Though the population of West Virginia is often portrayed as uneducated and poor, my experience with West Virginians has been quite different. I am often amazed at the polished and clever way they use the English language, and that is not only true of more recent citizens. Even in the very early days, many settlers could read and write and even had literary skills. In recognition of that fact, I’d like to share some poetry and comments I have found in the various county histories.
(1) Shared in a previous newsletter on April 27, 2023: Marcus Goshen, tailor, of Greenbrier County, shared this poem for his customers in the weekly newspaper:
(2) Here is a poem shared by Rev. Shirley Donnally in his column in the May 13, 1977, Beckley Post-Herald, original author unknown:
(3) In the History of Fayette County, West Virginia, by Peters and Carden, 1926, recognition was given to several people for their literary skills in poetry and verse. Many are named and their works mentioned, but those works were not included in the county history. However, this was included—written about the funeral of Julia Beckwith Neale, mother of Stonewall Jackson.
(4) In A History of Monroe County, West Virginia, by Oren Morton, pp. 255-256, the following is found:
(5) Below is an excerpt from The History of Summers County, by James H. Miller.
(6) The following is from The History of Charleston and Kanawha County, by William S. Laidley.
(7) The skills of Page McCarty and Mattie Ould are discussed The Greenbrier Heritage, by William Olcott, in a section about White Sulphur Springs: