Chapter XXIII - Fayetteville, The County Seat

Much of the history of Fayette county naturally centers about Fayetteville, the county seat, which is situated on a high plateau near the geographical center of the county, its nearest railway station being South Fayette, in the New river gorge, on the main line of the Chesapeake and Ohio railway. The site was first known as Vandalia, and was so named for Abraham Vandal, who, in the period from 1818 to 1825 acquired the present site of the county government from a man named Reed.

In 1837, in the sixth year of the county, the seat of government was moved from New Haven, in Mountain Cove district, to Vandalia, or Fayetteville as the place is now called. The spot designated for the court house was near a dead chestnut tree in the Vandal's rye field, probably at, or near, the very spot now occupied by the present stately edifice. Before the removal of the court house from New Haven, several different committees were selected at various times to fix upon a location for the county seat, but the finding of each committee was a bone of contention among the citizens of the new county, but with democratic fairness it was finally left to the vote of free-holders to decide. Three places were voted upon: "Miles Manser's" at New Haven where the seat of government was at that time, the "Falls of Kanawha," and "Abraham Vandal's" at Vandalia. It is related that when this vote was taken, Hiram Hill, who was then clerk of the county, gave away a number of one acre tracts of land, without any specific boundaries, thus qualifying the holders to vote, since the Virginia law at that time disqualified all but freeholders. By this political strategy, Vandalia received enough votes to secure its selection as the location for the county seat.

An effort was made many years later, in 1893, to change the seat of government to Montgomery, but the proposition lost by a vote of 1,894 for to 2,257 against. Since then no effort has been made to change the seat of government, and the judgment of the trio of early settlers formed under the stark limbs of the dead chestnut in Vandal's rye field will stand for all time to come.

After the removal of the seat of government to Vandalia and prior to the building of the first court house, court was held at the house of Abraham Vandal, which stood near the present site of the Fayette County Nation Bank on Maple avenue. This was the second house erected here, the first being a hut on House creek, a tributary of Wolf creek, at or near the colored hotel property.

At the June term of court, in 1838, the sum of $1,500 was levied for the erection of a public building, and a year later a like amount was levied. The court house erected from this fund was destroyed during the Civil War, but the records, with few exceptions, had been moved to Richmond and were thus saved. After hostilities ceased, a new court house was built, which did its duty until 1889 when the growing business of the county demanded that it be replaced by a new one. On April 19, 1893 this new building was destroyed by fire and was replaced by the present structure which has been in use since December 15, 1895. During the interim between the burning of the previous on and the completion of the present building, court was held in the old Presbyterian church, now occupied by the Propps Bros. hardware store.

Just how long the town was known as Vandalia is not definitely known. In 1837 Abraham Vandal deeded everything to his son, Edward D. Vandal, and in later deed books we find that E. D. Vandal made deeds to Seth Huse and Philo Platt. As the land owners became more numerous, allegiance to the memory of the original Vandal grew cold. Fayette county was named for the gallant Marquis de la Fayette, who helped this country in its struggle for freedom, and sometime after the formation of Fayette, the name of Vandalia was changed to Fayetteville, after the name of the county and in honor of this patriot. This was before 1837, for in Deed Book C, page 592, is found a "Plan of Fayetteville laid down by Frances Tyree in 1837 for Edward D. Vandal."

Situated as it was on the Giles, Fayette and Kanawha turnpike, Fayetteville was for many years a provincial county-seat town, populated almost entirely by county officers, and its serenity disturbed by a term of court or by an occasional visit from a personage of note passing through the county over the old road. Henry Clay, famous Kentucky statesman and three times candidate for president, was one of the early patrons of the Vandal tavern and spent the night in the tavern guest room. All who stopped for the night were obliged to sleep in this room. Tradition does not state whether or not, on the occasion of Clay's visit, some humbler citizen felt honored at sharing the room with him.

Prior to the Civil War, Fayetteville numbered among it citizens and near neighbors many whose names are familiar, some of whom have not yet passed to the Great Beyond. Among them we note the names of Hiram Hill, clerk of the court; Miles Manser, merchant; John Marrs, Levi Jones, William Parish, who was a squatter near the Levi Jones place; George Tyree, H. M. Dickinson, Gaiter Clark, Henry and Martin Wilson, Chandler Arthur, and his son Alexander Arthur; J. W. Arthur, A. K. Wiseman, Seth Huse, Jubal Henley, William Bays, John B. Jones, John Myles, Morris Harvey, and T. H. Huse.

There was a general exodus of the residents of the town itself during the days of the Civil War, and much skirmishing between the Confederate and Federal forces resulted here. The town was fortified by the Federal forces under General Scammon, and evidences of the fort are still plainly visible though the main part was

recently graded down by E. L. Nuckolls for a residence site. The erection of this fort by General Scammon led the Confederate forces to build forts, and the hills to the west yet show the earthen breastworks thrown up during the troublous days from '61 to '65.

Desolation reigned in and about the seat of county government after the close of hostilities. Buildings had been destroyed and land marks obliterated, yet slowly but surely order came out of

chaos, and today the tourist, traveling through in an automobile over the old Giles, Fayette and Kanawha turnpike, paved from one end of the county to the other, finds a quite different town from that which greeted travelers in the days of old.

After the war the town gradually rebuilt, and prominent in its postbellum history we find the names of Major Theopolis Gaines, Major H. W. Brazie, J. S. Cassady, Captain Joseph Ankrom, merchant; R. A. Flannagan, P. J. Lawrence, James Phillips, Philo Platt, Abe Myles, Cal Marrs, W. A. Wiseman, Thomas Huse and many others.

Aside from the court house, with its necessary officers and attorneys, merchandising has been the chief commercial feature of Fayetteville, with the printing industry second. Laurels of these two occupations for superiority in numbers, are now threatened by the automobile industry and road building, two things that necessarily go hand in hand and that contribute much to the commercial future of the town, both of which are yet in their infancy.

Oliver Waite seems to have been the first merchant after the location of the county seat here. Augustus Pack conducted a store for awhile. Then Miles Manser, at whose store court meetings were held when New Haven was the county seat, moved his store here. James Phillips was one of the before-the-war merchants. After the war the first person to engage in the mercantile business here was P. J. Lawrence. L. M. and W. H. Evans for a time conducted a store and later sold to Gus Montgomery, who in turn sold to W. G. Dickinson. He conducted the business until near the time of his death in 1917 and was succeeded by F. J. McCaleb, now one of the successful merchants in town. Captain Joseph Ankrom was one of the early merchants, and the older residents of the town yet tell of their purchases at his store. In 1890 W. A. Wiseman entered business on the main corner where the cement building now stands. Later B. F. Bibb was taken in as a partner. The firm of Wiseman & Bibb continued until 1906 when they closed out. Van Bowyer, now deceased, was a merchant and post master many years ago.

In 1900 the firm of Carter Bros. was organized and for twenty years conducted a successful business at the same stand. This firm, at the time of selling out to S. A. Cody and B. K. Hesse in 1920, was the oldest mercantile firm in town. Another old mercantile firm was that of Wendell Brothers, managed by R. H. Wendell, now of Montgomery. This store was first conducted in the property opposite the court house recently acquired by the Bank of Fayette, where a new banking house has just been erected. Mrs. L. C. Clark conducted a restaurant in this building for a number of years. Wendell Brothers built the cement block building, now owned by C. G. and F. J. Janutolo, in 1907 and it was at this stand that they were succeeded by the Phipps Supply Co., managed by J. S. Phipps, about 1910. W. B. Jones was for a long time a merchant

here. Failing health drove him from business and the Dillon & Grose building, which he occupied, was then taken by the Phipps Supply Company, and at this time they are the oldest general mercantile firm.

Another old merchant, now deceased, was Rev. Henry Light. He sold dry goods and groceries in a stand on Court street, opposite the Ankrom property. He was a licensed Methodist minister and in the latter years of his life preached only occasionally, but his sermons were strong ones and well worth hearing. Many a time he was interrupted in the sale of merchandise to tie the nuptial knot for some bashful young man who had purchased the requisite "dollars worth of paper" at the court house and had not neglected to bring the blushing bride-to-be along with him.

L. Z. Hundley, butcher and grocer, has been in business here for a number of years and is the oldest merchant in his line. He has recently purchased and remodeled the former Statts and Smith stand, on Maple avenue, in which he has ample room to display his wares and serve his growing trade. The Walker Supply Company which succeeded H. H. Malcolm, was one of the old mercantile firms. It did business in the Malcolm block and was managed by Wade H. Claypool, who is now connected with the stat treasurer's office in Charleston. They were succeeded at this stand by Mrs. E. F. Page, who later removed her stock of goods to her home. Within the past few years another store, that of Malcolm Supply Company, owned by Marcellus Malcolm, now living at Charleston, started in the old stand and was successfully managed by L. C. Reynolds, who later became the owner. Years ago W. E. Statts did business for a short time in the Hundley building. Sidney Smith and brother later had a grocery and feed store there, but not finding it a profitable venture soon retired. A. H. King conducted a grocery for a time, his place of business being located on lower Court street. He was succeeded by John Riley Saunders, the well-known colored man, who does a thriving business. There was another store conducted by colored people, Smith and Claytor, across House creek and near the old colored hotel property, but this was destroyed by fire a few years ago. At the present time the latest bid for public patronage in the grocery and meat business is the firm of Backus and Smith, operated by A. H. Backus and P. D. Smith, who have

lately opened for business opposite the court house. Since the advent of the Backus and Smith store, Carter Bros. have again engaged in the mercantile business here, selling dry goods and groceries in the old building opposite the court house, which building had previously been occupied by E. R. Gray, now deceased, as a supply store for the Universal Garage Company, of which he was owner. George H. Moreau in in charge of the Carter Bros. store, having previously been their manager at the old stand. This completes the history past and present, so far as can be learned with respect to the dry goods and grocery merchants of the town.

One hardware store suffices for Fayetteville. It is conducted by Propps Bros., with Henry Propps as manager. This hardware store was first started by J. M. Koontz in the building now occupied by Carter Bros. Some years later Mr. Koontz purchased the old Presbyterian church building and remodeled it for a store. In 1922 he retired from business, selling to Propps Bros., since which time he has been spending his winters in Florida.

O. B. Lively, who later moved to Huntington, opened the first jewelry store here, probably in 1899. It's growth was steady. About 1910 it was acquired by the Fayetteville Jewelry Company, chief of which were C. G. and F. J. Janutolo. They afterwards purchased the cement block building, remodeled it, and their large and handsome jewelry store, with soda fountain in connection, now occupies it. The second floor is used for law offices by the firm of Hubard & Bacon, while the third floor is occupied by the telephone exchange. The business of the Fayetteville Jewelry Company is growing, and very recently an addition to the building was erected from the rear, for which purpose the old post office building was moved down the street below the Methodist church and converted into a residence. The rear addition to this building is divided into office rooms which are used principally by Henry A. Gentry, civil engineer and by C. G. Janutolo, architect and contractor.

About 1909 the first moving picture theater was opened here by Charles and Ed. Burgess. This business was later acquired R. H. Wendell and the Dreamland Theater building was erected by C. W. Dillon. Successive changes in ownership finally brought it into possession of A. H. King who recently purchased the building.

In addition to this he manages the Royal Theater at Oak Hill. He seems to be making a success where others failed. At one time a second moving picture show was in operation here, being conducted where the first one was started, by J. H. Daniel, Jr. It was and unprofitable venture. Mr. Daniel also conducted a confectionary adjoining, but the buildings were later torn down to make room for the Fayetteville garage.

About 1910 Co. R. H. Dickinson, who was then sheriff of the county, brought the first automobile to Fayetteville. It was a high-wheeled, one-seated runabout, but a wonder in its day and a pioneer in a rapidly growing business.

The problem of transportation was the most serious one for Fayetteville for a number of years. Situated some distance from the railroad and at an altitude of 900 feet above it, persons coming here to attend court, if they left the train at Fayette station, were forced to use the old mule-drawn hacks for transportation and an hour was required to make the trip from Fayette over the old mountain road to Fayetteville. In 1905 a company was formed, headed by A. D. Roberts, Ben D. Koontz and others, and an effort

made to build an electric line to connect Fayette and Fayetteville. Considerable work was done on grading but the project fell through from lack of funds.

A new road known as the Gentry road, because of its having been surveyed by Henry A. Gentry, county surveyor and road engineer at the time, was projected. Prison labor was used and much money expended.

About the time of the building of the Cabin Creek power house of the Virginian Power Company in 1914, talk of and electric line connecting Fayetteville and Fayette station was again revived, and a company was formed that took over the Gentry road and completed it. Efforts to electrify the road again fell through and it was turned back to the county court, and it was the first road to be permanently improved with money voted by bond issue in Fayetteville district. This road is about five miles in length, constructed on an easy grade, noted for its scenic grandeur and beauty, and the automobile and motor truck have solved the transportation problem. A number of automobiles owned by the Fayetteville Taxi Company meet all the trains, and fifteen minutes after leaving Fayette station passengers are unloaded at Fayetteville.

The antiquated car of Col. Dickinson was soon followed by other cars, first owners being R. L. Carter, Dr. J. E. Coleman, Dr. J. W. Hopkins, B. E. Bare, J. M. Koontz and J. C. Hamilton. R. L. Carter became agent for the Ford car and has done much to extend the business. Out of this beginning has grown the handsome garage and service station now owned by R. L. Carter and known as the Fayetteville garage which was erected on Maple avenue, adjoining the Janutalo building, and which furnishes employment to a number of people. In the erection of this large structure the residence property of the late E. G. Hinman, ex-sheriff was acquired and used. R. T. Hubard, Jr. was interested with Mr. Carter in the erection of this building, but this partnership was recently dissolved, Mr. Carter becoming sole owner. The automobile found instant favor in Fayetteville, and purchasers were numerous, even before roads were improved, and today a horse-drawn vehicle is as much of a curiosity as the gasoline buggy of Sheriff Dickerson that went "chug-chugging" over the rocky roads of that period. The automobile industry now gives employment to a number of

persons here. In addition to the Fayetteville garage a repair garage has been recently established by William Knapp and Mark Pugh. These are established businesses. J. C. Hamilton has been an automobile salesman for a number of years, selling the Oldsmobile and Chevrolet cars and trucks. He has a small supply room here, and the bulk of his business is done from his large garage in Oak Hill. So much for the automobile industry so far as it affords a means of livelihood for those engaged in the business here.

Much of the progress has been shown in the commercial development during the past sixteen years. This period marks the erection of the Fayette County National Bank building and Masonic hall, erected in 1906 at a cost of $35,000.00. Prior to this time the bank was housed in a two-story brick structure which was torn down to make room for the present splendid building, the top floor of which is occupied by La Fayette Lodge, No. 57, A. F. and A. M. The second floor is occupied by Attorney Magee McClung and others, while the lower floor is used by the bank.

The Drug Store owned by Dr. J. B. Legg occupies one of the store rooms of this building, while the other is occupied by G. W. Brooks as an up-to-date barber shop. The Drug Store now owned by Dr. Legg was formerly owned by Dr. E. J. Grose. He sold it in 1923.

In 1906 the Bank of Fayette building, also of native stone and three stories high, was completed for Dr. M. M. Malcolm. The principal part of its lower floor was used for fifteen years by the Bank of Fayette. On the second floor the law firm of St. Clair, Walker and Summerfield existed until after the death of Colonel St. Clair. Walker and Summerfield continued there for a time and after the dissolution of the partnership, while Mr. Summerfield was serving as prosecuting attorney, the offices were occupied by George Love, who had retired from the prosecutor's office. Conditions are now reversed and Mr. Summerfield occupies his old office, while Mr. Love is again prosecuting attorney. Judge W. R. Bennett, who with his sons now own the building, has an office on the second floor. The third floor was used for living rooms. The Bank of Fayette recently sought other quarters, preparatory to the erection of the new banking home, since which time the lower floor has been occupied by a restaurant. This building was recently de-

stroyed by fire. the cement building, heretofore described, was erected by R. H. Wendell, now of Montgomery. Mr. Wendell was formerly in the grocery business here, having a store first where the new Bank of Fayette building now stands, later purchasing the Wiseman and Bibb store, conducted by A. W. Wiseman and B. F. Bibb, and erecting the cement building there. This building, the post office building, originally erected for a drug store, with its second floor occupied by Dr. P. B. Davis and J. D. Boone, the Fayetteville garage building, Dreamland Theatre building, the Dillon and Nuckolls law office and the Fayette Tribune building originally erected to house the Fayette Sun, now defunct, are all business ventures of the past fifteen years. Many residences have been completed during this time, chief among which are those of Mcgee McClung, Dr. J. W. Hopkins, the parsonage of the Presiding Elder of the M. E. Church, South (now owned and occupied by S. T. Carter), J. T. Grose, Mrs. M. E. Gaines, C. W. Dillon, Geo. Love, J. K. McGrath, R. T. Hubard, Jr., C. A. Goddard, C. E. Mahan, Mrs. E. F. Page, A. D. Smith, Rev. J. W. Legg, F. N. Bacon, the M. E. Church parsonage, Dr. J. B. Legg. Other residence property has been erected, remodeled or otherwise repaired and Fayetteville is noted for its fine homes, spacious and well kept lawns. The home of Attorney Mcgee McClung, which was recently destroyed by fire, was originally erected by Dr. J. E. Coleman for a hospital and used by him as such until his removal to Beckley where he entered upon a larger field of work. The handsome home owned by Col. J. W. St. Clair prior to his death, is now the residence property of J. D. Boone. A fine stone retaining wall, cement drives and other improvements have recently been made to the grounds about the house and it is a palatial and well apportioned residence.

A Presbyterian Church has marked the only church activities of the past decade. The Methodist congregation recently disposed of their church to the colored people and have erected a handsome edifice. At the present time Rev. W. C. Neel is pastor of the Presbyterian Church, Rev. J. R. Basket of the M. E. Church, Rev. T. J. Hopson, of the M. E. Church, South and Rev. J. W. Legg of the Baptist Church. A spirit of helpful co-operation exists among the churches of the town and interest in spiritual affairs shows marked progress under the leadership of these men.

The most recent addition to Fayetteville business enterprises is the undertaking establishment by Tyree & Legg. The business is managed by G. Chalmer Legg. J. P. Tyree, the other member of the firm, lives at Pax where they also conduct a business. The business here is located near the Propps Hardware store in the building formerly used by J. M. Koontz as a feed store.

One recent addition to Fayetteville's business enterprises is the establishment here of the Shawver Construction Company; which has erected a number of small residences, especially on the Fayette road, where C. F. Shawver, the manager, has erected a new residence.

One of the old Malcolm buildings opposite the court house has been torn down and it is reasonable to conclude a new building will sooner or later be erected on this spot. On East Court street T. L. Sweeney, a colored attorney, has erected a hotel. A building adjoining has been moved farther down street and converted into a residence.

Lee Huse has opened a number of acres near the Fayette road for development as building lots. These are some of the signs of progress noted in Fayetteville in recent months.

Fayetteville was incorporated in 1883. W. A. Wiseman was the first mayor. Others who have held this position are L. G. Gaines, E. B. Hawkins, W. D. Payne, S. L. Walker, C. W. Dillon, E. L. Nuckolls, R. J. Thrift, R. L. Carter, A. M. Kincaid, H. J. Tucker, W. L. Lee, R. H. Dickinson, F. H. Brazie, J. C. Hamilton, A. B. Abbot, and the present incumbent, John L. Ryan. During the administration of Mayor R. H. Dickinson, who was also sheriff, a company was organized and electric current was brought to town from the power plant at the Lochgelly mines four miles away. This was a progressive step. The old gasoline street lamps were replaced with the incandescent light. Gasoline engines gave place to electric motors and in most homes electricity is now the willing servant of the people, always ready at the push of a button or the turn of a switch. Power now comes from the big plant of the Virginian Power Company at Cabin Creek and is furnished to Fayetteville and Oak Hill by the Fayette Public Service Corporation.

July 22nd, 1911 a bond issue of $14,700.00 was authorized by the voters for the building of cement side walks and approximately three miles of side walks were laid. The last of these bonds was retired in 1923. Since the building of sidewalks some of the streets of the town have been hard surfaced, especially the court house square. The wide paved streets about the court house offer ample parking room for the numerous automobiles that daily bring the citizens of the county here on business.

Altamont Hotel, built years ago by Major Brazie, is the town's only hostelry, having as it hostess a daughter of Judge Brazie, Mrs. C. W. Coldwell, who has long conducted the business. Boarding houses and restaurants take care of many but those who come by auto from various parts of the county to attend court or transact other business usually return to their homes in the same way and over-night visitors to the town are not as numerous as they once were.

In 1919 Dr. J. E. Coleman of Beckley, purchased the handsome E. B. Hawkins residence property, with its twenty acres of land, with the intention of opening a hospital for the treatment of soldiers afflicted with tuberculosis. Apprehensive lest the bringing of so many afflicted might spread the disease, a few citizens of the town took the property off his hands and it was sold to Mr. V. S. Veasey of Mount Hope and is now used by him as a summer residence. It is believed that Fayetteville offers wonderful possibilities as a summer resort and it only awaits the solution of the water and sewage question to see a new town of health and pleasure seekers with each recurring summer. The elevation is from 1800 to 2000 feet, situated on a reasonably level section of table land and with a wealth of natural scenery in all directions.

Miles Manser served as postmaster prior to the Civil War. The first one after the war was J. M. Flannigan. He was succeeded by P. J. Lawrence, who was succeeded by by Van Bowyer. Then C. E. Mahan came next and was succeeded by Van Bowyer during the Harrison administration. During Cleveland's administration C. H. Burgess was postmaster. E. G. Hinman, former sheriff of the county, afterwards served for a number of years as post-master of the town. In the late years of his life declining health forced him to relinquish active participation in the work and Mrs. Hinman, her

son and daughter, faithfully served. Under the Taft administration, they were succeeded by C. A. Goddard, now editor of the Tribune, who made a splendid servant. It was under his administration of the office that the rural free delivery route serving patrons in Braggville and Gatewood neighborhood and the Oak Hill road was established, the first carrier being A. J. Duncan. When President Taft was succeeded by President Wilson, Mr. Goddard was soon succeeded by A. D. Smith, Jr. as a Democratic appointee. Mr. Smith resigned during his second term and A. J. Duncan having been faithful in carrying the mail on the rural route was appointed to fill the vacancy, and later given a full term appointment. He rendered faithful and efficient service, until he recently resigned and was succeeded by J. S. Phipps, who was succeeded by Miss Delphia Legg, mow Mrs. Delphia McClung who was succeeded by George Moreau, the present encumbent. Since the retirement of Mr. Duncan as carrier on the rural route a number of carriers have tired of the work in a short while and for a part of the time the route has been without a carrier. At this time, however, J. E. Bailey is serving. Three mails are received at the Fayetteville post office each day from the trains at Fayette, morning, noon and night. Mails also arrive from Gatewood about one o'clock each day. Two mails are dispatched to the trains each day, morning and evening and Fayetteville citizens can not complain of mail service. John Riley Saunders the colored merchant has had the contract for carrying the mail for the past several years, but was succeeded on July 1st, 1924, by John Viars.

Dr. M. M. Malcolm who died on January 9, 1918 was a note physician and waited on the sick for miles around, amassing considerable wealth as the result of his long years of indefatigable toil. With the increase of population in this section Dr. J. W. Hopkins came to Fayetteville and has been a successful practitioner here for many years. Dr. J. E. Coleman began the practice of the profession here many years ago. He established the Fayetteville hospital in 1907. His success with that institution and his well known ability as a surgeon led him to seek a wider field and he sold out here to Dr. E. J. Grose in 1912, going to Beckley where he established a hospital. He later partly returned to the county in the establishment of the hospital at Oak Hill of which he was the chief surgeon, but later sold both

his Beckley and Oak Hill institutions, Dr. Grose did not find it profitable, owing to a growing private practice, to continue the hospital here and it was closed and converted into residence property. Dr, Derby came here from Kentucky in 1907 but failed to build a practice and soon departed. The death of Dr. Malcolm left the field entirely to Drs. J. W. Hopkins and E. J. Grose. Learned and skilled in the practice of their profession they are ministering faithfully to the community. Dr. P. B. Davis is the only person engaged in the practice of dentistry in town. He came here about 1904 from Glen Jean where he practiced his profession for a time. Dr. B. C. Byrnside, now of Oak Hill opened a dental office here in 1914, but soon left for Oak Hill and Later for Logan, returning recently to Oak Hill where he is again engaged in the business.

Two substantial financial institutions, three in fact, reflect the prosperity and progress of Fayetteville and the surrounding sections. The Fayette County National Bank has the distinction of being the oldest in Fayette county. Several years prior to its organization a bank was opened in Montgomery, but soon failed, and when this institution opened its doors for business on August 6th 1900, it was a pioneer in a business that was destined to grow rapidly and today there are no less than fifteen banks in the county, all doing a thriving business. The bank was first chartered as the Fayetteville National Bank, but in 1906 the name was changed to the Fayette County National Bank. It occupies its own handsome building heretofore described. J. S. Hill recently state banking commissioner, was the first cashier. He came here from Alderson where he had been trained in the business by his father the late E. F. Hill. He found a wife here in the person of Miss Grace Gosling, daughter of the late Rev. B. F. Gosling, who was serving the M. E. Church South here as pastor at the time. When Mr. Hill was called to a larger field, he was succeeded here by J. M. Miller of Jackson county. Mr. Miller became the husband of Mrs. Nehemiah Daniel during his connection with the bank as cashier. He too found a more lucrative position in Charleston and A. B. Abbott became cashier. Mr. Abbott also found a wife in town, marrying Miss Nona Reynolds, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Reynolds, aged citizens who on February 17th, 1920 celebrated their golden wedding anniversary. Mr. Abbot is assisted in the

conduct of the business by Thos. Mahood, who was reared in the town by Enos Grouse, who was reared on a farm near here.

In 1904 a second bank opened its doors here. The Bank of Fayette. J. T. Grose, former county clerk, became cashier and has been actively engaged in the conduct of the institution. C. C. Huffman is now cashier, Mr. Grose having been elevated to the position of president, succeeding the late Dr. Malcolm, who was president up to the time of his death. Now housed in its new building this bank is splendidly located, well officered and while not having as much capital or surplus as some other banks it is looked on with favor by a number of persons who have faith in the ability and integrity of its officers.

The third financial institution is the Fayetteville Building and Loan Association, conducted from the Bank of Fayette and which was organized eleven years ago. Mr. Grose is the secretary-treasurer. The assets at this time are over $100,000.00 and the institution is doing much to promote thrift and encourage home owning.

For a number of years up to August 1923, Fayetteville was the home of Division No. 1 of the state road commission offices, and it was with regret that citizens in the town saw the offices removed to Charleston. J. K. McGrath, now a private contractor, was the first division engineer in charge he. He resigned in August, 1922, and was succeeded by H. R. Anderson, one of his assistant engineers, who took over Mr. McGrath's splendid corps of assistants and carried on his good work. During their residence here they contributed to the social life and business enterprise of the town.

The history of Fayetteville is so closely identified and so interwoven with that of the legal profession, many of whom have helped to make its history that they are treated of in a separate chapter of this publication. The same is true of the newspapers, now four in number, that are issued in the town. But few things are left to discuss in this narrative of the county seat, and yet they are many, for here much local history has been made, where great lawyers have prosecuted and defended and where in the storm of politics statesmen and politicians have mounted the hustings and engaged in forensic battle, but lack of space forbids their telling.

The Fayetteville public schools will serve as a closing theme. The first public school in Fayetteville was conducted in an old black-

smith shop that stood in the center of the Dillon and Grose lot, back of the block now occupied by the two banks. This shop first stood on the corner, but was moved back and was repaired and used as a public school. The second school house stood in the fort above the old cemetery on the street leading to the residence of R. T. Hubard, Jr. This was a log building and among the teachers who wielded the rod were Drew Easley, H. J. Tucker, and J. D. V. Bruce, the last named was a brother-in-law of W. A. Wiseman.

The next public school house was the building back of the old Bank of Fayette building recently purchased my Mrs. L. C. Clark for a residence. Some of the classes recited in the first floor of the old Masonic hall near by. Some of the teachers who taught there were Miss Virginia Young, who became the wife of Judge J. R. Koontz, and step-mother of Ben D. Koontz, who was the last judge of our criminal court. Miss Nannie Dews, who is yet engaged in the profession; Miss Clara Porter, now Mrs. John Crawford of Charleston; H. H. Bennett, brother of Judge W. R. Bennett and afterward county superintendent; C. L. Phipps, now living at Beckley where he is engaged in the insurance business; Thos. Lowery, A. B. Withers, now a Baptist minister connected with the American Baptist Publication Society of Parkersburg; Mr. Fisher and Mrs. Laura Robertson, now deceased, wife of Prof. H. C. Robertson. The independent district was formed in 1887, and in the session following, the one taught by Mrs. Robertson, the present Fayetteville Academy was begun. An association was formed by the citizens of Fayetteville, called the Fayetteville Academy Association. This body acted with the board of education and collected a substantial sum of money which was used in the purchase of a lot and the building of a school house on land formerly owned by Thomas Huse. To W. Dallas Payne is due much credit for the work of the association. Some time after this, Professor H. C. Robertson and Professor W. G. Brown acquired the interests of the Fayetteville Academy Association and conducted a private school, while two rooms in the Academy building were reserved for the town public school. One of the teachers during this period was Judge John T. Simms.

The last session of school presided over by Prof. H. C. Robertson was that of 1903-1904. He then resigned and now teaching in

Charleston and is considered there a very able and successful teacher. Professor A. C. Kimler was principal of Fayetteville Academy for the session of 1904-1905. Professor H. K. Barbe became principal in the fall of 1905 and presided over the destinies of the school for several years. He then went to McDowell county, doing district supervision work. The independent district was abolished in 1913 and the school again became part of Fayetteville magisterial district school system. Prof. Barbe was succeeded about 1913 by Prof. J. D. Blake, who was principal for one year. Prof. C. B. Cornwell came then as superintendent for two years, being succeeded for three years by Prof. Otway Gunnoe, who was retired from the profession and is now located in the town of Gauley Bridge. Prof. J. N. Hoylman, former county superintendent of schools of Monroe county was then engaged who conducted two successful terms, retiring in 1923 in favor of B. G. Moore, who during the previous year had been superintendent of Mount Hope schools. He was succeeded by John Toler, who had been superintendent during the last two very successful years.

Fayetteville having a member of the Fayetteville district board of education in the person of A. D. Smith, has been fortunate in securing a much needed new school building located near the old fort, where the second school house stood years ago. The corner stone of this new building was laid with impressive Masonic ceremonies, on August 4th, 1923, and the building is now completed. C. G. Janutalo was the architect and contractor and the building cost approximately $65,000.00. It is of native stone and contains sixteen rooms. Close by is a modern gymnasium, erected in 1921 by public spirited citizens of the town, and is being used by the school for basketball and other class activities, and for social functions.

Much more could be written concerning the history of Fayetteville, but this chapter must shortly be brought to a close. One other thing: A pale harvest moon, now on the wane, peeps up over Old Fort Scammon and bathes a sleeping town in softened light. It looks down first on beautiful Fayetteville cemetery, a half mile to the east, where our dead are sleeping, any of whom helped to make, either in life or death, the history of this little town. In the green foliage of the adjacent woods the katydids are calling re-

minding one of the approach of winter, even as a waning moon is symbolic of the approach of death. History is a narrative of the past. One cannot look backward over a long period without thinking of the future, so we borrow from Bryant's Thanatopsis the concluding stanzas and with these we reluctantly bring to a close a brief history of the county seat:

"All that tread the globe, are but a handful to the tribes
That slumber in its bosom. Take the wings

Of morning, and the Barcan desert pierce,
or lose thyself in the continuous woods
Where rolls the Oregon, and hears no sound
Save its own dashings - yet - the dead are there;
And millions in those solitudes, since first
The flight of years began, have laid them down
In their last sleep; the dead reigns there alone.

So shalt thou rest; and what if thou shall fall
unnoticed by the living; and no friend
Talk not of thy departure? All that breathe
Will share thy destiny. The gay will laugh
When thou art gone; the solemn brood of care
Plod on; and each one, as before, will chase
His favorite phantom; yet all these shall leave
Their mirth and their enjoyments, and shall come
And make their beds with thee. As the long train
Of age glide away, and sons of men,
The youth in life's green spring, and he who goes
In the full strength of years, matron and maid,
The bowed with age, the infant in the smiles
And beauty of its innocent age cut off, -
Shall, one by one be gathered to thy side,
By those, who in their turn, shall follow them.

So live, that when thy summons come to join
The innumerable caravan that moves
To the pale realms of shade, where each shall take
His chamber in the silent halls of death,
Thou go not like the quarry-slave at night,
Scourged to his dungeon, but, sustained and soothed
By an unfaltering trust, approach thy grave,
Like one who wraps the drapery of his couch
About him, and lies down to pleasant dreams.

The foregoing text was taken directly, verbatim, from The History Of Fayette County, West Virginia as it was originally written. This book was written by J. T. Peters and H. B. Carden. It was published in 1926 by the Fayette County Historical Society, Inc., Fayetteville, West Virginia, and printed by Jarrett Printing Company, Charleston, West Virginia. All rights reserved.