The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-06-28

know Tie Hlubnlbudo uhsh Az 49, 10
IL Ii is true that the city, as a city, J
ye, in its early youth, still it has mad
far ilseli most eventiul and :nterestin
story.
SIXTEEN YEARS AGO AND NOW.
Sixteen years ago the official censu
lore witness 10 the fact that Pultne.
township had but 1,40O inhabitants. Il
1875 the enumeration was 1910 in IN
corporate limits OF the city alone. Y
this increase 1882 had been added beior.
1870, making the census in that yea
4,O32.
THE SITE OF TILE CITY.
The land upon which the city Is 9 5uar.
was conveyed BY government grant from
the Land Office, in SteubeenylIe' oo " SU
Duer in 1892. By him it was Conveys NV: ~
TO John Buchanan, who, nnuel uase VI
JuIy e. 1905, wilIed 1t TO his three sons.
JoSr Rodiier bought from one oil these
TS9i ocrc" Immediately south Of Indian
Dig Dig a." on ,be SOth of March, 1882. The
a nT, !" Farm, Dirom which all Of the site
- ,5o city between the middle Of what is
known as the public square and the creek
came, was purchased by Reuben Harris
Of james Davis, son oil Jacob Davis,
who purchased the interest Of two Of
Bnchanan's sons. Capt. John Fink, one
If he oldest residents now living here,
and OF whom we obtained much intorma.
lion OF value, purchased all Of the tract
below the creek OF Jacob Davis for
81 400. in 1882. Jacob Heatherington's
present property, together with what he
has added 10 the town, was bought oil
Captain Fink.
TIE PIRsT HOUSE
built on the site Of the present city still
stands, Just below the mouth OF Mac
Mahon's creek, facing tue river. This
was built by Jacob Davis, in 1920.
Neivhbors were then scarce, and enough
force to erect the log house was not to be
found in the township. Davis, who was
an officer in the militia Of the State, had
general muster appointed here, and
then made use OF the soldiers to complete
his house. Soon after this another log
house was built Immediately above the
mouth Of the creek. Others followed,
and in 1882, according to Captain Fink's
remembrance, there were four houses
near the creek, and one where Benson's
ferry now is. % zt
Tie cholera fright in 1882 came even
here. One man, boatman In the employ
Of Captain Fink, died with the disease.
The Captain gives graphic picture OF
Wheeling nj flat time. Coal fires were
kept burning in the streets constantly TO
fumigate the atmosphere. Business was
almost suspended, and the Captain failed
to get money from his banker TO pay his
men upon their return from trip 10
New Orleans.
POSTAL MATHIS.
Some little time after the year 1910 a
few OF the citizens OF the neighborhood
conceived the idea that there was enough
mail matter received and sent from here
10 Justify the establishment Of an office.
Prior to this all postal business was
transacted ut Pullney, u village not now
in existence, but then Just below the site
Of the city. The Office was. established and
John Archer, sr., appointed
FIRST POSTMASTER.
At that tune only weekly mail was
received, the carrier riding on horseback.
In few years, however, the boats began TO
run regularly from Wheeling TO Parkers-
burg, and mail was sent and one re.
ceived every other day. Archer was sue
ceeded as postmaster by DR.. Andrews,
who kept the Office but u short time, and
was followed by John Anderson. Mr..
Anderson retained his position until his
election to the office Of Sheriff Of the
county, in 1858, when A. w. Anderson
was appointed. Upon his resignation
William Dunn obtained the position
through the instrumcntality Of Wm.
Lawrence, then (lS5S) representative Of
this district in Congress. Dunn estab:
lished his office in the lower town, and
this arrangement was so inconyenient for
citizens Of the upper part that they es-
tablished little office OF their own, send
ing their mail to Bridgeport, and
receiving it thereirom by the .. & F. bag
gage masters. Dunn complained to the
Department, and an official OF the
Wheeling Custom House came over to
investigate matters. A we'll known ply
stefan, still living here, took the agent in
hand and by means OF that potent sooth-
er, whiskey, sent him home with his in
vestigation unmade. Dunn soon consent
ed to move the office TO more accessible
part Of the city, and the difficulty was so
removed. Robert Harper followed Dunn,
keeping the office until 1866, when the
present incumbent, Mrs. II. A. BIrdsong,
was appointed. Instead Of the weekly
mail Of the early days Of our history as q
postofIice, eight mails are now received
and sent each day. The first sign ever
used on the postoGice here is the one
used now. 1t was originally painted by
Frank DeHass, now the celebrated minis,
ter and traveller.
CHURCHES AND PASTORS.
The first church organization was the
Methodist Episcopal. They. worshipped
in tho house now occupied by Michael
Burns as dwelling, on 9th, formerly
Pultney street. The Presbyterians at
about the same time had preaching in
the same building by Rev. Holiday, in
the evening. In 1876 the Disciples built
the brick building, now belonging 70 the
Bellaire Manufacturing Co., and used as
school house by the city Board OF Edu.
cation. In 1868 the PrCsbyterians built a
brick church on the site Of their present
elegant one. This was dedicated IN Feb.
ruSry, 1859. About year previous "a
this the Catholics had built their church
Rev. NJ. Kennedy was the first Priest, he
having attended this post for two year,
before the building OF his church. Rev,
JIM. Jarquet succeeded him and was in
turn followed, In 1868, by Father DAILY
who died in 1870, Father Maher next
ministered here n short time, being sue
ceeded by the present pastor, Father
Steylc. :,
In 1860 the Presbyterian Churches oil
BelIaire and Rock Hill called Rev. John
MotEit,md he accepted the cal, and preach
ed until followed by Rev. Fitzgerald. TO
whom the present minister, Rev. VIM,
CASTOR, succeeded in 1867. Their present
church building was erected 10 1871, and
dedicated in June, 1872. When entirely
finished it will he much the finest church
in the city.
The Disciples or Christian Church, is
only second in age to the Methodist. vii.
liam Holiday first preached in the inter-