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KANAWHA COUNTY WEST VIRGINIA - BIOS: NEVIUS, James
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Submitted to the West Virginia Biographies Project by:
SSpradling@aol.com
September 19, 1999
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History of Kanawha County
George W. Atkinson
1876
p. 291-292
JAMES NEVIUS
James Nevius, the well-known blacksmith of Charleston, was born August ii,
i8o6, in Rockbridge county, Virginia. His parents were poor, and as Virginia
had no common schools, his education was necessarily limited. He, however,
obtained a knowledge of the ordinary English branches, and was, in his way,
competent to keep his own ac-counts, and manage his own business.
In 1840 Mr. Nevius started westward. Arriving in Greenbrier county, and being
favorably impressed with that beautiful and fertile section, he located
there, and established himself in business-blacksmithing. He commenced work
in a blacksmith shop in 1822, in his native county, and when he opened a shop
in Lewisburg, Greenbrier county, he had mastered his trade, and was
pronounced a number-one mechanic. Shortly after his arrival at Lewisburg, he
was united in marriage with Miss Jane McClelland, a resident of that county,
and a lady of solid character and worth.
In October, 1843, Mr. Nevius, and family removed to Kanawha. The day after
their arrival in Charleston, he began work in a blacksmith's shop, which was
situated where C. J. Botkin's store now stands, on Kanawha street, near the
lower ferry. The next year he bought a lot on Goshorn street, between
Kanawha and Virginia streets, built a blacksmith's shop, and has continued at
the anvil, in that old building, till the present time.
Mr. Nevius is a man of stalwart frame, and unusual physical force. He has had
a constitution of extraordinary endurance. For a number of years he actually
labored an average or nineteen hours out of every twenty-four, from Monday
morning until Saturday night. He had the reputation of being the best
horseshoer in the Kanawha Valley, and bears that honor to this day. He never
lacked for something to do, and being both healthy and industrious, he was
always at his post from early morn till late at night.
Mr. Nevius is now upwards of seventy years of age, and never loses a day from
his shop. Jf it were not for weakness in his limbs, occasioned by standing
at the anvil for so many years, he could do as much work today as he could
turn out forty years ago.
James Nevius is a man of positive convictions. He does his own thinking,
acts honorably in all of his dealings, and is truthful, reliable and upright.
He has been a consistent member of the Presbyterian church for nearly a half
century, is a good citizen, and is personally liked by every man who ever
knew him.
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