Tazewell County, Virginia, Newspaper Articles: Clinch Valley News--October 22, 1897 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 October 22, 1897 POCAHONTAS -------------------------------------- Very dry weather is causing fires here well as a scarcity of water. Mountains around here are burning. Yesterday fire caught in the west mine fan of the Southwest Co. mine, and was blazing about 50 feet high when the Water Works co. turned the hose on and soon put it out. Not 60 days ago it caught fire and was put out by these boys in like manner. They get no pay for service, if they take it in honor they should have more of it than they have been getting for they have saved many houses in town. Rev. Tyler FRAZIER held quarterly meeting here Saturday and Sunday. The coke ovens here are doing fairly well now, but the miners do not make so much on account of more men being in the mines than is necessary to do the work. GAP STORE --------------------------------------- We had a little rain Tuesday, which was badly needed. The farmers are all behind in sowing wheat on account of the lack of rain. Mrs. J.A. BAYLOR left last Saturday for Greenville, Tennessee, where Rev. Mr. BAYLOR will take charge of his work for the year. Miss Hester YOST spent Sunday night with Miss Cora CATRON and left Monday on West bound train for Richlands where she will make her future home. Mrs. J.W. MCNEIL spent last Wednesday with home folks. Mrs. R.H. YOST in spending this week at home. Little Miss Leola DAILEY is on the sick list but it is hoped that she will soon recover. Miss Susie STOWERS, of Bland County, is visiting Mrs. J.H. CRABTREE. We are glad to say that we have Rev. G.W. PRESLEY with us again this year. The public School at this place is progressing nicely. BENBOW --------------------------------------------- Miss Mary RITTER spent Friday night, Saturday and Saturday night at Mr. George CRABTREE. Mr. A.B. BUCHANAN is having some ceiling and plastering done, which will add much to the beauty and comfort of his residence. It is said that he is going to build a law office fronting his store, which will be occupied by one of Philadelphia's best Counselors. A wagon containing about 30 gallons of North Carolina whiskey stayed in the Valley Thursday night, Friday and Friday night. Things were pretty lively Friday and Saturday nights. We hear that Mr. Sam PEERY is teaching school in the upper end of the Valley. We believe Mr. PEERY prove a good teacher. We wish him success. The residence of Mr. T.T. TURNER is very neat since getting the last coat of paint on. The fire has been doing a great deal of damage in the Valley; burning over pastures and burning fences. POUNDING MILL ----------------------------------------- Mrs. J.H. STINSON of Grundy is visiting her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Julius WILLIAMS. Mr. Earnest BEVINS stopped last night at W.B. STEELE on his way from Lynchburg Fair to Big Stone Gap, at which place he will still remain as clerk for Mr. M.C. MCCORKLE. Mr. C.H. HUNT, of Welch, West Virginia, photographed the school at this place last Friday afternoon. Only about 80 were present - enrollment 100. Mr. James OSBORNE visited her sisters in Smythe co. recently. Rev. P.J. LOCKHART preached at this place last Sunday at 11 and Rev. PRESSLEY at 3 p.m. Both sermons were quite interesting. Messrs. C.L. ROBINETT and R.M. SPARKS, Misses Maggie and Lizzie JOHNSON, Lizzie LAMBERT, and a few others attended church at Steelsburg Sunday, while Mrs. RINGSTAFF and others went to Lockhart Chapel. We had a good rain yesterday, the first since August. Grass is dried up, and some farmers have began to feed stock. Mrs. P.M. ALDER came home from her fathers at Steelsburg Sunday and resumed her school Monday. Mrs. Mary LAMBERT is quite ill at this writing, but better than on Monday night. Mr. Willie LAMBERT started back to Staunton Monday, where he will attend the school for the blind. This is his third year at that institution may it prove as successful as the preceding ones. Mrs. James HURT, of Tazewell came down yesterday to visit relatives. Messrs. Harry WILLIAMS and Willie LAMBERT debated twice last week, your writer was so unfortunate as to not be present at that first, but enjoyed the last one. The first debate was decided in favor of Mr. LAMBERT and the latter in favor of Mr. WILLIAMS. Let other young men join and have another soon. Mr. R.K. GILLESPIE loaded another lot of cattle Monday. Mr. KEYS loaded lumber at this place and McCORKLE the past week. Drummer HODGES stayed over Sunday at STEELE'S, while Messrs. PECK, HANKINS, WHITLOCK, SCOTT and others were recent visitors. Mrs. Will MULKY and Miss Matilda ANDERSON visited at Mrs. MCGRAW'S Saturday night and Sunday. Mr. Lee ANDERSON has gone to West Virginia, to engage in mining business till xmas, but he's expected back in a week. Miss Sallie MAXWELL is spending some time with her brother, George, at Falls Mills. Mr. MAXWELL is agent at the point. Willie Rees, the 2 year old son of R.M. SPARKS, was accidentally shot in the head Friday morning by the discharge of a gun in the hands of Willie BRYANT, a lad of 16. Dr. W.R. WILLIAMS was telegraphed for, and probed for the balls, but the boy had passed out, and the injury was only slight. Over one hundred shot of same load lodged in the store house of C.L. ROBINETT. Let this be a warning to all boys who read or hear of this. Mrs. Jonas SPARKS, of Baptist Valley, and Mrs. Albert MAXWELL, came down to R.M. SPARKS Saturday to see the baby who was shot. Messrs. James BARNES and James JOHNSON attended the funeral of Mrs. YOST, at Lockharts Chapel Sunday. Mrs. Fred QUESENBERRY, who has been ill for some time, is better. --------------------- Mrs. Elizabeth BARRETT, was born in Tazewell County, Virginia, October 5, 1839, and died October 15, 1897. Her life for the last 12 years was a beautiful example of the sustaining power of the Christian Religion. During that length of time she was an invalid, and never left her home. Those who were with her most, say she was never heard to murmur or complain at God's mysterious providence in her long affliction. The writer of this has held many religious services in her home, and she would invariably send for the neighbors and friends to join in song and prayer and talk. Often on these occasions world she clap her hands and speak of God's love and peace which she felt in her heart. Her last days on earth seemed her happiest, and just before her spirit left its clay tenement she looked out of the window and said: "This is the brightest day I have ever seen." In her dying moments her neighbors were at her bedside, and she expressed her appreciation of their kindness to her during her protracted affliction, and being conscious that her time to leave this world had come, she welcomed life's expected close, and sank in permanent repose. Departed this life at the home of her daughter, on September 29, 1897, in Burkes Garden, Mrs. Sallie MOSS, in the 87th year of her age. Mrs. MOSS was the mother of nine children, one of whom preceded her to the spirit world. She was left a widow in 1861, with a large family to care for, but with the help of God who is "A father to the fatherless, and a husband to the widow" she succeeded in rearing them up "In the nurture and admonition of the Lord," and they now help to constitute the best citizens of our community. Mrs. MOSS, early in her life, connected herself with the M.E. Church South, and lived a consistent member until her death. She lived a humble, faithful Christian life - such as many of us should imitate, and while often we doubt, she longed to depart and be with Christ, yet she waited patiently until the Lord in his infinite love and mercy thought is best to take her home; when she left the loving embrace of her daughter and joined and angelic Host that had come to waft her spirit to its eternal home. Truly she was a ripe sheaf, ready for the garner. As the writer be held the children and grandchildren surround their loved ones for the last time he thought of the goodness of God and how that flower that had withered on earth should bloom anew in Heaven, and be remitted with loved ones where there will be no more parting.