Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1886-05-29
Marfinsburg "reminiscences.
No.

Going back to my first remem-
brance of the business pursuits of
the town, although the population
did not reach two thousand, yet for
manufactures, we were a buster peo-
pie than we are at the present, with
population reaching far towards
ten thousand. Then we had foun-
dry which casted work twice week,
also large three story wooden and
carpet factory, both Of which were
located on the lot where the water
works now stand. 1t was then
owned am, run by family named
ellis; the factory afterwards pass
ing into possession of Ezenial Show
ers, and run by himself and Jona-
than Duble during which period it
was destroyed by fire. The foun-
dry was run by John Keys. In the
factory under the Gibbs family,
some Of our best young men learned
their trade, then called .futling,
among the number were William
Jobe, whose family are still engaged
in the line of business in Jefferson
county, also Colin G. Porter, who
died few years ago in Jefferson
county, very wealthy. There was
also Emmett Wilcox; also the entire
Reed family, yet represented in your
community by Furlong Reed, whose
father, old William Reed, took
charge of q new structure after the
destruction Of the oil building, and
run the trade up to or, about the COM
mencement of the war just before
the time which Philip Showers took
possession and run the business pro-
badly up to the time the building
was destroyed. The business of the
times required the use of many
wagons, owing to the fact that all
transportion was done by that means,
and our town had n large trade in
that line which generally in connec-
ton with blacksmithing, which was
carried on extensively. John Shaffer,
Calender i. WIDELY, Jacob Shaffer,
John Farris, Anthony Chambers,
William GLADDEN., John Colvin and
others, were engaged in that line of
business. TWAS Q very unusual Cir.
cumstance, that day would pass
without from eight to twenty or
more four and siX-horse teams, with
large covered wagons, did not ar
rive and depart from or pass through
the town. All produce was sent to
the city, and all merchandise brought
from there by such teams. Every
day six or eight stage lines would
drive in ov leave with passengers.
Our town was in direct line for trans
portation up the valley and on tie
Tennessee; rs they passed over tho
Potomac river at Williamsport, and
struck the National Pike, as it was
then known, from Hagerstown to
the East. ANY one from the eastern
states emigrating to the West gener-
| ally occupied small wagons, then
called "?ersey's," l suppose that
they were manufactured in New
Jersey. The milling business was
carried on extensively, and our far
mers would have their grain ground
and dispose Of the flour, usually,
hauling it themselves to the city and
paying to the miller 81 toll out of the
grain for his labor The manufact-
ure of barrels, was great business
then-there being large number of
persons engaged in it, on almost
every street it was carried on. The
Rutherford family, one of which,
Geo. f., still carries on the trade,
being largely engaged in it; also
.Jno. G. Black, Nathan Paden and
John Gallaher, and many others
The manufacture of furniture was
also largely engaged in by James
Boyd, John Faris, William Able,
Alfred Hooper and others. Weaving
was also quite trade, nearly every
one wore homemade clothing, in the
summer generally linen made of the
flax raised in our own county, or
wooden goods made from our own
fleece raising. Among the number
thus engaged, was Ben. Connolly,
and Mr.. Pottsgrove, who owned
the property lately occupied by Mrs.
Porterfield, on Burke street; each
family ut this period would procure
wool and have it prepared at the
factory in rolls, and our mothers
and sisters would spend all leisure
time in spinning it on large wheel,
making with its active bass music,
more beneficial, if not quite so sweet,
as the piano or melodeon of the pre-
sent time 1t was very unusual
thing for any to have stove at that
!, period. All the cooking was done
in large ovens and long-handled fry
ing pans. The best biscuits and
rolls ever baked were those which