In this history of Cameron, it has been the endeavor of the Educational Committee to give a faithful narrative of facts concerning the founding and growth of our city. The attempt is here made to present them in as interesting a manner as possible.
     The Authoresses heartily extend their thanks to all those who have contributed in any way to make this volume a success.

SURNAMES IN THIS BOOK

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter I: INTRODUCTION Chapter II: ESTABLISHMENT OF PUBLIC UTILITIES Chapter III: INDUSTRIAL EXPANSION Chapter IV: TERRITORIAL EXPANSION Chapter V: INSTITUTIONAL HISTORY Chapter VI: PROBLEMS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST Chapter VII: NEW COMMERCIAL BODIES Chapter VIII: WAR VETERANS Chapter IX: SUMMARY OF BUSINESS & PROFESSIONS

Photos of Cameron, c 1920

Main St., Cameron - (Diane M. DeMore.)

B. & O. Railroad Building - (Crystal Hart Allen.)

City Building & Library - (Crystal Hart Allen.)

Cameron District High School - (Crystal Hart Allen.)

The Bank of Cameron - (Crystal Hart Allen.)

First National Bank - (Crystal Hart Allen.)

Cameron Methodist Episcopal Church - (Crystal Hart Allen.)

City Building & Library - (Crystal Hart Allen.)

The First Baptist Church - (Crystal Hart Allen.)

The Presbyterian Church - (Crystal Hart Allen.)

First Christian Church of Cameron - (Crystal Hart Allen.)

Aftermath of Cameron Fire, Moundsville Echo, Aug. 30, 1935 - (Crystal Hart Allen.)

Cameron Flood, July 15, 1948(?) - (Crystal Hart Allen.)

CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION

     According to Bernheim, “History is the Science of the development of men in their activity as social beings.” The old saying, “The roots of the present lie deep in the past,” is indeed, true, and for that reason, we cannot obtain the full meaning of that which lies about us-our religion, our laws, and our institutions, unless we have a thorough understanding of that which has gone before.
     As many of you well know, Cameron has been very unfortunate in having had all of its early records destroyed in the disastrous fires which, from time to time, have visited the town, and therefore, for our early history we must depend, to a great extent, upon the memories of those who have lived here many years.
     These older inhabitants are rapidly passing away, and soon we will be unable to obtain authentic information. It is for this reason that we have written this history of Cameron, and we hope that future generations may profit by the research work which we have done.
     The first settler near Cameron was a Mr. Himes, who settled on the property now owned by Mr. Samuel McConaughey, in 1788. The following anecdotes have been related concerning the Himes families. About the year 1788 a bushel of apples was procured by one of the family in Washington, Pennsylvania. Because they were a luxury at this time, they were sparingly distributed among the members of the family. One of the little lads accidently choked on a core. After some time he was relieved, and through curiosity a member of the family procured the heart seed and planted it. It grew to be a large tree, which still stands on the farm of Mr. David McConaughey.
     The Himes brothers, Joseph, Christopher and John, built a block house as a defense against the Indian depredations. Near it at one time they had a nice lot of hogs fattening. A band of savages suddenly coming upon them took a fancy to them and asked permission of the Himes brothers to kill one. Permission was granted and the Indians assisted by the family, soon killed and dressed the hog. The circumstances afterwards proved to be of a material benefit to the Himes family. It was the means of sustaining relations between them and the savages.
     The following is related of Christopher: On one occasion, he climbed a poplar tree for the purpose of procuring bees. He ventured too far out on the limb; it swung down, and he was unable to reach the body of the tree. With great presence of mind, he asked his companions to clear away the stones and give him a soft place to light. His companions, fearing results, admonished him to pray. “Clear away the stones and logs, and never mind the prayers,” said he. The logs and stones were finally cleared away. Christopher, releasing, dropped and reached the ground safely. “Now,” said he, “if I had waited to pray, there would have been a dead man about here. We must do something as well as pray.”
     Later a Mr. Chambers, of Ohio, settled in Green Valley, on the farm now owned by Mr. McCracken, where he was afterwards joined by a man, also from Ohio, whose name was Sears. Then came from Virginia, the Howards, James and Samuel, who located on the property which is still in the possession of the Howard family. Afterward, Jacob Lewis, from Ohio built his cabin close to that of Mr. Himes.
     Robert Rush, who was the first settler within the present corporation limits, had a blacksmith shop at “Rush’s Forks of the Road.” He is said to have held religious meetings at his house until the beginning of the church of Clouston. The blacksmith shop was built about 1800 and stood where the Bank of Cameron is now located.
     While there were some settlers in the locality prior to the building of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, it was the building of this railway which gave birth to Cameron, as a town of importance. Until this time the settlement had been unnamed. The Irish have always played an important role in the development and upbuilding of America and it was an Irishman who gave Cameron its name. David McConaughey, who was born in Ireland, who had later been connected with the Exchange Bank in Wheeling, and who was a merchant at Haneytown, bought a tract of land upon which the principal part of Cameron is now located. He erected the first building on Grave Creek, east of the Moundsville locality. He married Anna Davis, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Davis, of Ohio, in 1876 and they at once took up their residence in the new home and were among the first settlers of the locality. However, the first changes of importance came with the finishing of the railway in 1852. At this time the honor of naming the town was conferred upon the elder David McConaughey, who christened it Cameron, in honor of his friend, Samuel Cameron, railroad official of prominence, who in 1853 took cholera at Moundsville, died, and was taken to Charles Town, Jefferson County, Virginia, for burial.
     Unhampered by unfavorable environment or by settlers of undesirable character, this enterprising little village, which lies in a narrow valley, along either side of Grave Creek on the line of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, seventeen miles east of Moundsville, the county seat of Marshall County, twenty-seven miles east of Wheeling and three hundred fifty miles west of Baltimore, grew very rapidly. On both sides of this town arise very steep hills. To the south, up against the base of which the town is built, is a hill one hundred fifty in altitude and almost perpendicular; to the north appears a steep bluff, somewhat debarring the town’s expansion in either of these directions. In fact, the town now covers all land readily eligible for village property. Its trade, which reaches Wetzel County on the south and Pennsylvania on the east, is extensive, since the town logically is the most accessible shipping point for either Greene or Wetzel County. It is acknowledged to be the best business center between Wheeling and Fairmont.
     The town was not regularly laid out in streets and alleys at first. Lots were sold by David McConaughey, the original owner of the land, in parcels and localities to suit the purchasers. In 1858 Oliver and Marshall Jackson with Dr. S. B. Stidger bought and laid out in streets and alleys, one hundred and eleven acres on the south side of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, an addition known as Jackson’s and Stidger’s. Subsequently, William McConaughey laid out and numbered a row of lots on the north of the county road and railroad.
     The early settlers found many proofs which indicated Indian occupancy besides the mere presence of wandering parties. The most striking proofs were pictures of moccasins and scalps cut on trees. Numerous arrows and flints were unearthed when the fields were plowed. Like all pioneers in the Allegheny plateau region, the men farmed and hunted for their living. At the time Marshall County offered a bounty on the scalps of wild animals, that on wolves and foxes being one dollar per head. The men cut hoop poles and made potash from burnt ashes. The women wove a cloth called “linsey-woolsey” from which they made clothing for both men and women. They spun flax also. The household furniture was made at home but these early settlers bought their harness and tools in Wheeling where they were obliged to travel that distance, twenty-seven miles, on horseback for their mail or for a newspaper, the Argosy, which was published during the first half of the nineteenth century.
     We must not think that these early settlers led lives utterly devoid of merry-making and social intercourse. They had many gatherings, such as: “corn-huskings,” “log-rollings,” “House-raisings,” and “wood-choppings,” on which occasions all the neighbors from far and near would gather for the purpose of having a good time as well as getting an extra amount of work accomplished. An interesting part of the cornhusking was the race for which two captains were selected. After the members of each side where chosen, they were given a certain number of ears of corn to husk and the side husking the largest number of ears won the race. Often the race was settled by two captains having a wrestling match and sometimes this ended in a fight.
     The first buildings, homes and business houses, in Cameron were erected just before the opening of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. Mr. William McConaughey opened the first grocery store, in 1851, near what is now the Cameron Cemetery. Mr. Martin Dunlap was the contractor for the erection of this building, in which goods were sold until the store was moved to the railroad company’s warehouse which had been built by Mr. Cameron, the right-of-way agent for the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. This was the second building erected and it was built near the present location of the Rexall Drug Store. Dr. S. B. Stidger built the third, which was used as an office as well as a home. Later this was torn down and Sinsel’s Hardware Store was built on its site. Although McConaughey owned the first store within the corporation, William Clouston had, previous to this time, a store about four hundred yards down the creek from where the Clouston Church now stands. A Mr. Hosack opened a general merchandise store in Cameron soon after Mr. McConaughey opened the grocery. Later, Alexander Black of Waynesburg, Andrew Clark, and William Woodburn engaged in the mercantile business. Mr. Black soon began to buy and ship grain. Mr. Clark in the meantime had sold to John Miller (1864). In 1872 Hicks and McDonald opened a store. Jacob Rit and John Marshall succeeded Robert Rush as blacksmiths.
     The first grist-mill located within easy reach of the settlers was at Glen Easton. It was built about 1843 by a man named Potter. A few years later a mill was built at what is now Loudenville, by John Messicker. The first flour mill built in Cameron was the present one of Isleman and Hagan’s. It was built by Marion Jackson, about the year 1857.
     The first factory, a stave factory, was established in 1869 and was run by Miller and Boerner. At one time they manufactured staves enough for one thousand kegs per day. The site of this factory was where George W. Taylor’s grocery now stands.
     Although the schools and methods were primitive, as were those in all early settlements, the settlers of Cameron, a century ago, did not lack means of obtaining an education. The first school near Cameron was opened in a log house on what is now the McCracken farm, at Green Valley. The house contained one room. The seats were made of saplings, split in two, to which legs were attached.
     The seats had no backs. The first school teacher was William Teagarden. The pupils used the United States spelling book, and the Western Calculator for arithmetic. After the Methodist Episcopal Church was completed on what is now North Avenue, or “Stringtown,” in 1853, it was used as a school-house, and in it was opened the first school within the present corporation limits.
     Among the first teachers were a Mrs. Roberts and F. L. Parkinson. The pupils studied the United States speller, primary grammar, Ray’s first part of arithmetic, and McCuffy’s readers.
     The first church services were held by the Methodist denomination about 1825 by itinerant ministers who would come by way of Robert’s Ridge from the Ohio River and the great Western Circuit, or by way of Silver Hill from the mouth of Fish Creek at New Martinsville, enroute to Washington and Pittsburgh. A small class was organized shortly after the class of the Clouston Church came into existence, and it is said that Bishop Asbury, Bishop Coke and others assisted in a camp-meeting on the level ground where now is located the High School Athletic Field. In the late forties the home of Mr. Rush, who owned a blacksmith shop, was located on the level ground where now is the present site of the present Bank of Cameron, was the headquarters of these itinerants who came early this way from East or West. Mr. Rush’s house often served for meetings. Methodism came into the Grave Creek Valley in an organized form with the settlers. (Records show that the Clouston Methodist Church was organized by the Rev. Moses Tichenell, assisted by a local preacher, Edward Dowler, in 1836, but, as above stated, previous to this, preaching by the circuit-riders was common before 1825.)
     The first Methodist meetings at Clouston were held at the home of William Clouston, but a log church was built and dedicated in 1841, and the little class which had been served for several years at “Rush’s Forks of the Road” was merged with the Clouston Church and continued for almost thirty years. This church survived the divisions of the Civil War, and became, during the “fifties,” a part of the Grave Creek Circuit, the preacher traveling out of Moundsville. (Cameron Church was again organized and became a part of the Grave Creek Circuit in 1854, the year after the coming of the railroad, and a small chapel was built, Rev. A. A. Reager being the first minister.)
     The greatest revival in the history of the Clouston Church was held in 1875, during the ministry of Rev. T. B. Hughes, who was the father of the son who became a bishop in the Methodist Church. Fork Ridge Baptist Church and Rock Lick Presbyterian Church were organized as an outcome of this revival.
     In a short while the First Methodist Church at Cameron built a small chapel on the site of the present commodious building and continued to be a part of the Grave Creek Circuit until made a part of the Moundsville Circuit, becoming in the late “seventies” the Cameron Circuit, with the parsonage in Cameron. Clouston was then made a part of the Cameron charge. This relation was continued until 1897-1900, when Cameron became a flourishing church and serving a large community and has for upwards of a hundred years.
     Although physicians were few in the early settlements, the people of Cameron were able to secure those who could minister to their physical needs as early as, probably, 1840. The first physicians who practiced near here were Dr. Baldwin, of Rock Lick, who lived there about 1840, and Dr. Walker, who practiced near Rock Lick also, but later in Cameron. Dr. S. B. Stidger was of the early physicians also. He was located near Jacob Burley’s farm, at Rock Lick, in 1851, but after the closing of the B. & O. tracks in 1852 moved to the present site of Cameron and built one of the first frame houses here.
     In the “History of the Upper Panhandle,” we are told that the first hotel was opened by Joshua A. Frye, in the McConaughey building, in 1852. According to Samuel Howard, whose recollection of Cameron in those early days was very clear, Mr. J. Fitzgerald opened the first hotel, although Mr. Frye had a boarding house previous to the time at which Mr. Fitzgerald’s hotel was opened. The Parriott Hotel was among the oldest hotels in the county, and in its time was known far and near as an excellent inn.
     In the old days, before Cameron was under city government, the justice of peace was the chief officer. He was elected by the people. The first two justices of peace, Jacob Burley and Samuel Howard, with Benjamin McMechen, Samuel Parriott, a man named Zodoc, and another Masters, constituted the first county court, according to the law which governed Marshall County, May 1, 1835.
     A fair was an annual event of the town for many years. The first fair held in Cameron was in the fall of 1871, on what is now Senator Yoho’s farm. It was styled “The Western Pennsylvania, Eastern Ohio and West Virginia Agriculture Society.” Dr. Stidger and Criswell originated the fair and it was run by them for two years, with very flattering results, clearing one thousand two hundred dollars the first year after paying liberal premiums.
     In 1873, Dr. Stidger sold his farm upon which the grounds were situated, and then a company of twenty persons took it in hands and one fair was held under this association. Later, Squire Keyser held two fairs. The first exhibition paid for the inclosure, the grounds and the erection of necessary buildings which cost two thousand one hundred dollars. Other improvements were added to the amount of seven hundred dollars, making the total cost of the fair grounds two thousand eight hundred dollars. About the year 1888 the fair passed out of existence.
     Cameron was incorporated under the laws of West Virginia about the time of the breaking out of the rebellion, but its charter was permitted to lapse; however, the town was again incorporated by the Circuit Court of Marshall County at the March term of Court, 1879, under the provisions of Chapter 47 of the Code of West Virginia, which laws still abides.
     The first election was held on May 22, 1879. The inspectors in charge were: A. J. Booher, F. M. Reynolds, and R. H. L. Wells. The survey of the town was made by C. E. McCray, J. J. Chaddock and F. M. Wayman. The certificate of the survey gave the following boundaries: A line extending from the J. B. Hicks farm, now the Moose farm, west of town, east to the Howard and Murphy farms, now occupied by Messrs. Dallison and Reed, thence up on Murphy’s Hill, to a white oak tree; west, to a chestnut tree. It is needless to say that these boundaries would be indefinite today, as Cameron has outlived both the oak and the chestnut tree. The tract of land first incorporated contained about three hundred and thirty-six acres.
     The first mayor of Cameron was Obadiah Moore. Some of the older prominent men that have served in that capacity are: James Dunlevy, William McDonald, M. B. Helms, Rev. Yoho, P. E. Richardson and others.
     In 1875, the latter part of December, the first number of a five column quarto styled the Free Press made its appearance in Cameron, which was the primitive and only newspaper printed in the village. It was printed by J. R. Faulker but was short lived. Mr. Faulker issued the Free Press for about a year and a half at the subscription price of $1.50. For want of proper support he was obliged to discontinue this little journal which it is said was a spicy paper during its lifetime.
     David McConaughey was the first postmaster of Cameron village, having received the appointment under President Pierce. He held the office for several years. In March, 1857, J. B. Bell received the post office under Buchanan’s administration and held it until 1861. E. Whitmire was then commissioned postmaster, retaining the office well until 1865. In January of the year 1867, M. C. Todd was appointed by President Johnson, and filled the office until March 4, 1867, when John W. Davis, under the same administration was placed in his stead.
     As a shipping point for stock, Cameron surpassed many towns along the line of the B. & O. R. R. with more than double its population. In 1878 over one hundred and seventy car loads of stock, principally hogs, were shipped from Cameron. The passenger and freight receipts averaged one thousand two hundred per month. The station agent reported for the month of February, 1878, the shipping from Cameron alone was forty cars of stock, grain, etc. A great deal of grain and stock was taken by wagons to this station from Greene County, Pennsylvania, for the eastern markets and often too, from a portion of Wetzel County, shipments were made at this place.

INTRODUCTION-The town made slow progress until the early nineties when natural gas was found in great quantities near the town and a new era was inaugurated. Since that date Cameron has not only grown in population but in all lines of progress, and today there are not many towns of its size that possess so many and so varied manufacturing establishments and business enterprises.
     It is perhaps the best favored town in the state in the way of cheap gas for fuel and lights, the rate for domestic use being only 27c per 1,000 cu. ft. and still cheaper rates are given for manufacturing purposes. The gas is furnished in this vicinity by the Cameron Heat and Light and Manufacturing Gas and Electric Light Company.

THE CAMERON HEAT AND LIGHT COMPANY-This Company was incorporated December 27, 1904.
     The capital stock of $25,000.00 is represented by 1,000 shares at $25.00 each. The organization meeting was held in the mayor’s office, December 12, 1904, when Mr. William Kincaid was elected temporary chairman and Mr. H. W. Sinsel was elected temporary secretary.
     At this time Messrs. William Kincaid, T. C. Pipes and G. E. Hoffman were appointed as a committee to draft the constitution and by-laws.
     The object of the organization was to secure cheaper natural gas for the citizens of Cameron and vicinity.
     At a meeting held on December 20, 1904, the charter having been secured, the corporation was organized and the following board of directors were elected: Mr. J. W. Dunlevy, President; Mr. William Nowell, Treasurer; Mr. W. H. Loper, Secretary; Mr. William Kincaid, Dr. C. E. Hutchinson, Mr. George Hoffman, Mr. S. B. Hinerman, Mr. John Hagerman, Mr. S. E. Leach, Mr. J. N. Howard and Mr. C. G. Fish, Directors.
     It is probably appropriate at this time to note that although more than twenty-one years have passed and the board of directors now consists of five men only, three of these five were members of the original board of directors, two-wit: Messrs. Dr. C. E. Hutchinson, J. N. Howard and C. G. Fish.
     In 1907 Dr. C. E. Hutchinson was elected president and has held that office continually for the past thirty years.
     Mr. W. H. Loper, the first secretary, held office continually for twenty years except during the 1918-20 and 21 years, during time Harvey Hicks served as secretary. Mr. Loper resigned this office on November 1, 1925, when Mr. R. L. Straub was appointed by the board to fill the unexpired term until the next stockholders’ meeting in January, 1926, at which time he was elected to the position of secretary-treasurer and re-elected in January, 1927.
     The officers for 1928 are as follows: Dr. C. E. Hutchinson, President; Mr. William Davis, Vice-President; C. G. Fish, J. N. Howard, C. H. Carpenter and R. L. Straub, Directors.
     The corporation operates eight producing gas wells in West Virginia and two gas wells in Greene County, Pennsylvania.
     It has approximately fifteen miles of pipe lines, and the annual production of natural gas is 170,753,00 cu. ft.
     The company furnishes gas to about 500 domestic consumers and industrial consumers.
     Through the operation of this company, which is operated and owned by local capital, the citizens of Cameron community have enjoyed a saving of about 50% on the cost of fuel for more than twenty years.
     The first superintendent was Mr. G. E. Hoffman, who was succeeded October 1, 1905, by Mr. L. O. Bonar, who has had charge of the property continually and is still active.

THE MANUFACTURERS GAS & ELECTRIC LIGHT COMPANY-This corporation was organized in 1911 for the purpose of furnishing natural gas to Cameron, West Virginia, and vicinity, for domestic and industrial purposes. The capital stock authorized and the outstanding stock is $15,000.00.
     This company controls and operates several leases in and near Cameron, West Virginia, and has nine wells in operation.
     In 1918 Eljer Company purchased approximately 60% of the stock of this company, its intention being to be more aggressive in securing a gas supply for the city of Cameron, but with special reference to securing an adequate supply for its pottery, which has been one of the principal industries of this community.
     The present officers of the company are: R. E. Crane, President; H. M. Fisher, Vice-President and General Manager; H. W. Sinsel, Treasurer; and O. W. Rush, Secretary.

THE BALTIMORE AND OHIO RAILROAD-Of all things that make for a civilization and the general improvement and upbuilding of a community, the railroad has been and probably always will be the most active agent through which it is possible to obtain the greatest degree of success. In this respect, Cameron has been most fortunate, the B. & O. Railroad being completed through the town in December, 1852, connecting this city with Baltimore and other cities in the east and Wheeling and Pittsburgh in the west.

THE ELECTRIC LIGHT AND POWER PLANT-The long hoped for public light and power system for Cameron was made evident when preliminary work of making estimates pertaining to cost of construction and to materials needed was started by Mr. R. M. Stern, general manager of the Wheeling Public Service Company, and Mr. J. A. Foster, construction engineer of the Southern City’s Power Company, of Chattanooga, Tennessee, May 12, 1924.
     All estimates and information on the subject were completed June 28, 1924, and application for franchise was placed before the council of the city of Cameron. This was granted July 2, 1924.
     The project of electrifying the city was brought before the people of Cameron by a canvas to ascertain the number of possible consumers of electric current. This work was accomplished by H. D. Pearly, July 12, 1924.
     Survey of the pole began July 20, 1924, and was completed August 18, 1924, construction work on the lines immediately following completion of the survey. Owing to reverse weather conditions this work was not completed until late March, 1925.
     A site for the power plant was leased from the Cameron Glass and Manufacturing Company, and ground broken for building and everything arranged for November 21, 1924. The concrete work on foundation for building and machinery was completed by Engstrom and Company, of Wheeling, West Virginia, December 17, 1924. Steel construction work on plant building was completed by the Moss Iron Works of Wheeling.
     Since it has been in operation the entire plant has been closed but a very few times, the service being very favorable to most and far superior to some rendered in the larger cities.
     Since continuous electric service was made available to the public, the number of consumers of current have steadily grown until the West Virginia Utilities Company has been enabled to reduce their rates for the city of Cameron from twelve and one-half to ten cents per kilowatt per hour. At the present time all public buildings are connected to the company’s lines, with the exception of the city building, the Central school and the high school building. It is but a matter of time until they too will become users of public utility light and power.
     Having completed the construction work, and all equipment tested, his work being found satisfactory, Mr. Foster was transferred to another job, and the plant turned over to a local crew for operation, June 1, 1925. Members of the operating crew are: Howard Buzzard, Superintendent; Milford Richmond, Stidger Chambers and John Burley, Engineers.

TELEPHONES

THE CHESAPEAKE AND POTOMAC-The Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Company, which was formerly the Bell Telephone Company, was organized in this city in January, 1901, the first operator being Miss Alta Parriott. This company does not have any local subscribers but takes care of all long distance messages. The present operators are: Misses Opal Poorman, Roxie Cramer and Elsa Reed.

CAMERON TELEPHONE COMPANY-The Bell Telephone Company had the first phone service in Cameron, which was long distance only. This was some time prior to 1915. Some telephone service was attempted about 1896 but the company got into debt, and things did not go well, and on February 24, 1898, the town council granted a franchise to the Keystone Telephone Company, operating under that name until 1902, when it became The Cameron Telephone Company, with J. H. Wise and others interested in it. Local service was probably started about 1898. Despite the fact that there never was a National phone in Cameron, this is the designation by which the system of the Cameron Telephone Company is often identified. The name “National” came about because of the National Telephone Company of Wheeling having a toll line in the exchange of the Cameron Telephone Company for long distance service out of Cameron.
     J. H. Wise was actively engaged in the telephone business until 1920, when he disposed of his holdings to the present owners. Mr. Melvin White is President; Mr. A. F. Wise, Manager; Mrs. Myrtle White, Secretary; and Mrs. Vina B. Wise, Treasurer. These officers are also the owners of the company. In addition to local service, the Cameron Telephone Company gives its subscribers free long distance service to Waynesburg, Pa., Garrison, Pa., Deep Valley, Pa., Wadestown, W. Va., Hundred, W. Va., Littleton, W. Va., Denver, W. Va., as well as all surrounding country which is reached direct from their own exchange at Cameron. This service to subscribers is made possible by agreements with other companies whereby an exchange of message is made possible. Other long distance service to all points is handled through the local office of the Chesapeake & Potomac Telephone Company (Bell System). The property of the Cameron Telephone Company has been improved within the past two years, and during 1927 the last of the old grounded circuits will have taken their places, even to the far outlying country districts. Within the corporation a considerable amount of telephone cable has been installed. Further improvements will follow within the near future and Cameron may soon have a telephone system comparable to those in our larger cities. The present operators are: Virginia Smitley, Mrs. Ida Mae Hipsley and Fern Greye.

UNITED FARMERS TELEHONE COMPANY-On March 16, 1906, a number of farmers from Greene County, Pennsylvania, and Marshall County, West Virginia, met at Cameron, West Virginia, and by mutual consent united under the name of the United Farmers Telephone Company of West Virginia and agreed to form a general organization.
     After adopting a constitution they elected the following directors: P. R. Chapman, George Houston, John Lough, George Leichter, John Hagerman, and A. B. Chapman, President; A. B. Barnett, Secretary; and John Lough, Treasurer. The directors proceeded at once through their attorney to obtain a franchise from the town of Cameron to do a general telephone business within the limits of said corporation.
     They also made application to the state of West Virginia for a charter, which they received May 8, 1906.
     There were fifty farmers who became organized stockholders. They formed three local lines. From that day to this the company has made great progress. The fifty subscribers have increased to approximately four hundred, and the three local lines to sixteen local lines reaching out into sixteen different neighborhoods. These sixteen lines are connected to the switchboard in Cameron, which is the company’s headquarters. The following farmers have served as presidents: P. R. Chapman, John Lough, Jacob Bowers, Frank Mackey and Aaron Porter.
     This company has mutual and free connections with the Farmers Mutual Telephone Company of West Virginia, the Silver Hill Telephone Company of West Virginia and others, which enables them to call approximately two thousand homes in the country, besides the business places and many private homes in this city, which makes it one of the best telephone companies in Marshall County. The present operators are: Mrs. Judson Haun, Sr., and Miss Gladys Baker.

TELEGRAPH-The Western Union Telegraph office was opened in Cameron about the year 1852. The present operators are: Messrs. Carl Hicks, Garl McCracken and Frank Jones.
     Mr. Harry Zinnerman, now retired, held this office for over fifty-five years.

WATER SYSTEM-The city has a fine water system which was begun in 1901.
     Mr. C. E. Lancaster was appointed the first superintendent and had charge of laying all the lines at that time.
     The first pump station is the present one located in the west end of the city. At the present time it pumps six wells of water to the city reservoir, which has a capacity of 160,000 gallons.
     In 1905 this station was not able to meet the demands of the city and another station was built on Grave Creek, about two miles from the corporation limits.
     The Grave Creek station pumps the water from seven wells, having a purifying capacity of 5,767 gallons per hour.
     The city owns at the present time over six miles of cast iron water lines, more than three miles of which was replaced with a new line during the past two years.
     There are two miles of six-inch pipe; one-half mile of eight-inch pipe which carries the water from the main line to the reservoir on Crawford Hill; and there are three and one-half miles of four-inch Pyers pipe which carries the water from the Grave Creek Station reservoir, which has a capacity of 5,800 gallons, to the city reservoir.
     The recent state chemical test showed the water supplied from the Grave Creek Station was soft and perfect. The water from the city station was hard and pure.
     There are over four hundred consumers. The rate is 62 1/2c per 1000 gallons or 50c a spigot on the flat rate.
     The entire system is in charge of a Water Committee composed of three council members. The present committee is Mr. George King, Chairman; Mr. R. G. Stewart, and Mr. Frank Dillaman.
     Mr. W. V. Smith is pumper at the city station and Mr. Henry Isleman is pumper at the Grave Creek station.
     The citizens of Cameron are indeed fortunate in having such a fine water supply, as no case of typhoid fever has resulted from the use of city water.

     Cameron’s Industrial Expansion dates back to 1869, when the first factory, a stave factory, was established and run by Miller and Boerner. At one time they manufactured staves enough for one thousand kegs a day. The site of the factory was where George W. Taylor’s grocery store now stands.

MILLS-Hagans & Isleman Flour Mill. The first grist mill located within the reach of the settlers was at Glen Easton. It was built about 1843 by a man named Potter. A few years later a mill was built at what is now Loudensville by John Messiger. The first flour mill built in Cameron is the present New Roller Flour Mill, owned and operated by Hagans and Isleman. This was originally a building forty feet square, four stories high, with a one-story engine house on each side. It contained two sets of buhrs for flour and one set for feed and meal, with other necessary machinery. W. H. Reese was the original buhr miller and was employed until the roller process was put in by Reese and Dunlevy, in 1874. Jackson sold it to John Lydick in 1868, who ran it a number of years and sold it to William Woodburn, J. B. Hicks and J. M. Pipes, who sold it, January 9, 1874, to W. H. Reese and J. W. Dunlevy. They retained one pair of buhrs for feed and meal. The motive power was a seventy-five horse-power steam engine with a boiler fourteen feet long and five feet high, containing forty-six four-inch flues. Coal was used for fuel until natural gas was struck, when they changed to that fuel. They built a two-story addition, forty by fifteen feet, on west end, with storage capacity of 10,000 bushels of wheat. They were in partnership for twenty-one years. H. W. Byrnes was the miller during that time. January 16, 1895, Mr. Dunlevy bought the interest of Mr. Reese and continued with Mr. Byrnes as miller until April 1, 1896, when J. H. Isleman was employed and is still filling the position. At the death of Mr. Dunlevy, June 14, 1906, it was sold at an administrator’s sale, April 1, 1907, to W. H. Hagans, forming the firm name of Hagans and Isleman. The firm continued in business until the death of Mr. Hagans in 1927, when the company ceased operations.

WATSON BROTHERS & COMPANY-In the year 1900 F. J. Watson and George R. Watson, comprising the firm of Watson Brothers, engaged in the flour milling and grain business at Proctor, West Virginia. This business was carried on successfully until 1902, when their interests at Proctor were disposed of and the flour mill at Loudensville, West Virginia, was purchased by them from J. S. Rogers. At this time the father, R. B. Watson, came into the firm and the name was changed to Watson Brothers & Company. In 1904 the flour and feed business, conducted by Harrison Hicks, located on Waynesburg Avenue, Cameron, West Virginia, was purchased by the company. At the death of R. B. Watson, January, 1915, the business was taken over by George B. and F. M. Watson, the former managing the Cameron branch of the business and the latter operating the mill at Loudensville until 1920, at which time the property was disposed of and a new flour mill, with a capacity of fifty barrels of flour per day, was installed in their building at Cameron which is still being successfully operated.

PATTERSON GLASS AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY-One of the oldest window glass factories in West Virginia, started in 1901 by Guy B. Patterson and others from Barnesville, Ohio. The company was located in Cameron because of the abundance of cheap natural gas, as well as the proximity to find glass sand and raw limestone, sand being used from Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, and limestone from Martinsburg, West Virginia.
     The factory was originally a pot furnace, but a continuous tank was built in 1907. This was called a twenty-four blower tank, and the plant employed but one hundred and fifty men, adult labor, no boys being used. This hand-blown method of making glass is being gradually superceded by machine methods, both cylindrical and sheet form of operation. The plant has now been in operation for several years. The present owner is Mr. Guy B. Patterson, who is also secretary and manager of the plant.

THE CAMERON GLASS COMPANY-The Cameron Glass Company, a partnership organized in 1914 by Mr. John F. Whelan, Mr. James A. Whelan, Mr. George Ludolph and Mr. James F. Donahue, all formerly employed in the Bridgeport Lamp Chimney Company, in Bridgeport, West Virginia.
     The plant started operations in the fall of 1914 with six lamp chimney shops, employing twenty persons.
     This company continued until the summer of 1916, when a further enlargement being found desirable, Mr. R. L. Straub was admitted to the partnership, the plant enlarged to twenty-four shop operation, employing ninety person.
     In the meantime, Mr. James A. Frank, who had formerly been connected with the Industrial Glass Company, organized and started operations of a small Lantern Globe Company, employing fifteen persons. This plant was adjoining with and connected to the plant of the Cameron Glass Company and a close cooperative spirit grew up between the two companies. Later the Cameron Glass Company acquired controlling interest in the Diamond Flint Glass Company, and the two plants grew still closer together, resulting, in the year 1921, of a consolidation and incorporation of the present company, the Cameron Glass and Manufacturing Company, which corporation took over the Glass Company and the Diamond Flint Glass Company with the following officers: Mr. James A. Donahue, President; Mr. James A. Whelan, Vice-President; Mr. James A. Frank, Treasurer; and Mr. R. L. Straub, Secretary.
     The corporation has continued operations under the same officers as were elected in 1921.
     The annual production is approximately three million pieces of glass ware.
     The wages paid since the organization began amounts to nearly one million dollars.
     It may be interesting to recall that our treasurer, Mr. James A. Frank, was the original organizer of the East End Industrial Development.
     Coming to Cameron in 1912, Mr. Frank interested Mr. Clell Nichols in the possible industrial development of Cameron and Mr. Nichols donated to the community about eight acres of bottom land in the east end of Cameron for industrial sites, deeding it to Mr. Lloyd Strope and Dr. C. E. Hutchinson as trustees.
     The next step in the east development was the construction of a railroad siding to a site donated by Mr. Nichols.
     Under the leadership of Mr. Lloyd Strope an organization was formed to solicit funds and approximately $3000.00 was raised by public subscription to finance the building of the siding.
     Mr. Frank, with the assistance of local capital, built and operated the Industrial Glass Company, now known as the Perfect Glass Company.
     The facilities afforded by the construction of this siding was, no doubt, responsible for the organization of the large field force of the Manufacturer’s Light & Heat Company in Cameron.
     In writing the history of the industrial development of Cameron, too much credit cannot be given to Mr. Frank for his courage and foresight in starting the movement. This company was later incorporated, as stated above.
     The present products being manufactured consists of stemware, footed tumblers and pressed novelties in crystal, amber, green and rose-colored.

THE ELJER POTTERY COMPANY-The first pottery in Cameron was promoted by Mr. Mike Benedum and others, in the late nineties. They also built a plant at Mannington about the same time. Both of these plants manufactured table ware. The first few years operations were not a financial success and the plant laid idle for a few years.
     On January 29, 1907, Mr. O. J. Backus and R. E. Crane purchased the plant under the business name of the Eljer Company of New Jersey.
     Shortly after this time Mr. D. F. Merritt joined the company and the years of 1907 to 1912 were used in the endeavor to get the plant on a paying basis and with the help of certain inventions, such as the round tank and round lavatory, they finally got a good start and by the year 1913 had built a substantial business which could not be taken care of in the West Virginia plant.
     A very large table-ware plant was acquired at Ford City, Pennsylvania, in 1918. This has been turned into a sanitary plant and has been completely modernized with complete equipment of clay-making machinery, tunnel kilns, etc.
     This company is still operating and when working full time employs about two hundred men.

THE CAMERON TOOL COMPANY-The Cameron Tool Company was incorporated in March, 1903, having succeeded Hoch and Altenburg, a partnership firm, who had previously carried on the business as an oil country tool shop. Among the first officers elected to guide the destiny of the new corporation were: Mr. Harry Berkely, Sr., General Manager, and Mr. Verne Monroe as Secretary and Treasurer. These two men were skilled in their respective branches of this business, and with the closest co-operation there resulted a prosperous business which continued through many years.
     With these two men, who took such an active part in the affairs of this concern, were associated several drilling contractors and others who were more or less connected with the development of the prolific oil and gas fields in this immediate vicinity. Some of these men were represented on the board of directors.
     With the heavy curtailment of drilling operations in this vicinity during the years of 1906-1907, many of the contractors who were stockholders moved to other fields of greater activity.
     Messrs. Monroe and Berkely, having faith in the future of the oil and gas industry, even in the face of these local discouraging conditions, bought up the majority of outstanding stock which was offered for sale, and which netted the original stockholders a satisfactory return on their investment.
     With the resumption of drilling activity which came later, the company launched a program of expansion which included the enlargement of the original plant-the installation of modern equipment, and the erection of several buildings and warehouses in order to accommodate the department of oil well supplies added about that time.
     This continued until the year 1919, when a consolidation was effected with Spang and Company of Butler, Pennsylvania, who were then doing business in this state under the corporate name of Spang and Company of West Virginia, with branch shops at Clarksburg, West Virginia. Mr. Monroe was named Treasurer and General Manager of the West Virginia interests, and also Vice-President of the parent company at Butler, Pennsylvania, Mr. Berkely having retired about two years previous to enjoy the fruits of his labor.
     The business had now grown to such proportions that the need of a new and larger plant was apparent. Accordingly, a new site was selected in the eastern part of the city, and in July, 1919, ground was broken for a new plant, requiring over one year to build, and as completed is conceded to be one of the finest of its kind in the United States.
     On January 1, 1924, a company was formed by Mr. Monroe and associates who took over this splendid plant, Spang and Company of West Virginia retiring. A company was incorporated and a charter granted to the Cameron Tool and Supply Company with a paid-up capitalization of $150,000.00, with Mr. Monroe as its President, who is now continuing in that capacity.
     Thus, with only slight interruption, through nearly a quarter of a century, the Cameron Tool Company served the industry wherever oil and gas is found, both in this country and foreign countries, and is recognized as one of the stable industries of our city.
     The employees, some having been working with Mr. Monroe for many years, are among Cameron’s best citizens, being almost without exception home owners, church goers, and taking an active interest generally in affairs which go to make up an ideal community life.

THE PERFECT GLASS COMPANY-The Perfect Glass Company, a corporation organized under the laws of the State of West Virginia in January, 1926. Mr. Edward Johns of Wheeling, West Virginia, is President; Robert M. Johns of Wheeling, Vice-President; Edward Johns of Martins Ferry, Ohio, Secretary and Treasurer.
     The plant now occupied by the Perfect Glass company was built and completed in September, 1912, by a corporation known as the Industrial Glass Company, James A. Frank, President and General Superintendent; Lloyd Strope, Secretary and Treasurer. The directors and stockholders of this corporation were Lloyd Strope, James A. Frank, John Elbin, Samuel King, Charles Lancaster, William Nowell and D. T. Burton.
     The products produced by the Industrial Glass Company comprised bottles for E. C. Flaccus Company of Wheeling, West Virginia, fruit jars for the Hazel-Atlas Glass Company of Wheeling, West Virginia, lantern globes and glass globes for the trade in general.
     In January, 1917, a re-organization of The Industrial Glass Company was made, at which time the name was changed to Industrial Glass Manufacturing Company. At this time Mr. W. J. Wambaugh, Louis Kaufield and M. A. Scherr of Morgantown, West Virginia, became interested. Mr. Wambaugh was elected President and M. A. Scherr Secretary. The products were changed to bar tumblers and table tumblers.
     In October, 1923, the plant was sold, due to bankruptcy proceedings, at which time Mr. H. L. Robinson of Uniontown, Pennsylvania, purchased the plant. A new company was immediately organized under the name of the Eureka Tumbler Company. Mr. H. L. Robinson was elected President and John L. Robinson Secretary. This company continued in possession of the plant until June, 1925, at which time the property was leased to The Perfect Glass Company, at that time unorganized. The products of The Perfect Glass Company are table tumblers and stemware.

THE MOUNDSVILLE LUMBER COMPANY-Messrs. Roy Allen, William Batson and Frank Ferrell started the planing mill business in Cameron in the early eighties. In 1892 Warren Wilson bought Roy Allen’s interest. In 1908 Mr. Wilson bought the other two interests of Batson and Ferrell.
     Mr. Wilson sold the entire business to the Moundsville Lumber Company on October 25, 1919. Mr. Thomas S. Wilson was then made manager of the company.

ANTILL LUMBER COMPANY-Lewis Antill and Son began the lumber business in Cameron in February, 1922. Since that date the business has grown until it is now one of the leading industries in the city. A fine three-story brick building was erected in 1927 by this company. Part of the main floor is used for an office and the rest of this floor, as well as the other two floors, are used for the display of the large stock which the company carries.

SMILE BOTTLING WORKS-This company began business in 1922 in the bottling of carbonated beverages. Later in the year a jobbing department of near beer, ice and Imperial Ice Cream was added.
     The company from the start has always kept in mind a policy of high-grade beverages, nicely flavored.
     The word “Smile” is derived from the pure fruit that is the leading beverage bottled at the plant. For a time only a few different flavors were bottled but today the company bottles thirteen different flavors. From a small beginning, this company has grown from a few hundred cases a year to almost 10,000 cases a year.
This company was organized by Mr. Aaron Porter and his son Aaron Porter. On July 26, 1925, Mr. John J. O’Neill joined the company and in November of the same year a jobbing department of confections, paper bags, and a general line of sundries was added.
     The company now has a fleet of four trucks, employing regularly from four to twelve people, according to the season’s requirements. Mr. Aaron Porter is President; Arnold Porter, General Manager; Mr. John J. O’Neill, General Sales Manager, and Miss Clementine V. Porter, Secretary. The slogan of this company is “Service With A Smile.”

CITY BOUNDARIES-Cameron, so we are told, was first incorporated and received its charter under the law of Virginia. This occurred before the breaking out of the Civil War.
     It was later incorporated by the Circuit Court of Marshall County at the March term of Court, 1879, under the Code of West Virginia, which law still abides.
     The survey of the town was made by C. C. McCray, J. J. Chaddock, and F. M. Wayman. The certificates of the survey gave the following boundaries: A line extending from the J. B. Hicks, now the Moose farm, west of town, east to the Howard and Murphy farms, now occupied by Messrs. Dallison and Reid, thence up on Murphy’s Hill to a white oak tree; thence west to a chestnut tree. It is needless to say that these boundaries would be indefinite today, as Cameron has outlived both the oak and the chestnut. This tract of land incorporated contained about three hundred and thirty-six acres.
     The present city boundaries, according to Senate Bill Number 383, introduced April 13, 1927, section two, are as follows: Beginning at the northeast corner of the county bridge over Grave Creek, southwest of site of Baltimore and Ohio railroad shops; thence down said creek eighty-seven degrees, thirty-five minutes west one hundred sixty feet to a stake; thence continuing down said creek forty-one degrees west, two hundred forty-two feet to a stake; thence leaving the creek and continuing up a drain north twenty-three degrees, twenty-five minutes east one thousand two hundred feet to a stake, north forty-five degrees, west forty-three from a sycamore; thence leaving said drain, continuing through the lands of George Gump, West Lawn Addition, and E. Hall south sixty-six degrees, twenty minutes two thousand two hundred feet to a stake, an original corner to the present corporation line of the town of Cameron; thence following the said present corporation the following ten courses and distances, south eighty-five degrees, east two hundred forty feet, north five degrees east nine hundred eighty-five feet; north three degrees east six hundred eighty-five feet; thence crossing north of Patterson Glass Company’s plant south thirty-nine degrees, ten minutes east, two hundred forty-nine feet; then south ten degrees, fifteen minutes west four hundred thirty-one feet; south one degree, forty-five minutes east two hundred sixty-four feet; south four degrees fifteen minutes west three hundred seventy-nine feet, south seventeen degrees east three hundred sixty feet; south twenty-four degrees south, east forty-one feet to corner of John Crawford’s land; thence leaving the present corporation line and continuing with line of lands of John Crawford and Lizzie McConaughey. Then north seventy-two feet, fifty minutes east one thousand twelve feet to an iron pin, corner to lands of John Crawford and George N. Yoho, and passing between said Yoho house and farm, north eighty-three feet to a stake in Yoho’s line, thirteen feet south of A. McCracken and Allen Kinsey’s lot, thence with George N. Yoho’s line north seventy-three degrees fifteen minutes east four hundred ninety-two feet to a stake, corner to lands of George N. Yoho; thence with his land north five degrees, twenty minutes east, five hundred forty-eight feet to a post in Yoho’s line and a corner to lands of Jerry A. Fitzgerald and McCracken and Simmons, south eighty-nine degrees fifteen minutes east, crossing the Cameron and Clouston pike six hundred feet to a stake on a flat in a field of S. D. McConaughey and D. W. McConaughey, south nineteen degrees west two thousand six hundred sixty feet to a locust stump; thence continuing through lands of D. W. McConaughey and J. M. Nichols, south eighty-three degrees, fifty minutes east two thousand three hundred twenty-four feet to a locust tree; thence south sixty-nine degrees east twelve hundred feet to the most northernly of three large white oaks on the east side of a drain; thence south seventeen degrees thirty minutes west seventy-one degrees to the twenty-eight mile post on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad; thence continuing through the lands of L. L. Howard, S. B. Dallison and J. A. Hicks’ heirs, south sixty-seven degrees, twenty minutes west twenty-seven hundred feet to a locust tree; thence south sixteen degrees forty-five minutes east forty-seven feet to a locust tree in J. A. Hicks’ heirs and S. B. Dallison line, thence south forty-seven degrees, fifteen minutes east five hundred degrees five minutes west to one hundred eighty feet to a stake one hundred seventy-five feet east of a drain; thence south forty-two degrees thirty-one west passing thirty feet east to residence of Nancy Barnett, crossing Ramp Hollow six hundred feet to a stake in Henry Wendt’s field; thence sixty-three degrees fifty minutes west one thousand nine to a corner of J. C. Reid and Dr. W.Teagarden; thence through said Teagarden’s land; north thirty-seven degrees west five hundred sixty feet to a dead white oak in Teagarden’s line; thence seventy-eight degrees north, west one thousand seventy-three feet to a locust tree; thence north seventy-three west eight hundred sixteen feet to a white oak on the west side of drain in W. Chambers’ lot; thence through the land of said Chambers and Harry Moose, passing barn and house of said Harry Moose, north seventy-three degrees west one thousand two hundred eighty feet, to a stake; thence through the lands of Harry Moose, Eljer Company, Mrs. Anderson, G. W. McCracken and David Gump, north sixty-two degrees west one thousand seven hundred ninety feet to a stake at the top of a bank in David Gump’s field; thence north twenty-nine degrees fifteen minutes west one hundred fifty-nine feet to the beginning, containing approximately five hundred A. according to survey made by R. C. Yoho, county surveyor, January fifth and sixth, one thousand nine hundred and fifteen.

CITY WARDS-The territory of the city was divided into wards in the year 1923. There are at present three wards, as follows: All that part of the city lying south of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad shall constitute the first ward; that part lying east of Bridge Street and North Avenue and north of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad shall constitute the second ward, and all that part lying west of Bridge Street and North Avenue and north of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad shall constitute the third ward.

INCREASE IN POPULATION-The first enumeration of Cameron was taken in 1880 and showed a population of four hundred and ninety-eight. Since that date there has been a steady increase in the population as is shown by the following enumeration: 1900, there were nine hundred sixty-four; 1910, there were 1600; January 1, 1914, there were about two thousand two hundred, and the present population is about three thousand.

BALTIMORE AND OHIO RAILROAD-The Baltimore and Ohio was the first railroad built in the United States. It soon extended its original line across the northern section of West Virginia. The Wheeling and Grafton lines were joined at Rosby’s Rock, nine miles west of Cameron, on Christmas Eve, 1852.
     As soon as this line was opened for business the community entered upon a new era of growth and development. It was but natural that the stimulus to business would be far reaching in its effect, but the expectation of the most sanguine tradesmen were exceeded and Cameron became the chief shipping point for Marshall County, West Virginia, and Greene County, Pennsylvania.

STATE ROAD-The Wheeling-Fairmont State Highway as it is related to Marshall County and Cameron District, had its beginning in a Road Bond Issue in Cameron District when a bond issue of $234,000 was voted November 4, 1910. Out of these funds the road was built to Poplar Springs within the next two years.
     In November, 1920, a Bond Issue of $50,000,000 was voted by the citizens of West Virginia. The Legislature in the spring of 1921 enacted the McClintic Road Bill which provided for the administration of the funds in the construction of roads to be designated by the State Road Commission as State Highways connecting up the various County Seats of the State.
     As soon as the State Road Commission had been appointed by the Governor, as provided for in the McClintic Bill, a delegation was organized consisting of representatives from the various cities and towns between Wheeling and Fairmont and a conference with the State Road Commission on July 26, 1921, resulted in the designation of the Wheeling Branch and Fairmont Road as Route No. 6 of the State Highway System, and therefore set out as one of the roads to be built out of the State Bond Funds.
     Rev. W. E. Pierce of this city was very active in the work which led to the hard-surfacing of these roads. He served as chairman of County Road Commission. He made several trips to Charleston in behalf of this work and his efforts were instrumental in securing these good roads.
     In the meantime, however, the section of this road between Cameron and Poplar Springs having been contracted for out of the District Bond Fund, a conference was held with the State Road Commission on November 22, 1921, in which an agreement was effected which provided for the grading of the remaining section of this road to the Webster District line out of the Cameron District Bond Fund and the hard-surfacing out of the State Bond Fund.
     In May, 1922, an agreement was made with the State Road Commission that provided for the building of the State Highway through Liberty District jointly by the State and District. Accordingly a bond issue was carried in Liberty District in August, 1922, for $175,000, which provided that $75,000 of this fund should be devoted to the grading of the State Highway through the district on condition that the State would then hard-surface the road. And on this basis this section of the road was completed in October, 1922.
     A Bond Issue was carried in Webster District in October, 1923, to the State Road Commission the sum of $25,000 to be used in grading the State Highway through the District on condition that the State would then hard-surface the same. On this basis this section was completed in the fall of 1922.
     A Bond Issue was carried in Washington District for $50,000 which was given entirely to the State for the purpose of grading the State Highway through that district on condition that the State would then put on the hard-surface and thus the whole section of the State Highway across the County of Marshall was built jointly by the State, too, and the Districts it penetrates.
     The completion of State Route No. 6 was celebrated at Cameron Wednesday, October 20, 1926, although the road was opened for traffic before this time. This was the largest celebration ever held in this section, as over thirty thousand people were in attendance. The Wheeling representation was the largest, with over eight thousand present. Moundsville came next. Fairmont, Mannington, Littleton and Hundred were also well represented.
     Reverend W. E. Pierce, pastor of the First Christian Church of this city, had charge of the commissary and a quantity of food that staggers the imagination was served to the hungry throng. There were many big things at the barbecue, but the biggest thing was the “Coffee Pot,’ which held fifteen thousand gallons of coffee and rested on a brick furnace five feet in diameter. This pot furnished thirty-five thousand cups of coffee. Quarters of steers furnished the meat for sandwiches and over forty thousand doughnuts and four hundred and fifty bushels of apples were handed out. Bands, namely, Wheeling, Morgantown, Fairmont, Cameron, Hundred and Littleton, furnished appropriate music for the celebration. There was music at all times, and when the day was nearly done the five groups, comprising over a hundred instruments, joined in a triumphal blast of melody that fairly made the hills quiver for miles around. The celebration lasted all day. Moving pictures were taken of the celebration and were shown at the Almo Theatre, of this city, about two weeks later.

CEMETERIES

CAMERON-The first cemetery within the present corporation limits is the Cameron Cemetery, located on Main Street in the west end of the city.
     This ground was purchased from Robert Crawford and contained two acres. This company was incorporated on May 11, 1868, with the following officers: William Franklin, Sr., Josiah Lydick, B. Parkinson, J. B. Kilpatrick, William Hossicks, Sr., J. H. Pipes, W. B. Williams, Sr., and C. A. Howard. The first addition was made in July, 1906, when 191 by 200 feet were added. The second addition was made in August, 1915, when over seven acres were added. The present officers are: Herman H. Pipes, President; Archie N. Cook, Secretary; Earl W. Nowell, Treasurer; George H. Watson, Frank L. Todd, Will F. Frye, Harvey A. Hicks, Herman H. Pipes, Earl W. Nowell, Archie N. Cook, Directors; and John R. Anderson, Sexton.

CATHOLIC CEMETERY-The grounds for this cemetery were purchased from Robert Crawford in 1868. Reverend Bishop Whalen of the Wheeling Diocese had full charge of this cemetery. Mr. Martin Cogley was the first sexton. The present pastor in charge is Reverend Father Kluzer and Mr. B. J. Finnegan is secretary, with Messrs. Charles Howard and M. G. Cummings, members of the church, as the committee. Mr. C. McCardle is now serving as caretaker.

HIGHLAND CEMETERY-The grounds for this cemetery were purchased from S. B. Dallison in 1906 and contained twenty-six acres. This cemetery is located on Waynesburg Avenue, which is on State Route No. 6.
     The company was incorporated March 23 of the same year. The incorporators were as follows: J. L. Phillips, C. E. Hutchinson, J. N. Howard, Geo. B. Elbert, M. A. Walton, William Jones, W. H. Loper, S. B. Dallison and G. W. Pipes.
     The present officers are: C. G. Fish, President; William Jones, Secretary and Treasurer. The present directors are: Dr. C. E. Hutchinson, C. G. Fish, William Jones, J. N. Howard, L. S. Howard, S. B. Dallison and George Dallison. The present sexton is James Murphy.

SCHOOLS-The opening of the first schools in Cameron date back to 1863, when Governor Arthur I. Boreman in his laconic message to the first legislature of the State at Wheeling, among other things, said: “I trust you will take such action as will result in the organization of a thorough and efficient system.”
     Marshall County began early to comply with the provisions of the law of this State as drafted by Thomas H. Trainer and six other men.
     At a meeting of the citizens at Cameron District on August 11, 1866, with W. R. McDonald, Clerk, and J. B. Lydick, Supervisor, a tax of five mills was levied on all taxable property for the purpose of carrying on of free schools; and a tax of ten cents on the hundred dollars as a contingent fund. The school commissioners were allowed $2.00 per day for attending free school business.
     The following were appointed trustees of Cameron District and took the oath of office December 1, 1866: District No.1, John Pipes, John Miller and J. L. Parkinson; District No. 2, Z. G. White, Daniel Buzzard and John Burley; District No. 3, John Parkinson, John Laughin and Adam Erlewine; District No. 4, John Hagerman. Michael Williams and Thomas Allen; District No. 5, William Lydick; District No. 6, John Wayman, Uriah Harris and J. R. Dickson; District No. 7, John C. Parker, Sample Parker and E. Porten.
     On February 26, 1866, Miss Jennie Teagarden was appointed teacher of District No. 7, Miss Mary Nyswauger of District No. 6, D. M. Burley and William J. Conklin of District No. 1, John Wayt of District No. 4, and Miss Mary Parkinson of District No. 3. These schools were in session about four months and the teachers’ salaries ranged from $20.00 to $40.00 per month. The trustees looked after all repairs, secured someone to sweep the buildings and build the fires. They, too, bought the wood, coal and chalk and secured someone to take the school enumeration. All bills were turned in to the Board of Education which allowed the trustees in turn to be paid.

ESTABLISHMENT OF GRADED SCHOOLS-On July 5, 1887, on motion of John Richey it was ordered by the Board of Education of Cameron District, that Cameron school in Sub-District No. 1, town of Cameron, be declared and ordered a graded school from this date as the law directs in regard to graded schools. It was further ordered that the principle teacher of Cameron graded school be paid a salary of $50.00 per month during the school term, and that the term continue six months. The salaries for the teachers were arranged according to grade of certificate. For grade No. 1, $33.00; for grade No. 2, $27.00, and for grade No. 3, $20.00. At this time William Nowell was President of the Board of Education and M. C. Todd was Secretary.

THE ERECTION OF THE FIRST GRADED SCHOOL BUILDING-At a meeting held February 24, 1891, with the above named board in office, the purchase of an acre of ground from David McConaughey for $500.00 was authorized. On July 25, 1891, at a meeting of the newly elected Board of Education, composed of G. W. McGlumphy, president; J. W. Richey and Samuel Stewart, commissioners; and Martin C. Todd, secretary, bids for the erection of a school building on the new site were received from Batson Alum and Company, Andrew Howard, and Hasking Brothers. The Batson Alum and Company of Marietta, Ohio, was given the contract for $5,197.50. It was a four-roomed building. School opened on January 4, 1892, in this building with A. B. Basnet, Principal, and Nellie Allemong assistant, with salaries of $50.00 and $35.00 respectively for six months. A contract for an additional two rooms to this building was let June 30, 1900, to C. M. Johnson and Company for $2,095.00 and the work was completed the same year. When school opened October 1, with a view of a District School in mind, the Board of Education added to the Common School branches, Physical Geography and Elementary Algebra. In 1903, Rhetoric, Geometry, and Higher English were also added to the course However, it was not made a first-class High School unto 1908.

CENTRAL SCHOOL BUILDING-On February 25, 1907, the contract was let for the erection of the Central School building to C. W. Dowling for the sum of $35,456.20. This structure contained sixteen classrooms and an auditorium, with seating capacity for four hundred sixty people. It was to have been completed by September 1, but was not opened for school until December 9. The Board of Education at this time consisted of P. E. Willard, president; J. A. Bane and M. F. Hubbs, commissioners, with Charles N. Skinner, secretary.
     For a time the Central Building was used for the High and Graded Schools, jointly. Some dissatisfaction arose and the High School was moved back on the hill, leaving the building for the Graded School alone. At the time of the opening of the fall term of 1924, The Freshmen of the High School were quartered in the basement of the Central Building because of the congestion on the hill.

GYMNASIUM-Early in 1923 sentiment began to crystallize in favor of a long needed gymnasium. In June of this year Bruce Crowe was hired by the day by a building committee to complete this building, which was to serve a dual purpose. The playing floor occupies the middle portion of the building and two classrooms are in each end of the building. The basket-ball court is 65 x 31 feet. This gives Cameron one of the finest courts in this section of the State. The Board of Education is to be given credit for getting his needed civic improvement. The Kiwanis Club sponsored and really saw it finished. Guy B. Patterson was made trustee of the building committee and money was borrowed from the First National Bank and the Bank of Cameron. On the notes were the signatures of Kiwanians and other public spirited citizens.
     The new building was opened in January, 1924. It cost $21,337.84, after shower and other fixtures were added. The building was being paid for by the Board of Education by direct levy. In five years full payment will have been made to the building association and the property will come into full possession of the district.
     The Board of Education during this period was Walter H. Loper, president; Dr. Geo. R. Wells and Frank E. Wilhelm, commissioners; Chas. H. Carpenter, secretary. This building takes care of the immediate needs only. The next move that will be made will be the erection of a new High School. Already there is found to be a growing sentiment for this.

CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL BUILDING-The consolidation of schools is an outgrowth of good roads. As old methods and implements of farming have given way to modern ones, so old equipment is giving way to new. State educators have agreed that consolidated schools, when possible, are the solution to the rural problem., and it is a state aim that there be no more one-room schools on good roads. The building at Clouston is fulfilling this aim in Cameron District. This consolidated school building was erected during the year 1927 at a cost of $17,000. The structure is of tile and white stucco and contains three large classrooms and a spacious hall. Two of these rooms are separated by folding doors so by throwing the rooms together space is provided for a large assemblage. In the basement is the heating plant, dressing room for the athletics and a recreation room. The heating system is complete and electric lights have been installed. A stage with two dressing rooms makes adequate space for amateur performances. The cornerstone of this building was laid on August 4, 1927, with the I. O. O. F. Lodge No. 36 of Cameron in charge of the ceremonies.
     The building was used for the first time January 3, 1928. The Board of Education making possible the building of this school were: Charles Simmons, President; Guy B. Patterson and George R. Wells, Members; and Charles Carpenter, Secretary. The principal of the school is Mr. Okey Stewart and Miss Opal Phillips is teacher.

CAMERON DISTRICT ENROLLMENT, EQUIPMENT, ETC.-Cameron District has a school enumeration of above 1,000 children. In the city the enumeration is in the neighborhood of 700. At the present time the district employs thirty-six teachers. Of these, twenty-five are employed in the city and eleven in the country. The High School employs eight teachers for two hundred and thirty-eight pupils. In the grades there are seventeen teachers for four hundred and sixty pupils. Rural schools are at Glen Easton, Loudenville, Lower Bane, Terrell, Lowe, Coe, Hicks, Rock Lick and Green Valley-the first two are double roomed buildings. The Glen Easton building was erected by W. M Hicks at a cost of $5,370 in the summer of 1915. Some of the rural schools are standardized. Each school is equipped with a dictionary and a creditable library.
     In the city, likewise, each room has considerable equipment consisting of blocks, charts and busy work for the primary pupils and supplementary readers, maps, globes, reference books, encyclopedias, etc., for the intermediate and upper grades. The High School has an up-to-date, carefully catalogued library of over 1200 volumes. The History teacher has maps, etc., for instruction in that field. The laboratory for Physics and Chemistry meets the requirements of a first-class high of this state as well as meeting the requirements of the Southern Association of High Schools.
     The school levy is one of the lowest in the state. The rate of levy for 1924 was .96 cents on the hundred dollars valuation. The city of Sutton for this year pays $2.07 on the hundred dollars. This shows Cameron is still $1.11 below the highest rate in the state. The cost for running the schools this year is $54,355.47 in Cameron District.
     The following is a list of the Superintendents and Principals of Cameron:

Class--No. of Graduates--Principals--Superintendents

1909--1--George E. Hubbs--George E. Hubbs
1910--2--H. W. McDowell--H. W. McDowell
1911--10--Bruce Borror--H. W. McDowell
1912--7--B. G. Moore--J. F. Jameson
1913--5--Ada Moon--J. F. Jameson
1914--14--J. W. Cole--J. S. Bonar
1915--15--J. W. Cole--J. S. Bonar
1916--20--J. W. Cole--J. S. Bonar
1917--8--J. W. Cole--J. S. Bonar
1918--14--A. H. Clyde--J. S. Bonar
1919--9--Elsie Norman--Elsie Norman
1920--19--Elsie Norman--Elsie Norman
1921--21--H. E. McKelvey--David A. Ward
1922--33--Florence A. Wright--G. W. Craig
1923--15--Florence A. Wright--G. W. Craig
1924--35--Florence A. Wright--M. P. Boyles
1925--38--Florence A. Wright--M. P. Boyles
1926--24--Florence A. Wright--M. P. Boyles
1927--46--Florence A. Wright--M. P. Boyles
1928--40--Harry A. Slawter--Florence A. Wright

CHURCHES

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH-The present organization of the Methodist Episcopal Church dates back to the year 1868, when Cameron became a Circuit, and the following ministers served the church to the present:

1867-1870 F. M. Hughes
1872-1872 Rev. M. Dowler
1872-1875 Rev. H. C. Sanford
1875-1876 Rev. T. B. Hughes, D. D.

     During this year outstanding revivals were held, and the first parsonage was built which served the charge until the fall of 1924, when the present beautiful one was started. During this year the Conference was changed from spring to fall.

1876-1878 Rev. L. J. Cook
1878-1880 Rev. A. Hall
1880-1882 Rev. Spencer King
1882-1884 Rev. D. Cool
1884-1886 Rev. Benjamin Ison
1886-1889 Rev. Frank L. Lynch, D. D.
1889-1892 Rev. C. S. Alimong
1892-1895 Rev. C. W. Upton, D. D.

     During this pastorate the present church was erected at great sacrifice, but has stood as one of the finer churches of West Virginia ever since. It might be interesting here to give an account of the manner in which the building fund was started for the erection of the present Methodist Church.
     A meeting of the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union was held at the home of Mrs. James Chambers and plans were made for the starting of this fund. Mrs. Chambers was the mother of George Chambers, Cameron’s well known news boy. Mr. Chambers is now serving his thirty-ninth year in this capacity.
     t this meeting, Mrs. W. B. Mathews suggested to Mrs. Sarah Jones Harter that each member contribute ten cents. This was cheerfully done by all present. A building society was then organized with Mrs. M. B. Helms as president. This organization gave suppers, embroidered, crocheted and sewed quilts until they raised $1,000.00 in a year and a half. The official board took up the work and in 1893 the present church was completed and dedicated. Mr. and Mrs. W. B. Mathews, who are still residents of this city, were members of the building fund committee.

1895-1896 Rev. G. W. Kepler
1896-1897 Rev. J. A. Fullerton, D. D.
1897-1900 Rev. John Beddow, D. D.

     During this ministry Clouston was taken away from Cameron and placed with Rosby Rock Circuit.

1900-1903 Rev. R. B. Ward, D. D.
1903-1906 Rev. J. L. B. Jones
1906-1908 Rev. Thomas B. Meredith
1908-1909 Rev. W. D. Reed
1909-1910 Rev. R. B. Ward, D. D., (Second Pastorate)
1910-1915 Rev. C. Fred Anderson, D. D.
1915-1918 Rev. A. D. Craig
1918-1921 Rev. C. C. Lanham
1921-1924 Rev. J. Elbert Wells, D. D.
1924-1926 Rev. Samuel Charles Jones, D. D.

     During the ministry of Dr. Jones the present beautiful parsonage was erected at a cost of almost twenty thousand dollars.
     At present the church is experiencing a very helpful and delightful record. Splendid harmony prevails. Its membership is almost seven hundred and there are large congregations attending services each Sunday. The church school has an enrollment of four hundred sixty-nine, the Epworth League has one hundred fifteen members, the Junior Epworth League eighty members and the Intermediate League thirty members. The Ladies’ Aid Society has a membership of almost two hundred. Two women’s missionary societies contribute more than a thousand dollars a year for missions. Five Bible workers and missionaries in other countries are supported by the adult Bible classes of the church school. Dr. Jones was called while serving this church to be the General Superintendent of the West Virginia Council of Religious Education but continued his charge until the Conference met at Buckhannon in October, 1926, when Rev. F. L. Dawson was appointed to fill his place. The constituency in Cameron is fifteen hundred Methodists, and everything indicates a very prosperous future for this great church.

THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH-For several years previous to organization, Baptists had felt a need of a church, and in September, 1913, Rev. G. E. Bartlett, one of the West Virginia Baptist Missionary Evangelists at this time, came to Cameron in the interest of the work of the Master for Baptists in this city. Rev. J. C. Cox (a Baptist minister then residing in Cameron) in company with Rev. Bartlett made a thorough canvas of the town, taking a religious denominational census of all the families. Bartlett reported to the West Virginia General Association which met at Clarksburg, West Virginia, in October, 1915. At once they deemed it expedient to give Cameron some attention as a missionary project.
     The State Mission Board, through correspondence with Rev. J. C. Cox, advised that a Baptist Sunday School be organized first. The Presbyterian brethren kindly offered the use of their Sunday school room and arrangements were made for a meeting of the Baptists of Cameron on March 2, 1914, at 7:30 P. M. Twelve Baptists were present. The object of the meeting was to consider the propriety of starting a Baptist Sunday school in the city of Cameron. After discussion, it was unanimously decided to organize a Baptist Sunday school. T. H. Neal was elected Superintendent; Mrs. Minnie Horan, Secretary-Treasurer, and the committee named with power to act to secure a room or hall in which to hold the meetings were T. H. Neal, W. S. Sinsel, and Francis Baldwin. Those present at the first meeting: Rev. J. C. Cox, T. H. Neal, Elizabeth Grim, Nannie Cox, Olive Neal, Minnie Horan, Ruby Cox, Mollie McVay, Frances Baldwin, Belma Cox, Della Drake, W. S. Sinsel, Sidney Bane.
     The organization of the first Baptist Sunday school of Cameron was completed on March 29, 1914, when a meeting was held in the Woodman Hall at 9:30 A. M. Not only was there a session of the Sunday school, but Rev. J. C. Cox preached both morning and evening and kindly offered his services on Sunday evenings of the second and fourth Sundays of each month and all day on fifth Sundays. This was a very acceptable service and continued until May of the same year, when Dr. A. S. Kelley, a state evangelist, met with the members to aid in making a permanent organization of the Baptist Church. At this meeting the church elected Julia Drake, Church Clerk, and T. H. Neal, Treasurer. Articles of Faith and Church Covenant were adopted.
     The following were the charter members of the First Baptist Church:
Rev. J. Cox, Mrs. Lucy Powers, Mrs. Nannie Cox, Mrs. Malisse Howard, Miss Ruby Cox, Mrs. Blanch Jenkins, T. H. Neal, Mrs. Minnie Horan, Mrs. Olive Neal, Mrs. Elizabeth Grim, Mrs. Mollie McVay, Mrs. Ottie Guthrie, W. C. Drake, Mrs. Margaret Webster, Mrs. Della Drake, Harry Zinnerman, Miss Julia Drake, Winfield S. Sinsel, Mrs. Bertha Taylor, Mrs. Julia Sinsel, Mrs. Pleasant Eddy, Mrs. Nattie Zinnerman

     The organization of the church was officially recognized when, on September 8, 1914, a council of ministers and brethren from neighboring Baptist churches were called to a meeting. The sermon was delivered by Rev. J. S. Bennett of Sistersville, West Virginia. Charge to the church was made by Rev. J. F. Cost. Charge to pastor, by Rev. A. B. Miller. During this month the church was received into the Panhandle Association.

VARIOUS CHURCH ORGANIZATIONS: LADIES’ AID-Through the encouragement and persistent efforts of Mrs. Minnie Horan, on February 17, 1915, the ladies of the church met at the home of Mrs. Harry Zimmerman and organized a Ladies’Aid Society in which to work and earn money to be used in such financial assistance to the church as they might see fit. The first officers were: Mrs. Malissa Howard, President; Mrs. Minnie Horan, Vice-President; Mrs. Lucy Powers, Secretary; and Mrs. Bertha Taylor, Treasurer. This organization, with its mere handful of women, sewed and held bake sales so that when the lot was purchased and the building erected, they contributed about one thousand dollars toward the project.

BAPTIST YOUNG PEOPLE’S UNION-The B. Y. P. U. of the church was organized early in the year of 1917. This is an organization for the young people of the church. It engages in general Kingdom work and is inspirational as well as educational. The B. Y. P. U. has taken part in the various activities of the Young People’s City Union of Cameron.

SUNDAY SCHOOL-While the church really began its history in the organization of the Sunday school, yet the latter has a history of its own. The Sunday school has shown a growth throughout the years. Following are the names of those who have served as Superintendent: T. H. Neal, J. B. Riddle, Okay H. Stewart and Walter F. Metz.

CHURCH BUILDING-On September 25, 1918, a committee began work in securing money and pledges for a lot on which to build a church house. Three trustees were elected, namely: J. B. Riddle, W. C. Drake, and Fred I. Wilson. On their report the church decided to purchase the lot on Main Street owned by Mrs. Lizzie McConaughey. In December, 1921, a building committee, composed of W. C. Drake, J. B. Riddle and Harry Zimmerman, were appointed. And it was during the same year that the present church was erected. The first service was held in the new building on Easter Sunday, April 16, 1922. The dedication service took place on May 21, 1922. Dr. S. A. Kelley delivered the morning sermon. Rev. G. E. Bartlett delivered the dedication sermon. The music was furnished by musicians from the Wadestown Baptist Church, and Rev. D. L. Whitener, an evangelist, who continued after the dedication with a series of meetings for a period of two weeks.

EVANGELISTIC SERVICES SINCE DEDICATION-

May 1922 Evangelist, Rev. D. L. Whitner
January 1925 Evangelist, Rev. T. B. Lawler
January 1925 Evangelist, Rev. Paul Brown
April 1926 Evangelist, Rev. W. C. Harold

MISSIONS-In 1919-20 the Northern Baptist Convention adopted a five-year missionary program. Cameron accepted the quota suggested by the State Mission Board, and has each year since the expiration of the five-year period paid equally as much toward all the various missionary endeavors of the denomination. The name of the Cameron Baptist Church repeatedly appears among these churches named on the Honor Roll of giving in a report of the State Secretary as given in the Baptist Banner.

Pastors-Began-Closed
Rev. J. C. Cox, Oct. 1, 1914 - July 31, 1915
Rev. C. F. Ransbottom, Nov. 1, 1916 - August 31, 1920
Rev. S. G. Fisher, June 1, 1918 - March 1, 1920
Rev. J. W. Ayers, Mar. 1, 1921 - March 1, 1922
Rev. D. H. Haught, Mar. 1, 1923 - September 19, 1926
Rev. Gordon L. Withers, - Dec. 1, 1926, and is still serving

Deacons-Began-Closed
W. S. Sinsel, Mar. 31, 1915 - Died April 19, 1926
W. C. Drake, Mar. 31, 1915 -_____
George W. Taylor, Apr. 25, 1926 - _____
J. R. Riddle, Apr. 25, 1926 - ____

THE FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF CAMERON-The present organization was formed March 15, 1895, with twenty-eight members; eight of whom are now living and actively engaged in the work of the church. The surviving members are: Mrs. W. D. Mathews, Mrs. Lucy Lough, Mrs. Mary E. Durbin, Mrs. Millie Hubbs Howard, Miss Blanche Durbin, Mrs. Mary E. Lemmons, Mr. and Mrs. L. F. Wilhelm.
     In the thirty-one years of this church’s history it has had three pastors, and has erected three buildings. J. A. Canby served seven years, U. E. Hootman, one year, and W. E. Pierce, the present pastor, has served twenty-four years.

     The first building was erected in 1898. It was a brick building at the foot of North Avenue, and is now being used as a dwelling house. The first unit of the present building was erected in 1896, which was supplemented by the new educational and recreational annex in 1925. This church now has property valued at $100,000, and is accepted generally as one of the most up-to-date plants in the upper Ohio Valley.
     The present Christian Church organization was first started in a missionary society meeting which was held in 1894. The following members were present: Mrs. and Mrs. Ingram Lough, Mesdames Elizabeth Durbin, Elizabeth Turner, Mary Reid, W. D. Mathews, Margaret Gillispie, Caroline Lemmons, and Miss Alma Wayman. The First Christian Church services were held in this city in 1870. These services were finally discontinued.
     The first foreign missionary offering was taken in this church March 7, 1898, and amounted to $6.41. For the last eighteen years it has been supporting a Living Link Missionary on the foreign fields; and last year the missionary offerings totaled more than $2,000.00. It is recognized as one of the leading churches of the Disciples of Christ. For a number of years the Bible school has been a member of the One Thousand Dollar Club; its missionary offering having even exceeded one thousand dollars, the requirements for membership. Mrs. Charles P. Hedges of Monieka, Africa, has been the Living Link Missionary for a number of years, and as a result of her efforts a great church is growing up on the Congo River in Africa.
     The membership of the First Christian Church has grown in thirty-one years from twenty-eight to five hundred fifty-nine. It has a Bible school with an enrollment of six hundred thirty and an average attendance of three hundred fifty.

THE ST. MARTIN’S CATHOLIC CHURCH-The St. Martin’s Catholic Church was built in 1870, and is now the oldest church standing in this city. From 1862 to 1869 Rev. Edward Delahunte held services at the homes of Michael Barrett and Michael Flynn at what is now known as Milligantown and at the home of Martin Cogley in the old B. & O. house, which is still standing near the present stock yards. It was during the pastorate of Rev. Father Delahunte that the St. Martin’s Cemetery was bought and laid out. An infant son of Mr. and Mrs. Martin Cogley was the first to be buried in this cemetery.
     In 1869-1870 Rev. Dan V. Collins succeeded Father Delahunte to the charge, and at this time the present church was built at an approximate cost of $10,000.00.
     Among the first members were Martin Cogley, father of Mrs. Thomas Hopkins, the Hemricks, the Flynns, the Murphys, Michael Barrett, the Corcorans, the Finnegans and the Fergusons, who now reside at Glen Easton. Mrs. Bridget Corcoran, who was one of the charter members of the church, is still living and resides on North Avenue.
     In 1920 the church was remodeled at a cost of $1,000.00.
     The present membership is about one hundred fifty. The church services are held every Sunday and on all Feast Days by Rev. Father C. T. Kluser, who serves both the Cameron and Littleton Churches. The Altar Society is one of the outstanding societies of the church and is composed of the women of the church.
     The following is the list of all the pastors since the organization of the church:

1868-1872 Rev. Dan V. Collins
1872-1874 Rev. James Muller of the Moundsville Mission
1874-1875 Rev. McHerman
1875-1876 Rev. Robert Keleher
1876-1878 Rev. Hugh McManamy
1878-1880 Rev. John McElligott
1880-1881 Rev. John Murray
1881-1884 Rev. P. Daly
1885- Rev. A. Boulton
1895- Rev. O’Kane
1896- Rev. C. T. Kluser
1896- Rev. C. G. Flamondon
.....Rev. McGrath
.....Rev. John McBride
.....Rev. Flannigan
.....Rev. Sullivan
.....Rev. Sullivan
.....Rev. Corcoran
.....Rev. Burke
.....Rev. P. J. Brady
.....Rev. C. T. Kluser

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH-The Presbyterian Church of Cameron was organized September 23, 1867, by Rev. Messrs. J. S. Pomeroy, J. W. Alexander, D. D., and Samuel Graham, acting under authority of the Presbytery of Washington.
     The following persons presented certificates of church membership and were enrolled: Wm. Hosack, Sr., Mrs. Nancy Hosack, Mrs. Mary Martin, Mrs. Sarah Grey, Gustavius Bowers, Mrs. Mary E. Bowers, Mrs. Minerva E. Davis, Mrs. Rebecca Fisher, Martin B. Cummins, Mrs. Clarinda Cummins, Milton McCuskey, John B. Kilapatrick, Mrs. Mary Kilapatrick, John Fyre , Mrs. Rebecca Frye, George McCuskey, Miss Mattie McConaughey, Mrs. Anna McCuskey, Mrs. Eleanor Grey, Mrs. Samuel Wallace, Mrs. Marie Burley, Mrs. Susan Murphey, and J. H. Toshorn.
     Of these Wm. Hosack, Sr., Gustavius Bowers, and Geo. McCuskey were ordained elders.
     The meetings were continued for a week, and twenty-three were added to the church on profession of faith.
     A church building was commenced in the spring of 1868 and was completed and dedicated in the fall of the same year. Mrs. Geo. McCuskey, member of session, was removed by death. John B. Kilpatrick and Milton McCuskey were ordained ruling elders.
     The building was destroyed by fire October 26, 1879. It was rebuilt in 1888, and was used for church Sabbath school, but was not dedicated until February 6, 1889. The dedication sermon was preached by George D. Buckhannon. Since that date the following ministers have served as pastors of this church:

1868 William F. Stockton, S. S.
1869 Elijah R. Donahue, S. S.
1870 (no name), Synod of Pittsburgh Presbytery of Washington
1873 Joseph S. Pomeroy, S. S.
1876 Robert B. Farrer, S. S.
1880 Robert B. Farrer. S. S.
1881 (no name) Synod of Pittsburgh Presbytery of Washington
1878 Joseph S. Pomeroy, S. S.
1890 Rev. Fair, S. S.
1893 Rev. Fair, S. S.
1894 S. T. Montgomery, P. E.
1898 S. T. Montgomery, P. E.
1899 (no name)
1900 Robert F. Getty, P.
1906 Robert F. Getty, P.
1906 J. I. Gregory, P.
1916 J. I. Gregory, P.
1916 James M. Fisher, P.
1921 James M. Fisher, P.
1921 James M. Thompson, P.
1925 James M. Thompson, P.
1925 C. E. Woodward, P.

     The period from May 1, 1926 to July 1, 1927 was one of marked activity and achievement on the part of the church. During that time a goodly number was added to the roll, a pipe organ, valued at $3,500 was installed and more than $2,000 was given for missions and benevolence and a total budget of $10,775 was fully met, the pastor’s salary was raised, extensive repairs were made on the manse including the installing of a modern electric lighting system, all past indebtedness was practically cancelled and the church brought to a sound financial basis.
     When it is considered that the total resident membership is only two hundred, and that many of this number are children and youth, the record is a most gratifying one.
     The Church is well organized. Special mention should be made of the very large Young People’s Society and of the enthusiastic Sunday School Ladies’ Class known as “The Daughters of Ruth.” The church owes its pipe organ to them and their many friends.
     The church brought to the city in April, 1927, the noted lecturer on Christian Evidences, Rev. John B. Koehne, whose series of thirteen discussions on great religious themes made them a distinctive contribution to the spiritual thought and life of the community.

CITY LIBRARY-The public library of the city of Cameron is located on the second floor of the City Building. It is under the management of the Women’s Club and was first opened in September in 1910 with seven hundred ninety-nine books on the shelves. Mrs. D. F. Merritt gave more than one hundred books from her own library. Each year the club has added more books until at present the number totals one thousand five hundred sixty-eight.
     The first library committee appointed was on May 24, 1910, and consisted of the following persons: Mrs. D. F. Merritt, Mrs. H. Reicheter, and Mrs. C. E. Hutchinson. A canvass was made of the town by a committee from the club and $267.45 was raised as the first fund toward establishing the library.
     The library is taken care of by a library committee, appointed each year from the club; each member of the club acting as librarian.

CLOTHING STORES-THE L. GOODMAN STORE-About thirty-two years ago the L. Goodman Store had its beginning when Mr. Goodman himself began to sell clothing in Cameron and vicinity by making house to house canvas. From this small beginning, the business has grown until today it is one of Cameron’s leading clothing stores.

HINERMAN’S-THE JUST RIGHT STORE-This store, located in the Crawford Hotel, was purchased from John Wolfe, September 2, 1914, by S. B. Hinerman. This store carries a full line of gent’s furnishings and ladies’ ready to wear, and is one of the city’s leading stores.

CHARLES HOWARD-LADIES AND GENT’S SHOES AND CLOTHING STORE-Mr. Charles Howard opened a clothing store in his own building on Main Street, April 7, 1928. This store promises to be one of Cameron’s leading business establishments in the future.

LANDO’S CLOTHING STORE-This store was organized by Blankensop and Stevenson in 1898 and was known as the “Beehive.” In 1903 the above owners sold to A. L. Frances and James Derry. In 1904 it again changed hands, Floyd Francis becoming the owner. In 1905 Minor Grossman purchased the store. At this time the trade name the “Beehive” was dropped. Mr. Grossman continued as its proprietor for twenty years. In 1925 Mr. Louis Lando, the present owner, took charge.

CONFECTIONERY-The Dew Drop Inn Confectionery, which was formerly known as the Cameron Confectionery, was opened about fifteen years ago by Mr. J. B. Hipsley. After several years in this business Mr. Hipsley sold out to Mr. Roy Mix, who owned the confectionery but a few years until it was sold to Mr. R. C. Pierce. Seven years ago it was bought by Mr. D. D. McCardle, who is the present proprietor. The store is located in the Odd Fellow Building on Main Street. The confectionery makes a specialty of serving lunches and handles a full line of candy, soft drinks, ice cream, cigars and tobacco. Service and courtesy is extended to all.

DRY GOODS AND NOTIONS-HUGHES & CARNEY-The Hughes & Carney Dry Goods and Notion Store is located in the J. I. Spragg building on Main Street. This building was built in 1896 by Hicks and Helms and was occupied by this firm.
     Later it was occupied for two years by George B. Rossler’s 5 and 10 Cent Store. Following in business in this location was J. I. Spragg, who sold his stock in 1908 to Charles H. Carpenter. In 1918 Charles H. Carpenter sold his stock to Mrs. Margaret Hughes and Mrs. Maud Carney, both natives of this city. The Hughes & Carney store is one of Cameron’s leading stores and at present is doing a prosperous business.

THE WOMAN’S STORE-The Woman’s Store, formerly called “The Corner Store,” was established about the year 1875 by Mr. W. B. Hicks for the sale of general merchandise, produce and grain. Mr. Hicks continued in business for about twenty years, then selling to Crawford Brothers, who in turn sold to Stewart, Phillips and Walton. After about a year the building was burned to the ground and then rebuilt by Mr. W. B. Hicks. Mr. Walton and Mr. McDonald put in a stock of merchandise but in a short time sold out to Mr. D. H. Peoples and Silas Woodruff. About one year later, Mr. Woodruff sold to Mr. D. H. Peoples, who kept the store about eleven years. Mr. Peoples then sold to Mr. S. B. Hinerman. Mr. Hinerman later sold to Mr. D. H. Peoples, who kept it for a number of years and sold to Mr. Aull. The next owner was Mr. Fleahman, who sold to Mr. J. I. Spragg. In 1915 Mr. Spragg sold his interest to Jot G. Howard and E. S. Spragg, Mr. J. I. Spragg later going into partnership with Mr. Howard. After a short time, Mr. Spragg sold his interest to Mr. Howard, after whose death the present owner, Mrs. R. A. Startzman, took possession and renamed the store “The Woman’s Store” carrying a line of general dry goods, ladies’ and children’s ready-to-wear, wallpaper and millinery. In 1927 Mrs. Startzman moved to Charleston and sold a half interest in the store to Mr. F. L. Wilhelm. This store is now run under the trade name of “Wilhelm and Startzman.”

DRUG STORES-The Cameron Drug Store was established in 1897 by Doctor Dawson and Doctor Watier. In 1900 Doctor Dawson sold his interest to Doctor Watier. Several years later, Doctor Watier sold out to Doctor Dickson of Wheeling, who moved the stock to the present location on Bridge Street. A year later Doctor Dickson sold to Mr. S. B. Hinerman who later sold to Dinsmore Brothers of Wheeling. In 1917 Mr. John E. Dinsmore bought his brother’s interest and is now the present owner.

THE MCNABB PHARMACY-The beginning of this pharmacy dates back to the early eighties when Mr. A. H. Burley opened the drug store in his own building, the site of which is now the Charles H. Howard building occupied by the clothing store of Mr. Howard. In 1894 Mr. J. N. Howard and Mr. George Hill purchased the business and continued until the fire in 1895.
     After the fire Mr. Hill and Mr. Howard purchased a lot and built the building where McNabb’s Pharmacy is now located.
     The above firm continued in business until 1912 when Mr. Howard bought Mr. Hill’s interest. Next year, 1913, Mr. Hill became sole owner, later selling a one-half interest to E. R. McNabb. This partnership continued until 1922 when Mr. McNabb, the present owner, purchased the entire business.

REXALL STORE-Owned by Harry H. Howard, was opened in 1905 in the Crawford Hotel building which is the present location.

FURNITURE STORES-William Antil & Son. The firm of William Antil & Son was established in October 1915, and located in the building now occupied by the Antler Hotel. They began business as morticians only, purchasing the business from McClain Phillips. In the spring of 1919 the furniture business of P. E. Willard was added and the firm moved to a room in the Fleahman building, which is now owned and occupied by C. G. Fish & Company, remaining in said building for five years.
     During this time the business grew and prospered so that in 1921 a motor funeral car was added to the equipment. Also an up-to-date ambulance car, the use of which is free to all.
     In 1924 William Antil & Son purchased the large brick building on the corner known as the Peoples Building, and moved their entire stock into it and occupy said building at the present time on the second and third floors.

C. G. FISH & COMPANY-In October, 1895, Mr. C. G. Fish, head of the C. G. Fish & Company Furniture Store and Morticians, purchased a half interest from his uncle, Mr. M. M. Helms, and continued in this partnership for twelve years. After Mr. Helms’ death, Mrs. C. G. Fish became the partner and the firm made the C. G. Fish & Company. Later Mr. Fish’s two sons, Raymond and Carlton, were made members of the company. This is among one of the oldest undertaking establishments in the state, having been in business more than thirty-one years.

THE VARIETY STORE-Finlayson Brothers Variety Store had its beginning in 1910, when E. M. Smith opened a variety store on the Crawford lot. This business continued until 1912, when Mrs. Mary J. Ross and Robert H. Ross purchased the same after the death of E. M. Smith.
     In 1924 the Ross and Ross Variety Store was moved to the Doane Booher building on Main Street. On November 1, 1926, the stock of merchandise was sold to Finlayson Brothers from Shinnston, West Virginia, and in February, 1927, they moved to the present location, the Creed Hotel building on Main Street.

GROCERY STORES-Cameron is well supplied with grocery stores. The oldest established and leading grocery stores existing at the present time are G. W. Huffner and F. Hayes Fish. A complete list of grocery stores of more recent date will be found in the summary, Chapter VIII.

BAKERY-The Cameron Bakery had its beginning in 1905, when Walter Schumaker started a bakery in the Kinney property on Railroad Street. In 1908 Aaron Porter purchased the equipment and remained in business there for several years. Later he built the oven now occupied by the present bakery. Since then the bakery has changed hands repeatedly. On December 13, 1926, J. I. Elbin, the present owner, purchased it from Raymond Pierce. New machinery has been added and a new oven installed along with the other equipment that makes a more sanitary and up-to-date bakery. Cleanliness and service is the motto. The Staff of Life is their product.

BANKS-THE BANK OF CAMERON-The Bank of Cameron was incorporated March 2, 1896, by the following men: J. W. Dunlevy, William Nowell, W. M. Kincaid, W. A. Boerner, M. B Helms, U. B. Williams and W. Morgan.
     The bank started business April 12, 1926, with the following officers and directors: J. W. Dunlevy, President; T. C. Pipes, Vice-President; William Nowell, Cashier; W. H. Loper, Assistant Cashier; and J. W. Dunlevy, T. C. Pipes, William Nowell, J. A. Hicks, U. B. Williams and Harrison Hicks, Directors.
     The bank started business April 12, 1896, in what is known as the Flat Iron building, now occupied by Fry’s Barber Shop, and remained there until the present building in which the bank is now located was purchased.
     The bank was incorporated with an authorized capital of $25,000.00, of which only $12,000.00 was paid in. This has been increased, however, and at the present time the capital is $100,000.00.
     The bank does a general banking business and has a well equipped savings department where 4% compound interest is paid on savings. The bank also has in its vault a number of safety boxes for the convenience of its customers. The bank takes great care in protecting valuables left in the safety boxes and in the safe keeping files by carrying at all times over $300,000.00 insurance on the vault, of which over $100,000.00 is to protect papers left for safe keeping.
     It is interesting to note that Dr. C. E. Hutchinson and U. B. Williams have been connected with this bank since its organization. Mr. W. H. Loper and Mr. Harvey A. Hicks were both associated with this bank for about twenty-five years. Mr. Loper was cashier for fifteen years and was succeeded by Mr. Hicks, who served in that capacity for five years. Mr. William Nowell was cashier for ten years and his son, Earl Nowell, is now assistant cashier, and has been connected with the bank for over seven years.
     The bank has paid out since its organization over $195,000.00 in cash dividends besides stock dividends of over $85,000.00, making a total of over $280,000.00 that has gone out to the stockholders besides having built up a surplus of over $25,000.00. The present dividend rate is 10%.
     The Bank of Cameron has always been conservatively managed and has always tried to accommodate people in Cameron and vicinity, and has done much to help build up the community.
     The present Board of Directors is composed of men who have made a success in life and in business for themselves and are interested in the welfare of the community.
     The present officers are: Guy B. Patterson, President; Geo. R. Watson, Vice-President; J. L. Reed, Cashier; Earl Nowell, Assistant Cashier. Charles Chambers and Miss Natalie Martin are Tellers.

THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK-The financial institutions of a community are exceedingly important in revealing the life and progress of the people. The records of the First National Bank reveal a steady and unbroken line of prosperity and thrift. A look in retrospect over the history of this banking institution must be a source of satisfaction to the citizens of Cameron and the territory round-about.
     Twenty-six years ago the need of a National Bank was seen by many Cameron business men, and, after months of planning, a group of them decided. They came together and on September 14, 1901, they organized the First National Bank of Cameron. Two months later, November 13, the United States Government granted a charter, the capitalization being set at $50,000.00.
     The first officers were the financial leaders of Cameron. Clell Nichols was selected for the office of president; J. C. Crawford was made vice-president; H. A. Jackson, cashier, and D. W. McConaughey, assistant cashier. On the seventeenth of the following month of March, Mr. McConaughey succeeded Mr. Jackson as cashier and Harry E. Stewart was elected assistant cashier.
     Occasional changes in personnel marked the next four years. Charles H. Carpenter succeeded Harry E. Stewart as assistant cashier April 1, 1904. The first change in the Board of Directors was made by the annual meeting of stockholders, January 9, 1906. S. E. Leach was elected president and W. W. Perry was made vice-president. The same year, on the twenty-third of June, Mr. McConaughey resigned from the office of cashier and the assistant cashier, Mr. Carpenter, was selected for the position.
     July second, 1907, marks the end of the first period in the history of the First National Bank. At that time the board was entirely re-organized and new men were placed behind the counters to serve the public. W. M. Nowell was made president; J. M. Nichols, vice-president, and Harry Elbin, cashier; J. I. Elbin, assistant. The next January fourteenth, Lloyd Strope succeeded Mr. Nichols as vice-president. These officers continued to serve the bank for more than half the period of its history. Harry Elbin has served continuously in the office of cashier for nearly twenty-one years. Mr. Strope, who succeeded Mr. Nowell as president, August 5, 1919, has been in continuous connection with the bank for nearly as long. J. I. Elbin remained as assistant cashier sixteen years, resigning to take care of his personal business, and being succeeded by R. A. Startzman, March 20, 1923.
     The resources of the First National Bank of Cameron when chartered present a steady upward trend. In fact, every yearly statement since organization of the bank has shown a good increase, with the exception of the year of national depression, 1922, when a slight decrease was noted. But the fact of the astounding growth of this institution may most vividly be state in terms of percentage. When the new officers took their positions in 1907 the resources of the bank were approximately $225,000.00. Now they total nearly $1,900,000.00. In other words, this bank has increased its resources nearly 800% in less than thirty years.
     People sometimes ask about the period of greatest growth. The fact is that there are no periods of phenomenal increase, no jagged peaks in our chart. From the beginning of the organization, the bank has made increases in proportion to its size. Naturally, then, the largest increases have come in the most recent years. For instance, in the year ending June 30, 1926, the growth alone more than equaled two-thirds the total resources of the bank in 1908.
     The record of the First National Bank of Cameron during the World War served materially to increase the confidence and esteem in which it is held. The government loan campaign opened the way for patriotic service. This bank bought or sold bonds amounting to $374,000.00. Statistics for the third and fourth Liberty Loan are typical of the others. Third Liberty Loan bonds totaling $108,750.00 were sold in Cameron. A fact not well known is that about four-fifths of this amount, exactly $83,050.00 was bought or sold through the First National Bank. The Fourth Liberty Loan campaign came when our armies were battling their way to victory on the battlefields of France. Cameron bought bonds amounting to $191,050.00. The First National Bank was responsible for $118,600.00. (The city totals are furnished by the War Activity Committee of Marshall County.)
     The bank was particularly fortunate in the choice of a site for its building. The three-story edifice is located in the very heart of the business section. But the size proved inadequate for the growth of its institution, and in 1922 a beautiful annex was erected. Two years later the banking rooms were entirely remodeled. A massive fire and burglar-proof vault was built. The old wooden furnishings were replaced with marble, while mahogany furniture was substituted for the old. The ceiling was paneled, a burglar alarm system was installed, the latest banking machinery was bought and a directors’ room was suitably equipped in the new annex. Additional safe deposit boxes were purchased. The building with its present equipment is outstanding among banks in cities the size of Cameron. Every banking convenience and safety offered by the large modern city banks is enjoyed by the customers of the First National Bank of Cameron.
     The staff of the bank at present are as follows:

Lloyd Strope, President
D. H. Peoples, Vice-President
Harry Elbin, Cashier
James G. Toothman, Assistant Cashier
Frank Walker, Assistant Cashier
H. A. Hicks, Assistant Cashier
Julia McCracken, Bookkeeper
Mrs. Clarence McCurdy, Stenographer

     The members of the Board of Directors are: Lloyd Strope, D. H. Peoples, Harry Elbin, W. G. C. Hill, J. I . Elbin, C. G. Fish and James E. Cooper.
     The First National Bank of Cameron is now not only the largest bank in Cameron, but the largest bank in Marshall County. Its stock, nominally worth $100.00 per share, is now valued near $425.00. The invested capital at this time is around $125,000.00. Depositors have intrusted to the keeping of this bank over one and one-half millions of dollars. The bank is adequately equipped for real banking service to the community. The staff workers include only persons experienced in banking business, and well known through long residence to the citizens of Cameron. The bank was never in a more prosperous condition and it looks to the future with even greater hopes.

HOTELS-HOTEL CAMERON-Hotel Cameron was formerly the Crawford Hotel and was finished in 1903. It was first used as an apartment house. In 1905 it was opened as a hotel with Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Wayman as the proprietors. In 1909, J. G. Crawford, the owner of the building, took over the hotel. It continued under this management until 1915. Since that time the following people have had charge: Miller, Clayton, Fish, Snyder, Loper, Ross, Mrs. Harry Lowe and Mr. P. G. Marling, the present proprietor.

THE CREED HOTEL-Immediately after the disastrous conflagration, 1895, which wiped out the center business section of the town, Dr. Edward S. Davis, a man of vision and faith in the future of Cameron, began to busy himself with the rebuilding. He purchased from W. B. Hicks, the lots now occupied by the Creed Hotel and began its erection in 1896. It is said that the honor of laying the first brick in the rebuilding of Cameron belongs to Mr. Davis.
     The building is a three-story structure, 55 feet wide by 180 feet deep. The first floor has the two largest store rooms in town. Once is occupied by L. Goodman, clothier; the other by Finlayson’s Variety Store. The second and third floors, containing fifty-two rooms, were arranged for a hotel, being the first and only hotel after the fire for two years or more.
     The hotel was named “Creed” by the builder for his uncle, Creed Thomas, of Richmond, Virginia, who he loved most devotedly. On February 22, 1920, at the age of seventy-three, Dr. Davis departed this life, leaving the building to his wife, Minnie B. Davis, who with her four sons, Edward Shelton, Wirt, Hugh Wythe, and Gerald Leon, reside and manage the business.

GREEN HOUSES-The Cameron Greenhouse Company was organized in the spring of 1913. The first stockholders issued certificates were: Ward Davis, Lloyd Gaston, J. T. Wells and J. R. Henderson of Fairmont, Henry Robb of Wheeling, Ed. Bonar, G. R. Wells, Della Carpenter, Charles H. Carpenter, Letitia Davis, H. H. Pipes, Harry H. Howard, J. I. Gregory, W. E. Grim, W. H. Shanor, Sinsel Hardware Company, C. G. Fish, G. W. Pletcher, Ida Boerner, R. K. Moore, Ralph Lazier, John Lazier, and Ralph Wells, all of Cameron.
     George R. Wells, Ed. Bonar, Charles H. Carpenter, C. G. Fish and Letitia Davis were the main operators.
     Ed. Bonar was the first president of the company. George R. Wells, secretary and treasurer, and William White, manager.
     The capital stock when the company was organized was worth $15,000. This company suffered a loss of one fire in the year 1918 to the amount of $6,000.
     Under the presidency of C. G. Fish, in the year 1923, the greenhouse was sold to John Neubar for $25,000. Mr. Fish closed up the affairs of the company and surrendered the charter to the state. Mr. Neubar has made a number of additions and improvements and at present the business is worth $50,000.

MATTHEWS GREEN HOUSE-The beginning of this green house dates back to the year 1914, when Mrs. Durbin gave Mrs. Matthews a geranium. Mrs. Matthews made $20.00 the first year by taking slips from the geranium and selling them. Later she built a small conservatory near the side of her home on North Avenue. She was very successful with this undertaking and later Mr. Matthews became interested. About a year later Mr. Matthews built a small green house on North Avenue. They were very successful with their business and moved to their present location in the year 1911. They had only about $4,000 when they started and now have property worth more than $15,000.

HARDWARES-CAMERON HARDWARE-The Cameron Hardware Company dates back to the late nineties when the present building was erected by Mr. S. E. Leach, who opened up a hardware store in the present location. Mr. Leach conducted the business for a number of years, then sold to Messrs. Harry and John Elbin and Lloyd Strope. In July 1912, Mr. John Lindolph and Mr. G. E. Wilson purchased the business, continuing the same until January 1, 1914, when Mr. B. T. Kent purchased Mr. Lindolph’s interest. Mr. Wilson and Mr. Kent are still proprietors and are doing a successful business.

SINSEL HARDWARE BUILDING-The Sinsel Hardware Company was organized and incorporated June 3, 1909, they having purchased the J. D. Owens Hardware Company prior to this date.
     H. W. and H. S. Sinsel had purchased practically half interest in the J. D. Owens Hardware Company about one and a half years prior to June 3, 1909, at which time the present company was formed.
     During the year 1914, H. S. Sinsel sold his interest in the company to Mr. Harry Burkley, Sr., and H. S. Sinsel, who conducted the business until 1915, and in the month of March, 1919, Miss Ethel Nuss purchased a number of shares of stock and was elected secretary of the company, January of the following year.
     During the year 1921, Mr. Roy W. Jolliffe also purchased an interest in the company. In May 1926, Mr. Harry Burkley sold his interest to Mr. I. H. Pletcher and Mr. Harry Carr.
     The present owners of the company are as follows: I. H. Pletcher, Miss Ethel Nuss, Roy W. Jolliffe, Harry Carr and H. W. Sinsel.
     Officers of the company are: I. H. Pletcher, President; Roy W. Jolliffe, Vice-President; Miss Ethel Nuss, Secretary, and H. W. Sinsel, Manager and Treasurer.

POST OFFICE-William McConaughey was the first postmaster of Cameron, having received the appointment under President Pierce, January 9, 1855. Since that date the following postmasters have been appointed: January 3, 1860, John Elliott; March 25, 1861, James R. Bell; August 22, 1865, Emanuel Whitmyer; January 9, 1867, Martin G. Todd; March 12, 1888, John G.