WAR WORN VETERANS
OF THE BLUE AND THE GRAY MEET IN A FRATERNAL REUNION
A Grand Success in Every Particular–Interesting Features of the Occasion–Brilliant Pyrotechnical Display–Hundreds of Veterans in Line — A Beautiful Arch.
Wheeling Register., September 09, 1887
Special Telegram to the Register.
CLARKSBURG, W. Va., September 8.– The great event has come and gone. Today a multitude of inquiring people sought the city and in the afternoon several thousand assembled at the fair grounds, where they were entertained by appropriate addresses from persons representing both the Blue and the Grey. The fireworks display last night was an interesting feature of the affair and the relation of war anecdotes and traditions of the past afforded excellent subject matter for the amusement of spectators and an absorbing theme for the veterans.
Oliver Boughner, Esq., was last night one of the most prominent speakers, every one who is acquainted with him knows that he possesses all the natural characteristics of a narrator and has always a treasure house of leaning, thought and suggestion. No one tells a story better With clearness of expression he seemed to reproduce the period in which the incident actually occurred and for a considerable time he held the audience spell bound and closed amid a storm of applause.
To-day was the grand occasion and in the procession marched more than five hundred persons, most of whom were soldiers. The veterans and loyal soldiers representing both contending armies walked side by side, and of them it can be truthfully said they were extremely courteous, acted harmoniously, manifested the spirit of reunion, friendship and true patriotism, and were willing that the past be forgotten, and paid tribute and respect to the flag of the country. Out of this much good may come, and it is hoped a better spirit of feeling and fraternity will exist between the sections which should compose one great, grand citizenship, without the slightest war difference.
The arch arranged and decorated by A. L. Husted, Esq, reaching from his office across Court Street, at one end of which was the likeness of Grant and at the other that of Lee, was emblematic of the patriotic tendencies; and it certainly should be regretted that it was not so placed that the Grand Army of the Republic in its procession could have marched under it.
The Clarksburg Telegram., April 28, 1893, pg. 7
Excerpt—
Oliver Boughner is in New York witnessing the great naval display now going on there.
The Clarksburg Telegram., May 05, 1893, pg. 7
Excerpt–
Oliver Boughner came home from New York on Saturday.
LAMP EXPLODED
In Oliver Boughner’s Kitchen and Caused a Fire.
Blaze Smothered With Blankets.
–Mr. Boughner’s Nose Scorched.
The Daily Telegram., January 30, 1903
A rather serious little fire occurred at the home of Oliver P. Boughner on West Main Street at the supper hour last night. It was caused by the explosion of a lamp in the kitchen. Mr. Boughner happened to be at home at the time and he used great presence of mind by smothering the flames with blankets. The ceiling of the room was considerably burned. In putting out the blaze Mr. Boughner’s nose was scorched considerably. The fire department was not called out. Mr. Boughner’s quick action in smothering the blaze saved the house as it is a frame and would have been consumed before the department could have arrived and gotten into operation. The damage amounts to only a few dollars.
GRAND JURY RESENTS INSULT
The Clarksburg Telegram., March 30, 1906
Members of the recent grand jury, including the foreman, Oliver P. Boughner, Esq., have indignantly denied the statements published in an evening paper here on Monday relative to the proceedings in the jury room. They claim that the whole story is false and without the slightest foundation.
Mr. Boughner has issued the following statement relative to the publication:
Editors Telegram:
In an issue of the Clarksburg News published on Monday, Rev. R. B. McDanel is quoted as saying in his so-called sermon in the Baptist church on Sunday:
“I am informed that at the last grand jury the questions were asked of the witnesses in such a way that they were not compelled to answer truthfully, and that even before the witnesses went into the jury room they were told that certain questions would be asked in certain ways.
That looks very much as though the grand jury did not want to do anything, and from the few indictments found by it that conclusion naturally comes to people on the outside.”
Now when a calumniator begins his slanders it is usually with “I am informed.” This particular Rev. McDanel, in his aspersions, upon the last grand jury makes himself the vehicle for the lies of his unnamed informer, which imply collusion between the members of the grand jury and some villain on the outside. As I was foreman of the grand jury alluded to, it appears to be my duty to myself and to the other fifteen members of that body to denounce the Rev. McDanel and his “informer” as willful, deliberate, unmitigated liars.
O. P. BOUGHNER.
FEDERAL JURORS ARE DRAWN
The Clarksburg Telegram., April 13, 1906
The grand jurors for the term of federal court, beginning here April 17, are as follows:
Oliver P. Boughner
COUNTY COURT RESUMES SITTINGS
With All the Members and Clerk Present and Business is Done.
The Daily Telegram., June 17, 1907
The Clarksburg Telegram., June 20, 1907, pg. 3
Excerpt–
The county court reconvened Monday morning with all the members and the clerk in attendance.
Oliver P. Boughner qualified as guardian of Caldwell B. Spates, infant son of Gus B. Spates, giving bond of $100 with J. M. Knox as surety.
FINEST MARBLE IN WHOLE WORLD
Is That Local People Are Interested in the State of Colorado.
The Daily Telegram., April 20, 1908
Mr. and Mrs. Oliver P. Boughner and Homer D. Boughner are home from a trip to Marble, Gunnison County, Colo., where they inspected the works and quarries of the Colorado Yule Marble Company. Several local people have investments in the property of this company.
Oliver P. Boughner in a short interview Monday morning said:
“This company has the greatest mass of pure white marble in the world in the mountains of Yule Creek. The company is in successful operation and taking contracts for interior decorations of buildings. About a million dollars in contracts are on the books now.
“This marble is exposed for one mile of the face of the mountains. I saw one vein 240 feet thick and of unknown depth. The quality is as fine as the Carrara, Italy, famous marble, and in quantity of pure white it is much superior to that of any other in the world.
“The company has its own power by water gravitation of 1250 horse power, conveyed to the mills and quarries.
“I saw in one place that is being worked a stretch of marble 69 feet in length, in which there is not a flaw, so that if it were possible to handle and transport the same, columns 69 feet long and of any size might be taken out, and such blocks as builders have had to wait for years to procure the Colorado Yule Company takes out and delivers every day, and the supply will last for 1000 years.
“The mills are in charge of Col. Meek, president of the company, a former railroad contractor and formerly superintendent of the Union Pacific railroad– a man of character and force.’
VALUES FIXED
On Fairmont Properties by a Board of Appraisers for Government.
The Clarksburg Telegram., February 04, 1909, pg. 4
Oliver P. Boughner and Perry C. Williams as memnbers of an appraising board for the government returned last night from Fairmont, where the board placed values on the U. N. Arnett and C. E. Manley properties, proposed to be taken as a site for a federal building. They valued the Arnett property at $35,000 and the Manley place at $32,000.
BANKS OF THE CITY HAVE A PROUD YEAR
Annual Meetings Are Held for Purpose of Electing Officers and Directors.
The Clarksburg Telegram., January 13, 1910, pg. 6
Directors and officers for the year were chosen at the annual shareholders’ meetings of the three national banks of the city Tuesday and the showings made were quite gratifying to the shareholders, the business having largely increased the year closed. The outlook is for a much larger business this year.
Directors and officers of the Empire National Bank were elected as follows:
Directors– Excerpt– Oliver P. Boughner
The Empire’s net earnings for the year amounted to more than $33,000. Of this $17,500 was added to the surplus fund, $15,000 paid as dividends and the residue placed to the undivided profits account. The year was by far the best in the six years of the bank’s history, as more than $400,000 was the amount of the increase of its resources over last year.
LEGGETT ELECTED.
The Daily Telegram., May 09, 1914
Clarence W. Leggett has been elected director of the Empire National Bank to fill a vacancy caused by the failure of Oliver P. Boughner to qualify owing to ill health. Mr. Leggett is one of Clarksburg’s most active and successful business men and his many friends are glad to see him actively identified with that successful institution.
MR. BOUGHNER’S FUNERAL TODAY IN LODGE ROOM
At the Elk’s Home with Observance of the Lodge’s Funeral Ritual.
The Sunday Telegram., December 26, 1915 pg. 3
Funeral services over the body of Oliver P. Boughner, which was brought here from Philadelphia on No. 3 Christmas morning, and which now lies in state in the Elks lodge room at the Elks home on West Pike Street, will be held in the lodge room at 3 o’clock this afternoon. The Rev. Dr. W. C. Taylor, pastor of the First Baptist church, will officiate along with the lodge, whose funeral ritual will be observed both in the lodge room and at the grave. Interment will be at the Odd Fellows’ Cemetery.
The body was accompanied by Mrs. Boughner, the widow, and Dr. George T. Faris, of Philadelphia, son of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel S. Faris, of Bridgeport.
The pall bearers will be Benjamin F. Robinson, Anson D. Parr, Virgil L. Highland, Samuel S. Faris, Melvin G. Sperry and Edward B. Deison.
Oliver P. Boughner, the eldest child of Daniel and Ellen Patterson Boughner, both now deceased, was born in Fayette County, PA., March 4, 1843, but as he was brought to Virginia, now West Virginia, by his parents at the age of seven years his education was acquired in this state, first in public schools of Harrisville and later in Moore’s Academy at Morgantown.
When the Civil War opened he was eighteen years of age, and his patriotism and love of the Stars and Stripes found expression in his enlistment in January, 1862, in the Tenth West Virginia infantry under Colonel P. M. Harris, and with his command he took part in the long, hard marches and numerous battles in which it was engaged. He was with Sheridan in the Shenandoah Valley and took part in the battle of Winchester, where he was wounded September 19, 1864, by a gunshot in the left arm. He was disabled for some time, but as soon as practicable he returned to his command and was in active service until the war closed. He was taken a prisoner at Flatwoods, W. Va., October 8, 1862, and after being confined in Libby prison for one week was paroled October 30. He was again taken prisoner by General Mosby in 1864, but effected his escape the same night and rejoined his command. He was a loyal, faithful and useful soldier and at the time he was wounded he was serving as assistant adjutant general of a brigade.
He received honorable promotion in the battle of Winchester, but he declined to accept the office tendered him.
Many years after the war Mr. Boughner received a letter from General Harris, which continued the following:
“I have often felt of late that I ought to write to you and express my sense of indebtedness to you for the assistance you gave me in the discharge of my duties as commander of a regiment and which so largely combined my success and consequent promotion. I cannot sufficiently express to you my appreciation of your ability, your indomitable courage and unfaltering patriotism.”
After the war was over Mr. Boughner returned to his home and embarked in the mercantile business with his father at Clarksburg in 1865, which business they along with other members of the family continued highly successfully until about thirteen years ago. At that time he had the reputation of being one of the most modern merchants in the state, and was a leader in buying goods. He was a man of fine intellect, possessing strong convictions and the courage to carry them out, and was a conversationalist of no mean attainments.
A few years ago Mr. Boughner became afflicted with organ and blood trouble, which necessitated the attention of a specialist and he took up his temporary residence along with Mrs. Boughner in Philadelphia which he maintained until his death at 4 o’clock Friday afternoon. His death was not entirely unexpected as he had been in a serious condition more than a year.
Mr. Boughner was a member of Custer Post No. 8, Grand Army of the Republic, and he became a member of Clarksburg lodge No. 482 of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks during the administration of Charles F. Kester as exalted ruler in 1913-1914, in which lodge he retained his membership until the messenger of death claimed him. He was a staunch Republican in politics and held a number of local offices although he was by no means an office seeker. He took an active interest in local state and national politics, and contributed his full share to the civic, commercial, educational and industrial development of the community. He was one of the founders of the Empire National bank, and served a number of years on its board of directors.
Mrs. Boughner, the widow, is a daughter of Colonel Thomas S. Spates, now dead, one of Clarksburg’s early leading merchants, bankers and citizens, and a former mayor of the city.
Mr. and Mrs. Boughner had one son, Marston whose tragic death several years ago by drowning in the Chesapeake Bay shortly after entering the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, MD., brought not only deepest sorrow to the parents but also cast a gloom over this entire community.
Of his father’s family three members survive, namely, Homer D. Boughner, of Denver, Colo.; Mrs. Alice Drummond, wife of the Rev. Stephen Drummond, of Washington, PA.; and Miss Laura Boughner, of this city, who died about a year ago, was a brother of Mr. Boughner. Several nephews and nieces also survive.
ADMINISTRATRIX QUALIFIES
The Daily Telegram., December 28, 1915
Mrs. Bertha S. Boughner qualified Tuesday as administratrix of the estate of Oliver P. Boughner with bond at $25,000 and the Fidelity and Deposit Company of Maryland surety, Virgil L. Highland, E. B. Deison and F. B. Haymaker were named as appraisers of the estate.
