USA > West Virginia > Genealogical and personal history of the upper Monongahela valley, West Virginia, Volume II > Part 26
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For a century or more this family has been prominent in
AVIS what is now known as West Virginia. The genealogical line runs thus: John, born 1821; Braxton Davenport, born 1848; Braxton Davenport Jr., born 1876.
(I) John Avis was a native of Charlestown, Virginia, now West Virginia, born about 1821, died in 1881. He was in the Mexican war and was a confederate soldier in the civil war. He was a high-minded gentleman of more than ordinary intelligence and ability.
(II) Braxton Davenport, son of John Avis, was born at Charles- town, Jefferson county, Virginia, now West Virginia, in 1848; now resides in Washington, D. C., and is in the employ of the department
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of the interior. He, too, was a soldier in the confederate army in civil war days when brother was pitted against brother in a terrible conflict. He joined the southern army when less than fourteen years of age. He married Hattie Elizabeth Wilson, born in Harrisonburg, Virginia, now residing in the Capitol City, daughter of John Wilson, born in Harrisonburg, died when a young man. He was a slave owner in his native county. Children : Samuel B., born 1873, lives at Charleston, West Virginia, where he is prosecuting attorney; Braxton D., of whom further; Harry W., born 1878, resides in New York City, where he is acting as private secretary; Mrs. Margy Thompson, born 1883, lives in New York City, the wife of William A. Thompson; Hattie, deceased in infancy.
(III) Braxton Davenport (2), son of Braxton Davenport (1) and Hattie Elizabeth (Wilson) Avis, was born August 15, 1876, at Harrisonburg, Rockingham county, Virginia. He received his educa- tion at the schools of Washington, D. C., having removed thither with his parents when a child. He later attended the University of Mary- land, at Baltimore, where he graduated in 1897, as a dental surgeon. He began his practice as a dentist at Clarksburg, West Virginia, in 1910, having practiced one year at Charleston prior to that. Politically Dr. Avis is an Independent. He belongs to the Episcopal church.
HEINZE Among the Germans who have furnished excellent set- tlers in Pennsylvania and West Virginia the Heinze family have been quite prominent in several callings in life. Three generations have lived in America and each have carried out their own special part in the role of good citizenship.
(I) George Peter Heinze, a native of the German Empire, came to America when yet a young, vigorous man, locating in Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania. He was a coal miner and died about 1906. He married Wilhelmina Dombach, who died at Ashland, Pennsylvania, as did also her husband. The husband died at the age of eighty-one years and the wife was about that age when she died. In their family there were ten children, among whom was Henry, see forward.
(II) Henry, son of George Peter, the German ancestor, was born at Ashland, Pennsylvania, June 16, 1860. He attended the public schools of his native place, and worked in the breakers of the coal
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mines where his father worked. His duty was that of separating the coal from the slack and slate stone, preparing the coal for the market. Later, when he became old enough and strong enough, he worked in the mines, proper, in all for a period of fifteen years. This was in the neighborhood of Ashland, Pennsylvania. When he had worked under ground, shut out from the light of day all those years, he thought to better his condition, so embarked in the grocery trade at Ashland, where he owned a store which he conducted twelve years. He then sold out and commenced jobbing in candy and confectionery goods, which he followed for three years, and in 1903 went to Clarksburg, and the following year bought the old Clarksburg Pressing Company's busi- ness, which he still continues to operate. His is the largest and best patronage in the city in his line. Politically he is a Republican, but of the independent type of voter, especially in local politics. He is a member of the Elks order, also of the Patriotic Sons of America, Amer- ican Mechanics, and member of the Board of Trade. He married, at Ashland, Pennsylvania, December 24, 1882, Isabella Mayer, a native of Ashland, born in 1868, daughter of Elias Mayer, who was a carpen- ter of Ashland, died in 1903. Children : Henry Arthur, of whom fur- ther : Edith I., now Mrs. R. B. Parrott, of Washington, D. C.
(III) Henry Arthur, son of Henry and Isabella (Mayer) Heinze, was born in Ashland, Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, September 14, 1883. He there attended the local public schools, acquiring a good common school education. He entered the employ of the Lehigh Valley Coal Company, as one of its engineering corps, and he still resided at Ashland for one year after finishing his schooling. He went to Clarks- burg, West Virginia, in November, 1901, and there entered the engineer- ing department of the Clarksburg Fuel Company, upon its organization, and remained with that corporation a year, when he shifted to the Milnes and Sansbury Civil and Mining Engineers, remaining for a year and a half, up to December, 1903, then went to Cambria, Pennsyl- vania, where he had charge of the Cambridge Bituminous Coal Com- pany for another year and a half, then to Pittsburgh, with the Monon- gahela River Consolidated Coal and Coke Company, as a draftsman, for something less than one year. In August, 1905, he returned to Clarksburg, where he again entered the employ of the Clarksburg Fuel Company, with whom he remained a year, and in July, 1906, became
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assistant engineer for the Madeira Hill Clark Coal Company. Janu- ary 1, 1909, he was promoted to chief engineer of the same company, with whom he is still engaged, with his offices at 602 Goff building, Clarksburg. He also does a general civil engineering business, which is no small part of his present work. He is the chief engineer of the Kroger Gas Coal Company and the Gilmer Fuel Company, both hav- ing main offices at Cincinnati, Ohio. He is a stockholder in the Mas- cott Oil and Gas Company, of which he is secretary and treasurer, also director and board member. He is a stockholder in the Parkersburg and Buckhannon Oil and Gas companies. Politically Mr. Heinze is a Republican. He is identified with the order of Elks at Clarksburg, and at the present time (1912) exalted ruler of Clarksburg Lodge, No. 482, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, also member of the board of directors of the Elks Company and member of the board of governors of the Elks Club. He is a member of the Board of Trade.
Delaware furnished this family to West Virginia, and three
COLE generations only will here be considered. The line to the present family at Clarksburg is thus-John, William Lloyd and Will H. Cole.
(I) John Cole was a native of Wilmington, Delaware, and died at the age of fifty-five years, at Georgetown. He was by trade a shoe- maker. He married Elizabeth Goulden, born in Delaware, died at Wilmington, that state. There were seven children in his family, William Lloyd being the only one living.
(II) William Lloyd, son of John and Elizabeth (Goulden) Cole, was born in Wilmington, Delaware, September 17, 1840. He now resides at Clarksburg, West Virginia, where he was for many years a hardware merchant. At the time of the civil war he had charge of the local quartermaster's department, as a butcher, killed the first and last beef for the Union army at Clarksburg, and in 1864 acted as com- missary. He came to Clarksburg when but a youth and soon establish- ed himself in the butchering business, which for years he continued, until with his son, Fred Wade Cole, he established himself in the hard- ware trade, in which he was successful. Politically he is a Republican. He is a Methodist Episcopalian in church membership. He married, at Clarksburg, November 16, 1864, Mary A. Peck, a native of that city,
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daughter of John and Nancy Peck, both now deceased, but lifelong resi- dents of Clarksburg. Children : Sallie W., born November 15, 1865, now Mrs. W. E. Hursey, of Clarksburg; John, born October, 1867, died May 17, 1870; Fred Wade, born January 14, 1872, now of Clarksburg; Will H., of whom further; Carolyn, born September 10, 1878, now wife of Dr. C. M. Kessler, of Clarksburg; Fannie, born October 27, 1881, died May 2, 1889.
(III) Will H., son of William Lloyd and Mary A. (Peck) Cole, was born at Clarksburg, West Virginia, November 27, 1875. He had the advantages of the public schools of his native city, and then master- ed the art of a job printer, which trade he followed for nine years, up to 1901, when he was elected assessor and served two years-1901-02, continuing his printing business for a time. He was elected city clerk in 1903, and has served continuously ever since. He is third owner in the Warren undertaking business, established in 1908, at Clarksburg, he being one of founders of that business. Politically Mr. Cole sup- ports the Republican party, county, state and national ticket. He has been the secretary of the local lodge of Elks three years and is still holding the position.
OGDEN This family was among the real pioneers of the Monon- gahela Valley in West Virginia. In the dark and perilous days succeeding the great revolutionary struggle, Thomas Ogden left the comforts of a pleasant home in eastern Virginia, and became a pioneer of civilization in Harrison county, when it was a dense wilderness, inhabited by wild beasts and frequented by wilder men-the Indians. He cleared a home spot in the forestland and had many an encounter with the red men of the forest. The family tree has spread with the passing of the years until it now covers a large territory, and members of the family are to be found in almost every portion of the country. The stock, which originated in England, has representatives in New York City, Philadelphia, and in the far west. One of the same line was the first mayor of the city of Chicago, another was the first president of the great Chicago & Northwestern railroad, and had to do with the construction of the Union Pacific railroad. The city of Ogden, Utah, on that line, was named for him. There have been many professional men in the family from early days to the pres-
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ent, lawyers and physicians especially. For the purpose of this narra- tive, the history of this line of Ogdens will begin with William R. Ogden.
(I) William R. Ogden was born in 1804, at Port Tobacco, Mary- land, died January 25, 1885. He accompanied his father to Virginia in 1808. He was a physician and surgeon of note in his day. He mar- ried Mary Shinn, born in Harrison county, Virginia, 1808, died in 1864. Child: Robert S. Ogden, of whom further.
(II) Robert S. Ogden, son of William R. and Mary (Shinn) Ogden, was born November 9, 1836, in Harrison county, West Vir- ginia. He conducted a prosperous mercantile business at Sardis, West Virginia, for a period of about forty years, during which time he was generally postmaster of the town in which he lived. In the early years of his settlement there he had to carry the mail himself. He is now living retired at Clarksburg. He has always been a Democrat polit- ically, and in church affiliations is a Baptist. He married Jane Ritten- house, born in Harrison county, Virginia, January 21, 1841, died Feb- ruary 28, 1900. They were the parents of twelve children : Anna Gar- rett; George R., a physician in Taylor county, West Virginia; Robert S., traveling salesman; Daniel M., a merchant; Charles G., traveling salesman; Henry Clay, traveling salesman; Elizabeth Horner; Vir- ginia Garrett, widow; Mary, single; Chester R., of whom further; two sons deceased.
Mrs. Ogden's father, Bennett Rittenhouse, was born in Chester county, Pennsylvania, in 1800, and at his death in 1877, was a promi- nent farmer of Harrison county, West Virginia. When but a small boy he came there with his parents, and before his death became one of the most extensive farmers in his county. Out of eight votes cast at Shinns- ton for President Abraham Lincoln, four were cast by Rittenhouses. This Rittenhouse was descended from the ancestor who came with William Penn to Pennsylvania, in 1682. Bennett Rittenhouse married Zilpha Shinn, a direct descendant of the earliest settlers of West Vir- ginia, and of the same family of Shinns that founded Shinnston.
(III) Chester Ruhl Ogden, M. D., son of Robert S. and Jane (Rittenhouse) Ogden, was born November 9, 1873, at Sardis, Harri- son county, West Virginia. After attending the public schools of his 18-2m
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native county, he entered Salem College, at Salem, in 1892, graduating from this institution in 1894. He then took a normal course in 1897, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Science. He entered the Univer- sity of West Virginia in 1897, and remained there that year and 1898, taking a post-graduate literary course and preparatory in medicine. He was granted his medical diploma by the University of Louisville, Ken- tucky, in 1902, and immediately began medical practice at Clarksburg, where he has remained until the present time. In the meantime he has taken several post-graduate courses in both medicine and surgery. He is now enjoying an excellent practice, is surgeon to the Baltimore & Ohio railroad company, the National Carbon Works, and other im- portant concerns where many laborers are constantly employed and subject to illness or accident. Dr. Ogden has succeeded in his financial undertakings as well as his profession. He is a stockholder in the Union National Bank of Clarksburg, and in the Artificial Ice Plant at Clarksburg. He is also one of the promoters of the Point Comfort Oil and Gas Company, the Curtis Oil and Gas Company, and has other financial interests. Politically he is an Independent Democrat. He has attained the highest degree in Free Masonry, is a member of the local Elks lodge, the Odd Fellows, Woodmen of the World, Woodmen of America, is ex-secretary and member of Harrison County Medical Society, the West Virginia State Medical Association, Mississippi Val- ley Medical Association, the Clinical Congress of Surgeons of North America, the Association of Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Surgeons, American Gynecological Society, and American Medical Association. He is a communicant of the Baptist church, his wife being a Methodist in religious faith.
He married, August 21, 1902, at Columbus, Ohio, Edna E. Louch- ery, born in Clarksburg, West Virginia, January 24, 1877, daughter of Dr. Louchery, a physician. She is a graduate of Salem College, having secured her degree of Bachelor of Arts with the class of 1897. She then took a post-graduate course in 1908-09, at the State Univer- sity at Columbus, Ohio. Mrs. Ogden's mother was Mary Lynch, who is still living. The children of Dr. and Mrs. Ogden are: Mary Eliza- beth, born August 2, 1903; Virginia Jane, born March 30, 1906.
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The name Bailey is derived through the French Baille, BAILEY from the Middle Ages; later ballium, which is a corrup- tion of the Latin vallum, a rampart. The baille was the whole space enclosed within the external walls of a castle, with the exception of that covered by the keep. This space was variously dis- posed of, and of course differed greatly in extent. Sometimes it con- sisted of several courts, which were divided from each other by em- battled walls so as to form a series of fortifications. When these courts were two in number, they were known as the outer and inner baille. The entrance to the baille was usually by a drawbridge over the ditch, and through a strong and embattled gateway. The baille was often of great extent, containing the barracks for the soldiers, lodgings for the workmen and artificers, magazines, wells and sometimes even a mon- astery. In towns the baille had even a wider significance, and was often retained after the castle or keep had long disappeared, as in the case of the "Old Baille" in London, and the "Bailey" in Oxford, England. Baille is a Scotch term with several legal applications. It chiefly and popularily, however, signifies a superior officer or magistrate of a municipality or corporation in Scotland, with judicial authority within the city or borough.
(I) John Bailey, was born in Virginia in 1768. He settled in Taylor county (now West Virginia), about 1792. This settlement was on Simpson creek, at what is now known as Flemington. Here he took up a tract of land and followed agriculture, taking out patents on the land named. He was active and industrious, and at his death, about 1840, aged seventy-two years, was buried in the old Bailey burying ground or church yard. His wife was Elizabeth Finley, who lived to the advanced age of almost, if not quite, eighty years. Children, all born on Simpson creek, West Virginia : Joseph, William, Silas P., of whom further; John W., Ellen, Elizabeth, Sarah, Ann, all now de- ceased.
(II) Silas P., third child of John and Elizabeth (Finley) Bailey, was born February 27, 1816; died November 6, 1888, at Fall Run, near Flemington, West Virginia, and was buried in the old Bailey bury- ing ground in Taylor county. He followed farming all of his life. He married (first) Lydia Hustead, who died in 1861. Children, all born on Simpson creek; Elizabeth, married D. C. J. Brake; Sarah,
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never married; John H., died single; Rebecca, deceased, married James G. Pepper; Daniel H., deceased; James E .; Thomas M. Silas P. Bailey married (second) Almira Kelley, born December 11, 1837, died November 23, 1911, buried in the old Bailey burying ground on Simpson creek. Children : Amanda, married F. B. Haller; Benjamin F., of whom further; Grant, unmarried; Alta, deceased, married Will- iam Lanhan; Carl, married Blanche Nestor; Harriette, married Dr. C. R. Peck; Bruce.
(III) Benjamin F., son of Silas P. and Almira (Kelley) Bailey, was born in Taylor county, West Virginia, November 10, 1864. He was educated in the public schools and at West Virginia University, receiving the degree of LL. B. in the class of 1891, and in that year commenced the practice of law in Grafton, where he has ever since been very successful as an attorney. He has been prosecuting attorney for Taylor county and member of the city council at Grafton. Mr. Bailey is president of the Webster Woolen Mills Company of Grafton, of which he was one of the promoters and organizers; member of the board of directors as well as one of the promoters of the Crystal Ice Company; was among the original stockholders of the Thornton Fire Brick Company, and the Hen-e-ta Bone Company, of which he was one of the organizers; member of the State Bar Association; the Knights of Pythias and Elks fraternities, was district deputy for the last-named order two terms. In politics Mr. Bailey is a Republican, and served his district as senator in 1906.
He married, November 23, 1892, Sarah Ellen Faris, of Harrison county. Of their four children only two survive: Arline Byrd, aged seventeen years, a graduate of the Grafton high school; George Silas, aged thirteen years.
BURDETT This Burdett family, one of more than ordinary prominence in the history of this county, is of French origin, and possesses that type of manhood and womanhood that will not stand oppression and tyranny at the hands of individuals or heads of governments. The earliest Burdett in the American line of which we have any knowledge was named Frederick. The place and date of his birth in France is not positively known. How- ever, it is certain that he, with a brother James Burdett, made his escape
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from France where they had displeased the government, and succeeded in getting over into Holland, from whence they succeeded in crossing over to this country, landing in Virginia early in the eighteenth century. They settled in Culpeper county, where some of their descendants still reside. The West Virginia family of this narrative traces descent from Frederick Burdett, one of these brothers.
(II) Frederick (2), son of Frederick Burdett, was born at Cul- peper, Virginia, December 24, 1787, died at Pruntytown, October 27, 1865. He lived there until his marriage, when the newly married couple started immediately, with the bride's father and his family, for their future home west of the Allegheny mountains. They were accom- panied by several Culpeper families and all were more than two months on their journey. The trip was a tedious and wearisome one; most of the company were obliged to walk, as there were no roads and the horses were all heavily loaded with the household goods of the party, but in time they reached Pruntytown, then known as Williamsport, Virginia. After Mr. Burdett's arrival at Pruntytown, Virginia, he engaged in mercantile pursuits, and by reason of his ability, soon pros- pered and became a man of influence. For years he and Abraham Smith had the only store in that part of the country, Clarksburg being the nearest point at which goods could be obtained. Merchandise was purchased but twice during the year, in the spring and fall, and when the goods arrived it was considered quite an event among the people of the community, and there was a great rush to obtain the "first pick" of them. Mr. Burdett bought his goods at Baltimore from which city they were hauled in wagons as far west as the roads were completed, and for a long time they were carried the last two hundred miles on horseback. After the building of the canal to Cumberland, Maryland, goods were brought to that place in canal boats and then carried on west over the mountains to Pruntytown, through an almost unbroken forest and over the roughest roads.
Mr. Burdett was twice married, his first wife being Susan Sinsel, daughter of Harmon Sinsel, a native of Hesse-Hamburg, one of the German states that furnished his majesty, King George III., with a number of troops during the revolutionary war. These troops were raised by conscription, and it was much against their will that they were forced to fight against those struggling against oppression, and when
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the fortunes of war placed him in power of Americans as a prisoner of war, he readily accepted his parole, and shortly after recrossed the At- lantic and obtained an honorable discharge from the army of his native prince, and returned to the United States. He did not obtain his dis- charge papers until after he had undergone many hardships, for it was only after repeated failures that he finally obtained the precious docu- ments, and was allowed to depart for America. The return voyage was made in mid-winter, and was a long and perilous one, lasting over six weeks. The little sailing vessel on which he had taken passage had many narrow escapes from foundering. Frederick and Susan (Sinsel) Burdett had eight children, four of each sex, two of the daughters died young. The sons were: James W., of whom further; John S .; Fred- erick E., and Benjamin F. The daughters who lived and married were: Mary J. and Anna. Mary J. married Leonidas S. Johnson; Anna married Stephen Blue, both of whom died in 1850 of typhoid fever within a few hours of each other.
(III) James W., son of Frederick (2) and Susan (Sinsel) Burdett, was born at Pruntytown, Virginia, November 8, 1817. For many years he was associated with his father in the mercantile business, and also conducted a very extensive tannery for several years. For some- time prior to his death, he gave his entire time to the tannery business which had become one of the largest in its section of Virginia. Besides being an active and successful business factor in his community, he also took a deep interest in political issues. He was a prominent Whig and later a Republican leader. Notwithstanding the fact that his family had owned many slaves and he had been brought up to believe in slav- ery, yet he became an open and radical Abolitionist and cast his vote for President Lincoln when he was first a candidate.
He was twice married, first to Harriet Kemble, daughter of Samuel Kemble, a pioneer of this country. She died leaving four children : Frances Victoria, Susan Virginia, Mary Florence, and Samuel George, who was a mail clerk on the main line of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad, and was killed in a collision after having left the service, April 28, 1891.
Mr. Burdett married (second) Harriet Warder, born on the farm, near Pruntytown, August 6, 1832, died in March, 1903, daughter of Noah E. Warder. She was one of a very large family. Her father
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was the son of Henry Warder, who came at an early day from Fauquier county, Virginia, settling near Pruntytown. Henry Warder was a son of Henry Warder Sr., of an English family who came over to Virginia with Lord Fairfax. He was a soldier in the revolution. At that time the name was spelled Wardour, but long since changed. Noah E. Warder married Mary Jones, daughter of Samuel Jones, another hardy pioneer of this part of Virginia. Samuel Jones settled near Morgan- town about 1770. While working on his farm one day, in 1777, Indians attacked the settlers, and captured a son and daughter of Sam- uel Jones. These two children, Mary and John Jones, aged ten and twelve years, were taken by the Indians to Detroit, where they remain- ed many years. Mary Jones finally made her escape from the Indians, went to Detroit, and there married Pete Malotte. Many years later, she came to visit her old home, coming from Grosfield, Canada, across Lake Erie to Sandusky, where she with two children, small boys, cross- ed Ohio and thence through Virginia to her father's home. He lived on Three Fork creek, Taylor county, two miles from Grafton. She was then fifty years of age and her father was still living, aged seventy- eight years. She remained three months and returned to Canada on horseback. Mary Jones, wife of Noah E. Warder, was a niece and name sake of this Mary (Jones) Malotte. Noah Warder was the eldest of six sons, all of whom married and lived near their father's home. He was born March 17, 1796, and when sixteen years old entered the American army in the war of 1812. He wintered in the vicinity of Detroit following the surrender of General Hull. He was a distinguished soldier and was several times promoted, but at the close of the war returned home, married Mary Jones, and settled on a farm near his father, where he remained until his death, January 19, 1880, being noted far and near as an exemplary Christian citizen and a model father, bringing up a family of thirteen children.
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