West Virginia daily oil review. [volume] (Sistersville, W. Va.) 1894-1902, 1902-02-05

MI. NJ .Auu1Cu ,Ou|C ZIG wealth.
lest man In West Virginia, promi-
nent In financial, social and politi-
cal circles, the friend of James G..
Blaine and Benjamin Harrison,
whose fortune vanished until he Is
in the most abject poverty Is about
to be restored to his wealth and his
story reads like a romance rather
than like true story of true life.
Mr.. Church was wealthy and
successful producer, shipper and
re6ner of petroleum oil. His home
was one of the handsomest in the
State, filled with a library of rare
old volumes, costly art treasures,
curious and handsome furnishings.
He built home of stone which
was gem of the architects art.
Costly gems adorned the ladies of
his family and daughter was edu-
Gated in all that wealth and con-
6nement could bestow. He travelled
much with his family, both at home
and abroad and every advantage
was given his family to own and
enjoy the luxuries of life. Mr..
Church, In addition to being a sue
cessful business man was promi-
nent politician and was the close
friend of James 6. Blaine, and In
the earlier days was friend
and always an sdmirer of Lin
coin. He was In a measure the f.
nancial hacker of the Republican
party In West Virginia. was the
founder and editor OF the Parkers-
burg State Journal, which fought
for so many years the battles of the
Republican party, and it was at his
home that Games c. Blaine and
General Benjamin Harrison were
entertained when they were @here
campaigning.
But Mr.. Church dared to oppose
the Standard Oil company In their
business and now he Is old and
broken in health, his home and Its
splendid contents have been sacri-
feed under the auctioneer's ham,
mer, he Is living with relative In
Tennessee, and his wife and daug h
ter are living In humble apartments
here, and almost suffering for the
necessities of life.
The loss of Mr.. Church's wealth
Is the old story of opposing the
Standard OH company. He was
the first person to adopt the pipe
line system as a means of transport
Ing oil and the first pipe line In the
world for this purpose was the lit
tie line which Mr.. Church, operat-
ing as the West Virginia Transpor
tation company, operated between
here and Volcano In the early days
of West Virginia's history. It was
operated successfully and cheaply
and the wealth of the pipe line In
ventor was increased accordingly.
But the Standard Oil company saw
what a good thing the pipe line
was and tried to buy him out. Mr..
Church refused to sell and then the
fight against him began and 1t was
carried on relentlessly after the
manner of the Standard Oil com.
pany's other fights against Its RI.
walls. They built a pipe
line of their own and, &C
cording to Mr.. Church, by
Illegal conspiracies, discrimi-
nation and monopolistic methods,
succeeded In breaking him up In
business. For long time he tried
to keep up but at last his hand.
some home was sold and the costly
and rare contents of the house
were disposed of at auction.
In 1895 suit was brought against
the Standard Oil company and the
Eureka Pipe Line company by the
West Virginia Transportation com.
pany, OF which Mr.. Church was the
principal stakeholder. for $3.50, 900
damages, alleging conspiracy to
ruin him and unlawful discrimina
ton. A demurrer to the case was
sustained and an appeal was then
taken to the supreme court, which
sustained the lower court. But Mr..
Church and his attorneys, were Sc
convinced they were right that
they persevered and secured new
hearing by the supreme court and
yesterday at Charleston the decis-
J lon was given. reversing the case
and sending 1t back to Parkers
, burg for trial. 1t Is hardly probable
! the case will come to trial, as 1t |.
reported that an effort will be med:
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