History of Charleston and Kanawha County, West Virginia and representative citizens, Part 51

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 51

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Abraham Burlew attended the local schools and grew up on his father's farm. He began his law studies with Judge Knapp, at Hackensack, N. J., and later was a stu- dent in the office of the prominent law firm of Slossen, Hutchinson & Platt, where he completed his course and was admitted to the bar in 1864. He came to Charleston in 1865 in the interest of a body of New York capitalists and while attending to their business became pleased with the town and foresaw its possibilities as a field for his professional work. Mr. Burlew has been identified with much of the important law business in the Kanawha County courts for many years. He is a Republican in politics, as was his father. He attends the Episco-

ABRAHAM BURLEW, a well known member of the Kanawha County bar, who came first to Charleston, in a professional capacity, in 1865, has been a resident of this city for the past forty-six years and is iden- tified thoroughly with its people and lead- ing interests. He was born in Seneca County, N. Y., and is a son of James and Sophia (Wood) Burlew, the latter being a daughter of Wynant and Mary Wood. The pal church. Mr. Burlew has never married.

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VINTON Z. COPEN, a retired farmer residing in Elk District, Kanawha County, W. Va., and the only surviving ex-sheriff, occupies his comfortable, newly-erected res- idence on his fine estate of 200 acres. He was born in Elk District on Elk River, July 3, 1822, and is a son of John and Rebecca (Cobb) Copen.

John Copen was a farmer all his life, the greater part of which was spent in Elk Dis- trict, where he died in 1877, at the age of eighty-five years. He married Rebecca Cobb, who belonged to one of the pioneer families of Big Sandy District. Of their large family there are two survivors: Vin- ton Z. and Nancy, who is the wife of Wil- liam Moles, a resident also of Elk District.

Vincent Z. Copen had but meager educa- tional opportunities in his youth, the coun- try being comparatively unsettled near his father's home and school-houses far apart. When eleven years old he became useful as a helper in clearing up the place and in farming and subsequently worked at lum- bering. When he reached manhood he pur- chased his present farm. It was known as the "old King homestead," its original owner having been the first settler in Elk District, and the log cabin remained for many years the oldest landmark of civiliza- tion in this region. Mr. Copen occupied it for many years and finally assisted in tear- ing it down and on the site erected his com- fortable modern residence. During his ac- tive years he carried on farming and stock raising. There was a period of many years during which Mr. Copen was one of the prominent politicians of the county, an ac- tive Republican, and holding many offices of responsibility. He was one of the early sheriffs and performed his public duties in that position when only a brave and un- usually resourceful man could have success- fully coped with conditions then existing.

Mr. Copen married Miss Sarah Ann Sands, and the following children were born to them: Perry, who is a farmer on the home land, married Mary Tully, and they have four children and one grandchild; Henry, who is a farmer in Elk District, mar-

ried Agnes Miller and they have eight chil- dren and three grandchildren; Nancy, who is deceased, was the wife of C. King, and they had eight children; Martha, who mar- ried E. O'Daniell, a farmer on 2-Mile Creek, and they have five children; Alice, who is the wife of M. Haines, a farmer on 2-Mile Creek; Ida May, who is the wife of B. Edens, a farmer on Elk River; Frances, who lives at home; Rachel, who is the wife of L. Edens, a farmer on Cooper's Creek ; and Camos, who resides on the home farm, and married Lula Marion. Mr. Copen has never identified himself with any fraternal organization.

GEN. EDWARD LANGLEY WOOD, sergeant-at-arms of the West Virginia House of Delegates and formerly adjutant- general and also state librarian, is one of Kanawha County's best known citizens. He was born on Brown's Creek, January 30, 1846, a son of Augustus W. Wood, who re- moved with his family to Ohio in 1848.

Edward L. Wood completed his educa- tion at Gallipolis, O., and then returned to his native county, locating at Charleston, W. Va., in 1869. He studied law under the supervision of Mollihan & Nash but before he was ready to apply for admission to the bar, other interests entered into his life and he never engaged in the actual practice of this profession. On September 1, 1875 he was appointed state librarian and, as the legislature of West Virginia, in the follow- ing year, passed a law making the incum- bent of this office also adjutant-general, Mr. Wood was called on to serve in both capa- cities. On November 1, 1881 he resigned his offices but was immediately reappointed ad- jutant-general and served some years longer when he retired somewhat from pub- lic life but was recalled when he was ap- pointed sergeant-at-arms of the West Vir- ginia Legislature on January II, 19II. General Wood resides at No. 1520 Kanawha Street, Charleston. For some years he has been interested in the real estate business. January 28, 1880 he married Nannie T. Smith, daughter of Snelling Merideth and

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Elizabeth Stockton Trimble Smith, natives of this county. One child, Margaret L., is the fruit of this marriage.

CHARLES E. KREBS, of the well known firm of Clark & Krebs, civil and min- ing engineers, at Charleston, W. Va., was born May 19, 1870, in Wetzel County, W. Va., and is a son of John W. and Elizabeth (Hubacher) Krebs.

John W. Krebs was born in Monroe County, O., in 1840, and died in Wetzel County, W. Va., in 1908. He was a farmer and also followed the carpenter's trade in Wetzel County, to which he came in 1869. In politics he was a Republican. He was a member of the Lutheran church. He was a son of Nicholas Krebs, who was born in Alsace Lorain, then in France, and served as a soldier under the great Napoleon, tak- ing part in the battle of Waterloo. In 1816 Nicholas Krebs left France for America and after spending eiglit months on the journey, settled in Ohio, where he died in 1855, aged seventy years. His widow sur- vived him many years, dying in Monroe County. They had eight daughters and one son and four of the daughters still survive. The son, John W. Krebs, married Elizabeth Hubacher, who still resides in Wetzel County, being now in her sixty-eighth year. The following children were born to them : Emma, who was born in August, 1868, is the wife of A. L. Sidell and they live in Wetzel County and have seven children; George R., who was born March 17, 1872, is a graduate of the West Virginia State University and is a member of the firm of Clark & Krebs, married Lettie Carr and they have five children; Mary Ella, who was born in 1874, died in April, 1894; Le- nora B., who was born October 1, 1876, married G. H. Farmer of Wetzel County, and they have five children; Jesse D., who was born July 7, 1878, is assistant superin- tendent of a coal company in Raleigh County, married Elizabeth Smith and they have one son; John A., who was born in 1880, is a farmer in Wetzel County; Leslie W., who was born March 20, 1883, is a

teacher in Wetzel County; and Charles E., who is the second in order of birth.

Charles E. Krebs taught school for three years after completing his High School course and in this way provided the capital necessary to carry him through his course in the West Virginia University, where he studied engineering and in 1894 he was graduated from the technical department with his degree of B. S. C. E. He went to work in the engineering department of what is now the Coal & Coke Railroad and after three years became associated with his pres- ent partners in business, locating as civil and mining engineers in the New River coal field, with headquarters at Kanawha Falls, in Kanawha County. The company spent some ten years in Fayette County, in 1908 coming to Charleston. In 1909 Mr. Krebs was appointed assistant to the West Vir- ginia State geologist, for the southern sec- tion and being a thoroughly competent man, may naturally look for further honors. The main business of the company is mining en- gineering and they are well known in this branch all through West Virginia, Virginia and Kentucky.

Mr. Krebs was married first in 1898, in Clay County, W. Va., to Miss Dornie Carr, who died in April, 1902, at Hot Springs, Ark., when aged twenty-six years. Mr. Krebs was married secondly in 1905, to Miss Josephine Stephens, of Wetzel County, and they have one son, Gregory C., who was born December 12, 1906. Mr. and Mrs. Krebs are members of the Presbyte- rian church. He is identified politically with the Republican party. His Masonic connections are with the higher branches of the fraternity and he is a member of Beni Kedem Temple, Mystic Shrine, at Charles- ton.

WILLIAM M. WELSCH, superinten- dent of the Monarch Mines at Monarch, Cabin Creek District, Kanawha County, W. Va., is a native of Germany, born there April 5, 1876, and is a son of Nicholas and Theresa (Leipertz) Welsch.

Nicholas Welsch was born in one of the

FREDERICK S. THOMAS. M. D.

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Rhine Provinces in Germany, where he married Theresa Leipertz and in 1888 the family came to America and located at Ford City, Pa., moving from there to Ohio in the following year, and the father secur- ing work in the coal mines at Jacksonville. He took out his first citizen's papers imme- diately after coming to this country, at Kit- tanning, the county seat of Armstrong County, Pa., and his second papers in 1893, at Athens, the county seat of Athens County, Ohio. While living there his wife died. He survived her and now resides with his son, William, at Monarch. There were many children beside William in the fam- ily, he being the eldest, namely: Hubert; Nettie, the wife of William Heiser; Harry; Gertrude, the wife of John L. Mandt; and others who died in infancy.

William M. Welsch attended school in Germany for seven years before coming to America and for a short time afterward- long enough to learn the English language -- and in 1889 became a miner at Jackson- ville, O., where he was rapidly advanced, being appointed a mine foreman in 1901. In that capacity he came to Kanawha County in 1904, for the same company, the Ohio Sunday Creek Coal Company, and continued in their employ until July, 1910, when he came to the Monarch people. Mr. Welsch has been a hard working man all his life and has exercised prudence and forethought and is in comfortable circum- stances.

On December 31, 1901, Mr. Welsch was married to Miss Mary Hatfield, a daughter of Theodore and Mary Hatfield, and they have two children, William and Dorothea. He is a member of three important frater- nal organizations: the Red Men, the For- resters of America and the Woodmen of the World.

FREDERICK S. THOMAS, M.D., who for a number of years was well known as one of the leading medical men in the southwestern part of the state, and as proprietor and physi- cian in chief of the Thomas Private Hospital, at Charleston, was born near Sissonville, in

Poca district, Kanawha county, W. Va., August 18, 1850. He was a son of George D. and Sarah (Jones) Thomas, the former of whom was born in Virginia and the latter in the district of Columbia. The mother died in Roane county, W. Va., in August, 1910, at the remarkable age of 102 years. George D. Thomas and wife were early settlers in Sis- sonville, where for some years he followed the occupation of teacher and later that of a far- mer. The family is of Scotch origin, belonging to the clans Campbell and Sausria and its mem- bers have the coats of arms belonging to those families or clans. The grandfather of our sub- ject was exiled from his native land for some cause, probably political, and, coming to this country, settled in Virginia. Both he and his son George were Presbyterians.

Frederick S. Thomas was only twelve years old when his father died, and, being the eldest son, a heavy responsibility fell upon his shoul- ders in the care of his widowed mother and the other members of the family. Among the lat- ter was a brother, P. S. Thomas, who is now a physician and surgeon conducting a sanitarium in Kansas, who is married and has two chil- dren. A sister also is still living-Mrs. Mary Whitney, of Roane county, W. Va., who has four children. Energetic and ambitious, our subject faced his responsibilities bravely and did all that could have been expected of him in caring for the family. He also managed to at- tend private and select schools and finally worked his way through Marshall college at Huntington, W. Va. He taught school for a time and later read medicine under Dr. T. P. Carpenter, of Poca, W. Va. In 1878 he was graduated from the medical department of the University of Maryland, Baltimore, and later, from Bellevue Hospital, New York City-this in 1887. He also had the additional benefit of a post-graduate course in the New York Med- ical and Baltimore Medical colleges, and for a number of years subsequently he took post- graduate courses annually, both in Baltimore and New York in order to keep in close touch with the progress of medical science.

In 1878 Dr. Thomas took up his residence at Malden, W. Va., his work lying largely among the mining population of that locality. Coming

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to Charleston in 1884, he entered into practice here, and was for a time interested in a drug business, in partnership with Mr. Potterfield, under the style of Thomas & Potterfield, but in 1892 he sold out his interest to his partner. He then devoted his main attention to the practice of medicine and surgery and soon built up a wide reputation as one of the leading members of his profession. It was he who introduced the bath treatment for typhoid fever, since adopted by many other able physicians. But perhaps Dr. Thomas was more widely known as the proprietor of the Thomas Private Hospi- tal at Charleston, a noble institution, in which the residents of the city take a just pride. The fine and commodious building was erected by the city during 1896-97 at a cost of $30,000 and was under lease to Dr. Thomas, who with a corps of able assistants conducted the institu- tion in a most efficient manner, reflecting credit upon him and his confreres and making it of great value to the southwestern part of the state. Among his assistants were able special- ists upon every disease or class of diseases to which human flesh is heir. The hospital is con- ducted on broad lines and is admirably equipped. Not only are the dangerously sick provided for, but provision was made for those who merely sought rest and restoration from the strain of either business or social life.

Dr. Thomas was regarded as at the head of his profession for some years before his death, which event took place January 7, 1908. He had been influential in the establishment of other hospitals and sanitariums and belonged to the American and State Medical Associa- tions and the County Medical Society. Aside from his profession, he was interested in sev- eral important business enterprises, being pres- ident of the Charleston Ice & Coal Company, a stockholder in the Charleston National Bank, and being interested also in coal mining opera- tions. He was a member of the First Presby- terian church and was a man of high-minded and charitable disposition, giving freely of his means to worthy causes. In politics he was a Republican.

Dr. Thomas was married, Oct. 7. 1879, in Malden, W. Va., to Ruth Lee Putney, who was

born in Malden, March 19, 1856, a daughter of Dr. James and Mary E. (Reed) Putney. Mrs. Thomas is a great-granddaughter of Ellis Put- ney, a native of England who, coming to this country settled in Virginia and married Fannie Fearn. He and his wife resided in Bucking- ham county. Their son, Dr. Richard Ellis Putney, born in Virginia, March 13, 1774, was a physician, and about 1812 or 1814 settled in Malden, Kanawha county, where he died May 12, 1862. He was a man of considerable local prominence, both as a physician and in politics, serving as magistrate for 25 or 30 years. He was also engaged in the manufacture of salt. He married Oct. 11, 1815, Ann, the daughter of David Ruffner. She was born in 1792 and died some years before her husband, who sub- sequently contracted a second marriage, of which there was no issue. By his first mar- riage Dr. R. Ellis Putney had several children, including Dr. James Putney, father of Mrs. Thomas. Dr. James Putney was a graduate of the Cincinnati (O.) Medical College and an active physician in Malden for some years, where he died in 1876, being then in his 61st year. He was married May 7, 1850, in Farm- ington, Iowa, to Mary E. Reed, who was born in Palmyra, Mo., April 13, 1830, and was reared and educated in Farmington. She is still living and although advanced in years, is bright and active both mentally and physically, and keeps well informed on current events. She is, indeed, one of the intellectual women of her day and her interest in the progress of hu- manity, the advancement of her sex, the puri- fication of politics and other weighty subjects, is deep and keen. Her father, Samuel C. Reed, was government Indian agent in Iowa from 1836 until his death in 1848. He was also elected more than once to the Iowa state legis- lature. Born in Pennsylvania in 1798, he was reared in Ohio, and married in Charlston, W. Va. to Maria Slaughter. She was born in 1799, a daughter of Goodrigh and Hannah (Van Bibber) Slaughter, pioneer settlers in Kanawha county. At the time of Mrs. Mary E. Putney's residence in Iowa, there were many Mormons settled in that state with whom, ow- ing to her father's official position, she was brought more or less into contact, thus obtain-

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ing a familiar knowledge of their religious, so- cial and political ideas.

Dr. and Mrs. Thomas have been the parents of two children : James Putney and Ruth Mary. James Putney Thomas, born July 13, 1880, was educated in a military school and at the Uni- versity of West Virginia, and is now an elec- trician residing in Los Angeles, Calif. He married Miss Drusilla Bolin of Ohio. Ruth Mary, born 25 years ago, is a graduate of Lew- isburg college (W. Va.), class of 1906. She married R. W. Edmunds, of a Farmville, Va. family, but now residing in Charleston, W. Va. He is a graduate of Hamden-Sidney college, a civil engineer by profession, and is also engaged in the coal business.

HON. WALTER LEWIS ASHBY, a member of the Charleston bar, is senior of the well known law firm of Ashby & Woodroe, and is associated in business with E. T. Crawford, the firm name being Crawford & Ashby. He is prominent in politics, and in 1898 was elected a member of the state senate of West Virginia. He was born November 3, 1862, in Norborn County, Mo., and accompanied his parents to Boone County, W. Va., in 1865, and four years later to Kanawha County.

Walter L. Ashby attended the public schools at Charleston and subsequently Rock Hill Col- lege, Maryland. After deciding upon the study of law, he entered the office of his half-brother, the late Senator John E. Kenna, and was ad- mitted to the bar, January 30, 1885. A short time afterward Mr. Ashby entered into part- nership with Hon. C. C. Watts, who was later attorney-general of West Virginia, with whom he was associated until 1900. Since then Mr. Ashby has practiced alone and also with part- ners, his present firm having been established in 1905. Public matters have interested Mr. Ashby ever since he attained manhood, when he identified himself with the Democratic party, and through that medium has been tendered public positions. While serving as state sena- tor he was a member of committees that had much to do with important legislation, and on account of his legal ability he was extremely valuable in that position. He is one of the rep- resentative citizen of Charleston, where he

has invested in property and for the past twenty-five years has identified himself with the leading interests of the city.

HON. GRANT P. HALL, a member of the Charleston bar, and a leading factor in Repub- lican politics in Kanawha County, has served with honor and credit in a number of public positions. He was born in Roane County, W. Va., December 21, 1865, a son of William and Isabel (Guinn) Hall.

Grant P. Hall was afforded exceptional edu- cational advantages. From the common schools of Kanawha County he entered the Ohio Wes- leyan University, going from there to Marshall College, Huntington, W. Va. For some years prior to 1893 he was engaged in teaching school and in that year was elected superinten- dent of the schools of Kanawha County and served in that office for two years. In the meanwhile he prepared for the bar, to which he gained admission in 1895, and he imme- diately began the practice of his profession. In 1896 he was elected clerk of the Circuit Court of Kanawha County, and served with credit and efficiency in that office for a term of six years. He then went into the real estate business which he has since followed, not hav- ing resumed his profession. Although he is active and zealous in the support of his own political party, he is a man of character and his work is done openly and honorably.

Mr. Hall was married in the fall of 1895, to Miss Anna Steele, and they enjoy a beautiful home which is situated at South Side, a prop- erty which was formerly owned by J. W. Daw- son. Mr. Hall maintains his offices in the Al- derson-Stephenson building, Charleston.

ROBERT D. RAY, manager of the Elk Shoe Company, at Charleston, W. Va., and a member of the city council, has been a repre- sentative business man in this section for a number of years, mainly identified during this time with merchandising. He was born May 31, 1866, at Buffalo, Putnam County, W. Va., and is a son of Arthur T. and Mary J. (Raines) Ray.

Arthur T. Ray was born in what is now West Virginia and died in his sixty-ninth year,

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at Gallipolis, Ohio, in May, 1890, for some years previously having been an exhorter and preacher in the Methodist Episcopal church. During the Civil War he served three years as a member of Co. L, 7th W. Va. Vol. Cav., and participated in many hard fought battles and won promotion, at the time of his honorable discharge being an orderly sergeant. He was seriously wounded on one occasion, receiving a fracture of his arm. His second marriage took place in Ohio County, W. Va., to Mrs. Mary J. Raines, who still survives, being now in her seventy-sixth year. She is a member of the Presbyterian church.

Robert D. Ray obtained his education in the free schools and entered into business at the age of twenty-two years and has always been a merchant since then. For seven years he was associated with C. Pickens, in the dry goods business and before that connection was with Albert J. Humphrey. The Elk Shoe Com- pany was established at No. 320 Charleston Street, in April, 1910, and Mr. Ray has been interested in and manager of the same ever since. In politics he is a Democrat, and is now serving in his second term as a member of the council from the Second Ward, repre- senting South Charleston, or Elk City, and to the advancement of this section he has been particularly devoted.

Mr. Ray was married at Charleston, in 1891, to Miss Maud Harrold, who was born, reared and educated in Kanawha County. They have five children, namely: Ruby H., who was born August 19, 1893; Irene, who was born in 1896: Mary Helen, who was born in 1903; Robert D. Jr., who was born in 1906; and Jessie V., who was born in 1909. Mr. and Mrs. Ray are members of the Baptist church.

R. T. LAYNE, one of the leading men of Union District, Kanawha County, W. Va., re- sides on his well cultivated farm of IIO acres which lies eleven miles north of Charleston. He was born on this farm, October 20, 1841, and is a son of Robert and Mary (Milam) Layne.

Robert Layne was born in Botetourt County, Va., and was brought to Kanawha County by his parents when small and was early made

fatherless by an accident. He remained on the home farm until he was twenty years of age and then settled on the farm which is owned by his son, R. T. Layne, and spent the remain- der of his life here, dying at the age of eighty- two years. In politics he was a Democrat and for some years he served as school trustee in Union District. He married Mary Milam, of Bedford County, Va., who died at the age of eighty-three years. Both she and husband were buried on their own farm. They were consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church south. Eight children were born to them, namely: Christopher C., Franklin W., Benjamin W., Timothy S. and William F. Layne, all five being now deceased, the three survivors being Julia Ann, Robert T. and Mary Elizabeth Layne. Julia Ann and Mary Eliza- beth became the wives respectively of James Thaxton and Martin Dooley.

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History of Charleston and Kanawha County, West Virginia and representative citizens, Part 51

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