Bluefield Daily Telegraph
Mercer County, West Virginia
News Articles
Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Diane C Robertson, January 2006
Dates before news articles indicates date of newspaper publication.
BIRTHS
Feb 8, 1902 - Born to Mr. & Mrs. J. P. Stuart, a son.
Sep 9, 1902 - Born to Mr. & Mrs. H. B. Ketts, a daughter.
MARRIAGES
Jan 30, 1897 – Frank L. Bonsack, the popular air inspector of the Bluefield machine works, was married January 30th 7:30 p.m. in the Methodist church on Jefferson Street, Roanoke, Virginia, to one of Roanoke’s fair damsels. Mr. Bonsack came home last night, but did not bring his bride with him. The Telegraph extends congratulations and wishes the happy couple a pleasant journey through life.
Feb 8, 1901 – A quiet wedding occurred yesterday when Miss Levici Dawson became the bride of Isaac Albert. The groom is a popular young carpenter of this city, and the bride is a sister of W. R. Dawson, foreman of the bridge force on the Clinch Valley division. The happy young couple left on No. 4 for an eastern trip.
Dec 1, 1904 - A quiet marriage, the announcement of which comes as a great surprise to the friends of the contracting parties, was solemnized at the home of Dr. W. O. Cochran, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, at Bristol Tuesday evening when Miss Bertha Senter became the bride of Owen T. Smith of this city. The ceremony was performed at 6 o’clock. Mr. Smith, who was in the Border City visiting his parents, Mr. and Mrs. N. H. Smith of Third Street, and Miss Senter, accompanied by her sister, were out walking, and after securing license went to the home of Dr. Cochran on Anderson Street where they were united in marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Smith arrived in Bluefield yesterday and will make their home here. The bride is the daughter of Mr. Harvey Senter, of Bristol, and the groom is the some of Mr. N. H. Smith, foreman of the Bristol roundhouse and is a fireman on the Radford division.
Dec 1, 1904 - Vinton correspondence in Roanoke World: Miss Martha Gray, sister of George Gray, of this place, and James Preston of Bluefield went to Bristol yesterday and were married and then went to Bluefield, their future home.
Dec 1, 1904 - Mr. & Mrs. J. C. Jett returned to this city last night on No. 3 from Bristol, where they were married Tuesday evening, much to the surprise of their larger circle of friends. Many of the friends of the couple met them at the depot last night and showered them with congratulations.
Dec 1, 1904 - S. A. Hall and Miss Lula Gilmore were married at high noon in Graham. A number of friends of the contracting parties witnessed the wedding, which took place at the home of the bride’s parents in West Graham. Mr. Hall is of Radford, Virginia and his bride of Graham, where she has many admiring friends. The couple left last evening for Radford, where they will make their home.
Dec 1, 1904 - John Williams and Miss Lelia Parks, of Burke, went to Welch yesterday where they were united in marriage. The bride’s home is in North Carolina, but she had been visiting her brother, Mac Parks, for several months. They will reside in Burke.
Dec 3, 1904 – Bluefielder Married at Pearisburg – At Pearisburg yesterday morning at 10 o’clock, Mr. Dan M. St Clair and Miss Sarah Peck were married at the residence of the bride’s father, Col. Peck. The ceremony was performed by the Rev. Dr. Hobson. The groom is a bookkeeper at the Flat Top National Bank in this city and is popular with all who know him. His bride is one of Pearisburg’s handsomest young ladies.
July 22, 1905 – Reading From the Book of Trouble – The following marriage licenses have been issued: Thomas W. Thompson, 20, to Bertha L. Tabor, 17; Oliver Akers, 19, to Ida Kidwell, 21; James H. Tickle, 47, to Halack(?) Huff, 31; Perry Hazelwood, 26, to V. E. Taylor, 31; Stewart G. White, 22, to Effie B. Hicks, 21; Clinton Settle, 24, to Bettie Boyd, 21.
Aug 13, 1905 – Short Chapter from the Book of Trouble – The following is a list of marriage licenses granted during the past week. James D. Wood, 21, to Eva J. Ferguson, 19; George W. Meadows, 19, to Alice P. Meadows; Frederick Ball, 19, to Willie Steel, 18; William Evans, 21, to Ada Moody, 19; Bailey Wyatt, 26, to Lake E. Cook, 19; Henry G. McDaniel, 22, to Lena Walker, 21.
MARRIAGE LICENSES
Jul 4, 1905 – The following marriage licenses have been issued by the county clerk during the past week: John Caldwell, 24, to Cornella Hollingsworth, 19; Robert N. Holland, 26, to Emma Peters, 22; Lewis S. Bailey, 21, to Nannie Profit, 17; William Fletcher, 21, to Ethel Bailey, 17; Chester Steele, 20, to Viola Wiley, 21; Elijah Harvey, 25, to Bertie Gunoe, 24; John Lawrence Kersey, 25, to Blanche R. Biggs, 22; William B. Thomas, 21 to Chappy Hager, 19; L.W. Huffman, 23, to Dellie Basham, 16; Joseph Evans, 62 to Annie Fisher, 24; Flood Edmonds, 22, to Lurinda Robinson, 22.
DEATHS AND FUNERALS
Jan 23, 1897 – Death of a Worthy Colored Man – Thomas Fuqua, colored, died at his home in Coopertown, at 6 o’clock yesterday afternoon. He had been a trusted employee of the Norfolk & Western for many years. He is survived by a large family, most of whom are self-supporting.
Jan 28, 1897 – Prof. J. J. D. Medley, principal of the public school of Bluefield, died yesterday at 10 a.m. of pneumonia at his home on Tazewell Street. Mr. Medley was a devoted church member, belonging to the First Baptist Church of this city. He was a member of several organizations and was secretary of the Masonic Lodge of this city. The deceased leaves a wife and three children, two of whom are quite ill, their recovery being despaired of. The funeral service will be held at the Missionary Baptist Church at 3 p.m. today. The services will be conducted by the Rev Taylor Frazier. Immediately after the funeral ceremonies the remains will be taken to the city cemetery for internment. This family are certainly experiencing their share of sorrow, as it has only been about 3 weeks since George Whittaker, a younger brother, succumbed to this same dreadful disease. The bereaved family has the sympathy of all good people in their bereavement. (see next article regarding the funeral.)
Jan 29, 1897 – Gone to His Last Reward – Was a Mason and a Member of the Junior Order United American Mechanics - ….The church was filled to overflowing—a mark of high esteem in which Prof. Medley was held by the people of Bluefield. Rev. Taylor Frazier conducted the services at the request of Rev. W. A. Pearson, the Pastor, who was ill, and delivered a powerful, sympathetic and touching discourse. Each order marched from their hall to the residence of the deceased in column of twos, the Junior Order and Masons having previously selected twelve pallbearers, six from each order. On arrival at the residence the pallbearers of the Jr. Order took charge of the remains and conducted them to the church, the Masons marching in front, followed by the Junior Order. At the church the Masons opened the column facing inward, the Jr. Order marching between them preceded by the remains, into the church, where seats had been reserved on the right and left aisles for the Orders, the front seats of the center aisle being reserved for family and friends. Soon after the arrival of the procession at the church a profusion of wreaths of beautiful flowers were placed on the casket, the last tribute of respect paid to Professor Medley by the teachers and children of the Public School, of which he had been principal for 2 years. Rev. Frazier took for his lesson the words, “Get thine house in order, for they shall die and not live”. Brother Frazier said in his preliminary remarks that he would not attempt to preach, but desired to address his few remarks to the living and in his own inimitable way he talked for about 30 minutes, giving a brief history of the deceased, his family ties and relations and the high esteem in which he was viewed by all who knew him; and lastly he pointed out to those living the uncertainty of life and the necessity of preparation, for “death comes as a thief and in a moment that ye think not”. At the conclusion of the services at the church, the remains were reviewed by the congregation, and it was a pathetic scene indeed, to watch the throngs of little children, who had learned to love him, as they eagerly crowded the aisles to catch a last glimpse of their beloved teacher on whom they would no more gaze on this side of the crystal shores of the eternity. After the remains were reviewed they were conveyed to the cemetery, preceded by the Orders and many friends of the deceased. The Masonic Order took charge of the burial at the grave with their usual rites and ceremonies, which were beautiful and impressive. Prof. Medley was born in Bedford County, Virginia in 1861 and was therefore 36 years of age—just the meridian of useful life, and the future held many bright prospects for him. He was a consistent member of the Missionary Baptist Church and leaves behind to mourn his untimely departure, a wife and two bright little children; but they should take comfort in the knowledge that the tender Shepherd who “doeth all things well,” has merely said to him “come up higher.” He was a kind and devoted husband, a tender and loving father and a worthy and esteemed citizen; and while his devoted wife and little ones will miss him most, the Community will greatly feel the loss of one of its best citizens. We learn the Prof. Medley carried a life insurance policy of $1,000. (see next article)
Feb 2, 1897 – Editor Telegraph: You will please allow me space in your column to return my sincerest thanks to the Masons, Junior Order of American Mechanics, my friends and neighbors for their extreme kindness during my husband’s illness. Respectfully, Mrs. Minnie J. Medley
Jan 29, 1897 – Mr. D. K. Whittaker who had been very low for some time with pneumonia, died at 9:20 last night at the home of his parents, Mr. & Mrs. G. K. Whittaker in the west end. Mr. Whittaker was born and raised in Washington County, Virginia, having moved with his parents to Bluefield about 4 years ago. The deceased was a brakeman on the Pocahontas division of the N&W and has many friends in the employee of the company who will be pained to hear of his death. The funeral service will be held at 9:30 today at the Catholic Church, after which the remains will be conveyed to the city cemetery for internment.
Morristown, Jan 29, 1897- Michael McDermott, a hired man, and William Hall, a patient at the State Hospital for the insane, were instantly killed is afternoon. The men with a number of other laborers and patients were engaged in unloading coal, the empty cards being switched off on a siding. A car had just been emptied and sent back over the siding. McDermott and Hall were engaged pushing a loaded car toward the scale when the wind overcoming the momentum of the empty one sent it back in the direction whence it had just come. McDermott and Hall, owing to the high winds, did not hear its approach and were run over. Charles West, the weigh clerk, hearing their cries, ran to give assistance, but the men died before he could extricate them.
Feb 6, 1897 – George W. Thornton, ticket agent at Fluney, Virginia, brought his little child here for internment at the Frenchville Cemetery. After a brief life of five months its little spirit was called to its Maker.
Mar 2, 1901
The remains of the late John N. Bowie were interred at Graham yesterday. A large number of sorrowing friends followed the body to its final resting-place.
Farris Hill died at Kenova Thursday morning from injuries sustained Tuesday. The streetcar company is building a trestle across Twelve Pole Creek, and young Hill was at work on the structure. Some timbers were being moved, and in attempting to get out of the way, he fell about 40 feel, landing in a pile of scrap iron. One arm and four ribs were broken and one ear torn off. He lived two days in terrible agony.
Jul 12, 1902 - Garland Owens, nephew of Mrs. G. J. Holbrook, of this city, died yesterday at noon at the home of his father, D. C. D. Owens at Wytheville, Virginia, aged about 9 months.
Jul 12, 1902 - The infant child of Bertha King died yesterday morning and was buried yesterday afternoon.
Dec 1, 1904 – News was received in the city yesterday of the death of another of Bluefield’s pioneer citizens - Mr. N. Scanland, a well known and highly esteemed city of some fifteen years residence, died at the resident of his daughter, Mrs. G. Montgomery Barger, at Blacksburg Sunday evening at 9 o’clock, age sixty-eight years. Mr. Scanland had been in failing health for several months. He leaves three sons and two daughters, his wife having died several years ago. The funeral took place at Blacksburg Monday afternoon. Mr. Scanland was a stone contractor and was a man of many estimable traits of character, and a good citizen. He was a member of the Lutheran church.
Dec 6, 1904 – The seven-year-old daughter of General Manager A. D. Rice of the Vulcan Coal and Coke Company died at the home of her parents and the remains will be taken to Salem, Virginia for internment, passing through Bluefield on No. 4 Sunday.
Jun 24, 1905 – News of Maybeury – News has reached us of the death of Mr. Will Meadows on June 17th. It will be remembered that Mr. Meadows taught school here about 5 years ago. He was at the time of his death a bright young lawyer and had many warm friends here who are grieved to learn of his death. He went to Texas some months ago in the hopes of regaining his health. His mother was with him.