Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1879-09-20
WHAT ENERGY WILL ACCOM-.
PL1SH

visit friends in Ohio, then return TO his
home IN the "Lone Star State. DIR.
Rumsey has had what may be termed
..yariecated life" He was born in Shep-
herdstown, Va, in 1905. When he
was two years old his father died, leav
ING a widow and children in rather
poor circumstances The widow mar
ried again, and left the little property
in Shepherdstown and moved to Rock
ingham county Va. When George had
arrived at the age of Is years, he con-
cluded that farming "was not his fort,
and started out to paddle his own Ca
noe. He left the farm and went to a
cabinet maker and house, joiner TO learn
the trade. He became an excellent
workman, and in 1925 he took Horace
I Greeleys advice and event West as
far as Kingwood,in Preston county, Va.
There, at the age of 20 years, he ar
rived ''unheralded and unknown" his
entire cash capital amounting to just
fifty cents. lie was of good address,
and soon made many friends, procured
work, and was welcomed into the best
society. Among his first associates were
Guy Il. 4. Allen, young man who
/ had Just hung ont his single as an At
torney at Law, DR.. NJ Dent, who had
hung up his shingle as an IN. d., and
/ James Z. McGrew, who was engaged
with Elisha NJ Hagans, in the mercan-
tile business. These young men were
] s nIo
tanned it. Mr.. Allon has been dead
many years, but the other three are yet
living, bright monuments to sobrlety,
morality and industry.
While Mr.. Rumsey was pursuing his
vocation of cabinet-making in King
wood, he utilized his spare moments In
reading medicine; and when DR.. Chas.
McLanc (whOse practice extended into
that section) visited Kingwood, he
would receive oral instruction from him.
For nine years he pursued his studies,
aud having finished his medical train
lug he, in 1884, pulled up stakes AMI
moved West again, this time going
10 Goshen, Indiana, where he hung out
his shingle and in a short time had u
large practice. The entire trip 10 In
diana was made in All old time carriage,
The wood work of which was made by
Mr. Joseph Grubh, ST., in this county,
and ironed by Mr.. Elijah Skater, OF
kingwood.
While in Indiana he was quite a
prominent helper in establishing Asbury
University-over which Rev. Alexander
Martin now presdes-and was very III
innate with, ard great admirer OF
Bishop Simpson, of the NJ. E. Church,
OF which Church DR.. Rumsey has been
member for about 60 years.
Having recruited his financial eX-
chcquer somewhat, and not liking the
shakng propensities of the climate in
Indiana, i'll 1851 he sold out and emf
! grated TO Texas and settled near Austin
where he bought body of land and
commenced farming and grazing, in
addition to the practice Of medicine.
The purchase Of this land was a fine
streak of luck 1t made his fortune. He
is now very wealthy, and by his energy
perseverance and sobriety has made
himself a ''downy bed of ease" on which
to lecline in his old age. His children
are all married and doing well, and all
he has 10 10 is to GO and see them and
other relatives whenever he feels like ii.
Dr Geo. Rumsey was son of James
Rumscy, ofShepherdstown,an and grand
sou of the James RumSey who kept a
boarding house at ''Berkcley Springs,
in 1884, who was The first man TO pro-
pei boat by steam, rs the following
sketch from paper read 10y Col. ID. III.
Stroiher, port CrayoH before the West
Virginia Historical Society, in 1871,
will show:
At this date, (lS7l) and up to the time of
the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, the
point where Sir Johns run CmpticS into
the Potomac was peculiarly secluded and
difficult OF access, and we have traditional
information supported by written and
printed records, that all the proceeds Of
Jas. RumSey'S varied and rather iLcOn-
gruOuS occupation at the Bath, were eX-
pended in the construction of an expert
mental steamboat, jealousy hidden III the
little harbOr that was formed at the mouth
OF OF JOnll run. III NcJlCIllDCl VI lHc
! same wear, Rumscy had completed his
model sufficiently to hazard an exhibit
ton, to witness which Il select company
of visitors at the springs was invited.
The result of this experimental trial is
. given in certificate from Gen. George
, Washington to the inventor, which reads
, rs follows:
~ have seen the model of Mr.. Rum
/ scy's Boat constructed to work against
the stream; examined the powers upon
/ hich it acts; been eye witness to an act
ual experiment in running waters Of some
rapidlty; and give it us my opinion (al-
though had little faith 0efOre) that he
has discovered the art of working boats
/ by mechanism and small manual assist
auce. against rapid currents; that the dis
/ CoVery is OF vast Importance, may be of
. the greatest usefulness in our inland nav
igatiou; and if it succeeds, (of which |
have no dOubD, that the value of it is
greatly enhanced by the simplicity of the
work which when explained may be eX-
ecutcd by the most common MECHANIC.
/ Given under my hand in the town OF Bath,
county of Berkeley in the State of Virgin
Ia, this eth day of September, 1874.
GEORGE WASHINGTON.
, In the cautious wording of this cctifi-
! cate, in which steam is never mentioned,
/ we perceive the Jealous care with which
tue inventor guarded his supposed Sc
crct.
! Encouraged by this success RumSey
! took his boat down the river to Shep-
! herdstown, where Il more public and still
| more satisfactory exhibition of her pow
! ers was given. Thus assured of the feast
! bility of his plan, lie destroyed the model
/ and sailed for England, where he hoped
thro' the assistance of more liberal and
/ enlightened patronage to perfect his work
| and realize both fame ana fortune.
/ Some wears ago i had in my possession