USA > West Virginia > Genealogical and personal history of the upper Monongahela valley, West Virginia, Volume II > Part 18
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Lawrence Elbert Hawkins obtained a practical education in the public schools of his native place, and at the age of fifteen years began his active career in mercantile business at Mannington, continuing along that line until he attained the age of twenty-five. He then entered the employ of the First National Bank at Mannington in the capacity of bookkeeper, and later was appointed cashier of the Bank of Farming- ton, West Virginia, remaining for a short period of time. In 1905 he took up his residence in Shinnston, and at once accepted the cashiership of the Farmers' Bank of that place, which office he is filling at the pres- ent time (1911) to the satisfaction of all concerned. He is a man of influence in the community, public-spirited and faithful to all trusts com- mitted to him. He is a stockholder in the local Opera House, having been one of the originators of the plan, a stockholder in the Gas & Water Company, owner of several lots and a house in connection with
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C. A. Short, and also owner of his own residence located on Station street. Mr. Hawkins and his family attend the Methodist Episcopal church, in which they take an active and keen interest. In politics he is a Democrat, and holds membership in Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, being a member of Orient Chapter, No. 9, of Fairmont, West Virginia; Clarksburg Commandery, No. 13, Knights Templar, of Clarksburg, West Virginia; and the Knights of Pythias.
Mr. Hawkins married, June 5, 1906, at Shinnston, West Virginia, Estelle Fleming, born in Shinnston, August 25, 1873, daughter of William H. and Mary C. (Morris) Fleming. Child, Lawrence Flem- ing, born February 19, 1909, at Shinnston.
SHORT This is one of the many families that emigrated from Pennsylvania to West Virginia, and whose coming add- ed to the sturdy settlement at a time when active, honor- able men and true-hearted women were in great demand as state builders, and this family bore well its part in the development of this country along the waters of the Monongahela river.
(I) Samuel Short was born in 1807, near Brockton, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, died August 18, 1865. By occupation he was a steam- boat carpenter, but later in life became a farmer. He moved to Harri- son county, Virginia, in 1847. He married Elizabeth Everson, who died March 14, 1850; she was a native of Pennsylvania.
(II) John, son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Everson) Short, was born June 18, 1836, died December 17, 1864, being killed while on duty on a farm on Laurel Run by northern soldiers; it was no more nor less than a cold-blooded murder. He was a farmer, residing on his farm four miles from Shinnston, West Virginia. He married Mary Ellen Tetrick, born in 1838, died August 30, 1876. Children: I. Samantha Jane, born December 23, 1861, wife of Robert R. Hardesty ; they have two children, Blanche Opel and Guy Ashby. 2. Charles Ashby, see forward.
(III) Charles Ashby, son of John and Mary E. (Tetrick) Short, was born October 22, 1863, in Clay district, Harrison county, West Virginia. He there obtained a fair common school education, after which he learned the carpenter's trade and followed it for twenty-nine years, and has been a successful contractor for twenty-three of these
C.A. Short
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years. He is one of the directors in the Farmers' Bank at Shinnston, having been connected with the bank since he leased the building in which it was first kept. Politically he votes the Democratic ticket and was a candidate for commissioner and sheriff, but was defeated. He belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He dates his coming to Shinnston from March 24, 1883, and has had the largest business as a carpenter and builder in this section of the country. He built the college building at Salem, West Virginia; the public school building at Adamson; one at Clarksburg, other buildings at Wilsons- burg and Enterprise, and was the architect of the new school house at Shinnston, and a large number of residences at Shinnston and other towns. In his church relations Mr. Short is of the Methodist Prot- estant denomination and he is an officer in this church, having served as such for upwards of a quarter of a century.
He married, March 26, 1892, Minnie M. Smith, born near Meadowbrook in 1872, daughter of Jefferson Johnson and Emily Margarette (Hoff) Smith. Children: John Jefferson, died aged five years; Zilla Grace, born January 18, 1898; George Ashby, born April 18, 1904. The Smith family descends from the Aaron Smith stock, related to James Madison and Patrick Henry. Elias Smith, grandfather of Mrs. Short, was born in Harrison county, Virginia, September 11, 1798, died February 19, 1880. He was the son of Aaron Smith, who came from the east about 1780. Elias Smith mar- ried Mary A. Johnson, born February 14, 1802, came to Harrison county, in 1816, died February 5, 1890. Jefferson Johnson Smith was born March 13, 1827, died October 9, 1892; his wife died February 13, 1903. Mrs. Short's grandfather on her mother's side was Samuel Hoff, born in Pendleton county, West Virginia, came to Harrison county, when two years of age; the date of his birth was October 2, 1802. He married Catherine Faris, born August 19, 1806, in Harri- son county, Virginia, and died March 17, 1872.
PRICE Three generations or more of this Price family resided in Lowell, Ohio, and that vicinity, but finally members of the same removed to Clarksburg, West Virginia.
(I) John Price, grandfather of Dr. Price, the dentist of Clarks- burg, lived and died near Lowell, Ohio; he was by occupation a farmer and he married and reared a family, including a son Sanderson.
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(II) Sanderson, son of John Price, was born in 1833, in Lowell, Ohio, died in 1902. He was a contractor, and resided all his life in Lowell. He was an active Republican and was of the Congregational church faith. He married Charlotte Lucinda Fleck, born December 23, 1842, at Lowell, Ohio, and is now living at Clarksburg, West Vir- ginia, with her son, John E. Children, four sons and four daughters, four of the eight being now deceased. The living are : Helen A., born 1861, now conducting a millinery store at Clarksburg, lives with her brother, John E .; Blanche E. and Warren McGee (twins), born 1874, reside at Crystal, Idaho, where Warren McGee is a ranchman; John Everette, born 1881, see forward. George Fleck, father of Charlotte L. (Fleck) Price, was born and died near Lowell, Ohio; he was a cattle man and an extensive farmer in that section of Ohio; also served as a justice of the peace.
(III) John Everette Price, D. D. S., youngest child of Sanderson and Charlotte Lucinda (Fleck) Price, was born at Belpre, Washing- ton county, Ohio, December 5, 1881. He graduated from the high school of his native place in 1897, after which he went to Parkersburg, West Virginia, for the purpose of studying dentistry. He remained one year with Dr. Minx. He entered the Ohio Dental College of Cin- cinnati, in 1900, graduated in 1903, and began his practice at Macks- burg, Ohio, where he continued until August, 1905, when he removed to Clarksburg, West Virginia, where he now has a lucrative dental practice, with offices, well situated, in the Odd Fellow's building. Polit- ically he is a Republican, and in church faith a Presbyterian, belonging to the First Church. He is identified with the Woodmen of the World, a fraternal insurance society.
This is a family that emigrated from Switzerland KESSLER about a half century ago and located in Maryland. The grandfather of Dr. Kessler, of Clarksburg, with his family, consisting of wife and one son, came to this country to better their circumstances, but unfortunately the Swiss emigrant did not live long after arriving in America. For the purpose of this article he will be known as representing generation (I) of the family now to be con- sidered.
(II) Peter Kessler, only child of the emigrant Kessler, was born
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in Switzerland, and was but a small boy when the family emigrated to America from their native land. He married Kate Merryman, still living in Baltimore county, Maryland, aged seventy-one years, daugh- ter of John Merryman, who was a miller in Baltimore county, Mary- land. Peter Kessler lives at Butler, Maryland, and is by occupation a canner and farmer, and is the same age as his wife. His has been an industrious life, and he has given his family the best possible chance of obtaining an education suitable to his means and the times in which he has lived.
(III) Dr. Calvin Merryman Kessler, son of Peter and Kate (Merryman) Kessler, was born at Butler, Maryland, January 27, 1880. He attended the local schools of his native county, entered Maryland Medical College at Baltimore, Maryland, in 1906, coming to Gassaway, Paxton county, West Virginia, where he remained until 1910, then relocated at Clarksburg, his offices being situated in the new Gore building. Politically he votes the Democratic ticket, and is a member of Knights of Pythias fraternity and the Elks order. While the family are of the Baptist church faith, he and his family usually attend the Methodist church at Clarksburg. The practice that he has built up in two years at Clarksburg is indeed remarkable, and only shows that the modern medical education is far superior to that of the long-ago-years.
He married, at Clarksburg, August 17, 1909, Caroline Cole, a native of Clarksburg, West Virginia, daughter of William L. Cole, retired. He was an extensive coal dealer, and is a native of Washing- ton, D. C., coming to Harrison county, West Virginia, when a mere lad. He worked at the butcher's trade for the union army during the civil war. He married Mary A. Peck, a native of Clarksburg, and is still living.
Pennsylvania was the former home state of this
RUMBAUGH family, now represented in West Virginia. (I) Simeon Rumbaugh was born in East Brady, Penn- sylvania, in 1825, died aged seventy-four years, in 1899. He was a lumberman nearly all of his active life. He married and had a son John, see forward.
(II) John, son of Simeon Rumbaugh, was also born in East
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Brady, Pennsylvania, the date of his birth being 1851. He now has charge of the South Penn Oil Company's business in the north part of West Virginia. He is politically a Democrat, and in religious faith is of the Methodist denomination. He married Anna M. Thompson. Children: Roy Duffy, see forward; Guy Neely, now of Shinnston, West Virginia.
(III) Roy Duffy Rumbaugh, D. D. S., son of John and Anna M. (Thompson) Rumbaugh, was born at Bradford, Pennsylvania, De- cember 16, 1884. He attended the Pittsburgh high schools, from which he graduated in 1904, when he entered Pennsylvania State Col- lege and from that institution to the University of Pittsburgh, from which he graduated in 1909. He took a thorough course in dental surgery and located at Clarksburg, West Virginia, where he now has offices in the Emoire building. His practice is already regarded by his fellow dentists as being remarkable, and he has all the work possible for him to attend to. Politically he is an independent voter. He be- longs to the Masonic order; Psi Omega and the Theta Psi, college fra- ternities. Having provided himself with all necessary modern office equipment, and being a thorough master of his profession in which he takes great interest, he cannot fail of holding a large and lucrative dental practice at Clarksburg.
BENTLEY A man whose force of character and business ability would make him a leader in any community is Sam- uel Richard Bentley, of Clarksburg, West Virginia, agent for the New York Life Insurance Company. Mr. Bentley has been for a dozen years a resident of Clarksburg and is prominently identified with its best interests.
(I) John Bentley, the first of the line, was born in England and there spent his entire life engaged, as his father had been before him, in the woolen mill business. At the time of his death Mr. Bentley was a man of middle age.
(II) Joseph, son of John Bentley, was born in Bradford, York- shire, England. As a young man he emigrated with his wife to the United States, settling at Jacksonville, Illinois. Throughout the active years of his life he was engaged, like his father and grandfather, in the woolen mill business. His wife, Jane Brown, is also a native of
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England, and the following children have been born to them: Albert W., of Hamilton, Kansas, editor and proprietor of the Hamilton Grit; James, died in infancy; a daughter, also died in infancy; and Samuel Richard, mentioned below. In June, 1899, Mr. and Mrs. Bentley came to Clarksburg, where they have since resided, Mr. Bentley is now seventy years old and has retired from business.
(III) Samuel Richard, son of Joseph and Jane (Brown) Bentley, was born November 12, 1877, in Spencersburg, Missouri. He was but two years old when his parents moved to Warsaw, Illinois. It was in the public schools of that place that he received his education, and as a boy he was employed by the J. C. Geitz Furniture Company of St. Louis, Missouri. He possessed no small share of histrionic ability, and on reaching manhood studied elocution, afterward reading for two seasons in the Mozart Symphony Club of Des Moines. In 1899 he went to Pittsburgh and joined the Grand Opera House Stock Company of that city, appearing, during the time he remained with them, in com- pany with some of the leading dramatic artists of the United States. In November, 1899, he came to Clarksburg and associated himself as traveling salesman with the Ruhl-Koblegard Company, wholesale gro- cers, retaining the position until December, 1903, when the company retired from business. It was during this period that his remarkable business abilities were first manifested, rendering the connection so thor- oughly satisfactory to his employers, that Mr. Koblegard took the young man on a European trip in recognition of his valuable services.
In June, 1904, Mr. Bentley established his present agency for the New York Life Insurance Company, in the conduct of which he has been singularly successful. Owing to his discretion and foresight in selling insurance very few of his policies lapse, and a number of his clients place their insurance with him year after year without any solici- tation, the majority of his policies being on the lives of bankers, law- yers and business men. He holds the position of leader for February, 191I, being entitled to the honor of having produced the largest volume of business for that month and year. Since the date of his identification with the company Mr. Bentley has each year qualified as a member of the One Hundred Thousand Dollar Club. In politics Mr. Bentley is a Republican, but has never taken active part in public affairs, preferring to concentrate his energies on his business. He be-
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longs to the United Commercial Travellers' Association. A man of fine appearance and genial nature, he is a popular member of the local lodge of Elks with which he affiliates and in which he holds the rank of past exalted ruler.
Among the successful business men of Shinnston, whose LOWE success has not been achieved solely from mere activity, perseverance, and judicious action, but personal virtue, combined with these, may be mentioned Orville L. Lowe, born near Clarksburg, Harrison county, West Virginia, August 29, 1863, on his father's farm. He is a son of John and Hattie (Higginbotham) Lowe, natives of Harrison county, West Virginia.
Orville L.Lowe obtained an excellent rudimentary education in the schools of the vicinity, and upon the completion of his studies assisted his father with the duties of the farm, remaining until he attained his twenty-sixth year. He then took up his residence in Shinnston and for one year was engaged in the hardware business, after which he estab- lished his present business, that of livery, and has conducted it success- fully for twenty-one years. He has presented in his quiet and unob- trusive way a phase of successful business life which we do not often see, one that illustrates the fundamental principles of a true life, what- ever the forms its enterprise assumes. He holds membership in the Baptist church, casts his vote for the candidates of the Democratic party, and is a stockholder in the Farmers' National Bank of Shinns- ton. Mr. Lowe is the owner of three hundred and fifty-five acres located one and a half miles southeast of Shinnston, and also owns one of the finest residences in Shinnston, just completed, situated on a bluff overlooking the entire city, whereby a magnificent view is obtained.
Mr. Lowe married, in Shinnston, November 13, 1889, Virginia Shinn, a native of Shinnston, born in February, 1867, daughter of David Mahlon and Rebecca (Fleming) Shinn, the former of whom was born in Shinnston, was a farmer and timberman, and died about the year 1906. Children of Mr. and Mrs. Lowe: Esther, born April 18, 1891; Robert, August 10, 1897; David, March 10, 1900.
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One of the leading members of the dental profession in ELDER the Monongahela Valley is Dr. John Andrew Elder, who enjoys the distinction of being the oldest (in point of service) dentist in Shinnston, whose success in his chosen calling has been the result of activity, perseverance and a thorough knowledge of the work to which he has devoted himself. He was born in Taylor county, West Virginia, April 23, 1876, son of George Washington and Mary (Hertzog) Elder, natives of Taylor county, and grandson of John Rilery Elder, whose birth occurred in Taylor county, and whose death occurred in the year 1910. George Washington Elder, now residing in the vicinity of Boothsville, Harrison county, devotes his attention to agricultural pursuits. During the civil war he served in the capacity of teamster for the union army, remaining throughout the entire period.
Dr. John Andrew Elder attended the local schools and the knowl- edge thus obtained was supplemented by attendance at the Normal School at Fairmont. After completing his studies he turned his atten- tion to the profession of teaching, and was employed for three years in the public schools of Taylor county, achieving a certain degree of success along that line. He then began the study of dentistry, pursuing his studies in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Baltimore, Maryland. He took up his residence in Shinnston, West Virginia, October 14, 1901, and at once engaged in active practice, which has steadily increased in volume and importance during the intervening years. He resides on the west side of Shinnston, being the owner of the property, and being public-spirited to the highest degree, is ever forward in promoting every project which has for its object the welfare of the city and the community in which he has made his home. He is a stockholder in the First National Bank of Shinnston, a Baptist in religion, a Democrat in politics, and a member of the Modern Woodmen of America.
Dr. Elder married in Taylor county, West Virginia, October I, 1902, Stella Stark, a native of Taylor county, born February 26, 1882, daughter of H. L. and Mary (Scranage) Stark; the former of whom is a farmer of Taylor county, residing north of Flemington. Chil- dren of Dr. and Mrs. Elder : Grace Ernestine, born October 23, 1903; Mary Gladys, August 8, 1907.
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The following genealogical narrative will treat of COFFMAN three generations of the Coffman family, of West Virginia, the several heads of these generations being George W., the grandfather, died in 1869; Truman James, born 1848; Ira Wade, born 1877, now of Clarksburg, where he is clerk of the cir- cuit court in and for Harrison county.
(I) George W. Coffman was born and lived in the upper portion of Harrison county, West Virginia, all his life, dying in 1869. He was a farmer throughout his entire life. Also followed teaming at times with considerable profit.
(II) Truman James, son of George W. Coffman, was born at Salem, West Virginia, February 21, 1848. He was reared and edu- cated there and became a merchant. He still resides at Salem, near where he was born. He married Emma Meredith, born near Salem, April 13, 1853. Children : Harriet Lurenna, died in infancy; Clarence W., born January, 1871, now living in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, sec- retary and treasurer of the Pittsburgh Machine and Tool Company; Ira W., of whom presently. Mrs. Coffman's father, William Mere- dith, was born in Marion county, West Virginia, where he resided all his life. He was a carpenter and contractor and erected many houses in his section of West Virginia. He died in 1909, aged about eighty years.
(III) Ira Wade, son of Truman James and Emma (Meredith) Coffman, was born November 24, 1877, on his father's farm, near Bristol, Harrison county, West Virginia. He attended the local pub- lic schools at Bristol, after which he attended the Salem College. Hav- ing fitted himself for a successful business man, he went into trade with his father in a general store, and later a feed store enterprise, which he carried on about nine years, then went to Salem and purchased the Salem Herald, which local newspaper he conducted as a Republican organ, full of interesting local and political news. Two and a half years later he went to Clarksburg, January 1, 1909, having been elect- ed to the office of clerk of the circuit court, while still publishing his paper at Salem. Politically he has ever been a Republican. He is a member of the local Elks lodge and is also a member of the Masonic fraternity. He belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church. He mar- ried, November 21, 1901, Sadie Williams, born in 1881, a native of
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Salem, West Virginia, daughter of John Williams. Her father is now a farmer of Bridgeport, but is a native of Salem. The mother's maiden name was Martha Davidson; she is still living. Children: Mildred Louise, born in 1902; Myron Truman, 1904; Helen Virginia, 1907; Clarence William, 1909.
Luther H. Coffman, an extensive and prosperous
COFFMAN farmer of Shinnston, and one of the public-spirited and enterprising citizens of his section of the county, was born in Harrison county, now West Virginia, April 29, 1859, son of John G. Coffman and grandson of Henry Coffman.
(I) Henry Coffman, was born in 1785, died November 12, 1862. He was a man of honor and integrity, and took a deep interest in all movements for the material development of the section wherein he resided. He married Elizabeth Robinson, born in 1778, died August 19, 1855, daughter of Captain Benjamin Robinson. Among their chil- dren was John G., see forward.
(II) John G., son of Henry Coffman, was born in the state of Pennsylvania, whither his parents removed at an early day, when the land was still in a state of wilderness, and his death occurred in 1892, at the age of seventy-seven years. He located in the state of West Virginia in the early part of its existence as a state, cleared and cultivated the land on which he resided for many years, and ranked among the prominent men of the community. He married Achsah, daughter of Stringer and Eleanor (Stringer) Boggess, and her death occurred in 1900 at the age of eighty years. Children: Alonzo P., Benjamin F., John M., Theophilus, Frederick W., Francis M., Jesse F., Elizabeth E., Jasper N., Elmore L., Luther H., James T., George B. and Charles T., ten of whom are deceased.
(III) Luther H., son of John G. Coffman, was reared and edu- cated in his native county. Being accustomed to farm duties he chose that line of work for his active career, in which he has been highly suc- cessful, owing to his habits of industry and thrift, coupled with pru- dence and forethought, characteristics which go far toward making a success of any undertaking. He is the owner of two hundred and fif- teen acres of productive land located at Robinson's Run, which is now in a state of high cultivation and which he conducts in an able and
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scientific manner, reaping large returns from labor expended. He is also the owner of twenty acres in West Shinnston, in the vicinity of his home, which is also under cultivation and highly productive. He took up his residence in Shinnston, November 6, 1902, and later erected his present residence. Being a man of influence in the community, he was chosen to serve in the directorate of the Shinnston Gas Company and the Opera House Company of Shinnston. He is a member of the Bap- tist church, a Republican in politics, and affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Lodge No. 16, Shinnston, West Virginia, also Encampment, No. 170.
Mr. Coffman married, in Harrison county, West Virginia, Novem- ber 6, 1884, Ida L. Cunningham, born January 4, 1866, daughter of Frederick W. and Emily J. (Mason) Cunningham, of Harrison county, West Virginia. Children of Mr. and Mrs. Cunningham, all of whom are living at the present time ( 1911) : Ida L., Allie, Chester, Howard, Willard, Gilmore and Byron. Mr. and Mrs. Coffman have one child, Dessie Dawn, resides at home.
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