West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1914-12-10


sons Mills on the NJ. V. r. traction
line between Clarksburg and Weston.
whore tho south's favoritc son. "Stone-
wall" Jackson. spent his boyhood days,
burned TO the ground last Thursday
afternoon ut 4 o'clock. The origin of
the blaze 10 unknown. c. II. Williams
and family lived In tho old mansion.
which was the property OF the Mo
nongahela Valley Traction company.
In the burning of the building n
landmark more than n century old
has been destroyed. Hundreds of visi-
tors from all over the United States
have visited the site and inspected
the old home, whore the orphan boy.
"Stonewall." grew to manhood. and
became probably the greatest warrior
that the country has ever known
The old building was partly made
of sawed lumber and partly of logs,
and when IL was first built was one
of the finest In tho country. Old resi-
dents say that it was once referred TO
as the Jackson palace" IL consisted
of about eight rooms i'm all. Tho old
fireplace whore wood was burned. had
been replaced by moro modern crates.
and other improvements had been
made to preserve the old landmark.
The improvements, however, did not
materially change the appearance of
the house, according to old residents
who knew the place years ago.
Gray haired veterans from the south
who fought in Jackson's brigade IN
the Confederate army at Bull Run.
where General Bernard Lee gave him
the name "Stonewall." that he ever
afterwards bore. have journeyed to
the old birthplace of their commander
and shed tears over the memories
that 1t called to them ever since the
surrender of General Robert r.. Lee at
Appomatox.
Soldiers from the north and from the
south have shook hands at the old
homestead. and exchanged rominiscen-
ces of by-gono days. In the summer
time few years ago. when tho little
stream where "Stonewall" or Thomas
Jonathan, as he was then known. used
to fish, the old veterans would gather
daily with their fishing apparatus.
There they would linger for days at a
time, telling stories OF the great strug-
gle between the north and south
In reality the old Jackson mill is
the mecca toward which all old sol
diers have Travelled for years. While
there have been many disputes as to
the birthplace of Jackson, Clarksburg
Is the place without doubt. The old
David Davidson place In Main street,
where Donahue a. Johnson's stone
now stands. is the place where
"Stonewall" first saw the light. Here
the Stonewall Chapters. Daughters of
the Confederacy, of which Mrs
George Stone is president, have pIac-
ed bronze slab containing a part OF
the autobiography OF the hero of the
south.
Thomas Jonathan Jackson, soldier,
born In Clarksburg, w. Va, January
21, 1924. died at Guinea Station, Va.
May 10, 1868. His great grandfather
emigrated in 1884 from London TO
Maryland. Here he married Elizabeth
Cummins, and shortly afterward re-
moved to West Virginia, where he
founded "A large family. At seven
years OF age Thomas Jonathan, whose
father had been "A lawyer. became an
orphan and was brought up by bach
elor uncle named Cummings Jackson
Young Jackson's constitution was
weak, but the rough life of West
Virginia farm strengthened IL and he
became constable for the county
(then I'm old Virginia.. He was ap-
pointed a cadet at West Point at the
age OF IS.
a few days after the secession OF
Virginia he took command OF the
troops that were collecting at Har-
per's Ferry. Later he became a com
mander in Johnson's brigade Of the
Confederate army. which rank he held
at the battle Of Bull Run. In that ac-
ton the left Of the Confederate line
had been turned and the troops hold
ing 50 driven back for some diste nee
Disaster to tie Confederatcs was im-
minent. Jackson's brigade was the
first to get i'm position, and checked
the progress Of the national forces.
The Confederate took the aggressive
and in a short time gained a victory.
In lho crisis OF the fight Genera!
bernard T. Icc. in rallyng his men
said "Sce there i8 Jackson standing
like a stone wall; rally 10 the Virgin
ians!' Lee fell a fcw minutes later.
but his exclamation gave Jackson
new name which he carried ever af-
tcrward lu 'ho wilderness at Chan
celiorsville. the morning OF May Q.
General o. 0. Howard's corps Of the
Union army attacked Jackson's troops
and here the commander received
three wounds Pneumonia developed
May 7. and he died three days later.
His remains we're taken to Richmond