History of Charleston and Kanawha County, West Virginia and representative citizens, Part 123

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 123

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).

Mr. Wilson was married in 1887 to Miss Minnie Martin, a daughter of E. E. and Elizabeth Martin, old settlers of the county, and they have two children: Robert Lee and Virginia A. The former attended the Caton public school and is a graduate of the Charleston High School, after which he entered the Cincinnati College of Phar- macy, where he was graduated and subse- quently passed the State Board at the head of his class. Mr. Wilson and family have a very comfortable home, the residence standing at No. 1525 Piedmont Road, Charleston. He is a Knight of Pythias and an Odd Fellow, belonging to the Encamp- ment, and is identified also with the Na- tional Union and the American Mechanics, all at Charleston.

DAVID R. ISAAC,* manager of the Cut Stone Company, stone contractors at Charleston, W. Va., doing business on Lewis Street and the C. & O. Railroad, is a prac- tical stone cutter and a well known busi- ness man of this city. He was born in Fayette County, WV. Va., February 16, 1873, and is a son of John and Ann (Lewis) Isaac.

John Isaac was born in Carmandershire, Wales, in May, 1847, and shortly after his marriage, in 1869, decided to come to America. The party included himself and his wife, his brother, David R. and his sister, Martha Isaac, all taking passage on a sail- ing vessel out from Liverpool and in the course of a few weeks being safely landed at New York. John Isaac had learned the stone cutting trade in Wales and in the new country soon found employment with the C. & O. Railroad, assisting in the build- ing of culverts and doing other stone con- struction work. He built the first coke oven

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on the C. & O. Railroad at Quinnemount, in Fayette County and was in business for some time with his brother, W. D. Isaac, and then engaged in cutting stone accord- ing to his trade, during the remainder of his life and was known as a capable man in his line of business. His death occurred April 24, 1908. In politics he was identified with the Republican party, while in church relation he was a Methodist. He married Ann Lewis, who was born in 1849, in Wales, and resides with her son, David R., in the latter's home at No. 1526 Jackson Street,

Charleston. She also is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Four children were born to John Isaac and wife, namely: Cassie, born at Charleston in 1870, who is the wife of John Cundiff, residing at Huntington, an engineer on the C. & O. Railroad, and has one son and four daugh- ters; Mattie, who is the wife of Luther A. Emick, residing in South Charleston where he is connected with the Kanawha Chem- ical Works, and has four daughters; David R .; and Gwen, who died at the age of twelve years.

David R. Isaac has been in the stone busi- ness ever since he left school, learning the trade very thoroughly and becoming an expert prior to going into business with his cousin, George R. Isaac. They established the present business in 1906 and have devel- oped it into one of large volume, importing their stone and doing all kinds of stone work. Examples of their fine work may be seen in the First Methodist Church, the the Bream Memorial Church and the great mausoleum in Spring Hill Cemetery.

David R. Isaac was married at Charles- ton to Miss Carrie L. Edwards, who was born at Bloomington, Ind., the only sur- viving child of her parents' family, they dying when she was two years old. 'Mr. and Mrs. Isaac attend the Methodist Epis- copal church. Politically he is a Republi- can, and fraternally is identified with the Elks.

W. W. STARK, president and general manager of the American Column and Lum-

ber Company, of St. Albans, Kanawha County, W. Va., has been identified with the lumber industry for many years. He was born in Delaware County, O., was educated at Columbus, O., and remained in his na- tive county until 1872, when he moved to Columbus, where he spent the next decade. In 1882 he removed to Mansfield, where his business connections are important and where he has resided ever since.

In early manhood Mr. Stark married Miss Virginia Wilson, a daughter of Gen. Henry Wilson, of Columbus, O., and they have one daughter and three sons: Mrs. J. E. Cosgrove, of Cleveland, O., Medary Wil- son, James H. and Edwin M. The young men are of brilliant intellectual attainments, the second son having devoted himself to special lines of study and investigation for the past ten years, while the others are active in business life. Medary Wilson Stark, the eldest son, is a graduate of Yale College, in the class of 1908. He is vice president of the First National Bank at St. Albans, W. Va., and is secretary and treasurer of the American Column and Lumber Company and resides at St. Albans. Edwin M. Stark, the youngest son finished his education at Leland Stanford Uni- versity, California, in the class of 1908, and is sales manager of the American Column and Lumber Company. This concern is an important one in West Virginia, has an abundant working capital and is managed according to sound business principles. The Messrs. Stark are well known in lum- ber circles all over the country.

QUARRIER FAMILY-William Quar- rier, born in 1711 in Shire of Fife, on the estate of his father; married Margaret Alexander of Edenburg. His children were : Keith, John, Alexander and James.

Col. Alexander Quarrier was born in Fifeshire, Scotland, in 1746. He emigrated to America in 1774, resided in Philadelphia, where he entered the Revolutionary army and served during the war. He then went again to Philadelphia and married in 1783. He removed to Richmond, Virginia, in 1786,

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and from thence he removed in 1811 to Kanawha, where he died in 1827. He was made captain of the Public Guard in Rich- mond and was well known and highly re- spected by Mr. Jefferson, Chancellor Wythe and other like distinguished citizens of Vir- ginia. He served in Kanawha as member of the County Court and resided at Willow Bank. His first wife was Elizabeth Dannen- berry, of Philadelphia, and in 1798 he mar- ried Sally Burns. His children were: Har- riet B., married Jas. G. Laidley ; Eliza W., married S. Dryden, then J. F. Faure; Mar- garet, married Jas. Lynde, then R. C. Woods; Helen Starke, married Dr. John Eoff; Alex. W., married Caroline Shrews- bury; Betsey, married Aaron Whitteker; William B., married Mary A. L. Hudson ; Monroe, married Elizabeth Wilson; James Y., married Letitia B. Chilton ; Gustavus B., married Elizabeth R. Hudson; Archibald A. McR., married Mary H. Fitzhugh; Fan- nie B., married Joel Shrewsbury, Jr., Vir- ginia S., married John F. Snodgrass, and then Beverley Smith.

Alexander W. Quarrier, son of Col. Alex. Quarrier, was born in Richmond in No- vember, 1795, and died in Charleston in July, 1863. In 1822 he received the appoint- ment of clerk of the County Court of Kana- wha County, and of the Circuit Superior Court of Law and Chancery in 1830. He continued to hold these offices until 1861, when he was required to take an oath, un- der the provisions of the Wheeling reor- ganized State Government, the said offices were declared vacant. It has been said that he was among the best known men of this county and was highly esteemed by every one-none more beloved and entirely trusted and none whose death was more re- gretted. He was the eldest son of a large family of brothers and sisters, and in fact every one looked up to him for help and ad- vice. He was of a buoyant, cheerful spirit. of benevolent heart, useful life, cultivated mind and refined taste, that made him one of the most popular men in the country. He helped the needy and cheered and encour- years he was a candidate for the Senate aged the poor with true sympathy and an of the United States, but Mr. Kenna was

elevated hope. In the discharge of his duties he was honest, faithful, exact and accommodating. He was kind to all and spared no trouble for the wishes and wants of all. All business transactions with him was a real pleasure, and he was full of anec- dote and humor. No one who ever met him will ever forget him or his hearty laugh and benevolent face-the beloved old County Clerk. He married Caroline, daugh- ter of Joel Shrewsbury, of Kanawha, the beloved wife of an excellent husband. Their family was as follows : Elizabeth S., married David J. W. Clarkson in 1841; Helen M., married Samuel A. Miller in 1845; William A., married Cora A. Greenhow in 1865; Sal- lie Lewis, died young; Joel Shrewsbury, married Fannie C. Friend in 1855; James Monroe, died young; Caroline S., married Isaac N. Smith in 1860.

William A. Quarrier was born 1828 in Charleston, where he attended the schools and Mercer Academy and completed his course at the University of Virginia and graduated in the Law Course, and began at once to practice in the County of Kana- wha and adjoining Counties. He was one of the best lawyers of his State, and stood at the front of the Bar. It has been said of him that he was the best lawyer in a bad case that ever was at this bar, and his prac- tice was large and important, and his serv- ices selected on one side in each complicated case. He was one of the lieutenants in the Kanawha Riflemen, and he was appointed to superintend the making and distribution of salt, with headquarters at Saltville, and his office was one to be relied on for the salt in the Confederacy. After the war he was married to Miss Cora A. Greenhow in August, 1865. He was the attorney for the Kanawha & Ohio Railroad Co .- now the Kanawha & Michigan Railroad. He was twice sent to the Legislature, with special reference to the subject of the Capitol, and was associated with Judge Ferguson and E. W. Wilson. He was active and efficient in this service as in his practice. In later

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selected-Mr. Quarrier delayed entering the campaign until it was too late. He was one of the building committee of the Episcopal Church, and he was the first for whom the funeral service was used-Sep- tember 10, 1888. His death was sudden, even instantaneous, and the whole town mourned his loss. His family consisted of Alexander W., Russell G., Keith D., Car- roll W., Emily A. and William A., Jr.

Alexander was lost in the river in 1893 and Emily died of fever in 1901.

Russell G. Quarrier is an attorney-at-law, and is one of the best to examine land titles and decide upon validity and rights thereto, in the country. He married Elizabeth W. Summers, daughter of Lewis Summers of Glenwood, and they have Lucy S., Eliza- beth G. and Alexander W. Quarrier.

William A., Jr., married Margaret Bowles, and they have Wm. A .; Keith D., married Margaret Thompson.

It will be noticed that there were two Scotchmen that left Edinburgh in 1774, and came to Philadelphia ; both were in the Col- onial army ; one's son married the daughter of the other, and their descendants again intermarried-in the case of Russell Quar- rier and Miss Summers.

FRANCIS MARION REVEAL,* who, for twenty-three years has been superin- tendent of the yards of the Kanawha Brick Company, at Charleston, W. Va., was born January 26, 1858, on Sugar Creek, Kana- wha County, a son of William Park and Sophronia (Lacy) Reveal.

William Park Reveal was born on Elk River, Kanawha County, in 1832 and died in 1906. He was a son of James Reveal, who died on Elk River prior to the Civil War, farming being the main business of both son and father. In politics, William P. Reveal was a Democrat but never sought public office. He married Sophronia Lacy, who was born in 1835 and survived her hus- band but three months. Her parents, Caleb and Lydia Lacy lived many years in Elk District and died there. Both William Park Reveal and wife belonged to the Advent

Baptist Church at Charleston. They were parents of seven sons and four daughters, all of whom, except one daughter, grew to maturity and seven still survive.

Francis Marion Reveal was the tourth child born in his parents' family and as soon as old enough, took upon himself the bur- den of self support, going to work as a boy in a brick yard. Later he learned the brick business, becoming an expert brick moulder. In that day brick were made by hand and it was no light task to turn out 5,000 bricks a day, which was his record. Mr. Reveal has continued to be interested in the brick business and, as stated above, has occupied a responsible position in one of the leading brick companies of this city for almost a quarter of a century. An active and in- fluential Democrat, he has been quite prom- inent in political affairs in the city and for five years has served as a member of the city council.

Mr. Reveal was married here to Miss Vic- toria Brown, who was born in Kanawha County, July 9, 1861, a daughter of Amos and Mary F. (Odauvel) Brown, both of whom were born and spent their lives in Kanawha County, the father dying at the age of sixty-five years and the mother when five years younger. They had three chil- dren : Elizabeth, who died aged forty years ; Roxie, who died in Kanawha County, and who was the wife of Marcellus Lacy and is survived by three children; and Victoria, Mrs. Reveal, the youngest of the family. Mr. and Mrs. Reveal have the following children: Ernest, who was born April 15, 1880, who is in business at Chicago, Ill., and who married at Silver Lake, Ind., Edna Wiltrout, and has one daughter, Virginia G .; Carrie, who is the wife of Lovely Thax- ton, of Charleston, and has one child, Ma- dena; Everett, who is a bricklayer by trade and lives at home; Dorothea, who is the wife of Olie Rust, of Charleston; and Dewey, Earl, Florence and William Isaac, all of whom are at home. Albert, Grover C., William J. and Bennett, are deceased. Mrs. Reveal is a member of the Baptist church.

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JOHN W. MOORE, treasurer and gen- eral manager of the Hughes Creek Coal Company, with offices in the Kanawha Val- ley Bank Building, Charleston, W. Va., is a practical miner with an understanding of all the details of successful mining together with the larger questions which make mine operating remunerative. He was born at Summersville, Nicholas County, W. Va., November 5, 1867, a son of Melchisedeck and Sarah (Bradley) Moore.

Melchisedeck Moore was one of the older members of his parents' family of thirteen children and was born in Clay County, W. Va., sixty-eight years ago. Both he and wife now live retired at Pratt, having formerly resided on their farm in Nicholas County. They are members of the Baptist church. They had the following children born to them: Rosella, who is the wife of T. J. Kelly, a miner, and lives on Paint Creek; John W .; Robert M., a merchant at Pratt, W. Va., who married Rosa Young ; Mary C., who died at the age of twenty- eight years, and was the wife of Walter Gibson; Noah, a saw mill man in Clay County, who married Lillie Vickers ;. George W., a railroad engineer, who lives at Middleport, O., and married Emma Bryant; Christopher C., who is a merchant at Chelyan, W. Va., married Anna Burns; Meredith, who is a merchant at Logan, W. Va., married Pearl Giles; and Moses, who is a railroad man at Middleport, O., mar- ried Kate Johnson.

John W. Moore was two months old when his parents moved from Nicholas to Kanawha County, where he obtained his education and his early mine experience. He was twenty years of age when he went to work in a commissary store at Malden and three years later he became connected with the Chesapeake Mining Company at Hanley, remaining one year as a clerk in the store and four years as bookkeeper. For five years afterward he was superin- tendent of mines for the Coalburg Col- liery Company, at Ronda, W. Va. Going then to Smithers he organized the Kana- wha Gas Coal Company, of which he was

manager, and opened and developed mines which two years later he sold, after which he became associated with John Q. Dickin- son and others in the Hughes Creek Coal Company, the principal works of which are located at Hugheston, twenty-two miles east of Charleston on the K. & M. Ry. This company was incorporated in 1903, with John Q. Dickinson as president, S. P. Richmond as secretary, and John W. Moore as treasurer and general manager. The company owns and operates its own mines and their output is superior grades of coal. The company has adequate financial back- ing, has the finest of transportation facili- ties and an unlimited product to draw from and business is in a very prosperous state.

Mr. Moore was married at Malden, W. Va., June 26, 1889, to Miss Nellie May Spriegel, a daughter of Jacob and Martha (Jacobs) Spriegel, the former of whom is deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Moore have five children: Lio F., born in 1891, who is his father's secretary; Herbert Spencer, who was born in 1893, a student in the High School; Gladys May, who was born in 1895, and Sallie Inez, who was born in 1897, both attending the public schools; and Ida Louise, who was born in 1900. Mr. Moore and his family are members of the Baptist church. He is prominent in Masonry, be- ing a Knight Templar and also a member of Beni-Kedem Shrine at Charleston, and additionally is a life member of Lodge No. 202, Elks, of this city.

GEORGE W. STUMP, Jr., justice of the peace at Clendenin, \V. Va., and a leading citizen of Big Sandy District, Kanawha County, was born July 26, 1868, in Pike County, Ky., and is a son of George W. and Mary A. (Dillon) Stump. George W. Stump, Sr., was born in Tazewell County, Va., and in 1878 moved with his family to Kanawha County, locating on Little Sandy Creek, where he owned farming land. In 1882 he engaged in business as a merchant at Little Sandy Creek and continued until his death, March 12, 1904, at the age of seventy-one years. His parents were Wil-

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liam and Nancy (Hagar) Stump, natives of Virginia, who later moved to Kentucky and died there. George W. Stump, Sr., mar- ried Mary A. Dillon, who now resides at Hunt, Kanawha County, and is in her sev- enty-eighth year. They had the following children: Charles A., living in Big Sandy ; Mary, wife of M. Hagar, of Kentucky; James H., residing in Texas; Aaron, de- ceased; George W .; Lorenzo D., living at Hunt, W. Va .; Prissy J., a widow, living at Clendenin, and two babes that died in infancy.

George W. Stump, Jr., who bears his father's name, followed farming and work at the carpenter trade after his school pe- riod was over. In 1904 he came to Clen- denin, where he has lived ever since and has been an active and useful citizen. Po- litically a Republican he has been a loyal party worker and has filled numerous public offices with the greatest efficiency. He was deputy assessor for three years under As- sessor Morris, and for three more under Assessor Copenhaver; was constable for one term and road supervisor for four years. In 1906 he was elected a justice of the peace and has served acceptably ever since.

Mr. Stump was married to Miss Minnie M. James, who was born November 6, 1870, a daughter of Jesse and Nancy (Jarrett) James, the former of whom is a retired farmer. Judge and Mrs. Stump have the following children: Ella, who is the wife of N. Snyder; James Buell, who is a clerk lives at home; and Stella May, Della, Ray E., Gladys A., Roma H., Dalbert, and Sybil, all of whom reside at home. Judge Stump belongs to Lodge No. 126, A. F. & A. M., at Clendenin.

GEORGE H. HERMANSDORFER,* who is a farmer in Elk District, Kanawha County, W. Va., and also a practitioner of veterinary science, is one of the well known citizens of this section and he was born on the old homstead, October 25, 1882, and is a son of George Hermansdorfer. After his school period was over, Mr. Hermensdorfer assisted his father on the home farm. For

the past nine years, however, his time has been largely taken up by veterinary work, his practice extending all over Elk District.

Mr. Hermansdorfer married Miss Susie Leigenthaler, who was born March 4, 1886, on Cooper's Creek, Kanawha County, a daughter of John and Mary (Ort) Leigen- thaler, and a sister of Dr. Leigenthaler, Mr. and Mrs. Hermansdorfer have one son, Carl Edward, aged four years, and a sec- ond son, Theo Franklin, aged three years. Mr. and Mrs. Hermansdorfer are members of the Lutheran church. He is a Democrat in politics but has never been willing to serve in any public office.

LEROY SWINBURN, general manager and director of the Elk Milling and Produce Company, with plant on Bullitt Street and the K. & A. Railroad, Charleston, W. Va., is the oldest produce dealer in point of years, in this city. He was born in Kana- wha County, W. Va., in 1870, and is a son of Thomas Swinburn.

Mr. Swinburn had but meager educa- tional opportunities, and after a short period at school, became a clerk and con- tinued to gain mercantile experience. In 1887 he became connected with E. M. Handley & Co., feed and produce dealers, serving six years with this firm. In 1893 he became connected as an employe with the wholesale produce company, now the Charleston Milling and Produce Co., and thus continued for eleven years. He was the pioneer to bring produce to the city in car load lots. He was then in a retail business at Decato on Cabin Creek for four years. He was one of the promoters and a charter member of the Elk Milling and Produce Co., which was incorporated in 1907, in which year the mill was built. This brick mill, with three stories and base- ment, is 100 x 160 feet in dimensions and is thoroughly equipped for the milling business, and with the hay warehouse, with dimensions of 40 x 100 feet, and stables in which to stall twenty head of horses, occu- pies one whole city block. Feed and meal are manufactured and the company are

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jobbers in flour, feed, hay, grain and all kinds of produce in season, their market being the State of West Virginia, and em- ployment is afforded a force of forty peo- ple. The officials of the company are: James Kay, president ; George E. Thomas, vice president; D. F. Hostetler, secretary and treasurer, and Leroy Swinburn, general manager.

Mr. Swinburn was married in Kanawha County, to Miss Henrietta Copen, who was born and educated in Elk District, a daugh- ter of Augustus Copen, a former Confed- erate soldier, now deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Swinburn the children born were: Clyde, Beatrice, Neva, Lillian and Irine. Mrs. Swinburn is a member of the Baptist Church. Politically Mr. Swinburn is a

Democrat. Fraternally he is identified with the Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias and the United Commercial Travelers and for the past five years has been a member of the executive committee of the last named organization, for some years having been a commercial traveler himself. The family residence is situated at No. IIO Roane Street, Charleston.

HON. R. M. HUDNALL, M. D.,* a member of the West Virginia State Legis- lature, a prominent physician and since 1892 a resident of Cedar Grove, Kanawha Coun- ty, was born March 5, 1865, near Putney, in Malden District, Kanawha County, W. Va., a son of William P. and Wilmuth (Gil- lespie) Hudnall.

Benjamin Hudnall, the great-grandfather, with two of his brothers served in the Rev- olutionary War and the brothers were killed at the battle of Camda, S. C. Benjamin came to this section in Indian days and died at Kelly's Creek, at the age of ninety- seven years. The man for whom this creek was named was killed by an Indian.

William P. Hudnall, father of Dr. Hud- nall, was born in Cabin Creek District, Kanawha County, a son of Morgan Hud- nall, who was also born here. The former became the owner of flat boats and operated

up and down the river for about fifty years, in the employ of the salt manufacturers, and is the only representative of the old river flatboatmen still surviving here. He has reached his eighty-first year and is a member of his son's household. His wife died in 1902 at the age of seventy-eight years. She was a daughter of Robin and Margaret (Cole) Gillespie. Eight children were born to the parents of Dr. Hudnall, he being fifth in order of birth. The others are as follows: John C., who lives in Mal- den District ; Mary, who is the wife of James Rutledge. residing at Riverside : Louis, who lives in Elk District; Lucy, who is the wife of William Weaver, of Cabin Creek Dis- trict; Addie, who is the wife of Ulysses Myers. of Elk District : Samuel ; and Annie, who is the wife of Luther Knabb, residing near Putney.

Robin Morrison Hudnall spent his boy- hood on the home farm and learned how to grow tobacco, and in the country schools advanced far enough in his books to be- come an acceptable teacher. He taught school for ten years, in Loudon, Malden and Cabin Creek Districts and twice received the highest grade certificates in the state. his average being 100 per cent. In 1888 he began the study of medicine under the late Dr. John Parks, at Malden, and grad- uated from Transylvania College at Lex- ington, Ky., and in 1892 graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons, at Baltimore, Md., and in the same year began practice at East Bank, Cabin Creek Dis- trict. Dr. Hudnall is recognized as one of the leading men of this part of Kanawha County. He served for five consecutive terms as mayor of Cedar Grove, in 1908 was elected a member of the board of Edu- cation, and in 1910 was elected to the Legis- lature, all these honors being accorded him as a Democrat in a strong Republican dis- trict.

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History of Charleston and Kanawha County, West Virginia and representative citizens, Part 123

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