Those were the good old days of Logan

By Dwight Williamson

“Those were the good ‘ole days.”

Just about everybody has heard that phrase uttered at some point in their lives. It seems that mostly older people like to reflect upon the past as “the good old days” when in fact life was usually much simpler, but not necessarily better. As for myself, my wife says I live in the past. Well, that’s not entirely true. However, I have learned to appreciate history and, quite frankly, unless there is a time machine out there that I don’t know about, there is not much one can do to change the olden days of yesteryear. H.G. Wells, where are you?

The following is an interesting historical story as printed in the Jan. 10, 1930, edition of The Logan Banner. Dr. S. B. Lawson, who was one of the first doctors ever in Logan County and a very prominent figure civically and politically, was asked to give his account of what Logan was like during the 1890s. Here’s a picturesque glimpse of what the pioneering doctor had to say.

“Aracoma was named for the Princess Aracoma, who lived and died here many years ago. When the city of Logan had a population of 2,000, counting all of the living and some of the dead, our streets and sidewalks were made of mud most of the year. It was a common thing for two horses to stall pulling an empty wagon through town. We crossed the streets by jumping from one cobblestone to another. Those stones were placed on street corners four feet apart.

“The constant grind of wagons sharpened the top of the stones, which made it difficult for ladies with long skirts to keep their balance, jumping from one stone to another, and keeping their ankles well covered at the same time. The men experienced less difficulty in crossing from one sidewalk to another for most all wore cowhide boots. The crossings were all one-way crossings. The sidewalks were not so bad except when the cows got in our way and would not move.

“Our streets were lighted by night by 12 oil lamps suspended high on poles. We economized by using moonshine when we could and those who could afford an oil lantern got along much better. Some liked darkness rather than light anyway.

“Major Ellis, for years the chief igniter of lamps, was a faithful servant except in extreme cold weather when his lamps froze up and he had to remove rod ice from the burners each morning.

“Some years we paid a small tax, and other years we paid nothing.

“We had one policeman on a $10 salary and like the modern cop, he could never be found if needed. We had little use for officers for everyone attended to his own business and exercised plenty of liberty.

“We hitched our horses to hitching posts at our front gates, milked our cows in the streets, or back yard, and raised our own gardens, chickens, pigs and children.

“Our water supply came from our neighbor’s well or was hauled in oil barrels from the Guyandotte. Our bathtubs were round in shape, made of zinc, and not often used. Ice was a luxury and only used during the winter. Built Buskirk, proprietor of the Buskirk Hotel, was an exception to the rule. He hauled ice from the river in the wintertime, covered it with sawdust, which kept it from melting all summer. Built was very congenial and often divided with his neighbors.

“We had no bridges across the Guyandotte and little use for them anyway, as the river froze up during winter and went dry during the summer.

“Our merchandise was brought in by wagons from Brown’s Town, now Marmet, and by push boat from the Guyandotte. These boats brought many packages for the public and it was a big time when the boats got in.

Oftentimes Court would adjourn and business in general would be suspended for one or two days on these occasions. We bought our goods at wholesale prices. Instead of going to a butcher shop, we bought a whole hog, one dollar’s worth of coffee and flour by the barrel. Those were the good old days when eggs were three dozen for 25 cents, butter 10 cents a pound, milk a cent a quart and potatoes 25 cents a bushel.

“Women did not paint or powder in public and didn’t smoke, vote, play poker, drink, shake the shimmy, or go to prize fights. Men wore whiskers, boots and chewed homegrown tobacco, spit on sidewalks, and cussed. Laborers worked 10 hours a day and did not strike.”

“White hired girls did the housework, washing and ironing, for $1.50 per week. Aracoma had one public school, two churches and one weekly newspaper, the Logan Banner, edited by the distinguished writer, H. Clay Ragland, who wrote his own epitaph: ‘A Baptist in religion and a Democrat in politics.’

“Our town government consisted of a mayor, recorder and four councilmen. All did their duty without pay, except the police, who got $10 a month.

“We had only one foreign born citizen in town, and two colored. Our people were honest, content and happy.

“A friendly community spirit prevailed in the hearts of all. Some of the real builders and noble characters of those days were such men as: J. A. Nighbert, Major Stratton, H.C. Ragland, J.B. and U.B. (John) Buskirk, Sam Miller, Doc Kendle, Ott and Bruce Holland, H.K. Shumate, C.M. Turley, J.B. Ellison, J.E. and S.B. Robertson. Drs. W.F. Farley, S.B. Lawson and M.F. French, J.B. Wilkinson, J.C. Alderson, John Justice, T.C. Whited, Robert Bland, Charles Bennett, Will Brazie, G.R White, J.E. Peck, Elias Hatfield and many more.

“After taking a deep breath, the highly regarded Loganite continued: “Nighbert, Wilkinson and Alderson –

“Let us remember them,

“Forever and forever,

“As long as the Guyandotte flows,

“As long as men’s hearts have passion,

“As long as life has woes.”

Dwight Williamson is a former writer for the Logan Banner and a retired magistrate for Logan County.

*Published with the author’s permission. First published in the Logan Banner, February 10, 2019.

Those were the good old days of Logan

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