The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1906-09-10

j. w. EbDlIffEi 4f e4tEll san -
peudtng few days IA our city M.
eron1wefl d native pl New YORK.
ats and came - FaiFr1oilt n
ms vile. Who vim 1e nhefeds
By the people 81 "a SUR
wise, assone OF airTnonts n ost charm 81
Ing women, was the only full sister
81 the late Prof White. She died inl
1905.
MI. Cromwell engaged In manufac-
turing, after locating here. His mill
was located on the river just above
Fairmont, at what is locally called
"Johntpwn, When the Civil War
came on Mr.. Cromwell became an ar
dent supporter OF the Federal or I'm
ion cause. Among other things. he
manufactured large quantities of gun
stocks for the U. s. Army He sawed
them and they were sent from here
to Springfield, Mass. where they were
used In making the famous Spring
field rifles" so generally used in the
civil war.
on April 90, 1868. at the time of tho
Jones Raid" Mr.. Cromwell's mile.
flxtures, and large amount Of mater
Ial. Including some 1900 gun stocks.
were destroyed-burnedb by order OF
Confederate General Jones. AT the
same time the B. & o. bridge, just
above the mill was destroyed. 1t is
interesting to note that Mr.. Crom-
wells mill, and the law library OF
Governor Pterpoint were the only
items of private property DESTROYED
at the time It seems that the general
had orders not to destroy private prop
erty. In his official report of the
raid, General Jones says:
"Two saw mills (prlvate property
were burned by my orders, one at
Fairmont, was engaged on contract
with the Federal government In max
ing gun stocks, and had on hand many
thousands; the other, at Cairo, would
have been used to repair the damages
done the railroad. am aware my
orders were in a few instances dis
obeyed. The library of Plerpoint was
burned, in retaliation for a like act
on the part of the ambitious little
man. One or two stores we're plumber
ed, but as far as practicable the goods
were restored"
Extract from the record of w. E.
Jones, brigadier general commanding,
to General Robert E. Lee, under date
of May 26, 1863. published in "The
war of the Rebellion" pursuant to
Act of Congress, Series I, Vol. 25,
page 100.
1t is said that Jones contemplate
burning the HunsalSer bridge. across
the West Fork river at Watson, but
changed his mind, and remarked that
the bridge was built by the State OF
Virginia, and she would resume con-
troll of it some day. Some day." In
this the general was not prophet.
The story of the raid Is familiar to
many Of our older people. How Jones
soon captured the small force of Fed
erals and citizens who opposed him,
and marched them to the court house
as prisoners of war, Mr.. Cromwell in
cluded. While thus detained he look
ed out and saw the smoke of his burn
ing mill. He was financially unable
to rebuild and sold the site and the
mill was rebuilt by others, and for
many years was operated by Joseph
M. Fleming.
In 1867 Mr.. Cromwell removed from
Fafrmont to Doddridge county, this
State, where he lived some three
years, and then moved to FIT. Wayne.
Ind, where he lived until 1895. when
he moved to McBatn, Mich, where he
now lives.
He now has pending In the U. S.
Court Of Claims, at Washington, D..
c.. a claim against the United States
for the loss of his mill, materials. and
business, and is in Fairmont to take
dispositions to establish his claim. Any
one who has knowledge Of the values
of the mill and contents, will confer
a great favor on Mr.. Cromwell by
communicating with him or his at
torney r. N. Parks. He is stopping
while in town at the Marietta Hotel.
Mr.. Cromwell is now above 81
years of age, but, like the hero in the
Bible. with "eye undimmed" and "Yis-
or unabated.' He is we'll remembered
not only for his devotion and services
to the Federal cause, but for his pub
lie spirit generally. During his en-
tire stay in Fairmont he was leader
in musical circles.
He was a member OF the Preshy-
terrain church and is probably the old
est surviving member unless that
honor can be claimed by our excellent
townsman, Ashbel Hall.