History of Charleston and Kanawha County, West Virginia and representative citizens, Part 117

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 117

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William Richardson, the date of whose birth is given above, spent all his active life as a farmer in Frederick county, Md., dying in 1882. In politics he was first a Whig and later a Republican, and was a man active in all good causes. For some years he served as sheriff of his county. He was reared in the Episcopal church though he was not a communicant of that church. He was married in Frederick county to Elizabeth Johnson, who was born in that county in 1827 and died in Charleston, W. Va., in 1904. She was a noble minded woman of many virtues. She was a grand niece of Gov. Thomas Johnson, one of Maryland's prominent men. Her paternal grandfather was Rodger Johnson, who was an officer in the Revolutionary army-an honored Mary- land citizen and soldier. He married Eliza- beth Thomas, daughter of James and Emma (Newman) Johnson, the former born in 1794. The Johnsons were also well known people of the state.

William Richardson and wife were the parents of children as follows: Elizabeth, who died in infancy; Emily, who is unmar- ried; John Lynn, whose name appears at the head of this sketch; James J., who is married and resides in California; Davis, who died in early childhood; Larned, who also died in childhood; and William, who is married and resides in Cincinnati, O., but has no children.

J. Lynn Richardson was educated in the public schools of Frederick county, Md., and at the Annapolis high school. He be- gan his apprenticeship to the dry goods 48

business at Stanton in the Shenandoah Valley, in the employ of a Mr. Timberlake, and being a fellow clerk with Mr. George F. Coyle, his present partner. For a time he was placed in charge of a branch store at Winchester, Va., and when in 1878 he and Mr. Coyle left Mr. Timberlake's employ, they bought out this branch store, which they conducted together for some years; and with the exception of a period of about two years, they have been associated in business together ever since. In July, 1884, they established their present business in Charleston, and after three removals took possession of their present quarters, in March, 1908. Here they have a model establishment of its kind, the store being large, well equipped and thoroughly mod- ern in all its appointments, with perfect sanitary conditions and every convenience both for employees and customers. The building, which is worthy of a more detailed description, is 50 by 115 feet, with six stories and basement, and of concrete and rein- forced steel construction, making it one of the largest and most substantial mercantile emporiums in the state. Their stock in- cludes all staple wares usually handled in this line of trade, such as dress goods, no- tions, wearing apparel and dry goods of every kind, all goods being sold at retail. The business gives employment to thirty- five clerks-a well trained and well organ- ized force, polite and efficient, and well paid and liberally treated by the proprietors. The firm enjoys a well deserved and gratifying degree of prosperity and is held in high fa- vor by the purchasers of dry goods through- out the county and beyond.

Mr. Richardson was married in Frederick county, Md., to Miss Alice McPherson Dennis, who was born, reared and educated in that county. Her parents were Col. George R. and Alice (McPherson) Dennis, both natives of Maryland. Col. Dennis was a prominent citizen of his locality, at one time a banker, and was commander of the Home Guards during the war. He died in 1902 at the age of seventy-one years, his wife having died many years previously at

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the age of thirty. They were active mem- bers of the Episcopal church, he serving as vestryman. Though a Democrat in poli- tics, he was a strong Union man during our great civil strife. His early progenitors in this country landed on the eastern shores of Maryland in 1660 and some of their de- scendants took prominent parts in the de- velopment of the state's history. Mr. and Mrs. Richardson are working members of the Episcopal church, the former having been one of the wardens for five years and vestryman for fifteen years. Their children are: Frances McPherson, now eighteen years old, who was educated in the high school and is now a student at Sweet Brier College, Va., in the class of 1913. and Elizabeth Johnson, now twelve years old, who is attending the Sherred Hall private school at Charleston.

HON. JOHN S. McDONALD, now liv- ing on his farm on Elk river, four miles from Charleston, Kanawha county, W. Va., was born December II, 1837, in Marshall county, Va., now West Virginia. He is a son of William R. and Ann (Howard) Mc- Donald, the latter of whom was a daughter of Samuel Howard, of Winchester, Va.

William R. McDonald was born on the old McDonald homestead in Marshall coun- ty, Va., where he continued to reside until after his marriage and until the birth of his son, John S. McDonald, when he moved to the vicinity of Baton Rouge, La. Subse- quently, however, he returned to Virginia, residing for a time at Wheeling, but later removing to Moundsville, in Marshall coun- ty, where he was engaged in the milling business for many years. In 1850 he went to California, where he was engaged in min- ing for seventeen years, then returned to his native state, locating at Cameron, which is now in West Virginia. Soon afterward his fellow citizens elected him to the state legislature and when his term of pub- lic office terminated he retired to the old homestead where his death occurred.

After his school days were over, John S. McDonald learned the carpenter's trade in

Marshall county and worked at it until 1861, when President Lincoln called for 75,000 soldiers. He enlisted under that call and served three and one-half years in the army, being promoted to the rank of lieu- tenant-colonel. After the war he was elect- ed in Marshall county, W. Va., assessor of the Lower district of that county, and at the expiration of a term in that office he was elected a member of the county court of that county. In 1876 he moved to the oil territory in Wood and Ritchie counties, W. Va., and built oil tanks and oil rigs there until 1880, when he moved to Par- kersburg, W. Va. On August 29, 1883, he came to Charleston and soon became a prominent factor in politics. In 1894 he was elected a member of the Kanawha county court and by his associates was made presi- dent of that judicial body and served as such until January, 1899. During this term, through his energy and progressive spirit, an Infirmary building was erected. a fine brick structure, with provision made for 300 inmates, so that the unfortunate poor could be better cared for. It was through Mr. McDonald's energy and influence also that eight iron and steel bridges were built over the different streams, for the better accommodation of the traveling public. These bridges were the following: one spanning the Elk river, which is over 400 feet long ; one over Cooper's creek, 300 feet long; one over Blue creek, sixty-five feet long ; one over Two-Mile creek of Elk riv- er, which is sixty-five feet long, with fill reaching 300 feet, and with depth at bridge of thirty feet; one over Cabin creek, 260 feet long; one over Poca river, at Beans Ford, 240 feet long ; one at Dawson's Ford, which is 240 feet long over the same river ; and one small steel bridge over Brown's creek. The securing of the building of the Infirmary and bridges made him very pop- ular with the voters of the county and in 1904 he was elected a member of the legis- lature and served one term. The measures he advocated while a member of that body served to increase a deserved popularity, and in 1896 he was again elected to the

JOHN S. MCDONALD

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county court and again made president of it. At that time Kanawha county, while being one of the richest in the state, was practically bankrupt, and orders of the court on the sheriff for money to pay for the necessary expenses to carry on the county affairs, could not be paid by the sheriff and were sold at from fifteen to twenty per cent discount, which was a very deplorable situation for a county like Kana- wha to be placed in. It had been brought about by the extremely low valuation on both personal property and real estate and the law's limit to levy, it not being per- mitted by law to levy sufficiently to pay ex- penses of conducting county affairs and paying the county debt, the debt having been accumulating for more than fifty years.

Mr. McDonald as a public spirited citizen was deeply concerned in this matter and while he was a member of the legislature had succeeded in securing the passage of a bill allowing a county levy of ten cents on one hundred dollars for the purpose of pay- ing this increasing county debt. This was recognized as an excellent measure of re- lief but as it would take several years to pay this debt in this way. Mr. McDonald with other clear-headed business men saw the necessity of making some kind of ar- rangement with the parties holding the county's obligations, to pay on demand, so that the authorized levy would pay the coun- ty debt in installments, a plan that finally succeeded. It was through Mr. McDon- ald's energy and civic pride that this burden was finally lifted. He had the service and assistance of Hon. James F. Brown, and the services of Hon. E. B. Dyer and Hon. John B. Floyd, who managed all the legal points, and thus the end was accomplished, the debt was funded satisfactorily and the county's paper became worth 100 cents on the dollar. Not only this, but the county's business was put upon a cash system under this funding of the debt. Kanawha county will pay the last of the funding orders on January I, 1912, and will be clear of debt shortly afterward. Soon after this matter

of immense importance to the county was concluded, Mr. McDonald resigned from the county court.

Judge McDonald married Miss Mary M. Tarr for his first wife. She was a daughter of John Tarr, an old resident of Marshall county, W. Va., and eight children were born to them. Four of these survive their mother, namely : James F., a carpenter, who resides at Wheeling, W. Va .; Charles S., who follows the same trade; and Milton R., and Jefferson L., both of whom are in busi- ness at Wheeling. For his second wife Judge McDonald married Mrs. Emma J. Miller who was the widow of S. P. Miller. He is a member of the Eagles and attends the meetings of this fraternal organization at Charleston.

During his ten years of residence at Charleston, prior to the purchase of his farm, in 1893, Mr. McDonald was engaged in contracting and building, his last work along this line being the superintendence of the construction for an addition to the Charleston postoffice. Mr. McDonald's as- sociation with both business and public af- fairs has been honorable and effective, and while he has chosen to retire from the pub- lic arena and engage in the peaceful pur- suits of agriculture, his fellow citizens have not forgotten his efforts in their behalf, nor is it beyond the bounds of possibility that an old soldier might again respond to the call of duty if emergency should arise. He still bears on his person the scars of battle received at Slaughter Mountain, during the great Civil War, and has many times since proved his courage as a soldier battling for his fellow citizens on quieter fields.

J. A. WORK, M. D.,* physician and sur- geon.at Blue Creek, W. Va., is additionally interested to some extent as a farmer. He was born at McConnellsville, O., February 4, 1870, and is a son of Franklin A. and Julia Ann (Carr) Work.

Franklin A. Work was a native of Athens county, O., born July 15, 1837, and during his active years followed carpenter con- tracting. Following his marriage he moved

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HISTORY OF KANAWHA COUNTY

to Athens, later to Parkersburg, W. Va., and still later to Point Pleasant, where he now resides. He served for two terms in Mason county, as deputy sheriff. At the opening of the Civil War, he enlisted for a period of ninety days and subsequently re- enlisted for three years. His patriotism was aroused on the first call to arms and he entered Co. B, 53rd O. Vol. Inf., and his service continued all through the war, his honorable discharge being given him at Washington, D. C. He was once slightly wounded, suffering from the bursting of a shell. He was married in Morgan county, O., to Miss Julia Ann Carr, who was born April 25, 1842, a daughter of James and Margaret (McConnell) Carr. The McCon- nells were of the earliest stock of Morgan county. To Franklin A. Work and wife the following children were born: J. A .; Emma, who is the wife of D. A. Howell, of Ohio; Grace, who is the wife of J. Norton, of Point Pleasant, O .; Mary, who lives with her parents; and Margaret, who is the wife of J. Stribling, of Point Pleasant.

J. A. Work was afforded excellent edu- cational opportunities and after doing some preliminary medical reading, entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Bal- timore, Md. After three years of close study under the most admirable conditions for scientific training, he successfully passed the medical board of examination and was awarded his degree on April 15, 1898. He began practice at Copenhaver Station, W. Va., where he remained two years and then practiced for eleven years at Hamil- ton Station, coming from there to Blue Creek in the spring of 1911. Dr. Work owns several farms in Elk district.

Dr. Work was married June 2, 1897, to Miss Virginia Florence Burdette, who was born December 5, 1871, in Kanawha coun- ty, a daughter of W. H. and Mildred Jane (Copenhaver) Burdette, the latter of whom resides at Blue Creek. Mr. Burdette died March 26, 1899. Dr. and Mrs. Work have three children: William Franklin, born March 29, 1898; Mary Mildred, born November 2, 1899; and Julia Florence,

born January 25, 1910. Dr. Work belongs to the Kanawha County Medical Society and is identified also with several fraternal organizations. He belongs to Clendenin Lodge, F. & A. M., at Clendenin; the Woodmen of America, Charleston Camp, No. 5719; and the Knights of Pythias at Blue Creek. Of the last named body he is a very active member. He belongs also to the Masonic Protective Association. A Re- publican in politics, he is interested in party success but only to the extent of good and intelligent citizenship.

MRS. LAURA A. RICHMOND, a high- ly esteemed resident of Spring Hill, Kana- wha county, WV. Va., is the widow of Wil- liam L. Richmond, who was a prominent citizen and capitalist of this section and many of his interests are still ably handled by Mrs. Richmond. She was born in Gooch- land county, Va., and is a daughter of A. M. and Mary Virginia (Lewis) Hamilton.

The father of Mrs. Richmond was born in Cumberland county, Va., and the mother at Columbia, Va. They were parents of eleven children, all of whom survive except two, William Alexander and Augustus M. Hancock Lee, who was wounded while serving as a soldier in the Confederate army, resides in Putnam county, W. Va. Kendall Lewis lives in Huntington, W. Va. John M. lives at Newport News, Va. Rich- ard H. resides in Goochland county. Eliza Virginia is the widow of W. I. Oaks, of Charleston. Mary R. is the wife of \V. J. Thomas of South Charleston. Ann Louisa is the wife of A. L. Thomas of Spring Hill. Laura A., Mrs. Richmond, was the eighth in order of birth. Frances is the wife of J. S. Chilton of Spring Hill. The parents of Mrs. Richmond came to Charleston in 1870 and to Spring Hill in 1872. The father died in Charleston in 1897. He was an attorney-at-law and was in partnership with Joseph Chilton, a prominent lawyer of Charleston. The mother, who is now in her eighty-fifth year, resides with her daughter, Mrs. Oaks, at Charleston. She is a member of the Presbyterian church, while her hus-

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band belonged to the Methodist Episcopal church, south.

Mrs. Richmond was carefully reared and well educated. On December 9, 1885, she was married to William L. Richmond. He was born in Raleigh county, Va., a son of William and Sarah (Williams) Richmond. In 1883, he and his brother, John Richmond, came to Spring Hill, where they embarked in the mercantile business under the firm name of Richmond Brothers, William L. subsequently purchasing his brother's inter- est and continuing the business alone until his accidental death, on November 30, 1899. Together with his store, Mr. Richmond owned a roller flour and feed mill, a saw- mill in Lincoln county, W. Va., and a farm of 105 acres, in Raleigh county. In addition to owning various properties of her hus- band's estate, Mrs. Richmond also has sev- eral acres in town lots, near Spring Hill, very valuable property. To Mr. and Mrs. Richmond four children were born, namely : Hamilton, who was accidentally killed on the railroad at South Ruffner; and Francis P., Richard N., and Augusta Kendell, all of whom reside with their mother. Mrs. Rich- mond has sold the store at Spring Hill but has continued to reside in this vicinity. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, south. Mr. Richmond was a Demo- crat in politics.

T. C. LUCADOE,* who owns forty-five acres of valuable land which is situated two miles from Charleston, W. Va., on Joplin Creek, in Loudon district, Kanawha county, W. Va., was born in this district in 1890, and is a son of J. W. and Jennie (Asbury) Lucadoe. The father was a logger and helped in the clearing of a large part of Kanawha county. He was born in Vir- ginia but died in Loudon district, Kanawha county, at the age of fifty-two years. He married Jennie Asbury and of their chil- dren there are five living.

T. C. Lucadoe was sent to school in Charleston and after his father died he was reared by an uncle. He has followed farm- ing and teaming during the most of his life

and now operates a dairy, keeping twenty cows and running a wagon to Charleston. He is unmarried and looks after his own domestic affairs. Mr. Lucadoe is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, south. He is an honest business man and a hard worker and he has many friends among those with whom he has dealings.

GARRETT D. BRYAN, who is engaged in the real estate and insurance business at St. Albans, W. Va., and is a representative business man of this place, was born August 15, 1871, in Jefferson district, Kanawha county, three miles from St. Albans. His parents are Andrew J. and Hannah E. (Wil- son) Bryan.

Andrew J. Bryan was born October 12, 1837, in Kanawha county, and resides on his farm in Jefferson district. His father, Andrew Bryan, was born here in 1800 and died in 1872, a son of Richard Bryan who came here from Kentucky. The family has not been a very prolific one but each gener- ation has produced men of sterling worth. Andrew J. Bryan married Hannah E. Wil- son, a daughter of Charles B. and Mary Ann (Scleaver) Wilson, both of Scotch-Irish ancestry. Mr. and Mrs. Bryan have six sons, their one daughter being deceased. The sons all reside in West Virginia. Of these, Garrett D. is the eldest. The second, Charles W., who was born April 23, 1874, is a farmer near Lower Falls and married Allie B. Wood, a daughter of N. F. and Margaret Wood. Lewis McFarland, who was born July 9, 1878, resides at home. John S., who was born November 29, 1883, married Ida Comstock, of Putnam county. Walter, who was born in August, 1886, married Dora Miles. Herbert D., who was born September 29, 1889, is a resident of Kanawha county. The brothers form a very united family and have a community of interests.

Garrett D. Bryan was educated in the public schools and at Marshall College, after which he taught school in Kanawha county for ten years and later engaged in farming. He has always taken a hearty interest in

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public affairs and has been an influential Democrat. In November, 1898, he was elected a justice of the peace in Jefferson district, in a campaign in which he and his constable were the only Democratic candi- dates who were successful. He has been a resident of St. Albans for the past four years and is quite extensively interested in the line of real estate and insurance. He is also sole owner and proprietor of St. Albans Bottling Works, manufacturers of soft drinks.

In June, 1907, Mr. Bryan was married to Miss Catherine Sutherland, a daughter of Dr. J. H. and Leah C. (Swisher) Suther- land, and they have two children: Herbert Wilson and Elizabeth Wilson. Mr. Bryan is prominent in Washington Lodge No. 58, A. F. & A. M.

WILLIAM TAULBEE MOORE, assist- ant treasurer and general manager of the Kanawha Land Company, with offices at Charleston, W. Va., is one of the enterpris- ing young business men of this section and has been a resident of the Capital city since he was sixteen years of age. He was born March 19, 1887, in Magoffin county, Ky., and is a son of John W. and Mary E. (Wheeler) Moore.

The early ancestors on the paternal side were of Virginia birth and from that state went to Kentucky, where the father of Mr. Moore engaged for a number of years in the practice of law. It is probable that the Wheelers also moved from Virginia to Ken- tucky at an early date. Mrs. Moore was a cousin of General Joseph Wheeler, who won military renown in the Civil war.

Wi liam T. Moore had but few early edu- cational advantages. After he came to Char'eston, with the determination of win- ning his own way in the world, in the scheme of things he included application to his studies, as occasion offered, which re- su ted in his securing a liberal and helpful ed- ation. His first sa aried position after cor ing to Charleston. was that of messen- ger in th > Kanawha Va'ley Bank, which, at the' tir .. was the leading financial institu- tic. in the city, and within three years he

was made discount clerk. Shortly afterward he became bookkeeper in the Kanawha Banking and Trust Company, and one year later accepted his present offices with the Kanawha Land Company. He has no out- side interests, either political or commercial, devoting all his time to the company's af- fairs.

Mr. Moore is unmarried and resides with a brother, Fred N. Moore, beside whom he has other brothers-Frank, George, Henry, Benjamin, and Albert, and two sisters, Em- ma and Elizabeth. Mr. Moore was reared in the Democratic party, and has never seen any reason why he should depart from the political faith of the family.

D. S. MEYERS,* a representative busi- ness man of Mammoth, W. Va., a member of the Meyers-Dunbar Company, general merchants, was born in Boone county, W. Va., July 21, 1873, and is a son of John and Letha (Farrall) Meyers.

John Meyers, father of D. S., was born in Alexander county, Va. ; he was a civil engi- neer and prospector and was a man who was widely known in his profession. His death occurred in 1897, at Mt. Hope, Fay- ette county, W. Va. He married Letha Farrall, who was born in Boone county, W. Va., and died in July, 1898. They were parents of four children, namely: William H., Daniel Summers, Milton and Frank L., the last named being now deceased.

Daniel Summers Meyers spent his boy- hood on the home farm in Boone county, attended the public schools and later the Summerville normal school and business college at Huntington, W. Va. He has been industrious all his life and from work- ing in the woods, become a c'erk in a store and later served at office work; a'so, for a while, he was on the railroad and for some time a traveling salesman. He embarked first in the mercantile business at Anstead, in Fayette county, in partnership with T. A. Deitz, and later continued the business alone until 1905, when he came 10 Mam- moth and bought his first stock her from James Estep. occupying the od sorters

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until he completed his present commodious store building in June, 1909. On January IO, 19II, he admitted H. A. Dunbar to a partnership. This business firm has a high rating and is unusually prosperous.

Mr. Meyers was married first in 1900, to Miss Elizabeth Switzer, who died in 1903, leaving two children, Daniel and Charlotte. In September, 1906, Mr. Meyers married for his second wife Miss Minnie Marshall, a daughter of J. D. and Mary Alice (Bowe) Marshall, and they have two sons, Homer and Milton. Mr. Meyers is a member of Warren Lodge No. 109, A. F. & A. M., at Berry, W. Va.

LUTHER VAUGHN KOONTZ, banker and capitalist, is one of the progressive and foremost citizens of Clendenin, W. Va., was elected its first mayor and was instru- mental in obtaining the town charter, se- curing it through personal effort from the Circuit and County Courts. Many of the enterprises of the place that are now flour- ishing, owe much to his interest and en- couragement. He was born January 28, 1875, at Kesler's Cross Lane, in Nicholas County, W. Va., and is a son of John and Alice (Groves) Koontz.

John Koontz was born in Nicholas County, in March, 1835. He occupied the same farm and home for seventy-six years, `and died there on July 4, 1911. His father, James Koontz, was a native of Pennsyl- vania, while his mother, Rebecca Long- anecker, of German extraction, was born in Greenbrier County, Va. James Koontz went to Nicholas County in early manhood, about 1830, and acquired 700 acres of land on which he spent the remainder of his life, dying in 1876. John Koontz has always fol- lowed farming and stock raising. He is a Democrat in politics and served one term as sheriff of Nicholas County in the early sixties. He married Alice Groves, who was born in Nicholas County, sixty-three years ago, a daughter of John and Catharine (Duffy) Groves. John Koontz and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Their children aside from two that

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History of Charleston and Kanawha County, West Virginia and representative citizens, Part 117

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