History of Charleston and Kanawha County, West Virginia and representative citizens, Part 135

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 135

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He is interested extensively in the production of coal and gas and is concerned in many im- portant business enterprises of the locality im- cluding Malden, Charleston and other points. Mr. Dickinson married Miss Margaret D. Lewis, a daughter of John D. Lewis. Six children were born to this marriage, Charles C. being the youngest son. He has one sur- viving brother, John L. Dickinson, who is cashier of the Kanawha Valley Bank at Charleston. He married a daughter of John F. Hubbard, of Charleston, and they have five daughters.

Charles C. Dickinson was instructed by a private tutor up to the age of fourteen years. He passed the succeeding two years as a student in a military academy in Greenbrier county, and in the fall of 1892 entered the Virginia Military Institute, from which he was gradu- ated in June, 1896. In the fall of this year he entered business, and for two years was em- ployed as bookkeeper and in other capacities at the salt furnaces at Malden, and in 1898 took charge of the plant and has been a resi- dent of Malden ever since. He is interested in the coal and lumber business of this section to a large extent, is secretary and treasurer of the Dry Branch Coal Company, and is on the directing board of the Kanawha Valley Bank at Charleston.

On October 23, 1901, Mr. Dickinson was married to Miss Nellie C. Alderson, then a resident of Lewisburg, W. Va. She was born in Texas, where her father died in her child- hood. Mr. and Mrs. Dickinson have two sons John Q. and Charles C. They are members of the Kanawha Salines Presbyterian church at Malden and take part in the pleasant social life of the place. Mr. Dickinson is an in- terested citizen in all that concerns the best interests of Malden but has never been active politically.

CHARLES M. ALDERSON, a well known corporation lawyer, a member of the prominent law firm of Simms, Enslow & Alderson, at Charleston, W. Va., has addi- tional business interests, and is one the repre- sentative men of this city. He was born in Greenbrier county, W. Va., in 1867. and is a

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son of Sampson I. and Martha J. ( Hedrick) Alderson.

Sampson I. Alderson was born in Summers county, WV. Va., sixty-eight years ago and still survives, being a resident of Greenbrier county, where he is engaged in farming. At the beginning of the Civil War he volunteered in the Confederate service, belonging to Capt. Buster's company for about one year and sub- sequently receiving an honorable discharge on account of failing health. He is a Democrat in his political views, but not an active politician. He married Martha J. Hedrick, who died in February, 1909, aged sixty-four years. She was a devoted member of the Baptist church, to which Mr. Alderson also belongs and to which he has been a liberal contributor.

Charles M. Alderson was educated at Con- cord, WV. Va., at the University of Tennessee, at Nashville, where he was graduated in the class of 1891, and at the University of West Virginia, where he was graduated in 1893, be- ing admitted to the bar in the same year. In the meanwhile he had been engaged to some extent in educational work, and from 1891 to 1892 was principal of an academy at Savan- nah, Tenn. Soon after coming to Charleston he entered the law office of Joseph E. Chilton, and later became a member of the present firm which was organized in 1897. This firm is made up of able men who are especially promi- nent as corporation lawyers. Mr. Alderson is a partner also with Samuel Stephenson in the building of the Alderson-Stephenson office building, at Charleston, a structure not

equalled in this city in size, location and equip- ment. Its dimensions are 40 x 93 feet, twelve stories in height, and with a roof garden above the sidewalk and with two stories below. Its situation on Kanawha street, at the intersec- tion of Capital street, makes it a conspicuous landmark for many miles up and down the river. This is the tallest office building in West Virginia. Its conception and construction evi- dence keen business acumen, together with a progressive spirit that reflects credit on the promoters.

Mr. Alderson was married in 1903 to Miss Mary Comstock, who was born, reared and educated in Charleston, and who is a daughter

of Dr. L. L. and Mary (Ruffner) Comstock. Mr. and Mrs. Alderson have three children- Mary E., Martha, and Charles M. Jr .; their ages ranging from seven to two years. Mr. and Mrs Alderson are members of the First Presbyterian church. The former is prom- inent in Masonry, being a member of Beni- Kedem Temple, M. S., and is identified also with other fraternial organizations and with social societies. He has attained a high rank in his profession and is a well known and popular citizen.

HON. JAMES B. C. DREW, who is en- gaged in the practice of law at St. Albans, Kanawha county, W. Va., has long been num- bered with the prominent men of the state, honorably serving in high official offices and ably conducting large business enterprises. He was born July 26, 1843, at Newmarket N. H. His education was pursued in the local schools and was completed at Munich, Germany. He was still young when he en- tered the office of Lindsay & Drew as a law student in Wisconsin, where he was admitted to the bar.

In 1862 he enlisted for service in the Civil War, entering a Wisconsin regiment, and for soldierly qualities was promoted and when honorably discharged and mustered out it was with the rank of first lieutenant. He im- mediately returned to Wisconsin and engaged there in the practice of law until 1868, in which year he removed to Florida. In that state he became exceedingly prominent and was made attorney-general of Florida, and in 1875 was appointed U. S. District attorney, in which responsible office he served through 1875, 1876 and 1877. Since 1892 Judge Drew has been a resident of West Virginia and here his interests have been both profes- sional and commercial. He is president of the Emmons Track Coal Company and a director and secretary of the Coal River and Western Railway Company. He first became identified with railroad properties in this section about 1897, when, as legal counsel of the es- tate of the late Col. O'Hern, he made the arrangements which satisfactorily cancelled the indebtedness of the estate in certain prop-

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erties, and he was a member of the syndicate that organized the St. Albans & Boone Rail- road Company. This syndicate purchased a terminal at St. Albans of some 500 acres in the Coal River Basin. Subsequently, through the combination of interests, changes of officials and the settling of many legal diffi- culties, the construction of the Coal River Railroad was begun in August, 1902. Still further changes took place through conflicting interests, when the combination finally was absorbed by the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway Company as its principal freight and passen- ger feeder west of Richmond.

In 1899 Judge Drew and his associates pur- chased a tract of land on Brier Creek of some 6,000 acres, underlaid with the celebrated Black Band coal, opened mines on the same and constructed a line of railroad connecting with the main line of the Coal River Railroad. On April 25, 19II, occurred the twenty-first anniversary of the incorporation of this rail- way. This transportation line is one of great importance, tapping as it does the vast coal regions of the Kanawha valley and undoubt- edly a large measure of its prosperity, es- pecially in its earlier years, when influence and capital were selfishly arrayed against it, was due to the confidence felt in Judge Drew by his associates. His unerring judgment and great legal knowledge untangled all difficul- ties and placed the road on a sure foundation. Judge Drew is one of the leading citizens of St. Albans, identified with its principal inter- ests, a liberal promoter of its laudable enter- prises and a generous contributor to its schools, churches and charities.

CAPT. GEORGE DANNER,* deceased, for many years was a respected and esteemed citizen of Charleston, W. Va., to which city he came after the close of his three years of ser- vice as a soldier and officer in the Civil War. He was born in Baden-Baden, Germany, March 12, 1826, and his parents were George and Magdalena (Clayman) Danner. The father died in his son's infancy but the mother sur- vived until over seventy years of age.

George Danner was reared by his grand- father, attended the German schools and later 55

served the usual period in the German army demanded by the law in that country. In 1856, when thirty years of age, he crossed the Atlantic Ocean to America in a sailing vessel, and landed at New Orleans and from there went to Alabama, where he spent one year. From there he went to Cincinnati, O., and this city later became his home. On August 15, 1862, he enlisted as a private in the 13th W. Va. Vol. Inf., for service in the Civil War and continued in the army until the close of the war, June 20, 1865, being the date of his honorable discharge. He participated in many of the hard-fought battles of the war, includ- ing Winchester, Lynchburg and Gettysburg, and with such signal courage and military efficiency that he was rapidly promoted, ris- ing to the rank of captain and had been recom- mended as major when the war closed. While never seriously injured he had many narrow escapes, pencils in his pocket being broken and holes shot through his hat. After the war he spent his life at Charleston owning proper- ty on which he carried on farming, gardening and fruit culture. There, amid peaceful sur- roundings Captain Danner died in January, 1897. His parents were Roman Catholics but at the time of death he was a Protestant. In politics he was a Republican. For a number of years he had been a member of Blundon Post, G. A. R.

Captain Danner was married at Charleston, July 26, 1868, to Miss Nancy Hemmings, who was born in Kanawha county, May 8, 1846, a daughter of Daniel and Eliza (Tucker) Hem- mings. The father of Mrs. Danner died of cholera during the epidemic of 1848, but the mother lived to be seventy-four years old. They were members of the Baptist church. To Captain and Mrs. Danner nine children were born, two of whom died in infancy. Those living are: Catherine, who is the wife of Harry W. Lightburn, county clerk of Lewis county W. Va., and they have four children- Grace, George, Ruth and Catherine ; Elizabeth, who resides with her mother at Charleston ; W. E. and Gustave A., both of whom are orange growers in Florida; M. Anna V., who lives at home, is secretary and bookkeeper for J. A. Carr, in the feed business: Emma B.,

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who is the wife of Edward Huddleson, a business man of St. Albans; and Georgia D., who is the wife of J. I. Pratt, who is assistant adjutant-general of West Virginia, residing at Charleston, and they have one son, Kenneth D. Mrs. Danner and family are members of the Baptist church.

WILLIAM HENRY THOMAS,* deceased, for a number of years was a well known busi- ness man of Charleston, W. Va. He was born May 20, 1854, in Kanawha county, W. Va., and was a son of J. D. and Mary ( Brown) Thomas, who were long residents of Charles- ton, to which city they had come from North Carolina. Mr. Thomas was reared at Charles- ton and spent the greater part of his life here, attending the city schools in boyhood and later taking a course in Marshall College. His death was the result of an accident, occurring September 29, 1903, while attempting to cross the K. & M. Railroad tracks in Charleston, the train striking his horse and bugy.

Mr. Thomas married Miss Estella Virginia Stewart, a daughter of Charles and Elizabeth Kenney (Booz) Stewart, old Southern fami- lies of prominence. The folowing children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Thomas: Leon Charles, who resides at home; Lillian, who died when two years old; William Chilton, who is a resident of New York City; Eugenia Alderson; and Ione Stewart. These young ladies after leaving the public schools of Charleston, spent four years at St Vincent's Academy, at Cincinnati, O.

Charles Stewart, the father of Mrs. Thomas, was born in Highland county, Va., about 1840, and died in 1865, from the re- sult of a wound received at the battle of Spottsylvania Court House, during the Civil War, he being a brave soldier and a member of the 3Ist Va. Vols., Confederate Army. He was a son of Charles and Theresa ( Douglass) Stewart, the former of whom was born in Highland county, Va., and the latter in Bath county, in the same state. Grandfather Charles Stewart was engaged in the live stock business. He survived until after the Civil War. Six children were born to Charles and Theresa Stewart, as follows: Jilson, who died

near Athens, O .; Harriette, deceased, who was the wife of John Clark, formerly of Augusta county, Va .; Virginia, who was the wife of A. C. Stephenson, both of whom died in High- land county, Va .; Mary, the widow of Hon. C. J. Stewart who resided at West Union, he formerly serving in the legislature both at Wheeling and Charleston; Edward, a resident of Highland county, who married Lucy Dinkle, of Augusta county; and Charles, the youngest of the family.

The ancestry of Mrs. Thomas is thus traced on the maternal side. Her grand- parents were Henry and Matilda (Hite) Booz, and to them the following children were born : Rastus, who married a Miss O'Marra, of Washington, D. C., and died there as did also his wife and they being interred in Mt. Vernon Cemetery ; Gabriella, who is survived by her husband, Joseph Fulcher, a native of Am- herst county, Va., who now lives at Pensacola, Fla .; Thomas, who resides at Cedartown, Ga., and married a Miss Whitehead; Mary Ma- linda, Mrs. McKeach, who resides in Texas; Lafayette, who died unmarried; Elizabeth Kenney, who become the mother of Mrs. Thomas and died in 1884, at the age of thirty-eight years; John Frederick, who owns large bodies of land in Arkansas and Texas, and divides his time between the two states never having married; and William, who prob- ably died when a youthful soldier in the Con- federate Army during the Civil War.

To the parents of Mrs. Thomas three sons and one daughter were born, namely : Thomas, who died when aged two years; Charles Letcher. who died in 1895, was largely inter- ested in mining lands in Colorado, married a Miss Morton, of Pueblo, Colo., and they had one son, Charles Letcher; Hamilton Bryson, who is a resident of Fayette county, W. Va., married Sadie Allen and they have three children-Charles, Edward and Mary: and Estella Virginia, widow of William Henry Thomas.

Mrs. Thomas embarked in business at Charleston in 1893 and has been actively en- gaged ever since. She moved into her present desirable quarters on Capitol street, Charles- ton, in January, 1911, where she is conduct-

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ing one of the largest and most up to date millinery stores in West Virginia. She not only possesses business capacity of a high order but also the artistic sense that is an absolute necessity in this line in order to reach success. Her displays are watched for by the ladies of taste and exclusiveness residing at Charleston, they largely depending on Mrs. Thomas as to matters of fashion and appropriateness. She personally visits all the large cities of the country in search of all that is newest and most attractive and her many patrons have found that she provides them with millinery at prices that could not be duplicated in any other city and in style the latest importations from other fashion centers. She is an admirable woman in every relation of life and enjoys the esteem and personal friendship of the best people of Charleston. With her daughters she belongs to the Presbyterian church.

The mother of Mrs. Thomas, after being a widow for thirteen years contracted a second marriage, with William Henry Loving, who survives and is a resident of Nelson county, Va.

J. F. BROWN .- Among the oldest of na- tive born Kanawhians, now active in the pro- fessional and business life of the county, is Hon. J. F. Brown, senior member of the long established law firm of Brown, Jackson and Knight and vice president of the Kanawha Valley Bank-the leading financial institution of the southern part of the State.

Mr. Brown was born in Kanawha, March 7, 1852, son of the late Judge James H. Brown, and Louisa M. (Beuhring) Brown. His fa- ther, son of the late Dr. Benjamin Brown, was born in Cabell county in 1818, shortly after its formation from part of Kanawha, but early moved to Charleston, there achieving preemi- nence at the bar and later becoming an active factor in the formation of the new State of West Virginia, filling many positions of honor and trust and ultimately becoming a member of the Supreme Court of Appeals. His son, James F., born in Charleston, still resides at the "old home."

Graduating in 1873 from the State univer- .sity he was, in 1875, admitted to the bar and

ever since has been in active practice, his pro- fessional engagements extending not only widely over his own state but into other states and to the Supreme Court of the United States. His knowledge of the law, sound judgment and direct presentation of his cases soon com- manded the confidence of the clientele and made his services in demand. From the first he took deep interest in what affected the com- mon weal and notwithstanding his many en- gagements, as member of the City Council, he for years gave of his best efforts to the ad- vancement of the city's welfare. His term of service covered the transition period from, vil- lage to city, during which was inaugurated among other forward movements, the present paving system, the sewerage of the town, the construction of a City Hall, institution of water works, introduction of street cars, and erection of the Keystone Bridge across Elk river, and the Charleston and South Side Bridge over the Kanawha, in all of which he had part, and, a believer in home industries, he also joined in

helping to the establishment of many of the successful enterprises that go to make up the city. In 1890 he was appointed to the Board of Regents of the State University, and contin- ued in that position under four successive gov- ernors, notwithstanding the change meanwhile in the political control, and had the satisfaction of seeing the University expanded, new build- ings commenced, fuller equipment provided, and the attendance of less than two hundred at the time of his appointment advanced to more than twelve hundred at the end of his service.

He early subordinated ambition for political preferment, conceiving such detrimental to best results; and devoted himself wholly to his pro- fession and the interests he represented, ex- cept when vital questions or close friends were involved. His only personal campaign was in 1882, when during his absence he was nomi- nated by his party (the Democrats) as one of three members to be elected to the legislature. For the same position his father was nom- inated by the opposing party. After an ear- nest but dignified campaign the result showed both elected; and both served in the same pub- lic body. Both being strong men and broad gauged, though differing politically, they alike

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commanded the confidence not only of the body but of their constituency without regard to political faith.

Mr. Brown has seen Kanawha county grow from a community of fifteen thousand inhab- itants to more than eighty-one thousand, and Charleston advance from a rural village of one thousand and fifty to be the capital city of a new State-with shaded avenues, stately churches, late business blocks and handsome homes, and with a population of more than twenty-five thousand people. His recollections of the village and the village life, of the then "old citizens" now long gone, and of the suc- cessive steps of development, and of the actors and influences that stimulated them, is full and exact; and approaching the reminiscent age he enjoys telling of them, especially those of ante- bellum days.

Mr. Brown, though now past middle life, is still a force to be reckoned with, whether you find him in the court room, or Chamber of Commerce, and a guiding influence in many successful enterprises.

His is one of the oldest of the Old Virginia families, his ancestors having settled in West- moreland county prior to 1660, his grandfa- ther, Dr. Brown, moving in about 1800, west to the rich valley on the Ohio river, below the Guyandotte, where Huntington now stands, then part of the great county of Kanawha.

CHARLES WARD, founder of The Charles Ward Engineering Works, at Charles- ton, W. Va., enjoys a wide distinction as an inventor and, without doubt, is one of the best qualified steam machinery engineers in the United States, having made important improve- ments in Water-Tube Boilers. Triple Expan- sion Marine Engines, and Shallow Draft River Steamers. He is identified with a number of technical and other organizations, among them being the American Society of Naval Engi- neers, Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, and the American Society for the Advancement of Science.

Mr. Ward was born in 1841, at Southam, near Leamington, England. After attending a private English school, Mr. Ward entered the

employ of the Leamington Gas Company, and remained with that concern until he was twen- ty-two years of age, becoming acquainted with every detail of the gas manufacturing business, and, at the same time, as opportunity occurred, developed through study and experiment his natural ability of mechanical invention. He was in the employ of the Liverpool Gas Com- pany, and then, through the friendly recom- mendation of his employers, was made manager of a large metal works at Liverpool. In 1866 he was married and four years later came to the United States, locating at Cincinnati, Ohio, where his wife's parents had settled, they also being English people. In 1871, during the construction of the Charleston Gas Works, Mr. Ward was engaged as gas engineer and after- wards Superintendent of this plant. He con- tinued as such until 1880 when changes were made that induced him to resign his position and devote his energies to an existing establish- ment of his own. From the first he prospered, but it was in 1878 that he had an opportunity to demonstrate the value of a certain type of steam boiler, of his own invention, on which he had long been working. The Ward boiler was first tried in a steam packet boat on the Kanawha River and easily proved its superior- ity over any others, but on this test Mr. Ward recognized the fact that it could still be further improved. He then bought the "Katydid," a light draft, speedy. Ohio passenger steamer, from which he removed the boilers, substitut- ing the improved Ward boiler, and the latter proved so satisfactory that success was assured. Since then the Ward boilers, with their im- provements to keep abreast of other machinery changes. are in general use on seas and the waters and rivers of the United States. Mr. Ward's invention having triumphantly stood a severe United States Government competitive test, was adopted on numerous Government and other vessels.

THE CHARLES WARD ENGINEERING WORKS are incorporated. Charles Ward being treas- urer ; Charles E. Ward, president and general manager: Harold M. Ward, vice president ; and William Keely, secretary. The works are situated at Charleston. W. Va., on the Chesa-

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peake & Ohio Railway and the Kanawha River, where the building of Mr. Ward's improve- ments in Water-Tube Boilers, Multi-Expan- sion Condensing Marine Engines, and Shallow Draft River Steamers is carried on.

In 1866, at Liverpool, England, Mr. Ward was married to Miss Margaret G. Mackrille, " a native of Halifax, and they have two sons- Charles E., and Harold M., and one daughter -Mrs. Clifford Ramsden. Mr. and Mrs. Ward are members of the Presbyterian church. The family residence is at No. 1224 Quarrier Street. Mr. Ward is a Mason and Knights Templar, and is identified with other fraternal organizations; he belongs also to the New York Yacht Club.

MICHAEL HERSCHER, a representative and substantial citizen of Charleston, W. Va., of which city he has been a resident since 1888, is associated as buyer and inspector with the Mathews Lumber Manufacturing Company, having offices in the Kanawha Banking and Trust Building. He was born on the river Rhine, in Germany, August 3, 1850, and is a son of William and Louisa (Ort) Herscher.

The Herscher family came to- America in 1853, landing at New Orleans after a voyage of forty-five days, this voyage having been one of storm and hence delayed landing. From New Orleans to Allegheny, Pa., they came up the Mississippi river on a packet boat, where they joined relatives. About one year later the father was prostrated by a sunstroke, which caused his death, the son Michael being then a child of four years. The mother subsequently married John Deimer and they moved to Meigs county. O., and there she died in 1901, at the age of eighty-four years. Two children were born to her first marriage: Michael and Bar- bara, the latter of whom was the wife of George Rasp and is now deceased. One child was born to the second marriage, Catherine, who is the wife of Lewis Boelkey, who lives at Cincinnati, O.

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History of Charleston and Kanawha County, West Virginia and representative citizens, Part 135

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