The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1912-08-01
FOUNDERS DAY
Elaborate Preparations Made
for Celebration Of His
torical Event.

torical Event.
wTEEIlENG, Nv. VA. July ,27.-
One of the most interesting fea-
lures OF the celebration of the semi
centennial OF the state. will be
Founders Day" This will be an
occasion for the gathering in this city
OF the survivors of the convention
which met here in 1881 and declared
in favor OF division of the old state
and the formation of a new common
wealth, They were the verltable faith
ers OF this splendid community of
counties comprising the State of West
Virginia and they are entitled to dis
tinguished recognition In the pros
pective celebration OF the ffftleth an
lniversary of its birth.
The suggestion for Founders
Day" said Col. John e. Day, secre-
tary of the Send Centennial Commits
sion, came from the Hon. John w.
Mason, of Faimont. one OF the mem
bers of the commission. i had some
correspondence with Judge Mason
with reference to the survivors of
the May and June conventions of 1851
and he remarked that very few with
in his memory were living today, and
suggested that as many OF them as
could he reached be invited to this
city during semi-centennial week and
day he set apart for their special
entertainment and honor. Measures
are now being taken to provide for
such an occasion by the Wheeling
Board OF Trades committee, which is
a sufficient guarantee that the matter
will be well taken care of.
THE importance OF this feature of
the semi-centennial celebration" add
ed Col. Day. cannot be exaggerated.
Naturally there are very few OF the
men who bore the .brunt OF the strug-
gle OF 1851 diving today, as most OF
them were of mature years at that
time. Those who survive have not
long to tarry now, and It is important
that they be gathered together on-thts
occasion so that we may hear from
their own lips the story Of those
strenuous days. They may not add
anything new. to the recorded hiA.ory
Iof that period, but they will, without
doubt, impart new interest to many
things through the intimate. character
OF their connection with them. Only
q few of the names of these persons
can he recalled at this moment. The
Hon, John ]. Davis. of ClarRsburs;
DR.. w. a. Grant. of Grafton Alpheus
Garrison. Of tMonongalia county; w.
IT. Brown, of Grafton; and Col. George
r. latham, of Buckhannon. There
are, no doubt, others which future
inquiry and investigation will disclose.
1t Is lamanetabie fact that not a
single citizen of Wheeling or Ohio
county. who took part in the Nay ana
June conventions, survives, although
their descendants are with us. They
made quite distinguished list, con.
tanning. as It does. such men as L. s.
pelaplain, J. R. Stifel, ALFRED caid-
we'll, John McLure. Jr.. Andrew will
son, George Forbes. "A. j. Woods,
Thomas II. Logan, Daniel Lamb.
Chester ID. Hubbard. S. H. Woodwa I'd
James w. Paxton, s. waterhouse, q.
l.. Gramfner. James S. Wheat, George
! w Norton, John r. Hubbard, WI.
liam g., Curtis, George Bowers, Rob-
ert crangle. James PAUL, John &.
Hoffman and Jacob Berger. Many
years after the state was formed. and
just previous TO his death, the late
Hon. Daniel Lamb said that looking
back on what had been done ne had
no regrets as to the part he took, and
that rhe action of the convention was
the inspiration Of the best wisdom OF
those days" How elOquently have
the fifty years of the statehood OF
West Virginia fulfilled the hopes and
verified the faith of It's founders
Other men contributed largely OF In
ffuence and money to the cause OF the
new state outside OF these conyen-
tions. First, among his equals was
, the late Hon, IA. w. Campbell, one OF
the owners and editor OF the Intelli.
gencer, whose pen was fiery sword
in,cutting the bonds that bound US tc
;. the Old Dominion. =
! There are. no doubt, other surviv.
ors of the two conventions living
whose names have not been men.
TONED in this article, Any .informa.
ton as TO the present residence Of
such persons will be thankfully re.
, ceiyed by Col. Day. the secretary OF
the Seml=Centennial Commission
Board of Trade building.