History of Charleston and Kanawha County, West Virginia and representative citizens, Part 88

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 88

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ing and building at Charleston, W. Va., comes of one of the old families of Virginia,. his grandparents having lived and died in what is now Taylor county, W. Va. Prior to the Civil War the family estates were cultivated by slaves and their plantations were managed along old-time lines, much social activity being the rule and a lavish hospitality offered to guests. The early Davidsons were all mem- bers and liberal supporters of the Baptist church. To the grandparents ten children were born, all of whom reached maturity and all married but one.

Rev. George Davidson, father of John Dav- idson, was born in Taylor county, Va., in 1825, was reared on his father's farm and was given educational advantages. When he reached the age of mature judgment he found that his in- clinations led in the direction of a ministerial life and when twenty-five years old he became an accredited member and minister of the Bap- tist church. It was while serving a church at Pomeroy, O., that the place was visited by an epidemic of typhoid fever and first and fore- most in caring for the stricken and encouraging the well, was Mr. Davidson, whose unceasing devotion to the afflicted so undermined his strength that he, himself, fell a victim and within two weeks of being attacked, passed away, his lamented death occurring in 1883. He was a prominent member of the Baptist de- nomination and for years was known and be- loved in the ministry in West Virginia and for a protracted period was president of the Bap- tist General Association. The closing two years of his life were passed at Pomeroy, O. He was reared a Democrat but later was im- pressed with the leading principles claimed by the Republican party.

Rev. George Davidson was married in Tay- lor county to Miss Elizabeth Ann Harr, who was born there and died at Charleston in 1897, aged sixty-seven years. She was a daughter of Richard Harr, who was a native of Taylor county, where he spent his life and died when aged ninety-five years. During the Civil War he was a Union sympathizer. To George Dav- idson and wife a large family was born and three of these still survive: George, Wayland F., a designer and architect, who is associated

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with his older brother in business, married Sallie L. Carroll and they have three children -Andra, Alice and Francis; and Urban C., who is a merchant at Charleston, who married Mamie Fordice.

John Davidson was born in 1863 in Taylor county, now in West Virginia, and was edu- cated in the public schools. For some years he engaged in the mercantile business, but in 1892 he came to Charleston, where he became asso- ciated with his brother, Wayland F., in build- ing and contracting. This firm, unquestionably stands at the head of their line here, having planned and built more of the fine residences than any other firm, together with many of the public and business structures. They have done a large amount of building at other points, notably at Philippi, where the beautiful and stately Boaddus Colleeg was erected, a fine specimen of the architectural taste and substan- tial construction of the Davidson Brothers. In all that goes to makfle up a good and effective citizen, Mr. Davidson is prominent, ever taking a deep interest in all movements for the public welfare, and has served on the board of educa- tion and in the city council. He is a Republi- can in his political views.

Mr. Davidson was married in Wood county, W. Va., to Miss Georgia Henderson, who was born and reared there. She is a daughter of John Henderson. She comes of Scotch ances- try and old Presbyterian stock, and her people were living at Dumfries, Virginia, during the Revolutionary war. Mr. and Mrs. Davidson enjoy one of the most beautiful homes in this city of attractive residence sections, located at No. 1426 Kanawha street, its situation giving an extended view over river and valley.

WILLIAM H. SAXTON, a building con- tractor and dealer in real estate, at Chelyan, W. Va., has been a resident of Kanawha coun- ty for the past twenty-seven years. He was born on his father's farm in Meigs county, O., October 27, 1848, and is a son of Thomas and America (Anderson) Saxton, the former of whom was born in Virginia and was a member of the old Saxton family from which also came the late Mrs. McKinley, who survived the tragic death of President Mckinley for some years.

William H. Saxton spent his boyhood on the home farm and attended the country schools and later the university at Athens, O. He then turned his attention to educational work and for thirty-six years was a successful teacher during twenty of these being principal of the Chelyan schools. When eighteen years of age he had learned the carpenter trade and while teaching engaged also in contracting and many of the school buildings in Cabin Creek district were erected by him. In politics he is a Re- publican and served in the office of assessor for two years, 1909 and 1910, when he resigned. He has valuable property investments at Chel- yan.

Mr. Saxton was married first in 1873, to Miss Barbara Fletcher, who died in 1885, with- out issue. In 1889 he married Sallie J. Hill, and they have three children: Pansy, Ruth and Amelia. He is identified with the Knights of Pythias, Knights of the Golden Eagle, Ameri- can Mechanics, Ladies' Temple and Pythian Sisters.

NICHOLAS BARTH,* a prominent citizen of Elk district, somewhat retired from active business, is vice president of the Elk Gas and Oil Company, of Elk Creek, a heavy producing investment, and also vice president of the Shep- erd Oil and Gas Company, Mr. Barth was born July 20, 1858, in the Rhine province of Trier, Germany, and is a son of Peter and Margaretta (Teiten) Barth.

Peter Barth was a linen weaver in Germany but after coming to America with his family, he engaged in coal mining at Schuylkill county, Pa. Later he followed his son Nicholas to Cincinnati, where they were associated in the bakery business for six years. In 1880 he came to Charleston and lived retired until his death. In Germany he married Margaretta Teiten, a daughter of Jacob and Maria (Mergner) Tei- ten, and they had ten children, namely: Nicho- las, Maria, who is the wife of Adolph Lenk- hardt, baker at Charleston; Barbara, who is the wife of Max Schaub, a baker at Charleston; John, who lives at Charleston; Margaret, who is the wife of A. McCowan, a groceryman at Charleston; and others who died young.

Leaving school at the age of fourteen years, Nicholas Barth worked in the coal mines for

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eight months and then learned the trade of linen weaving. When twenty years of age, he left Germany for the United States and at Binghampton, N. Y., learned the baker's trade. He worked as a baker in the city of New York and at Aurora, Ind., and then opened a bakery of his own in Cincinnati. After a successful period there he sold out and opened the Albion Hotel, which he conducted for one year and then came to Charleston. Here he started a bakery on the present site of the St. Albert Hotel, which he operated for four years and then sold. For twelve years Mr. Barth was engaged with a partner at Cincinnati, in the brewing business and then retired from active business life. He is a Democrat politically but has never accepted public office.

Mr. Barth was married first to Christina Orth, a daughter of Mathias and Catherine (Klaen) Orth. She died November 19, 1888, aged thirty-four years, the mother of two chil- dren, of whom the one survivor is Fred Paul, who is a clerk in the postoffice at Charleston. He married Lena Williams and they have one child, Nicholas. Mr. Barth was married sec- ondly to Katy Crow, who was born January I, 1868, of Irish parents. They have two sons : Nicholas A., who is an electrician; and John C., who attends school. Mr. Barth is a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic church.

ALBERT KING, general merchant in busi- ness at Hansford, W. Va., has been a lifelong resident of Kanawha county, born in Elk dis- trict August 1, 1852, a son of George W. and a grandson of Charles King.

Charles King came to this section from Nicholas County, Va., one of the old-time trav- eling preachers, probably of the Methodist faith. He settled on Mill Creek and there fol- lowed farming and continued his good works. On that place George W. King was born but later bought 160 acres in Elk district, where he engaged in farming and lumbering until his death at the age of fifty-two years. He mar- ried Rhoda Light, who survived him for some time. They had the following children: Floyd Jefferson, Sarah Elizabeth, wife of Robert Bibby; Edmund; Albert; Mary Alice, wife of William Ritter ; Martha A., wife of R. L. Bib-

by; and George W., Charity Catherine, and Charles, the last named being deceased.

Albert King spent his boyhood on the farm and attended the country schools but was yet young when he accompanied his father into the woods to work. He assisted on the home farm until the age of twenty-one, after which he de- voted himself mainly to the lumber business for about ten years, until 1901, when he opened a store at Mammoth, Kanawha county, in partnership with R. A. Kirk. In the fall of the following year the business was moved to Hansford and later the partnership was dis- solved. Mr. King bought his present store block from Dennis Brannon and is well estab- lished, in fact is doing more than the ordinary amount of business considering that he has numerous competitors. In February, 1903, Mr. King was married to Miss Alice Susan Wal- dron, a daughter of Patrick and Ida Waldron, Mr. Waldron being the oldest settler now living at Hansford. In politics Mr. King is a Repub- lican.

GEORGE W. BELLER,* wine merchant, who has been in business at Charleston, WV. Va., since 1890, was born April 28, 1856, at Mal- den, Kanawha county, W. Va., and is a son of Frank and Agatha (Hurst) Beller.

The parents of Mr. Beller were natives of Germany. The father came to America when twenty-two years of age, and the mother ac- companied her parents across the Atlantic ocean in her girlhood. Frank Beller had learned the shoemaking trade in his own coun- try and worked at it first in Cincinnati, O., and afterward in Kanawha county, where his death occurred in 1869. He was a faithful member of the Roman Catholic church. He was mar- ried to Agatha Hurst, in the United States, and she survives him and on February 8, 1911, celebrated her seventy-eighth birthday. She also is a member of the Catholic church and a lady who has a wide circle of friends. To Frank and Agatha Beller seven children were born, two of whom died young. The surviv- ors are: George W .: Andrew, is in busi- ness with his brother George W., who is mar- ried and has five children; William, who is a resident of Cincinnati; Henry, who lives at

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Charleston; and Joseph, who resides with his mother.

George W. Beller is one of the substantial and respected business men of Charleston but he is largely self made. He had but few early advantages but through industry and care promoted his own fortunes, practically without assistance, and now occupies an independent position. Mr. Beller is open-handed in his charities and gives liberal support to the Cath= olic church, in which he was reared. He is a member of the Elks at Charleston and was one of the organizers of this order here, belongs also to the Eagles and has been admitted to the higher branches of Odd Fellowship.

JOHN W. ASHLEY, who is a representa- tive business man of Charleston, W. Va., man- ufacturer of the widely known Tip Top bread, erected his business building, with di- mensions of 26x120 feet, at No. 1321 Wash- ington street, in 1907, which is properly equipped for the extensive business done, which is entirely wholesale. Mr. Ashley was born in Kanawha county, was educated in the public schools and has always lived here. He is a son of Lewis and Mary (High) Ashley.

Lewis Ashley was born in what is now West Virginia, in 1848, and died at his home in Charleston, in 1894, having followed the car- penter trade during much of his active life. In politics he was a Republican and during the Civil War he served as a soldier for three years in the Union army, as a member of the 7th W. Va. Vol. Cav., and took part in many battles but was fortunate enough to escape injury. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church as is his widow, who lives with her son, John W., at Charleston.

In January, 1897, John W. Ashley started into his present enterprise in a small way at Charleston and is a practical baker. In a re- markable degree Mr. Ashley has developed this business and his market is Charleston. Perfect sanitary surroundings have been pro- vided by Mr. Ashley and he was the first manu- facturer in this city to wrap the loaves, an ad- mirable protection that has been appreciated by the consumers.

Mr. Ashley was married in Philadelphia to

Miss Jennie Kanary, who was born in that city thirty-six years ago and was educated in Bucks county, Pa. They have had four children, one of whom died in infancy. Grant L., now a bright student of fourteen years; Claude N., aged eleven, also in school; and Aileen, a baby of three years, makes up the family circle.

ULYSSES G. YOUNG, capitalist and well known citizens of Charleston, W. Va., owns one of the city's beautiful homes, his residence being located at No. 1323 Quarrier street. He was born at Charleston, June 6, 1869, and is a son of Rev. Henry and Lucetta (Jones) Young, and a grandson of Mathias Geyhart Young.

Rev. Henry Young was born in Wirt coun- ty, on Little Kanawha river, now in W. Va., some eighty years since and still resides on his father's old homestead, where he has passed the greater part of his life. This land is a part of a large estate, several thousand acres, which Ma- thias G. Young secured at a very date. It is related that he traded a rifle for some hun- dreds of acres lying on Two-mile Creek, where it empties into the Kanawha river. Mathias G. Young was married twice and had seventeen children, Rev. Henry Young being the youngest born to his first marriage, with Nancy Hick- man. For many years Rev. Young has been a minister of the Missionary Baptist church and has devoted a large part of his time to religious work, all through the county, and has never accepted any financial return for the same. He is a strong temperance advocate and in local affairs votes with the Prohibition party but is identified with the Republican party in national matters. He married Lucetta Jones, who was born in Kanawha county in 1840 and died in 1876. She was a devoted member of the Bap- tist church. Of their children, three are de- ceased and four are living. Nancy, who sur- vived her husband, William Kesler, died at the age of thirty-four years, with both her chil- dren. William Thomas married Mary Carney and both are deceased, three children surviving. Lorenzo Dow, deceased, married Lizzie Hick- inbottom, and is survived by children. John M. lives near Charleston and is a carriage-builder by trade. He has been thrice married, his last

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HISTORY OF KANAWHA COUNTY

union being with Ida Jones, and they have two children, Clarissa, who resides at Charleston, is the widow of Philip Holseaple, who left a large family. George B. McClelland is a resi- dent of Charleston. He married Georgia Pur- dy and they have three children. Ulysses Grant is the youngest of the family.

Ulysses G. Young early displayed the enter- prise that has resulted in his accumulating a large fortune through his own efforts. When sixteen years of age he started out as a cabin boy on a steamboat and later became a deck hand, some years later transferring from water transportation to land, when he entered rail- road life, and still later worked in the construc- tion of public works on the Kanawha river. He was variously occupied for some years and then engaged in the horse business and oper- ated a livery stable, subsequently turning his attention to the handling of real estate, becom- ing also a note broker. With opportunity Mr. Young proved his extreme business capacity and is now numbered with the capitalists of Charleston. He has been an active and public spirited citizen for a number of years, served two years as street commissioner and two terms as a member of the city council from a Republi- can ward.

On January 6, 1901, Mr. Young married at Gallipolis, O., to Miss Emma B. Gunter, who was born July 9, 1872, on Elk river, Kanawha county, a daughter of John W. and Martha J. (Leavitt) Gunter. The mother of Mrs. Young died at Charleston at the age of forty-five years. The father, who is a veteran of the Civil War, serving four years in the Federal Army, resides on his farm in Elk district and is now in his sixty-fifth year. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Gunter consisted of six children, namely : Mrs. Young; Franklin S., who is a resident of Charleston, married Laura Samples and they have six children: Laura V., who is the wife of Walter Guyer, of Charleston, and they have one daughter, Dorothy J .; Robert Lee, who lives at Charleston; Cora May, who resides with her father; Nellie A., who is the wife of A. Board, of Kanawha county, and they have one son, John. Mr. and Mrs. Young have one daughter, Maude A., who was born

May 25, 1893. She married William Webber, and they live on a farm in Clark county, Ky., near Lexington. Mr. Young is a member of Elkanah Lodge, No. 38, Knights of Pythias.

HENRY LEE BLAIR, general merchant at East Bank, W. Va., and a stockholder in the Tri-State Wholesale Grocery Company, at Kenova, W. Va., has been a resident of East Bank for the past twenty-six years. He was born July 6, 1863, in Putnam county, W. Va., and is a son of Samuel WV. and Lucinda ( Stat- en) Blair.

Samuel W. Blair was of Irish ancestry. He was a shoemaker by trade and also taught school for many years in Putnam county, and owned a farm near Hurricane, where he died when aged seventy-six years. He was married in Buckingham county, Va., to Lucinda Staten, who died at East Bank, in her seventy-ninth year. They had six children, namely : Mary, who is deceased, was the wife of William Green; Samuel C., who formerly was county superintendent of schools in Kanawha county ; Andrew C., deceased, who formerly was pro- secuting attorney of Kanawha county ; William R., who is a school teacher; Henry Lee; and Emma J., who is the widow of George E. Bene- dict.

Henry Lee Blair spent his boyhood on the home farm and his education was pursued un- der the watchful superintendence of his father. He remained at home until the age of twenty- one years and then entered the employ of the company controlling the mines at East Bank, where he remained as coal weigher, for fifteen years. In 1900 he opened his store at East Bank, when he erected a new two-story build- ing, 44x60 feet in dimensions and carries a large stock. He owns other real estate, includ- ing his comfortable residence. He was one of the founders of the Tri-State Wholesale Gro- cery Company, which was organized in 1909.

Mr. Blair was married June 25, 1884, to Miss Hattie May Buskirk, and they have four children: Charles, who resides at East Bank, married Bessie Coleman and they have one daughter, Nora; Armon C., who resides at home; Warden, who is the wife of James Mar- tin (they have one child, Freda Lee, and live

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at East Bank) ; and Quinton. Mr. Blair and family belong to the Baptist church. He is a member of the senior order of American Me- chanics, No. 25, at East Bank, and of the Knights of Pythias, at Cedar Grove. Politi- cally he is a Republican and has served as city recorder and as a member of the council.

ERNEST AUGUST MEYER,* who is a farmer in Elk district, and is also proprietor of a meat market, was born in Gallia county, O., October II, 1874, and is a son of Frederick and Augusta ( Raulph) Meyer.

Frederick Meyer was born at Pittsburg, Pa., and was of German parentage. In childhood his parents moved to Gallia county, O., where Frederick grew to manhood and was engaged in farming until his death, at the age of thirty- five years. He had remained on the old Gallia county homestead. He married Augusta Raulph, a daughter of Christian and Anna Raulph, who were natives of Germany. Mrs. Meyer still resides in Gallia county and has passed her fifty-fourth birthday. The members of the family of Frederick Meyer and wife still living are: Emma, who is the widow of W. Lindell and lives in Charleston; Ernest Au- gust ; and Millie Amelia, who is the wife of J. Jones, of Gallia county. After remaining a widow for some years, Mrs. Meyer married Washington Donohue, who is a farmer in Gal- lia county, and they have had three children.

CHRISTOPHER C. RAND, chief of the fire department of Charleston, W. Va., a man of great executive ability, and an able and pub- lic spirited citizen, was born September 17, 1858, near Charleston, and is a son of Chris- topher C. and Nancy McArthur ( Pine) Rand.

Christopher C. Rand, Sr., was a New Eng- lander, born at Rutland, Vt., and came to Kan- awha county, W. Va., with his two brothers, Jacob and William J., and they all engaged in salt manufacturing for some years. In politics he was a Whig and when the great questions came up that involved the country in civil war, he was a union man and was opposed to seces- sion. His death occurred at the age of sixty- five years, while the war was in progress. He married Nancy McArthur Pine, a lady from

Kentucky. She survived her husband for a number of years, her death occurring after her seventieth birthday. She was a consistent member of the Methodist church, while her husband was a deacon in the Presbyterian church. Four sons and four daughters were born to them : Lucy, who is the wife of Edward Bibby of Charleston; Virginia, who is the wid- ow of J. M. Gates, founder of the J. M. Gates Paint Manufacturing Company, who was suc- ceeded by his sons, and she resides on Broad street, Charleston; Nannie A., who is the wife of John C. Roy, who is identified with the Knight Lumber Company of Charleston; Al- bert P., who is a lumber buyer, resides at Charleston and married Mattie R. Goshorn; and Christopher C., the others being deceased.

Christopher C. Rand was educated in the Charleston public schools. He has the record of five years service in the regular army, hav- ing been commissioned first sergeant of his company in August, 1881, and obtaining an honorable discharge in 1884. In 1888 he was appointed captain of the Governor's Guard, by Governor Wilson, and continued as such during Governor Wilson's administration. For eleven years he was in the insurance business. In May, 1907, when the Charleston Fire depart- ment was reorganized, the office of chief was tendered him, and subsequent developments have shown was a wise choice was made. Chief Rand has organized his men according to mili- tary regulations and the efficiency of the de- partment under his management is acknowl- edged gratefully by the citizens of Charleston. Since his appointment there have been no ser- ious fires, the department being so thoroughly trained that no opportunity is given for a con- flagration to gain headway. Chief Rand was appointed to this office by the mayor and he has authority to discipline his command. Like their leader, this fire department are fine speci- mens of manly vigor and they command the esteem as well as confidence of the public.

Chief Rand was married at Charleston to Miss Joanna Trudgian, a native of this city, a daughter of John and Sarah Trudgian. They were born and married in England. The moth- er of Mrs. Rand resides in this city but the father is deceased. To Chief and Mrs. Rand

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HISTORY OF KANAWHA COUNTY

a son was born, October 30, 1889, who bears the name of his father and grandfather, being the third Christopher C. Rand. He is with the Bell Telephone Company at Huntington. The family belongs to the First Presbyterian church at Charleston. Chief Rand is one of the trus- tees of Charleston Lodge, No. 202, Elks.

FREDERICK GARDNER, a member of the city council of Charleston, W. Va., repre- senting that important section included in the eighth ward, for many years has been an hon- orable and respected business man here and is now one of the substantial citizens of the place. He was born December 27, 1845, in Hanover, Germany, of German parentage and ancestry. He is a son of Carl and Margaret Gardner.

Carl Gardner followed the trade of rope, twine and net making, all his active life, his death occurring in 1854. He had lost his wife in 1848, she being a victim of cholera that was then prevailing. There were three chil- dren in the family, Frederick being the eldest. The two others, Carl and Georgiana may still live in Germany, although Mr. Gardner has not heard from them for a long period.

Frederick Gardner was only three years old when his mother died and but nine years old when he lost his father. He lived with rela- tives until he was fourteen years of age, in the meanwhile attending school as opportunity afforded, and then started for the United States, alone and unaccompanied. He sailed from Bremen, on a three-mast vessel, and after thirty-seven days of tossing on the Atlantic ocean, was landed at Castle 'Garden, New York City, October 9, 1861. By some means he reached Wheeling, Va., and at once began work in a butcher shop and served an appren- ticeship to that trade for three years and six months. He then went to Gallipolis, O., where he worked at butchering for three years and then came to Charleston and started into business on his own account and has con- tinued in the same line of business ever since. This record shows plainly what may be ac- complished by an industrious, persevering boy even when handicapped as was Mr. Gardner in the beginning, by his youth and inexperi-

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History of Charleston and Kanawha County, West Virginia and representative citizens, Part 88

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