The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1885-11-07
Continued from page 8.
QUEEN OF The MONONGAHELA.

| tabIlShed In our midst new INDUS
tries and an increase of enterprise in
all of our pursuits. But we may as
well disabuse ourselves at once Of
the delusion possessing some of us
that a railroad is all we want. We
shall want the energy and enterprise
to make available the opportunities
which it will afford. To the farming
interests of any country through
which they pass railroads must al
ways be beneficial; but to inland
towns like ours they are oflittle val
ne excepting the conveniences of in
gress and egress, unless capital can
be attracted by them and invested
in profitable industries. This is
what makes inland towns prosper
Gus; they cannot prosper without it.
In this respect believe Morgantown
to be most favorably situated. At
the head of slackwater navigation,
with well equipped railway passing
through it, making direct and easy
communication with two of the great
est lines of trade and travel in the
United States, and located in the
center of one of the richest mineral
districts in the whole country, it
ought to prosper.
And now, fellow citizens. with
nothing to regret in the retrospect of
the past, with much to be grateful
for in the enjoyment of the present
and with better hopes for the future,
let our motto be Excelsior.
NoTE A Extracts from a letter
written by William Raymond of
Palatine to Luther Raymond of
Clarksburg on the 18th of February
1872
II was born near Rockville, Mont
gomery county, Maryland in 177l.
In the year l773, my father moved
to this county. 1t is strongly i'm
pressed on my mind that we stopped
in the Forks of Cheat river at or
near Rogers Fort.
"The next / reeollect our family
was living in the Monongahela
glades near Decker's creek. AS soon
as war broke out we had to leave
the place and the whole family went
to Kearn's Fort opposite where Nor
gantown now stands. My father
then had eight negroes. We planted
and raised corn on the ground where
Morgantown now stands.
"This was Stockaded Fort.
At one time | think there was a
company of soldiers there. While
living there CobuTn's Fort about two
miles this side of Kearn's Fort was
burnt by the Indians. / was at it
when on fire. How it happened that
I was suffered to go l cannot tell.
miller and Woodfn were killed
ON Miller's place three miles from
Kearn's Fort while we were there.
They were brought into the Fort on
poles having their feet and hands
tied and the pole running between
them. l remember this perfectly.
| While living in Kearn's Fort we
had the small pox in the natural
way-all the family except my ia
ther who had had it. Two children
| think were all that died then with
that disease, however my father lost
either six or seven of his negroes
there-it was said they were pois-
oned
s'While living in this Fort we boys
would go out on what was called the
Hogback near the Fort to hunt
ramps We used the bow and arrow
and were very good in shooting
them.
"Once while standing in the yard
some one shot up an arrow straight
it fell and struck through the wrist
of either Colonel John Evans or one
of the Wilson's, it was hard TO draw
out This is all the accident l rec
ollect happening while we lived in
the Fort.
"We moved from the Fort, what
time cannot say, went about two OF
three miles below town on the land
of John johnson, and for time Oh
the land of William Joseph. While
living out on these farms, we were
often called up in the night and
moved off a mile or two to some house
for safety.
During what was called the hare
: winter, the snow was very deep, we
lived in large old house ON John
sons land-it had two doors. re
member we would draw large logs il
the house with our horse prince
and roll them back on the fire. W,
had number of deer skins huns
, around the house to keep the wine
off.
"In those days we wore shor
breeches and leggings, what else
do not recollect. How we lived
have only an indistinct recollection
/ remember once when brother Johl
!, and myself went to Ruble's Mills il
Y Pennsylvania. Some one there CAV
| us each piece of light bread spreat
! with butter. This I thought sucl
great feast that l have it in m,
mind to this day.
"While we were living on Joseph
' land the Indians killed Madison tn
+ Surveyor of all this county. Han
way was then appointed.
"While living here Albert Gala
tin and Savoy were at my father
to see something about land.
"The Surveyors Office was kept a
a A. M. Pierpoint's about two mile
q from where we lived
. "While we were living on Joseph
land David Morgan killed the tw
Indians. They sent my father
! piece of tanned Indian skin for
9 strap.
9 II was with my father at the rop
works making cords to make HOP
= pose. He was preparing to go int
g the Revolutionary army and had GO
l. ready, when news came that peac
v was made.
n "They had great rejoicing meet
ing on the occasion at Morgantowr
u Harrison county was formed out {
o Monongalia in 1884. My father wa
s appointed surveyor.
v "Thomas Laidley and McNeel
had brought stove to Morgantowr
my father bought bear-ski
coat, as he had to 90 to Williams