History of Charleston and Kanawha County, West Virginia and representative citizens, Part 72

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 72

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).

WALTER WEST WAGNER, general manager of the Chelyan Grocery Company, at Chelyan, W. Va., was born on a farm in Ne- braska, his father's soldier's claim, April 25, 1875, and is a son of John and Elizabeth (Guise ) Wagner.

Mr. Wagner was a child when his parents

returned east and located at Wheeling, W. Va. Later they moved to Marietta, O., and from there to Putnam County, W. Va., where his boyhood was mainly spent. He attended the public schools and subsequently took a business course at the Barboursville Academy, and after- ward taught several terms of school in Putnam county. Mr. Wagner then entered the employ of John Q. Dickinson, commissary at Malden, in the salt works, and later took charge of the Quincy Coal Company's store at Quincy, and while there was appointed the first postmaster. at Quincy, W. Va., now Dickinson, on K. & M. railroad. In 1904 he came to his present lo- cation and in partnership with Bonner Hill, bought the interest of J. W. Calvert in what was known as John Little No. 2 general store. For one year the business was conducted un- der the firm name of Hill & Wagner, when Mr. Hill' sold his interest and the Chelyan Grocery Company was organized and the busi- ness was incorporated with C. C. Moore as president and secretary and W. W. Wagner as treasurer and general manager.

Mr. Wagner married Miss M. Kate Wat- kins, a daughter of R. W. Watkins, and they have had three children: Melvin Guy, Lillian and Walter Wilson. Mr. Wagner and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, south. In politics he is a Republican and fraternally he belongs to the Modern Woodmen and to the Knights of Pythias at Chelyan.

JOHN DENNIS CAMPBELL, now passed away, who for many years was prominently identified with the coal industry and officially connected with a number of successful mining companies in Virginia and West Virginia, was a native of Albemarle county, Va., born at Charlottesville, March 24, 1857. His parents were Abner and Frances (Reilly ) Campbell.

The name of Campbell has been an honored one in Virginia for generations, and an im- portant county of the state was named to per- petuate the memory of a pioneer of the name in that section. As is generally known, Scot- land was the original home of the Campbells, and there are perhaps no prouder people in that country than those who can claim direct rela-

JOHN D. CAMPBELL

543

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

tionship or descent from that mighty and fa- mous clan, whose gallant deeds and intellectual accomplishments stand prominently forth upon the pages of history. Every schoolboy has read the story of the Highlanders' brave dash to the relief of Lucknow. One of England's proudest dukes, the Duke of Argyle, came from the Clan Campbell, and the great religious re- former and teacher, John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, was a Campbell.

Abner Campbell, father of the late John Dennis Campbell, was born in Scotland and when he came to Virginia it was to join others of the name who had already become promi- nent and prosperous and, in fact, owned almost the whole area of Campbell county. He was a scholarly man and after he came to Virginia he completed his education in the State Uni- versity. His subsequent life was apparently devoted to looking after his large estate, his slaves and plantations, and his death occurred at Charlottesville, Va., when he was about fifty-one years of age. He was twice married and children were born of both unions. His second wife was Frances Reilly, who was the mother of six children, three of whom still sur- vive. She lived to be seventy years of age.

John Dennis Campbell completed his educa- tion in the University of Virginia and then learned the art of telegraphy, for some years working as an operator. He then became inter- ested în coal mining in the New River coal field and subsequently was connected with coal min- ing in Fayette and other counties, for twenty- three years being president and manager of the Smokeless Coal Company, now known as the Keeney Creek Coal Company. In 1905, after a successful business career, he retired to Charleston, where he purchased a fine home, his residence being located at No. 1420 Quar- rier street. He invested in real estate in county and city and was also interested in oil and gas enterprises, and these interests occupied him until the close of his life, which terminated July 20, 1910. In politics he was a strong Re- publican and was frequently consulted by party leaders, but accepted no political favors for himself. He was identified with several fra- ternal organizations and his funeral services were conducted by the Masonic lodge to which he belonged.

Mr. Campbell was married at Tiffin, Ohio, to Miss Minnie Nye, a native of that place, who completed her education at Heidelburg College. Her parents were Byron C. and Amanda ( Will- iams) Nye, her father being a native of New York and her mother of Ohio. They were married in the latter state and spent their subse- quent lives in Seneca county, where Mrs. Nye died in 1903 in her sixty-sixth year. She was a wise and kind mother, a devoted wife, and an earnest and consistent member of the English Lutheran church. Her husband survived her about seven years, passing away in the spring of 1910, at the age of seventy-three. He was a good and reliable citizen, thoroughly re- spected and esteemed. A kinsman of the fam- ily was the former well known humorist, "Bill" Nye. Eight children were born to Byron C. Nye and wife, five of whom survive, and of these three are married.

The family of Mr. and Mrs. Campbell con- sisted of four daughters-Sylvia, Frankie Nell, Twinkle Adelaide and Minnie Marie. When Sylvia was twelve years old and Frankie Nell eleven, they were sent to the Lewisburg School for Girls, which they attended four years. They then spent a year at Virginia College, at Roanoke, Va. (also school for girls), and then became students at Hamilton College at Lex- ington, Ky., where after studying two years they were graduated in the class of 1910. Sub- sequently they spent two years at Transylvania University. Minnie Marie died at the age of two years and a half. Twinkle Adelaide at- tended school at Lewisburg for two years. Mrs. Campbell and daughters are members of the First Presbyterian church at Charleston.

WILLIAM J. WILTON, deceased, was one of Charleston's worthy citizens and repre- sentative business men for many years. He was born at Plymouth, Devonshire, England, March 19, 1847, and was a son of Michael Wilton, who was a stone carver and mason, a trade that several of his sons also followed and one in which William J. became an expert. The latter, with his older brothers, Richard and Michael, all came to the United States, just following the Civil War, and all assisted in the carving of the stone on the post-office buildings

544

HISTORY OF KANAWHA COUNTY

at Boston, Mass., and at Richmond, Va. They were skilled workmen and received what was then considered an enormous wage, six dollars a day, all the work being done by hand, the sand-blast and other mechanical inventions then being unknown. At a later date, Richard and Michael returned to their families in England. Robert, another brother, spent some time in this country, working as a printer, but re- turned and died at Plymouth. Thomas, the other brother, spent his active life on the sea. a sailor.

William James Wilton obtained a fair knowledge of books in his youth and then served an apprenticeship of seven years in the stone cutting trade before he came to the United States and was associated with his brothers, as noted above, until the completion of these large contracts, in 1871. It was while work- ing on the post-office at Richmond, Va., that he took out his citizenship papers, having re- solved to remain in America, not having any domestic ties like his brothers, to compel his return to England. Late in the seventies he came to Charleston to assist a Mr. Jacob, a stone cutter, in completing a large granite monument, which was the first ever made of native granite, and for several years afterward worked at stone cutting. He then went into the market gardening business and continued for four years and then was associated for a time in the grocery business with the Ruffners, but subsequently returned to his market gar- dening and was prospering when he met with a heavy loss from fire, his barn and stock be- ing destroyed. For the two succeeding years he and wife superintended the Episcopal Hos- pital and then he returned to mason work and became a contractor, and with the assistance of his capable and resourceful wife, conducted a store for fourteen years. During the last eight years of his life he was in the monument busi- ness, stone work claiming the best years of his life and undoubtedly having the most interest for him of all occupations. He was a man of exemplary life, a member of the Episcopal church, an honest citizen and a kind neighbor. In politics he was a Republican and he be- longed fraternally to the Knights of Pythias, the Odd Fellows and the auxiliary order of

Rebeccas. His death occurred March 2, 1909, at his home situated at No. 407 Jacob street, Charleston.

Mr. Wilton was married at Plymouth, Eng- land, February 2, 1868, to Miss Maria White, who was born in Devonshire, January 30, 1848, a daughter of William and Jane (Ford) White, who were Devonshire farming people, who lived there into old age, never coming to America. They were members of the Church of England. To William J. Wilton and his wife fifteen children were born, twelve of whom died in early childhood. The survivors are : James Thomas, George A. and Richard. James Thomas Wilton was born at Richmond, Va., October 24, 1873, and lives in West Charleston, where he follows the family trade of stone mason. He married Maggie Brayle and they have four children: Nellie Maria, Mabelle, Myrtle R. and John. George A. Wil- ton was born July 24, 1883, attended school at Charleston, and he, too, is engaged in the business in which his father became expert, conducting a monument business. He is un- married and lives with his mother. Richard Wilton was born July 14, 1889, attended the public schools and completed a business course at the Capital City Commercial College. He is a clerk in the offices of the Kanawha & W. Va. Railroad Company. He lives at home. Mrs. Wilton and sons are all members of the Epis- copal church, and the sons are all Republican voters.

CHARLES GABBERT, whose valuable farm of 232 acres is situated in Union district. Kanawha county, W. Va., and is devoted to general agriculture and tobacco growing, is a member of one of the old Southern families that moved from Virginia to West Virginia after the close of the Civil War. Charles Gab- bert was born on this farm, October 17, 1871. and is a son of Jacob L. and Harriet (Ward) Gabbert.

The parents of Mr. Gabbert were born in Augusta county, Va. The father purchased 400 acres of land in Union district, Kanawha county, in the spring of 1871, and to the im- provement and cultivation of his estate he de- voted himself more or less continuously dur-

545

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

ing the remainder of his life. He became a man of local consequence although ever inde- pendent in his political views, and served in various local offices such as road supervisor and school director. His death occurred at the age of eighty-six years. He married Har- riet Ward, who was born in 1835 and lived to the age of sixty-nine years and both were buried acording to old custom, on their own land. The mother of Mr. Gabbert was a mem- ber of the Primitive Baptist church and the father attended religious exercises with her. Nine children were born to these good people, namely : George, Thomas, William, Susan E., Arthur, Emma, Charles, Minnie and Nora.

After his schooldays were over, Charles Gabbert began to take a practical interest in the home farm and, as his responsibilities increased, continued to take more and more interest until farming became his entire occupation. He de- votes four acres to tobacco while the remain- der of his land is utilized for other productive crops of this section, and enough stock is an- nually raised for home consumption.

In 1902 Mr. Gabbert was married to Miss Emma Mallory, who was born in Jefferson dis- trict, Kanawha county, a daughter of John and Lulu Mallory, who still reside in Jefferson district. Mr. and Mrs. Gabbert have two sons : James Melvin and Charles Lahma. Mr. Gabbert is a good citizen in all that relates to advancing the general welfare of his section, but, like his late father, he casts an independ- ent vote. Mr. Gabbert and wife are members of the Missionary Baptist church.

HENRY DAVIS, who has been identified with the coal industry for almost his entire business life, has filled many positions of great responsibility in connection with mines and is recognized all through the Kanawha Valley as a reliable mine expert, was born near Mi- nersville, Pa., August 24, 1846. He is a son of David J. and Margaret (Jeffrus) Davis.

David J. Davis was born in 1808, in North Wales, and died in 1888. His father was a woolen manufacturer and both his parents died in Wales. David J. learned the trade of watch- maker and afterward went to South Wales and there was married to Margaret Jeffrus

and after the birth of two children-David and Elizabeth-they decided to emigrate to Amer- ica. In 1834 they set sail in one of the old- time vessels that were making the passage at that period, and after a long and tempestuous time on the ocean were finally landed on the shores of the United States. David J. Davis became a coal miner in Pennsylvania and later acquired mining interests of his own and for some years was a mine manager for others. In 1852 he was assigned to the duty of bring- ing a railroad engine by boat, to the Winifrede mining district in the Kanawha coal fields, and this service he performed for Col. Garland, who was an old Mexican soldier. This en- gine was the first to come into the state and it was for use on the old railroad line up Fields Creek from the Kanawha River. Mr. Davis was Col. Garland's manager and he put the railroad in condition for use and operation. His son, William Davis, he made the first en- gineer on the road.

In 1856, David J. Davis went to Wisconsin, where he located three farms in Buffalo coun- ty, by preemption and entry, and became a well known man there, where he was a local civil engineer and surveyor, and in the latter capacity surveyed a large portion of that coun- ty. He assisted also in the development of other resources, having unusual business quali- fications as well as sleeping talents that only necessity brought forth. As an example, he became a successful physician and surgeon, traveling miles to alleviate the sickness and pains of widely separated families, when no graduated medical man was within reach. He is still remembered with feelings of respect and esteem in Ruffner county. He continued to live there and died on the day, in 1888, that saw Benjamin F. Harrison elected president of the United States, having been granted his earnest wish that he might be permitted to cast his political vote for the grandson of General Harrison, for whom he had voted so many years before. He was a devout member of the Episcopal church. His widow, who was born within two weeks of him, survived until 1892, dying at the age of eighty-four years. She was a lifelong Presbyterian.

Eleven children were born to David J.

546

HISTORY OF KANAWHA COUNTY

Davis and his wife and the record is here married Harvey H. Morris and they reside at given: David, who was born in Wales, died Huntington and have one daughter, Julia, now sixteen years of age: William D., born August 16, 1872, is a conductor on the C. & O. rail- road, married Viana Taylor and they have two children-Betty and Jane; Florence L., born September 6. 1877, is the wife of Dr. Henry Baber and they reside on New River and have one son, Harry; Henry, born August30, 1879. is mine manager on Cabin Creek, married Harriet Pryor and they have four children- Gertrude, Aline, Katherine and Mary G. ; Hor- ace Garfield, born July 26, 1881. is in business at Clendenin, W. Va., married Nettie Brawley ; Grace Jane, born November 7, 1883, is the wife of George C. Weirick, resides at Hunt- ington : and Charles E., born April 4. 1887, also lives at Huntington, W. Va. of cholera, at Pittsburg, in the epidemic of 1852, being unmarried. Elizabeth, who was the second child born in Wales, became the wife of William Tamplin, and both are now deceased. William was born in America. During the Civil War he was a member of the 7th W. Va. Cav., and was killed at Peterstown, now in West Virginia. Marian married Ed- ward Evans, who died at Payne Creek, Kan- awha county, and she lives with her children. Ann married Joshua Newby of West Virginia and both are now deceased. Philip, married, lives at Montgomery, W. Va. James is a farmer in Buffalo county, Wis., and served in the Federal army during the Civil War. Hen- ry is the next in order of birth. Thomas lives on the old homestead at Glenco, Buffalo coun- ty, Wis. Emanuel died in childhood and a babe died in infancy.

Henry Davis was ten years old and when his parents moved from West Virginia to Wis- consin and he obtained his education in Buf- falo county. He remained there until he was eighteen years of age and then came back to West Virginia and has made this state his per- manent home. He lived at Cannelton, Kan- awha county, for twenty-six continuous years, during that time being connected with the Can- nelton Coal Company, first in the clerical de- partment and for some fifteen years as mana- ger. In 1900 Mr. Davis came to Charleston and has lived here ever since. For four years he was manager of the Big Mountain Coal Company and for nearly seven years of the Elk Coal Company on Elk river. Mr. Davis is a Republican in politics but has never aspired to political office. his tastes lying in an entirely different direction. For many years he has been active in Masonic circles, is past master of the Blue Lodge, a Knight Templar and a Shriner. His residence stands at No. 410 Thompson street.

Mr. Davis was married first at Syracuse, O., to Miss Jane Davis, who was born in Ohio and was educated there, and died at Cannelton, W. Va., August 26, 1889, aged thirty-seven years. She was the mother of seven children, namely : Anna B., born October 14, 1870,

Mr. Davis was married (second) in West Virginia, to Miss Lizzie Brazeal, who was born at Blackburg. Va., April 13, 1866, a daughter of Charles H. and Sallie Woodwar (Le Tellier) Brazeal. These families before the Civil War were very prominent, large slave- holders and plantation owners. The father of Mrs. Davis died twenty-two years ago, in his fiftieth year. He was a millwright by trade and was a brave soldier in the Civil War. serv- ing in the Confederate army in General Longstreet's Brigade and suffered the loss of an eye from an exploding shell. The mother of Mrs. Davis lived until 1883. dying in Nel- son County. Va., at the age of forty-two years. To Mr. and Mrs. Davis eight children have been born, namely: Sallie J., who lived but seven years: Pennsylvania V., born January 26, 1893. who is a student in the Charleston High School; Henry Elizabeth, who was born December 18, 1894, is a student ; and Franklin E., born June 8. 1897; Richard Harding, born April 2, 1898: Curtis W., born January 4. 1901; Margaret J., born August 8, 1903 ; and Dorothy Evelyn, born May 12, 1906. Mrs. Davis is a member of the Baptist church but the children have been reared in the Presbyte- rian faith.

WILLIAM J. SEAFLER, one of the rep- resentative citizens of Elk District, Kanawha County, W. Va., who is carrying on farming

547

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

and lumbering operations on Elk River, was born August 12, 1852, in Allegheny County, Pa., a son of Peter and Louisa (Crimmer) Seafler.

Peter Seafler, who was born in Germany and came with his parents to America when four years of age, attended school in Butler and Beaver Counties, Pa., until reaching his eigh- teenth year, at which time he went to work on the old Erie canal, and later he was employed at Pittsburg, in the shipyard at Shoustown, Pa., and the brickyard at New Cumberland, W. Va., and eventually, in 1865, he located in Elk District, where he was engaged in farm- ing up to the time of his death. He was a prominent man in Democratic politics, serving as supervisor for two terms and as a member of the board of education for twelve years, and his religious connection was with the Presby- terian church. He married Louise Crimmer, who was born in Germany and came to this country at the age of sixteen years with two brothers and sisters, and to this union there were born four children, namely: John Chris- topher, a lumberman and farmer of Elk Dis- trict; Lee A., a resident of Bridgeport, Ohio; Sarah C., who married H. B. Debord of New- ark, Ohio; and William J.

William J. Seafler attended the common schools until he was eighteen years of age, and after completing his education engaged in laboring until his marriage, at which time he became a cooper and worked at that trade for four years. He then engaged in farming on Elk River, and purchased his present property in 1890, since which time he has carried on extensive lumbering and farming operations with much success. He is a Democrat in his political views and has been a hard worker for his party, and his efforts were recognized when he was elected trustee of Elk District in 1909. He is a member of both the Masons and the Odd Fellows at Clendenin, W. Va.

In 1873 Mr. Seafler was married to Miss Raxalina Gunter, who was born June 15, 1851, in Kanawha County, a daughter of John Gun- ter, and to this union there have been born six children, namely: Gertrude, who married John Hoover, of Elk District, and they have had six children: Frederick W., who married Esther

Starcher, and they have had two children; Tillie, who married H. W. Lucas of Blakely, and they have two children; and Hazel, Grover and Harry B., all of whom reside at home.

JOHN COTTON BOWEN, a representa- . tive business man of Charleston, W. Va., who for some ten years past has been in the real estate brokerage business, and has assisted in the changing of ownership of much of the real estate here during this period, belongs to an old family that has been identified with what is now West Virginia, for very many years. He was born in 1855, on Piedmont Road, Charles- ton, and is a son of James W. and Mary Allen (Johnson) (Landis) Bowen.

The earliest records at hand affecting the Bowen family, date back to Samuel Bowen, who, at some time in life, resided in Maryland, and at another period at Clarksburg, now in West Virginia, and it is believed that he migrated from Maryland to Clarksburg, as he died at the latter place. He mar- ried and had a family including Absolom, who was a resident of West Virginia all his life. He must have been born prior to 1790, as he fought as a private in the War of 1812, having had two brothers killed during that second dis- turbance with England. He lived to be ninety- two years old. In early life he was a Whig and during the War of the Rebellion was a strong believer in the Union cause. His home was on Tyler Creek. He married Elsie Trigg and they were parents of six children, one of whom, William, the youngest of the family, still survives at the age of eighty. years and lives in Union District.

James W. Bowen, second son of Absolom and Elsie Bowen, was born in Union District, Kanawha County, in 1823, and spent the larger part of his life there, following an agri- cultural life, and died in 1900. Early in the Civil War his sympathies were with the Con- federate cause but later he changed his mind and desired the success which ultimately crowned the Federal forces and brought peace. He voted the Republican ticket for some years before his death. He was reared in the Meth- odist church but later became a Baptist. He

548

HISTORY OF KANAWHA COUNTY

was married on Tyler Creek, Kanawha County, to Mrs. Mary Allen (Johnson) Landis, daugh- ter of Nicholas Johnson and widow of Mere- dith Landis. The latter died in the prime of life and left one son, Meredith, who served in Colonel Brown's regiment in the Federal army throughout the Civil War, and was wounded in the Shenandoah Valley in 1864, which caused the subsequent loss of his leg. Mrs. Bowen was born in 1815 and died near Clendenin, W. Va., in 1902. Five children were born to the above marriage, namely : Mary, who is deceased, was the wife of Augustus Chandler, a resident of Kanawha County; Sarah A., who is sur- vived by her husband, Preston Chandler, and two children; James W., who is a farmer in Elk District; John Cotton; and Samuel Brad- ford, who died unmarried, at the age of twenty-six years.

John Cotton Bowen was reared and educated at Charleston. For some fifteen years he was in the grocery trade here and since then has, as mentioned above, been largely interested in real estate. He is affiliated with the Demo- cratic party and he belongs to the Baptist church.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Charleston and Kanawha County, West Virginia and representative citizens, Part 72

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