Subject: Dickenson Ct.VA. Newspaper 1890-1900 submitted by Annette Damron, Robert Beverly, Rachel & Louise Vanover Vore Abraham Mullins of George’s Creek, had two cows die in a very mysterious manner a day or two since. They had been out on the commons, a short distance from home, and when they returned they each drank an unusual amount of water from the creek, and immediately laid down, and both expired. Mr. Mullins says he thinks they were poisoned and that he knows who administered the poison. CLINTWOOD LETTER CLINTWOOD, VA., June 18 - Five dollar gold pieces, said to be counterfeit, are in circulation through this vicinity. Clerk Phipps told me that one was passed to him, but it was easily detected, the metal being so base that it required no expert to see that it was not genuine. There have been quite a number of marriages in this county within the past week, among whom I will mention Ira Vanover to a Miss Parsons of Wise. MARRIAGE AT CLINTWOOD CLINTWOOD, VA., October 22 -(special)- Miss Laura Powers and Mr. Wade P. Kenday were quietly married at the residence of Rev. Joseph H. Ross, of this place, on Thursday last. They are both teachers and stand high in the estimation of the people generally. the Rev. Joseph H. Ross performed the ceremony. The jail at this place was broken on Wednesday night last, and three of the inmates - “Ab” Vance, Aaron Moore, and Paris Mullins - escaped. An effort was made to capture them, but the officers were unsuccessful. These parties were fined for misdemeanor, and being unable to pay the fines, were imprisoned. Your correspondent did not learn how they affected their escape, but presume it was through the carelessness of the jailer, as this jail-breaking is a frequent occurrence here. DEATHS IN DICKENSON CLINTWOOD, VA., November 16 -(special)- Jenny Thornbury, the 12-year-old daughter of ___ Thornbury, deceased, died here Sunday night of fever. She was a bright, intelligent girl, and will be sadly missed among her acquaintances. Her remains were interred yesterday by the side of those of her father Hick Baker, a farmer of Osborne’s Gap, this county, died a day or two since of fever. He was about 80 years of age, and reared a large family. AFFAIRS IN FAR DICKENSON CLINTWOOD, VA., November 22 -(Special)- James Vanover, a farmer of Crane’s Neck, this county, had the misfortune to have his house burned on Friday last, the fire catching >from the stove. The family were all out of the house about the premises at >the time, and >the flames seemed to have been under full headway when discovered, and they >were >unable to save but little of their household effects. Not only the >dwelling, but the >smoke-house and granary, which stood near, containing his corn crop, were >all destroyed. >Mr. Vanover seems to have been unlucky in this respect, having had his house >and >contents destroyed by fire some years ago. > >ANOTHER DEED OF CONVEYANCE > >CLINTWOOD, VA., March 3 - A deed was admitted to record in the clerk’s >office here >yesterday from John D. H. Ross, of Rockbridge (?) county, and others, >conveying 6,644 >acres of land to the Russell Fork Coal and Lumber company, a corporation >existing under >the laws of this State. These lands lie in the northern portion of >Dickenson county. > >A marriage was celebrated near this place the other night which has >attracted considerable >attention throughout this vicinity, and has created more or less amusement. >The >contracting parties were Osborn Howell, known as “Beauregard, Jr.”, and >Bettie Mullins, >alias “Big Bettie”. Bettie’s parents objected to the match, but your >correspondent has not >learned on what score, and so it became necessary to resort to the strategy >to “best” the >“old folks”. Though Bettie had reached her majority about twice, yet she >did not wish to >openly defy her parental authority. On the evening before their marriage >Bettie’s mother >concluded from her actions that something was in “the child’s head”, and to >prevent the >probability of an elopement she hid her shoes.....and after all was still >she stole out and >walked about three miles in her “stocking-feet” to a house where >“Beauregard, Jr.,” had >no doubt previously intimated that he would meet her. They both arrived >there in due >time, and a marriage-license was sent for and also an officiating clergyman, >and the couple >was made one. Howell is a widower of some years’ standing, and has seen the >flowers >bloom for sixty odd summers. > >Your correspondent learns that J. C. Speers, a dentist and prominent citizen >of this town, >will shortly move to the Viers farm, in the northern part of this county. >We regret to lose >Mr. Speer from this place. > >13,000 ACRES OF LAND CONVEYED >REV. MR. MUSICK CALLED TO CHATHAM > >CLINTWOOD, VA., March 1. - A deed was admitted to record in the clerk’s >office here >to-day conveying 13,000 acres of land from the Prator Coal and Timber >Company, a >corporation chartered under the laws of Tennessee, to the Russel Fork Coal >and Lumber >Company, a corporation of Virginia. These lands lie in the counties of >Dickenson and >Buchanan and are valuable, as they are heavily timbered with fine marketable >timber. >They are said to marketable timber. They are said to have rich deposits of >bituminous >coal. > >Rev. Mr. Musick, who officiated as pastor of the Missionary Baptist Church >at this place >during the past year, has accepted a call from Chatham, Va., He preached his >last sermon >here on yesterday. He has a strong following here and will be sadly missed, >but kindly >remembered by his many warm friends. It is not known yet who will supply >his place. > >Isham Mullins, pioneer settler of this section, died at the residence of his >son, near this >place, a day or two since. He was nearly 80 years old, and had reared a >large family. He >had been very infirm for some time, and was dependent upon his children for >support. > >A NEW SCHOOL-HOUSE > >An effort will soon be made to sell the school-house in this place and build >another one on >a larger scale. An art was passes by the General Assembly, session of 1893- >’94, >authorizing the Board of Trustees to sell and convey the school property in >the town of >Clintwood Magisterial District to build a larger house and in pursuance of >this act the >effort will be made. The move is very unpopular, and many expression of >dissatisfaction >are heard. The general impression prevail that it is very unfair to tax the >whole magisterial >district to build a house for the town. It is claimed that the matter was >represented to Mr. >Irvin the patron of the bill, as being a popular measure, endorsed by >everybody in the >district, when the real fact is it was worked up by four or five men, who >kept the affair a >secret, and it was loudly condemned by everybody else as soon as it was made >public. > >LEGISLATIVE CAMPAIGN > >There is some talk already as to the campaign throughout this county, and >the indications >are that it will be a hot contest. It is generally conceded that Henry >Keel, of this place, >will have a following in the convention which will nominate a candidate for >the House of >Delegates on the Democratic ticket. Columbus Phipps, ex-clerk of the County >Court, will >probably be the nominee on the Republican ticket. There is an eccentric old >gentleman by >the name of Mullins, near this place, who had declared himself for an >independent race. >He is a Republican, was a soldier in the Union army during the late war, and >is now >drawing a large pension. He is very obstinate and determined, and will in >all probability >make the race. > >CHAIN-GANG > >At a meeting of the Board of Supervisors the act of the General Assembly in >regard to establishing a chain-gang in this county was ratified, and those >against whom >fines have been assessed in favor of the commonwealth will have to pay them >or go into >the chain-gang on some public work as soon as the “paraphernalia” can be >procured. > >AN UNIQUE TRIAL > >CLINTWOOD, VA., August 14 -(special)- There was a unique trial in the Mayor >’s Court >here Monday, the particulars of which are about as follows: Some few days >ago William >Farmer, a painter of this place, purchase for a pet a rattlesnake, which had >been caught by >a resident of Cumberland mountain. About this time Farmer had some trouble >with an >eccentric old gentleman by the name of Hylton, and jocularly remarked to >some persons >that he would train the rattlesnake .....that he would kill the snake. >Farmer placed the box >in which he kept the snake in a room near the Hylton place one night, and >next morning he >found that it had been killed. He immediately had a warrant issued for >Hylton, who upon >trail was fined. > >FROM CLINTWOOD > >One of the walls of the M. E. Church at this place has proven to be >defective, and has >sprung considerably from a perpendicular line. It begins to look as if the >building was >some what dangerous. An effort has been made to press the wall back into >place but >could not be done. > >Almareen Gwens and his wife were arraigned before U. S. Commissioner Rush, >of this >place, upon a warrant, charging them with operating an illicit distillery in >the far side of >this county. The evidence was not sufficient to substantiate the charge >against them and >they were released. > >An effort will soon be made to sell the school-house in this place and build >another on a >larger scale. > >ROSE’S APPEARANCE > >Rose is a man of about 27 or 28 years of age, of medium height and weight, >and has a >peculiar countenance. He has unusually heavy eyebrows, which shade his eyes >to such an >extent that the expression of them is almost lost to the casual observer. > >“Mack” Hill, of Beppo, this county, was brought before United States >Commissioner Rush >a day or two since, upon a charge of selling liquor without a license, and >was bound over >to answer an indictment at the next term of Federal Court at Abindgon. Hill >is a man of >60 or thereabouts, and is badly crippled from the effects of white swelling >and rheumatism. > >FROM CLINTWOOD > >Your correspondent learns that cards are out announcing the marriage of Miss >Maxie >James, daughter of H. M. James, to Mr. Delmon Kelly, of Ky., The wedding >will take >place the 15th inst. > >One of James Mooney’s children fell into the fire and was badly burned. It >is getting along >fairly well and will doubtless recover. > >Henan Fleming, who was recently acquitted in a trial at Wise, for the murder >of the >Mullins family, is in the vicinity. He was very much disfigured in the >fight in West >Virginia, in which he was arrested , having been shot in the mouth and other >slight injuries. >His brother, Calv, who is said participated in the crime was killed in this >fight. Henan was >badly wounded and after his partial recovery, was brought to Wise where the >crime was >committed, and incarcerated in jail, to wait his trial, which resulted in >his acquittal, much >to the surpise of everybody. > >“Son” Mullins, of Beppo, this county, was sentenced two years in the >penitentiary at this >term for breaking into a mill and stealing a sack meal for a moonshine >still. Mullins is a >young man and perhaps will learn a valuable lesson in these two years. > >A new post-office, known as Dwale, has recently been established three miles >east of this >place, with Frank M. Beverly postmaster. This will be a great convenience >to the people >of that place. > >A NEW POSTMASTER >HIS FIRST DAY’S EXPERIENCE IN >SUPPORTING THE HONORS > >DWALE, DICKENSON COUNTY., VA. > AUGUST 23, 1895 > >To the editor of the Dispatch: >Without any prelude I will introduce directly my subject, and then proceed >to tell >you of an experience I have had, which is new to me. I wish to tell you of >my first >experience with a “P. M.” attached to my name. >To begin with, we have a new post office at our place. Among several names >suggested, the Post Office Department thought fit to select the last one on >the list, >“Dwale”. I liked the name till I informed myself as to the meaning of the >word: “Sable, >black, color: the deadly nightshade,” does not seem to harmonize with a >bright and sunny >place like ours. >The day our mail was to “go” for the first time came, and some of our >neighbors >began to talk of mailing letters. In the evening a young man came in with >two letters, >which he said he would like to mail; but that, contrary to natural law, a >vacuum did exist >in his pocket-book. Well, I did not wish to lessen my reputation for >politeness, as I >thought it was small enough already; do I told him I did not intend to make >a practice of >selling Uncle Sam’s stamps to people on time, but that he could have them, >and settle the >bill next week. He got the stamps but I wanted that 4 cents “awfully” bad. >Nobody else >came in on “business” until after night, when a fellow arrived, full of >hurry and bustle. He >had three letters--one was enclosed in an old envelope, which was so >crumpled that you >could hardly tell whether it had been intended for an envelope, or for a >paper bag, such as >are to been seen at the grocer’s. He said one of the letters was for >himself, and the other >two were for his father. He thought an old stamp for postage of his own; >but his father >had sent no word whatsoever about the payment of his. It was dark; but I >thought the old >stamp looked like it had done service enough for the country to be put upon >___ tired list, >thought as the mail would not go until 8 a.m. next day, I put it away >intending to >scrutinize it carefully by daylight. This I did, and sure enough, it had an >honorable >discharge, for it bore too plainly the disfiguring impression of Uncle Sam’ s >cancellor. So, >in justice to the old stamp, with the ugly little ink spots all over its >face, and the skill all >torn from its back, as it was pulled from an old envelope, I could not force >it into service >again; but had to put new stamps on the letters >