USA > West Virginia > Genealogical and personal history of the upper Monongahela valley, West Virginia, Volume II > Part 37
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I.S. Mitchell
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now of Clarksburg; widow of N. B. Newlin. 4. Clarence, now a fac- tory superintendent in Columbus, Ohio. 5. William, born 1866; a photographer at Webster Springs, West Virginia. 6. Mary, wife of Owen Kraft, of Clarksburg; died leaving daughters, Mary and Helen. Mrs. Mary (Martin) Dunnington died in Weston, March 31, 1889. Mr. Dunnington married (second) Mrs. Ella Blanche Arbuckle, widow of Captain Arbuckle. She died March 16, 1912.
MITCHELL Of the families now residing in West Virginia, who originally lived in Maryland, is the Mitchell family of Weston, Lewis county.
John Stillwell Mitchell, present secretary and superintendent of the Weston Electric Light, Power & Water Company, is the son of Benjamin and Eleanor (Stillwell) Mitchell. His father was a ship- builder by occupation and lived in Hancock, Washington county, Mary- land, where John S. was born March 2, 1853. He obtained his educa- tion in the public schools of his native county, after which he joined his father in business, remaining there until 1881, when he went to Weston, West Virginia, to accept a position of trust at the State Hospi- tal for the Insane. He held this position until he engaged in his present business enterprise, with which he has been prominently connected. The Weston Electric Light, Power & Water Company was organized and promoted by Mr. Mitchell and incorporated November 9, 1899, with J. S. Mitchell, W. G. Bennett, Messrs. Ralston, Lewis and Kitson as incorporators. The capital stock was $100,000, all of which is now paid up. The present officers are: Lewis Bennett, president; Andrew Edmiston, vice-president; J. S. Vandervort, treasurer, and J. S. Mitchell, secretary and superintendent. The water company was or- ganized in October, 1896, and became a part of the original corpora- tion. The present plant is a large modern establishment, with an un- developed gas well property connected. Mr. Mitchell gives much of his time and attention to the administration of the concern, but has numerous other interests in and about the city of Weston. Politically he is "Gorman" Democrat of the Maryland stripe. In his younger days he took a leading part in politics, but since removing to Weston has not been active, further than to help along his party in campaigns and to stand by his political colors at the ballot box on election day. He
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is a member of several secret orders, the first with which he was iden- tified was the Knights of Pythias. He now belongs to that as well as the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and Royal Arcanum. In later years he has been made a Mason and now has reached the advanced stage of a thirty-second degree Mason, belonging to Weston Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; Bigelow Chapter No. 4, St. John's Commandery No. 8, Parkersburg Rose Croix, Wheeling Con- sistory and Osiris Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles Mystic Shrine.
In 1874 he married Clara Johnson, of Cumberland, Maryland, a daughter of John F. and Phoebe (Harper) Johnson, the former a prominent merchant of Cumberland, Maryland, now deceased. Chil- dren of John F. Johnson and wife are Judge Thomas Johnson, of the Orphans' Court of Allegany county, Maryland; James S., a plumber; Joseph, Annie, wife of J. W. Fallon, of Mercersburg, Pennsylvania. Children of Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell : Phoebe E., a teacher in the Wes- ton schools; John D., now assistant cashier in the National Exchange Bank of Weston, married Lucy Gabriel; Beulah, at home; James R., who was associated with his father at the time of his death, which was caused by being run over by a train in the Weston yards June 28, 1910. The only grandchild is Clara M. Mitchell, daughter of John D. and Lucy (Gabriel) Mitchell.
KINCAID This family was founded in the United States about the year 1840 by Joseph Kincaid, a native of Ireland, who came to this country as a young man nineteen years of age. He was, therefore, born about 1821, and died in 1894. He was reared and educated in Ireland, where he had been engaged in farming. On coming to the United States he settled in the state of Indiana. How long he remained there is not stated, but by 1850 he was living in what is now West Morgantown, West Virginia, was married and had a son born in that year. In West Virginia he was engaged in farming. He seems to have prospered in his new surround- ings and to have been a man of energy and thrift. He married, in In- diana, Martha Miller, born in that state. Children : Margaret, Joseph, George and John W., of whom further.
(II) John W., youngest son of Joseph and Martha (Miller) Kin- caid, was born in what is now West Morgantown, West Virginia, Au-
John. C. JFincaid
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gust 5, 1850, died there November 4, 1898. He was educated in the public schools and, on arriving at a suitable age, left the farm and served his full years of apprenticeship at blacksmithing. He followed that trade in West Virginia all his active years, being an expert worker in metal and well known for industry and uprightness. He ran his own business in Morgantown and had a prosperous and popular shop. He was an active, devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal church, with which he was connected for twenty-five years. In politics he was a Republican. He belonged to the fraternal orders Knights of Pythias, Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the United Order of American Mechanics. He married a widow, Mrs. Elma (Simkins) Arnett, daughter of John and Nancy Simkins. Children : Joseph R., born Au- gust 22, 1872; Mary Belle, 1875, married Marshall L. Sturm; John C., of further mention; Clark, March 10, 1880, died November 2, 1910; Lida, February 3, 1882, died May 8, 1903; Catherine A., Au- gust 5, 1884.
(III) John Clarence, son of John W. and Elma (Simkins-Arnett) Kincaid, was born at Morgantown, West Virginia, August 19, 1877. He was educated in the public schools, and at the age of seventeen years, in 1894, began business life as manager of a flour and feed store for the firm of Jason & Clake. He continued in that position until 1900, becoming thoroughly conversant with every detail of the feed business. In 1900 he resigned his position and formed a partnership with C. N. Ray, operating as Ray & Kincaid, in the flour and feed busi- ness. He soon bought his partner's interest and continued successfully until 1904, when he became senior partner of the firm of Kincaid & Arnett, a large and most prosperous flour and feed firm of Morgan- town, West Virginia. He is a man of activity and energy, thoroughly modern in his business principles and quick to seize a favorable oppor- tunity. He is a Republican in politics, and in 1904 was elected a member of the city council, succeeding himself the following term. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and of the following societies : Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Benevolent and Protec- tive Order of Elks, Knights of Pythias, Modern Woodmen of America. He married, in 1907, Ethel, born November 24, 1884, daughter of N. H. McElroy. Children : Elma, born December 21, 1909, and Gail, November 18, 191I.
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With the advancement and development of West Vir- HEFNER ginia there have grown up professional men of un- doubted skill and character, coming from out the sturdy families living in the rural districts. Prominent among these of later days is Henry S. Hefner, D. D. S., practicing at Weston, Lewis county. He is the son of Henry J. and Rhoda E. (Gould) Hefner, and was born in Upshur county, West Virginia, October 29, 1887. His father was a well-known farmer and stockdealer and one of the progressive citizens of that section of the state. Dr. Hefner was educated in his native county, attending the public schools, and the city schools of French Creek and Buckhannon, finishing with a year's course in the University of Cincinnati, Ohio. He entered the dental department of that institution, from which he graduated with the class of 1909, holding the well-earned degree of D. D. S. Since then he has practiced dentistry at Weston, with offices in the Bank of Wes- ton Building. He is a member of the national organization of Psi Omega Dental Fraternity and the Alumni Association of Cincinnati University Dental School; also belongs to the West Virginia State Dental Association and fraternally affiliates with the order of Elks. Politically he is independent. He is thoroughly posted in all that per- tains to modern dentistry and is fast building up a first-rate dental practice in the vicinity of Weston.
HURSEY Among the older settlers in the neighborhood of Shinn- ston was the Hursey family. Three generations ago this family was represented there first by John A. Hur- sey, who came from Maryland and settled at Clarksburg as a furniture dealer. He had a family, among whom was a son named Lloyd R. Hursey, now aged and retired from active duties of life, living at Shinnston. He was born in 1836 and followed the business of furni- ture dealer, later the marble and monumental business. Politically he is a Democrat, and in church faith of the Baptist denomination. He married Mary Sangston, of Wheeling, in 1865, by whom he had two children : Walter S., of whom further; Elizabeth, widow of Lee H. Vance, of Clarksburg, has one child, Amelia.
(III) Walter Sangston, son of Lloyd R. and Mary (Sangston) Hursey, was born at Clarksburg, West Virginia, October 1, 1867. He
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received his education in the local schools of Shinnston, to which place he came with his parents when seven years of age. When but a youth he lived with an uncle, Alexander Martin, after whom "Martin's Hall," in the State University, was named. He, therefore, had good training in educational ways, better than most of the youth of his neighborhood. In 1883 he set his face towards the task of doing for himself in life, and wisely chose a useful trade, that of a harness- maker. He began this with H. Gould, at Mannington, West Virginia, later becoming a journeyman harness-maker, working at the trade which he had thoroughly mastered, through the South and West. In 1896 he established his present business, which is the most extensive in his town today. He is a member of the American Poultry Associa- tion, having been engaged in the raising of poultry for the past twelve years, breeding only the barred Plymouth rock, and his birds are known throughout the United States and Canada, having appeared at some of the largest poultry shows in the country. His breeding is done purely for exhibition and stock purposes. Mr. Hursey's greatest interest, however, is centered in educational work, in building up the standard of the schools and providing the facility for the conduct of the same. Politically he is a Democrat. He is now (1911) serving his third term as mayor of Shinnston. During his incumbency of the mayorality many up-to-date improvements in Shinnston have been brought about, he being the leading factor. His last election was carried by a major- ity of 298 over his opponent, and when the fact is considered that the district is loyally Republican and he being a Democrat, it shows in what estimation he is held by his townsmen. He is a member of the Odd Fellows' fraternity, also Free and Accepted Masons and Knights of Pythias, and is president of the board of education.
Mr. Hursey married in Shinnston, December 22, 1897, Ella A. Lowe, born at Simpson Creek, in October, 1876, daughter of John Lowe, of Shinnston. Children by this marriage: Warren, born March 12, 1899; George, August 5, 1900; Arthur, February 19, 1903; Mary Esther, December 22, 1904; Walter Andrew, March 10, 1907; John, April 26, 1908.
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This is the family to which belonged the late, dis- LIGHTBURN tinguished General J. A. J. Lightburn, who was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, in 1825. He removed from there to western Virginia (now West Vir- ginia ) where he spent his early years on a farm near Weston. He was educated in the common schools of the county and when the Mexican war broke out in 1846 he enlisted, serving 1846 and 1847. He then returned home and engaged in the milling business, and also carried on his farming operations, until Fort Sumter was fired upon by secession guns, when he was appointed colonel of the Fourth Regiment Virginia Volunteers, by Governor Pierpont, as will be seen by the following commission :
To the Commonwealth of Virginia, to J. A. J. Lightburn greeting :
Know you, That for special trust and confidence reposed in your fidelity and courage and good conduct, our Governor, in pursuance of the authority vested in him by the Constitution and laws of the Commonwealth, doth com- mission you Colonel of the Fourth regiment of Virginia volunteers in the service of the United States to rank as such from the fourteenth day of August, 1861.
F. H. PIERPONT,
Henry J. Samuels, Governor.
Adjutant General.
After his appointment he was ordered to Charleston and engaged in the battles of Charleston and Gauley Bridge. From the Kanawha valley he was sent to Ohio, saving the government supplies, which con- sisted of a train of freight wagons over seven miles in length. After that he was ordered to Vicksburg, Mississippi, under General W. T. Sherman. He was then a member of the Second Brigade, Second Divsion, and Fifteenth Army Corps, in the Army of the Tennessee, which participated in the battles of Missionary Ridge, Chattanooga, Knoxville, Chickamauga and Jackson, Mississippi, the hardest fought battles in many ways of the civil war. At Vicksburg he was wounded and as soon as able was transferred to the Shenandoah Valley, Virginia, where he took part in numerous engagements. In 1863 President Abra- ham Lincoln recognized his gallant conduct for which he commissioned him (same being ratified by the senate) as a brigadier general. He was in various engagements such as those at Shiloh, Fort Donaldson, Nashville, Chattanooga and Vicksburg, and was mentioned in Grant's
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Memoirs on account of his daring bravery. June 22, 1865, he resign- ed as brigadier general and his friends in Lewis county, West Virginia, presented him with a handsome sword of great value, the same being now in possession of his son. Upon the advent of peace, he returned home and entered the ministry in which he labored until his death, May 18, 1900. He never ceased to mourn the loss of his old friend and neighbor, "Stonewall" Jackson. He married Harriet Whittlesey, daughter of Stephen and Nancy Whittlesey, by whom five children were born, all of whom survived their father: L. G. and Johanna E., on the old homestead farm in Lewis county, West Virginia; Mary R .; B. W., prosecuting attorney at Kansas City, Missouri, and Harry W., of whom further.
Harry W. Lightburn, son of General J. A. J. and Harriet (Whit- tlesey) Lightburn, was born in Lewis county, West Virginia, May 9, 1858. He was educated in the public schools of his native county and at Mt. Pleasant, Pennsylvania. After completing his schooling he became the agent for the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company at Weston, a position he held for about fifteen years, after which he engaged in mer- chandising and brokerage business, with offices at Weston and Fair- mont. He continued in the latter business until elected clerk of his county in 1902, an office he still holds. He has always been an ardent Republican and was chairman of the Republican executive committee two years. He owns a fine farm near Lightburn which his son conducts and where his family resides. He is connected with the Masonic fra- ternity, being a member of Lodge No. 10, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and is now its junior deacon; also Chapter No. 4, of the Royal Arch Masons, and St. John's Commandery, No. 8, of Knights Temp- lar. He holds membership with General J. A. J. Lightburn Camp of the Sons of Veterans, which camp was named for his father.
He married, October 28, 1888, Catherine C. Danner, daughter of George and Elizabeth Danner. Children: Grace W., a graduate of Broadus College, Clarksburg, at home; George H., attended Staunton Military Academy and Broadus College, now conducting the home farm, near Lightburn; Mary Ruth, married, October 16, 1911, Jason Jackson Bailey, of Janelew, West Virginia, a bookkeeper in the Citi- zens' Bank at Weston; Catherine D., at home. The Lightburn family are members of the Baptist church.
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KING Among the number of excellent physicians in the city of Weston, Lewis county, West Virginia, is Dr. Wessie P. King, who was born at Salem, Harrison county, West Vir- ginia, March 14, 1870, a son of John H. and Martha J. ( Price) King. His father was a large railroad contractor and builder of bridges. Dr. King attended the schools at Clarksburg, West Virginia, and then entered the University of Maryland, taking the medical course, grad- uating in 1891 with the degree of M. D. He at once commenced the practice of his profession in Upshur county, continuing there until 1895, when he removed to Weston, Lewis county, where he has since been in the active practice of medicine.
He belongs to the various medical societies, including the Lewis County Medical Society of which he is an ex-secretary; member of the West Virginia State Medical Society and much interested in all that pertains to advanced medical science. He is a member of Weston Lodge, No. 10, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; Bigelow Chapter, No. 4, Royal Arch Masons; St. John's Commandery, No. 8, Knights Templar. Politically he is a Republican. He is at present on the staff of surgeons for the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company. He with his family attends the Baptist church, of which his wife is a faithful member.
Dr. King was married, in 1902, to Bertha Nicholes, of Lewis county, daughter of William J. Nicholes and wife. Her father is a prominent politician and a substantial farmer of Lewis county.
West Virginia industries have forged to the front phe-
GRANT nomenally, since the discovery and development of natural gas wells. Among the great industries which have for a number of years enriched the state is that of the glass pro- ducing plants found here and there in the Mountain State.
One of the best of these factories is conducted by Joseph Grant, who was born in England at the city of Leeds, October 17, 1860, a son of John and Ellen (Watkinson) Grant. The parents came to America with their family in 1870, settling in Berkshire county, Massa- chusetts, where young Grant completed his education in the public schools. He is one of a family of three children and early showed an inclination to make his own way in this, his adopted country, and his
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business ability has been proved by the glass plant of which he is the founder and present head. In 1874 he entered the glass factory at 'Norristown, Pennsylvania, where he mastered the glass-cutter's trade. When the plant there became unable to compete with natural products of other factories and closed down on account of gas, he went to An- derson, Indiana, where he was identified with the same industry until natural gas failed in 1903. He then went to Weston, West Virginia, and at once organized the Crescent Window Glass Company, with a capital of $60,000. He broke ground for his factory April 1, 1903, and put in operation a plant of only twelve pot furnace capacity. Octo- ber I, 1903, it began operations and was run until about the end of the first year, when the success of his efforts justified the enlargement of the works and a twenty-four pot plant and blower-tank were added to the original works. In 1907 the capital stock was increased to $125,000 and the second plant was erected. The success of this business venture has been wonderful. Mr. Grant's knowledge of the glass business in every minute detail has been the central moving feature of advance- ment. It is now a well-recognized, incorporated concern having a trade in superior window glass from ocean to ocean and lakes to gulf. High grade work and honest dealing have built up an enviable business repu- tation. The present directors of the company are: Samuel Hinkle, president; J. H. Brewster, vice-president; Jacob Koblegard, treasurer ; Joseph Grant, secretary and manager, and George C. Lynch. The present, or very recent, production of this plant is seven hundred boxes or thirty-five thousand feet of glass every twenty-four hours. It is one of the best concerns making window glass in the state.
Mr. Grant holds membership with the Masonic lodge at Anderson, Indiana, never having transferred to Weston yet. He belongs to the Episcopal church; is active in local politics, and awake to every interest for improving the city and county in which he has so recently settled. He married Emma C. Richie, of Franklin, Indiana. One child has been born of this union, Donald W., born August 27, 1902.
WHITE This White family comes from Albemarle county, Vir- ginia, and probably was an early family in that section of the state. For the present only the heads of three generations are known, as follows:
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(I) Isaac White was born in Albemarle county, Virginia, died at the age of seventy-six years. He was a farmer in his native county. He married and had a family, among which was a son John, see for- ward.
(II) John, son of Isaac White, was born in the same county in which his father was, and was killed when his son Thomas C. was but five years of age. He kept a hotel at Buckhannon many years. He married Martha Bassel, born in Harrison county, Virginia, and now resides at Buckhannon, aged seventy-eight years. They had one child: Thomas Christian, see forward. Mrs. White married (second) William C. Carper, and by him had three sons: William, Adam and Alvin.
(III) Thomas Christian, son of John and Martha (Bassel) White, was born in Upshur county, West Virginia, July 14, 1851, when that was included in old Virginia. His birthplace was on the old White homestead. He received a common school training up to ten years of age, when he ran away with Jackson's army, with which command he remained for three years, and was clothed and fed by the soldiers of the Confederacy, they taking him in as a sort of mascot. His father was killed by a runaway team of horses when the son was only five years old, hence he had to make his own way through life as best he could. The boy-soldier came back to Clarksburg at the end of the war and worked for an uncle, George Bastable, who was a merchant of the town. He remained there until 1876. He married and purchased a farm of one hundred and ninety-seven acres, a mile and a half east from Clarks- burg, from which he recently sold one hundred and fifty-six acres to the Fair Ground Association. He owns two meat markets, operated under his name, but run by his sons and sons-in-law, under the firm name of White Brothers & Company. These meat markets are said to be the finest in all West Virginia. The market between West Pike and West Main streets is a palace indeed and is visited by strangers who have heard of its beauty and utility. Politically Mr. White is a Democrat, and in church relation is a Baptist.
He was married on the farm on which he now lives, April 9, 1876, to Malissa C. Franks, born in Harrison county, died January 30, 1908, at the age of fifty-two years. Her father, Benjamin Franklin Franks, deceased, had the farm where Mr. White resides. His wife, Nancy E.
Melissa. C. White
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Franks, is also deceased. Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. White: Burton D., manager of the store at Clarksburg; Bertha M., Mrs. L. Tracy, of Clarksburg; Lillie, Mrs. Lester E. Veirs, of Wash- ington, D. C .; Benjamin F. White, of Denver, Colorado; John T., engaged in the meat business at Clarksburg; Mattie B., Mrs. O. L. Douglass, of Clarksburg; Pearl A., Mrs. W. O. Tyson, of Clarksburg; Genevieve, who keeps house for her father.
KOBLEGARD The immigrant ancestor of this family was Jacob Koblegard, born in Denmark, that picturesque country of Northern Europe. While he was yet a young man he came alone to seek a home and a fortune in the New World, and he has succeeded far beyond the lot of most men in attain-
ing his desires. He was born in 1848, and crossed the ocean in 1866, finally locating near Fostoria, Ohio, where he worked at farm labor, at the same time acquiring an English education. He farmed but a short time, and in 1870 went to Clarksburg, West Virginia, where he wisely engaged in the commission business. In 1872 he established a branch house at West Union, the same state, and in 1880 still another house at Weston. He then removed to Weston, and remained until he retired from business. He now resides at Springfield, Ohio, where he is re- puted to be worth a half a million dollars. He is president of the Springfield Bank, and retains large property interests in Lewis county, West Virginia. He is president of the Crescent Glass Works and other concerns of lesser importance.
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