The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-08-29

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August 20, 1879.
Correspondence Gatelllgsncer.
1t was in the summer OF 1856 when !
first visited what Is now the State Of Yves
Virginia. In company with two or three
other students at Jefferson College, 1 came
by stage from Canonsburg over to Wash.
ington, and thence onward by the same
conveyance, to West Alexander, where
we took the cars Of the Hempfeld Rail.
road-then only completed to that village
and came to Wheeling. l remember
that we spent the night at tho Nc.
Lure House, which was then new and
clean, and that We were greatly pleased
with tho treatment which we received. A
ride overt the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
to Harper's Ferry, gave US an opportunity
to see something Of the wildness and
grandeur Of the scenery, and impressed
US with the backwardness Of the region in
Improvements, as compared with the
parts Of Pennsylvania and Ohio with
which We were familiar.
WEST VIRGINIA TWENTY YEARS AGO. J
My next visit was in 1850, when 1 be-
gan my work as a preacher by spending
the summer in missionary work in Jack.
son county. The service was in many
ways an admirable training, and it en-
abled me to become well acquainted with
the condition OF society and mode of life
which prevailed in regions OF the State
more removed from the principal centres
OF trade. During my residence OF more
than fifteen years at Wheeling the tre-
mendous changes wrought by the war
occurred.
Though now a citizen Of another part Of
the country, l can hardly be charged
with impertinent intrusion II / indulge in
a few reflections about the general condi-
ton OF things in this State. tits apparent
to me that in many directions a great deal
OF progress has been made. Here in
Jackson county, which may DO accepted
as the representative of much OF the
State, It is very marked. Ravenswood,
as first saw 1t twenty years ego, was q
poor little village OF a dilapidated order.
The houses were as a rule shabby and in
nocent OF those outward ornaments which
add SO much to the appearance OF any
town: The only church edifce was the
EPlssopallan1a very small wooden
building still standing. The school.
house. was SO mean and ill.kept
that 1t was a disgrace to the
people: At Ripley, the c%ounty-seat, the
state OF things was still less attractive. I
shall never forget the first time / entered
the town. 1t was a pleasant Saturday in
May or June. A considerable proportion
OF the male citizens were gathered in the
middle OF the principal street, where thew
were engaged in the noble pursuit OF
pitching cents for the drinks. The only
public buildings were the old court house
and the old school house, neitherof which
which was fit 10 be occupied by human
beings. l preached in the morning in the
court house, but in the evening l fled TO
the school house, where, standing in the
door, l could have fresh air and address
myself with ease to the congregation gath.
eredinside o the building. In the country,
log school houses, built in the rudestm a
ner, furnished a place Of preaching al
some places, and at others a stump or q
log, with tho blue heavens for q roof,
served the desired purpose. Schools were
not numerous, and were taught by the
most available persons who could DO Sc,
cured In q given neighborhood, without
the trouble OF an examination as TO Quail.
hcations. The type Of society which pre-.
vailed, IN a general way, resemhled that
oil old Virginia. Scattered over the coun.
try was q goodly number Of families who
possessed aconsiderable amount OF wealth
and intelligenCe-many OF them originally
from the valley OF Virginia or still further
east. ThSy Of necessity controlled in ali
public affairs. They were characterized
up to the measures Of their abilities, by
the hospitality and genera manners which
are peculiar to their class wherever found.
At the other extreme were the poor and
Ignorant who usually lived in miserable
log shanties, and were content to exist
with the least possible labor and food. Be.
tween the two there were scarcely enough
to constitute agenuine middle class. There
were some natives who were strhgglingto
ward wealth and intelligence. There were
also some emigrants from northern States
who had come 10 better their condition,
but 1t was yet almost o question with the
natives whether they were a desirable adj,
dition 70 the population. That it was moi
impossible to secure a favorable reception
myself ascertained by experience. Never
was a stranger more kindly welcomed OF
more generously treated. I was at once
admitted to, every priyilege-even that OIL
preaching to the slaves, Of whom there
were still some in the county. With the
approval OF the authorities Of the church
! held a meeting specially for the blacks
They came from all directions, for many
miles, seemed greatly to enjoy the service
and, in the face Of my protest, collected
some money among themselves and com
PEELED me to accept II.
THE WEST VIRGINIA OF 4o.pAY.
Rayenswood is now quite a pretty vii
lage-especially as compared with what i
was twenty wears apo. II still lanka m,