History of Charleston and Kanawha County, West Virginia and representative citizens, Part 56

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 56

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Robert G. Linn was married at Weston, W. Va., to Mary Hamilton, who was born, reared and educated in that place. Her par- ents were Dr. J. M. and Mary M. (Lorentz) Hamilton, her mother being a daughter of John and a granddaughter of Jacon Lor- entz. The latter, an early settler in this sec- tion, was a farmer and merchant. He mar- ried a Miss Stalnaker, who died at an ad- vanced age. John Lorentz married Mary Regerboth, and both died when well along in years. Mr. and Mrs. Robert G. Linn have been the parents of eight children, of whom the following is a brief record:

Ernest died young. George died June 22, 1908, while a law student at the Uni- versity of Virginia. Edna, born June 25, 1878, was educated at Wilson college, Pa., and was for some time a teacher in the nor- mal school. She resides at home. Mary, born April 25, 1880, was educated in the normal school at Glenville and at Hollins, Va., and is also at home. Harriet, born March 30, 1884, graduated from the Glen- ville Normal school, and as a trained nurse from Washington, D. C. Robert, born July 25, 1882, graduated in law at Morgantown, W. Va. University in the Class of 1906, with the degree of B.L., was admitted to the bar in the same year and has since been a member of the firm with his father. He is unmarried. Ruth, born Oct. 25, 1886, is now taking a course in nursing at Washington, D. C. John Hamilton, born Dec. 6, 1892, is now attending the city high school. The family attends the Presbyterian church.

The Newcomb Genealogy :- Francis Newcomb, born in England in 1605, came to the American colonies in 1635, with his wife Rachel. Their son Peter, born in Braintree, Mass., March 16, 1648, married in April, 1672, Susanna Cutting, daughter of Richard Cutting, of Watertown.

Jonathan, of the third generation, born in Braintree, Mass., March I, 1685, had wife 25

Deborah, whose family name has not been ascertained. Their children included Ben- jamin, born in Braintree, Mass., April 9, 1719, who on coming of age removed to Norton, Mass., and died in 1801. He mar- ried, Nov. 24, 1743, Mary, daughter of John and Mercy Everett, of Dedham. She was born March 8, 1720-21.

Rev. Ebenezer Newcomb, fifth in line of descent, and maternal great grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born at Nor- ton, Mass., in November, 1754. He followed the various occupations of carpenter, joiner, and farmer, and was also a Baptist minister. He fought for American independence in the Revolutionary war, being a member of Capt. A. Clapp's company. His death oc- curred Feb. 13, 1829. He married Wealthy Willis, Feb. 23, 1779, who died May II, 1818.

Ebenezer Newcomb, Jr., son of the fore- going, and grandfather of Robert G. Linn, was born Oct. 22, 1785. He was a carpen- ter, joiner and cabinet maker. He moved from Greenfield, Mass., to Fairmont, Va., where he died in 1859. He married So- phronia Smith, who was born April 24, 1792. Their daughter Sophronia, born Dec- 6, 1816, died Aug. 30, 1890. A native of Deerfield, Mass., she came with her parents to Fairmont, Va., when two years old, and as before stated, she became the wife of Robert Linn, and the mother of Robert G. Linn, the direct subject of this sketch.

W. E. MERRICK, whose farm of forty acres lies two and a half miles from Charles- ton, W. Va., was born September 14, 1857, in Patrick County, Va., and is a son of Edward and Mary (Dodson) Merrick.

Edward Merrick was born in Virginia and came to Kanawha County in 1875, living here for thirty-seven years. He was a mason by trade and was also a farmer. His death oc- curred on the present farm when he was eighty- three years of age. He married Mary Dod- son, who was born in Virginia, and outlived him, she being eighty-eight years old at the time of her death. Of their children, eight in

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number, those living are : Elisha, Martha, Ber- ry, Affie, W. E., and Jennie.

W. E. Merrick accompanied the family when removal was made from Patrick to Kanawha County, and has been engaged in general farm- ing during the greater part of his life. His land is well managed and is very productive. He married Miss Nancy Edwards and they have six children living, two-Lonie and Oz- ella, the second and eighth born-having died. The others are: Walter Bowen, who has a family of four children; Harry and Lizzie, both of whom live in Iowa; and Lena, Ida and Lottie, all of whom live at home. In politics Mr. Merrick is a Democrat.

HON. WILLIAM GUSTAVUS CON- LEY, attorney general of West Virginia, and a citizen of that state who has been prominent both in professional and public life for manv years, was born in Preston County, W. Va., January 8, 1866, and is a son of Major Will- iam and Mary (Freeburn) Conley.

Major William Conley, who was an officer in the state militia, was born also in Preston County, but the mother was a native of Scot- land. She came to America with her parents at the age of eight years, resided with them in Philadelphia, and later accompanied them to West Virginia, where her death occurred in 1896, her husband having passed away when their son, William G., was quite young. Major William Conley was a man of local promi- nence, and at one time was deputy sheriff. He was a school teacher and was also engaged in business as a contractor.

William Gustavus Conley was educated in the public schools of Preston County, and the West Virginia University at Morgantown, and was graduated there from the department of law, in 1893, and in the same year was admit- ted to the bar. On April 2, 1903, Mr. Conley had conferred on him the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws, by the Nashville College of Law, at Nashville, Tenn. From 1893 until 1903, he was engaged in the practice of law at Parsons. W. Va., during the closing six months of this period being in partnership with Charles D. Smith, under the firm name of Conley & Smith. He was an active and useful

citizen there, serving in the city council and also as mayor. From Parsons he came to Kingwood, W. Va., where he is a member of the law firm of Hughes & Conley, and where he has his residence. Mr. Conlev has filled many important political positions. In 1896 he was chosen assistant secretary of the Re- publican National Convention that nominated the late President Mckinley. Subsequently he was twice sent to the convention of the Na- tional Republican League Club; for six years was chairman of the Republican Executive Committee, and for several years was a mem- ber as well as assistant secretary of the Repub- lican Congressional Committee. On May 9, 1908, Mr. Conley was appointed attorney gen- eral, by Gov. William M. O. Dawson, to serve until his successor was elected and qualified, and was elected for both short and long term, expiration being March 4, 1913. This posi- tion is one befitting one of his talents, connec- tions and achievements. Attorney General Conley maintains his office on the first floor of the Capitol Building, Charleston.

Mr. Conley was married in 1892, to Miss Bertie I. Martin, who was born in 1873, near Kingwood, W. Va., and they have three chil- dren living. Mrs. Conley is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, while he was reared a Presbyterian. He is identified with the Masons, the Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias.

ALEXANDER RUFFNER, a representa- tive member of the old Ruffner family of West Virginia, which has been prominently identi- fied with Kanawha County since the days of Joseph Ruffner, eldest son of Peter, the emi- grant settler who came here in 1794, taking up vast tracts of land. In the same year he made some improvements and in the following year brought his family from Virginia and ever since the name has been one of high standing in this section.

Col. Joel Ruffner, father of Alexander Ruff- ner, was born in Kanawha County near the present city of Charleston, December 11, 1802, and died here September 8, 1882. He was a well known man both in private and military life and when only eighteen years of age be-

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came a colonel in the state militia. He married Diana Marye, who was born October 21, 1809, in the Shenandoah Valley and was of French ancestry on the paternal side. Her death oc- curred October 23, 1881. They were parents of sixteen children, thirteen of whom grew to maturity, and seven daughters and three sons yet survive, of this family, Alexander being the sixth in order of birth.

Alexander Ruffner was born April 4, 1837, at Charleston. He attended the early schools which were meager in their advantages as com- pared to the present day, and has devoted the greater part of his life to farm pursuits but in earlier years also followed surveying and helped to make the survey for the old C. & O. Railroad in 1868. During the Civil War he remained at home to look after the affairs, but two of his brothers, Daniel and Joel, lost their lives while serving in the Confederate Army. Since October, 1858, he has been a voter and his ballot has always been cast in support of Democratic principles and candidates. No citi- zen of Charleston is better known than Mr. Ruffner, although he has never been willing to accept any public office.

Mr. Ruffner was married October 30, 1883, in Poca District, Kanawha County, to Miss Mary V. Wallace, who was born in Poca Dis- trict; October 29, 1857, a daughter of an early settler, Peter Wallace. The latter lost his life from the foul gas generated in an oil well that he was assisting a companion to dig. His wife, Rachel (Aults) Wallace, also met death through accident, being fatally burned, with one of her sons, Simon, in a fire that swept what is now the south side of this city. Mrs. Ruffner has never been able to get over this great bereavement, having been much attached to her mother and brother. Mr. and Mrs. Ruffner have no children. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, while Mr. Ruffner comes of a long line of Presbyterians.

ROBERT DUNLAP, who conducts a gen- eral store at Mammoth, was born in Washing- ton District, Kanawha County, March 5, 1864, and is a son of Frank and Sarah (Davis) Dun- lap, and a grandson of Rev. Thomas Davis,

who, at one time owned the valley of Davis Creek.

Frank Dunlap was a well known farmer on Davis Creek, in Loudon District and owned the property that now belongs to his son, Rome E. Dunlap. His death occurred in 1891, at the age of fifty-four years. He married. Sarah Davis, who survived to the age of seventy- three years. They had the following children born to them: Peter C .; Emma E., who is the wife of Leonard Holstein; and Robert, Stan- hope F., Andrew J., Rome E., Golden H., Alice and James B. Alice married Hubert Martin.

Robert Dunlap remained on the home farm until he was sixteen years of age, in the mean- while attending the local schools. He then be- came a miner for the Black Band Iron and Coal Company, which work he followed for ten years on Davis Creek. From there he went to the Winifrede Coal Company for four years, and from there to the Campbell's Creek Coal Company, with which he continued until 1897, when he opened a store, on a small scale, at Mammoth, his bill of goods amounting to $82. Later he moved his stock to Campbell's Creek, but in October, 1907, returned to Mam- moth and bought his present store building and subsequently erected his comfortable resi- dence. He also owns stock in some coal and timber land in Malden District on Campbell's Creek, which is very valuable. He is one of the prosperous business men of the place.

Mr. Dunlap was married July 2, 1892, to Miss Mary Stone, a daughter of William M. and Ursly (Nelson) Stone, both of whom are deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Dunlap have one son, Marcus Talmadge. In politics Mr. Dunlap is a Republican. He is a member of Lodge No. 242, Odd Fellows, at Mammoth, and Haddoth Lodge No. 170, Knights of Pythias, at Put- ney, W. Va.

GEORGE P. ALDERSON, a well known member of the Kanawha County bar, residing in Charleston, was born at Sulphur Springs, Texas, in 1879, and is a son of Irving N. Al- derson, whose death occurred in our subject's childhood. The latter has since then resided with his uncle, Col. J. Coleman Alderson, for-

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merly of Wheeling, W. Va., but now a promi- nent citizen of Charleston. Irving N. Alder- son was born in Amherst County, Va., in 1845, a son of Rev. Louis A. Alderson.

George P. Alderson in his boyhood attend- ed a preparatory school in Garrett County, Md. He then entered Columbia College and was subsequently a student at George Washington University, both institutions of Washington, D. C. Graduated with his degree in law in 1905, he was admitted to the bar in Washing- ton, D. C., on January Ist of the following year and later became a member of the bar of Kanawha County, W. Va., and is now located in the Alderson-Stevenson Building. He is a man of recognized ability in his profession, a good citizen having at heart the interests of his adopted city, and in politics is a Democrat.

SAMUEL STEPHENSON, vice president of the Kanawha Valley Oil and Gas Company, and one of the proprietors of the Holley Coal and Coke Company, is largely interested in coal, gas and lumber and land enterprises in this part of the country. He was born March 10, 1859, in Nicholas county, W. Va., and was reared in Clay county, a son of Andrew J. and Mary Jane (Forsythe) Stephenson, the former of whom was born in Nicholas county and the latter at Staunton, Va.

Andrew J. Stephenson was a son of David and Nancy ( Rader ) Stephenson, and was born April 29, 1829. David Stephenson was also a native of Virginia and died in Nicholas county at the age of fifty years, and his widow at the age of seventy years. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Andrew J. Stephenson spent his life in Nicholas and Clay counties, Virginia, was a lifelong Democrat and for thirty-two years was clerk of the county and circuit courts. His death occurred Octo- ber 31, 1903, at the age of seventy-four years. He married Mary Jane Forsythe, a daughter of Abraham and Jane (Whight) Forsythe, who were prominent people near Staunton, Va. Abraham Forsythe was a man of large estate before the Civil War and owned many slaves, but his fortune was much depleted on account of his having signed bonds for a county officer, which were invalidated. With his wife he be-

longed to and liberally supported the Methodist Episcopal church. Seven sons and two daugh- ters were born to Andrew J. Stephenson and wife, namely: Glendora, who married T. B. Stephenson, a distant relative, residing in Clay county, and they have three daughters; For- sythe, who is a lumberman, residing at Charles- ton : Samuel; Elijah L., who is a merchant and miller residing at Clay Court House, married Missouri Young and they have one son and two daughters; Albert, who is a farmer in Clay county and holds the office of assessor, married a Miss Salisbury, now deceased; Florence, who is the wife of John E. Carden, a merchant at Covington, Va., and has six sons and two daughters; Homer, a wholesale dealer in feed residing at Clendenin, Kanawha county, also a farmer and miller, who married Lydia Nich- ols and has two sons and three daughters; Ben- jamin L., who died when aged six months; and Eston Byrne, who is a retired physician. Dr. Stephenson is a member of the State Board of Control, having been appointed by Governor Glasscock in 1910. He married Lydia Downey.

Samuel Stephenson is one of the representa- tive and able business men of Kanawha county but he enjoyed only public school educational advantages. He has been a resident of Charleston for ten years and prior to that time was engaged in a timber and lumber business in Clay county. He also engaged in the lumber business for some eight years in Boone county. In association with other capitalists he is con- cerned in many large enterprises, is an extensive operator in oil, coal and gas in West Virginia.

Mr. Stephenson was married in Boone coun- ty, W. Va., to Mrs. Cynthia Dell (Vickers) Sayers, widow of the late Ira G. Sayers, who was survived by two children: Ira G., who re- sides at Charleston; and Nona B., who is the wife of Dr. Sharp, of Charleston. Mr. and Mrs. Stephenson have two children, Byron Jackson and Rebie Dell, both of whom are stu- dents in the public schools. Mrs. Stephenson is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, south.

Mr. Stephenson is not only an influential man in the business circles of Charleston and Kanawha county, but he is also efficient and

SAMUEL STEPHENSON

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valuable as a citizen. In 1893 he was ap- pointed deputy revenue collector for the southern district of West Virginia, and per- formed the duties of this office for two years and then resigned. He has served in his sec- ond term as a member of the city council, elected on the Democratic ticket, of which party he is a leading factor in this section. He is a Ma- son of advanced degree, belonging to the Blue Lodge, at Clay, WV. Va., the Chapter, Com- mandery and Consistory at Charleston and also to Beni-Kedem Shrine, at Charleston.

S. G. BACKUS, M. D., physician and sur- geon in active and successful practice at South Charleston, W. Va., was born in 1874, in Nicholas County, W. Va., a son of B. F. and Albina (Dorsey) Backus. The father of Dr. Backus was twice married, first to a Miss Carolina Grose and three of their four chil- dren survive. Mr. Backus died on his farm in Nicholas County at the age of seventy-four years. Eight children were born to his second marriage.

S. G. Backus attended the public schools and then commenced the study of medicine, com- pleting his medical course in the Eclectic Medi- cal College at Cincinnati, O., where he was graduated in 1904. He immediately engaged in practice at Summersville, in Nicholas Coun- ty and remained there until 1909, when he came to South Charleston, where he built his present well equipped office near the C. & O. Railroad depot. His practice comes from a wide surrounding territory. He is special surgeon for the South Charleston Crusher Company.

Dr. Backus married Miss Araminta S. May- nor, a native of Fayette County, and daughter of John A. and Martha Maynor, the former of whom is deceased. They have one daughter, Juanita Frances, who is now five years old. They attend the Methodist Episcopal church. Dr. Backus is a Republican in politics, and he belongs to the fraternal order, Knights of Py- thias.

HENRY PLATT BRIGHTWELL, who holds the responsible position of secretary to the Hon. William E. Glasscock, governor of

West Virginia, is one of the rising young pub- lic men of the state. He was born in Prince Edward County, Va., about thirty-five years ago, and is a son of Henry C. and Elizabeth (Pollard) Brightwell. His father died in 1888; his mother is now over sixty years of age and is a resident of Bedford City, Va. Their children were as follows: Carrie B., who is the wife of J. W. Hopkins, resides in Bed- ford, Va., and has three children; Maude, the wife of Robert Lee Quarles, is also a resident of Bedford City, and has three children; Hen- ry Platt, who is the direct subject of this sketch; and Edward Walker, cashier of the Capital City Bank, of Charleston, who is a graduate of Randolph Macon Seminary, and is unmarried.

Henry Platt Brightwell was reared and acquired his early education in Bedford City, Bedford County, Va. He completed his lit- erary education in the Randolph-Macon Acad- emy, which he entered while yet in his "teens," and soon afterwards became identified with the banking interests of his native state, being thus engaged there from 1893 to 1896, and acquiring a good knowledge of financial meth- ods. In the year last mentioned he came to Charleston, W. Va., becoming associated with the Charleston National Bank of Charleston. A few years later he organized the Richwood Bank and Trust Company, at Richwood, W. Va., which was the first bank in that place, he becoming its cashier and manager. This in- stitution proved a success and has since pros- pered. After three years, however, Mr. Bright- well resigned his position with the bank to be- come assistant cashier of the Kanawha Bank- ing and Trust Company of Charleston, W. Va., which position he resigned in January, 1910, to become assistant banking commission- er of the State of West Virginia, the duties of which office are to make periodical examina- tion of the condition of the various state banks, making it a very responsible position. After filling it capably for six months, he resigned in order to become bank examiner of national banks for the United States government, mak- ing his reports directly to the comptroller of currency at Washington, D. C. In this posi-

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tion also he proved his ability and gained more valuable experience in financial matters. He resigned as national bank examiner December I, 1910, to assume the duties of secretary to the governor. In this position he has once more proved himself equal to high responsi- bility, handling intricate situations with the skill of a real diplomat, showing ever-ready · tact and efficiency, and relieving the Governor of much arduous labor.

Mr. Brightwell was married in Morgan- town, W. Va., December 3, 1903, to Frances Russell White, who was born in that place. Mrs. Brightwell was educated in her native town, at LaSalle Seminary, Boston, Mass., and at National Park Seminary, Washington, D. C. With her husband, she is prominent in the social circles of Charleston and is affiliated religiously with the Episcopal church. Mr. and Mrs. Brightwell are the parents of two children-Frances Pollard, born December 29. 1905, and Elizabeth Morehead, born January 28, 1907.

JOHN THOMAS JACKSON, a member of one of the well known families of Kanawha County, is a representative business man of Clendenin, W. Va. He was born at Osborne's Mills, October 12, 1867, and is a son of Al- marine and Rosanna (Atkinson) Jackson, and a grandson of Thomas H. Jackson, the father now living retired at the age of seventy-four years.

After his school days ended, John Thomas Jackson, then eighteen years old, started to teach school, and taught for thirteen terms in Roane and Kanawha Counties, where he was also engaged in farming for five years. In 1903 he came to Clendenin, where he conducted a grocery store for three years, when he lost his stock by fire. Since 1907 he has been associ- ated with his brother in the feed business and is also considerably interested in oil and gas in this vicinity. He is one of the solid and repre- sentative men of the town, taking a good citi- zen's interest in everything but desiring no po- litical office. He is a Democrat.

Mr. Jackson was married to Miss Effie .B. Young, who was born in 1879, a daughter of James A. and Josephine (Swan) Young, and

they have two children : Glenn and Clair, aged respectively eight and six years. Mr. and Mrs. Jackson are members of the Methodist Epis- copal church.

EDWARD BOARDMAN KNIGHT, for- merly a prominent member of the Charleston bar and a citizen held in high esteem, was born in Hancock, N. H., August 22, 1834, son of Asa and Melinda ( Adams) Knight. He grad- uated at Dartmouth college in the class of 1861. He was admitted to the bar in Septem- ber. 1863, and practiced for a short time in New London, N. H., and also in Dover, N. H. In March or April, 1865, he came to Charleston. W. Va., and entered into a part- nership for the practice of the law with Col. Benjamin H. Smith under the firm name of Smith & Knight. In a very few years Col. Smith retired and his place in the firm was taken by his son, Mr. Isaac N. Smith, the firm name remaining as before. Mr. Isaac N. Smith died in the fall of 1883, and in 1884 Mr. Knight and Mr. George S. Couch entered into a partnership under the firm name of Knight & Couch, which continued until Mr. Knight's retirement from practice January I, 1892. Mr. W. S. Laidley says of him : "From almost any point of view Mr. Knight was a strong lawyer, and when he knew he was right always succeeded in impressing the court and jury with the fact, and generally distinguished himself in important cases by his clear-cut, forceful and convincing argument, sticking very closely to the evidence and the truth and therefore to the point. With an ap- parent seriousness of mind withal he had a remarkable vein of wit and humor when oc- casion called for an expression of this tempera- ment and was a favorite master of ceremonies, or toastmaster at bar association meetings."

Speaking of his strong manly and moral character, his old law partner, Isaac Smith, said that he was the purest-minded man with the highest moral ideas he ever knew. Mr. Knight was very fond of out-door life and spent his summers mostly in the beautiful hills around Sunnipee Lake, New Hampshire, and was an enthusiastic fisherman. Mr. Knight was a member from Kanawha County of the

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Constitutional Convention of 1872, but never held any other political office. He was, how- ever, for a number of years city solicitor of Charleston. In politics he was always a Demo- crat.

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History of Charleston and Kanawha County, West Virginia and representative citizens, Part 56

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