The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1898-08-24


was the scene of the childhood
days of Mary R. Mcfarland. who
built the Mcfarland Mission
Home. In far-away Alaska Jeffer-
son county claims as one Of her
i distinguished daughters. Mary Z.
Magill, now the foremost histor-
ian of the Old Dominion
Many others might be mentions
ed from the counties named, and
still others from those not mem
toned, for there is not county IN
the State which has not honored
Representatives abroad 1t was a
West Virginia boy who command
ed the ..Niagra" to which Commo-
dore Perry transferred his flag
when his own ship, the Lawrence"
was drifting wreck. in the battle
of Lake Erie. A West Yirginian
drilled the Venezuelan Army and
raised it to a high degree of prof
ciency, a West Virginian reor-
ganized the army of Egypt, mus
tering it in the very shadow of the
pyramids. and a West Virginian
was for two years the tutor of the
Grown Prince of Italy. Doliyer.
of Kansas, and Clarke. of Missouri,
both West-Virginia boys, are lead
ers of their respective parties, in
the National House of Representa-
tiyes. Thus "West Yirginians
Abroad" have won distinction in
politics. war. science, and other
fields of activity.
Among this number, Mason
county sent one who was to leave
an enduring name in a distant
state. This was Jesse Quinn
Thornton, who was born near Point
Pleasant, w. Va, Aug. "a. 1910
When but child his parents re-
moved to Champaigne county, o.
He read law in Staunton, Va. and
was admitted to the bar in 1888.
Later he was student in the law
department of the University of
Virginia. Soon after he began the
practice of his profession at Pal
myra, Missouri, where he remain
ed until 1871, when he opened an
office at Quincy, Illinois. Here he
practiced his profession until 1916,
when he crossed the Rocky Noun
tains and found home in Oregon,
then under territorial form of
government. SO great we're his
talents that he soon attracted at
tention, and in less than two years
after his arrival, he was made
Chief Justice of Oregon Territory.
Shortly thereafter. he resigned
this office and crossing the conti-
nent, visited Washington, where
he appeared before the Committee
of Congress. and succeeded in hay
ing the principles of the Wilmot
Proviso incorporated into the Act
that prohibited the extension of
slavery into Oregon. He was the
author of the provision in the
Statute at Large of that State that
gives to the cause of public edu-
cation the 10Th and Both sections
of land in each township. He was
long member of the State legis-
lature, in which body he was an
important factor in shaping legis-
lation. He was a voluminous
writer, in addition to being an emf
nent iurist. In 1849, he published
.tOregon and California IN I94S;;"
the History of the Provisional
Government of Oregon;" and a
History of the Willamette Valley"
Who in Mason county knows any
thing of him, or of his ancestors,
or relatives? Can our oldest citi-
zens give any information, upon the
subject? Did he ever visit the
scene of his childhood and renew
the acquaintances of early days?
If SO 1 am sure that all students
and lovers of our "Great Mountain
EState'' and of local history in par
ticuIar, will be glad to read the
same in the Register. In hope of
this, / am. VIRGIL a. LEWIS.
Union College, at Mason City. is
looking for a site for location.
Ravenswood is after If, Why not
Point Pleasant see what it can do
in this direction? Let us make an
effort to get this college here.
a New Band.
Mr.. Art i. Cottrill is now en-
, gagged in organizing Brass Band
l in this ralace. Ha now lacks ONLY