USA > West Virginia > Genealogical and personal history of the upper Monongahela valley, West Virginia, Volume II > Part 21
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OGDEN The branch of the Ogden family to which Dr. Ogden, of Shinnston, belongs were originally from England, but for many generations have been residents of Mary- land and Virginia, while others reside in Pennsylvania and New York. (I) Thomas Ogden, grandfather of Dr. Ogden, was born in Vir- ginia. He married and had children, including a son William.
(II) William, son of Thomas Ogden, was born in Virginia. He married Sarah McIntire, of near Enterprise. They then took up their residence on the West Fork river. William Ogden was a farmer and school teacher by occupation and profession. He had nine children, including Dr. Presley B. Ogden, who with one brother, Osborne Ogden, are the only surviving children of the family. Sarah McIntire was the daughter of James McIntire, born in Virginia and came to what is now Enterprise, West Virginia. He spent three years hunting and fighting Indians, while land looking. He finally took up a large tract of land, by a "tomahawk right" or warrant, as it was called, and defended it against the Indians.
(III) Dr. Presley B. Ogden, son of William and Sarah (McIn- tire) Ogden, was born April 29, 1839, in Marion county, now West Virginia. He was educated at a literary school at Morgantown, and then pursued a medical course at Starling Medical College, later at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He began the practice of medicine in 1860, at West Union. He then moved to Dodd- ridge county, West Virginia, thence to Marion county and practiced forty-four years, when he moved to Shinnston, beginning his practice at that place in 1909. Dr. Ogden was educated in medicine at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, graduating in 1866, and has taken a
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half dozen post-graduate courses since then. He is a member of the State Medical also the American Medical Association. He is a mem- ber of the Baptist church.
He married (first), in Monongalia county, in 1863, Ellen Coombs. Children : Howard N., W. C., H. C., Cora V. He married (second), in 1908, Alice E., daughter of Allison Sapp, of Shinnston.
RACE One of the proprietors of the well-known grocery house, conducting an extensive business at Fairmont and Morgan- town, West Virginia, and which wholesales over a large territory, is Less G. Race, a member of the Smith-Race Grocery Com- pany. This is an English-Scotch family. But three generations are represented in this country.
(I) Rev. James Lee Race was born in England in 1829, died at the home of his son, Less G. Race, October 15, 1910. He entered the pulpit at the age of sixteen years, and was actively engaged in the ministry until called by death. He was pastor of the Cedar Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church of Scranton, Pennsylvania, at the time of his decease. Politically Rev. Race voted the Republican and Pro- hibition tickets. The church of his choice and in which he labored so many years was that of the Methodist Episcopal denomination. He married Jane Humble, a native of Scotland, born in 1832, died when her son Less G. was only four years of age. Other children in the family were: Jabez; Wesley, born in England, died in Poughkeepsie, New York, October 5, 1910; Dr. John H., president of the University of Chattanooga, Tennessee.
(II) Less G., son of Rev. James Lee and Jane (Humble) Race, was born at Damascus, Pennsylvania, May 10, 1864. He received a moderate education, being his own educator, as he was thrown upon his own resources at the age of thirteen years. He began as a newsboy, followed it four years, and then engaged as a railroad man and con- tinued it in various capacities until twenty-two years of age, then entered the wholesale grocery business as an assistant clerk at Clarksburg. Being faithful to every trust imposed upon him, he gradually rose round by round until he was master of the business. It was in 1896 that he became a partner in the wholesale house of Smith-Race Grocery Company, at Fairmont, West Virginia, which concern now has an ex-
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tensive branch house at Morgantown, the two houses conducting an annual business of about one million dollars. Politically Mr. Race votes an independent ticket. In Masonry he has advanced to the high degree known as the thirty-second. He also holds membership with the Elks order.
He married, February 13, 1890, Genevieve May Stuart, born in Clarksburg, West Virginia, October 21, 1869, daughter of James H. and Agnes (Summer) Stuart, of Clarksburg, West Virginia. Mrs. Race belongs to the Daughters of the American Revolution. Children : I. Agnes Katherine, born at Clarksburg, May 20, 1891; graduated from Fairmont high school, spent one year at the University of Chatta- nooga, Tennessee, sailed on the steamer "Lapland" for Germany in 191I, being chaperoned by Mrs. Edith Cooper Hartman, to complete her studies in French and German, which will require about a year's time; then from Paris she intends going to Munich, Germany, to remain until March, 1912, then on to Florence, Italy, to remain until she returns to her home in America. 2. James Stuart, born at Clarksburg, June 17, 1893; graduate of Fairmont high schools; in September, 19II, he entered the West Virginia University, where he is fitting him- self for a general business career. 3. Joseph Noel, born at Clarksburg, November 22, 1895; has completed his course at the graded schools, and is now attending the Randolph Macon School of Front Royal, Old Virginia, studying for an electrical engineer. 4. Genevieve Mary, born at Clarksburg, August 20, 1899. 5. John Andrew, born in Fairmont, West Virginia, May 6, 1904. 6. Less G. Jr., born May 22, 1907, in Fairmont, West Virginia.
This is an old family in New England, the interesting GREEN history of which reaches back to the period before the war for independence. Soon after the close of that struggle Jared Green moved from Dutchess county, New York, to a farm in Litchfield county, Connecticut, which place is still in the hands of the family of Greens. Jared Green will be known as (I) in the line of descent to the West Virginia branch.
(II) Seymour Bennett, son of Jared Green, was a native of Con- necticut. He followed agriculture for his living. He married Rhoda M. Strong. Children : Ethiel Stillson, William Bennett and Mary.
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(III) Ethiel Stillson, son of Seymour Bennett and Rhoda M. (Strong) Green, was born in 1825, died in 1907. He received a fair education, and during young manhood taught school. He then followed farming for his vocation. He was a Republican and held some local official positions, but usually preferred to attend strictly to his farming operations. In church faith he was of the Congregational denomina- tion. He married Mariette Seeley. Children : Seymour Seeley, born in 1851; Henry Sherwood, of whom further; William Gregory, born in 1860.
(IV) Professor Henry Sherwood Green, LL. D., son of Ethiel Stillson and Marietta (Seeley) Green, was born November 12, 1854, at New Milford, Litchfield county, Connecticut. He lived and labored on the old home farm of his father, in New England, until he went away from home to prepare for college. Through his paternal grand- mother, Mr. Green is connected with the Strong family, prominent in the early history of Litchfield county, Connecticut. He was prepared for college at Williston Seminary, Easthampton, Massachusetts; gradu- ated at Yale with degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1879; teacher in Latin and Greek, Hillman Academy, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, 1879-81 ; principal, same place, 1881-86; teacher in Preparatory School, Rich- mond, Kentucky, 1889-92; acting professor of Greek, Central Univer- sity, Richmond, Kentucky, 1892-93 ; principal of Harrodsburg Acad- emy, Kentucky, 1893-96; professor of the Greek language and litera- ture, Bethany College, West Virginia, 1896-1900; associate professor of the Greek language and literature, West Virginia University, 1900- OI; professor of Greek language and literature, same place, 1901-II. Received degree of LL. D. from Bethany College in 1901. Became proprietor and manager of the Acme Press and actively associated in the conduct and management of the Morgantown Post-Chronicle in 19II, and is still interested in the publishing business at Morgantown, West Virginia. Professor Green votes the Republican ticket, and in religious faith is a Presbyterian.
He married, in 1880, Martha Seeley, of Woodbury, Connecticut. Children: Robert R., born July 25, 1882; Ethel A., born July 30, 1885; Sherwood S., born October 15, 1890; all reside in Morgantown, West Virginia, at the present time (1912).
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Virgil L. Highland, president of the Empire Na- HIGHLAND tional Bank of Clarksburg, and actively and promi- nently identified with numerous other successful enterprises, all of which contribute to the general welfare of the state, is a native of West Milford, Harrison county, West Virginia, born August 31, 1870, son of John E. and Lucy E. (Patton) Highland, and grandson of Jacob Highland, a farmer of West Milford.
(II) John E., son of Jacob Highland, was born in West Milford, now West Virginia, October 19, 1832, died May 4, 1903. He was a farmer by occupation, served as teamster for the union army during the civil war, was a Methodist in religion, a Republican in politics, and was a member of the Masonic fraternity. He married Lucy E., daugh- ter of Ebenezer W. Patton, a resident of Clarksburg, a merchant, also justice of the peace. He has always taken an active part in politics, public improvements, and in all that pertains to the general upbuilding of the community, and has exerted a wide influence for good.
(III) Virgil L., son of John E. Highland, pursued a business course at Delaware, Ohio, and attended college at Scio, Ohio. For the first seven years of his active career he served as bookkeeper for R. T. Lowndes, the following six years was spent as clerk of county court, and since 1903 has served in his present position, that of president of the Empire National Bank, which he then organized, and which has since increased materially in strength and power. The strength of a financial institution is in its capital, its assets, its honorable record, and the ability, character and standing of the men who conduct its affairs. Possessing these essential qualities, the Empire National Bank is now recognized among the leading financial institutions of the state. Mr. Highland is also a director in the Merchants' National Bank, the Southern States Mutual Life Insurance Company, the Hutchinson Coal Company, the Wilbur Coal and Coke Company, the Clarksburg Lum- ber and Planing Mill Company, the Penfield Coal and Coke Company, Union Gas and Carbon Company, the Columbia Gas Company, the Blinko Antique Art Glass Company, the Union Land Company, the Chevy Chase Land Company at Washington, D. C., the West Virginia Fair Association, and the Tuna Glass Company. In addition to these he is the owner of the Clarksburg Telegram, and the owner of two excellent farms. He is a Republican in politics, served as delegate to
MY. Highland
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the Republican national committee in Chicago, when Roosevelt was the presidential nominee (1904), and at the present time (1912) is the chairman of the Republican state committee. He is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, having attained the thirty-second degree; Independent Order of Odd Fellows; the local lodge of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and is a director of the Elk Club. He is a Baptist in religion.
Mr. Highland married, at Clarksburg, December 31, 1902, Ger- trude E. Morgan, born March 14, 1871, daughter of Dr. D. Porter Morgan, of Clarksburg, who was one of the oldest and best known residents there. Children : Stephen Lee, born April 30, 1905; Anita, August 23, 1907.
LAZIER This is an old Maryland family and sometimes the name is spelled Lozier. The family have always been consid- ered as among the intelligent and industrious citizens of the section of Maryland and Virginia where many of the Laziers reside. (I) Henry Lazier, a native of France, married and among his children was John, see forward.
(II) John, son of Henry Lazier, was born in Pennsylvania. He emigrated to Ohio about 1820. He was a farmer, first in Guernsey county, then in Licking county, and later in Muskingum county, near Zanesville. He married twice and reared a family by both wives, in- cluding Elza Crosby, see forward.
(III) Elza Crosby, son of John Lazier, was born in Ohio in 1822. He received a common school education, and early in life became a merchant. He came to Morgantown in 1840 and there opened a gen- eral merchandise store. He married Jane McClure, of Wheeling, West Virginia, daughter of John McClure, who built the McClure Hotel in Wheeling, West Virginia, and had children: Mary, wife of Elisha H. Coombs; John W .; Josephine A., wife of Henry Morgan, deceased; Albert Ewing, see forward; Elizabeth, wife of John T. Harris; Ada Maggie; Foreman; Fanny M., wife of James M. Bell; Harry, deceased. The father died about 1890. He was a member of the Masonic order and a Methodist. His wife died February II, 1903.
(IV) Albert Ewing, son of Elza Crosby and Jane (McClure)
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Lazier, was born at Morgantown, Virginia, October 14, 1847. He obtained a subscription school education and attended the old Monon- gahela Academy. He clerked in his father's store for eight years, until 1868, when he married and moved to Illinois, remaining for a few months, but returned and purchased his father's dry goods store, which he conducted for two years, then sold the same and removed to Mis- souri, to the town of Ferguson, where he had a general store. From there he went to Arkansas, in which state he had a store, farm, saw mill and flouring mill combined. But still liking his old haunts in West Vir- ginia, he sold his property and returned to Morgantown, where for fourteen years he was engaged in the ice and ice cream business, retir- ing in 1903. In 1904 he was a member of the city council, and in 1905-06 mayor of that city. He holds membership in the Odd Fellows and National Union lodges. He married, in 1868, Olivia, daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth Kiger, of Morgantown. Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Kiger are both deceased; they had eight children: Olivia, wife of A. E. Lazier; Fielding, Lizzie, Norvill, Gordan, Harry, Maggie, Nye. Mr. and Mrs. Lazier have no children.
McVICKER Scotland has sent forth many sturdy families to American soil, to assist in developing our republic. They came, many of them long before the British yoke was thrown off, and aided in securing our national independence in the war of the revolution. Among such Scotch people was the one now to be considered-the McVickers.
(I) Duncan McVicker, born in Scotland, at the age of eighteen years came to this country, accompanied by three brothers. They set- tled at Trenton, New Jersey. He was a lieutenant in the Second Regi- ment, Sussex County Militia. He married and had seven sons, includ- ing James, see forward.
(II) James, son of Duncan McVicker, settled in Monongalia county, Virginia, and died October 31, 1852. He married Permelia McNamar, who died August 23, 1847. They had a son named James Madison, see forward.
(III) James Madison, son of James and Permelia (McNamar) McVicker, was born November 5, 1808, died December 23, 1899. He married Katherine Castelo, born November 16, 1809, died December
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19, 1895. They had children, including a son George Washington, see forward.
(IV) George Washington, son of James Madison and Katherine (Castelo) McVicker, was born October 20, 1831. He married (first) Alcinda Rude, born 1835, died 1871, daughter of John and Matilda (Collins) Rude. Children : Maud; Ella A., married C. A. Reed; Clark; John Clarence, see forward. George W. McVicker married (second) Mattie Clear, and had one child, Albertha, married Blair Widden. Francis Collins, father of Matilda Collins, married Anna Maple. Gabel Rude, father of John Rude, married Mary Roberts, and resided at Georgetown, Virginia.
(V) John Clarence, son of George Washington and Alcinda (Rude) McVicker, was born in Monongalia county, Virginia, May 5, 1859. He secured a good common school education, after which he attended the West Virginia University and the College of Pharmacy, at Philadelphia, from which he graduated in 1884. He went to Morgantown and there engaged in the drug trade in company with J. M. Reed. They dissolved in 1893, when Mr. McVicker opened a drug business on his own account. He votes the Republican ticket, and in church relation is of the Methodist Episcopal denomination. He was deputy sheriff of his county one term. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias fraternity. He married, in 1903, Alice, daughter of Peter and Mary McGinty.
This family is a new one in West Virginia, and nothing
MOORE can be learned of its ancestors back very far except that it was originally in Ohio. Three family heads are all that are known to the writer-Samuel, Robert and William Howard Moore.
(II) Robert Moore, son of Samuel Moore, was born in Ohio, in 1832, died in 1902. He became a prosperous farmer, and worked at the carpenter's trade in his immediate neighborhood considerably. In civil war days he enlisted as a member of the One Hundred and Twenty-sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry Regiment, and received an honorable discharge at the close of that war. In his politics he was a Democrat. He married Sophia, daughter of William and Lydia
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Moore. Children : A. Floyd, Samuel Mathew, John E., Frank, Lidia A., Laura J., William Howard.
(III) William Howard, son of Robert and Sophia (Moore) Moore, was born in Harrison county, Ohio. He received his education at the public schools in his native state, graduating from Scio College of Pharmacy in 1898. The same year he moved from Ohio to Cam- eron, West Virginia, where for four years he was engaged in the drug trade. He then located at Monongah where he conducted his business until February 1, 1911, then removed to Morgantown, where he pur- chased the Myers Drug Store, in which he is now carrying on a flourish- ing business. Mr. Moore is a Democrat. He has served four years as mayor of Monongah, and takes a lively interest in all public matters. He belongs to the Odd Fellows, Elks, Improved Order of Red Men and is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. In 1904 he married Olive Bertha, daughter of William and Elizabeth Parriott.
This is a Brownsville, Pennsylvania, family and fur-
DEMAIN ther back than that it has not been traced, as the records of that state and adjoining ones have been carefully gone over without the discovery of the name in the various genealogical works and public records. The only outline now obtain- able is this :
(1) Robert Demain, whose wife's Christian name was Alice, came from England and settled at Brownsville, Pennsylvania, or vicinity.
(II) Edward, son of Robert and Alice Demain, was a steamboat engineer and resided at Brownsville, Fayette county, Pennsylvania. He followed steamboating throughout his active life.
(III) Robert Lewis, son of Edward Demain, was born in Browns- ville, Pennsylvania, in 1847. At the age of thirteen years he com- menced working on the steamboats running between Pittsburgh and Geneva, and is now a pilot and captain running on the same stream, be- tween Pittsburgh and Fairmont, two points on the Monongahela river. He votes the Democratic ticket, and in church relations is of the Epis- copal denomination. He married (first) Alice E. Demain. Children : Frank Aurentz, of whom further; Jennette, married C. William Cramer; she died April 25, 1900. Mrs. Demain died in the month of August, 1896. Robert Lewis Demain married (second) Jane Sprague.
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(IV) Frank Aurentz, son of Robert Lewis and Alice E. (Demain) Demain, was born in Morgantown, West Virginia, August 25, 1871. He was educated in the Morgantown public schools, including the old Monongalia Academy. He was taught telegraphy at the Western Union telegraph office, and in 1905 became the manager of the Postal Telegraph Company at Morgantown, which position he held for sev- eral months, when he resigned. He belongs to the Episcopal church, and in politics is a Democrat. The Demain family have seen many changes along the navigable streams since their early ancestor came west in the pioneer days.
DEMAIN
This is a family that came from England, but was doubtless of French ancestry originally, as the name would indicate.
(I) Francis Demain was born in England and came to America with his father, Robert Demain, and in 1842 came to Morgantown, Virginia, in which city he was a silversmith and storekeeper the remain- der of his life. When the Baltimore & Ohio railroad was being con- structed through the state, he furnished provisions for the workmen, he being the leading merchant in Morgantown at that date in its history. He acquired considerable valuable real estate in Morgantown. During the civil war he conducted a grocery store there, and upon one occasion the Confederates broke into his store and helped themselves to the sup- plies on hand. In breaking in the doors they used the butt end of their guns and the marks can be seen on the doors of the house in which the store was kept even to this day. It is now used as a printing office by the Post Printing Company. At that time Mr. Demain lived on a farm on the Kingwood Pike just over South Park Hill. He married Annie E., daughter of Henry J. Rigden, of Brownsville, Pennsylvania. Children: Edward R., chief of the weather bureau at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Robert Henry, of whom further; Catherine Alice; Alice E., married Captain Robert L. Demain, who died in 1889, and left two children, Frank A. and Jennette, who married C. William Cramer, and is now deceased. The children were all educated at the Seminary at Morgantown. The "Noisy Nine" Ball Team, in 1876, had Francis Demain as one of its members, at Dunkard, Pennsylvania. Fifteen
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members of that club still survive. Francis Demain died and was buried at Oak Grove cemetery.
(II) Robert Henry, son of Francis and Annie E. (Rigden) De- main, was born at Morgantown, Virginia, now West Virginia, May 6, 1851. He received his education at a subscription school and at Mo- nongahela Academy, finishing at the West Virginia University. He worked on his father's farm and later in life learned the carpenter's trade. He built some of the best buildings in Morgantown, including some of the university structures. He also constructed the county jail, continuing at such work until he retired in 1903. He was a council- man from South Morgantown three times. Member of the Odd Fel- lows, of which fraternity he was noble grand. He married, October, 1902, Catherine Shanklin. Child, Catherine Hope, born April 12, 1904.
Among the Smith families who formerly lived in Penn-
SMITH sylvania was the one of which Alfred Smith was an hon- ored member. He resided in Fayette county, married there and had a son, John H., of whom further.
(II) John H., son of Alfred Smith, was born in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, September 20, 1830. He worked in a foundry and brick yard until he decided to learn the tailor's trade, serving his apprentice- ship in Uniontown, Pennsylvania. He worked at that trade in Pitts- burgh until he came to Morgantown in 1854. He carried on a success- ful business in his line until 1900, when he turned the business over to his son. He belonged to the Aid Society of Morgantown. He mar- ried Margaret Sparks. Children: Alfred K., of whom further; Ella M., married Morlland Gilmore. Mr. Smith died in 1907; his wife died in 1905.
(III) Alfred K., son of John H. and Margaret (Sparks) Smith, was born in Morgantown, now West Virginia, October 5, 1858. He received a good common school education, and when but a small boy delivered the daily Morgantown Post. When old enough he went to work in his father's tailor shop, but later took up painting, but again in 1885 and on to 1889 he followed the tailoring trade, then went to New York to attend a "cutting school." In 1900 he took over the business which he is still conducting with merited success as a merchant
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tailor in the city of Morgantown. Mr. Smith votes the Republican ticket; he has served two terms on the city council and has been treas- urer one term. Since 1883 he has been a member of the Odd Fellows order; also belongs to the Elks, the Eagles and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He married, October 3, 1889, Ida M., daughter of John and Abbie Choen, of New Castle, Pennsylvania. Children : Edith and Margaret.
About the time of the war for independence in
DOUTHAT America, there came the first of the Douthat family to this country. The name of the original emigrant is not established by the family records now extant. Snatches of the history of the family contain the substance of this narrative which, as will be observed, shows the lineal connection between four generations to the present.
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