Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1903-09-08
THAT OLD PORCH.
Some Interesting "reminiscences
Concerning 1t.

Concerning 1t.
Anecdotes of the Former Owners of
the Old Property Figured in Whis-
key lnsurreeti0n-Laughable Incl.
dents rs Well as Those of Grayer
Character.
Speaking of the old porch which
has just been removed from the
corner Of High and Peasants streets
it will be recalled that this was for
many years the residence of Mathew
Gay Esq, one of the prominent and
distinguished attorneys of Morgan
town at an early date.
The following from centennial
paper prepared by Joseph Moreland
refers to Mr.. Gay and the old porch:
mr.. G-was in his time a promi-
nent lawyer OF Morgantown, and
while man of education and refined
manners, he was somewhat addicted
to the use OF ''cuss words" He was
of generous disposition, but had a
quick temper, which contributed to
excite the merriment of even his
best friends
When an esteemed friend and
relative about to leave his hospitable
mansion had tethered his beast to
the balustrade of the porch, and by
dint of pure wkwardness had we'll
nigh demolished it, less passionate
temper than Mr. G-s might be
excused for expressing the wish that
he should not have his house pulled
down over his head. But when his
guest in stammering apology, declar
ed his act the extreme OF awk ward
Ress and in the same breath said his
good bye, the response was charac-
teristie of the man. "Yes, yes 1t
was id awkward, good bye, good
bye"
The date of this incident can be
fixed tv letter now in the posses
sion of Mrs. Joseph Moreland who
is daughter of the late Thomas
Brown, fer many years prominent
lawyer If Kingwood in the adjoining
county OF Preston.
Mr. Brown and Mr. Gay married
sisters and 1t was Mr.. Brown who
provoked the wrath of his esteemed
relative by his unjustitiable awk
wardness. The letter is character
istie OF the frank and generous
disposition of the man who wrote it.
1t is given as an evidence of the
existence of that porch at an early
date:
MoRGANrowN, June u, 1854.
Thos. Brown Esq.
Dear Sir:-I have been vexed and
disturbed in mind ever since you
left on yesterday, fearful that what
l said in my petulant and unguarded
manner respecting the injury done
the porch, might have given you
offense. Now my dear sir | wish
you to understand that there is no
man living l would be more unwil
ling to offend than you. Nor is
there any for whom / entertain a
higher regard than | do for you, and
whose good opinion am still anxious
to retain. ! am truly sorry that
any thing ! may have said at that
time should be considered as in
tended to offend you, and hope that
this explanation will be sufficient to
remove any cause of offense that
may have been given.
Yours most respectfully,
MATHEW GAY.
The porch is said to have been an
old one at the time of this incident,
but was repaired and remodeled by
Mr. Gay afterwards.
The house-and no doubt the OLD
porch, was there at the date of the
Whiskey Insurrection, and was then
the residence of Col. William Nc,
Cleary, who was then Collector of
Revenues for the Government. 1t
is related in the Centennial Paper
above referred to that con the night
OF August 9, 1894 about thirty men
BACKED themselves, and in disguise
came TO Morgantown, surrounded
the house of the Revenue Collector,
and with riotous demonstrations
threatened his life and property
And il is well authenticated history
that Col McCleary was the Revenue
Collector referred to, and that he
owned and occupied this property
at that time.
Col. McCleary was the uncle OF
Mr.. Gay-was lawyer of note, and
with him Mr.. Gay studied the pro
fessIon and began the practice of it.
The following bit of romance in
connection with the history of Col
McCleary whose wife before marriage
was Isabella ST ekton may be in.
teresting;
when Isabella Stockton was
quite child she was taken by the
Indians and carried into captivity
She was kept by the savages for a
time and was then ransomed by q
wealthy French Canadian and was
educated in Canada at Catholic
school. Her she matured into q
beautiful and accomplished young
woman, and her charms won The
affection of her Canadian benefactor
who it seems was young and hand