USA > West Virginia > Genealogical and personal history of the upper Monongahela valley, West Virginia, Volume II > Part 16
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He is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons and the Knights of Honor.
Mr. Finnell married, in 1872, Lucy E., daughter of John H. Hoff- man. Children : Louisa E., married Dr. P. A. Gibbons, and Harry W., assistant general salesmanager of the Carbon Steel Company in their New York office.
There are few names more widely diffused among English-
JONES speaking peoples than that of Jones. Nor is its common occurrence a cause for wonder, when we recall how com- mon is the Christian name John-Jones signifying originally "son of John," the same as Johnson.
A host of immigrants bearing the Jones surname have come to our country, chiefly from England and Wales. It has been impossible to connect this family with any one of them. There was a Thomas Ander- son Jones, the first known ancestor in direct line, who had a son of the same name.
James Robinson Jones, son of Thomas Anderson Jones, was born in Smithton, West Virginia. As a boy he worked on the farm, later took up the trade of carpenter, and for a number of years was engaged in the manufacture of flour. Then he removed to the west and was in the butcher business, and later went to Vinita, Oklahoma, and installed the entire gas system of that place. Still later he returned east, worked at tool dressing in the oil fields, and is at present working again at his trade of carpentry. He married (first) Columbia, daughter of Valentine and Caroline Langfitt; she died in 1889. He later married Elizabeth Ann Paine Armstrong.
James Clyde Jones, son of James R. and Columbia (Langfitt) Jones, was born in Smithton, West Virginia, July 16, 1887. He was educated in the public schools in Smithton, and after serving one year as clerk in a store, attended the Doddridge county high school. He next went to Smithton, and worked on the pipe line. In 1907 he enter- ed the West Virginia University, where he graduated in the spring of 1910. He was admitted to the bar January 1, 1911, receiving a certi- ficate from the supreme court in February.
Mr. Jones served as assistant editor of the Daily New Dominion for eight months, and was for a time district manager of the New Eng-
Cerie Potter
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land Mutual Life Insurance Company, and district manager of the Casualty Company of America. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Smithton, and assistant superintendent of the Sun- day school, serving also several years as secretary of the same. In politics he is a Democrat. He is a member of the American Order of United Workmen, of the Modern Woodmen of America.
He married, January 28, 1912, Ina Edith Clark, a native of Star City, West Virginia, daughter of George M. and Mary E. Clark. Mr. Clark is deceased.
This family came from Maryland to West Virginia.
POTTER One of its descendants is Eric Potter, now residing at Morgantown, West Virginia. Three generations have been citizens of this state, and borne well their part in the development of the agricultural and industrial resources.
(I) Henry Potter, a native of Maryland, immigrated to West Virginia in 1852, and there engaged in farming and continued in that vocation until his death, October 3, 1865. He married Susan Ander- son. Children : Ella, Harriet Ann, Elizabeth, Virginia, John L., Cor- nelia, Belle, Mary E., Everett M. and Henry, who died young.
(II) John L. Potter, son of Henry and Susan (Anderson) Potter, was born in Monongalia county, West Virginia, December 27, 1854. He received his education in the public schools common at that day in his locality, and after leaving school engaged in farming. Politically, he was a Republican, and in church faith he was a believer in the teachings of the Methodist church. He married, in 1883, Elizabeth F. Coombs, daughter of Joseph G. Coombs. Children : Eric, of whom further; Belle, wife of Russell Powell; and Clarence. The wife and mother, Elizabeth F. (Coombs) Potter, died in Monongalia county. (III) Eric Potter, eldest child of John L. and Elizabeth F. (Coombs) Potter, was born near Laurel Point, West Virginia, August 3, 1884. He was educated in the public schools of his native county, and at the West Virginia State University, which fitted him for an active, successful business career. He engaged in leasing and buying and selling oil and gas land property until 1897, when he engaged in the insurance business at Morgantown; in 1910, he added real estate
II-2M
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business to insurance, and has been successful in his undertakings in both branches. He is largely interested in and manager of the Morgantown Realty Company. Mr. Potter is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church (North), and of the Knights of the Maccabees, also the Pa- triotic Order Sons of America.
June 18, 1907, he married Lillie Guthrie, of Mt. Morris, Pennsyl- vania, daughter of James P. Guthrie and wife.
Muta U. Swiger, a successful and enterprising business
SWIGER man of Shinnston, whose success has been attributable to those sterling qualities which he possesses, sound judg- ment, quick perception, activity and integrity, is a descendant of a Ger- man ancestry.
(I) Christopher Swiger, the first of the line here under considera- tion, was born in Germany about the year 1740. In early manhood he emigrated from his native land to seek his fortune in the new world, and upon his arrival here settled in Uniontown, Pennsylvania. He was a merchant, and on his return to Germany to purchase goods it was supposed that he was lost at sea, as he never returned.
(II) John, son of Christopher Swiger, was born at Uniontown, Pennsylvania, April 25, 1764. He was reared and educated there, and continued his residence there until about twenty-five years of age, when he removed to Harrison county, Virginia, where he spent the remainder of his days.
(III) Henry, son of John Swiger, was born in Harrison county, Virginia, February 2, 1812, and was assassinated in his own house on the night of December 16, 1864, for his strong Abolitionist belief. He was a man of courage and determination, as evidenced by the manner of his decease, a reader and thinker, and one of the leading men of the com- munity.
(IV) John B., son of Henry Swiger, was born in Harrison county, Virginia, January 3, 1846, died January 27, 1907. He was one of the early settlers of Grant district, Marion county, West Virginia, being interested in the planing mill business there, and being a man of strict integrity, uprightness of character and sound common sense, possessed in an eminent degree the confidence and respect of all who knew him. He was a soldier in the union army during the civil war, thus displaying
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his patriotism and valor. He married, May 25, 1869, Mary A. Roads, born in Highland county, Ohio, November 14, 1846, living at the pres- ent time (1911) at Shinnston. Among their children were: Muta U., see forward, and Minnie E., wife of Charles L. Harmer, a farmer of Shinns Run.
(V) Muta U., son of John B. and Mary A. (Roads) Swiger, was born in Grant district, Marion county, West Virginia, August 1, 1871. At the age of thirteen he accompanied his parents to Harrison county, West Virginia, and completed his studies in the common schools of that section. He studied his profession of watchmaker at La Porte, Indi- ana, thoroughly mastering all its details, and becoming a proficient workman. In 1884 he located in Shinnston, Harrison county, West Virginia, where in December, 1892, he established his present business, that of jeweler, his being the only regular jewelry establishment in that city. He is the owner of the building, has stock in both of the banks in Shinnston, also the Opera House Company, and owns a half interest in the Hartley & Swiger building, a business block of Shinnston. He pos- sesses that wonderful perseverance and that remarkable capacity for work, which enables a man to accomplish much in life, and which wins the esteem and confidence of his fellow citizens. He is an Independent Republican in politics, but has never sought or held elective office.
SWIGER Thomas L. Swiger, now retired from active business pursuits, a resident of Shinnston, where for many years he has taken an active interest in all that pertains to its welfare, was born in Harrison county, now West Virginia, September 24, 1838, son of Jacob Swiger, whose birth occurred on the old home- stead in Harrison county. His mother was Nancy (Watkins) Swiger; Jacob Swiger was a farmer.
Thomas L. Swiger attended the local schools, and after completing his studies engaged in farming, conducting his operations on the farm he still owns at Laurel Run, consisting of seventy-two acres, which is now in a high state of cultivation. He continued in this occupation until his retirement in 1890, when he removed to Shinnston and purchased the house he now resides in, one of the most comfortable and attractive there. The homestead farm of Mr. Swiger is in the center of a very productive oil field, and there have been eleven wells sunk on the place,
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all good producers, none less than one hundred barrels per day and as high as nine hundred. He is a stockholder in the First National Bank of Shinnston. He is a Baptist in religion, and a Republican in politics. He married, January 1, 1861, Amanda, born in Harrison county, now West Virginia, December 7, 1840, daughter of George W. and Rebecca (Riggs) Janes, the former of whom was an old settler in this section of the state. They were the parents of two children, one of whom died at birth, and the other, George A., died at the age of twenty-two years. Mr. and Mrs. Swiger celebrated their golden wedding on January 1, 19II, and this pleasant occasion was the scene of much enjoyment, many friends and relatives offering their congratulations.
Dr. Charles Oliver Henry, a leading physician of Fair-
HENRY mont, West Virginia, who enjoys an extensive and rapid- ly increasing practice, the result of the ability and skill which he has brought into his practice of medicine, was born December 3, 1856, in Fairmont, the son of Lawrence and Mary Ann ( Holmes) Henry.
Lawrence Henry, father of Dr. Henry, was born in Ayrshire, Scot- land, July 22, 1810, died March 7, 1887. He was the eldest of eight children, five sons and three daughters. When eighteen years of age his father died, and the support of the family devolved largely upon him, he being the eldest child. In 1837 he was given charge of a shaft in which four different veins of coal were worked, the thickness of the veins being five feet, three feet and ten inches, three feet, and twenty- eight inches. At this time he was employed by a Mr. Finnie, a large owner of coal lands in Scotland, who prized his services very highly, and when he decided to emigrate to the United States his employer told him if he ever felt inclined to return he would give him a far more lucrative position, a fact which amply testifies to his character and abil- ity. On July 4, 1845, Mr. Henry left his native land, and after a voyage of six weeks in a sailing vessel, arrived in New York City, Au- gust 7, locating at once in Mount Savage, Maryland, where he engaged in working a two-foot vein of bituminous coal which was then used at the Mount Savage furnaces, remaining in this employment for about two years. After the failure of the company, through which he was deprived of pay for four months, he obtained employment in the old
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Elkhart mines, two miles from Cumberland, and worked in the "Big Vein" for four years. While employed there he was seriously injured by a fall of slate, and this incapacitated him from active work for nine months. In 1851 he was employed by the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company to prospect for coal in the Hampshire hills, and he opened up for their use a vein near Piedmont. On March 18, 1852, he began the superintendence of McGuire's tunnel, looking after the arching of it for the last-named company, and in May of that year opened a vein of coal just over the Kingwood tunnel, which supplied them with coal until the completion of that tunnel. In August, 1852, he opened the Palatine mines, and in the following May shipped an eight-ton gondola of coal to General Columbus O'Donnell, of Baltimore, who was then president of the Baltimore Gas Company, it being the first shipment of coal from West Virginia. During the winter of 1853 he furnished coal for the third and fourth divisions of the Baltimore & Ohio Com- pany, and also made shipments to Baltimore. In 1854, when the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company sold the Palatine mines to Gen- eral Columbus O'Donnell, who retained Mr. Henry as superintendent, and two years later when General O'Donnell purchased the coal prop- erty at Newburg, West Virginia, Mr. Henry assumed charge of the same, in which capacity he served for about thirty years. On March 16, 1860, he was run over by a twelve hundred and fifty pound coal car, which accident almost cost him his life. After a long and tedious ill- ness he recovered in a measure, being crippled, but not so badly, how- ever, as to prevent his active management of the works. At the age of seventy-five years he was a well-preserved man. The success he attained in his active career was due in a great measure to the fact that he person- ally superintended all the work devolving upon him. He was one of the founders and an elder of the Presbyterian church at Newburg, and a charter member of Orrel Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
Mr. Henry married, June 16, 1837, Mary Ann Holmes, born in Irvine, Scotland, December 16, 1817, died October 9, 1899. She sur- vived her husband many years, his death occurring March 7, 1887. Children : 1. John Holmes, born in Scotland, March 15, 1838, died March 26, 1908; married, March 18, 1862, Eliza L. Marker, born May 6, 1844; children: i. Lawrence, born February 9, 1863, died March 23, 1863; ii. Marian Cockburn, born September 18, 1864; iii.
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Hannah Mahama, born January 16, 1866; iv. Ann Holmes, born January 2, 1869; v. Janet Mckenzie, born December 12, 1870; vi. Alberta, born March 31, 1873; vii. Blanch, born March 25, 1882. 2. Marian, born in Scotland, May 6, 1840; married, September 22, 1868, Charles Morgan, born November 4, 1836; children : i. Thomas, born June 28, 1869; ii. Lawrence Henry, born April 16, 1871; iii. John, born December 6, 1872; iv. Charles, born April 22, 1875; v. Francis, born May 19, 1877; vi. Isabella, born October 17, 1879, died October 23, 1879; vii. Mary Elvira, born December 17, 1880. 3. Mary, a twin of Marion, died in June, 1840. 4. Isabelle, born in Scotland, July 21, 1842 ; married, September 22, 1863, Morgan Dale Orr, born March 21, 1841 ; children : i. Lawrence Henry, born January 29, 1865; ii. Charles Hiram, born July 26, 1868; iii. Mary Ann, born April 26, 1871, died July 2, 1900; iv. Alice Dale, born September 7, 1876; v. Marian Isabelle, born August 13, 1878. 5. Mary, born in Scotland, November 4, 1844; married, October 10, 1865, Thomas Clinton Frazier, born March 28, 1844, died April 4, 1871 ; children: i. Mary Ann, born August 19, 1866; ii. William, born February 22, 1868; iii. Lawrence Henry, born May 12, 1870. 6. David, born at Mount Sav- age, Maryland, March 9, 1847; married, January 15, 1872, Annie Galentine, born April 2, 1849; children: i. Lawrence Holmes, born October 23, 1872, died November 6, 1872; ii. Lawrence Reese, born January 17, 1874; iii. John Holmes, born April 2, 1876; iv. Theresa Maude, born April 15, 1880. 7. Elizabeth, born near Cumberland, Maryland, November 3, 1849; married, March 16, 1872, James Wil- son, born November 11, 1836; children : i. James Morgan, born July 3, 1873; ii. Mary Cameron, born May 12, 1875; iii. Lawrence Henry, born February 7, 1877; iv. Rebecca Elizabeth, born January 13, 1880; v. John, born March 19, 1882; vi. Marian Isabel, born February 28, 1884. 8. Francis Lawrence, born February 16, 1852, died November 22, 1879. 9. Margaret Allison, born July 5, 1854; married, July 10, 1873, Joseph Alexander Gibson, born January 5, 1851; children : i. Lawrence Henry, born August 30, 1874; ii. Sarah McCombe, born February 1, 1876; iii. Robert, born October 1, 1878; iv. Mary Ann, born March 21, 1884; v. John, died at age of ten years; vi. Samuel. 10. Charles Oliver (of whom further). 11. James, born August 5,
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1859, died November 27, 1905 ; married, July 27, 1882, Sarah Hough, born July 4, 1864; one child, Lawrence, born February 12, 1883.
Charles Oliver Henry attended the common schools of the neigh- borhood, the State Normal School at Fairmont and the University of West Virginia. Choosing the profession of medicine for his life work, he placed himself under the preceptorship of Dr. H. W. Brock, of Morgantown, and the knowledge thus acquired was supplemented by attendance at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Baltimore, where he graduated in 1882 with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. He began the active practice of his profession at Shinnston, Harrison county, West Virginia, in May, 1883, and continued until 1903, when he removed to Fairmont, where he has now an excellent practice, which is steadily increasing year by year. He keeps in touch with the ad- vanced thought along the line of his profession by membership in the American Medical Association, in the West Virginia Medical Asso- ciation, in which he has served as first vice-president, and in the Marion County Medical Society. In October, 1911, at the annual meeting of the West Virginia Medical Association, he was elected president for a term of one year. For six years he served as county health officer, and in addition to his professional labors is acting in the capacity of presi- dent of the Lambert Run Coal Company, and is interested in the Fair- mont Dairies. He is a member of the First Baptist Church of Fair- mont, of which he is a deacon; of St. John's Lodge, No. 24, Free and Accepted Masons, of Shinnston, in which he has passed all the chairs; of Orient Chapter, No. 9, Royal Arch Masons; of the Royal Arcanum; and in political belief is a Republican.
Dr. Henry married, May 6, 1885, Virginia Lee Hood, born in Marion county, Virginia, August 4, 1862, daughter of William and Hannah (Coombs) Hood, the former of whom was a native of Grenada, Pennsylvania, and served as a soldier in the Confederate army during the civil war, being a prisoner for a short period of time. Children of Dr. and Mrs. Henry : Edith Holmes, born July 6, 1886; Agnes Lee, August 28, 1887; Ruth O'Donnell, August 16, 1890; Mary Ellen, January 16, 1894; Robert Mckenzie, August 22, 1896; Andrew Luke, August 6, 1899.
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One of the popular educators of Marion county, Joseph ROSIER Rosier, was born in that county, West Virginia, January 24, 1870, the son of John W. and Rebecca (Miller) Rosier. His father was born in Harrison county, West Virginia, 1844, and followed farming all his active life, dying in 1904. His mother, born in 1847, was the daughter of David Miller. She died in 1873.
Joseph Rosier was educated in the common schools of West Vir- ginia and at Salem Academy, later graduating from Salem College. His early years were spent on his father's farm. He took some spe- cial courses while at college, and taught his first term of school in a country district, at the age of twenty years. Since then he has made teaching his profession, and dating from 1900, has been superintendent of public schools in Fairmont. He was principal of the Salem graded schools for three years; member of the Harrison board of examiners for one year; county superintendent of free schools in Harrison county two years; instructor in the Salem College two years; member of the faculty of the Glenville State Normal School one year; member of the Fairmont State Normal School faculty three years, and has held other educational positions that have made his a busy life.
But by systematizing his time, he manages to attend to his duties as a member and an officer of his church; as a member of the Knights of Pythias; and as a member of the Young Men's Christian Association at Fairmont. As a means of providing for his family in case of his death, Mr. Rosier is connected with the Ancient Order of United Workmen. Politically he supports the Democratic party, and in church affiliation is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Among the numerous societies to which he belongs may be named the National Educational Association, the National Society for the Study of Edu- cation, etc. He has been the president and secretary of the West Vir- ginia Educational Association, and has conducted institutes for teachers for fifteen years in thirty counties of his state. In his determination to acquire an education, he has made a strenuous fight with unfavorable circumstances and has had the satisfaction of accomplishing his aim.
He married, August 14, 1895, Iva Randolph, a native of Salem, West Virginia, born October 15, 1872. She is the daughter of Pres- ton Fitz Randolph, a teacher for twenty-seven years, who graduated at Alfred University, Allegany county, New York. He had followed
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the profession of teaching in the counties of Harrison, Ritchie and Doddridge, West Virginia. He instructed many pupils and prepared them for teaching. His father was William Fitz Randolph, who aided his children in gaining an education by holding a private school at his own home. Mr. and Mrs. Rosier have children as follows: Nellie, born May 29, 1898; Robert, born April 10, 1902; Mary Josephine, born December 8, 1905.
ARNETT Hon. William E. Arnett, ex-mayor of Fairmont, and one of its progressive and enterprising citizens whose success is the result of his own persevering efforts, is a native of Arnettsville, Monongalia county, Virginia, now West Vir- ginia, born December 20, 1846, son of William M. and Elizabeth Ann (Hess) Arnett, and grandson of James and Rachel (Meredith) Arnett.
(II) William M. Arnett was born at Arnettsville, Virginia, No- vember 25, 1819, died October 27, 1903. He was brought up on a farm, educated in the common schools of the day, and after attaining manhood engaged in farming on his own account, also dealing in live stock, and was eminently successful along both lines. He was a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church, a Democrat in politics until the civil war period and after that a Republican, and a member of the Free and Accepted Masons. He married (first), November 7, 1837, Elizabeth Ann Hess, born March 20, 1820, daughter of William Hess. Children : Enos, born December 12, 1838, deceased; James H., April 17, 1841; Selina, December 21, 1843; William E. (of whom further) ; Mary Emeline, June 12, 1850, deceased; Tilly Ann, De- cember 1, 1852; Margaret Helen, May 5, 1855; Rachel Caroline, December 25, 1857. Mrs. Arnett died April 22, 1860. Mr. Arnett married (second), June 2, 1861, Mrs. Drusilla (Price) Cox, who bore him four children : Susan A., William M., Richard T., and Flor- ence. Mrs. Arnett died September 16, 1892.
(III) William E., son of William M. Arnett, was brought up on his father's farm, and acquired a practical education in the common schools of the neighborhood. Being inured to farm labor he chose that occupation for his active career, and followed that line successfully until 1880. Six years later he removed to Fairmont and engaged in the real
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estate business, handling coal and timber lands, from which he derived a lucrative livelihood, building up an extensive trade. In 1907 he was elected to serve in the responsible capacity of mayor of Fairmont, con- tinuing in office two years, during which time he proved both faithful and efficient. He was a member of the board of education during the building of the magnificent school houses in all parts of the city, and he took a deep interest with his associates in providing the well-equipped and commodious buildings as he took a keen and active interest in the cause of education. He holds membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, the Encampment and Canton of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and his political affiliation is with the Republican party.
Mr. Arnett married, February 10, 1867, Margaret Almira Cox, born in Marion county, Virginia, May 12, 1849, daughter of Dr. Boaz Burris Cox and Drusilla (Price) Cox. Children: I. Olive, born No- vember 4, 1867; married, September 19, 1891, John William Pepper and they have four children: Nellie, Chester, deceased; John, and Mary Frances. 2. Luther Calvin, born March 21, 1869; married, June 2, 1891, Sally Swindler and they have two children: Luther C., married, July 4, 1911, Margaret Reel; and James Gilbert; the father is a civil and mining engineer of Fairmont. 3. Drusilla J., born No- vember 30, 1871; married, July 2, 1889, Charles B. Chancelor, and they have children: Bessie Arnett, Victor Fleming, Charles William, Nelson Benjamin, Jennette Emeline, Margaret, deceased; Norvall, Olive Estelle, Almira Drusilla. 4. Jennette E., born May 13, 1882; married, October 20, 1906, Samuel Luper.
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