A HISTORY OF MINERAL WELLS COMMUNITY Wood County, West Virginia Early Families: The earliest known families came into this vicinity during the year of 1790.Settlers came from Virginia and settled on the Little Kanawha River at what was then called Claysville, now known as Davisville. At this early date they built five log cabins, one of which is yet standing on the South Side at Davisville and one on the right of the Creel farm. The latter is still insplendid condition. The antique doors are put together with forged nails made probably in a blacksmith shop. According to Mr. Creel's statement, the lumber was cut with a whip saw at that early date. The place is said to be older than Parkersburg. The ruins of the flour mill, the woolen mills, and the oil refinery (which is probably the oldest in the state) can yet be seen at this place. The Creel farm was a slave plantation during the days of slavery and many slaves are buried on the north side of the place, long forgotten and only occasionally mentioned. Mr. James Gillespie was one of the first settlers west of the Kanawha River. He lived in a log cabin about one-fourth of a miles south of the present Dr. A. D. Hopkin's home. One day Mr. Gillespie was hunting on the east side of the Kanawha River and was chased by the Indians. He escaped capture by hiding in the River under driftwood. When the Indians could not find him they went to his cabin where Mrs. Gillespie and the children were alone. She saw the Indians approaching and took the children out the back door and hid in a hollow sycamore tree along a little stream just below the house. After the Indians had left, she took the children, one of whom was too young to walk, and proceeded to Fort Neal for protection. Mr. Gillespie returned to his home that evening and after viewing the scene decided the Indians had captured his family. He immediately set out for Fort Neal to try to get assistance. Mrs. Gillespie reported that she feared her husband had been killed by the Indians, but Mr. Gillespie reached the Fort and they were happily reunited. The logs of Gillespie's cabin have been utilized in the construction of three cabins, the last one of which is now standing within a few hundred yards of the original site and for several years was used for the annual 4-H camp of Wood County. Robert Page settled on Tygart, on a ridge of Harry McPeek's farm. Henry Cooper came from Virginia. Other old families are: Jacob Deems and Mr. Ruble lived about a mile apart. They worked together and shared each others' implements. They had but one gun and quite often the other man needed the gun but must go the miles distance for it. This happened one night to Mr. Ruble. When he was awakened out of a deep sleep by a noise in the hog lot he dressed hurriedly and discovered the roof had been torn from the big log pen. To lose a hog at that time meant quite a loss. A big black bear was dragging out the mother hog who had made a terrific fight to save her little ones. Mr. Ruble could only go for the partnership gun, which necessitated a mile journey through a dense wood and over the snow covered ground. He had no light save the flare of a pine torch. Mr. Deem returned with him and after tracking the bear some distance found him eating the hog. The bear was killed and the hide tanned and used for a trunk covering. Samuel Butcher located on the large tract of land in the bend of the Kanawha River. He built his first log cabin on the exact spot where Dr. A. D. Hopkins now has his office. Later he built a frame house which is said to be the first frame house in Wood County. This land has been owned by the Butcher family for more than a hundred years. One John Cooper owned the land now known as Mineral Wells. Red Selectman bought this farm about 1850 and dug a well, the water of which seemed to have a curable effect for dropsy and other troubles. One man who had not seen his feet for twelve or fifteen years, after drinking this water a few weeks, lost thirteen inches in waist measurement, and continued drinking the water until he became normal size. The news of this cure spread until Mineral Wells became a great summer resort by the early sixties. Many people came from Parkersburg and other places to stay all summer or just a day. Sweet corn was consumed at the rate of one ox wagon load a day. When the mineral water was low the proprietor, a good business man, hired water hauled from the creek and wells of the neighborhood and poured into his wells at night in order to keep up the supply. Old irons and salt were put in for the mineral effects. The business flourished for many years. A large hotel was built to accommodate the visitors. A large dining room containing ten twelve foot tables extended the length of the front of the building. A smaller dining room had four tables in it. An outside stairs led to the upstairs porch which extended the full length of the hotel. Rooms opened onto the porch. Dancing and bowling were main diversions and there were many grapevine swings in the grove to offer amusement. The building burned in 1900. The ruins of the foundation and the two wells are still to be located. The first election for Mineral Wells Community was held at the Edwin Butcher place at the foot of the Butcher Hill on May 3, 1863. Corn and wheat were ground by a water mill at Chestersville as early as 1820 by a family, Jake Deems. Later this mill was operated by Henry Page. In the 1870's a steam mill was built a little farther down the creek. It was owned by John Badger and later by a family of Lesters, and then by George Rector. Mr. Rector put rolls in the mill and did extensive business for several years. Chestersville was quite a village about the year 1890. It had this flourishing mill, three stores, (one a company store) and the others owned by Mr. H. S. Dye and Joe Heatherly, and a blacksmith shop owned by John Smith, Dr. A. K. Rose practiced here. The flood of 1889 destroyed some of the property and the business life of the community gradually declined. "Scarecefat" or Creel Station was a flourishing little settlement during the latter 1890's. There were a few homes and a store located there. An interesting story connected with the place is its getting the name of "Scarecefat." One story is told that a night prowler stole all the hogs from the residents. Someone later put a notice on one of the empty pig pens "Scarce of fat." It has been called that since then. The pioneer settlers were of necessity very industrious. They raised their own food and made their own clothing. The food was cooked in iron ovens among the coals of the big fire places which usually occupied one end of each cabin. The kettles and pots were hung from cranes over the fire. Some of the bread was baked on boards slanted before the fire. The fiber for clothing was raised and later manufactured at home. Many happy hours were spent in the picking, combing, and carding of wool and flax later used in weaving into material for all of the garments the family needed. Some of the women were excellent weavers and set a good example for the younger women. The hose for the entire family were knit from the wool that was raised, sheared, and carded at home. Often the socks men wore were in natural color of wool. The shoemaker made his rounds, staying in each home until the supply of boots and shoes was made for each member of the family. This often required quite a length of time. The boots and shoes were always made from home tanned leather. Two of the early shoemakers were Henry Bailey and Pete McCardle. They were good cobblers and always busy. The corn and wheat were ground on water mills; one at Chestersville, one at Davisville, and one on Big Tygart. The mill on Big Tygart was destroyed by the flood of 1884. After the crops were gathered, many times farmers having gathered what grain they could spare, staves which had been cut, and bark that they had gathered the previous season, would haul them to the Little Kanawha River near the Creel Farm. There they would load the products into barges and float down the Kanawha River to the Ohio River and on to some trading center. Several trips were made in this way to New Orleans. Enoch Rector, John Page, Tom Stephens, and John Barnett were among some of the first to make this trip. In exchange for their produce the farmers would bring back sugar and molasses, and sometimes other dainties for their families. On the A. D. Hopkins farm is a grave which is about one hundred eighteen years old. When Mr. Hopkins came into possession of the farm fifty-four years ago, he found a rose bush growing on the grave, and the bush has never failed to bloom each year. There is also on the farm two very old log cabins; one where Blennerhassett and his wife were entertained on their way from Virginia to his home on the Island; another in which can be seen the port holes that were used to shoot through by the settlers to defend themselves from the Indians. James Cooper saw a bear shot out of a tree where Oscar Barnet's house now stands. A darkie feeding the pigs saw the bear in the tree, returned to the house and reported his findings. Billy Poole went out and shot the bear. In 1798 the stock was penned at night to protect it from wolves, according to a record found by Mr. Charles Rector. Deer were also quite numerous in this locality. At the time of the Civil War West Virginia was so near the division line that our community was pretty much divided. On the Confederate side we have William Bissitt and John Cooper; and on the Union side we have Elim Heatherly, Poake Tucker, Marion Page, James Graham, Michael and Washington Deem, Hannibal McClain, J. F. McKusick, and Jack Cale. A part of Morgan's Raid passed through this section, but the farmers drove their horses and other stock back into the hills to prevent their being stolen. A few detachments of soldiers passed through and sometimes asked the women to cook them a warm meal and they were usually accommodated. The Berry brothers, Madison and Sill, were killed in the Civil War and are buried in the cemetery on Slate. When the World War came the community gave her quota, some of whom never returned. Some of the first calls from Wood County were taken from this community. Fathers, mothers, sons and daughters who were left at home did their share of the work. Carl Neal gave his life in the war. His body was brought to Mt. Zion cemetery for interment. Others who served in the World War are: Delbert Hickman, deceased, George Jones, Harold Dye, Harry McPeek; Pearl, Walter, and Jesse Province; Carl Dawkins, Joe Morehead; Tom Dye; Presley Hill; and Harvey Dye. Institutions (a) Churches: When the settlers came they did not forget to bring their religion. The Mission Board of Virginia sent to them one John Drake,who came carrying his gun and his Bible. The services were conducted in the homes and much good was accomplished in this way. After John Drake came the Reverend James McAbbey who organized the Mt. Zion Baptist Church in the year 1815, at the home of Elizabeth Kittle. The first building was of logs and on the farm of A. J. Price, in 1819. This same farm is now owned by A. L. Dawkins. This building was erected in 1819 and heated by an old iron salt kettle which was brought from Charleston by Amos Barnett and is now in the possession of the D. A. R., as a valued relic. The church in 1833 was moved to a more commodious building on the farm of O. Hutchinson. Here it remained until 1855 when it was moved to the pike near Lockhart Run where the present building now stands. This building was erected in 1883. Some facts of interest to us are taken from the "First Hundred Years History of the Mt. Zion Church" by Rev. H. Cofer. In September 1817, eleven members, three of whom were colored, took their letters from the Mt. Zion Church and organized the First Baptist Church of Parkersburg. The church has been a member of the Parkersburg Association of Baptist churches since October 10, 1818, when that body was organized. Rev. Enoch Rector was pastor of the church for twenty-nine years, throughout the period of the "bloody sixties." The second longest pastorate was that of Rev. M. F. Kiger, who served for fifteen years. In 1895 the first B. Y. P. U., was organized in the church with G. D. Rector as president. The Women's Mission Circle was organized the same year. The Methodists, too, got an early start, for Stephens, a prominent historian, recrods the fact that in 1790 the Little Kanawha Circuit was formed with Jacob Lurtin as preacher. In 1806 Peter Cartwright was appointed to this position. He left a record of the extent of the circuit, but no names of the appointments. The Circuit extended one hundred and fifty miles up and down the Ohio River and up the Little Kanawha River to the mouth of the Hughes River. He has traveled more than 300 miles to reach all of the appointments. The first Methodist church we can find anything about, was located about one and a quarter miles west of Pettyville. The next was a log building on Little Tygart on the Page farm. When war was declared the church was divided. The members of the northern division built at Chesterville in 1873 and named the church "Valley Chapel." Those of the south erected a building where Mt. Pleasant now stands. At one time every farm had its own burying lot, but now the principal ones are those located at each of the churches, Mt. Pleasant, Mt. Zion, and Chesterville, The Cooper and Barnett cemeteries are used sometimes. Mr. Cyrus Deem says that the first church was built in Chesterville in 1825. Also he says that the churches divided in 1843. The Class Record books that Mr. Cyrus Deem had in his possession have a record of Class Meetings, as they were then called. We would refer to them as Church Meetings, now. According to the records, which are incomplete, we find the following pastors with these years of service: Francis Guthrie, 1848; Addison Achols, 1850; Foun M. Dudley, Circuit Preacher 1851; Abjgal Wedg, Circuit Preacher, 1851; Cyrus Morey, 1852-54; C. Conner, 1855-56; S. E. Steel, 1859-61; Francis Guthrie, 1861-63; Daniel S. Benedum, 1864-65; Wm. D. Meriman, 1866; I. A. Williams, 1867-68; A. Malone, 1869-70; R. L. Woodyard, 1871-72; C. L. Nicholson, 1873-74; W. N. Shaw, 1875-76; J. F. Chenoweth, 1877; J. W. Lambert, 1882; J. F. Chenoweth, 1883-85; W. W. Kelley, 1886; S. J. Colton, 1889; U. Pribble, 1892. No records can be located that would complete this list. Other pastors who have served the church that residents remember are: C. R. Shackleford, A. D. Garret, Rev. Bramlett, A. C. Riffle who served two years then after a few years returned for one additional year; Rev. McKain, J. S. Pullen, Theopalis McKoy, J. J. Kelly, I. N. Smith, Sidenstricker, Ball, Riddle, Anderson, Sperlock, and Bracken. " The first Sunday School was organized in 1840 by Thomas Dawkins under the auspices of the M. E. Church. Mt. Pleasant Church is not an old organization. When the Civil War was in progress the congregation at the Chesterville Methodist Church divided and those in sympathy with the southern cause organized their own place of worship and founded the present Mt. Pleasant Church. For a number of years the church was called "Turkeyfoot" because of the intersection of roads that resembled a turkey's foot. Some of the older residents still refer to it as the "Turkey Foot Church." The building now standing, built in 1901, was the second one erected at this location. A complete record of the pastors of the church is as follows: James H. Deem, 1882-84; C. N. Shearer, 1884-88; Davidson, 1888-89; H. M. Smith, 1889-91; D. L. Bush, 1891-95; M. V. Bowles, 1895-96; W. M. Tyree, 1896-99; W. H. Surgeon, 1899-1901; R. H. Moss, 1901-04; Thomas Highland, 1904-05; W. D. Burns, 1905-06; C. D. Johnson, 1907-; F. E. Lambert, 1907-09; H. K. Clark, 1909-10; C. S. Coberly, 1910-12; B. F. King, 1912-14; L. C. Talbott, 1914-16; J. F. Atkinson, 1916-18; H. T. Watts, 1918-19; Harry Rush, 1919-20; J. P. Slaughter, 1920-22; L. S. Auvil, 1922 and 1/3 of 1923; J. R. Withrow, " of 1923; L. E. Harrison, 1923-24; Rosseau McClung, 1924-28; J. D.Franklin, 1928-33; H. A. Murrill, 1933-37. (B) Schools: The first school of which we have any record was a select school taught by David Harris in 1815 and located in the bend of the Little Kanawha River. The building was a log cabin built in 1805. The desks were made by driving pegs in the wall and placing boards across them. The seats were split logs with pegs for legs. When pupils were writing, they were obliged to stand in order to reach their crude desks. Their pens were made of quills. The building had no floor, save the earth and was heated by a huge open fire place. Mr. Wolf taught writing and arithmetic by making letters and numbers on a wooden paddle with charcoal. He named the bend of the River "Hell's Bend" because the older boys teased and tormented him so much. Other early teachers during the 50's and later were: Mary Leary Sebastian Chevoront, Miss Wilcox, Mr. Starcher, Maria Hitchcock, Mr. McGee, Miss Lacy, Joe Buckner, Amanda and Andrew Price, and Texanna McKusick. These early teachers boarded from home to home. A school was later formed at Clay Lick. This building was only a log cabin, but was later moved into a frame building located on the Pike and called Cooper's School, later Society Hill. The free school system was started about 1860. Since then the school systems have grown gradually. As the community developed the need arose for more school buildings. They were placed at Chesterville, Fairview, Leafy Glen, and Shady Hill. With the adoption of the County Unit System in 1933 Leafy Glen and Society Hill, because the enrollments were so small, were transferred by bus to Shady Hill where a modern two-room structure had been built. At present an additional room is supplied by a portable building beside the regular one. Many community activities are held in the combined basement and auditorium of the Shady Hill building. (C) Post Office: To provide connection with the outside world an early post- office was located at Fountain Springs in Tygart District. This office was later moved to Leach's home. In 1860 Bill Fetzer, an old bachelor, was hired to tend the mail. He was followed first by William Taylor and later by John Leach. The first postoffice in Slate District was at Lockhart's Run and had as its postmaster Mr. E. S. Butcher. Mr. Henry Dye was afterwards postmaster at this place for almost forty years. Later the name Roosevelt was adopted for this post office. The post office was finally transferred to Mineral Wells where it is now. Some of the early postmasters of Mineral Wells were: William Taylor, John Leach, and Mr. Prickett. When the office was first established mail was delivered to the office once a week from the Parkersburg Office. Later a twice-a-week delivery was established and finally every day service was granted. Mr. Sutton and Mr. Nicely were two of the early carriers from Parkersburg to Elizabeth. There is now a free delivery to practically every door in the community. Three routes run out from the Mineral Wells office. Mr. W. L. Deem has served the greater part of the Community every since rural free delivery was established. The first post office was at Lockhart Run in the house that is at the present George Jones' home. The post office was named Roosevelt on November 1, 1905. Rural route was established November 1. H. E. Dye became too old to take care of the mail, so the office was moved to Mineral Wells. Mineral Wells was a centralization of Chesterville, Roosevelt, Lucky, Fountain Springs, Salisburg, and McKinley. Postmasters after the office was moved to Mineral Wells were A. T. Morrison, C. E. Ruble, who died in service, Bertha Ruble, his widow, who resigned. Tip Stephens, who was acting postmaster for about six months, and R. D. Lemon who holds the office at the present time. Three rural routes emanate from the Mineral Wells post office. Route 1 extends to Pettyville, bears left and comes back into Big Tygart Road to Sams Creek and part of Pleasant Hill Ridge, bears left to Sycamore, comes to McDonald Ridge, and retraces to the post office. Route 2 goes up Big tygart, Buck Run, and part of Lee Creek, Stephens Fork, and retraces. Route 3 includes the Elizabeth Pike to Butcher Hill, the road through Chesterville, Sunnyside, and back to the Pike by Grassy; then down the pike to the road that passes E. F. Schneider's and goes on to the bend of the River and back to the post office by Leafy Glen and Mt. Pleasant Church. Mr. W. L. Deem had the honor of being the oldest carrier in service in Wood County in 1936. On November 1, of that year, he completed thirty-one years of service and retired from active service. Mr. E. W. Sheets of Harrison organized the Grange here about 1912. The organization flourished for about eight years. It grew out of the suggestion from the Farmers' Institute. Prominent among the leaders were: Albert Deem, E. P. Dye, Grant Bair, E. F. Schneider, W. L. Deem, Oscar Barnett, Harry Hardman, Cyrus Deem, and J. F. Bargeloh. There was in the year 1890 a blacksmith shop in operation by John Smith of Chestersville. During the early 60's there was a blacksmith shop at the intersection of the Chestersville Road with the Pike. This shop was in operation for many years, first by the Tuckers, and later by Lloyds. In the year 1890 there were three stores in Chestersville, one a Company Store, one owned by Mr. H. Dye, and another by Joe Heatherly. During the early 1860's there was a store on the Pike at the intersection of the Chestersville Road owned and operated by Sheldon Page. A little later there was a store located near the Mill on Big Tygart. It was owned by John Lynch. Later Dawkins moved the store to a building near Mt. Zion church, but operated only a few years. In 1876 another store owned near the present site of the Mineral Wells Postoffice. It was owned and operated by Dr. Sanford Prickett. After Dr. Prickett's death his brother, Isiah, took charge. From that time on there has been a store at this place. Some of the early operators were: Ed. Cheveront, Red Taylor, and Casy Ruble. E. P. Dye has operated a store opposite his residence for years. Edwin Butcher, a grandson of Samuel Butcher, built a store and hotel at the foot of what is known as Butcher Hill during the oil boom at Burning Springs in Wirt County. The traffic was heavy with the hauling from the fields and the supplies to the fields. The cattle dealers from Wirt, Calhoun, Roane, and Gilmer counties also made this a stopping place. The cattle and sheep were driven on foot to markets. Mr. Butcher would buy and sell anything from ginseng roots to a farm. At present there are two well-equipped stores in the neighborhood, Mr. George Brown's and Mr. H. C. Brown's. These men are interested in furnishing household necessities to all residents in the community. There were three water mills in early days, one at Chesterville, one at Davisville, and one on Big Tygart. The mill at Chesterville was begun about 1820 and kept in operation until 1924. About 1850 people began the building of frame houses. Prior to this time homes were chiefly built from logs. Some of the early carpenters were William Fought, Henderson Demm, Joshua Butcher, and Charles and Perry Page. As early as 1844 one man, John Barnett, made bricks on his own farm and built a large brick residence. This was the only brick house in the community for a number of years. A cyclone passed through a part of the community in 1912 and blew the top from this house, but the building was repaired and is still standing and in good condition. One of the early money-making industries was that of marketing railroad ties. They were hauled mostly to the mouth of the Big Tygart Creek and there sold. They were shoved into the water, boomed together by chains, and floated down the river to markets. Levi Stephens was a prominent trader in these ties. Many of the ties for the Little Kanawha Railroad were supplied from this locality. The cutting and selling "pit" posts or mine props followed in turn. Much of the timber has been sold out of the community in this manner. Dr. A. K. Ross was practicing medicine in Chesterville in 1890. Teachers who hold a Standard Normal Certificate are: Mary Hicks, Opal Province, Lulu Mae Herdman, Thomas Forshey, O. M. Brown, Carl Miller, and Gertrude Dye. Mr. W. L. Deem, who completed on November 1, 1936, thirty-one years of active service as a rural mail carrier, had at the time of his retirement the honor of being the oldest carrier in service in Wood County. Mr. Deem was born at Chesterville on the Billy A. Deem place. In return for his years of service Mr. Deem receives an annuity from the government. Abbie Deem who is living with her daughter in Lubeck is 84 years old. John Cooper is 88 years of age. He is Israel's father. Two ladies who lived to a ripe old age were: Mrs. Amanda Barnett, who was 91 years old when she left us, and Mrs. Carolina Barnett who was 85. Mrs. Minnie Barnett was chairman of the Local Board of Shop Directors in connection with Women's Club work for five years. She has also served as vice-president and secretary of the Home Central Committee. Seven girls of the community prepared themselves for nursing; Nora Deem Robins was County Health nurse for four years, and Kathryn Lockhart for two years. Faye Bair Barnsley of Rockville, Md., Lena Melrose, Margaret Butcher Anderson, Nettie Dawkins Dye, of Akron, and Ethel Lemon-Fuch are all graduate nurses. Graduates of Mountain State Business College who are active in business are: Delmont Jeffers, Edwin Thorn, and Harold Thorn. Mr. T. J. Wigal, at present a teacher in the Parkersburg system, left this community and went into the teaching profession. Everett Deem, a merchant for a number of years, had a dry goods store on Third Street in Parkersburg. Members of the community having college degrees are: Mabel Dye-Jones and Arthur Dye, who attended West Virginia University; Harry Herdman, Jr., who studied Commerce and Business at Ohio University; and Laura Rector who holds an A. B. Degree from West Virginia Wesleyan College. High School graduates are: Marian, Edith, Elva, Kathryn, and Stewart Deem; Lule, May, Louise, and Harry Herdman; Gertrude, Dale, Charles, John, Mabel, Georgia, and Arthur Dye; Thelma and Helen Conley; Steela Jackson Bargeloh; Carl Bargeloh; Carl Stephens; John and Eleanor Butcher; Earl Carr; Mary Hicks; Beulah Matheny; Harry Matheny; Eva Brumage; Joanna Hoffman; Thomas, Louise, and Ruth Rector; Marjorie and Grace Taylor; Ivy and Orma Hendricks; Opal Province; two McDaniel boys; Lucille, Ruth, Gladys, and Ross Morrison. Dr. George Jeffers studied at Louisville, Kentucky. He practiced in Kansas for a time. For a number of years he has been practicing in Parkersburg. Dr. H. D. Price practiced in Jackson County, and was at the State Hospital at Spencer for two years. He has practiced in Parkersburg most of his lifetime. Ministers from the community are: Rev. George Dye; Rev. Frank Rector; and Rev. Enoch Rector. Thomas Rector is studying for the ministry at West Virginia Wesleyan College and will receive his degree in 1938. Miss Ivy Hendricks is a sophomore at the Fairmont State Teachers College. Ben Butcher of Parkersburg was born on the old Butcher homestead in Butcher's Bend. He is the son of Edwin S. and Mary J. (Wright) Butcher; grandson of Thomas Butcher and great grandson of Samuel Butcher II, a soldier of the Revolution. He received his formal education in the public schools and at Fairmont State Normal School, Marietta College, and Columbia University (now George Washington), Washington, D. C., from where he received the L.L.B. degree. He was elected as a Democrat from Wood County to the House of Delegates of the 14th Legislature which met in Wheeling, then the capitol of the state. Mr. Butcher was the youngest member of this session. Afterwards he moved to Colorado where he resided for eleven years, engaging in the practice of law and in silver mining. During his residence in Colorado, he was District Attorney of the 9th Judicial District, and served as a member of both the House and Senate of that State. In 1901 he returned to his native state and county. In 1912 during the Wilson campaign, he was presidential elector-at-large. He was an active member of the order of Elks. In 1930 he was elected to the House of Delegates and re- elected in 1932 and 1934. Mr. Butcher was active in the passage of the Tax Limitation Amendment and other important legislation. He sponsored two important amendments to the State Constitution which were adopted by the people in 1934. Mr. Butcher contracted pneumonia while he was serving in the 1937 session of Legislature and passed away within a few days after he became ill. His body was brought from Charleston to the Mt. Zion cemetery for interment in the family lot. Dr. Andrew Delmar Hopkins of Parkersburg, and owner of Kanawha Farms in the Mineral Wells Community was born on his grandfather Evans' farm at Evans, Jackson County, West Virginia, on August 20, 1857, became manager of the farm in 1874 and later inherited a 1/4 interest; in 1876 served on a commission to collect specimens of natural resources of his county for the Centennial Exposition at Philadelphia, Pa., and in September attended the Exposition; in 1874-77 introduced the first pedigree cattle and sheep into the county; 1877 made prime move in the organization of County Fair Association of which he was the first secretary and served as director for seven years, and as president in 1881; in 1879 made the prime move in the organization at Parkersburg, of a State Wool Growers and Sheep Breeders Association and served as its first corresponding secretary and vice-president; in 1880 married Adelia S. Butcher of Lockhart Run, Wood County; in 1884 exchanged his interest in the Evans farm for 137 acres of the present Kanawha Farms; in 1879 he was the prime mover in the organization at Parkersburg of a system of State and County Farmers Institute Societies, with a preliminary meeting at the residence of Omer Page in the Mineral Wells Community. Beginning in 1874 the manifested ideal and ambition of Dr. Hopkins has been the improvement of soil, livestock, and cultivated plants, a broad knowledge of natural history and scientific subjects, and to contribute a worth-while service to county, state, and national agriculture and to the advancement of science; in all of which he has been eminently successful. Mr. Amos Tracewell has for a number of years cultivated one of the largest dahlia beds in this section. Sightseers have made many trips to his home near the Kanawha River to view the blossoms during the flowering season. Mr. Tracewell also has an apple orchard. Mr. Gant, Principal of the Pettyville School and for many years a resident of Parkersburg, made a real contribution to the scenery of the community when he built his beautiful brick home on the Mineral Wells hill. In a very short time Mr. And Mrs. Gant had grown a flower garden that appeared as if it had been there for years. Their home is an added spot of beauty in the community.