USA > West Virginia > Genealogical and personal history of the upper Monongahela valley, West Virginia, Volume II > Part 22
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(I) Robert Douthat was born in 1777, either in Ireland or Amer- ica, the emigrant ancestors coming here about that date. There are authentic records tracing the family to Coleraine, Ireland. Robert Douthat married Mary Yost, born in Staunton, Virginia, 1780. Among their children was a son named David Griner, of whom further.
(II) David Griner, son of Robert and Mary (Yost) Douthat, was born December 25, 1804, in Fincastle, Virginia. He married Mary Ann Adams, born in Bedford county, Virginia, February 10, 1813. They had a son, Robert William, of whom further.
(III) Robert William, son of David Griner and Mary Ann (Adams) Douthat, was born April 13, 1840, in Christiansburg, Vir- ginia. He was educated in private schools and in the ante-bellum Academy of Montgomery county, Virginia, finishing in Emory and Henry College, Virginia. He was an instructor in the academies of the older type and in the high school of a later date; also in collegiate institutes, as both president and professor at different times, in different places. He was professor in the University of Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy; also as professor in the West Virginia Univer- sity from 1895 to 1908, in all teaching more than forty years; he is now on the "Carnegie Foundation." He took part in the rebellion, from 1861 to 1865, and was an officer in General R. E. Lee's army, 15-2M
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participating in most of Lee's battles. He now gives much of his time to public lectures on the civil war, and is the only officer of Pickett's division who makes it a business to lecture on "Gettysburg." He has always been a great Sunday school worker and is now the teacher of the largest woman's class in West Virginia, if not in the world. Politically he is a Democrat, and in church relations is a Methodist Episcopalian.
He married Mary Jane, born May 6, 1844, in Floyd county, Vir- ginia, daughter of Job and Elizabeth Wells. Their children are: Claudius David, born August 12, 1866, in Floyd county, Virginia ; Lucy Emma, July 5, 1868, in Floyd county, Virginia; Mary Elizabeth, May 14, 1870, in Christiansburg, Virginia; Leland Wells, April 20, 1872, in Christiansburg. The following were all born in Rolla, Mis- souri : Rudenz Sharples, December 27, 1873; Luther Lee, March 13, 1876; Robert Marvin, of whom further; Dana Glenn, December 3, 1879; Genevieve Lane, May 16, 1884.
(IV) Robert Marvin, son of Robert William and Mary Jane (Wells) Douthat, was born in Rolla, Missouri, March 2, 1878. He acquired his education by attending the common schools and Barbours- ville College, finishing at the West Virginia University. After leaving his school room duties, he put in some time with the Morgantown Tele- phone Exchange, of the Central District, and Printing Telegraph Com- pany. He graduated in shorthand and typewriting in 1894. In 1902 he took up the art of printing and in the Acme Publishing Company's offices turned out the first piece of job work ever issued from their presses, now so famous for artistic work. After two years he went with the Daily Dominion, with which paper he remained one year. Novem- ber 28, 1905, he purchased Moreland's Electric Supply Store of Morgantown, where he is now conducting a successful business. He votes the Democratic ticket. He is a member of the Methodist church. He is associated with the Methodist Brotherhood, Business Men's Association and the Retail Business Men's Association of West Vir- ginia. In 1909 he married Evelyn M., daughter of James P. and Delia Robinson. One son, James Robert, born January 15, 1910.
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This Brown family, with many representatives living in BROWN West Virginia at this time, is truly among the illustrious and first families of Virginia, as the records show that they were inhabitants of Virginia in the early years of the seventeenth century, about 1632. Jefferson Slidell Brown, a resident of Kingwood, West Virginia, is a lineal descendant of William Brown, of Prince William county, Virginia, whose name is mentioned in Hotten's List of Pilgrims to America, under date of February 16, 1632. The name of William Brown is mentioned also in King James I.'s time, in the second charter to the treasurer of the Virginia Company, dated May 23, 1609. William Brown was a burgess for Surrey county in the Virginia assembly of 1660.
(I) The earliest ancestor of whom there is definite information was William Brown, who purchased lands of Leonard Barker, in Staf- ford county, Virginia, deeds bearing date of April 12 and April 13, 1726. This was for a tract of land on Powell's Run, then Stafford, but now Prince William county, Virginia. The deed of this tract of two hundred and twelve and three-fourth acres, was under date of De- cember 29, 1732, to William Brown Jr.
(II) William (2), son of William (1) Brown, was born between 1724 and 1729, died January, 1807. About the year 1756 or 1757, he married Elizabeth Buckner. Among their children was Thomas, see forward.
(III) Thomas, son of William (2) and Elizabeth (Buckner) Brown, was born September 7, 1760, died in August, 1844. He was a soldier in Captain John Britt's company, under Colonel William Lucas, of the Virginia troops, and marched south joining General Greene's army in South Carolina. He was twice on duty at the cele- brated battle of the Cowpens, South Carolina, January 17, 1781. On pages 85 and 86 of "Safford's Records of the Revolutionary War," Captain William Brown, of Colonel Charles Harrison's regiment of artillery, is mentioned on the payroll, under date of December 26, 1780, at which time he called for the pay of his company which then amounted to $15,100. It is supposed that this William Brown was the father of Thomas Brown now under consideration. In 1832 Thomas Brown received a pension, by act of congress, as evidenced by the rec- ords of the pension office at Washington.
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Thomas Brown married, October 20, 1785, Anna, daughter of George and Mary (Byrne) Ash, and lived for a time near what is now Rectortown. This is in Fauquier county, Virginia. April 2, 1803, an inventory of his possessions was taken, which showed that he owned eight slaves about sixteen years of age, four slaves about twelve years of age, and four horses. The year before this inventory was taken, through Colonel John Fairfax, he purchased five hundred and seventy- eight acres of land of William McClery, of Morgantown. This land is situated nine miles west of Kingwood, West Virginia, and is now known as the "Stone House" property. In the spring of 1805 Thomas Brown moved to this place, and the year afterwards his wife Anna died, on May 4, 1806. Thomas Brown is described as a man rather small in stature, but of extra sound body and healthy; very kind to his servants and negro slaves, as well as to his dogs and horses. He dis- inherited his son, John Buckner, because he whipped a slave against his orders. The negro had run away, but had returned of his own accord. The children of Thomas and Anna (Ash) Brown were: Elizabeth; John Buckner, of whom further; George; Lydia; Samuel Byrne; Will- iam; Mary Ann; Thomas Francis, of whom further.
(IV) John Buckner, son of Thomas and Anna (Ash) Brown, was born January 28, 1788, in Prince William county, Virginia. In the spring of 1805 he removed with his father's family to the "Stone House" property, above mentioned. In 1811 he journeyed westward to Wayne county, Ohio, and in the fall of 1813 removed his family to that state. He died at the town of Shreve, Wayne county, Ohio, Sep- tember 15, 1855. In 1810 he married Mary Morgan, who lived on the east side of Cheat river, near Kingwood. She was the daughter of Hugh Morgan, a pioneer of Preston county, and was born May 12, 1790, died July 12, 1850. She was the fourth child in a family of ten children.
(IV) Thomas Francis, son of Thomas and Anna (Ash) Brown, was born May 4, 1801, died May 4, 1843, in Virginia. He was only four years old when the family crossed the mountains from Prince Will- iam county to Preston county, and five years old the day his mother died. His father gave him the best schooling the country then afforded and during his youth sent him to some of the better schools in the east- ern part of Virginia. He became a quite noted teacher in Mononga-
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hela and Preston counties, and was long remembered because of his beau- tiful penmanship and fine scholarship. Later he became deputy sheriff of Preston county, and was noted for his readiness in preparing legal instruments. He married Elizabeth Zinn, in 1830, daughter of John Zinn, who lived on the old Gandy farm, near Gladesville. She was born October 17, 1810, and died March 11, 1851, of consumption, as did her husband. Six children were born to them, who by the will of Thomas Brown, the grandfather, received in 1844 half of the original "Stone House" estate. Thomas F. Brown, it is said, was one of the most courteous, affable men of his day. Children: 1. Adaline, born June 9, 1831, and died June 13, 1868, at Independence, Preston county, West Virginia; married William J. Morgan. 2. Buckner, born No- vember 6, 1832, died June 24, 1877; married, December 29, 1853, Jane Freeburn. 3. William T., born January 7, 1835; married (first), March 6, 1862, Sarah C. Hamilton, who died June 29, 1875 ; married (second), November 20, 1877, Margaret C. Swindler, now living in Grafton, West Virginia. 4. Charles Mercer, of whom further. 5. Virgil S., born October 15, 1838, died October 18, 1896; married, October 26, 1870, Sarah Jenkins, born January 17, 1848. 6. Chloe N., born August 5, 1849, died and was buried at Independence, Octo- ber, 1865, unmarried.
(V) Charles Mercer, fourth child of Thomas Francis and Eliza- beth (Zinn) Brown, was born January 29, 1837, died November 26, 1868. He became a bright, energetic lawyer, and engaged in the ac- tive practice of law at Harrisville, Ritchie county, West Virginia. His death was caused by hemorrhage of the lungs, caused by contracting a severe cold. Politically he voted the Democratic ticket, and in relig- ious faith was of the Presbyterian denomination. He married Har- riet Virginia Fairfax, of the well-known Virginia family. In their family the birth and marriages were on noted days of the year: His wife was born July 4, 1840, daughter of Franklin B. F. Fairfax, and granddaughter of Colonel John Fairfax, of Virginia, who came to Preston county from eastern Virginia in 1790. Colonel John Fairfax had been the superintendent of Washington's Mt. Vernon estates; had represented Monongalia in the house of delegates and in the year of Thomas Brown's arrival was sheriff of the county. Besides being born on Independence Day, Harriet V. Fairfax was united in marriage with
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Charles M. Brown on Washington's Birthday, February 22, 1861. Her eldest child, Jefferson Slidell, was born November 28, 1861; her second child, Benjamin Lodd, March 17, 1863, which was St. Pat- rick's Day. By her second marriage to Charles R. Morgan, of Marion county, in 1872, she had a daughter, May Fairfax, her youngest child, born on May Day, 1874. She died December 27, 1897.
(VI) Jefferson Slidell, son of Charles Mercer and Harriet Virginia (Fairfax) Brown, was born at the old Fairfax Manor House, erected by his great-grandfather, Colonel John Fairfax, in 1818, situated two miles west of Kingwood, West Virginia. He received his education, beginning with the good common schools, after which he taught school five years in Preston county, after his graduation from the Cleveland College, Ohio. He then served as clerk and secretary to the board of directors of the State Institution for the Insane, at Weston, West Vir- ginia. Having already determined upon becoming a lawyer, he re- signed his position, but things frequently change one's plans for life, and such was the case with Mr. Brown, who purchased the Argus, at Kingwood, in 1889, and he has ever since been at its helm. He is a brilliant, forceful writer, and his editorials are widely read and copied. He also contributes for other publications. Politically he is a Demo- crat, and his party, knowing his capability, has kept him constantly in their service. He was chairman of the Democratic committee sixteen years; he served on judicial, senatorial, congressional and state com- mittees. He was twice a candidate for state senator. In April, 1893, he was appointed postmaster of Kingwood and served over four years. In 1896 he was a delegate from West Virginia to the national convention at Chicago for the nomination of William Jennings Bryan, and subse- quently served eight years as a member of the board of regents of the State School for the Deaf and Blind, at Romney, West Virginia. He also served as president of the State Editorial Association five terms, which was the longest ever served by any one man. He positively de- clined another term. He served as captain of Company G in the Na- tional Guards, having had many an exciting experience, and was called out on two occasions to suppress mob violence. On one occasion his company was ordered to Charleston by the governor to guard a negro on trial for rape on a white woman. He succeeded in suppressing the violence of a mob composed of five hundred men, who attempted to
J. Abdell Brown
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storm the jail one night and lynch the negro. Hard and unpleasant as was his task, Captain Brown at once arrested the leaders of the mob, one by one, until he had fourteen of them in jail, by which time the mob was quieted down, and all was done without the shedding of blood. The negro was afterward tried by a fair and impartial jury, was sen- tenced to death by the court and properly executed. Mr. Brown is socially connected with about every order calculated to better the con- dition of his fellowmen. Among these may be mentioned the Masonic, Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias fraternities.
On October 15, 1902, Mr. Brown married Stella Maud, daughter of Captain J. W. Parsons, who served in the Confederate army under General Robert E. Lee. Children : Fairfax, born September 22, 1903; Hazel Ewing, born June 25, 1905; Keith Parsons, born January 19, 1907; Leland Dickson, born March 15, 1909; Linden Warren, born June 2, 1911.
This family originally came from Wales, and was repre- DAVIS sented first on this continent in New Jersey. Descendants have lived in many parts of the country, and the family name has always stood for character and uprightness.
(I) Rev. John Davis, the Welsh emigrant to New Jersey, married and had numerous children in his family, as did most of the early Welsh families who settled in this country. But little is now obtain- able concerning this minister of the Gospel other than that among his children was a son named James, of whom further.
(II) James, son of Rev. John Davis, was born in Monongalia county, Virginia, November 15, 1798. Hence it would appear that the American ancestor soon removed from New Jersey to Virginia, where he reared his children. James Davis was a carpenter and erected some of the largest buildings in Morgantown, West Virginia. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He married, June 22, 1826, Nancy, born July 16, 1803, daughter of William Reed. Children: Lucinda, married William Sinclair; Alstopheus; John C .; Elizabeth A., married George W. Laishley; Melissa A., mar- ried Samuel McVicker; Fench E .; May J., died in infancy; James N., of whom further. The father died in 1882, and the mother, Nancy (Reed) Davis, died June 20, 1876.
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(III) James N., son of James and Nancy (Reed) Davis, was born at Morgantown, West Virginia, September 8, 1840. He was edu- cated at the subscription schools and at the old Monongahela Academy. He followed farming until 1864, when he enlisted in the Seventeenth West Virginia Regiment of Volunteers as a corporal. He was mus- tered out at Wheeling, and resumed his labors as a farmer, continuing until 1877, then moved to Morgantown, where at first he engaged in the slate and tin roofing business, also did cornice and gas fitting work, under the firm name of Davis & Huston. He was chief of police and street commissioner at Morgantown. Mr. Davis is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and identified with the Grand Army of the Republic. He married, December 21, 1870, Helen M., daughter of Thomas Hare. Children: George W., born October 9, 1871; Fred A., May 19, 1876; Ralph K., September 21, 1899. Mrs. Davis died January 17, 1909.
But little can now be gleaned from records concerning LOUGH this family and its origin. It has had among its mem- bers several worthy farmers and merchants in West Vir- ginia. Four generations and possibly more have lived and labored for the welfare of Monongahela Valley.
(I) Robert Lough and wife had children, among whom a son, Matthew W., of whom further; Elizabeth, Sarah A., Julia. The father was a farmer by occupation.
(II) Matthew W., son of Robert Lough, was a native of Monon- galia county, Virginia, born in 1810. He followed farming through- out his days of activity, and had the respect of all in the community. He married Elizabeth Cordray, of the same county, born in 1812. Children: Juretta, Jane, Linnie, Calvin, Hesekiah, Matthew, Isaac Newton, of whom further.
(III) Isaac Newton, son of Matthew W. and Elizabeth (Cord- ray) Lough, was born in what is now Marion county, West Virginia, June 7, 1849. He attended the common schools of his native county, and aided his father on his farm. His earlier years were spent at farming for himself. After his marriage he became a merchant at both Farmington and Fairmont, West Virginia, continuing in business for a period of thirty years. Later in life he engaged in the real estate busi-
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ness. He is a Republican, a worthy member of the Independent Or- der of Odd Fellows, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He married, October 17, 1872, at Barrackville, Marion county, West Virginia, Sarah Ellen, daughter of David Prichard, of Marion county, a miller by occupation, whose children were: Newton, Charles E., Mary E., Caroline, Sarah Ellen. Children of Mr. and Mrs. Lough : Lillie S., married Charles W. Evans; Roy Arthur, of whom further; Hattie B., Mary Z., married Amor B. Cole; Elizabeth M., Walter Gay, William F. The deceased children are : Frank M., died July 1I, 1908; Elizabeth, died June 10, 1909.
(IV) Roy Arthur, son of Isaac Newton and Sarah Ellen ( Prich- ard) Lough, was born July 16, 1876. When twelve years of age he moved to Fairmont with his family, and there received most of his early educational training, both in the public schools and at the State Normal School, from which he graduated in 1896. The three years succeeding his graduation from the normal he clerked in his father's store in Fairmont. In 1899 he engaged in business for himself at Farmington. He returned to Fairmont and was bill clerk in a whole- sale grocery house one year, later accepted a position in the auditor's office of the Fairmont Coal Company, which position he filled for a year and a half. He returned to the grocery company, with whom he was employed as salesman for two years. November 19, 1905, he was made manager of the Armstrong Crislip Day Company, wholesale grocers at Clarksburg, West Virginia, where he was employed until February 15, 1906, when he was made manager of the Smith-Race Company at Morgantown, remaining until April 1, 1911, when he organized the Lough-Simpson Grocery Company, a wholesale grocery corporation, at Morgantown, and is now its manager and treasurer. He has served as director of the Morgantown Board of Trade, and is fully abreast with all local enterprises tending to advance the interests of his city and county. Mr. Lough is Republican, and in church faith is of the Methodist denomination. He holds membership in the Ma- sonic order, being a member of Blue Lodge, Chapter and Commandery, and is also a member of the Knights of Pythias. In 1899 he mar- ried Lulu Maude, daughter of Eli and Margaret (Turney) Musgrave.
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This family, claiming to be descendants of that well- ALLEN known historic character, Ethan Allen, has been long identified with the Virginias. The branch of the family now to be considered is the one to which Dr. Silas B. Allen, of Mor- gantown, belongs.
(I) Joshua Allen was born November 24, 1787, in Harrison county, Virginia. He was an industrious, prosperous farmer. He married Rebecca Whiteman, born January 15, 1799.
(II) Osburn, son of Joshua and Rebecca (Whiteman) Allen, was born in Harrison county, Virginia, March 21, 1826. He received the common education of his day and generation, and followed his father's occupation, that of a farmer. He was a member of the Board of Ed- ucation, in church relations was of the Baptist denomination and voted the Democratic ticket. He married Jane Langfitt. Children: Valen- tine L., born January 13, 1851; Stephen and May B. (twins), August 2, 1853; Silas Benton and William (twins), February 28, 1856; Co- lumbus J., May 2, 1858; Robert E. L., November 28, 1867; Orilous O., January 26, 1871. The father died December 5, 1908, and the mother, Jane (Langfitt ) Allen, February 8, 1899.
(III) Dr. Silas Benton Allen, son of Osburn and Jane (Langfitt) Allen, was born in Salem, Virginia, February 28, 1856. He received his education at the public schools and University of Maryland. He graduated from the dental department in 1905, after which he prac- ticed for three years at Parkersburg, West Virginia. He sold out his business there and removed to Morgantown in 1908, and there he is still enjoying a large practice in dental surgery. He is a member of the State Dental Society and belongs to the Free and Accepted Masons and the Knights of Pythias. He married, in 1892, May Julia, daugh- ter of William Wright, of Parkersburg, West Virginia. Children: R. Wayne, born November 23, 1899; Harold Edson, March 15, 1904.
Edward Miller Grant, actively and prominently iden-
GRANT tified with the development and prosperity of Morgan- town, where he has resided for almost a quarter of a cen- tury, is a native of Cleveland, Ohio, born February 3, 1853, son of William and Hannah (Turner) Grant, and grandson of William Grant, a resident of England.
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(II) William (2) Grant was born in Great Grinsby, Lincolnshire, England, December 8, 1813, died in 1896. He was reared, educated and spent his early manhood in his native country, emigrating to the United States in 1850, locating in Cleveland, Ohio, where he resided until 1862. He removed to Whitefield, Indian Territory. He was a man of integrity and ability, and performed the duties devolving upon him to the best of his knowledge. He married Hannah Turner. Chil- dren : John, William, deceased; Thomas, Jane, Edward Miller, Azu- bah, George.
(III) Edward Miller, son of William (2) Grant, was educated in the public schools of his native city, including the high school. His first position was that of office boy for the firm of Hussey & McBride, oil refiners, who promoted him from time to time as a reward for his diligence and thrift, first to position of clerk and then to that of book- keeper, remaining with them in the latter capacity until the business was sold to Clark, Payne & Company, with whom he took a similar posi- tion. Later he purchased the interests of his employers in the Pennsyl- vania oil fields at Foxburg, where he remained from 1868 to 1872, during which time he assisted in erecting the town building, the water- works, which he managed for a number of years, and was engaged in the producing of oil and gas, organizing in 1885 a company and fur- nishing gas for Foxburg and St. Petersburg, which was known as the Union Light and Heat Company. In 1880 he engaged in the crucible steel business in Cleveland, Ohio, as secretary and treasurer of the Crucible Steel Company, continuing until 1884, then returned to the oil business. In January, 1889, he came to Morgantown, and in connection with others organized the Union Improvement Company, now Union Utilities Company, the object of which was to supply water and natural gas to Morgantown, and they also built the electric railroad. Mr. Grant was manager of this for fifteen years, during which time he organized the Morgantown Building and Investment Company, serving as sec- retary, treasurer and general manager, said company purchasing land and starting the general development of Morgantown, which in the past ten years has increased in population four hundred and eighty per cent. He is also largely interested in real estate and manufacture of brick, serving as secretary and treasurer of the Morgan Brick Com- pany; he is also president of the Federal Savings Trust Company and
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a director in the Pressed Prism Plate Glass Company, Crystal Tumbler Company and Monongalia Valley Bank, serving in the latter institution for fifteen years. He also served as manager for the Fairmont and Grafton Gas Company, which was organized in 1892 for the purpose of supplying gas to those cities. In 1899 and 1901 he was a member of the legislature, rendering highly efficient service. He is a member of Morgantown Union Lodge, No. 4, Free and Accepted Masons; Orient Chapter, No. 9, Royal Arch Masons, of Morgantown; Morgantown Commandery, No. 18, Knights Templar; Versailles Council, No. 238, Royal Arcanum, of Mckeesport, Pennsylvania; Fidelity Council, No. 31, Knights of the Maccabees; Valley Lodge, No. 51, American Or- der of United Workmen, and Monongalia Lodge, No. 10, Indepen- dent Order of Odd Fellows.
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