West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1890-11-20
SpRrSa DALE

SPRING DALE,
PRESTON Co., w. VA, 1888.
Here at this late day, and at the
request of II friend. | will endeavor
to pen few incidents of my past
life, altogether from memory, hav-
ing no diary nor manuscript to
aid me.
According to the Family Records
was born on the 22nd day of Oc-
tober, 1898, and as my juvenile
years were Of but little interest, !
will commence at later date. Az
terarrivingat manhood, on the 22nd
day Of November, 1922, ] was mar
ried to Sarah Paxton Conn, of Fair
fax county, Va. At that day Fair
fax county was a poor farming
country, and for six years | stroye
to support my small family by
farming, which was by no means
remunerating So in the spring of
1928 | removed to the town of
Clarksburg. in Montgomery county,
Md, where kept Stage Hotel
for three years, improving my inan-
clal condition; while there was ap-
pointed q Justice of the Peace for
Montgomery county. In the spring
OF 1881 removed to Clear Spring.
IN Washington county, where / re-
NAMED three years keeping n Stage
Hotel to some profit and whilst
there my party friends (Democratic)
offered to send me to the Lcgisla-
ture | refused to be candidate,
being bird of passage lately from
Virginia, which plea would iniure
our party in the campaign. From
the town of Clear Spring | re-
moved to the village of Flintstonc,
in Allegheny county, Nd. where |
lived nine years, and while there
was nominated for the Legislature;
was elected and reelected; my
course was in behalf of the people
and against monopolies. | there
frustrated the design of the Il. & O..
Railroad Company, whose purpose
was to pass from Cumberland mn
Wills Creek, down Casselman' 4
River and the Monongahela to Pitts
burg. When the Company asked
aid of the Legislature appended an
amendment combining them to q
route through Virginia to Wheeling;
subsequently / was appointed Chief
Justice of the Magistrates Court,
which office | held for years until
resigned. While living at Flint.
stone ] was delegate to every Dem.
ocratic Conventional Congressional
Gubernatorial and National was
in the National Convention held in
Baltimore in 1874 was the first
man to name James K. Polk to the
Convention. labored with the
New York delegation (yho we're en-
masse for Van Buren, to nominate
Governor Polk to the Convention
which they did on the third day
and at the second ballot thereafter
every delegate in the Convention
voted for Jas. X. Polk. In 1912 ]
removed to the Stone House, on the
National Road at the famous In.
dian Meadows, and moved tho
ground where Col. Washington had
his first fight with the French and
Indians under C0unt fuB,onUiLe.
Jumonyille was killed and his force
taken prisoners. ! was appointed
Superintendent of the National
Road in 1912, % profitable office
which held for near four years,
altcf Which purchased large
farm in Preston county, Va, which
! removed to in 1913, and in the
year Of 1896 the Democratic ,Sena-
torial COnyeption nominated me rs
candidate for the Senate Of Vir-
ginia. ! was elected by large ma
iority for term Of four years, dur.
ing which term / drafted and had
passed into o law TO settle the dis
putcd lines East and West between
Virginia and Maryland, which was
done. ! also drafted the bill to es-
tablish the Lunatic Asylum at
Weston, in LOWS county. / also
in 1859 drafted n bill and had IL