History of Charleston and Kanawha County, West Virginia and representative citizens, Part 74

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 74

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ALBERT STAUFFER, postmaster at Mink, W. Va., and a general farmer on Cooper's creek, Kanawha county, in Elk district, was born September 28, 1872, in Switzerland. His parents are Fritz and Eugenia (Pretre) Stauffer.

Fritz Stauffer was born in July, 1844, and came to America with his family from Switzerland, and in 1881 settled at Four- Mile Station, on Cooper's creek, in Kanawha county, W. Va. He bought uncleared land which he has succeeded in clearing and has developed an excellent farm. He now lives retired, having a competency. He married Eugenia Pretre, of French descent, a daughter of Charles and Elizabeth Pretre. They also were natives of Switzerland and came to America in 1890, settling in Elk district, where both died. Mr. and Mrs. Stauffer have two sons and one daughter: diately John Anderson, Sr., secured the posi-

Albert; Charles, who is a farmer; and Laura, who is the wife of Theodore Ehman, of Elk district.

Albert Stauffer attended school until he was about twelve years of age and then be- gan to help his father in the clearing of the timber off the home land and later assisted in cultivating the farm and remained at home until his marriage, at the age of twenty-seven years. Then he settled on the present farm, where he carries on farm- ing and stock raising very successfully. He is a charter member of Pleasantdale Grange, No. 289. He is a very active worker for the Republican party and in 1908 was elected a justice of the peace and on May 29, 1900, was appointed postmas- ter at Mink, W. Va.

Mr. Stauffer was married to Miss Debby Wheeler, who was born in 1883, in Boone county, a daughter of Sylvester and Clary (Stalling) Wheeler, and a granddaughter of Alexander Wheeler, who was a soldier during the Civil War in the Union army, and still survives. Mr. and Mrs. Stauffer have one son, Fred, who was born June 12, 1901, and is a diligent pupil at school.

JOHN ANDERSON, for a number of years one of the most prosperous of business men and a most respected citizen of Charleston, WV. Va., was born August 4, 1836, in County An- trim, Ireland, and died at Charleston, Novem- ber 13, 1897. His parents were John and Mary (Kennan) Anderson.

John Anderson's father was also born in County Antrim, and was of Scotch-Irish an- cestry. He grew up in his native parish and became a farmer not far from the city of Bel- fast. He was married to Mary Kennan, a na- tive of Scotland. All their children were born in Ireland. After William, the eldest son, mar- ried, he sailed for America, accompanied by his brother Samuel, and his sister Ann, and they settled at Wheeling. W. Va. In 1848 John Anderson, Sr., and the rest of his family em- barked on a sailing vessel, arrived at New York in safety and joined the other members of the family in Wheeling. Almost imme-

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tion of manager of the toll bridge and in this office he served continuously for twenty-six years without missing a day. He was a man of exemplary life and temperate in all things, never indulging in liquor or tobacco. He lived to be eighty-seven years of age, his death oc- curring in 1874. He was respected and es- teemed by all and was noted for his honesty and uprightness in every business transaction. His widow survived him for about six years, dying at the same age as her husband. They both were strong Presbyterians. In addition to the three children mentioned, there was of this marriage Eliza, Jane, Matilda, John, James and Maggie, all of whom grew to maturity and married.

John Anderson (2) was twelve years old when he accompanied his parents to Wheeling. He there found a position in the McClelland shoe house, manufacturers and dealers. He continued with this firm until of age, when he went into partnership with Samuel McClelland, son of his employer, and embarked in the same business, taking over the interests of the old house. Some years later John Anderson, Jr., became sole proprietor. In 1870 he left Wheel- ing and came to Charleston and started the first exclusive shoe store and was also enterprising in other ways, being the first business man to put a traveling representative on the road. In 1872-73 he disposed of his branch store at Wheeling, which he had continued until that time, and then gave his entire attention to his Charleston business. He carried only first class, high grade goods, handling the finest he could secure from Boston, Philadelphia and New York. He did a large wholesale as well as retail business. He had marvelous energy, but his health failed him, and for seventeen years before his death, he was more or less an invalid. No man in Charleston stood higher in business circles. He was a loyal Democrat, but never sought office although the excellence of his judgment and his uprightness of character would have been admirable qualifications for the same. He possessed a wonderfully culti- vated bass voice and for twenty years was a member of the choir of the First Presbyterian

In 1871 Mr. Anderson was married to Miss Ella C. McConihay, who was born in Kanawha

County, W. Va., April 3, 1848. She was care- fully educated in private schools and is a broad-minded, intelligent and capable woman. Her grandparents were Scotch-Irish people and probably married before they came to the United States, settling in Bedford County, Va., wher they died. They were the parents of three children, Samuel, Martha and John, the last named being the father of Mrs. Anderson.

John McConihay was born near Liberty, in Bedford County, Va., in 1793. In the spring of 1828 he came to Kanawa County and settled thirteen miles above Charleston on Kanawha River. He died July 3, 1880, at his homestead. He owned a large plantation and many slaves, was a tobacco grower and was well known both in Bedford and Kanawha Counties. During the Civil War he lost heavily. John McConi- hay was a leading member of the Missionary Baptist church. He was married in Bedford County to Mary Hurt, who was born near the Peaks of Otter, August II, 1805. Mrs. Mc- Conihay died in Kanawha County, in February, 1863. She was a woman of wonderful energy and had the care of a large home, many slaves and a family of fourteen children. Twelve of these grew to maturity and all but one had chil- dren. Three survive: Felix, Daniel and Mrs. Anderson.

To Mr. and Mrs. Anderson one son, Harry McClelland, was born January 29, 1872. He was graduated from High School at Charles- ton, and then entered Princeton College, and later took a commercial course in Eastman's Business College at Poughkeepsie, N. Y. He subsequently completed his law studies in Old Center College, at Danville, Ky., where he was graduated in the class of 1898. Later he was admitted to the bar and is an active and suc- cessful practitioner in Charleston. He is a prominent Freemason and a Shriner, and has held numerous offices in the different branches of Masonry. He is also past exalted ruler in the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He is fond of athletics and made a considerable reputation in that line as a member of the Princeton football team while at the university.

EDGAR P. COCHRAN, general merchant at Dana Station, Kanawha County, W. Va.,

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has been a resident of Malden District all his life and was born at Burning Spring, December 10, 1858. He is a son of Frank and Agnes (Curry ) Cochran.

Frank Cochran was born in Bath County, Va., a son of Francis Cochran who was born in Ireland and lived for a time in Bath County, Va., later moving to Jackson, Ohio. When nineteen years of age, Frank Cochran came to Malden District, where he was employed in the coal industry and was foreman of a coal bank. He was a well known citizen in Malden Dis- trict, where his death occurred in 1886, when he was aged eighty-four years. He married Agnes Curry, who was born and reared in Lou- don District, Kanawha County. She survived to the age of sixty-six years. Twelve children were born to this marriage, the record being as follows: James, who died during the Civil War, was a member of Co. B, 7th W. Va. Vol. Inf .; Mary and Catherine, twins, the former of whom is the wife of Jasper Hawley, while the latter, now deceased, was the wife of John Lane, also deceased; William; Eveline, who is the widow of John Meadows; Armissa, who is the widow of Isaac Voiers; David, who served in the Civil War in the same company with his brother ; Silas; Ellen, who is deceased; Frank ; Edgar P., and Jane, who died in infancy.

Edgar P. Cochran attended school in his boy- hood and then went to work in the coal mines and has been a mine worker during the greater part of his life. In February, 1910, he opened up his present store and has met with success in his undertaking, having a large and steady trade. He is one of the substantial men of the place and owns a residence at Malden and other real estate at Campbell's Creek.

Mr. Cochran was married December 20, 1883, to Miss Anna Wetzel, who was born in Malden District and is a daughter of John Wet- zel. They have six children: Ernest, May, Lula, Hazel, Edgar and Ruffner, the eldest son being in partnership with his father. Mr. Coch- ran is a Republican in his political views. He belongs to Malden Lodge, F. & A. M., at Mal- den, and also to the Red Men and Knights of Pythias, at the same place.

THOMAS E. EMBLETON, one of Char- leston's well known and representative citizens now retired from active business life, was born in County Durham, England, November 3, 1849, and his descent is from one of the solid and substantial old families of that part of Brit- ain. His parents were William and Jane ( Middleton) Embleton.

Robert Embleton, the grandfather, was born also in the northern part of England, and when he reached maturity married there and in that section their children were born. In 1850 the whole connection of Embletons took passage on the sailing vessel, the Sandusky, for America, and after a voyage of six weeks reached the United States in safety. A short season was spent in Maryland and in Pennsylvania and then the entire family came to Mason County, Va., with the exception of one daughter, Mary, who, with her husband, Thomas Potts, located in the state of California. The coal fields of Mason County had attracted the Embletons to this section and coal mining was their means of livelihood. The religious connection of the family in England was with the Episcopal church, but in Virginia they attached them- selves to the Methodist Episcopal church, this religious body having been a pioneering one in this section.

William Embleton, father of Thomas E., was born in 1822, in England and in early manhood was married there to Jane Middleton. They remained in County Durham until after the birth of their eldest child, Thomas E., and then joined the other members of the family in their exodus to America and subsequently made their home in Mason County. Nine more children were born to them, namely: Robert, who was born in 1851, in Pennsylvania, was a practical coal miner and lost his life, when thirty-three years of age in a mine accident, leaving a widow and one daughter, Edith; William, who was born in 1853. died in Ohio and was sur- vived by three sons; Mary E., who was born in Mason County, now West Virginia, married J. C. Thomas, of the well known shoe firm of Palmer & Thomas, of Charleston, and they have two children; John, who was born in Ma-

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son County, is a commercial man and makes his home with his sister, Mrs. Thomas, at Charleston; James, who is a merchant in Indi- ana, his wife and children; Jennie, who is now deceased, was the wife of Rev. Wirt Lowther ; Albert, who died in 1906, in middle age; and two who died in infancy.

After completing his education in the schools of Mason County, Thomas E. Embleton was employed in the clerical department of the coal mines until he was thirty-eight years of age. In 1887, in association with J. C. Morrison, who is president of the Capital City Bank of Charleston, he went into business for himself, and together they operated the Belmont mines in the Kanawha coal fields where they de- veloped exceedingly remunerative properties, the output for some years being from 75,000 to 100,000 tons of coal. They started their en- terprise in a small way, nurtured and developed it with business sagacity and in 1906 sold at a large advance on their original investment, the purchaser being the Winefred Coal Company, which is still working these mines. In 1907 Mr .. Embleton purchased the Peerless Coffee Company of Charleston and did a large amount of business in that line until quite recently when he sold out and retired from active business. He still has enough to fully occupy his time in looking after his property and investments.

Mr. Embleton was married in 1879, in Ma- son County, to Miss Jennie Morrison, who was born in Jackson County, W. Va., at Cottage- ville, in 1854, and died at the beautiful family home in Charleston, on April 8, 1910. She was admirable in every relation of life and was a consistent member of the Presbyterian church. Her parents were John Lee and Eliza (Clark) Morrison, natives of Pennsylvania, who came from that state to Jackson County, W. Va., lo- cating on a farm near Cottageville. The mother of Mrs. Embleton was a daughter of John and Janet (Paxton) Clark, and a close kinswoman of the Rev. Dr. Clark, one of the noted expounders of early Presbyterianism. The father of Mrs. Embleton moved later to Hartford City, in Mason County, where his death occurred. His wife was born in 1820 and she died in 1900, in Kanawha County. They had the following children; William, 32

John C., F. Pierce, George O., Ezra L., Mrs. Embleton and Mrs. John King.

Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Embleton, namely: Tenneyson L., who was born April 21, 1881, is a graduate of the class of 1903 of the University of West Virginia, and is now an active young business man of this city; Edna Morrison, who was born Janu- ary 4, 1885, is a graduate of Washington Col- lege, Washington, D. C., class of 1905; and Harry Browning, who was born August 20, 1890. He attended the Culver Military School in Indiana and at present is a member of the class of 1914 in the Chicago University. Mr. Embleton and family are members of the First Presbyterian Church and are prominent socially.

L. V. CUNNINGHAM, who cultivates a farm of 130 acres, situated in Washington Dis- trict, Kanawha County, W. Va., has an inter- est in this land and also operates a saw mill at Ruth, a near-by lumber village, and is one of the well known men of this section. He was born in 1879, at St. Albans, Kanawha County, W. Va., a son of H. C. and Nannie Cunning- ham.

H. C. Cunningham was born at Charleston, Kanawha County, and followed plastering and brick-laying and for twenty-three years before his death, in 1906, at the age of sixty-four years, he owned the present homestead. He served all through the Civil War, first as a member of the 8th W. Va. Vol. Inf., later of Co. C, 7th W. Va. Cav., escaping all serious in- jury during that long struggle, and he resumed his peaceful pursuits after his return home. He married Nannie Johnson, who was also a na- tive of Kanawha County, and they had a family of ten children: Ella, Percy, Ethel, Ruby, Selby, Paul, Vaughn, Edward, Julian and Hope, all of whom survive except Ethel. Paul and Julian Cunningham are soldiers, serving several terms each with the United States army in both the States and the Philippine Islands. Percy and Ruby are brick masons, while Ed- ward is a railroad engineer.

L. V. Cunningham obtained his education in the district schools and then turned his atten- tion to farming and has remained on the home

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place, of which he now has entire charge. About fourteen years ago, Mr. Cunningham and his father started the saw mill which the former still operates, running it for four years as a grist mill, but since then as a saw mill. He does a large amount of business and is numbered with the prosperous men of this sec- tion. Mr. Cunningham resides with his mother, having never married. Politically he is a Re- publican, as was his late father, who served for some years as school trustee in Washington District. L. V. Cunningham is a member of Spring Hill Lodge No. 182, Knights of Pythias. The Cunninghams are of a Scotch-Irish family, also tracing their descent, through the Wilsons, Christians and other families, form some of the early settlers of Virginia.

JOHN W. DAWSON, one of the prominent business men of Charleston, W. Va., who is identified with many of the most important in- dustries and enterprises of this section of West Virginia, is practically a self made man and is an example of the power of determination, per- severance and a high set standard. He was born in 1863, in Albemarle county, Va., and is a son of George W. and Sallie Sidolia (May) Dawson.

The parents of Mr. Dawson were born in Virginia, and on the maternal side includes the great orator and statesman, Patrick Henry, in its ancestry. The father of Mr. Dawson died in 1910, when aged eighty-seven years, but the mother still lives and resides in California with a daughter.

With neither educational nor social advan- tages in his youth, Mr. Dawson might have seemed sadly handicapped when, as a boy of fourteen years, he started out with a pick and shovel as his capital, and with no other assist- ance won his way into larger opportunities and was able to seize them and climb still higher. Since 1882 he has been identified with Charles- ton, in that year going to work on the K. & M. railroad, and during the period included until 1898, he filled every position, and for seven years was superintendent. Mr. Dawson then left that road and embarked in the coal mining business, organizing the Kellys Creek Mining Company, of which he remained manager for

three years, when the company sold to the Kanawha & Hocking Coal and Coke Company. Then Mr. Dawson went to southwest Virginia and built the Lake Erie and Lick Creek rail- road, and projected the Dawson Coal and Coke Company. In 1903 he returned to the Kana- wha valley and organized and constructed the Kellys Creek and Western railroad and or- ganized the Kellys Creek Mining Company. He was one of the organizers of the Kanawha Banking and Trust Company and numerous other local enterprises which have profited by the wisdom of his judgment and the depth of his business capacity. To enumerate the official positions now held by Mr. Dawson, aptly illus- trates his prominence in the business world. He is president of the Eagle Collieries Com- pany ; general manager of the Kellys Creek Col- liery Company; president of the Dawson De- velopment Company: manager, director and treasurer of the West Virginia Coal Land Com- pany ; secretary and treasurer of the Quarrier Street Realty Company ; owner of trade marks. Cast Iron Splint and Mountain Queen : director of the Kellys Creek & N. W. R. R. Company, and president of the Kanawha Coal Associa- tion. With all these business responsibilities resting upon him, Mr. Dawson, nevertheless, has found time to be an active and forceful cit- izen, working with the Republican party, and in 1910 was its chosen candidate for the state legislature.

Mr. Dawson was married in Charleston to Miss Lyda Power, who was born in Pennsyl- vania. They have two children, Joseph Power and Catherine May. The former, who is but seventeen years of age, is a graduate of the Charleston High School and is preparing to enter Cornell College in the fall of 1911. The daughter, who was born in 1896, is being edu- cated at St. Joseph's Academy, an exclusive school at Emmettsburg, Md., and is a member of the class of 1914. Mrs. Dawson is a mem- ber of the Sacred Heart Roman Catholic church, while Mr. Dawson belongs to the First Presbyterian church at Charleston.

COL. ELLSWORTH RUDESILL, state agent for West Virginia for the Guarantee, Trust & Banking Company, of Atlanta, Ga ..

JOHN W. DAWSON

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dealers in investment bonds, maintains his office mayor of the city and served one term with the greatest efficiency. On numerous occasions he has been a delegate to county and state conven- tions, and by ex-Governor White was ap- pointed a member of the State Board of Asy- lums and during his whole term of eight years was president of this important body. He has been particularly interested in the Benevolent Order of Elks and is a charter member of the Charleston lodge and has served three terms as exalted ruler. in the Alderson-Stephenson building at Charleston. He is a man of wide business expe- rience and country-wide acquaintance, and for years has been active in both business and po- litical life in this and other sections and has held many important public offices. Colonel Rudesill was born October 10, 1863, near Akron, Ohio, and is a son of Columbus and Frank E. (Bentley) Rudesill. Both parents were born in Ohio, the father being of German extraction and the mother coming of English Col. Ellsworth Rudesill was married at Gal- lipolis, Ohio, to Miss Alice Cromley, who was born, reared and educated there, a daughter of Francis A. and Mary E. ( Williams) Cromley. people. The latter survives but the father died at Chardon, Ohio, on February 1, 19II, aged seventy-five years. He was a Republican in politics and a member of the Presbyterian . The father of Mrs. Rudesill was born in Penn- church.

Ellsworth Rudesill was the only child born to his parents, and he was named for the brave young officer of the Federal army who was one of the earliest victims of the Civil War. After graduating from the Akron High School, the youth became associated with his father in the crockery and queensware business at Gallipolis, Ohio. In 1888 the business was moved to Charleston and located on Kanawha street, and was continued as before until 1900, when the firm became Rudesille & Mead, and removal was made to Capitol street, and continued until 1907, when it was incorporated, but two years later was closed out. At this time Colonel Rudesill was appointed census supervisor of the Third Congressional District, representing ten counties, and he did his work so well that it elicited a letter from the Census Department at Washington, D. C., in which these words of commendation are used : "I desire at this time to congratulate you upon your successful con- duct of your duties as superintendent of census. They have been performed to the satisfaction of this office and to your own credit. Your work has been arduous and difficult and the re- sults clearly show wisdom of your selection of supervisors." This gratifying testimonial of approval Colonel Rudesill prizes highly.

Colonel Rudesill has helped make the politi- cal history of West Virginia. In 1903 he was elected a member of the state legislature on the Republican ticket and served one term, and dur- ing this time, in March, 1904. was elected

sylvania and during the Civil War was attached to the Quartermaster's Department of the Fed- eral army. He was a Democrat in politics and was a prominent Mason and Odd Fellow. His death occurred at Charleston, when he was aged seventy-four years. He married Mary E. Williams, at Ironton, Ohio. She was born on the Atlantic Ocean while her parents were coming to America from Wales. and was reared in Kentucky and died in Ohio, in her fortieth vear. Mr. and Mrs. Rudesill have three chil- dren: Frank Ellsworth, who was born in Ohio, is a graduate of the Charleston High School and is now assistant manager. of the Daily Mail of this city, a prospective successful business man: Alice M., who, like her brother. graduated at the age of seventeen years from the High School: and Donald Bentley, who is still in school. Mr. and Mrs. Rudesill, with the two older children. are members of the Episco- pal church.

A. S. PRITT, a leading citizen of Poca Dis- trict, Kanawha County. W. Va., where he is an extensive farmer and cattle raiser, owns a valu- able estate of 300 acres, which lies seventeen miles north of Charleston. He was born July 31. 1852, in Monroe County, Va., and is a son of James and Esther (Terry) Pritt, who were also of Monroe County.

The parents of A. S. Pritt were married in Monroe County, then in Virginia, but now in- cluded in West Virginia, and continued to live there until after the birth of their children,

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when they moved to Roane County, W. Va., and from there to Grapevine Creek. in Poca District, Kanawha County, where they lived for two years. They made one more removal, settling near Derrick Creek, where the father died soon after, aged sixty-five years, and the mother's death followed and their burial was at Sissonville. They were parents of the follow- ing children: Madison, Samuel, Amanda and Thomas, all of whom are deceased ; John, who lives on Derrick Creek, married Emma Sam- uels ; Ellen, who married Charles Moss, who lives on Haynes' Branch; Andrew S .; Harvey, who lives in Poca District, married Alva Fisher; William, who is deceased; and Mar- garet.

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History of Charleston and Kanawha County, West Virginia and representative citizens, Part 74

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