The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-02-02
A'RIONHHR VHEHLING boy
Aged Over the Allotted Three
Score Years and Ten,
PLEASANT "REMINISCENCES
or the Good Old Times When He
Was Young and tho Hills We're
Clad in Forest Trees-He Calls
on an Old Sweetheart.

IN. NJ, Bleakmore, Iowa." written
plainly and yet showingeyidence Of hay.
ing been penned by the trembling hand
ofoId age, wasamong the signatures that
on the Mcclure House register
yesterday, 1t attracted the attention OF
the ISTELLIGENcER reporter who daily
makes q study oithe Chirography on the
various hotel registers, and he was on
the point OF asking the clerk who Mr..
Bleakmore, Of Iowa, was, when that
funCtionary spoke the name. Turning
to see who it was that had been address,
ed, the newspaper man found standing
by his side q well preserved old gentle
man, apparently over 70 years Of age,
yet erect in stature and with pair OF
twinkling brown eyes that still retained
much OF the merriment and fire OF
youth. AS the clerk was performing
soma little duty for this guest, the latter
added to his thanks the statement that
he had just hunted up and seen one OF
his old sweetheRrts. This he volun-
teered with a little chuCkle OF pleasure,
and an extra twinkle danced in his eyes,
The reporters interest was aroused and
q little secret eye telegraphy between
him and the clerk resulted in an intro
dlction.
"You were speaking Of old friends
here, believe yentured the reporter.
"Did you ever live here?"
"Why, was born and raised here"
answered the old gentleman, and in this
manner several minutes OF very pleasant
conversation was started, Mr., Bleak
more was born six miles below here,
where Benwood now stands, In 1918. His
father was one OF the original pioneers
here, having been n contemporary with
the ZRnes and other notables Of the day
when Wheeling was Il mere Indian trad.
ing point. The elder BleakmOre opeT-
ated a ferry between the Virginia
and Ohio shores at point below
here, near where his house stood. His
son, the old gentleman with whom
the reporter talked, roamed with
other boys all over this part Of
the country. Wheeling and Chaplino
hills, in those days covered with q dense
growth OF tinbepand presenting much
grander sight than they do now standing
out bleak and bare, were iavorite resorts
OF the youth ofthat day, and the recol-
leCtions OF nutting parties and other eX-
cursions into their leaiy depths arc to.
day as vivid in Mr.. Bleakmore's memory
as though they were occurrences Of yes
terday. He was educated in the best
schools that existed here in those days,
his father having been fairly well
of and able to provide good cduca.
tions for his children, and MS he
reached manhood's estate he chose the
law for profession. He studied
law under old Zach Jacob, and
was duly licensed to practice. He
continued to make Wheeling his home
till 1857, when he removed to Fairfield,
Jefferson county, Iowa, and that has
been his home ever since. Since leay-
ing here he Inns never been back in
Wheeling, though ho has frequently
passed by the site OF his birthplace, in
Benwood, as he has been going between.
the West and East, on tho Baltimore &
Ohio, on business. For four years he
held Department position ut Washing
ton and he has q son in one OF the De.
partments there now. Mr.. BleakmorG
has lust been on 10 see his son and look
after some pension cases thatho has
charge Of, and carrying out desire he
has long had to visit tho scene OF his
youthful joys and pleasures, stopped of
here on his return trip.
The big flood OF 1882 and the cholera
plague Of 1888 were both events Of which
he still retains the liveliest reColleCtions,
and many are the incidents OF those two
awful visitations that he can relate in a
most entertaining manner. He was well
acquainted with the Zane family, the
Spriggs, the Bags, the Jacobs, the
Woods and many other old.time families,
and remembers many OF their peCuliari-
ties, their appearances aud anecdotes
about their careers.
As q matter Of course, the Wheeling OF
to-day Is nothing like the Wheeling Of
his youth, yet he had already found sew
eral old landmarks in the short time he
had been here, only about five hours.
He told with hearty laugh OF his first
sight OF and experience with goat. 1t
was in livery stable opposite the Nc
Lure House, where McLain's block now
stands. A pair goats had been brought
here by tho owner OF the stable. They
were quite u curiosity, and Mr.. Bleak
more, then a mere boy, was taken by
his aunt to see them. He saw them and
stars besides, for too much familiarity
ON his part bred n "despise" in the con.
templative mind Of one Of the goats, and
a good opportunity offering, young Mas
ter Bleakmore was lifted several feet by
a well delivered butt.
"You spoke about seeingNn old sweet
heart" sud the reporter.
"Ohl yes, that WIS" naming a lady
now living on Fourteenth street. ~
lust came from there. She happened to
come to the door and knew h0rat once,
but she didn't know me. | was a very
devoted gallant to her in those good old
days. II took her some time TO find out
who was, and I'm afraid | vexed her
little before let her know. She apollo.
gized for the parlor being cold, but |
told her not to mind; that had sat up
with her In cold parlors before and kept
her warm by hngging her. And then
l told her TINT was sure that ] could
90 out the old National road and find
ruts worn by my buggy wheels in taking
her out TO old Triadelphia. And then
before | lot her know who / was, told
her that | had kissed her q thousand
times. That capped the climax, aud
then she began to recognize me-"
There was much more OF IN interest,
ing nature that Mr.. Bleakmorc told and
the conversation was finally brought to
a close by his stating TINT he must go
out and hunt up Mr.. Michael Reilly,
another OF his old time friends. Mr..