The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-12-06
MOUNDsyILLE.
II. Foundation. Incorporation ana
prosrexs-The Penftenifary' Ne"
Court House, Jail and Churehes-


General Improvements, etc.
This is one of the oldest towns IN the
State, and was first Incorporated IN 1867
The history of the place is very remark
able AZ we'll as interesting one, ana Is
one that will interest the readers OF thi'
paper. $50 ,,., rom,inson
in company with his brother Ssmuei
Tomlinson, left Fort Cumberland M
and came here. Here they found a rich
and fertile bottom and settled. In look.
il q for suitable place on which to erect
a mouse. and having found none more
suitable on which to build, they ouiiI d
cabin on spot near where the residehce
of the late Judge Caldwell now s'ahos.
Residing in this cabin, the two ofo'ners
fou.ished until fall, at which time joseph
became tired of the life OF oacheior'
and returned to the "Glades," where ne
was united in mstrimony to Miss hiiZa'
beth Hardness, an estimable and accom-
plished lady of that region: Inc youhs
couple intended returning IN the spring.
but owing to Indian troubles, did not re-
turn until the spring of l7l3. The young
people came over the mountains on
horseback, she using piece o. DedticH-
ing as a saddle. cloth, 1t beng the only
piece of household goods in their posses
sion on arriving at their new nome III
the West. as it was then called. lime
rolled on and everything prospered the
two happy people, and sometime De,
tween 1884 and 1898 fort was erected
here and called "Tomhnson'S Fort al
Gravecreek." About this time joseph
Tomlinson conceived a plan OF building
up q town at this point, and consequent
ly, in 1895,
THE TOWN WAS LAID OUT
by himself and named Eliza
BEETHOVEN, after his wife, Eliza
beth Tomlinson. A rapid flow OF
emigration began to pour IN upoA Ine
newly made town, which grew RAPIDLY
III its numb ers of residei ces, under the
sturdy hand OF the early pioneer. In
fact the place grew so rapidly that 1t be-
came necessary to make an ADDITION to
the town, and consequently in 1880, just
after the death Of Joseph iomilnson,
THE PLACE BECAME INCORPORATED
by an act to that effect, passed by the
Virginia Legislature. In the following
wear, 1881, Elizabeth Tomli'son, vile OF
j Joseph Tomlinson, deceased, caused 10 he
laid out that portion OF the tows, nora
OF the railroad, now known as Middle
town. Shortly after followed the laying
out of Purdy's addition, by Simeon b.
Purdy, son Of Jonathan Purdy. A few
years later followed an addition
made by Archibald Mclean. linen
followed Cecil * Hog LIS addition
The place continued to gradually in
crease, until it was found expedent to
unite the different additions, known as
UPPERTowE, MIDDLETowN AND LOWER
TOWN,
INTO one corporation, and on the 2Sth day
Cay. of January, 1882, the General AS
sem oily OF Virginia passed an act entI-
tied an "act to establish the town oil
Moundsville, In the county OF Ohio"
The name was caused by the TACT that
an immense mound had been erected
here by some extinct race or Indians.
The frs. BODY of rulers were John Riggs,
Lewis d. Purdy, John Roberts, Blair
Moran, Samuel Dorsey, Samuel Tomlin-
son, David Lock wood, Christopher Par.
riott and James Ramsey, who were called
trustees. A few years after this act WAS
passed by the Legislature, an act WAS
passed by the same body, TO divide Ohio
county, thereby forming Marshall county.
With the new county, county seat had
to be chosen, and rs Moundsvllle was al
ready thriving town OF u few hundred
inhabitants, it YVES chosen as the capital,
and the first court house was erected in
1886 by Elisha Lindsey, for $4,000.
Shortly afterwards Il jail was erected and
the county buildings were complete.
LOCATION OF THE TOWN.
1t is situated on the east side of the
Ohio river, twelve miles below Wheeling
land connected to same by both river
and rsiroad), on what used to be called
the "fsts of Grave creek" There are
three creeks near the town. Little Grave
creek runs in from northerly course
to the river. Middle and Big Grave ere Ks
run into the river south OF the town from
an eastern direction.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND FACTORIES.
The State pUniteuti gry is located here
and is q fine and commodious srchi-
teclural pile, five stories high and made
of the best and most durable treestone.
1t is complete in all its parts, ard Is
governed by the best discipline, being
presided over by Capt. w. l.. Bridges,
The next public building Of note, is
the new court house, which Is bV far the
editice of the kind in the State. 1t
is replete in all It's specifications, and
has ali the modern improvements neces-
sary to temple of justice. The cost Of
the building completed and furnished,
toots up about $4,000. A large new jail
Is beng constructed. The cost OF this
building will be Sll,l00 The srchi-
.ectural design was made by Mr. j. 4.
Carney, gifted son and native OF
There is new hotel be-
ng construction, by Mr.. McFsdden,
which will add greatly to the appearance
IF the town and the comfort OF the tray
cling public when completed. There are
among the factories, two tlo9ring mills,
,ne rolling mill for the manufacturing
u iron, two tsnneries and one establish
nent for the mandatory OF farm I'M
elements. There are also five churches
liz; Episcopal, Presbyterian, Methodist,
Catholic and Christian; one public
chool. and three news pa ers, The
Mac State Gazette, edited by George
Jreel, the Reporter, by Rock Il Evans,
md the National, by Richard
Patrick. Here the Baltimore and Ohio
abroad leaves the river for the East.
The town is mainly sustsined by
gardening the rich bottom land
or market, and the ordinary trading OF
country town. New improvements are
tesdily being pushed ahead. The streets
re being graded and paved, and at last
he town has swoke TO 8 sense o: i'm
and everything seems TO
move prosperously onward. For hospi-
slity, congeniality and good sense, the
'eople OF this place are noted Tar and
ear.
Amusements,