History of Charleston and Kanawha County, West Virginia and representative citizens, Part 122

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 122

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William Gordon Mathews, after the usual period of public school attendance, became a student at Lewisburg Military Academy, and subsequently at Washington College, in the Law Department, being later graduated from the University of Virginia at Charlotteville, in the class of 1897 when only twenty years of age. The following year, being then of age, he was admitted to practice, and coming to Charleston, became a member of the firm of Mollohan, McClintic & Mathews, this being in 1900. In 1908 he was nominated by accla- mation, on the Democratic ticket, as candidate for the office of Judge of the Supreme Court of Appeals, but lost the election by a small maiority. He has been a delegate to every state convention of his party ever since he was twenty-two years old, and was an alternate delegate to the National convenion at St. Louis in 1904. He takes a keen interest in public affairs and is a strong worker for his party. As a lawyer he has gained an excel-

lent reputation, the firm of which he is a mem- ber being one of the strongest legal combina- tions in the county.

On January 28, 1903 Mr. Mathews was mar- ried to Miss Helen Bradley Davis, who was born in Charleston, W. Va., and was educated in the city schools. Her parents were F. O. M. and Margaret (Stockton) Davis, the lat- ter of whom is still living. Mr. and Mrs. Mathews are prominent in the social circles of Charleston. They have two children-Lewel- lyn, born January 30, 1904; and Helen Clay- ton, born January II, 1908.

JAMES B. WEIR, coal, oil and gas op- erator, is one of the busy men of affairs in Kanawha County, W. Va., and a potent force in the business circles of Charleston, of which city he has been a resident for the past ten years. He was born in the city of New York, which, in spite of the many social claims and business advantages pre- sented him by this section of West Vir- ginia, he still calls home. He was edu- cated in the great metropolis and was trained in business methods in that world's center.

The Weir family has been interested for many years in the development of the great natural resources of the Kanawha Valley and the father of James B. Weir, James B. Weir, a New York capitalist, for the last fifty years has been identified with coal and oil production in this section. With his family he was concerned in the building of the Elk & Gauley Railroad, and the Weirs shipped the first oil ever sent out of Kan- awha County, which they produced from their own wells.

James B. Weir is treasurer and secretary of the Falling Rock Cannel Coal Company, which was incorporated in 1893. with R. W. Weir as president, and has prospered from the first. In addition to developing the eleven wells which are now producing, can- nel coal mines are also operated. Mr. Weir is also president of the Elk & Gauley Rail- road and has additional business interests, all of which are managed with the quiet, efficient, systematic methods which mark

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the trained and successful business man. Genial, although ever busy, Mr. Weir is a man of agreeable personality and he and family are welcome in the social circles of Charleston. He was married in New York, to Miss Rosamond Floyd Macdonald, and they have one son, Donald.

JAMES VINTON JORDAN,* farmer in Elk District, Kanawha County, W. Va., who was born in Poca District, August 20, 1865, is a member of a well known family of this section. He is a son of Wesley and a grandson of Woodson Jordan, the latter being one of the first to settle in this part of Kanawha County and the founder of the family here.

Woodson Jordan was born in North Car- olina and died when aged sixty-seven years. Wesley Jordan, son of Woodson and father of James V. Jordan was born also in North Carolina, March 8, 1830, and died in 1896, aged sixty-seven years. He followed farm- ing and stock raising. In 1850 he married Martha Cavender, born June 10, 1830, in Kanawha County, daughter of Andrew and Nancy (Caldwell) Cavender, the Caldwells being natives of Ohio. After marriage, Wesley Jordan lived on Tupper's Creek for twenty years and then moved to Elk Dis- trict on the farm now owned by his son, James Vinton Jordan. He was a member of the Baptist church. In politics he was a Republican and at times filled many offices of responsibility in his district. Mrs. Jor- dan still survives and has two brothers: Wilson Cavender, who lives on Cooper's Creek; and Morrison Cavender, who lives on 2-Mile Creek. The paternal grandfa- ther of Mrs. Jordan, was John Cavender. Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Jordan, five of whom survive: Charles, Frank A., James Vinton, Silas, and Nancy, who is the wife of John Creed.

James Vinton Jordan was educated in the local schools and then turned his attention to farming and stock raising in which he has been interested ever since. After spending two years in the western country he engaged in farming in Poca District for 50

two years and then sold and settled on his present farm and at present is one of the most extensive and most successful stock- raisers in Elk District.

Mr. Jordan married Miss Martha Nutter, a daughter of Thomas Nutter, now deceased who served in the Civil War with rank of colonel and they have three children: Bes- sie, Grant and Emory V., their ages rang- ing from twenty to twelve years.

CHARLES W. DERING, who occupies a very important position as chief clerk in the office of the state auditor of West Vir- ginia, assumed the duties of this office in March, 1909, having been previously con- nected for two years with the office of the state tax commissioner, and before that served in other public capacities. He was born at Morgantown, Monongalia County, W. Va., November 12, 1864, and is a son of E. W. S. and Cordelia (Walker) Dering.

The father of Mr. Dering was also a na- tive of Morgantown, while the mother was born at Newark, O., where they were mar- ried. Her death occurred at the age of forty-seven years and his in his sixty-first year. They were members of the Presby- terian church at Morgantown.

Charles W. Dering was given educational advantages at Morgantown, after which he served an apprenticeship of four years with a local cabinetmaker and subsequently fol- lowed that trade for eleven years. In the meanwhile he had moved to Kingwood, W. Va., and while there he was tendered a remunerative clerical position if he would learn the art of stenography. In a short time he had mastered the dashes, curves, shading's and phrasings of this fascinating and useful accomplishment. He came to Governor Dawson, in 1902, when he was secretary of state, at Charleston as his pri- vate secretary and afterward became chief clerk with Secretary of State Charles W. Swisher and was connected with his office for two years. His subsequent business connections have been mentioned. He has not only been satisfactory in every position he has held-his accuracy, promptness, in-

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telligence and fidelity commanding respect and inviting confidences never betrayed- but his uniform courtesy has won him hosts of friends among the public.

Mr. Dering was married at Kingwood to Miss Bertha Wilcox, who was reared and educated in Preston County, a daughter of Richard and Mary (Marsden) Wilcox. The father of Mrs. Dering was born in New York and the mother in England. The lat- ter is still living but Mr. Wilcox died in his native state when in the prime of life. Mr. and Mrs. Dering are members of the First Presbyterian Church. An ardent Republi- can, as was his father and grandfather, Mr. Dering has consistently supported the cause of his party and often has proven an able champion of needed reforms. He is prom- inent in Masonry and is a member of Beni- Kedem Temple, Mystic Shrine, Charleston.

CREED J. PEARSON, president of the First National Bank of St. Albans, W. Va., is a progressive young business man of this place, who has been remarkably successful in his business undertakings. He was born in Franklin County, Va., May 15, 1877, and is a son of Thomas and Sarah J. Pearson.

Mr. Pearson comes of an agricultural line, both grandfathers having been farm- ers. The paternal grandfather Peyton Pear- son, who died at the age of 94 years, resided in Franklin County all of his life. The father Rev. Thos. P. Pearson, was a minister in the Missionary Baptist church. Thomas Pearson and his wife were both born in Franklin County, where the latter still lives. Thomas Pearson died in 1909, agen seventy-eight years. His family con- sisted of four sons and four daughters, all of whom survive: Peyton S. is a farmer in Kanawha County; Edmond I. is a contractor at Covington, Va .; Creed J .: George V. is a. contractor at Andover, N. J. ; Bettie is the wife of J. J. Williams, of Franklin County ; Ruth is the wife of F. L. McGhee of Frank- lin County : Sarah is the wife of A. M. Mc- Guffin, of Franklin County; and Jerusha, who is unmarried, resides with her mother. The Pearsons have all been members and

liberal supporters of the Baptist church. The ancestry of the family leads back to England on the paternal side and to Scot- land on the maternal.

Creed J. Pearson attended the public schools in Franklin County and later took a civil and mining engineering course in the Scranton School of Correspondence, after which, for eight years, he was engaged as an engineer in West Virginia and Kentucky, during the larger part of this period having his office at Charleston, but he has been a resident of St. Albans since 1907 and has been president of the First National Bank of St. Albans since its organization in 1910, at which time he was the youngest National bank president in the State of West Virginia.

The First National Bank of St. Albans opened for business on January 26, 1910, with a capital stock of $25,000, with Creed J. Pearson as president, M. W. Stark as vice president, and R. C. Sweet as cashier. In addition to the officers of the bank the board of directors has two other members : W. H. Wilson and Z. H. Throwbridge. Mr. Pearson owns the bank building and much other property here including his handsome residence, which he erected in 1907. In addition to his other business interests, he deals in real estate.

Mr. Pearson was married in 1905 to Miss Effie Morris, a daughter of the late J. H. Morris, of Spangler, Kanawha County. He came to this section from Bedford County, Va., embarked in the mercantile business and continued until his death in the spring of 19II. He married Mary Johnson, whose mother belonged to the old Shelton family. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Pearson : Mildred, Heloise and Phillis. In politics he is a Republican but he is not as much interested in public matters as he is in advancing the business growth and de- velopment of his town. He is identified with Odell Lodge No. 114. F. & A. M., at Madison, W. Va.

JOHN J. CARMACK,* contractor, at Charleston, W. Va., and a survivor of the

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great Civil War, was born in Bedford County, Pa., in 1848. He is of Scotch and German ancestry. In boyhood he accom- panied his parents, Samuel and Catherine (Appleman) Carmack, to Ashland County, O., they being then in middle life, and their subsequent lives were spent in Ohio. The father dealt in stock and was well known in that section as a drover, on many occa- sions driving his cattle, sheep and hogs long distances to find good markets. Thirteen children were born to Samuel and Catherine Carmack, eleven of whom reached maturity and ten of whom married. The only sur- vivor is John J. Carmack. One brother, Daniel J., a member of the 64th O. Vol. Inf., in the Civil War, was killed at Chicka- mauga, and another, Thomas J., a member of the 57th Pa. Vol. Inf., was killed in the battle of the Wilderness.

John J. Carmack was reared on the home farm and attended the district schools for a time but was only fifteen years of age when he enlisted for service in the Civil War, entering Co. E, 64th O. Vol. Inf., under Captain Colter. This was in the lat- ter part of 1862 and he was in active serv- ice until he was made a prisoner by the Con- federate forces at Franklin, Tenn., and fol- lowing his capture was confined in the pris- on at Selma, Ala., until he was exchanged and started for home on the ill-fated steamer, Sultana. This vessel was de- stroyed by an explosion when a few miles north of Memphis, with an appalling loss of life, of the 21,000 soldiers on board, 18,000 perishing. Of the pitifully small number who escaped, Mr. Carmack was one, he suc- ceeding in securing a bale of hay, on which he supported himself in the water until a boat picked him up. His honorable dis- charge from the army followed and he re- turned home, being then not yet eighteen years old but having the rank of a second sergeant in his company.

Mr. Carmack then embarked in a mer- cantile business and some years later be- came a contractor and builder. In 1900 he came to Charleston and with other Ohio men of means and foresight, purchased the

traction company at the receiver's sale, pay- ing the sum of $21,000. In the reorganiza- tion of the business, Mr. Carmack became a stockholder and was given the superin- tendence of the rebuilding of the road, an undertaking he successfully completed, his association with it continuing for six years. Later Mr. Carmack made railroad contract- ing his leading business interest and has been successfully identified with much work along this line in West Virginia. He built the Blue Creek branch of the Kanawha & Western Railroad and recently has had charge of the building of the Charleston & Dunbar Traction Company, five and one- half miles of this line having been already completed. He is an able and far-seeing business man and is well known in both Ohio and West Virginia. Mr. Carmack has been a Republican all his mature life and has been more or less prominent in public affairs connected with politics, for years, frequently serving as a delegate to impor- tant conventions and being particularly ac- tive during the political campaigns of his personal friend, the late President McKin- ley, on several occasions introducing the dis- tinguished statesman to audiences. He was in close political friendship with many of the party leaders in Ohio, notably the late Senator Mark Hanna, and Hon. T. E. Bur- ton.

Mr. Carmack was married at West Salem, in Wayne County, O., to Miss Theresa J. Felger, who was born, reared and educated there. She is a daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Faulk) Felger, natives of Wayne County, where Mr. Felger still resides, be- ing now in his eighty-seventh year. The mother of Mrs. Carmack died in middle life, leaving four children, three of whom sur- vive. Mr. and Mrs. Carmack have one son, Mont J. He was born at West Salem, O., in 1876. After completing the High School course at Cleveland, O., he became a me- chanical and a civil engineer and is now at the head of the Kanawha Engineering Com- pany, which takes and completes contracts for all and every kind of engineering work. He is unmarried and, like his father, is a

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stanch Republican. The family from the time of the grandparents, have been Meth- odists.

CLARKE WESLEY SHEPHERD, M. D., who has been actively engaged in the practice of medicine at Spring Hill, in Kanawha County, W. Va., for the past nine- teen years and deservedly stands high both personally and professionally in this sec- tion, was born in the city of Charleston, W. Va., January 27, 1864, and is a son of John and Louesa (Aultz) Shepherd, and a grandson of Robert and Maria Shepherd, who settled in Kanawha County after the birth of their three sons.

John Shepherd was born in 1834, in Prince Edward County, Va., and moved later to Roanoke, Va., enjoying excellent educational advantages, and before he came to Kanawha County, taught school for two years in his native state, and after becom- ing a resident of this county, prior to the Civil War, continued to teach school. He became one of the leading educators of West Virginia and was a member of the first board of education in this the capitol city. He was one of three brothers, all surviving until his death. March 17. 1910. which took place at the home of his son. Judge A. R. Shepherd. He was a man of strong character and exerted a wide influ- ence for good. He was almost a lifelong member of the old State Street Methodist Episcopal Church at Charleston. During the Civil War he served as an internal rev- enue collector and during his earlier years was identified with the Republican party but later became thoroughly interested in the Prohibition party and labored for the promulgation of its principles and several times was nominated by that party on the legislative ticket.

In 1863, John Shepherd was married to Louesa Aultz, a twin sister of the wife of his brother, B. King Shepherd. now of Charleston. She was a daughter of Adam and Martha Aultz and was five years younger than her husband. She died in April, 1908. She was the mother of the fol-

lowing children: Clarke Wesley; L. Ella, who is a resident of Raleigh County; A. R., who is presiding judge of the Kanawha County court, married Bessie Elliott, a na- tive of Virginia; J. King, who is deputy sheriff of Kanawha County ; and Mattie M., who is the wife of C. L. Pauley, who is manager at Glen White of the E. E. White Coal Company stores.

Clarke W. Shepherd's early education was carefully looked after by his father and later he became a student in the Ohio Wes- leyan University at Delaware. His med- ical studies were pursued in the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Baltimore and the University of Maryland, and he was graduated in the class of 1891, from the Baltimore University. In January, 1892, he located at Spring Hill, and this place and its environs has been his field for profes- sional work ever since. He is identified with medical organizations and belongs also to Spring Hill Lodge, No. 140, Odd Fel- lows, and to Naragansett Tribe, Improved Order of Red Men at South Charleston, W. Va., and holds the position of Great Keeper of Wampum in the Great Council of W. Va.

Dr. Clarke Wesley Shepherd was married in April, 1889, to Miss Lucy T. Tisdale, of Lunenberg County. Va., a daughter of R. W. and M. C. Tisdale, and they have one son, Tisdale Talmadge, who is a student (1911) in the junior class in the Charleston High School, and in the current year was elected class president. One child died in infancy. In his political preference. Dr. Shepherd is a Republican.

WILBER S. MAY. general farmer and stock raiser, who owns 106 acres of finely im- proved land on Coal River, three miles south- west of St. Albans, Jefferson District, Kana- wha County, W. Va., was born at Griffith- ville, Lincoln County, W. Va., October 17, 1875, and is a son of J. C. and Edna Jane ( Spurlock) May.

J. C. May, who is a son of Jacob C. May. is a resident of St. Albans. Kanawha County. He married Edna Jane Spurlock.

CLARKE W. SHEPHERD, M. D.

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who was born in Lincoln County, W. Va., a daughter of Alfred Spurlock, a resident there.

Wilber S. May attended what was called the Lower Beech Grove school in Lincoln

County and afterward worked in the timber and at farm- ing and continued to reside in Duval District after his marriage until he moved to St. Albans. There he remained a resi- dent for two and one-half years, when he bought his present farm, purchasing it of Grant P. Hall, who erected the fine build- ings, the barn on this place being consid- ered the best on Coal River. Mr. May has added many improvements. He owns addi- tional property including seventy-five acres of land in Lincoln County where he has eight producing oil wells and he also has a house and three lots at St. Albans. He is a charter member and a stockholder of the First National Bank of St. Albans and also of the Oilfield Bank at Griffithville. Formerly Mr. May raised and handled stock extensively.

Mr. May was married February 27, 1898 to Miss Allie Margaret Oxley, who was born in Putnam County, a daughter of Nathaniel and Malinda Oxley of Lincoln County, and they have six children : Freer Clarence, Reba Pearl, Ethel Carrie, Harold Frazier, Hobart Creed, and Ophir Earl. Mr. May is identified with the Republican party but takes only a good citizen's inter- est in public affairs.

DANIEL H. GATES,* whose business standing at Charleston, W. Va., is very high, is well known all through Kanawha County and beyond as the able manager of the J. M. Gates' Sons Company, manu- facturers of paints and oils and retail and wholesale dealers, with quarters at Nos. 27- 29-31 Summers Street. This business was established by his father, the late James Madison Gates, in 1861, and has been con- ducted by the family for the last fifty years.

James Madison Gates was born in 1834, at Gallipolis, O., and died at Charleston, W. Va., in 1904. He came to this city in

1861 as the agent of the Cincinnati, O., Enquirer, and as he accumulated a little capital started into the grocery business in a small way and to his stock added oils and paints as there seemed a demand for those articles, and gradually increased his stock along that line, subsequently going into manufacturing and making this his main business. To this line he added wall papers and the house does an extensive business in the paper line as well as in oils and paints. The first location of Mr. Gates was on Kanawha Street but since 1873 the busi- ness has been conducted at the present lo- cation, enlargement having frequently be- come necessary as the business has expanded. Mr. Gates was a man of some prominence in politics and at one time was a strong supporter of what was known as the Green- back party. At all times he was a worthy citizen and was held in respect by all who knew him. He was a member of the Uni- versalist church. He was married at St. Albans, W. Va., to Virginia Rand, who sur- vives and resides at Charleston. Eleven children were born to them, four of whom died young and one son, Edward, was acci- dentally drowned at the age of thirteen years, while bathing in the Kanawha River. The survivors are as follows: James, who is in the clerical department of the com- pany above referred to; Cora M., who is the wife of S. C. Savage, of Charleston; George D., who is in business at Charleston, and who married Alice Moran ; Daniel H .; Will- iam S., who is connected also with the above company as is the next son, Jesse ; and Vir- gie, who is the wife of Alva S. Fisher, of Charleston.

Daniel H. Gates was born at Charleston, December 21, 1871, and was educated here and after completing his High School course, at the age of eighteen years, entered the business house of J. M. Gates' Sons Company, with which he has ever since been identified and of which he has been man- ager for some time. In politics he is a Democrat and he has served as a member of the city council from his ward.

Mr. Gates was married at Perry, N. Y.,

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to Miss Kate B. Gate, who was born there and educated in the Perry Academy. They have had four children: Frank S., who was born July 11,' 1895; W. Haskell, who was born January 15, 1901 ; and twin daughters who died at birth. The sons are creditable students in the public schools where they are being prepared for the business re- sponsibilities which may come to them. Mr. Gates is an active and prominent Ma- son, a Knight Templar and belongs to Beni- Kedem Shrine, A. A. O. U. M. S. Mr. and Mrs. Gates are members of the Universalist church.

THOMAS WILSON, who is the second one to fill the position of sexton of that beautiful tract set aside by the people of Charleston, W. Va., as their City of the Dead, Spring Hill Cemetery, succeeded his father in office and is well qualified for the duties to which he fell heir. He was born in Braxton County, now in West Virginia, February 10, 1857, and is a son of Andrew A. and Rebecca (Frame) Wilson.

Andrew A. Wilson was born in Lewis County, Va., and remained there until twenty years of age, when he moved to Braxton County, where he conducted a gen- eral store and served in different county offices. In 1871 he moved with his family to Kanawha County and was made sexton of Spring Hill Cemetery when it was estab- lished, and he held this position until his death in 1876, when aged fifty-two years. He married Rebecca Frame, who was born in Braxton County and she survived him, her death being in her seventy-second year. They had seven children, namely: Perry, who died at the age of sixteen years; Vir- ginia, who is the wife of Burton Frist ; John; Thomas; Minnie, who is the wife of Ed- ward C. Lynn; Emma, who is the wife of W. V. Legg; and Lelia, who died at the age of nine years.

Thomas Wilson accompanied his parents to Kanawha County and almost his entire life has since been spent caring for and beautifying the grounds that now are in- cluded in Spring Hill Cemetery. He worked

under his father on the small tract first dedicated to cemetery purposes and after the death of his father was appointed to the same office. Wonderful improvement has been made since he accepted the ap- pointment on August 6, 1876, and Charles- ton has reason to feel indebted to Mr. Wil- son for his unremitting care and interest.

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History of Charleston and Kanawha County, West Virginia and representative citizens, Part 122

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