USA > West Virginia > Preston County > A History of Preston County, West Virginia, V. 2 > Part 21
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Thomas Jenkins married Hannah Sterling, and operated a powder mill at one time at Hudson. He manufactured about all the powder used by the early settlers in this part of the state. His wife was one of the attendants on the Corbly boys, who were wounded by the Indians, and afterwards taken into the fort. Evan Jenkins, son of Thomas, died September 1, 1877, aged 88 years. He married Hannah, daughter of David Graham, another very early settler in this part of Preston county. David Graham died October 8, 1839, at the age of 76 years. His wife, Hannah, died October 28, 1839, at the age of 72 years. Their daughter. Hannah, married Evan Jenkins. She died June 12, 1866, at the age of 71 years. Evan Jenkins' youngest son was Jonathan. He married Mary Cramer, and died March 24, 1864, at the age of 43. The other children were: Jehu, Peggy King, Hersey King, Amanda Bowermaster, John, and Louraine Rodaheaver.
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Jehu Jenkins, son of Evan, was born March 15, 1829, and died July 28, 1905. He married Ruffina Otto, who was born July 19, 1828, and died February 25, 1883. Jehu Jenkins was a prominent man and did much towards shaping the destiny and future welfare of Preston county in his day. He was a successful farmer, and a justice of the peace many years-an office then almost as important as the County Court is now. He was a self-educated man and a successful teacher also. As a man, Mr. Jenkins is spoken of by every one who knew him in terms of highest praise, and by not a few Prestonians in terms of endearment and affection.
The children born of this union were: (1) Thomas Benton, born December 9, 1853; he married Nancy Spindler and lives at Rockville, this county. (2) Mary Caroline, born November 21, 1858; she died January 28, 1875. (3) Charles Franklin, born February 8, 1861 ; married Mary Jane Livengood, December 31, 1884; she was the daughter of Samuel L. and Mary (Herring), and was born December 23, 1860. (4) George McClellen, born April 23, 1863; he married Sarah Kerns, and lives at Ellensburg, Washington. (5) John Edwards, born November 8, 1865; he married Frances C. Spiker, daughter of Robert R. and Angeline (Umberson) Spiker of Morgan's Glade; she was born October 8, 1874. The marriage occurred February 2, 1904. The children born to this union are as follows: Paul Evan, born March 28, 1906; Mary Evangeline, born July 31, 1907; Lulu Grace, born November 21, 1909; Naomi Ruth, born May 19, 1912. (6) William Howard, born July 18, 1867, unmarried. (7) Lulu M., who was daughter by Catherine Miller, Mr. Jenkins' second wife. She was never married.
The sisters of Jehu were: Peggy, who married Alfred King, now dead; Hessey, who married Albert King, who died in prison during the Civil War (his widow is now living in Bruceton, at the age of ninety-two years) ; Amanda, who married John Bowermaster ; Louraine, who married George Rodeheaver, and is now dead.
Charles F. Jenkins lives on the old Rodeheaver place, adjoining the old homestead place, and took up his residence here soon after his mar- riage. He owns 326 acres of land, all under a high state of cultivation and as productive as any that can be found in the county. Last year he raised 1,053 bushels of corn on 101/4 acres of ground. He also raised 400 bushels of buckwheat, 920 bushels of oats, and about 50 tons of hay. He is a successful farmer and stock raiser.
His children are as follows: (1) Dessie M., born October 15, 1885;
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(2) Clarence W., born November 23, 1886; (3) Samuel C., born August 19, 1889; (4) Frank G., born September 28, 1891 ; (5) Mary (6) Emma- twins, born March 19, 1892, died April 20 and April 23, 1892; (7) Perry Williams, born August 6, 1894; (8) Lillie G., born July 13, 1897; (9) Cora M., born May 8, 1903.
The farm of John Edwards Jenkins is not quite so large as his brother's, but the land is of the best quality. Both of the brothers are scientific farmers and very prosperous business men. Neither of them are office seekers, but John E. has been a member of the County Court three terms. He received a good common school education, is a close student of current events, and with a trained mind, has been a very suc- cessful teacher. He has taught twenty-six terms of school. His work as a teacher has been good. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he has been an official for many years. He is now and has been a class leader ten years, and has been Sabbath school superintendent for about twenty years. Politically he is a Republican. His party has frequently urged him to run for the Legislature, but with- out gaining his assent.
The farms of Charles Franklin and John Edward Jenkins are a part of the old Morgan Survey,-hence the name of Morgan's Glade. There was a post office here for three-fourths of a century.
JOSEPH T. WELTNER.
One of the later, but not less prominent, farmers of Preston county, is Joseph T. Weltner of Brandonville, who came with his family to this place about twenty-four years ago. He is the son of George and Mary (Conn) Weltner of Monongalia county, West Virginia, and was born December 4, 1847. He was educated in the common schools, reared on a farm about two and a half miles from Stewartstown, and remained at home assisting his father until twenty-eight years of age. The farm was operated by his father and uncle, Shelby Weltner, and consisted, all told, of about three hundred acre's. His father's family consisted of four brothers and two sisters, namely: Joseph T., Lydia, Elzy, Mattie, John, Jacob and George W., the youngest, named after his father. Of these children, John and Jacob are retired and live in Morgantown. Lydia is dead. Elzy died about two years ago. Hattie Delany lives at Smithfield, Pennsylvania.
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September 2, 1880, Mr. Weltner married Nancy M., daughter of George D. and Minerva Heaton Moore of Fairchance, Pennsylvania. She is a descendant of Benjamin Moore, who came to Burlington, New Jersey, in colonial times. The fruits of this union were: George Clyde, born April 24, 1882, and named after his two grandparents. The second child was Edna Blanche, born October 1, 1885. She is now in charge of the central 'phone office at Brandonville. Then came Paul, the youngest, born March 18, 1889. He is a student of the Physicians and Surgeons Medical College, Baltimore, Maryland. He graduates in 1915.
August 24, 1912, George Clyde married Frances Laura, daughter of Ross Alvo and Mable E. Orcutt. They have one son, George Carleton, born March 3, 1913. Edna Blanche married W. L. Nieman and has one child, Donald Glenn. He was born May 18, 1908.
Mr. Waltner lived near Fairchance, Fayette county, Pennsylvania. He followed farming, and sometimes worked at the carpenter trade. After nine years' stay there, he came to Brandonville and settled on the farm he now owns-a tract of land consisting of about 105 acres. In 1905, he built his residence, and has added other improvements to the homestead since that time. He is about to retire from the more active pursuits of life. Mr. Weltner is a Democrat, but no office seeker. He is a trustee of the M. E. Church, and there being no Baptist church in Brandonville, the church in which he was raised, he worships with the Methodists. His wife was raised a Cumberland Presbyterian.
George Clyde Weltner was educated in the colleges at Buckhannon and Shepherdstown of West Virginia. He followed surveying before he went to college, and was a member of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad corps of surveyors for that company. He has recently been on the Cheat River dams for the Pittsburgh Company. His wife's grandfather was Edward Dean Orcutt, a native of the state of Maine. He moved to Pennsylvania, where his son, Ross Alvo, was born in the county of Jefferson, that state, on May 11, 1859. In 1893, he moved to Oakland, Maryland, then to Preston county in 1903, and is now living in Pennsyl- vania again. His mother was a Mrs. McCullough, a descendant of Betsy Ross, who made the original American flag.
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CHARLES MORTIMER JACKSON.
Charles Mortimer Jackson, born April 21, 1878, at Kings- wood, is a son of Daniel Robinson and Rachel Gayner Martin Jackson, married March 22, 1877. The children of these parents are: C. M. Jackson; Hoy B., born May 21, 1880; Daniel A., October 21, 1881; Mildred M., May 6, 1888; Vernon F., September 21, 1890; Gertrude N., April 28, 1893; George D., April 29, 1895. Mr. D. R. Jackson was sheriff of the county at one time. Mr. C. M. Jackson was recorder of Kingwood four years, and a councilman one year. His business is that of tinner. He built his factory and shop in 1903. He married Miss Virginia Dare Brand, September 29, 1909. She was born April 17, 1876, at Reedsville, West Virginia, and is the daughter of William Harrison and Phoebe Jane (Gordon) Brand. Her father was a member of Company A, Ist West Virginia Cavalry, and served from 1861 to 1865. Their children were: Floyd C .; Cora L. Kis- ner; Anna E. Montgomery; L. Maude Lewis; Hattie O. Morgan; Vir- ginia D. Jackson, and Vennie D. Childs.
Mr. C. M. Jackson graduated from the Kingwood High School in 1895, and followed various occupations before he settled down to his trade, that of a hardware merchant being one of them. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias, also of the Grand Lodge.
HOY B. JACKSON.
Only about 90% of them succeed who venture into commercial busi- ness, but Hoy B. Jackson, merchant at Bretz, is doing a business there amounting to $40,000 annually, and his trade is still growing. He is the son of Daniel R. and Rachael (Martin) Jackson of Kingwood where he was born May 21, 1880. (See sketch of the Martin family.) His earlier life was spent in the schools of Kingwood, after which he learned the carpenter trade. This avocation was followed three years, then life and industrial insurance was taken up for the Empire Casualty Company of Parkersburg, and for the American Insurance Company of Philadelphia, but in 1906 he changed his business again, this time taking a clerkship in a general store, where he is now, until 1909, when he took its management, which is still under his direction. He was appointed postmaster May I, 1906.
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October 4, 1906, Mr. Jackson was married to Edna, daughter of William L. Lenhart of Kingwood, and to this union were born three children, one boy and two girls, namely : (1) James, born July 24, 1907; (2) Lucille, August 31, 1909; (3) Edna, October 12, 1912.
Mr. Jackson is a member of the Knights of Pythias and Modern Woodmen. He is a member of the Elco Concert Band, and plays the cornet and saxaphone.
THE STEMPLE FAMILY.
In 1783, a grant from the government was made to Godfrey Stemple of a tract of land of about 1,000 acres, near Aurora, the homestead being where Lewis Stemple now lives. Henry Lee was Governor of the State at that time, and the grant was No. 421. In 1784, Mr. Godfree Stemple, as the name was spelled, settled here with his family from Frederick, Maryland, then a wilderness full of wild beasts and heavy timber. His three sons, David, Martin and John, aided in clearing the land and erect- ing a house, the first dwelling place being nothing but a canvas tent, and that was their habitation from the time of their arrival in the winter month of December until the log structure was put up. John Stemple married Sarah Boyles, and died about 1830 or 1832. Their children were: Margaret, Isaac, David, Susan, Christina, Sarah and Elizabeth. David was born in 1808, and died June, 1898. He married Susanna Lantz, November 17, 1835. She was born May 16, 1811, and died April, 1903. They rebuilt the old house in 1868, now occupied by Roy Lantz, who married the great-great-granddaughter of Godfrey Stemple.
The children of David and Susanna Stemple were as follows: (1) Harriet, born in 1837, died in 1863. (2) John H., born in 1839, died in December, 1904. In 1869 he married Rebecca Ann Shaffer, and they had five children : (a) Horace L., who married Retta Wilt; they and their three children, Freda, John and Edna, live on a farm which is a part of the original tract ; (b) Edgar C., married Laura Hess ; they have two children, Marion and Lewis, and live in Fairmont, West Virginia ; Mr. Stemple is a merchant; (c) George R., married Cora Anderson, wlio died in May, 1913; they have two children, Godfrey and Virginia; the little boy thus far being the only child named after the founder of the family : Dr. Stemple is educated for a physician, but because of ill health
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is now retired and is the very efficient postmaster of Aurora ; (d) Jesse L., married Jeckie Mason, and their two children are Clinton and Josephine; Mr. Stemple is a successful merchant in Aurora; (e) Ora is the youngest child, and she and her mother live on the farm on which her father spent most of his life; it was a part of the Stemple tract. (3) Tenie was born in 1841. She is unmarried and lives with her brother, Lewis. (4) Lewis S. Stemple was born March 6, 1844, and reared on a farm. He was married December 25, 1878, to Mollie E. McCrum. She was born January 20, 1852, died December 22, 1881. The children born to this union were: (a) Daisy; (ab) Chester David, died June 2, 1884; Daisy is now the wife of W. R. Gorby of Oklahoma City; Mr. Stemple's residence where he now resides is where he moved soon after his marriage. (5) Eva Stemple was born in 1846. She was married to David Schrock, December 25, 1878, and lives on a farm near Eglon, West Virginia. They had six children, one dying in infancy; (b) Ernest, married Mayme Legge; they have three children, Margaret, Ernestine and Rosaline; Mr. Schrock has a farm south of Aurora; (c) Maude, married to Ray Lantz, and now living in the house where her mother was born; their children are Mabel and David; (d) Page, and (e) Scott, are unmarried, and both are teachers; (f) George, married Nellie Winters; they have one child, Virginia, and live on their farm near Eglon. (6) Jacob Stemple was born in 1849. In 1876, he married Lydia Simon of Youngstown, Ohio. She died in 1891. To them was born one child, Sylvia, now married to A. Camden Wilt, a carpenter of Aurora. They have one child, Margaret. (7) David Conrad Stemple was born July 9, 1851. On September 26, 1880, he was married to Ida Trotter, born May 26, 1856, daughter of James and Elizabeth Stock Trotter, who are the parents of four sons and two daughters: Milo H. is identified with the Land Department at Washington, D. C .; Charles F. is chief clerk to the First Assistant Postmaster General; Frank B., the third son, is Dean of the Arts and Sciences and Professor of Latin in the State University at Morgantown; James R. is Professor of Law in that same institution, and Miss Jessie Trotter, the youngest of the family, formerly a teacher in the West Virginia Wesleyan College at Buckhannon, is now one of the teachers in the Morgantown High School.
The children born to Mr. and Mrs. D. C. Stemple are as follows :- (I) Forrest W .; (2) Rodney M .; (3) Grover Dayton; (4) Mary Eliza- beth. Forrest W. took the degree of A. B. from the Morgantown State
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University in 1908, and is now completing the course of Master of Arts in the Agricultural College at Madison, Wisconsin. June 12, 1909, he married Miss Grace Townsend, daughter of a minister of the M. E. Church at Huntington, West Virginia. Rodney took the degree of B.S., from the University at Morgantown in 1910. He became a traveling salesman for Heinz Pickle Company for a time, and is now superin- tendent of the Coldwater Packing Company of Coldwater, Michigan. June 19, 1913, he married Miss Florence Warden, of Babylon, New York. Dayton died in childhood. Mary Elizabeth Stemple is complet- ing a course in Domestic Science at the Carnegie Institute, Pittsburg.
The old Stemple homestead where D. C. Stemple lives is a valuable tract of land, consisting of 226 acres. He deals largely in cattle. Occa- sionally Mr. Stemple is nominated for some public office, but he cares little for politics.
WILLIAM T. D. MARTIN.
A full history of the Martin family in Preston county can be found in another part of this work. Philip, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was of German descent, and settled about two miles from Kingwood, on a farm since owned by Judge Dille. Their children were as follows : (1) John, who died about thirty-five years ago, about seventy years of age, at Gladesville. (2) Jacob, of Bruceton Mills, long since departed. (3) Susan, who married William Forman. (4) Margaret, who married William Snyder. They lived on Muddy Creek, but subsequently moved to Iowa. (5) Philip, the father of W. T. D. Martin. (6) Joseph, - - -; (7) David, ....
Philip Martin was born about four years before the War of 1812, and remembered seeing some of the soldiers of that war. He was born near Pleasantdale, on a farm adjoining the old Garner homestead, and raised a farmer. He attended faithfully to his duties as a voter, but was no politician. He was a devoted member of the Methodist church and an old-fashioned class leader of that society for eight or ten years. He married when twenty-five years of age, his wife being Nancy, daughter of Moses Beavers. The young couple took up their residence on the James Miller farm above Rowlesburg. He was a successful farmer, and later moved south of Kingwood, where he died in 1896,
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at the age of eighty-eight years, and was buried on the home place. His wife died September 30, 1868, and was buried on the home place. Their children were: (I) Mary Ann, who married Daniel Adams and moved to Tucker county, where she died in 1865; (2) Susan, who mar- ried George Adams, son of Daniel, and moved to Tucker county also; (3) Samuel, who died at the age of sixty-five, at Kingwood, in 1899. IIç was Colonel of the 15th W. Va. Infantry, and was all through the war. His wife was Harriet J. Synder. (4) W. T. D., of whom mention will again be made. (5) Philip B., died February 23, 1889, and was buried on the home farm. He married Retta Hammond, and to this union four children were born, namely: (1) Bessie, who is now the wife of George Barker, an engineer on the B. & O. Railroad, residing in Keyser, West Virginia; (2) Purley Theodore, who is now living in Ohio and is studying for the ministry ; (3) Ethel, who married Everett Mathews, an operator for the B. & O. Railroad, residing in Cumber- land, Maryland; (4) Dora Malissa, who now lives in Keyser, West Vir- ginia. (6) Nancy Catherine, wife of Rev. W. D. Herndon. They reside in Buckhannon, West Virginia. Thier children are as follows: (a) Morgan, who is a traveling salesman; (b) William Edward, a cashier in the Bank of Buckhannon; (c) Beulah, wife of Clarence Bryant, all residents of Buckhannon, West Virginia. (7) Lydia E., wife of Henry Harriman. To this union seven children were born, as follows: (a) Minnie May, who departed this life about twenty years ago; (b) Dora Belle, wife of Robert Giaour, a farmer near Oakland, Maryland; (c) twins, who died in infancy; (d) Philip Amos, a farmer who resides near Herring, West Virginia; (e) Addie, who died in infancy; (f) William Henry, a bookkeeper in Terra Alta Bank, West Virginia; (8) Sarah V., wife of Samuel Evans, who resides in Howard City, Michigan ; (9) Melissa M., wife of Henry Beckman, a farmer and stock dealer, who resides on a farm six miles from Oakland; (10) John A., who died when four years of age.
William T. D. Martin was born January 17, 1844, on the old home place northwest of Kingwood. His educational opportunities were limited to two or three months schooling in the winter time during his earlier years only, but he has been a close student and has a remarkable memory. When eighteen years of age he enlisted in the army, becoming a member of the 6th W. Va. Infantry, and served to the end of the war, most of his time guarding on the B. & O. Railroad. On Mr. Martin's return home he married and lived first on a tract of land con-
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
A TOR, LENOX ILDEN FOUNDATIONS
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sisting of two hundred acres, about six miles from his birthplace. He stayed there from 1865 to 1888, then sold and removed to where he now lives, about two miles from Irona. The farm consists of one hundred and thirty acres of choice land, which he bought of Jamison Snyder. n excellent orchard of six hundred trees is on the place. The farm is adapted principally to the raising of produce. Mr. Martin deals to some extent in cattle, always interested in the best grades of stock only.
On November 10, 1879, Mr. Martin was married to Mary E. Shahan, who was a daughter of Abraham Shahan, and from this union were born the following children : (1) Lloyd W., born September 6, 1871. He married Stella Conner and lives at Carnegie, Pennsylvania. They have one child, Lucy. He is a railroad conductor. (2) Avis, born September 15, 1873, is the wife of C. A. Craig. (See history of Craig family.) (3) J. Guy, born March 5, 1876. He was educated at the Fairmont State Normal and taught school for several years. He is now at Phoenix, Arizona, on a homestead. (4) Lulu A., born November 16, 1879, was educated at the Kingwood High School. She was a school teacher also. She is the wife of Norman Cale, a farmer. No children. (5) Sarah M., born July 16, 1882, remains at home. (6) Harry J., born July 9, 1886. Hhe was educated in the Fairmont State Normal, has been teaching eight years, and is now carrying the mail on a rural route from Tunnelton. Mr. Martin, following after his father, has always been interested in politics, but is no office seeker. He is devoted to church work and has been a clas sleader in the Methodist Society dur- ing the past eight years, and six years at one time before that. The Martins have all been good representatives of that old, industrious pioneer class of open-hearted farmers whose latchistring always hung out for the weary traveller and not infrequent passer-by to enter when- ever hungry or in need of water to drink-a class of old-timers that will some day be a thing only of the past, much to the disgrace of our boasted civilization.
HERBERT THEODORE HAUGER.
Among the progressive young men of Preston county may be men- tioned H. T. Hauger, deputy assessor and candidate for the county superintendency of schools at the coming primary election.
Mr. Hauger was born January 22, 1881, and for a young man has held many positions of honor and trust. His earlier years were spent
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on the farm, then the common school education received during that time was supplemented by a normal course of several terms, after which he spent fifteen years in the school room as a teacher, all of which has fitted him well and thoroughly for the work of a superintendent of schools. A large experience has also been gained in other capacities. He was recorder of the town of Terra Alta since 1911. Has been mem- ber of that council since 1913. Was assistant postmaster, 1903-04; was secretary of Brandonville & Terra Alta Telephone Company six years ; secretary and manager of Aurora, Oakland and Terra Alta Telephone Company four years, and besides a mercantile experience of two years in a store at Guseman, has had other experiences that peculiarly fit him for an official in public life.
Mr. Hauger is a son of William Joseph Hauger and Teresa L. Welch, and grandson of Francis Hauger, who located at Cuzzart about the close of the Civil War on a farm now owned by George Rodeheaver. Here a grist mill on Muddy Creek was set up and operated by him and his children until quite recently. The father of our subject was accustomed to haul the products of this mill to Brownsville, Pennsyl- vania, a business followed for many years in addition to work on the home farm. He died March 10, 1895, at the age of 48 years. By his wife he became the father of (1) Marshall Walter, now a farmer on the home farm. He married Maude Turney and has six children. (2) Mary Virginia, who married Harvey J. White. (3) Joseph Lloyd, who lives at Gary, Indiana. (4) Andrew Jackson, who died young. (5) Gilbert Clinton, who owns part of the home place. (6) Herbert Theodore, who married Flora Maude Walls, December 24, 1906; one son, James William, was born to this union, May 6, 1910; Mrs. Hauger is a daughter of J. H. and Phoebe King Walls, of Rockville. (8) Effie Estelle, who married Elmer Miller and lives near Terra Alta. (9) ---. (10) William Francis. (II) Sanford Earle. (12) Okey Ray. (13) Pearle, who married John Wiles and lives at Glade Farms.
OMER Y. SHAW.
Benjamin Shaw, from Ireland, the first of whom anything can be learned in this country, was made a sheriff in one of the East Virginia counties by reason of his having been a justice of the peace longer than any other in his county. He had children: Edgar, Celia and William Shaw.
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