History of Charleston and Kanawha County, West Virginia and representative citizens, Part 93

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 93

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coal fields in the state would expand this sketch to too great a length consistent with biograph- ical purposes. It may be said, however, that they abounded with detailed and valuable in- formation in regard to these different fields- their history, workable qualities, facilities for transportation, and other data interesting to the miner, operator and shipper. With respect to the mining department, Mr. Laing had the following to say :

"The mining department was created in 1883 to provide a more efficient system of mine inspection, and has been productive of much good, and it will not be denied that, if this department will permit itself to be di- rected by conservative influence and associate itself with men of constructive ability, and select as its corps of assistants, capable and earnest district mine inspectors, it can do effec- tive work for the preservation of the lives of coal miners; the economic mining of coal; the conservation of the great West Virginia nat- ural resources ; and many lessons and records of this kind may be left for the benefit of coming generations, especially of those who may be following the mining of coal for a livelihood."

With respect to the examination of mine foremen, he said in his address already re- ferred to:

"By these examinations we are taking a broad view of bettering the conditions gener- ally, and outlining a method of education that will not only benefit the person examined, but the operators and stockholders as well; so that the joint proposition of the creation of the department of mines is that safety to workers in coal mines, and the protection of property. may be better subserved. We further believe that in holding these examinations, where a general diffusion of ideas is given and the ways and means to eliminate dangers are dis- cussed. it cannot but help improve the general knowledge of the mine foremen and the fire bosses."

We will close our reference to the coal in- dustry, as herein contained, with one more timely quotation from Mr. Laing's address, and a few remarks in regard to the mining department.

"The world of science has for some years been directing much effort to improve the con- dition of the farmer, the physician, the sur- geon, etc., but no business or profession of a commercial magnitude has been given more consideration by those interested than has coal mining: and in this, as in all other branches of coal mining. West Virginia is not follow- ing, but is leading, as can be well proven by the records of recent years, and, with the present spirit of energy, push and progress that now animates the hearts of the young mining men of West Virginia. there is no reason to doubt that before many years hence. West Virginia will give such a record to the coal mining fraternity of the world that the present generation will be well proud of and future generations may well imitate."

The department is made up of twelve dis- trict inspectors, which Mr. Laird appoints. · The state has eight hundred active producing mines in operation, the production for 1910 ag- gregating approximately 60.000,000 tons, the general quality of the coal being of a suffi- ciently high grade to cause the demand for it to equal that for other coals nearer the mar- kets. West Virginia produces the highest grade of bituminous coal in the world, and in addition to the large general consumption among the states, a considerable amount is purchased by the government for the U. S. navy. From the quantity mined in 1863 of less than half a million tons to the sixty mil- lion ton output of 1910 is a far cry but show- ing a steady and gratifying increase, and the end is not yet. As the chief and general su- pervisor of this great industry, Mr. Laing has much to occupy his mind and stimulate his activities, but it is a work in which he feels at home, and it would be difficult, to say the least, to find a better man for the position he now fills.

Mr. Laing was married in York county. Pa., to Miss Margaret S. Slagle, who was born in that county forty-one years ago. Among her ancestors were some who took part in the War of the Revolution, fighting for the independence of the colonies. Her father. William, and her grandfather, Adam Slagle, were born, reared, lived, and died near

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Hanover, York county, Pa., inhabiting the old Slagle farm that has been in the family for 219 years. Mrs. Laing, after attending the public schools, received a collegiate education in her native state and is a lady of culture and refinement. She has a brother, Dr. R. L. Slagle, who is now president of the State Agricultural College at Brookings, S. D. Mr. and Mrs. Laing have been the parents of three children, namely: Louisa and Gertrude, who reside at home and are attending the city schools; and Margaret, who died at the age of seven months and ten days. Mr. and Mrs. Laing are members of the First Presbyterian church of Charleston. The former is an ac- tive member of the Masonic order, belonging to the Blue Lodge, Chapter, Council and Commandery, and to Beni-Kedem Temple, M. S. In politics he is an adherent of the Republican party.

H. T. SMARR,* superintendent of Kelley's Creek Colliery Company, is a man of wide ex- perience in the coal mining industry and has been a resident of Kanawha county, W. Va., for the past eleven years. He was born July 5, 1879, at Brookville, Ky., and is a son of J. W. and Martha W. Smarr.

H. T. Smarr enjoyed liberal educational ad- vantages, attending the Kentucky State Uni- versity at Lexington, and after coming to Kan- awha county studied civil engineering for two years under M. W. Vample, at Charleston. From there he went to the mines in Southwest Virginia, which are now owned by the Church- field Coal Company, then by the Dawson Coal Company, and later accompanied J. W. Dawson to Kelley's Creek and was made superintendent of the mines at this point.

HON. CYRUS WILLIAM HALL, for- merly judge of the Kanawha county Criminal Court, was born near Harrisville, now in West Virginia, December 30, 1858, and died at his home in Charleston, November 30, 1909. His parents were Hon. Cyrus and Amelia (Scott) Hall.

Judge Cyrus Hall, who enjoyed the distinc- tion of being the youngest judge ever on the bench in West Virginia, was born in Ritchie

county, Va., was afforded exceptional educa- tional advantages and graduated from an Ohio college before he was admitted to the bar in his native state. He was a man of great promi- nence both before and following the Civil War, serving in the office of prosecuting attorney, the first incumbent after the Virginians were sep- arated and was a member of the legislature that voted for the secession of Virginia from the Union. He was intensely loyal to the South and like other men of distinction in this section, suffered severely in fortune through the dis- turbances of war. At one time he advocated the principles of the Greenback party but later

became an unflinching Democrat. Throughout life he adhered to the Methodist faith. His death occurred January 19, 1908, when he was eighty-one years old, he having survived his wife. They had the following children born to them: T. C .; Benjamin B., who owns and operates the Island Inn; Loretta H., who is the wife of H. T. Sheffey, of Charleston; Camp- bell, and an infant daughter, now deceased; and Cyrus William.

Cyrus William Hall was educated in the public schools of Parkersburg, Va. Later he studied law under his father's supervision and was admitted to the bar in 1882, becoming one of its brilliant members. In 1894 and 1895 he was assistant clerk of the West Virginia Sen- ate, prior to which, from 1888 to 1892, he had served as justice of the peace. In 1897 he was elected judge of the Kanawha county Criminal Court and served with the greatest efficiency on the bench for the succeeding six years. He also attended to important business interests aside from his profession and still found time to show interest in social life and in fraternal or- ganizations of which he was an honored mem- ber. At the time of his death, Judge Hall was past grand chancellor of the order of Knights of Pythias and for seven years had been an offi- cer in the Supreme Lodge of that order in America, and for many years he represented his lodge in the conventions of the organization. He was one of the promoters in a public-spirited way of the Orphans' Home. His whole career both in political and civil life was marked by the acts of a man of sterling character.

In 1888 Judge Hall was married to Miss

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Myrtle Wood, who is the only child of Charles F. and Laura Frances (Thurman) Wood. She was born near Charleston, and was educated in this city, graduating from the High School. Judge and Mrs. Hall had two sons-Sheffey Wood and Cyrus William. The former, born September 27, 1880, was educated at Charles- ton, Dayton, St. Mary's, and the University of West Virginia, at Morgantown, and is now in the insurance business. The younger son whose birth took place April 9, 1900, is a stu- dent in the public schools of Charleston. Mrs. Hall and her sons are members of the First Presbyterian church.

Upon occasion of the death of Judge Hall, the newspapers of city and state paid glowing tributes to his worth in every relation of life, and the resolutions passed by bench and bar left no doubt as to the respect, esteem, admira- tion and affection in which he was held by his associates.

H. O. STARKEY,* whose valuable farm of thirty acres lies in Loudon district, is chief clerk in the South Side store of C. J. Turley, Charleston, maintaining his home on his farm. He was born in 1864, in Franklin county, Va., and is a son of J. H. and Ann ( Mace) Starkey.

J. H. Starkey was born in Virginia and lived in his native state until he was thirty years of age, following farming, and then moved to a farm in Kanawha county, where the remainder of his life was passed, his death occurring in 1899, when he was aged sixty-three years. He married Ann Mace, who was born in Missouri, and they had five children : L. A., H. O., Sallie, A. J., and Mollie, and of these two are de- ceased, L. A. and Sallie.

H. O. Starkey obtained a good, solid edu- cation and taught school for twenty years, mainly in Lincoln and Logan counties, and was well and favorably known as an educator. In 1906 he came to the mercantile firm with which he has ever since been identified as head clerk. Mr. Starkey was married first to Miss Lucy Wilkinson, and they had two children, Hattie and Beuna. His second marriage was to Miss Brooke Bryan, and they have four children: Iva, Zula, Harvey O., and an infant. Mr. and Mrs. Starkey are members of the Baptist

church. In politics he is a Democrat and fra- ternally he is a Mason.

HENRY D. GOSHORN, general manager of the Goshorn Hardware Company, an im- portant pioneer industry of Charleston, W. Va., is one of the representative and substantial bus- iness men of this section. He was born at Charleston, March 18, 1856 and after complet- ing his education in the city schools, became identified with the present business, when eigh- teen years of age and has been continuously connected with it since.

William F. Goshorn, father of Henry D., came to Kanawha county from Pennsylvania, a man of sturdy Dutch ancestry, noted for his thrift as well as his integrity. He was one of the founders of the Goshorn Hardware Com- pany and continued in the business until his death in 1882. He married Miss Eliza Dag- gett, who was born at Cincinnati, O., of New England parentage, her family being of the Presbyterian faith. Her death occurred at Charleston, in her sixty-first year. The chil- dren born to William F. and Eliza Goshorn were the following : Helen B., who married Dr. Lawrence Carr, a retired physician of Charles- ton; Belle F., who is the wife of ex-Governor W. A. MacCorkle, and the mother of a son and daughter; William F., who is president of the Goshorn Hardware Company; Henry D .; Addie, who is the wife of J. W. Kennedy, an attorney at Charleston; and Edward H., who resides in Charleston.

Henry D. Goshorn has been general manager of the Goshorn Hardware Company since its incorporation in 1905. This business is located at No. 206 Capitol Street, Charleston. Its ori- gin dates back for a period of more than eighty years. The original firm was organized in the early thirties, when it was known as J. & W. Goshorn. In 1882, at the death of W. F. Gos- horn, it was conducted as J. H. and W. F. Gos- horn & Co., the firm being composed of W. F. and H. D. Goshorn. In 1905 the Goshorn Hardware Company was incorporated, with president; H. D. Goshorn, general manager, and J. A. deGruyter, secretary and treasurer. W. F. Goshorn, president; H. B. Smith, vice

This company does a general hardware busi-

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ness, both wholesale and retail; are exclusive agents for the Syracuse chilled plow and the Fox double-barreled shotgun. They are job- bers of shelf and heavy hardware, sash, doors, building material, nails, wire, iron and steel, mine supplies, imported and American cutlery, sporting goods of every description, farming implements, paints, etc. They are agents for Yale & Towne Manufacturing Co. locks and P. & F. Corbin locks and builder's hardware. They carry the finest and best line of fishing tackle in Charleston. The company employs six traveling salesmen, who traverse a large territory contiguous to Charleston. The com- pany also maintains a branch store in West Charleston, on Charleston street. The business is in a very prosperous condition, the Goshorn name having stood for reliability for the entire period of its existence.

Henry D. Goshorn was married to Miss Ettie D. Minsker, who was born at Charleston in 1860. Her father, Solomon Minsker, was born in Pennsylvania, of Dutch ancestry. He mar- ried Miss Mary High, a daughter of George High, who was a prominent man in the Kana- wha Valley at one time. Seven children were born to Henry D. Goshorn and wife, namely : Louise, who died at the age of fourteen years ; William F., born October 20, 1885, who was graduated in the class of 1907, from the Ohio College of Dental Surgery, of Cincinnati, and is now engaged in practice in this city; Harry M., and J. Lynn, both of whom were educated in the Charleston schools and are connected with their father in his business; Mary J., who attends school; Stanley C., and Catherine M. In politics Mr. Goshorn is a Democrat, as was his father who was prominent in party affairs. Mr. and Mrs. Goshorn are active members of the First Presbyterian church.

GEORGE H. BOWERS,* sawyer, who re- sides near Charleston, W. Va., in Elk district, was born December 3, 1867, in Pennsylvania, and is a son of George and Melissa (Bower) Bowers. George Bowers was born in Ger- many and after emigrating to the United States settled in Pennsylvania, where he was engaged in the nursery business until he met with finanical reverses during the Civil War.

He then moved to Elk district, Kanawha county and engaged in farming but died soon afterward, in 1868. He married Melissa Bower who still survives, being now in her eightieth year. Of their children the follow- ing survive : Luella, who is the wife of W. A. Foster, of Charleston; Maggie, Gertrude, Ed- win, Walter, Mazie and George H. After the death of her husband, Mrs. Bowers took charge of the farm and carried on extensive operations very successfully.

George H. Bowers, after his school days were over, and his mother did not need his services on the farm, learned the trade of sawyer and worked in saw mills all through this section and for eighteen years for the patentee of the first band saw. Since 1906 he has also been engaged in this business cutside of West Virginia, being a very expert sawyer.

Mr. Bowers was married in July, 1893, to Miss Delia Nutter, who was born January 20, 1873. Mrs. Bowers is a daughter of Thomas and Anne (Copen) Nutter, and a sister of Mrs. John Vinton Jordan, of Elk district. The Nutters have been well known people in Har- rison and Kanawha county for many years. Prior to her marriage, Mrs. Bowers taught school for six terms in Elk and Loudon dis- tricts. She is a member of the Methodist Epis- copal church at Charleston. To Mr. and Mrs. Bowers four children have been born: Cecil, born May 12, 1894; Kenneth George, who is deceased; and Edith and Edward, twins, born in October, 1899. Edward is deceased. Mr. Bowers is a member of Charleston Lodge No. 95, Odd Fellows, and of Capital City Council No. 221, Jr. Order of American Mechanics.

JOHN W. MOORE, M.D., physician of Charleston, W. Va., was born in 1869, at Lexington, Rockbridge county, Va. He received his primary instruction in private schools and later became a student in the University of New York, where he was graduated with his medical degree in 1899. He subsequently spent three years in post graduate work in the hospitals in New York. In 1903 he came to Charleston to establish his home in the capital city. He is identified with the leading medical or-

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ganizations, including the American Med- ical Association.

Dr. Moore was married at Lexington, Va., to Miss Anna Preston, a daughter of Rev. John T. L. Preston, D.D., and Lucy ( Waddell) Preston.

WILLIAM M. THOMAS,* who con- ducts a general store and owns nineteen and one-half acres of excellent land in Cabin Creek district, was born at Nor- folk, Va., on his father's farm, August 22, 1839, and is a son of John and a grandson of William Thomas, who came from Ger- many during the German Revolution and settled near Norfolk, Va.

John Thomas served in the War of 1812 and was colonel of a regiment. He was a farmer and lived on the place where he was born. He married Nancy Cunning- ham and both died there. They had the following children: Joseph, who served in the Mexican War, and Howarton, Hender- son, William Morgan, Sarah, and Barbara, all now deceased except William M.

William M. Thomas assisted on the home farm until 1861, when he enlisted in the Confederate army, entering Co. E, 24th Va. Inf., and served all through the war under the command of Gen. Stonewall Jackson, until the death of that brave offi- cer. He took part in many a hard-fought battle, including Gettysburg, first and sec- ond battles of Bull Run, Gaines' Farm, Petersburg, Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Cedar Creek, and was wounded in the seven days of fighting before Richmond. He was present at the surrender of Gen- eral Lee at Appomattox. After the war was over, Mr. Thomas returned to Norfolk and afterward came to Kanawha county to start his life over again, as it were, and here started into working for the Coalburg Coal Company on the river and was on the Kanawha steamboats for several years. He moved to his present place in 1878, set- tling practically in the wilderness, for the country round about was all woods, and bears, panthers and snakes were fre- quently seen. The family moved into an

old log cabin on the place, and he cleared up the land, and built his present comfort- able residence. Later he sold land for building purposes and in 1906 opened his store, which is mainly looked after by Mrs. Thomas.

Mr. Thomas was married at Charleston on December 26, 1867, to Cynthia Hud- nall, a daughter of Anderson and Janetta (Lathey) Hudnall, who were natives of Ohio. Mrs. Thomas was born November 25, 1846, in Cabin Creek district, Kana- wha county. Nine children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Thomas, namely : Belle, who is the wife of W. H. Hudnall and they have four children; Naomi, who is the wife of G. W. Rutlege, and the mother of six children; Catherine, who is the wife of L. Carnes, and has two chil- dren; Virginia, who is the wife of Charles Buskirk, and has five children; Eliza, who is the wife of G. W. Harkness, and has five children; Florence, who is deceased, and three others who died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas are members of the Mission- ary Baptist Church. He is a Democrat in politics, and he belongs to Stonewall Jack- son Post, Confederate Veterans, at Charleston.

N. GWYNN NICHOLSON, D.D.S., who is engaged in the practice of his pro- fession at Charleston, W. Va., is a native of North Carolina, born February 25, 1875, in Warren county. His parents were Gideon Wesley and Emily Shepherd (Con- rad) Nicholson.

Gideon Wesley Nicholson spent his life in Warren county, N. C., a gentleman- farmer. He was a descendant of the fa- mous Sir Francis Nicholson, of Scotch- Irish descent, who was one of the early settlers of Baltimore, Md. Gideon Wes- ley Nicholson died in 1888, at the age of seventy-six years. He married Emily Shepherd Conrad, who died in Warren county when aged sixty-seven years. Her father was Isaac Conrad, of Quaker stock, who came of the old Conrad family of Pennsylvania that traces its first settler to

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1692. Gideon W. Nicholson and wife were members of the Baptist church. They had the following children: Henry, who lives in Warren county, married Elizabeth Johnson and they have one son and four daughters; Lillie, single, who lives in War- ren county; Benjamin, who lives at Hot Springs, N. C .; Betty, who resides at Fay- etteville, N. C .; and Hugh G., of Charles- ton, and Gwynn of Charleston.

Dr. Nicholson attended school in War- ren county and his first business experi- ence was as an office boy with the South- ern Railroad Company, after which he learned telegraphy and later became an operator on that road, one year later changing to the Grand Trunk and being stationed at Detroit, Mich. He subse- quently became chief clerk for the general yardmaster and was engaged there until he had prepared himself to enter the de- partment of dentistry in the Detroit Col- lege of Medicine, where he was graduated in the class of 1902. He then became as- sistant for Dr. C. H. Oakman at Detroit and continued with him until September, 1903, when he came to Charleston. He has built up a very substantial practice, keeps thoroughly abreast with the times in his profession and each year is adding to his field of professional usefulness.

Dr. Nicholson belongs to the higher or- ders of Masonry, being a member of the Blue Lodge, Chapter, Commandery, and of Beni-Kedem Temple, Mystic Shrine. He retains interest in his fraternal society, the Delta Sigma Delta of the Detroit, Mich., branch. He is a member of St. John's Episcopal Church.

CHRISTOPHER LORRY,* who is en- gaged in farming on Cooper's Creek, Elk district, where he also conducts a grocery store, was born on this farm, October 6, 1881, and is a son of Fred and Anna (Witt- mer) Lorry.

Fred Lorry was born in Ireland and was two years old when his parents came to America and settled in Ohio, where he lived until 1871. He then came to Elk dis-

trict, Kanawha county, and settled on the farm now owned by his son. He engaged in farming and also owned and operated a saw-mill. One of the oldest oil derricks in this place was set up in his mill and re- mained there until 1908. A number of people settled here while the oil industry continued and the village was known as Four-Mile Corners. The post-office is Mink Station. Fred Lorry married Anna Wittmer and they have four sons and one daughter: Fred, a miller, residing in Charleston; Albert, who is at home with his parents; Edward, who works in a planing-mill at Charleston; Christopher ; and Elizabeth, who is the wife of C. Bur- dette, of Charleston.

Christopher Lorry attended school in Elk district and then engaged in farming and when he saw a good opening for a gro- cery store he embarked in that business and is doing well. He is a stanch Demo- crat when it comes to voting but otherwise takes little interest in politics, devoting himself closely to his own affairs. He married Miss Rose Burdette, daughter of the late Day Burdette, and they have one son, Pearly, a bright little lad of six years.

HENRY F. STUCK,* a well known citi- zen of Elk district, where he is engaged in farming and truck gardening, and also is in the employ of the K. & W. Va. R. R. Company, was born January 3, 1857, in Crawford county, O., and is a son of Franklin and Julia N. (Cra- mer ) Stuck.

Franklin Stuck was born at Selinsgrove, Pa., in 1832, and as a boy accompanied his parents when they moved to Ohio. He became a man of means in Crawford county, engaging in timbering and farming and also operating saw mills and later went into the stock business. In the panic of 1876 he became somewhat em- barrassed and later lost all his fortune through going on a bond for another party. He was not discouraged, however, by these misfor- tunes, but continued in his timber business and subsequently in part regained his monetary standing. He was honest and upright in all his dealings and enjoyed the respect and con-

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fidence of his fellow citizens. He married Julia N. Cramer, who was born in 1830 and died in 1900. She was a daughter of Christo- pher Cramer, who was born in Germany and came from there to Crawford county, O., where he was a farmer.

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History of Charleston and Kanawha County, West Virginia and representative citizens, Part 93

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