The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-01-15
A LEADING MAN GONE.

Ing DfAnCu OF Ine DultluluEe " OHluERll'
road crosses tho Ohio river. He was tue
fifth childa third son OF Beniaminand
Nancy McNIechen, who belonged to pio-
nter iamilies-settlcrs on the Ohio river,
about the time OF the breaking out OF
the Revolutionary war. These pioneers
endured ull the liardships incident to
the early settlements in those times, not
the least Of which was the cruel and re-
lentlpss warfare waged by Indians against
tile whites, under the lead OF the British
Government.
james II. McNIeChen was educated
chiefly on the home farm until he was
fifteen years old, when in 1873 he was
sent to Madison College, Uniontown,
Pa, the first Methodist institution OF
the kindin this country; organized In
1927, under the Presidency OF Rev.
Henry b. Bascom, with Charles Elliott
and John II. Fielding, respectively, Pro-
iessors Of Languages and Mathematics,
and other professors and tutors such as
were required. The institution did well
for year or two, until the unhappy
division broke out in the Methodist
Episcopal Church, knows as the "Old
Side" and the "New Side" Methodlsls.
The contest between the parties
was bitter and ranCorous, so that
the College, sharing In the
strife, had but o short duration oil
about five years. During that time but
two Clusses were graduated. "a. b. The
first contained one student, viz: Wait
man T. Wiley, OF Morgantown, w, Va,
ex-senator Of the United States; the
second contained six, viz: Alfred Stur-
gis, James II. McMechen, James A.
Vandykc, Philip Ross and Samuel and
William Austin, brothers. Soon after MIR.
McNIechun graduated, which was In,
1882, he entered the ministry OF tue Nj.
II. church, and continued therein for
four years and a half, having received In
that time five appointments. AT the
time hc Joined tile Pittsburgh annual
conference, there were, in that body,
quite number Of prominent ministers,
ill OF whom have gone TO their heavenly
rest. During tho years that the subject
OF this memoir was in the NJ. u. minis.
try, he occupied, successfully, the fol-
lowing circuits and stations, viz: Ohio,
Warren and Hartford, New Lisbon and
WellsYllle, Clarksburg and Elizabeth, in
Marshall county, w. Va. In Clarksbnrg
he was married TO Elizabeth A. Sehon,
daughter Of Major John l.. Sehon, and
sister of Rev. L. w. Sehon, d. d. In
the fall OF that year (lS3Bl for reason
that need not here DO detailed, he re.
signed and entered the ministry Of the
r. L. church. The first year OF his min.
istry In that church was spent in Park.
enburg. Afterwards, being without
paroChial charge, the greater portion Of
lis life was devoted TO educational work.
He was intimately connected with the
public school operations in Virginia and
West Virginia for nearly q quarter oil
century; In faCt, there is documentary
evidence to show that he was the origina-
tor Of the public school system In Vlr-
GINA and West Virginia. When the
public schools were organized In Wheel
ing, In 1910, he was put In charge as
principal of the Fifth ward, now Centre
school. In connection with Prof. Will
liams he organized the Teachers Associa'
ton OF Wheeling, with about q dozen
teachers; attendance then being volun.
tary. 49,.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Of Virginia,
which went into effect in 1852, Mr.. Nc:
Mechen was elected Presiding Justice OF
Ohio county with about thirty asso.
Ciates) for four years. AT the end OF
three years he resigned 10 return to edu:
rational work, that being more Congenial
TO his taste. His services In the Protest
mt Episcopal ministry were only occa'
sionNi; and In 1873, having been for
many years dissatisfied with the sacred.
otal, sacramental and ritnalistic tenden::
Cies OF that body, he aVailed himself oil
the opportunity OF joining the Gum.
minis movement" s0.Called, this move
meut resulting In the organization Of the
Reform Episcopal church, He was con.
nected with an unsuccessful effort TO or:
Qanize and establish a Reform Episcopal
church In the city Of Wheeling, alter
which part OF his fatnily,with his cordial
consent, either united or Co-operated
with the Second Presbyterian church,
lie, himself, preierring to live and die In
tue ministry Of the Reform Episcopal
church, which he did, and went to his
reward on tile twelfth day Of January,
1850.
Mr.. McNIeChen was o man Of clear and
decided convictions, and always had the
courage OF them. He wrote q great deal
anonymously, and over his own sigma
ture, for the city and other papers, al
ways having an eye to the best interests
OF tho community In which he lived, and
TO the world at large. He WIS an adyo.
cato Of tho City Superintondehcy and oil
the Pablo High School, believing 10 the
day Of Ills death that the high school
was lust as necessary 10 tho public school
Eystuii as the head 10 O human body.
He was a strong and consistent advocate
OF the temperance cause, although un'
pledged, and unCommitted TO any meas
tircs which he deemed unwise and mex.
pedient for tho removal Of this greatand
terrible scoutge. During the later years
Of his life, MI. McAieChen lived In coin.
paratlyo retirement, deyoting most Of
his time 10 tho Intellectual, moral and
snIriled culture Of himself aud family,
aud 10 tho welfare OF bis friends, teigh-
lors and tile world AZ large, according 10
Sis ability aud opportunities. .
MI, McMoCheh kept himself we'll
posted OH the events Of tho day, paItic'
tlhfly those Of q general political CHAR
aClpr. lilo took an active part at the
commencement and during the progress
OF orr civil war, always taking q decided
Slanll IN favor Of tho Union, Dlsapptov'
Inc Of some Of tho measures d Mt.
iincoin's administration, he could not
cordially cooperate with tile Republican
marty, He was an .otlap0kei advocate
81 General Mcclellan when y cost
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