U.S. Data Repository -- USGenNet Inc. -- Please read the U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on the following page: History and Progress of the County of Marion, West Virginia by George A. Dunnington, Publisher 1880 CHAPTER XIX, THE MINING INTERESTS-- THE FIRE AT FAIRMONT-— MARION MILITIA, Etc. AFTER the war had ceased, and the discharged soldiers returned to their homes, they went to work with energy upon the farms or in the shops which had so long remained idle. During several years following, until about the year 1871, very little was done, however, towards the development of the resources of the county, and the people of Marion lived a comparatively humdrum existence. About the year mentioned capitalists became interested in the mineral resources of the county, and large amounts of coal lands were purchased by them along the line of the railroad. In quick succession the West Fairmont, the American, the York, the Marion and the Central Mines were opened and set to work, each employing quite a number of miners and making large shipments of coal. The three first named mines were owned by Eastern companies. The Pierpoint and Watson and the O'Donnell are the oldest mines in the county, having been in operation for several years previous to the opening of the others. The West Fairmont and the Central (the latter owned by an individual, Mr. 0. Jackson, of Fairmont,) do quite a large coke business--the West Fairmont especially, burning and shipping large quantities. The latest coal mine of any importance which has been opened in the vicinity of Fairmont is the Gaston Mine, owned by Mr. J. 0. Watson. It is at present doing a large business and employing considerable number of hands. Shortly after tlic opening of the Marion Mine it was Consolidated with the West Fairmont, and they were afterwards known as the West Fairmont and Marion Gas Coal and Coke Company. The commencement of these industries did more to bring wealth and population into the county than anything since the building of the railroad, and had it not been for the memorable "panic," which brought such distress upon the commercial interests of our country generally and the high rates of freight charged by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad for carrying coal to the markets they would have, ere this, reached gigantic proportions. For some time the American, New York and Pierpoint & Watson Mines have been idle, partly for the reasons above mentioned, and partly for reasons known only to the proprietors. The O'Donnell, the Gaston, the West Fairmont and Marion, and the Central, have recently received fresh contracts, and are at present running steadily, giving employment to quite a number of men. On September 21st, 22d and 23d, 1870, was held the first annual fair of the Marion County Agricultural, Mechanical and Mineral Association, upon their grounds near Fairmont. The Association continued to hold annual fairs until 1877, when the last one was held--it being unsuccessful. For the first three or four years the exhibitions were very creditable and the receipts of the Association were good. A new interest in the products of the county seemed to be awakened and the spirit of competition interested the farmers to such an extent that the good effects of the fairs were materially felt. Owing to the lack of interest on the part of some of the Association, however, and to other reasons, there have been no exhibitions for three years, and the splendid grounds owned by the company are lying comparatively idle--used only for picnic and holiday celebration purposes. Passing ever a period of nearly six years, during which time nothing of importance transpired within the bounds of the county, and the industries mentioned in the beginning of the chapter were daily proving of great benefit to Marion, and the citizens generally were hard at work improving their lands; and enjoying universal prosperity, we come to the year 1876--memorable in the history of the United States as the great Centennial year, and also in the history of Marion county for other reasons. In this year, on Sunday morning, the second of April, occurred the great fire which destroyed the principal business portion of Fairmont, the county seat, besides rendering eleven families homeless. When discovered, the fire was burning up the steps leading to Foreman's photograph gallery and Bean's furniture room, between Swisher & Carpenter's and Pendergrast's store rooms, on Main street, and before the alarm could be given the two latter buildings were wrapped in flames. Efforts to quench the fire were futile, and nothing of importance within the buildings were saved. The stores of T. F. Brock and M. A. Chisler and the residence of Dr. Brownfield were then destroyed, and, spreading across the street, the flames, with fearful rapidity burned the entire block between Jefferson and Bridge streets down to Decatur Alley, except the residence of Mrs. Sommers (now occupied by Mr. John Crane). A strong wind from the north-east blew great flakes of burning shingles as far as across the river into Palatine, and the scene was one of great excitement. There being no fire engines in the town, the only means at hand by which the flames could be extinguished were buckets of water in the hands of the citizens--and even the women and children worked steadily carrying water and salt and assisting to remove goods from burning houses, or to pull down buildings. The wind finally changed and the flames were brought under control. The principal losers in the fire were Dr. J. H. Brownfield, residence; M. A. Chisler, grocery store: Swisher & Carpenter, dry goods store; Israel Foreman, photograph gallery; Barton Bean; stock of furniture: A. R. Menear, furniture store, J. W. Lott, produce dealer: John Fisher, meat market and residence; Francis Christy, dwelling and tailor shop; Stone & Bebout, hardware store; Mrs. Fitzgerald, dwelling and millinery store; Monahon heirs, three buildings; John Schubach, bakery; E. C. Kerr, shoe store and dwelling; Jane Laidley's heirs, dwelling; Thomas M. Fleming, household goods; Miss Maria Vanzandt, millinery goods; Mrs. Ella Horan, millinery and notion store; A. G. Hall, post office, book store and residence: J. E. Fleming, grocery store; newspaper office: J. O, Watson, business house; F. M. Fleming, shoe and hat store; M. A. Chisler, business house: Chas. Corbin, cigar manufactory; Stephen Oakes, barbershop; Mrs. E. Arnett, building containing millinery and notion store; M. M. Comerford, drug store: C. B. Carney, drug store; West Virginian newspaper office; Mrs. Anna Turney, business house and dwelling. In addition to the above property, which was totally destroyed, the following persons had property scorched by the flames or damaged considerably by water: Mrs. M. M. Sommers, residence; B. A. Fleming, residence; Captain T. A. Maulsby, steam mill; R. C. Dunnington & Co., stock of dry goods. The fire was thought by many to be the work of an incendiary, and circumstances were strong to induce this belief, but the guilty parties were never brought to light. A large portion of the loss, which was about $75,000, was covered by insurance. the money from which helped the losers by the fire to replace the burned buildings with new and handsome ones. Almost the entire burnt district has been rebuilt, and in the places of the old structures are elegant modern brick business blocks and residences, so that now there is no town in West Virginia the size of Fairmont, that can boast of as fine business houses. The citizens of the town scarcely consider the fire of 1876 as a calamity, since, from that time, they date an era of improvements in Fairmont. Large and costly buildings have been erected, streets have been graded, new streets have been opened, old buildings have been improved, and other important improvements have taken place. The town and its suburbs have a population of probably two thousand, which is constanty increasing. Besides its coal interests, the county seat contains other branches of trade which contribute largely to the revenue of the town and county. Cabinet shops; a foundry, a planing mill, and steam and water power saw and flouring mills are among the most important, while a mile north of town is situated the Barnesville Woolen Factory and flouring mills, and within a mile, on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, up the river, is a large saw mill and lumber yard and a brewery. The Fourth of July, 1876, is memorable throughout the country for having been the one hundredth anniversary of the declaration of Independence. On this day the citizens of Marion county assembled at the county seat and celebrated the event by an immense procession, and a grand picnic upon the fair grounds. Addresses were delivered, the Declaration of Independence read and patriotic airs were played by the bands. At night a grand display of fireworks took place from Hamilton's Hill in Fairmont. An immense crowd of people took part in the celebration, and it was a day long to be remembred in the annals of Marion county. Since the war there had been no military organizations in this county, owing to the poor provisions that the State had made for its militia, but in the summer of 1877, a military spirit seemed to take possession of many of the young men in Fairmont, and the organization of a company was effected. This company was named Davis Light Guards, in honor of Hon. Henry G. Davis, United States Senator from this State, and E. W. S. Moore was elected captain, with Samuel N. Jackson and Ed. L. Watson first and second lieutenants, respectively. The company soon grew very proficient in drill, well disciplined, and celebrated in military circles throughout the State. Captain Moore, removing from the State, resigned in 1878, and Sergeant J. W. Lott became captain. Upon Captain Lott's promotion in the summer of 1879 to the position of major in the First Regiment, in which regiment the company holds the position of Company "B," Lieutenant Jackson became captain. Shortly afterwards Jackson resigned having received an appointment in the postal service, and Lieutenant Watson was made captain, with Clarence L. Smith as first lieutenant, and J. M. McCoy as second lieutenant. Shortly after the organization of the Davis Light Guards, the Delaplain Guards, of Mannington; were organized and named in honor of Col. R. M. Delaplain, of Wheeling. Charles E. Wells was made captain, with A. N. Prichard and A. N. Parish, as first and second lieutenants. In the fall of 1879 Lieutenant Prichard was elected captain, Captain Wells resigning. A. N. Parish shortly after also resigned, after being elected first lieutenant, and Everett Koon was elected second lieutenant. This comny has also, gained considerable notoriety for its proficiency in drill and the excellent and soldierly conduct of its men. The Martin Guards, of Fairview named in honor of Hon. B. F. Martin, M. C., was organized in 1878. Captain Clarke is the commanding officer, and James Seals and A. B. Yost the lieutenants. The company is composed of a fine looking body of men, is well drilled and in a prosperous condition. The last and largest military organization effected in Marion county was the Garrett Rifles, named for John W. Garrett, President of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company. This company was organized in 1878, with Ellis A. Billingslea as captain, E. L. Basnett, first lieutenant, Waitman Satterfield, second, and Joseph P. Fleming, third. About the first of January, 1880, the office of third lieutenant was abolished, and Billingslea and Satterfield having resigned their offices, Lieutenant Basnett was made captain of the company. Third Lieutenant Fleming was promoted to the office of first lieutenant and George W. Merrill was made second lieutenant. Thus, Marion county possesses four excellent military organizations, all well equipped, uniformed and armed with breech-loading rifles. Two of the companies, the Davis Light Guards and the Martin Guards, wear grey uniforms, and the remaining two companies wear blue. In October; 1878, a grand Military Reunion and Sham Battle was held on the Marion County Fair Grounds, under the auspices of the Davis Guards, at which time the military from Wheeling, Burton and Mannington, and the University Cadets and battery from Morgantown were present and participated. On the 17th of October, 1879, a similar entertainment was held at the same place, at which time the Davis Light Guards were awarded a prize sword for their proficiency in drill over the Waynesburg (Pa.) Blues, who had previously won a sword at a competitive: drill in their own State. The militia of Marion county, and, indeed, of the entire State. is self-sustaining, the State furnishing them nothing save arms and company equipments.