History of Charleston and Kanawha County, West Virginia and representative citizens, Part 106

Author: Laidley, William Sydney, 1839-1917. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: Chicago, Ill., Richmond-Arnold publishing co
Number of Pages: 1066

USA > West Virginia > Kanawha County > Charleston > History of Charleston and Kanawha County, West Virginia and representative citizens > Part 106

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David F. Hostetler grew to manhood in Juniata county and attended the public schools and later a private normal school. For four years he followed school teaching and in 1892 came to Charleston as a teacher of penmanship. Here he became interested along business lines and in 1894 engaged in a wholesale trade under the firm name of Hostetler & Slicer, this firm later selling out to the Wholesale Produce Com- pany, of which Mr. Hostetler became head bookkeeper and office manager. In 1902 this firm was consolidated with the Charleston Grain and Feed Co., forming the Charleston Milling and Produce Company, with which concern Mr. Hostetler remained until 1907, when he became one of the incorporators of the Elk Milling and Produce Company, of which he was elected the first secretary and treasurer and has continued as such to the present time.

In 1896 Mr. Hostetler was married to Miss

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Bertha Graham, who was born in 1877 in this city. They have three children: Elizabeth, David F., Jr., and William L. Mr. and Mrs. Hostetler are members of the First Methodist Episcopal church of Charleston. In politics he is independent and his only fraternal con- nection is with the American Mechanics.

JOHN S. CHILTON,* contracting carpen- ter, residing at Spring Hill, Kanawha county, W. Va., was born at this place, May 2, 1862, and is a son of Joseph Blackwell and Martha E. (Wilson) Chilton, and a grandson of Black- well and Sarah (Eustace) Chilton.

Joseph Blackwell Chilton was born in Far- quier county, Va., and was four years old when his parents moved to Charleston, where they lived for a short time and then moved into Loudon district. At the time of the outbreak of the Civil War, Mr. Chilton was living on the present site of the town of Clendenin. He was engaged in teaching school for some years and then settled at Spring Hill near which he owned a farm of 300 acres, and this estate he managed during the rest of his active life, his death occurring at the age of seventy-nine years. He was a Democrat from conviction but was never a politician. He married Martha E. Wilson, a daughter of John and Katherine (Donally) Wilson, and they had four children : Katherine, wife of Henry Brown, of Charles- ton ; Emma, deceased, formerly the wife of A. M. Woolridge; Edwin A., residing in Ken- tucky ; and John S., of Spring Hill. The mother of the above family died at the age of seventy- three years and was buried in the Wilson ceme- tery as was her husband. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal church, south. In addition to his other interests, Joseph Blackwell Chilton was a railroad contractor during a por- tion of his life and built ten miles of the Queen & Crescent railroad which became a part of the Cincinnati & Southern. He was also con- cerned with dealing with the Indians in Mon- tana.

John S. Chilton obtained his education in the district schools of Jefferson District, Kana- wha county, after which he tried railroad work for a time as a fireman. He then worked in a store, after which he learned the carpenter's

trade and at different times taught school. For ten years he was connected with the Black Band Mining & Manufacturing Company, starting in as builder of bridges and railroad carpenter- ing, and finally became superintendent, after which he went into contracting and since 1906 has since done a large amount of work in this line. Mr. Chilton takes contracts for buildings from the ground up and gives constant employ- ment to some half dozen skilled carpenters. For a short time he resided at Huntington, W. Va., but since then has lived at Spring Hill and owns ten acres lying between the railroad and the county road.

In 1883 Mr. Chilton was married to Miss Frances Payne Hamilton, a daughter of A. M. and Virginia (Lewis) Hamilton, and they have five children: Edwin H .; Marian Blackwell, who is the wife of W. C. Sharpe, of Coalwood, W. Va., and has two sons: William Chilton and Hamilton Klase; Emma W .. who is the wife of Homer Bowers, of Dickley, W. Va., and has one daughter, Frances; Harold Keith and Eustace Lewis, both in school. In politics Mr. Chilton is a Democrat. In July, 1911, he was elected a member of the board of education for a term of years ending in 1915, an act of his fellow citizens that testified to their con- fidence in his intelligence and public spirit.

G. D. ACREE, secretary and treasurer of the National Detective Association, at Charles- ton, W. Va., and since 1908, city constable, has been a resident of Charleston since April, 1900. He was born on his father's farm in Elk district, Kanawha county, situated on Aaron Fork of the Little Sandy Elk River, on January 12, 1872. His parents were Peter and Margaret Jane ( Reynolds) Acree.

Peter Acree was born near Walton, Roane county, W. Va., and prior to retiring to Charleston, was a farmer and timberman. His first marriage was to Margaret Jane Reynolds, who died in 1881, a daughter of John and Mary (Givens) Reynolds, old residents of the county who owned a farm twelve miles from Charles- ton, on the Elk River. Peter Acree was mar- ried secondly to Mary Jane Given, and thirdly to Sarah Jane Richie. Four children were born to his first marriage : George Dayton; John M.,

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residing near Freedom, Pa .; Everett E., resid- ing near Patona, W. Va .; and Roma H., re- siding near Charleston.

G. D. Acree spent his boyhood on the home farm and attended the country schools. In early manhood he followed lumbering but after marriage returned to the farm in Elk district and operated it for six years. He was then connected with the public improvements of Charleston for two years, for nine months be- ing grade foreman for Pfaff & Smith, contrac- tors who did the street paving of the city. Fol- lowing this, he was foreman of construction for seven months under Melcher & Gillispie, con- tractors, who erected the Kanawha brewery. Mr. Acree then purchased a soft drink plant which he operated for some time, being in part- nership for one year with C. A. Ellis, at Charleston, W. Va. He then operated for one year a soft drink manufactory at Point Pleas- ant. Afterward he served on the Charleston police force for two years under Mayors Rade- sell and Jerrett and then, for eighteen months was on the road for the Kanawha Brewing Company. He is a stanch Republican and in 1908 he was elected constable with the largest vote of any candidate on the ticket. In 1911 he organized the Mercantile Detective Agency, of which R. H. Clendennin is president, and they maintain offices in the Frankenberger building, on Kanawha and Summers streets.

Mr. Acree was married May 5, 1895, to Miss Lucinda C. Huffman, a daughter of Henry and Caroline (Moore) Huffman, and they have five children : Elliott S., Delpha Lee, Wesley V., Theresa H. and Ural S. ' The family residence is on the corner of Court and Brown streets. Mr. Acree is a member of the Red Men and the Eagles.

WILLIAM A. GOODWIN,* a prosperous farmer and substantial citizen of Kanawha county, W. Va., who owns 215 acres of fine land situated seven miles northwest of Charles- ton, was born October 16, 1843, in Roanoke county, Va., a member of one of the prominent old families of that section.

Mr. Goodwin was educated in the schools of his native county and at Roanoke college, and then entered the Confederate Army and served

through three years in the Civil War, in the Roanoke artillery under Captain Hupp. After the close of the war he went to Salem, Va., and from there to Kanawha county, and for three years after his marriage lived in Mason county. From there he came to Union district, Kanawha county, and subsequently purchased his present farm. The land was somewhat run down and many improvements were needed and in the improvement of the land and in re- building Mr. Goodwin spent many years. All the farm buildings now standing he put up and he has 150 acres of his land in fine tillable con- dition. Formerly Mr. Goodwin devoted seven acres to tobacco and was credited with shipping the finest tobacco that ever reached the Rich- mond market, for which he was paid $40 per hundred pounds. Mr. Goodwin attends to his own agricultural operations and is a thoroughly informed and practical farmer. He is a stock- holder in the Elk City Bank.

Mr. Goodwin married Miss Mary Wood, a native of Virginia and a daughter of John F. Wood, who was a well-known man along the Kanawha River. Mr. and Mrs. Goodwin have had four children : James F., who is a resident of Pittsburg; C. W., who married a Miss Wal- lace of Pittsburg, Pa., resides there and has four children: Clarence James, Ethel Jane, Charles Wallace and Mary; Ella, who is the wife of James A. Keller, of Pittsburg; and Fannie J., who is the wife of C. F. Ceaser, of Charleston, W. Va. Mr. and Mrs. Goodwin are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he has served on the board of stewards for twenty years. In politics he is inclined to be in sympathy with the Democrats but is a man quite capable of doing his own thinking and frequently casts his vote for the candidate of whom his own judgment approves, irrespec- tive of party.

LOUIS J. FALONE, one of the prosperous young business men of Charleston, whose well stocked cigar store and carefully conducted pool rooms are situated in Postoffice square, is widely known in athletic circles, for a number of years being a favorite baseball player. play- ing center field in the season of 1902. He was born at Cincinnati, O., thirty-five years ago,

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and is a son of Joseph and Macellina Rossano.

Joseph Falone was born in Corsica. He was married in Italy to Macellina Rossano, of the village of Rosina, Italy, a daughter of Ros- sano, the sculptor and engraver, a specimen of whose work may be seen in the beautiful statue of the Madonna, that stands in the Milan Cathedral. Joseph Falone and wife came to America and landed at New York and from there came to Cincinnati, where Mrs. Falone died when her only son was aged twenty-two years. Joseph Falone still lives and is in busi- ness at Cincinnati.

Louis J. Falone was educated in the parochial and public schools and when old enough was placed in a clothing manufacturing establish- ment to learn the trade. He had tastes and talents in another direction and as he desired to become a mine engineer and operator, he bent every energy to secure an education along that line and for this purpose took the technical course offered by the International Correspond- ence School, of Scranton, Pa. In the mean- while, becoming an expert baseball player, other opportunities opened up before him and, as mentioned above, his name became well and favorably known in baseball circles. After playing several seasons with independent teams he came to Charleston to accept the offer that kept him busy all through the season of 1902. For ten years prior to leaving Cincinnati he had been assistant head usher in the Grand Theatre, and for seven years was a member of the Cincinnati Gymnasium and Athletic Asso- ciation.

After the baseball season of the above-named year closed, Mr. Falone opened a small cigar store in the Arcade building, Charleston, meet- ing with ready patronage. This encouraged him to invest farther and in 1906 he added a pool table and room to his store, two years later putting in further accommodations. He now has one of the well patronized and well con- ducted places of entertainment in the city. He has a wide circle of personal friends, is a mem- ber of the Knights of Columbus and a life member of the Elks at Charleston. He was reared a Roman Catholic.

SAMUEL BRASHEAR AVIS,* prosecut- ing attorney of Kanawha county, WV. Va., and senior member of the prominent law firm of Avis & Hardy, at Charleston, has served in the above-mentioned office since 1900 and has established a record that is recognized by bench, bar and people, as admirable in every way. Mr. Avis is a native of Virginia, born February 19, 1872, and is a son of B. D. and Hattie E. (Wilson) Avis, members of old Virginia families.

Samuel B. Avis was educated in the public schools, the military academy at Staunton, Va., and at Washington and Lee University, at Lex- ington, Va., where he won his degree of B. L. Mr. Avis came then to Charleston and for four years was connected with the United States attorney's office, leaving it in order to serve in the Spanish-American War. In 1898 he was commissioned captain of Co. A, 2nd Va. Vol. Infantry, and his command was stationed at Camp Meade and Greenville, S. C., ready to embark on transports for the seat of war should it become necessary. As all will remember, however, the war was of short duration and after its close, Mr. Avis resumed his duties in the United States attorney's office, where he continued until 1900, when, as above intimated, he was elected prosecuting attorney. His ad- ministration of the business of this office has distinguished him as a man of far more than average ability and while he has been more than usually successful, he has never been accused of dishonesty or prejudices in his professional work.

Mr. Avis was married in 1899, to Miss Flor- ence M. Atkinson, who is a daughter of ex- Governor Atkinson, now of Washington City, D. C. Mr. and Mrs. Avis reside at No. 1321 Quarrier street, and he maintains his offices at Nos. 503-505 Charleston National Bank building.

MAX WILLIAM HOFERER, senior mem- ber of the firm of Max William Hoferer & Son, proprietors of the automobile garage, storage and repair shops at Nos. 1006-8 Lee street, and machine and repair shops at No. 326 Dick-

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inson street, Charleston, which is the largest establishment of this kind in the city, is a rep- resentative and enterprising business man, widely and favorably known. Mr. Hoferer is a native of Charleston, born March 24, 1856, a son of Andrew and Florence (Hurst) Hoferer.

The parents of Mr. Hoferer were born in Baden, Germany, and remained in their native land until after marriage and the birth of sev- eral children, when they started for America in a sailing vessel that took sixty-five days to make the voyage. They landed at the port of New York and from there went to Pittsburg, Pa., coming thence to Charleston, where they spent the rest of their lives. Andrew Hoferer died at the age of eighty-three years, in 1903. His widow survived him until March 24, 19II. her age being eighty-two years at the time of her death. They were members of the Roman Catholic church. Four of their children are living, namely: Frances, who lives in South Side, Charlestown, the widow of Joseph Meyers and having one son, Joseph; Theresa, who lives in this city ; Andrew, a stone-mason, who mar- ried Laura Perry and has four children; and Max William.

Max William Hoferer has spent his life at Charleston, obtaining his schooling here and learning the machinist's trade. His thorough knowledge of the same he secured mainly through his own efforts, having a natural bent in this direction. Fully thirty years ago Mr. Hoferer founded the present business, begin- ning in a small way with a machine shop on Washington street, and five years later moving to the present site of the annex to the State house. That lot was subsequently sold for its present purpose and Mr. Hoferer then lo- cated permanently on Dickinson street, where, five years since, he erected his machine shop, with dimensions of 40 x 120 feet, the back end adjoining his garage, which has dimensions of 55 x 210 feet, facing at right angles on Lee street. The garage was built four years ago when he entered into the automobile business. This was first carried on under the.firm name of the Hoferer Machine Works; later the con- cern became the Southern Automobile Car Company, and subsequently Max William Hof-

erer & Son, Auto-Storage and Repair plant, the junior member of the firm being an expert operator. The business has shown rapid growth from the start and the two departments give constant employment to a large force of expert workmen.

Mr. Hoferer was married at Charleston to Miss Sarah Breedelove, who was born in Vir- ginia in 1852. They had three children: Hat- tie, who is her father's capable bookkeeper; M. William, a competent electrician, mechanic and machinist, his father's partner and now chief engineer of the State capitol, who married Gertrude Martin, and has three children: Frank, Pauline and William; and Frank, who was accidentally killed by his own gun, while on a hunting expedition, in December, 1902, when but seventeen years of age. Mr. Hoferer and family are members of the First Presby- terian church. Both he and his son are identi- fied with the Republican party. Mr. Hoferer belongs to the O. O. U. W., the Sr. Order A. M. and to the Mystic Circle.

A. J. ANDERSON,* a general farmer re- siding five miles west of Charleston, W. Va., his farm of 108 acres being situated in Union district, was born in this district, in Kanawha county, August 12, 1862, and is a son of A. J. and Eliza (Wilson) Anderson.

A. J. Anderson, Sr., was born in Eastern Vir- ginia and came to Kanawha county when a young man, settling in Union district, where he owned 245 acres, all of which is in the pos- session of his heirs. His death occurred at the age of forty-seven years and his burial was in Union District Home graveyard. He was a consistent man in his religious life and was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church as was his wife. He voted with the Democratic party but was no politician. He married Eliza Wilson, a daughter of George Wilson, of Tyler Creek, Union district. She died at the age of fifty years. To this marriage the following children were born: James, who died at the age of fifty years, married Betsey Thurston, who is also deceased; Margaret, who is deceased, was the wife of Samuel Larby; John, who married Matilda Dunbar, and has five children: Isabel, Maude, Thornton, Sylvester and John ; Charles,

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who resides on his farm of 100 acres, in Union district, married Betty Duden; Nancy, who is deceased, was the wife of George Mitchell; and A. J., who bears his father's name.

A. J. Anderson has always lived in Union district and obtained his schooling here. He helped in the clearing of the home farm and has all of his own land under cultivation with the exception of ten acres, which is covered with valuable timber. He is identified with the Democratic party but has never accepted any but school offices, at present being a school trustee.

Mr. Anderson married Dillie Lankham, a daughter of Columbus Lankham, of Union dis- trict, and they have six children : Bernie, Pearl, Howard and Homer, twins, Clyde and Car- rolett. Mr. Anderson and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

FRANK L. TYREE, who has been a valued citizen of Charleston for the past decade, is ex-president, and general manager of the Black Betsey Coal Mining Company, of Putnam coun- ty, W. Va. This is otherwise known as the Pittsburg No. 8 section and locally called the "Raymond Seam." It contains a fine, high grade domestic coal, than which there is no better on the market. Mr. Tyree opened this mine and was one of the original incorporators in 1901. He continued active in the coal mining industry until failing health caused his retire- ment, in 1910.

The above company is a close corporation, the property being owned and operated by the Tyree family. J. H. Nash is vice-president and a director, Alfred S. Clark, of Providence, R. I., is secretary and treasurer. Two sisters, Mrs. O'Connor, of Providence, and Mrs. Elizabeth Metcalf, New York City, the latter the wife of James Melcalf, the well-known dramatic critic, are leading stockholders in the company, which is capitalized at $350,000, paid in, and has an authorized fund of $1,000,000.

Frank L. Tyree was born at Lewisburg, W. Va., August 4, 1863, and attended school until he was fourteen years of age, when he accom- panied his parents, Samuel and Henrietta ( Plumb) Tyree to near Savannah, Ga. Samuel

Tyree was born in Virginia but his father was born on Tiree Island, Scotland, grandson of Francis Tiree as the name was then spelled who came to Virginia very early and lived in Nanse- mond county to the age of ninety-four years. It is possible that his son, Richard Tyree, grand- father of Frank L., was not born until his father came to Virginia, where he spent his long life, dying aged ninety-six years. He married a Miss Johnson, close in relationship to the family of that distinguished southern soldier, Gen. Albert Sidney Johnson, and they had five sons and three daughters. Two of the sons, William and Francis became state senators and all were prominent men, all the five brothers and all their sons subsequently serving in the Confederate army.

Samuel Tyree, the youngest of the above sons, was born in 1814, in Greenbrier county, Va., and died at the home of his daughter in 1904, in Providence, R. I., when nearly ninety years of age. He was a man of education and served in official life in Fayette, Kanawha and Greenbrier counties. When the Civil War broke out he enlisted under General Jackson, organiz- ing a light-horse company, of which he was made captain, and served two years, when he was captured by the Federal forces and was kept a prisoner until he consented to take the oath of allegiance to the Union, after which he was sent unharmed to his home and ever after, like the high-minded gentleman that he was, he kept loyal to his word. Subsequently he lived at Charleston and in Georgia and spent the clos- ing years of his life with his children. Many years before he had identified himself with the Masonic fraternity and was well known. He was a devout member of the Presbyterian church. He was married at Lewisburg, W. Va., to Miss Henrietta Plum, who was born in 1821, in Maryland, and died in 1886 at her home in Georgia. The survivors of a family of seven children are: Mary who is the wife of Walter Wilkins, and lives at Portland, Ore .; Florence, who is the wife of F. B. Arden, of Savannah, Ga., and has one son, Frank; Mattie, who is the widow of Richard Hervey, lives at Savan- nah and has two children: Richard and Retta; Frank L .; Elizabeth, who is the wife of James Metcalf; and Emma, who is the wife of T. L.

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O'Connor, and has one daughter by a former marriage.

Frank L. Tyree, prior to coming to Charles- ton in 1901, was more or less interested in coal mining and for five years had been president of the M. B. coal mines at Mt. Carbon, W. Va. He was married in Putnam county to Miss Mary Bowling, who was born in Poca district, Putnam county, in 1867 and was educated at Staunton and Lewisburg, W. Va. She is the daughter of James and Mattie (Tyree) Bowl- ing, the former of whom was born in Amherst county, Va., a son of Louis and Ann (Penn) Bowling. The father of Mrs. Tyree was an only child and inherited much property, his father having owned 280 slaves. He died in the prime of life and his widow survived him until 1888. She was a Presbyterian and a woman who was much beloved for her many endearing traits of character. Mrs. Tyree has three brothers and one sister : Lewis F., who is a physician in practice in Clay county, W. Va .; William P., who is in business at Charleston, married and has four sons: Joseph, James, William and Miller; Anna, who is the wife of Dr. E. R. Erwin, residing at Clarence, Mo., and has had two children : Mattie, deceased, and Nellie; and John S., a commercial man resid- ing at Huntington, W. Va., who has one daugh- ter, Marguarite.

Mr. and Mrs. Tyree have one son, Frank L., Jr. He was born October 2, 1892, and is a very promising student, being in his junior year in the high school. He displays unusual talent and dexterity in mechanics of all kinds, having a natural leaning that makes him have an absorbing interest in chemistry and electri- city. In the home he has, with no outside as- sistance installed a complete wireless outfit and constructed all except the patented parts him- self. He will be afforded every opportunity to develop his talents in any direction in which they lead. Mr. Tyree is prominent in Masonry, is principal sojourner of the Royal Arch degree and is a Shriner. Politically he is a Democrat and while in Georgia represented Screven coun- ty in the state legislature.

HON. JOHN MORGAN COLLINS,* who was elected in 1883 as a member of the West

Virginia house of delegates and later filled other important public offices, has been in the insurance business at Charleston, W. Va., since 1906. He was born May 10, 1851, at Boston, Mass., and is a son of Thomas Collins, who was born in Ireland.

In his boyhood the parents of Mr. Collins moved to Madison, Ind., where he had school advantages. Later he became an employe of Walter B. Brooks, then in the tobacco business at Madison, and so won the confidence of Mr. Brooks that when the latter removed, in 1868, to Malden, Kanawha county, W. Va., he invited Mr. Collins to accompany him. Mr. Brooks undertook the management of the salt furnace, known as the Daniel Boone plant, and also established a store, and for the following ten years was more or less dependent for faithful service as clerk, bookkeeper and assistant man- ager, on Mr. Collins, who filled all these offices. In the meanwhile, Mr. Collins had made hosts of friends for himself, and the confidence and esteem in which he was held by his fellow citi- zens in Kanawha county was shown on many occasions. He has occupied numerous public positions. For five years he was assistant post- master at Charleston, was school commissioner, city auditor, for five years was on the Peniten- tiary Board of West Virginia and was elected in 1883 to the state legislature. During his term as a member of the House of Representa- tives he was particularly interested in legisla- tion beneficial to miners and worked hard for the passage of the bill calling for the appoint- ment of an inspector of mines for the state. After his term as assistant postmaster expired, he became a superintendent of coal mines and superintendent of the West Virginia Railroad Company.

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History of Charleston and Kanawha County, West Virginia and representative citizens, Part 106

Author: Laidley, William Sydney, 1839-1917. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1911 Publisher: Chicago, Ill., Richmond-Arnold publishing co Number of Pages: 1066

Author: Laidley, William Sydney, 1839-1917. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: Chicago, Ill., Richmond-Arnold publishing co
Number of Pages: 1066