Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1908-02-20
4 PROPHECY

LEY-WHAT PRESIDENT KIM
BALL, OF THE NORFOLK AND
WESTERN, THOUGHT.
(From Graham News. Feb. 2O.)
Union. w. va, Fe>o. IS, 1908.
Editor Graham News,
Dear Sir:-I see that you have
given notice through your columns
that / would give your readers a few
backward glances OF the beginning
of Developments in the Graham
Bluefield district.
In the spring OF 1881 John Ora
ham and DR.. James O'Keefe, before
any others known to me, came into
| the section hooking after it's devel-
opment. At that time s. NJ. Ora
ham and myself were merchandising
at Falls Mills. One day the above
named gentlemen stopped at our
store inquiring the way to Abs
/ Valley. No one then suspected tho
nature of their business, but very
soon afterwards DR.. O'Keefe re-
turned and began taking options aud
buying coal lands at and where Po-
cahontas is now located, making his
headquarters In the AbtB Valley
| vicinity. 1t was not long until the
lands which DR.. O'Keefe had taken
options upon were being purchased,
nor until f. j. Kimball, then presi-
dent of the Norfolk & Western rail-
road, also visited the section. With
him were Geo. Steele. OF Philadel-
phia, and young lady, whose name
| have forgotten. / remember the
party called at our store one sun
| day morning to obtain some articles
required in their dining car, which
wa sdrawn by a pair of horses.
From there they came on to Ora
ham C"Pinhook" it was called them
and dined on the side of the road
whore the Keys Planning mill is now
situated. The fire used in prepare
tion of the meal was made with
peices of fence rails lying about.
While Mr. Kimball and his party
were enjoying the picturesque
scenery of old Wrights Valley, the
cook got out his long handled skillet
and old-styled coffee pot, with the
three-cornered rack upon which II
rested, and soon announced the
last call for dinner" This being
ended, the party proceeded on their
way to Tazewell Court House.
Next after Mr.. KimbaAl's visit.
was party composed of G. C. Went
worth VIM. Ingles, A. V. Shell (who
still lives in Graham) and others
all engineers, who made the prelim-
mary survey of the New River Di-
vision OF the Norfolk and Western
to iPocahontas, which was let to con-
tract the same year.
When it was assured that the
road would be built, / bought land
at Graham Cor Pinhook.) Soon aft
er my purchase, Mr.. Thomas Ora
ham, Sr., and Mr.. J. Dickinson Ser
seant, Of Philadelphia, purchased
lands from John B. Linkous. LAYING
! 1t off into town Lots with the view
or building a town-the present
town OF Graham. However re-
proachful "Pinhook" was in name.
1t was in location thought to be an
important point for a depot.
Mr.. Thos. Graham was a man Of
large affairs. On a return trip from
Mexico, where he had considerable
mining Interests, he stopped at Ora
nam. While here he heard rumors
OF the PURCHASE OF lands by the rail
road company three miles east of
Graham - where Bluefield now
stands, and inquired of me what 7
knew about it. AS | was not in
formed in the matter, he sat down
at my desk and wrote a letter to
MS partner, Mr.. Sergeant, who. I'm
turn, wrote to President KimbalI
copy of Mr.. Kimballs reply was sent
me by Mr.. Graham, and reads as
! follows:
NORFOLK & WESTERN RAIL
ROAD COMPANY
f. J. Kimball, President.