Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1878-07-25
SPRINGFIELD, JACKSON &
PoMEROY.
THE LAST SPIKE SENT Home.
the Beginning of Through
Business
The Last Rail Laid and Last spike
Driven Thursday, July 18th and
the First Carloads of Coal
Pass over the Entire
Completed Line.

AAG AESb CGESAO20S Oh COAl
Pass Over the Entire
Completed Line.
Springfield Republic.
Thursday morning, July 18th, trains
left the Springfield and Jackson terminus
of the new Springfield, Jackson and
POmeroy Narrow Gauge railway, meet
ing finally, at half past two, in the after
noon, on the farm of Mr.. Robert Dills,
four miles beyond Bainbridge and fifteen
miles this side of Waverly, at the newly
completed bridge across Paint Greek.
The Springfield train left here at lit
tie after eight. Mr.. William Whiteley,
uncle of the President of the road, Mr..
William n. Whiteley, had taken pains to
gather up the venerable pioneers along
the entire route, so that, at last, the men
who had cut down the first forest trees, in
the older time, could send home the last
spikes of the new railroad. Hence, Clark
County was represented in the expedi-
ton, by Mr.. James S. Christie, 88 years of
age; Mr.. Jesse Christie, u; Mr.. 1. c..
Wood, 76; Mrs. Wood, So; Mr.. Henry
Oxtoby, u; Mr.. Jacob Garlough, 80 :;
Mr.. John Hatfield, 81; Mr.. Leonidas Ban
croft, Sc; Mrs. Bancroft, 78; Mrs. Lott,
73; Mr.yAnthony Byrd, IS.
Among the Venerables picked up along
the route were Judge Dan'l Mclean, 70,
and Hon. James Pursell, 20, of Washing
ton G. H.; the following rather yOas,g old
men, of Greenfield-namely, Messrs. W.
w. Bell, so; David Welshimer, 81; Jesse
Robbins, 81, and Contractor G. 1. Ruek-
er, 81. The venerable Messrs. Elijah
Rockhold, r. R. Seymour, Aaron Sey-
mour, and Thomas Blackstone, the latter
20 years old and native of his own neigh
borhOod, having been born near the Cop
peras mountain-represente Bainbridge
and vicinity.
Ex-President James Emmitt, Y, and
Mr.. Hosea holland, represented Waverly,
and Vice President II. L. Chapman rep
resented Jackson Court House. Mr.. John
Storms, ofStorms Hollow, SO years of age,
represents the immediate vicinity.
At the time mentioned the train from
Jackson, which had come through Waver-
| ley, met our train, from Springfield, and
as soon as the Pioneers had been got to-
gether at the meeting of the tracks, the
people-about 800 in number-cOvered
the banks on both sides of the road, and
at about 3 o'clock the exercises began.
Mr.. Fl. L. Chapman, Vice President of
the road, in the absence of Mr.. Whiteley,
announced that the track of the S. J. &
P. Railway had been completed-the last
rail having been laid-and that the last
| oEo ha RI
John Beatty and Dennis Gleason, boss
track-layers of the two divisions, drove
\ in the spikes, with the exception of dOz-
en- or so, and then the venerable r. r.
Seymour commenced the final work, by
driving the first spike of the last to be
| driven, Mr.. James S. Christie drove the
second. Mr.. Jesse Christie the third, and
the work continued until, finally, Hon.
James Emmitt, of Waverly, the first
President of the road, made his appear
and said:
| FELLOW CITIZENs-I had the honor
I oyer three years ago, of shOveling the first
| shovelful of dirt on this road, and after
| ward, of driving the first spike, at Jack
son, and now have the honor of driving
| the last spike, 1t is a good road, and l
believe its stock will prove to be good
investment under good management.
Three hearty cheers were then giver
for the Springfield, Jackson 6 Pomeroy
Railway-''The Balloon Route"-ant
three more for the officers of the road
and the work was done.
The first train then came over thu
bridge, from jackson, with several pas
senger and freight cars, and two loads O.
Jackson coal, consigned to Mr.. c. G. Tay
lor, of Springfield, which came through
Thursday evening, and are now in thu
city.
THE PRESS.
The press was represented, on the oc
casion, as follows:
Mr.. j. F. Wetmore, of the Pike COUNTY
Republican, Waverly.
Hon. VIM. Millikan, of the Herald, ant
Hon. H. v. Kerr, of the Register, Wash
ington Court House.
Mr.. r. R. Sprung, of the Highland
Chief, Greenfield.
Messrs. c. E. Winters, of the Trans
cript, and G. M. Nichols, of the Repub
lie, Springfield.
Mr.. D. L. West, Springfield correspon
debt of the Cincinnati Enquirer.
Mr.. J. E. Marks, correspondent @
Chillicothe and Hillsboro papers,
THE TRIP AND THE ROUTE.
Conductor Jones took out the train froT
Springfield, Mr.. George Crawford run
ming the engine, both making themselve
agreeable and serviceable. Mr.. WilliaI
Whitley, Mr.. Secretary Geo. Barnes, MI
} Isaac w. Frey, Paymaster, Mr.. VIM. E
) Hamilton, Mr.. F. c. Ayers, of Cincinnati
: accompanied the expedition. At WasI
ington, Greenfield and Bainbridge, ne,
: recruits were picked up. Young Bell,
: Greenfield, made himself quite useful
e the party.
7 Beyond Greenfield we found the mouI
r tains, and enjoyed very fine scener
S nicely set off by alternate sunshine an
e shadow.
: At Bainbridge, still farther beyond, v
It found quite large gathering of peopl
and a score of wagon loads of blackbe
ries-selling at 1914 cents per gallo
They were very fine.
Returning from the scene of the fin
spike-driving, we stopped and lunched
r fine grove just the other side of Bal
bridge; and we happen to know, perso
. ally, the man who drove the first spi
into a chunk of bread and butter, al
who drove the last spike into a cup of cC
- fee. 1t did him good.
Immediately after lunch, and befo
the party could get into the cars, thu
der shower came up, passed over Bal
g bridge, passed back, and then wiped it
again by retracing its steps, going OV
IN the territory three times, flooding the