Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-08-21
yelEE Their REWARD.
The Help which Came to an Old
Soleer in Time of Need.
A Wood CouAS Man and His Devoted Wife
Other ltRs of Interest From
DOW in the State.

The State JournA tells this remarkapie
story of life in Wood county:
In the dark days OF 81, Thomas P. Hick-
man, then, as now, q resident Of Wood coun'
ty, responded to his country 8 first call to
arms. he served his country vaisntly I'M
til the last shot had been fred and peace
had once more united the warning sections.
Then he was mustered out aud returned to
bis native heath with those Of his comrades
who had survived the perils Of war.
On his return he engaged in business at
Kanswha station. Everything prospered
in his business, and he was soon known as
one Of those epviatle individuals who are
designated as well to do" He occupied
fine residence and
LIFE SEEMED MORE THAN USUALLY BRIGHT
for him. Hickman belonged to the sect
known as Free Thinkers" and had ssso-
ciated with him a woman named Jane Gun
ningbsm. This woman, as is customary
With the followers Of that creed he treated
| in all respects as his wife She was always
treated with respect and wellcsred tor by
hickman. Jane was not q handsome wo.
man. She was taller than the average and
her features were strongly marked, but she
| bad other qualities more durable and dssir.
| able than beauty
All went well with Hickman until 1875,
when he was suddenly stricken with paraly-
sis He was rendered utterly helpless both
his upper and lower limbs being completely
paralyzed. Thenceforth he was doomed to
a life of dependence and confinement. In
all these ten years he has not been out of
bed day. Matters we're not serious for the
first few years. Tor he had accumulated a
little money and it stood him well in hand.
Finally, however, his savings were ex-
hausted by living expenses and
| FRCiTLEss MEDICAL ATTENTION.
And thus matters went from bad - worse
until at last he was completely a financial
as we'll as physical wreck. In his extremity
be removed to Walker Station. Here he
lived in dilapidated log cabin, open to the
elements and scsntily furnished. The cabin
itself bare and cherries, stood in a lonely
SPOT under the railroad track. What his
life has been in such surroundings only him
self will ever know. 1t was drearY drag
| gipg out OF suffering existence.
But one ray of sunshine Illuminated the
gathering darkness OF his lite, and that was
! ;he devotion Of Jane Cunningham. Having
shared the fruits of his prosperity, she did
not desert him in the hour Of his affection.
Through all these years Of trial she has
cared for him. Her life has been
DAILY SACRIFICE.
Her earnings, with the exception of two
dollars per month, granted Hickman by the
County Court, have kept the stricken sub.
ect of this skerch from starvation. Ia the
morning she arose attended to her househo'd
duties cooked his breakfast and fed him,
and then prepared his dinner leaving it in
easy reach. This done she then went out
| 10 her days work among the neighbors.
She washed and scrubbed and when
homework failed she went into the field as
| farm hand Her scsnty and hard earn
ipgs kept the wolf from the door. At night,
after what would have been hard day 8
work for a man, she would 60 home and
work until late at night in and about her
own home. Many a cold winters day she
has been seen trudging YEARLY home from
The woods with
LOAD OF FIREwooD on HER BACK
and her ak in her hand Jane Cunningham
had her faults, her labor of love was done
quietly, patiently and mplainingly,
without hope of reward, but her self-sacri-
GciDg devotion is worthy Of all praise.
But the dark cloud which enYeloped
Thomas Hickman for ten years had its sill
yer lining. A few DAYS since he received
rom the pension department back pay
amounting TO $500 and he will receive
SO per month, the highest pension grant
ID during the rest of his life This will pro-
vide comfortable home and furnish all ne.
cessilies Of life.
| MISCELLANEOUS STATE NOTES.
Morgantown is making extensive preps-
ions for her centennial exercises, which be-
gin October 18th.
A barn belonging TO Mr.. Gordon Mullins
who resides on Two Mile, Ksnswha county,
burned last Saturday night, with large
quantity of hay, a wagon and other things,
Loss about 1000. 1t is not known how it
caught, but is supposed to have been set on
| fire.
The Tenth and Fifteenth West Virginia
Regiments will hold grand reunion on the
Far Grounds in Weston on the 18th Of
September 1885. One of the leading fea-
lures will be sham battle.
Quite lively fight occurred on board o
shsnty boat moored at the Point Pleasant
wharf last Sunday. 1t seems that the old
man had stirred up the wrath Of his better
half and groWn-up son, when they downed
him and proceeded to do him up in fine
lyle.
The residence Of Judge Snyder, Of the