The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-05-18
Interesting "reminiscences
Recolleotions of West Virginia
Si1ty-four Years Ago.
Parkersburg and Wheeling
in 1907.
Burr and Blannerhassetf.

from which we condense the following
Saturday, Thomas Harrison Drew, OF
this city, was ST years Of age. He
came to Richmand to reside November
lst, 1900, from Cumberland, his native
county, and is the only survivor Of those
who took part in the memorable trial
of Aaron Burr in this city, in the sum-
mer Of 1907, for treason against the
United States. He was the father-ln-
law of the late DR. Deane and is con-
nected to various prominent citizens OF
Richmond. Though thus advanced in
years, Mr.. Drew memory in regard TO
the events Of by-gone times is renarka-
bic. He came to our office Saturday by
invitation, and gave US a lengthy ac-
count of his recollection of the Burr
trial, from which we condense what fol-
lows,
TRIP THROUGH THE WILDERNESS IN
SEARCH OF vENlRE.
On the lst of July, 1907, he quail
flied as deputy United States Marshal
under Joseph Scott, then United States
Marshal for Virginia, and at once
started for Wood county to summon a
venire for the trial of Aaron Burr, who
had been previously indicted for treason
by a grand jury Of which John Ran
lph of Roanoke was foreman. Wood
county was the nearest point to Blanner-
hassetts Island, where the overt act Of
treason was charged to have been COM
mitted. From point twenty-five miles
west Of Stanton, he proceeded all the
way to the Ohio through a continued
forest, riding whole days without seeing
a human being, except those at the
places where he stopped for TODD and
lodging.
AN OASIS IN THE DESERT.
In striking contrast with the wild and
dreary scene here described, was the
residence of Mr.. Smith, on a high
point on the Alleghanies. He had a
fine house, and his daughters, who had
been educated in Georgetown, had a
piano. Not far from this mountain
wonder he found, in what was known as
"the Glades, strawberry patch Of fifty
acres, growing with ripe, luscious fruit.
THE OHIO REACHED.
He struck the Ohio, about the 10Th
OF July, at what was known as Cow
Creek, and met Mr.. Wells, a watch.
maker, who went originally to that wild
region from Winchester. Mr. Wells
also acted as doctor, and was generally
referred to in matters of moment by the
ignorant inhabitants Of that wild region.
To him he presented letter from Geo.
Hay, United States District Attorney
for Virginia, and in company with him
proceeded to Wood Court House, now
Parkersburg, where for few hundred
dollars he could then have purchased
land which now would be worth mil
lions.
At this place he found large congre-
cation of men from the surrounding
country. Some were barefooted, and all
roughly clad and quite as rough in man
ner and appearance. These were pitch.
ing quoits and halfdollars, and other
wise amusing themselves after the fash
ion OF that region. Colonel Phelps,
who had been to the Legislature, was
present and looked about as rough as
the rest. He gave Mr.. Drew the names
OF parties present, and here got six
veniremen. A weeks search in other
parts Of the county gave him five more.
But to get the twelfth seemed a matter
OF impossibilty, for no sooner would he
90 on horseback to house than the
males all made for the woods, through
the back-door-having heard Of what
he was doing, and not caring about a
forced trip to Richmond.
When almost disheartened, he en-
countered alone, at the ferry crossed by
those going to Marietta, citizen OF
Irish birth, who, by adroit questioning,
he found was named Hamilton Nor.
rison. He was summoned, and in spite
of protests, was added to the list, COM
pleting the required twelve. Mr.. Nor
rison, who is hereafter mentioned in this
narrative, had all of the ready wit OF his
countrymen.
HOW THEY LIVED AT PARKERsBURG.
Mr.. Drew, while at Wood Court
House, was the guest OF Mr.. Bukey,
who had been in the Legislature, and
owned FIVE or six slaves. He with his
family lived in log house twenty-four
feet square-one room comprising the
chamber, dining room, and parlor.
Bukey and wife slept in one corner Of
this room and his daughters, and other
children in another, Mr.. Drew in third,
and a stranger in fourth. This was
the usual habit Of the country. The
ex-legislator, despite bis hospitality,
was summond on the venire. From
this point Mr.. Drew proceeded to Grave
Creek, now Moundsville, and thence TO
Wheeling TO serve a process on Colonel
Chaplain.
WHEELING IN 1907
Had only six or seven stores, most Of
which were log houses. The McLures
were the principal merchants. A man
came into Colonel Chaplain's office
while Mr.. Drew was there and asked
what be would take for coal on his farm,
and the reply was if the applicant
would dig it he could have it for a cent
a bushel. The coal was exposed on
the surface, and could be gotten with
little trouble. !. From Wheeling to a
point some miles west Of Winchester.
where he was to meet Bukey, he en-.
countered incidents which If our space
would permit would prove interesting
to the Yrginian reader as showing what
q mighty change has been wrought
there in the life. Of one still living.
Joining Bukey, Morrison and several
others Of the venire at the place
indicated, Mr.. Drew proceeded with
ALL possihie aneo1 Lv v.v of Win