The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-12-01

VI Iuaukluus
There arc so few materials from whicl
to obtain information that even Sigh
sketch Of Mr.. Lindsley's life seems almos
impossible, and yet, it Is right and prOpe
that some effort be made TO preserve III
name and memory OF man who, COMM
a stranger into our midst, displayed suci
generosity towards our city.
Noah Lindsey was born in Braniord
Connecticut, February 0, I've, His fam
lily was OF English descent, his earlies
ancestor in this country, John Lindsey
having emigraled from the vicinity O
London and settled in New Haven il
1914. He was the third son OF JOSIAH
Lindsey, but We have no additional
knowledge Of his family other than that DR.
Jared Lindsey, Of New York, is hi
nephew. Mr.. Lindsey graduated at Yale
College in l7Ol; was tutor in that institu
ton in 1913, and aiterward studied Law
at the LitChtield Law School, under Tan
ping Reeve. After COM pleting his studies
heremovedto Western Virginia aud settled
at MOrgantOwn in 1797.9S, where he 70
manned two years, and then removed &c
Wheeling, where he passed the remainder
Of his life.
He is described "a man OF fine pres.
enCe, six feet in heighth, with ford com.
plexion and auburn hair, which he wore
in queue; he was extremely particular
in his dress and very deniied 10 manner
In politics he was an old Federalist; in re.
ligion, Of Presbyterian lineage, though we
have no means OF knowing his private
feelings and opinions upon the subject.
He never married, and his personal friends
are oil gone, but his life speaks for him
more e!oquently than could tongue or pen.
he died ut his residence In v heelinS, OF
hemorrhage OF the lungs, after u very
brief illness, March %, 1914. Two letters,
addressed 10 his brothers, William and
Josiah, are interesting as n candid expires.
sion OF his FIRST impressions OF the West.
In the first, addressed to William, and
dated Morgantown, June 81, l70S, after
some discussion OF purely personal mat.
tiers, he says
81 began business here sometime In
January. My success thus far has been
as good as could reasonably expect, but
money here, rs well as every where else
in America, is extremely scarce, and fees
come in very slowly. In answer to your
inquiries, | will state that Morgantown il
the county town OF Monongalia, situated
on the Monongahela river, about miles
from the Pennsylvania line, 2l5 from Al.
exandria, and about 800 from Philadel
phia. The MonOngahela is main branch
OF the Ohio, uniting with the Allegheny
at Pittsburgh. In summer it is generally
low, but in the spring and autumn, and
occasionally at other times, it is high
enough to carry boats Of any size. l have
known ii 80 feet deep upon shoal oppo'
site Morgantown. Boats so from this
place to Kentucky very frequently, anL
now and then, one goes to New
Orleans, near the mouth Of the
Mississippi. Our winter here is almost as
long as in New England, but much milder
We have but little snow, and what falls
scarcely ever lies for any considerable
time. The climate is very healthy; the
land Is much Of it good, but very billy
better adapted to grass and the raising 0
stock than for any other purpose. BeeI
may very well be driven from this county
To Alexandria and Baltimore, but aouI
must go down the river 10 New Orleans
am happy to hear OF YOUR health and
prospects. Give my compliments to Mrs
Lindsey and love To the brethren.
Yours atEeCtiOnately,
NOAH LINDSEY.
P.S.-If you address me in any Other
manner than in your hast letter, Won car
give me the old fashioned title OF Esquire
which seems to be given to lawyers II
every part Of the Union. However, it |,
not u farthing's consequence any way
My health is ut present pretty good; IN!
headache has about left me,
The next letter Is dated Morgantown
August lG, 100, more than year later; /
reads:
DEAR BRoTuER-lt is with great pleas
ure that acknowledge the receipt Of you
letter dated July. My business here
considering the change OF times, IL as gooC
as l can expect. lsuppose that at leas
six or eight hundred must be duo me, bu
mostly in small debts, and II SHOULD
happen to die the greater part Of it NIGH
be lost. The county is perfectly healthy
The society is this place is tolerably goo
and my situation IL, OH the whole, YER
agreeable. The disputes respecting Liant
will, for many a day, afford q harvest t
honest lawyers in this district, and such
mean 10 be. In short, though money
scarce and the country poor and distress
ed at present, do not despair of maE
ing handsome property in the cours
Of eight or ten years. Respecting pol
tics, am not noisy, but in the preser
situation Of things, am firmly attached
the present measures Of government thine
of John Adams.) 1t was impossible fo
an Independent nation any longer to Ell
: dure the uneEampled depredations, injn
les and insults which haYe been heape
upon us by the French; and sooner tha
see my country reduced to the wretChc
condition Of Holland, Switzerland, Ital
and other countries which have bee
: doomed TO fall under the French rsYoll
tionary sCourge, would sacrifice my lit
all, and offer myself 10 q voluntary sGcr
fice to the Independence and liberty
!. my country. A monarchy and all til
: belongs to 1t l abhor as much as any ms
breathing. have no fear that anythiT
of that kind will take place In Americ
So long as the people remain virtuous ~
d well informed 1t is Impossible. lexpet
Il God spares my life, 70 sec yoH the yt
ter after next. l am happy to hear y
are well and happy. c., ] fear, h
s. ruined himself, but cannot help 1t. II
others Of my brothers are near you, al
10 YOU must be a father to them, as you ha
been TO ne. ! still remain single Al
probably shall, at least there Is no prof.
bility Of my being married for years
= come. by constitution Is not stror
!, hut am much more healthy than DUR
=, the last two years | lived In ConnecttC
=. Ifyou should evert think Of moving IN
=. Connecticut would endeavor 10 bri
OF YOU to this country. However, the st
Y ~ nnninA,, In ,r,nat maria Of tina chnntrY