to Bunker Hill, where it remained 
 two days ; thence to Charlestown, where they remained 
 in position until the 23rd, when they marched to Har- 
 per's Ferry, and, the time of the three months men hav- 
 ing expired, they returned home, many of them to re- 
 
War of the Rebellion. 215 
 
 enlist for tlie war. It was on the 23rcl, that the news, 
 so disheartening to the Union Canse, of the defeat at Ball 
 Run was received. 
 
 AFTER THE BATTLE OF iM AN ASS AS. 
 
 One of the saddest nights of the war, to many of the 
 citizens, was soon after the first battle of Manassas. Two 
 brothers and a cousin fell in that fight, at almost the 
 same moment, and side by side. The brothers (Holmes 
 and Tncker Conrad) were the sons of an old and esteem- 
 ed citizen — a lawyer of rare ability — Holmes Conrad, 
 Esq. Previous to Virginia's act of secession, Mr. Conrad 
 had taken an active part in favor of adherence to the 
 Union, and made a most eloquent and stirring speech in 
 the Court House, which had great influence, and was 
 afterward published in the National Intelligencer. His 
 two sons, both quite young, left their home without the 
 knowledge of their father, and nearly the iirst news 
 which reached him concerning them was the intelligence 
 of their death. One of the participants in the last sad 
 rite says : "We buried them, with their cousin, Captain 
 Peyton R. Harrison, together in one tomb 
 
 "By the struggling moonbeam's misty light ; 
 Our lanterns dimly burning !" 
 
 "This circumstance is worthy of mention, as the name 
 was a beloved one in our country, and, although Ave lost 
 many noble ones, on' both sides, none more fair, bright 
 and promising than these." 
 
 A great awe seemed to have quelled the spirits of the 
 people at this time. 
 
 Those who had deceived themselves, or had been de- 
 luded by others into the belief that the dismemberment 
 of the nation would be accomplished without bloodshed, 
 now began to realize the true character of the contest 
 that was opening. In the first ebullition of their zeal, 
 the elite of the Virginia youth had rushed to the field, 
 many serving as privates in the ranks. The slaughter 
 
216 Wa7' of the Rebellion. 
 
 at Manassas fell heavier, proportiouately, upon this class 
 than any other. In many an aristrocratic mansion, hor- 
 ror and monrning veiled the joy of victory for a season. 
 GENERxIL BANKS' RETREAT. 
 
 On the 25th of May, 1862, occurred Banks' disastrous 
 defeat by Jackson, at Winchester, and his retreat, via 
 the Martinsburg and Winchester turnpike, to the Poto- 
 mac. Those who witnessed the rush of the panic-stricken 
 troops through Berkeley and Jefferson counties will nev- 
 er forget it. Hundreds of wagons, loaded with commsi- 
 sary, quartermaster, medical, ordnance, and other mili- 
 tary stores and supplies, were scattered all along the 
 route, greatly to the delight of many, who, on account 
 of the difficulty of obtaining them, had been living on 
 short rations, and with a scant supply of blankets and 
 clothing. JSTotwithstanding the efforts of the retreating 
 troops to destroy them by burning the wagons, many 
 of these supplies fell into the hands of those who no 
 doubt badly needed them. For some time afterward, 
 the skill of the dyer was called into requisition, to ob- 
 literate the tell-tale material blue, and hardtack became 
 a popular article of diet. This celebrated retreat occur- 
 red on Sunday — a day that seemed destined as a season 
 of excitement in this section, Early in the morning, 
 cavalrymen made their appearance in squads of two or 
 three, and about 11 o'clock a. m., four-horse wagons, 
 carrying pontoons, tilled with absconding negroes, swept 
 through the streets at a full gallop. It was one of the 
 most disgraceful scenes of the war. In due time, the 
 General and his staff arrived, and dismounting at the 
 principal hotel in town, went into the parlor. Looking 
 into a mirror (the first glimpse, no doubt, which he had 
 caught of himself for several days) Banks remarked : 
 "Well, General, you do look worsted." 
 
 THE MARTINSBURG HOME GUARDS. 
 D. H. Strother, (Porte Crayon), in his "Personal Rec- 
 ollections of the war," contributed to Hmyer" s Monthly, 
 
War of the Rebellion. 217 
 
 has the following to say, regarding this quasi- mili- 
 tary band, that was organized in the spring of ' 61 : ' 'Not 
 to fall behind the times, the citizens had formed a vol- 
 unteer Home Guard, for the purpose of police duty and 
 watching over the general welfare of the community. 
 They kept their headquarters at the Court House, sat 
 up of nights, arrested each other, and everybody they 
 found prowling about. It was shrewdly suggested that 
 the peace of the lonely village might have been better 
 preserved if everybody went quietly to bed and minded 
 their own business. But, in times of revolutionary ex- 
 citement, people cannot keep quiet, even in view of their 
 own safety, and along the border every man seemed to 
 suppose he had the right to constitute himself a special 
 constable, to arrest and cross question every other man 
 he met, with whose business he was unacquainted. One 
 night, Dick Ganoe, a harmless and well-meaning citizen 
 of the Home Guard, arrested a stranger who was riding 
 into town from the direction of Winchester. Dismount- 
 ing his prisoner, Ganoe led the way to the Court House, 
 lounging along with his musket under his arm, and his 
 hands in his pockets, as was his wont. The stranger, 
 who followed in apparent acquiescence, quietly drew a 
 pistol and blew the citizen's brains out, then mounted, 
 and continued his jouriiey northward. This shot also 
 terminated the volunteer labors of the Home Guards. 
 It abdicated, and was heard of no more." 
 
 EFFECT OF THE WAR ON THE CITY. 
 
 Business was almost entirely suspended in Martins- 
 burg during the first years of the war, and at times a 
 great deal of distress prevailed, for lack of the necessa- 
 ries of life, which were hard to obtain. Considerable 
 damage was done to buildings, but not as much as would 
 naturally be supposed, considering the fighting that was 
 done here, and the length of time the town was odfcupied 
 by soldiers. From the commencement of the war to the 
 close, there were camps of either Union or Confederate 
 
218 War of the Rebellion. 
 
 soldiers in the town. Every cliurch and public building 
 was used as barracks, hospital or stable. The court house 
 was continually occupied by troops, during which time 
 valuable papers and records were ruthlessly destroyed. 
 This unwarranted act has caused endless trouble, and it 
 is doubtful if the effects of it can ever be remedied. 
 Fourteen volumes of records of court proceedings and 
 deeds, and many valuable papers are missing from the 
 office of the Clerk of the County Court, and numerous 
 others are badly mutilated. 
 
 A great many self-appointed detectives, or spies, ex- 
 isted at this time, who found excellent opportunities to 
 gratify some petty spite against a neighbor, and at the 
 same time cover themselves with glory and obtain great 
 credit for patriotism either in the Union or Confederate 
 cause, as the case might be. A short experience with 
 these euthusiastic reformers, however, and the investiga- 
 tion of cases reported to them, led the officers in authori- 
 ty, upon both sides, to treat them with deserved con- 
 tempt. 
 
 It frequently occurred that a change of occupants 
 would occur in the city several times in one day. At one 
 time, "Hampton's Brigade" (then under command of 
 General "Jeb" Stuart,) numbering about 3,000 cavalry, 
 came into town, and at noon they were driven out by the 
 cavalry under General Kilpatrick ; the latter was in turn 
 dislodged in the evening, and forced to retreat across the 
 Potomac at Shepherdstown, fighting all the way — a dis- 
 tance of ten miles. Quite a remarkable occurrence hap- 
 pened upon this occasion. The only piece of artillery 
 that Kilpatrick had with him was commanded by the 
 grandson of the late Philip C. Pendleton, then one of the 
 oldest and most resx)ected citizens of the town. It was 
 Ijlanted on the eminence which is now occupied by Green 
 Hill Cemetery, and the first shot that was aimed by the 
 young man at the Confederates, as they retreated south- 
 ward, penetrated the cone of the roof of his grand 
 
War of the Rebellion. 21& 
 
 father's house, witliout, however, doing any material 
 damage. The citizens had many shells left with them as 
 mementos, during the frequent skirmishes that happen- 
 ed about the town. One of them penetrated the walls 
 of the Catholic Church, without exploding, where it re- 
 mained until several years after the war, before it was 
 removed. 
 
 CARE OF THE SICK, WOUNDED AND DEAD. 
 
 After the battles of Antietam and Gettysburg, Martins - 
 burg became one grand hospital. Many of the churches 
 were occupied in this way ; in many instances, their in- 
 teriors were completely destroyed. The citizens were as 
 loyal as any situated near the border, and Union soldiers 
 were as kindly treated, and as faithfully nursed, when 
 wounded, sick and suffering, as many of them could 
 have been in their own homes, and the same kindness, 
 was shown to those of the Confederate army. There are 
 many of them living to-day, who bless the good citizens 
 of Martinsburg for their unselfish acts of kindness at this 
 time. The honored dead of the contending armies lie 
 buried in the city cemeteries, and large numbers were 
 committed to their last resting place with the beautiful, 
 sublime service of the Episcopal church. At one time, 
 the rector of Trinity church was the only minister in 
 town, and officiated for all parties for whom his services 
 were required. The German Evangelical Church was 
 composed of Germans, or those of that descent, many of 
 whom were in the United States service. On the even- 
 ing, of February 13 th, 1863, Captain G. W. Hicks, of the 
 Ninth Virginia Infantry, arrived in the city, as escort of 
 a government train from Winchester, and quartered in 
 the church building owned by this society valued at 
 $3,500. Through the carelessness of the occuiiants, it 
 caught fire and was burned to the ground. 
 THE BLACK HORSE CAVALRY. 
 
 The renowned Black Horse Cavalry figured frequently 
 
220 War of the Rebellion. 
 
 during the war in Berkeley and Jefferson counties. Their 
 organization was commenced in Fauquier County, Vir- 
 ginia, June ISth, 1859. The first service which the com- 
 mand was ordered to perform was to report to Governor 
 Henry A. Wise, at Charlestown, West Virginia, at which 
 point w^ere being collected the volunteer companies of 
 the State, to insure the execution of John Brown and his 
 associates. A detachment of this company escorted the 
 prisoners to the place of execution, while the rest of the 
 command was employed in keeping the streets clear, for 
 it was feared, even to the last moment, that an attempt 
 would be made to rescue Brown. The day before the or- 
 dinance of secession was passed by Virginia (April 16th, 
 1861,) orders were received by Lieutenant Robert Ran- 
 dolph, commanding the Black Horse Cavalry, and by 
 Captain Turner Asliby, of the " Mountain Rangers," to 
 assemble their respective commands and proceed at once 
 to Harper's Ferry for the jDurpose of capturing the stores 
 and munitions of war stored there. After remaining there 
 for several days on picket duty they were ordered on 
 similar service to Berlin Bridge. They took a prominent 
 part in the battle of Manassas, and soon afterward were 
 selected as the body-guard of General Joseph E. John- 
 ston. Jackson was accompanied by this cavalry in his 
 expedition to Williamsport, Martinsburg and Harper's 
 Ferry. They continued in the service during the entire 
 war, and became renowned for their exploits. 
 
 Considerable time and labor has been given to deep 
 researches concerning our military organizations during 
 the late war. The above mentioned cavalry was organ- 
 ized in Fauquier County, but figured prominently in 
 Berkeley. The different companies organized in this 
 county, with the names of the participants, happenings, 
 etc., are given below. Among the names included are 
 mostly those who enlisted at the time of organization. 
 A number of our men enlisted in other companies, but 
 in nowise jjertaining to a Berkeley organization. 
 
Wa7- of the Rebellion. 221 
 
 COMPANY C, THIRD REGIMENT, WEST VIRGINIA CAVALRY 
 —BERKELEY COUNTY. 
 
 {^United States Army.} 
 
 The members of this company were enlisted in the 
 United States service, mainly from Martinsburg and 
 Berkeley County. This regiment was organized by the 
 consolidating of a number of companies that had already 
 seen much service, at Charlestown, West Virginia, in 
 December, 1863. From there they marched to Parkers- 
 burg, and thence were transported to Martinsburg. Here 
 it began its summer campaign under Sheridan, through 
 all of which it followed him, participating in all its bat- 
 tles and skirmishes. The history of the regiment is 
 written upon every page that records the conflicts and 
 victories of the Middle Military Division. Its story can- 
 not be more eloquently told than in the simple list of 
 battles it has fought. Among the names upon its ban- 
 ners are: Carter's farm, Newton, Winchester, Bunker 
 Hill, Martinsburg, Hagerstown, Hancock, Moorefield, 
 Martinsburg (second,) Bunker Hill (second,) Buckles- 
 town, Bunker Hill (third,) Stevenson Depot, Winchester 
 (second,) Fisher's Hill, Mount Jackson, Brown's Gap 
 (two lights,) Milford (two fights,) Front Royal and Mount 
 Jackson (second.) The enlistments were as follows : 
 
 Captain, Peter Tabler. 
 
 First Lieutenant, John E. Bowers. 
 
 Second Lieutenant, Albert Teets. 
 
 First Sergeant, Jas. W. Kneedler. 
 
 Second Sergeant, John Falkenstein. 
 
 Third Sergeant, Michael Ferrel. 
 
 Fourth Sergeant, Sylvester Ridgway. 
 
 Fifth Sergeant, Edmond Wagely. 
 
 Sixth Sergeant, Wm. Clendening. 
 
 Seventh Sergeant, Levi J. Welshaus. 
 
 Eighth Sergeant, Edward N. Loy. 
 
 First Corporal, Levi F. Miller. 
 
 Second Corporal, Adam Wolf. 
 
222 War of the Rebellion. 
 
 Tlvird Corporal, James O. Eoss. 
 Fourth Corporal, Alex. Horner. 
 Fifth Corporal. Ulysses Davis. 
 Sixth Corporal, William Deets. 
 Seventli Corporal, Benj. P. Statter. 
 Eighth Corporal, Franklin Spencer. 
 Bugler, David Kiser. 
 - Bugler, Alfred Porter. 
 
 Anderson, Eri. 
 Anderson, Jas. W. 
 Allison, John. 
 Butt, David. 
 Bnrch, George. 
 BartMow, William. 
 Ericker, Levi. 
 Butt, William. 
 Colbert, Jesse. 
 Colbert, Clarkson. 
 Cross, John A. 
 Cockran, Hiram. 
 Cockran, CliarlesC. 
 Crowe, James B. 
 Deets, James. 
 Fravell, John. 
 Fizer, John T. 
 Frushour, Wm. A. 
 Fleming, Wm. 
 Gardener, John W. 
 Hart, Jacob H. 
 Hays, Jos. H. 
 Hower, Edmund. 
 Homer, Robert. 
 Jenkins, George. 
 Kline, John W. 
 Kiser, Isaiah. 
 Kiser, John. 
 
 PRIVATES. 
 
 Lamas ter, Theodore. 
 Lamaster, John H. 
 Lazzel, Wm. G. 
 Long, George. 
 Miller, Isaac. 
 Myers, Wm. C. 
 Myer, William. 
 Murphy, John W. 
 Murphy, James W. 
 Murray, Samuel E. 
 Morgan, Edmund. 
 Morgan, Elijah. 
 Morgan, Robert. 
 Myers, Samuel. 
 Myers, Jacob. 
 Novington, John W. 
 Piles, Edgar C. 
 Price, George L. 
 Ridenour, James. 
 Ridenour, Charles. 
 Racey, William. 
 Ramsburg, Elijah. 
 Reynolds, Elijah. 
 Stansburry, H. R. 
 Stafford, John. 
 Shrout, Andrew J. 
 Smith, John. 
 Stoneking, Lewis S. 
 
Wa7' of tlie Rebellion. 
 
 223 
 
 Stoker, Thomas. 
 Strawson, H. W. 
 Street, William J. 
 Teets, Elisha. 
 Tichnal, Samuel. 
 Taylor, James. 
 Taylor, Samuel H. 
 
 Benson, Joseph A. 
 Shaw, William B. 
 
 Taylor, Ephriam. 
 Vanansdal, Jerry. 
 Woodward, Chas. W. 
 "Wise, Thomas. 
 Wister, Benj. K. 
 Welsh, Patrick P. 
 Welsh, Thomas S. 
 
 RESIGNED. 
 
 Stahl, Jonathan. 
 Wade, Alexandar. 
 
 PROMOTED. 
 
 Conger, Seymour B., to Perry, James S. 
 Major, July 29, 1863. Lieutenant. 
 
 DISCHARGED. 
 
 to First 
 
 Morgan, Enoch. 
 Perry, James S. 
 PuUin, William. 
 Prossman, William. 
 Roby, Middleton, 
 Rude, George W. 
 St. Clair, James P. 
 Shaffer, Balser. 
 Statler, Andrew J. 
 
 Barnes, Lemuel. 
 Barthlow, Joshua. 
 Curry, AlonzoH. 
 Deen, Gfeorge W 
 Green, David S. 
 Hart, Jacob. 
 Kines, W. E. 
 Mercer, Marshall. 
 McKinney, Alex. 
 Myers, Enos. 
 
 TRANSFERRED. 
 
 Awraan, Benjamin. Shaffer, David. 
 
 Hickman, Gilaspie. 
 
 DESERTED. 
 
 Smith, Mathias B. 
 Volgarmott, Moses. 
 
 CASUALTIES. 
 
 Dilly, John R., killed in action May 10, 1864. 
 Hoffman, John E., killed in action Nov. 24, 1863. 
 Johnson, Moses, died Oct. 9, 1862. 
 Light, Isaac J. killed in action April 24, 1862. 
 Mock, Jam.es M., " " Aug. 7, 1864. 
 
 Butler, Thomas J. 
 Fitzpatrick, David. 
 
224 War of the Rebellion. 
 
 Pitcher, John W., killed in action Aug. 7, 1864. 
 Piles, Osborne H., died October 9, 1862. 
 Pitclier, Clias. W., died Nov. 19, 1864. 
 Siler, Philip, liilled in action Aug. 7, 1864. 
 Slater, Henry M., killed in action May 10, 1864. 
 Teets, John, " " " Oct. 11, 1863. 
 
 Yoho, Ezra, " " " Aug. 7, 1864. 
 
 COMPANY B, FIRST REGIMENT, VIRGINIA VOLUNTEERS- 
 BERKELEY COUNTY. 
 
 [ United States Army.] 
 This organization was mustered in under Col. Ward 
 Lemon, and organized at Williamsport, Md., May 17th, 
 
 1861. At the time of its organization it was composed 
 entirely of Berkeley County citizens. The company was 
 uniformed at Williamsport, where it first entered service 
 to guard a wagon train to Martinsburg. They next re- 
 turned to the former place, from whence they were or- 
 dered to Hancock, Md. Upon crossing the river they 
 were attacked by Ashby's Cavalry, when Lieutenant 
 Hancock was wounded. 
 
 The next order received was to proceed to Dam No. 4, 
 and upon their arrival they learned that the Confederates 
 were robbing the store of A. McQuilken, at Hard Scrab- 
 ble. A number of the company were detailed and cross- 
 ed the river, wounding two men and capturing a horse. 
 From here they again retxirned to Hancock, where they 
 had several skirmishes. From Hancock they were or- 
 dered to Orleans Road, thence back to Williamsport, 
 thence tp Shaffer's Mill on the river, thence to Palling 
 Waters, and from here to Baltimore, where they arrived 
 on the 5th day of February. Three days afterward they 
 were transferred to the 3d Maryland Regiment, under 
 command of Col. David D. Witt. From Baltimore they 
 were transferred to Harper' s Ferry, on the 23d of May, 
 
 1862, and after a skirmish on Bolivar Heights, they fell 
 back to Maryland Heights. From here they proceeded 
 to Kernstown, thence to Cedar Creek, thence back to 
 
War of the Rebellion. 225 
 
 Warrington. Va. At the latter place Captain Joseph 
 Kerns and Lieutenant James Fayman tendered their res- 
 ignation. The company was them ordered to Little 
 Warrington, Ya. Among the principal battles fought 
 upon its banners are : Cedar Mountain, Antietam, Win- 
 chester, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Three Day^ 
 Fight at Gettysburg, Raccoon Ford, and others. Shortly 
 after these battles the company was divided — one half" 
 serving under Grant, and the other half under Sherman, . 
 until the surrender at Appomattox. The entire company- 
 had bravely participated in all the important' fights.- 
 throughout the war, and history records many valorous 
 deeds of this company, though their names are not men- 
 tioned. 
 
 Berkeley County was most ably represented, and 
 many of her noble and heroic sons have died upon the 
 field in the defense of their country. Like those of the 
 centending enemy, they believed their principles to be 
 just, and took up arms against friend or foe. As far as 
 the roll can be ascertained from surviving members, it ia 
 given as follows : 
 
 Captain, Joseph Kerns. 
 
 First Lieutenant, James Fayman. 
 
 Second Lieutenant, John Lowman. 
 
 'First Sergeant, D. J. Weaver. 
 
 Second Sergeant, Wm. Smith. 
 
 Third Sergeant, Robert Lowery. 
 
 Fourth Sergeant, Jerome E. Pompeii. 
 
 First Corporal, M. H. Harman. 
 
 Second Corporal, Robt. Thompson. 
 
 TJiird Corporal, Harry Strausbaugh. 
 
 Fourth Corporal, J. Lewis Cleary. 
 
 Fifth Corporal, Benj. Lowery. 
 
 PRIVATES. 
 
 Ashkettle, J. Bender, Jno. 
 
 Adams, Frisky. Bishop, Jno. 
 
 Batch, C. Burriss, E. 
 
S26 
 
 War of the BebelUon. 
 
 Ball, Jno. 
 Bateman, C. 
 Brown, Wm. 
 Clevinger, R. 
 Ooyle, James. 
 ■Colbert, Geo. 
 Cann, P. 
 Claspey, James. 
 Diclverhoff, Isaac, killed. 
 Dailey, Arthur. 
 Denan, A. 
 Bitman, Jno. 
 Davis, Joseph. 
 Davis, Samuel, killed. 
 Ebaugli, C. 
 Espenhine, G. 
 Fahey, Thomas. 
 Finigan, Patrick. 
 Gagle, John. 
 Giser, Christopher. 
 Goodman, John. 
 Grace, Israel. 
 Grindes, R. 
 Harker, C. 
 Hipper, A., killed. 
 Henry, R. 
 Harman, Hewitt. 
 
 Henlane, Henry. 
 Ingless, Joseph. 
 Ingram, John. 
 Israel, Edward. 
 Johnson, John. 
 Jones, James. 
 Johnson, Wm., hung. 
 Killgore, C. 
 Korcross, John. 
 Lincoln, C. 
 
 Lupman, Daniel, killed. 
 Lowery, Benj., killed. 
 Lowery, Robert. 
 Murphy, Denis. 
 Mathews, Frank. 
 Martin, John. 
 Prescit, B. F. 
 Perkins, C. 
 Potter, R. 
 Shirk, John. 
 Sadler, John. 
 Smith, David. 
 Sisco, John, killed. 
 Sisco, Joseph. 
 Thompson, Samuel. 
 Unger, John. 
 Vanmetre, Isaac. 
 
 COMPANY " D," SECOND REGIMENT VIRGINIA INFANTRY— 
 "BERKELEY BORDER GUARDS." 
 
 [Confederate States Army.} 
 Under the supervision of J. Q. A. Nadenboash, Esq., 
 this company was organized October 81st, 1859. It was 
 composed almost entirely of Berkeley men, who volun- 
 teered their services in defence of what they deemed a 
 just cause. This company acted on duty during the 
 Brown raid, and stood guard at Charlestow^n during the 
 
War of the Rebellion. 227 
 
 hanging of Brown's men, on the 16th of March, 1860, 
 It was first ordered into service by the Governor of Vir- 
 ginia, to report at Harper' s Ferry on the night of April, 
 1861. It participated in all the important battles fought 
 by the famous "Stonewall Brigade," and ably represent- 
 ed its county. Among its ranks were Berkeley's most 
 gallant and heroic sons. Like all the different companies, 
 the author has been unable to obtain the roll accurately, 
 and with the assistance of surviving members, gives it at 
 the time of organization, as follows : 
 
 Captain, J. Q. A. Nadenbousch, wounded at second 
 battle Manassas, August, 1862, — promoted Colonel Sept. 
 17th, 1862. 
 
 First Lieutenant, P. S. Cunningham. 
 
 Second Lieutenant, Robt. W. Hunter, promoted Ad- 
 jutant-General. 
 
 Third Lieutenant,^ Peyton R. Harrison, killed at first 
 battle Manassas, July 21st, 1861. 
 
 First Sergeant, Maj. Israel Eobinson, resigned to take 
 his command in 67th Virginia Militia Regiment. 
 
 First Sergeant, Jno. A. Dugan, wounded at first battle 
 Manassas, July 21st, 1861. 
 
 Second Sergeant, C. W. Welsh. 
 
 Third Sergeant, E. L. Hoffman, wounded at battle of 
 Kernstown, March 23rd, 1862, — promoted Captain. 
 
 Fourth Sergeant, S. H. Fowler. 
 
 Fifth Sergeant, Holmes E. Conrad, killed at first battle 
 of Manassas, July 21st, 1861. 
 
 First Corporal, E. Ryneal. 
 
 Second Corporal, Wm. Kline, promoted Sergeant, Aug. 
 4th, 1861. 
 
 Third Corporal, T. Bentz. 
 
 PRIVATES. 
 
 Armstrong, Jno. S., wounded at first battle Manassas, 
 July 21st, 1861. 
 Albin, Wm. B. 
 Austin, Thos. 
 
228 rPar of the Rebellion. 
 
 Albin, James, killed at second battle Manassas, Aug. 
 27tli, 1862. 
 
 Blake, V. B. 
 
 Brady, Peter. 
 
 Bell, Alfred. 
 
 Bales, Adam S. 
 
 Boyd, B. R. 
 
 Brocies, Wm. 
 
 Buchannon, Thos., wounded at first battle Manassas, 
 July 21st, 1861. 
 
 Barnett, A. J., killed at battle Mine Run, November 
 27th, 1863. 
 
 Carlysle, Jas. A. 
 
 Cline, David A., promoted Corporal August 4tli, 1861. 
 
 Conrad, H. Tucker, killed at first battle Manassas, 
 July 21st, 1861. 
 
 Cage, James. 
 
 Custer, Ephraim Gr., promoted Sefgeant Aug. 4th, 1861. 
 
 Copenhaver, T. 
 
 Chambers, R. D. 
 
 Chambers, Jno. M. 
 
 Caskey, Wm. 
 
 Chevalley, . 
 
 Day, Jas. W. 
 
 Drebbing, C. L. 
 
 Doll, R. M. 
 
 Dieffenderfer, Wm. 
 
 Dugan, Jas. A., wounded by accident in camp, June 
 2Sth, 1861. 
 
 Dandrigde, E. P., wounded at first battle Manassas, 
 July 21st, 1861. 
 
 Dalgarn, S. S., slightly wounded. 
 
 Englebright, Jno. 
 
 Earson, Joseph. 
 
 Fisher, James. 
 
 Fisher, John L., killed at battle Chancellorsville, Ik^fay 
 3rd, 1862. 
 
War oftJie Rebellion. 229 
 
 Fravel, Greo. 
 
 Fryatt, Jolin T., killed at Manassas, July 21st, 1861. 
 
 Griffin, Michael, wounded at battle Cold Harbour, 
 June 27tli, 1861. 
 
 Gardner, Jarvus. 
 
 Glass, G. 
 
 HoUis, T. W. 
 
 Hodges, N. 
 
 Homricli, Jas. M. 
 
 Hollis, J. 
 
 HoUis, T. P. 
 
 Halem, M. 
 
 Hill, Joseph. 
 
 Harrison, 
 
 Hedges, Owen T., killed at battle of Gettysburg, July 
 23d, 1863. 
 
 Hunter, John C, promoted Sergeant, August 4th, 1S61, 
 — wounded at first battle Manassas, July 2Ist, 1861. 
 
 Helferstay, 
 
 Harman, Wm., wounded at battle of Kernstown, March 
 23d, 1862. 
 
 Harrison, John S. 
 
 Hambleton, Wm., promoted Corporal, August 4th, 
 1861. 
 
 Huff, BenJ., killed. 
 
 Harley, Patrick, wounded at battle Cold Harbour, 
 June 27th, 1862. 
 
 Joy, J. F. 
 
 Kilmer, George H. 
 
 Kearfott, William P. 
 
 Kearfott, James L. 
 
 Koiner, L. K., wounded at battles of Payne's Farm, 
 Wilderness, and Seven Days' Fight around Richmond. 
 
 Kearns, Joseph, deserted. 
 
 .Lewis, Walter, wounded at second battle Manassas, 
 August 27th, 1862. 
 
 Larkins, Thomas. 
 
230 War of the Rebellion. 
 
 Leshorn, James W., wounded at first battle Manassas, 
 July 21st, 1861. 
 
 Light, William H., wounded at first battle Manassas, 
 July 21st, 1861. 
 
 Lewis, Lewis, killed at second battle Manassas, August 
 27tli, 1862. 
 
 Leathers, John H. 
 
 Meachem, Richard, killed at battle Chancellorsville, 
 May 3d, 1862. 
 
 Maupin, T. A., deserted, June 30th, 1861. 
 
 Moody, John P. 
 
 Miller, Jonathan. 
 
 Matthews, Henry C. 
 
 McMullen, Charles. 
 
 Mclntire, JohnF., wounded at first battle Manassas, 
 July 21st, 1861. 
 
 MeCleary, Trip, wounded at first battle Manassas, July 
 21st, 1861. 
 
 McGeary, William, wounded at first battle Manassas, 
 July 21st, 1861. 
 
 Muhlenburg, Charles. 
 
 Marikle, John B., wounded at second battle Manassas, 
 August 27th, 1862. 
 
 Marikle, Thomas T. 
 
 McWhorter, James W. 
 
 Marikle, Joseph S., killed at second battle Manassas, 
 August 27th, 1862. 
 
 Nicholson, Thomas. 
 
 Oden, Archibald. 
 
 Painter, Joseph. 
 
 Phillips, William. 
 
 Piper, John R. 
 
 Parker, Richard. 
 
 Rust, William. 
 
 Simmons, W., wounded at first battle Manassas, July 
 21st, 1861 ; discharged Dec. 5th, 1861. 
 
 Scheig, George. 
 
War of the EehelUon. ' 231 
 
 Staub, R. P. H. 
 
 Sailes, , died of disease. 
 
 Suddith, Joseph. 
 
 Smith, John, deserted July 5th, 1861. 
 
 Smith, William. 
 
 Sherrer, George. 
 
 Suiter, Charles. 
 
 Siler, John. 
 
 Steward, T. W. 
 
 Staub, John F. 
 
 Smeltzer, C. W. 
 
 Saville, Albert, killed at second battle Manassas, Au- 
 gust 27th, 1862. 
 
 Thrush, John M. 
 
 Titlow, R. 
 
 Yorhees, George F., wounded. 
 
 Weaver, Charles, wounded by accident in camp, June 
 28th, 1861. 
 
 Weaver, George. 
 
 Webster, R. A. 
 
 Wolff, C. A. 
 
 Weaver, John, killed at second battle Manassas, Au- 
 gust 27th, 1862. 
 
 Whitson, Geo. D., wounded at first battle Manassas, 
 July 21st, 1861. 
 
 MUSICIANS. 
 
 E. B. Hooper, Drum Major. 
 
 Wm. Hayden, Assistant Drum Major 
 
 E. G. Tabler. 
 
 Samuel Hutchinson. 
 
 Charles Shober. 
 
 While Jackson was retreating from Winchester, by 
 direction of Capt. Hoffman, Lewis Lewis fired the first 
 shot at a Federal scout on the famous Fisher's Hill, where 
 one of the most important battles was fought. 
 
232 War of the Bebellion. 
 
 COMPANY "B," WISE ARTILLERY— BERKELEY COUNTY. 
 
 [Confederate States Army.] 
 
 This company was organized in November of 1859, im- 
 mediately after John Brown' s raid upon Harper' s Ferry, 
 and was named in honor of Governor Henry A. Wise, of 
 Virginia. The first section of this battery was stationed 
 at Charlestown during the execution of John Brown. 
 On the evening of the 18th of April, 1861, Capt. E. Gr. 
 Alburtis received orders from Governor John Letcher, of 
 Virginia, to prepare his battery for the march and pro- 
 ceed early the next morning, via. Baltimore and Ohio 
 Railroad, to Harper's Ferry, and there report for duty. 
 History records many heroic and valorous deeds of this 
 company, which participated in the most severe strugles 
 during the war. Its simple list of battles fought, as 
 placed among the names upon its banners are : battle of 
 Manassas, "Williamsburg, Seven Pines, seven days' fight 
 around Richmond, Cold Harbor, .Savage Station, Frazier 
 Farm, Malvern Hill, Second Battle Mannassas, Boons- 
 boro' Gap, Sharpsburg, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, 
 Gettysburg, Chattanooga, Seigeof Knoxville, Tenn., Wil- 
 derness, Spottsylvania Court House, second battle Cold 
 Harbor, Drewey's Bluff, Five Forks, Siege of Peters- 
 burg, Va. The company surrendered with the Army of 
 Northern Virginia at Appomattox Court House, April 
 9th, 1865. The enlisments were as follows : 
 
 Captain, E. G. Alburtis, resigned 1861. 
 
 First Lieutenant, James S. Brown ; promoted Cap- 
 tain, January, 1862 ; — wounded at battle of Sharpsburg, 
 June, 1862. 
 
 Second Lieutenant, Geo. H. Murphy, transferred to 
 cavalry, 1861. 
 
 Third Lieutenant, Witherow, resigned in 1861. 
 
 Lieutenant, J. C. Pelham, instructor; promoted Cap- 
 tain and chief Stewart's Horse Artillery, 1861. 
 
 Surgeon, Dr. J. D. Newman. 
 
 Bugler, Jos. Sherrer. 
 
War of the Rebellion. 233 
 
 Ensign, Jolin R. O'Neal. 
 
 First Sergeant, Frank Smith, transferred. 
 
 Second Sergeant, Oliver King, " 
 
 Third Sergeant, Robert Lowery, ' ' 
 
 Fourth Sergeant, John Maxwell, promoted Second 
 Lieutenant, January, 1862 ; — transferred to cavalry. 
 
 Fifth Sergeant, J. 11. Couchman, promoted Quarter 
 master Sergeant, January, 1862. 
 
 First Corporal, Henry Wentz, promoted First Ser- 
 geant, 1862. 
 
 Second Corporal, Barney Stewart, promoted First 
 Sergeant, May, 1861. 
 
 Third Corporal, .lohnHines, transferred. 
 
 Fourth Corporal, John S. Robinson, promoted Third 
 Sergeant, June, 1861. 
 
 Fifth Corporal, John n. Weddell, promoted Second 
 Sergeant, November, 1861 ; promoted Second Lieu- 
 tenant, June, 1862; promoted First Lieutenant for gal- 
 lantry upon the field of battle. May 1st, 1863 ; wound- 
 ed at United States Ford, May 3d, 1863 ; wounded A.pril 
 5th, 1365. 
 
 Sixth Corporal, Joseph Lantz, promoted First Corpo- 
 ral, June, 1861,— killed at battle of Gettysburg, July 3d' 
 1863. 
 
 ' PRIVATES. 
 
 Alburtis, Samuel, transferred. 
 
 Auld, Charles. 
 
 Armpriest, Wm. 
 
 Boyer, John A. 
 
 Blakeney, Edward. 
 
 Blakeney, Harry, wounded at battle of Antietam, 
 June, 1862. 
 
 Blanchfield, John. 
 
 Beard, Geo., wounded at Seven Days' Fight Around 
 Richmond, June 27th, 1862,— wounded in front of Ber- 
 muda Hundred, February, 1865. 
 
 Bell, Harry, promoted Sergeant, 1862. 
 
234 War of tlie Rebellion. 
 
 Britton, Edward, transferred to Cavalry. 
 
 Bowers, John, transferred. 
 
 Chambers, Gr. W., wounded at battle of Spottsylvania 
 Court House, and died, June, 1864. 
 
 Clarke, Wm., wounded Seven Days' Fight Around 
 Richmond, June 27th, 1862. 
 
 Conway, James, discharged. 
 
 Commiskey, Thos. 
 
 Cox, Samuel. 
 
 Cunningham, David. 
 
 Causemenia, , wounded and died, June, 1864. 
 
 Faulkner, E. Boyd, wounded at first battle of Manas- 
 sas, July, 1861, — promoted Captain, 1861, — transferred. 
 
 Feaman, James, discharged. 
 
 Frazier, James. 
 
 Fiske, James, discharged. 
 
 Fultz, Thornton, discharged. 
 
 Gruber, J., discharged. 
 
 Hedges, B. S. 
 
 Herndon, Thomas. 
 
 Harley, James, killed, April 29th, 1863, at Chancel- 
 lorsville. 
 
 Helan, Patrick, discharged. 
 
 Hazard, Charles, killed at Cold Harbor, 1864. 
 
 Helferstay, Wm. 
 
 Hess, Aaron T. 
 
 Hill, Christopher. 
 
 Iradella, , discharged. 
 
 Israel, Gilbert. 
 
 Johnson, Wm., discharged. 
 
 Kisner, Wm., discharged. 
 
 Kisner, Wash., discharged. 
 
 Kearns, Cyrus, promoted 3d Lieutenant, April, 1862, — 
 killed at Seven Days' Fight Around Richmond, June 28th, 
 1862. 
 
 Kearns, Robert, discharged. 
 
 Keyes, John. 
 
War of tlie Rebellion. 235 
 
 Lucas, Charles, killed, at Seven Days' Figlit Around 
 Eiclimond, June 27tli, 1862. 
 
 Lucas, Benj., promoted 1st Sergeant. 
 
 Lucas, O. M., promoted Corporal, January, 1862. 
 
 Lowery, Benj., discharged. 
 
 Lantz, Christian. 
 
 Lowman, James, discharged. 
 
 Lowery, Wm., discharged. 
 
 Landers, Michael, discharged. 
 
 Mahoney, Patrick, promoted Commissary Sergeant, 
 January, 1862. 
 
 McLaughlin, Franklin. 
 
 Mulligan, Patrick. 
 
 Murray, Patrick. 
 
 Moore, J. 
 
 MoorCj Andrew M. 
 
 Markel, Samuel, promoted Corporal, 1862. 
 
 Mooney, J. B. 
 
 Myers, Wm. 
 
 Noland, Wm. 
 
 Palmer, Kearney. 
 
 Prior, Thomas. 
 
 Pendleton, P. C. 
 
 Eose, A. P. 
 
 Ryneal, P. 
 
 Ridenour, Martin. 
 
 Reardon, John. 
 
 Robinson, Edgar. 
 
 Reed, John. 
 
 Reed, J. F. 
 
 Strayer, A. P. 
 
 Sullivan, Edward. 
 
 Schultz, Wm. 
 
 Sisco, John. 
 
 Sisco, Peter. 
 
 Shea, John. 
 
 Seibert, Joseph. 
 
236 War of tlie Rebellion. 
 
 Suter, T. C. 
 Sclieig, Adolplius. 
 Strainey, Edward. 
 Titlow, Robt. 
 Tate, Robt. 
 Thomas, B. 
 Tabler, Martin. 
 Vogel, Jolin. 
 
 Walker, E. M., promoted 1st Lieutenant, January, 
 1862, — transferred to cavalry. 
 Walker, G. W., promoted Corporal, 1862. 
 Wert, H. T. 
 
 Wollett, P., discharged. 
 Wann, John. 
 
 Westphall, Chas., discharged. 
 
 Whitehurst, James, killed at Knoxville, Tenn., 1863. 
 Young, John. 
 
 COMPANY "B," FIRST REGIMENT, VIRGINIA CAVALRY- 
 BERKELEY COUNTY, 
 
 {Confederate States Army.] 
 About the year 1860 this company was organized, with 
 John Blair Hoge as Captain, and took an important part 
 in the battles of the late civil strife. Composed of loyal 
 and intelligent men, its part was well played. Upon its 
 banner are to be found the names of the largest and most 
 importaant battles fought. The first conflict for which 
 they were ordered out, was the battle of Manassas, which 
 occurred July 21st, 1861. After this they were engaged 
 with the Confederate troops in the various long and 
 bloody battles fought. Among the number are : Battle 
 of Seven Pines, (or seven days fight around Richmond), 
 Wilderness ; Fredericksburg ; Second Battle of Manas- 
 sas ; Antietam ; Gettysburg ; Spotsylvania Court House; 
 Petersburg, Five Forks, and others. Berkeley was ably 
 represented by this command, of whose number, many 
 have strewn the battle-Field with blood and life in de- 
 
War of the Rebellion. 237 
 
 fense of their just principles. Witli the army of Northern 
 Virginia, they surrendered at Appomattox, April 9th, 
 '1865. The enlistments at the time of organization are as 
 follows : 
 
 Captain^ G. N. Hammond, killed at Yellow Tavern, 
 May 12th, 1864. 
 
 First Lieutenant, Wm. K. Light. 
 
 Second Lieutenant, Wm. T. Noll, promoted as first 
 Lieutenant, — wounded at Gettysburg, July 4, 1863. 
 
 First Sergeant, John B. Seibert, discharged. 
 
 Second Sergeant, Charles Weller, discharged. 
 
 TJiird Sergeant, Robert H. Stewart, promoted as 2d 
 Lieutenant, — wounded at Mt. Olivet, October 10, 1864. 
 
 First Corporal, James N. Cunningham, promoted as 
 Captain, — wounded at Front Royal, August 21, and at 
 Rood's Hill, November 23, 1864. 
 
 Second Corporal, Aquila Janney, detailed in Quarter- 
 master's Department. 
 
 Tliird Corporal, James W. Cushwa, promoted as 2d 
 Sergeant. 
 
 PEIVATES. 
 
 Armstrong, Archibald, wounded at Spottsylvania, May 
 8, 1864,— killed at Martinsburg, July 1, 1864. 
 
 Auld. Thos. E. 
 
 Boley, Benj. F., w^ounded at Rood's Hill, November 
 23, 1864. 
 
 Bowers, Richard H. 
 
 Boyd, John E., promoted as Fourth Sergeant. 
 
 Breathed, James W., transferred, — promoted as Cap- 
 tain and Major of the Stuart Horse Artillery. 
 
 Bryarly, Robert P., promoted as Third Corporal, — 
 wounded at Tom's Brook, October 9, 1864. 
 
 Buchannon, J, C. 
 
 Burkhart, R. C. 
 
 Carper, Geo. W. 
 
 Catrow, John W., wounded at Slatersville, May 9, 1862. 
 
 Chapman, Jacob A., transferred. 
 
238 War of the EebelUon. 
 
 Combs, J. L. E., bugler ; discharged. 
 
 Coucliman, David, wounded at Slatersville, May 9, 
 1862. 
 
 Cunningliain, Charles, killed at Winchester, Septem- 
 ber 19, 1864. 
 
 Cunningham, W. L., wounded at Gettysburg, July 4, 
 1863. 
 
 Cushen, R. D. 
 
 Cushwa, Daniel. 
 
 Cushwa, David, promoted as 1st Corporal, — wounded 
 at Rood's Hill, November 23, 1864. 
 
 Cushwa, Seibert 
 
 Frieze, A. J., wounded at Spottsylvania, May 9, 1864. 
 
 Frieze, George. 
 
 Gageby, John N., promoted as 1st Sergeant. 
 
 Gladden, George. 
 
 House, Thomas. 
 
 Janney, W. H. H. 
 
 Jefferson, William M. 
 
 Kearfott, James, killed at Rood's Hill, November 23, 
 1864. 
 
 Kearfott, John P., wounded at Kennon's Landing, 
 June 5, 1864. 
 
 Kilmer, B. S., wounded at Mount Olivet, October 10, 
 1864. 
 
 Kilmer, Daniel. 
 
 Kilmer, David, wounded at Yellow Tavern, May 11, 
 1864. 
 
 Kilmer, H. D., transferred. 
 
 Lemen, W. M., Medical Sergeant. 
 
 Lyle, R. G., discharged. 
 
 Manning, Dennis, wounded at Raccoon Ford, October 
 13, 1863. 
 
 Marshall, Geo. W., promoted as 3d Sergeant, — wounded 
 at Spottsylvania, May 9, 1864. 
 
 Marshall, Joseph, died from disease. 
 
 Mason, James A. 
 
War of the Rebellion . 239 
 
 McClary, Geo. W. 
 McKee, Mayberry. 
 Miller, Daniel. 
 
 Mong, Wendel, promoted as 4t]i Corporal. 
 Murphy, James B., killed at Rood' s Hill, Sept. 19, 1864. 
 Murphy, Richard. 
 Myers, W. H. 
 Payne, J. Trip. 
 
 Payne, Martin L., wounded afc Anandale, Sept. 1861, 
 at Spottsylvania, May, 1864, and at Cedar Creek, 
 February, 1865. 
 Payne, O. F., wounded at Mount Olivet, Oct. 10, 1864. 
 Rainer, George. 
 Roberts, E. S. 
 
 Roberts, Geo. D. 
 
 Roberts, William, wounded at Cedar Creek, October 
 19, 1864. 
 
 Roush, Charles, wounded at Winchester, Aug. 28, 1864. 
 
 Seibert, Abraham, wounded at Manasses, July 21, 1861, 
 — discharged. 
 
 Seibert, Eli. 
 
 Seibert, JohnB., discharged. 
 
 Seibert, Wendel, promoted as Second Corporal, — 
 wounded at Spottsylvania, May 9, 1864. 
 
 Shepherd, James, transferred. 
 
 Showers, George E. ' 
 
 Silver, Frank, wounded at Rood's Hill, Nov. 23, 1864. 
 
 Silver, Henry. 
 
 Small, David. 
 
 Small, William 
 
 Strayer, D. J. R., wounded at Manassas, July 21, 1861. 
 
 Strode, P. H. 
 
 Stump, JohnH., wounded at Yellow Tavern, May 11, 
 1864. 
 
 Tabb, E. W. discharged. 
 
 Thatcher, David, killed at Buckland Mills, Oct. 19, 1863. 
 
 Thomas, Jacob. 
 
240 War of the Bebellion. 
 
 Weaver, Charles. 
 
 Weaver, George, killed at Slatersvil]e,Va., May 9, 1862. 
 
 COMPANY "E," SECOND REGIMENT, VIRGINIA INFANTRY- 
 BERKELEY COUNTY. 
 
 \Cov federate States Army.'] 
 
 This compauy was organized in the fall of 1859, in the 
 town of Hedgesville and vicinity, immediately after the 
 John Brown raid, when the Southern people became im- 
 pressed with the idea that their institutions were men- 
 aced by northern fanatics. M. C. Nadenbousch, Esq., 
 was its first Captain, and R. T. Colston, a graduate of 
 the Virginia Military Institute, was First Lieutenant. 
 Capt. Nadenbousch having had no military training, 
 very shortly resigned, and Lieutenant Colston succeeded 
 to the captaincy and brought the company to a high 
 degree of proficiency. When the war cloud burst, Cap- 
 tain Colston was ordered to report, with his company, at 
 Harper's Ferry. Company "E" was assigned to the 2nd 
 Virginia Regiment, which formed a part of the famous 
 ' 'Stonewall Brigade," and participated in all the battles in 
 which that gallant corps was engaged. It contained with- 
 in its ranks some of Berkeley' s bravest sons, always bear- 
 ing itself bravely in every fight. The following is a roll of 
 the company, as near as can be gotten at this late day, 
 obtained from surviving members thereof : 
 
 Captain, Raleigh T. Colston, promoted to Lieut. Col. 
 in 1862,— to Col. in 1863, and killed at the battle of Mine 
 Run, Nov. 23d, 1863. 
 
 First Lieutenant, David Manor, killed at the first bat- 
 tle of Manassas, July 21st, 1861. 
 
 First Sergeant, Wm. B. Colston, wounded at Kerns- 
 town, March 23rd, 1862,— promoted to First Lieutenant, 
 April, 1862,— wounded at Fredericksburg, Dec, 15th, 
 1862,— promoted Captain, May, 1863. 
 
 Second Sergeant, John T. Hull, promoted Second 
 Lieutenant, April, 1862,— wounded at Chancellorsville. 
 
War of the Rebellion. 241 
 
 Third Sergeant, Chas. W. Manor, wounded at first 
 battle of Manassas, July 21st, 1861,— promoted Orderly- 
 Sergeant, April, 1862. 
 
 Fourth Sergeant, W. H. Lingamfelter. 
 
 PIUVATES. 
 
 Bane, Newton. 
 
 Basore, Emanuel. 
 
 Blamer, James. 
 
 Brown, Charles. 
 
 Criswell, John L. 
 
 Couchman, Geo. W., wounded at second battle of 
 Manassas. 
 
 Dugan, James L., lost arm at Seven Pines. 
 
 Eversole, John W. 
 
 Eversole, Jacob H., wounded -it Cliancellorsville. 
 
 Eversole, Isaac, killed. 
 
 Fiery, James, killed at Chancellorsville. 
 
 Guinn, James V. 
 
 Haines, John J., promoted First Lieutenant, April, 
 1862,— wounded at Fredericksburg, Dec. 15th, 1862. . 
 
 Hill, Abraham. 
 
 Hull, Geo. W., wounded. 
 
 Hull, Dallas, wounded at Port Republic. 
 
 Hunter, David, killed at Fisher's Hill, 1864. 
 
 Hunter, John A., detailed on signal service. 
 
 Jenkins, Asa. 
 
 Johnson, William. 
 
 Keisecker, Newton, killed at Chancellorsville. 
 
 Keyser, John, killed at Fredericksburg. 
 
 Lanham, Jeremiah. 
 
 Light, Wm. E. 
 
 Merchant, Isaac N., wounded at Chancellorsville. 
 
 Miller, Geo. W., killed at first battle of Manassas, July 
 21st, 1861. 
 
 Myers, Cromwell L., wounded at Kernstown. 
 
 Miller, Harvey A. 
 
 Merchant, W. S., wounded at Cedar Mountain. 
 
242 War of Ois Rebellion. 
 
 O'Connor, Micliae]. 
 
 Pike, Frank, Jr., killed at Kernstown, Marcli 23d, 1862. 
 Pryor, Jolin, wounded on several occasions. 
 Porterfield, Milton, wounded at battle of Wilderness. 
 Porterfield, Alexander, killed. 
 Perregory, William. 
 Riddle, John, killed. 
 
 Eockwell, George W., promoted 3d Lieutenant, 1863. 
 Sperow, Jacob, killed at Kernstown, March 23d, 1S62. 
 Sperow, George. 
 'Snodgrass, Porterfield. 
 ■Sharff, Nicholas. 
 Stuckey, Samuel A. 
 
 Stuckey, John W., killed at second Manassas, 1862. 
 Small, Reuben. 
 Small, John M. 
 Turner, William, killed. 
 Triggs, Harrison. 
 Wilson, Valerius. 
 
 Weddell, Geo. W., wounded at Kernstown, March 23d, 
 1862,— at Monncacv in 1864. 
 
 COMPANY "A," SEVENTEENTH BATALLION, VIRGINIA CAV- 
 ALRY—BERKELEY COUNTY. 
 
 This company was organized in October, 1861, at Mar- 
 tinsburg, principally of Berkeley County men, with a 
 number from the surrounding counties. It was first sta- 
 tioned at Martinsburg, and acted on picket duty along 
 the border, where it remained until about February 24th, 
 1862. From here they proceeded to and around Win- 
 chester, and afterward fell back up the valley. They 
 next went to Strausburg and Woodstock, afterwards 
 serving on picket duty several days at Millwood and 
 White Post. They were then ordered to Middletown, 
 Harrisonburg and Two Bridges, and from the latter place 
 a detachment of fourteen men were sent to Fort Eepub- 
 ilic to guard the bridge and prepare it for burning. Here 
 
WaroftlieRelellion. 243 
 
 fhey engaged in two very severe fights, wliich occurred, 
 on the 11th and 12th of May, at Cross Keys and Lewis' 
 Bottoms. From here they went down the valley in rear 
 of Jackson' s army and fought at Winchester on the 24th 
 of May of that year, with a part of the company acting 
 on picket duty at Front Royal. They again returned 
 to the border and remained about three days, from 
 whence they fell back with Jackson, who then crossed 
 the Blue Ridge and went into Virginia. This company 
 participated in all the important battles fought during 
 the late civil strife, and many of Berekeley's brave and 
 heroic sons have fell within its ranks in defense of what 
 they deemed a Just and worthy cause. It was known 
 during those days as the "Wild Cat Company." 
 
 It has been an impossibility to obtain its roll of mem- 
 bers full and correct, as the author has been unable to 
 gain any other information than that given by several 
 survivors of the company. The following is a list of 
 Berkeley County men, with officers, etc., as can best be 
 ascertained : 
 
 Captain, G. W. Myers, of Baltimore, Md. 
 
 First Lieutenant, George Wells. 
 
 Second Lieutenant, Murray, of Baltimore. 
 
 PKIVATES. 
 
 Albain, 
 
 Brittner, Thad, killed. 
 
 Blondel, Charles. 
 
 Bets, James. 
 
 Butler, John. 
 
 Carney, J. A^., wounded at Darkesville, Sept. 17th, 
 1862. 
 
 Chapman, . 
 
 Gore, , killed at Buckner's Station, May 23d, 
 
 1862. 
 
 Hedges, Anthony, killed. 
 
 Kensel, John J. 
 
 Leech, Sid. 
 
244 War of tlie Rebellion. 
 
 Miller, Harvey A. 
 
 Mingle, John. 
 
 McNemar, Michael, wounded. 
 
 Patterson, Frank. 
 
 Ronk, Benj., killed at Mt. Jackson, 1863. 
 
 Seibert, J. B., promoted Lieutenant. 
 
 Strode, Joseph. 
 
 Saderfield, . 
 
 Sayles, William. 
 
 Seckman, T. 
 
 Turner, John A., promoted Captain. 
 
 Teack, S. 
 
 Wilson, J. L., killed at Warrington Springs. 
 
 This Company left Martinsburg with about 50 mem- 
 bers, and was composed of men from Berkeley, Morgan, 
 Frederick and Jefferson Counties, with several from 
 Maryland. 
 
 THE BLUE Ai\D THE GRAY. 
 I. 
 ' ' By the flow of the inland river, 
 
 Whence the fleets of iron have fled, 
 Where the blades of the grave-grass quiver, 
 Asleep are the ranks of the dead ; — 
 Under the sod and the dew, 
 
 Waiting the judgment day ; 
 Under the one, the Blue ; 
 Under the other, the Gray. 
 
 II. 
 
 " There, in the robings of glory. 
 Those in the gloom of defeat. 
 All, with the battle-blood gory. 
 In the dusk of eternity meet ; — 
 Under the sod and the dew. 
 
 Waiting the judgment day ; 
 Under the laurel, the Blue ; 
 Under the willow, the Geat. 
 
 III. 
 
 " From the silence of sorrowful hours, 
 The desolate mourners go. 
 Lovingly laden with flowers, 
 
War of the Rebellion. 245 
 
 Alike for the friend and tlio foe ; — 
 Under tlie sod and tlie dew, 
 
 Waiting tlie judgment day ; 
 Under the roses, the Blue ; 
 Under the lilies, the Gkay. 
 
 lY. 
 
 ' So, "With an equal splendor, 
 The morning snn-raj's fall, 
 ■With a touch, impartially tender. 
 On the blossoms blooming for all; — 
 Under the sx>d and the dew. 
 
 Waiting the judgment day ; 
 Broidered with gold, the Blue ; 
 Mellowed with gold, the Gray. 
 
 V. 
 
 ' So, when the summer calleth, 
 On forest and field of grain. 
 With an equal murmur f alleth 
 The cooling drip of the rain ; — 
 Under the sod and the dew. 
 
 Waiting the judgment day ; 
 Wet with the rain, the Blue ; 
 Wet with the rain, the GKiY. 
 
 VI. 
 ' Sadly, but not with upbraiding, 
 The generous deed was done ; 
 In the storm of the years that are fading, 
 K"o braver battle was won ; — 
 Under the sod and the dew. 
 
 Waiting the judgment day ; 
 Under the blossoms, the Blue ; 
 Under the garlands, the Gray. 
 
 VII. 
 ' No more shall the war-cry sever. 
 Or the winding rivers be red ; 
 They banish our anger forever. 
 When they laurel the graves of our dead ; 
 Under the sod and the dew, 
 
 AVaiting the judgment day ; 
 Love and tears, for the Blue ; 
 Tears and love, for the Gray. 
 
REMINISCENCE. 
 
People's National Bank 
 
 OP . 
 
 ^MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA,3M- 
 
 COR. QUEEN AND BURKE STREETS. 
 
 DESIGNATED DEPOSITORY OF TBE UNITED STATES. 
 
 A.J.THOMAS.Pres. J. B. WILSON, Cashier. 
 
 Capital, $50,000. Surplus and Undivided Profits, $20,000. 
 
 A GENERAL BANKING BUSINESS TRANSACTED. 
 
 ACCOUNTS OF BANKS AND BANKERS, 
 CORPORATIONS, MANUFACTURING 
 FIRMS, MERCHANTS AND INDI- 
 VIDUALS SOLICITED. 
 
 • C0XjIL.ECTZ02SrS W- 
 
 RECEIVED UPON ALL ACCESSIBLE POINTS, AND RETURNS 
 PROMPTLY MADE AS DIRECTED. CAREFUL ATTEN- 
 TION GIVEN TO THE BUSINESS OF 
 CORRESPONDENTS. 
 
 Domestic and Foreign Exchange Bought and Sold. 
 
 JFXItST NAIIONAIj bank, Xew Torit City, 
 
 COM. EXCBANGE NATIOyAI, HANK, FJiiladel2>hia, 
 WESTEMN NATIONAL BANK, Baltimore, 
 
 SECOND NATIONAZ BANK, Washington. 
 
CHAPTER XI. 
 
 HISTORICAL REMmiSCENCE OF MARTINSBURG, 
 
 FROM THE YEAR 1832 TO THE YEAR 1861, 
 
 WITH STATEMENTS COVERING- MANY 
 
 EVENTS OCCURRING SINCE THE 
 
 CLOSE OF THE LATE CIVIL 
 
 WAR. 
 
 BY JOIIjST AV. CURTIS. 
 IfVn'Ueu especially for the author of this •worJ:, and copyrighted accord- 
 ing to law. All ?ights reserved ] 
 
 II^HRING my early childliood days there were still 
 
 a^§ many Revolutionary heroes, old, and in many cases. 
 decrepid, who would often entertain company at the 
 hotel, by relating personal experience of the times 
 through which they had passed ; also, many yet who 
 had been engaged in the Indian wars. Among them was 
 one Peter Cook, who had been in St. Clair's defeat in 
 Ohio Territory. He would exhibit the effect of a terrible 
 struggle which left him maimed for life, and was one of 
 only 123 that reached the white settlement from the 
 defeat. His right foot was cut off diagonally up to the 
 instep of the foot, leaving only the little toe. He shot 
 an Indian who feigned death, and went to get his arms, 
 when the Indian arose with tomahawk and cleft his foot 
 off at one blow. He had a severe struggle, and finally 
 getting the tomahawk, he buried it in the top of the In- 
 dian's head. 
 
 Many thrilling instances of escape, as well as personal 
 struggle in border warfare, would be related in which the 
 parties were personally engaged. There seldom passed 
 a week that more or less Indians, in their native dress 
 and natural ferociousness of character, came through 
 
250 Reminiscence. 
 
 town. They would be fully equipped with bow and 
 arrows, and tomahawk, with knife hanging to a band of 
 undressed deer hide around their waist. They would 
 often shoot at coin placed in a split stick — if hitting, it 
 was theirs ; upon missing, they would throw on the 
 ground the same coin. Our silver coin at that time was 
 the Picayune, or 6i cent piece. The bit of 12J cent piece, 
 and the Hispanola of Pillar, 25 cent piece, were all Span- 
 ish coin. The Mexican Pillar or Spanish, and the Amer- 
 ican silver dollar, copper half and one cent pieces, were 
 used as American coin. I have no early recollection of 
 seeing the American five, ten, twenty-five and fifty cent 
 pieces until after passing up to full youth. 
 
 The Indians generally i)assing through our valley were 
 from Kentucky and Tennessee, and were enormous eaters. 
 On one occasion four arrived and stopped at the hotel. 
 Three at once commenced shooting at coin, and the other 
 came in and asked for food. A full large loaf of bread, 
 Avith an ordinary size tiam, was placed before him, and 
 he was left to helj) himself. Upon returning nothing was 
 left except the bone of the ham. 
 
 When a child the whipping post occupied ground di- 
 rectly in frout of your present, and also old Court House 
 door. One Christmas morning it was found blown to 
 pieces. Parties had bored holes in the stock and charged 
 them heavily with powder, destroying it for all future 
 use. A new one was afterward erected in the space be- 
 tween the jail and next house east, which was then the 
 Clerk's olTice. 
 
 The first event to make a lasting impression and fix 
 itself upon my mind was of a political character, and will 
 show the devices resorted to at that period to claim and 
 hold party fealty. It was in my fourth year, and had 
 my home at a large hotel, the headquarters of the Dem- 
 ocratic and Republican parties. During the congressional 
 canvass of 1832 General Jackson was President, and a 
 I)rocession and barebcue was held late in the evening. 
 
Reminiscence. ' 251 
 
 and tlie Democracy addressed from a stand in front of 
 the hotel. On the street was a wagon drawn by six 
 horses, beautifully caparisoned, and fixed upon it was 
 a good- sized hickory tree in full leaf and foliage. Upon 
 each twig, branch, limb, in fact all over it, Avas hung the 
 American silver dollar, tied by blue ribbons, and at every 
 vibration of the tree the delightful tingling money sound 
 would strike upon the ear. This device was to show the 
 Democrats' hostility to the then Federalists' financial 
 system and United States Bank, which had absorbed and 
 held in its vaults nearly, if not all, coin in the country, 
 ruinous to all commercial pursuits and crippling the 
 Government very seriously in its Treasury Department. 
 My entire boyhood days were spent at this hotel, and up 
 to almost middle life it was the headquarters of the 
 Democracy, and every meeting of the county was held 
 there. Old Tammany or Billmire's Hotel was situated 
 - on the southwest corner of King and your present Ger- 
 man streets. It was not for many years that any other 
 streets had names, except King and Qaeen, they being 
 then as now, the principle business streets. 
 
 The other hotels were the Globe, Wra. Kraesen, jsro- 
 prietor, occupying the site on King street opposite your 
 St. Clair Hotel, as far up as Grantham Hall east, and ad- 
 joining property now owned by E. Herring, Esq. ; a hotel 
 with different proprietors, called the Claycomb House, 
 where the present Lambert saloon is, on Queen street ; 
 the Gardner House, owned by Peter Gardner, an eccen- 
 tric good old German, which is now the Eagle Hotel, on 
 Queen street ; also the Kelley House, (proprietor un- 
 known) located on your present Martin street, directly 
 opposite the home of Dr. Myers. The old town up to the 
 year 1837 was what might be called a good-sized village, 
 with possibly 800 and could not have exceeded 1,000 in- 
 habitants. Each day four stages arrived and departed- 
 one to Hagerstown, one to Shepherdstown, one to Win- 
 chester, and one to the Warm Springs, now known as 
 
252 Reminiscence. 
 
 Berkeley Sijrings. All traffic and trade was carred on 
 by wagons and teams. Every hotel tried to secure the 
 custom, and it was very evenly divided. No such things 
 as a railroad was thought of in our every-day life, al- 
 though occasionally I could hear among the drivers of 
 teams about the horse railway from Baltimore to EUi- 
 cott's Mills. The manufacture of wools was carried on 
 largely at a factory belonging to the Gibbs family. It 
 occupied the present locality of or abouc your j)ump- 
 house for water works ; also a large foundry on same lo- 
 cality, of which the Gibbs were proprietors, and super- 
 intended by John Keys, who raised a large family, one 
 of whom, Philii^, is now living at Keyser. Distillers for 
 whisky and fruit were scattered around, the principle 
 one being Flaggs', east of town. Flour was largely man- 
 ufactui'ed and shipped. The Stevens mill, now owned 
 by Geo. M. Bowers ; the Ransom mill, now Hannis' ; the 
 Tabb and Hibbard mills on Tuscarora, west of town, now 
 Kilmer and Bender' s mills, were all large grinders. Each 
 farmer had his own grain ground for toll, and sold the 
 flour as needed at home, or else hauled it to Baltimore 
 markets, bringing back for the merchants dry goods, 
 groceiies, etc. At the site of the i^resent Fitz mill was 
 an oil mill, where flax-seed was ground and oil extracted 
 for sale. Blacksmithiiig, wagon-making, furniture man- 
 ufacturing, cooperage, saddle and harness making, tai- 
 loring, shoe-making, watch repairing, house carpentry, 
 tinning, white- smithing or lock making, brass foundry 
 and coppser kettle making were carried on extensively, 
 and many manufactories had wagons on the road selling 
 their articles of trade. 
 
 Onr fathers and mothers were an active, busy people. 
 The mode of preparation of food by cooking was of an 
 entire difl'erent character than at present. We had no 
 stoves and knew nothing about them, except the old ten- 
 IDlate All our cooking was done in stew pans with long 
 handles, Dutch ovens, spitts, frying pans, etc., on an 
 
Reminiscence. 253 
 
 open hearth, using live coals from the chimney where 
 full cord wood had been burnt down. Our bread was 
 baked in ovens specially built for such purposes. In 
 preparation for baking, batch was set in large dough- 
 trays over night and worked out in the morning into 
 loaves, each of which was placed in a bread-basket made 
 of straw, closely knit together by hickory withs. In 
 these baskets the bread was again raised for baking, and 
 afterwards turned upon a large paddle used in placing 
 it in the oven, where it rested upon the heated floor, and 
 generally came out with a crisp, nice crust, and was fit 
 for the stomach of an epicure. 
 
 The sports of the day were of similar character to the 
 present. Boys played town, ring and corner ball, ran 
 the fox, and at certain seasons played marbles in various 
 games, shooting in holes being much in vogue ; in winter 
 enjoying skating. A large pond of water was near town, 
 known as the Waite lot, where many days of sport in 
 skating were enjoyed. Hop, skid and jump, mumbly 
 meg, hide and seek, and many other games were indulged 
 in. The older boys took much delight in flying large 
 kites, sending uid hot air paper balloons, throwing fire 
 balls, etc. The men would get up bull baits, where they 
 would have a large, fierce bull tied by the horns with a 
 cable rope, and fastened securely to a stake planted 
 deeply in the ground. They would try the metal and 
 ferocity of a class of fierce bull dogs. One to three at a 
 time turned on the animal, and which ever dog took a 
 nose hold and threw the bull, received the reward of 
 champion, and possibly its owner some compensation. 
 Much betting was engaged in as to the merits of th e 
 different dogs. There was also a weekly chicken or cock 
 main fought somewhere in town. They also passed much 
 time in pitching quaits, wrestling and jumping, and 
 on everything betting was prevalent. Much drink- 
 ing was done, — persons usually buying liquor by the pint 
 or half pint, and drinking it at a table from little tin 
 
25-1 Reminiscence. 
 
 cups called jiggers. This was the general custom up to 
 1837, when drinking at the bar by glasses became custo- 
 mary. JSTo liquor was sold except at regular licensed 
 hotels, and no license granted ezicept upon condition, 
 that stable room for not less than three horses and beds 
 for nine men, were on the premises ; and they were then 
 licensed as ordinary' s., not as hotels or inns. 
 
 The school accommodations of the times were limited, 
 in the extreme. Old Capt. Maxwell taught for years in 
 a house on your present Burke Street. In the basement 
 of the Liitheran Church different persons taught. My 
 first day at school was under the present church site, the 
 teacher being a Mr. Young, who by his filthy habit of 
 profuse tobacco spitting on the floor, was disres^sectf uUy 
 called by the scholars "Old Peal Garlic." He was better 
 known by that than his own name. He was succeeded 
 by a Mr. John Byers, from Shepherdstown, who contin- 
 ued a long time as tutor, and many of my age then going 
 to him, owe him a deep and mighty debt for his loving 
 care over us, both as to morals as well as the secular 
 knowledge he gave us. I think your good citizens, J. 
 E. Hill, Joseph Paintei', Jacob Swartz, and possibly 
 others will join me in his praise. On the hill near the 
 Catholic and Episcopal cemeteries was a stone building 
 called the accademy, then taught by a Mr. Bascom, suc- 
 ceeded by a Mr. Caney and others whose names have 
 passed from memory. In the building now occupied by 
 the priest, in charge of the Catholic Church, a Mrs. 
 Little taught exclusively, a female school. This embra- 
 ced all the schools of the town, until after the year 1840, 
 which I will enumerate when I reach that year. 
 
 The Presidential campaign of 1836, with Martin Van 
 Buren for President, and R. M. Johnson* for Vice-Presi- 
 dent, as Democratic candidates, with Henry Clay as the 
 
 * Johnson was called old Tecumseh, liaYlng the reputation of liiUing this 
 great Indian Chief in the Indian war of 1834-, in the then territory of 
 Indiana. 
 
Reminiscence. 255 
 
 Whig candidate, passed without much excitement, al- 
 though the great questions of the day being as is now. 
 The Whig measure was Tariff for Protection, or Tariff 
 for Eevenue, with incidental protection a Democratic 
 policy. The Democratic measure was the recharter of 
 the old U. S. Bank, advocated by Henry Clay, as against 
 the Sub-Treasury system. The Democrats being success- 
 ful in the election of Van Buren and Johnson, with a 
 large majority in the lower House and Senate, everything 
 remained quiet politically. 
 
 In 1837 the old town was moved Avonderfully. A large 
 camp, having 37 canvas tents, suddenly appeared on 
 level ground beyond the present Green Hill Cemetery. 
 They proved to be the Surveying corps, locating the 
 route of the Baltimore and Ohio Kailroad, among 
 whom were a Mr. Latrobe as principal, and his im- 
 mediate officer in charge, a Mr. Shipley, and many 
 others with whose names I was once familiar, but have 
 now passed from memory. It gave new life and impetus 
 to everything. The house, known afterward as Everett 
 House, was improved and converted into a hotel, of 
 which my uncles, John and Mike Billmire, became xwo- 
 prietors for the years 1838 and 1839. This house became 
 headquarters in town for Civil Engineers when from 
 camp. They removed their camp to the ground now oc- 
 cupied by Mr. J. W. Bishop, above the Fitz mills, and 
 remained there for several years. On the 22d of Febru- 
 ary, 1839, the citizens of the town tendered an honor to 
 the Civil Engineers, which they accepted, and a grand 
 ball was held at the old Tammany House, to which my 
 uncles were caterers. The military spirit of the peo- 
 ple of Martinsburg was always good, and at that 
 time the Lafayette Guards, under command of Capt. 
 John S. Harrison, was a crack company. Under 
 superior drill and beautifully uniformed, was present 
 also many soldiers from Cumberland, Md., belong- 
 ing to a company called the Continentals. Their 
 
256 Rem in iscen ce. 
 
 dress consisted of navy blue cloth, witli buff facing 
 on the breast ; buff vest, many of yellow tanned deer 
 skin ; short knee breeches with white hose attached by 
 large buckles, and low slippers, something like an Indian 
 moccasin. They made a beautiful appearance, and tak- 
 ing all in all, the ball was a grand occasion. 
 
 The churches of the town from 1832 to 1S40 remained 
 unchanged. There was on the corner of John street and 
 the graveyard an old log building, which had been occu- 
 pied in common by the Lutheran and German Eeformed 
 denominations, services being conducted in the Dutch 
 language. It was abandoned when I first knew it. In- 
 side it was weatherboarded to the apex of the roof, with 
 the entrance on the corner. The quaintest high back 
 pews were placed diagonally across the church, in order 
 to face a pulpit nearly, if not fully, fifteen feet high, as 
 it was reached by 17 steps, ascending spirally from the 
 corner of the chancel. It was capped by a box that came 
 above the waist of an ordinary sized man, and just big 
 enough for him to stand in without a seat, from which 
 he delivered his sermon. Above the entrance was a gal- 
 lery in which was a large pipe organ, and above was a 
 small belfry. The belh nsed here is said to be the one 
 now in use on the German Eeformed church, at least 
 when that church was erected it was so stated. The M. 
 E. Church had a stone building on East John street, and 
 is now occupied as a residence. The Presbyterians had 
 a church on King street, which was destroyed by soldiers 
 during an early period of our late civil strife, the lot 
 being still unoccupied. The German Eeformed wor- 
 shipped in this church for a number of years. The 
 Catholics had a stone church located near the centre of 
 their j)resent^cemetery. Protestant Episcopal church had 
 an abandoned church structure of stone, and its location 
 was at the entrance to their present cemetery. I cannot 
 recall Avhere they worshiped until the present church 
 was erected, which was near 1850— although I knew the 
 
Reminiscence. 257 
 
 pastors in charge of Parish, a Mr. Johnson and Tallifaro, 
 after which came Rev. Mr. Chisholm, who volunteered 
 and nobly entered in company with the then Catholic 
 Priest, Rev. Mr. Plunkett, as, nurses for afflicted yellow 
 fever patients in Norfolk and Portsmouth, both of whom 
 died in discharge of christian duty and charity. The 
 Lutheran Church has always occupied the present site 
 on corner of Queen and Martin Streets, much improved 
 from its original structure, which was very plain and 
 unobtrusive. 
 
 During the years 1838, '39 and '40, business began to 
 expand and stretch away from the centre of the town. 
 All the stores, dry goods, groceries, druggists, etc., 
 had been on the now Grantham corner, also Wil- 
 son and Boreman property, up to the business house 
 now occupied by Frank Doll & Co., and were confined 
 within that limit. Railroad contractors began to come 
 in, and established stores in order to supply their em- 
 ployees, selling and trading with the public just as the 
 regular established merchants. In 1832 we had but one 
 drug store, located in Commodore Boreman' s house, with 
 Israel Young as proprietor. Grantham Hall corner was 
 occupied by Thos. C. Smith ; Wilson corner, by John K. 
 Wilson and William Anderson ; Continental corner, by 
 Isaac Locke; opposite corner, now Sheriff's office, by 
 Alex. Robinson ; Frank Evans tobacco store, by Daniel 
 Burkhart and Geo. Doll ; store house of C. Thumel, by 
 Wm. Long & Sons ; Frank Doll & Co's stand, by a Mr. 
 Hogmire. The corner of the then Faulkner property, 
 now occupied by the People's National Bank, was used 
 by Robt. Rush, a son-in-law of Daniel Burkhart. Jacob 
 Hamme and James Stevens did business in the old Baker 
 building. Their trade was general merchandise, grocer- 
 ies, hardware, queensware, and whatever people wanted. 
 No one branch was confined to itself as is now often the 
 case. It is a noted fact, often spoken of in my presence 
 
258 Eemimscence. 
 
 as true, that every merchant doiDg business under the 
 old regime and system failed. 
 
 In the fall of 1S3S Wm. Lucas, father of Hon. D. B. 
 Lucas, was the Democratic candidate for Congress. His 
 oi^ponent was a Col. Barton, of Frederick County, the 
 Whig candidate. Mr. Lucas was elected, the district 
 feeing ' overwhelmingly Democratic, embracing, if my 
 memory is not at fault, the counties of Jefferson, Clarke, 
 T*age, Warren, Frederick, Berkeley, Morgan, Hampshire 
 and Haxdy. The system of voting was Tdva voce, or 
 ■ open spoken ballot. The right of suffrage was only given 
 to land oTraers and other property qualification. A land 
 owner could vote in each, county where his name was en- 
 tered in the Land Book if he could reack a voting place 
 witliin three days, for whick time the polls were kept 
 open. TMs system continued up to tlie year 1851 and 
 1852, at wkick time the new Constitution was adopted, 
 that extended tke right of suffrage to every white man 
 21 years of age and over, not disqualified by pauperism 
 or mental incapacity. The elections were confined ex- 
 clusively to Presidential, Congressional, State Senate 
 and Legislature. All county officers were appointed by 
 the Governor of State. Berkeley County was one of the 
 reliable old Federalist and Whig counties of the State, 
 and Democracy was frowned upon witk apparent con- 
 tempt. Under tlie old regime of restricted suffrage all 
 tke wealthy and leading citizens seemed to belong to that 
 party. General Boyd, whom I just remember, Col. Ed. 
 Colston, Moses Hunter, Col. E. P. Hunter, Judge Philip 
 Pendleton, Capt. Van Doren, Col. R. V. Snodgrass, Col. 
 Jacob Myers, Benjamin Comeqy, Wm. T. Snodgrass, 
 Samuel Henshaw, William Cunningham, Andrew Mc- 
 Cleary, Dr. Allen Hammond, Hon. C. J. Faulkner, Til- 
 Jitson Fryatt, Barton Campbell, Jacob Weaver and many 
 others were leading, wealthy citizens, and each one an 
 ardent Federalist and Whig. On the other side ardent 
 Jackson Democrats were such men as Col. Robinson, 
 
Reminiscence. 259 
 
 James W. Gray, Wm Barney, G-eorge, Jacob and David 
 Seibert, Moses S. and Lewis Grantliam, lame Mike Sei- 
 bert, Dr. John Hedges, Dr. John S. Harrison, Dr. Thos. 
 S. Page, Dr. Chas. Magill, John and Jacob Painter, 
 Alex, and Geo. Newcomer, Abraham Williamson, Geo. 
 and William Sperow, Rev. John Light, Jacob, John and 
 Daniel Lefever, Samuel and Hezekiah Hedges, Peter 
 Gardner, John and Michael Billmire, and many others. 
 The Democrats never failed having a candidate in the 
 Held, but invariably met with defeat in county electiqns 
 for Legislature. For the State Senate the District was 
 always reliably Democratic, as was also the case for Con- 
 gress. The Presidential election of 1840,— M. Van 
 Buren, Democratic candidate, with W. H. Harrison and 
 John Tyler as candidates of the Whig party, was the 
 most exciting and strongest contest and furor that this 
 county has possibly ever passed through. General Har- 
 rison was a noted successful Indian warrior, and very 
 popular as the Governor of Northwest Territority. He 
 lived in a plain log cabin on the prairies of Indiana, and 
 gave full, free entertainment to whomever called. His 
 customary drink was hard cider, handed in a common 
 gourd cup. His cabin was covered with coon skins. 
 This gave the Whig party the opportunity to build log 
 cabins on a wagon — the interior holding in large casks 
 his favorite drink, with live coons confined by chains on 
 the roof or wherever they could get a foothold. The 
 Democrats tried to bring the canvass within the province 
 of principles and discussion of political questions, but 
 were overthrown by the public furor and excitement of 
 honoring a good old soldier who had spent the flower of 
 his life in dangerous public service on the frontier. 
 They could not be drawn from giving him the deserved 
 honor. He was a Whig President without policy or 
 ' chart, and only lived one month. When dying he was 
 succeeded by John Tyler, the elected Vice-President, 
 who had, all his previous life, been recognized as a Dem- 
 
260 Reminiscence. 
 
 ocrat, and it was no surprise when in forming his cabi- 
 net, with the exception of Daniel Webster, Secretary of 
 State, that his selection should be of the conservative 
 Democratic element. He was cnrsed by the Whigs, but 
 ardently supported by Democrats. 
 
 The year 1841 was uneventful, except the fact that 
 l^rocess of grade and bridge building on the railroad was 
 in progress, with a large number of employes, most gen- 
 erally of a foreign element. From about Vanclevesville, 
 on the East, to North Mountain, west of toAvn, the em- 
 ployes were all from Ireland. Beyond that to near Sleepy 
 Creek, they were German — growing out of the fact that 
 contractors were Irish at one place and German at the 
 other. A Mr. Wm. O'Neal had the contract East of 
 town, from Green Hill Cemetery to about one mile East 
 of Opequon Creek. Immediately through the town a 
 Mr. Eads was contractor, and beyond Dry Run, West, a 
 German by name of Rotterman, was contractor. I knew 
 them ail personally, as they were boarders at my home. 
 
 On St. Patrick's day of this year, an old gentleman by 
 name of Gallaher, was honored by the jokers of the town 
 in having a "paddy" hung upon a tree in front of his 
 residence. He took it in as a good joke, and carefully 
 taking it down, gave it to us school boys that were pres- 
 ent, provided we would carry it upon a board as a bier 
 and he would walk as chief mourner on the street to the 
 Everett House, which we did. The "paddy" was left 
 there in the care of a colored man for future use. On the 
 night of the 31st, "paddy" was removed to Tuscarora 
 Creek, at foot of John street,— carefully placed in the 
 water with one foot showing boot sole near the top, and 
 the balance of the body seen under water, which to every 
 appearance was a drowned man. Wm. Reed, on his way 
 to the factory, made the discovery. He immediately re- 
 IDorted the fact to the Coroner, Mr. Anthony Chambers, 
 who summoned a jury of inquest, and to the disturbance 
 of many a breakfast. Citizens of the town hastened to 
 
Reminiscence. 261 
 
 this ghastly sight. The jury was placed solemnly on 
 each side of the bridge, and parties detailed to bring the 
 body out for view before them. One seized hold of the 
 floating leg, when off came the boot, exposing the straw 
 filling of the "paddy." At this moment arose the cry 
 loud and long, "April fool." It would be impossible to 
 describe the angry, vengeful excitement of the coroner, 
 jury and citizens, who had been so fearfully fooled. 
 
 In the month of December of this year, 1841, the trial 
 of a colored man name John, charged with the murder 
 of a white man named Colbert, who lived near the mouth 
 of Opequou Creek, occurred before the County Court. 
 Jacob Weaver was Chief Magistrate, with four Associate 
 Justices, and the full bench were present. He was con- 
 victed and sentenced to be hung — time fixed in February, 
 of 1842. It was the only public execution that had taken 
 place since about 1830, of which event I only have a tra- 
 ditionary knowledge. Three colored men were charged 
 and convicted of highway robbery, and were executed by 
 hanging on the Winchester road near town. They claim- 
 ed innocence, and predicted that it would be attested by 
 a fearful storm before the people dispersed from the 
 ground. It seemed to be a well established fact that 
 such storm did occur - of wind, rain and hail, which was 
 very destructive to growing corn, and also grain crops, 
 just harvested. The sympathy of the public was much 
 excited in behalf of this poor colored man John, and 
 great efforts were made for his reprieve, but without 
 avail. 1 ime arrived for execution, and an immense crowd 
 assembled to witness it. He was placed upon his cofiin 
 in an open barred ladder wagon at the jail door, and was 
 guarded by the Lafayette Guards, squad walking in close 
 double file on either side. Immediately following were 
 the sheriff and Deputies — C. D. Stewart, D. C. Burns 
 and Cornelius Comeqy, with Rev. Charles Martin, of the 
 Lutheran Church, his spiritual adviser. The column 
 commenced moving, John, singing in a quiet, plaintive- 
 
262 Reminiscence. 
 
 toticliirig tone the liymn "When I can read my title clear 
 to mansions in the skies, I'll bid farewell to every fear 
 and wipe my weeping eyes," which he kept up until the 
 gallows was reached. The place was just beyond Nor- 
 borne Hall, or Cumberland Yalley Depot, in a deep 
 ravine surrounded by rising rocky ground. I "witnessed 
 his ascent to the platform — and farewell with the minis- 
 ter, and immediately hastened away. The rope broke 
 and a fearful cry arose from the lookers on. John was 
 helped up and again ascended to the platform, from 
 which he was soon suspended. He was buried beneath 
 the gallows, from where his remains were removed and 
 dissected by the physicians of the town, in an old aban- 
 doned brew house on Spring alley, near Liberty Spring. 
 He was skinned and his hide tanned by a colored man 
 named Wm. Piper, who gaye to a friend of mine a strip 
 of the hide that I have often seen used in sharpening a 
 razor. Nothing unusual, that I can recall, occurred this 
 year, 1842. 
 
 As usual and according to law, in the month of May 
 each year, the militia met for field evolution and march- 
 ing, and to answer to the call of their name from the 
 record of the regiment, as a member of the militia of the 
 State. It was preceded by four days drill of officers, 
 Captain and Lieutenants, with Major, Adjutant, Colonel 
 and other officers. Sometimes the General of Divis- 
 ion would be present. General Carson, of Winchester, 
 is the only live militia general that I had ever seen. Our 
 Colonels of Regiment 69, during my early days, were E. 
 P. Hunter, R. V. Snodgrass, and last, Jacob Sencindi- 
 ver, who \yas in command on last general muster in May 
 1861. During the years 1842 and '43, rail-laying began 
 and passed beyond the town. One of the most wild and 
 excited times, occurred on general muster day, in one 
 of these two years. The regiment had just been formed 
 in marching order, when suddenly, and for the first time, 
 the liiercing whistle of a stea,m engine broke upon the 
 
lieminiscence . 263 
 
 ear. Regiment, officers and men broke ranks, and run- 
 ning pell-mell, were soon on the hill beyond the mill now 
 owned by Geo. M. Bowers, waiting with anxiety the 
 arrival of this monster. There was no more mustering, 
 and the day was given up to general drinking, carousing, 
 rioting and fighting. 
 
 In 1843 I became fully identified with the business of 
 the town, entering the store of E,. P. Bryarly & Co. The 
 other merchants were G. and C. W. Doll, John H. Li- 
 kens, Mevorel Locke, J). S. White, Hamme & Stevens, 
 John W. Boyd, John Jamison, Washington Kroesen and 
 possibly others ; drug stores, Wm. Dorsey, W. H. He- 
 zeltine, and Adam Young. We had no clothing stores. 
 Cloths and cassimeres were manufactured into clothing by 
 regular tailors, who were Hiram Bowen, Hugh McKee, 
 Pat. Cunningham, Ezekiel Showers, Wm. Billmire and 
 John and Wm. Hoke, each of whom employed journey- 
 men with many apprentices. One confectionery and 
 cake stand was kept by George liaenhal. During this 
 year one freight train with a passenger car arrived in the 
 early morning, and returning East in the afternoon. The 
 depot was a small shed roof building, occupying site of 
 stone wall on your present platform, and Mr. John Jami- 
 son was the agent. At or about this time Archibald 
 Oden opened his house as a hotel, where the present St. 
 Clair stands, and it became the leading hotel of the town. 
 Wm. L. Boas occupied the Everett House as an hotel. 
 The market house for the town occupied a space in front 
 of King Street Hall, which was then the M. E. church. 
 It was a rough stone structure, with roof reaching very 
 near the ground, and open lattice Avood-work for the 
 front — standing square on Qaeen street on a line with 
 Commodore Boreman's residence. There was space all 
 round for market wagons. A good joke was played o£E 
 by the bad boys of the town upon two eccentric charac- 
 ters named Gano, father and son. Jim and Dad were the 
 only names I ever heard for them. They attended mar- 
 
264 Reminiscence. 
 
 ket often, and would drive their vragon beliind tlie mar- 
 ket konse, and there leave it for the morning. On this 
 occasion they were loaded with buckwheat flour. The 
 boys unloaded the wagon, detached the wheels, taking it 
 by pieces upon the roof and there replacing it in perfect 
 running order, carried up the buckwheat, reloaded it and 
 left. The opening of market was from 2 to 3 o'clock A. 
 M. On this particular morning it was dark, rainy and a 
 heavy fog prevailing. The wagon being missed an alarm 
 was raised, and officers of the town employed to find the 
 stolen property, without avail. When daylight came,lo, 
 and behold ! on the roof of the building was found the 
 stolen property intact with nothing missed. Ever after, 
 however, Dad and Jim took good care to drive their 
 wagon into the hotel yard. Another good and surpris- 
 ing joke was perpetrated sometime previous to this. A 
 Mr. Wm. Thompson had running at large, and very tame, 
 a small jackass. The boys got hold of him one Saturday 
 night, took him up in the Court House, and from the 
 floor of the gallery raised him by block and tackle into 
 the steeple, and placing his head out of a window just 
 below the hall, secured him and left. He was a great 
 animal for braying and gave always a very hideous sound. 
 On Sabbath morning, the people on their way to church, 
 were greeted by him looking out of the steeple window. 
 Mr. Thompson and the town authorities offered large re- 
 wards to discover who committed this offence, however, 
 without success. _ Nothing that I can recall of moment 
 occurred during this year. 
 
 In 1844 came on the Presidential election. The Dem- 
 ocrats presented James K. Polk for President and George 
 M. Dallas for Vice-President. The Whig party Henry 
 Clay and Theodore Frelinghuysen. The contest was 
 carried on fairly and honorably, with each advocating 
 clear and distint principles much animated, but no furor 
 and excitement. The question of admission of Texas as 
 a State being advocated by the Democrats and bitterly 
 
Reminiscence. 265 
 
 opposed by tlie Whigs, seemed to be the leading ques- 
 tion, and gave success to the Democracy. It is my im- 
 pression thfit before Polk took his seat, on March 4th, 
 1845, Texas -was admitted by action of the Senate and 
 lower House, and approved by President John Tyler. 
 Early in 1845 John C. Fremont raised a company of vol- 
 unteers for the purpose of exploring the Rocky Moun- 
 tains. Among the number was a native of our county, 
 Henry Vincenheller, a millwright by trade, which iden- 
 tified us with the grand undertaking and claimed our in- 
 terest with its success or failure. No one ever appeared 
 to know what became of him. Many of the volunteers 
 perished before Freemont was heard from, as the con- 
 queror of California in part. There was great activity in 
 raising recruits for the army, and many of our young 
 men enlisted, only two of whose names I can recall — 
 Samuel Caskey and John Myers. During the fall mouths 
 the question of war with Mexico was constantly before 
 us, finally reaching a climax by the call of the Govern- 
 ment for volunteers. In, the month of December daily 
 the fife and drum passed through the streets, morning 
 and evening each day, a new face appearing in the 
 company. Capt. E. G-. Alburtis, Daniel Poisal, Otho 
 Harrison, a Mr. Gray, ^Yilliam Sherrard, Samuel K. 
 Stucky, John and Jim Bear, John Gallaher, John Ott, 
 a young Blondell and John Jamison were among the first. 
 After several weeks a company of 46 men was formed, 
 of which Dr. John H. Hunter and Wm. Keefe v*-ere part. 
 Col. Hamptrammeck, of Shepherdstown, Hon. C.J. Faulk- 
 ner and others spoke at a public meeting, and it was not 
 a great while until a company was fully formed and left 
 for Fortress Monroe, the place of rendezvous for Vir- 
 ginia volunteers. One came back, not passing examina- 
 tion from loss of one eye. One, the young Blondel men- 
 tioned, died at the fort. All the others, I believe, re- 
 turned after peace was declared without injury in any 
 way, except Lieutenant Gray, of whom no information 
 
260 Reminiscence. 
 
 was ever given as to his fate. The vrar closing, the 
 country was iDrosperous and largely extended in territory. 
 The year 1849 arrived, at which time came Avonderful 
 reports of gold discoveries in California. Nearly every 
 one seemed disposed to strike out for the wealth said to 
 lay on the surface of the ground, only waiting to be 
 picked up and brought into use, Many of our young 
 men joined companies and left, very few of whom have 
 ever returned, and many have perished from disease, 
 want, and neglect to lorovide and equip themselves for 
 such a trip through the wilds of the Rocky Mountains, 
 which previous to Fremonts's exploration was termed 
 the Grreat American Desert. From the year 1844 up to 
 the year 1849, I occupied, the position of Deputy Post- 
 master under John H. Likens, and tlie jDosition gave me 
 wonderful opportunity to know the people of both town 
 and county. In the Presidential year of election, 1S48, 
 the Democrats presented Lewis Cass for President — 
 name for Vice-President not remembered. The whig 
 party presented the grand old warrier. General Taylor, 
 with Millard Fillmore for Vice-President. Owing to 
 dissension in New York, M. Van Buren was run on a 
 local state question to some extent, and brought up for 
 the lirsttime the question of Free Soil on Free Territory, 
 as against the Extension of Slavery. James Birney also 
 ran as an avowed slavery Abolition candidate — the result 
 being the defeat of Cass and success of Taylor ; the sla- 
 very question entering largely into the contest nationally 
 for the first time in my knowledge. Taylor lived but a 
 short time and was succeeded by Millard Fillmore, Vice- 
 President, who was a good man — conservative and na- 
 tional in Ms recommendations and acts, but not popular 
 with the extremists of the south. There was wonderful 
 agitation and excitement, and almost war, which was 
 averted only by a compromise measure offered by Henry 
 Clay, but which opened up a question called the Missouri 
 Compromise, and again in a few years opened up the 
 
Reminiscence. 267 
 
 full agitation of the slavery question. The Soutli was 
 kept in a continuous condition of excitement, by the 
 strong and vicious talk of war for the protection of sla- 
 very. The rights of the South and their violation by 
 the North, was a constant theme of discussion, both 
 public and private. There was no peace or quietness to 
 be found in any community south of the Potomac Kiver. 
 In the year 1851, a convention for constitutional change 
 was called for and held. The delegates from our district 
 elected, were Dr. Dennis Murphey, Hon. Andrew Hunter, 
 Hon. C. J. Faulkner and one other, whose name I forget. 
 The constitution was presented before the people and ap- 
 proved by popular vote, which extended the right of 
 suffrage to every white man not disqualified by mental 
 incapacity or pauperism. This gave Berkeley County 
 a large Democratic majority for the first time in its his- 
 tory, except on two occasions by dissension amoug the 
 Whigs, during the years 1846, '47 and '48 ; growing out 
 of arbitrary action by the County Court against the pro- 
 test of many Justices, who resided outside of town. The 
 bridge crossing on South Queen street was washed out 
 by a great flood. The County Court, without summon- 
 ing a full bench, appointed a committee to rebuild, also 
 to place under contract, which was greatly opposed. 
 However, the contract was given to Wm. Lester, and a 
 large debt created against the county. At a full bench 
 of Justices, the bonds of the county were issued upon 
 a very small majority vote. This gave lise to the cry 
 ' 'Court House Clique, "and many positiveY/higs determin- 
 ed to defeat them in any nominations they might present 
 for Legislature. James E. Stewart, now Judge in Page 
 County, ran as an independent candidate as against 
 Whig nominees, and was elected, I believe. At the next 
 Legislative election, Dr. A. C. Hammond was an inde- 
 pendent Whig, who joined with Lewis Grantham, Demo- 
 cratic nominee, and they were elected, defeating Col. E. 
 P; Hunter and Col. Edward Colston, Whig nominees. 
 
268 Reminiscence. 
 
 The election for county officers, under the new constitu- 
 tion, came off in May, 1852. Jacob Van Doren, Jr., 
 Whig, was elected Sheriff ; E. G. Alburtis, County Clerk, 
 and Israel Kobinson, Circuit Court Clerk, Democrats, 
 which party was generally successful for all officers in 
 the county and for State Legislature, all through my 
 early boyhood days. The County Clerks office and re- 
 cords were kept in a small stone house, east of the pres- 
 ent jail. About the year 1848, the county erected the 
 brick house on public square, now owned and occupied 
 by Dr. W. D. Burkhart as a residence and store, which 
 was used for County and Circuit Clerks' office until after 
 the new Court House was erected. The clerks. Circuit 
 Court, Col. John Strother, under appointment for years; 
 and Harrison Waite, County Clerk, after whose death 
 Capt. Jacob Van Doren became successor, held offices 
 until newly elected officers' terms commenced. 
 
 The Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, about the year 1849, 
 commenced the foundation for an engine house and machine 
 shops, and made Martinsburg a first-class station. Wash- 
 ington Kroesen erected a log store house directly opposite 
 the present depot, facing the railroad with switch coming 
 up to platform of house. He did a large grocery busi- 
 ness, and commenced the erection of the stone building, 
 formerly the Railroad Co's. depot and freight house, 
 which was occupied first by W. H. Cronise & Co. They 
 did a rushing business, but soon failed, and John H. 
 Likens, my employer, was engaged in business therein, 
 I being his chief clerk and salesman. At this time the 
 Martinsburg and Potomac turnpike was put under con- 
 tract— M. C. Kyne and P. J. Mussetter, contractors for 
 first 5 miles ; Henry Haines, 2 miles ; Charles Downs, 4 
 miles ; and Jeremiah Sullivan, remainder to the river. 
 Daniel Burkhart was President, and John H. Likens, 
 Secretary, the records and books being kept by myself 
 as his clerk. Messrs. Kyne and Mussetter threw up the 
 "contract, which Burkhart and Likens took u}) and finish- 
 
Reminiscence. 269 
 
 ed. Then I became time keeper and paymaster to the 
 employils. The State subscription was three-fifths, and 
 personal subscription two-fifths. Collections from the 
 State were secured by approval of report by members of 
 the State Board of Improvement, and upon their requisi- 
 tion the money was drawn from the old Valley Bank in 
 "Winchester. The members of the Board were a Mr. 
 Pendleton, of Clarke Co., and Gen'l Carson, of Frederick 
 Co., and it invariably devolved upon me, in person, to 
 visit and secure their names and order for payment of 
 money from the bank — thus becoming closely identified 
 with this, the first turnpike road in the county. The 
 Winchester pike was commenced a few years later. 
 
 The town then began to expand. J. W. Boyd pur- 
 chased the vacant land on the south side of East Burke 
 street, and subdividing in lots, they were soon owned 
 and improved by buildings. The first, just beyond the 
 bridge, was purchased by Jeremiah Smith, an old rail- 
 road employ^. On the opposite side J. W. Hooper pur- 
 chased, and immediately erected a building and ten-pin 
 alley, which was the first drinking saloon that I can re- 
 call. He also erected a brick dwelling beyond. A Mr. 
 Chevally purchased a large body of land, and commenced 
 a vegetable and fruit garden. A Mr. Lohr erected a large 
 brick house, which stood alone for several years on the 
 present High street. Benj. R. Boyd erected the stone 
 building east of the railroad, on Queen street, and C. M. 
 Shaffer the stone store house, now occupied by C. M. 
 Shaffer & Son. Daniel Burkhart erected the small brick 
 houses on the south side of the street. The only house 
 between the railroad and Daniel Burkhart' s old residence 
 was a small wooden structure, owned and occupied by 
 Mrs. Kane and family, mother of Bishop Kane. A Mr. 
 Strine came, and purchasing from Mr. Burkhart, im- 
 . provement by building immediately commenced. This 
 I think was after 1850 or 1851. The old mill, then a grist 
 or corn mill, consisted of about one-story, 16x20 feet, and 
 
271) Reminiscence. 
 
 occupied the present Fitz mill site with a saw- mill oppo- 
 site. The water way from each ran on either side of a 
 tongue of land, on which was a iine large spring of clear, 
 cold water. The streams joined a short distance below, 
 and formed a wide, shallow water, through which the 
 street ran. The hill from town was very rough and 
 rocky, and the means of crossing was a narrow log on 
 either side of this tongue of land, on which was the 
 spring. Where the railroad crosses Tuscarora was a 
 spring, and when the bridge was built, an arch was left 
 oiDen in the side of it so as to give access to the spring, 
 which I suppose is still to be found there. John H. 
 Likens erected the large stone building on the south side 
 of the railroad. About this period my direct business 
 relations with the town ceased. I moved to Bedington, 
 (Sulphur Springs,) yet was in town every week, more or 
 less. 
 
 Circuit Court being in session in the spring of 1852, 
 and contest for nominations of congressional candidates, 
 Henry Bedinger, having been our representative for sev- 
 eral previous terms, was bitterly opposed, and Wni. 
 Lucas sought the nomination in his stead. Democrats 
 were greatly divided in sentiment, and Bedinger suc- 
 ceeded in securing the nomination. At the dinner table 
 of old Tammany were all, or nearly all, leading Demo- 
 crats of the county. The subject came up, and many, 
 if not all, expressed their determination not to vote for 
 Bedinger. Some one suggested that Mr. Faulkner be 
 urged to run as an independent candidate, and in that 
 conference it was determined if he would give to them 
 certain pledges regarding his vote for speaker they would 
 vote for him. A committee was informally appointed, 
 and before the hour of the next morning a circular was 
 posted announcing Mr. F. as an independent union can- 
 didate for Congress. He Was elected, and again re- 
 elected as a full-fledged Democrat for the next term. 
 About this period Hon. John Blair Hoge, in his young 
 
lieminisceiice. 271 
 
 manliood, took unequivocal positions as a Democrat. 
 The Presidential election approacliing, there arose in 
 Philadelphia a party naming themselves the "American 
 Party,'' who announced themselves as hostile to the vote 
 of foreigners — naturalized citizens coupling with that 
 hostility to the Catholic Church, denying them the right 
 to vote or hold ofRce. The national conventions having 
 met, the Democrats presented for President Franklin 
 Pierce, and for Yice-President Wm. R. King. The 
 Whigs nominated General Winheld Scott for President ; 
 Vice-President not remembered. Previous to this elec- 
 tion in the fall, Hon. Henry A. AVise was nominated for 
 Governor by the Democrats, and Hon. W. L. Goggin by 
 the Whigs — election occurring in May. 
 
 During the month of February, as one would pass on the 
 street, he would notice a large number of small three- 
 cornered pieces of paper with the word 8am written 
 thereon. Dm-ing the evening, towards dark, citizens 
 would be asked, to take a vi^alk, and would find them- 
 selves generally introduced into a long, one story stone 
 ' building, used as a school-house by a Mr. Webster, and 
 located on Raleigh street, near C. V. Depot. There, if 
 disposed, they would join the Darklantern Knownothing 
 Organization, known publicly as the American Party. 
 Personally, I was solicited time and again to take the 
 walk. When the exposure came by a withdrawal of a 
 number of Democrats, I then became familiar with their 
 mode of securing adherents. Wise was elected Gover- 
 nor with the entire Democratic ticket. In the fall Pierce 
 and King were elected with almost unanimity, Scott 
 carrying only three or four States. The administration 
 proved very popular with both North and South. 
 
 About the year 1853 the cholera visited Harper's Fer- 
 ry, and an epidemic violent in form. Many citizens left 
 for safety. A family by the name of Crowl, owning a 
 farm in the vicinity of Gerardstown, moved part of the 
 family — the old gentleman, wife and three daiighters. 
 
272 Reminiscence. 
 
 They brought the disease with them, and all died, be- 
 sides many in the neighborhood. A son coming from 
 the Ferry hired ahorse and buggy from George Swimley, 
 proprietor of the Everett House. It was a very popular 
 hotel and filled with permanent boarders. On one Sun- 
 day evening the son returning, drove up in front of the 
 hotel, but remained sitting in the buggy. Some one, 
 upon going to him, found him in what is termed a col- 
 lapsed state of cholera. The alarm was raised, and Mr. 
 Swimley coming forward, took the man in his arms and, 
 carrying him in, proceeded to his own bed-room, where 
 he placed him in bed and sent for physicians. Imme- 
 diately the guests began to leave, when Mr. Swimley 
 came to the head of the steps and announced that all 
 might leave— that he would care for the sick man, let the 
 consequences be Avhat they might. His house was closed 
 for three days by the town authorities, except at one 
 door on Burke street, at the end of which it was an- 
 nounced the young man was getting well. The alarm 
 ceased, and he was deservedly more popular than before. 
 He exhibited the true charity of the good Samaritan, and 
 although his manners were unrefined and his habits pos- 
 sibly would not meet the approval of many, yet, thank 
 God for such unselfish Christian characters as he. 
 
 Coming into Martinsburg in the early morning 
 for market, in the latter part of June or early in July, 
 1854, I heard proceeding from the house on corner of 
 Race and Queen streets, the most piercing screams. 
 Proceeding up Queen the same sounds of agony came from 
 a house opxDosite the present Valley House. Turning 
 the corner of Martin Street, the same greeting met me 
 from the house in the rear of the Lutheran Church. 
 Being at my old home, I learned that Mrs. Geo. Raen- 
 hal had died from cholera, and upon going down town, 
 by nine o'clock, I found that nine persons were dead 
 from cholera. On the Monday previous, Miss Kate 
 Homrich and Thos. Turner died. From this time forward 
 
Reminiscence. 273 
 
 the town was in a fearful condition, more or less deaths 
 occurring every day, until toward the latter part of 
 August when it abated. It again broke out in violence 
 about the middle of September, and continued with less 
 fatal effects until some time in November. The first 
 body buried in Green Hill Cemetery was that of Mrs. 
 Geo. Raenhal or Horace Woodward, an engineer in the. 
 railroad service, who also died from this fatal disease., 
 A lawyer of the town, David H. Conrad, organized a re- 
 lief or nurse body of volunteers, who would agree to 
 give two nights a week, if necesrary, in waiting upon the 
 sick and seeing the dead properly preparedf or the grave. 
 It proved an important aid to physicians. In the month 
 of November, B. L. Jacobs, Railroad agent, being very 
 ill, solicited me to take charge of the Railroad ticket 
 and freight office for him temporarily, which I did ; the 
 freight depot being on North Queen street, about where 
 present house stands, and the passenger and ticket sta- 
 tion being at foot of Martin street, as at present. Wash- 
 ington Kroesen built a brick hotel, which became a pas- 
 senger eating house, and was conducted by Henry Staub 
 for several years, during which time the railroad company 
 built a fine brick hotel on North Queen street opposite 
 Bishop's store. They removed and located the passen- 
 ger and freight business at that point, where it remained 
 until the ijroperty was burnt in early part of civil war. 
 The years 1855, '50 and '57 were uneventful, except for 
 rapid progress in business and population. During the 
 years 1853, '54 and '55, Mr. Sam'l Fitz purchased from 
 Daniel Burkhart the old oil mill, and began improve- 
 ment by sinking Tuscarora and building the present 
 grand mill in part, and his foundry and machine shops ; 
 the creek being spanned by the bridge, and the street 
 filled to its present level. In 1858, my connection with 
 town and county business by being elected teller of the 
 Bank of Berkeley, gave me an opportunity for gathering 
 much knowledge of the business affairs of the county and 
 
 18 
 
274 Reminiscence. 
 
 surroiincling country. During and preceding tliis period, 
 from possibly 1848, flour was manufactured and shipped 
 to Eastern markets in very large quantities. Alfred 
 Repp, D. D. Rees, James McWliorter, and some one 
 from the J. E. Boyd mill, at Bunker Hill, were large 
 shippers ; as also the Kewcomer mill, on the Opequon ; 
 the Hibbard and Tabb mills, west of town ; the Geo. H. 
 McClure, now Hannis mill ; and the Bower' s mill, in toAvn, 
 and Thos. G. Plagg, east of town. Daniel Burkhart had 
 a small distillery on Dry Run, where the present large 
 Hannis distillery now stands, and P. G. Flagg distilled 
 liguor at his place east of town. 
 
 On the morning of the 9th of October, 1859, a citizen, 
 W. N. Riddle, Esq., was seen to hastily enter the Court 
 House, and soon the bell was pealing forth a rapid and 
 excited sound, which only occurred in case fire was pre- 
 vailing. Citizens began hastily to collect, and as they 
 assembled it Avas announced that Harper's Ferry Armory 
 had been captured, and citizens of the town were being 
 shot down upon the streets, and were calling for aid to 
 capture and discover ivhat it meant. It was announced 
 that a train of cars would be ready to proceed there, car- 
 rying volunteers, who would arm themselves with such 
 weapons as they could. In a short time Capt. E. G. 
 Alburtis, an old Mexican war veteran, was selected to 
 command, and other officers appointed. By 11 o'clock 
 they were ready, and going to the depot, took the train, 
 which proceeded to the Ferry, accompanied by a large 
 number of unarmed citizens. Our men were stopped 
 this side of the Ferry, and ordered to enter the Armory 
 yard at west end, and there remain for further orders. 
 Instead of which, in impetuosity, they pressed forward 
 until they came under fire from Brown' s men, who had 
 been driven into the small engine house, from which the 
 Marines under General Lee captured them. George 
 Murphy, our Prosecuting Attorney, was wounded 
 through the calf of his leg ; J. K. Hammond, our Dep- 1 
 
Reminiscence. 275 
 
 uty Sheriff, had the point of his hip shot off ; a young 
 man in the railway service was shot through the stomach ; 
 George Wollett, assistant in the service, was shot through 
 the hand ; and George Eichardson, a railroad watchman, 
 had his right eye shot out. It was always claimed, that 
 if they had been properly supported, they vt^ould have 
 succeeded in capturing the invaders before the marines 
 arrived. No one could describe the excitement prevailing. 
 At about 6 o'clock in the evening, our wounded boys 
 came back. They and the citizens could only say that 
 it was a negro insurrection commenced, which only in- 
 creased the excitement and alarm. During the night it 
 was announced that the marines had captured them, and 
 that old John Brown, known as a Kansas Free State 
 Fighter, was the leader, with negro and white men as 
 abettors. It was remembered with alarm that for months 
 a deaf and dumb strange negro man had appeared in pe- 
 culiar dress upon the streets of the town, marching as if 
 under military orders, always near sundown. His plug 
 silk hat was adorned with a feather from a turkey's tail, 
 and a band of red flannel round the body of the hat. 
 He was generally supjjosed to be insane, and no atten- 
 tion was ever paid him. It is certain, however, from this 
 day forward he was never seen again. Hence he has al- 
 ways been coupled, in my mind, as an aider of the Brown 
 gang. From this day forward, until the final close of the 
 civil strife by surrender of General Lee, in April, 1865, 
 we were under military surveilance and control. The 
 business of the town, although disturbed, still continued 
 unobstructed. Personally, I removed from town to the 
 residence of my mother in-law, on the Potomac River, 
 going to and from town each day and familiar with what 
 was occurring. Scouts and military organizations were 
 going to and returning from different points along the 
 Potomac every day, on the lookout for further forays by 
 such wicked fanatics as John Brown and his gang. Daily 
 reports of a startling character being stated of a large or- 
 
276 Reminiscence. 
 
 ganization of rescuers of Brown, who was in Jefferson 
 County jail, were coming in on ns at any hour. It was 
 a period of unrest and disquietude, indeed. 
 
 The Presidential election of 1860 coming on, Demo- 
 cratic dissension placed John C. Breckenridge and Ste- 
 phen A. Douglass before the people. The then lately 
 organized party, under the name of Eepublican having 
 absorbed the Whig party North, selected Abraham 
 Lincoln as their candidate — the Union Party, as called, 
 presenting John Bell, which largely absorbed the Whig 
 element South. The election came off, resulting as 
 known in the selection of Lincoln. The already inflamed 
 and excited people of all parties flew almost at once into 
 an attitude of war in the South. In the early months of 
 the year 1861, we were startled with news of the burning 
 of Government property at Harper's Ferry, by the 
 ofRcers and soldeirs, who had been stationed there as 
 guards, and their ra^Did movement to Washington. In 
 a few days it developed, why it had been done by the 
 concentration of military forces, representing as stated, 
 state authority. It had been distroyed by orders from 
 the war department, in order to defeat its capture of 
 arms and ordinance stored in the Armory, by the 
 Southern men. From this time forward. Harper' s Ferry 
 was the scene of many exciting circumstances. Shortly 
 after this the Armory proper was dismantled, — all the 
 machinery for arms and manufacture were removed; 
 some said to Richmond, others to North Carolina. 
 
 Our yearly General Regimental parade coming on in 
 month of May, 1861, occasioned wonderful excitement. 
 The officers determined to march under the State Flag, 
 discarding the stars and stripes of the country. Perso- 
 nally, being an ardent supporter of the Government as 
 against secession, I joined with others in securing a large 
 part of the Regiment, who carried and marched under 
 the grand old Stars and Stripes, in defiance of orders 
 from the officers. It almost brought on personal rioting 
 
Reminiscence. 277 
 
 and fighting, and if arms had been at command, it is 
 probable much blood would have been shed. This gave 
 occasion for officers in command at Harper's Ferry to 
 send a military company here to keep down the Union 
 sentiment. It was the Rockbridge Guards, under com- 
 mand of Capt. Letcher ; and they proved good fellows, 
 largely in sympathy with the Union sentiment Capt. 
 Letcher was ordered to burn the Railroad bride crossing 
 Opequon Creek. He refused to obey orders, was put 
 under arrest and removed, his company also returning to 
 Harper's Ferry. In their stead the Clarke County Greys 
 were sent up, and under orders they burnt the bridge. 
 This incensed Union men very much, and members of the 
 company would, individually, receive an unexpected 
 lick or knock-down whenever opportunity occurred in 
 the hotels of the town. They had headquarters in Gran- 
 tham Hall building, and every afternoon would drill in 
 the square. One Saturday afternoon it was noticed that 
 many persons, citizens, and employes of the Railroad 
 Company, collected on the Court House pavement. The 
 military formed as usual in time, in front of the Col. 
 Hoge, now J. B. Wilson residence, facing the crowd. 
 On the Court House pavement commenced loud and 
 vociferous comments upon their appearance and drill, and 
 finally some one threw a stone, striking a gun in the 
 hands of a member of the company. Many in the com- 
 pany brought their guns to shoulder, ready to shoot. 
 The crowd made a break toward them, but before reach- 
 ing them, they had dispersed and were mounting steps 
 to their headquarters. The crowd hooted and howled 
 for some time, but the soldiers kept within their qiiar- 
 ters, and finally the crowd dispersed. This was the 
 only assault on the military I ever witnessed in town. 
 
 A Regiment of cavalry, under the command of J. E. 
 B. Stewart, came nexc, and camped in the county, scout- 
 ing along the Potomac River. They were seldom in a 
 body in the town— hence, no collision ever came up. 
 
278 Reminiscence. 
 
 Still continuing my trips daily, to and from town, at- 
 tending my bank duties, I passed through cavalry camp 
 morning and evening; they being in the orchard of 
 John C. Small, on Martinsburg and Williamsport pike. 
 Holding a pass from Col. Stewart, I was surprised one 
 evening upon arrival at picket post by arrest, being 
 conducted to Col. Stewart's tent. I was met with the 
 charge of being dangerous in conveying news to the 
 enemy, then in force on the Maryland side of the river ; 
 my residence being in sight of the river and my senti- 
 ments being hostile to the South. I offered simply inno- 
 cence of having conveyed information, or of having such 
 disposition. Hoge being present, appealed in my be- 
 half, and I was released with a more far reaching pass 
 than I had before. On the 2nd day of July, 1861, the 
 Bank closed up its business, all its funds, books, bonds, 
 etc., being placed in the hands of a committee for safe 
 keeping. From this time forward to 1872, I was only a 
 casual visitor to the town. In 186,3, I became identified 
 with the railroad service, located at Cumberland, Md. 
 In January 1864, I was in charge of Harper' s Ferry 
 agency, and was every week a visitor to your town in 
 transaction of business for the comjjany with the mili- 
 tary authorities — hence, I know but little of the history 
 of the town after "1861. 
 
 The fight between General Jackson and Patterson's 
 forces, near Falling Waters, was under my view. Shortly 
 after it opened, in company with John Marshall and 
 Henry Myers, v/ho lived at Bedington, we passed out to 
 see what was on fire, a dense smoke appearing, and found 
 Wm. Porterfield' s barn burning. The Confederate' s were 
 in battle array on the hill between Mr. Hill's residence, 
 just where the road turns off to the Falling Waters 
 church. Unexpectedly we found ourselves captured by 
 the 4th Wisconsin Regiment, who were flanking to the 
 south side of the burning barn. When we recovered 
 our surprise the Confederates had retired, and we sup- 
 
Reminiscence. 279 
 
 posed, continued tbeir retreat to and beyond Martins- 
 burg. On our way to have a liearing one dead man with, 
 a ball tlirougli Jiis head was seen lying on the pike, and 
 was a member of the 4th Wisconsin regiment. At Mr. 
 Porterfield's residence was found iive severely wounded 
 Federals, and under an apple tree was a dead man, sup- 
 posed to be a Confederate by his dress. At the house 
 of John Gonter three wounded Federals were found, one 
 of whom had the most singular appearance I have ever 
 seen. His head lay perfectly level on the right shoul- 
 der, and on his neck, under the left ear, appeared a large 
 blood blister. His body was paralyzed. The surgeon 
 said it was caused by abrasion — a small sized six-pound 
 canon ball having passed between the ear and shoulder, 
 not striking, but just rubbing against the skin. The 
 wounded Federals were placed in ambulances and Avent 
 back to Maryland. The dead Confederate was buried in 
 the field back of Porterfield's barn. 
 
 The seasons, winter and summer, in our latitude, are 
 generally uniform, but there have been exceptions. I 
 cannot recall the year, but it was from 1836 on to 1840 — 
 one summer it was uniformly cold, with frost occurring 
 more or less in each summer month — during which, about 
 the middle of July, an old revolution iry veteran was 
 buried. His remains were taken to a graveyard in the 
 country, jjossibly at the old Baptist Church, near the 
 Newcomer mill ; anyhow it was out that way. Being 
 buried with military honors, the boys of the town natu- 
 rally would be present. I distinctly recollect the fact 
 that whilst the salute over the grave was being fired, it 
 commenced snowing and continued ixntil the ground was 
 covered fully three inches, becoming fiercely cold. The 
 past year, 1887, being a noted year for fierce blizzards 
 and wonderful snow storms in various parts of our coun- 
 try, calls my attention to a wonderful snow storm which 
 we had in 1842, in the early part of February. It com- 
 menced snowing on Friday, about noon, falling rapidly 
 
280 lieminiscence. 
 
 and continuing all day Saturday, Sunday and Monday ; 
 and in the afternoon of Monday, still snowing, a fierce 
 driving wind came on.. On Tuesday morning the entire 
 country was blocked up, and in front of my home, on 
 the southeast corner of Shaffer's property, a large drift 
 was standing which reached the roof of the house. A 
 gentleman by the name of Yincenheller, seizing me, 
 caught me by the clothing and threw me into this drift 
 headforemost. Unfortunately, I fell too far near the 
 edge, sustaining a wounded right shoulder by striking on 
 the ground. I could not rise, and he becoming alarmed, 
 had to take a snow bath through the drift in order to re- 
 lieve me. This accident gave me the pleasure of a daily 
 sleigh ride all over the county, as he was fond of the 
 sport and had a fine team to make amends for his act, 
 and would take me with him. No fences could be seen 
 in any direction, and in many places in the woods the 
 lower limbs of the trees were hid under the snow. This 
 was the most severe snow storm we may have ever 
 had in the valley. In 1856 there were great snow falls, 
 and the railroads, also country roads, were blocked up, 
 but no such continuous storm as that of 1842. 
 
 The resident ministers of the town from 1828 to 1861, 
 as far as I can recall, were : Lutheran — C. P. Krauth, Sr., 
 Medtart Schaifer, Weizer Martin, Sprecher Seip, "Winter 
 Krauth, Jr., Schonucker Fenk Kopp ; 1861, C. Martin. 
 German Reformed — Revs. Robt. Douglas, Daniel Bra- 
 gonier ; both these churches were united tisually with 
 Shepherdstown. Presbyterian— Revs. Peyton Harrison, 
 John Boggs, a Mr. Berry and A. C. Hopkins. Protest- 
 ant Episcopal — Revs. Johnson, Talifaria, Chisholm, 
 Davis, Sprigg and others. Methodist Episcopal— Revs. 
 Riley, Watts, Hodges, Goheen, CofSn, Dulin, Mercer, 
 March, Moorehead and many others. Baptist — Revs. 
 Wm. Herndon, "W. S. Penick and others. Catholic — 
 Rev. Wheelan, afterward Bishop of Diocese of W^. Ta.; 
 Revs. Plnnkett, O'Brien and Talty. 
 
Reviiniscence. 281 
 
 xVmong tUe professional men were : Physicians — Drs. 
 Richard McSherry, Kownsler, Hollingsworth, John S. 
 Harrison, Sr. and Jr., Charles Magill, Dennis Murphy, 
 Jb\ D. Bellinger, Wm. Snodgrass, Thos. S. Page and E. 
 B. Pendleton. Dentists— John Little and W. P. With- 
 row. Judges of Circuit Court — J. R. Douglass, of Jef- 
 ferson County, and Richard Parker, of Frederick Coun- 
 ty. Lawyers — D. H. Conrad, E. P. Hunter, C. J. Faulk- 
 ner, Edmond Pendleton, J. Blair Hoge, Frank Thomas, 
 Norman Miller and Andrew Kennedy. Editors— Wash- 
 ington Evans, Col. E. P. Hunter, James E. Stewart and 
 Norman Miller, of Gazette; E. G. and Samuel Alburtis 
 and Major Israel Robinson, of the Virginia Repuhlican. 
 
 From my earliest days the parish, (now called the poor- 
 house, ) occupied the present building known as Korborne 
 Hall. A Mr. James Moon was the keeper, and supplies 
 were furnished by J. W- Boyd. At one time there was 
 quite a political scandal in regard to the improper use of 
 inmates, and the enormous profits made in supplying the 
 house, which linally resulted in the Court buying the 
 present farm and buildings on Tuscarora. I think this 
 was about the year 1850. The old Court House occupied 
 in part the locality of the present one. It did not come 
 to the corner of Queen street, but left a space fully thirty 
 feet. The corner was occupied by a frame building with 
 brick back dwelling house, and was the best store stand 
 in town. It occupied the spacte now about where Sher- 
 iff's office stands. * 
 
 The first telegraph office that we had in town was in a 
 frame building, occupying the corner of Grantham Hall, 
 the line coming direct up King street and diverging from 
 the railroad at the Bower's mill. I was boarding at the 
 corner of Spring and King streets, and opposite on the 
 Jail steps, upon one occasion, sat two of our aged men, 
 Jesse Hayden and Adam Schoppert. 
 
 Adam says: "Jesse, how does this thing woik, any. 
 
282 Reminiscence. 
 
 liow ? I have been watching it for the last hour and 
 nothing has gone over it yet." 
 
 Jesse replied : "Why, Adam, it is a liquid and flows 
 inside the v.'ire, and you can't see it. When it gets to 
 the end it comes out." 
 
 "IIow's that," says Adam, " I seen Joe, my son, get a 
 telegraph from Harper's Ferry, and it was just like any 
 other letter." 
 
 " Well," replied Jesse, " it is a d— d puzzler, anyhow, 
 and I believe a fraud." 
 
 Without solving the problem of the telegraph they 
 closed their conversation, and I expect they were not the 
 only ones who were puzzled over the same matter. 
 
 We had many eccentric characters about town, and 
 amongst others was one Adam Cockburn. He owned 
 and lived on the property now owned by E. Herring, di- 
 rectly opposite Green Hill Cemetery. Every day Adam 
 was in town, usually visiting the various bar-rooms until 
 full, and he would then perambulate the streets, making 
 fun for everybody. Personally, I only have a vague 
 knowledge of him and his habits. His place was long 
 iised as a resort for the boys of the town, as a play 
 ground. Many a pleasant hour have I passed with my 
 boy friends in playing ball on the familiar Cockburn Hill. 
 The community yet has in it a representative of the long 
 ago, Alexander Grimes. He has always been a peculiar 
 character. His home for a long time was with my rela- 
 tives at old Tammany. Much of the filling, grading and 
 macadamiziug of King and Queen streets was done with 
 his assistance. His habits for a long time were very dis- 
 sipated. However, he made up his mind to quit drink- 
 iug, and purchasing a pint of liquor he took it to his 
 sister Polly, telling her he Avould only drink from that 
 bottle, and that she should refuse to give it to him. The 
 plan worked splendidly, and from that day to the pres- 
 ent I have never known him to be under the influence of 
 liquor. (If seen he will verify this statement.) He has 
 
Reminiscence, 283' 
 
 always been noted for sharp repartee, and quick to take 
 advantage in a bargain. I recall an occurrence between 
 himself and one of our iDrominent lawyers. He was oc- 
 cupying a house, the owner of which wished to dispossess 
 him, and he applied to this lawyer for advice, receiving 
 and acting upon it. He retained the property, and the 
 lawyer told him his fee was five dollars — all right. Some 
 weeks after, in passing the garden of the lawyer, he 
 found the wife assisting in measuring off beds, by hold- 
 ing the tape line for her husband. He was invited to- 
 come in, and the lawyer taking him around, showed him 
 what he wished to do, and would every now and then 
 say, as an old gardener, do you think that would suit 'I 
 Aleck, (as he is called,) would give his opinion, and the 
 lawyer would thank him. After passing some time Aleck 
 says, "I believe I owe you five dollars for your advice 
 about the house." The lawyer said " yes,'- and looked 
 expectantly at the prospective coming fee, but was sur- 
 prised to hear Aleck say, "Well, my fee for garden 
 advice is ten dollars, so you are in debt to* me five." The- 
 lawyer honoring it as a good joke, immediately paid him 
 the difference. Another good and sharp practice occur- 
 red between Aleck and a Jew, by the name of Pfeiffer. 
 They occupied the same house on Queen street, where 
 Lambert's saloon now is. The Jew had a cord of wood 
 to be cut for stove use, and he applied to Aleck, who did 
 that kind of work, but would not agree on the price de- 
 manded. Finally Aleck agreed to cut the wood for the 
 chips, which Pfeiffer agreed to. They used in common 
 the cellar, and Aleck had his children picking up the 
 chips and throwing them down. Commencing, he would 
 cut two-thirds of the stick into chips and the remainder 
 into stove wood. When Pfeiffer discovered the fraud 
 practiced, he sued Aleck, but his bargain was such that 
 Aleck gained it. 
 
 We had a very good but eccentric character, James 
 Hutchinson, engaged in watch and clock repairing at the- 
 
284 Reminiscence. 
 
 present Hyde stand. He never walked on the street, but 
 was invariably in a run. A noted character, Smith, the 
 razor strap man, visited our town, and his cry was always 
 " only a few more left — who takes the next ? " He sold 
 at auction on the street, and Mr. H. desiring one of the 
 wonderful straps, started in his usual running gait. 
 Catching the words "only a few more left," he called 
 out, "Save me one." Smith seeing him and hearing 
 what he said yelled out, "Only one more left." Mr. H. 
 quickened his run, and reaching the crowd took the 
 "one more." Looking down he noticed seven baskets 
 full, and left at once, muttering as he passed, " Oh, what 
 a liar ! " The first railroading that I ever saw occurred 
 with himself and family. The track was laid as far as 
 the bridge at the foot of Green Hill Cemetery, aud a 
 truck was standing on the track chucked. The old gen- 
 tleman, on his way to church on Opequon, placed his 
 wife and younger children upon it, and himself and 
 eldest son pushed it. After passing a short distance a 
 down grade commenced. The old gentleman or son 
 could neither stop the car, or yet keep up with it. It 
 got away from them, and mother children soon passed 
 out of sight. Brown Calvin and myself being near 
 Flagg' s Mill, followed the car and found that it had come 
 to a halt near Opequon, having struck a rising grade. 
 After some time the old gentleman came in sight in his 
 usual run, and was very grateful, apparently to Calvin 
 and myself, for saving his family. 
 
 Peter Gardner, the old hotel keeper whom I mentioned 
 before, was a grand caterer to his guests, and no one ever 
 set a better prepared or more plentiful supply upon a 
 table. On a court occasion his country guests were de- 
 tained on account of a German boarder whom he would 
 not delay. He placed upon the table a good-sized roast 
 pig, and the single boarder took his seat and hel]ped him- 
 self. After awhile Mr. G., upon going to the room, was 
 surprised to see none of the pig left, and the boarder, in 
 
Eeminiscence. 285 
 
 a deeij German accent, said, "Have you any more little 
 hogs? I likes 'em." Mr. G. at once dismissed the 
 boarder as unprofitable. 
 
 Very few of the old landmarks of my boyhood days 
 are left around or in the town. The Burkhart property, 
 Hannis mill, Bowers mill, Boyd' s store, in Young' s, now 
 Herring's property; Lamberts saloon, formerly Clay- 
 comb Hotel ; Eagle Hotel, formerly Lutheran Church ; 
 Blondel dwelling, Dunn property, opposite Market 
 House; Long property, now owned by C. Thumel; brick 
 store-house adjoining Continental Hotel ; Boreman prop- 
 erty, Conrad, McSherry, Cunningham, Stewart, Reed, 
 Campbell, Pendleton and Harrison Waite, on Queen 
 street, are all improved considerably, but some are recog- 
 nizable as they were in the thirties. On King street the 
 Diffenderfer, Rousch, Shaffer, Wolff, Swartz, Snodgrass, 
 old Harrison, Shaffer, Poisal, Somerville, now Shaffer ; 
 Locke, now Young ; Alburtis, jail, old stone house cor- 
 ner opposite jail, Seaman, Gerard and Bowers' mill and 
 dwelling, all improved but still recognized as of old. On 
 Water street, where the Riddle and Showers properties 
 are now situated, was a long one-story building used as 
 a bark shed for Divinney' s Tannery, and long owned by 
 James Brown. On the opposite side was a general stone ■ 
 quarry for the town. Tuscarora was noted as a fine fish- 
 ing stream. Many a fine sucker and eel have I seen and 
 caught therefrom. Above the Hannis mill was called 
 Ransom's Bottom, and the evidence of a great Indian 
 battle having been fought there Avas very clear. Many 
 a skull and bone of a dead Indian have I seen ploughed 
 up, and the only tomahawk I ever recollect of handling 
 was one found by a young boy named Alex. Gregory. 
 We were fishing and playing, when in tumbling he struck 
 the handle and drew it out. Your Dr. John H. Hunter 
 may recall this, as I think he was one of the company. 
 
 It was a very great pleasure during my young days to 
 visit in the surrounding country, near town, on the Win- 
 
286 Reminiscence. 
 
 Chester road, tlie families of Martin Rousoli, Snodgrass, 
 old Jimmy Beard and John Jamison. On Tuscarora road 
 the Kearneys, old Jacob and George Seibert, the Mong 
 family. Barley Tabb, Hugh Campbell, the Cushvvas, Kil- 
 mers, Hibbards, Janneys, Wellers and Walters families, 
 all of whom would v/elcome you cordially and entertain 
 you royally. Hospitality and good fellowship was the 
 order of the times. There has always been an idea that 
 there was more real honesty and integrity at that period 
 of our history than since. It is a noted fact that farm- 
 ers would loan each other money without passing any- 
 thing more than their word on such a day it should be 
 returned, and very seldom a failure of promise would 
 occur. 
 
 Many of our jjeople of the present day do not recollect 
 the beautiful stone pillowed bridge that occupied the 
 ground now filled with solid stone structure, from Burke 
 street to beyond the Bowers mill. The rebels destroyed 
 it in their frenzy of insanity and destructiop of 
 railroad property during the civil war. Quite 
 a number of engines were fixed up and per- 
 mitted to run off into the street below, which was 
 obstructed for a long time. One of the most unusual 
 sights was witnessed in our town during the war. The 
 Rebels wishing to get some engines to Winchester, 
 hauled them by horse-power over the road. They had 
 hitched to one engine from twenty to twenty-four horses, 
 a, driver being provided for each four. They succeeded 
 in getting them through, but it must have been a difficult 
 job. The destruction of railroad property was immense 
 around and in Martinsburg. As a matter to satisfy my 
 curiosity, I rode from Tabb's crossing to road crossing 
 just above town, and in that space counted over four 
 hundred cars destroyed by fire, the rails removed and 
 ties burnt. At one point I found a rail wound around a 
 tree four times. They had heated the centre, and then 
 taking hold of ends, wound it round and round. The 
 
Reminiscence. 287 
 
 station and hotel buildings at head of Queen street, and 
 the engine and machine shops, were destroyed and dis- 
 mantled. It was my misfortune to be absent from town 
 when this was done, but the wrecked and ruined condi- 
 tion was seen by me often. It afterwards became my 
 duty as an employe at Cumberland of the Company, to 
 see that material for rebuilding the track and bridges 
 was sent forward, so that I became very familiar with the 
 whole subject. 
 
 The subject of fires is one that, from your present effi- 
 cient organization and water supply, gives your people 
 very little uneasiness. When I was a boy we had a hand 
 engine, and our water supply was from cisterns on pub- 
 lic streets — one at Court House, one at Lutheran Church 
 corner, one at Presbyterian Church on King street, now 
 vacant lot. Each family was furnished with two leather 
 buckets, one of which hung out at the door, and was to 
 be filled with water every night, the other kept conveni- 
 ently inside, also filled w.-^. This was the instruction 
 from the town authorities. We had no Mayor and Coun- 
 cil then, that I can recall. , The first fire that I recall was 
 the burning of a large stable belonging to the Globe 
 Hotel, and occupying site of your present public school 
 in third ward. It was about noon that alarm was given, 
 and quite a number of horses, belonging to country peo- 
 ple, were burned. After this the factory at lower end of 
 town, where water works now stands, was burnt, and 
 occurred late at night. It was never thought possible to 
 save a house, and all effort was directed toward saving 
 the surrounding property. Next came the destruction 
 of the Globe Hotel, after which the corner house, then 
 occupied as a telegraph station and located on site of 
 Grantham Hall, was burned completely up. The most 
 alarming fire that I can recall was the burning of four 
 houses on King street, opposite the late .7. M. Wolff resi- 
 dence, which commenced between 12 and 1 o'clock, P. 
 M., in the cabinet-maker's shop of Andrew Bowman. 
 
288 ■ Reminiscenice. 
 
 The wind was blowing almost a hurricane from the West, 
 and it was but a few moments until tlie entire row of 
 houses was in a blaze. Shingles were on fire and sparks 
 innumerable were settling everywhere, and in a short 
 time, on South side of street, fully twenty house-roofs 
 were on fire. It became necessary for from ten to fifteen 
 persons to be upon each house, in order to save them. I 
 doubt if your old town has ever experienced a more ex- 
 citing time from fire. The buildings burnt were very old 
 and dilapidated. The Kelley Hotel on Martin street, a 
 very large weatherboard building, was also burnt, be- 
 longing to Capt. Gardner. He was vexed about the loss, 
 and coming to the church corner, tried to throw supply 
 hose out of the cistern. In doing so he slipped and pas- 
 sed into the cistern feet foremost, but being a large man 
 he was caught about the hips and there held, until he 
 was relieved after great efforts. Col. Strother's house, 
 on site now occupied by H. C. Berry, was burnt one night 
 in the month of February, when it was so cold the water 
 froze in the hose and disabled the engine. 
 
 The water supply of our old town was from public 
 wells on the streets. One was in front of Lambert's sa- 
 loon, one at the Schoppert corner, one on the corner of 
 Burke and German streets, one in front of the Janney 
 property on King street, which belonged to Conrad 
 Rousch, and one at John Shaffer's residence. Many per- 
 sons had wells upon their own premises, and large sup- 
 plies were hauled daily from the various springs around 
 town. It was between 1848 and 1860 that the system of 
 cisterns was introduced. Messrs. S. B. and N. Mead 
 brought into use the cement and concrete cistern, which 
 is still much in use by builders. The condition of coun- 
 try around the town has changed wonderfully. At the 
 road leaving the pike at lime kiln, north end of town, 
 there was a nice grove of woodland, frequently patron- 
 ized by Simday School pic-nics. Just above the Hannis, 
 Mill, Avhere the Cumberland Valley bridge crosses the B. 
 
Reminiscence. 289 
 
 & O. R. R.., woods commenced, and you could keep in 
 woodland without break until you reached Hedgesville. 
 On Tuscarora road, just beyond toll-gate, a heavy piece 
 of woodland occupied the ground. Immediately in rear 
 of Gen'l Boyd's residence, coming up to his yard, wood- 
 land commenced and continued without break above the 
 Big Spring, except one field. Then a good deal of cleared 
 land, belonging to the Tate and Snodgrass families. Then 
 came in a body of woodland on the west side of the Win- 
 chester road, which extended almost without a creak 
 until Apple Pie Ridge was reached, where the Lyle's, 
 Henshaw's, and other large farmers lived with much land 
 cleared and cultivated. Just back of the Jamison, late 
 Bentz farm, a body of woodland commenced and contin- 
 ued to the mountain with very few, if any breaks. 
 
 Out near the present residence of A. J. Thomas was 
 a grand grove, where almost every celebration of the 4th 
 of J uly was held, in barbecue style. But few, if any of 
 the new gene^-ation are familiar with the system of a bar- 
 becue, and I will therefore try to describe the manner 
 of preparation of the food. The entire carcass of a num- 
 ber of sheep and hogs, and sometimes the full carcass of 
 a steer, would be prepared for the feast. A deep pit was 
 dug and filled with such fuel as would burn down to a 
 bed of live coals. This was spanned with bars of iron, 
 on which was laid the carcass for broiling, and along side 
 would be a large pot filled with liquid butter, lard, etc., 
 which would be applied by a mop to the cooking meat. 
 As one side became partially done, the other would be 
 turned to the fire by heavy pieces of wood, used as a 
 crowbar. When fully roasted or broiled, no one ever 
 tasted sweeter food. It generally came, however, after 
 fatigued marching and late in the afternoon, hence was 
 always appreciated. The meat was always accompanied 
 with good bread, and generally new potatoes and beans 
 — "Oh, for one more old-fashioned fourth of July cele- 
 bration." 
 
 19 
 
290 Reminiscence. 
 
 I have given a few names of farmers in tlie immediate 
 vicinity of Martinsburg. It was my good fortune to be- 
 come well and familiarly acquainted with, persons who 
 lived at a distance, and whose representatives are still in 
 your county. No more clever class of people could be 
 found than many in and around Arden, among whom 
 were the Chenowiths, Millers, Gladdens, Lyles, Hen- 
 shaws, Sencindivers, Sanakers, Thomas, McDonalds, 
 Daniels, Throckmortons, Irelands, Meyers, Bayarlys, 
 Tablers, Campbells, Walkers, Pitzers, "of the old 
 stock" ; — and again on Tuscarora and Dry Run, Thatch- 
 er's, Small's, Noll's, Lame Mike Seibert, Chisty's, Em- 
 merts, Dubles, Gush was, Walters, Gross, Groves, 
 Tabbs, Porterfields and a host of others, whom it gives 
 me pleasure to recall. On Williamsport road lived J. C. 
 and Henry Small, Ben. Comeqy, Geo. Reynolds, Sam'l 
 and Ben. Harrison, James Turner, Henry Haines, Andy 
 Mclntire, Wm. Hill, Daniel Lamaster, Dr. John Hedges, 
 Henry River, Andrew McCleary, Wm. Porterfield, Jacob 
 Lafevre, Rev. John Light, Jacob Light, Peter Growl, 
 Dan' IB. Morrison, Hamilton Light, Ghrist. Tabler, Jas. 
 L. and S. O. Gunningham, Joseph Unger and others of a 
 pleasing disposition, many of whom have passed on to 
 eternity — only one or two now living. They were true 
 and honorable in life, and are still respected in death. 
 
 Along the mountain range were A. and Jas. Robinson, 
 H. J. Seibert, Mike Seibert, Josiah and Hiram Hedges, 
 Rev. L. F. Wilsou, Gasper Weaver, Josiah Harlan, and 
 Bro. James Griswell, Jacob and Aaron Myers, Gonrad 
 Robbins, Jacob Lingamfelter, Willonbey Lemon, W. 0. 
 Cunningham, Christ. Tabler, Elliott Tabb, William and 
 Benj. Couchman, Henry Myers, Mike Couchman and 
 other noble men of the olden time. In enumerating the 
 old farmer citizens of the county, on the lower or Jeffer- 
 son line, I was not so well acquainted, yet I take pleas- 
 ure in naming some whom I did know, viz : the Billmire 
 family, Gonrad, John, Solomon, David and Martin, all 
 
Reminiscence. 291 
 
 of wliom were good, true men, and successful in life ; 
 Maj. Lewis B. Willis, a retired army officer ; James Ma- 
 son, George and John HoUiday, Jacob and Wm. Kush, 
 I. Van Doren, Drs. Vorhees and Magruders, S. B. and 
 Tlios. Vanmetre, A. E,. McQuilken, who is yet one of 
 your townsmen, Janifer Hudgel, E. B. Southwortli and 
 others whom I cannot just now recall. In the Northern 
 end of the county were Jacob and Daniel Ropp, Poland 
 and Amos Williamson, Col. Ed. Colston, Jacob Price, 
 William Wilson, Gr. W. Robinson, Adam Small, W. H. 
 Harley, Wm. Leigh, Robt. Lemon, Peter Light, Wm. 
 Jack, Wm. Hitzer, Wm. Sperow, Joseph Criswell, John 
 Horner, Warner Emerson, Jacob Basore, Dr. A. C. Ham- 
 mond and Jacob French. I knew them all personally, 
 and at some jjeriod of my life transacted business with 
 the larger number. They have left representatives in 
 almost every case, and their descendants can claim the 
 respect which is always due an honorable and true life. 
 The second election for county ofBcers, under the new 
 Constitution, came off in May, 1854. The Democrats 
 nominated Barnet Cushwa for Sheriff, and Alex. New- 
 comer, a professed Democrat, ran independent. It was 
 a very animated canvass, and the result very close, Mr. 
 O. having only seven majority. A contest was held be- 
 fore the County Court, and they decided that no one was 
 elected, calling for another election in July, which was 
 held. In the meantime, Sam, or the Know-Nothing 
 party, became very active in behalf of Newcomer, and 
 for the first time in our county's history, steeped men 
 with whiskey and cooped them up in out-of-the-way 
 places, so as to control their votes on election day. It 
 was discovered, and every active Democrat was on the 
 alert to expose and thwart their villiany. I was present 
 at the break-up of one crop, near Whiting's Neck, where 
 nine unfortunates were held. They were taken out, and 
 by the next morning were over the mountain near Shang- 
 hai, where they were comfortably cared for in a farmer's 
 
292 Reminiscence. 
 
 house, and voted there the Democratic ticket as they all 
 wished to do, except one who wished to vote for Cushwa 
 and the other portion of the ticket opposite. After a 
 hard fight Cushwa was elected by 67 majority. This 
 election was also contested, and it is supposed would 
 have been annulled, bat cholera intervened and court ad- 
 journed without action. Before it convened again the 
 law gave Mr. Cushwa the office. He proved to be one of 
 the most efiicieut officers we ever had before, and his 
 efficiency secured Democratic rule in the county up to 
 the beginning of the civil war. 
 
 After 1852 it became apparent that Martinsburg was a 
 town of importance and prosperity. Business began to 
 expand largely — G. Baker and Bro. opened a wholesale 
 grocery in the Shaffer room, east of B. & O. R. R. ; D. 
 E. Shipley, Conrad & Son, M. and N. Stine, R. S. Pen- 
 dleton, D. E. White, Hughes & Baker, Vanarsdale & 
 Gosnell, Wm. T. and Ezra Herring, W. H. Wilkens, J. 
 P. Harrison, Robert, and Thos. Turner, Jno. P. Staub, 
 Mason & Smith, Jas. W. Grantham and hosts of others 
 were engaged in business. The town also improved in 
 school facilities — John Sellars, J. P. Gardner, W. S. Saf- 
 fell, J. W. Page, Mrs. Phelps, Mrs. Armstrong and Miss 
 Chisholm taught schools. Rev. Wm. Love completed 
 an old blacksmith shop, located where Hon. W. H. H. 
 Plick's house now stands, and taught therein. It was 
 only one story in height. About this time the town be- 
 came wonderfully excited by a ghost, which walked the 
 street all night rattling a chain. Many of us young men 
 determined to find out the mystery. Preparing ourselves 
 with pistols, loaded alone with powder, and being nine 
 in company, we stationed ourselves on the corner of Burke 
 and German streets, dividing each in companies of three. 
 We soon heard the chain approaching, as it turned the 
 corner toward King street. Some placed themselves 
 directly in its rear, while others on either side of the 
 street kept pace quietly in his rear. When about half 
 
JR'eminiscence. 29H 
 
 way to King, the three in the centre of the street, fired 
 their pistols. The ghost commenced running, and one of 
 those in the street fell, leaving only two of the crowd to 
 continue the chase. We all followed and soon found 
 our two chums looking carefully among a lot of wagons, 
 plows, etc., in front of the shop located where Flick's 
 residence now stands, but failed to find his ghostship. 
 It was, however, his last appearance in that character, 
 yet it afterward came out fully, and the party came near 
 being our representative in the pen at Richmond. 
 
 It was my good fortune to know many of the older 
 citizens West of the Mountain, and among the number 
 I recall that noble old gentleman, Wm. Barney, who has 
 two sons, John and William, yet in your midst ; also 
 Lewis and Moses Grantham ; Robert K., George W. and 
 Israel Robinson ; Jacob, Samuel and Michael Stuckey ; 
 Peter Keys and his brother Philip, Mrs. Jones and Miss 
 McKeever, B. M. and Henry G. Kitchen, at each of whose 
 residences I have been hospitably entertained in the 
 regular old. Virginia style. There was a noted hunter 
 who was given the name of Wolff Myers. He lived at 
 Meadow Branch, and almost every week during the win- 
 ter he would be in town Avith venison, bear and other 
 wild meat, also wild turkeys by the dozen. He also had 
 a secret which I have no doubt died with him. Time 
 and again have I seen him sell to the stores native lead, 
 which he would smelt and bring in in square blocks. No 
 one could ever get his secret from him, and it is a strong 
 evidence that the native ore exists somewhere in the vi- 
 cinity of his residence. A representative of his family 
 still lives at Meadow Branch ; at least he was there a few 
 years ago, and is a grandson of Thomas Myers. About 
 fifteen years ago I personally gave attention to the min- 
 eral interests of our county. There is, on the property 
 of the late J. W. Chenowith, near Arden, a wonderfully 
 rich deposit of ore, also on the property of the late Hon. 
 C. J. Faulkner, at south end of town. The latter was 
 
294 Beminiscence. 
 
 develoijed and worked for a short period, and found to- 
 contain not only a rich deposit of iron ore, but with it a 
 fair per cent, of zinc. This is an interest that your peo- 
 ple should endeavor to develop, and in concluding my 
 reminiscence I could do no better than to encourage 
 greater honorable efforts for full development of the 
 grand old county — rich in good lands, well cultivated 
 farms, and laying undeveloped almost every source of 
 wealth which man may demand. 
 
 In the past years Martinsburg boys would have their 
 sport in swimming during the summer season. The 
 places of resort near town were at the old oil mill dam, 
 now Fitz' s mill ; the Bowers dam, directly opposite the 
 railroad shops, and to the small boys a place called the 
 "slip," just above the residence of Mr. Frazier and 
 back of your present planing mill. These places at that 
 time were very private and retired. No residences were 
 around the entire space from John Fitz's residence to 
 Ransom's, now Hannis' mill, it being an open common. 
 The larger boys and young men frequently went to the 
 Opequon, at a place called the "turn hole," possibly a 
 mile or more above the county bridge, crossing at Van- 
 metie's, on the Shepherdstown road. It was a very dan- 
 gerous place for bathers, and I have witnessed some ter- 
 ribly exciting scenes there in efforts to rescue those in 
 danger, often proving successful, but in several instances 
 the reverse. I recall the drowning of a young man by 
 the name of Hugh McGrackey. The family resided in the 
 property on Queen street adjoining Commodore Bore- 
 man's residence. The father was a contractor, who, with 
 a partner by the name of Scott, erected the stone bridge 
 crossing the Tuscarora, on B. &. 0. R. R.., below the 
 cemetery. Hugh went off on Sunday morning with 
 other boys of the town, and the father and family went 
 to the old Presbyterian Church, on King street. About 
 noon, as the congregation was dispersing, a horseman ar- 
 rived and informed the father that Hugh was drowned. 
 
Reminiscence. 295' 
 
 I have never seen sucli agony as the father, mother and 
 sister exhibited. They fainted and were carried appa- 
 rently dead to their home, all the congregation follow- 
 ing. In a short time his body was brought in, which 
 was certainly a solemn occasion. He was a bright young 
 man, just turning into full manhood, and very popular 
 in the community. 
 
 This being a period of much excitement on the temper- 
 ance question, I purpose giving my knowledge of the first 
 temperance organization which existed. In 1842, an an- 
 nouncement was made that a reformed drunkard from 
 Baltimore would address the public in the Presbyterian 
 Church, and especially inviting those who drank to ex- 
 cess. It being a new thing under the sun, everybody 
 went Wm. Dorsey was made chairman of the meeting, 
 and I then learned for the first time that there was a 
 society pledged to refrain from drinking whiskey, brandy, 
 gin and rum, but allowed to drink every kind of wine. 
 My knowledge of the business was such that, boy as I 
 was, I laughed at the idea, as I could see the effects of 
 wine — not quite so quick but equally potent, and when 
 once under wine influence, more difficult to sober up than 
 even with heavier drinks. However, the reformed drunk- 
 ard in a plain, square, unvarnished manner, told his life 
 experience, and stated that in Baltimore, in a bar-room, 
 twelve men just like himself had pledged each other to 
 quit drinking and go out through the entire land, exhort- 
 ing their fellow men to do the same. He also said they 
 called themselves Washingtonians. He called upon any 
 one present, who knew they were drunkards, to rise, and 
 if any one wished to give their experience, they should 
 raise the right hand. Several did so, and a very large 
 number rose u}), showing their honesty. At the present 
 time, if you would ask in a large assembly for any one 
 to rise and acknowledge they were drunkards, not one 
 would do so ; and yet there are more to-day, especially 
 among young men, than there were then. A very large 
 
296 Reminiscence. 
 
 mimber signed the pledge, and I am proud to say, that 
 nearly all proved faithful. I recollect one particular 
 case. He was terribly given up to the habit, and for 
 three days he remained in his shop, his meals being 
 carried to him by members of his family. On the fourth 
 day he came out and made for the back yard of my 
 uncle' s house. He came in with a frightened look upon 
 his face, and at once began to beg for a drink. My unclei 
 although engaged in the trade and continuing in it for 
 years, says : ' ' No, Mike, you want to quit, and I know 
 it is for your good. Now pledge me right here again, 
 that you will not drink liquor of any kind, and then 
 come with me." After a little hesitation, Mike took the 
 pledge. My uncle took him to the kitchen and gave him 
 a good meal, with plenty of good, strong coffee, and for 
 years after this man was true to his obligation. The 
 Washingtonians were succeeded by the "Sons of Tem- 
 perance," and the " Boys' Cadets of Temperance." They 
 did a great deal of good in reforming and keeping men 
 from intemperance. The subject of prohibition had fre- 
 quently been advocated under the old State before the 
 war, and at one time it was thought would be embodied 
 in the Constitution of 1851 and '52. 
 
 In my young childhood, John H. Blondel, generally 
 called " Tebeaus," was a young man and associated with 
 the circle of females and males, young men and women 
 who were familiar with my relatives. He was a splendid 
 performer on almost any character of musical instrument, 
 and although of a very quiet manner, I expect had more 
 real fun and sport in him than any one I ever knew 
 about our town. For many years he was the leader and 
 trainer of our bands, and had the reputation of being the 
 finest performer on the bugle that could be found. Often 
 at night has the old town been enlivened from some of 
 the surrounding hills by his delightful music, sometimes 
 from the bugle, accompanied by the claironet, flute, etc. 
 He usually had a number of companions with him. 
 
Heminiscence. ^Q'7 
 
 Many of your older citizens will recall with pleasure the 
 amusing and laughable stories he w^ould relate, among 
 "which were " Old Mrs. Schoppertandher song or hymn," 
 accompanied by the violin ; " Snuff- taking, sneezing and 
 pipeing voice of conversation ; " " Capt. Foley' s visit and 
 dinner at the residence of Gen'l E. Boyd ;'' " The coon 
 hunt, with black dogs of old man Stuckey ;" and many 
 others that I cannot recall. It was a pleasure to meet 
 him in a company, and wherever found he was sure to be 
 a source of much amusement. He was a good and worthy 
 citizen, filling his position of life with honor and credit 
 to himself and family. I have frequently heard him re- 
 late that his mother and father were in San Domingo 
 when the terrible Negro Insurrection arose, and that his 
 mother, in order to save herself and him from death, 
 walked out into the sea until the water touched her chin, 
 and for several hours held him aloft out of the water in 
 her raised arms until she was rescued by a vessel. Hus- 
 band and wife were separated, neither knowing the other 
 was living. The vessel that rescued Mrs. Blondel sailed 
 for Philadelphia, and she, knowing her husband had 
 relatives there, called to see them and found her husband 
 safe. It was a joyful meeting to both. They moved to 
 Martinsburg ; and during my younger days, I had occa- 
 sion to see them frequently. The shop occupied by him, 
 in the tin and brass foundry business, was a small wooden 
 structure, occupying the same corner now having upon 
 it the fine brick building, in which the son of John H. 
 still carries on the tin busiijess. 
 
 In enumeration of worthy and good citizens I entirely 
 forgot a section of the county, that possessed some grand 
 men, — the upper Opequon region. Among the residents 
 were Samuel Miller, John Burns, Benj. Boley, Joseph 
 Gorrell, Joseph and John Burns, Isaac Franklin ; Joshua, 
 Daniel and John Burns, all of whom moved to Missouri 
 years ago. There was also Jacob Vanmetre, called Easy 
 Jake ; Joseph Hofiman ; the Roberts family, William, 
 
298 Rem iniscence. 
 
 Edward F. and Josiali ; Abram Williamson, Jolin P. 
 Kearfott, Abram Deck, Morgan Vancleve and others, — 
 all worthy gentlemen, and whose posterity in many cases 
 are still citizens of your county. 
 
 The system of lights at night were entirely different 
 from the present. Every family used the candle on a 
 candlestick, and in many families nothing but the small 
 grease lamp was used. A piece of cotton cloth would be 
 cut about two inches wide, doubled together, and lard 
 put in a small cup made of iron with a sharp prong, 
 which would be put in a crack, usually of the chimney 
 jam. In the stores and hotels the walls would be hung 
 with sconces, made of tin, in which a candle was burnt. 
 In some of the wealthier families they burned sperm oil 
 in lamps. The churches were often lighted by side wall 
 lights of candles, in sconces. It was a singular thing 
 if any of the younger generation could define and give 
 the meaning of the word sconce. Between 1840 and 1850 
 etherial oil was introduced, which gave a bright and 
 beautiful light, but a very dangerous one as it was more 
 liable to explode than the present kerosene so much in 
 use. We knew nothing about gas, and in fact coal was 
 not much in use, except by blacksmiths. Most generally 
 charcoal was used. 
 
 The trade in charcoal and tar was carried on exten- 
 sively in our pine regions. It is very doubtful whether 
 one charcoal kiln is now burnt in the county in a year. 
 At one time hundreds of them could be found in what 
 was termed the Pine Hills. The mode of making char- 
 coal is not fully understood, hence I can only give the 
 fact that logs of medium size would be placed in a pit in 
 the ground and covered over with earth, with only one 
 vent hole to give draft to fire. It would be closed up 
 after the kiln was fully fired, and kept constantly cov- 
 ered with earth until the smoke ceased to rise. It gen- 
 erally made a mound from six to eight feet high, which 
 gradually sank almost to a level. When it was opened 
 
Meviiniscence. 299 
 
 and occasionally sprinkled with, water, the wood looked 
 to be solid, but when stirred it broke up into lumps pos- 
 sibly three or four inches. A kiln generally yielded 
 from 500 to 800 bushels of coal. 
 
CHAPTER XII. 
 
 THE B. & O. R. R. STRIKES AT MARTINSBURG. 
 
 ?™|HE incidents bearing upon the beginning of trouble 
 ^^ with tlie Baltimore & Ohio Railway began about the 
 16 th of April, 1877. All along the line tramps, commun- 
 ists and turbulent organizations had given rise to much 
 dissension among the railroad employes. John W. Grar- 
 rett, a business man of acquired reputation, was made 
 president of the company in 1856. He found its stock 
 quoted low, its dividends small, and the road in a very 
 poor condition. Mr. Garrett proved to be the right man 
 in the right place, and displayed splendid executive 
 ability during the civil war, which came on shortly after- 
 ward. He surrounded himself with capable assistants, 
 and having considerable influence with the Secretary of 
 War, secured the most profitable contract that, in a short 
 while, fully restored the credit of the corporation and 
 extended the road until it became one of the largest and 
 most prominent lines in the country. However, about 
 the month of July clouds began to hover about the pres- 
 ident'shead. A storm was impending 'which, before it 
 could be controlled, would involve the nation from the 
 Atlantic to the Pacific and from Pennsylvania to Texas, 
 in untold loss and misfortune. At a meeting convened 
 on the 11th of July, '77, by means of an official circular, 
 the president informed the employes that a preamble and 
 resolutions had been adopted to the effect that all officers 
 and operatives of the road receiving sums in excess of 
 one dollar ^er diem would be reduced ten per cent., and 
 after the 16th of the same month the change would take 
 effect. Every man engaged upon the main line and 
 branches east of the Ohio River was embraced in this 
 
The B. & 0. B. R. Strilces. 301 
 
 rule, including the trans- OMo division and the roads 
 leased by the company. It was stated in the notice that 
 action in this direction would be postponed until after 
 their competitors had made similar retrenchments, hop- 
 ing that business would revive in a short while and a de- 
 crease of expenses be avoided. They were disappointed 
 in this, and the principal reason brought about the action 
 taken, which was on account of general depression of busi- 
 ness interests over the country. The earnings of all rail- 
 ways were unavoidably and seriously affected. A change 
 had to be made — in fact the call for it Avas imperative. 
 
 Persons superior to those of the ordinary observer, by 
 means of information, supposed that the low wages move- 
 ment was undoubtedly canvassed along the great trunk 
 lines and decided upon by representatives of various 
 roads directly after the close of Vanderbilt's freight war 
 in the spring. During the month of May the Pennsyl- 
 vania road put it in force, and the reduction of ten per 
 cent, was accepted by the employes. This \vas followed 
 by the Erie and New York Central roads, to take effect 
 July 1st, and in both cases they were duly informed be- 
 forehand of the changes to be made. As asserted in its 
 circular, the Baltimore and Ohio road was nearly the 
 last to take action in this matter, and several days before 
 the rule was to be enforced a number of the firemen at 
 once decided to strike. They declared their intention 
 that they could not and would not stand any reduction 
 from their wages. The Trainmen's Union was in full 
 blast all along the line, which had been effectively insti- 
 tuted previously by a traveling delegation from the Penn- 
 sylvania road, and taking advantage of affairs, a real 
 strike began. 
 
 The workingmen claimed that their grievances were 
 unbearable — that the treatment received at the hands of 
 merchants and boarding-house keepers along the route, 
 for such necessities as trainmen were compelled to have, 
 was inordinately rash. Their belief was that whatever 
 
302 The B. & 0. R. B. StriJces. 
 
 turn made in affairs could not make them much worse 
 off. Their earnings were lovs^, rents high, and for their 
 heavy demands at the scanty stores at the stations, ex- 
 travagant prices were charged. Extortion pressed them 
 on every side, and coupled with comi3ulsory credit pur- 
 chase from month to month, they began to nurse a hatred 
 and antagonism against the company and general public. 
 At this time the road carried a moderate amount east- 
 ward, but owing to competition were unable to get suffi- 
 cient to the westward to load its cars. This caused a large 
 reduction of the hands employed, and created much 
 discontent. 
 
 President Garrett, Vice-President King, and second 
 Vice-President Keyser, upon learning of the strike, and 
 the movements of the Brotherhood of Engineers and the 
 Trainmen' s Union, pronounced it untimely, ill-advised, 
 and fated to meet no great success. The road, like all 
 others, was now passing through the darkest days of its 
 experience. A financial stringency was staring it in the 
 face, and business falling off where an accession had been 
 calculated upon — the results of competition and unpro- 
 ductive extensions of line. The ofBcials stated that a 
 reduction had to be made for the curtailment of expenses, 
 and when the demands of the strikers were made known, 
 they promptly refused them. Knowing that a stoppage 
 would lead to heavy losses, yet they preferred to let the 
 road stand idle, rather than be dictated to and cause a 
 reinstatement of the former rates of wages. On account 
 of this, the strike was simply suicidal on the part of 
 those engaged in it. Meetings were held by the Brother- 
 hood of Locomotive Engineers — advicegiven and received, 
 and many were led to believe that they would take no 
 part in the strike. With the consent of this organiza- 
 tion, the Trainmen' s Union assisted in starting the im- 
 portant movement all along the line. On the 16th of 
 July, 1877, the day that the reduction of wages on the B. 
 & O. R. R. was ordered to take effect, the strike was 
 
The B. & 0. R. R. StriTces. 303 
 
 commenced in our city and the first actual violence com- 
 mitted. Here occurred the first important incidents of 
 the great strikes of '77, on the night of July 16th. No- 
 tice had been given ihe crews of all trains, by the stri- 
 kers, that after a certain hour no person should move an 
 engine under penalty of death. Engineers on the road 
 were paralyzed, — while the managers hastened to make 
 good their usual tri^Ds and secure men to take the places 
 of the strikers. However, they met with only partial 
 success. 
 
 It was in our happy neighborhood, which had rested 
 in peace and quietude since the war, that the combination 
 of railroad men imbued their hands in blood and met 
 their first loss of life, in attempting to carry out their 
 communistic ideas. On Monday morning, the 16th of 
 July, a large number of train hands left Baltimore, and 
 with those coming in from the West, began to concen- 
 trate at Martinsburg. Near the dispatcher's ofiice could 
 always be found a number of locomotives on the tracks, 
 and it was no unusual occurrence for employes to congre- 
 gate there. But at this time it was noticed that some- 
 thing more than ordinary was transpiring, or about to 
 transpire, when the m.en collected in groups at the depot, 
 the machine-shops, the switch-stands, along the tracks 
 and other localities. An explanation of these mysteri- 
 ous gatherings was, in a short while, made very plain, 
 when a fireman notified the dispatcher that a cattle train 
 was compelled to stop there, as the entire crew had struck 
 and no one could be found to take the vacant places. 
 The fireman also stated that he thought no more trains 
 would be allowed to move from this point in either di- 
 rection. The news soon spread, and in a short while 
 people began to collect from all directions to see what 
 was going on. The policemen put in their appearances, 
 and sauntered leisurely around, waiting to see if their 
 services would be called for. In a short while the engines 
 were detached from the trains, and run into the round- 
 
304 The B. & 0. R. B. Strikes. 
 
 house. Wlien questioned by tlie officials concerning 
 tlieir action, the striliers replied that no more trains would 
 be run over that road, in any direction, until the company 
 withdrew the ten per cent, reduction of trainmen' s wages. 
 They intended to refrain from work, and would not allow 
 their places to be filled by a new set of men. The freight 
 trains were kept on a stand-still, while the mail trains 
 were allowed to pass, but eventually they were stopped. 
 The increased crowd of spectators, by this time, was 
 stirred with interest, and the news spread until it reached 
 every citizen. It was taken up by the press and soon 
 scattered broad-cast over the country. 
 
 The Mayor, Captain A. P. Shutt, and the policemen 
 were sent for, who promptly put in their appearance, 
 and backed by a trio of municipal guardians, held a con- 
 ference with the railroad officials. Mayor Shutt, willing 
 to do all in his power, proceeded to speak to the strikers, 
 using mild and temperate language, and advised them to 
 return to their work and trust to the fairness of the com- 
 pany in the settlement of their grievances. But the mob, 
 following the general rule, had reached that point where 
 reason ceased to be a virtue, and their madness and vio- 
 lence had only been increased. The Mayor was hooted 
 at, derided, and his good counsel turned to ridicule. He 
 failed to impress the strikers with any of his mild-man- 
 nered notions, and could not make them understand that 
 it would be best to run tlieir locomotives to their desti- 
 nations. In fact, his speech only served to add fuel to 
 the fires already fiercely burning, and, giving it up as a 
 hopeless task, he ordered his policemen to arrest the ring- 
 leaders. Frantic efforts to obey were made by the pow- 
 erless policemen, while the strikers laughed in their faces. 
 The Mayor' s appeals were equally fruitless — the men re- 
 fused to work — and the engineers found an excuse for 
 refusal by saying they dare not enter their cabs. , The 
 firemen and trackmen would not allow others to take 
 their places, holding back Avith all their strength. Fi- 
 
The B. & 0. B. R. SiriTces. 305 
 
 nally the Mayor and policemen withdrew from the scene, 
 leaving the situation at the undisputed command of the 
 strikers. The machine shops, depot and round-houses 
 were all deserted by midnight, except by a number of 
 Union men who were left to guard the tracks and see 
 that no trains were allowed to pass that point. The 
 strangers from Baltimore were provided for by their fel- 
 low-strikers, and a number lodged at the hotels. The 
 telegraph manager communicated the information of the 
 strike to President Garrett and Vice-President King, of 
 Baltimore, and after midnight Capt. Thos. B. Sharp, 
 General Master of Transportation, was brought to the 
 spot. After carefully surveying the condition of aifairs, 
 which was in no wise difficult of comprehension, a full 
 report of his investigation was telegraphed to the princi- 
 pal office. The matter was duly considered by the Balti- 
 more officials, who prepared a telegram and at once dis- 
 patched to Governor Mathews, stating the facts as here 
 given, and asking him to provide some method to aban- 
 don violent measures and allow trains to move in safety. 
 Through the promptness of the Governor, a telegram was 
 sent to Col. C. J. Faulkner, at Martinsburg, dated at 
 Wheeling, about midnight, ordering him if necessary, to 
 call out his command, the Berkeley Light Infantry, to 
 aid and protect the civil authorities, and to make due 
 report to the executive office of the existing state of 
 affairs anc^his operations. 
 
 Col. Faulkner was informed of the Governor's wishes 
 July 17th, about 12:30 A. M., and returned answer by 
 telegraph, stating that the strikers would not allow trains 
 to move either east or west from Martinsburg, and asked 
 if his instructions extended any further than merely pro- 
 tecting the peace — if so, he desired an answer in full. 
 Meanwhile the Colonel issued orders for an immediate 
 assemblage of the militia command, prepared for active 
 duty, at their armory. The call was promptly responded 
 to by the militia, among whom were many railroaders, 
 
306 The B. & 0. R. R. Strikes. 
 
 and possibly connected witli the Trainmen's Union. A 
 number of the militia, as well as numerous citizens, felt 
 a deep and hearty sympathy with the men engaged in 
 the strike. In a short while Col. Faulkner received 
 another message from Governor Mathews, advising him 
 if possible, to avoid using force, and at the same time 
 give all necessary aid to the civil authorities, and see 
 that the laws were duly executed. At the conclusfon of 
 the message the Governor stated : "I rely upon you to 
 act discreetly and firmly." 
 
 Mr. Sharp, Master of Transportation, fixed upon 5 
 o'clock as the hour for moving trains on Tuesday morn- 
 ing, and secured an engineer and fireman, who agreed to 
 take the stock-train through to its destination, if proper- 
 ly protected. A request was then made of Col. Faulkner, 
 his command of militia. Mayor Shutt and police. County 
 Sheriff and posse, to be present and see that the strikers 
 did not interfere. Col. Faulkner, before retiring from 
 the scene, asked Governor Mathews by telegraph : "Must 
 I protect men who are willing to run their trains, and see 
 that they are permitted to go east and west f ' In a short 
 while the Governor answered : "I am informed that the 
 rioters constitute a combination so strong that the civil 
 authorities are powerless to enforce the law. If this is 
 so, prevent any interference by rioters with the men at 
 work, and also prevent the obstruction of the trains." 
 
 Upon receiving this communication. Col. Faulkner at 
 once repaired to the armory to take charge of his com- 
 mand, knowing plainly what his duty was. The known 
 Of ders for the gathering of militia, the marching of uni- 
 formed men on the streets bearing arms, accompanied by 
 the excitement of the strike, caused such a restlessness 
 that there was but little sleep visited the eyelids of the 
 citizens on that eventf ul«iight. Groups of persons, white 
 and colored, could be seen gathered on the corners in 
 knots, discussing the unusual state of affairs, and won- 
 dering what the morrow would bring forth. The city has 
 
The B. & 0. R. E. Strihes. ^ 307 
 
 never experienced sucli a sensation since the close of the 
 war. 
 
 At about five o'clock the next morning, W. H. Harri- 
 son, Master Mechanic of the company, with Mr. French, 
 arrived here from Cumberland. A consultation was held 
 with Capt. Sharp and the remaining local force of the 
 road, after which a locomotive was fired up and attached 
 to a cattle- train, and with an engineer and fireman they 
 were ready to start matters anew. At about sunrise the 
 attempt was made to set the driving wheels once more in 
 motion, but was prevented by the strikers guard from 
 the round-house, who swept down upon them and order- 
 ed the non-striking men to hold hard or they would be 
 killed. The throttle was promptly shut and the engine 
 brought to a stand-still, which probably saved their lives. 
 Jlowever, the men remained with the train for a short 
 time, expecting to rush it through, but finally left. Up 
 to this time the militia and town officials had not made 
 their appearance. The president and ofiicers of the com- 
 pany were informed of the circumstances, and at once 
 instructed Capt. Sharp to make the attempt until his 
 efforts were crowned with success. The consequent 
 sounding of the shrill steam whistle, in the early dawn 
 of the day, startled the excited inhabit mts of the city, 
 and in a short while the streets were flocked, all anxious 
 to learn what was going on. Among the citizens were 
 the strikers belonging to the city, and reinforced by 
 those from Baltimore and the West. They congregated 
 about the basement doors of the present depot, and 
 gathered in small squads over the surrounding ground. 
 It seemed as though the railroad men, by agreement, 
 separated from the others, and concentrated a formidable 
 force near the company's buildings. Mr. Harrison, the 
 Master Mechanic, conversed with them and endeavored 
 by every means in his power to influence their minds 
 peaceably, and bring about an amicable adjustment of 
 the prevailing troubles. A number of employes were 
 
308 The B. & 0. R. R. Strikes. 
 
 well disposed towards Harrison, but exhibited no change 
 of lieart. Harrison finally returned to Sharp, after ex- 
 hausting his arguments, and reported that the rioters 
 would not change their decision in regard to stopping all 
 freight trains, and if anything, their resolution had be- 
 come more firm than ever. Mr. Sharp was a cool, deter- 
 mined man, of iron will, and upon receiving this infor- 
 mation, concluded that no favorable or peaceful solution 
 of the surrounding difficulties would be reached. The 
 strikers had accused Sharp of being at the bottom of the 
 rough treatment to which they were subjected, and be- 
 lieved him to be the cause of the reduction in wages. In 
 truth, he was bitterly opposed to the cutting-down sys- 
 tem, and in favor of restoring the pay to its original 
 amount. The enemies were ignorant of this, and when 
 they saw him walk up to a locomotive -ind order the en- 
 gineer forward to his destination at all hazards, they cast 
 scowling glances upon him and were greatly enraged. 
 
 The engine had not moved a single length of rail, be- 
 fore the mob swarmed upon the foot- board, over the coal 
 in the tender and thence into the cab, driving the newly- 
 engaged men from their positions. The locomotive was 
 uncoupled from the train and run into the round-house, 
 leaving the cars on the track no nearer their destination 
 than before. By this time their numbers had increased 
 several hundred, and no further damage was done. The 
 crowd then gathered' nigh, in almost a solid mass, to 
 watch the proceedings. The engineer and fireman had 
 escaped, and again Sharp was defeated, of which he 
 informed the company as before. Meantime the crowd 
 of spectators and array of strikers continued to increase. 
 At about 9 o'cjock, four hours later -than the appointed 
 time, the sound of fife and drum was heard, and pres- 
 ently the gleaming arms and accoutrements of the Berke- 
 ley Light Infantry were seen advancing towards the 
 depot, headed by Col. Faulkner. Loud hurrahs and 
 shouts of welcome went up as the militia filed down the 
 
The B. & 0. R. R. Strikes. 309 
 
 steep steps and marched to the round-house unopposed. 
 The engineer and firemen had again been discovered and 
 brought to the spot, and another cheer went up. They 
 were closely followed by their wives and children, who 
 threw their arms around their husbands necks, franti- 
 cally embracing and urging them to refrain from the per- 
 ilous attempt. But they tore themselves from the grasp 
 of their families, and started > on a swift pace to 
 the round-house, where they mounted the engine, which 
 had already been fired up. The engine was then 
 moved out, with soldiers on either side, bayonets fixed 
 and guns loaded, and proceeded in the direction of the 
 distillery. Squads of the militia had been arranged and 
 several placed on the engine. Their progress was slow 
 and snail-like, owing to the pressure of the close forward 
 ranks of the strikers. At this moment the rioters rose 
 to white heat, when the third experiment was made for 
 starting with the trainmen guarded. At the suggestion 
 of Mayor Shutt, Col. Faulkner then proceeded to ad- 
 dress the mob, and if possible stay further violence. In 
 a courteous, firm and impressive manner, he warned 
 them of the result if they interfered any farther, and 
 if they touched the engine it would be at their own peril. 
 They only laughed at him, as though they would accept 
 none other than brute force to obtain their rights. 
 
 The engine was moved in the direction of the distillery, 
 where it was attached to a cattle train on the siding. A 
 switch led this track upon the main road, which, it 
 seems had been tampered with by the strikers. The 
 train was made up about 10 o'clock, and squads of 
 militia were placed on the engine, and on either side of 
 the train. John Poisal, a militiaman was sitting on the 
 cow-catcher, and as the train steadily and slowly drew 
 near the switch, his attention was attracted by the posi- 
 tion of the switch ball. Unless some change was made, 
 Poisal knew the train would be thrown ofE the right 
 track. With musket in hand, he immediately jumped 
 
310 The B. & 0. R. B. Strikes. 
 
 to the ground, and ran to the switch. Just as he was in 
 the act of reversing it, William Yandergriff, a striking 
 fireman, who had tampered it and was standing near to 
 see the result, yelled out : 
 
 "Don't you touch that switch!" 
 
 "I'm not going to see the train run on a siding 
 if I can prevent it," replied Poisal, as he firmly 
 grasped the iron. Before Poisal could change the 
 switch, Vandergriff had drawn a small pocket-pistol 
 from his belt, and fired two shots in rapid suc- 
 cession upon him. One of the bullets plowed a jag- 
 ged furrow on the side of Poisal' s forehead, just above 
 the ear, while the other flew wide of its mark. Upon 
 receiving the shot, Poisal quickly raised his gun, and 
 with a steady aim fired on Vandergriff. Another soldier 
 near by fired at the same time, and both balls lodged in 
 Vandergriff' s body, one in the arm and the other pene- 
 trating the thigh. He fell, mortally wounded, which 
 was followed by the explosion of several small arms, but 
 no injury done. At this onslaught the mob pressed closer 
 on the soldiers, while a lively scattering was made among 
 the woman, children, and more peaceably disposed citi- 
 zens. Poisal and Vandergriff were taken to their homes, 
 and medical aid procured. In a short while the strikers 
 again had things all their own way, completely over- 
 powering the militia. The sound of fire-arms drew larger 
 crowds from the city, and the excitement was more in- 
 tense than ever. By this time the fireman and engineer 
 had escaped from the train, and left the locality. 
 
 Col. Faulkner fully appreciated in a minute, that his 
 militia, however brave and trustworthy, under these cir- 
 cumstances would not attempt to kill their relatives and 
 friends. He at once reported to Capt. Sharp, stating that 
 his men were powerless and many in sympathy with the 
 strikers, and that he would have to march them back to 
 the armory. They were then ordered home, and the road 
 
The B. & 0. R. R. SiriJces. 311 
 
 left blocked up with trains of loaded cars, subject to the 
 caprices of the infuriated and angry mob. 
 
 For several days afterward VandergrifE lay upon his 
 bed, suffering terrible agony. The best nurses and phy- 
 sicians the country afforded attended him, and every- 
 thing possible was done for his recovery. However, on 
 the 28th of July he breathed his last, and on the Sunday 
 following was buried in Green Hill Cemetery. Poisal, 
 whose injury was slight, made his appearance on the 
 street in a few days, appearing as well and hearty as 
 usual. The story of this incident was spread abroad by 
 the press, and if credit was given them, one would sup- 
 pose that civil war surely reigned in Martinsburg. The 
 actual number of strikers was estimated to be upwards 
 of seventy-five or eighty, but were backed by many citi- 
 zens and other working classes. The press greatly ex- 
 aggerated this strike, and in a few days the torch of 
 communism was burning brightly throughout the whole 
 country. 
 
 After the militia had left the scene, the confusion 
 ceased, and the railroaders retired to their former posi- 
 tion at the shops. The locomotive, as before, was un- 
 coupled and returned to the round-house. Col. Faulk- 
 ner became disgusted with the part he had been forced 
 to take in the riots. He had given his men no orders to 
 fire, and therefore run no risk of his commands being 
 disobeyed. His desire was to x^erform his duty and en- 
 force the law without shedding blood, but met with no 
 success. Information was at once furnished Governor 
 Mathews of the proceedings and results. Later on Col. 
 Faulkner telegraphed the Governor that it was impossi- 
 ble for him to do anything further, and that a number of 
 his command, being railroad men, would not respond. 
 The Governor, in response, dispatched that law-abiding 
 citizens must be protected, and the jpeace preserved, by 
 whatever means was necessary to accomplish it. He also 
 stated that he could furnish a company from Wheeling, 
 
312 TlieB. & 0. JR. li. Strikes. 
 
 who would be used in the suppression of riot and execu- 
 tion of the law, and also spoke very highly of Col. 
 Faulkner' s appeal to the rioters. 
 
 The mob had full possession of all the railroad prop- 
 erty from Monday night until the succeeding Wednesday 
 morning, July 18th. At about 7:30 o'clock, the Math- 
 ews Light Guard arrived from Wheeling, under com- 
 mand of Col. Delaplaine, and a conference was held be- 
 tween Attorney- Genera] White, Wm. Keyser, Second 
 Vice-President, Col. Sharp, and others.. During this 
 time the rioters made no further demonstration, but re- 
 mained quiet and apparently content with the work they 
 had done. The Trainmen' s Union at Baltimore, Grafton, 
 Cumberland, Pittsburgh, and other points were kept 
 posted by the strickers concerning their doings. 
 
 The strikers visited the railroad shops on the evening 
 of the 18th .of July, and ordered the laborers then at 
 work to stop, which they refused to do. In the mean- 
 time the mail trains were allowed to pass unmolested 
 either way. Finally the cars loaded with cattle were ar- 
 ranged for by Mr. Mantz and shipped over the Cumber- 
 land Valley and Western Maryland roads. The Wheel- 
 ing Light Infantry had charge of the town for several 
 days, encamped at the Court House and railroad, and no 
 action was taken by them with the strikers, as it was 
 deemed best to await reinforcements. On the 18th of 
 July Governor Mathews, at the urgent request of Mr. 
 Garret, telegraphed President Hayes, and after explain- 
 ing the situation, asked for United States troops. Ko 
 freight operations were started until Brevet Major- Gen- 
 eral W. H. French, Colonel of the Fourth U. S. Artillery, 
 arrived with two hundred men armed as infantry, and no 
 sooner had they reached the town than quiet and order 
 reigned supreme. 
 
 President Hays issued, previous to this, his proclama- 
 tion, and directed it to the citizens of West Virginia. 
 He admonished all good citizens in the United States and 
 
The B. & 0. R. R. Strikes. 313 
 
 VitMn its territory of jurisdiction, against aiding, coun- 
 tenancing, abetting or taking part in such unlawful pro- 
 ceedings. A warning was given those engaged in or con- 
 nected with, said domestic violence and obstruction of the 
 laws, and orders given them to disperse and retire peace- 
 ably to their respective abod es on or before 1 2 o' clock 
 meridian, of the 19th day of July. 'It bore the signatures 
 of President Hayes and P. A. Steward, Acting Secretary 
 of State, accompanied by the great seal of the United 
 States. This permanently settled affairs at Martinsburg, 
 and the rioters had to retire, as they could not fight the 
 Government of the United States. 
 
CHAPTER XIII. 
 LIFE OF THE LATE HON. C. J. FAULKNER— THE 
 STORY OP A LIFE FULL OF BUSTLING ACTIVI- 
 TIES—LEFT AN ORPHAN— A FIGHT FOR AN 
 EDUCATION — DEBATE WITH TOM MAR- 
 SHALL—ENTERS PUBLIC LIFE IN 1832— 
 GOES TO CONGRESS IN 1852— A DIPLO- 
 MAT AND A PRISONER OF STATE— 
 THE REWARD OF INDUSTRY. 
 
 WRITTEN BY COL. FRANK A.- BURR IN 1884. 
 
 I. 
 
 " Time, hath, my Lord, 
 
 A wallet at his back, wherein he puts alms, 
 
 For Oblivion's sake. 
 
 These scraps, are good deeds past. 
 
 Forgot, as soon as done." 
 
 |^|AD Sliakesi3eare his normal inspiration when he 
 ^^1 penned these lines ? And is it true that good deeds 
 live to spur succeeding generations to emulation and suc- 
 cess ? It is the general judgment of the world that notable 
 acts survive forever, and burnished by the lapse of time, are 
 brighter when picked up from the dust of years. Of such 
 a one I write. One whose life has been full of strange 
 vicissitudes and bustling activities. It is now sloping to 
 a close, as calmly as the sun goes down after a stormy 
 day. He began life in an humble way. When eight 
 years of age he was left an orphan, with no kith nor kin 
 on this broad continent. He grew to manhood, and to 
 old age, in the little town in which he was born, and in 
 which he now lives. His home to-day is almost within 
 the shadow of the grave of a grandfather, shot down in 
 the Revolution, and of a father, who perished from ser- 
 vice in the war of 1812. His mother died before he could 
 
Life of the late Hon. C. J. .Faulkner. 315 
 
 hardly understand the value of a mother's care, and his 
 father was buried before he could comprehend the mean- 
 ing of the word "orphan." He was reared by strangers, 
 and whatever he has been or is, he chiefly gained for 
 himself, by as hard a struggle with the world as a man 
 ever made. Perhaps it was best for him that his lot was 
 cast in rough places, and that he had to make the jour- 
 ney of life alone. His father's advice and influence 
 might have given his character a different bent, and a 
 less fortunate one. He was a soldier, a major of artillery, 
 and was filled with a soldier' s ambition, and a soldier' s 
 bonhomie. Therefore, he died poor, and left his son, 
 when a child, to make his own way, with no other capi- 
 tal than the sturdy qualities inherited from good Scotch- 
 Irish stock on both sides of the family tree. 
 
 The village doctor gave him a home, but he himself 
 learned the valuable lessons of industry and self-reliance 
 that have stood him so well in hand through all his busy 
 years. Like many of the youth of the country, when 
 impelled by vague, yet strong ambitions, he early began 
 the study of law, at the famous law school of Chaacellor 
 Tucker, in Winchester, and in much less than the usual 
 time of probation and reading, he was admitted to the 
 bar. He was never accounted a brilliant boy, nor has 
 he ever been noted for that quality as a man. He got 
 his start in life by untiring industry and close ai^plica- 
 tion ; he early trained his mind to methodical effort. 
 While others slept he worked, and it has been a tireless 
 energy, more than any single quality of his nature, that 
 has made him a name and fame as a successful man. 
 
 He had little more than attained his majority when he 
 took a leading position at the bar, and in the politics of 
 his native county. 
 
 The decade beginning in 1830 was filled with impor- 
 tant history, and with its opening year Mr. Faulkner 
 practically began his public life. 
 
 The Constitutional Convention of that year had com- 
 
316 Ufe of tlie late Hon. C. J. Faulkner. 
 
 pleted its work and the people of Virginia were to de- 
 cide whether the Constitution of 1830, largely the work 
 of Watkins Leigh, was to be the fiindamental law of the 
 State. There was a strong feeling for and against it. 
 The famous Tom Marshall, of Kentucky, was one of its 
 most bitter opponents. He had been living a year or 
 more in Berkeley County, on a visit to his relations, the 
 Colstons, and had gone to Richmond during the sessions 
 of the Constitutional Convention. There he lia/i engen- 
 dered an intense dislike for Watkins Leigh. When he 
 returned to Martinsburg he took open ground against the 
 instrument and assailed it as " Watkins Leigh's Consti- 
 tution." By the time the canvass came on, when the 
 people were to decide for or against it, he had aroused a 
 good deal of feeling in relation to its provisions, and it 
 was thought best by those who favored it that a great 
 public public meeting should be called, at which its pro- 
 visions should be discussed before the people. Mr. 
 Faulkner had taken a position in its ^avor, believing it 
 an improvement on the old, and it was arranged that he 
 and Tom Marshall should present its merits or demerits 
 to the people at a meeting in Martinsburg, the county 
 town. A great crowd gathered to hear the debate. It 
 was the first public discussion of Mr. Marshall, as well 
 as the first of Mr. Faulkner. Each young man appeared 
 at his best, but Mr. Marshall, at that early day, gave 
 ample evidence of those great powers of mind and tongue 
 that afterwards made him so famous. The discussion 
 lasted for several hours, and Mr. Marshall carried the 
 crowd by his wit and eloquence ; but Mr. Faulkner, by 
 his industry, secured for the Constitution a large major- 
 ity at the polls of Berkeley County. 
 
 II. 
 
 ENTERING PUBLIC LIFE. 
 
 An important decade in our national history began 
 
 with the adoption of the new Constitution of Virginia. 
 
 The nullification schemes of Calhoun were being hatched 
 
Life of the late Hon. C. J. Faulkner. ;S17 
 
 in its first year, and in 1832, when Mr. Faulkner was 
 called to his first public position. President Jackson liad 
 just issued his famous "proclamation of force," which 
 boldly asserted the supremacy of the Government of the 
 United States over the government of any State. And 
 there was then such imminent danger of armed resist- 
 ance to the Federal authority that Congress placed in the 
 hands of the President the power of military coercion. 
 Clay was then engaging the public attention with his 
 scheme of protection ; then, too, Andrew Jackson was 
 pushing tricky Martin Van Buren for the Presidency, 
 and sitting upon the aspirations of Calhoun with the 
 whole power of his administration. It was amidst these 
 striking events and upon the threshold of the Presiden- 
 tial election of 1832 that Mr. Faulkner took his place in 
 the Virginia House of Delegates. He was then only a 
 boy in age and appearance, but a man in mind. The 
 Virginia Legislature of that period was composed of men, 
 who in their day and in the great era following, left their 
 imprint on the annals of their time. With those men 
 Mr. Faulkner took a leading position, and at once gave 
 evidence of his power to originate ideas, coupled with the 
 courage to proclaim them. Taking heed of the differ- 
 ences between Jackson and Calhoun, looking at the then 
 condition of Virginia and seeing in the temper of the po- 
 litical factions the seeds of a contest upon the slavery 
 question, he submitted to the Legislature and advocated 
 a proposition for the abolition of slavery upon the^os^ 
 nati principle. The north had liberated its bondsmen 
 upon the same principle, and by the provisions of his 
 proposition, all children of slave parents were to be born 
 free after Juily 1st, 1840. He supported this proposition 
 in a speech of great power, which was widely circulated 
 and was severely condemned by the radical slave-hold- 
 ing element. It did not, however, greatly shock public 
 opinion in Virginia at the time, and in many sections of 
 the State the idea was received with decided favor. The 
 
318 Life of the late Hon. Q. J. Faulkner. 
 
 slave-holding element undertook, however, to make it an 
 issue the following year, when he was a candidate for re- 
 election, but he was returned upon that issue by what 
 was practically a unanimous vote. 
 
 Comment upon this speech and action of Mr. Faulkner 
 was not confined to the South alone. It was extensively 
 read throughout the country. Once a year for many 
 years after it was delivered, William Lloyd Garrison 
 printed that speech in full in the Liberator., amused him- 
 self by sending Mr. Faulkner a copy, and circulated it 
 widely as evidence of the growing sentiment in the South 
 against slavery. 
 
 The opening of the year 1833 witnessed the beginning 
 of the abolition crusade, and it seemed to destroy all the 
 sentiment there ever was in the South in favor of eman- 
 cipation, gradual or otherwise. It had the effect to com- 
 bine all elements together in resistance, forcible and 
 positive, to the attempted legislative encroachment upon 
 the established institution of the South. I have often 
 heard Mr. Faulkner say, "but for this impertinent and 
 illegal intermeddling of Northern fanatics, emancipation 
 Avould have become the predominant sentiment of Vir- 
 ginia, and would have worked out its results without 
 ruin and bloodshed." 
 
 Mr. Faulkner finished his first legislative experience in 
 1833, and after declining a third election was appointed 
 a commissioner on behalf of Virginia, to examine and re- 
 port on the disputed question of the boundary line bet- 
 ween Maryland and Virginia ; the controversy embraced 
 all of that rich section of country lying between the 
 north and south branches of the Potomac River. Mr. 
 Faulkner's report was extensive and conclusive ; it set- 
 tled the controversy between Maryland and Virginia, 
 giving to the old mother of States a clear title to large 
 proportions of the present counties of Hampshire, Min- 
 
Life of the late Hon. V. J. Faulkner. ' 319 
 
 eral, Hardy, Grant Pendleton and Randolph, for whicli 
 Maryland was contending.* 
 
 Mr. Faulkner first met Andrew Jackson while engaged 
 upon this famous report. The interview was character- 
 istic and interesting. It was in that nullification era 
 when Congress had delegated to the President the power 
 of coercion, and he had used it to crush South Carolina' s 
 secession proclivities. John Floyd, then Governor of 
 Virginia, and Mr. Tazewell, then in the Senate, were, al- 
 though still members of the party, bitterly denouncing 
 Jackson' s nullification proclamation, and pressing their 
 theory of State Rights. Governor Floyd had asked 
 Mr. Faulkner to go to Europe to obtain data from the 
 original records in relation to the boundary line, but hav- 
 ing no funds to pay the expenses of the voyage, he re- 
 quested him to call upon the President, explain his pro- 
 posed visit to England, and request that he be given pas- 
 sage as yirginia' s representative, in a government ship. 
 Mr. Faulkner visited the President, for this purpose, 
 and as soon as he stated the object of his visit. "Old 
 Hickory' ' replied : 
 
 "Certainly, sir, I will grant you passage in the ship 
 Delaware, now lying in the Potomac, about to sail for 
 England," but, he continued, "doesen't it strike you as 
 a little strange that Governor Floyd, with his peculiar 
 notions of States Rights, and ideas of the limited powers 
 of the National government, should ask a service of this 
 kind from it, in a purely State matter % I will grant the 
 request with pleasure, but I cannot help thinking that it 
 is an apt illustration of the absurdity of the doctrine of 
 State Rights, as Governor and Senator Tazewell declare 
 them." Mr. Faulkner at once transmitted an official an- 
 nouncement of the success of his application to the Presi- 
 dent, and at the same time wrote a letter to governor 
 Floyd, which he marked "private and confidential," 
 giving his conversation with the President. Floyd sent 
 
 & 
 
 *The report here mentioned will be found on page 67. 
 
320 Life of tlie late Hon. C. J. Faulkner. 
 
 to Tazewell, and together they became greatly incensed. 
 Floyd returned the letter to Mr. Faulkner, with the re- 
 quest that he strike out the words "private and confi- 
 dential," that Tazewell might make it the basis of an 
 attack for both of them, -upon Jackson and his adminis- 
 tration, upon the floor of the United States Senate. Mr. 
 Faulkner refused, and years after Governor Floyd 
 thanked him, as did Tazewell, for saving them from the 
 premature open quarrel with "Old Hickory" which they 
 had resolved upon having. The circumstances, however 
 kept Mr. Faulkner from going to Europe on the vessel, 
 and his report on the boundary question was made with- 
 out consulting the archives of the mother country. 
 
 III. 
 QUITS POLITICS FOR THE LAW, 
 In 1833, after the completion of the report on the boun- 
 dary, Mr. Faulkner was married to the daughter of Gen. 
 Boyd, an old and distinguished Virginian, who for many 
 years had taken an active part in her public affairs. For 
 the next fifteen years j)olitics commanded little part of 
 his time and attention. He devoted himself with great 
 zeal to the practice of his profession, and in a short time 
 took a leading place at the bar of Virginia, which was in 
 those days one of the strongest in the Union. His cases 
 were many and his fees large, and before he again ap- 
 peared in public life he had acquired a fortune which 
 has enabled him to live independently ever since. Hav- 
 ing acquired this independence, he again turned to poli- 
 tics, partially for relief from the exactions of legal work, 
 and partly because he was ambitious to leave something 
 behind him besides money ; because he believed that an 
 ambition for public service was a laudable one after a 
 man had acquired a competency. This ambition for a 
 place in history was in perfect keeping with his charac- 
 ter, and he devoted himself to it with the same earnest, 
 untiring energy that he had brought to bear upon every 
 task he had undertaken, from his childhood up. This 
 
Life of the late Hon. C. J. Faulkner. 321 
 
 very quality, wMcli i^eople applaud in most of the rela- 
 tions of life, has been belittled and derided by many not 
 broad enough in mental grasp to comprehend the fact 
 that in politics, as in business, a man wins succpss by the, 
 efforts which he makes to deserve it. 
 
 In 1841, he responded a second time to the call of his- 
 fellow citizens, and was elected to the State Senate of 
 Virginia. Finding, however, that the office made toO' 
 great demand upon his time, he resigned, in the spring, 
 of 1842 ; he did not, however, cease to take an active in- 
 terest in public affairs. In 1843 he was an earnest advo- 
 cate of the annexation of Texas, and in 1846, was one of 
 the earliest and warmest supporters of the Mexican war. 
 In the raising of troops from Virginia, for service in 
 Mexico, Mr. Faulkner was prominent and successful, 
 but all these, and many other public acts, were merely 
 incidents in a life which, during this period, was chiefly 
 devoted to the practice of the law. In 1348, however, 
 Mr. Faulkner vs^as again elected to the House of Dele- 
 gates of Virginia. During that session he introduced 
 into the Legislature a bill which was passed, and by the 
 Legislature transmitted to the Senators and Representa- 
 tives and became the famous Fugitive Slave Law passed 
 by Congress, in 1850. Indeed, it was his avowed pur- 
 pose, in being elected to the Legislature, to do all in his 
 power to bring the whole moral force of the State of Vir- 
 ginia to demand from Congress, a law for the protection 
 of slave property. During this session he was chairman 
 of the special committee of the Virginia Legislature 
 charged with the investigation of the whole fugitive slave 
 question, audit would have been unnatural if he had not, 
 from the beginning of that session, been a central figure 
 in a Legislature of strong men. But it was not only in 
 the discussioo/and consideration of this grave question, 
 that Mr. Faulkner was prominent. In the revision of 
 the code of State laws, which was the chief work of that 
 Legislature, he took a leading part. His service in this 
 
322 Life of the late Hon. C. J. Faulkner. 
 
 Legislature, and liis work in a previous term was memo- 
 rable for himself and fruitful to the State. During all 
 the years after his entrance into public life it had been 
 apparent to him, as to every thinking man, that the Vir- 
 ginia Constitution, of 1830, was not sufficient to meet 
 the demands of a rapidly advancing civilization, and 
 v/hen the reform Constitutional Convention of 1850 as- 
 sembled, it found Mr. Faulkner one of its members. This 
 was the first occasion during his public life that an op- 
 portunity liad been afforded him to combat the persis- 
 tent discriminations of the government of Virginia 
 against that jjortion of the state which lay west of the 
 Blue Eidge. Eastern Virginia had always borne heavily 
 upon the western portion of the State in taxation, in the 
 distribution of public improvements, and had defrauded 
 her out of her proper representation by establishing a 
 mixed basis of population and property, Tvhich alone 
 could give the Eastern slave-holding section of the State 
 the power to control the policy of the entire State. 
 
 IV. 
 IN THE REFORMED CONVENTION OF 1S50. 
 
 Mr. Faulkner's contest against these unjust discrimi- 
 nations began when he first entered the Legislature, and 
 never ceased while he had a voice in that body. It 1841 
 his opposition to the unjust attitude of the majority to- 
 wards the section of which he was a native was such 
 that he presented a proposition to remove the capital 
 from Richmond to some point in the Shenandoah Valley. 
 But while these contests vexed the public mind in the 
 East, because they served to call attention to the hard- 
 ships endured by Western Virginia, there were no prac- 
 tical means presented of striking at the root of the evil 
 until the reform convention of 1850 was called. 
 
 The proceedings of this convention were very impor- 
 tant, and Mr. Faulkner was prominent in its sessions. 
 He paid little attention, however, to the abstract or theo- 
 retical questions which arose, no matter what might be 
 
Life of the late Hon. C. J. Faullcner. 323 
 
 their seeming importance, but reserved all his influence 
 and energy for a bold advocacy of the rights and inter- 
 ests of Western Virginia. To this, his native section, 
 taxation and the basis of representation were far more 
 important matters than any other questions before that 
 body. The importance of these issues had been recog- 
 nized by all sections of the State, and strong men from 
 the East, as well as the West, had been sent to deal with 
 the important issues to be decided by that assemblage. 
 Grovernor Henry A. Wise, John Y. Mason, John Minor 
 Botts and George W. Summers were a few of the great 
 men in that convention. Mr. Faulkner's most signifi- 
 cant battle in that body was upon the basis of represen- 
 tation, and in the debate upon that question he ran coun- 
 ter to all the leading men representing the eastern sec- 
 tion of the State. This was especially the fact in his 
 course upon the question of representation ; it was to 
 his great honor that at that early day he was the stead- 
 fast and eloquent champion of basing representation 
 upon voters and not upon chattels ; that he demanded 
 representation should be wholly upon the free whites 
 and not in part upon property, whether slave or other- 
 wise. 
 
 In his advocacy of this measure his speech was able 
 and exhaustive ; he commanded the close attention of 
 the convention during the two days which were occupied 
 by its delivery. It made a profound impression, and de- 
 ciding the question under consideration in consonance 
 with Mr. Faulkner's views, gave to Western Virginia 
 that position in the Councils of States to which she was 
 entitled. The debate in relation to taxation was equally 
 interesting and important. Mr. Faulkner bore the brunt 
 of that task, as well as the debate upon representation. 
 Henry A. Wise was the champion of Eastern Virginia 
 ideas and interests on the subject of taxation, while Mr. 
 Faulkner stood in the same relation to Western Virginia. 
 The debate between these two leaders of diverse inter- 
 
324 Life of the late Hon. C. J. Faulkner. 
 
 ests has been preserved and was regarded as a leading in- 
 cident of tlie convention, and iiis position was sustained. 
 With this eminent service to his State, and especially to 
 his native section of the Old Dominion, Mr. Faulkner 
 broadened into the domain of national politics. 
 
 The compromise measures of Mr. Clay of 1850 changed 
 the political affiliation of many men, especially in the 
 South. Mr. Faulkner was one of those who drifted to 
 the side of the Union in the ensuing division. The South, 
 equally with the North, was dissatisfied with the terms 
 of the compromise ; the North with relation to the Fugi- 
 tive Slave Law clause, and the South because of the feel- 
 ing that too much had been conceded to the anti-slave 
 power. The planting States, with South Carolina in the 
 lead, were ready then to secede, but they could not de- 
 pend upon the help of the other Southern States, and 
 hence there was no open revolt. This may be said to 
 have been the opening of the division in the South ujjon 
 the question of union or disunion. 
 
 In 1851 Henry Beddinger, of Jefferson County, was a 
 candidate for Congress in the district in which Mr. Faulk- 
 ner lived. He took the position of South Carolina on the 
 compromise measure of 1850 as his platform. Mr. Faulk- 
 ner was brought out as an indepedent candidate against, 
 him, in behalf of the Union cause and against further 
 sectional agitation. Ben Hill, of Georgia, was a candi- 
 date the same year in his State on the same platform. 
 The first contest of Mr. Faulkner for a seat in the national 
 legislature was a memorable one. Mr. Beddinger was 
 the regular Democratic candidate, with a majority in the 
 district of several hundred in his favor, and he made war 
 to the knife against his opponent. Extracts from Mr. 
 Faulkner's speech in favor of the abolition of slavery in 
 1832 were printed in red letters and posted everywhere 
 in the district, and every possible effort was made to 
 array public opinion against him on account of the first 
 conspicuous act of his political life. With that unweary- 
 
Life of tJte late Hon. G. J. Faulkner. 325 
 
 ing industry and zeal whicli have always been character- 
 istic of Mr. Faulkner, he entered into this fight and made 
 an active canvass, holding a public discussion with his 
 opponent at least once in every county of the district. 
 He was elected to Congress by a good majority in a dis- 
 trict which was largely Democratic, but where the Union 
 sentiment was at that time roused into fervid action. 
 
 Y. 
 IN CONGRESS. 
 
 When he took his seat in Congress the old parties were 
 undergoing rapid disintegration, and in July, 1852, Mr. 
 Faulkner, in an address to the people of the country, 
 joined Alexander H. Stephens and Kobert Toombs, of 
 Georgia, and several other Whig Representatives in Con- 
 gress from the South, in declaring that as General Scott 
 was the candidate of the Free Soil wing of the Whig 
 Party, opj)osed to the compromises of 1850, they could 
 not support him for the Presidency. Thus Mr. Faulk- 
 ner, with those other great Southern leaders, left the 
 Whig Party and joined his political fortunes with De- 
 mocracy. In the heated discussion of the hour the Whig 
 party charged the Democracy with opposition to the 
 compromise measures of 1850. To refute this charge Mr. 
 Faulkner prepared and delivered a speech in Congress, 
 August 2, 1852, which, in the printed edition, was enti- 
 tled " The Compromise — The Presidency — Political Par- 
 ties."' It was a great effort, an exhaustive review of the 
 issues wlrcli had disrupted the Whig party, and a com- 
 plete refutation, from a Democratic standpoint, of the 
 charge that the Democracy, as an organization, was op- 
 posed to the compromise measures. It was also a splen- 
 did effort in behalf of M/. Pierce for the Presidency. 
 This speech at once attracted public attention, and was 
 made a campaign document by the Democratic party. 
 
 Mr. John C. Rives, the noted Congressional printer, in 
 a letter written in December, 1852, says : "I printed for 
 the National Democratic Committee 93,000 copies of Mr. 
 
326 Life of the late Hon. C. J. Faulkner. 
 
 Faulkner's speech, made in Congress before the close of 
 its last session. I would have printed more if I could 
 have procured paper in time. Although I have been en- 
 gaged in the printing business here twenty odd years, I 
 do not rerollect to have printed so many copies of any 
 other speech. The speech was printed at other offices, 
 but I do not know how large the editions were." 
 
 The fact is that more than 125,000 copies of the speech 
 were printed and distributed, and it w^as the text for 
 every stump orator for the Democracy during the memo- 
 rable campaign of that year. This change of Mr. Faulk- 
 ner of his political affiliations naturally created him new 
 adversaries at home, and he returned there to combat 
 them. He took the stump, and in a series of speeches 
 justified his course, carrying his district for Pierce by a 
 handsome majority. This fixed his position definitely in 
 the Democratic party. For four successive terms he was 
 elected to Congress over popular candidates, and as early 
 in the service he had attained, so to the end he main- 
 tained a leading position in the national legislature. He 
 was made chairman of the Military Committee of the 
 House at the beginning of his second term, and had a 
 leading place on other important committees. His eulo- 
 gy upon Henry Clay attracted great attention, as did his 
 speech in favor of opening the way to promotion in the 
 army to merit, without reference to the place of educa- 
 tion, which was intended to be, and was, a blow at the 
 military oligarchy which has its origin at West Point. 
 Naturally there are many others in Congress and upon 
 the stump worthy of equal commendation, as it was 
 known of him that he was the most ceaseless of workers, 
 and his only recreations during his public life were at in- 
 tervals to take part in those social reunions where he 
 could enjoy contact with the best minds of the nation. 
 It was also true of him that at home, as well as when en- 
 grossed in the cares of j)ublic life, he gave close applica- 
 tion to his private affairs and the interests of his clients. 
 
Life of tlie late Hon. C. J. .Faulkner. B27 
 
 His law office was near, but apart from his house, and 
 that office had been his workshop for more than half a 
 century. It was a trite saying in the little town in 
 which he lived that the light was never out in that office 
 until after each new day was born. 
 
 When the Know-Nothing craze was at its height Mr. 
 Faulkner made a memorable canvass in Virginia in con- 
 junction with Henry A. Wise, the key-note of which was 
 the declaration, in the language of Mr. Faulkner in Con- 
 gress, " I am not, never have been and never expect to 
 be, a member of any oath-bound, secret political associa- 
 tion. I claim communion with but one political organi- 
 tion — and that is the great National Democratic Party of 
 this country — a 'party that has shown itself, after the 
 most ample experience, broad enough to embrace all the 
 vast interests of liberty and humanity, and strong 
 enough to uphold in its firm and conservative grasp the 
 Constitution of my country and the Union of these States." 
 
 Mr. Faulkner followed this struggle against the intol- 
 erance of Know-Nothingism by attending the National 
 Democratic Convention in Cincinnati, in 1856. He was 
 with a majority of the Virginia delegation in his prefer- 
 ence for Mr. Buchanan as the nominee of that body. 
 For the conspicuous services he had rendered the party 
 he was chosen Chairman of the Democratic Congressional 
 Committee for the conduct of the Presidential campaign. 
 But for the action of the Electoral College of Virginia, 
 in recommending John B. Floyd as the preference of the 
 State for a Cabinet position, Mr. Faulkner would have 
 been made Secretary of War upon the accession of Mr. 
 Buchanan to the Presidency. The new President, how- 
 ever, tendered the distinguished Virginian the hardly 
 less inferior position of Minister to France. But Mr. 
 Faulkner was in Congress, and Hon. John Y. Mason, 
 of Virginia, who was a personal friend, wa,s the IViinister 
 of the United States in France. Mr. Faulkner therefore 
 declined the mission, rather than disturb an old friend 
 
328 Life of the late Hon. C. J. Fcmlknsr. 
 
 in his place. Mr. Mason having died during the pen- 
 dency of the canvass of 1859, Mr. Faulkner was nomina- 
 ted and confirmed as our new Minister to France, and 
 repaired at once to his new post of duty. 
 
 VI. 
 
 MINISTER TO FRANCE. 
 
 His services as a diplomat Tvere useful to his country 
 and honorable to himself ; it was through his efforts that 
 the right of expatriation was first admitted by the gov- 
 ernment of France, and naturalized citizens of the United 
 States given the right to visit the land of their birth with- 
 out molestation, or fear of military espionage The 
 great bulk of Mr. Faulkner's dispatches while a foreign 
 minister have never been given to the public by the State 
 Department, but when, in 1866, the Senate called for the 
 correspondence of that Department upon the great ques- 
 tion of the claims of European governments to exact 
 military service from naturalized citizens of the United 
 States, those of Mr. Faulkner were presented, and in 
 this way the general public was for the first time made 
 aware that in less than a month after his presentation at 
 the Court of Napoleon III., he pressed the issue upon 
 that sovereign to a conclusion in harmony with the wishes 
 and demands of the United States, despite the strenuous 
 opposition of M. Thouvenal, the French Minister for 
 Foreign Affairs. For this he received the thanks of the 
 President in his annual message to Congress. During 
 his term of service at the French Court, there were no 
 great overshadowing questions, except the one to which 
 allusion has been made, between the two countries, until 
 the armed conflict between the North and South in this 
 country becameimminent. The sympathies of Napoleon, 
 it is well known, were early enlisted upon the side of 
 the South, and this fact naturally made the position of 
 Mr. Faulkner at the French Court exceedingly delicate. 
 As a citizen of the South, whatever he might do, or omit 
 to do, was sure to meet with misrepresentation at Wash- 
 
Life of Hie late Hon. U. J. FcmlJiuer. 829 
 
 ington. But lie was so circumspect in his conduct that 
 he was not only held blameless, but received the thanks 
 of the government for his services. 
 
 It was not to be expected, however, that in a period so 
 stormy, his services, however meritorious and conspicu- 
 ous, would protect him from detraction ; malignant as- 
 persions upon his loyalty to his country and fidelity to 
 his official trust, were carried from Paris to Washington, 
 and these became so frequent and persistent that soon 
 after the inauguration of President Lincoln, Mr. Faulk- 
 ner took notice of them in a letter to Mr. St-ward, Secre- 
 tary of State, in which he took occasion to deny in strong 
 terms that either in his official or private capacity, he 
 had been disloyal to the United States. It is unneces- 
 sary to present in detail the leading acts in Mr. Faulk- 
 ner's service as a diplomat ; but it was always creditable, 
 for in all his mental characteristics he was eminently 
 fitted for such a career. A man of great self -poise, equa- 
 ble temperament, and while of strong convictions, know- 
 ing how to hold them in check, it is not singular that he 
 was able to walk in the paths of diplomacy without 
 danger or difficulty, either to himself personally or the 
 country he represented. Besides the power of present- 
 ing his points strongly, he could put them adroitly, and 
 had the rare quality of making words persuasive. He 
 showed this attribute early in life. In his many contests 
 in a district that might oftentimes be called turbulent, 
 Mr. Faulkner not infrequently softened the asperities of 
 political warfare and won enemies to his support. A 
 good story is told of him in his native village, which 
 illustrates this point. Old Daniel Burkhardt, a conspic- 
 uous personage in the business circles of Martinsburg, 
 was a quiet and eccentric man. He was exceedingly 
 critical, and was at times in favor of Mr. Faulkner, while 
 at other periods he opposed him. In one closely contest- 
 ed election he severely criticised some of Mr. Faulkner's 
 
330 Life of the late Hon. G. J. Faulkner. 
 
 political acts, when one of that gentleman's friends said 
 to him : 
 
 " Mr. Burkhardt, you ought not to be against Mr. 
 Faulkner. Why don't you see him, and he will explain 
 to your satisfaction the matter of which you complain." 
 
 "Of course he will," was the prompt reply. "He 
 never did anything in his life he could not explain to the 
 satisfaction of anybody. That is the reason I keep out 
 of his way." 
 
 Mr. Faulkner, however, did not permit Mr. Burkhardt 
 to escape him, but made the explanation of which the 
 latter was in fear, and thus gained his support. This 
 incident not only illustrated the persuasive power of Mr. 
 Faulkner, but it also allowed his extraordinary gift in 
 gaining and ever afterwards retaining, the friendship of 
 those who had been personally or politically inimical to 
 him. 
 
 Mr. Faulkner was relieved of his diplomatic duties 
 early in 1S61, by Hon. Wm. L. Dayton, of New Jersey, 
 who had been appointed as his successor by President 
 Lincoln. He left France with the respect of the govern- 
 ment to which he had been accredited, and the good 
 wishes of the many American citizens with whom he had 
 been brought into personal or official relations. He had 
 so conducted himself in his delicate relations to the 
 French government, growing out of the anomolous con- 
 dition of affairs in his own country, that there was not 
 even a pretence that he had been unfaithful in his con- 
 duct. He, from the first, refused to discuss these matters 
 with M. Thouvenal, and never but once expressed an 
 unofficial opinion as to the action of the government to- 
 ward the seceding States. Just before his departure M. 
 Thouvenal asked him if he believed his government 
 would use coercion to preserve the autonomy of the 
 Union. To this Mr. Faulkner said that he did not, but 
 added that he felt compelled to decline to discuss the 
 policy of his government, as Mr. Dayton was then on his 
 
Life of the late Hon. C. J. Faulkner. 331 
 
 way to France, with, definite instructions from Wasliing- 
 ton upon that and cognate matters. 
 
 VII. 
 
 A PRISONER OF STATE. 
 
 After Mr. Faulkner returned to the United States, 
 some American newspapers contained long accounts ^of 
 Mr. Yancey and other Confederate diplomatic commis- 
 sioners having been received by Mr. Faulkner, presented 
 to the French Minister of Foreign Affairs, and even to 
 the Emperor himself. It is needless to say that these 
 were all fabrications, for Mr. Faulkner did not meet the 
 Confederate Commissioners until two months after he 
 had ceased to be Minister, and left France, and then, by 
 accident, on the Derby race course in England. On that 
 occasion Mr. Yancey never intimated- to Mr. Faulkner 
 the nature of his mission abroad, and the relation of the 
 Confederate States to the European Powers was never the 
 subject of discussion between them. When Mr. Faulk- 
 ner returned to the United States the war had been for 
 some time in progress. He went clirect to Washington, 
 to pay his respects to the President and Secretary Sew- 
 ard, and settle his account with the Government. While 
 in France he had been entrusted with a larg.e contingent 
 fund, to meet the expenses of other missions besides his 
 own. He settled all his accounts, received the balance 
 due him from the Government, and having, made his 
 final visit to the State Department, was about to leave 
 for his home in Martinsburg, when he was arrested and 
 thrown into prison. He demanded of the Secretary of 
 War, to know upon what charge he had been arrested 
 and detained. He received the following reply : 
 
 "You are held as a distinguished citizen of Virginia, 
 as a hostage for James McGraw, State Treasurer of Penn- 
 sylvania, who, while searching for the dead body of a 
 friend on the battlefield of Bull Run, was taken and 
 thrown into prison, by the people of your State, now in 
 rebellion against the authority of the Government, and, 
 
332 Life of tlie late Hon. C. J. Faulkner. 
 
 so help me God, you shall never be relieved until James 
 McGraw and his party are set at liberty and are safe. 
 " Simon- Camero]^'", Secretary of War." 
 
 The characteristic answer from Gen. Cameron settled 
 the question inthe mind of Mr. Faulkner, and fully con- 
 tradicted the story that he had been arrested because of 
 infidelity to his trust v?hile Minister to France. After 
 being confined in Washington for a month he was trans- 
 ferred to Fort Lafayette. While imprisoned there he was 
 offered his liberty upon the condition of taking the oath 
 of allegiance to the United States. He refused to accept 
 his liberty ui>on those terms, for the reason that he had 
 been guilty of no offence, and had been confined without 
 any charge having been made against him, and that he 
 would submit to no conditions for his release. Soon 
 after this he learned that Mr. McGraw, of Pennsylvania, 
 had been set at liberty and was at home. He then ad- 
 dressed a note to Gen. Simon Cameron, Secretary of War, 
 requesting a fulfillment of the promise to release him, 
 when Mr. McGraw should be again safe within the 
 Federal lines. Gen. Cameron promptly replied, saying : 
 
 "You are no longer in my custody. Yoa have been 
 transferred to the Secretary of State, as a political 
 prisoner. " SiMOisr Cameron, Secretary of War." 
 
 Mr. Faulkner's offence against the State was that he 
 had refused to take the oath of allegiance. Soon after 
 this occurred he was removed to Fort Warren, in Boston 
 harbor. While he was in confinement there Mr. Ely, of 
 New York, a Congressman who had been captured while 
 a spectator at the battle of Bull Run, began to press the 
 Government to secure his release. Tt was proposed to 
 exchange Mr. Faulkner for l\ir. Ely, but Jeff Davis, in 
 his annual message, at Richmond, Va., declared he 
 would make no exchange for Mr. Faulkner, but would 
 make his arrest a ground of arraignment before the civil- 
 ized world. After considerable parleying it was finally 
 decided that Mr. Faulkner should be granted a parole of 
 
L\fe of the late Hon. C. J. Faulkner. 333 
 
 thirty days, to go to Ricliinoiid and effect, impossible, 
 an exchange between himself and Mr. Ely. His arrival 
 in Richmond caused gieat exceitement ; he was greeted 
 by the Governor, Mayor of the city and a large con- 
 course of people, and called upon to make a public ad- 
 dress, which he did. His interview with Jefferson Davis 
 was interesting, as showing the relative position of the 
 two men at that period. During the conversation Mr. 
 Faulkner said : "Mr. Davis, I fear we are just begin- 
 ning a long and bloody war ; a struggle in which, I can- 
 not help thinking, the South will be unsuccessful." 
 
 "I agree with you sir," Mr. Davis replied, "that we 
 are at the outset of a protracted and desperate conflict, 
 but I do not agree with you that it will be an unsuccess- 
 ful one." 
 
 This decided difference of opinion did not have the 
 effect of making the interview altogether pleasant, and 
 Mr. Davis did not, at any subsequent period, take kind- 
 ly to Mr. Faulkner. Finally, but with great reluctance, 
 Mr. Davis consented to the exchange of Mr. Ely for Mr. 
 Faiilkner, and when that had been accomplished the lat- 
 ter retired to his home in Berkeley County, but remain- 
 ed there but a few days, he having received a letter from 
 Q-eneral Stonewall Jackson, who invited him to become 
 a member of his staff. He was accordingly, by Lieut. 
 Gen. Stonewall Jackson, appointed his chief of staff, 
 with the rank, Lieut. Colonel. He Avrote all of the offi- 
 cial reports of that distinguished soldier, which have al- 
 ways been regarded as models of military literature. 
 
 While he v/as absent from his home, during the war, 
 Martinsburg, near which he lived, was alternately in pos- 
 session of the Federal and Confederate forces, and al- 
 though his two sons were in the Confederate army, 
 Ms property was not seriously injured. His old home, 
 around which clustered the associations of a century, was 
 ordered to be burned, by Gen. David Hunter, and an 
 officer appeared to carry this command into effect. The 
 
334 Life cf the late Hon. G. J. Faulkner. 
 
 liouse was saved by a telegraphic order from Abraham 
 Lincoln, to whom an appeal was made by Mrs. 
 Faulkner' who had resided there during all the war. 
 The close of the war found Mr. Faulkner near Ap- 
 pomattox, where Lee surrendered to Grant. One of 
 the first acts of Mr. Lincoln after the surrender of Gen. 
 Lee, was to request Mr. Faulkner to return home, and 
 he sent Col. Ward Lamon with a message to him, for 
 that purpose. Mr. Faulkner, after the close of hostili- 
 ties, returned to his home in Berkeley County, the un- 
 timely and tragical death of Mr. Lincoln having preven- 
 ted the conference which the President had intended to 
 have with Mr. Faulkner, when, no doubt, the opinion of 
 the latter on the subject of reconstruction, which had 
 become one of absorbing interest at the close of the war, 
 would have been given due consideration. 
 
 VIII. 
 AFTER THE WAR. 
 
 The State of West Virginia had been created out of 
 the Old Dominion when Mr. Faulkner returned to his 
 home. There were new men at the helm, and a new 
 order of things in general. The sting of war had left its 
 rankling in the statutes of the new State, and he found 
 himself not only debarred from the inherrent right of 
 American citizenship, but even of practicing his profes- 
 sion as a lawyer. 
 
 At that time this section of the country, almost more 
 than any other along the border, was disturbed by the 
 receding waves of civil war, and the legal, no less than 
 the constitutional, standing of the new State was often 
 called in question. Nothwithstanding the great changes 
 which the war had wrought, and the bitter animosities 
 of the hour, of which at this time there can be but a faint 
 idea, Mr. Faulkner, regarding the separation as irrever- 
 sible, at once took strong grounds in favor of the new 
 State of Virginia, which was the offspring, not of revo- 
 lution, but of civil war. He held, and with the spirit of 
 
Life of the late Eon. C. J. Faulkner. 3H5 
 
 prophecy upon Mm, that time would solten the asperi- 
 ties of the armed conflict, and that West Virginia, freed 
 from the unjust discriminations of the dominant section 
 east of the Blue Ridge, woiild speedily become one of 
 the most flourishing commonwealths in the sisterhood 
 of States. 
 
 The contest had commenced in 1832, for the overthrow 
 of the unjust discriminations against the section of the 
 State where he had been born, and where were a,ll his in- 
 terests, social, business and political, had been ended by 
 the sword severing the section west of the Blue Ridge 
 from what was then called, and is yet known, as the Old 
 Dominion. 
 
 It is needless to describe in detail his many public 
 acts from 1865 to 1872 in behalf of the New State. Of 
 these the most significant and important was his stand iii 
 favor of the two rich counties of Jefferson and Berkeley 
 being attached to West "Virginia. The old State of Vir- 
 ginia sued for them as a part of her domain, claiming 
 that they were not legally attached to the new State 
 when created. Mr. Faulkner showed his fidelity to the 
 western section by taking positive grounds in favor of 
 the right of West Virginia to these counties. Virginia 
 instituted her suit in the Supreme Court of the United 
 States, and Hon. Reverdy Johnson was retained as the 
 leading counsel for West Virginia, but he was made 
 Minister to England before the case came on for argu- 
 ment, and Gov. Boreman, at the request of the delega- 
 tion from those counties, engaged Mr. Faulkner to take 
 Mr. Johnson's place. The case was argued before the 
 Supreme Court of the United States, in February, 1871, 
 The argument of Mr. Faulkner was an exhaustive pres- 
 entation of the equity of the claim of West Virginia to 
 the two counties, and they were awarded to her by the 
 decision of the Court. In January, 1872, Mr. Faulkner 
 was a member of the Constitutional Convention of West 
 Virginia, which framed the present fundamental law of 
 
336 Life of the late Hon. C. J. Faulkner. 
 
 the State. This was the first even quasi-political office 
 he had held since the war. He was chairman of the 
 Judiciary Committee on Revision, the two most impor- 
 tant in the body. It is needless to say that he was one 
 of the leaders in the debates and work of that body. 
 
 In June of the same year his political disabilities were 
 removed by special act of Congress, and in the fall of 
 1874 he was elected to the House of Eepresentatives, by 
 3,436 majority, in a district until that time doubtful. He 
 served on the important committees of Foreign Rela- 
 tions and Education and labor, and took a leading posi- 
 tion in the debates on all important questions. As his 
 term was drawing to a close he declined a re-election, for 
 the purpose of becoming a candidate for United States 
 Senator, and in the contest for that position which fol- 
 lowed, in the Legislature, he secured a plurality of the 
 Democratic votes in caucus, but was defeated in the Leg- 
 islature by a combination of the Republicans with a 
 number of Democrats in favor of his opponent. He was, 
 at a subsequent period, mentioned as a candidate for 
 Governor, but was again defeated by a combination of 
 hostile interests, and then withdrew from public life. 
 
 IX. 
 HOW A LADY SAVED HER HOME FROM THE TORCH. 
 
 "Madam, I am ordered to burn this house to the ground. 
 You will have one hour to leave it ; you will be permit- 
 ted to take nothing away except the wearing apparel of 
 yourself and daughters." 
 
 Thus spoke General Martindale, an officer of the First 
 New York Cavalry, who was at that time serving as a 
 staff officer to General David S. Hunter, who was in com- 
 mand of the Union forces in the Shenandoah Yalley dur- 
 ing the eventful years of 1863-64. The house was one 
 of those quaint ancestral mansions seen nowhere but in 
 the South, and there so common as hardly to attract at- 
 tention. It was odd ; it was almost rude in its architec- 
 ture, but even its rather faded exterior gave evidence of 
 
Life of the late Hon. O. J. Faulkner. 337 
 
 the wealth of hospitality, and accumulations of rare 
 work, both literary and artistic. In its historical treas- 
 ures it was especially rich, and besides the great array of 
 Valuable books it contained many manuscripts even 
 then of great worth, which were to become more valua- 
 ble with the lapse of time. 
 
 This house filled with treasures and crowded with 
 sacred memories, had been the home of the lady ad- 
 dressed, and of her progenitors for generations. To her 
 every room — nay, eveiy corner and part of every room 
 " — was peopled by happy, wholesome memories. It is 
 not strange, therefore, that to her the words of the officer 
 which doomed her home to the torch were freighted with 
 no common sorrow. 
 
 But she was not a woman to sit down and wait for mis- 
 fortune to overwhelm her. She had little time to do any- 
 thing to save her house ; little chance that anything she 
 might do would be successful. But she determined to 
 make an effort to save her home, and she did what many 
 others did in these distressful days ; she made by tele- 
 graph an appeal to the patient, sympathetic, forgiving 
 Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States. A 
 messenger galloped to the town, and the fateful message 
 was instantly flashed to Washington. The distracted 
 lady could only wait and each moment of that hour 
 seemed to her laden with the anxiety of a century. 
 Meanwhile the officer and his soldiers lounged upon the 
 beautiful lawn that stretched out before the old mansion 
 to the main road, fully a quarter of a mile aw;ay, waiting 
 for the appointed time to apply the torch. They knew 
 nothing of what the Mistress of the mansion had done, 
 and if they had known would not have been greatly 
 concerned. They were only obeying orders and had so 
 little liking for their work that they would be glad of 
 some excuse for not doing it. 
 
 The moments came and went with exasperating speed ; 
 the old clock in the hall seemed to count the minutes 
 
.338 Life of the late Hon. C. J. Faullmer. 
 
 into the past with malignant and unusual si^eed. The 
 servants were hastily packing trunks with the few arti- 
 cles to be spared from the flames, but the lady herself 
 seemed to take no notice of what was going on about her. 
 She sat at a window, which commanded a view of the 
 road leading to the town, as if to catch the first glimpse 
 of a horseman flying to her relief. 
 
 The three quarters had gone ; the lady still strained 
 her eyes at the window, the soldiers still lounged list- 
 lessly under the shade trees, but their talk was becom- 
 ing more subdued and their dislike for the task before 
 them was becoming more apparent. 
 
 Suddenly the clatter of the horse's hoofs in full gallop 
 was heard down the road. The lady sprang to her feet 
 with an expression of mingled hope and fear upon her 
 face. The soldiers hardly noticed the rapid approach of 
 the courier, for they could not be aware that the incident 
 had any interest for them. The messenger came into 
 plain view and the lady saw that he was waving a letter 
 in his hand as' he urged his horse to greater speed. In 
 an instant more the messenger sjprang from his horse and 
 rushed up the broad graveled path to the house. The 
 lady met him at the door. He handed her the telegram. 
 She tore it open. It was a brief message of only a few 
 words, but it had the potency of a kingly command. 
 It said : 
 
 " The property of Charles James Faulkner is exempt 
 from the order of General David S. Hunter for 
 the burning of the residences of three prominent citi- 
 zens of the Shenandoah Valley, in retaliation for the 
 burning of the Governor Bradford's hoiise in Maryland 
 by the Confederate forces." 
 
 (Signed) Abraham Lincolk. 
 
 The lady handed the telegram to Captain Grey Martin- 
 dale. He read it and raised his cap in salutation. Turn- 
 ing to his men he gave the orders which put them in 
 their saddles, and in a moment more he and his small 
 
Life of the late Hon. G. J. Faulkner. 339 
 
 command were clattering down tlie dusty road toward 
 their camp. Thus was her home saved ; thus did Abra- 
 ham Lincoln add another to the many acts of kindness 
 with which he illumed and softened the rugged road of 
 civil war w^hich it was his hard fate to tread. Thus was 
 the painful duty of Captain Martindale accomplished. 
 The orders to burn houses had not been confined to this 
 single home, and when he appeared on the scene which 
 has been sketched in the above lines the officer and his 
 command had just come from the burning of other resi- 
 dences of other prominent Virginians. General David 
 S. Hunter, who issued these orders, was one of those old- 
 time soldiers who believed that war was not a holiday 
 pastime. Among the homes which had been first burned 
 were those of Hon. Alexander R. Boteler, near Shep- 
 herdstown, along the Potomac river, formerly a member 
 of Congress, and who for a time before the war had de- 
 feated Mr. Faulkner in one of the most desperate and 
 closely contested Congressional elections which had ever 
 taken place in that section. Another house burned was 
 that of Andrew Hunter, a member of the Confederate 
 Congress and a cousin of General Hunter. He found his 
 consanguinity to the Union commander was no protec- 
 tion for his property. There seemed to be some of the 
 irony of fate in these occurrences of the war. 
 
 At that time the rebels held as a prisoner Mr. Ely, a 
 member of Congress from New York, who had been one 
 of the many who had gone down from Washington to 
 see the rebellion crushed at Bull Run. They saw another 
 sort of spectacle and Ely was captured, and the rebels 
 clung to him as a prize of great value. Finally the 
 friends of Mr. Ely hit upon the plan of exchanging him 
 for Faulkner, and by their importunities finally gained 
 the consent of the Government at Washington to their 
 scheme. Mr. Faulkner was to be released upon parole, 
 and went to Richmond to effect the desired exchange. 
 He was successful. Mr. Ely was restored to his home, 
 
340 Life of the late Ron. C. J. Faulliner. 
 
 and lie was released and sent within the Confederate 
 lines. 
 
 After a short stay in Richmond, where his arrival had 
 caused great excitement, Mr. Faulkner retired to the 
 home of his daughter, near Appomattox, where most of 
 his time during the continuance of the rebellion was 
 spent. He served for a time, however, upon the staff of 
 General Stonewall Jackson, and wrote most of the orders 
 and reports of that officer which received such general 
 praise as models of military literature. After the close 
 of the war he returned to his home near Martinsburg, 
 where he has ever since continued to live. Soon after 
 his return he began to take an active interest in the pub- 
 lic affairs of the new State of West Virginia, which was 
 that portion of the Old Dominion which had always en- 
 listed his heartiest sympathies and best efforts. 
 
 It is worthy of being added that General Cameron and 
 Mr. Faulkner had broken the bread of reconciliation 
 since the war. Both were far advanced in years, the one 
 having passed four score years, the other fast approach- 
 ing that advanced age. There was one more incident. 
 Soon after the war Mr. Faulkner and Mr. Magraw, al- 
 though the lines of their fates had so crossed each other 
 at a stirring period, met for the first time, and their in- 
 terview was interesting and pleasant to both. It is queer 
 how time softens the asperities of this life and brings 
 together those who were far separated by the circum- 
 stance of war. The old mile-posts that tell the story of 
 that conflict are fast falling and crumbling into decay. 
 The history of one is full of interest, but where is there 
 one that furnishes more good thoughts and facts than 
 the one in that old house that Grey Martindale was or- 
 dered to burn. 
 
 LIFE'S LABORS OVER. 
 
 The death of Charles James Faulkner occurred at his 
 residence, Boydville, Martinsburg, at fifty minutes past 
 six o'clock Saturday morning, Nov. 1st, 1884. It was 
 
Life of the late Hon. C. J. Faulkner. • 841 
 
 the belief of his physicians that he would have passed 
 away several days before but for a restless energy which 
 ever stirred within him, and which he in particular sum- 
 moned up in the last hours of his life. But his end was 
 come and, surrounded by all the members of his family, 
 he drew his last breath and passed peacefully away. 
 There were present at his death his two sons, Hon. E. 
 Boyd and Judge Chas. James Faulkner and families ; his 
 six daughters, Mrs. S. P. F. Pierce, Mrs. Thos, Bocock, 
 Mrs. Jno. P. Campbell, Mrs. Dr. W. S. Love, Mrs. Joel 
 W. Flood and Mrs. Dr. J. W. McSherry ; also Dr. W. 
 S. Love and family, Hon. Thos. S. Bocock, Mr. Faulkner 
 Pierce, Mrs. Jas. Booker, Miss Boiling Flood and Miss 
 Ella Bocock. As soon as he was dead the sad news was 
 sent over the wires to his friends around, and many were 
 the words of consolation and sympathy returned to the 
 bereaved family. The services of his funeral took place 
 on Monday following and were largely attended. Among 
 the prominent men present were Judge W. S. Clark, 
 Judge Richard Parker, Hon. Holmes Boyd, attorneys P. 
 H. Boyd, H. H. Boyd, John B. Norris, James E. Xorris, 
 Capt. Powell, T. B. Kennedy, President, and Superin- 
 tendent Boyd, of the Cumberland Valley Railroad ; Mr. 
 Gallaher, of the Free Press; J. Rufus Smith, Esq., 
 and a large number of others. Nearly a hundred of the 
 Masonic fraternity, of which order he was a member, 
 turned out, and headed by the City Band marched at 3 
 o'clock, the hour of his funeral, to solemn music to the 
 residence, around which had gathered by this time more 
 than two thousand people. The body of the venerable 
 Chas. James Faulkner lay in the parlor in a handsome 
 casket, decked with wreaths of beautiful flowers ; floral 
 crewn, cross and inscription of Father made of roses 
 and rare flowers were placed upon the casket cover. 
 After all had viewed in procession the honored remains, 
 the Presbyterian choir sang "Rock of ages cleft for me;" 
 prayer was offered by Rev. Pitt, after which Rev. F. M. 
 
342 Life of the late Hon. C. J. Faulkner. 
 
 Woods delivered a funeral oration on the late deceased, 
 a tribute to his memory. Rev. R. C. Holland followed 
 with prayer, and reading of hymn " Nearer my God to 
 Thee," by Rev. Andrews, which was sung by choir and 
 benediction by Rev. F. M. Woods. After the sermon 
 the funeral cortege marched to the Episcopal Cemetery, 
 next to the lawn, led by the City Band, followed by 
 nearly 100 members of the Masonic fraternity under the 
 auspices of Equality Lodge, the remains carried by the 
 pall bearers, Blackburn Hughes, J. L. W. Baker, P- 
 Showers, C. P. Matthaei, J. W. Pitzer, D. Hedges, A. J. 
 Thomas, C. W. Doll, C. M. Shaffer, Wm. Kilmer, Jacob 
 Miller, J. W. Thatcher, M. S. Grantham, Casper Stump, 
 Col. J. Q. A. Nadenbousch, tl. H. Gettinger and J. N. 
 Abell ; the ushers, Messrs. E. J. Simpson, H. L. Doll, 
 Stuart W. Walker, G. C. Janney, G. C. Swartz, A. S. 
 Hughes, and D. C. Hunter, who followed bearing floral 
 tribute of Fathek, Grandfather and Rest with cross and 
 crown, the immediate members of the family, two sons, 
 sis daughters, thirteen grandchildren — only three absent 
 — the near relatives of the deceased, the bar and officers 
 of the Court, the City Council and corporation ofBcers 
 and over two thousand citizens. The services at the 
 grave were conducted by the Masopis with beautiful and 
 impressive ceremony such as is usual on occasions of 
 Masonic burial. Never perhaps in the history of Mar- 
 tinsburg were there so many people gathered together to 
 pay their last tribute of respect to the honored remains 
 of a venerable citizen, one who was successful as a jurist, 
 politician, diplomatist, and statesman, whose life will 
 live after him, and his deeds be recorded on the pages of 
 the world's history. 
 
CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 THE CHURCHES— ORGANIZATION AND PRESENT 
 
 CONDITION. 
 ^T has been stated in a former chapter that the Tusca- 
 ^ rora Church, about two miles from the city, was the 
 first place where the gospel was publicly preached and 
 divine service performed west of the Blue Ridge Moun- 
 tain. This was and still remains a Presbyterian edifice. 
 Among the early settlers a number of Irish Presbyterians, 
 with a few Scotch and English families, removed from 
 Pennsylvania and settled along Back Creek, the North 
 Mountain and Opequon. The Baptists were the next to 
 establish a public worship, which was done about the 
 year 1754. Mr. Stearns, a preacher of this sect, with 
 several others, removed from New England, and under 
 the care of Rev. John Gerard, formed a Baptist Church 
 on the Opequon, the first founded this side of the Blue 
 Ride The Baptists were not among the earlist emi- 
 grants ; but in the years 1742 or 1743, about fourteen 
 families of that persuasion migrated from New Jersey 
 and settled in the vicinity of what is now called Gerards- 
 town. From this date other denominations sprang up, 
 and at the present day our entire county is supplied with 
 well regulated and disciplined churches of nearly every 
 sect. The following sketches are given of our churches, 
 that have sown their seed broad-cast and been the means 
 of establishing religion throughout the county : 
 
 TUSCARORA CHURCH— THE OLDEST WEST OF THE BLUE 
 RIDGE MOUNTAINS. 
 
 On a bright Tuesday morning, April 3d, 1888, 1 mount- 
 ed a bicycle and wended my way in the direction of the 
 old Presbyterian Church, situated on Tuscarora. I seated 
 
344 The CJmrcJies. 
 
 myself on a bench, near by, and carefully scanned the 
 small stone building of one story, on -whicli every trace 
 of mortar, between the stone, seemed to speak of the 
 years, yea a century or more, through which it has stood 
 the test of time — the wintry blasts and the rainbeat of 
 bygone days. Then I would pause, upon looking at the 
 wood work, which, when compared with the workman- 
 ship of the present day, presents rather a rude appear- 
 ance, and one can readily imagine that the erection of 
 buildings in those days consisted of hard labor, with 
 poor tools to work with. Next, I directed my attention 
 to the stone steps in front, the weather-beaten doors, and 
 the old shingled roof, which plainly show that by their 
 use they were not over-estimated by the workmen. Sit- 
 ting beneath a small birch tree, I began to wonder, as if 
 in a dream, whether the early settlers that erected this 
 grand old building, ever gave thought to the fact that 
 their good works and deeds would be handed down to 
 rising generations for centuries to come. But then my 
 dream was interrupted and awakened by the peck of the 
 wood- chuck, the chirp of the sparrow, and the warble of 
 the robin overhead. 
 
 I turned my gaze heavenward, then looked around me 
 over the beautiful landscape of irnproved and cultivated 
 soil, the neat dwellings — and then glancing at a marble 
 slab before me, I thought of His blessed word on high : 
 "Surely their good works do follow them." Interrupted 
 by the warbling notes of the bird overhead, I looked up 
 at it, and with its little throat swelled it seemed to say, 
 that happiness in His sight is the Goddess of all nature 
 divine. 
 
 Truly, it was a grand sight — with the bright shining 
 sun above, to announce the coming of spring, — the bud- 
 ding of trees around, stirred now and then by a fresh 
 breeze and sending forth a fragrant odor, — the sod be- 
 neath sprouting up, and beginning to don its coat of 
 green— all of which seemed to teach a soul- comforting 
 
The Churches. 345 
 
 lesson: "A great and loving Father, creator of heaven 
 and earth, hath endowed us with these blessings of na- 
 ture." And then upon reading a slab before me, I was 
 again reminded : "According to the manner in which 
 thou hast lived, so shalt thou be judged, at the judgment 
 bar of God, He that hath endowed us with all these 
 blessings." Here I was interrupted and awakened from 
 my reverie by an inquirer, who wanted to know my busi- 
 ness at this lone spot, and at such a time. After satisfy- 
 ing him with my object and reason, he walked off ; and 
 again I was left alone, save my God, with the tombs of 
 the dead. I raised my eyes, and found myself confront- 
 ing the tomb of Rev. Louis F. Wilson, on which were 
 these words : "Died March 24th, 1873, in his 04 th year 
 — Our Faithful pastor for 37 years." This aroused a 
 deep sense of feeling within me, and I began to wander 
 amongst the tombs, of perhaps, many loved ones, en- 
 deared to both God and mankind. I noticed particularly 
 an old slab, rustic and covered with moss, and propped 
 up at each end by small foundations. With a small 
 stick I cleaned it as best could be done, and with a pen- 
 cil traced the letters in order to make them out. The 
 stone has been washed by the storms, until the letters can 
 hardly be found. It read thus: "Under this marble 
 rests the body of Rev. Hugh Vance, a faithful minister 
 of the Gospel of Christ 26 years. Born in the year 1736. 
 Died in the year 1791. Live the life if U would die the 
 death of the righteous. This stone is erected to preserve 
 and perpetuate the Memory of this AVorthy Man by his 
 affectionate friends in Berkeley County, Virginia." 
 
 Nearby stood a number of wooden slabs, almost rotted 
 and decayed, and it is to be supposed that at an early 
 day these tombs were enclosed by a fence, as four snags 
 of posts are still standing. I became interested in the 
 names and dates of the slabs, and began to note some of 
 which I thought might prove interesting to the reader. 
 Among them were John Chenowith, died October 8th, 
 
346 The UJiurcJies. 
 
 1842, aged 63 years, ; Thomas Miller, died November 80th, 
 1854, aged 64 years ; James Chenowith, did 1836, aged 
 53 years ; Emily Marker, died 1838, aged 21 years ; Mar- 
 garet Hull, died August 31st, 1846, aged 57 years ; -Wm. 
 Slauter, died April 2Sth, 1834, aged 52 years ; Robert 
 Lyle, died 1786, aged 34 years ; Robert Brighton, died 
 September 10th, 1797, aged 60 years ; Margaret Brighton, 
 died September 20th, 1786, aged 47 years ; Margaret Herd, 
 died July 26th, 1794, aged 27 years ; David Miller, died 
 September 15th, 1825, aged 51 years ; the next was an 
 old blue lime stone marked: "Here lies the body of 
 Hugh Lyle, who departed this life Aj^ril 14th, A. D., 
 1790, aged 84 years." Another was an old sand stone, 
 the letters almost washed away, and bore the name of 
 Hugh Lyle, Jr., died February 27th, 1797, aged 42 years. 
 In a large stone vault were contained Wm. Snodgrass 
 and wife. The date of his death was May 13th, 1836, at 
 an age of 61 years ; and his wife died in 1852, aged 76 
 years. There was a large marble tomb with the Holy 
 Bible engraved upon it, and the name of Sarah Ireland, 
 who died January 20th, 1857, aged 79 years ; also her 
 son Alexander who died April 29th, 1800, at an age of 9 
 years. A number of graves were marked with small 
 rocks and wooden slabs — and there was nothing to desig- 
 nate the name of the dead or date of death. Some of 
 the slabs were rustic and almost entirely covered by moss, 
 or washed by the storms until the letters are invisible, 
 la places the grave has been entirely lost by the growth 
 of the monster oak. Near the center stands a large 
 brick enclosure — the wooden roof entirely rotted away, 
 and the walls fast going to ruin. Beneath this, I am in- 
 formed, a number of persons were buried, but nothing 
 I- remains to give information as to who they were. 
 
 After strolling around to my heart's content, I return- 
 ed to the church and took my seat in a side door. I 
 looked over the iwofile of stones and slabs, some of which 
 have fallen down, and others broken and decayed — and 
 
The CJiurclies. 347 
 
 then pondered long in meditation, wliether the present 
 generation knew who and which of their foreparents 
 might be buried here ; or whether many, perhaps, given 
 up for lost, might be sleeping under this sod. At this 
 moment the sweet notes of a little bird, perched nearby, 
 thrilled my soul : 
 
 I looked aroiTud, o'er the tombs of the dead, 
 And thought their spirits, from overhead, 
 
 Were looking down with earnest eye. 
 
 On tombs in which their bodies lie. 
 When lo, the stillness seemed to say, 
 Man is mortal— his life a day. 
 
 The church is still used for public worship by the 
 Presbyterian denomination, and has a small membership. 
 Interments are still made in the old graveyard, and fine 
 marble stones are taking the place of the old slabs. The 
 present pastor is the Rev. J. H. Gilmore, of Hedgesville, 
 who also has charge of the Falling Waters church, 
 another very old edifice. 
 
 This sketch was written by the author of this book 
 especially for the history of the old graveyard. Amongst 
 the dates will be found some who were born nearly two 
 centuries ago, and have been buried on this spot nearly 
 a century. There were others, doubtless older, but no 
 trace could be found to identify them. However, I feel 
 confident that those mentioned will prove of interest and 
 value to the reader. 
 
 ST. JOHN'S LUTHERAN CHURCH. 
 
 This is one of the oldest congregations in the Valley 
 of Virginia. It was founded and formed here in 1775 by 
 German emigrants from Pennsylvania and Maryland. 
 In 1782 a church record for the exclusive use of the Lu- 
 theran congregation was obtained, and still remains in 
 the archives of the church. The first regular pastor was 
 Rev. Christian Streit, who took charge of a Lutheran 
 congregation in Winchester, Va,, July 19th, 1785. The 
 circuit over which he had charge embraced the counties 
 of Berkeley, Jefferson and Frederick. He acted in the 
 
348 The Cliurclies. 
 
 capacity of Bishop or overseer of the Lutheran interest 
 in these sections, ministering until 1790. 
 
 SrLcceeding Rev. Streit, and the first pastor who resided 
 here, was Eev. J. D. Young, who took charge of the 
 congregation December 12th, 1790, in which position he 
 served until 1800, when after an absence of two years he 
 returned and served it from November 3d, 1802, up to 
 the time of his death, which occurred February 10th, 
 1804, at an age of 54 years. He was the originator of the 
 first known constitution or form of government for the 
 congregation, which was signed by 103 members. The 
 congregation v/as next supplied by Rev. F. W. Jazinsky 
 for about one year, and who was succeeded by Rev. John 
 P. Ravenack, the second resident pastor. Rev. John 
 Kackler became pastor December 1st, 1817, and continued 
 until 1819. Rev. C. P. Krauth took charge in the au- 
 tumn of 1819 and served six years, resigning in 1827. 
 His successor was Rev. Jacob Medtart, who entered upon 
 his pastorate in 1827, Vv^hich position he filled success- 
 fully until 1835, when he resigned. The following is the 
 list of iDastors as they succeeded each other, and their 
 terms, to the present date : Rev. Reuben Wiser, from 
 March 1st, 1835, to 1837 ; Rev. Charles Martin, March 
 29th, 1837 to 1842 ; Rev. Samuel Spreecher, Feb. 13th, 
 1842, to 1843 ; Rev. Joseph A. Seiss, May 29th, 1843, to 
 to 1846 ; Rev. John Winter, November 23d, 1845, to 1847 ; 
 Rev. C. P. Krauth, Jr., November 8th, 1847, to 1848; 
 Rev. B. M. Schmucker, May 21st, 1848, to 1852 ; Rev. 
 RexibenA.Fink, April 1st, 1852, lol855; Rev. Wm. Kopp, 
 November 25th, 1855, to 1857 ; Rev. Edwin Dorsey, 
 April 1st, 1858, to 1860 ; Rev. Charles Martin, October 
 21st, 1860, to 1861. Here an interruption was made by 
 the late war, and the pastorate duties again resumed by 
 Rev. J. S. Heilig, August 9th, 1866, to 1868 ; Rev. M. 
 L. Culler, December 1st, 1869, to July 24th, 18S1, and 
 was succeeded by Rev. R. C. Holland, the present pas- 
 tor, November 23rd, 1881. 
 
Tlie Churches. 349 
 
 The first church edifice was ttie joint property of the 
 Lutheran and Reformed congregations, and was located 
 on the corner of Church and John streets, being built 
 entirely of logs. It was constructed for a tavern by Jacob 
 Shortel, but afterward purchased by the congregations 
 on the 20th of March, 1786, and then completed as a house 
 of God for religious worship. The two lots lying between 
 King and John streets were also purchased at the same 
 time for the same owner, and have since been used as a 
 graveyard. At that time nails were too expensive, and 
 the plastering lathes were fastened by grooves cut into 
 the logs. A pipe organ Avas afterward purchased, the 
 bellows of which was worked by ropes and weighted 
 down by stones. 
 
 Rev. R. C. Holland, the present pastor, is a zealous 
 and earnest worker in the cause of religion. In his inter- 
 course with his members and brethren, in religion, he 
 has won their friendship and esteem, and as a citizen the 
 respect of the people. The present membership of the 
 church is over 300, and the Sunday School numbers over 
 275 scholars. Mr. Geo. Knapp, for a number of years, 
 has successfully officiated as Sunday School Superinten- 
 dent. The following is a list of the Deacons and Elders : 
 Deacons— G. S. Hill, D. A. Cline, Geo. D. Whitson, Jas. 
 H. Small and Geo. A. Mason. Elders— H. N. Deatrick, 
 Geo. Knapp, Geo. P. Walters and M. V. Small. 
 
 The old graveyard is an object of deep and tender in- 
 terest to this city and much of the surrounding country, 
 as many have some relative or friend buried there. The 
 first cup of which there is any knowledge, which was 
 used by the congregation in the ministration of the Holy 
 Communion, is still in existence, bearing the date 1791, 
 and the mysterious inscription : " P. K.''^' B. K. M." 
 
 In 1815 a subscription was taken up in the two churches 
 amounting to $3,059.00, for the purpose of building a 
 new church for their joint use. This project, for some 
 cause, had never been carried out Later on the present 
 
350 Tlie Churclies. 
 
 site was purchased from Jacob Schoppert, and an edifice 
 erected at a cost of $3,786.50, and was dedicated June 
 lOtli, 1832, Rev. Abram Reck officiating. The church 
 was improved again in 1854, and a large bell placed in 
 the tower. During the late war the congregations were 
 considerably scattered, and the church very much injured. 
 
 In 1884 the church was remodeled, and extensive and 
 important changes made. The corner stone was laid 
 July 12th, 1884, with impressive services, by Rev. M. L. 
 Culler, the former pastor, and other clergymen assisting 
 the pastor. Rev. R. C. Holland. The cost of this im- 
 provement amounted to $10,000. 
 
 FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH. 
 
 The first Baptist Church of Martinsburg was originally 
 organized in 1858, with ten members. Rev. J. W. Jones 
 was chosen pastor, and, for nearly two years, preached 
 in the stone academy that stood near the Episcopal Cem- 
 etery. In 1859 the lot on West King street, where the 
 present building now stands, was bought, with a view of 
 building a church edifice, but soon after the late war be- 
 tween the States came on, and but little was accomplished 
 until after the close of the war. During this time the 
 society had a mere nominal existence, and nothing wor- 
 thy of note occurred in its history ; but preaching was 
 held at intervals in the German Reformed and Lutheran 
 Churches. In the spring of 1869, ground was broken and 
 work commenced for the erection of a church building. 
 The corner stone was laid Aug. 24th, 1869, with imposing 
 Masonic ceremonies. Rev. J. A. Haynes, of Middleburg, 
 was present, and delivered an appropriate and elo- 
 quent address. The work was then continued without 
 interruption, until the building was under roof. In the 
 month of May, 1870, the lecture room was completed, 
 and the first sermon was preached in the new house of 
 worship on the third Sunday of that month, by the pas- 
 tor, Rev. W. S. Penick. At this time the church was 
 reorganized for active work with Rev. W. S. Penick, as 
 
Tlie Churches. 351 
 
 pastor, and W. M. Van Cleve and Joseph B. Kearfott as 
 deacons. On tlie second Sunday in June, 1870, the Sun- 
 day School was permanently established. The building 
 was completed in March, 1874, and on the 29th day of 
 that month it was dedicated, with an appropriate sermon 
 by Rev. J. W. M. Williams, D. D., of Baltimore. The 
 total cost of the building, including furniture, etc., was 
 $7,364.43, for which a collection of 8656.50 was taken up 
 at the dedication services. The entire indebtedness has 
 since been paid off. 
 
 Rev. W. S. Penick served the church as pastor from 
 1869 to July 1st, 1874. Rev. P. P. Murray, of Buchanan, 
 W. Va., sucreeded the former and entered upon his pas- 
 torate with the church October 18th, 1874, continuing 
 until November 17th, 1875, when he resigned and was 
 succeeded by Rev. A. E. Rogers, who entered upon his 
 mission work in September, 1876. Since the advent of 
 the latter pastor the church has been constantly increas- 
 ing. During the fall of 1881, both the interior and exte- 
 rior of the building have been greatly improved, and the 
 entire front changed, at a cost of over $500.00. 
 
 Rev. A. E. Rogers was shortly afterward tendered a 
 call to Missouri, which he accepted. Rev. Rogers was 
 then succeeded by Rev. R. H. Pitt, of Richmond, Va., 
 Nov. 1st, 1883. ReV. Pitt served the church until 1886, 
 when he resigned and returned to his former people. 
 He was succeeded by Rev. F. P. Robertson, of Grafton, 
 (W. Va.,) church, formerly of Virginia, in May, 1886, 
 who has still charge of the church, and is doing a grand 
 and noble work. Rev. Robertson is a kind, courteous 
 and affable gentleman, and has the esteem and love of 
 his entire pastoral charge. He is an excellent preacher, 
 of an intelligent mind, and educated ability. The fol- 
 lowing names compose the deacons of the church : B. F. 
 Fiery, Samuel Aler, Sr., Jos. West, W. L. Pearl, J. B. 
 Kearfott, T. B. Grove. 
 
 F. S. Emmert is the Sunday School Superintendent, 
 
352 ' The Oliurclies. 
 
 which capacity he has filled for five years. The church 
 membership is 200, and the average Sunday School at- 
 tendance 112. 
 
 TRINITY (EPISCOPAL) CHURCH, AND NORBORNE PARISH. 
 
 By an Act of Assembly, in the year 1769, this parish 
 and county were taken from Frederick. The original 
 parish included all the territory now embraced by the 
 counties of Jefferson and Berkeley, and contained within 
 the limits, probably three churches. About the year 
 1740, one was built at Mill Creek, or Bunker Hill, and 
 founded by Morgan Morgan — the first Episcopal Church 
 erected in the valley. A short time before the parish 
 was formed, a chapel was erected at Hedgesville. The 
 other was erected in Mecklenburg, (now Shepherdstown) 
 and built by Van Swearingen. The original parish con- 
 tained these three churches. The first Episcopal Church 
 in Martinsbnrg was built about the close of the war, and 
 was erected by Philip Pendleton, Esq., a zealous church- 
 man. It was built at the entrance to Norborne Ceme- 
 tery, which was laid out by Adam Stephen, and estab- 
 lished by law in 177S. Upon the formation of Jeiierson 
 County in ISOl, which was taken from Berkeley, that 
 territory was cut off from Norborne Parish. This re- 
 duced the latter, and it contained but the three churches. 
 
 The old church that stood in the Cemetery became un- 
 safe for use, and in 1835, measures were taken to erect 
 another in the town. The lot was donated, and about 
 1838 or 1839, the present edifice, on West King street, 
 was commenced. There was no stated place of worship 
 in the town, for eight years or more before its comple- 
 tion. The following memorandum is taken from the old 
 church record : "Trinity Church, Martinsbnrg, was con- 
 secrated by Rt. Rev. William Meade, Bishop of Virginia, 
 on Thursday, August 10th, 1843. Present and assisting, 
 the following of the clergy : Revs. Alexander Jones and 
 J. Chisholm, of Virginia, and Revs. James A. Buck and 
 
The Churclies. 353 
 
 Theodore B. Lyman, of Maryland. Sentence of conse- 
 cration read by the rector of the parish." 
 
 The church was badly damaged during the late war, 
 and in 1865 it was found necessary to renovate it before 
 it could be used for divine worship. The present vesti- 
 bule and iron railing were placed in front of the church 
 in 1869. There are many breaks in the succession, re- 
 garding the clergy of the parish, and it is supposed there 
 were no ministers in charge at those times. The parish 
 was organized in 1769, and no indentification of the 
 clergy as its Rector can be found until the year 1771. 
 Rev. Daniel Sturges was then licensed by the Bishop of 
 London as Rector for Norborne Parish. Rev. Mr. Yea- 
 sey succeeded him in 1786, and was followed by Rev. 
 Mr. Wilson. Rev. Bernard Page was the Rector in 1795, 
 and who, it is said, in his ministerial work, was far be- 
 yond the standard of the parish. He was succeeded by 
 Rev. Emanuel Wilmer, about the year 1806. Between 
 the la,pse of 1811 and 1813, Rev. Mr. Price was made 
 rector. Here a temporary stop was put to all clerical 
 effort by the war of 1812, and in 1815, Rev. Benjamin 
 - Allen took charge of the parish. While in Martinsburg 
 he contributed largely to the Christian's Magazine and 
 Layman's Magazine, church papers published in the 
 valley. He was also an author of marked ability, having 
 published six volumes of poems, and running through 
 three editions of a history of the Reformation. He was 
 the first to propose a division of the diocese, and the fol- 
 lowing committee was appointed to confer with the 
 Bishop and standing committee on this subject : Rev. 
 Enoch Love, Edward Colston and Robert Page. He had 
 spent a while afterward in England for the benefit of his 
 health, and on a homeward bound vessel died. 
 
 The first confirmation, of which there is any knowledge, 
 was held in the Martinsburg Church by Bishop Meade, 
 in 1830. The number confirmed composed a class of 
 nineteen. West Virginia became a separate diocese in 
 
 23 
 
B54 The Churches. 
 
 1878, since whicli-time the church has rapidly increased. 
 In 1848 Norborne Parish was divided and was made to 
 include Mt. Zion Church, Hedgesville, and Calvary 
 Church, Back Creek ; the other, Trinity Church, Mar- 
 linsburg. 
 
 After the death of Rev. Allen, this parish was supplied 
 by Eev. Thomas Horrel, in 1816, who remained there 
 years, and from this date was succeeded by ministers as 
 follows : Revs. Enoch Love, Edward R. Lippett, 1823 ; 
 John T. Brooke, 1826 ; James H. Lyng, 1830 ; William 
 P. C. Johnson, 1832 ; Cyrus H. Jacobs, 1836 ; Charles C. 
 Taliaferro, 1837 ; James Chisholm, 1842 ; D. Francis 
 Sprigg, 1850 ; Richard T. Davis, 1855 ; W. D. Harrison, 
 1860 ; John W. Lea, 1875 ; and Robert Douglas Roller, 
 1S79, who served the parish until April 1st, 1888, when 
 he resigned to accept a call at Charleston, W. Va. 
 
 The present edifice has been handsomely renovated 
 and refurnished in an artistic manner. The church, now 
 has a membership of 170, and an average Sunday School 
 attendance of 85. The Superintendent is Wm. B. Col- 
 ston ; Senior and Junior Wardens, J. T. Young and B. 
 S. Lyeth ; Registrar, J. L. W. Baker ; Treasurer, J. H. 
 Doll ; Vestrymen, J. T. Young, B. S. Lyeth, J. L. W. 
 Baker, Geo. A. Chrisman, W. B. Colston, John M. How- 
 ell and J. H. Doll. 
 
 PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 
 
 This church was organized in 1825, and is the daughter 
 of the venerable old church on Tuscarora, about two and 
 a half miles from town. The church was organized in 
 April and seems to have been without a pastor for the 
 first year. But in the year 1826 or 1827, the Rev. John 
 Mathews, who had been serving the churches of Shep- 
 herdstown and Charles town jointly for twenty years, 
 gave up his charge with Shepherdstown and removed to 
 Martinsburg. He divided his time equally between these 
 two churches until he removed to the west in 1831. Mr. 
 Alex. Cooper was the first ruling Elder, who was also an 
 
The Glburohes. 355 
 
 Elder ia the old church in the county for some time be- 
 fore the separation. Rev. Wm. C. Mathews became 
 acting pastor in April, 1831, and served the congregation 
 1835. During the years 1836 and 1837, the pulpit was 
 vacant, and in the spring of 1838, Rev. Peyton Harrison 
 was called to the pastorate of the church, and remained 
 in this city for six years. In April, 1838, the name of 
 Mr. Samuel Baker appears in the records as a Ruling 
 Elder. Rev. John Bogg became pastor in 1845, who, 
 probably remained only a few months, though possibly 
 longer, for there is a blank in the Records from April, 
 1846, to April 1847. At this latter date Rev. Wm. Love 
 took charge and served as pastor until 1849. During 
 this year he was succeeded by Rev. R. L. Berry, who 
 continued to serve the church for nerly ten years. In 
 August, 1858, Mr. Berry resigned, which was accepted 
 by the church with much regret. During his pastorate 
 the death of Mr. Alex. Cooper occurred, who for forty- 
 live years had held the oflSice of Ruling Elder, and nearly 
 all that time had charge of the sessional records. On the 
 23rd of the following April, 1853, Mr. James N. Riddle 
 and Mr. John F. Harrison were ordained to the office of 
 Ruling Elders in the church. On the 19 th of April, 1855, 
 Mr. Peyton R. Harrison, a son of Dr. Peyton Harrison, 
 the former pastor, was also chosen by the congregation 
 to the same office. 
 
 After the resignation of Mr. Berry, the congregation 
 called successively Rev. J. G. Hanner, D. D.; Rev. Lewis 
 C. Baker, of Kew Jersey, and Rev. M. B. Riddle, then 
 quite a young man. None of these ministers found the 
 way clear to accept the call. In April, 1859, Rev. A. C. 
 Hopkins, was tendered a call, which was accepted, and 
 on the 6th of Dec. following Mr. Hopkins was ordained 
 and installed pastor. At a meeteng held on the 19th of 
 January, 1861, Mr. Geo. Tabb and Mr. John M. Har- 
 mon were unanimously elected Ruling Elders. On the 
 2nd of May, 1866, Mr. G. Boyd Harlan, of Falling Waters 
 
3^0 The Churches. 
 
 Chuich, and Mr. Wni. N. Riddle were chosen to the 
 office of Ruling Elders in this church. Rev. Mr. Hop- 
 kins resigned this pastoral charge in Aug., 1865, and on 
 the 2nd of June, 1866, a call was accepted by Rev. Jas. 
 E. Hughes, who was afterwards installed by a commit- 
 tee of Winchester Presbytery. On the 23rd of Sept., 
 1867, he died, and since the birth of this congregation, 
 in 1825, this was the first time God had called them to 
 bury their pastor. 
 
 In the following spring, 1868, Rev. Dr. Riddle, of 
 Lebanon, Pa. , began his ministry in Martinsburg, in this 
 church, and continued until April, 1877, when he resign- 
 ed on account of infirmity of health. On the 14th of 
 July, 1879, the congregation for the thirteenth time in 
 its history was called upon to select another shepherd. 
 The lot fell upon the present pastor. Rev. F. M. Woods, 
 who has for the past nine years been endeavoring to re- 
 alize this responsible trust. Within these nine years 
 there has been an encouraging increase in this church, 
 along with her sister churches, that gives a pleasant 
 prophecy of the future of their active, busy town. The 
 congregation of the church have built a most delightful 
 and commodious manse at a cost of nearly $6,000. The 
 church membership now numbers over 200, with a Sun- 
 day School attendance averaging 75. Mr. C. W. Wisner 
 is the present Sunday School Superintendent, with Hugh 
 A. White, as assistant. The Elders are Jacob Miller, 
 Blackburn Hughes and J. L. E. Combs. 
 
 CATHOLIC CHURCH. 
 
 The first services held by this denomination were in the 
 house of John Timmons, now located on Race Street. 
 Mass was said in this house for a period of nearly nine- 
 teen years, from about the year 1810 to 1830. The first 
 church was then built where St. Joseph's Cemetery is 
 now located, by Rev. J. B. Gildea, with a membership 
 consisting of about fifty families. The cost of the build- 
 ing amounted to nearly $4,000 and the ground was given 
 
T7ie Churches. 357 
 
 by Richard McSherry. The Sisters of Charity were es- 
 tablislied here by Father Whelan years ago, but after- 
 wards left, as the congregation was too small to sup- 
 port it. 
 
 The stone work of the i^resent church was begun by 
 Father Plunkett, but was suspended for the want of 
 means. Rev. Andrew Talty, his assistant, finished the 
 church to the extent of the funds, and placed a pair of 
 wooden steps in front. Rev. J. J. Kain afterwards re- 
 placed them with stone, and also iinished the basement. 
 
 During the war, the Jessie Scouts used it for a stable 
 in which they kept about 70 horses, and used the Sacris- 
 ty rooms as prisons. Capt. H. Kyd Douglas was con- 
 fined here for a period of six months. The wooden steps 
 were very frail and inconvenient, and were only used by 
 the soldiers twice. It is said the erection was commen- 
 ced about 1845, the subscription paper dating Feb., 17th 
 1850, in which year the corner stone was laid. At a cost 
 of about $40,000, the church was dedicated by Bishop 
 McGill, Sept, 30th, 1860. 
 
 The names of those in charge, from its earliest exis- 
 teqce to the present date, are as follows : Rev. Father 
 Caliill, Rev. Readman, Rev. J. B. Gildea, Rev. Whelan, 
 Rev. O'Brien, Rev. J. A. Plunkett. At different times 
 a number of distinguished churchmen had charge, 
 among whom were Bishops Whelan, of Wheeling ; Beck- 
 er, of Wilmington, Del. ; and Kain, of Wheeling, each 
 remaining several years. Daring the early period, at 
 intervals, priests from Hagerstown and Frederick, Mary- 
 land, visited the mission. History records no names of 
 the pioneers of Catholicity in this county, and there is 
 no doubt that the communion members of the church of 
 Rome came to this section in the decline of the last 
 century. 
 
 The present edifice, situated on South Queen Street, is 
 a strong and substantial building, with a massive stone 
 front. The interior is handsomely frescoed and furnish- 
 
358 The CJmrches. 
 
 ed, and contains a beautiful marble altar. In 1883, the 
 denomination purchased the Judge Hall property at a 
 cost of $5,000, and made improvements to the amount of 
 $2,200. The parochial school was taught in the base- 
 ment of the church for a long while, but upon the pur- 
 chase of this property the Sisters of Charity, from Em- 
 mi ttsburg, took charge Sept. 1st, 1883. The school now 
 has an average attendance of over 200 children, and is 
 very successful. The present church membership num- 
 bers over 1500, with a large Sunday School attached. 
 Rev. J. McKeefry is the present pastor, with Rev. Fred. 
 J. Lucke, as assistant. Rev. Lucke entered upon his 
 mission here March, 17th, 1887, and continued until April 
 1st, 1888. At the earnest request of Bishop Keane, Rec- 
 tor of the Catholic Union of America, he was called upon 
 to take charge of the St. Augiistine Cathedral, at Flori- 
 da. He will succeed Rev. Dr. Pace, who takes the chair 
 in the Theological Union. Father Lucke was held in the 
 highest esteem by the people of all denominations. 
 
 GERMAN REFORMED CHURCH. 
 
 This is one of the oldest congregations in the valley, 
 •iud was founded by G-erman emigrants, who migrated 
 principally from Pennsylvania. This society, in con- 
 nection with the Lutherans, worshipped together in a log 
 building, about the year 1776. (See sketch of Lutheran 
 Church.) This church used jointly by the two congre- 
 gations for many years was found to be too small, and 
 in 184t5 the G-erman Reformed congregation, procured a 
 more suitable site on Burke Street, and erected an edi- 
 fice, the present one, at a cost of about $5,000. The 
 services were formerly conducted in the German 
 language, but have now been siipplanted by the English. 
 The old members of the church adhered to the use of 
 their mother tongue in conducting their services, and 
 thereby caused a number of their descendents to con- 
 nect themselves with the English speaking congregations. 
 The first church bell introduced in this section of 
 
Tlie Churches. 359 
 
 country was purchased by this denomination in 1808. 
 The pastors as they succeeded each other areas follows : 
 Kevs. George Adam Geting, Jonathan Rahauser, Lewis 
 Mayer, from 1808 to 1820 ; Samuel Helf ersty, 1820 to 1824; 
 JacobBeecher, 1826 to 1831; RobertDouglas,1834 to 1845 ; 
 Daniel F. Bragunier, 1845 to 1860 ; William D. Lafever, 
 1866 to 1869 ; Stephen K. Kremer, 1870 to 1874, and 
 John A. Hoffheins in 1875, who is now the present pastor. 
 The elders are H. Seibert, John Fitz, Chas. Matthaei, 
 James H. Myers. Deacons, Harry Cushwa, Lewis 
 Bentz, D. M. Kilmer, G. R. Shoafstall and Wm. W. 
 Cushwa. The present church membership now num- 
 bers about 250, with D. J. S. Boak as Sunday School 
 Superintendent, and a scholarship of about 100, avei-age 
 attendance. 
 
 METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 
 
 The fii'st Methodist preaching in this State west of the 
 Blue Ridge Mountain was commenced by Bishop Francis 
 Asbury. On the 2nd of June, 1782, he stppped in Mar- 
 tinsburg on his way westward over the mountains, and 
 delivered the first sermon in the Market House. In 1789 
 the first circuit west of the Blue Ridge was formed with 
 Martinsburg as the centre, and which continued unbro- 
 ken ixntil the civil war opened in 1861. Shortly after a 
 number of societies were organized in Martinsburg and 
 throughout Berkeley and adjoining counties. The first 
 building occupied by this congregation is still standing, 
 located on John street, south of the jail; The congrega- 
 tions of this society were assembled by blowing a tin 
 horn, as they were bitterly opposed to ringing church 
 bells. The laws of the church were strongly anti-slavery, 
 and on account of which fact they met with much oppo- 
 sition, then universal in the South. A division in the 
 church was caused by this subject, which occurred in 
 1846, and the society known as the M. E. Church South 
 was afterward organized. 
 
 Many were the obstacles and oppositions that encoun- 
 
H60 TJie CJmrclies. 
 
 tered this society ; but, notwithstanding, it grew and 
 flourished. From the time it became thoroughly estab- 
 lished until 1850 its membership numbered nearly a hun- 
 dred. It became popular on account of making no dis- 
 tinction in its admission and encouragement of members, 
 and was at that time termed the common people. 
 
 In 1850 the Martinsburg society became an independ- 
 ent church, and being set off from others in the county, 
 it was known as Martinsburg Station. During this year 
 the Baltimore Conference appointed Eev. Henry Furlong 
 as pastor of t/he church, who completed the reorganiza- 
 tion. He remained with the church nearly eleven years, 
 during which time the membership increased to over two 
 hundred. In 1801 the civil war broke out and the society 
 was completely broken up, causing almost an entire sus- 
 pension of religious services. In fact, such was the case 
 generally throughout the State. From the Spring of 
 1861 until 1863 the Methodists held no religious services 
 in the county excepting at irregular intervals, by some 
 itinerant Southern preacher at different places. 
 
 The chxirch was again reorganized throughout the 
 county in the latter part of 1863 by Dr. John Lanahan, 
 Presiding Elder for the Virginia portion of the Baltimore 
 Conference. At this time Dr. John M. Green (since de- 
 ceased) became pastor in charge of Martinsburg, since 
 Avhich time Methodism has rapidly increased throughout 
 the county, and especially in Martinsburg. Since the 
 ruins of the church building from the effects of the war, 
 their property has advanced upwards of $50,000. During 
 1850 only two Methodist preachers were employed in the 
 county, which so continued until 1861. 
 
 The following is a list of the pastors as they succeeded 
 each other : Revs. H. Furlong, 1850 ; David Thomas, 
 1851-1852 ; G. W. Cooper, 1853-1854 ; J. H. Brown, 1855- 
 1856 ; J. Landstreet, 1857-1858 ; S. McMullen, 1859-1860 ; 
 C. A. Reid, 1861 ; J. M. Greene, 1862-1863 ; J. H. Swope, 
 1864-1865 ; H. C. McDaniel, 1866-18G7 ; E. D. Owen, 
 
The Churches. 361 
 
 1868-1869 ; S. V. Leecli, 1870-1871 ; A. K. Keilj^ 1872 ; 
 J. F. Ockerman, 1873-1874 ; J. W. Cornelius, 1875-1876 ; 
 J. E. Amos, 1877-1878-1879 ; M. F. B. Rice, 1880-1881 ; 
 G. Y. Leech, 1882-1883 ; A. S. Hank, 1884-1885-1886; 
 Jolin Edwards, present pastor, 1887-1888. Tlie present 
 trustees of the chirrch are Wm. H. Mathews, Henry 
 Crim, Luther Miller, Jacob Eversole, Wm. Westrater, 
 AVm. McEIroy and I. L. Bender. The missionary Socie- 
 ty is composed of A. D. Darby, President ; F. A. Cham- 
 bers, Vice-President ; C. David Darby, Secretary ; Miss 
 Lilly Mathews, Treasurer. The present church member- 
 ship numbers 401, with a Sunday school attendance of 
 330. Sunday School Superintendent, Lee M. Bender ; 
 Assistant Superintendent, Frank Weaning. 
 
 METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, SOUTH. 
 
 This society was organized in December, 1866, by Revs. 
 David Shoat and John A. Kearn, with a membership 
 numbering fifteen. They worshipped in a small school 
 building on King street for nearly a year, and in the fall 
 of 1867 completed an edifice on German street, (now Ma- 
 ple avenue,) at a cost of $3,500, where they worshipped 
 until January, 1886. The demand for a better house of 
 worship had long been felt by those of Southern Metho- 
 dist persuasion, and the effort to procure one culminated 
 in the " Centenary or thank offering," lifted December 
 21st, 1884, for the purpose of improving or building a 
 new church. The amount realized was $2,000, which 
 gave such an impetus to the enteri^rise that those having 
 the matter in charge determined to build a new church 
 that would be an adornment to the town and a credit to 
 the congregation. The present site on West Martin 
 street "was purchased from Mr. Fred. Becker in April, 
 1885, and the work of laying the foundation was imme- 
 diately commenced after the removal of several old build- 
 ings. 
 
 The corner-stone was laid with Masonic rites Sept. 
 19th, 1885, and addresses were delivered in the Presby- 
 
362 The Qhurclies. 
 
 terian Church by Grand-Master Shyrock, of Maryland, 
 and others. The Mayor and City Council attended in a 
 body, and the City Band furnished music suitable to the 
 occasion. In the meantime the old church was sold by 
 the trustees, after which the congregation worshipped 
 in the Court House and Feller's Hall, until the opening 
 of the lecture room in the new edifice, March 21st, 1886. 
 This was dedicated by Rev. John L. Clark, of Virginia, 
 the first station preacher this charge ever had, and who 
 was largely instrumental in organizing the society here. 
 On this occasion a collection amounting to $1,700 was 
 taken up. 
 
 The new edifice was completed and dedicated Sunday, 
 October 2nd, 1887, and services conducted morning and 
 night by Bishop Alpheus W. Wilson, of Baltimore. Col- 
 lections were lifted on both occasions amounting to 
 $2,100. The building committee was composed of Rev. 
 J. R. Andrew, pastor, C. M. Shaffer, JST. T. Fisher, G. 
 W. Buxton, H. Wilen, G. S. Rousch and J. H. Shaffer. 
 
 The first jiastor in charge was Rev, John L. Clark, who 
 served from 1869 to 1871, and was succeeded as follows : 
 Thomas B. Sargent, 1871 ; John S. Maxwell, 1872 ; Wes- 
 ley Hammond, 1873 ; Louis C. Miller, 1874 to 1877 ; John 
 Poisal, D. D., 1877 ; Presley B. Smith, 1875 ; 0. C. Beall, 
 1879 ; J. H. Davidson, 1880 ; John Landstreet, 1881 to 
 1884 ; J. R. Andrew, 1884 to 1888, with Rev. H. H. Ken- 
 nedy as the present pastor. The church membership 
 now numbers 211, with a Sabbath School attendance of 
 200., The Sunday School Superintendent is Mr. R. F. 
 Barr, and the Stewards are G. S. Rousch, N. T. Fisher, 
 H. T. Hopper, John Young, Eugene Newton and Joseph 
 H. Shaffer. 
 
 UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH. 
 
 The Church of the United Brethren in Christ was 
 founded by William Otterbein and Martin Boehm about 
 the middle of the eighteenth century. The former was 
 a distinguished theologian and minister in the German Re- 
 
The CJiurchss. 363 
 
 formed Church, and the latter a member of the Mennon- 
 ite Church. They had grown tired of the cold formal- 
 ism and inactivity of the churches to which they be- 
 longed, and began the work of promoting revivals and 
 insisting upon a spiritual membership. They were emi- 
 nently successful in their labors. These two devoted 
 christian men were for the first time brought together 
 at a great union meeting which was being held in Isaac 
 Long's barn, at Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Mr. 
 Boehm preached the first sermon, and one of great power. 
 At the close of his speech Mr. Otterbein arose and, em- 
 bracing the eloquent speaker, he exclaimed : "We are 
 brethren." The multitude that witnessed it was deeply 
 and favorably impressed at this exhibition of christian 
 fellowship and good will. Here originated the name 
 " United Brethren." The words " In Christ " were af- 
 terward added, to distinguish the church from the Mo- 
 ravian United Brethren. In 1774, with Mr. Otterbein as 
 pastor, the first organization occurred in Baltimore, Md., 
 about which time the first church was built, and is used 
 to this day by a German United Brethren congregation. 
 The first conference was held in 1789, and since has made 
 a steady and permanent growth. She has forty-eight 
 annual conferences in the United States and territories, 
 also one in Canada, one in Germany and one in West 
 Africa. They have established at Dayton, Ohio, a print- 
 ing office worth nearly $250,000, which is clear of debt 
 and annually turns over to the church thousands of dol- 
 lars. In 1858, with a few hundred members, the West 
 Virginia Conference was organized, and at the close of 
 the late war it was found the number had considerably 
 decreased. The membership in this State now numbers 
 over 7,500, with three presiding elder districts and thirty- 
 six fields of labor. 
 
 In 1856, the society in Martinsburg was formed, and 
 in 1857, the present edifice was completed. It is located 
 in "Strinesville," the Northern part of the city, and is 
 
364 The Churches. 
 
 well furnislied. Daring the war it was considerably- 
 damaged, but since lias been put in complete repair. 
 The present membership numbers nearly 150, with a 
 Sabbath School attendance of about 100. Rev. J. E. 
 Ridenour is the present pastor, with Mr. Philip Rimel 
 as Sunday School Superintendent, and Messrs. Joseph 
 Long and James Buchanan as Stewards, John Anderson 
 General Steward. 
 
 FREE WILL BAPTIST CHURCH, (COLORED.) 
 
 This church was organized shortly after the war by the 
 Home Mission Society, and was built under the super- 
 vision of Miss A. S. Dudley, of Maine, who was then 
 engaged in school teaching and general missionary work 
 among the colored people. With the assistance of Revs. 
 N. C. Brackett and A. H. Morril, considerable aid was 
 given the church in its early struggle. The present 
 church was built directly after its organization, at a cost 
 of ^2,500, and a parsoi>age connected at a cost of $800. 
 Its location is on North Raleigh street, — an excellent 
 brick building, with a seating capacity of 400. The 
 present pastor. Rev. A. F. Adams, is a refined and schol- 
 arly gentleman, and a graduate of Storer College, Har- 
 per's Ferry, W. Va. The membership of the church 
 number 110, and has an average Sabbath School attend- 
 ance of 97. Mr. G. W. Green is the Sabbath School 
 Superintendent. The church trustees are J. H. Veney, 
 Wm. Marshall, Minor Duval, Henry and J. F. Carter. 
 Deacons, J. R. Veney, Stephen Elam, Thomas Ellis and 
 Brown Freeman. 
 
 METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, (COLORED.) 
 
 No records are to be found to show any exact date for 
 the establishment of this denomination in our county, 
 but like the other colored church, it was not founded 
 until after the late war. The first building was erected 
 on West Martin street, (the site of the present edifice,) 
 in which public services were held. It has since been 
 torn completely down, and a large, commodious brick 
 
The Churches. 365 
 
 building erected in its stead. The cliurch is very ably 
 supported, and with a present membership of about 125, 
 is doing a grand work. The Sunday School, with Mr. J. 
 W. Corsey, as Superintendent, has an average attendance 
 of nearly 100 scholars. The present pastor is Rev. F. F. 
 Wheeler, who succeeded Rev. J. H. Smith in 1887. Rev. 
 Mr. Wheeler is an earnest worker and possesses marked 
 ability for his ministerial duties. The Stewards are 
 Samuel Hopewell, James Willis, John Shaw, Wm. Ford, 
 Chas. Brooks, Z. Silvers, Henry McGill and John Low- 
 man. Trustees, Samuel Hopewell, James Clayton, Frank 
 Corsey, James Willis and John Shaw. 
 
CHAPTER XV. 
 
 BERKELEY COUNTY IN 1810— TOPOGRAPHI- 
 CAL DESCRIPTION OP BERKELEY COUNTY- 
 NATURAL CURIOSITIES — MINERALOGY 
 AND LITHOLOGY — INHABITANTS, 
 TOWNS, MANUFACTORIES, ETC. 
 
 HHROUGH the courtesies of Mrs. M. W. Faulkner, 
 ^ the author has been enabled to secure from the 
 memoranda of her husband, the late Hon. C J. Faulk- 
 ner, a large amount of historical facts. The following 
 sketch of Berkeley County in 1810, was taken from an 
 old printed pamphlet, now in the possession of Mrs. 
 Faulkner. This chapter, when compared with the f ol- • 
 lowing one, will give the reader a general idea of our 
 county 78 years ago, and also of the manner in which it 
 has improved. 
 
 BERKELEY COUNTY, 
 
 Lies between the 39th degree and 18 minutes North lati- 
 tude, and extends 20 miles in length and about 18J 
 in breadth, and is bound to the North, inclining to the 
 East, by the river Potomac, which divides the States of 
 Virginia and Maryland ; to the East, iaclining to the 
 South by said river, and Jefferson County ; to the South, 
 inclining to the West, by Frederick County ; to the 
 West, inclining to North, by the county of Hampshire, 
 and the river Potomac. Martinsburg is the capital and 
 the seat of justice of this county. 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 It contains 484 square miles, or 319,760 acres. 
 PRODUCTIONS. 
 
 The same as in Frederick County. 
 
Inhabitants, Towns, &c. 367 
 
 POPULATION. 
 
 When the last census was taken in 1800, this county 
 and Jefferson were but one ; it then contained 15,000 
 white inhabitants and 3,600 slaves ; suppose that i of 
 the white population has been taken to form the county 
 of Jefferson, 10,000 would still remain to Berkeley. It 
 is supposed that half the above number of blacks fell to 
 Jefferson Coimty, although the division of the whites 
 was not so equal. There is now in this county 2,100 
 tithables, or males above 16 years of age, jiaying the 
 poor tax. 
 
 THE MOUNTAINS IN THIS COUNTY ARE— 
 
 First — The North Mountain ; it is remarkable on ac- 
 count of its raising immediately like a wall. It has a 
 summit beautifully undulated in all its length. It might 
 be computed to be about 500 feet perpendicular at its 
 greatest height. It is not cultivated. The East side 
 could be planted with vines. Mr. Edward Tabb, living 
 immediately under that side of the mountain, exhibited 
 an European vine which resisted the coldest win- 
 ters, and without either pruning or cultivation, afforded 
 large quantities of lucious grapes every year. 
 
 Second — The third Hill and Sleepy Creek mountains 
 are nearly joining, and both run parallel to the North 
 Mountain ; they are not cultivated, except in the mid- 
 dle of the two, where issues a stream of water, called 
 Meadow Branch, and where the plantation of a hunts- 
 man is seen. The heighth of both mountains is about 
 700 feet from their base. 
 
 Third— The Warm Spring ridge, is broken in several 
 places ; it is about 300 feet high ; it divides Berkeley 
 County from Hampshire. These ridges succeed each 
 other in the above order, running Westerly from the 
 North Mountain. 
 
 RIVERS. 
 
 The Potomac is the only river in this county ; it divides 
 this State from Maryland. 
 
363 Inliabiianis, Towns, &c. 
 
 CREEKS. 
 
 Tlie creeks are, Opequon, Mill, Middle, Tuscarora, 
 Back, Sleepy, and the Warm Springs. The three first, 
 as well as part of the Warm Spring Creek, are never- 
 failing streams, owing to the springs that feed thenj 
 being in limestone land, which is deep and spongy, and 
 suffers the rain water to penetrate it. The water is there- 
 fore kept there, as it were, for the supply of the springs, 
 while those creeks, which have the head, springs, on slate 
 or rocky bottoms that do not permit the water to pen- 
 etrate their substance become dry in the hot seasons of 
 the year. This circumstance does not, I think, corrobo- 
 rate that system already spoken of respecting the springs 
 receiving their supply from the sea by subterraneous 
 passages. 
 
 QUALITY OF THE SOIL. 
 
 I have thought that in order to give an accurate idea of 
 the qualities of the soil of this county, I ought to divide 
 it into three parcels or valleys. 
 
 First — The first parcel is nearly all limestone, of an 
 excellent quality ; except on the ridge, where, I think 
 that a mountain existed, and where the Sulphur Springs 
 are to be found. This ridge continues its course through 
 this county, but it has been washed by the rains more 
 than in Frederick County and lies lower. The quality 
 of the soil is good, and by means of clover and plaster of 
 Paris, I think, will grow more valuable yet. 
 
 Second— This parcel|contains the valley of Back Creek, 
 and is watered by it. I will observe that there is a tract 
 of land marked on the map with the sign of a hill, on ac- 
 count of being higher than the other part of the valley, 
 and extends from Mr. Gaunt' s to Mr. Eobertson's mill, 
 on the Warm Spring road, and on a breadth of about two 
 miles, which is of a good limestone land. The remain- 
 der of it is slate and^Mountain land, except the bottom 
 on the creek, which is a loam. The whole is susceptible 
 
InTidbitants, Towns, &c. 369 
 
 of great improvement, and will become very valuable by- 
 attention to agriculture. 
 
 Third — Is the valley of Sleepy Creek watered by the 
 said creek. Some part along the "Warm Spring is lime- 
 stone ; some bottoms on the creek are loam ; the rest is 
 slate and mountain land, which, however, improved by 
 the plaster of Paris and clover, would afford, in my opin-> 
 ion, good crops of small grain. 
 
 LITHOLOGY. 
 
 As part of this county is limestone, marble will conse- 
 quently be found in it, sooner or later. ' ' I have seen spars 
 of different kinds in the limestone land, near Martins- 
 burg ; there are some in the form of a column, with sides, 
 and truncated, white and transparent. On Apple-pie 
 Ridge, there are masses under ground of these spars, of 
 different forms. The people on whose lands these stone 
 are seen, believing them to be gypsum, (plaster of Paris), 
 had them ground and spread on their lands ; indeed, 
 many bushels, they said, had been sold as such. I went 
 to those places and obtained specimens of those stones, 
 and made a trial on them, which is commonly used for 
 detecting the true gypsum from the common stone : I 
 put them in contact with fire, and I found, after several 
 experiments, that the most intense heat had not the least 
 immediate effect on them, in causing them either to lose 
 their transparency or hardness, and consequently, I took 
 them to be rather a carbonate of lime (of the nature of 
 limestone) instead of being the sulphate of it, (of the 
 nature of plaster,) and in order to make the people on 
 whose land these stones are found better acquainted with 
 the nature of the true plaster of Paris, I shall extract 
 part of a chapter of Chaptal's on chemistry. He ex- 
 presses himself thus : The plaster loses its transparency 
 by calcination, at the same time that it becomes pulver- 
 ulent, and acquires the property of again seizing the 
 water of which it had been deprived, and resuming its 
 hardness ; it does not give fire with the steel, nor effer- 
 
370 InJtcibitants, Towns, &c. 
 
 Tesee with acids. He says farther, 100 parts of gypsum 
 contains 30 parts of sulphuric acid, 32 calcarius earth, 
 and 38 water ; it loses nearly 27 per cent, by calcination. 
 It is soluble in 500 times its weight of water, at the tem- 
 perature of 60 degrees of Fahrenheit. When it is ex- 
 posed to heat, its water of crystalization is dissipated ; it 
 ''l)effi«>mes opaque, loses its consistence, and falls into pow- 
 ' iSer. If it be moistened, it becomes hard again, but does 
 not resume its transparency ; a circumstance which ap- 
 , pears to prove that its firm state is a state of crystaliza- 
 1 tion ; if it be kept in fire of considerable intensity, in 
 < contact with powder of charcoal, the acid is decomposed, 
 •..and the residue is lime, &c." 
 
 Ulpon the' principle above stated we learn that plaster 
 and lime are both calcareous earth, and we might draw 
 a conclusion from them, that if any virtue is attributed 
 to the former in promoting the growth of clover and 
 ©ther plants, it is owing to the sulphuric acid that the 
 plaster contains, and that both a pyretous and limestone 
 ground is required for the formation of it. 
 
 I will add for information, also, that as the jjlaster, 
 when calcinated, looks nearly as white as any other cal- 
 careous matter, and in order that one might be known 
 from the other, pour some drops of water on both. It 
 will cause an immediate efferverscence on the lime, while 
 tie plaster will receive no effect from it. Besides, when 
 the plaster, after calcination, is pounded, pulverized and 
 sifted, it can be formed, with the addition of water, into 
 a paste which will grow solid by drying, while it will not 
 1)6 so with any other calcareous substance. 
 
 "Near the mill of Mr. Stephens, on Tullis branch, I 
 found a kind of soft lime-stone, that the people also took 
 for plaster of Paris, which being easily reduced into 
 j>owder, either by pounding or grinding, or made into 
 .lime by fire, may probably answer to improve lands. 
 
 "Another kind of lime-stone I found also, atMr. Samuel 
 
InhaMtants, Toions, &c. 371 
 
 Hedges' , in Sleepy Creek Valley, whicli would perhaps 
 answer the same purpose as the above described." 
 
 " I have seen at Mr. Sheerer' s mill, on the Potomac, flag 
 stones, that he raised from the bottom of that river, near 
 his house, which surpass in color, beauty and size, any 
 shistus (slate stone) I have ever seen. Those slabs can 
 be polished and sawed easier than marble, and Mr. 
 Sheerer has used them in its stead to embelish his new 
 house. When the navigation of this river shall be im- 
 proved, no doubt that they will be boated down to the 
 cities below, and will constitute a branch of commerce. 
 Those stones would be of great service in the raising of 
 dams and locks on this river, for the improvement of 
 navigation, in the same manner as spoken of in the 
 article of ^Rivers in Frederick County." ■ 
 
 MINERALOGY. 
 
 On the banks of Opequon, near the house of Mr. John 
 Vanmetre, two or three miles from Martinsburg, is found 
 a kind of sulphate of iron, (copperas,) which immediately 
 turns leather black. It is found between the slates, but 
 not in abundance ; however, when a diligent search is 
 made much may be found. 
 
 Iron, copper, as well as silver ores, are found on Sleepy 
 Creek Mountain, but the last ore is not found in quanti- 
 ties sufficient to be worthy of exploring. No search yet, 
 with a particular view to obtain these ores, has been 
 made by any chemist on those mountains. The waters 
 of Sleepy Creek contain the iron in solution to such a 
 degree that the stones on its bed are covered with the 
 oxide of it. 
 
 NATURAL CURIOSITIES. 
 
 There is a natural reservoir bearing the name of Swan 
 Pond, in this county, the waters of which run off in a 
 stream for some distance and then sink all at once, and 
 no more is seen of them until near the mouth of Opequon 
 Creek, where, in a hollow or pit of about 100 feet deep 
 and 300 feet in circumference, you hear them pass under 
 
372 Inlicibitants, Toions, &c. 
 
 the rocks of the bottom of that pit, and going undoubt- 
 edly to Join Opequon Creek. 
 
 MILLS. 
 
 There are in this county upwards of 50 grist or mer- 
 chant mills, as many saw mills, several fulling mills, an 
 oil mill and one paper mill. 
 
 MANUFACTORIES. 
 
 A large and convenient stone-built merchant mill on 
 Tuscarora and joining Martinsburg has been bought lately 
 from Mrs. Hunter by Messrs. Hibbert and Gibbs for the 
 purpose of establishing a wool and cotton manufactory. 
 Mr. Hibbert is a fuller by trade ; he has already erected 
 all the apparatus for fulling, dressing and dying all sorts 
 of cloths on a pretty large scale. Mr. Gibbs is an ingen- 
 ious mechanic ; he has moved from his cotton manufac- 
 tory at Hagerstown all his machinery for carding and 
 spinning both wool and cotton, to place them in this 
 building. 
 
 Mr Jonathan "Wickersham, a fuller, the proprietor of 
 a fulling mill and carding machine established on Mid- 
 dle Creek, near the precincts of Bucklestown, has added 
 lately to his factory a Jenny of fifty spindles to spin 
 wool, and having at hand a number of capable weavers, 
 he intends to carry on a complete factory of cl6th. I 
 hope these two infant manufactories may be encouraged 
 so as to become permanent establishments and add to 
 the stock of wealth of the country. 
 
 MINERAL WATERS. 
 
 There are several of the sulphur kind on Opequon, ill 
 this county, but the most remarkable is the one occupied 
 by Mr. Minghini, about 8 miles from Martinsburg, this 
 house is well fitted for accommodation, and several 
 hundred persons resort there every season. 
 
 There is another, also, at two miles distance from Mar- 
 tinsburg, on which the citizens of Martinsburg have be- 
 stowed some trouble and expense to render it convenient 
 
Inliabitanis, Towns, &c. 373 
 
 and useful to visitors. They liave put up a shower bath, 
 which is used by the neighbors and townsmen. 
 
 The most conspicuous one is at Bath Town, under the 
 Warm Spring Ridge, from the foot of which and by dif- 
 erent channels issues a torrent of water capable to 
 turn a mill. Water cannot be more limpid and beauti- 
 ful than this is. This place, though agreeably orna- 
 mented and capable of contributing to the pleasures of 
 the gay and healthy, as well as convenient and salutary 
 to the sick and invalid, might be greatly improved and 
 embellished by taste and liberality if the Legislature of 
 Virginia was disposed to encourage any practicable 
 scheme to raise money for that purpose. Nature has 
 been lavish of her favors to this sjjot of country, for in 
 addition to those medicinal springs, she has showered 
 her bounties upon the whole neighborhood by spreading 
 over it a magnificent variety of the most finished and 
 grand scenery. 
 
 The soil around this place, as a mountainous country, 
 has the appearance of sterility, but by proper attention 
 to culture might be made productive and rich. 
 
 I will not attempt to elucidate the properties of these 
 waters ; I will only say that the country in this valley 
 looks barren and is uncommonly dry, and as under the 
 surface of the earth there generally exists a hard'rock, 
 which prevents the rain water from penetrating so as to 
 produce permanent springs, my curiosity was so much 
 awakened as to induce me to look for the source of this 
 spring, and after much pains, I was informed by the 
 neighbors and hunters living on the Ca- Capon Creek, 
 that the waters of that creek were sinking at about 10 
 miles from its mouth, and formed a vortex. This spot 
 lies to the South-west of the Warm Springs ridge, and 
 of the Ca- Capon mountain, and at the distance of about 
 9 miles in a straight line from Bath Town. This seemed 
 to me the more probable, as these springs are never in- 
 lluenced either in their temperature, or quantity, by the 
 
374 Inhalitants, Towns,'- &c. 
 
 warm, or cold, or wet, or dry weather, and probably after 
 having sojonrned and passed through the mazes of the 
 subterranean cavities under the Ca-Capon mountain, as 
 well as under the valley which lies between the Ca Capon 
 mountain and the Warm Springs ridge, the soil of which 
 ^« calcareous and having been in contact with the differ- 
 ent pyrites composing their bed, receives by their decom- 
 position, the degree of heat, that those waters contain, 
 as well as the gases with which they are impregnated, 
 and after a due tiltration through the sandy rocks, of 
 which the basis of that Warm Spring ridge is composed, 
 they arrive at this spot. 
 
 These waters, when boiled, have strong incrustations 
 on the sides of the vessel, which plainly evince that they 
 are highly mineralized, and consequently possessed of 
 the virtues for which they have been so much extolled, 
 in relieving or removing complaints. I took with me, 
 last fall, some of those sediments to Philadelphia, and 
 gave them to Dr. Barton, who, an eminent chemist, will 
 give a fall analysis of their contents. 
 
 I have inserted this in order to counteract the opinion 
 of those, who, without taking any pains in the investiga- 
 tion or analysis of these waters, have advanced, that they 
 contain no minerals in solution, neither in a state of oxide 
 nor gas, and consequently, are totally destitute of any 
 properties whatever, more than common water. 
 
 iMARTINSBURG 
 
 Is the capital of the County of Berkeley ; it contains 
 about 200 houses, and nearly 1,200 inhabitants ; it is the 
 seat of Justice, and has for that purpose a handsome 
 Court House and Jail of stone, and a Market House, well 
 supplied with the necessaries of life. The situation of 
 this town is remarkably pleasant and healthy, on account 
 of its standing on an elevated spot, and for having the 
 Creek of Tuscarora watering its precincts, which could 
 be carried in pipes through the town for the convenience 
 and comfort of the inhabitants, if desired. The streets 
 
liihabitants, Towns, &c. 375 
 
 are wide, and partly planted witli Lombardy poplars, and 
 have a very fine appearance. Eight taverns are kept ia 
 this place ; one of them has the reputation of being one 
 of the best in the United States, and is well known by 
 those who resort to the Warm Springs. Here is kept a 
 coffee house, where, almost all the papers in the United 
 States are read ; 8 large stores, one printing office ; there 
 are also five public meeting houses for worship, one Eng- 
 lish Episcopalian, a Catholic, a German Lutheran, a 
 Presbyterian, a Methodist and a Baptist ; three English 
 schools, several manufactories, and every description of 
 artificers and mechanics. 
 
 Latitude, North 39 degrees, 32 minutes. It is 22 miles 
 from Winchester, 20 from Hagerstown, 100 from Balti- 
 more, 81 from the Federal City, 117 from Staunton, 171 
 from Philadelphia, 172 from Richmond, and 16 from 
 Charlestown. 
 
 MIDDLETOWN, OR GERARDSTOWN, 
 
 Situated on a level soil, partly limestone, one mile and 
 a-half from Mill' s Gap, under the North Mountain, to 
 the East side of it, and nearly at the head of Mill Creek. 
 It contains about 40 families; a physician and a Presby- 
 terian clergyman reside here ; several large stores are 
 kept in this town, for the supply of the farmers around 
 it ; here are also a number of mechanics. There is in 
 this place a handsome brick church, built by the Presby- 
 terians. This town is 10 miles from Martinsburg, and, 13 
 and a-half from Winchester. 
 
 DARKESVILLE, OR BUCKLESTOWN, 
 
 Lies 7i miles from Martinsburg, on the road to Win- 
 chester ; 15 miles from that place, and on Middle Creek, 
 a never-failing stream, which crosses this place. There ' 
 are 30 dwelling houses, 4 taverns, 3 stores, 2 blacksmiths, 
 2 weavers, one tailor, one cabinet maker, one wagon 
 maker, one distillery of whiskey ; a Methodist meeting 
 house stands at the North end of this town. 
 
376 InJiahitants, Toions, &c. 
 
 BATH-TOWN, OR WARM SPRINGS, 
 
 Situated immediately under the East side of tlie Warm 
 Spring ridge, 6 miles from the Potomac, in a narrow val- 
 ley, watered by the stream which runs from the Warm 
 Springs. Several years ago this town was handsome, 
 but the houses, as being built with wood, have decayed, 
 and on account of the celebrity of its waters, was yearly 
 visited by above 1,000 of the deaii, monde. It had lost 
 its reputation on account of some diseases which raged 
 during one season, occasioned by a pond where the waters 
 were stagnating ; but, since the cause was removed, it 
 has regained its character. Last year, 1779, it was vis- 
 ited by above 500 people, and no doubt will increase each 
 year. Here are live large, convenient and handsome 
 taverns, or boarding houses, kept for the accommodation 
 of visitors and invalids ; 26 families are living in this 
 place ; among the number various branches of mechanics. 
 Here are several stores and a manufactory of leather. 
 
 I must not omit to mention, for the information of the 
 people, who are to visit this watering place, that besides 
 the above springs, there is a sulphur spring, 4 miles dis- 
 tant from this place, near Sleepy Creek. It is but 
 slightly impregnated with sulphur, and no accommoda- 
 tion near it, and a chalibiate spring on this ridge, about 
 half a mile from this town. It is 25 miles from Martins- 
 burg, 35 from Winchester, 34 from Hagerstown, 106 from 
 the Federal City, 108 from Baltimore, 185 from Rich- 
 mond, and 196 from Philadelphia. 
 
 JAMESBURG 
 
 Is situated in Back Creek Yalley, and has only the 
 name of a town ; for it contains only a few scattering 
 houses, without regularity. It is about 13 miles from 
 Martinsburg. 
 
 The larger portion of this chapter was taken from old 
 pamphlets, from which no evidence can be found as to 
 the writer. 
 
CHAPTER XVI. 
 PRESENT SITUATION OF THE TOWN AND COUN- 
 TY—JOURNALISM IN THE COUNTY— COUN- 
 TY COURT AND OFFICIALS— MARTINS - 
 BURG SCHOOLS— HOME ORGANIZA- 
 TIONS, LODGES, ETC.— MANUFAC- 
 TURING ADVANTAGES, RAIL- 
 ROAD FACILITIES AND 
 BUSINESS STANDING. 
 
 ^^^ARTINSBURG is, geographically, admirably sit- 
 ^^1^ uated as the countv seat of Berkeley County, which 
 ranks third in size and amongst the first in number of 
 acres of improved land and value of farm products in the 
 State. Topographically the city lies nestled near the 
 foot of the Littl^ North Mountain, which ever sends 
 fresh, sweet air and clear, pure watt-r to invigorate and 
 strengthen our people. This same mountain stands as a 
 bulwark to the west and north against the rough blasts 
 of winter, and protects the valley from the fury of de- 
 structive storms. 
 
 The town of Martinsburg is contained within the fol- 
 lowing boundaries, to wit : Beginning on the middle of 
 the county bridge crossing the Baltimore and Ohio Rail- 
 road, south of Green Hill Cemetery and corner to Mar- 
 tinsburg, Arden and Opequon districts j thence with the 
 line of Opequon north 11 J degrees east, 66 poles to a 
 stake at the angle of the fence and in an original line 
 between the land of Ezra Herring and the lot of C. Henry; 
 thence north 5h degrees east, passing through the lands 
 of E. Herring, A. Quinzel, P. Strine's second addition, 
 and the south-east corner of A. Roth's lot, 253 poles to a 
 stake in the field ; thence north 60 degrees west, passing 
 
378 Situation of Town and County. 
 
 along tlie line between the additions of James A. Boyd, 
 John Strine and Hockinberry 62 poles to a stake in a 
 stone fence on the west side of the M. & P. turnpike ; 
 thence passing through the lands of David Hess, H. S. 
 Hannis & Co., south 88 J degrees west, 162 i)oles to a stake 
 in the low grounds, on the east side, and about 3 poles 
 from the Baltimore and Ohio Eailroad, and on the land 
 of John W. Stewart, and corner of Opequon, Hedgesville 
 and Martinsburg districts ; thence with the line of 
 Hedgesville in part, and finally with Arden district, 
 south 361 degrees west, 245 three tenths poles to a stake 
 in the grade at the west end of King street ; thence south 
 90 degrees east, 176 poles to a stake about two rods south- 
 west of a stone house on the lands of Hon. C. J. Faulk- 
 ner ; thence south 111 degrees east, 84 poles to a stake at 
 the south end of Queen street ; thence north 92 degrees 
 east, 224 poles to the beginning, it being the present lim- 
 its of the town. 
 
 The place is just 100 miles from Baltimore, 80 miles 
 from Washington, 22 Winchester, 19 from Harper's 
 Ferry, 70 from Cumberland, on the 1st division of the 
 Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, and is the southern termi- 
 nus of the Cumberland Valley Railroad. For business 
 and trade it is the centre of a large territory of country. 
 The machine shops of the B. & O. are located in the city, 
 and give employment to several hundred hands. The 
 Tuscarora Creek i^asses directly through, which fur- 
 nishes considerable power for manufacturing purposes. 
 The Hannis distillery, one of the largest branches in the 
 country, and the Tuscarora Agricultural Works, owned 
 by John Fitz, are located on this stream, and also em- 
 ploys a large number of hands. Pay is good, and 
 monthly thousands of dollars are expended for labor. 
 
 The surface of the western part of the county is moun- 
 tainous, but is being well cleared and cultivated. The 
 most valuable forests abound, and excellent qualities of 
 coal, iron ore, limestone, etc., are to be found. 
 
Situation of Town and Coimiy. 
 
 379 
 
 The county is divided into seven districts or townships, 
 with assessable buildings and real estate as follows 
 
 Districts. 
 
 Value of 
 Buildings. 
 
 Value of 
 Land and 
 Buildings. 
 
 County 
 Levy. 
 
 Martinsburg 
 
 Hedgesville 
 
 Falling Waters . 
 
 Grerardstown 
 
 Arden 
 
 % 871,142.00 
 195,782.00 
 162,252.00 
 117,845.00 
 145,967.00 
 92,477.00 
 137,817.00 
 
 §1,723,28-2.00 
 
 $1,172,727.00 
 649,523.00 
 606,577.00 
 426,477.76 
 612,240.80 
 418,011.97 
 597,174.14 
 
 $ 5,277.34 
 2,922.68 
 2,135.29 
 2,023.75 
 2 814 67 
 
 Mill Creek 
 
 OiDeauon 
 
 1,940.97 
 2,700.97 
 
 
 
 $4,482,731.61 
 
 $19,815.67 
 
 The present population of the entire county, as near as 
 can be estimated from the last two censuses, is 19,860. The 
 city district will number nearly 8,000. 
 
 There are a number of towns and villages within the 
 districts supplied with well regulated schools, churches, 
 Post Offices, etc., and which contain a number of the 
 usual business places, thereby making a direct communi- 
 cation and the mail facilities very convenient. The places 
 in direct communication with Martinsburg, the county 
 seat, are as follows : Bedington, Hedgesville, Falling 
 Waters, Vanclevesville, Glengary, Darkesville, Bunker 
 Hill,Gerardstown, Shanghai, Jones' Spring, Little George- 
 town, Soho, Tomahawk, Ganotown and North Mountain. 
 The roads are in a fine condition and well kept up. 
 
 The soils throughout the county are loams and clay, 
 and in the west are thinner and less productive ; but in 
 the east there is a large amount of highly productive and 
 improved calcareous lands. The depth of the soil varies 
 from two to four inches on the hills and 12 inches or more 
 on the levels. The grains specially adapted to the lands 
 are wheat, corn, oats and barley. The principal indus- 
 tries are stock farming and grain raising. Principal ex- 
 ports are wheat, corn and stock. 
 
 The public buildings and private residences will stand 
 
380 Situation of Toxon and County. 
 
 a favorable comparison with any town of proportionate 
 size, and will far surpass many of the larger cities. The 
 older buildings are fast disappearing, and in a few years 
 our town will be composed entirely of the latest modern 
 structures. 
 
 It may be of interest to mention here some of the late 
 improvements to our city. The old Carpenter lot and 
 building on West King street, which had probably stood 
 for centuries, was purchased by Messrs. Dr. J. B. Snod- 
 grass and B. F. Fiery, and two fine large and commodi- 
 ous dwellings erected in its stead. Messrs. Dr. J. W. 
 McSherry, John Fitz, E. Boyd Faulkner, C. AV. Doll, 
 Senator C. J. Faulkner, Emmert & Fiery, John Dunn, 
 James H. Walker, E. E. Herring, C. P. Herring, D. W. 
 Shaffer, E. C. Williams, Jr., J. W. Bishop and a num- 
 ber of others have made big improvements. Two large 
 and handsome hotels are well supported in the town ; 
 the St. Clair, under the management of Geo. W. Ramer, 
 and the Continental, under the management of Wm. Rut- 
 ledge. Both are run and furnished in the best of style, 
 with rates from |2.00 per day upwards. 
 
 Mr. John Fellers has lately built a large town hall 
 called the ''Academy of Music," which is generally well 
 patronized. There is also a City Hall, erected by the 
 corporation for its own use. The town is well graded 
 and the streets kept in an excellent condition. 
 
 Two of the largest and finest banks in the State are 
 supported in this city, viz.: The People's National Bank 
 and the National Bank. Both are well managed, and 
 for promptness and dispatch of business cannot be sur- 
 passed. 
 
 The corjjoration officers are C. O. Lambert, Mayor ; 
 Councilmen, First Ward, Dr. J. W. McSherry and M. 
 W. Martin ; Second Ward, A. Staubley and F. C. Wil- 
 liams ; Third Ward, W. H. Kaufman and Geo. W. De- 
 Grange ; Fourth Ward, G. Wellinger and M. V. Green ; 
 Fifth Ward, Arthur Stephens and J. A. Bowers ; Clerk, 
 
Situation of Town and County. 381 
 
 C. A. Young ; Sergeant, Henry Wilen ; Policemen, C. 
 R. O'Neal, Thos. F. Ahern andJohnW. Poisal ; Attor- 
 ney, J. Nelson AVisner ; Engineer Water Works, Jacob 
 M. Shaffer. 
 
 TOWNS AND VILLAGES LN BERKELEY COUNTY. 
 
 Gerardstown.—The town of Middletown was estab- 
 lished about the year 1787, and soon afterward its name 
 was changed to Gerardstow^n in honor of its founder. Rev. 
 David Gerard, who laid.it off into one hundred town lots. 
 William Henshaw, James Haw, John Gray, Gilbert Mc- 
 Kown and Robert Allen were appointed trustees. The 
 town is located eleven miles southwest of Martinsburg, 
 and one mile east of North Mountain, on Mill Creek. 
 The present population numbers nearly 300, with one 
 free and one high school. There are four churches in the 
 town, owned and occupied by the Presbyterians, Luther- 
 ans, Methodisi Episcopal and the Methodist Episcopal, 
 South. The town contains a number of stores, a large 
 tannery and other important industries. Two newspa- 
 pers are published here — the Times and the West Vir- 
 ginia Good Templar, by J. B. Morgan. 
 
 Shanghai. — This village is located one mile west of 
 Back Creek, and contains several stores, blacksmith shops, 
 etc. A large factory is owned and run here by a joint 
 stock company called the Shanghai Manufacturing Asso- 
 ciation, for the purpose of maaufacturing lumber and 
 grinding sumac, tan bark, etc. The Presbyterian Church 
 and one free school are also located in the town. 
 
 Oanotown. — This place is situated on Back Creek, three 
 miles south of Shanghai. The Methodist Episcopal 
 Church was built here in 1871, and has a large congrega- 
 tion. This place was originally called Jamestown, the 
 first settlement in the district being made on the site of 
 the present village. Several stores and various other in- 
 dustries are supported. 
 
 Jones' Spring. — Located near the north line of the 
 district, at the foot of the ridge, about one mile west of 
 
882 Situation of Town and County. 
 
 Back Creek. It contains several blacksmith shops, stores, 
 etc. In 1872 the church edifice of the Episcopal society 
 was purchased by the Calvary Church, United Brethren, 
 and is used by this denomination at the present day. 
 
 DarTiesmlle.—l^iis, village was laid out in October, 
 1791, and is situated at the junction of Middle Creek, on 
 the Martinsburg and Winchester turnpike. It was 
 named in honor of General Darke, who was then a resi- 
 dent. The place was formerly known as Bucklestown, 
 named after General Buckles, who resided there. It con- 
 tains a number of stores, blacksmith shops, etc. 
 
 Bunker Hill. — Situated at the junction of Mill Creek 
 and on the Martinsburg and Winchester turnpike. It 
 contains two churches, occupied by the Methodist and 
 Episcopal denominations. During the late war between 
 the States, this locality became a historic spot on account 
 of the many important events that occurred. 
 
 Iledgesville. — This town is located seven miles North 
 of Martinsburg, one mile West of the B. &. O. B. E., 
 and is situated in what is now known as Skinner's Gap, 
 in North Mountain. It was laid out in 1830 by Hezekiah 
 Hedges, and nairied after his family who long resided 
 there. One of the first Episcopal Churches erected in 
 the valley, known as "Hedges' Chapel," was located 
 here. It has been authentically stated, that while on 
 his surveying expeditions in this locality, several years 
 prior to the opening of the Eevolutionary War, the illus- 
 trious George Washington worshipped here. The town 
 is well laid off and consists of fine dwellings, chtirches, 
 schools, stores, etc. 
 
 Bedington. — This village is located on the C. V. E. E., 
 about four miles North of Martinsburg, and is noted as 
 a resort during the summer months. Near by is a large 
 grove, containing the most valuable mineral waters, 
 among which are the noted Sulphur Springs. The town 
 is composed of several stores, schools, churches, etc. 
 
 Falling Waters.— Locsiie^ about seven miles North of 
 
Situation of Town and County. 383 ' 
 
 Martinsburg, on the C. V. R. S,., and near the Potomac 
 River. This place was the scene of many important in- 
 cidents during the late war. One of the oldest churches 
 in the county was erected here by the Presbyterian de- 
 nomination, which is standing and occupied at the pres- 
 ent day. Within its limits are to be found several large 
 flouring mills, stores, churches, schools, etc. 
 
 (JZew^ar^/.— Situated between the North Mountain and 
 dividing line, about sixteen miles Southwest of Martins- 
 burg. It is composed of schools, churches, stores, etc. 
 Little Georgetown. — This place is noted as a great fish- 
 ing resort, and is located on the Potomac River, above 
 Dam No. 5, and about nine miles North of Martinsburg. 
 Schools, churches, stores, etc., are to be found within its 
 limits. 
 
 Soho. — Situated in the extreme North-west end of the 
 county, about sixteen miles from Martinsburg. It is 
 composed of well-regulated churches and schools, and 
 contains stores, etc. 
 
 TomaTiawk. — Situated six miles South of Hedgesville, 
 and contains stores, churches, schools, etc. 
 
 North Mountain. — Located on the B. & O. R. R., 
 about six miles North-west of Martinsburg, and contains 
 store, churches, schools, etc. This place is also a ship- 
 ping point for Tomahawk and Hedgesville. 
 
 There are a number of smaller villages scattered through- 
 out the districts ; but my object has been to locate those 
 in direct communication with Martinsburg, the county 
 seat, and of greater importance. All are rapidly in- 
 creasing in size and population, and are inhabited by an 
 industrious and energetic people. 
 
 JOURNALISM IN THE COUNTY. 
 
 Martinsburg Gazette. 
 
 The first newspaper published in Berkeley County was 
 
 the Martinsburg Gazette, which was established in May, 
 
 1799, by Nathaniel Willis, father of the renowned poet, 
 
 Nathaniel Parker Willis. Long before the advent of 
 
384 SituaiJ,on of Town and County. 
 
 tlie telegraph, telephone, railroad and steamsliip, this 
 paper commenced its publication, and considering this 
 fact, it is astonishing to observe how the columns of the 
 early files are crowded with interesting news. As an 
 evidence of enterprise on the part of the proprietors, it 
 contains the details of many important events that oc- 
 curred throughout the country but a short time previ- 
 ously. One feature of sjiecial importance is the war of 
 1812, and the stirring events happening on the western 
 border, — the historic achievements on the banks of the 
 historic Maumee, in North-western Ohio, by General 
 Harrison and Anthony Wayne. The publication of these 
 articles were made within twenty days after their occur- 
 rence. In January, 1811, John Alburtis became editor 
 and proprietor, and continued its publication until Octo- 
 ber 25, 1822, when he was succeeded by Washington' 
 Evans. In December, 1833, Mr. Alburtis commenced 
 the publication of the Journal, at Shepherdstown. 
 Martinsburg Independent. 
 
 At the close of the war of 1861, the first paper pub- 
 lished in Martinsburg, was the BerJceley Union, an ad- 
 vocate of Republicanism, with Mr. J. Nelson Wisner as 
 its editor until April, 1873. In 1866, the New Era, a 
 Democratic paper was started, and closed its career with 
 Messrs. Shaffer & Logan as editors, in April, 1873. From 
 the consolidation of these two papers grew the Martins- 
 hurg Independent, April 1st, 1873. Until April, 1876, it 
 was published daily and weekly, and since that date it 
 has been published weekly. From the time of its estab- 
 lishment until April, 1876, it was controlled by the In- 
 dependent Printing Company, when it passed into the 
 hands of Wisner & Logan. This firm continued the 
 publication until March, 1885, when Mr. Logan, on ac- 
 count of illness, was compelled to withdraw from the 
 business, and his entire interest was purchased by Mr. 
 Wisner. 
 
 Its name and motto indicates its independence on all 
 
Situation of Town and County. 385 
 
 subjects, aud its aim to benefit the public welfare. It is 
 useless to comment on its past record, as the fact of its 
 being the oldest established paper in the county and of 
 nearly twenty-five years duration, will speak for itself. 
 Its forty- eight columns are always full to the brim with 
 interesting and important news, live editorials, and wide- 
 awake advertisers. The oflice and various departments, 
 are complete in every detail, and skilled workmen exe- 
 cute every branch of the business. The Independent^- 
 has a very large circulation and controls a vast, influence. 
 It is of good clear print, and shows every evidence of 
 marked ability on the part of its present editor and pro- 
 prietor, Mr. J. Nelson Wisner. Mr. U. S. Grant Pitzer is 
 at present acting in the capacity of assistant editor, and 
 Mr. H. C. Mathews, as foreman, with Edward Wild, 0. 
 C. Pitzer and Waiter M. Aler as compositors. 
 
 As an act of appreciation on the part of the author of 
 this work, he takes this opportunity and pleasure in 
 stating that on this paper he acquired the greater portion 
 of his learning, and served his apprenticeship under the 
 instructions of Mr. H. C. Mathews, a veteran typo of 
 some forty years experience. He was taken from the 
 associations of the average wild boy at an early age, and 
 under Mr. Wisner' s training was given every advantage 
 of the art of printing and journalism in general, besides 
 access to libraries of books. Through the care and in- 
 terest manifested on the part of this gentleman, a deep 
 and lasting impression has been made, which shall ever 
 retain a sacred place to his memory. 
 
 Martinsburg Statesman. 
 This paper is amongst the oldest established in the 
 county, and has been from its infancy a staunch advocate 
 of Democratic principles — in fact the only Democratic 
 paper in the county. It has always been conducted under 
 strict management and party principles, and has been a 
 paper used to the interest of the public of both town and 
 county. 
 
386 Situation of Town and County. 
 
 In public affairs it is always ready to take a stand, -and 
 has been the means of accomplishing considerable enter- 
 prise on the part of the citizens. 
 
 This paper originated from the Valley Star, which was 
 
 established by James W. Robinson, in the year . 
 
 It was purchased in 1869 by D. S. Eichelberger, and the 
 name changed to the Martinsburg Statesman, under 
 which name it has continued to the present day. 
 
 During Mr. Eichelberger' s control, the paper was well 
 published, and contained an excellent and large run of 
 adyertisements, which it still holds at the present day. 
 Through its columns can be found numerous items, arous- 
 ing the citizens of the county to a state of enterprise, 
 and industry. The heading of the paper contained a 
 cut of the present Court House, before the late improve- 
 ments were made. 
 
 In 1883, the plant was purchased by Capt. W. B. 
 Colston, who is the present editor and publisher. Since 
 taking charge of the paper, Capt. Colston has improved it 
 considerably, both in print, size and make-up. He has 
 equipped the office with new material, and allowed the 
 cylinder press to take the place of the hand press. The 
 Statesman is ably edited, and deserves patronage of 
 the public in general. Job printing of every description 
 is also executed in the most workmanlike manner. 
 
 The Statesman has the proud distinction of having 
 been the first newspaper, as far as the writer knows, to 
 suggest the name of Grrover Cleveland for the Presiden- 
 cy, after his phenominal run for Governor of New York 
 in 1882. To form an idea of the Statesman! s worth and 
 value to the community, it is only necessary to glance 
 over the file papers of the past, and then, compare the 
 improvement of both town and county of the present day. 
 Mr. John S. Robinson, is at present acting in the capa- 
 city of local editor and foreman, with Thos. W. Leigh, 
 John V. Sloan and Harry H. Sharffs as compositors. 
 
Situation of Town and County. 387 
 
 Martinsburg Herald. 
 
 In the year 1S81, this valuable paper, commenced 
 publication under the control of Messrs. A. S. Goulden 
 and John T. Riley. This end of the state was for a long 
 time without a Republican paper, and the party was 
 more or less dependent in politics. The Herald was 
 continued as a conservative Republican paper, under the 
 above management, until 1885. During this year Mr. 
 Riley purchased the entire interest of Mr. Goulden, and 
 associated with himself Mr. G-eo. F. Evans, one the lead- 
 ing Republicans in this end of the State. From that 
 time the Herald has gained ground, irrespective of poli- 
 tics, and by prudent, conservative management, has re- 
 ceived the support of the best people of the county and 
 State. It has several times been enlarged in size, during 
 its publication, and is a neat and clear print. The pres- 
 ent proprietors, Messrs. Riley & Evans, have speared 
 neither pains nor money, to make the Herald a newsy 
 and interesting sheet, and under the editorial control of 
 Mr. Riley, it commands considerable influence. Their 
 oflfice, in all its branches, is complete in every detail with 
 material, and they execute job printing in the most 
 artistic manner. 
 
 These gentlemen deserve much credit, and the patron- 
 age of every Berkeley citizen, for the manner in which 
 they have labored for the interest of both town and 
 county. The paper contains reliable advertisers, and 
 news of interest to all. Like all the county papers, its 
 worth and value can be obtained by judging from its 
 files of the past, the manner in which it has aroused the 
 public industry. The compositors engaged on this paper 
 are George W. Ryneal, W. C. Riddleberger, C. K. Cham- 
 bers, and A. M. Staubly. 
 
 Pioneer Press. 
 
 Under the management of J. R. Clifford, (colored,) this 
 paper was established in 1883, with a circulation of 100. 
 The Press is a neat, 4-page paper, and is published 
 
388 Situation of Town and County. 
 
 monthly, but will shortly merge into a weekly 
 journal. From the date of its existence Mr. Clifford has 
 labored hard to make it a n6wsy and interesting sheet. 
 It is the only jou'rnal in the State devoted to the colored 
 race, and now has a large and excellent run of reliable 
 advertisers, with a circulation upwards of 1,000. His 
 energies have been crowned with a marked success, both 
 as an editor and manager. The paper was printed at the 
 Independent office until the spring of 1888, when he pur- 
 chased the entire outfit of the Hardy Express., Moore- 
 field, W. Va., and erected a building near his residence 
 on West Martin Street, where he now publishes his 
 paper. Politically, the Fress is Republican, and com- 
 mands considerable influence among both races. 
 Central Methodist. 
 
 In 1SS7 this paper was founded by the Typograj)hical 
 Association, of the colored M. E. Church Corference. It 
 is devoted entirely to the local interests of the District 
 Conference, and has a circulation of nearly 500 ; which 
 is rapidly increasing. The paper is published at the 
 Independent office, under the management of Rev. F. F. 
 Wheeler, pastor in charge at this place. Its editors are 
 John A. Holmes, T. A. White and F. F. Wheeler. 
 Gerardstown Times. 
 
 The Times was established in the year 1870, and has 
 been continued to the present day, by J. B. Morgan, 
 proprietor and editor. It is a neatly printed four col- 
 umn quarto, and is well managed and edited. Its poli- 
 tics are neutral, and is devoted principally to home news. 
 This paper is published every Saturday, with an excel- 
 lent list of siibscribers. 
 
 West Yirginia Good Templar. 
 
 This paper is the official organ of the I. 0. G. T., and 
 circulates through all parts of the State. It is a four 
 colunm quarto, devoted strictly to the order, and is 
 published every other week by J. B. Morgan, editor and 
 proprietor. 
 
SUuaiioii of Town and County. 389 
 
 COUNTY COURT OFFICIALS. 
 
 As has been stated in a former chapter the first Court 
 was held at the house of Edward Beeson, situated on 
 the land now owned by Mr. A. J. Thomas. The first 
 Court house was built where the jiresent building now 
 stands. From the old records we obtained the following 
 list of officers as they succeeded each other from its 
 earliest existence : 
 
 Judges of Circuit Court :—Rob&n White, Wm. Bro- 
 kenbrough, John Scott, Kichard E. Parker, Isaac R. 
 Douglass, John W. Kennedy, L. P. W. Balch, 
 Ephriam B. Hall, Joseph Chapman, E. B. Hall, Jno. 
 Blair Hoge, Chas. J. Faulkner, Jr., and Frank Beckwith 
 the present Judge. 
 
 Attorneys for the ConimonicealtJi : — Alexander White, 
 Elisha Boyd, David H. Conrad, Edmund P. Hunter, Jno. 
 E. Norris, George W. Murphy, Joseph T. Hoke, J. Nel- 
 son Wisner, H. H. Blackburn, Edmund Shaw, Reuben 
 M. Price, Luther M. Shaffer, AV. H. H. Flick, Perry A. 
 Rohrbaugh, Wm. S. Henshaw, Alex. S. Hughes and Geo. 
 W. Feidt, present Attorney. » 
 
 Clerics of Circuit Court : — Obed Waite, John Strother, 
 Israel Robinson, John Dunn, Joseph Burns, JohnCanby, 
 E. S. Troxell, three successive terms, and S. H. Martin, 
 who is now ably filling the duties of a second term. 
 
 Clerks of County Court : — William Drew, Moses Hun- 
 ter, John Strother, Harrison Waite, Norman Miller, 
 Jacob Van Doren, — E. G. Alburtis, two terms, and 
 James M. Robinson, Leaman Gerard and Bernard Doll, 
 as Recorders,— and the present Clerk, C. W. Doll, who 
 is now serving his third term. 
 
 PRESENT OFFICIALS. 
 
 Members of the Legislature: — George M. Bowers and 
 George H. Ropp. 
 
 Judge of the Circuit Court — Thirteenth Judicial Dis- 
 trict, Frank Beckwith. Clerk of the Circuit Court, S. 
 H. Martin. Commonwealth's Attorney, George W. 
 
390 Situation of Town and County. 
 
 Feidt. Sheriff, Robert Lamon. Deputy Sheriffs, W. T. 
 JSToll, Charles R. Hollis and George L. Sincindiver. Dep- 
 uty Sheriff and Jailor, John Dumford. 
 
 Commencement of Terms of Circuit Court — Second 
 Tuesday in January, April and October. 
 
 County Court of Berkeley— Jacob W. Seibert, Presi- 
 dent ; B. Kitchen and Wm. Kilmer, Commissioners. 
 Clerk of Court, C. W. Doll. 
 
 Commencement of Terms of County Court — First Mon- 
 day in March, June, September and December. 
 
 Commissioners in Chancery— John T. Picking and C. 
 W. Doll. 
 
 Surveyor of Lands — Geo. W. Vanmeter. Deputy Sur- 
 veyor of Lands, James W. Robinson. 
 
 Assessor First District — David Dodd. Second Dis- 
 trict — Charles H. Miller. Commissioner of School Lands, 
 (vacant). General Receiver, Henry J. Seibert. Coro- 
 ner, Frank D. Staley. Sealer of Weights and Measures, 
 Geo. W. Swartz. 
 
 Resident Attorneys— E. Boyd Faulkner & M. T. In- 
 gles, W. H. H. Flick & D. C. Westenhaver, Chas. J. 
 Faulkner & Stuart W. Walker, J. Nelson Wisner. Geo. 
 W. Feidt, Blackburn Hughes & Hugh A. White, A. C. 
 Nadenbousch and U. S. Grant Pitzer. 
 
 Justices of the Peace — Martinsburg, Wm. McKee and 
 Chas. P. Matthaei ; Mill Creek, Chas. Stucky, (va- 
 cant ;) Gerardstown, A. J. Bowers ; Arden, James 
 M. Billmyer ; Opequon, G. W. M. Tabler and G. W. D. 
 Folk ; Hedgesville, R. R. Coffenberger ; Falling Waters, 
 S. 0. Cunningham and H. Cox. 
 
 Constables— Martinsburg, J. D. Turner and C. R. 
 O'Neal; MillCreek, Wm. Lemon; Gerardstown, (vacant); 
 Arden, T. A. Potts; Opequon, A. H. A. Gardner; 
 Hedgesville, John L. Emerson; Falling Waters, Jacob 
 V. Carney. 
 
 Overseers of Poor — Martinsburg, Henry Wilen ; Mill 
 Creek, M. L. Payne, Gerardstown, G. W. McKown ; 
 
Situation of Town and County. 391 
 
 Arden, H. H. Miller ; Opeqiion, W. H. Myers ; Hedges- 
 ville, George T. Kreglow ; Falling Waters ; A. R. Por- 
 terfield. 
 
 Coixnty Superintendent of Free Schools— I). H. Dodd. 
 ' Local Board of Health— Dr. J. W. McSherry, M. S. 
 Grantham and E. L. Hoffman. 
 
 MARTINSBURG SCHOOLS. 
 
 The public schools of the city were first organized in 
 1865, but were not in full operation as such until 1866, 
 when a part of the old " Kruzen property," located near 
 the centre of the city, was purchased at a cost of $7,500, 
 and started as a grammar school. Dr. Irwin, W. H. 
 Matthews and Geo. R. Wisong were the first commis- 
 sioners. About 500 pupils were accommodated, taught 
 by a corps of eight teachers. Four grades were taught 
 as a preparatory to the grammar department, which oc- 
 cupied the second story, containing a large school room 
 and two recitation rooms. The grammar department 
 occupied the lower story, which contained two school 
 rooms and a recitation room. As the population increas- 
 ed new houses were erected, as follows : one in the Sec- 
 ond Ward at a cost of $6,900 ; one in the Fourth Ward 
 at a cost of $5,200 ; one in the Fifth Ward, cost $4,800 ; 
 and also a property for a High School at a cost of $7,500. 
 Three of the ward buildings are composed of brick and 
 one of stone ; also, a neat brick building for the colored 
 school. The colored schools were simultaneously organ- 
 ized with the other schools, and are governed by the 
 same board. The Legislature passed an Act in 1870, 
 requiring the German language to be taught in the free 
 schools of the city, and that a capable teacher of both 
 languages be employed. In 1875 an Act was passed by 
 the Legislature, making Martinsburg an independent 
 district. 
 
 In 1884 the High School building was erected, on a 
 beautiful location, on South Queen street. All the 
 buildings are well furnished, with heating apparatus, mod- 
 
392 Situation of Toton and County. 
 
 ern conveniences, etc. Tlie city educates nearly all its 
 own teachers, and always gives the preference to gradu- 
 ates of the High School, which has resulted in a unity of 
 system and harmony of action, as to place our schools on 
 equal standing and make them as thorough and efficient 
 as any in the State of West Virginia. Twenty-two 
 teachers are employed in all — twenty white and two col- 
 ored, all of which are zealous, arduous and competent, 
 thereby placing our schools in a more prosperous condi- 
 tion than ever. Martinsburg has every reason to feel 
 proud of her school officers and system, and to effect, in 
 the future, a more rapid advancement than ever experi- 
 enced in the past. 
 
 The present Board of Education is composed of John 
 Grozinger, President ; N. T. Fisher, J. H. Whitson, N. 
 H. Snyder and E. S. Barton. 
 
 Board of Examiners: J. A. Cox, President; W. A. 
 Pitzer, J. L. E. Combs. City Superintendent, J. A. 
 Cox, A. M. 
 
 Faculty of the High School : J. A. Cox, Principal ; 
 Jennie L. Ditto, 1st Assistant; Annie CNeal, 2nd As- 
 sistant ; Annie E. Hill, 3rd Assistant. 
 
 Faculties of the Ward Schools— Second Ward : W. A. 
 Pitzer, Principal ; Lillie Mathews, Lula V. Muth, Bettie 
 M. Day, Assistants. Third Ward : 0. F. Ryneal, Prin- 
 cipal ; Jennie Alburtis, Jessie McElroy, Kate M. Bate- 
 man, Assistants. Fourth Ward : J. L. E. Combs, Prin- 
 cipal ; Kate A. Ahern, Lottie V. McKee, Lenora Smurr, 
 Asssistants. Fifth Ward : Alice V. Wilson, Principal ; 
 Jennie E. Mann, Ada M. Rodrick, Clara V. Cutting, 
 Assistants. Colored School : J. W. Corsey, (colored) 
 Principal ; Geo. W. Green, (colored) Assistant. Num- 
 ber enrolled in the various free schools in the city: 
 High school, 173 ; Second Ward, 281 ; Third' Ward, 227 ; 
 Fourth Ward 355 ; Fifth Ward, 232 ; colored school, 130; 
 Total, white children, 1,168 ; Grand total, white and 
 colored, 1,298. 
 
Situation of Toion and County. 393 
 
 BERKELEY FEMALE SEMINARY. 
 
 This school, which has been in successful operation for 
 many years, is located in Marlinsburg, West Virginia, 
 and which combines the advantages of accessibility, 
 healthfulness, good society, and general attractiveness, 
 to a degree unsurpassed by any City in the State. The 
 course of instruction embraces all the primary and ad- 
 vanced studies, essential to a thorough and accomplished 
 female education, and such as are taught at similar insti- 
 tutions. of the highest grade. 
 
 The standard of proficiency is high, and the ambition 
 of pupils is encouraged by means of monthly reports to 
 parents, showing their standing in their various classes. 
 in the department of music no pains are spared to give 
 pupils every advantage necessary to a thorough musical 
 education. A firm and wholesome discipline is main- 
 tained, together with a conscientious regard for the moral 
 and religious welfare, the health and comfort, of all 
 pupils entrusted to their care. 
 
 A rigid system of marking is adopted in every depart- 
 ment, and reports candidly exhibiting the standing and 
 conduct of the pupils, are sent home every month. Gen- 
 eral averages are obtained by adding together the average 
 for each study, and dividing by the number of studies. 
 This school has been established for quite a lengthy pe- 
 riod, and is taught and managed by its very able and 
 efficient principals, Mrs. Peyton R. Harrison and Miss 
 B. J. Hunter. The school and residence is situated on 
 Wfest King street. 
 
 HOME ORGANIZATIONS, LODGES', Etc. 
 
 Martinsburg Fire Department was organized in 1S70. 
 Officers : C. E. Dieffenderfer, Chief Marshal ; C. Lam- 
 bert, Assistant ; P. C. Curtis, Commander ; H. C. Mc- 
 Dowell, Treasurer ; C. J. Thomas, Secy. ; Engineer?, J. 
 M. Sh-iffer and David Westall ; Assistants, George T. Shaf- 
 fer, David Fitz ; number of Members, 110. The Com- 
 pany is equipped with a Silsby engine ; has four Reels, 
 
394 Situation of Town and County. 
 
 with 2,000 feet of hose ; has recently purchased a new- 
 Reel for 4th Ward. Firemen have been recently equip- 
 ped with fine dress uniforms and belts. 
 
 The Farmers' and Mechanics' Mutual Fire Insurance 
 Co. of West Virginia. Officers : James M. Homrich, 
 Pres't; H. N. Deatrick, Vice Pres't ; E. S. Troxell, 
 Sec'y ; W. A. Cushwa, Treas. Directors, Charles P. 
 Matthaei, Wm. A. Cushwa, Geo. P. Blessing, Geo. W. 
 McKown, Geo. O. Sperow, Joseph H. Shaffer, C. T. But- 
 ler, M. V. Small, Geo. P. Riner. Executive Committee, 
 James M. Homrich, Charles P. Matthaei, Joseph H. 
 Shaffer. Surveyors— H. T. Cushwa, Berkeley County ; 
 J. B. Kearfott, Albert Diehl, Jefferson County. 
 
 This Company was organized Dec. 18th, 1877, and has 
 been in successful operation since that time, being pa- 
 tronized by a large majority of the most substantial citi- 
 zens of Berkeley County. 
 
 Equality Building Association.— Officers, H. T. Cush- 
 wa, President ; Wm Edwards, Secy ; W. 0. Mcklas, 
 Treas. Meets every Friday night. 
 
 Central Building and Loan Association.— Officers, C. 
 0. Lambert, President ; F. D. Staley, Vice-Pres't ; Fer- 
 dinand Gerliug, Sec'y; G. W. Feidt, Treasurer; J. N. 
 Wisner, Attorney. Meets every Tuesday night. 
 
 Enterprise Bailding Association. — Officers, H. T. Cush- 
 wa, President; Wm. Edwards, Jr., Sec'y; W. O. Mck- 
 las, Treas. Meets every Tuesday night. 
 
 Equality Lodge, No. 44, A. F. andA. M., meets 2d and 
 4th Tuesdays from October 1 to July 1, and second Tues- 
 day from J_uly 1 to October 1, northwest corner Queen 
 and Burke streets; entrance on Burke street. 
 
 Robert White Lodge, No. 57, A. F. and A. M., meets 
 2d and 4th Monday evenings from October 1 to July 1, 
 and 4th Monday from July 1 to October 1, southwest cor- 
 ner Queen and King streets, Grantham Hall. 
 
 Berkeley Consistory, No. 21, A. and A. S. R., meets 3d 
 
Situation of Town and County. 395 
 
 Tuesday evening of each montli in liall of Equality Lodge 
 No. 44, A. F. and A. M. 
 
 Palestine Coniniandery,No. 2, meets 1st Monday of each 
 week in hall of Robert White Lodge No. 57, A. F. and 
 A.M. 
 
 Lebanon Royal Arch, chapter No. 2, meets 2d Monday 
 evening of each month in hall of Equality Lodge No. 44, 
 A. F. and A. M. 
 
 St. Joseph's Society, President, John Dumford ; sec- 
 retary, John Farrin ; treasurer, James Cox. 
 
 St. Patrick's, President, W. J. O'Connor ; secretary, 
 Thomas O'Brien ; treasurer, Joseph E. A hern. 
 
 Tuscarora Lodge, No. 24, I. O. O. F., meets every Sat- 
 urday evening, northwest corner Queen and Burke 
 streets ; entrance on Queen. 
 
 Horeb Encampment, No. 12, I. 0. O. F., meets 2d and 
 4th Tuesday evenings of each month in hall of Tuscarora 
 Lodge No. 24, I. O. O. F. 
 
 Bethany Lodge, No. 7, D. of R., K. Westrater, N. G.; 
 E. E. Grazer, V. G.; M. A. Rathman, R. S.; G. V. Rath- 
 man, F. S.;E. E.Crist, T. 
 
 Lincoln Post, No. 1, G. A. R., meets every Thursday 
 evening in G. A. R. Hall, southeast corner Qaeen and 
 Burke streets; entrance on Burke, People's National 
 Bank Building. 
 
 Prosperity Lodge, No. 29, 1. O. G. T., meets every Mon- 
 day evening in G. A. R. hall. 
 
 Franklin Assembly, No. 2373 K. L., meets every Satur- 
 day night in G. A. R. hall. 
 
 Key Council, No. 432, Royal Arcanum, meets 1st and 
 3d Friday evenings in G. A. R. hall. 
 
 Washington Lodge,iNo. 1, K. of P., meets every Thurs- 
 day evening in K. of P. hall, southeast corner Queen and 
 Burke streets ; entrance on Burke, People's National 
 Bank Building. 
 
 Knights of Honor Lodge, No. 62, meets 2d and 4th Fri- 
 day nights in hall of K. of P. 
 
396 SiiucUion of Toxon and County. 
 
 Brancli No. 29, Order Iron Hall, meets 2d and 4tli 
 Thursday nights in hall of K. of P. 
 
 Berkeley Lodge, K"o. 173, Order of Tonti, meets 1st and 
 3d Thursdays of each month in hall of K. of P., People's 
 National Bank Building. 
 
 Mt. Pisgah Lodge, No. 3, A. Y. M., (col'd) meets every 
 Thursday evening on South College street. 
 
 Federal Lodge, No. 152, K. of W., meets in People's 
 Bank Building 2d Tuesday in each month ; Chairman, 
 H. B. Foard; secretary, W. Corsey. 
 
 The Martinsburg Gas Company was organized in 1873 ; 
 President, H. N. Deatrick ; Vice-President, J. H. Shaf- 
 fer ; Secretary and Treasurer, F. S. Emmert ; Superin- 
 tendent, D. Rawlinson. 
 
 Mechanics' Band.— The High Street Band, W. H. 
 Frankenberrj', organizer and leader, was started about 
 1871, and changed to the Mechanics" Band about 1882 ; 
 reorganized and incorporated February 6th, 1886. 
 
 The Martinsburg City Band Avas organized on the 18th 
 of December, 1883 ; Mr. P. C. Cartis is the genial man- 
 ager, and Prof. Fred. Luscomb, musical director. 
 COUNTY ORGANIZATIONS. 
 
 Pomono Grange No. 2, located in Martinsburg District ; 
 meets last Saturday in each month. 
 
 Cherry Grove Grange No. 13, located in Opequon Dis- 
 trict ; meets first and third. Saturdays of each month. 
 
 Tuscarora Grange No. 14, located in Hedgesville Dis- 
 trict ; meets second and fourth Tuesdays of each month. 
 
 Swan Pond Grailge No. 22, located in Opequon Dis- 
 trict ; meets second and fourth Saturdays of each month. 
 
 Mill Creek Grange No. 26, located in Gerardstown Dis- 
 trict ; meets first and third Tuesdays of each month. 
 
CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 PERSONAL SKETCHES OP THE ENTERPRISING 
 
 PUBLIC AND PROFESSIONAL MEN OF 
 
 THE PRESENT DAY. 
 
 SENATOR C. J. FAULKNER. 
 
 IpN May, 1887, Mr. Faulkner was elected to the United 
 1^ States Senate, at which time he was on the bench, 
 and resigned to accept the honor conferred upon him. 
 As a representative, he has the respect and esteem of the 
 people throughout the State, who feel proud of his mark- 
 ed ability and energy. Among the representatives of the 
 country at the National Capital, he is fast gaining prom- 
 inence and favor. After his election to the Senate he 
 associated with, him, Stuart W. Walker, an able and 
 prominent young lawyer, for the practice of law, which 
 firm now commands a large and excellent practice. 
 
 Senator Faulkner is the younger sou of the late Hon. 
 C. J. Faulkner, the eminent jurist and statesman, both 
 of whose sons give promise of attaining the legal and 
 political prominence of their father in State and National 
 affairs. Senator Faulkner was born at the ancestral 
 home at Martinsburg, Va., now Yv^est Virginia., on the 
 21st of September, 1847. He accompanied his father, 
 who was Minister to France, in 18.59,and had the advan- 
 tage of attending noted schools in Switzerland and in 
 Paris. He returned to the United States in August, 1861, 
 and was with his father at the time of his arrest, in 
 Washington ; the story of which has become a matter of 
 National history familiar to all. When he learned that 
 his father had been arrested, he immediately started 
 South, making his way resolutely and determinedly 
 through all the difficulties incident to those troublous 
 
398 Personal Sketches. 
 
 times. In 1862, when a boy of fifteen, he entered the 
 Yirginia Military Institute at Lexington. He served 
 with the Cadets in the battle of New Market, where he 
 was distinguished for his ardor and daring. And later, 
 served as aide on the Staff of GeneralJ. C. Breckenridge, 
 until he was made Secretary of War. His courageous 
 and resolute bearing, allied to one so young in years, 
 won for him the admiration of officers and soldiers, and 
 made him a general favorite. He was afterward ap- 
 pointed aide to General Henry A. Wise, and surrendered 
 with him at Appomattox, after which he returned home. 
 Then began a course of mental training under his father's 
 direction, and the foundation was there laid for a suc- 
 » cessful public life. The bent of his instruction and 
 watchful care, was toward the field of law, in which the 
 father occupied through all his life a leading place in the 
 Circuit and Supreme Courts. Thus prepared by so able 
 a preceptor, he entered the University of Virginia, in 
 Oct., 1866, and graduate,d therefrom in June, 1868. He 
 was admitted to the bar in Sept., 1868, immediately after 
 attaining his majority. His mental endowments were of 
 such high order that he at once became a member of 
 recognized ability, and of such prominence as that led 
 from the bar to the bench. He was elected judge of the 
 13th Judicial Circuit, composed of the counties of Berkeley, 
 Jefferson and Morgan, in Oct., 1880, at the age of 33 years, 
 being one of the youngest Judges in the State. He has pre- 
 sided over these courts with credit to himself and to the 
 universal satisfaction of the people, by whom he is held in 
 the highest regard and esteem. His judicial record gave, 
 assurance of still higher attainments in his chosen pro- 
 fession. His rulings and decisions have evidenced so im- 
 partial a sense of justice and so thorough a knowledge 
 of the law, that a distinguished lawyer and political op- 
 ponent said of him, "I would not hesitate to trust to 
 Judge Faulkner's decision in his legal capacity upon any 
 political question." His prudence and good judgment 
 
Personal Sketches. 399 
 
 were not unnoticed in politics, in which, while not taking 
 an active part, he manifested considerable interest. Sen- 
 ator Faulkner was chairman of the Democratic County 
 Committee for a number of years before going on the 
 bench, and is also widely and prominently known and 
 esteemed in the Masonic fraternity, having been Grand 
 Master of the Masonic Grand Lodge of West Virginia 
 during the years 1879-80. By the last will of his father 
 he inherits "Boydville," the old homestead, after the 
 death of his mother, a place full of historical interest to 
 citizens and strangers. He has built for himself a fine 
 residence adjoining "Boydville," the bouse now occu- 
 pied by his venerable mother. 
 
 HON. W. H. H. FLICK. 
 
 Mr. Flick was born in Cuihoga County, Ohio, Febru- 
 ary 24th, 1841. His youthful days were spent in the 
 common schools, and a term at Garfield School, Hiram, 
 Ohio. After that he worked on a farm until the war 
 broke out, when he entered the army in July, 1861, serv- 
 ing in the 41st Ohio Regiment. He was dangerously 
 wounded at SMloh, April 7th, 1862, and joined the re- 
 cruiting service. After his discharge he taught school 
 to earn money enough to take up the practice of law, and 
 then entered the Cleveland Law School, graduating and 
 being admitted to practice in his native county in 1865. 
 Upon his admission he settled in Moorefield, W. Va., for 
 the practice of his profession, which he followed there 
 in 1865 and 1866. In the Spring of 1867 he went to Pen- 
 dleton County, where he married and has one child. He 
 served two terms in the Legislature as representative in 
 that county. In 1870 he introduced what is known as the 
 "Flick amendment." He was appointed to fill an unex- 
 pired term as prosecuting attorney of Grant County in 
 1872, and elected to the same position in Pendleton 
 County in that year. In 1874 he moved to Martinsburg, 
 and has served in various ofiicial capacities since. In 
 1886, Hon. W. H. H. Flick made a strong run for Con- 
 
400 Personal Sketclies. 
 
 gress in tliQ Second West Virginia District, and came 
 within ninety votes of election. Shortly afterward he 
 associated with him in the practice of law Mr. D. C. 
 Westenhaver, one of the shining lights of the Berkeley 
 Bar. Mr. Flick is an able and efficient talker, and en- 
 joys a legal knowledge that but few can surpass. The 
 firm now has an able and extensive i)ractice in the various 
 courts. It is almost needless to speak of Mr. Flick's 
 popularity, as he is generally known throughout this and 
 the surrounding States. He is of a clever and genial dis- 
 position, and makes one iVel perfectly at home while in 
 his presence. 
 
 HON. E. BOYD FAULKNER. 
 E. Boyd Faulkner was born in July, 1841. He received 
 his early education at Georgetown College, and Univer- 
 sity of Virginia, and traveled extensively in Switzerland 
 and Italy. He attended lectures upon constitutional law 
 in Paris, and at the age of eighteen was acting as Secre- 
 tary of the American Legation at Paris — an unusual and 
 complimentary jDreferment to one so young — and which 
 gave evidence of rare mental attainments, and of that 
 strongly marked mind and character which distinguishes 
 the man of to-day. He returned to the United States in 
 1861, was appointed aide on Gov. Letcher's Staff, but 
 resigned shortly afterward and became an officer of dis- 
 tinction in the Confederate Army, until his capture at 
 Port Republic, in June, 1864, when he was taken with 
 other prisoners to Johnson' s Island, where he was con- 
 fined a year, being released in June, 1865. In 1867, he 
 went to Hopkinsville, Ky., where he formed a law part- 
 nership with Judge Petree, and the firm had an extensive 
 practice. By his energy and talent Mr. Faulkner soon 
 earned for himself a fine reputation as a lawyer and 
 speaker, and in the Seymour Campaign of 1868, was ap- 
 pointed an Eleptor for the Second Congressional District 
 of Kentucky. In 1872 inducements were offered him to 
 return to his native State, and he located permanently in 
 
Personal Sketches. 401 
 
 Martinsburg. He is well known at home and abroad as 
 a gentleman of unswerving integrity of cliaracter, and 
 his splendid abilities as a lawyer and public speaker in 
 bis professional and political career, are so well and fa- 
 vorably known to the people of this section and through- 
 out the State as to require no commendation. He was. 
 elected to the Legislature in 1876, where he served with, 
 distinguished prominence and ability, and with a faith- 
 fulness to the interests of the people which will long be^ 
 remembered, and especially noteworthy was the legisla- 
 tion by him to relieve the bonded indebtedness of Berke- 
 ley County. Under the arrangement made by the court 
 and through the legislation of Mr. Faulkner, on the 2d 
 of January, 1881, the 8 per cent, bonds were paid off or 
 exchanged, and the county relieved of an annual drain 
 upon it foB interest and commission alone of about $3,465, 
 besides having the bonds bear their just proportion of 
 the taxes which weighed so heavily upon the people. 
 Such was the universal esteem in which Mr. Faulkner 
 was held that he was elected to the Senate in 1873, upon 
 the expiration of his term in the Legislature. He was 
 an eminent member of that body, and held in the highest 
 regard by his fellow Senators. He declined the Presi- 
 dency of the Senate, and remained where the work was 
 to be done, becoming chairman of important committees, 
 and his record was such as has been referred to with just 
 pride and pleasure, and led to his being urged to become 
 a candidate for the nomination of Governor of West Vir- 
 ginia in 1834. 
 
 At the present time his extensive and important law 
 practice occupies all his time and attention. President 
 Cleveland tendered to Mr. Faulkner the office of Consul- 
 General and Agent to Egypt, which, at the earnest so- 
 licitation of his friends throughout the State, he decided 
 not to accept. He was then tendered the Mission to 
 Persia, which he likewise declined. For several years 
 friends of Mr. Faulknex in every part of the State have 
 
402 Personal SJcetches. 
 
 been urging his candidacy for Governor of AYest Vir- 
 ginia. That he would receive a large vote and discharge 
 the dignity and duty of the position in the most courtly 
 a.nd popular manner, is admitted by all. 
 
 HON. GEO. W. FEIDT. 
 
 Mr. Ffcidt was born in Washington County, Md., and 
 came to Martinsburg in 1872. In his j^ounger days he 
 worked on the farm and taught school and studied law. 
 He finished his law course with Blackburn & Lamon, in 
 Hhis place, and was admitted to the bar in 1875. In 1877 
 'he was appointed Register in Bankruptcy on the recom- 
 "memidation of Chief Justice Waite. He occupies various 
 positions in different organizations, and takes an active 
 part in the interests of the town. He is a sound Repub- 
 lican, and no one does more enthusiastic work for the 
 party than Mr. Feidt. He was elected Prosecuting At- 
 torney of Berkeley County in 1886 by 146 majority, and 
 has satisfactorily transacted the business of the office 
 with skill and the best of legal ability. He is a worthy, 
 affable and learned gentleman, and is a credit to his 
 people. 
 
 STUART W-. WALKER, ESQ. 
 
 Mr. Walker, though young in years, is considered very 
 old in experience and legal knowledge. He is now one 
 of the most able and successful practitioners at the AVest 
 Virginia Bar, and an influential politician. He is of a 
 clever disposition, social and agreeable to all who come 
 in contact with him. Any one having a business connec- 
 tion will not hesitate to speak of him in the best terms. 
 This able and creditable representative of the legal pro- 
 fession is 'a son of James H.Walker, now a retired 
 farmer. He was raised on the farm with two other 
 brothers. Much to his credit he possessed an ambition 
 for future usefulness with intent to serve his people. He 
 was educated at the Berkeley Academy, formerly in this 
 city, and decided to make law his profession. This he 
 successfully accomplished by taking a two years' course 
 
Personal Sketches. 403 
 
 in one year at the Washington and Lee University, Lex- 
 ington, Va. Upon Ms arrival home he was given a tho- 
 rough examination by Judge C. J. Faulkner and Judge 
 Armstrong, of Romney, who were then on the bench. In 
 this he passed with honors, after which he was admitted 
 to practice in the courts of the district. Through his ener- 
 gy and talent he at once became interested in and repre- 
 sented many of the most important civil and criminal 
 cases before the courts. His success in the various courts 
 attracted the attention of Judge Faulkner and led to his 
 rapid advancement. He is an excellent talker, has a fine 
 delivery and a persuasive and argumentative bearing. 
 He is well known all over the State, having delivered 
 speeches and addresses in every county. He is a man of 
 self-confidence, and is always prepared to speak on any 
 topic at a moment' s notice. In May, 1887, Mr. Faulkner 
 was elected to the United States Senate, immediately 
 after which he formed a law partnership under the firm 
 name of Faulkner & Walker. This move of business on 
 the part of Judge Faulkner, while adding much labor to 
 the firm by a heavy increase, encouraged Mr. Walker 
 with more than usual zeal. He has since represented the 
 cases and produced the ablest arguments that have ever 
 been laid before our courts. Important cases have taken 
 him to many counties in the State. 
 
 Mr. Walker has been identified by birth with the Dem- 
 ocratic Party, and has always taken great interest and 
 worked with untiring zeal for its advancement. During 
 the campaign of 1884 he spoke for weeks, daily, and 
 often twice a day, throughout the Thirteenth Senatorial 
 District. His friends, irrespective of party, are urging 
 him to accept positions of responsibility and trust. For 
 him to accept any nomina.tion will insure a victory to his 
 party. The stand he has taken has led the people to be- 
 lieve that he will mete justice fairly and honorably to 
 all. His past career has been a most honorable and suc- 
 cessful one, through which he now enjoys the confidence 
 
404 Personal SJceicJies. 
 
 and esteem of his people. Mr. Walker has the vigor 
 and confidence that will achieve the greatest results. 
 
 DAVID C. WESTENHAVER, ESQ. 
 
 It was when the conflict of contending armies was ex- 
 pending its force during the late civil war that the sub- 
 ject of this sketch was born. He is a native of this 
 county, and has lived here since his birth. His father 
 was a farmer, and consequently his early education was 
 conflned to such branches of information as are usually 
 taught in the average country school. His nature was 
 not such to be content with this, and with an innate de- 
 sire for a higher and more comprehensive knowledge, we 
 find him aiming at and striving for a greater degree of 
 excellence. He taught school, and at the same time pur- 
 sued a course of instruction in law under private tutors. 
 This merely opened to him a view of the wide field be- 
 yond, into which he boldly plunged alone, and, unaided 
 any more by such private instructions as he previously 
 had. We can say nothing better for him than that few 
 persons, through their own personal efforts and ability, 
 have ever raised themselves to such a degree of high 
 public esteem and in so comparatively short a time as has 
 Mr. Westenhaver. 
 
 He completed his law course at the Georgetown Law 
 School, taking a two years' course in one and graduating 
 with honor. The thesis ui:)on which his essay for this 
 occasion was written was ' ' Expatriation and Naturaliza- 
 tion," and which gained for him the first prize from the 
 above institution. 
 
 Upon entering the active duties of his chosen profes- 
 sion he assumed a partnership with Hon. W. H. H. 
 Flick, under the firm name of Flick & Westenhaver, 
 the firm remaining so constituted at the present time. In 
 1886 he was appointed Prosecuting Attorney of Berkeley 
 County to fill an unexpired term, and fulfilled the trusts 
 of that office with great satisfaction to the people. Mr. 
 Westenhaver' s mental attainments are of the highest 
 
Personal Sketches. 405 
 
 order, and tliough a young man, liis i)lace is a conspicu- 
 ous one at the Bar, as well as among recognized leaders 
 of his political school in this county. In politics he is 
 a Democrat. In oratory he can boast of but little excel- 
 lence ; his persuasive powers in this direction are effec- 
 tive, not because of any brilliancy of speech, but because 
 of clear and unequivocal argument. His past career as a 
 lawyer has been pre-eminently successful. His is an ex- 
 ample of a self-made man. His future career cannot but 
 make him a successful leader and an honored and re- 
 spected citizen. 
 
 BLACKBURN HUGES, ESQ. 
 
 This able representative of the Berkeley Bar was born 
 in Cumberland County, Va., and educated at Hampden 
 Sidney College, Virginia, graduating from that institution 
 in June, 1859, with the Speaker's medal from the Union 
 Society. He studied law in Judge Brockenborough's 
 Law School, in Lexington, Va., in 1860 and 1861. He 
 first practiced in the courts of his native county, and for 
 a short time in Richmond, but removed to Berkeley in 
 the fall of 1867, and after the repeal of the test oaths he 
 was admitted to the Bar of this county, in which he has 
 ever since occupied a leading place in talent and the 
 regards of his fellow members and the people in general. 
 Personally, he is a very agreeable gentleman, and takes 
 an active interest in all public matters. He has tilled 
 several important trusts in church and Stat€ conventions. 
 He was elected a member of the County Court in 1880, 
 and on its organization was elected its President, to 
 which position he has been re-elected each succeeding 
 year. 
 
 Politically, Mr. Hughes has always been closely iden- 
 tified with the Democratic Party, though conservative in 
 his views and liberal to all men, however widely differ- 
 ing on public questions His name was prominently 
 mentioned in connection with the State Senatorship from 
 the 13th District in 1886. In 1887 he associated with 
 
406 Personal Sketches. 
 
 himself Mr. Hugli A. White, an able and energetic young 
 lawyer, and they are now engaged in a good practice 
 before the coarta of this district. 
 
 HON. GEO. M. BOWERS 
 
 Is a son of the late John S. Bowers, one of the leading 
 citizens of the connty. He was born at Grerardstown and 
 received his education at the Martinsburg High School. 
 When but a mere shool boy he showed promising busi- 
 ness qualities and made extensive purchases and sales on 
 his own account. Upon the death of his father he ad- 
 ministered the estate (which was a very large one) and 
 made a prompt and satisfactory settlement of everything. 
 He took charge of the Eureka Mills, in this city, in 1884, 
 and is yet carrying on the most extensive milling busi- 
 ness in the city. He has considerable interest in real 
 property and also in various organizations, manufactories, 
 etc. On the 17th of March, 1888, he was elected a di- 
 rector of the C. y. and M. R. R., and is one of 
 the most prominent directors of the National Bank. 
 In politics he is a Republican and commands a large 
 influence. By his zeal and energy he has won the es- 
 teem and respect of the Berkeley people, and in 1884 he 
 was made Chairman of the Berkeley Delegation to the 
 Parkersburg and Grafton Convention. His success and 
 ability in this placed him before the people of the State, 
 and through which he has achieved the loudest praise. 
 In 1886 he was nominated on the Republican ticket for 
 Legislature, and was elected by the largest majority ever 
 given one man in the county. During his term of office 
 he has not once failed or shirked any responsible duty 
 that has fallen his lot. He is now Vice-President of the 
 National Republican League for the State of West Vir- 
 ginia. His name is now being urged for State Auditor, 
 and if nominated, there is but little doubt as to his elec- 
 tion being a successful one, and a victory for the party. 
 
 Mr. Bowers has a large friendship and acquaintance 
 among the farmers and laboring class of peoj)le. His 
 
Personal Sketches. AQl 
 
 kind, affable manners, and sound reasoning and persua- 
 sive powers has endeared hina to the hearts of his peo- 
 ple. He possesses the ability, and will execute any re- 
 sponsibility thrown upon him in the most successful 
 manner. 
 
 PROF. J. A. cox. 
 
 Born in Ohio Co., Va., (now W. Va.,) May 30, 1858 j 
 graduated at Bethany College, W. Va., in 1882, with the 
 degree A. B., taking the first honor of his class ; received 
 the degree A. M. one year later ; is now, as Superinten- 
 dent of the Martinsburg City Schools and Principal of 
 the High School, in his sixth year in the profession of 
 teaching ; was two years Principal of the West Liberty 
 State Normal School, at the end of which time the stu- 
 dents almost unanimously petitioned the State Superin- 
 tendent and Board of Regents for his re-appointment ; 
 was Principal of Kingwood Academy five months, which 
 position he resigned to take charge of the city schools of 
 Martinsburg ; was given a letter of endorsement signed 
 by all his Kingwood students, by his assistant teachers, 
 and by all the trustees of the school ; won a first premi- 
 um in a mathematical contest with 955 competitors, thus 
 becoming one of the authors of "The New Arithmetic," 
 published by Eaton, Gibson & Co., Buffalo, New York ; 
 has written considerably on educational and other topics ; 
 and is the author of a neat little pamphlet on arithmetic, 
 entitled " Two Hundred Practical Problems." Prof. 
 Cox has given universal satisfaction at Martinsburg, so 
 touch so that his salary was raised several hundred dol- 
 lars by the Board. 
 
 CHAS. p. MATTHAEI, ESQ. 
 
 Mr. Matthaei, the genial and agreeable Justice, is a 
 native of Germany, and was born in the year 1835. He 
 came to this country in the year 1854, and entered the 
 confectionery business in Baltimore, Md., where he re- 
 mained about six years. In 1860 he removed to Martins- 
 burg and opened up a confectionery store in the building 
 
408 Personal Sketclies. 
 
 now occupied hj Cbas. D. Matthaei, next to Court House. 
 After twenty- three years of business success, he retired, 
 and turned the business over to Charles D., who has con- 
 tinued to the present day. 
 
 During his early days, his advantages for an English 
 education were very limited, and Mr. Matthaei may cred- 
 itably be termed a self-made man. In the fall of 1884 he 
 was elected Justice of the Peace, which office he now 
 holds. During his term of office, he has filled the posi- 
 tion ably and creditably, and has given general satisfac- 
 tion to the public. Mr. Matthaei is a close observer, of 
 sound, practical judgment, and a genial and agreeable 
 gentleman. He has held positions of honor and public 
 trust, and acquitted himself creditably to the satisfaction 
 of his constituents. Mr. Matthaei is considerably inter- 
 ested in the organizations, societies and corporations of 
 the city, and is the owner of a large amount of property. 
 He is well known throughout the State, and a very pop- 
 ular gentleman. 
 
 C. O. LAMBERT, ESQ. 
 
 Mr. Lambert, the present Mayor of Martinsburg, was 
 born at Frederick City, Md., in 1838, and is a son of 
 Frederick Lambert, Esq. He was educated in the public 
 schools of that city, and at the age of fifteen years, en- 
 tered the butchering business under Charles D. Schell. 
 Here he served his time as an apprentice, acquiring every 
 art and branch of the business. In 1857 he moped to 
 Shepherdstown, and there carried on business for him- 
 self until the commencing of the war in 1861, when he 
 enlisted in the Confederate Calvary, 12th Virginia Regi- 
 ment. After the close of the war in 1865 he came to 
 Martinsburg and entered business with his brother, 
 George D. Lambert, where he remained until 1869, and 
 then entered business for himself— continuing at the 
 present day. Mr. Lambert was elected Councilman from 
 his ward in 1878, and afterwards served three terms of 
 two years each— five years and a-half of which he served 
 
Personal Sketches. 409 
 
 as Mayor i^ro tern. In 1884 he was elected Mayor by an 
 excellent majority, and conducted tlie affairs of the city 
 creditably and witli ability. His services in this official 
 capacity were appreciated in such a manner, that in 1886 
 and 1888, a demand was made by the people for his re- 
 election, which was successfully accomplished. As 
 Mayor of the City, Mr. Lambert has proven himself 
 worthy of the office, and his services are appreciated by 
 the people in general, who hold him in the highest es- 
 teem. He is a Democrat in politics, and of a genial and 
 clever disposition. As evidenced by his past career, Mr. 
 Lambert is what may well be termed a self made man. 
 He is also at present carrying on business at his old loca- 
 tion, No. 23 N. Queen st., Avhere can be found at all 
 times fresh meats, groceries, jirovisions, confectioneries, 
 tobaccos, cigars, etc. Mr. Lambert is also considerably 
 interested in farming pursuits, and various other enter- 
 prises. 
 
 C. W. UOLL, ESQ. 
 
 C. W. Doll, Esq., Clerk of the County Court, was born 
 in this city in the year 1820. For nearly thirty years he 
 was engaged in the dry goods business, after v/hich he 
 served six or eight years in the hardware line. He has 
 served the County Court as Clerk since Jan. 1st, 1873, 
 and has done valuable service to the county in the ar- 
 rangement of the many i:)apers and records on hie there. 
 On his election to this office he received almost the entire 
 vote of the Republican andDemocrotic jmrties combined. 
 He is a courteous and obliging gentleman, and is held in 
 the highest esteem by all who know him. As a citizen, 
 he takes a great deal of interest, and is one of the most 
 liberal men in the county. 
 
 ROBERT LAMON, ESQ 
 
 Mr. Lamon was born in Mill Creek District, Berkeley 
 County, about nine miles from the city of Martinsburg. 
 He was raised on a farm, and at an early age manifested 
 considerable interest and energy in business and public 
 
410 Personal Sketches. 
 
 affairs. He is a self-made man, having had advantage of 
 no other education than the common school of his boy- 
 hood days. In politics he is a strong and influential 
 Democrat, and under Lincoln's administration he served 
 in the capacity of Deputy Marshal of the District of 
 Columbia. As Secretary and Treasurer, he has been the 
 means, to a considerable extent, of building up the M. 
 & W. Turnpike, vrhich office he fills to the present day. 
 At the election in 1887 he was elected Sheriff of Berke- 
 ley County, by a majority of 338, a much larger vote 
 than had been polled previously. He has served his 
 people faithfully in this capacity, and in his accounts is 
 up with the State. He is of a fine manly bearing, and is 
 held in the highest respect. For a number of years he 
 has acted as a Director of the People's National Bank. 
 
 S. H. MARTIN, ESQ. 
 
 Mr. Martin was born in Pottstown, Montgomery Co., 
 Pa., in 1826, and came to this coimty in the year 1840. 
 He Avas a clerk in the store of \V. S. Long, at Bunker 
 Hill, for a short while, after which he came to this city 
 and entered the store of Jacob Van Doren. In 1842 he 
 went back to the former place and remained with J. "VV. 
 Grantham until 1851, when he again returned to town 
 and clerked for B. R. Boyd. In 1857 he formed a part- 
 nership with Ezra Herring and continued until 1859, 
 when they dissolved and Mr. Martin continued the store 
 until 1860. Shortly afterward he formed a partnership 
 with George Sherrer, which continued until the break- 
 ing out of the late war. In 1861 he "went into the em- 
 ploy of the B. & O. R. R. office and remained until 1878. 
 In the fall of '78 he was elected Clerk of the Circuit 
 Court, which capacity he now fills with credit and ability. 
 As a gentleman, he is kind and generous, and is one of 
 Martinsburg's most worthy citizens. 
 
 WM. T. STEWART, ESQ. 
 In the person of Mr. Stewart, is represented one of 
 Martinsburg's most prominent, wealthiest and influential 
 
Personal SketcTies. 411 
 
 citizens. He was born in this county and raised on a 
 farm, acquiring none other than the common school edu- 
 cation. He now holds and ably fills the offices of Presi- 
 dent of the National Bank, M. & W. Turnpike Company, 
 and is also a Director of the C. V. & M. R. R. Being 
 largely interested in county enterprises, he devotes con- 
 siderable time and attention to industrial development. 
 
CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 BIOGRAPHY OFMARTINSBURG'S BUSINESS 
 
 MEN. 
 
 THE PEOPLE'S NATIONAL BANK. 
 
 IpHIS institution was established in 1873 as a People's 
 ^ Deposit, with a capital of about $12,000. In 1874 
 it was re- organized as a National Bank, a t which, time two 
 competing banks were charging 10 and 12 per cent, in- 
 terest on money. This bank, after its reorganization, 
 began business by charging 8 per cent., and was the first 
 of the three to fall to 6 per cent. It was a grand success 
 from the day it opened its doors, and has been managed 
 Avitli snch financial ability that in fifteen years it has ac- 
 cumulated a very large surplus and dividend. Its line 
 of bank deposits are decidedly larger than those of its 
 competing neighbor. In 1882 the present site, on corner 
 of Queen and Burke Streets was purchased, and has 
 since been improved until it now constitutes one of the 
 finest buildings in the city. The interior is elegan tly and 
 conveniently arranged, and handsomely furnished. The 
 vaults are large and secure, and will compare v^rith any 
 in the State. For fifteen years the finances of this bank 
 have been under the management of Jno. B. Wilson, 
 Esq., who has served the institution ably and successful- 
 ly as cashier. AVith A. J. Thomas, Esq., as President, 
 it cannot but help insure a successful future. Mr. 
 Thomas is an excellent financier and is largely interested 
 in various enterprises. Through the energy and zeal of 
 Mr. Wilson, Cashier, this bank in 1888 gained the top- 
 most round on the ladder of success, by being designa- 
 ted a Depository of the United States. Mr. Wilson is a 
 wide-awake and energeiic citizen, populir throughout 
 
Biograpliy of Business Iden. 413 
 
 business circles, and liighly esteemed by the people of 
 Ms county. His assistants are Messrs. Geo. Knapp and 
 Frank Wilson, who efficiently aid in the transaction of 
 affairs, and for a knowledge of general banking business, 
 are unsurpassed. By their liberality, caution and finan- 
 cial ability, the above gentlemen have made it a grand 
 success, and its reputation at home and abroad is estab- 
 lished and its business daily growing larger. 
 
 JOHN W. WALKER & CO. 
 
 Mr. John W. Walker, the efficient manager and head of 
 this firm, is a son of James H. Walker, Esq., and was 
 born in Berkeley County. He was raised on a farm with 
 two other brothers. Hunter and Stuart, all of whom are 
 well-known throughout the county, and are among tlie 
 enterprising citizens. John W. was given the advantage 
 of the common schools, and later attended an academy 
 taught in Martinsburg by John Sellers, Esq. He next 
 entered the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, where 
 he remained two years, and afterward started in the 
 drug business in Martinsburg. After a decided success 
 of two years in the latter place, he removed to Baltimore 
 City, and passing a thorough examination before the 
 Board of Pharmacy, he opened up in the drug business. 
 Here he remained two or three years, when he again re- 
 turned to his native county, and started the present 
 merchandising firm. As a druggist Mr. Walker ranks 
 among the most .successful men of the day, having car- 
 ried off the highest honors of his classes, and passed 
 through the most difficult examinations. Since starting 
 in the merchandise business, he has conducted one of 
 the finest stores in the State. His place is neatly arrang- 
 ed, clean and convenient, and for fresh goods, he is un- 
 surpassed by any in the city. Groceries and provisions 
 of every variety are kept constantly on hand at the 
 lowest possible figures. His present location is on Queen 
 Street, National Bank Building. Mr. Walker is obli- 
 ging and accommodating, and generally known through- 
 
414 Biography of Business Men. 
 
 out the county as an industrious and enterprising 
 citizen. 
 
 p. A. CUNNINGHAM. 
 
 Mr. Cunningham is the eldest son, now living, of 
 Philip S. Cunningham, dec'd., who served in the capaci- 
 ty of 1st Lieutenant under Col. J. Q. A. Nadenbousch, 
 during the late war. P. A. was born in Berkeley County 
 about one mile south of the jDresent city of Martinsburg, 
 in the year 1861. In 1866 the family moved to Fredrick 
 City, Md., and returned to this county again in 1877. 
 His father died before they moved to the former place, 
 in 1865. Patrick A. was given the advantage of the 
 Catholic schools in Frederick City, and at an early age 
 showed considerable energy and enterprise. Like many 
 others, he had the broad world before him, with but 
 little assistance to gain a trade or profession. After 
 their return to this city, he entered the photograph gal- 
 lery under R. J. Eankin, Esq., where he remained about 
 two years, — serving the required time as an apprentice. 
 He next went with P. C. Hunter, and ably assisted in 
 building up a standard reputation, about the year 1882, 
 and remained for a period of nearly five years. In July, 
 1886, he purchased the establishment of his former em- 
 ployer, Mr. Rankin, and undertook a business routine, 
 which he has since successfully accomplished and meri- 
 ted. He is a genial and clever young man, and is a 
 great deal thought of by the young people in general. 
 His present place of business is situated over the Nation- 
 al Bank, Queen Street, where photography is finely exe- 
 cuted in all its branches. He uses the instantaneous 
 process, and guarantees satisfaction. A large and well 
 equipped line of picture frames are always to be found 
 in stock.' His studio is well furnished, and everythino- 
 complete for the trade. He also makes a specialty of 
 copying and enlarging. One will find in Mr. Cunningham 
 a warm friend, and an obliging gentleman. 
 
Biography of Business Men. 41 5 
 
 p. NICKLAS, BRO. & CO. 
 
 This firm has been long established in Martinsburg, 
 and has become one of the leading houses in town. The 
 father of the present firm followed carpet manufacturing 
 in the Cumberland Valley from his youth, and the sons 
 have established business houses in several of the lead- 
 ing towns in the Valley. One branch after another has 
 been added, and enlargements made as the business in- 
 creased, until now they have every convenience for their 
 extensive trade in carpets, furniture, chamber sets, 
 library furniture, wall papers, &c. Fully prepared to do 
 all kinds of upholstering and repairing. Their carpets 
 range from the cheaper goods to the best American and 
 European manufacture. The most obliging attention is 
 given to the trade, and special pains taken to please 
 purchasers. Mr. W. O. Nicklas is the manager of the 
 firm, and is one of our most enterprising citizens. He 
 takes part in various organizations of the town, and has 
 built for himself a neat and attractive home on the corner 
 of Queen and John Streets. The business rooms of the 
 firm are at No. 11 Queen Street. 
 
 E. G. BARTLETT. 
 
 Mr. Bartlett is a native of Marshal Co., W. Va. He 
 located in Cumberland in 1867, and was engaged in rail- 
 roading, and removed to Martinsburg in 1866, following 
 the samje occupation. He was appointed to a position in 
 the Hannis Distillery under President Arthur, and ful- 
 filled his duties very acceptably, remaining until the 
 new administration came in. He purchased the Book 
 store of A. Oden, No. 17 Queen Street, in 1885, where he 
 set to work to build for himself a permanent business. 
 He deals largely in books, stationery, daily, weekly and 
 monthly papers and magazines, tissue paper, drawing 
 paper, map drawing and sketch books, school supplies, 
 water color paints, steel engravings, autotypes, mottoes, 
 picture frame mouldings ; picture frames made to order; 
 albums and scrap books, scrap pictures, music and mu- 
 
416 BiograpTty of Business Men. 
 
 sical merchandise ; agent for all newspapers and maga- 
 zines at publishers' prices. 
 
 H. L. DOLL & CO. 
 
 Mr. Doll, the genial manager and proprietor of the 
 large hardware establishment, situated on the Public 
 Square, was born in Martinsburg in the year 1853, and 
 is a son oi C. W. Doll, Esq., Clerk of the County Court. 
 He received a common school education, and afterward 
 entered the hardware business as a clerk with H. A. Rid- 
 dle, where he remained nearly ten years. In 1879 the 
 firm of H. L. Doll & Co. was formed, and business com- 
 menced in the large and commodious building known as 
 "King Street Hall," at which place they have continued 
 till the present day. Mr. Doll has had considerable ex- 
 perience in the business, and has met with a decided suc- 
 cess. The firm holds an excellent and most reliable repu- 
 tation, and their business is conducted on a strict and 
 sound basis. They keep constantly on hand everything 
 connected with the hardware line, and make a specialty 
 of House Paints, Builders Hardware, Farmers' Supplies, 
 etc. They deal largely in Timothy and Clover Seed, and 
 furnish every part of the business at the lowest possible 
 figures. Their store and ware rooms, occupying two 
 large floors, present a neat and clean appearance, and 
 everything is arranged in the most convenient and pleas- 
 ing manner. Their present location is on the corner of 
 King and Queen Sts., Public Square. 
 
 R. FRANK BARR. 
 
 Mr. Barr, one of Martinsburg' s enterprising young 
 business men, is a son of Robt. Barr, Esq., a native of 
 Yirginia, and was born one mile south of Winchester, 
 Va. , in 1862. His advantages for an education were like 
 the majority represented in this work — limited to the 
 common school of his day. About the year 1882 he en- 
 tered the jewelry business under W. L. Jones, where he 
 remained nearly five years ; completing his trade and 
 gaining the advantages of the business in all its branches. 
 
BiograjpTiy of Business Men. 417 
 
 He then resigned his position and acted as General Sec- 
 retary of tlie Y. M. C. A. After serving tMs worthy in- 
 stitution creditably and deservingly for a period of eight 
 months, he decided to enter the jewelry business for 
 himself. In May, 1888, he opened np in the J. L. W. 
 Baker Building, North Queen street. Any article not in 
 stock will be famished within a short time, and every- 
 thing offered on sale will be al the lowest reasonable 
 figure. He makes a specialty of fine repairing, etc. Mr. 
 Barr has had considerable experience in his business, 
 and any one wishing to purchase will find in him a cour- 
 teous and accommodating gentleman. He is a young 
 man, energetic and industrious, and Martinsburg can 
 well feel proud of him as a citizen. 
 
 BURKHART & CO. 
 
 Dr. Wm. D. Burkhart, the leading partner and man- 
 ager of the above firm, is a native of Berkeley County. 
 In 1852 he graduated in medicine at the University of 
 Maryland, and afterwards practiced in this city for about 
 three years. As a physician he built up a splendid prac- 
 tice iand fine reputation. A short while afterward he 
 gave up his practice and became teller in the old Bank 
 of Berkeley. About the year 1865 he organized the pres- 
 ent National Bank, and was elected cashier, which position 
 he filled with ability and success. Through his untiring 
 efforts this institution continued to progress, until it had 
 gained a reliable and wide reputation. He continued in 
 the banking business for a period of twenty-five years. 
 In 1879 he established the Glass and China firm, known 
 as Burkhart & Co., which he has successfully managed 
 to the present day, and gained for it an enviable reputa- 
 tion. He is the exclusive dealer in the city, in fine goods 
 of his line. The store is neatly and artistically arrang- 
 ed with beautiful lamps, f^ncy goods, etc., of every des- 
 cription. Dr. Burkhart is a genial and clever gentleman, 
 and one with whom it is a pleasure to deal. Their pres- 
 
 27 
 
418 Biography of Business Men. 
 
 ent location is on Nortli-east corner of Public Square, 
 adjoining his residence, and near Continental Hotel. 
 
 JOHN W. NEER. 
 
 Mr. Neer was born in the year 1829, and is a native of 
 Loudon County, Virginia. His boyhood days were spent 
 in farming pursuits, and no other advantages were had 
 for an education, excepting those offered by the common 
 schools. He came to Martinsburg in 1850, and was em- 
 ployed as an engine man on the B. & O. E,. R., until 
 1857. He then returned to Loudon County and engaged 
 in farming until 1863. Shortly afterward he served as 
 sutler in the Fourth Brigade of the 19th Army Corps of 
 the 24th and 28th Indiana, and 26th and 27th Ohio Regi- 
 ments, commanded by Col. Washburn. About the year 
 1865 he engaged in the coal, wood and lumber business 
 at Harper's Ferry, where he remained until 1870, when 
 he was washed out by the great flood on the Shenandoah 
 River of that year, and incurred a loss of about $3,000. 
 He then commenced farming in Jefferson County, W. 
 Va., and continued from 1871 until 1873, when he again 
 engaged in the service of the B. & 0. R. R., and served 
 the company until 1887. After a service of twenty- one 
 years as engine man on the B. & 0., he decided to per- 
 manently locate in business. On the IBth of March, 
 1888, he purchased the entire stock and fixtures of G. A. 
 Smith, and opened up on King street, near St. Clair 
 Hotel, a first-class general merchandise store. Every- 
 thing in t]ie line is kept always on hand at the lowest 
 possible figures, and his store is neatly arranged and 
 stocked with fresh goods. He makes a specialty of fine 
 cigars, tobaccos and green groceries. Mr. Neer is a 
 pleasing and accommodating gentleman, and the general 
 public 'will find in him energy and enterprise, — so es- 
 sential for the requirements of an upright business. 
 
 J. p. SWARTZ. 
 
 Mr. Swartz was born in the year 1829, and is a native 
 of Berkeley County. During his early days his entire 
 
Biography of Business Men. 419 
 
 time was given to the milling business, and with a com- 
 mon education, he commenced business in what is now 
 known as the "Swartz" mill, in 1842. Here he continu- 
 ed until 1880, when he. established himself permanently 
 in the merchantile business. As a miller, Mr. Swartz 
 has few superiors, and while engaged in the business 
 met with much success. His patronage extended far 
 beyond Berkeley and adjoining counties. In 1880 he 
 opened his store in the room adjoining O' Neal' s drug store, 
 but on account of increasing demands in business, was 
 compelled to seek larger quarters. Shortly afterward 
 he moved to Wysong's Hall, where he remained a sh6rt 
 while, and then removed to the large and commodious 
 room he occupies at present. His place of business is 
 centrally located, being next door to the Post-office. At 
 all times can be found good, fresh goods, and at reason- 
 able prices. He makes a specialty of iiour, feed, grain 
 and groceries, besides a well supplied stock of general 
 merchandise. Mr. Swartz is a genial and clever gentle- 
 man, and one with whom it is a pleasure to deal. 
 
 LEMEN BROS. 
 
 The genial manager of the above firm, Thomas T. 
 Lemen, is a native of Jefferson County, and was born in 
 the year 1863. During his boyhood days his entire at- 
 tention was given to farming pursuits. In the fall of 
 1878 he entered Shepherd College, at Shepherds town, 
 and graduated in 1881. He then resumed farming and 
 continued until July 25th, 1887, when he and his brother 
 entered business in Martinsburg. They purchased the 
 store and fixtures, for many years occupied by J. W. 
 Roberts on Queen street. Thomas T. is yet a young man, 
 and, although young in years he is old in practical busi- 
 ness experience. He is a son of M. B. Lemen, Esq., an 
 old, experienced and reputable farmer, yet residing in 
 Jefferson County. During his younger days, Thomas 
 manifested and showed considerable ability for business 
 qualifications, and at an early age became interested in 
 
420 BiograpJiy of Business Men . 
 
 many important matters. With his brother, he is doing 
 a large and successful business on a sound basis, com- 
 manding an excellent reputation. Their present loca- 
 tion is Queen street, next door to Adams Express OfBce. 
 They deal in flour, feed, coal, wood, etc., at the lowest 
 possible figures. Mr. Lemen is an obliging and accom- 
 modating gentleman, and deserves the patronage of the 
 general public. 
 
 M. L. DORN, JR. 
 
 Mr. Dorn, the young and energetic tailor, situated on 
 East Martin street, is a son of Martin L. Dorn, Sr., and 
 was born in Martinsburg in the year 1861. He was given 
 the advantages of the common schools for an education, 
 and at an early age entered the tailoring business under 
 his father. He applied himself to every branch of the 
 trade, and after several years service attended a cutting 
 school in New York, under the well-known firm of John 
 J. Mitchell & Co. After acquiring the art and its ad- 
 vantages, he returned to Martinsburg, and in 1883 estab- 
 lished himself permanently in business. Mr. Dorn has 
 devoted his entire attention to the trade, and as a cutter 
 he is unsurpassed by any in the State. He is yet a young 
 man, energetic and industrious, and is held in the highest 
 esteem by all his acquaintances. His place of business 
 is located on East Martin street, where can be found at 
 all times the latest styles and best qualities of Cassi- 
 meres, fancy suitings and pantaloonings. At his place 
 will be furnished the lowest prices, with a full line of 
 goods alwa,ys open for inspection. Mr. Dorn is genial 
 and courteous, and guarantees satisfaction to all his pat- 
 rons. 
 
 I. L. BENDER & BRO. 
 
 Messrs. I. L. Bender & Bro. engaged in the lumber 
 business about twelve years ago, succeeding H. L. Olip- 
 pinger & Co., for whom I. L. was book-keeper. Their 
 yard at that time occupied a small leased lot on corner of 
 East Eace and Spring streets. They have since, by pur- 
 
Biography of Business Men. 421 
 
 chase, obtained possession of this and adjoining lots, thus 
 extending their yard from a front on East Eaoe along 
 Spring, with rear on John street. They have also added 
 large buildings and sheds for shops and the storage of an 
 ample supply of, lumber, doors, sash, blinds, flooring, 
 siding, etc., for the demands of their trade. Their own 
 railroad siding for loading bark, loading and unloading 
 lumber, and their central location and convenience to the 
 railroad shops, makes their place of business one of the 
 most desirable in the city. In 1881 they added the coal 
 and wood business to their already large trade. In this 
 they have enjoyed a marked success, owing to their well 
 deserved reputation for furnishing the best coal in good 
 condition, good weight and prompt delivery. Messrs. 
 Bender are among our substantial and reliable business 
 men, who have added by their own energy and kind in- 
 dulgence much to our city's appearance, as well as to the 
 comfort of not a few of our people. 
 
 Lee M. Bender, of the above firm, was born in Penn- 
 sylvania, raised on a farm, and attended public day 
 schools during the winters. Later he attended a private 
 scliool at Grreencastle, Pa., where he stood among the high- 
 est in his class in Latin and the higher mathematics. 
 From here, in 1875, he went to the Williamsport Com- 
 mercial College. After graduating he took the position 
 of head book-keeper for the firm of Rowley & Hermance, 
 now the largest manufacturers of machinery in the State. 
 During the winter of 1876 he was emplyed as Professor 
 in the theoretical department of the College High School. 
 Coming to Martinsburg in 1878, he entered the lumber 
 business in which he is still engaged. 
 
 J. WM. HILL. 
 
 The above name represents one of Berkeley County's 
 most energetic and enterprising young men. Mr. Hill 
 was born in the year 1859, in Martinsburg, and is a son 
 of James E. Hill, an old established and reputable shoe- 
 maker, situated on West John Street. He obtained no 
 
422 Biography of Business Men. 
 
 other advantages for an education than those offered by 
 the common schools of his day. At the early age of 
 fourteen years he entered the shoe business with his 
 father, and served five years. Leaving this he acted in 
 the capacity of a clerk from 1879 until 1882, v?hen he 
 entered the Post Office as delivery clerk under the effi- 
 cient Post- master, J. Nelson Wisner. He remained here 
 about fifteen months, and then went to Baltimore, where 
 he completed a practical clerkship under the reputable 
 firm of Geo. K. McGraw & Co., one of the finest retail 
 stores in that city. He afterward returned to Martins- 
 burg and resumed a clerkship until ] 888. Tlaving obtain- 
 ed a complete and practical idea of the grocery business, 
 he established himself on Queen Street, and opened up a 
 first class store. Mr. Hill is well known throughout the 
 town and county, and is a popular young man. He pos- 
 sesses a kind and courteous disposition, is honest and 
 upright in his dealings, and is agreeable to all. His place 
 of business is located on Queen Street, next door to 
 Crump's hardware store. At all times can be found a 
 fresh and well supplied stock of groceries, provisions, 
 etc., at reasonable prices. 
 
 HYDE'S JEWELRY STORE. 
 
 A short sketch of the jewelry establishment of Mr. H. 
 S. Hyde, its past history, and present dimensions, may 
 be of interest to the reader. 
 
 Vast contrasts are presented as between the Jewelry 
 house of H. S. Hyde as it is now and as it was in 1823, 
 when Jas. Hutchison, a practical silversmith, established 
 it. It was then the first enterprise of its kind in the Val- 
 ley ; its patronage was but limited, and its trade came 
 from a sparsely settled country, whose inhabitants had 
 little use for jewelry, and whose possessions of silver 
 plate were usually limited to a modest array of articles 
 that now-a-days would seem primitive enough. The 
 premises occupied by Mr. Hutchison were small— only 
 about 12x15 feet, but for a long series of years they af- 
 
Biography of Business Men. 423 
 
 forded ample room. In 1854 a son, Samuel Hutchison, 
 succeeded to the business, and in 1870 he remodeled the 
 building and enlarged the salesroom to 17x24 feet. Upon 
 Mr. Hutchinson's death Mr. Hyde purchased the business, 
 the stock then invoicing about $1,500. Mr. H., by the 
 way, is a native of Strasburg, Va., (on the Shenandoah.) 
 Working on his father' s farm until he was 20 years of 
 age, he determined upon another field -of labor and so 
 entered the jewelry business. In 1872 he went to Spring- 
 field, Ohio, where he completed his trade under the in- 
 struction of Ben]. Allen, a leading jeweler in that city. 
 In 1874 we find Mr. Hyde in Martinsburg connected 
 with the firm of Welland & Hyde, and in 1877 he pur- 
 chased the pioneer jewelry store of this section — a house 
 whose trade has wonderfully developed under his man- 
 agement. 
 
 Upon entering the store (which was recently enlarged, 
 so that now the salesroom is upward of fifty feet deep) 
 one' s eyes are greeted with the glitter of gold and the 
 sheen of silver, while one's second self is reflected from 
 numerous mirrors adorning the walls. The contents of 
 the numerous show cases naturally arrest attention ; in 
 one case we see gold and silver watches, and precious 
 stones ; the contents of the adjoining case are in part a 
 duplicate of the first — here also are gold pens, pencils 
 and other articles. Case No. 3 is chiefly devoted to jet 
 and initial jewelry ; No. 4 to fine silver ware ; No. 5 to 
 flat ware ; Nos. 6 and 7 to granite ware, statues and toilet 
 sets ; No. 8 to French clocks ; No. 9 to American clocks ; 
 No. 10 to novelties of various kinds. We also notice one 
 of Lillie's improved safes, a massive iron and steel affair, 
 weighing 3,900 pounds — a fire and burglar proof recep- 
 tacle for valuables. 
 
 Another , thing we notice is the "Regulator," over 7 
 feet high, its huge pendulum swinging to and fro as it 
 slowly and solemnly ticks out the moments. The room 
 is handsomely finished and painted ; the ceiling is espe- 
 
424 Biography of Business Men. 
 
 cially noteworthy, with its centre pieces of inlaid wood 
 from which depend globed chandeliers ; in brief, the 
 apartment is a model of good taste. 
 
 In addition to the local trade and the large repair busi- 
 ness that is had — this latter department receiving Mr. 
 Hyde's careful attention— the house controls a consider- 
 able jobbing business, filling orders in widely different 
 parts of the country, and we fancy that Mr. Hyde has 
 every reason to be satisfied with the aggreg-ites of his 
 business. 
 
 Mr. Hyde is still a young man, being only 33 years old. 
 He is what may be styled a "self-made" man. Of the 
 three jewelers who were carrying on business here in 
 1876 he alone remains. He has certainly accomplished 
 a decided success thus far, and four young jewelers grow- 
 ing up insure success in business. His present establish- 
 ment is said to be the largest between Baltimore and 
 Wheeling, and is known as Hyde's Building, Nos. 48, 
 50 and 52 Queen street. 
 
 C. E LAMAR. 
 
 Mr. Lamar, the genial and popular livery-man, is a 
 native of Maryland, and was born in Frederick County 
 in 1857. During his early days he was given no other 
 advantages for an education excepting those offered by 
 the schools of Frederick. His life during his younger 
 days was given to business pursuits of various kinds, and 
 in this way he obtained an education and idea of general 
 business affairs. In 1882 he engaged in general merchan- 
 dising near Shepherds town, Jefferson County, W. Va., 
 and continued about three years. Disposing of his mer- 
 cantile business, and about a year later, he opened up a 
 livery and sale stable at Charlestown, in 1884. He con- 
 tined here about two years, and taking advantage of the 
 opportunity, he decided to move to Martinsburg, where 
 the trade was completely monopolized by one livery-man. 
 In 1886 he announced his opening at the St. Clair Hotel 
 stables, where he has continued to the present day. 
 
Biography of Business Men. 425 
 
 Since opening a first-class livery, Mr. Lamar has had the 
 general run of patronage, which is well evidenced by his 
 fine turnouts of horses and vehicles. Mr. Lamar is a 
 genial and agreeable gentleman, and is a very popular 
 man. He can be found at the St. Clair Hotel, where he 
 makes his office, at all times ; and for a fine turnout, at 
 the lowest figure, he can accommodate all. 
 
 GEORGE E. KERSHNER. 
 
 The above name represents one of Martinsburg's ener- 
 getic and industrious young men. Mr. Kershner was 
 born in Hedgesville, this county, about the year 1853, 
 and is a son of George M. Kershner, Esq. His advanta- 
 ges for an education were limited to that of the common 
 school. At an early age he apprenticed himself at the 
 plastering business, under his father's instructions, and 
 applied himself to the trade in all its branches. A few 
 years later he entered business for himself, and has suc- 
 ceeded in establishing a reliable business. His present 
 location is on Williamsport Pike, near Moler Avenue. 
 Mr. Kershner is prompt, energetic and industrious, and 
 fair in all his dealings. 
 
 JOSEPH STEWART. 
 
 Mr. Stewart is a son of J. W. Stewart, Esq., and was 
 born in Martinsburg in 1865. His education was limited 
 to the common schools of his early days, and as a pupil 
 he ranked among the highest of his classes. He appren- 
 ticed himself at an early age to the butchering business, 
 under William R. Kline. After remaining with Mr. 
 Kline for some years, and obtaining the advantages of 
 the trade, he opened up business for himself. His pres- 
 ent place of business is located on Queen street, North 
 B. & O. R. R. crossing, where fresh meats of all kinds 
 are kept constantly on hand. Mr. Stewart is yet a young 
 man — energetic, genial and industrious, and will give 
 general satisfaction to all who may favor him with their 
 patronage. 
 
426 Biograpliy of Business Hen. 
 
 EMMERT & FIERY. 
 
 Mr. B. P. Fiery, the senior member of tMs firm, is a 
 native of WasMngton County, Md., and was born in 
 1830. He commenced business at Funkstown, Md., in 
 1S64, where for nearly eight years he was engaged in 
 merchandizing. About the year 1872 he came to Mar- 
 tinsburg and enaged in business with Samuel Emmert, 
 father of the present F. S. Emmert. The firm continued 
 a successful business for nearly six years, when F. S. 
 purchased his father's interest. 
 
 Mr. F. S. Emmert, of the present firm, is also a native 
 of Washington County, Md., and was born about the 
 year 1852. He came to Martinsburg in 1872, and remained 
 under the old firm until 1878, when he purchased his 
 father's entire interest. 
 
 Since the present firm has been constituted it has en- 
 joyed a reputable and successful business. From 1878 
 they occupied, for a period of nearly nine years, the 
 room now used by Frank Doll & Co., and on account of 
 the increasing demands of their trade they were com- 
 pelled to secure larger quarters. In the spring of 1887 
 they purchased the site adjoining the Market House, and 
 in the fall moved into one of the largest and finest build- 
 ings in the State. Through their untiring energy and 
 business zeal they now own and occupy the most credita- 
 ble building in the city. It is a handsome brick struc- 
 ture of three stories, modern plau, and conveniently ar- 
 ranged with steam, gas, lights and many other improve- 
 ments. The dimensions of their store room are 100 feet 
 deep by 23 feet wide, and is elegantly finished. Their 
 specialties consist in part of dry goods, ladies' wraps, 
 dress goods, carpets, &c. Everything in this line can be 
 had at their place, and with their motto, "good goods 
 and low prices," they will guarantee satisfaction to the 
 trade. This firm is an old established one of an excellent 
 reputation, and their past record will insure a successful 
 future. Both gentlemen are among the popular, enter- 
 
Biography of Business Men. . 427 
 
 prising citizens of the county, and are interested in va- 
 rious enterprises. 
 
 J. H. MILLER & SONS. 
 
 Messrs. J. William and C. A. Miller, the enterprising 
 managers of this firm, are sons of J. H. Miller, Esq., and 
 were born respectively in the years 1858 and 1863, in 
 Hedgesville, Berkeley County. The common school of 
 their day was the only advantage obtained for an educa- 
 tion. The greater portion of their time was given to 
 mercantile pursuits, and under their father's instruction 
 they received a general and thorough business knowl- 
 edge. In 1886 they entered the mercantile business, 
 purchasing the large warehouse they now occupy, and 
 supplying it with a large stock of agricultural imple- 
 ments. Through a well deserved integrity they have 
 succeeded in establishing one of the most reputable and 
 successful houses in the city. Their trade daily increased 
 until now, -by additions to their stock, they are handling 
 a large line of improved agricultural implements, fertil- 
 izers, buggies, phaetons, sulkies, harness, coal, wood, 
 feed, etc. Their location is on North Queen street, at B. 
 & O. R. R. crossing, where the lowest possible figures and 
 reasonable inducements are offered to purchasers. These 
 gentlemen are energetic and abreast of the times, and 
 by their perseverance will push their trade to the highest 
 degree of success, which they justly merit and deserve. 
 Both are popular in the county, courteous and obliging, 
 and are held in the highest esteem by their people. 
 
 A. M. GILBERT. 
 
 Mr. Gilbert represents one of Martinsburg's indus- 
 trious and enterprising young mea. He is a native of 
 Middleway, W. Va., and was born in 1859. His father, 
 John Gilbert, Esq., is among the successful farmers of 
 Jefferson County. Arthur was given the advantage of a 
 good education, and at an early age entered the drug 
 business under Wm. Dorsey, Esq., where he remained 
 several years. Here he applied himself to every branch 
 
428 Biography of Business Men. 
 
 of the business, gaining a thorongli knowledge of phar- 
 macy and business tact. In April, 1883, lie entered busi- 
 ness for himself, at his present location, on corner of 
 Queen and Race streets, where he has built up an exten- 
 sive trade. By steady application to business he has 
 made a grand success and gained an excellent and wide 
 reputation. Mr. Gilbert is yet a young man, sociable 
 and agreeable, and one with whom it is a pleasure to deal. 
 He possesses the necessary energy and vim so essential 
 for a successful business, and from present prospects he 
 is destined to make his mark in the drug business. At 
 his place can be found at all times and at reasonable fig- 
 ures everything kept in a first-class drug store. For 
 compounding prescriptions he has but few, if any, su- 
 superiors. 
 
 P. C. HUNTER. 
 Mr. Hunter, well-known throughout business circles, 
 is a native of White Hall, Baltimore County, Md., and 
 was born in 1844. He received his education in the pub- 
 lic schools of that county, and was raised on a farm. 
 Hardly had he arrived at the age of 16 years when his 
 father, P. G. Hunter, Esq., died. This threw a great 
 responsibility upon the young man — managing the affairs 
 of a large farm and family of younger children. Pos- 
 sessing self-confidence and vim, he heeded it not, and in 
 a short while found himself at the helm of success. At 
 the age of 28 years he went under the instructions of Mr. 
 Henry Pollock, the leading photographer of Baltimore 
 city. After mastering his chosen profession in its vari- 
 ous branches, he launched out for himself, and entered 
 business in Baltimore in 1872. In April, 1881, he moved 
 to Martinsburg, and opened up a first-class photograph 
 gallery, where he now enjoys the success of a reliable 
 and wide reputation. His past business career has been 
 a grand success, and by steady application he intends to 
 surpass his rivals in the future. Mr. Hunter is agreeable, 
 sociable, and an industrious gentleman. He is an adapt 
 
Biography of Business Men. 429 
 
 in portraiture in all its branches, such as oil, pastel, 
 crayon, India ink and water colors, in various styles 
 and sizes. His present location is on Queen street, three 
 doors South of Market House. 
 
 JOHN FELLER. 
 
 Mr. Feller, the genial and clever proprietor of the 
 "Academy of Music" and an energetic citizen, is a native 
 of Hessen, Germany, and was born in 1820. He was edu- 
 cated in the schools of that place, and emigrated to 
 America in 1844. In 1855 he located at Martinsburg, 
 and entered the mercantile business. In this he was 
 very successful for a number of years, when he disposed 
 of Ms business and built the hotel, known as the Shen- 
 andoah House, corner Race and Queen streets. ■ He con- 
 tinued in the hotel business for a period of about 16 
 years, gaining a popular and well- deserved reputation. 
 About the year 1858 he built the large and commodious 
 hall, known as "Feller's Hall," on the same site. In 
 1879 the hall was burned down, and afterwards rebuilt. 
 However, at this time, Martinsburg contained no public 
 hall or building of any importance, and consequently Mr. 
 Feller, in erecting a building of this kind, met with the 
 approval of the general public. In 1887 the increasing 
 demands for a larger and better hall, caused him to en- 
 large and remodel the building in elegant style. An 
 addition of 40 'feet was added, making it 100x44 feet in 
 dimension. The building is of two large stories, with a 
 double entrance, aild contains all the modern conveni- 
 ences and improvements. It is handsomely frescoed, 
 well ventilated, elegantly lighted with gas, heated by 
 steam, and comfortably furnished. It contains a stage 
 22x37 feet, arranged with fine scenery, and well lighted. 
 The name of the hall has since been changed, and now 
 enjoys a wide and established reputation, known as the 
 " Academy of Music." This hall is conceded to be one 
 of the finest in the State, and is ably supported by the 
 general public. Mr. Feller is well known as an energetic, 
 
430 Biography of Business Men. 
 
 clever and obliging gentleman, and is very popular 
 among the people of his county especially. 
 
 L. A. L. DAY, M. D., 
 
 Homeopathist, Martinsburg, W. Va. — Office near the 
 Presbyterian Church, makes the treatment of Chronic 
 Diseases a specialty. 
 
 Doctor Day is a graduate of Pulte Homeopathic Medi- 
 cal College, Cincinnati, Ohio, graduating first in his 
 class, receiving the Faculty Prize, a gold medal, and 
 also the first Clinical Prize for passing the best clinical 
 examination. 
 
 In 1797 Hahnemann, the founder of Homeopathy, an- 
 nounced the principle which has made him famous. 
 Although it has been received vpith derision by a vast 
 majority of the medical world, it has steadily progressed 
 in favor, overcoming obstacle after obstacle, until to-day 
 the system of medicine founded upon it, numbers among 
 its xDatrons and steadfast friends a large proportion of 
 the more intelligent and cultivated of each community. 
 It is recognized in some of our universities. Our State 
 Boards of Health are in part composed of Homeopa- 
 thists. Some of our state institutions are controlled by 
 them. 
 
 Homeopathy is the system of medicine in unison with 
 Nature s Law, based on the law of similars, indicating 
 that the drug to be curative must be given to the sick 
 for symptoms similar to those produced by the drug on 
 the healthy person, the motto of which is Similia Simili- 
 bus Gurantur. The progress of Homeopathy has been 
 very rapid considering the prejudice with which it has 
 had to battle. Ninety-one years have elapsed since 
 Hahnemann promulgated his discovery, that which has 
 made him so honored by the millions of suffering hu- 
 manity. A law that has caused the greatest revolution 
 ever before or since in the history of medicine. The 
 progress has been so rapid that it is practiced in every 
 portion of the civilized world, and at home here in the 
 
BiograpJiy of Business Men. 431 
 
 United States. Although it is but about sixty-five years 
 since Dr. Gramm, the first Homeopathic Physician, 
 first settled in New York— and to-day we have eleven 
 Homeopathic medical colleges, one Ophthalmic and Oto- 
 logical college, 17 Periodicals, 43 Homeopathic Hospitals, 
 26 State Medical Societies, 99 county societies, 43 free 
 dispensaries, probably 10,000 Homeopathic Physicians, 
 and patronized by the hundreds of thousands. The 
 printed literature of the Homeopathic school is number- 
 ed by the millions of pages. 
 
 Isopathy is a system of medicine, the law of which is 
 often mistaken by many as being the Homeopathic lata. 
 The Isopathic law is the prescribing of a medicine for 
 the cure of a disease that was caused by the same medi- 
 cine. For example, if a man is poisoned by arsenic he 
 will be given more arsenic to cure him. The homeo- 
 pathist, in treating such conditions will give an emetic 
 and proper antidotes. This is based on chemistry and 
 can only be treated chemically. 
 
 Accessory treatment is that branch of therapeutics 
 which is not medicinal, and people must not think that 
 this treatment belongs to any school of medicine, for they 
 are based on chemistry, physiology, hygiene and mechan- 
 ics. Mechanical or operative surgery and obstetrics are 
 the same and do not belong to any system. Let this fact 
 be remembered, that homeopathy differs only from other 
 systems of medicine in medicinal treatment. Many have 
 the small dose of homeopathy as an objection to the sys- 
 tem, which varying from drop doses of the pure tincture 
 to portions of a drop or grain at frequent intervals, thus 
 avoiding the sickening, weakening and grave physiologi- 
 cal effects produced by medicine when given in large 
 doses. "How does so small a dose act?" it is asked. 
 " How does a large dose act 1" Neither can be explained, 
 for it cannot be told how they act. Who can tell how 
 the miasm, an unseen influence, the product of decay, or 
 putrefaction of animal or vegetable substance pro- 
 
432 Biography of Business Men. 
 
 duces intermittent fever, (the so called malaria,) or 
 the infinitesimal germs too small to be seen with the 
 microscope, yet a fruitful source of disease ; or who can 
 tell how the child inherits the much-to-be-dreaded scrof- 
 ula, or the tendency for consumption from a parent? Yet 
 such is known to be the fact in many instances, but it 
 cannot be explained like the first question. How does 
 the small dose act? or many other facts in science. 
 The small dose has cured and is curing where the large 
 one utterly fails. Under the observation of a conscien- 
 tious, intelligent and devoted class of physicians the 
 dose needs no defense, for it is established beyond con- 
 tradiction both in theory and practice. 
 
 In disease the small dose of medicine will assist na- 
 ture, because nature is trying to remove the cause of 
 disease from the system, therefore the homeopathic 
 remedy, by assisting her efforts, removes the disease, 
 where the larger dose of medicine will weaken the 
 system and thus retard recovery. The healthy eye can 
 endure a very bright light, while the diseased eye will 
 have to be protected, showing that it takes a far less 
 quantity of medicine to have an effect on the diseased 
 body than on the healthy, because the one acts in unison 
 with nature's law, while the other acts contrary. 
 
 THOMPSON & TABLER. 
 
 Mr. James F. Thompson, senior member of the above 
 well-known firm, was born in Martinsburg, W. Va., 
 (then Virginia,) September 15th, 1859. He is the eldest 
 of the thirteen children of Samuel J. and Sallie Thomp- 
 son — a quiet, industrious couple. When the war closed 
 and the school system was in its incipiency, James en- 
 tered the old Third Ward School, on John street, and 
 began to drink deep at the fountain of knowledge. He 
 was naturally a bright boy, but his father's family was a 
 large one, and rather than throw the entire burthen of its 
 support upon him, James worked hard during the sum- 
 mer months and studied earnestly and late during the 
 
BiograpJiy of Business Men. 433 
 
 long winter niglitg,— laying the foundation of a good 
 business and general education. He was ambitious, 
 however, and soon left Martinsburg to work with his un- 
 cle, Jno. W. Dalgarn, in the office of the Spirit of Jef- 
 ferson, at Charlestown. Here, for over three years he 
 worked at odds, steadily advancing from "devil" to com- 
 positor and assistant editor, and winning a splendid 
 reputation for business qualities, earnestness and sobriety, 
 and making numerous influential friends. But he loved 
 old Martinsburg — the scene of his boyhood, the hope of 
 his future. Once more, working hard and persistingly 
 for a livelihood in the humblest spheres of labor, (but 
 still attending the Grammar School during the winter,) 
 he won the commendation and esteem of the watchful 
 public of his native town. His energy and determina- 
 tion were not lost sight of by business men. When 
 Louis Bouton opened his large store at the now Berry 
 stand, young Thompson was employed by him. A hard 
 man with whom to get along, James retained his position, 
 while old clerks went out and new ones came in every 
 month. He remained with Mr. Bouton about two years 
 and a-half. Then Mr. H. N. Deatrick obtained" his ser- 
 vices. "Jim" stood up to his pew avocation, and soon 
 became the leading salesman in town. Persons knew he 
 would not deceive them. He remained with Mr. Deat- 
 rick until he closed out his stock, after which he sought 
 more suitable quarters and went in with Mr. David 
 Weil, in the clothing business, occupying the confiden- 
 tial position of manager of the store in the Staley Build- 
 ing. By dint of carefulness and push, he advanced in 
 the estimation of Mr. Weil to such an extent, that in one 
 year he held a partnership in the business. His success 
 was phenominal. Soon afterwards Mr. Weil retired, and 
 James, or "Jim" as the boys familiarly call him, con- 
 tinued the business, taking in as a partner Mr. M. G. 
 Tabler, a clerk under the old firm, and a pushing, watch- 
 ful young gentleman. These two worked up an enor- 
 
to 
 
 434 Biography of Business Men. 
 
 mous trade. Their quarters grew too small, and the 
 stocks was removed to their present handsome location 
 in the Homrich building, on Queen street, where pros- 
 perity has followed them. Mr. Thompson is a self-made 
 man — the success he enjoys is the result of years of at- 
 tentiveness and toil. No man in Martinsburg has an 
 equal knowledge of all the details of the clothing busi- 
 ness. He seems to be a part of the business. He is a 
 good judge of material; has a quick insight into the 
 markets, — knows when to recommend, — keeps the best 
 makes of clothing, and treats poor and rich with equal 
 courtesy and attention. "Can't" is a word not to be 
 found in his dictionary ; and business tact is a family 
 trait. With the spheres of his usefulness ever widen- 
 ing, he enjoys the confidence of the entire community, 
 and lends a helping hand to every laudable enterprise. 
 He was mainly instrumental in establishing the celebra- 
 ted See Chair Factory here, and when the company went 
 out of organization, in company with Messrs. H. C. Berry 
 and Dr. L. A. L. Day, he purchased the business, and 
 will spare no means or time to push it to activity and 
 paying advantage. Mr. Thompson was married to Miss 
 Minnie S. Ray, of Shepherdstown, on February ?8th, 
 1888, and now resides on West King street, in one of the 
 DeGrrange buildings. 
 
 Mr. M. G. Tabler, the junior member of the firm of 
 Thompson & Tabler, is the eldest son of James W. and 
 Amelia Tabler, of Berkeley County. His father is an 
 enterprising and thrifty farmer, and instilled within the 
 very being of his son, the essence of thrift and push that 
 made his own life so successful. Mayberry "was born 
 November 8th, 1862, in the neighborhood of Darkesville, 
 and spent the days of his early manhood on his father's 
 farm. But he felt that his sphere of usefulness was too 
 limited on the farm, and when eighteen years old, came 
 to Martinsburg and entered the Berkeley Academy. 
 Here he applied himself diligently for two years, winning 
 
Biography of Business Men. 435 
 
 the esteem of Prof. Dieffenderi'er, and going to the front 
 in his class. His teacher said: "Tabler had an origi- 
 nality of conception, an acute insight, was energetic and 
 attentive, and had every indication of possessing the 
 essentials going to make up a good business man." He 
 was quiet and industrious, watchful of the small things, 
 and thorough in his work. After leaving the Academy, 
 he entered the services of Mr. D. Weil, then conducting 
 a flourishing clothing business in the Staley building. 
 Here he met Mr. Jas. F. Thompson, and formed those 
 mutual ties of confidence and friendship which finally 
 united the two young men in the business they now so 
 successfully pursue. Mr. Tabler is careful and honest. 
 His face is an index of his character, and a warrant from 
 Mm, as to the quality of goods, is as good as gold. Being 
 a young man and possessing a large circle of acquain- 
 tances, he has done much to make the business of the 
 firm stable and permanent. The country people feel that 
 in him they can depend. Under the careful training of 
 his more experienced partner, and possessing natural 
 qualifications for the business, he has developed into a 
 safe and careful salesman, and an efficient business man. 
 None complain of his dealings. Having made, moulded 
 and fashioned his own character, winning his deservedly 
 popular name of " fair dealer," he goes on quietly in the 
 even tenor of his way, contented to see his patronage 
 increasing and his customers satisfied. 
 
 The business of the firm is steadily increasing. The 
 store room is one mass of handsome novelties, fine suits, 
 and the general concomitants of the business. Conduct- 
 ing a large "made to order" feature with the well-known 
 firm of M. Friedman & Sons, of Baltimore, Md., the suits 
 they turn out are perfect in fit and material. Theirs is 
 undoubtedly the soundest and best trade in town. Sat- 
 isfaction always follows the sales, and their patronage is 
 not limited to counties, states or ages. The growth of 
 
436 Biography of Business Men. 
 
 the business is the result of the old saying : ' ' By indus- 
 try, true worth thrives." 
 
 CHARLES H. BOWERS. 
 
 Mr. Bowers, one of Martinsburg' s enterprizing citizens 
 and business men, is a son of Jno. A. Bowers, Esq., and 
 was born in Martinsburg in 1857. He received his educa- 
 tion at the common schools of his day, and in 1872 enter- 
 ed the B. & O. R. E,. machine shops as an apprentice, 
 where he remained four years — serving the required 
 time and acquitting himself creditably. Shortly after- 
 ward he was called to Garrett City, Indiana, where he 
 commanded an excellent position in the B. & O. shops. 
 After remaining about one year, he was compelled to 
 leave on account of ill health, and returned to the shops 
 at this city. In 1885 .he established himself in the 
 merchandise business on North Queen Street, and has 
 continued to the present day. His store occupies the en- 
 tire floors of a two-story building,, wherein an enormous 
 stock of goods is kept and a success full business trans- 
 acted. His stock consists of staple and fancy goods, 
 groceries, canned meats, fish, fruit, vegetables, imported 
 and domestic pickles, sauces, choice teas, coffees and 
 spices, relishes and other condiments and delicacies, in 
 fact all the necessaries and luxuries of the table, as well 
 as the latest novilties in the dry goods line, including 
 the most popular dress patterns, imported and domestic 
 hosiery, underwear, ladies and gentlemen's furnishings, 
 trimmings, embroideries, sewing materials, white goods 
 and notions. His present location is on North Queen 
 Street, near B. & O. R. R. crossing. Mr. Bowers is a 
 shrewd business man, energetic and industrious, and of a 
 genial and clever disposition. He takes considerable 
 interest in various enterprises, and has won the respect 
 and esteem of his people. 
 
 HANSON T. MORROW. 
 
 Mr. Morrow, one of Hedgesville' s enterprising and 
 energetic business men, is a native of Jefferson County, 
 
BiograpJiy of Business Men. 437 
 
 is a son of James W. Morrow, Esq., and was born in 
 the year 1846. His advantages for an education were 
 those offered by the common school of his day. At an 
 early age he entered the milling business under his 
 father, and remained for a period of about seven years. 
 Afterward he returned to school, attending during the 
 winter season and milling during the summer months. 
 In 1864 he entered the military company under Captain 
 Robt. Baylor, in Company "B," 12th Regiment, Vir- 
 ginia Cavalry, and served until the close of the war, a 
 period of about one year. After the war he followed the 
 pursuit of farming for about two years, when he entered 
 the silversmith business under Wm. Johnson, of Fred- 
 erick, Md. Here he remained two years and gained 
 every advantage offered in the business. In the spring 
 of 1887 he opened up in Hedgesville, and from that date 
 has continued until the present day in a successful busi- 
 ness. His present location is on Main street, and con- 
 veniently arranged for the benefit of the general public. 
 Mr. Morrow first opened in the silversmith business and 
 afterwards added the saddler business, repairing of ma- 
 chinery and sale of flour and feed. In his trades he is a 
 skilled workman of talent and energy, and is doing a 
 thriving business. Considerable amount of repairing on 
 jewelry, watches, etc. , is sent him from the larger cities. 
 Mr. Morrow can well be termed a self made man, and as 
 an industrious and clever gentleman, holds the highest 
 respect and esteem of his people. 
 
 SAMUEL W. HOPEWELL, (COL.) 
 
 Mr. Hopewell represents one of the energetic, clever 
 and industrious colored citizens of Martinsburg. He is 
 a native of JeflEerson County, W. Va., and was born at 
 Shepherdstown, December, 17th, 1826. He was a son of 
 Henry Hopewell, Esq., who was well known throughout 
 Jefferson County for his sobriety, and uprightness. 
 During Samuel's early days the advantage for an educa- 
 tion was very limited with his race, and consequently he 
 
438 Biography of Business Men. 
 
 obtained no other learning tlian that given him by his 
 friends. He was employed on a farm, where he remain- 
 ed for nearly twenty years, and made many warm friends. 
 He afterward acted as a caterer and carried on barbering 
 for a number of years. During the late war, in 1863, he 
 Avas conscripted by the Eastern Maryland Regiment- 
 However he served but a short while, and was exempted 
 from service on account of ill health. He then returned 
 to Martinsburg, from which place he went to St. Louis, 
 Mo., and remained until after the surrender at Rich- 
 mond. Mr. Hopewell is well known throughout the 
 community, and takes an active part in business affairs. 
 With his race he stands high in their estimation, and 
 has won the respect of a large circle of acquaintances. 
 During the past twenty years he has successfully follow- 
 ed barbering, and continues at the present day on East 
 Martin Street. As a tonsorial artist he cannot be sur- 
 passed in hair cutting, shampooning, dying and shaving. 
 He employs two skilled workmen regularly, and has his 
 shop conveniently arranged.