Tazewell County, Virginia, Newspaper Articles: Clinch Valley News--July 17, 1914 Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Michelle Burress http://www.cvnotes.com ==================================================================== Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ==================================================================== Clinch Valley News July 17, 1914 TANNERSVILLE -------------------------------- The people of this community were awakened this morning by the sound of thunder to bear the rain sputtering on the house tops. You may be sure it was a welcome sound after the continued draught. It was only a shower but the clouds give promise of more rain soon. Mr. and Mrs. Will ERNEST and little daughter, of Salem, are in the Valley visiting. Mrs. ERNEST'S mother, Mrs. Mary CALDWELL, and other relatives. Mr. and Mrs. C.W. ASBURY spent Saturday night and Sunday with their son, Miller, in Tazewell. Mrs. J.P. HILT was visiting her daughter, Mrs. Minnie NECESSARY one day last week. Mr. J.I. HILT has returned from Washington County, where he spent part of last week with his brother, Mr. F.H. HILT, and other relatives. Mr. and Mrs. Robert HOLMES, and two of their children came up from North Holston yesterday in their new automobile and visited in the home of Messrs. J.P. and G.P. HOLMES. Mrs. George TAYLOR and children, and Mrs. Elith SHRADER, were visiting in Little Valley Sunday. Mrs. Mattie BROOKS, of Asbury's who has been spending several weeks with her daughter, Mrs. W.A. HILT, at this place, spent last week in Thompson Valley, the guest of the Misses HIGGINBOTHAM. BANDY ------------------------------------ The crops at this place look well after the rain. The old "Uncle" Tom BEAVERS house was struck by lightning last Friday evening and burned completely Fortunately, no one was injured. W.B. and Charles YOUNG, and Ed LAMBERT left Monday for Norfolk, to spend a few days at the beach. R.D. YOUNG and Noah STEVENSON made a business trip to Tazewell Tuesday. "Uncle" Jimmy HENKLE, who has been confined to his bed, is able to be out again. Mrs. John MOORE, from Pocahontas, was visiting her mother, Mrs. BREWSTER here last week. Miss Lou LAMBERT is quite ill at this writing. Mrs. W.P. PAYNE was visiting at B.I. PAYNE'S Sunday. Mr. C.C. PAYNE made a business trip to Welch this week. There will be an ice cream supper at the church here Saturday evening the 25th from 4 to 9 pm. Mrs. Vicie BEAVERS and daughter, Miss Virgie and Mr. BARRETT, were calling on Miss Lettie HENKLE Sunday evening. BURKES GARDEN --------------------------- Mrs. W.R. MCALISTER and lovely little baby, Lucille, of Athens, Ga. are visiting parents, Mr. and Mrs. T.E. HOWELL, in Burke's Garden. Miss Gertrude HOWELL is attending the Summer School at Radford. Mr. and Mrs. F.M. MOSS are spending sometime at Cedar Bluff springs. Miss Mary HOWELL is expected home from Lynchburg in a few days. Mrs. COLEMAN, of Bluefield, is visiting her sister, Mrs. Steven PEERY, this week. Mrs. RYAN and daughter, Mrs. WOODWARD, are the guests of Miss Ida GREEVER this week. Mrs. Sam BARNES has been the guest of her sister, Mrs. GOODMAN, for several days. COVE CREEK ------------------------------- The farmers are busy cutting wheat and working corn. Mrs. R.B. ROBINETT entertained a number of her friends at a quilting party last Tuesday. Mrs. B.P. STOWERS was visiting her father, Mr. Noah CALDWELL, at Rocky Gap last Saturday and Sunday. Miss Lucille FOX was the guest of Miss Gertrude FOX last Saturday night. Rev. Mr. STEWART filled his regular appointment at this place last Sunday. Misses Lula and Rosa STIMPSON were visiting relatives and friends at this place Saturday and Sunday. Miss Mary HUNNEL and Miss Edith SHUFFLEBARGER were the guests of Mrs. T.E. GREGORY Saturday and Sunday. The stork visited the home of Mr. and Mrs. Ed FOX on the fourth, and left a fine girl. Mr. John CRABTREE and family were the guests of Mr. Oliver CRABTREE Sunday. Miss Nannie THOMPSON, of Tennessee, is visiting relatives and friends on the Fork. Miss Pauline STOWERS, of Bluefield, is the guest of Misses Kathleen and Millie GREGORY. Mr. Will WADDLE, of Ceres, is in the community, weighting lambs. The Sunday school at Mt. NEBO is progressing nicely, with Mr. J.B. GREGORY, superintendent. Miss Rose STOWERS was the guest of Miss Lizzie COMPTON this week. Mrs. Sallie SHANNON was the guest of Mrs. B.P. STOWERS Sunday. Miss Clara CRABTREE was the guest of Miss Cecil ROBINETT Sunday. COALDAN --------------------------------------- On the third of this month E.J. GRIFFITS, son of Martin GRIFFITS, fell dead in the store of J.W. DAILEY & Co. while waiting for his mail. He is survived by his mother, who is about 80 years old, three brothers, James E.M.J. and W.F. and three sisters, Mrs. Deskins CECIL, of Greenbrier County, West Virginia, Mrs. Clint ASBERRY, of Richlands, and Mrs. John SMITH, of Big Creek; two sons Robert and Richard, and three daughters, Mrs. Osa TAILOR, Mrs. RUDICIL, of West Virginia, and Mrs. Lizzie LOVEN, of this place. The burial took place at the Tom Lowe cemetery on Sunday, July 5th, witnessed by an immense crowd. The Sunday school at this place is progressing nicely. We have 50 on the roll, with an average attendance of about 43. Mr. A.C. BALDWIN is the superintendent, and he is very attentive and efficient. The people are becoming more interested in the Sunday school than ever before. It looks like the mines might start some time this fall - it is to be hoped they will, as the people here need the work. Since it has been so dry the crops have all failed here and the people will have to buy most of their supplies for another year. We had a fine rain yesterday and last night, which will help late corn and the gardens, and enable the Jewell Ridge coal topple to start up the works again, as they stopped on account of the lack of water to run the power house. POUNDING MILL ------------------------------------- Mrs. Nancy DAVIS, who has been very sick for the past two weeks, is much better. The trained nurse left yesterday. Mrs. J.T. ALTIZER has been on the sick list for sometime. Mrs. A.F. PRYOR and Master Aubry MCCLAIN went to Richlands yesterday pm. Mr. James OSBORNE returned Saturday from Princeton, where he had been visiting his son, William OSBORNE, and family. Mrs. Alex ALTIZER, Richlands, spent Sunday night with her son, J.T. ALTIZER, and family. She has about recovered from her recent illness. Rev. James GRAHAM, Washington County, preached here Sunday at 4 pm assisted by Rev. Edward SMITH, of Maxwell. Presiding Elder HURLEY, Tazewell preached here Sunday night to a large congregation. William GILLESPIE was confined to his home with sickness Monday and Tuesday, but is now able to be out. H.M. STURGILL, of Roanoke, visited his parents here Sunday and Monday. Mrs. J.D. STINSON and daughter, Miss Amy, returned to their home in Grundy on yesterday, after a couple of weeks visit to her mother, Mrs. Mary WILLIAMS. C.M. HUNTER was on the sick list the last of the week. Quite a number of Rebekahs from different places were here Saturday and sold ice cream and cake. A nice little sum was realized. Mrs. A.J. PETTS visited relatives in the Cove last week. Mrs. Robert PETTS visited her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Charles MCGUIRE, on the Branch one day last week. C.H. TRAYER has put a metal roof on his residence, because the train set the other on fire recently. "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." Sanders GILLESPIE and Fred STEELE shipped a car of lambs yesterday. Miss Vell BURNETT visited relatives in Bluefield last week. Mrs. Thomas ROBINETT is visiting her mother, Mrs. RASNAKE, at Cedar Bluff. Mrs. H.W. CHRISTIAN and daughter, Miss Gussie, are visiting friends at Cedar Bluff today. Miss Carrie OSBORNE is visiting relatives in Bluefield. Mrs. William JOHNSON and son, Edwin, spent the weekend as the guest of her sister, Mrs. James JOHNSON. Mr. Balfour WHITE, Paint Lick, was here yesterday on his way to Tazewell to the Democratic convention. TIP TOP --------------------------------- The drought which began about May 4th, was broken with a vengeance last Friday between 5 and 6 pm - in a small section of this neighborhood we had the worst hailstorm ever known. corn and other growing crops were literally cut to pieces - even corn stalks looked as if they had been in a shot gun storm. The earth was covered with hail in a very few minutes. Apples, grapes, etc. were beaten off as if it had been the fall of the year. While the hail, wind and rain were at their worst the hills were shaken by loud and frequent peals of thunder and several trees were struck. If anyone doubt the effect of this hailstorm, let them come and we will show what it did for crops, orchards, etc. and even fence rails. The writer has seen a fairly good sized territory, which lay in the drought zone, a section each of Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky and Virginia, but the driest country seen was from about Five Oaks west to near Pisgah, and over in Baptist Valley. It just simply looked pitiful and distressing. On Saturday and Sunday your correspondent was down as far as John FARMER'S, on a visit to see another tiny bit of the Farmer and Saunders people - a little girl baby, which was born on the 23rd of June. The child will weigh something close to 5 lbs. Mr. Farmer has plenty of apples and cherries, but no grass, and very little pasture or meadows. Messrs. E. King CROCKETT and J.K. ROUTH continue to load and ship lambs, and are paying very good prices for same. Some few calves have been sold at high figures, but no other cattle sold yet that we have heard of. ----------------------- The new Sunday school, organized at Rocky Dell, started off well last Sunday with 59 in attendance. Mr. John MCGRAW was elected superintendent. He has managed successfully the county farm for years, and as superintendent of the Rocky Dell school will do his best. Mrs. Luther RUTHERFORD was elected secretary and treasurer, and five teachers were selected to take charge of the five classes organized. Mr. MCGRAW will have the valuable assistance of his wife, who has extensive experience in the management of young children, and also of children not so young. I went out on Sunday morning, by special invitation to do what I could to give the new school a sent off. Mr. J.N. HARMAN will go out next Sunday and lend a hand, and preach at 11 o'clock. "Rocky Dell" is the name of the ancestral home of the Tynes family. Mr. Samuel TYNES, father of Major TYNES lived on this farm for years, and died there. The farm is now owned by Joseph S. GILLESPIE, and Luther RUTHERFORD, son of F.P. RUTHERFORD, is the manager, and Mr. GILLESPIE says, is doing it well. The Rutherford boys are steady, industrious young fellows. Charles, a brother to Luther, is manager on one of Mr. GILLESPIE'S farms in the west end, and has been for years, and like Luther, is "delivering the goods." The Rocky Dell farm consists, if memory serves me, of about 1000 acres. including now another boundary adjoining, known as the Thompson farm. Luther managers all this big tract, and Mrs. RUTHERFORD managers Luther. "Napoleon and me" had our dinner with Mr. and Mrs. RUTHERFORD, and Freeling, Luther's father, ws there too, and my regret then (and since) is that my appetite and capacity, on this occasion was so limited. J.A.L. BENBOW ------------------------------- Mrs. Lizzie THOMPSON, mother of W.A. and Milton THOMPSON, has been sick for several days, but is thought to be a little better at this writing. Mrs. Mary PHILLIPS, of Graham, and Mr. Mike CRIGGER, of Washington County, have been visiting the family of Mr. Joseph CRIGGER and other relatives in this section. Two children of Mr. John PUCKETT have been quite sick for several days, but are thought to be a little improved at this writing. Mr. and Mrs. W.E. WALK spent Sunday and Mr. WALK'S sister, Mrs. Jim HARRISSON, at Tazewell. A number of the young folks of this place met at White Church Sunday afternoon for singing practice, led by Mr. J.N. RHUDY. We always enjoy having Mr. RHUDY with us. Mr. C. CARELL has been keeping himself rather close since he took unto himself a wife. Mrs. CORELL has made a very favorable impression on all who have had the pleasure of meeting her. The happy couple are making their home with Mr. CORELL'S parents at present. Mrs. Ida LYNCH, of Bluefield, has been spending several days with the family of Mr. D.W. LYNCH, of this place. ---------------------------- "Jordan" YOST'S visit here last week called to mind a pleasant experience a number of us had just about twenty years ago, an experience never to be forgotten. No description or account on paper, however graphically written could tell the story just as it was. During the summer of 1894 there was organized in this town a club, finally christened The Fur and Father Club to Tazewell. We "chipped in," bought a tent and necessary paraphernalia for camping, cooking, etc. and were fairly well equipped. We had guns of all descriptions and ammunition galore. We had no dogs. October 15th, if memory is correct, was set as the time for leaving, Poor Valley our destination, and ten days fixed as the length of our stay, game and a good time the object. On the date named we started in groups of two's and three's across the mountains, proposing to hunt along the way, and meet in the Valley. The wagon - a hired one horse affair - containing our outfit, was in charge of the two colored cooks, with "Bill" MOORE as general manager. It was an arduous trip across the mountains. The leaves were dry, the sun hot, water scarce, hills steep, guns heavy and no game whatever appeared in the way. We carried no lunch, but there were ripe chestnuts a plenty and now and then chinquapins and berries, and on such we managed to live until something more substantial was to be had. Along about sunset the boys began to appear in the road at different places, for everybody got lost and scattered in crossing the mountains. When one would reach the road a signal gun would be fired or a whoop given, and answered, and gradually the crowd got together. Word came that the tent had been pitched down the Valley, and we moved in that direction. To shorten the story - We camped in an open square, in the big woods, near the read, not far from the residence of John NEEL. A tumbled down log cabin - once the home of some forgotten mountaineer - stood in this vacant half acre, surrounded by tall trees on three sides, and heavy bushes and brush on the other sides, and heavy bushes and brush on the other side. A strong clear branch of pure mountain water flowed nearby. Two large logs, hewn on one side, were brought from the cabin and placed near the tent. This made a convenient table, around which we sat on boxes, large stones, and such seats as we could improvise, and how we did eat! In front of the tent large logs were piled, and our camp fire blaze lit up the woods. Such nights for sleeping, such days for roaming the woods, such water - well, no description will be attempted. Each morning we started, two and two, in different directions. The roar of our guns, the echo through the big woods - we can all hear yet. The bark of the squirrel, the whirr of pheasant wings as the "meat was carried away' the coon hunts at night - all are remembered with indescribable pleasure. We remained in camp ten days, and while the game bagged was not as large as we expected it was sufficient for our supply. The names of the members of the F & F C are recalled as follows" John and Lewis BRITTAIN, E.V. and "Big Bill" SPOTTS, C.T. (Hayseed) PEERY, Frank WITTEN, George W. (Jordan) YOST, J.A. LESLIE, Bill MOORE, commissary, Charles DEMPSEY, 1st cook, Charles PAXTON, 2nd cook, T.B. WARREN, barber and general supervisor of the culinary department. On Sunday we had as guests W.T. WITTEN and Tom HELDRETH, from town. They brought over a few tables - sweet potatoes, I believe and enjoyed a fine dinner of coon and other wild game. All the members of the club are living after twenty years, except two, John and Lewis BRITTAIN, brothers, two of as fine fellows as ever lived. When we broke camp someone proposed that we "come back again next year," we all agreed. Some one of the number remarked, "Boys, we may come back as often as we will, but this outing will never - can never - be duplicated." And the attempt to do so have never been made.