West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1895-04-25

proved tue farm at the top of Cheat
mountain; Abraham was tanner,
and had his tannery IN Carmel.
MIR. Wotring had two daughters
one of these was the wife Of Adam
Bingaman and the her the wife
of Adam Shafrer. Mrs. Shafrer's
children often tell with pride that
on the day of the battle of Brandy.
wine, September IL, 1177. whilst
their grand-fa father was in the army,
their grand mother Wotring aud
aunt Bingapan raked and set
up buokwheat, while their mother
moulded bullets for the army. (Aud
the moulds that she used on that
occasion are, or were, in the Wot-
ring family a few years ago
AS soon as the first settlers erect
ed cabins on their own lands. the
hrst one that they had erected to-
gether was left for shelter for
others till they could locate, and
was then used for school house
and n place OF worship. These peo-
pie were Lutherans, German Re
formed and Presbyterans, and
their friends at lIagerstown sent
them sermon book, and as John
Slough had taught school in his
younger days, he was selected TO
read these sermons and oxhort, and
lead at prayer meetings. And he,
In his diary, asserts that it was
under these influences he was called
to preach. People chmo long dis
tances to attend church and hear
him preach. AS the colony was
increasing in population and people
came from other sections to visit
and attend church, the need of n
better place to worship was recog.
nized, and, accordingly, about the
year 1896 the first cabin and school
house was removed and log church
and school house was erected on it's
site, and any minister who came.
no difference by what name or
creed, received n cordial welcome
and an invitation to preech to these
honest hearted people. 1t is prob
able that the first pioneers had but
little idea when they erected their
humble shelter. that its site would
serve thsir descendants as place
OF worship for the next fifty years.
The building was destroyed by fire
December 24, 1S45.
will here insert n few words in
regard to Mr.. Slough. 1t IS pity
that we have but short sketch OF
his life. Many were the thrilling
adventures in his after life rs he
Travelled through the western wilds,
and he was one CT the first minis
ters to sound the gospel trumpet
west Of the AIleghenies. l will
mention an incident that happened
whilst lie lived here, and which lie
mentions in his diary. / have not
it present at this time, but quote
nearly his own words: Zone day
whilst working on my farm, n
young man and young lady came
to me. lie was dressed in the habili-
ments OF the forest, and carried his
gun on his shoulder and his game
in his hand. The lady followed him
closely and carried her moccasIns
IN her hand, and had wild flowers
in her hair. lie, with an open,
manly countenaEcc, and she, with
rogulsh. mischiegous look, asked
to be married. ! assured them that
/ had no authority to celebrate
matrimony, and they asserted that
II could preach and read sermons
| could also read the marriage cere.
mouy, and that they Intended to
live together, anyway" Then ne
continued "As considered mat.
rimony more OF moral and relig-
ious ordinance than legal one,
concluded to crafty their wish, and
proceeded in true backwoods style
to marry thcm-tbey without IL
cense and me without any authori-
ty. Shortly after this ! attended
Court at Morgantown and was
authorized to celebrate matrimony.
and so others came and ! treated
them likewise" The young man
referred TO above was the single
man who came out tho second year.
and, b6 it said to the honor Of
the pioneers Of this colony, that the
bride was in no way connected or
related 10 them, but came from an