History of Charleston and Kanawha County, West Virginia and representative citizens, Part 70

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 70

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).

Andrew H. Clark, a son of Captain William Clark, spent his whole life in Westfield.

James Lawrence Clark, son of Andrew H. Clark, was born on January 22, 1818, in West- field, N. J., where he spent his whole life and died March 4, 1903.

James Montgomery Clark, the son of James Lawrence Clark, as above stated was born in Westfield, N. J., April 6, 1866.

The mother of Mr. Clark was born in New York city, June 20, 1832. She is still living at the time of this writing, in Westfield, N. J., where one son and two daughters still reside. She and her late husband were for many years active in the Presbyterian church in that place, of which the William Clark first above men- tioned was one of the founders in the year 1730.

James Montgomery Clark, Sr., was educated in the schools of his home town. In April, 1887, he came to West Virginia, and accepted a subordinate position on the engineering corps of his cousin, Robert R. Goodrich, M. E .. who was educated in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, of Boston, Mass. He filled vari- ous positions with him until the spring of 1890, at which time they formed the firm of Good- rich & Clark, engaging in business in Mac- dowell county, W. Va. This association con- tinued until 1892, only, when Mr. Clark estab- lished himself in business independently, at Kanawha Falls, and has ever since had much to do with the coal development here. When he first came to West Virginia, the state pro- duced but 4,000,000 tons of coal annually, while in 1910 the annual output was nearly 60,000,000 tons. The present firm of Clark & Krebs was organized January 1, 1900, and has been established in its present location in Charleston for the past three years. Both Mr. Clark and his partner have a thorough practical

JAMES M. CLARK

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knowledge of the geology of West Virginia, Virginia and Kentucky, as it affects the coal in- dustry, to which knowledge they are constantly adding with the extension of their operations. They also employ a large corps of competent assistants.

Mr. Clark was married in September, 1895, to Miss Pattie Farley, of Kanawha Falls, Fay- ette county, West Virginia, and they have four children, namely: James Montgomery, Jr., Lawrence Willis, Francis Alden, and Nancy Margaret. Mr. and Mrs. Clark are members of the First Presbyterian church of Charleston. tics, but adheres to the political faith of the The former takes no very active part in poli- family, that of the Republican party.

CAPT. JULIAN E. DICKINSON, a veteran of the Civil War, in which he served with the courage and military spirit of a true soldier, was born in Louisa county, Va., April 12, 1842, and was the only child born to his parents, who were Robert and Jane E. (Goodwin) Dickinson.

Robert Dickinson was born in Caroline county, Va., a son of David Dickinson, (born 1756) and both were large land and slave owners prior to the Civil War. Rob- ert Dickinson married Jane Goodwin, a na- tive of Louisa county, and both died there.

Julian E. Dickinson was reared on his father's plantation and received his educa- tion at Hampden-Sidney College and the University of Virginia and from youth en- joyed the military training that was a part of the curriculum. The time came when this served him well. In 1862 he enlisted for service in the Confederate Army, enter- ing Co. K, 47th Va. Inf., and gained pro- motion, being commissioned lieutenant and later captain. At Falling Water, Md., he was taken prisoner by the Federal forces and was imprisoned for twenty-two months on Johnson's Island, the close of the war bringing his release. Prior to his capture he had participated in some of the most seri- ous battles of that unhappy struggle, no- table among these being: Antietam, Chan- cellorsville, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, Seven Pines, Cedar Run, Manassas, and the

Seven Days Fighting around Richmond. He returned to his old home, and on Sep- tember 17, 1868, was married to Miss Aman- da Morris, who was born in 1850 at Clifton- on-Kanawha, W. Va., now the town of Pratt, formerly the farm of her parents, Dickinson and Susan Morris. Clifton (now Pratt) was laid off by Dickinson Morris in 1845; a slave drove the oxen, plowing fur- rows to mark the streets.

Captain and Mrs. Dickinson have had two children: Robert and Emma. Robert, who died in 1904, married Cecil G. Hudson, now a resident of Pratt, W. Va., and they had two children: Louise Early and Doro- thy Morris. Emma married B. H. Early, a near kinsman of Gen'l Jubal Early, and Capt. and Mrs. Dickinson reside with them. In 1880 he moved into Kanawha county. In 1892 he was elected a justice of the peace and served for four years, served one term as mayor of Pratt, and for many years has been a notary public. Captain and Mrs. Dickinson have been members of the Baptist church since early youth.

WILLIAM GASTON NORVELL, de- ceased, was born at Charleston, W. Va., Au- gust 13, 1827, and died at his home in the same city, in July, 1903. His parents were John E. and Elizabeth (Whittaker) Norvell.

John E. Norvell was born at Lynchburg, Va., and came to Charleston as a young man, soon after being married to Elizabeth Whittaker, who was a daughter of Aaron and Elizabeth (Quarrier) Whittaker. Aaron Whittaker was a very early merchant here, starting in the busi- ness after he had earned the capital in the salt industry. He walked into the valley with his earthly possessions on his person, being ac- companied by Isaac Noyes, who also became a successful man. Aaron Whittaker lived to the age of ninety years and was one of the foun- ders of the Presbyterian church in the valley.

John E. Norvell was more or less active in the industries of this section and at one time in those further South. He died at the age of forty-eight years and his wife about the same. They were members of the Episcopal church. Five children were born to them, one daughter

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still surviving, being the widow of Noyes Rand, and a resident of Texas.

The late William Gaston Norvell was reared and educated at Charleston and his entire life of great business activity was spent in this sec- tion. He conducted a grocery store for some years and later a book and stationery store and still later became interested in the operation of boats on the Kanawha and Ohio rivers. Dur- ing one period of his life he also carried on farm operations. He owned considerable prop- erty and was able to live an independent life. In politics he was a Democrat.

Mr. Norvell was married at Mt. Juliet, near Malden, W. Va., in May, 1861, to Miss Ruth Smithers, who was born and reared near Mal- den, Kanawha county, and was educated in private schools at Charleston, where there are numerous exclusive institutions. She is a daughter of Benjamin F. and Eliza S. (Shrews- bury) Smithers, and a granddaughter of Joel and Sallie (Dickinson) Shrewsbury, all old families closely connected with the development of this region. Benjamin F. Smithers at an early day was a sales agent for the salt manu- facturers of the South. He became a man of means and prominence in Kanawha county and was a liberal supporter of the Methodist Epis- copal church, of which his father, Rev. David Smithers, had been a preacher in Ohio. The father of Mrs. Norvell died in January, 1881, aged seventy-two years, his widow surviving him for twelve years.

To Mr. and Mrs. Norvell the following children were born : Lydia, who married George Connell, of Charleston, and has four children: Norvell, Elizabeth, George and Katherine ; John E., who is connected with the Newberry Shoe Company, manufacturers and dealers at Hunt- ington, W. Va., married Lura Moore of Gal- lipolis, O., and has one son, John E .; William Gaston, who is now deceased; Elizabeth Whit- taker, who died at the age of twelve years; Ruth G., who is the wife of Ernest Shober, of Cleveland, O., and has two sons, Ernest and William Gaston; Nellie N., who is the wife of Frank Payne, a shoe dealer and manufacturer of Harrisburg, Pa .; Hilda, who is the widow of John B. Edgar, resides with her mother and has two children, John Gaston and Hilda N .;

and George W., who is associated with his brother in the shoe business at Huntington. Mrs. Norvell and family are members of St. Johns Episcopal church.

LOAMI L. AULTZ, M. D., who has been actively and successfully engaged in the prac- tice of medicine at Charleston, W. Va., for the past fifteen years, was born February 1, 1871, in Union district, Kanawha county, W. Va., and is a son of Francis Marion Aultz and a grandson of Solomon Aultz.

Solomon Aultz was born in Germany and came early to America, for he was a young man when he settled in Poca district, Putnam coun- ty. He lived to be an aged man and died on his own estates. In his political views he was a Whig and a man of consequence in local af- fairs. He married in Poca district and they had sons and daughters born to them: Francis Marion, John, Amanda, Martha and Catherine. All married and had descendants except Mar- tha and all are now deceased.

Francis Marion Aultz was born in Poca dis- trict in 1837. Prior to the Civil War and after- ward he engaged in agricultural pursuits, and also served in political office previous to 1861, for four years being deputy sheriff in Kanawha county, and he served four years more in the same office after 1865. His term of service in the army was comparatively short. In politics he was a Republican and in his religious faith a Methodist and for a number of years was a church trustee. He was married in Union dis- trict to Miss Sarah A. Young, who was born in that district in 1848 and survived her first husband to whom she bore ten children. Four sons and three daughters are the survivors of this family, as follows: Robert Solomon, born July 8, 1868, lives in Union township, is married and has three living children: Loami L., whose name begins this sketch; Minerva, born September 7, 1872, who is the wife of William J. Good, lives in Union township and has a large family; Mary L., who was born November 15, 1878, is the wife of Daniel Daw- son, and has a family; Iva R., who was born August 21, 1882, and is the wife of Gordon Young, a farmer in Union township; Francis L., who was born August 1, 1881, and lives

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on the old home place with wife and three chil- dren; and Ora A., who was born January 9, 1887, and is the wife of David Young ; they live in Union district and have children.

Loami L. Aultz was educated in the public schools and the National Normal University at Lebanon, O., afterward teaching school until prepared to enter the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Baltimore. Subsequently he at- tended the Louisville Medical College and was graduated there in the class of 1894. He im- mediately entered into practice and was en- gaged in Union and Poca districts until 1900, when he came to Charleston, in search of a wid- er field, locating at No. 723 Bigley avenue, and has remained a resident of the capital city ever since. His main interests are centered in his profession and he has identified himself with the leading medical organizations of the country, in- cluding the Kanawha County Medical Society, the West Virginia Medical Association, and the American Medical Association. His abilities are very generallyrecognized and his name stands for professional skill and personal in- tegrity.

On September 17, 1902, Dr. Aultz was mar- ried to Miss Rachel Ross, who was born in Gallia county, O., in 1875 and is a graduate of the Charleston high school. Dr. and Mrs. Aultz have had three children: Augusta V., who died in infancy; William Francis, who was born May 27, 1905; and James Marion, who was born September 17, 1910. Dr. and Mrs. Aultz attend the Baptist church, of which she is a member. He is identified with the Knights of Pythias and the A. O. U. W. He is a Republican.

WILLIAM HENRY RUFFNER, con- ductor on the Campbell's Creek Railroad and a member of the Board of Education in Malden district, has lived in Kanawha county, W. Va., all his life and has a wide acquaintance and many friends. He was born December 12, 1876, at Malden, W. Va., and is a son of Capt. John and Lucy (Spriggle) Ruffner.

Capt. John Ruffner was born at Malden and was a son of George Ruffner who regis- tered as one of the first voters in Malden dis- trict. He was one of the early business men

and conducted a cabinetmaking shop and a general store. He lived to be one of the ven- erable citizens of the place. Capt. John Ruff- ner for many years was commander of a steamboat on the river and was well and fa- vorably known in this connection. His death occurred in 1903, when he was about sixty years of age. He married Lucy Spriggle, who survives him and continues to live at Malden. Two sons were born to them: William Henry and George.

William Henry Ruffner was educated in his native district, attending both public and pri- vate schools. He then learned the carpenter's trade and worked at the same for five years and then turned his attention to railroading, beginning as a brakeman on the K. & M. Rail- road in 1892. In 1903 he came to the Camp- bell's Creek Railroad as a conductor and has continued in this position ever since. Mr. Ruffner owns real estate at Malden and makes that place his home.

Mr. Ruffner married Miss Julia Reynolds, a daughter of the late James Reynolds. He is identified with the Democratic party and is somewhat active in political matters. He be- longs to a number of fraternal organizations, including the B. of R. T., at Hanley, W. Va .; the Order of Railroad Conductors, No. 517, at Dickinson, W. Va., and the Knights of Pythias at Malden.

SELBY F. BONHAM, proprietor of the Charleston Laundry, at Charleston, W. Va., is one of the enterprising business men of this city. He was born February 23, 1873, in Cab- ell county, W. Va., and is a son of John and Mary (McCleary) Bonham.

John Bonham was born in Wythe county, Va., and his wife in Culpepper county, and they were married in Cabell county, afterward set- tling on a farm there. In 1906 they came to Charleston, where the death of the mother oc- curred three weeks later, at the age of fifty- two years. The father of Mr. Bonham sur- vives, being now in his sixty-fourth year. He is a Democrat in politics and is a member of the Methodist church, south, as was his wife. They had children as follows : Selby F .; Laura, who is the wife of John Sanford, a merchant

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HISTORY OF KANAWHA COUNTY

at Huntington, and they have one daughter, Anna L .; William A., who is in the laundry business in Chicago, Ill .; Robert L., who is in the laundry business in Clarksburg, W. Va., and Charles, who died in infancy.

Selby F. Bonham was reared and educated at Huntington and his business life has been to a large degree connected with the laundry in- dustry. For two years prior to coming to Charleston he was manager of a laundry com- pany at Cincinnati and before that operated a plant at Huntington. His experience along this line has been educational and there is very little connected with it with which he is unable to cope. The Charleston Laundry, of which he has been sole proprietor since 1908, was es- tablished here in May, 1902, by Dr. C. A. Ray and Mr. Bonham, he later buying Dr. Ray's interest. The business includes general laundrying and dry cleaning, the plant being equipped with modern machinery and con- ducted along the most sanitary lines. Employ- ment is afforded forty people and five wagons are required to visit patrons in the city and suburbs.

Mr. Bonham was married in Poca district, Kanawha county, to Miss Osa Fisher, who was born in 1878, in Poca district, a daughter of John Fisher, and she was educated at Marshall college, attending at the same time as did Mr. Bonham. He is a prominent Democrat, a member of the city council and was elected from the Second ward with the largest ma- jority ever given a candidate. He belongs to the Elks and the Knights of Pythias.

GEORGE S. BAXTER, farmer and stock -. raiser in Elk district, Kanawha county, W. Va., is a member of one of the old families of this county and was born April 29, 1860, on Cooper's Creek, Kanawha county, son of Syl- vester and Mary Jane ( Hanna ) Baxter.

Sylvester Baxter was born September 29, 1829, in Elk district, on 4-Mile Creek, a son of John and Susanna Baxter, and a grand- son of Allen Baxter. John Baxter was a babe of one year when his parents came to Elk dis- trict from Rockbridge county, Va., and he died here May 5, 1869, having survived his wife

since 1853. The Baxters were of Scotch de- scent. They were connected with the early set- tlements here and many of the old records pre- serve the names of Mr. Baxter's ancestors. They mainly followed agricultural pursuits. Sylvester Baxter followed farming and also worked at the cooper trade, first living on 4- Mile Creek and later moving to 4-Mile Fork, where his death occurred September 17, 1899. Formerly the Baxter place was known as Bax- ter Shoal but is now called Mink Shoal.

Sylvester Baxter married Mary Jane Han- na, who was born May 3, 1842, a daughter of William and Catherine Hanna. William Han- na was born March 4, 1807, and died in 1895, a son of Nathan and Alice Hanna. His wife was born November 7, 1808, and died in 1892, a daughter of George and Jane Rader. Nine of the children of Sylvester Baxter and his wife survive, namely : Octavia, James, John A., Fe- lix A., William H., George S., Sarah, Sylves- ter H., and Elvin.

George S. Baxter attended the country schools and then helped his father on the home farm until he became of age, when he earned his first wages, receiving fifty cents a day for his labor. Later he taught two terms of school and then resumed farming, buying first a farm on Aarons Fork, which he operated un- til 1896, when he purchased his present place. His main attention is given to his home inter- ests and enterprises, although he is not a neglectful citizen. He takes only a passing in- terest in politics, however, casting his vote with the Republican party, but is not a seeker for office.

Mr. Baxter was married February 28, 1884. to Miss Sarah Angeline Burdett, who was born April 29, 1866, a daughter of Willis Burdett and a member of one of the old pioneer fami- lies of this district. Mr. and Mrs. Baxter have six children, as follows: Emma F., who was born April 19, 1885. is the wife of Dr. F. H. Thaxton, of Poca Fork, and they have two children: Edith Lee and Oreta: George E., who was born March 9, 1887, assists his fath- er : Ethel G., who was born February 13, 1889; and Stella F., born March 16, 18Q2; Ida B .. born February 15, 1805; and Wilbur S., born February 19, 1898, all reside at home. Mr.

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Baxter and family belong to the A. C. church of Cooper's Creek.

CHARLES THOMAS WOOD, a highly respected citizen of Charleston, W. Va., of which city he has been a resident for forty-two years and in which he is now serving as tax collector, was born February 17, 1850, in Franklin county, Va., and is a son of Stephen and Nancy T. (Cabaniss) Wood.

Stephen Wood was born August 1I, 18II, in England, and in 1835 came to the United States and settled in Franklin county, Va., where he continued to live on his farm until his death in 1857. He was a local preacher in the old-school Baptist church and was a most worthy man. He was married May 11, 1837, to Nancy J. Cabaniss, who was born in Frank- lin county, July 24, 1817, and died at the home of her son, Samuel E. Wood, at Bunker Hill, Ind., March 24, 1911, when aged almost nine- ty-four years. Her burial was by the side of her husband in the family plat at Rocky Mount, Va. She was a woman of admirable characteristics and was admired for her in- telligence and beloved for her virtues. She had a brother who was a soldier in the War of 1812.

Charles T. Wood was the fourth member of his parents' family of seven children. He was reared through his school days in Franklin county and later came to Charleston. Here he conducted a photographic studio for twenty- four years, when he retired, his health having suffered from the confinement. He is a Demo- crat in politics and from his party accepted the position of city tax collector. He belongs to Keuka Lodge No. 26, Knights of Pythias, in which he has passed all the chairs.

Mr. Wood was married in Bedford county, Va., November 14, 1868, to Miss Laura Frances Thurman, who was born in that coun- ty, August 30, 1849, and was educated by teachers in her home near Library, now Bed- ford City. She is a daughter of Alexander Leftwich and Susan (Hughes) Thurman, the latter of whom was born July 16, 1821, and died July 13, 1903. After marriage they lived in Bedford county, but later came to Kanawha county. Her paternal grandparents were Da-

vid and Susanna (Leftwich) Thurman, and her maternal grandparents were Rev. Little- bury and Wincy (Jordan) Hughes, the great- grandparents being Emory and Julia Jordan, all old established Virginia families. Mr. and Mrs. Wood have one daughter, Myrtle, who was born April 17, 1871, near Charleston, and is the widow of Hon. Cyrus W. Hall. Mrs. Hall has two sons: Sheffey Wood, who was born September 27, 1880; and Cyrus William, who was born April 9, 1900.

Mrs. Wood has been a collector of antiques for a number of years and a very unselfish one, having donated many specimens to the State archives and the State Historical Socie- ty. She still retains as heirlooms, an old fam- ily clock that ticked in the home of her hus- band's ancestors in England, more than 150 years ago; and also an old-time rifle that was carried by Mr. Wood's father when he was an early sportsman in old Virginia.

WILLIAM STOOPS WINTZ, one of the older generation of citizens of Louden district, Kanawha county, W. Va., whose long life, filled with interesting events, has been passed not far from his place of birth, is one of the best known and most highly esteemed resi- dents of this section. He was born in 1833, in Kanawha county, on the Kanawha river below Rush Creek, and his father was John M. Wintz, who came from Cabell county, Va., and his grandfather, a German, came from Pennsylvania. Mr. Wintz had two brothers: James Philip, familiarly known as "Rug," who is now a resident of California; and John M., who is now deceased.

William Stoops Wintz attended a school of work in his boyhood, his education consisting of learning to operate steam engines to pump salt water, and afterward his lessons included running salt boats on the Kanawha canal and Ohio river, and he learned further lessons when he went farming. During his long and busy life he has owned four farms, his present one, in Louden district being a part of the old Poor farm and is in fair condition. No more enter- taining companion for one interested in this section, could be found than Mr. Wintz. Age has not left him untouched, the affliction of

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failing sight bothering him to some degree, but his memory of early times has not been im- paired and with sure and humorous touch he recalls people and events of the long ago. In his youth salt was the staple product of this section and salt making the main industry. He recalls the days before roads had been built or wagons were yet in common use, when the people of Coal River would come all the distance to Malden on horseback and buy there barrels of salt, flour and whisky, and would cut saplings for shafts and fasten one end to the horse and let the other trail on the ground, with the barrels strapped across. He describes how the salt was made in the big iron kettles and the brine was put into them with long handled buckets, and many a fortune came from that boiled down brine. Mr. Wintz can tell of many buildings, including churches, but knows nothing of jails, as he was never inside one during his entire life even for business pur- poses, or as curiously inclined. Among his friends and acquaintances were : Col. Andrew Donnally and his son-in-law, John Lewis; Dr. John Street, who began his diagnosis of a pa- tient by bleeding him; John B. Crocket, Sr., who married Cynthia Morris; Timmy Curry, the cooper, who made churns and piggins; and Samuel Hensley, who had a large store at old Brownstown. He also knew well Luke Wilcox, who had a salt furnace on his farm and who built the brick Methodist church at Browns- town. All these people, together with Mr. Wintz, were prominent factors in the upbuild- ing of this section of Kanawha county.

In 1854, Mr. Wintz was married to Sarah Tully, and they became the parents of the fol- lowing children : Henry E., born in 1855, mar- ried Laura Mays; Nancy married George Stone; James married Nancy Morris; Malinda married first, Henry Hall, secondly, Ben New- comer ; Mary A. married Daniel Smith ; George H. married Nettie Carr; Maria married first, R. Tracy, secondly, Thomas Hall; Carrie married E. Ellison; and Walter O. married, first, Mrs. Martin, and secondly, Miss Creigh- ton.

Mr. Wintz remembers very clearly when he saw the first steamboat, the Hope, which was

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History of Charleston and Kanawha County, West Virginia and representative citizens, Part 70

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