USA > West Virginia > Genealogical and personal history of the upper Monongahela valley, West Virginia, Volume II > Part 27
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James W. and Harriet (Warder) Burdett had six sons and one daughter : Frederick Jones, of whom further; James Guy, died March, 1902 ; Lucy Maude, wife of George H. A. Batson, who was postmaster at Pruntytown; William Noah, died August, 1906; Abraham Warder, of whom further; Luke Edward, who became master mechanic of the shops of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad, at Martinsburg; Richard Clyde, who married Hellena Mueller.
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(IV) Frederick Jones, son of James W. and Harriet (Warder) Burdett, was reared in his native town and finished his education in the high school of that place, and when sixteen years of age, in 1875, be- gan to make his own way in life. He taught school a few terms, when his health failed and he was compelled to abandon it for a time, but on his recovery followed this profession fourteen years. In 1884 he was appointed deputy assessor for Taylor county, and in 1886, when the county was divided into two districts, he was appointed chief assessor for the western district, filling the position until 1888. At the Repub- lican convention held in 1888, he was nominated by acclamation as assessor for the western district, and was elected by a large majority; September 23, 1890, was appointed deputy clerk of the circuit court for Taylor county; in 1890 he was nominated for the office of county clerk of the circuit court, and in November was elected for the term of six years. He died February 27, 1899.
(IV) Abraham Warder, son of James W. and Harriet (Warder) Burdett, was born at Pruntytown, West Virginia, March 1, 1869. He received his education in the public schools, after which he was made clerk in the city clerk's office in Grafton, a position he filled six years, being deputy clerk of the circuit court from 1891 to 1897. He served as assistant assessor of the county two years. He studied law and prac- tically educated himself in that profession. In 1897 he was examined for the bar, admitted to practice that year, and has been a successful lawyer located at Grafton ever since. He is one of the directors of the Grafton Bank and Trust Company and its secretary, as well as its attorney. He was mayor of Grafton in 1904-05, being elected on the Republican ticket. He is member of State Bar Association; the Ma- sonic order, having been advanced in the mysteries of that ancient and honorable fraternity to the thirty-second degree and is also a Shriner; holds membership in the Odd Fellows order, is a past noble grand and member of the encampment; is also an Elk. In religious belief he is of the Lutheran church.
He was married, April 20, 1899, at Grafton, to Sallie Kunst, born September 16, 1872, at Pruntytown, West Virginia, daughter of John H. and Florence M. (Rizer) Kunst. They have one child: John Kunst, born September 30, 1905, at Grafton, West Virginia.
James 4. Flanagan W. W.
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This narrative treats of the Flanagan family to FLANAGAN which Rev. James H. Flanagan, D. D., belongs. The original home of this branch of the family was in Ireland, where Patrick Flanagan was born. He came to America in 1804. He sought and obtained employment on the construction of the National Pike, saved his money and soon owned a horse and cart, after which he took small contracts on the pike. Thus he started in business, and finally decided to purchase a farm, which he did in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania. He died in 1874. He was a farmer, belonged to the Presbyterian church and politically voted the Democratic ticket. He married Nancy Hastings, born in Brownsville, Pennsylvania. Chil- dren : Mary, Elizabeth, John, William, Margaret and James H.
(II) James H. Flanagan, D. D., son of Patrick and Nancy (Hast- ings) Flanagan, was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, Sep- tember 23, 1832. He obtained his education at the common schools then attended West Alexandria, Pennsylvania, Academy, after which he entered Washington College (now Washington and Jefferson), in 1851, and then the Western Theological Seminary. He was licensed to preach in 1856 and ordained a regular minister in 1857. His first work was at Kingwood, Virginia, after which he was pastor of the Presbyterian church at Fairmont, West Virginia, from 1862 to 1872, and pastor of the church at Grafton, West Virginia, from 1872 to 1902. Since the date last named, he has been pastor emeritus of the Grafton church. He has been enabled to do much good for the cause of Christianity in West Virginia, where his labors have been continu- ous since before the civil war period. At Grafton the Presbyterian church has been built up, the property kept free of debt, and the spiritual interest kept alive to a marked degree during the passing of these multiplied years. Dr. Flanagan was the organizer of the Synod of West Virginia in 1904. On June 10, 1891, West Virginia Univer- sity conferred the honorary degree of D. D. upon him. The Presby- terian church of West Virginia owes much to Dr. Flanagan for his constant and ceaseless efforts in its behalf, and even at his advanced age he continues his labors, averaging at least one sermon for each Sabbath. He is a Mason.
Rev. J. H. Flanagan married May 17, 1864, at Wheeling, West Virginia, Isabella H. Hervey, daughter of a faithful minister, Rev.
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James Hervey, D. D. Mrs. Flanagan was born in Wheeling, February 23, 1832, and died in 1907. Her mother's maiden name was Jane Mc- Kinley. Rev. James Hervey was pastor of Forks Presbyterian Church for forty-seven years, and was greatly beloved by thousands who heard him preach the word during the almost half century of his pastorate. The number of persons baptized, married and buried under the pastor- ates of both Dr. Flanagan and Dr. Hervey was very large.
ERNST This is a German family, first represented in America by Marcus John Ernst, a native of Germany, who emigrated alone, when eighteen years of age, locating at Mounds- ville, Marshall county, Virginia. He was forty-five years old at the date of his death in 1871. He was a baker by trade and lived most of his life at Moundsville, coming to Clarksburg in 1865. He worked for the union army as a baker, during the civil war in this country, at Buckhannon, Upshur county, Virginia. He married Fannie Hine, a native German woman, an orphan when she came unaccompanied to this country and located at Moundsville. She died in 1894, aged sixty- four years. Children : Charles M., of whom further; William H., of Salt Lake City, Utah, where he is engaged in the transfer business; Philip, died aged forty-six years; Mrs. Nettie Lambricht, died aged thirty-six years.
(II) Charles Marcus, son of Marcus J. and Fannie (Hine) Ernst, was born at Moundsville, Marshall county, West Virginia, November 7, 1858. He came to Clarksburg with his parents, when but five years of age, and was there educated at the public schools. He assisted his mother with the bakery and confectionery business, in a building for- merly located where the Waldo Hotel now stands, continuing until he was twenty-two years of age. He then established a confectionery store on his own account on Third street, Clarksburg, and conducted it for five years. He has had charge of the Donahue & Johnson boot and shoe and hat store, located at 328 Main street, for over twenty- five years. Politically Mr. Ernst is a Republican. He is a member of the city council, being elected to such position in 1902, and holding it ever since by reelection. He belongs to the Elks order at Clarksburg, and the Knights of Pythias fraternity; and is a member and clerk of the Woodmen of the World. He is a member of the Lutheran church.
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Charles M. Ernst married, at Hamilton, Ohio, February 16, 1893, Katherine Small Rittweger, born in Oxford, Ohio, November 16, 1870, daughter of W. A. Rittweger, who was born about 1843, and lived retired at Oxford, Ohio, where he formerly conducted a barber shop. His wife was Mary Long, who is still living at the age of sixty-three years. Mr. and Mrs. Ernst have an adopted son, Phillip Charles, now nineteen years of age, who is the son of Mrs. Nettie Lambricht, Mr. Ernst's sister.
JACOBS Many years ago this was known as a pioneer name in Maryland where at least three generations of the family had resided. Later the family was well known and quite numerous in Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
(I) John Jacobs, of English origin, was born in Maryland and lived to an advanced age. He had a son, Daniel B., of whom further.
(II) Daniel B., son of John Jacobs was born in Maryland, and like his father lived to be an old and successful agriculturalist in that state. He married and had children, among whom was William.
(III) William, son of Daniel B. Jacobs and wife, was a native of Greene county, Pennsylvania, born August 18, 1835, died September 28, 1908. He followed farming the greater part of his life and also handled real estate at Waynesburg. Politically he was a Democrat, and in his church faith was of the Methodist Protestant denomination. He married Hester Jane Loar, born in Greene county, Pennsylvania, November 25, 1836, died March 21, 1910. John Loar, the father-in- law of William Jacobs, was by occupation a farmer. But two children born to Mr. and Mrs. Jacobs are now living : Daniel Warren, of whom further ; and Anna Belle, now Mrs. Robert R. Hadley, of Waynesburg, Pennsylvania.
(IV) Daniel Warren, son of William and Hester Jane (Loar) Jacobs, was born in Rich Hill township, Greene county, Pennsylvania, March 16, 1860. He attended the local common schools and then entered Waynesburg College, Pennsylvania. He taught school for a time, and was then deputy treasurer of the county, under his father for three years. He then engaged in the business of general merchandising at Harvey's postoffice, Graysville, Pennsylvania, owning a large store which he conducted for ten years. After this he went to Clarksburg,
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West Virginia, in September, 1897, and purchased Colonel T. S. Spates' dry goods store, operating for two years. He then moved the stock to another location and ran the business two years longer before he sold out and erected the Jacobs Building, in 1902, one of the substantial structures of the city of Clarksburg. In this building he fitted up ex- cellent real estate offices and is now engaged in a large realty business. This building has the largest single storeroom in West Virginia. He also purchased the old Colonel Spates residence at No. 443 West Main street. He also owns the Monticello Garage, an immense building on Monticello avenue and Main street. He is president of the Fairground Improvement Company. Politically Mr. Jacobs votes the Democratic ticket. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, the Eastern Star, the Knights Templar, and the Odd Fellows. He is a Baptist.
Daniel W. Jacobs married, in Greene county, Pennsylvania, No- vember, 1884, Lucy Webster, a native of that county, born September 22, 1864. She was the daughter of Samuel K. Webster, a farmer, who is still living, at the age of seventy-nine years, in Greene county, Penn- sylvania. Mr. Webster married Nancy Higginbotham, now aged seventy-eight years. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Jacobs are: John W., born September 6, 1885, now in the Monticello Garage Company, owned by his father; Hallie E., born August 31, 1888, with the Monti- cello Garage Company; William Samuel, born May 21, 1894, at school.
At least four generations of this Davis family have been
DAVIS residents of Harrison county, Virginia, and West Vir- ginia. The heads of such families have been: James B., born about 1821, in Harrison county; Granville H., born in 1839; Hannibal Hamlin, born in 1862.
(I) Rev. James B. Davis, born in Harrison county, in what was then Old Virginia, in 1821, died at the age of eighty-five years in 1906. He was a minister of the Seventh Day Baptist church, and preached at New Milton, Doddridge county, and later at Salem, Harrison county. He married (first) Jane Hopkins, a native of Ohio, and (second) Emily V. Davis. Children by first wife: Abner; Granville H., of whom further; William Henry; Jane; Moses H., and Augustus, died
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young. Children by second wife: Anderson; Virginus L .; Viola C .; Alvena; Ora A .; A. H., and Pertima.
(II) Granville H., son of James B. and Jane (Hopkins) Davis, was born in Greene county, Ohio, on New Year's Day, 1839. He is now leading a retired life at Salem, West Virginia. He has followed agricultural pursuits all of his active years and been highly successful in his undertakings as a tiller of the soil in Doddridge county, this state. He participated in the great civil war, being a member of Company A, Fourteenth West Virginia Regiment Infantry. He was at the battle of Bull Run and in eight other heavy engagements. He married Minerva R. Randolph, born in 1841, daughter of Jephtha F. Ran- dolph, now deceased, who was a farmer of Doddridge county, West Virginia. Mrs. Davis now resides at Salem. This worthy couple were the parents of ten children, of whom one son and one daughter are de- ceased. Living children : Resin Filmore, now employed by the Burma Oil Company, in India, has been around the world; the remainder of the family all reside in Harrison county, West Virginia : Herbert L .; Darwin J .; Erastus B .; Dow C .; Cedona B., who married Thomas J. Snyder; Atha, who married John Mclaughlin; and Hannibal Hamlin, of whom further.
(III) Hannibal Hamlin, son of Granville H. and Minerva R. (Randolph) Davis, was born February 11, 1862, in Doddridge county, West Virginia, on his father's farm, known as Wolf's Penn Run Farm. He attended school in his native district, New Milton. He began work for Judge Steward, of West Union, with whom he remained a short time. In August, 1883, he entered the Oxford University, Allegany county, New York State, where for two years he supported himself while attending the University, working mornings and nights. He then served an apprenticeship with A. A. Shaw, a jeweler of that town, where he remained three years. In June, 1888, he went to Harrison county and started a jewelry store at Salem, with a capital of one hun- dred dollars. There he remained twenty-one years. In 1898 his store was burned with the great conflagration of that town, and he thus lost all, about six thousand dollars; but always having been prompt, his credit was excellent. He was advanced at once all the credit he needed to enter business again, and that with only his personal note. He thus stocked up again and commenced business. He owes much of his suc-
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cess in the latter business venture to Dr. D. C. Louchery, then of Salem, but now of Clarksburg, a practicing physician, who advanced him the necessary credit with which to return to business. In 1898 he purchased the Nutter property of Clarksburg, having confidence in the coming prosperity of that city. He still owns this property, and also Nos. 238 to 448 East Pike street, of more than a hundred foot front- age, valued at three hundred dollars per foot. His jewelry store is located at 122 Fourth street, and he there carries the highest grade of goods, his trade being among the best people in the vicinity. He owns five pieces of valuable property in Clarksburg, including one lot on Pike street, one on Pike and Depot streets, one on Jefferson street, and one at 211 East Pike street, where his residence is situated, together with the lot adjoining his residence. He is numbered among the stock- holders in the Empire National Bank and has other financial interests. Politically Mr. Davis is a Republican. He holds a membership in the Knights of Pythias, Eagles and Maccabees fraternities, and in church connection is a Baptist.
He married, at Salem, West Virginia, July 3, 1890, Osee Belle Hoover, born in Taylor county, West Virginia, in 1873, daughter of John W. and Virginia (Talbert) Hoover. Mr. Hoover, now aged sixty-two years, lives at the Soldiers' Home, Dayton, Ohio, and is a Grand Army man. Mrs. Hoover now resides with Mr. and Mrs. Davis. Children of Mr. and Mrs. Davis are: Dana Lowell, born February 27, 1892, in the high school; Charles Lawrence, born Janu- ary 27, 1894; Alfred Lysle, born March 17, 1896; Laura Minerva, born August 16, 1898; Clara Aneta, born August 25, 1904; Bernard Carson, born April 1, 1907.
Three generations of this family have been residents of
DAVIS Shinnston, West Virginia. The first of this line was Dr. Peter Davis, who was born near Morristown, Monongalia county, West Virginia, September 16, 1811. He removed to Shinns- ton, in 1855, and lived there the remainder of his life, dying April 30, 1887, aged seventy-six years. He married Maria Billingslea, born near Morristown, June 9, 1809, died September 9, 1892. Their child, Samuel Benton Davis, is mentioned below.
(II) Samuel Benton Davis, son of Dr. Peter and Maria (Billings-
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lea ) Davis, was born in 1837, died in January, 1873, aged thirty-six years. By trade he was a blacksmith. He was among the soldiers of the civil war who went from West Virginia and saw severe service, for at the outbreak of the war he enlisted in Company G, Twelfth West Virginia Regiment, and served three years. He participated in many hard fought battles, and was captured at Cedar Creek, and held a prisoner ten months. Politically he was a Democrat, and in his relig- ious views favored the Methodist denomination.
He married Mary A. Foreman, and they were the parents of one son, Samuel Benton, mentioned below.
(III) Samuel Benton (2), named for his father, Samuel Benton (1) Davis (who died before the son's birth), was born August 7, 1873, at Shinnston, Harrison county, West Virginia. He was educated in the public schools, after which he engaged in railroading as agent for the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company, at Shinnston. Since 1910 Mr. Davis has been in the milling business as manager for C. F. Lucas & Company, at Shinnston. He is a stockholder in both the Farmers' and the First National banks of Shinnston. Among the valuable pieces of property he owns may be mentioned the one on the corner of Pike and Main streets. His residence is located on Charles street. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity, and politically he is a Republican.
Mr. Davis married, February 5, 1907, Virginia Pearl Anderson, a native of Shinnston, West Virginia, born May 4, 1882. They have one child, Samuel Benton Jr., born November 6, 1910.
DAVIS For several generations this family has resided in Harri- son county, now West Virginia, where generally they have followed agriculture for a livelihood, the later members, however, being in the professions.
(I) Resin Davis was born in Harrison county, Virginia, about 1836, died about 1886. He was a farmer as was his father, in the county and state last named. He married Mary Williams, by whom one child was born, Francis M., see forward.
(II) Francis M., son of Resin and Mary (Williams) Davis, was born in Harrison county, now West Virginia, 1852. He is now a re- tired farmer residing in the city of Clarksburg, the scenes of which have been familiar to him from childhood. For many years he was
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assessor of Harrison county. He still owns a large farm on Sycamore creek, this county. He is politically a Republican, and in his religious faith is of the Methodist church. He married Mary O. Merideth, a native of West Virginia. Their children are Cecil W., Bertha V., Isa A., Claude Melvin, Dorsey B., Emma G., deceased; Paul F.
(III) Claude Melvin Davis, D. D. S., son of Francis M. and Mary O. (Merideth) Davis, and now of the dental firm of Davis & Davis, Clarksburg, was born April 18, 1880, on his father's farm, on Syca- more creek, Harrison county, West Virginia. He had the advantage of the public schools of his native county after which he entered Pitts- burgh Dental College, from which he graduated in 1903. He immedi- ately commenced his practice as a dentist in the city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and at Altoona, that state. He also practiced for three years in Chicago, Illinois, then returned to Clarksburg, West Virginia, in December, 1908, first taking charge of Dr. Timberlake's practice and finally established offices with his brother, Dr. D. B. Davis, in the Goff building. As a dental firm the Davis brothers have made a suc- cess at Clarksburg, proving that they are both well fitted for the prac- tice of their profession. Politically Dr. Davis votes the Republican ticket. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and holds membership in the Modern Woodmen of America.
He married, January 6, 1904, Lena A. Reynolds, a native of Wood county. She was born April 17, 1880.
(III) Dorsey Boatman Davis, D. D. S., son of Francis M. and Mary O. (Merideth) Davis, was born in West Milford, West Vir- ginia, May 10, 1884. He attended the local common schools of Harri- son county after which he took a course at Salem College, and then hav- ing decided to become a dentist studied at the Pittsburgh (Pennsyl- vania ) Dental College for two years. After a course at the University of Illinois, from which he graduated in 1907, he commenced his prac- tice of dentistry at Johnstown, Pennsylvania. He also practiced at Washington, Pennsylvania, at Chicago and at Pittsburgh, finally re- moving to Clarksburg, West Virginia, in August, 1910, where he and his brother, Claude Melvin Davis, formed a partnership. In his polit- ical preference he favors Republican party principles. He is a member of the Delta Sigma Delta college fraternity, and the Modern Wood- men of America.
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Mr. Davis married, in February, 1907, at Chicago, Dora Frances Reynolds (sister of his brother's wife). She was born in Wood county, West Virginia, in 1888, daughter of W. F. and Florence (Hill) Reynolds, both living at Walker, Wood county, the former by occupa- tion a farmer. Mr. and Mrs. Davis have two children : Robert H. and John B.
DUNCAN George Lee Duncan, actively and prominently identi- fied with many of the leading industries of Clarksburg and vicinity, is a native of Clarksburg and a member of a representative family of that section.
(I) Judge Edwin S. Duncan came to this country in early man- hood, having in his possession old Virginia patents for land, and was the owner of large tracts in that state, from which he derived a fair income. He represented this country in England under President Monroe, and was prominent as a judge, administering the duties of the office in a highly efficient manner.
(II) James, son of Edwin S. Duncan, died in early manhood, at the age of twenty-seven years, leaving one child, James Jackson, see forward. He married Columbia, daughter of Judge John G. Jackson, who was the prime factor in securing the appointment of Stonewall Jackson at West Point, he being a relative of that famous character. He was the owner of iron and salt mines, was a member of congress, and one of the first federal judges.
(III) James Jackson, son of James Duncan, is a resident of Clarks- burg, now leading a retired life, having practiced law for a number of years. He is a graduate of the University of Virginia. He is a Demo- crat in politics, and takes an intelligent interest but no active part in political affairs. He married Maud Lee, a native of Clarksburg, daughter of Judge George H. Lee, of the Virginia supreme court of appeals prior to the civil war. After the war Judge Lee was the chief counsel of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad, was very prominent, and his abilities were recognized and appreciated.
(IV) George Lee, son of James Jackson Duncan, was born No- vember 30, 1872. He attended the local schools, and at the early age of fifteen began his business career. For a quarter of a century he was 19-2M
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in the employ of Mr. Lowndes, and is now ( 1912) secretary and treas- urer of the Lowndes Savings Bank and Trust Company, president of the West Virginia Bank, director of the Merchants' National Bank, the Clarksburg Gas & Electric Company, the Commercial Coal & Coke Company, the Independent Oil Company, and is interested in other cor- porations. He is a member of the vestry of the Episcopal church of Clarksburg, and a Democrat in politics, serving as president of the Board of Trade of Clarksburg in 1909-10. He is the owner of a two hundred acre farm located on Elk creek, seven miles from Clarksburg. Mr. Duncan is a member of the Sons of the Revolution, the Free and Accepted Masons, and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
Mr. Duncan married, at Philadelphia, July 27, 1898, Gertrude Smith, a native of Clarksburg, daughter of Ashbel G. and Anna ( Ran- kin) Smith, the former of whom was a native of Preston county, Vir- ginia, merchant of Clarksburg, died in 1898; and the latter a native of Uniontown, Pennsylvania. Children: George Lee Jr., born May 27, 1899; Elizabeth Rankin.
The family of Ruhl is very clearly of German extraction, RUHL its home being the German principality of Hesse. At least there has long been a family of that name established there, and as investigations do not show the race to be a large one in the old or new countries, the statement seems to be a correct one. In the United States the immigrants of the name seem to have all come to Pennsylvania, as far as the records show. It is well known that the most of the English colonies, north and south, extended a rather cold welcome to those of different race and language. The Penns alone welcomed all alike to their province, and Germans especially formed a large, if not the principal element, in the population of Pennsylvania.
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