Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1921-11-03
NOTES BY OBSERVER.

itor the past weekend in the person
of Rev. William Hargrave Fouke, D..
D. of Harrisburg, Pa, who was here
for visit to his relatives. Miss Sarah
Shaner and Messrs. j. w. and William
Shaner. One of the purposes of his
visit was to preach, on his SEVENTEEN
birthday, in the M E. Church in this
place, which stands on the site former
y occupied by the house in which he
was born. DIR. Fouke is distinguish
ed clergyman Of the. United Evangeli-
cal Church. He was a bishop of the
church for eight years, the full time
allowed for the holding of this Office,
from 1910 to 1918, and prior to this
was for eight years editor of the Sun
day school and Christian Endeavor
literature of his church. He is now
serving a four-year term as associate
editor of "The Evangelical" the Of
fetal organ of the Evangelical Church.
He is a gentleman of pleasing person
atty and those of our people who met
him when he was here were proud
10 welcome him as native son Of our
ancient town.
DR.. Fouke's sermon on Sunday was
one Of, the best Observer has ever
heard His subject was "The Fruit
fu Life" and with winning sweet
ness he exhorted his hearers to such
service, yea, that they bear much fruit.
With lovely imagery and appropriate
illustrations, he eloquentIy and i'm
pressively developed his theme, hold
ing the congregation in closest at
tention as he presentea the subject in
simple yet beautiful language. He is
an especially easy and pleasing speak
er, and all who heard him were de-
lighted with his sermon
DR.. Fouke took occasion to speak
in personal way that interested the
people, and subsequent talk with him
brought out some interesting facts
His father was VIM. H. Fouke and
his mother before marriage was Maha-
la Ann Chapline. They lived in the
house on the corner Of Church and
New streets, which was bought by the
Methodists, as the site for their new
church after the old church had been
destroyed by fire. They moved west
in 1854, the year in which the new
church was built Their objective
point was Mt. Morris, Illinois, where
Mr.. Fouke had two brothers, living.
James and George Fouke. They
changed cars many times, finally
reaching Rockford, the end OF the
railroad, and went the balance Of the
way by stage coach. The Journey took
eleveR days. William Fouke died in
1858. and the following year the widow
and her children returned to Virginia.
They left Shepherdstown, however,
again in 1861, and made their home in
Dixon, Illinois. Mrs. Fouke died in
1876. Rev. DR.. Fouke's wife passed
away in 1913, and his daughter Miriam
dieH ~" Gonna wear. He has a son liy-
ing in Grand Haven, Michigan, and
daughter in Chicago
Although DR.. Fouke has been away
from ShepherdstpWn for sixty wears,
and has been here only few times ia
that long period, he remembers some
Of the. ancient landmarks and the
people who were living when he was
boy. Naturally. he notes a great many
changes. He enjoyed his visit here
the past week, and he hopes to get
back to the old home more frequent
Iy.. now that he is within hundred
miles OF it,
Older folks recall the big fire that de-
stroyed the Methodist Church on
windy March day in 1883 The FIRE
started in William Bradshaw's house
on tne corner Of Washington and
Church streets. This was. log struc-
ture and adjoining it was Bradshaw's
carpenter shop. On this particular
Gay several Of Mr.. Bradshaw's cronies
were in the shop smoking their pines
ana taking over affairs Of state. SpI-
% oLnon MILLER, who had dropped into the
snnp' warned them that they were IL
nuIe 10 start a fire there among the
snaV'nes and trash il they were not
LnoIe careful. Thev laughed at him
h nu ne went on his wav. Within.
Ialf hour or so he heard the crv "Fire
Ne rireH "I'll bet it is Bill Brad
snsWS place" he remarked. Sure
enough, il was. The fire was soon be-
YONG control, for the old log house
ahu tne carpenter shop and the con-
rents made fierce blaze The flames
swept across the street and set the
Methodist Church, frame structure
on hre. Sparks were blown northward
ana soon the town was in state
or terror. There was no fire enoina
Here, but men. women and children
Iormed double line from the scene
o' the conhagratipn to the town run
d couple OF blocks away. With in
reolo'e rapidity buckets OF water were
PASSED along one line and the empty
ouckets returned to the run by the 9TH
81. Neither the house nor the church
Iouid be saved, but other property was
Nspt from burning. The fierce gale
cdrr'ed sparks and burning SHINGLES
M Sgross the town. The roof of the
western Hotel, kept by Joseph Entler
Was set afire, as was also the roof ~
me Baker house across the street from
e motel, but intrepid men dashed
oe roo names out BY swarming over the
sooIs . with buckets OF water. Several