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Popular Column of Newspaper ‘Do You Remember?’ Recalled

Do you remember the popular column by the late E. E. Meredith headed, “Do You Remember?” that was a feature in a Parkersburg newspaper for a number of years? The following columns appeared in the mid-1930s.

“Wonder if the provisions of the will of Thomas P. Boggess which is on record at the office of the county clerk, were carried out?” Meredith wrote.

This old will he quoted, began, “I will that the outside fences of my farm be kept in good repair and that the filth, such as elders, be kept down by having them cut or mowed down at least once a year, and that no timber be used or destroyed except what is strictly necessary to keep the farm in repair.”

The farm was willed to his wife and the will further provided that it was to be used – “For grazing purposes, or it, or any part of it, may be kept for meadow but not be plowed or cultivated in grass more than once a year in six, and that must be in small grain (and not in corn) and when sowed in grain, it must also be sowed in grass seed.”

Other provisions of wills on record, according to Meredith’s column: “John McBee left his son, Camerear, ‘a yearling colt when he arrives at the age of 21 years,’ and the will, dated July 5, 1871, mentions, ‘young bay horse, three calves, my big hog, and white yoke of cattle.'”

“Jacon Snoderly left to Samuel Board, ‘one horse creature and a two-horse wagon, the said Board to have choice of the horses.’

“Ortha D. Jones in his will dated May 13, 1871, left to Mrs. Phebe Jane Swisher, ‘my cow, now in her possession, on condition that she pay my sister, Sophia J. Jones, $8.'”

“James Downs left to each of his four daughters, Mary, Ann, Nancy and Elizabeth, ‘a good horse and cow.’ His will was dated June 17, 1870.”

“Benjamin Shuman’s will contains this provision: ‘I will and direct my executors after my death shall, out of my estate, purchase and have properly adjusted at the graves, suitable marble stones at the grave of my former wife, Ruth Ann, and also at my own grave.'”

“John Snodgrass left an ‘iron gray mare, that is at John S. Snodgrass (her colt he is to keep for taking care of the mare), to my wife Ann Snodgrass.'”

“Thomas M. Williams, a minister, mentions his daughter in his will and her name is written in one place as ‘Oola,’ and on another place as, ‘Eola.'”

It appears that all of the old timers, even the educated ones 100 years ago, weren’t experts in spelling – either.

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March 22, 1933…Do You Remember?

Count Gustave Von Tippenbach? He came here from Germany many years ago to pass the remainder of his life in the quiet little Lubeck settlement, in the cultivation of a vineyard and the happy companionship of books and a few old friends, the roots of whose lives had also been planted in the old country and later transferred to this. He had the rosiest of cheeks and excellent manners, those of the gentleman of the old world bringing its fine flavor wherever he went. Count Von Tippenbach was the great uncle of Mrs. Gordon Butcher and of Miss Emma Beckwith of this city, their grandmother being his sister, Mrs. Sievoght. His body reposes in the Lubeck cemetery.

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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.