Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1886-11-11

4 Matter Of Practical Importance.

l{r. Editor: Now that the people of our
county have chosen their representatives in
the legislature the time seems favorable
for inviting attention TO a matter of practi-
cal importance in which we are all interest
ed. viz. the desirablity of having change
in the name of the Capital of the State.
The constant inconvenience of having the
same name for the Capital and our town IS
serious and can only be overcome by a
change of name of one or the other. Some
of the reasons why our town should have
the preference are the following: Charles
torn is the older and entitled to the name
bv priority. Her name is derived from that
of a brother of Washington the Great, who
WAS himself much more identified with this
region than with that of which Charleston
is the centre. 1t even doubtful whs was
the person after which Charleston was
ramed.
1t will be pertinent TO introduce here the
following ex ract from page 2S9 of a recent
and interesting contribution TO the history
of our State from the pen of DR.. j. 7. Hale
of Charleston. His book is entitled Trans
Allegheny Rivers"
Some years ago there was much trouble
and ANNOYANCE about our mail matter,
growing out of the confusion of the post
office names of Charleston and Charlest0cn
in Jefferson County. With view to RENE
DIV this, public meeting was called in
Charleston to discuss the propriety OF
changing the name to Kanawha City. 1t
was warmly discussed but defeated mainly
on the sentimental ground that 1t would be
sacriege to abolish the name of the dear
old pioneer who had shed his blood and
risked his life here, in an early day among
the Indians: had founded the town, Civ
ing il his own name, and built fort to
protect and defend his neighbOrs as well as
himself, &c.
Sentiment prevailed and the name re
NAMED unchanged, but the writer took
some pains to look up the early history of
the settling aud naming Of Charleston. 1t
was soon discovered that the founders
name was George, not Charles. This some
what staggered the sentimentalists, bnt they
recover d, saying that George was very
modest gentleman, and instead of taking
it himself, he had conceded the honor of
the name to his brother whose name was
Charles and they clinched this by quo
ting Howe, who, in his history Of Virginia,
so states and other historians all follow
Howe. But farther investigation of fam
ilv records showed that George had no
brother Charles then it was conjectured
that the name was probably given in honor
of his son George, but still farther inves-
tigation of the family genealogies proved
that he had no son.
"After much search of records and ira
cling of traditions" it was finally conclu-
ded that Charleston took its name from the
father of George Clendenin the founder,
whose name was Charles.
The better claim of Charlestown to the
name was for very many years recognized
bv the Post Office Department at Washing
ton, for the official name of Charleston was
Kanawha, C. H., from 1901 10 Sept. 80,
1879
Charleston, which was originally Charles
fo,ca, is now a city and has lately become
the permanent Capital of the State. She
is taking a new departure and could with
grea. propriety change her name to Kama
wha. She would also be perpetuating a
fine Indian name.
If the sentimental consideration should
prevail. let her name be Clendenin after
her founder.
believe that friendly conference be-
tween our representatives and those OF
Charleston and that section would lead the
latter to agree to the passage of law to
change the name of Charleston 10 Kama
wha or Clendenin. 1t is worth trying.
Nov. 4. 1856 w. p CRAIGHILL.