News articles from Wayne County Newspaper Submitted by June White and Wayne County News,who gave permission to research its old editions, and Nina Johnson, resident genealogist at Cabell County Library. December 2001 This files contains: Amanda Osburn obit of DR. C. E. WILKINSON Obit of Mrs. Nancy Hale WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT TWELVE POLE? WAYNE-LOGAN CONNECTED BY WAY OF MINGO K. G. E. CASTLE TO BE IN HUNTINGTON Old items and budgets ************************************************* CELEBRATES 96TH BIRTHDAY (with photo) "AUNT" AMANDA OSBURN "Aunt" Amanda Osburn, believed to be the oldest person living in Wayne County, celebrated her 96th birthday on last Sunday, November 29th. She was born November 29, 1829, in Virginia, but came to Wayne county when very young. Despite her advanced age, she is still able to get around well and is seen nearly every day on the street about town and around her home. She stays with her son Circuit Clerk Chas. E. Walker at nights, but maintains her own home here during the day. When "Aunt" Amanda was born, Andrew Jackson was president. She was a woman 32 years of age when Abraham Lincoln was inauguarated, at which time Lincoln himself was only 52 years of age. "Aunt" Amanda is still able to read and do some light housework. She has a wonderfully strong constitution for a person of her age. When she first took up her residence in Wayne county, this territory was a fast wilderness inhabited chiefly by bear, deer and other wild game. In making the trip from Virginia to Wayne county, it was necessary for her father to build the road as he came as there were only trails those days. Within her lifetime, not only Wayne county but the whole country has undergone changes and improvements that seem incredible to have happened in the scope of one life-time. Wayne County News Wayne, West Virginia December 3, 1925 DEATHS ************************************************** DR. C. E. WILKINSON Dr. Carlos Eugene Wilkinson, who was born near Wayne County Court House July 1, 1877, departed this life November 23, 1925. aged 48 years. He was united in marriage to Lula McGinnis February 1, 1906. To this union was born one son, Renick, who is now a student in the West Virginia University. Doctor Wilkinson went to Preston county, West Virginia in 1903 and built up a large practice in the medical profession, and for 22 years was busily engaged in this work. In heeding the many calls that to him, he endured many hardships to travel over bad roads through inclement weather. He will be greatly missed by the community in which he worked so long. He joined the Methodist Episcopal churach a number of years ago and was one of the strong financial supporters all these years. When questioned by his Pastor in his last illness, he gave positive evidence that all was well. He was stricken with paralysis last spring, from which he only partially recovered, when on November 14 he was stricken again with another stroke from which he died. He leaves to mourn his loss his wife, son, father, mother, one brother, and a host of friends. Services were conducted at his home in Bruceton Mills by his pastor Rev. J. E. Johnson, assisted by Rev. Jeremiah Thomas, after which his body was brought to Wayne, where another service was held after which interment was made in the family cemetery at Elmwood. NANCY HALE ************************************************* Mrs. Nancy Hale, age 77 years and one of the pioneers of Logan and Wayne counties, died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. William Hale of Logan last week. She had been sick only one week. Three sisters of the deceased live in Wayne county, namely, Mrs. Lydia Price, Mrs. Mary Clay and Mrs. Julia Adkins. Mrs. Hale was born in Blacksburg, Henry County, Virginia, but had lived in Logan county for sixty-five years. She was married to John H. Hale in 1860. She was known to several Wayne county people. The deceased had 14 children. . .and in her life-time adopted three children. Wayne County News Wayne, West Virginia December 3, 1925 ******************************************************** Aug. 27, 1925 WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT TWELVE POLE? "Ninety percent of the people who live on Twelve Pole Creek in Wayne County do not know that both forks of Twelve Pole rise in Mingo county and flow through Lincoln county before they rearch Wayne." That statement was made to Wayne County News this week by a Wayne County man who cited us to the West Virginia Geological survey reports to confirm his statement that both forks of Twelve Pole do rise in Mingo and flow through Lincoln. In this connection a statement of facts concerning Twelve Pole should be interesting to readers of Wayne County News. This stream takes it source at the base of the Guyan Mountain in Mingo county and flows in a general northwest direction and empties into the Ohio river near Ceredo. How Twelve Pole Was Named The creek gets its name from the fact that the surveyors when locating the Savage land grant at its mouth in 1784, found its width to be twelve poles, or rods. Twelve Pole is said to have been named by George Washington, or at least by surveyors employed by Washington in making the Savage land grant survey. It is the only large stream in the whole state of West Virginia having its source in the Ohio river section. The main Twelve Pole is formed by junction of the East or Left Fork with the West or the Right Fork at a point less than one mile south of Wayne. The length of the creek from the junction of the two forks to the mouth is 31 miles. The principal tributaries to Twelve Pole from the junction of the two forks down the the mouth are Toms Creek, Garretts Creek, Big Creek, Lynn Creek, Beech Fork, Camp Creek, Newcomb Creek, Plymale Branch, Haynies Branch, Buffalo Creek, Bobs Branch and Walkers Branch. Source of Left Fork The East Fork, better known as Left Fork, of Twelve Pole has its source in the northern part of Mingo county and flows in a northwestern direction 11 1/2 miles through Mingo county, 1 1/2 Miles through Lincoln county and 22 miles in Wayne county to the junction with Right fork. The length of this fork is thirty-five miles. The chief tributary streams to this fork are Two Mile, Newcomb, Peter Cave, Little Lynn, Camp Creek, Laurel, Brush Creek, Lick Creek, Rich Creek, Beechy Branch, Cove Creek, Bluelick Branch, Kiahs Creek, Milam, McComas, Crane Nest Branch and Cowpen Fork. Source of Right Fork The West or Right Fork of Twelve also rises in the Northern part of Mingo county and flows through Mingo for a distance of 15 miles, passing through the corner of Lincoln county and through Wayne county for a distance of little over 36 miles where it joine the Left Fork. The entire length of the Right Fork is 52 miles, which added to the 31 miles from the Forks to the mouth of main Twelve Pole makes the length of the entire stream from its farthest source 83 miles. The principal streams flowing into the Right fork are Patrick, Trace, Joels Branch, Billies Branch, Ferguson Branch, Big Branch, Missouri Branch, Moses Creek, Long Branch and Turkey Creek. Is Scenic Stream Twelve Pole is a historical and scenic stream. Its valleys provide some of the best farming land in the country. It was the sole means of transportation for hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of timber which was floated in the pioneer days of this county. And the scenic beauty and splendor along Twelve Pole compares most favorably with that found in any other county in the State. Wayne County News Wayne, West Virginia August 27, 1925 ************************************************************** WAYNE-LOGAN CONNECTED BY WAY OF MINGO With the recent completion of the Tug River Highway through Wayne county to the Mingo line, traffic has started between Wayne County and Logan court house by way of Williamson. A number of Wayne County people have made this trip to Logan within the past few days and also Logan people have been driving over this route extensively within the past two weeks. In dry weather, the road is excellent for automobile travel. The Tug River Highway through this county from Hodges on the Wayne-Cabell line to Marrowbone on the Wayne-Mingo line is completed with the exception of a small detour of only a few hundred yards at the Wells Branch bridge near the residence of Mont Crum. A new bridge is under construction at this point but two detours are provided, a new detour around the hill road for a few yards having been opened only last week. The road from the Wayne-Mingo line to Williamson is reported good and is paved for some distance. Over the above route it is about 107 miles from the Wayne Court House to Logan Court House and only approximately sixty-five miles from Wayne court house to Williamson. Following is a log which has been made by the Huntington Automobile Club which shows the exact distances and route to be followed in making a trip from Huntington over the Tug River Highway through Lavalette, Wayne, Dunlow and Crum to Williamson, thence by way of Pigeon Creek Mountain, Omar and Rossmore to Logan and from Logan to Charleston by way of Stollings, Blair and Kanawha City. The distance from Huntington to Charleston over this route is 200.1 miles. H. M. Smith, manager of the Huntington Auto Club, recorded the following automobile log on a trip over this route last week: Set your odometer at zero at the corner of Ninth Street and Sixth Avenue going west. . .[and] taking up route No. 8 [follow] concrete to the end of the pavement. 8.2 miles R. R. X turn left, begins dirt road, follow until odometer reads reads 19.2 miles;thence begins brick pavement. 20.2 Wayne court house 21.2 miles brick pavement ends, turn right cross bridge over dirt road 25.3 turn left R. R. X at Echo 45.5 miles bridge under construction, detour 150 feet over creek bed, cross Bull mountain,excellent earth road 61.3 miles Mingo county line begins 63.0 miles macadam; thence earth 69.9 miles macadam begins 72.3 miles macadam ends beginning earth road 77.0 miles, Nolan 80.7 Chatteroy 83.3 miles city limits Williamson 85.5 miles Williamson Court House Continue through Williamson on pavement. 88.2 miles pavement ends, earth road begins, cross Pigeon Creek mountain, excellent earth road 94.7 miles keep right for Logan 98.0 miles gravel begins 109.2 miles turn left for Logan, leaving main route over narrow, rough earth road for 6 miles,damgerous in very wet weather 115.0 miles, gravel road begins 116.1 miles Stirrat 118.2 concrete ends, gravel begins 122.9 Rossmore 126.7 keep right for Logan, road to left goes to Holden 127.9 Logan court house 129.7 miles Stollings, end of concrete pavement, go over railroad, earth road begins 140.2 miles Blair, R. R. X 161.0 miles Madison, pavement ends, earth road begins, 6 miles very rough 193.7 miles, pavement begins, Kanawha City 200.1 Capitol street Charleston Wayne County News Wayne, West Virginia August 27, 1925 ****************************************************** K. G. E. CASTLE TO BE IN HUNTINGTON A large number of Wayne Countians who are members of the Knights of the Golden Eagle are planning to attend the thirty- eighth annual session of the Grand Castle of the lodge and the twenty-fifth Grand Temple of the Ladies of the Golden Eagle, which will be held at the Odd Fellows Hall in Huntington on September 9th and 10th. Headquarters for the occasion will be at the Fifth Avenue Hotel. Wayne County is well represented on the roster of Grand Lodge officers of the K. G. E. William Gibson of Westmoreland is grand vice-chief; L. J. Rigg of Wayne Route 1 is grand first guardsman; and L. R. Lambert of Kenova is one of the grand trustees. Taylor Lambert, also of Kenova, is a member of the L. & A. committee of the Grand Castle. WAYNE COUNTY NEWS Wayne, West Virginia August 27, 1925 ****************************************************** Jan. 15, 1926 WAYNE COUNTY OF FORTY YEARS AGO PICTURED IN LOCAL PAPERS OF THE 1880's EARLY NEWSPAPERS REVEAL FACTS OF VITAL INTEREST TO OUR READERS OF TODAY; HASN'T BEEN SO LONG SINCE VALUABLE LANDS SOLD FOR $1.00 TO $3.00 AND ACRE HIGHEST SALARIED COUNTY OFFICER GOT $350 A YEAR LUMBERING WAS BIG BUSINESS OF OLDEN DAYS; DEMOCRATIC COUNTY CONVENTION OF 1884 LED BY MEN WHO ARE NOW REPUBLICANS; 769 CASES ON COURT DOCKET IN 1885 Wayne county is not what she used to be, say forty years ago. This truth was brought vividly to mind this week when the writer spent a few hours rambling through pages of Wayne county newspapers that were published in 1884, 1885, and 1886. We found a lot of interesting things about the Wayne county of forty years ago and its people. A recital of a few of the outstanding facts [from] these early issues of Wayne County newspapers should be of immense human interest and historical value to our readers today, and so we have prepared this story which we hope you will enjoy. The Early Newspapers By way of introductory explanation, we should say that the first newspaper ever published in Wayne County was The Ceredo Cresant (sic) which began in December 1857 before the Civil War. W. B. Wilson was proprietor and C. B. Webb editor of this paper. This paper expired in 1861. The second venture in journalism in Wayne County was the publication of The Wayne Advocate at Trout's Hill (now the town of Wayne) in August 1874 by B. Lewis, who came to this county from Western Reserve, Ohio. This paper was the forerunner of the present Wayne County News which you now hold in your hands. This paper was later moved to Cassville (now Fort Gay) and again moved back to Trouts Hill (or Wayne) in 1880, where it has been published continuously ever since. Among those who have from time to time since its birth been connected with this paper as owners or editors are the following: Byron C. Howell, Dr. A. Workman, C. R. Enslow, McFarland Booton, G. W. Hutchinson II, E. Shumate, W. M. Workman, R. J. Prichard, W. L. Mansfield, C. L. Deane, Boyd Jarrell, C. G. Fry, O. J. and J. W. Rife, and the present management. The Ceredo Enterprise was begun in Ceredo in September 1881 by W. M. Workman and Lee C. Salyes. A year later T. T. McDougal (present editor and owner of the Ceredo Advance) purchased the interest of Salyes and continued the publication of The Enterprise and later the publications of The Ceredo Advance and The Kenova Reporter. Mr. McDougal had formerly been associated with P. C. Morris in the publication The West Virginia Star," later The Ritchie Gazette, and still later founded The Lincoln Clipper." Wayne County News was first known as The Wayne Advocate, then as The Wayne County News under the managements of Mansfield, Jarrell, Rife and Fry. The name was changed to Wayne County News in September 1919 when the paper was assumed by the present management. With the foregoing historical setting in our minds, we turn to the old issues of the Advocate and Enterprise, published back in the eighties. Happenings In 1884 In 1884 The Advocate did not carry a single line of Wayne County news on either the front or the back pages. It was a four-page paper, eight columns to the page, and the local happenings were largely confined to the first three columns on page three. Among items of interest in the Advocate in 1884 are the following: The county was being "pestered" with lightning rod agents and a good many of the leading citizens were buying rods. An educational column was begun in the Advocate by Professor T. B. McClure, who still lives in Wayne. The following paragraph appeared in Professor McClure's column: "We used the following words in our school Friday, January 25th: Mulberry, pacify, rarely, camonulo, baiting, brooch, bruise, brews, clause, fossil, fete, gorgeous, calamus, freeze, salt, persuade, guest, corrode, Hugh, thirteen, Ode, owing, wrestle, libeling. The following are the highest percentages: Jannie E. Ratcliff 95 M. J. Ferguson 88 W. B. Spurlock 80 Zara F. Hutchinson 72 Julia Burke 72 A. G. Wilkinson 72 T. B. McCLURE" Coal in 1884 in the town of Wayne was selling at 17 to 20 cents a bushel, and was scarce. Hogs were reported as being "terribly high due to the prevalence of cholera, causing hogs to sell as high as 6 and 7 cents a pound." One of the big questions of the day was whether the railroad would be built up right fork or left fork of Twelve Pole; the interest in that issue seemed quite as lively as the interest taken in the county seat removal questions in recent years. An item is found in the issue of May 1, 1884, which reads: "Married by the Rev. J. D. Garrett on April 24, 1884, Mr. John W. Mitchell and Miss Mary Bloss." Mr. Mitchell is now postmaster at Wayne. Land Is Cheap Advertisement of land for sale was carried by the H. K. Shumate Real Estate Agency of Wayne, offering for sale valuable land in Wayne, Logan and Lincoln counties at prices ranging from $1.00 to $3.00 an acre. This included both mineral and surface. Much of the land in the famous Logan coal field was bought and sold in those days for one dollar to three dollars an acre, $1. 50 being the average price. A 250 acre farm in Wayne County with all kind of good buildings and orchards, including residence, is offered for sale for $1,000 with one-fourth dosn and balance in three years. By order of the town council all persons living in the town of Wayne were ordered to take their dogs off the street and "confine them" in suitable pens. A rise in Twelve Pole took down "at least eight thousand fine hogs and a vast quantity of staves." Most of the timber was oak. Timbering was one of the chief industries in Wayne County in that day. "Bull Durham Tobacco" and "Tutt's Pills" were the only two commodities advertised in the Advocate in 1884 that can still be found on the market today. County Court Expenses One of the most interesting things found in the ramble through files of old Wayne County newspapers was a copy of The Ceredo Enterprise of August 5, 1884, which published the Financial Statement of the expenditures of Wayne County for the year ending May 31, 1884. In 1884 the highest salaried officer in Wayne County was the prosecuting attorney, and he received only $350.00 a year. The names of the officers of 1884 and their yearly salaries were John S. Marcum, pros. atty $350 William E. Wilkinson, sheriff $175 Jas. P. Wellman, Cir. clerk $175 P. H. Napier, county clerk $200 Alderson Walker, jailor $85 G. L. Wheeler, assessor 1st dist $250 Jas. Queen, assessor 2nd dist $250 _______ Total $1, 485 The three commissioners of the county court each received a salary of $54. a year. The total election expense in the county for the year 1884 was $11.35, which was paid to S. J. Ferguson, Abraham Vaughan and J. W. Merrick, who served as election commissioners. 1884 County Recapitulations Following is the recapitulation or summary of all county government expenses for the year ending May 31, 1884, including the total county expenses and total road expenses. These should be interesting to taxpayers of this present day as a matter of comparison with our present government, which has necessarily grown more complex as the county has grown and developed. The 1884 recapitulations are as follows: General County Expense Salary of officers $1485.00 County court expense 166.00 Election expense 11.35 Stationery and books 264.45 Witness and jury fund 1699.70 Incidental expenses 2332.38 Pauper fund 1936.69 __________ Total expense $7895.57 County Levy of 1883 9986.51 Bal. in sheriff's hands $2090.94 County Road Expense General County 3800.00 1st district 6000.00 2nd district 9500.00 3rd district 12,000.00 4th district 500.00 _________ Total road expense $31,800.00 Old-Time Democratic Convention The Wayne Advocate, in its issue of June 5, 1884, publishes a lengthy news story of a rousing Democratic convention that was held at Wayne on Monday of that week. W. L. Mansfield was Democratic County Chairman. Chapman Adkins was Secretary of the County Committee. Among those who took a prominent part in the proceedings of the convention were John S. Marcum and Z. T. Vinson, who were active Democrats in those days but both of them have sense joined the Republican party. Typical News Item Typical of the news items that appeared in the Advocate, we quote the following paragraph relative to James Frizzell, a resident of Wayne in those days: "James Frizzell one day last week went to the country in the capacity of Deputy Sheriff to attach a witness. He found him and did the necessary "attaching," and gave him permission to change his clothes for something better as he was coming on a visit to the Hotel de Walker, (namely, the jail) situated very near our courthouse. While James was enjoying the scenery from the front porch, the witness was seeking the selected shades of the mountain forests to the rear. James came home a sadder and wiser man, and has handed in his resignation." Prices of Groceries An advertisement for Ferguson & Watts' store, at Wayne, quoted the following prices on groceries: Arbuckle Coffee, five pounds for one dollar; breakfast bacon, .15 a pound; lard, .14; shoulder, .14; flour, $6.00 to $8.50 a barrell. Sunday School Founded A meeting was called of citizens of the Town of Wayne in January 1884 for the purpose of organizing a Baptist Sunday school. The M. E. (Methodist) church already had a Sunday school here at that time. The Latter Day Saints (Mormons) were holding preaching here then. Circuit Court Docket The circuit court docket for the January term of 1885 was quite as crowded as is the present-day docket, according to the following paragraph from the Advocate: "The circuit court docket of our county is reaching beyond control of any Judge. There are 769 cases on the Docket, arranged as follows: State appearance, 247; State issue, 245; appeal, 52; Office judgment, 20; and Chancery cases, 205. It would take one half of the term to call the Docket if an enquiry was to be made as to the Status of each case. We need relief and need it badly. We must either have more time or an Intermediate Court." Ads On First Page Newspapers in those days had no scruples against carrying advertisements on the first page. Even as late as 1906, we find most of the front pages of The Wayne County News taken up by display advertising. The advertisements of liquor houses in Williamson, Huntington and Catlettsburg made up a considerable part of the display advertising that was carried. "A. Goodman" of Williamson and "Ziegler & Behrend" are the names of two famous saloons that were regular advertising patrons of The Wayne County News for a good many years. From Local Column The following paragraphs are taken from the "Local News Column" of the Advocate, dated April 8th, 1886: The martins have come again. Fresh fish are quite plentiful in Huntington, we understand. Be courteous to Strangers that are among us. The season is coming when cows try to climb trees. To cure dull times, apply and advertisement to the afflicted parts. Onions, greens and hog's jowl make up the favorite dish at this season. The farmers of Wayne County should form an Association for the raising of thoroughbred stock. It will pay. It's a strange thing that a man who knows exactly how to run a newspaper is always engaged in some other kind of business! The small boy trots out his agate and his glass-eye, draws a ring on the pavement where men most do congregate, and bide business give way to pleasure. Sweet child, lovely flower, what would the Spring be without you? The time of the year is drawing near when the wives and mothers of America will attire themselves in a faded, ragged, calico mother-hubbard, encase their heads in a tattered remnant shawl, tear up their carpets, pile up the furniture in the back yard, scold everybody, slop water all over the floor between the roof and ground, set out cold dinners, and call the operation "house cleaning". The front gate party for this season is approaching. High water caused the missing of the mail last week. The Huntington carrier failed on both trips. The tide waters of Twelve Pole last week swept away quite a number of small bridges, and slips in the road are numerous, thus almost stopping the usual travel. Wagons cannot get in any direction from our town owing to these difficulties. It is estimated that from 30,000 to 50,000 logs in Twelve Pole went out in the rise last week, and in addition a great many staves were drifted. The old excuse we often hear--"Wait till I get my timber out!"--can avail no longer in Wayne County. Times certainly should get better now. On Monday and Tuesday of this week there fell about six inches of snow here, which is rather late for snow. Messrs. C. W. Ferguson, W. S. Napier, G. G. Burgess, Burwell Spurlock and a number of others in our vicinity are down the river looking after timber interests. J. M. Tiernan was recently thrown out of his buggy on rough roads returning from Ceredo and has been kept closely about home for several days. The Editor wants twenty nice hens and some potato onion sets, which he will take on subscription or pay market price in cash. The ubiquitious drummer is moving around as usual. The following story, which reminds he editor of the Advocate of the cat who weighed the cheese for two monkeys, is now going the rounds in this community: A prosperous farmer of Owingsville, Kentucky, a widower of over 50 years of age, has two sons, who were both in love with the same girl. The young lady found it very difficult to decide which to take and the old man solved the problem by sending the boys off on business and marrying the girl himself while they were away. Times Have Changed From 1885 to 1925 is a good span of years--and times have changed since the days of The Wayne Advocate. Railroads have since been built in the county; the timber has largely been cut down and sold; automobiles have replaced horses and buggies; mineral wealth has been developed; business enterprises, unknown in 1885, have grown to places of power and influence in the commonwealth; the population of the county has increased from a scant scattering of people to nearly thirty thousand; agricultural development has been noteworthy; the business of the county government has developed from a simple organization to a complex business machine. Property valuations have increased from less than five million dollars to nearly forty million. Some folks have a tendency to look upon the olden days as the "good old days" and say that crime and hatred and all other evils were less in evidence than in modern times; others disagree with this view and regard the present day as far surpassing any period of history. But however that may be, it has been worth your while, we hope, to view Wayne County as it was forty years ago as it has been pictured in the foregoing descriptive touches of life in the eighties. In 1965 possibly this newspaper will draw a comparison with that age and our present 1925 that will show even more remarkable changes in Wayne County forty years hence than have taken place in the same period that hast just passed. Wayne County News Wayne, West Virginia January 15, 1925 ********************************************** PUBLIC OPINION Letter to the Editor Lavalette, W. Va. January 13, 1925 Editor Wayne County News Wayne, West Virginia Dear Sir: If you will permit me, I desire to express my views on our system of tax collecting. The taxpayers of West Virginia have recently had the opportunity to experience some of the unpleasant effects of our present laws, whcih require the old sheriff to check out of the office in the middle of a new tax book, at a time when every good tax payer is trying to pay his taxes to avoid having to pay interest. In order to be able to check out, the old sheriff is compelled to close the office in most counties at least two weeks during the latter part of December, and then after January 1st the new sheriff is required to charge ten per cent on taxes. This naturally causes a rush on the office, and a great many can not get in in time before the office is closed. My remedy for this would be a change in our constitution, which would put a stop to the one man trying to serve as a collector and peace officer, all at the same time, someting that no one man can do successfully. I believe we could improve conditions by cutting up the office system, so that the people would have a voice in who is to serve them, instead of allowing so much room for trading and buying themselves into office with deputyships, as has always been the case in our state. I believe that a sheriff should be elected to serve all county papers and act as a conservator of the peace. I believe that a jailor should be elected by the people and have charge of the jail and its inmates. I believe that we should have a county treasurer, as all progressive states have had for many years, and require the tax books to be kept in the office of the county seat, instead of scattering the tax books over the country, as has always been done. Allow two and one half percent on all taxes paid before January 1st; allow taxes paid in January at face value. Add ten percent on the face of all unpaid taxes on the first day of February instead of counting the interest per annum as is done now after January 1st. Let the treasurer take office on the first day of July, which is the beginning of the fiscal tax year, and the old rush that we now have in December would be eliminated, and the outgoing treasurer would be at the last end of his tax book, which should be collected or ready to return delinquent. He should be arranging for his regular annual settlement, and the office would be ready for the new treasurer to assume at once, without having to close the office and wait for a special expensive audit, as it is now under our old system. This is the question which I deem fit for thoughtful consideration by every tax payer in our state. It should be considered as non-political, and our lawmakers should get busy and bring about a modern system that would show to the outside world that the little mountain state of West Virginia is coming to the front. Let others give their views. Very truly yours, G. M. Johnson Wayne County News Wayne, West Virginia January 15, 1925 ***************************************************** NEWS BRIEFS Local business men are busily taking inventories and making up statements of last year's business, preparatory to the filing of Gross Sales Tax statements and Income Tax statements. The gross sales tax report must be in the hands of the State Commissioner not later than January 31st, and the Income Tax report must be filed with the Internal Revenue at Parkersburg no later than March 15th. All persons or businesses who did more than $10,000 business in gross sales are required to make the report. The income tax law requires that report be filed by single persons who had net income of $1,500 or more or gross income of $5,000 or more, and married couples who had net income of $3,500 or more or gross income of $5,000 or more. Announcement is received of the marriage of Miss Bernice Vaughan of Kenova and James Gordon Bowen of Huntington. The bride is the attractive daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles T. Vaughan of Kenova, and the groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs.Millard F. Bowen, now of Huntington but former residents of Wayne. The groom is now an employee of the Huntington Advertiser and was formerly with Wayne County News. The bride is a member of the 1925 graduating class of Ceredo-Kenova High school. Mr. and Mrs. Bowen, who were the guests of relatives in Wayne Wednesday, will be at home to their friends at an apartment which they are occupying on Adams Avenue in Huntington. H. Lewis of Armilda, has been appointed county surveyor by the county court for a period of two years from January 1st. There was no candidate for this place in the recent election, which necessitated the county filling the vacancy. One of the primary duties of the county surveyor is to determine disputed property lines between citizens. . . A wedding of wide interest was solemnnized last Sunday, when Lonnie Adkins, son of Mr. and Mrs. Kiah Adkins of Wayne, was married to Miss Erma Baily, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Bailey of Logan county. . . Mr. and Mrs. Adkins will spend their honeymoon in Florida. Wayne County News Wayne, West Virginia January 15, 1925 ***************************************************** Y. B. SALMONS TAKEN IN DEATH Youngie B. Salmons, 38 years old, prominent educational and political leader of Wayne County, died in the Kessler-Hatfield hospital, Huntington, Saturday morning at 2:10 o'clock, of an illness caused by a tumor on the brain. It is believed that his illness was the result of overwork. Until he became ill, Mr. Salmons was teaching school at Missouri Branch, his home. He was well knnown in school circles in Wayne county and had also taken active part in the political life of this county. He was a native of Wayne county, and had spent the greater part of his life here. He was the Republican nominee for House of Delegates in the Wayne County election held last November. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity, at Crum Lodge No. 140, A. F. & A. M., and was also an active member of the Baptist church. He was also a member of the Odd Fellows' lodge. Mr. Salmons was a member of one of Wayne county's oldest families. The funeral services were conducted at Missouri Branch Monday under the direction of members of the Masonic fraternity. The services were in the care of Rev. H. Maynard, pastor of the Missouri Branch Baptist church. Interment was made in the family cemetery there. He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Y. B. Salmons; two sons, Gorman and Bernard Salmons; his mother, Mrs. Bennett Salmons; three brothers and two sisters. His wife was before marriage Miss Brookie Perry, daughter of the late L. F. Perry. Wayne County News Wayne West Virginia January 22, 1925 ********************************************************************* DEATH ENDS USEFUL CAREER OF WAYNE COUNTY WOMAN WHO TAUGHT 52 YEARS When death claimed Mrs. Arabella Copley of Butler district a few days ago, the Wayne County school system lost one of its most useful builders--one who had been a teacher in the schools of this county for more than half a century. The deceased, who was the widow of the late D. D. Copley, had been ill for sometime. She died April 3, 1925, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Lizzie Toney, at the age of 73 years. She had been ill with cancer for about two years. Although she herself never had the opportunity of going to school but very little, Mrs. Copley studied at home, took advantage of every chance to improve herself and became a teacher in the Wayne county schools. She taught school here for 52 years and was regarded as one of the most competent instructors in the county school system. Mrs. Copley attended one term of school to Frank Chapman, now of Huntington, and a part of a term at Prof. T. B. McClure's school in Wayne, but her education was interrupted by the Civil War, after which her mother died, leaving her with the care and responsibility of the family. Mrs. Copley taught her first school when she was sixteen years old at the mouth of Dragg Creek in the old log M. E. Church which used to stand there. That was fifty-eight years ago. The seats of her pupils in this school were rough hewn logs. There were no black boards, pencils or tablets and very few slates or books. In her early schools, Mrs. Copley did not have a bell, but called the children in by rapping on the door of the building with a switch. The term of the schools in this county then was only four months. When Mrs. Copley began teaching school, and for several years afterwards, there were no uniform examinations. The county superintendent would visit her school and ask her a vew questions on spelling, arithmetic, grammar and geography, and if he regarded her as good enough to teach, he would sit down right on the spot and write her out a certificate. While Mrs. Copley was teaching her first school at Dragg, the county superintendent visited her school briefly, tested her knowledge and before leaving gave her a second-grade certificate. In later years she attended the uniform examination and always made good grades, nothwithstanding that practically all of her knowledge of text-books had been gained by home study. She only attended two the schools before mentioned and this was before she was ten years old. In writing to the editor of Wayne County News sometime ago, Mrs. Copley made the following statement in reply to our question about what outstanding changes and improvements she saw in the modern schools over the schools of the olden dayss: "Some of the noteworthy developments since I first began teaching are the uniform examinations, which give teachers equal justice; free text books and uniform text books, which give the poor child a chance to get an education; the graded schools, which do so much to encourage the pupils to climb higher educationally; the well-equipped and comfortable school houses; but the best of all advantages are the efficient, enthusiastic and well- trained teachers. I hope the young teachers as well as the old will always remember they are going out to train the rising generation for good citizenship and that they will always set an example of truth, honesty and industry before their pupils, for it is only by example that we can teach those virtues." Mrs. Copley lived her teachings, and for that reason she will long live in the loving remembrance of her former pupils and all those who were fortunate enough to know her. She was a good Christian woman and was a teacher of the Bible class at her home Sunday school at Bartram Chapel for many years. Her death is sad news to hundreds of Wayne county people who knew her and loved her for the unselfish service she had given to the boys and girls under her charge during her teaching experience of over half a century. She leaves one brother, Jolfin Beaire, of Fort Gay; two sisters, Mrs. Joe Damron of Maybe, Michigan, and Mrs. Olive Wilson of Iowa; and two children, Mrs. Fanny Wellman and Mrs. Lizzie Toney, both of Fort Gay. Her funeral was conducted by Bro. L. D. Bryan at the M. E. Church in Fort Gay, and she was laid to rest in the Beaire cemetery. Wayne County News Wayne, West Virginia April 30, 1925 ***************************************************** NEW LAW REQUIRES CEDAR TREES TO BE CUT DOWN TO STOP "RUST" A bill of wide interest among West Virginia orchard growere was enacted by the recent State legislature when both houses passed a law which will mean the chopping down of millions of red cedar trees in this state. Hundreds of apple orchards in West Virginia, and several in Wayne County, have become infected with the disease known as "cedar rust." This disease, which practically destroys the value of an apple tree, is spread by the common red cedar. Orchards a mile away from cedar trees sometimes become infected due to the force of the wind blowing from the cedars toward the apple trees. The cedar tree bill in the legislature was sponsored by a number of prominent orchardists of the State. What The Measure Does The bill provides first that "it shall be unlawful within the state for any person, firm or corporation to own or keep alive and standing upon his or its premises any red cedar tree or trees which are or may be the source for the communicable plant disease commonly known as rust of the apple, and any such cedar trees when growing within a radius of three miles of any apple orchard in this state are hereby declared a public nuisance and shall be destroyed." Owners of such trees must cut them down when told to do so by the state entomologist. The bill further provides that in any county in the state where the disease exists, or where there is reason to believe it exists, the state entomologist in person, or his assistant, shall upon a request in writing by ten or more reputable freeholders of the county, make an examination and investigation to see if any red cedar trees in the locality are "the source of, harbor or constitute the host plant for the disease" and are, therefore, a menace to the orchards. Ornamental Trees Excepted If it is found that a menace exists, the owner shall be directed to cut down and destroy his cedar trees, but a statement of facts must accompany the order for destruction. A limit of sixty days is given within which the work must be completed. All notices to cut down trees must be in writing and must come from the state entomologist or his assistant. If in the judgment of the state officials, it is practical to treat any cedar tree, especially ornamental trees in yards and parks, so as to render them harmless in spreading rust, the entomologist may direct that such treatment be given, but full instructions must be furnished in writing to the owner of the trees. An owner failing or refusing to treat his trees in accordance with the directions furnished is liable to a fine of from ten to one hundred dollars. Wayne County News Wayne, West Virginia April 30, 1925 ************************************************ NUMEROUS LOCAL FOLKS TO ATTEND S. S. CONVENTION A large number of Wayne county Sunday School and church workers are planning to attend the forty-third annual convention of the West Virginia Sunday School Association, which will convene in Huntington on May 12, 13 and 14. In connection with the S. S. Convention, the first convention of the "West Virginia Council of Religious Education" will be held. Wayne County church workers are particularly fortunate in being locally close enough to Huntington to avail themselves of this great annual church meeting, which is interdenominational. All of the different churches are joining hands to make this one of the biggest religious gatherings that has ever been held in the State. The convention will open on Tuesday May 12th at 8:30 a. m. , and the opening session will be held in the First M. E. Church of Huntington. After Monday morning sessions at the First M. E., the Convention will be divided into groups and assigned by sections to the different churches in Huntington. A complete copy of the elaborate program may be had by making request to General Superintendent of the State, S. S. Association, E. W. Halpenny, Box 140, Charleston, W. Va. . . Wayne County News Wayne, West Virginia April 30, 1925 ************************************************************ NEWS BRIEFS Several leading business men of Kenova recently held a meeting in the Maynard Hotel at Kenova and organized the first Rotary Club that has ever been formed in Wayne County. At the meeting the following were elected as officers: H. T. Breece, president; W. R. Wilson, vice-president; G. D. Luther, secretary; J. Miller Jackson, treasurer; Dr. J. W. Ferguson, sergeant-at- arms; Dr. J. W. Rife and J. N. Stratton were named as the two additional directors. The charter will contain the following names: W. R. Wilson, Jack See, H. S. Lambert, O. J. Rife, Dr. J. W. Rife, Dr. J. W. Ferguson, J. H. Staley, Bryan Preston, Elba Drown, G. D. Luther, J. N. Statton, Lacy H. Byron, Dr. P. C. Swisher, J. W. Bailey, and Rev. H. J. Francis. Meetings will be held on each Friday at noon. G. A. Porter of Kenova was recently in Wayne on business. Mr. Porter, together with H. B. Porter, has formed the Service Motor Sales, Co., in Kenova and will sell Maxwell and Chrysler automobiles in Wayne County. A garage and showroom have been opened up at Thirteenth and Poplar Streets. Mr. Porter reports the outlook for business is encouraging. A civil service examination will be held at Kenova within the near future to fill the position of rural carrier on route number one of Kenova. Applications for the examination will be closed May 13th. The exact date of the examination will be stated on admission cards mailed applicants after May 13th. The Piedmont Evening Star Festival or Chautauqua of Ashville, N. C., will give four nights' entertainment at the court house auditorium in Wayne May 5, 6, 7 and 8. The programs will consist of musicals, readings and miscellaneous entertainment. The admission charge for each evening is seventy-five cents or $1. 50 for a season ticket. Wayne County News Wayne, West Virginia April 30, 1925 ************************************************************** NEWS BRIEFS Joseph Merchant of Ferguson is putting out one acre sweet corn, one acre sweet potatoes and one acre tomatoes this year. Mr. Merchant lives on the Tug River Highway and is one of the men who keeps this road in excellent shape. Thomas J. and Wm Preston are each putting out truck gardens. The above three men all attended the Truck Growers meeting last Saturday night at Wayne and expect to be back next Saturday night. They drive about 18 miles each way. FRUIT OUTLOOK: The fruit outlook in Wayne county is not as good as it was a month ago. The continued cold weather has caused heavy dropping a little earlier than the usual June drop time. However, some orchards that were shy last year are full yet. Gray Freeman's orchard last week showed a heavy crop of Black Bens. The Ferguson orchard at Coleman reports a heavy crop of Black Bens and Champions. Last year there were but few in this orchard. Wayne County News Wayne, West Virginia May 21, 1925 **************************************************** 2 KILLED AND 3 INJURED AT KERMIT Two men were killed and three others wounded at Kermit, near the Wayne and Mingo county line, on Tuesday of this week during an election fight. The trouble arose in connection with the Board of Education, which was being held in Kermit to decide whether or not Kermit should go into an independent school district. Buck Kirk, age 33, president of the B. of E. was killed. Sherman Parsley, age 50, a merchant, was the other man killed. Ken Chapman, special police officer, was shot seriously; Ken Kirk, a deputy sheriff and brother of Buck Kirk, was shot in the left side and head but is expected to recover; John Chaffin, also a deputy sheriff, was shot in the finger. Five men were placed under arrest in connection with the shooting by Mingo County officials. (NOTE: A trial was later held in Wayne County--change of venue-- and the defendants were found not guilty.) Wayne County News Wayne, West Virginia May 21, 1925 ************************************************************ MANY ATTENDING BETHESDA HOME-COMING AND TONEY FAMILY REUNION SUNDAY A large crowd attended the Bethesda home-coming and Toney family reunion held last Sunday at the Ed Staley farm near Bethesda church on the Wayne-East Lynn road. Lee Toney of Startrip, Washington, was the guest of honor of the day. Mr. Toney has been visiting relatives in this county for the past few weeks. This is his first visit back home for more than twenty years. He is leaving this week for the state of Washington. A delightful day at Bethesda was reported by everyone. . . Wayne County News Wayne, West Virginia August 8, 1925 **************************************************************88 DEATHS MRS. W. W. MARCUM Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Marcum, 74 years old, widow of the late Judge W. W. Marcum, prominent Wayne county lawyer and politician, died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. L. G. Bryner, 2239 Adams Avenue in Huntington Friday, August 14. Although Mrs. Marcum had been ailing the greater part of this summer, her condition did not become grave until last Friday. Mrs. Marcum was the sister-in-law of Colonel John S. Marcum and Lace Marcum, two of Huntington's well-known attorneys, and was one of Wayne county's leading women citizens for a number of years. Her husband, Judge W. W. Marcum, who died in 1912, was judge of the Wayne county criminal court and was of this county's leading attorneys during his active practice before the bar. Coming from Ceredo, where she and her husband lived and reared their family, Mrs. Marcum went to Huntington to live following the death of her husband. She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Burgess and was a native of Lawrence County, Kentucky. She was a member of one of eastern Kentucky's pioneer families. The late Judge Marcum and Mrs. Marcum were married on December 12, 1886, at Louisa, Ky., when Mr. Marcum was Commonwealth's attorney of that county. A few years after their marriage, they came to this state and settled in Wayne county, where Mr. Marcum rose to prominence in the county's public life. Mrs. Marcum had been a member of the Southern Methodist Episcopal church the greater part of her life. Her husband was a representative of Wayne county in the state legislature at the time of his death in 1912. Mrs. Marcum is survivied by one daughter, Mrs. Bryner, who was before her marriage Miss Herma Marcum; two sons, C. W. Marcum of Huntington and Homer B. Marcum of Chicago, Ill; one brother, Ed Burgess of George's Creek, Lawrence county; and two sisters, Mrs. John Swetman of Elliotsburg, Ky., and Mrs. Julia Neil of Kansas. Wayne County News Wayne, West Virginia August 8, 1925 ************************************************ CO-OPERATION You have a dollar; I have a dollar; We swap. Now you have my dollar; I have your dollar; We are no better off. You have an idea; I have an idea; We swap. Now you have two ideas; I have two ideas; Both are richer. Wayne County News Wayne, West Virginia August 18, 1925