The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-03-10
John o'Brien.
SUTTON, W. Va, March 8.

peculiarities, exploits, vs&c., OF one
John 0'Brien, OF Clay county; and l
III ust confess that it is objectionable
neglect in writer to take up sub
ject rraught with such thrilling and
profound interest, and then drop it
with such field Of interesting thought
before him; for it is well known that
page after page Of the most thrilling
Border Warfare history might be
written respecting the personal exploits
of that remarkable Old man. Tho fac,
is, John 0'Brien is the connecting
link-the animate chain between an.
cieut ind modern history, md when
that link shall have been severed by
the action Of ti,Re, "Pioneer Life" will
be learned only from books, and we
loose forever all the minute and ex.
citing portion Of the narrative, so in
separately counecIed with the expert
mental knowledge Of tho narrator.
John O'BFieu's early life was passed
amid the deep soliiudes of primeval
forests, aud many time has bis in.
fannlc cries been answered by the llowl
OF the wolf, the scream Of the panther
and the yell Of the savage.
Tho early life Of this remarkable
man is series Of daring and danger,
both MS an irresponsible and response.
bic agent and actor. His venerable
father before him could out pioneer the
pioneer, and consequently Injured bis
sou in all the hardships, privaliOns and
dangers incident to frontier life, con-
scqueutly, this early training is up'
parent in the son, and has character.
lied his every act to the present mo-
ment, causing him to take long tedious
and trying pilgrimagss to the most re-
otto forests in search Of game.
Many years ago, or when john
O'Brien was an ordinary old man, he
conceived tito be his daty to call meu
to repentance. aad boldly went into The
itincracy on his own hook, preaching
to large congregations with marked
and wonderful effect: principally, nj
doubt, on account Of the originality
and primitive character Of his speech
drawing direct from nature for BIZ
figures Of speech. Why this ccccntri,
character quit preaching, is not clear tC
the mind Of the writer. The common
supposition, however, is that 1t va.
on account ofthe derapgod aud com.
plcated condition of his connubia
relations at that time for it is said
that he ouco received q direct injunc-
ton from supernatural source
through the medium of an invisible
voice, crying, John o'Brion, John
o'Brien" lie meekly and mildly M.
swerod, "Thy servant heareth, Oh,
LordI'l and the voice said, "Leave
Poll, or POlly,und take to thee another,
for she is unclCan." Promptly acting
upon the advice, he at once left hi,
vito Polly aud took unto himself an.
other, and another, and still another,
uatil his wives can be counted by the
scorc. This little indiscrotion, OF
ccccntricity, may have been the result
of an over anxious deposition to "obey
orders" and tho abnormal result Of hi.
military education, or 1t may have
been the loose character and discipline
OF his carly training, at all events it i.
well known that John 0'l'rien act.
conscientiOusly, and as he has had a
vast amount Of experience in the Co.
meStic concerns Of life, it is highly
probable that he feels no compunctiOn
Of conscience when shifting the base o.
his affections.
Being a special friend of ColOnc
0'Brien's, it is not fair to presum,
that | write u shot. history Of bis nc.
tons for the purpose Of showing up th,
defects Of his character-nOt by AM
means, for We are very well aware tina
the old gentlemsn will endorse ever,
word we have said, and much mort
that our diliidence wonld not permit III
to put On paper; for when the fact j!
taken into consideration that Colonc
John O'l'tien is an old man that Ia
outl;ycd his day and generation, ant
considers our rules Of action and cod,
Of etiquette, rs innovations on the ole
time practices, aud highly detrimental
to the general interests Of mankind, 81
understood. and to limited extern
pructiced in his day and generation
From this standpoint view it, ant
appeal to John, 0'Brien il | am ia
error. But for me to do justice will
subject 20 prolific Of interest, on
few pages Of foOlscap, is simply ab
surd, moreover, the magnitude Of thu
: undertaking Is so plainly apparent tina
it is with difficulty we can write OF
the subject at all and no individual
familiar with tue facts, could for .
moment blame US.
The very name of John o'Bricu hn
a peculiar ring Of romance about /
that is suggestive Of frontier life ant
scenes, aud when you sea him Us he i
you behold the embodiment Of pas
perfection in physical development
but little changed by the friction Of al
most century ofactivs life. Where,
ask, is your modern constitution TIM
will Withstand the action Of time SC
longI
For the present l will close, bu
may ut some future time give bric
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