History of Charleston and Kanawha County, West Virginia and representative citizens, Part 119

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 119

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).

The family record of the Connells has been so carefully preserved that it is not a difficult matter to trace backward for sev- eral generations and to recall interesting family events. The great-grandfather of George W. Connell was a staff officer under Gen. William Henry Harrison in the Indian wars. He had four sons: James S., Harri son, Philip and John. Of the above, James S. Connell was born in Brook county, Va., where he owned large tracts of land and fol- lowed an agricultural life. He married Eliza Mendell, who was also born in Brook county, and their lives were spent there un- til 1844, when they went to Ohio and from Ohio he assisted in the removal of the Wy- andotte Indians to the Ohio river, and in the following year came to Charleston. Here, in partnership with Judge Paulsley, of Point Pleasant, he purchased 35,000 acres of land, a tract known as the Samuel Smith survey, a large part of which they sold to

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neighboring farmers or to those who came to this section in search of permanent homes. James S. Connell died at Charles- ton in 1868, at the age of sixty-three years. The following children were born to James S. and Eliza Connell: Daniel F., father of George W. Connell; John H., who is a resi- dent of Charleston; Henry, who died at Portsmouth, O., and was buried at Charles- ton; Mary, who is the widow of John A. Carter, who was a coal operator in the Ka- nawha Valley and died in the fall of 1908; Julia, who died in 1909, was the wife of W. Q. Adams, of Portsmouth, O .; and Sarah, who died in 1908, unmarried.

Daniel F. Connell was born in 1827, in Brook county, Va. He accompanied his father in 1844, in the expedition that re- moved the Wyandotte Indians to their new location, and in 1846 he went to Colum- biana county, O., in 1851 moving from there to Fairview, Hancock county, now West Virginia, where he was engaged in the mercantile business until 1855, when he moved to New Cumberland, Hancock coun- ty, WV. Va: In 1868 he organized the Scioto Fire Brick Company, at Sciotoville, near Portsmouth, O., becoming president of the company, selling the works in 1874, when he organized and became president of the Peabody Coal company of West Virginia, and also manufacturers of fire brick and gas retorts for a time at Cincinnati, O. He owned and operated coal mines at North Coalburg, eighteen miles above Charles- ton, in Kanawha county, on the Kanawha river, also operated the Peabody Coal com- pany in West Virginia and owned a large acreage of mineral land in Craig and Mont- gomery counties, Va. He was a man of great business foresight and through his thoughtful and intelligent management brought his many undertakings to a suc- cessful conclusion. His death was one of those tragic affairs that are of too frequent occurrence in a country that claims to be at the acme of civilization. While traveling on a railroad train, between Charleston and his destination, Richmond, Va .. he was sud- denly aroused in the middle of the night

from his sleep in a private berth of a Pull- man car, by a robber with a demand for money. Mr. Connell replied by a vigorous kick at the intruder, who immediately shot his helpless victim and escaped. Fully fif- teen minutes elapsed before Mr. Connell could make the gravity of his injury under- stood to his fellow passengers, but when the train reached Charlottesville, he was car- ried forth in a dying condition, and he passed away on August 5, 1891. He was a member of Christ Episcopal church at Portsmouth, O., from which his funeral was conducted.

Daniel F. Connell was married to Cath- erine Wilhelm, who was born in 1834, in Hancock county, Va., and died in 1907. Her father, George Wilhelm, was a pros- perous farmer in Hancock county, Va., to which his father, a native of Germany, had come from western Pennsylvania. George Wilhelm died in Hancock county in 1880, at the age of eighty-eight years. He had two children : Joseph, who was a farmer in Ohio at the time of his death ; and Catherine, who became the wife of Daniel F. Connell. They were the parents of the following children : George W .; James B., who died in 1897, at Portsmouth, O., married Nellie Tynes ; Wil- 'liam A., who is a practicing physician at Kansas City, Mo., was educated at Ports- mouth and the Ohio State University at Columbus, and married Miss Young, of Lexington, Mo .; Daniel F., who is book- keeper for the Kelly Nail and Iron Com- pany, at Ironton, O., married Essie Pixley ; Arthur D., who is with the U. S. Steel cor- poration at Gary, Ind .; Julia A., who is a resident of Kansas City; Anna E., who is the wife of Leonard W. Goss, an attorney at Cincinnati; Louise E., who is the widow of George J. Burke, of Portsmouth, O .; and Mary, who died at Portsmouth, O., was the wife of Augustus A. Brown.

George W. Connell attended school at Portsmouth, O., and for three years subse- quently was a student at Kenyon college, leaving at the age of nineteen years, when he accompanied his father to Charleston and soon became interested in the coal busi-

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ness. He spent two and one-half years as storekeeper at Quinnamont Furnace, on New river, and then assisted his father for one year in surveying the wild lands which they developed later into fine coal proper- ties and which still later they sold to John Carter, an uncle of Mr. Connell. The latter also became interested in the timber busi- ness in Kanawha county and in his many enterprises has shown the wisdom, judg- ment and foresight of an able business man. When his father died he had charge of the settling up of the large estate, which was one of considerable volume. After the death of his father, Daniel F. Connell had purchased the interest of James S. Connell and also the interest of Judge Paulsley in the immense tract of land they had owned together and at that time there remained about 7,000 acres, which he retained to the time of his death. He also owned valuable lands in Ohio. In 1887 George W. Connell became a resident of Charleston and hand- ling real estate has been his main business, much valuable property having changed ownership through his efforts, while a large amount of capital has been invested here by outside parties which has assisted in the building up and development of the city and vicinity.

In 1883, Mr. Connell was married to Miss Lydia Norvell, who is a daughter of Gaston and Ruth (Smithers) Norvell, an old fami- ly of Kanawha county. Mr. Norvell was in the mercantile business at Charleston for a number of years and was a prominent and reliable business man. His death occurred in 1904, when aged sixty-five years. The mother of Mrs. Connell survives and is a member of a substantial family of Kanawha county. Mrs. Connell was reared and edu- cated at Charleston. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Connell: Nor- vell Gaston, who is in the business of poul- try raising, married Maria Hogue, a daugh- ter of William and Anna Hogue, of Charles- ton; Elizabeth, who is the wife of Malcolm R. Matthews, a member of the Tribune Printing company, of Charleston; George W., Jr., who is with the Lewis Hubbard Co .;

and Catherine, who is in school. The fam- ily belongs to the Episcopal church. Politi- cally Mr. Connell is a Democrat.

HON. GROVER CLEVELAND ROB- ERTSON, M. D., physician and surgeon at Clendenin, W. Va., formerly recorder of the village for two years and a leading and useful citizen, was born August 8, 1885, at Kettle, Roane County, W. Va. His par- ents are George W. and Delilah E. (Met- ton) Robertson.

George W. Robertson was born in 1844 and now lives retired at Clendenin. He was a lumberman and merchant during his ac- tive years. He married Delilah Elizabeth Metton and ten children were born to them, Dr. Robertson being the youngest. The others are: James A., who is a merchant at Clendenin; Nancy Jane, who is the wife of W. H. Cantebury; Everett E. and Mor- gan M., both of whom are attorneys at Charleston; Sidney H., and Alvin B., both of whom are merchants at Clendenin; Ed- gar S., who is a clerk; and George W., who lives at Kettle, W. Va.

After his school days were over and his preliminary medical reading done, Grover C. Robertson entered the Kentucky School of Medicine, at Louisville, where he was a student for four years. In 1907 he came to Clendenin and has built up a large and sat- isfactory practice here. He belongs to the Medical Society of Kanawha County and to the American Medical Society, and keeps fully abreast with the times in all medical research.

Dr. Robertson was married to Miss Hat- tie M. Lytton, and they have one child, Lillian Virginia, who was born June 21. 1910. They are members of the Baptist church. He is identified with the Modern Woodmen of America at Clendenin, the Knights of Pythias at Blue Creek and is a Royal Arch Mason, belonging to the higher branches at Charleston. In politics a Dem- ocrat, Dr. Robertson gives hearty support to his party. He has frequently been elected to office and at present is serving as a member of the village council.

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F. M. EASTWOOD, whose beautiful farm in Jefferson district, near Spring Hill, W. Va., contains 500 acres, is one of the well known residents of this section and be- longs to an old Kanawha county family. He was born in Malden district, November 18, 1830, and is a son of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Roy) Eastwood.

Benjamin Eastwood was born in Orange county, N. Y., and came from there in early manhood to Kanawha county and found employment near Malden. There he mar- ried Elizabeth Roy, who was born in Jack- son county, Ohio, and they had ten children born to them, the only survivor being F. M. Eastwood of this record. Benjmin East- wood was a Democrat in politics. He died at the age of fifty-six years and his wife when aged fifty-seven years and their burial was in the Cobb cemetery. They were members of the Baptist church, good and worthy people in every relation of life.

F. M. Eastwood attended school in what is now Loudon district and afterward worked in the lumber regions and also be- came a farmer and the owner of property. His first farm was the one on which D. G. Courtney of Charleston now has his saw- mill. After marriage he bought his present farm which had been already improved.

On January 8, 1856, Mr. Eastwood was married to Miss Virginia H. Corley, born in Jefferson district, a daughter of Henry and Katherine Corley, and the following chil- dren have been born to them: Nancy, who is the wife of George Senate, of Charleston ; Mary Ida, who lives at home : Enos A., who married Willa Smith, and they live in Jef- ferson district ; Frank M., who is a farmer in this district, married Mrs. Eva Meadows ; Elbert, who lives in Jefferson district, mar- ried Mary Tyler, and an infant son and daughter, both of whom are deceased. Mr. Eastwood has always lived in Kanawha county and he remembers when all the salt barrels for the great salt industry in this section were made by hand, the cooper trade then being a profitable one. He has never been anxious to hold local offices but

for many years has been a member of the school board.

WILLIAM EDWARD NUGEN,* a car- penter contractor doing a large business at Pratt, W. Va., was born at Kanawha Falls, Fayette county, Va., May 9, 1859, and is a son of William E. and Sarah A. (Huddles- ton) Nugen.

The parents of Mr. Nugen were born at Kanawha Falls and married there. In 1860 they came to Kanawha county and located at Paint Creek, where the father was em- ployed in the cannel coal mines, making oil. In 1861 he enlisted in Co. I, 8th Va. Con- federate army and served as a brave soldier until he met death on the battlefield of Lacy Springs, in the Shenandoah Valley, in 1864. As one of his most highly prized posses- sions, William Edward Nugen has the pow- der-stained and bullet-riddled Confederate flag that was taken from his father's hand when he fell. The mother survived for many years, dying at the age of seventy- three in 1909. They had three sons-John WV .. William Edward and George Henry.

William Edward Nugen was a child when his parents came to this section and his father's early death left little provision for the educating of his children. Mr. Nugen made the most of his opportunities and learned the carpenter's trade, starting in with W. H. Hudson at the age of sixteen years. He is well known all through this section as a skilful carpenter and builder and also, since 1901, as a contractor. He erected his own attractive residence at Pratt and also the store building which is oc- cupied by T. S. Chapman.

Mr. Nugen married Miss Emma W. White, a daughter of Robert White, a pio- neer of this section, and they have two sons, William Ernest and Ira V. In poli- tics he is a Democrat. He is prominent in Masonry, being a "Shriner," belongs to the Blue Lodge at Montgomery, W. Va., and to the higher branches at Charleston. He is also a member of Lodge No. 202, of Elks, at Charleston, and of Ruth Lodge, Knights of Pythias, at Cabin Creek.

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PETER A. HALEY, M. D., specialist in eye, ear, nose and throat diseases, has been professionally established at Charleston, \V. Va., since 1903. He was born in 1874, in Louisa county, Va., and is a son of Rev. L. J. and Mary (Long) Haley.

Rev. L. J. Haley, who for forty years was active in the ministry of the Baptist church, now lives retired on his farm, on Elk creek, in Louisa county. He was one of a family of six children born to his parents, William A. and Mary (Allen) Haley, natives of Vir- ginia, whose closing years of life were spent in Kentucky. He was graduated with the degree of A. M. from Richmond college and then entered the University of Virginia, but the breaking out of the Civil War, in 1861, and the closing of the University, pre- vented his receiving his degree from that institution. He was a man of brilliant parts in early and middle life and until he retired was considered a leading minister of the Baptist church in this section. Formerly he served in the Virginia legislature and for twenty years was county superintendent of schools. He married Mary Long, who was born in Spottsylvania county, Va., and of their eight children, six survive. Nannie is the wife of Dr. George H. Cook. Fannie, who is now deceased, was the wife of W. W. Boxley. William A. is a railroad con- tractor living at Clifton Forge, Va., married Miss Champ Bupass and they have five children. Littlebury J. resides at Birming- ham, Ala., where he is engaged in the prac- tice of law. He married Lella Byrd, and they have one son. Jeter G., who is now deceased, was a physician in practice at Hinton, W. Va. He is survived by his widow, two sons and a daughter. John Long is a farmer in Northampton county, Va. He married Anna Thomas. John C. is a railroad contractor, living at Salem, Va., married Flossie Chisho'm and they have one son. The youngest member of the family, Peter A., is the only one resid- ing at Charleston.

After completing the High School course, Peter A. Halev entered William and Marv college, that hoary and noted educational 49

institution of Williamsburg, Va., and sub- sequently became a student in the Univer- sity College of Medicine at Richmond. Va., where he was graduated in 1899. He lo- cated at Hinton, W. Va., where he engaged in practice until 1903, when he came to Charleston. He is identified with the lead- ing medical organizations, is a member of the National, State and county associations and is a member of the State Board of Council of the State Medical Association.

Dr. Haley was married in Caroline coun- ty, Va., to Miss Lula Mahon, who was born there and was educated at Burkville Fe- male Seminary. She is a daughter of Jo- seph and Lizzie (Butler) Mahon, the for- mer of whom still lives in Caroline county but the mother of Mrs. Haley is deceased. Dr. and Mrs. Haley have two sons: Wil- liam Allen and John Bagby. Dr. Haley and wife are members of the Baptist church. Fraternally he is connected with the Ma- sons and the Elks.

JOHN MERRELL CHASE, a general merchant doing business at Nos. 525-527 Charleston street, Charleston, WV. Va., has been a resident of Kanawha county since 1906. He was born in Meigs county, O., near Rutland, August 18, 1851, and is a son of William and Elvira (Winn) Chase.

William Chase was born in Athens coun- ty, O., a son of John Merrell and a grand- son of John Merrell Chase, the older mem- bers of the family coming from Maine to Ohio, in Indian times and were of English descent. The first John Merrell Chase died in Ohio and his son, John Merrell, in Illinois. William Chase was married in Meigs coun- ty, O., to Elvira Winn, a daughter of Arm- strong Winn, who was a native of Canada. In 1858 William Chase went to Pike's Peak among the gold seekers and was there when the Civil War broke out and enlisted for service in the 2d Col. Vol. Cav., whose commander, Captain Wagner, was later slain by the bandit, Jesse James. William Chase served through the war and then re- turned to Colorado with the intention of closing up his mining business. His family

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received a letter dated at St. Lous, Mo., to that effect and containing the statement that he expected to start for home within three days of its date. He was never heard of afterward, his death being supposed and his disappearance one of those mysteries which have clouded the happiness of so many families. His widow survived until 1876, her death occurring in Ohio. There were seven children in the family, namely : Julia, who is deceased, was the wife of W. G. Giles, who is also deceased; John Mer- rell, the third of the name in the family; Alice, who is the wife of J. S. Bradfield, of Harrisonville, O .; Armstrong, formerly a deputy sheriff at Charleston, who now re- sides in Colorado; Charles F., who is de- ceased; Lillian, who is the wife of C. F. Morris, of Armel, Colo .; and Effie, who is the wife of Rev. James Martin, residing in Kansas.

John Merrell Chase spent his boyhood on the home farm and attended the district schools and an academy at Wilkesville, O. When seventeen years of age he went to Kansas, where he took up a claim in Elk county and then secured 160 acres in How- ard county and remained three years, when he returned to Ohio, where he completed his interrupted education. Mr. Chase then bought a farm in Lincoln county, W. Va., and taught school in both Lincoln and Ka- nawha counties for fourteen years, after which he went on the road for a shoe firm of Baltimore, Md., and later for the Thomas Shoe company of Charleston, and was a commercial traveler for twelve years. At the end of this period he embarked in the mercantile business for himself, starting with a limited stock but as his trade has in- creased he has entered into the general mercantile line and has proven his ability as a business man on his own responsi- bility. Politically he is a Republican and was nominated by that party for the legis- lature while living in Lincoln county.

On April 16, 1882, Mr. Chase was mar- ried to Miss Aley Fisher, a daughter of the late Anderson Fisher, and they have had three children : Effie, who died aged twenty-

three years, was the wife of J. M. Hollings- worth and left one child, Francis Chase : Verne M., who is a teacher in the Charles- ton schools ; and Elvira. Mr. Chase is iden- tified with the Masons, Odd Fellows and Maccabees. The family resides on Indiana avenue, Charleston.

WILLIAM H. SISSON, who has been serving as deputy sheriff since January, 1909, in Charleston, Poca and Union dis- tricts, Kanawha county, W. Va., resides on his farm of 100 acres which lies one mile north of Sissonville, the same having been his grandfather's property. He is one of the representative men of this part of the county and was born March 14, 1873, at Sissonville, Poca district, and is a son of Henry C. Sisson, a grandson of Henry C. Sisson, and a great-grandson of James Sis- son.

James Sisson was born in Botetourt county, Va., where he was reared, educated and married. His wife was a Miss Cart- mill, who was of Irish descent. After mar- riage James Sisson and wife moved into Poca district, Kanawha county, now West Virginia, and the settlement they started was subsequently named Sissonville in hon- or of James Sisson. To James Sisson and wife the following children were born: Allen, who made his home in Missouri, died while on a visit in Poca district; John, who also located in Missouri, married there and afterward came back to Poca dstrict and remained until 1856, when he returned to Missouri, where he remained; James lived at Middle Fork, Jackson county, W. Va., married a Miss Aultz and they moved then to Missouri; Sallie, who married Benjamin Milard, lived about four miles from Sisson- ville and owned much land and there both spent long lives; Eliza, who became Mrs. Koontz, lived in Missouri and sent seven sons to the war; Mary, who married a Mr. Street, and moved to Missouri; Ann, who was reared by her uncle Cartmill, in Vir- ginia, married a Mr. Gorgus during the Civil War.

Henry C. Sisson, grandfather of William

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H. Sisson, was born in Virginia and was young when he accompanied his parents to Poca district, Kanawha county. There he became a man of large estate, the lands for- merly owned by his brothers coming into his possession. He served two terms as a justice of the peace. His marriage was to Rebecca Samuels and they had the follow- ing children born to them: James M., Greenberry, Julia Ann, Henry C. Jr., John W., Benjamin N., Mary C., Thomas, Lizzie and Willie. James M. Sisson of the above family was a well known man in Poca dis- trict, where he served one term as a justice of the peace. He married Clara C. Atchin- son and they lived and died at Sissonille. Of their nine children, five grew to maturity : Fannie, Joseph, Minnie, Charles and Mary.

Greenberry Sisson was reared and edu- cated at Sissonville and enlisted from there as a soldier in the Civil War. At one time he had a horse shot from under him but survived to return home where he suc- cumbed to typhoid fever in July, 1866. He never married. Julia Ann Sisson died early in married life, leaving her husband, Wil- liam C. Williams, and one child, Lewis. John W. Sisson resided near Sissonville, married Louisa Ann Jones, and their chil- dren were: Mollie, Clement, Effie, Edward, Howard, John H. and Greenberry. Benja- min N. Sisson married Lizzie Johnson and they now reside on the old Sisson farm in Poca district and have seven children-Eth- el, Erna, Flossie, Ruth, Harry, Press and Myrtle. Mary C., who is the wife of John G. Newhouse, resides on Grapevine Creek, and they had the following children: Ed- ward, Mollie, Thomas, Vett, Lizzie, Erna and Bert. Thomas, who is now deceased, married Esther Spencer and she is also de- ceased.

Henry C. Sisson, Jr., father of William H., was born and reared at Sissonville, his birth taking place in 1847, and his death oc- curring in his fifty-seventh year. He spent his life on the old family homestead and was one of the best known men in his dis- trict. Prior to his time the Sissons had al- ways voted the Democratic ticket, but he

was a Republican. The Sissons have all been worthy members and liberal support- ers of the Methodist Episcopal church. Henry C. Sisson, Jr., married Mary J. Mc- Clanahan, who was born and reared in Poca district and still survives, residing at Sissonville. Three children were born to ths marriage, namely: W. H., Boyd A., and Benjamin O. Boyd A. Sisson is a resident of Sissonville. He married Dica Ellmore and they have had four children: Mary, Henry Thomas, Earnie R. (deceased), and William Allen. Benjamin O. Sisson died at Sissonville at the age of thirty years.

William H. Sisson has always been more or less interested in farming and stockrais- ing. He is a stockholder in several tele- phone companies. In politics he is a stanch Republican and has frequently been called upon to serve in district offices. He was constable for six years in Poca district and served two years under Sheriff John A. Jarrett as deputy prior to his present ap- pointment in 1909. Mr. Sisson married Miss Alice Archibald, who was born at Raymond City, Putnam county, W. Va., a daughter of E. G. and Julia Ann (Samuels) Archibald, the former of whom was born in England. Mr. and Mrs. Sisson have three children : Ocea Rebecca, Lucy J., and Julia Virginia.

WILLIAM E. R. BYRNE, attorney-at- law, Charleston, W. Va., was born October 26, 1862, at Fort Defiance, Va., a son of Col. Benjamin Wilson and Mary L. (Holt) Byrne. Her parents had been residents of Braxton county, now in West Virginia, un- til the breaking out of the Civil War. Col. Byrne was a member of the Constitutional (Secession) Convention of Virginia and af- terward was in the Confederate service. At the close of the war the family returned to West Virginia and lived at Weston, Parkersburg and Clay Court House.

In 1871 Col. Byrne was elected to the Constitutional Convention which was held at Charleston and on the first day of Janu- ary, 1872, moved with his family to this city. In the same year he was elected state su-

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History of Charleston and Kanawha County, West Virginia and representative citizens, Part 119

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