West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1915-04-22
SETTLERS AND CUSTOMS
EARLY DAYS OF COUNTY
Reminiscent Sketches of Prominent
Citizens and Incidents IN Preston
County During the Fourth, Fifth
and Sixth Decades of the Nine
teenth Century
CBy Jacob Guseman MatlickJ
CHAPTER VI

The first printing done i'm Preston
county was by small press in Bran
donville TO advertise an enterprise
for the culture of mulberry trees to
feed silk worms for the production OF
silk cocoons. The enterprise did not
prove profitable and soon became OBJ
solete.
The first real circulating newspaper
published in Preston county was the
Fellowsville Democrat. edited and
published by Mr.. Sylvanus Heermans.
and IT was printed ons an old time
Franklin press.
While the paper was denominated
THE Fepowsvlle Democrat" It was
politically Whig paper.
The first printing 1 ever saw done
was by that now antiquated press.
Mr.. John Heermans was an editor of
national note and of more than ordi-
nary celebrity. About 1858 he COM
peted for and won prize of fifty
dollars offered by the New York Tri-
bune for the best essay on certain
subject. During the Civil War, 1861
to '65. he wrote for the New York
Tribune, reporting the war news from
West Virginia.
Later he edited paper in Fairmont
and still later one in Wheeling.
linger in remembrance of the
Heermans, because of their varied en-
terprises, they being the first OF the
kind my eager eyes beheld, and the
great boon the first tanning mill was
TO us for cleaning grain. / yet cher
ish grateful remembrance OF the
kindly, generous personages of the
family. Francis, Miss Electa and Phil
Up Heermans
Mr.. Frances Heermans was ever a
kind and generous friend to me. even
in times of need
He oft-times consoled my mother
when she was sorely depressed with
grief during the sad year of 1864. when
was prisoner of war incarcerated
In the prison pens of the South Rich
mond. Belle Isle, Andersonville and
savannah, fearing she would never
more behold her first born child. for
she could not hear from me- At the
same time my brother, John ". Mat
lick. was in Gen. Sheridan's army i'm
the Shenandoah valley and south of
Petersburg engaged in those desperate
fratricidal struggles for the mastery.
Mr. Francis Heermans had such i'm
plicit confidence in my powers of en-
durance and my indomitable will.
courage and optimism that he would
say to mother: BE OF good cheer for
Jake will live TO get home if any of
them do" Which / did on Sunday.
the 18th day.of December, 1864. Just
one week before Christmas. | was SO
emaciated mother could scarcely re-
cognize me and withdrew from the
bronzed, depleted form until the tur-
bulent storm of emotion had abated.
The next political paper published
In Preston county was called The
Kingwood Chronicle, which was
founded by Mr. Overholt from Penn
sylvania, who transferred the owner
ship later to George and Amose Rowe
of Indiana, Pennsylvania.
The Rowe brothers discontinued the
publication Of the Chronicle when the
war commenced and returned TO their
Pennsylvania home.
Then in 1866 The Preston County
Journal was established with Levi
Klauser as publisher.
The several failures to establish a
permanent newspaper business i'm
Kingwood made it necessary that some
guarantee should be made to the sub
scribers. SO james G. McGrew. Smith
Crane and Francis Heermans signed
guarantee that subscribers should
receive the Journal during the time
paid for. Mr.. Klauser died and the
Journal passed into the hands of Mr.
w. M o. Dawson, who managed it's
affairs successfully as editor and pub
Usher
After passing from his ownership II
finally came into the hands Of it's
present owner. n. s. Whetsell. who
has brought it up to a high standard
as Republican newspaper.
The West Virginia Argus was es-
tablished in 1870 by James II. Carroll
as Democratic newspaper, and at his
death It passed into the hands of
prominent Democratic politicians, and
finally became the property OF Hon
william G. Brown Jr., who is its pres
ent owner. and has prospercd under
his ownership. Its present versatile
editor, Mr.. James r. Spahr. is a live
wire in politics as champion Of
Democracy in northern West Virginia.
and is making the Argus great fac
tor in the politics Of the State.
Other lights have since sprung into
being in Preston county, but not hav-
ing knowledge Of their history I will
leave that for others better informed
to chronicle.
Gro be continued)