Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1898-03-19
FROM WEST VIRGINIA
THE PLANET MANS
VISIT.
The Planet The Peoples Pa
per in the West.
THE Mr.. A L. CALHOUN.
Other Personal and Business Briefs

Last week we made hying visit
down through West Virginia and on
our way found many enterprising and
progressive business men, who de-
serve mention in our columns. Our
first stop was at Branwell, nicely To-
Gated town on branch of the Norfolk
and Western. There we found Mr. b
G.. Gaines doing lucrative business in
the Grocery line The shelves were
heavily ladened with nine hundred
dollar stock He commenced il 1896
with about two hundred dollars. Mr..
Gaines was born in Charlotte County,
Va, an. Bird, 1868 Sometime ago he
led Miss Mile Spencer, of Helendale
to the altar and as vet no family has
come to them. Mr.. Gaines is push
ing business man, and is respected by
all in the community
Our next stop was at Keystone, q
small town about midway on the Elk
horn. where we found many up-to-date
and energetic people. We were nicely
provided for at the home of our friend
Mr.. ]. f. Meadows, editor and publish
er of the Flat Top Laborer, a bright
and newsY journal that has large cir
clIlation in the coal region. Mr.. Dave
/ w. Robinson is assistant to Mr.. Mea-
dows, and with such gentlemen at the
head the laborer is destined to live and
do much good in elevating our people
in those parts.
Here we were introduced to Mr., A.
L. Calhoun, one of the weAlthiest col
ored men in West Virginia To show
what quick and unparalleled progress
he has made we give short sketch of
his career Born at Appomattox c. II
1858, in 1887 went to W est Virginia
and for two years and three months
was in the service of the Norfolk and
Western Railroad in 1889 he resigned
and went to work for Lick Branch
Coal and Coke Company in 1893 he
went to keystone and opened a saloon
with only 81 500; in 1880 he lost 81 SOC
in a business deal and in a short while
later he lost 81 600 in the Citizens
Building and Loan Association; bu,
regardless of all this he is worth today
$50 900 in real estate and cash and
! many of the main buildings in Key.
stone belong to him.
Mr.. Calhoun is one of Aldermen and
Police Sergeant and has done much tC
raise his race. Jan. 4. 1898 he married
Miss Queen V. Albeit of Appomato1
County, who was prominent teacher
in that county. Three children has
grace d their home and Mrs. Calhoun
can always be found with smile anC
kind word for all. Mr.. Calhoun also
owns two farms on Ruff Greek and i,
one of the most prosperous men in the
Country.
Next of the business men in thil
place is ]. A Cobb, the grocerman al
so dealer in Dry Goods. Mr.. Cobb be
sides being proprietor of a grocery
store, is senior partner in the saloon o
Cobb & lloyd. Mr.. w, V. Cobb is man
ager for his brother and has q lucra
tive business.
: Then comes H. A. Womack of tn,
l Union store, which is one of the larges
combination store in the west with
r present stock of $4.5OO Mr. Womacl
: is native of Virginia and born il
1875 in Charlotte County. Mr.. A. L
( Calhoun is a private partner and tn,
E concern enjoys large patronage.
The next in business is Mr.. Rober
D w. MINIS, the popular barber. Fo
! three years he has been in bushes
e here. coming here from Bedford & oun.
ty. Mr. Minnis gives entire satisfac
n tion as a tonsorial artist and will
: make a way.
Onou way back to headquarters
! Pocahontas, we stopped at Elkhorl
station where Rev T. J Brandon, il
holding the fort and building the mic
est church on the Elkh9rn. Passinj
on we arrived AT TOCauOHbdS IN Time u
L see large crowd of people white ant
= co ored vending their way to tn
C Opera House to hear a lecture of DIR. c
N. Grandson on the subject, What
3 the matter with Sambo2' The gentle
: man was introduced by Lawyer y. Ar
thur Neal and for one hour and fort
minutes he held his own. TIL
It Doctor was the first colored man t
If deliver lecture to a mixed audienc
II in Pocahontas.
As we finish this letter we are o
s, our way to Richmond, and in our mex
IS letter we will give much space to whs
n ia the beginning OF a blessing in tn
is future to the Negro youth of tn
western part of the state.
The Christisnshurg Industrial In
rs stitute, of which Prof Charles l.. MAJ
ID shall is principal and we shall ais
mention other race enterprises.
A. Rev. G.. <. Miller has been appointe
b. agent, and correspondent at E. Rae
ford, Va.
~ w. BOLIVAR DAVIS,
IN Travelling Agent.