Tag Archives: John A. Sheppard

Logan in 1893 (1937)

09 Saturday Mar 2019

Posted by in Logan

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From the Logan Banner of Logan, WV, comes this bit of history about Logan (then known as Aracoma) dated July 17, 1937:

Logan’s First Mayor Had Comparatively Few Worries

City “Clean-ups” Were Practically Unknown When J.B. Buskirk Served As Logan’s First Executive Back In 1893

Unlike the present-day affairs in the city of Logan with gambling, bootlegging, and all forms of vice causing the mayor, the police force, and the city council no little concern, the early residents of the city and their administrative bodies had little trouble in making and enforcing the laws.

Ordinances that would almost escape notice today, were they brought before the city legislative group, assumed the importance of grave administrative matters.

City “cleanups” were practically unknown, unless one could consider the annual spring drives against muddy thoroughfares and broken hitching posts as “clean ups.”

City legislators concerned themselves not at all with approving beer license ordinances, public health ordinances, and street marking programs. As to beer, the corner saloon was always handy and was somewhat a refuge from the law.

There was no such thing as “public” health, except in cases of epidemics when each citizen would pitch in and get everything as “clean as a hound’s tooth.”

Street marking in the early days could be construed only as the placing of a line of large rocks at regular intervals across strategic spots on the city’s one thoroughfare to enable pedestrians to cross from one side of the street to the other during the rainy season.

J.B. Buskirk, the first mayor of which there is record, elected with a city council to work with him, lived a life of ease compared with the administration of a present-day mayor.

Buskirk held sway in 1893 and, except for numerous resignations of public officials being continually tendered him, he had little cause to worry. Evidently the city fathers pined away in their chairs from boredom.

Record is made of the long-remembered council meeting of June 27, 1893, when Buskirk, with his council composed of Leander Cary, G.W. Morgan, John A. Sheppard, T.C. Whited, and S.B. Robertson met and passed the following ordinance:

“Be it ordained by the common council of the town of Aracoma: That any person found guilty of pitching horse shoes, rings or anything of like manner, or playing quoits, ball, marbles, or any similar game or games upon the streets or alleys of the town of Aracoma, shall be fined not less than one dollar nor more than five dollars at the discretion of the Mayor.”

The council did not indicate whether or not they considered these practices gambling.

Those were the days—from a mayor’s point of view.

NOTE: Aracoma was Logan’s official name in 1893.

Nancy Hatfield v. The Little Kanawha Lumber Company (1892)

07 Saturday Jul 2018

Posted by in Hatfield-McCoy Feud, Timber, Women's History

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Historians have well-documented Anderson Hatfield’s timber activity. In 1892, Nancy Hatfield, wife of Cap, sued the Little Kanawha Lumber Company. Here are transcriptions of a few court documents.

DOCUMENT 1

Nancy Hatfield

vs.

The Little Kanawha Lumber Company

Civil Action

Summons issued June 29, 1892 by G.W. Morgan, a Justice of Logan County, W.Va., and returnable at the residence of Cap Hatfield on Main Island Creek in Logan District of said County on the 14th day of July 1892. Residence of Cap Hatfield June 14, 1892. Summons returned duly executed by P.A. Farley, a constable of said county. Present the plaintiff in person and by Counsel Jno. A. Sheppard. No person appearing for the defendant. G.W. Morgan the Justice issuing the summons being absent and sick and the plaintiff being ready for trial the undersigned Justice of said county having waited on hour after the time set for trial and the defendant still failing to appear. After hearing the evidence offered by the plaintiff doth find for the plaintiff and assess her damages at $50.00. Judgment is therefore rendered in favor of the plaintiff and against the defendant for the sum of $50.00 and her costs in this behalf expended.

Given under my hand this June 14, 1892.

Patterson Christian, Justice

DOCUMENT 2

The Little Kanawha Lumber Company

To Nancy Hatfield

To damage by splashing to bottom creek bank &c of land on Island Creek, $75.00

To fence gate &c splashed away & cost of replacing, $25.00

To timber out, $25.00

Total: $125.00

Cr. by cash on same, $10.00

DOCUMENT 3

APPEAL BOND

Know all men by these presents that we Little Kanawha Lumber Company and G.W. Taylor are held and firmly bound unto the state of West Virginia in the just and full sum of one hundred dollars for the true payment whereof well and truly to be made we bind ourselves heirs and personal representatives jointly severally and firmly by these presents sealed with our seals and dated this the 20th day of July 1892.

The condition of the above obligation is such that whereas on the 14th day of July 1892 a Judgment was rendered by Patterson Christian a justice of the peace against the Little Kanawha Lumber Company in favor off Nancy Hatfield in the sum of $50.00 with interest from date and cost in a cause pending before said Christian J.P. wherein said Nancy Hatfield was plaintiff and said Little Kanawha Lumber Company was defendant and said Little Kanawha Lumber Company desiring an appeal from the decision of said justice in rendering said judgment tenders this bond for that purpose. Now if the above bond Little Kanawha Lumber Company and G.W. Taylor do pay off and satisfy any judgment rendered against them by the Circuit Court of Logan County on said appeal then this obligation to be void otherwise to remain in full force and virtue.

Little Kanawha Lumber Co.

G.W. Taylor

Approved this July 20, 1892

Patterson Christian, J.P.

NOTE: This case had nothing to do with the Hatfield-McCoy Feud.

Mrs. Henry Clay Ragland’s Obituary (1914)

25 Monday Sep 2017

Posted by in Civil War, Huntington, Logan, Matewan, Women's History

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From the Logan Banner of Logan, WV, we find the following story dated April 17, 1914:

“GRANDMA” RAGLAND PASSES TO THE BEYOND

MATE OF MAJOR HENRY CLAY RAGLAND, EDITOR OF THE LOGAN BANNER FOR MANY YEARS, PLACED BESIDE HIM EASTER SUNDAY

Mrs. Lou Ragland, mother of the Buskirk family, of this region died last Friday a.m. at the home of her son, Robert W. Buskirk, in the Urias Hotel at Matewan, Mingo county. She had married Henry Clay Ragland, for a long time editor of the Logan Banner, after the death of her first husband, Urias Buskirk. By her first marriage she raised a most interesting family of sons and daughters who are still residing in this section. Mrs. Buskirk was a most remarkable woman in many respects. She had always lived an exemplary and Christian life and assumed her responsibilities after the death of her first husband with efficiency and diligence. She was true to friend and family and was a good and faithful mother and a loving wife. Through her long life she has retained the confidence and respect of all who knew her. We grieve with her relatives and friends at her death. She was near the ninety-two milestone when she died and had been sick only for a few days.

“Grandma” Ragland’s exact age was 91 yrs. 11 mo. 20 days; born on Blain creek, Lawrence county, Ky., May 1st, 1823. For 30 years a member of the Christian church.

On May 1st also (1911) Major Ragland died. He was born on May 7th, 1844; belonged to Co. B 5th Va. Cavalry; member of the Aracoma Baptist church.

Mrs. Ragland’s last request, to rest one night in her old bedroom–the present residence of Rev. Bradshaw–was complied with. This parsonage now becomes the property of the Baptist church, according to the terms of Major Ragland’s deed, at her death.

Her age indicates her wonderful physical endurance, and while she knew she must die soon, retained her usual discretion and fortitude. She made plans with her kindred as to where her last resting place should be and desired that none of her children and friends be troubled about her demise. Up to the last she kept her mind intact and conversed with those near to her.

The mother of the Buskirks has gone, we hope, to a happier sphere. Mother is the dearest friend on earth. We grieve at the bier of the departed with the bereaved, and shed a tear with them in their desolation as we think of our own dear mother. Our sympathies go out to the bereaved ones in the loss of their one best comforter, but we hope and continue to hope that we may meet again in the unknown hereafter.

***

On April 17, 1914, the Logan Banner offered a small additional item: “Among those in attendance at the funeral of ‘Grandma’ Ragland last Sunday were: B.B. Goings, Williamson; Jno. A. Sheppard, Huntington; G.B. Hamilton, Matewan; in addition to the sons of the deceased.”