From Heaven to Muncie 1859-1880

The beauty of West Virginia was forever immortalized in the John Denver song "Almost Heaven". Throughout the late 1800 and into the early 1900s, numerous Mountaineers made the move west from Heaven to Delaware County, Indiana. The following mentions of Muncie have been gleaned from West Virginia newspapers. Articles involving railroad corporations containing "Muncie" are not included. Such companies were covered fairly extensively and someone particularly interested in them might be better served to research those on their own.

American Union, Morgantown, (West) Virginia, July 8, 1854
Died
At Muncy [sic] Indiana, on the 15th of May last, Mrs Abella Boner, wife of Gabriel Boner. The deceased was formerly a resident of Monongalia county, Va.

American Union, Morgantown, (West) Virginia, December 10, 1858
Very Icy! Andrew I, Ezekiel T and Frederick M Ice, were all married in Thursday week, at the hotel in Muncy [sic], Delaware county, Indiana. They are all sons of Col Jesse Ice, formerly of Marion county, Va. So says a correspondent of the True Virginian.

Wheeling Daily Register, Wheeling, West Virginia, July 27, 1865
Mrs Morris, who has been eight months a captive among the Cheyenne Indians, has escaped to her home in Muncie, Delaware county, Indiana. The Indians murdered Mrs Morris' husband, and one of the chiefs took her as his wife; in which capacity she lived until she made her escape. Mrs Morris bears marks of her long residence among the savages, and is sun-burned to a copper color. She kept a journal of her capture, and it is understood that she will publish a book.

Wheeling Daily Intelligencer, Wheeling, West Virginia, September 27, 1871
Fell Overboard and was Drowned
St Louis, Sept 26
On Friday evening last, Gen D H Boswell and wife of Muncie, Indiana, took passage on the steamer St Louis for Jefferson City. About 2 o'clock that night the General was taken sick and went out to the guard of the boat to see of the fresh air would not revive him. Desiring some article from the state room, he requested his wife to step back and get it. As Mrs Boswell was returning she saw her husband fall over the railing into the river. The boat was immediately stopped, but the General could not be found. The accident occurred on the Missouri river, about ten miles above its mouth. Efforts are being made to recover the body.

Wheeling Daily Register, Wheeling, West Virginia, June 19, 1872
A fire at Muncie last night destroyed a stone and tin store, marble shop, two dry goods stores, a confectionery store, a boot and shoe store and two groceries. Loss $20,000 to $25,000.

Wheeling Daily Intelligencer, Wheeling, West Virginia, September 23, 1872
Hon John W Burson, State Senator from the counties of Delaware and Madison, died at his residence, in Muncie, Saturday morning at a 8 1/4 o'clock, after a protracted illness. Mr Burson was one of the most liberal and public spirited men of the state, and his loss will be deeply felt.

Wheeling Daily Intelligencer, Wheeling, West Virginia, August 6, 1875
Muncie, August 5, In Delaware county many thousand acres of wheat are swept away and the corn is destroyed. In the vicinity of the Missenerwa [sic] and White rivers the wheat in the shocks is covered with sprouts six inches long, but it will be better than first thought. The oats are nearly all lost, also the hay and flax. The corn will make half a crop, and the other grain about one-third.

Weekly Register, Point Pleasant, West Virginia, June 15, 1876
Our young friend J B Menager, left last Monday evening, on the Emma Graham, for a visit to his brother in Muncie, Indiana.

Weekly Register, Point Pleasant, West Virginia, June 14, 1877
James B Menager, Esq, Left on the the Hudson, Sunday, for Muncie, in Indiana, on a visit to his brother. He will be absent about a week.

Weekly Register, Point Pleasant, West Virginia, October 11, 1877
We regret to learn of the continued severe illness of our young friend, J L Menager, Esq, at Muncie Indiana. Mr Menager proposes to locate to Florida as soon as he is sufficiently recovered to go to that State.

Wheeling Daily Register, Wheeling, West Virginia, October 11, 1877
Boiler Explosion
Cincinnati, October 10, The Gazette's Muncie, Ind, special says that the boiler of H E McKendry & Co's heading factory exploded this morning, instantly killing Smith R Perdien, engineer, and Robert Flanors, the fireman, and seriously injuring Jacob Shockley and his son, and Patrick McCarty. The front part of the boiler, eight feet long and five feet in diameter, was thrown over the houses into the field two hundred and thirty yards away. Seventy-five men have been thrown out of work by the accident.

Wheeling Daily Intelligencer, Wheeling, West Virginia, May 19, 1879
Religious
Various Important Bodies in Session-Presbyterian Central Assembly...Saratoga, May 17...R F Effinger, from Muncie, Indiana, made a speech calling for assistance to the fund, saying that he would see that his Presbytery increased its contribution 200 percent, if he paid it himself.

Wheeling Daily Intelligencer, Wheeling, West Virginia, June 30, 1879
Crops Damaged
Muncie, Ind, June 28-There have been very heavy rains falling almost constantly in this section since 11 o'clock last night, doing much damage to the fine wheat crops now being harvested. At 8 o'clock tonight, rain commenced falling again, and indications are that further damage will be done to wheat and oats.

Wheeling Daily Intelligencer, Wheeling, West Virginia, August 26, 1879
R H Pelan, Esq, Waynesburg, Pa, W F Tingle and wife, Cincinnati; B W Smith, Lafayette, Ind, and Jas Capertor [Carpenter?], Muncie, Ind, are among the recent arrivals at the Stamm House.

Weekly Register, Point Pleasant, West Virginia, July 20, 1880
Local Matters
Personals-Mr George Stephenson, wife and daughter, of Muncie, Indiana, arrives in this place, Sunday, on the Andes, and are stopping with his brother, James M Stephenson. They come to see his old father, who is now lying very ill at his house in this place. Mr Stephenson is now, probably the oldest man in the county, and a good citizen. Mr George Stephenson returned to Muncie on Sunday evening, on important business, but will be here again during the week. His family will spend several weeks in this place.