History of Charleston and Kanawha County, West Virginia and representative citizens, Part 80

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 80

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J. R. DODSON, whose excellent farm of sixty-four and one-half acres is situated on the middle fork of Davis Creek, in Loudon district, Kanawha county, W. Va., was born on this farm, May 26, 1848, and is a son of James Mon- roe and Margaret (Daggs) Dodson.

James Monroe Dodson was also born in Ka- nawha county, his father having come to this section from Rockbridge county, Va. Prior to 1848, James Monroe Dodson purchased the present farm, for which he paid twelve and one- half cents an acre. He did not live long to enjoy his purchase, his death occurring here in 1849, when he was but twenty-eight years of age. He married Margaret Daggs, who was a daughter of Reuben Daggs, who was born in the fort in this neighborhood, which had been built in Indian days. Five children were born to James M. Dodson and wife, namely: Sarah C., who is deceased; Andrew J., who lives on Davis Creek; Mary Frances, who is the widow of D. H. Snodgrass; J. R .; and Margaret Alice, who died young.

J. R. Dodson attended the old subscription schools. He was but fifteen years of age when he enlisted in the 7th W. Va. Cav., Federal Army; served from March until August, by that time being convinced that army life was too great an undertaking for a boy, in its every feature being work for hardy manhood. He returned to the home farm and ever since has continued here, no longer being very active, however, his sons taking the heavy work of the farm on themselves.

J. R. Dodson was married first to Minerva A. Childres, and three children were born to them: Sidney A .; Romeo, who is deceased ; and an infant that died. Mr. Dodson was married secondly to Sidney A. Pauley, of Kanawha county, and they have had five children, the eldest being deceased, as fol- lows: a babe; James O .; Philip S .; Laura U., who is the wife of B. Snodgrass; and Robert Richard. Mr. Dodson and family are members of the Missionary Baptist church. Politically he is a Republican and he is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, having won recognition by his boy- ish courage, in time of war.

ULYSSES B. ATKINSON

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ANDREW J. DODSON, who owns forty- five acres of fine land in Loudon District and also operates a coal bank, was born one-half mile from his present farm, known as the John Spencer farm, June 16, 1845, a son of James Monroe and Margaret (Daggs) Dodson. He attended the early schools and afterward en- gaged in farming on the homestead and contin- ued until he enlisted in 7th Va. Cav., and re- mained in the army for two years, during this period seeing hard service. After he returned home he resumed farm operations on the old place and remained for two years, and then started out for himself. He bought his present farm quite recently. He leases the coal bank that he operates and has charge of all the Iron and Coal Company's property.

Andrew J. Dodson married Margaret Holley of Mason, Va., and they have had seven chil- dren: Anna R., who married Thomas John- son and has one child; Mary, deceased, who was the wife of Fred England and left four children; an infant that died; James William, who lives on the farm; Alondos, who lives at home; Benjamin, who is a mail carrier; and Lena Leota, who married Thomas Townsman of Indiana. Mr. Dodson is a Republican and has served his district in the office of school trustee.

ULYSSES B. ATKINSON, justice of the peace and a member of the bar at Charleston, W. Va., was born July 23, 1879, in Elk dis- trict, Kanawha county, W. Va., and is a son of Rev. Benjamin Franklin and Nancy (Young) Atkinson. ·

Rev. Benjamin F. Atkinson was born in Kan- awha county, W. Va., in 1846, and is a son of John F. and Nancy (Samuels) Atkinson, na- tives of what is now Kanawha county. John F. Atkinson was a farmer and miller and a part of his life was spent in Missouri but he re- turned to W. Virginia before his death, in ad- vanced age. He was the father of a large family and one of his sons, Rev. Benjamin F. Atkinson, father of Ulysses B., still survives. The latter resides with his wife at Hunt, W. Va., where he continues in active work as a minister in the Baptist church. He married

Nancy Young, a daughter of Rev. Thompson Young, who was also a Baptist minister, and they have had seven children born to them, namely : William T., who is a carpenter and contractor at Hunt, W. Va., married Della Ray, a daughter of Rev. Daniel Ray, of Braxton county, and they have four children-Robert E., Dulsie, Myrtle and Maybell; John M., who lives on a farm in Elk district, married Loretta Elkins and they have two children; James A., who is a farmer in Elk district, married Dora Gunnoe and they have one daughter, Emma; Ulysses B .; Alpha, who is the wife of D. L. Salisbury, an attorney at Charleston, and they have one child; Mary M., who died at the age of seventeen years; and Robert, who died in infancy.

Ulysses B. Atkinson was educated in the public schools and for thirteen years engaged in teaching school, becoming widely known and highly regarded in this profession. For three years he was principal of the Coalburg schools, went from there to Crown Hill and subse- quently was principal of the East Bank graded schools and for two years was chairman of Cabin Creek Institute. He was also secretary of the Kanawha County Teachers' Institute for five years. In the meantime he studied law and in 1910 was admitted to the bar. From early manhood he has been identified with the Repub- lican party and frequently has been a delegate to county and state conventions. He has served the Capital city in several offices, being assessor before he was elected a justice of the peace in 1908, for a term of four years.

Mr. Atkinson was married at Charleston to Miss Hannah Ada Flowers, who was born in Mason county, February 17, 1877, and was educated in the Charleston schools. Four chil- dren have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Atkin- son, namely : George W., Ada Virginia, Ulysses Donald, and Benjamin C., who died at the age of three years. Mr. Atkinson is a member of Morning Star Lodge, Odd Fellows, No. 63, and also of the Encampment; of Glendale Lodge, Knights of Pythias; and of the A. O. U. W. He belongs to Bowman M. E. church and is a member of its official board, and for the past three years has been superintendent of the Sunday school.

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DANIEL E. BAIRD, one of the repre- sentative citizens of Charleston, W. Va., who for many years has been identified with the hardware business in that city, was born Feb- ruary 13, 1858, in Erie County, Pa., and is a son of Jackson and Nancy ( Williams) Baird.

Jackson Baird was a native of Pennsylvania, where in his early life he was engaged in the lumber business, but later he took up farming, and for several years had lived a retired life in the city of Sharon, Pa., where he lived, when he died at the age of seventy-four years. He was a Republican in his political views, and both he and his wife were members of the Meth- odist church. Of their seven children, Ida May died when about three years of age; George, now residing in New York, is married; Daniel E. is residing in Charleston; Robert, a resident of Sharon, Pa., is married; Charles, who lives in Idaho, is also married; William, living in New York, where he is engaged as a printer, has been married twice, and by his first wife had a daughter, Bessie; John W., now living in Canfield, Ohio, is married and has three chil- dren.

Daniel E. Baird was educated in the public schools of Pennsylvania, and when he had at- tained his majority started out to make his own living. In 1885 he came to Charleston, W. Va., where he became a clerk in the hardware store of N. S. Burlew, and continued with that com- pany for twenty-one years, acquiring a thor- ough knowledge of every detail of the business. In March, 1907, deciding to enter the field on his own account, he erected a large building at the corner of Charleston street and Ohio ave- nue. which he opened with a complete line of hardware, large and small cutlery, building ma- terials, farming implements, paints and oils, and such other articles as are in demand by pa- trons of a first-class establishment. He has prospered in his business affairs and is num- bered among Charleston's substantial business citizens.

Mr. Baird was married at Chagrin Falls, O., to Miss Alice Bartlett, who was born in that state in 1859, a daughter of D. P. and Mary (Emmerson) Bartlett, the former of whom still makes his home in Ohio, being more than ninety years of age, while the latter has been

dead for some years. Mrs. Baird's only sister, Ella, is the wife of George Pelton, of Milwau- kee, Wis., who has a married daughter, Alice, and an adopted daughter, Helen. Mr. and Mrs. Baird have been the parents of three children: Floyd E., born in Pennsylvania in 1883, who is engaged in business with his father, married Anna Thurman; Marion, born in 1886 and educated in Charleston, W. Va., is the wife of William Fletcher and lives in Charleston; and Daniel Bartlett, born in 1893, is now a student in the Charleston High School.

Mr. Baird is a member of Glendale Lodge, Knights of Pythias, and the National Union. With his family he attends the Bowman Metho- dist Episcopal church, of which he is treasurer and trustee.

JOHN FISHER, who is one of the well known citizens of Poca District, of which he has been a lifelong resident, is a retired farmer and at one time was the owner of eight hun- dred acres of land, which he has distributed more or less among his children. He was born on a farm that adjoins his present homestead of three hundred and twenty-nine acres, in Poca District, Kanawha County, W. Va., May 15, 1829, a son of John and Lucretia ( Harrison) Fisher.

William Fisher, the grandfather, came from Germany to America and settled in the city of Philadelphia, where his son, John Fisher, was born. The Fisher brothers, Henry, Conrad, Leonard, William, George and John, all came to what is now West Virginia, the three older ones settling in Jackson County and the others in Kanawha County. John Fisher settled on Poca River and at the time of his death left an estate of seven hundred acres. He married Lucretia Harrison, who was born in Augusta County, Va., and they passed the greater part of their lives on the Poca River, where he died at the age of eighty years, and she in her seventy-eighth year. Their burial was in the private family burying ground on their own land. They were active members of the Metho- dist Episcopal church, and it was mainly through their interest and liberality that the church at the forks of the Poca River was erected. They were the honored and beloved

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parents of numerous children and there are many descendants in the younger generations. The eldest, Rebecca, became the wife of Joseph Miller, who learned the blacksmith trade in the city of Cincinnati. They lived and died in Poca District and had eight sons and two daughters. Mary Ann married John Fisher, and they lived and died in Jackson County. They had eight daughters. Harrison died on the home farm. He married Tina Post, who died six months later. Franklin died on his farm on First Creek, Poca District. He was married first to Nancy Kountz and second to Nancy Shaver, and seven children were born to each union. George moved to Kansas and died there. He was married first to Patsy Bogus and they had three sons and two daugh- ters ; second to Mary Sugartaker, and they had one son, and third to Eliza Sugartaker, and they had two sons and three daughters. Rachel is the wife of Anthony Hall, and they live in Poca District and have three daughters and two sons. Lucinda married Silas Carney and both died in Putnam County, the parents of thirteen children. John, who bears his father's name, is the eighth in order of birth. Letha married Conrad Fisher and died in Missouri. America is the wife of Hood Milan and they lived and died in Jackson County, and had eight children. Albin died at the age of sixteen years and his burial was in Poca District.

In his boyhood John Fisher attended a sub- scription school that was held in the Tupper's Creek school-house and continued at his books, although irregularly, until he was eighteen years of age. Afterward he worked on the home farm and in the timber, and later put a tenant on his land and gave his time mainly to lumbering, having interests in this, and in Roane, Jackson and Putnam Counties. He erected the buildings now standing and im- proved two-thirds of the present farm. He has been very generous to his children, giving each one a farm as well as affording them many ad- vantages.

Mr. Fisher was married December 1, 1853, to Miss Mary A. Shirkey, who was born across Poca River, a daughter of David and Mary Shirkey, and they have had eight children, namely, David S., who resides in Kansas

City, married Gertrude Wagoner and they have three children-Faun, Fern and Noble; John H., who lives in Poca District, married Nancy Johnson, and they have four children-Heber, Ola, Gertrude and Nora; William, who resides in Kansas, married Dora B. Kimes and they have seven children-Josephine, Ernest, Corda, Mayme, Ruby, John and Marcus; Henry, who is in the dairy business at Charleston, married Maud Crosby Smith; Mamie, who is the wife of Dr. Charles A. Ray, of Charleston, and they have three children-John, Cebert and Albey ; G. P., who is a physician; Osa, who is the wife of S. F. Bonham, who is manager and owner of the Charleston Laundry Company at Charles- ton; and Charles, who resides at Tupper's Creek, married Erna Thaxton and they have one son, Noble. Mr. Fisher attends the Baptist church, while his wife is a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal church.

C. EVERETT WOODRUM, a leading business man of Charleston, W. Va., who is in partnership with his brother, John Wood- rum, Jr., operating under the firm name of the Woodrum House Outfitting Company, with commodious business quarters at Nos. 502-504 Kanawha street, belongs to an old Kanawha County family, and was born in Elk District, in 1877, a son of John R. and Minerva (Jar- rett ) Woodrum.

John R. Woodrum, who is one of Charles- ton's most respected citizens, now lives retired, having a comfortable home on Randolph street, He was born in 1847, in Summers County, Va. (now W. Va.). When but sixteen years of age he enlisted from Summers County in the Con- federate army, and served three years as a private. He survived all the dangers to which he was exposed and after the war was over came to Kanawha County and assisted in the building of the capitol at Charleston. He was one of the first appointed policemen and served as an officer for a number of years, and after- ward was street commissioner for some years longer. He has always been actively identified with the Democratic party. He married Mi- nerva Jarrett, whose father was one of the early settlers in Elk District, where he became a man of large estate. He married there and reared

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a large family. To John Woodrum and wife merce and the Business Men's Association and the following children were born: Lydia, who died at the age of thirty-seven years, and is survived by her husband, J. W. Perry, and three daughters; Myrtle, who is the wife of F. H. Kelley, of Charleston ; C. Everett ; John Jr., who is associated with his older brother in the house furnishing business, married Mary Crawford; Clara M., who is chief bookkeeper in her brothers' business house; and Harrv, a resident of Charleston, who married Edna Busby, and they have a daughter, Margaret.

C. Everett Woodrum attended school in Elk District and Charleston, being about ten years old when his father settled permanently. His first work was as a clerk in a general mercantile store, and later he was with the Prindle Furni- ture Company. In 1906, in partnership with his brother, he established the Woodrum House Furnishing or Outfitting Company, and the business has been so well managed and is so securely financed that it now stands at the front in its line in the county. They carry a full line of carpets, stoves, bedding and general house furnishings and occupy a three-story brick building, having over 30,000 feet of floor space. Their large fire-proof warerooms and barns are on the corner of Tennessee ave. and Virginia st. They operate three large delivery wagons, give steady employment to twenty-two people, and carry a stock which has a valuation of not less than $30,000. Both partners are practical busi- ness men who prepared for their enterprise by years of special training.

Mr. Woodrum was married at Charleston in 1897, to Miss Gertrude Bell Young, who was born in this city in 1877, and is a daughter of Jack and Martha J. (Hammack) Young, the former of whom died some eleven years since. Mr. Young was a member of the city council of Charleston and an active Republican politi- cian. His widow survives and resides with Mr. and Mrs. Woodrum. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, as was Mr. Young. Mr. and Mrs. Woodrum have four children. namely: Edward Yeuell, a bright youth of twelve years. who stands well in his classes at school: Rosalie, nine years old, who is also in school : Thomas Dana and Havern. Mr. Woodrum is a member of the Chamber of Com-

belongs to the Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias and the Elks.

W. F. GOSHORN, deceased, for many years was one of the able and successful business men of Charleston, W. Va., and stood as high in the personal esteem of his fellow citizens as he did in the regard of his business associates. He was born at Wheeling, W. Va., Setember 5, 1815, and his death occurred at Charleston, May 26, 1882. His parents were George and Jane (Farrier) Goshorn, who settled at Charles- ton in 1822.

W. F. Goshorn spent his life from the age of seven years, at Charleston. In 1839 he entered into partnership with his brother, the late J. H. Goshorn, an association which continued uninterruptedly for forty- three years and was only terminated by his death. The business then established still continues, its present firm style being The Goshorn Hardware Company. Following the death of W. F. Goshorn, a new firm was organized, under the title of J. H. & W. F. Goshorn & Co., which continued until the death of J. H. Goshorn and the retirement of George Goshorn. At present, William F. and Henry D. Goshorn, sons of the late W. G. Goshorn, and H. B. Smith, have large interests in the Goshorn Hardware Company, of which William F. Goshorn is president, H. B. Smith is vice president, and Henry D. Goshorn is general manager, while J. A. de Gruyter is treasurer. It is in- corporated as jobbers of shelf and heavy hardware, imported and American cutlery, sporting goods, guns, ammunition, farming implements, paint, sash, doors, building material, nails, wire, and iron and steel mine supplies. Its location is at No. 206 Capitol street, Charleston.

W. F. Goshorn prospered as a business man but he was much more and his worth was understood and recognized by those in authority in public matters when they sought useful men for prominent positions. He was appointed a member of the board which had charge of the improvement and

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navigation of the Great Kanawha river, first by Governor Jacobs and subsequently by Governor Matthews and Governor Jack- son, serving with the greatest efficiency and fidelity to the public for nine years, and during the larger part of this periol was president of the board. He was identified with the Democratis party.

In 1847 W. F. Goshorn was married to Miss Eliza Daggett and they had a family of six children, namely: Ellen B., who mar- ried Dr. Lawrence Carr; William F., who married Effie Ward; Belle F., who married Hon. W. A. McCorkle; Henry D., who married Ettie Minsker; Addie J., who mar- ried J. W. Kennedy; and Edward H.

ABRAHAM BOIARSKY was a success- ful business man and respected citizen of Charleston, W. Va., for many years and was active and prominent in the affairs of the Jewish temple, at the time of his death being president of the congregation. He was born in 1863, in Central Russia, and was well educated in his native tongue be- fore he left Russia, at the age of eighteen years, to come to America, where he had the new language to learn, in which he be- came proficient.

In company with an older brother, Fisher Boiarsky, Abraham left Russia for Ham- burg, Germany, where a steamer was taken for the United States, and early in 1881 the brothers were safely landed at Castle Gar- den, N. Y., and from there proceeded to Cincinnati, O. A few years afterward they came to Charleston, where Abraham Boi- arsky opened a china and queensware store on his own account, and after some four years of successful business, became a wholesale and retail jeweler, establishing himself at No. 714 Kanawha street. He continued in this line of business during the remainder of his life, his death occurring March 13, 1905, at his handsome home, No. 1510 Virginia street, Charleston. During his years of prosperous business he ac- quired property, a part already improved and other parts improved by him, and his estate included much real estate along Ka-

nawha street, also on Virginia street, a sub- stantial property on Clendennin street and lots in the Glenwood addition. He was an orthodox Jew and was a faithful member of the Hebrew faith and a liberal supporter of the synagogue. No man in Charleston was more charitable and his benevolent acts were by no means confined to the needs of the Jewish people. In politics he identified himself with the Republican party. Fraternally he was a Knight of Pythias, a charter member of the Odd Fel- lows and encampment and belonged to other organizations.

On July 3, 1894, Mr. Boiarsky was mar- ried at Charleston to Miss Jennie Frankle, who was born in Russia in 1876, and was six years old when she accompanied her parents, Abraham and Esther (Frank) Frankle, to the United States. They lived for a time at Cincinnati, O., and for three years at Ironton, in Ohio, and then came to Charleston, where Mr. Frankle has been engaged in the jewelry business ever since. He resides with his family at No. 305 Bibby street, Charleston. Both he and wife are members of the congregation of the Jewish temple. To Mr. and Mrs. Frankle two sons and two daughters were born. namely: Harry, who is married and has two children ; Jennie, who is Mrs. Boiarsky ; Rebecca, who is the wife of Jacob Gluck, has three children; and William, who is connected with the May Shoe Company. Mr. and Mrs. Boiarsky had three children: Leah, who is now sixteen years old, is a pupil in the Charleston high school; Julius, who is also a high school student; and Mary, who attends the public school.

A. M. NORMAN, who is engaged in farming and mining in Elk district, Kan- awha county, W. Va., was born at Graham Mines, November 23, 1879, and is a son of Gabel P. and Celia (Anderson) Norman. The father of Mr. Norman was born in Vir- ginia and brought his wife from there and settled at Graham Mines, in Elk district, where he was a farmer and coal operator He married Celia Anderson and both are

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now deceased, his father dying February 28, 1905, and the mother surviving his loss only one day.

A. M. Norman obtained his education in the public schools. He was reared in a farming and mining district and naturally began his self-supporting work in these in- dustries, mining until he married and since then also giving attention to his valuable farm situated near Mill creek. He has al- ways been industrious and provident and is prosperous.

Mr. Norman was married to Miss Martha Vickers, who was born December 14, 1880, and they have an interesting family of five children, with ages ranging from ten to one year: Irene, Ouida, Martin Lee, Everet and Nellie B. Mr. Norman has never taken any active interest in politics but is numbered with the good and law- abiding citizens of his district. He is a member of the fraternal order of Red Men.

LOVELL C. GATES, hardware mer- chant at Charleston, W. Va., a prominent and representative citizen of forty-one years' standing, was born August 21, 1845, on his father's farm of about one hundred acres, lying on Tucker's creek, in Wirt county, now West Virginia, and his parents were Thomas D. and Anna (Marsh) Gates.

The Gates family, according to its early preserved records, was originally of Eng- land, several brothers of the name coming to the Virginia coast, and it is possible that they were among the settlers at Jamestown and Alexandria. One of the name who claimed a title, Sir Thomas Gates, is the forefather, six generations removed, from those who at present bear the name in this section. For some years the Gates family owned estates near Washington, on the Potomac river, and possibly a residence in the city of Washington.

Thompson Gates, grandfather of Lovell C. Gates, was born in 1783 in or near Wash- ington, the family home being in Virginia. His near relative was the brave General Gates of Revolutionary prowess. Thomp- son Gates was the only son of David Gates.

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History of Charleston and Kanawha County, West Virginia and representative citizens, Part 80

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