Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1895-03-16
HUGH TONEY.

Va. 10 the Register dHuOuuNCS INC
death on March II of Capt. Hugh.
Toney at his home on the banks of the
beautiful Guyandotte river, near Lo-
gan c. H.
Concerning this character a gentle
man who has met and known him,
writes.
Last fall 1 spent one of the most in
teresting and enjoyable evenings under
his rooftree that | ever experienced.
One Sunday afternoon early last Octo-
Der. in company with Hon. John d.
Anderson, l left Charleston, w. Va, in
rig for a six days campaigning tour
BY wagon in the wilds of West Vir
ginia, MIR. Anderson had been elected
Congressman for three terms, in the
Fourth district. and was. willing to
sacrifice himself for a fourth term.
We reached Chapmanville on Tues
day in time for dinner. There was to
be a tint wind-storm here. Major
Endicott, a dapper little gentleman,
located at Logan c. H., and represent
ing a Philadelphia land syndicate con-
nected with the Norfolk and Western
railroad, had rode down from the Court
House in his dignity and a pair of yell
low leggings. which have made the
Major famous in all that country, to
meet Anderson in political hair-pull-
ing.
The meeting was TO have been held
ont of doors, but the weather became
chilly, and after some urgent argument
the meeting, by special favor OF Capt.
Hugh Toney, was held in his store. 1t
was better than chicken fight to see
the Major and the big Congressman
kick and gaff each other. After the
meeting we were Invited about three
miles down 20 Capt Hugh's house TO
spend the night. No stranger was
ever permitted to pass through these
parts. If he was an honest man. with
ont sleeping in one of Hugh Toneys
feather beds and breaking bread at his
plain but hospitable board
The house stood on the upper branch
OF the river bed. not far from the river
with a beautiful and fertile valley
sweeping in graceful lines 10 north and
south until shut in by the rugged and
abrupt mountains. After the evening
meal we all gathered in the family sit
ting-rOOm, in an old log cabin that had
evidently been the sprout around
which the later additions in building
had grown; 4 great open fire. with coal
| that the negroes had dug out of the
mountains. furnished both heat and
light Two girls, grandchildren of the
! Old Captain. who were daughters of a
/ son. and who seemed TO be the light
and joy of his declining years, played
and sang upon an organ. They sang
/ g oh " :, ,-,
mountain girls know or sing, The
I West Virginia Hills Mr.. Anderson
/ joined in the chorus much to its con-
| sternatiOn as we'll as ours. Then Capt
/ John Van Buren,, rebel soldier still
unrecOuStrUcted. who accompanied us
went out, from force Of habit, to see if
! there were any mOOnshine stills in OPP
/ GRAFTON.
Capt Hugh Toney made romantic
| figure as he sat in the edge of the cir
Gle of light reflected from the glowing
/ Goals He was over six feet high then,
and rather spare, with face Redeemed
/ like a seaman's. His powerful figure
was somewhat bent, but there still re-
manned the traces of a magnificent
| physique An old niger, gray and
/ ~ AAtAaA6s AGAAAC liz I4C III OAe1AAg SOAAlC
/ of the best native blackberry wine
/ that Anderson ever drank. / can taste
/ and smell the blackberries yet. The
negro said ne was born before Massa
/ Hugh. He belonged to his father, and
had been with Massa Hugh all his
I life. and never would go way no.
/ how He said Massa Hugh could
lick or throw any man on the river in
! his day. and he " lowed as how he
was purtygoOd yitw Capt. Hugh nod
| ded and smiled approval at this sem
| timent as though it consisted with
I facts and met with his hearty endorse
I ment. The negro, respectful and good
J natured brought his hand to his face,
| with that peculiar movement that sug-
! eested a Simian relationship, and
| thoughts of Darwin, evolution and the
missing link flOated through the mind.
He was a wonderful mechanical gen
/ ius. and could make anything out of
wood or iron. BY request of Massa
Hugh. he brought a fiddle he had made
| twenty years ago. 1t had been carved
! bodily out of a piece of curly maple,
and a top of the same material. Old
wires from a piano were used for
strings. and, keeping time with his
| foot on the cabin floor, with his voice
! raised in a queer chant and his body
swaying, he played us a piece OF his
own composition, which he very prop
| erly called THE Crazy Horse, al
though he could not tell why he
I had given this product of his
/ untutored brain this name. l have
heard music quaint and weird and I'M
der various circumstances and modes,
| but I have never heard anything that
aroused the peculiar thoughts and ere
ated such impressions as that found
ont bv the venerable African in the
dancing lights and shadows OF the
| great coal fire of Capt. Hugh Toney S
cabin on the banks of the Guyandotte.
After the faithful servant had eX-
| bibited his various accomplishments
| for an entertainment he retired, with
| Nassa Hugh's permission and Alder
/ sons dollar. to vote the Republican
/ ticket The talk then turned on the
/ war. Capt. Toney had served at the
opening under Jackson. in the Valley
| of Virginia. and under Lee at the close.
/ He said before the close he became con
WINGED that the Confederates could not
/ win. II knew we were licked, ana l
could not exactly see what was the use
| i'm holding on until we were ali killed.
| one day he went to Gen Lees head
/ quarters and was granted an inter-
view.
Gen. Lee. I don't know much, but l
know we are licked Now, | come 10
| see YOU and ask you what's the use oil
eoin' on when we stand no show.
Gen. Lee said; Capt. Toney, you
are a good soldier, and you know all