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Four Score and Nine
In the year 1796, on the 18th day of July, Mrs. Nancy Devol, mother of Mrs. Julia M. Cook, and Dr. J. L. Devol, of this city, was born, and reached, therefore, the 89th mile post on the journey of life to-day. Mrs. Devol is enjoying good health and is still quite active for one so old. Her sight is tolerably good and her memory excellent. She is able to relate interesting events which took place in the early part of the present century, and her mind is as active as it was forty years ago. She is now and has been for the past twenty-five or thirty years living with her daughter, Mrs. Cook. The many friends of Mrs. Devol extend their congratulations upon this her birthday anniversary, and the STATE JOURNAL hopes to be able to write still other birthday notices of this venerable old lady.
The Parkersburg Daily State Journal
July 18, 1885
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AN OLD LANDMARK
Into the Broad Ohio Sliding -- "Dutch Henry's" Resort Will Soon be no More
The old brick house, above Riverside [the area above 13th street thru19th street], which has been known for years as "Dutch Henry's" home, is sliding into the river. The waters have washed away the banks adjoining the house, gradually encroaching upon the foundation walls, until at last the old mansion is about to go.
P.M. Smith, who has for some time occupied the house, was compelled to move out yesterday, on account of the great danger of a sudden collapse.
Henry Becker, an old and respected German built the house, and lived in it for many years. It was a noted pleasure resort under his management, where fine wines of his own making were served the guests.
Mr. Becker's two daughters, Mrs. Hugo Heidenreicht, and Mrs. R. Collins who are still living here, were raised in that house, and will be sorry to read this, to learn that their old home is being rapidly engulfed in the waves of the Beautiful River. None of the surroundings, however, look as they did in the balmy days of Uncle Henry, the whole place having fallen into decay soon after Mr. Becker left it.
The Parkersburg Daily Morning News
April 1, 1898
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Old Couple Has Experienced Nearly A Century of Living
By Arthur Ball
The folks referred to in the headline are Daniell and Hettie Sams, ninety-five and ninety-one years old respectively. They have lived in Wood County and on Sam's Creek, Tygart district, for more than four score years and ten. They have five sons, all living. The oldest, James, is what is usually considered a "man of years," as he is three score years and ten. The other sons are Luther, Samuel and Clyde. Grandfather and grandmother Sams were married seventy-three years ago, and should they live two more years, they will or could celebrate their diamond anniversary. The word "could" is used advisably as these two pioneer Wood county residents, have been too busy most of their lives to celebrate anything except the fruit of their labor on the farm and in the house and garden.
It is hoped that Father and Mother Sams, as they are known to many, will see this feeble word of praise for their long lives of inspiring giving and fruitful laboring. They have kept their faculties and have retained an interest in life throughout a lapse of nearly a century. Father Sams was born in 1848, about the time the war with Mexico ended. They lived through all the troublous times of the Civil, Indian, Spanish-American and World War I. Now they are experiencing World War II, and they have not lost their love of nature or faith in nature's God.
Clarence Sams, a resident of this city, is connected with the same family of Sams' as Uncle Daniell and Aunt Hattie.
The Parkersburg News
June 14, 1943
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Bob Enoch is president of the Wood County Historical and Preservation Society. If you have comments or questions about Look Back items, please contact him at: roberteenoch@gmail.com, or by mail at WCHPS, PO Box 565, Parkersburg, WV 26102.