History of Charleston and Kanawha County, West Virginia and representative citizens, Part 60

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 60

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Mr. Massey was married secondly to Miss T. A. Pringle, who was born in West Vir- ginia, June 20, 1889, and is a daughter of F. E. and Mary (Puckett) Pringle, the for- mer of whom, now deceased, was formerly a teacher of penmanship at Ravenswood. Mrs. Massey was reared by her grandpar- ents, John and Sarah (Stainer) Puckett, the former of whom is an old Civil War veteran, and has reached his ninety-third year. Mrs. Massey was carefully educated and is a graduate of the Ripley School and prior to her marriage, taught one term of school in Marsh Fork District, Raleigh County. Mr. and Mrs. Massey have one child, Chelya Vaughne. Politically he is an active worker in the Republican party but has never de- sired office for himself. He is identified fra- ternally with the Odd Fellows at Spring Hill, and the Red Men at Dungriff, W. Va. They are members of the Methodist Epis- copal church.

BENJAMIN STEPHEN MORGAN, who is engaged in the practice of law at Charleston, West Virginia, bears a name that has been linked with the history of West Virginia since the earliest settlement. The name has been honorably borne by pioneers in different counties, whose de- scendants have filled positions in both civic and military life, and all, down to the latest

generation, have been noted for the sturdy independence that is characteristic of Welchmen the world over.

Col. Morgan Morgan, the lineal ancestor of Benjamin Stephen Morgan, was born in the Principality of Wales and received his education in London, England. During the reign of William III he came to the col- ony of Delaware, and during the reign of Queen Anne was a resident of Christiana, Delaware, moving from there to the colony of Virginia, prior to 1726 settling near Win- chester. He is credited with having made the first white settlement and with having built the first church in the territory of West Virginia (in the present county of Berkley). In "A History of Frederick County, Virginia" (now comprising the counties of Hampshire, Berkley, Jefferson, Hardy and Morgan in West Virginia and Clarke, Warren, Shenandoah and Frederick in Virginia) by Mr. T. K. Cartmell, and in Bishop Meade's "Old Churches, Ministers and Families of Virginia," and also in "Rec- ords of the Protestant Episcopal Church in Western Virginia and in West Virginia" by Bishop Geo. W. Peterkin, we find such an account and record of the public and pri- vate life of Col. Morgan Morgan as unmis- takably shows that he was a man of splen- did character and a high type of christian manhood. He married Catherine Garret- son and they had eight children born to them, namely: Morgan, Jr., Ann. Zackwell, David, Charles, Henry, Evan and James. Morgan Morgan, Jr., became a minister in the Protestant Episcopal church. Ann married a man named Springer. Zack- well Morgan served with the rank of Col- onel in the Continental Army. James Mor- gan was a Captain in the Continental Army and was captured and shot by a party of Tories at a place afterwards called Tory- town, Berkley County, Virginia.

David Morgan, third son of Morgan and Catherine (Garretson) Morgan, was born in 1721 at Christiana, Delaware, and died in 1796 and was buried in the family grave- yard about one mile below the present town of Rivesville, Marion County, West Vir-

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ginia. He was a surveyor and with his brother Zackwell moved to the valley of the Monongahela. Zackwell settled where is now the old town of Morgantown, after whom the town was named. David settled near where is now the town of Rivesville, Marion County. His name is mentioned in connection with the Indian border warfare in "Wither's Border Warfare," and he is the great-great-grandfather of Benjamin Stephen Morgan of Charleston.

In 1887 his descendants and relatives erected a monument to him on the spot where he had the encounter with the In- dians in 1779.

He was the father of the following chil- dren : Morgan, Evan, James, Zackwell, Eliz- abeth, Stephen and Sara. Elizabeth mar- ried a Mr. Lowe and Sara married a Mr. Burris.

Stephen H. Morgan, son of Zackwell Morgan, spent his entire life in what is now West Virginia. He was for several terms elected to the State Legislature of Virginia.

Smallwood G. Morgan, son of Stephen H. Morgan, and father of Benjamin Stephen Morgan, was born in Marion County, West Virginia, and on February 9, 1911, passed his ninety-first milestone. He has lived a long and busy life, his business interests mainly agricultural, and during his active years he served as a Justice of the Peace and in many public capacities where sound judgment and enlightened views were nec- essary qualifications. He retains his facul- ties to a remarkable degree and continues to be interested in all that concerns local affairs in his county and also in the great outside world, concerning which he is well informed.

Smallwood G. Morgan has been twice married, first to Oliza Thorn, and second to Mrs. Anary (Windsor) Wilson, the latter of whom was the widow of Thomas Wilson. The first wife, Oliza Thorn, was born in 1822, in Monongalia County, now West Virginia, and died there in 1866. She was a daughter of Benjamin and Mary (Ma- gruder) Thorn, who moved from Frederick County, Virginia, to the Monongahela Val-

ley. He was a large planter and slave holder prior to the Civil War. Six children were born to this marriage and four of these survive, namely : Margaret, who is the wife of A. S. Wisman, residing on a farm in Grant District, Monongalia County, and they have five children ; Sherrard, who is a farmer in Grant District ; Benjamin S .; and Eugenie, who is the widow of W. C. Fisher, who was a farmer and merchant. He is survived by three children and they live with their mother near Fairmont, Marion County, West Virginia.

Benjamin S. Morgan was born in 1854 in Marion County, Virginia, but was reared in Monongalia County. He attended the University at West Virginia and graduated with the class of 1878, in the classical course and military training school, and later from the law department of the same institution, securing his degree with the class of 1883. Prior to the completion of his law course, however, he had been prominent in educa- tional work and had been superintendent of the public schools of Morgantown from 1878 until 1881 and county superintendent of Monongalia County from 1881 till 1885, having been twice elected.

In 1884 he was elected State Superinten- dent of Free Schools, having been nomi- nated on the Democratic ticket. He was renominated and elected in 1888, receiving each time the largest vote cast for any state officer. His work as State Superintendent was along broad and constructive lines. While County Superintendent of Monon- galia County, he prepared and published at his own expense an outlined course of study for use in the country schools of his county. Acting on the fundamental principle that the teacher must first possess the qualities you desire to put into your schools, he sought to improve the teachers' county in- stitutes held annually and the State Nor- mal Schools. At conveniently accessible points, throughout the state. special graded institutes, provided with a corps of instruc- tors of national reputation, were held each year by him under the auspices of the Pea- body Education Fund. County institute

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work, so far as practicable, was graded, thus enabling teachers to secure better results in the short time given to this work.

A state teacher's reading circle was es- tablished and the building up of public school libraries encouraged. He also se- cured the enactment of a law providing for the preparation by the State Superintendent of a graded course of study for all ungraded country schools. To this measure he had given much attention.

An Act was also secured for the estab- lishment of a State Reform School for boys.

Taking "The Unification of the Educa- tional System of the State" as a rallying sentiment, he advocated the extension of the Graded and High School work, and with the co-operation of the West Virginia University, graduates of a number of high schools were admitted to the University on their diploma. As President of the six State Normal Schools, he was present at the forty-eighth commencement exercises and delivered the diplomas to the gradu- ates.

Mr. Morgan's attention and labors cov- ered a wide field during his term. He was president of the State Educational Associa- tion and prepared the annual program, also published and edited the West Virginia School Journal during the eight years. He superintended the preparation of the State's educational exhibit for the World's Colum- bian Fair at Chicago in 1893 and in this connection with Mr. J. F. Cork prepared the first History of Education in West Virginia. Ex-officio he was a member of the State Board of Public Works, the Printing Com- mission and the Board of the School Fund.

He declined to be a candidate for a third term and at the close of his second term, again began the practice of law. Charleston has profited by securing Mr. Morgan as a citizen for his interest has been easily se- cured in promoting every public spirited movement and every enterprise of deter- mined value to his section. He has served in the City Council. While being a good business man and enjoying his profession.

he is at the same time a man of scholarly and literary tastes.

Mr. Morgan was married at Wheeling, W. Va., to Miss Annie Thoburn, who was born and educated at Wheeling, and is a daughter of John and Jane (Miller) Tho- burn, both of whom were born in Belfast, Ireland, coming to Wheeling in early life. The father of Mrs. Morgan was killed in a railroad accident, while still in the prime of life. Mr. and Mrs. Morgan have two chil- dren: John Thoburn and Benjamin Ste- phen. The older son was born November 25, 1889, and after graduating from the Charleston High School, entered the engi- neering department of the West Virginia University at Morgantown. Benjamin Ste- phen, the second son, was born October 27, 1901, and is a student in the public schools. Mrs. Morgan was reared in the United Presbyterian church, while Mr. Morgan was brought up in the Methodist faith.

JAMES T. KEENEY, building contractor, at Eskdale, in Cabin Creek District, Kanawha County, W. Va., has been a resident of this county all his life, and was born at East Bank, November 7, 1875, and is a son of Foster and Eliza (Gatewood) Keeney.

The Keeney family was established in Kana- wha County in 1823, when Great-grandfather William Keeney came and built his log cabin with the other three or four on Cabin Creek. He died here, leaving four sons, William E., Michael, Stires and Moses. William E. Kee- ney, grandfather of James T., spent his entire life here and was a prosperous farmer of Cabin Creek District. He married Sallie Huff, of Kanawha County. They lived to be aged people and when she died in August, 1908, was said to be over 100 years of age. They had seven children: Charles, Foster, Zackariah. Samuel, Nannie and two babes that died un- named. The only survivor is Nannie, who is the wife of L. L. Williams.

Foster Keeney, father of James T., was born where the latter resides at Eskdale, when eigh- teen years of age left home to seek employment, moving to East Bank, after his marriage, where he resided for fifteen years. He then

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worked at the carpenter's trade in Charleston for three years, 1892-93-94 and '95, and lived at Eskdale for sixteen years prior to his death, which occurred May 10, 1909, when he was aged seventy-four years. He married Eliza Gatewood, who died at the early age of twenty- seven years, the mother of four children: Grace, James T., Theodore, and Oakley, who died when four years old.

James T. Keeney attended the public schools at East Bank and then learned the carpenter's trade with his father, with whom he continued to live. He does a very satisfactory business and has been concerned in the erection of many structures in this section. He is one of the rep- resentative men of the town and is a member of its board of councilmen.

Mr. Keeney was married April 13, 1905, to Miss Edna Jacobs, a daughter of J. J. Jacobs, and they have four children: Lucille, Arthur, Elmo and an infant. He is identified with the order of Odd Fellows and belongs to the lodge at Eskdale.

VALENTINE L. BLACK, an attorney of Charleston, a member of the well known law firm of Brown, Jackson & Knight, was born in Beaver County, Pa., November 14, 1864, a son of Isaac and Sarah (Kay) Black. His first American ancestors, including the immigrant, settled at an early date in the state of Mary- land. John Black, the paternal grandfather of the subject of this sketch, removed to Beaver County, Pa., where he engaged in farming. He died there when past middle age. His wife in maidenhood was Mary Smith, or Smyth, whose ancestors were from Germany. She lived to the remarkable age of 101 years. The Smiths were at first Lutherans but afterwards became attached to the Presbyterian faith. The children of John and Mary ( Smith) Black were Andrew, John, Adam, Mary and Isaac, the father of our subject.

Isaac Black became a coal and steamboat operator on the Monongahela and Ohio rivers, meeting with varied success in these occupa- tions. In April, 1872, he came to Charleston with his family, and for the rest of his active life he was engaged in business here. His death took place in 1888, when he was about

sixty-three or sixty-four years old. He was a Democrat in politics and a member of the Pres- byterian church. He married in Pennsylvania, Miss Sarah Kay, who was born in Yorkshire, England, and was of English parentage and an- cestry. She was twelve years of age when she accompanied her parents, Henry and Mary (Ward) Kay, to America. The Kays are said to be chiefly of Norman stock while the Wards are Saxon. Mrs. Black's parents on coming to this country, settled in Allegheny County, Pa., where they lived and died. She herself died in Charleston, W. Va., at the age of fifty-three years, in December, 1891, having survived her husband about three and one-half years. Their children were William, Henry, David, Alice, Valentine L., Thomas W. and Sarah, whose records in brief are as follows: William and Sarah died in childhood. David Marcus is a printer residing in Charleston. He is married and has three children, namely: William, Nel- lie, who is married and has a daughter; and Alice, who is also married and has two children, a son and a daughter. Alice (daughter of Isaac and Sarah Black) became the wife of James S. Stewart and resides at Newport, Ky. She has one daughter. Thomas W. died un- married when over thirty years of age.

Valentine L. Black was about seven years old when his parents took up their residence in Charleston. He was educated in the public schools of this city, became a clerk, and read law with his brother, Judge H. K. Black, now of the Intermediate Court, but who was then- from 1891 to 1896-circuit clerk of the county. Admitted to the bar in 1896, he became in Jan- uary of the following year, associated with the firm of Brown, Jackson & Knight, and is still associated with this firm, which transacts a large amount of the important legal business of the county. He is a Republican politically, and belongs to the Masonic order, being a member of Kanawha Lodge No. 20, A. F. & A. M .; Chapter No. 13, R. A. M .; Kanawha Com- mandery, No. 4; and Beni-Kedem Temple, M. S. He is also a Scottish Rite Mason, hav- ing taken the fourteenth degree; and an Odd Fellow, belonging to the Encampment; and a member of Glen Lodge of Elks, No. 95.

He was married in Charleston, WV. Va., in

JAMES B. MENAGER

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December, 1899, to Miss Maybell Burdett, who was born in this city in 1877, being a daughter of Hon. Samuel C. Burdett, judge of the Cir- cuit Court of Kanawha County. Mrs. Black was given a good education, attending the best schools in Charleston. She and her husband are the parents of two children: Ruth B., born December 9, 1900; and Mildred, born Decem- ber 19, 1905. Mr. and Mrs. V. L. Black are members of the Episcopal church.

Henry K. Black was born in Freedom, Pa., and was educated in the public schools of that place. Coming to Charleston in 1872, he began the study of law and was subsequently deputy clerk and clerk of the Circuit Court for sixteen years. He was admitted to the bar in 1896 and was later appointed vice chancellor or commis- sioner of chancery. In 1902 he was elected to his present position as judge of the Interme- diate Court (or Criminal Court) of Kanawaha County, being re-elected in 1908. He has proved his ability on the bench and has been usefully active in many local matters. He was a member of the city council for three years, being elected in 1899. In politics he is a Re- publican. He is a Mason, belonging to the Blue Lodge, No. 2Q, of Charleston, and he is a charter member also of Elkana Lodge, No. 63, K. P.

Judge Black was married in Denver, Colo., to Miss Etta Anderson, a Charleston lady and daughter of John P. and Ellen (Irslow) An- derson. Her father, who was engaged in the brick manufacturing industry in Charleston, died some twenty years ago. His widow, Mrs. Black's mother, survives him and resides with her son, James R. Anderson, in this city. She is a member of the Methodist church, South, and is an active, intelligent, and well informed woman. Her husband was a Presbyterian in religion and a strong Democrat in politics. Judge and Mrs. Black have been the parents of three children, namely: Frances, who is at- tending the city high school, being a member of the class of 1912; and Henry K., Jr., and Har- old K., who died in childhood. Mrs. Black and her daughter are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.

JAMES B. MENAGER, who for many years has been a leading member of the West

Virginia bar, and since the spring of 1903 an active and interested citizen of Charleston, bears a name that has been one of more or less distinction in America since his ancestors left France and Holland for these shores at the time of the French Revolution. He was born in Mason county, Va., October 23, 1850, and is a son of Louis B. and Cornelia ( Steenbergen) Menager.

Louis B. Menager, father of our subject, was born in Ohio, a son of Claudius R. and Mary (Bobin) Menager, colonists from France, who left Paris prior to the storming of the Bastile. Ohio offered them a home and at Gallipolis they spent the remainder of their lives, which were worthy in every particular. Claudius Menager became one of the men of wealth and influence in that town and reared a family that has been proud of its American citizenship. The fourth son, Louis B., was offered excellent educational advantages, and he, in turn, became a man of influence in his community. His life was mainly devoted to agriculture, although his ed- ucation and natural talents qualified him to be- come a successful advocate. From Ohio he removed to Mason county, Va., where he be- came a leading citizen, taking a prominent part in public affairs. When the Civil War cloud began to loom threateningly upon the political horizon, Louis B. Menager went on record as a strong opponent of secession. He lived to see the triumph of the Union cause, his death taking place in June, 1870. He was twice mar- ried and was survived by four children. Maria M., a child of the first marriage, became the wife of Rev. George T. Lyle. The children of the second marriage were Ida, who became the wife of Dr. L. F. Campbell; James B., and Julius L.

James B. Menager, after attending Bethany College, in West Virginia, completed his liter- ary education at Washington and Lee Univer- sity, where he was a student during the last year that Gen. Robert E. Lee was its president. Mr. Menager subsequently taught school for one year in Mason county and then took up the study of law in the office of Hon. C. P. T. Moore. He was admitted to the bar of West Virginia February 25, 1872, and for thirty- eight years has been engaged in the practice of his profession in his native state, for twenty-

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nine years of that time at Point Pleasant and since then at Charleston. In 1880 he was elected prosecuting attorney and served in that exacting office for four years, retiring with an honorable record. For a number of years he was concerned in much of the important litiga- tion in this part of West Virginia, but in re- cent years has somewhat lessened his activi- ties. In his earlier political life he was a Re- publican, casting his first Presidential vote for Gen. U. S. Grant. He served as delegate to Republican conventions and was an elector on the Garfield and Arthur ticket. Differing from the majority of his party on the currency ques- tion at the time the free coinage of silver began to be agitated, he followed the lead of his own convictions and identified himself with the Democratic party. He has studied the public welfare with unprejudiced mind and gives his support to men and measures according to his own ripened judgment.

Mr. Menager was married, June 14, 1886. to Fannie Sehon Pomeroy, who was born at Pomeroy, Ohio, a town that perpetuates the name of her grandfather. She was a descend- ant on the maternal side of Col. Charles C. Lewis, who fell at the Indian battle of Point Pleasant, October 10, 1774. Mrs. Menager died in 1902, survived by four children- Charles L., Sibyl C., Frances P. and Louis B. Mr. Menager and family attend the Presbyte- rian church. He is identified by membership with a number of fraternal organizations, in- cluding the Masons, Knights of Pythias, Odd Fellows and Elks.

REV. JOSEPH S. JENKINS, minister of the Methodist Episcopal church, now stationed at Malden, Kanawha County, W. Va., and one of the most highly esteemed citizens of this sec- tion, resides on a valuable farm of 138 acres, which lies three miles from Charleston in Kana- wha County, W. Va. He was born May I, 1835, in Appomattox County, Va., on the pres- ent site of Pamplin City, and is a son of Thomas and Martha B. (Fore) Jenkins.

Thomas Jenkins was born in 1797, in Prince Edward County, Va., and his death occurred in 1883. in Kanawha County, W. Va. He was educated in the subscription schools and was a

man of fine natural talent. He learned the blacksmith's trade, which he followed until 1842, when he moved with his family to Kana- wha County, where he purchased 330 acres of wooded land. The remainder of his active life was devoted more or less to the clearing and cultivating of his land and he became an exten- sive and successful farmer for his day and sur- roundings. He was never a politician in the strict sense of the term, but cast his vote in early days with the Whig party. He was widely known for his many sterling qualities. Hospitality to strangers he made a duty, and many a weary traveler found welcome and re- freshment at his fireside. He married Martha B. Fore, who was born in 1808, also in Prince Edward County, and died in Kanawha County, W. Va., in 1881. Both she and husband were laid to rest in a private cemetery on their own land. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal church and all their lives were con- sistent Christians. Before coming to Kanawha County they had the following children born to them: William H .. John R., Martha Susan, Robert T., Mary A. B .. Joseph S., Catherine B., Martha J. and L. R. After settling in Kana- wha County, three more children were added to the family : America Virginia. Plina Annettie and G. W.

Joseph S. Jenkins was seven years old when the family moved to West Virginia, and was mainly educated in the local schools and later at Gallipolis, Ohio, where he was under the in- struction of Professor Siears for three years. In 1859 he became a minister in the Methodist Episcopal church and has been in active service in the ministry ever since, his labors being mainly confined to West Virginia, but preached some in Kentucky and Ohio. Few men are bet- ter known in the section where he labored in the ministry, and surely none are more highly respected, if preaching of funerals and solemni- zation of matrimony are an indication of re- spect and appreciation.

In 1857 Mr. Jenkins was married first to Sarah A. Humphrey, who was born in Kana- wha County, a daughter of Samuel H. and Elizabeth Humphrey of Union District. She died in 1887 and her burial was in the family cemetery. Three children survived her,

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namely : Leonidas L., who is a shareholder in the 20th Street Bank of Huntington, W. Va., and now is a resident and merchant at Ashland, Ky. ; Laura V., who was a much beloved teacher in Union District, and died at the age of twenty-three years; and Leodora B., who be- came the wife of Samuel L. Farlley. They had one child, Anna Laura, who died when aged seventeen months and Mrs. Farlley died shortly atferward. Mr. Jenkins was married secondly to Mrs. Mary Morgan, who was born in Kana- wha County and died in 1906, at Charleston. Mr. Jenkins' third marriage was to Mrs. Emily C. (Shirkey) Guthrie, who was the widow of John Guthrie. Mr. Jenkins is a pronounced Prohibitionist in politics. Owing to a defect in his hearing he took a Superanuate relation in the West Virginia Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1900, but has filled four pastoral charges since that relation, and is now pastor at Malden, building a new brick church. He is active and in the possession of good health, preaches from two to three sermons per week, and attends to his pastoral labors.

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History of Charleston and Kanawha County, West Virginia and representative citizens, Part 60

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