USA > West Virginia > Genealogical and personal history of the upper Monongahela valley, West Virginia, Volume II > Part 29
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47
Arphad Paul Morrison married, October 15, 1905, Florence, born at Marshallville, Harrison county, West Virginia, April 15, 1883, daughter of George W. Williams, now living at Bristol. By occupa- tion Mr. Williams is a farmer and stockman. His wife Della (Martin) Williams, was born in 1858. Children of Mr. and Mrs. Morrison: Willard Paul, born December 14, 1906; William Warren, born Febru- ary, 1909; Marjorie, born July, 1911.
702
UPPER MONONGAHELA VALLEY.
The grandfather of Stingley F. Hoffman was John HOFFMAN Hoffman, a native of the state of West Virginia, who died about 1885. He followed farming throughout his days, and married Osa Kelly, whose death occurred during the seventies. Children : Sanford, Granville, Isaac, Robert J., of whom later; Ebenezer, Peter, Jacob, Clarinda, Samantha, Elizabeth, Nancy and Rachel.
(II) Robert J., son of John and Osa (Kelly) Hoffman, was born May 9, 1840, died October 21, 1904. Like his father he was a farmer of industrious habits, temperate in all things. Politically Robert J. Hoffman was a Republican. He was of the United Brethren faith. As a member of the West Virginia Home Guards, he took an active part in the organization. He married Nancy Nestor and reared a family of three children : Jonas W., Stingley Francis, of whom further, and Minnie E. Hoffman.
(III) Stingley Francis, son of Robert and Nancy (Nestor) Hoff- man, was born in Cove district, Barbour county, West Virginia, Septem- ber 13, 1870. Educated at the public and normal schools and the Classical Academy at Buckhannon, he afterwards took a course at the Mountain State Business College at Parkersburg, graduating 1893, in stenography and typewriting. After leaving his studies in the various schools and colleges, he taught for a number of years. From 1899 to 1901, with E. H. Compton, he engaged in merchandising, at Moats- ville, Barbour county, West Virginia, under the firm name of Compton & Hoffman. When they disposed of their stock and site of trade at the end of two years, Mr. Hoffman accepted a position with the Balti- more & Ohio Railroad Company, as manager of the company's store and wareroom at Benwood Junction, remaining there one year. In 1903, E. H. Compton having been elected clerk of the county court for Barbour county, Mr. Hoffman was appointed his deputy, serving in that capacity six years. At the Barbour county primaries in 1908, he was nominated himself for the office of clerk of the courts and that fall was elected by a substantial majority on the Republican ticket. Aided by none, he has won positions in life by dint of industry and self- reliance. He makes an excellent county official and studies to please, knowing that he is but a servant of the people who elected him. Mr. Hoffman attends the United Brethren church. Politically a Repub-
A. F. Hoffman
703
UPPER MONONGAHELA VALLEY.
lican, he takes much interest in the welfare of his party. In Masonry he is identified with Bigelow Lodge, No. 52, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, of Philippi, having filled the chair of junior deacon. He also holds membership with the Odd Fellows order, Lodge No. 59, at Philippi; the Knights of Maccabees, Valley Tent, No. 17; the Uni- formed Rank of Maccabees and the Modern Woodmen Camp, No. 12,735, at Philippi; and the Royal Neighbors and Junior Order of American Mechanics. He is a director in the Citizens' National Bank of Philippi, and also of the Philippi Amusement Company. He is a stockholder and director in the Peterson Gas Alarm Company.
Mr. Hoffman married, in 1896, Alcinda C., daughter of Edward H. and Jemima E. (Myres) Compton. Mrs. Hoffman died Novem- ber 21, 1904.
More than two hundred years ago, Robert Latham, LATHAM founder of this family, emigrated to America from Europe, in 1700, locating on Long Island, New York. He married and had children: John, Dickey, Joseph, Robert and a daughter who became the wife of Mr. Robertson.
(II) Robert, fourth child of the first Robert Latham, married Miss Newman. They were the parents of nine children : John, Thomas, Abner, Robert, William, Elizabeth, Mary, Susanna and Ann.
(III) Robert, son of Robert and (Newman) Latham, was born 1769, either in Prince William or Fauquier county, Virginia ; died 1833. He was a Baptist minister; also a house carpenter for many years, while preaching. He married and had children: Robert, Thomas, Lucy and John.
(IV) John, youngest son of Robert Latham, born, either in Fau- quier or Prince William county, Virginia, November 24, 1794; died November 15, 1878, in Grafton, West Virginia. In 1849 he removed with his family to Taylor county, West Virginia, locating at what is now known as Simpson. He followed farming and was surveyor of his county at one time. He married Juliet Ann Newman, born in Prince William county, Virginia, died at the age of eighty years. Children : Elizabeth; James; George R., of whom further; John Thomas, of Fairmont, West Virginia; Abner O., of Washington, D. C .; Benjamin Franklin; Hattie White, living in Australia.
704
UPPER MONONGAHELA VALLEY.
(V) Col. George Robert Latham, son of John and Juliet Ann (Newman) Latham, was born on Bull Run battlefield, Prince William county, Virginia, March 9, 1832. He accompanied his parents who moved to Taylor county, West Virginia, in 1849, and remained on the farm with his father. Being of a studious mind, he gained, by hard study and work, an excellent education, as he had limited means. In 1850 he was afflicted with a severe case of pleurisy which disabled him, and for three years kept him from all farm work. In 1852 he com- menced teaching school in Taylor and Barbour counties, and taught until the winter of 1859. While teaching he had also been studying law, and in 1859 passed an examination which admitted him to the bar. He opened the first law office in Grafton. In 1860 he published the Western Virginian, in the interest of the Bell-Everitt presidential ticket. At the outbreak of the civil war, he hoisted a United States flag over his law office and turned it into a recruiting station. By May 20, 1861, he had a full company enrolled, which later became known as Company B, Second Virginia Infantry, and was the first union company recruited in the interior of the state. Under Mr. Latham's command this company remained at Grafton to vote on the ordinance of secession, May 23, 1861, after which it marched across confederate state territory at Fetterman and struck a three o'clock morning train for Wheeling. The company was ordered back to Grafton, then sent to Philippi, and took part in the three months' campaign to Carrick's Ford, where the confederate General Garnett was killed. In the fall of 1864, Colonel Latham was elected a member of the thirty-ninth congress, for the second district of West Virginia, serving from March 4, 1865, to March 4, 1867. He was mustered out of the military service at Wheeling, March 10, 1865, and was brevetted brigadier-general of volunteers. In congress he was an eminent representative as shown by his speeches delivered in the house on January 8 and May 28, 1866. On account of ill health he refused a renomination; but, at the request of the secretary of state, agreed to accept the position of United States consul at Melbourne, Australia. He was stationed at that post from 1867 to 1870. In 1875 he was elected superintendent of the public schools of Upshur county, West Virginia, and in 1880 was appointed, by President Hayes, supervisor of the census for the first district of West Virginia. As result of a wound received at Lee's Springs, on the
705
UPPER MONONGAHELA VALLEY.
Rappahannock river, in August, 1862, he still has frequent and severe pains in his left foot. Politically he is a Republican, and in church faith is a Baptist.
Col. Latham married, in Grafton, West Virginia, December 24, 1857, Caroline A. Thayer, born in Monongalia county, West Vir- ginia, April 22, 1834, daughter of Franklin and Mary Thayer. The Thayer family is an old and prominent one in New England, and the line of descent to Mrs. Latham is: (I) Richard, (II) Richard, (III) Nathaniel, (IV) Zachariah, (V) Captain Abel, (VI) Stephen, (VII) Franklin, (VIII) Caroline A. Thayer, wife of Col. Latham. Col. Latham and his wife are the parents of nine children, eight of whom still survive: 1. Charles O., born at Grafton, married Maud Fisher; has a child, Gertrude. 2. Juliet Amelia, born at Grafton. 3. Annie Virginia, born at Grafton; married Leondus Bartlett; children: Edna, married Dr. Carl Trippet, and has one child, Carl Hasson; and Frank. 4. Hattie Lee, born at Buckhannon, West Virginia; married Charles Darlington. 5. John Franklin, born in Australia. 6. Mary Elizabeth, born in Buckhannon; married William Flannigen, and they have chil- dren : Frank, Harrold, Amelia, Latham and Thayer, the last two being twins. 7. George Robert Jr., born in Upshur county, West Virginia ; married Winfred Brown, and they have children : Juliet, Jean, George Robert (3) and Frank. 8. William Thayer, born in Upshur county, West Virginia; married Lila Winchester, and their children are : Willa, Lois, Winchester, Enoch and Robert.
STOCKERT In this family is seen a truly representative German line of frugal, painstaking men and women. They have only been residents in this country a little more than half a century. It was in 1847 that Julius F. and Edward F. Stockert emigrated from the Fatherland, landing in New York City and from there went to Richmond, and thence on to Staunton, Virginia. (I) Julius F. Stockert, one of the two original emigrants just men- tioned above, was born in Plowen, Germany, died in Lewis county, West Virginia, in 1905. Mr. Stockert's occupation was that of a shoe- maker. Politically he voted the Democratic ticket and in church faith was of the Baptist denomination. He was an excellent adopted citizen 20- 2
706
UPPER MONONGAHELA VALLEY.
and during his residence in this country, proved himself a good and honorable man, making friends with all his associates. He married Maryland Virginia Davis, born in 1835, died in Lewis county, West Virginia, in 1903, daughter of Hezekiah and Frances (Kidd) Davis, both natives of Louisa county, Virginia. Hezekiah Davis died while in the employment of the government, at Washington, D. C.
(II) Gustavus F. Stockert, son of Julius F. and Maryland Virginia (Kidd) Stockert, was born in Waynesborough, Augusta county, Vir- ginia, September 3, 1854. He received no common school education, and in 1871 started west with his parents to Lewis county, West Vir- ginia. He was employed on his father's farm until he reached the age of twenty-three years, and put in his spare time reading pamphlets and newspapers, thus gaining a fair knowledge of affairs to help him in after life. In 1877 he engaged in lumbering, and rented a saw mill. He has been engaged in the same business ever since and with much success financially. In 1886, he removed to Buckhannon, Upshur coun- ty, West Virginia, for his lumber trade which was then beginning to assume large proportions. In his political belief he is in sympathy with the Democratic party. He is of the Baptist faith.
He married, September 23, 1877, Pooce Bailey, daughter of James M. and Amanda (McCue) Bailey, born August 28, 1857, in Janelew, Lewis county, West Virginia. Her mother is of Scotch-Irish descent, being related to the McCues of Nicholas county. Seven children were born of this marriage, one of whom still survives: Michael F., born June 29, 1884.
SWISHER The Swisher family is of Swiss-German descent, and its descendants are now scattered in almost every state of the union, and in nearly every instance their habits of industry and perseverance have won for them the respect of their fellow citizens and an honorable place in society. The name, at differ- ent times, has been spelled in various forms, namely-Schweiber, Sweit- zer, Switzer, and Schweighiger. About the year 1750, four brothers named Schweiber set out from Switzerland for America in order to better their condition. It is positively known that they reached the new world, but from that period the history of three of the brothers is lost. The supposition is that one settled near Winchester, while two of the
G. F. Stockert
707
UPPER MONONGAHELA VALLEY.
other three went northward into Pennsylvania, and their descendants afterwards migrated into what are now the counties of Marion, Mo- nongalia and Harrison, West Virginia.
(I) John Schweiber, the progenitor of the branch of the family here under consideration, was born in 1730, and was one of the four brothers aforementioned. He became an Indian trader and merchant, making extensive trips into the interior of the state and returning to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, heavily freighted with valuable furs. These trips were made about once in six weeks, and the value of the merchandise brought back varied from two hundred to seven hundred dollars, as shown by receipts given at that time, the oldest one of which is dated at Philadelphia, July 24, 1767, and is for thirty-nine pounds two shillings nine pence. It seems his trading in Philadelphia was largely with two persons, named Daniel and William Wister, as their names are attached to many of the receipts. Shortly after his marriage in Philadelphia to Anna Warner, he moved to McGaheysville, Rock- ingham county, Virginia, where he engaged in merchandising, and later moved to Augusta county, Virginia, where he died in 1802 and was interred on what is known as the Spring Hill Farm. Children : John, Jacob, Henry, Samuel, Daniel, George, Nancy, married - Pence; Elizabeth, married Fauber; Mary, married Philip Thurman, of Illinois.
(II) John Switzer, or Swisher, son of John (1) Schweiber, mar- ried (first), in 1811, Catherine Trout, who bore him the following named children: Mary, married John Koiner; Anna, married Joseph Spore; Elizabeth, married William Henderson; John; Sarah, mar- ried Jacob Swisher; Jacob; Margaret, married Stuart Bennett; David Warner (see forward) ; George; Henry; Samuel; Rebecca, married Taylor Parker; William. John Switzer or Swisher married (second) Mary Grow, who bore him two children : Daniel and James.
(III) David Warner Swisher, son of John (2) Switzer, or Swish- er, was born in Augusta county, Virginia, April 29, 1822. He was reared on a farm, and received the meagre education afforded by the common schools of the time, but what he lacked in book knowledge he made up in other ways, by the exercise of common sense and by shrewd observation of men and events. About the year 1838 he removed to what is now Preston county, West Virginia, but after a short residence
708
UPPER MONONGAHELA VALLEY.
there removed to Hampshire county, West Virginia, where he pur- chased land in the vicinity of Higginsville, in the year 1841. When the free school system was inaugurated it had his hearty sympathy, although he was strongly Southern in feeling, and many of his neigh- bors ridiculed the new educational system, branding it as a "Yankee" institution. He was a member of the first board of education in his dis- trict under the new system, and had as his associates "Jackey" Thomp- son, Joseph Parker and Zeiler Chadwick, and he also served as trustee of the Lower Levels school, to which place he removed after his mar- riage. As a farmer and business man he was exceptionally successful, and as a citizen he was universally esteemed, always sustaining the char- acter of a true man. In religion he was a Methodist Episcopalian, and in politics a Democrat. He married, in February, 1846, a daughter of Dr. Arnold Bonnifield, of St. George, West Virginia, who was a school teacher prior to her marriage, teaching in a school near Higginsville. Children : 1. Silas Newton, born in Hampshire county, March 26, 1848; taught school during the winter of 1868-69, and for ten consecu- tive winters following; during the year 1871 he made an extended trip to the west, visiting the states of Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Missouri and Kansas; he removed to Tucker county, West Virginia, in 1873, where he has since resided. He has held the office of president of the board of education, county commissioner, road commissioner and assessor in his adopted county. He married, October 7, 1875, Mary S., daughter of Jesse and Catherine Parsons, of Tucker county. Children: Minnie B., Scott N. and Glenn T. 2. Anzalettie. 3. Addie. 4. John Arnold, born in Hampshire county, September 4, 1857; for some years he taught school in his native and adjoining counties; he attended the Fair- mont State Normal School in 1879-80; he is now a fruit grower, and resides in Tucker county. He married Ella C., daughter of Edward W. and Mary E. McGill, October 17, 1883 ; children : Wallace, Nellie, Belle, Lee and Virgil. 5. Mary Isabel. 6. David. 7. Edward. 8. Franklin. 9. Howard Llewellyn (see forward).
(IV) Howard Llewellyn, son of David Warner Swisher, was born in Hampshire county, West Virginia, September 21, 1870. He attend- ed the public schools of his native county and the Fairmont Normal School, graduating from the latter in 1892. The following two years he served as school teacher in California, and then became a student in
Howarda Swish
709
UPPER MONONGAHELA VALLEY.
the West Virginia University, graduating from that institution with the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1897. In the same year he establish- ed a book and stationery business in Morgantown, which he later dis- posed of to the Acme Store. In 1898 he organized the Acme Publish- ing Company, was an active factor in the erection of their extensive building in 1900, and was president of the company for several years. In 1904-06 he organized the Main Street Building Company, and erect- ed the Swisher Theatre, a large seven-story structure, from which he derives a goodly income. In addition to this he is the owner of coal, timber, oil and gas lands, and is largely interested in fruit growing in Hampshire county, West Virginia. Mr. Swisher is reliable, responsi- ble, and of thorough integrity and unquestionable honor. His business life is one of success, attributable to those sterling qualities which he possesses, sound judgment, quick perception, activity and perseverance. He is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and Sigma Chi. Mr. Swisher married, in 1897, Mary, daughter of Edward S. Dering, of Morgantown. Her mother was Cordelia Walker before her marriage to Edward S. Der- ing, and was a member of a prominent old Virginia family, as was also Mr. Dering.
CARTER The Carter family has a very interesting history, run- ning back through the years and generations to the days of the revolution that tested men's character and love of liberty as well as tried their very souls. Virginia has been the home of this branch of the family for many generations back.
(I) William Carter was a soldier in the war for national independ- ence. Once he found a chest of gold buried in a box that had become imbedded in a ravine. When discovered the water had so washed away the dirt as to expose the box. At one time, during his soldier days, he paid the extreme price of fifty dollars for a pint of beans. At another time he, with four comrades, went to a house for something to eat and found nothing but some dough the lady had just placed in the oven to bake. So hungry were the men, they would not wait for the bread to bake, but took the dough from the oven and ate it raw. At another time, three soldiers had a narrow escape when they had got into a log hut, and saw ten British redcoats coming their way. They
710
UPPER MONONGAHELA VALLEY.
escaped by running. Mr. Carter was between his two comrades, each one having his head severed from his body by the British soldier's swords. These were some of the incidents and hardships connected with Mr. Carter's life in revolutionary days. He married and reared a family in Virginia.
(II) Robert, son of William Carter, was born in Virginia, but lived and died in that portion now known as Harrison county, West Virginia. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and lost a finger on his right hand during an engagement. His life as a farmer aided him in reaching the age of one hundred years. Among his children was a son, William Harrison.
(III) William Harrison, son of Robert Carter, the centenarian, was born on a farm in Harrison county, now West Virginia, March, 1816, died about June, 1902, aged eighty-six years two months and twenty-one days. He followed farming all of his life. Politically he voted the Democratic ticket; in religious faith he held that of the Bap- tist denomination. He married Elizabeth Maxwell, a native of Harri- son county, born in 1816, died when past sixty years of age. Her father, Bedwell Maxwell, was killed while erecting a mill. Children: Amos N., of Clarksburg; David M., a farmer of Harrison county; Nancy R., married a Mr. Rogers, of Marshville; Hulda R., married a Mr. Hanna, on a farm in Harrison county; Jackson Van Buren, of whom later; Edith L., married a Mr. Smith, residing in Mitchell county, Kansas; and two children died in infancy.
(IV) Jackson Van Buren, son of William Harrison and Elizabeth (Maxwell) Carter, was born in Harrison county, West Virginia, No- vember 2, 1857, on his father's old homestead. This place is situated ten miles west of Clarksburg. He attended the public schools at Marsh- ville and assisted on his father's farm until he reached his majority. When he married, he purchased a farm on Indian Run, twelve miles west of Clarksburg, where he lived twenty-four years. Then he rented his farm of one hundred and thirty-eight acres, which he still owns, and removed to Clarksburg in 1904. For three years he was engaged in the oil and natural gas business. He still owns his drilling machinery and is engaged in well drilling at the present time. He was appointed by the county court, September 11, 1911, as justice of the peace for the Clarksburg district. His justice's office is on the ground floor of the
7II
UPPER MONONGAHELA VALLEY.
courthouse at Clarksburg and he is fulfilling well the duties of his office. Politically he votes the Democratic ticket. He is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and is by membership in his church a Methodist Episcopalian.
Mr. Carter married, at Fairmont, February 26, 1879, Louisa C. Johnson, born in 1859, who, like her father, Alpheus W. Johnson, was a native of Marion county, West Virginia. Mr. Johnson had been engaged in farming all of his life, dying, in 1893, aged sixty years. His wife, Mrs. Carter's mother, was Hannah ( Radcliffe) Johnson, who passed away in 1901. Children of Mr. and Mrs. Carter : Elma I., died in infancy; M. Pearl, died May 11, 1911 ; Bessie N., wife of Ray Sees, of Broad Oak, Clarksburg; William O., of Grand Bay, Alabama, married Mamie Baker, of Parkersburg, West Virginia; Ethel B., wife of Guy Zinn, aged twenty-two years, of Broad Oak; A. Bryan, born 1896, at home in the graded schools; John S., aged thirteen years, at school.
GORDON This is an old and honorable family of Winchester, Virginia, and counts among its members many intelli- gent and active men and women, who have aided in developing their section of the union into its present excellent condition. They have been earnest workers in various callings, never shirking a known duty.
(I) John Gordon, born in Old Virginia in 1810, was a farmer throughout his days, in the vicinity of Winchester. He died at the age of about sixty years, in 1870. Of his domestic history, but little can be learned, except that he married early in life and reared a family including a son : Samuel W. Gordon, of whom further.
(II) Samuel W., son of John Gordon, was born at Frederick, Winchester county, Virginia, in 1843. He has resided in the city of Clarksburg, West Virginia, since 1882, and served as a justice of the peace there for twelve years. Politically, he has been always a Repub- lican. He is now living on his farm, retired from active duties and in the enjoyment of the fruits of his labors, free from the cares of public life. His farm is situated three miles northeast of Clarksburg, on Buckhannon Pike. Mr. Gordon was a union soldier in the civil war, as a member of the Army of the Potomac for three years, having en-
712
UPPER MONONGAHELA VALLEY.
listed in the Sixtieth Ohio Regiment at Barnesville. He was in many important battles, including the Wilderness and Petersburg, and served under the command of General Grant. At the battle of the Wilder- ness, he was injured, and also contracted measles, and was sent to York, Pennsylvania. While in hospital he had the smallpox. Mr. Gordon married (first) Ursula Waters, born in Loudoun county, Virginia, Sep- tember, 1843, died December 3, 1889. Nacy Waters, father of Ursula (Waters) Gordon, was a farmer, and a native of Loudoun county, Virginia; but died before the civil war, in Harrison county where he had just removed. Children: John W., born February 23, 1867, now a stone contractor at Clarksburg; George Harry, of whom further. Mr. Gordon married (second), September, 1892, Mary Hoff, and they have one daughter : Helen U., born August, 1893.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.