The creditable condition of agricultural life in Harrison County, West Virginia, is due to a great extent to the enterprise, energy and intelligence of her worthy tillers of the soil, prominent among whom may be mentioned James Madison Mines, of Coal District. He is a product of that grand old mother of States, Virginia, born in Augusta County, in 1812, and his parents Lewis and Hannah (Galbart) [sic] Mines, were also natives of that State. About the year 1837, the parents came to what is now Taylor County, West Virginia, and four years later to Harrison County, where both passed away a number of years later. Mr. Mines was a carpenter, but gave his attention to other enterprises as well, and was fairly successful. In politics he was a Whig, and he was a soldier in the War of 1812. His father, Peter Mines, came to this country from England prior to the Revolution and probably fought with the Colonists. He married a Scotch lady. James Madison Mines, the only child born to his parents, received meager educational advantages in his youth, and in the year 1832 was married to Miss Ellen King, who was born December 31, 1810, and who was the daughter of Richard and Mary King. Mr. King was born in England, but after growing up came to America and was married in Virginia, in which State the remainder of his days were passed. Mr. King was a stone mason by trade and followed that until his death about 1818. He was a Revolutionary soldier. Mrs. King died about 1830. She had been married three times. Mr. and Mrs. Mines have spent nearly two-thirds of a century together and are the parents of nine children, as follows: Mary Margaret, deceased, was the wife of Jacob J. Lowe [sic]; Hannah J., deceased, was the wife of Jasper Pew; Sarah Ann, deceased, was the wife of James P. Carr; Elizabeth Ellen, deceased, who married Isham Morrison; Louisa, deceased, married Amos Payne; Minerva became the wife of Edward Fittro; Susan, wife of Chas. T. Reed; Lewis Henry, a prominent farmer of Coal District, and James H., also a successful farmer. Mr. Mines settled in Taylor County in 1837, but four years later moved to Harrison County, where for four years he resided at what is known as the "Stone House," now the Gore farm. After that he settled in the woods, on his present farm two miles northwest of Clarksburg, and there he has about 550 acres of excellent land. He first purchased eighty acres, paying $8 per acre, and added to it as he was able. Aside from tilling the soil he was engaged in other enterprises, teaming, etc., and for many years burned all the lime that Clarksburg used, and 2,000 bushels, all that was used in the building of the asylum at Weston. His life has been a very busy one, for he started with no capital, and all that he has accumulated is the fruits of his own industry. He paid a man $50 to bring him to Harrison County from Virginia, and very soon afterward would have given that much more to have gone back, not being used to pioneer life. Although over eighty years of age, Mr. Mines is a well-preserved man in spite of the years spent in hard work. He took no part in the Civil War. After that eventful period he held the office of County Supervisor for some time and discharged the duties of the same with much efficiency. For over fifty years he and his earnest helpmate have been members and conscientious workers in the Baptist Church, and are well respected in the community in which the most of their lives have been passed. Politically, Mr. Mines is a Republican.
from A Reminiscent History of Northern West Virginia. Published by Goodspeed Brothers, Chicago, 1895. [Keep in mind, this book only included certain people, probably those who were willing to pay for inclusion, like an advertisement, and the information in it would have been gained by interviewing the subject, not by research. Being first-hand info, it would be more accurate than that passed down many generations, but could still contain faulty memories.] |
