History of Charleston and Kanawha County, West Virginia and representative citizens, Part 50

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 50

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).

J. SHIRLEY ROSS, city recorder of Charleston, W. Va., who is now serving his third term in that office, was born in this city August 31, 1883. a son of John Tyler and Hannah (Creel) Ross.

John Tyler Ross, the father of J. Shirley, was born in Patrick County, Va., in 1841, and died at Charleston in 1896. He was reared and educated in Patrick County, where his parents spent their lives. They had a family of six sons and three daughters, all of whom are now living. except John T., and all having families of their own. Some are residents of Virginia and others of New York state. All of the broth- ers served in the Confederate army, one of them, Capt. D. Lee Ross, being a captain in the 5Ist Virginia Infantry, under whom his brother, John Tyler, served. The subject of this sketch has lately looked up his father's war record in the War Department at Washington, D. C .. and received therefrom the following communication :

WAR DEPARTMENT THE ADJUTANT GENERAL'S OFFICE, WASHINGTON, July 21, 1910.

Respectfully returned to

Mr. J. S. Ross, Department of Records, Charleston, West Virginia.

The records show that one John T. Ross was a corporal and a private in Company C, afterward Company D (Captain D. Lee Ross and later Captain Wm. T. Akers). 5Ist Vir- ginia Infantry, Confederate States Army, and that he enlisted May 1. 1862. On the roll of the company dated October 31, 1863, last on

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file, he was reported, "Absent, detailed as shoe- maker since Nov. 10, '62." The Federal rec- ords of prisoners of war show that he was ar- rested in Roanoke County, Virginia, December 19, 1863, and sent to Camp Chase, Ohio, and that he was transferred thence to Fort Dela- ware in March, 1864, at which place he was released June 15, 1865, on taking the oath of allegiance.

(Signed )

W. P. HALL, The Adjutant General.

Though John T. Ross was never wounded in action, he caught the small pox while in the Federal prison, so may be regarded as having had his share of disagreeable experieces-to a greater extent, perhaps, than many who saw harder field service. After his return from the war he came to Kanawha County and, settling near the present limits of the city of Charles- ton, engaged in the manufacture of brick. It was through his suggestion that this material was used in street construction in Charleston, this being the first instance also of its utiliza- tion in this way in any city. In 1873 a hand- made brick pavement was laid on Summer street, and the result was so satisfactory that the city has used this material extensively ever since. Mr. John T. Ross was a man of ac- knowledged business ability and of sterling personal qualities. He was a staunch Demo- crat politically and was affiliated fraternally with the Odd Fellows and other secret orders.

John Tyler Ross was married in Kanawha County, W. Va., to Hannah Creel, who was born at Davisville, that county, in 1848, and who survives him, being now a resident of Charleston. Her father was Bushrod W. Creel, her paternal grandfather being also named Bushrod, while her mother was in maidenhood Alcinda Kinchelo, a member of one of the old Methodist families of what is now West Virginia. She was the third youngest born of her parents' children, the others being John, Bush, George, Henry, Bettie, Lucy, Clara, and Ella, all of whom survive and have families of their own. The brothers of Mrs. Ross served in the Confederate army during the Civil war.

J. Shirley Ross, our direct subject, was the

only child of his parents. He was educated in the public schools and for some years was con- nected with his father in the brick industry. He is identified with a number of fraternal or- ganizations, including the Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias; the Elks, the Eagles, and others. In politics, like his late father, he is a Democrat. He has given good satisfaction in the office of city recorder, as is evidenced by his election for a third term and is personally es- teemed and his family respected throughout this section. He is a member of the Baptist church. Mr. Ross resides with his widowed mother in Charleston.

JOHN H. PRYOR, bookkeeper for the Coalburg-Kanawha Coal Company, and a member of the Board of Education of Cabin Creek District, was born February 10, 1859, at East Bank, W. Va., and is a son of WV. P. and Bettie (Shelton) Pryor.

John H. Pryor was educated in the public schools and at the age of sixteen years entered the employ of Stuart M. Buck & Co. at Coal- burg as office boy. When the firm changed he remained with their successors, the Robin- son Coal Company in the same capacity, while in their employ holding the positions of post- master and bookkeeper. Later he was asso- ciated with Neil Robinson and still later with George W. McClintic, subsequently coming to the Coalburg-Kanawha Coal Company. The president of this company, W. S. Edwards, is a son of W. H. Edwards, who was one of the original land owners at Coalburg. Mr. Pryor is an active citizen of this section and owns valuable real estate including his handsome resi- dence of twelve rooms at East Bank, W. Va. He served for eight years as postmaster at Coalburg under two administrations, that of Presidents Cleveland and Harrison.

Mr. Pryor was married June 20, 1888, to Miss Dora Johnson, a daughter of C. F. John- son, and they have four children, Gypsy, Lil- lian, William and Julia. He is very active in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, belong- ing to Morning Star Lodge No. 63, at East Bank and to the Encampment. He belongs also to Kanawha Lodge No. 16, Knights of Pythias. In NI910, on the Democratic ticket, he was

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elected president of the Board of Education. In very way Mr. Pryor is a reputable and rep- resentative citizen.

NOYES S. BURLEW, a leading business man at Charleston, W. Va., conducting a gen- eral hardware store, was born at Sheldrake, Seneca County, N. Y., and is a son of James A. and Sophia (Wood) Burlew. The parents of Mr. Burlew were natives of New Jersey and came of French stock. They moved to Seneca County, N. Y., and there the father died at the age of seventy-five years. They were active members of the Methodist Episcopal church and liberal supporters of the same. The father even went to the extent of erecting a church edifice in his own neighborhood at his own expense. Ten children were born to James A. Burlew and wife, six of whom survive and two sons are residents of Charleston, Noyes S. and Abraham, the latter of whom is a well known attorney here.

Noyes S. Burlew remained on the home farm until he was twenty-one years of age. He was educated in the local schools and at Cazenovia College and afterward practiced dentistry for seven years at Ovid and other points in New York state. In 1872 he came to Charleston and engaged in the lumber business for two years and then was appointed a revenue collector, an office he resigned in 1876 in order to engage in business. He established himself in the hard- ware line, first on Capitol Street, and in 1877 came to his present location, No. 712 Kanawha Street. He has made many property invest- ments since he became a resident of Charleston, and some twenty-one years since erected the Burlew Opera House, of which he has been owner and manager ever since. In politics he has been quite active, early identifying himself with the Republican party. In his first admin- istration, former Governor Dawson appointed Mr. Burlew adjutant-general of the state, and he was reappointed later by Governor Glass- cock, and continued in office until 1910, when he resigned and has accepted no public office since.

Mr. Burlew was married at Charleston to Miss Lizzie Rand, who was born and reared here, and is a daughter of William J. and Ella

(Noyes) Rand, who spent their long lives at Charleston. They were members of the Pres- byterian church, to which religious body Mr. and Mrs. Burlew also belong. Mr. Burlew is very prominent in Masonry and for the past ten years has been high priest and prophet of Beni-Kedem Shrine, at Charleston, of which he is also Past Potentate.

ADDISON MOFFAT SCOTT-The sub- ject of this sketch, Addison M. Scott, civil en- gineer, the son of Chauncey L. Scott, a New York farmer, was born in Dryden, Tompkins county, N. Y., February 20, 1843. He is of mixed Scotch-Irish and English ancestry. His mother, Margaret L. Moffat, was a daughter of Samuel Moffat, a man of considerable promi- nence in the early history of Dryden, N. Y .; his father, the Rev. John Moffat, was a Pres- byterian minister. This reverend ancestor of our subject graduated from the College of New Jersey (later Princeton College) in 1749; he was settled for a time at Middlesex, N. J., and later in Ulster and Orange counties, N. Y. Samuel Moffat, the grandfather of the Rev. John Moffat, was a Scotch Covenanter and fought at the battle of Bothwell Bridge in 1679. After this historic defeat he fled to Ballylig, Ireland, afterwards emigrating, with his fami- ly, to America and settling in New Jersey.

Mr. Scott's grandmother, née Ann Shaw, on the maternal side, was also Protestant Scotch- Irish. Her parents, John and Isabella Shaw and family came from County Antrim, Ireland, in 1800, and settled in Cayuga county, N. Y., Mrs. John Shaw was Isabella Tennent, daugh- ter of a member of Parliament and owner of large landed estates in northern Ireland.

The subject of this sketch in his boyhood worked on his father's farm in Dryden and went to the district school. At about sixteen, and for several years after, he attended the Ithaca Academy, at Ithaca, N. Y., directing his studies in large part to mathematics and sur- veying. While attending the academy he gene- rally taught school during the winters.

In the spring of 1866 he made a trip to the Northwest and at St. Paul joined a party then organizing there under Gen. G. K. Warren of the U. S. Corps of Engineers, for a survey of

ADDISON M. SCOTT

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the upper Mississippi river. Upon the disband- ing of this party at St. Louis late in 1866, Mr. Scott returned home and renewed his studies at the Ithaca Academy. While at school in the fall of 1867, General Warren offered hin a po- sition as assistant engineer on the improvement of the upper Mississippi, then getting under way. This position he accepted with much hes- itation, as it broke in on his plan of study, which included a course at college. He re- mained on the Mississippi work for several years. The latter three years of the time he was employed as assistant engineer on the construc- tion of a large railroad and highway bridge built by the United States across the Mississippi river at Rock Island and Davenport. He was on this work from the first survey for the loca- tion of the bridge until its completion in the spring of 1873. On the completion of the bridge General Warren, who had been trans- ferred to the East with headquarters at New- port, R. I., tendered Mr. Scott a position under him there. This would have been accepted but for another, and what appeared a more prom- ising offer, made about the same time.

In that year, 1873, the United States Gov- ernment undertook the improvement of the Great Kanawha river, which was in the Ohio River Department, then in charge of Col. Wil- liam E. Merrill, Corps of Engineers, with head- quarters at Cincinnati, and Mr. Scott was placed in local charge as resident engineer. Through the several changes that took place in the organ- ization of the river improvement force, Mr. Scott was continuously retained in his position as chief assistant or resident engineer.

During his long service here, he devoted him- self with persevering zeal and energy to the duties of his professional position, mastering thoroughly the theory and practical details of the Chanoine movable dams which the Govern- ment adopted in the improvement of the Great Kanawha river. The first movable dams in America were built in this river. For a full description of the Chanoine dams and a history of the improvement of the Great Kanawha river, see a separate article elsewhere in this volume.

To all his subordinates Mr. Scott was always courteous and kind, winning their respect and

esteem, while he himself possessed the un- bounded confidence and kind regards of supe- rior officers. In his profession he has achieved an enviable reputation for capacity, skill, and executive ability. In his general inter- course with the public Mr. Scott is a modest, unassuming, courteous gentleman. He is ac- curate, prompt, and thoroughly reliable in all business engagements and transactions.

Mr. Scott remained in local charge of the Great Kanawha River Improvement until the fall of 1901, when he resigned, making a con- tinuous service of over twenty-eight years on that work and of thirty-four years as civil en- gineer in the U. S. Corps of Engineers. A ref- erence to his professional service should not omit the following tribute paid him by the dis- tinguished engineer officer, the late Gen. Wil- liam P. Craighill under whom he served for twenty-one years, a period embracing the be- ginning and nearly the entire completion of the lock and dam system of the great Kanawha. As noted elsewhere, Gen. Craighill gave up command of the Baltimore Division of River and Harbor works, which included the Great Kanawha Improvement, in 1895, when pro- moted to the highest office in his corps, the Chief of Engineers of the Army. In an article on the Kanawha Improvement, that appeared in the "Engineering Record" of June 17, 1899, General Craighill says: "I desire also to call at- tention in the most emphatic way to another member of the American Society of Civil En- gineers, who has for more than twenty-five years been connected with this important im- provement which has been most successful from a commercial as well as an engineering stand- point. I refer to Mr. A. M. Scott, who was principal engineer on this work when I took charge of it for the United States in 1874; he has remained on it up to the present time when it is completed. The conduct of the work has been most economical, wise and excellent in every way. Mr. Scott has exhibited an unusual degree of skill as a designing and constructing engineer in the management of the improvement and in dealing with the many perplexing prob- lems, which have presented themselves for solu- tion in its progress. To him is due, more than to any other person, the success of this work.

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I say what I know, and it gives sincere pleas- ure thus to bear record to the merit of a most faithful and deserving man."

Mr. Scott has continued to make Charleston his home since giving up active work in the river improvement. He had faith in the future of the city and valley from the first, and proved it by early and judicious investments of his sav- ings in real estate here, that have made a fair provision for his declining years. He has been a member of the American Society of Civil En- gineers since 1886; and is Vice President of the Charleston Chamber of Commerce; he is a Mason of long standing-past High Priest of Royal Arch Masons, and past Eminent Com- mander of Knights Templar of the Charleston Commandery. Though not a member of any church, he has been identified with the Kanawha Presbyterian since first coming to Charleston, and is a member of the board of trustees of that church.

He was married in 1907 to Miss Florence L. Jeroloman, a daughter of Judge John Jerol- oman of New York City.

Mr. Scott has always been a democrat, and though never prominent in politics, he takes a real interest in all public matters, and, as indi- cated above, is active in various lines of civic duty.

Note: The above sketch is made up, in part. from extracts taken from the pen of the late Dr. John P. Hale ( History of the Great Kan- awha Valley 1891), and others as noted in the W. S. L. text.

FRANK MAYER, farmer in Elk District. Kanawha County. W. Va., was born in Beaver County, Pa .. November 20, 1860, and is a son of Felix and Dorothy (Ryder) Mayer.

Felix Mayer was born in Wurtemberg. Ger- many, and came to the United States when a young man and found work at his trade, that of a painter, at Cincinnati, Ohio. From there he went to Economy, Pa., and there married Dorothy Ryder, who had also been born in Germany and had been brought to America by her parents when she was five years old. In 1871, Felix Mayer with his family moved to what is now called Mink Shoal, Elk District, and was one of the earliest settlers. The coun-

try at that time was wild and uncleared, but he possessed the industry, energy and thrift that enabled him to clear his land and develop it into one of the most productive farms of this section. He died May 30. 1892, at the age of sixty-four years. His widow survives and lives with her son Frank. Eleven children were born to Felix Mayer and wife and Frank is the eldest of the nine survivors, the others being : Minnie, wife of W. Broadhag. of Charleston; Louisa. wife of John Alman, of Seattle, Wash. : Bertha, wife of M. Gatewood, of Charleston: William, a farmer in Elk District: Anna and Clara. both at home; Ida, widow of J. Wil- liams: and Lottie, wife of Edward Lory, of Charleston.

After his school days were over, Frank Maver assisted his father and soon became man- ager of the farm, and after the father's death he bought the interests of the other heirs and now owns the whole estate. He carries on general farming and stock raising and is one of the most prosperous agriculturists of this dis- trict. He is a charter member of the Lutheran church at Charleston. In politics he is a Demo- crat but has never been willing to accept office.

PETER YOUNG, grocery merchant at Charleston. W. Va., and one of the repre- sentative business men of the city, was born in what is now Union District, Kanawha County, W. Va .. April 2, 1843, and is a son of Rev. Robert Young and a grandson of Mathias Young.

Rev. Robert Young was born in Green- brier County, Va., April II. 1816, and died at Charleston, November 19. 1892. He was a son of Mathias Young, who was of Ger- man parentage, but was reared in Green- brier county, what is now Fayette County. Va. He there married a Miss Hickman, and later moved into what is now Roane County, W. Va., where his wife died at the birth of their youngest child. who is Rev. Henry Young, the only survivor of a fam- ily of seven sons and six daughters. All of the thirteen children married and all but one daughter had children, the family being a prolific and vigorous one, although the mother died when about forty-three years

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of age. At a later date Mathias Young dious brick building at No. 233 Virginia moved to Kanawha County, settling in Street, where a large stock of staple and fancy groceries is carried. Union District and was there married to Maria Tate, who survived him and married again, dying at the age of sixty-five years. Mathias Young was fifty-seven years old at the time of his death and had four children born to his second marriage. He was a Whig in politics and his business life was entirely agricultural.

Robert Young was the fifth in order of birth in the family of thirteen children. He became the owner of 700 acres of excellent farm land and for twenty-five years was in- terested with his son in the grocery trade at Charleston, being a silent partner. At the age of thirty-five years he became a Baptist minister and continued in unity with that religious body during the remain- der of a long and eminently useful life. He married Anna Wallace, a daughter of Alex- ander Wallace, Esq., the latter of whom was a justice of the peace for sixteen years in what is now Poca District, Kanawha County, and was very prominent in other ways. He laid out one of the first roads in Kanawha County, and for years was fore- man for the Ruffner's, early gardeners in the Kanawha Valley. Mrs. Young was born April 23, 1823, and she still survives, re- taining all her faculties. Her memory is quite remarkable. She is a devoted mem- ber of the Baptist church and has always been beloved and esteemed for her wo- manly virtues. To Rev. Robert Young and wife ten children were born, three sons and seven daughters, all of whom married and nine of whom survive. Mrs. Young re- sides with her widowed daughter, Mrs. Mary Duley, No. 242 Kanawha Street, Charleston.

Peter Young was the eldest born of his parents' family and he remained on the home farm until 1867, when he came to Charleston and in association with his father opened a grocery store at No. 247 Kenawha Street, he being the active mem- ber of the firm. The business was contin- ued at the above stand until 1905, when re- moval was made to the present commo-

Mr. Young was married in Union Dis- trict, Kanawha County, W. Va., to Miss Lorena Casdorph, who was born there March 14, 1846, a daughter of Ezariah and Mary Casdorph, natives of Kanawha and Monroe County respectively. Both of them died in Union District, the father at the age of eighty-four years and the mother aged sixty-seven years. They had thirteen chil- dren, all married but one and all are de- ceased but two. One brother of Mrs. Young, William Harrison Casdorph. who was a private in the Federal Army, serving as a faithful soldier in the 7th W. Va. Cav., was captured by the Confederates in the Lynchburg, Va., raid, and died in Libby Prison.

Mr. and Mrs. Young have had eight chil- dren: Anna Laura, who married Henry Cohers, and dies at the age of thirty-two years ; David, who resides at home; Walter, who is associated with his father, married Anna Smith and they have a son, Law- rence; Alvin, who is associated with his brothers in operating a laundry; Minnie, who is the wife of Mordica Wallace, a drug- gist at Ft. Worth, Tex., and has two chil- dren; Clarence, who is in the laundry busi- ness at Charleston, and is also money-order clerk in the post-office; and Cora and Charles. Mr. Young is a Republican in pol- itics and is serving as councilman of the Third Ward. He belongs to Kanawha Lodge No. 25, Odd Fellows.

JOHN GARNES, a representative citi- zen and general farmer in Poca District, Kanawha County, W. Va., where he owns sixty-five acres of excellent land which is watered by Allen's Fork Branch Creek and lies twenty-one miles west of Charleston, was born in this district, November 4. 1847, and is a son of George and Nancy (Crane) Garnes.

George Garnes was reared and attended school in Jackson County, Va., and came to Kanawha County when thirty-five years

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old. He married Nancy Crane, a daughter of Nathan Crane and they had the follow- ing children: Peyton, Hannah, Amanda, Emezey, James, Mary, A. Jackson and Mary. In addition to Jackson and Ka- nawha Counties, George Garnes lived for some time in both Nicholas and Putnam Counties, his death occurring in Poca Dis- trict, Kanawha County, at the age of sixty- six years, and his burial was on Miner Sla- ter's farm on Allen Fork. For a short time he served as a trustee of Poca District. He improved his farm of fifty acres in Poca District, which was sold at a later date. His wife was in her forty-eighth year at time of her death.

John Garnes attended school in boyhood, although his advantages were rather mea- ger, and afterward engaged in farming and lumbering and became a lumber contractor. During the Civil War he served as a soldier in the Federal Army, as a member of Co .. D, 7th W. Va. Cav., and was mustered out at Charleston and honorably discharged at Wheeling, W. Va. He is a strong Repub- lican but has never been willing to accept public office. He is a stockholder in sev- eral telephone companies and is a substan- tial and reliable citizen.

Mr. John Garnes was married first to Miss Melissa J. Boggess, a daughter of William Boggess, of Poca District, and who was survived by two children: Peter B., who lives on the home farm; and James E., who resides in North Dakota. Mr. John Garnes was married the second time to Miss Kath- erine Page, a daughter of Ormes and Jane Page.

Burlew ancestry is French and Dutch. The grandparents apparently spent their lives in New Jersey. The names of three of their children have been preserved-Katherine, Stephen and James.

James Burlew was a young married man when he moved to Seneca County, N. Y., where he acquired a fine farm that has been kept in the family. Both he and wife died on that place, their ages approximating seventy-five years. They were devoted members of the Methodist Episcopal church and very liberal supporters of the same. Ten children were born to James and So- phia Burlew, all of whom survived to ma- turity and six are still living. The family record is in part as follows: James B., the eldest, died in Cayuga County, and is sur- vived by a widow and three children, and they live in Cayuga County; Cornelia, who is now deceased, was the wife of Charles Rose and a surviving son, Charles R., is an attorney in New York City; Sarah, who is now deceased, married Lawrence Hillyard, also now deceased; Noyes S., who is a hard- ware merchant at Charleston ; Anna, who is the widow of Henry Hill; Sophia, who is the wife of Henry Cleveland; Kate M., who lives on the old homestead in Seneca County ; Mary, who is the widow of Charles White, lives in Seneca County; and Abra- ham, who is of Charleston, W. Va.

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History of Charleston and Kanawha County, West Virginia and representative citizens, Part 50

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