The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1874-05-06
MAnIIAps rERHY LETTER.
TUysDAY, May 5, 1874.
Editors ofthe ReEiaer.

Martins Ferry We find that tae present
town was laid out and the first lot sold
in 1885 by Ebenezer Martin, after
whom the place was named. In the
year 1855, bis father and mother be-
coming imbued with the pioneer spirit,
left the State Of New Jersey in . rude
sort Of vehicle known ct that time a.
the Jersey wagon" and after twelve
weeks spent 10 crossing the mountains,
and travelling west through en- almost
unbroken wilderness they crossed the
Ohio and settled at this point. In 1875
the ground was surveyed and town
laid out; however. when St. Glars
vile was made the county seat. Mr.
Martin, not being satisfied with the
arrangement, bought the land back
and it remained in the family until
1885. Ebenezer Martin was born in
1871, and claims to be the first white
child born in the State. For eighty
two years he has lived in the same
place, and can remember when, from
Bellaire to Burlington there were only
few acres OF land cleared. At the
time the town was laid out there WAS
only one log house at Bridgeport, one
or two at West Wheeling, and two or
three here. The town settled slowly,
and about thirty years ago Wiley's
foundry was started, and about the
came lime Benjamin Hoyle started q
machine shop. these being the longest
established Of any manufactures in the
place.
Having given this hasty glance at the
Martins Ferry OF the past, we now turn
to the present. Half our lives are
spent in waiting, and the true secret OF
lite is 10 learn 10 wait patiently" So
says Confuclus. or some other wise
/ nan-apd there ia not word OF truth
10 it. Industry, energy, perseverance,,
60 Alb esd-stiveness, watch. for-your.
opportunity and seize-it, Is the secret
OF success in the nineteenth century.
Patiently waiting for something 10 turn
up is about as sensible as placing
large sum of money in box and look.
ing every few days to see how much in
terest has accumulated, and brings
about the same per cent. Martin s
Ferry in the last Fl re years seems thor
oughly roused 10 q spirit OF action, and
now, 20 IN what direction we will, We
see new buildings going up and hear OF
other. in contemplation. The whizz.
and hiss, and whirr of machinery, the
Changing OF iron and steady pounding
at tue forge, can be heard in every d.
rectiou; while the smoke, steam and
fire issuing from the high chimneys,
can be seen for miles before entering
the town.
Business ia on the steady increase,
and improvement seems to be the Or
der OF the day. Since the election o.
the new Mayor aud Council there
seems to be considerable attention
drawn to the condition OF the streets,
and Water street is being graded and
curling laid. Martins Ferry surely
has not avoided the paths OF the un-
cody, il cleanliness be next to godli-
ness, nor considered well her ways
heretofore. for a well paved. graded,
and clearly street seems to belong to
the los, arts here 1t surely is net con-
ducive 10 prayeriul spirit to 90 sud.
denly kersplssh into a mud puddle, on
one OF The lower streets, or to climb a
side hill and slip back step for
every one you take forward, when
taking promenade through tie best
part OF the city. A stranger feels con-
strained to say, as did the woman to
her husband concerning their back
yard, such streets, and you Chris
tians"
The tenn perance movement at present
is quiet. The Ladies' League still
ID eets three times a week, and as great
an intere.t is manifested among the
ladies as ever. They report the saloons
as all closed, though few are suspect
ed OF selling liquor on the sly. One
of the doctors has sold liquor where it
was used for the purpose Of intoIica-
ton, but has signed pledge promising
greater care in future. Iatemperance
is not abolished, only suppressed. The
women have to exercise constant vigi-
lance, and drunkenness is no uncsm.
mon sight on the streets. On Sunday
number OF Wheeling residents can be
seen, not drank, you know, but, oh !
50 tiredl LOUISE LOCKWOOD.