|
Was formerly owned by the Methodist Episcopals. It was purchased in 1871 by Rev. Julius Fundenberg of Wheeling, who opened it in the cause of Lutheranism in the German tongue. The first minister was Rev. S. Thomas.
The early history of the M. E. Church can be given by tradition only, as there are no records to be found. This latter became known as the Triadelphia United Methdodist Church. This is my family church. My Dad and Mom were married here, and I was the Music Minister for 12 Years here.The first record of any organization was in 1830, when the meeting was held in a one and one-half story hewed log house occupied by a family by the name of Ross Ickabol at the west end of town. J. E. Sisson was appointed a steward at the age of eighteen years. The first church building was erected in the late thirties. It was built of brick and situated on the back street adjoining the property of T. P. Hunter. This building was later sold to the German Lutherans for a church and the present M. E. Church was built in the year 1871. The property was purchased from the William Waddel heirs. The first minister to occupy the new parsonage was Rev. Frank Ball. The first Sunday School superintendent was John Thornburg. Others were: Isac Benlly, William Alton, Dan K. Shields, and James West. John Thornburg died on what is now the Thomas Rine estate in Middle Wheeling Creek. The present superintendent of the Sunday School is Perry Williams and John Besco is the assistant superintendent. The pastor is Rev. William Gilmore. On October 25, 1899 a meeting was called by Mrs. W. S. Nicholson and the first Ladies' Aid Society was organized. Mrs. William Frazerand and Mrs. J. F. Weeks were appointed to order quilting frames.
In 1870 the first Catholic Church building was started in Triadelphia. It was to be made of stone, but was never completed. It was in 1869, thru the efforts of Messrs. Weiss, Dice, Beltz, and Fisher that the first church was completed, to be known as St. Marys. From the time this church was built the priests visited the place regularly twice a month from the Cathedral in Wheeling, until 1895, when Elm Grove and Triadelphia became one independent parish. In the year 1920 adjoining ground was purchased. After a struggle of many years trying to raise funds, the congregation in 1924-1925 erected the present new church composed of stoner tile, and brick, at a cost of over $45,000. The church of Triadelphia, together with the Catholic Church at Elm Grove, are under one parish, namely, St. Vincent De Paul.
The oldest sacred burial ground in this section of the country was founded by Irish workmen, who were then working on the old Cumberland Pike. It is located on Chapel Hill Road in back of the Green Hotel lawn. The ground on which it is located originally belonged to James Cragg, who took his claim of 400 acres on Little Wheeling Creek in 1776. This property was divided among his children and the grounds of the existing cemetery were left to his son, Andrew, by a will dated January 22, 1813. This property was conveyed to Josiah Thompson, January, 1817, who donated it to the Archbishop of Baltimore by a deed dated September 28, 1826. It is in this same cemetery that Josiah Thompson, the donater of the land, was laid to rest.
Triadelphia's first school was located in the west end of town. It was one of the buildings that was washed away in the flood of 1888. Sarah Jane Herwig Armstrong was one of the teachers at that time.
Triadelphia High School, while not located in Triadelphia, has been a great benefit to the students of the town. This is where I attended Hight School in the 1970's it is also where my Mom and Dad attended.Mr. A. W. Curtis and Mr. J. V. Giffin can be given a great deal of credit for the magnificent building we now have. It was through their efforts that the first high school was established at Elm Grove in 1910. Mr. Curtis became principal and the only teacher of the student body of twelve members. The school soon became a three-year high school and in April, 1913, a four-year high school was formed. In September, 116 students enrolled in the new quarters at Edgington Lane. In the year 1919 the new building was completed for the growing student body at Oak Park. In 1924 a new Industrial Arts building was added. It is a first-class high school and all academic credits given by it are recognized by colleges. They are N. C. A. members.
"Charge" - Driving at a fast and reckless rate of speed through the Town, and abusing a team of horses. The following witnesses were sworn and testified: John Morrison, William Springer, Claud Wright, J. A. Barr. All the witneses testified that they saw the team running through the Town and team was not trying to run away. Both horses showed whip marks. Team was taken from driver and held. The evidence clearly proving the charge, Mayor Hervey fined Meyers $5.00 and cost, a total of $8.25. Signed, W. M. Hervey, Mayor
Some of the Town's ordinances, taken from their records, would look a little old-fashioned today. Ordinance No. 11 reacts: It shall be unlawful for any person to feed or cause to be fed any corn, fodder, hay, or straw, on any street or alley, within the corporation. Ordinance No. 94 reads: It shall be unlawful for anyone to roll a hoop or fly a kite within the corporation. Ordinance No. 44 reads: It shall be unlawful for any person to lead, ride, or drive, any horse, mule, or ass, or to drive any cart, wagon, or carriage on any side walk in the town.
Constant Helwig was born in Germany; after serving the alloted time in the army, became a professor in one of the leading universities. He decided that there was something wrong with the form of government in his native country and did not hesitate to state the fact before the faculty of the college. The Emperor heard of his statements and he was warned about his speech. Helwig married a widow, Charlotte Zufehr, who had a boy named Gustave and had amassed considerable property and had an ample income. The officials of Germany made it so cloudy for Helwig that he had to go in hiding. He left Germany with just the clothes he had on his back and very little money. After many hardships he arrived in New York. He learned in the meantime that his land and estate in Germany had been seized by the crown. After some years of self denial he saved a modest sum of money and sent for his wife, who at once came to this country with the boy Gustave. The three came to Triadelphia and purchased a farm from John Milligan. Two daughters were born to the couple, Caroline and Louise; the boy Gustave grew up with them. Hetwig followed the occupation of a farmer and rapidly amassed money. He rejoiced in the fact that he was in a free country. Friends of the family state that the aged professor vowed that his relatives who lived in Germany should never handle a cent of his money and that none of his estate should ever go back to the old country. He stated he would draw up a will to prevent it. And he did. The will provides that should all the family die intestate, without issue, the money and estate shall all go to the United States government. The will was drawn up in 1870 and was probated a few clays after Helwig's death, August, 1884. It is one of the most unique ever recorded here. It can be found on pages 318-19-20-21-22-23, Will Book No. 6, in the County Clerk's office. The following is a translation of some of the will: Last Will and Testament of Constant Helwig, in the name of God, amen. I, Constant Helwig, farmer, near Triadelphia, Ohio County, W. Va., of sound mind and memory and considering the uncertainty of this frail and tranistory life, make and declare the following to be my last will and testament. Taxes due at my death or unsettled accounts (I have none at present.) I devise and bequeath my property, consisting of house and land, movable and immovable, money, capital as well as outstanding claims, gold, silverware, grain, straw, household goods, beds, linens, musical instruments, books and maps, and everything I have not given away or distributed in my lifetime. The rest of the will tells to which one the different articles are to be given. The witnesses to the will were August Ebeling and B. Kammer. His farewell words: "Bury me on our own place in as simple manner as possible. A few good friends will help you. Instead of a cold tombstone, plant a forget-me-not on my grave and in your heart. Do not desert one another and assist each other even if sad days should come. Trust in God and good people. This is my last wish."
Located on the lawn at Greens Hotel, which in the stage coach days was Lawson's Tavern, is a monument. This monument was carved out of stone which was to be used in the construction of a Catholic Church. One of the first construction groups which came into the Panhandle in the early nineties to rebuild the National Road was composed of Irish Catholics and their camp was located at Triadelphia. The monument was carved out by the men during their spare time as a token of appreciation to the priest who came from Pittsburgh at certain intervals, holding services in private homes. A close up examination will reveal the monument to be a group of four angels, arms extended and faces lifted heavenward. Topping the group is a sphere. It's a great piece of handywork. Picture of the monument will be found elsewhere in this publication.
Triadelphia had two taverns in the old days. One known as the Triadelphia House, which was operated by H. T. Weir; the other, the Lawson House, which is pictured elsewhere in this book. It seemed to be the most popular; it was operated by Mrs. Lawson and her two sons.
Mrs. Cecelia Lawson, whose husband, the late Francis Lawson, died April 21, 1878 in Triadelphia. Her maiden name was Loomis. Josiah Thompson, grandfather of our subject, was one of the first settlers in the Town. He came here from Georgetown, D. C. He is buried in the Catholic cemetery at Triadelphia.
A. Vance was born in Ohio County in 1837. He was a carpenter and a contractor. Mr. Vance married Isabella Clemens, daughter of Nicholas Clemens of Washington County, Pa. John T. Carter, M. D., was born in Ohio County in 1850. He graduated at Princeton College, N. J. in 1871; read medicine with Dr. Stoer of Triadelphia; and graduated at the Ohio Medical College in 1874. In 1875 he went to Boston, Mass. as an assistant physician in the Boston Hospital. In 1879 he located in Triadelphia and he has been practicing here ever since.
 FRED KLEINMr. Fred Klein, whose picture appears elsewhere in this publication, is one of the Town's oldest citizens. Mr. Klein came to Triadelphia at the age of nineteen, February, 1867. He married Annie Byard of Mannington, July 25, 1872. They were blessed with six children; three boys and three girls.
Josiah Thompson
During the Civil War, Company I, 24th Brigade, Third Division of the Virginia Militia, were camped here. They were in charge of Captain John Weiss. He was appointed by F. H. Peirpont, who was then Governor of Virginia. He received his commission on September 12, 1862. Other commissioned officers in Company I were: James Harvey, Silas McCoy, Jacob Cruiser, Edward Atkinson, and William Butler.
July 18, 1888 is a day that some of the older residents of the town will never forget. It was the day of the big flood when three people were drowned, several houses washed away, including the two-story frame school house that was situated in the West end of town, -the old flour mill, hoop factory, and the B. & 0. tracks. The cloudburst swelled the little creek, usually a shallow rippling stream, into a raging torrent. The water roared down on Triadelphia and drove all the inhabitants to the hills. The following day was a bright sunshiny day and hundreds of people came from Wheeling with clothing and shoes. There kindness is still remembered by many of the flood suffers.
Below is a copy of the letter that was sent to the Editor of the Wheeling Intelligencer. This lady was a descendant of Rachel Grist, who was scalped near Triadelphia in 1777. Matamoras, Ohio Editor of Wheeling Intelligencer: I can furnish you some information in regard to the Grist family. I am acquainted with all the particulars concerning the assault upon the youngest daughter, Rachel Grist, who had her skull fractured by a stroke with a war club. She was also scalped and left for dead by the Indians. She was shortly afterwards discovered by a company of pack horsemen under a tree about one-fourth of a mile from the National Road on what is now called Chapline Hill. The men put her on one of the pack horses and carried her to Fort Henry in Wheeling, where she received medical aid and recovered. She later married Captain Henry Jolly; became the mother of five children, four sons and one daughter. She died at the age of forty from the effects of the wounds received at the hands of the Indians; was buried in a cemetery on the Nicholas Wells farm in Tyler County. Captain Henry Jolly was a citizen of Grand View Township, Washington County. He served as justice of the Peace for several years, was judge of the Common Pleas Court of Washington County, and also represented Washington County in the legislature. He later moved with his daughter to Licking County, Ohio and died at an advanced age. This is my own recollection; I am seventy-nine years old and am a daughter-in-law of Captain Henry Jolly. Elizabeth Jolly,
The first electric street car was run to Triadelphia in the fall of 1891. The motorman was Paul Mink. Passengers: Father Pacquin, Mr. Brown, Mr. Dow, Annie Fisher, and Lizzie Flaccus.
Below is a copy of the receipt which was made out to James Wells, who was one of the town's old settlers:
1789, James Wells, Bought of John Wells, October 20th. Received October 20, 1789, of James Wells, the sum of One hundred and seventy pounds, its being full satisfaction for the above amount, and pay received by John Wells.
Triadelphia's first fire department dates back to the year 1875, when the first bucket brigade was organized. Some of the old members are still living and often gather around the large stove at the city building and tell of their experiences. Some of the members of the "bucket brigade" were Joe Burrows, Will Wagner, Silas Birch, Fred Weiss, and others. The first truck purchased by the fire fighters was in 1912, with chemical tanks and a V. K. pump. This machine was traded in later on a more up-to-date apparatus. The boys now have a large Hudson equipped with the chemical tanks and a Ford with the pumps and place to carry the hose. With the pump attachment water can be pumped from the creek or any of the wells in the town, where the wells are located in a place where the truck can get to. The boys have had several wells dug at different places in the town for protection. The fire alarm or siren is located on the roof of the city building, and all Volunteers turn out whenever it is blown. It is also used for a "curfew" at 8 o'clock every night. The boys have been called out forty-three times in the year just passed, and eighty percent of the calls have been for the districts outside the town limits. In several instances the damages would have been great if it had not of been for the Volunteers. It has also reduced the fire insurance rates for the property holders of the town. All in all, we have a first-class Volunteer Fire Department and are proud of it. The profit that is made on this publication will be used to buy new hose and equpiment. The officers in charge of the department are: Jepson Nelson, Chief; Fred Weiss, Assistant; William Green, Assistant; Joe Wickham, Secretary; Martin Wagner, Treasurer; George Hill, Robert Marshall, and Robert Leybehyer, drivers.
As this publication goes to press, James Vance the Towns Recorder and always a leader in everything that would be a benefit to the town and Fire department was struck by a B & 0 engine near his home and was instantly killed. Mr. Vance was born in Triadelphia, he had been the towns recorder for ten years. He was 67 years of age.
|
