Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1885-07-26
IN REAL LIFE.
IN REAL LIFE.
The Romantic History Of a Wheel
Ing Citizen.
A Couple Who Loved and Married
Under the Most Peculiar Of
Circumstances.

In speaking to a gentleman, the other
day, of Mr.. James A. Corchran, the toll
gate keeper on the Wheeling and Fairmont
pike, whose home is about mile out Cald.
wells run, reporter cleaned an interesting
little bit of history, which Mr.. Corchran's
countless friends and others in this section
of country will no doubt be pleased to read
The gentleman has been lying quite
SERIOUSLY ILL
for eome time past, but ia now recovering,
which latter fact his friends will be glad to
hear Said the narrator:
mr.. Corchran was born March 4,ls07, in
Shepberdstown, Pa, and when he had grown
10 youths estate he learned the trade of
saddlery in Chsmbersburg, and subsequently
worked at various places His wife, whose
maiden name was Miss Maria Baird, was
born and raised in Ohio county.
They were engaged to be married when
about twenty-one years Of age, but Mr.. G,
vas CT
ROWING DISPOSITION,
and leaving his affianced he went South. ex.
pectipg to return soon and marry. How.
ever, he still remained in the South until
fifteen years had passed, when letters dropped
off, and at last, neither hearing Of the other,
each thought the other was dead.
"In 1850 Mr.. Corchran arrived in Cincin-
natl, whence he was to start overland to
California, and here is where delightful
little piece Of romance came in. The day
before he was to leave he and Miss Baird
MET BY CHANCE,
and the meeting could best be described BY
a novelist Suffice it to say that it was q
happy one, and their VOWS were renewed.
Mr. G. informed his betrothed that he was
10 start the following morning for the far
West, and proposed to have the nuptisls
consum mated before leaving. She was
willing. and the marriage ceremony was
performed.
The next morning be babe his bride good
bye, with bow many beart-throbbings the
reader is left to imagine. He walked all
the way to
THE GOLD REGIONS.
His fortune went up and down. and while
there be experienced q severe sun stroke,
but recovered. He remained IN California
eleven years and subsequently enlisted in
the Union cause, where he remained five
years, for two years working in the ord.
nance department at his trade, receiving
good wages.
For four years Mr.. C. heard from his
wife frequently and then the correspondence
ceased and bis wife again gave him up for
dead. In 1861 Mrs. Corchran heard that
her husband was alive and in New Mexico.
In 1868 he
ATTENDED BALL
in Fort Union, which reminded him OF
Wheeling balls and home, and be deter.
mined then and there to return here.
"He also decided that if be found his wife
dead. he would return to Philadelphia. On
bis return TO Wheeling be stopped at the
U. S. Hotel, kept by Messrs. Michael Ed
wards and 81. Conant. Through Mr.. Ed.
wards he learned that. his wife was still
living, and he Immediately rushed for Q
barber shop, where his toile. was made To
suit. Then he lost no time in ushering him.
self into his wife's presence. The meeting
wen, eBain tnc feauef u Iert 70 guess
what q happy meeting that was.
Shortly after the pair, who had been
parted so long,
wEsT TO HOUSEKEEPING
in the upper part Of the city, where they
lived until nine years age, when Mr.. Coech-
ran accepted the position at the toll gate,
and has held il since, q faithful guardian OF
the interests Of the Wheeling and Fsirmont
pike.
Along with his duties at the gate Mr..
Corchran spends bis spare time at his old
trade. In politics he Is an old Jscksonisn
Democrat and although he has had some
what checkered career it has BEEN an hon
est one, and it is sincerely hoped he may
live many years to come.