The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-01-05
Tho Changes OF Twelve Years at
New Creek.
KEYsER, January 3, 1878.


Editors IntellIsencer.
In this letter I will try 10 give some
idea OF the change that has taken place
| n this beautiful valley since IL years
ago. Twelve years ago yesterday / ar
rived at Keyser from the hospital at
Claysville, where l had been confined for
two months with an attack OF typhoid ie.
yer, This was but a short time after New
| Creek had been,captured by Rosser, and
nearly all the government buildings had
been burned. We remained here until
the Oath Of May following, when we were
mustered out OF the service OF Uncle Sam.
| The place then presented but a sorry ap.
pearance, and no one could have supposed
that to-day it would DO the home Of the
busy population that now inhabits it. But
few Of the old buildings remind one Of
those times. The formation OF the new
county Of Mineral, and the selecting OF
this spot as the county seat, frat gave a
start to the town. Through the energy
and enterprise Of a few men who held
land for sale, inducem ents were held out
TO the present settlers, and the town has
been steadily increasing In p opulation
ever since.
have had but little time 10 visit the
| different parts Of the town and vicinity
IA vet, but to-day | called on John Mil.
Ter, formerly Of Cameron, and found him
busy in his we'll stocked store, and also
with a large force Of hands employed on
his new building almost completed. His
store.room Is at present the old brick
| Government Warehouse, 40 we'll known
10 all soldiers who were stationed at New
Creek during the war. This he will use
al his warehouse when his new room ia
finished, His new room will be the finest
store room in Keyser. and the building ia
perhaps the largest in the City. l find a
number Of the old citizens Of war times
are still here, but many | knew then have
either sought other homes or have passed
the way Of all the earth. Mr.. Hoffman
the postmaster looks as natural AZ he did
when be was in the employ Of the gov.
eminent, and he is Just the same genial
parsonage. Mr.. BarriCk has been clerk
| Of the Courts ever since the formation Of
the County, and he attends the meetings Of
the Institute as an interested spectator.
Senator Clayton Is with us a good part
the time, He Is a member OF the Board
Of Education, and is doing all in his
power with the other members OF the
board TO perfect the schools which are
already in a fair way to meet the most
sanguine friends OF education.
Keyser has FIVE church edi6ces, all
good buildings. The Court House Is a
fair brick structure, and the Jail build.
ing, with the Jailor's house connected,
stands Immediately in the rear.
The corporation election was held to-
day, and the following persons were elect.
ed: Mayor, John W. Athey; Recorder,
James II. Jones; Councilman, F. NJ. Rey.
nolds, I. B. Davis, B. Higgins, T.. E. Nc
Coole and F. Huffman. The Mayor elect
was the ~workingmen's candidate, the re-
mainder belonging to the citizens' ticket.
The election OF the Mayor seems TO be a
surprise to all with whom l have talked,
and quite an excitement has been occA.
stoned by it. The citizens ticket was
nominated irrespective Of party, and the
opposition wa unexpected and the cleo.
tion Of tho Mayor still more so.
James Cunningham, j., is spoken OF
In the highest terms BY the good citizens
Of Keyser, and his labors here in
the cause Of temperance have cet-
tainly been crowned with success. About
800 signed the pledge aud the good work
is still being carried or. / understand
that Mr.. Cunningham is still successfully
working somewhere In Maryland, and no