West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1897-09-16
THE WEST VIRGINIA HILLS.
An Old Timer Visits the Scenes OF
HIS Childhood.
Snccial Correspondence OF Tux ARuu.
MAGNETIC SPRINGS, ONO, }
Sept. =, 1897.

hhoWlnS th0J my Trends in old
Preston would be glad to hear from
as through The ARGUS, by your
permission will write you short
sketch OF our visit to our friends IN
West Virginia, Maryland and Penn
sylvania.
After considering this tour to
the east for many years, my wife
aud ] started on the 10th of May
to visit the places where We spent
our childhood days. Accordingly,
we took the train at Delaware for
Columbus. There we took the B.
4 o. Railroad for Newburg, w.
Va, where we stopped few days
visiting friends. Our next place
was Mt Terra Alta, % miles east Of
Newburg, where we had several
families To yisit, and stayed here
over week. We were glad to see
how wonderfully the town had i'm.
proved. When we last saw it, nine.
teen years ago, it was small viii
lage, but now it has some as fine
buildings as can be seen in any of
our larger towns. After our visit
at Terra Alta, we left the railroad
for twelve mile drive out i'm the
country to the farm where your
scribe was born and raised, and as
We passed up and down those West
Virginia hills, which at that time,
May 27th, were covered with beau
tiful flowers. Finally We arrived
at the old home farm, one mile
south Of Lonox, where the writer
spent many happy days. We are
glad to say that the old farm Is
under good state OF cultivation,
and the greater part OF 1T is in the
Hartman family. The writer knew
the farm when there was only one
dwelling house on it, 5nt now there
are fifteen dwelling houses. When
visited my dear old home nineteen
years ago, felt sad that | could
not see the old familiar dwelling,
it was no less sad now, but years
before that it caught fro and
burned to ashes, and on the ruins
thereof had been built a fine dwell.
ing. Dear to my heart are the
scenes Of my childhood, when fond
recollections present them to view.
After we had visited our friends
who now own and occupy the major
part Of the old home farm, we
struck out Oeaying our large heavy
trunk with Mrs. Susan Hartman) =,
TO visit our friends at Cranesville,
Pleasant Hill, Bruceton, Valley
Point aud Lenox.
10 those that we owe a great
deal OF our good visit to and for
taking us from place to place, were
Isaiah Hartman, Susan and Frankly
Hartman, George Ringer, Harrison
Feather, McClelland Hartman, j.
w. Feather, Michael Feather, Eth.
bella Falkenstlno, ID. g. Feather,
Rev. Berry, Mrs. Rebecca Feather
and Allen Bishop.
After we had wandered up and
down those beautiful hills, hunting
and fishing along its ripping
streams for over two months, we
bade good bye to one brother and
two sisters, and many nophows and
nieces, some Of them VIC did not
get to see on our visit, but we think
OF you still and hold you near aud
dear to our hearts.
Now We are taken in buggies to
Terra Alta, aud from thoro by
railroad to Pennsylvania to visit
our friends. We ran down % steep
grade Of twelve miles 10 Rowlcs-
burg, on the Cheat river Here we
saw the railway (B. & o. winding
up westward along The mountain
side, contrasting strongly in ito
suggestion Of Tho high civilization
necessary to It's construction, with
the savage grandeur Of the scenery
But one only realizes the dlniculty
upon building this part Of the road
when you begin to move evenly and
smoothly, but darlDgly, upward Oh
a bed then q shelf cut from The
mountain side in The solid rock
then crossing from ono mountain
buttress 20 another by "a massive
wall or strong aud graceful yiaduct,
the mountains around rising higher
and crOwd,ng closer as We 20 on,
and The view at each turn seeming