The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-07-20
WEST VIRGINIA HISTORY.
Letter from Hon. q. d. Camden,
OF ClnrlZsburg.
CLARKsBuRs, W. Va. |
18th July, 1878. I

A. W. Crmp6d, EAq:
Isee by the IsTELLIeEscER Of arscent
date that you have been engaged in the
laudable work OF aiding in perpetuatipg
important historical events connected
with our State, by writing 3 communica-
tion TO Mr.. John s. Herr to he deposited
in the corner stone Of the Masonic Hall
at Grafton; aud feeling certain that you
desire that the scraps Of history thst were
intended TO be preserved for future gen
erations should be entirely correct, and
perceiying that you have unwittingly
fallen into au error as to the name Of an
important place connected with the late
war, in referring TO where the Confeder-
ate General Gsrnett was killed, ! have
deemed it worthy Of writing to make the
proper correction. The place you refer
TO as the scene Of Gen. GIrnetts death Is
"Corieps Ford" and not "ClriePs Ford"
The error did not originate with you,
but was fallen into soon after the place
became noted; but how the error origina-
ted it Ia now difficult 10 tell, IS l have been
acauainted with the Corriek family resid-
ing there for long time and have never in
any instance heard the name pronounced
ECarriek." VIM. Corrick has resided at
the ford Of Cheat river for near half a
century. He married daughter Of VIM.
Marteny, OF German descent who re-
moved from Frederick county, Maryland,
to Randolph county in very early day,
and Represented the county for about 20
years In the House Of Delegates OF Vir-
sinis. Mr.. Corrick and bis wife are still
living and have had family OF "a chill
dren. % Of whom are still living. Their
grand and great grand children are all
nlost too numerous 10 be counted. SO
you see the place Ia notorious, indepen-
dent OF the death OF Ciarnett there, and Is
worthy Of perpetuation as showing the
UNPARALLELED healthfulness Of our State.
I.haye frequently been at Mr.. Corricks
and enjoyed his hospitality, and mar
veled to see the patriarch surrounded
with such progeny. II astranger ahould
pass that way and enquire for "CdrrieEs
ford Of Cheat no denizsn would know
where TO direct him! II this misnomer
il continued you perceive the effect
would be, 10 some extent, TO change the
names OF large number Of citizens;
Aud whilst on the subject
Of misnomers Of the places where impor.
tant events have occurred, l deem il
proper 10 mention another place, The
scene Of an important battle, which the
public prints almost without exception
have miscalled. I allude 10 what i
generally called Carnifaxs Ferry"
which should properly be aCarni6Is."
At an early day l knew well William
Carniix, who resided there. he removed
| from Eastern Virginia and resided At the
ferry, and was the President ol the Coun.
tyCourt OF that county for many years,
where / occasionally attended Court,
travelling on horaebaek seventy miles, At
the commeneement OF my professional
career. shall never forget that on one
Of my trips there my only horse, with
scan,y means TO procure another, fell
dead with me in little Birch River, and
I was left In the wilderness nine miles
from any house, and was compelled to
walk in the rain that distance, the Hon.
Lewis Maxwell, who afterwards repre-
sen,ed that district 10 Congress, being
kind enough 10 carry my saddle.
Mr.. Carni6x was Z very kind and ar
baue gentleman, and remember him
very distinctly. do not wonder at the
error in, this instance, for he was ire
suently miscallsd "Catnifax."
1 do not suggest the mAnper ot. correct
| ing the error into which you have fallen,
bat leave it to your own good Judgment
I hope our State Historical Society
will have auch errors corrected.
Yoursi truly, 7a q. D. CAMDEN.