History of Charleston and Kanawha County, West Virginia and representative citizens, Part 97

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 97

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HENRY STREIT WALKER, deceased, formerly secretary of state for West Virginia and for many years prominent in public affairs and in the journalistic field in Kanawha county, had other important interests which identified him with adjacent sections. He oc- cupies a prominent position on the lengthy list of strong and forceful men of West Virginia. He was born at Winchester, Va., May 31, 1840, and was a son of Samuel and Elizabeth Walker, of Frederick county, Va., and a great- grandson, on the maternal side, of Rev. Chris- tian Streit, who was the first accredited Luth- eran minister in the Shenandoah valley.

Henry Streit Walker was well prepared in youth for the tasks that awaited him in the fu- ture, educational advantages being provided at Winchester and Morgantown, and at Wash- ington College, Pa., his brilliant career as a student in that institution closing with the highest honors of his class, he being chosen to deliver the class valedictory. His talents were so versatile that almost every profession was alike open to him and with the full assurance that he would succeed, and he partly prepared for the law before yielding to his stronger lean-

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ing toward journalism. In 1865, two years af- ter graduation, he became the editor of the Wheeling Daily Register, then the leading Democratic organ of that section. In 1870, when Charleston became the capital, he moved to Kanawha county and founded the newspapers which he so ably conducted in the interests of his party, for ten subsequent years. In all progressive movements he was the acknowl- edged leader, and in 1875 and in 1878 and again in 1880, he was a candidate for legisla- tive and congressional honors, but on account of internal dissensions in the party, failed of election. Nevertheless he was an important factor in public affairs and exerted a strong in- fluence in the direction of public sentiment. During 1871-72 he served as public printer for West Virginia. In 1885 he was appointed secretary of state for West Virginia, under Governor Wilson, and served one year over his full term, retiring with honorable distinction from this high office on March 3, 1889. Mr. Walker was always interested in the general spread of education and by tongue and pen frequently brought to the attention of the pub- lic the needs of the state in this matter. For thirteen years he was a member of the board of regents of the West Virginia University. During the closing years of his life Mr. Walker interested himself largely in growing fine stock on his valuable farm in Virginia. His death occurred on September 19, 1891.

Mr. Walker was married in 1868, to Miss Emma Bier, a daughter of George W. Bier, late of Moundsville, and two children were born to them: Emma, who is the wife of Henry L. Prichard, of Charleston; and Philip, who is a prominent attorney at Charleston, W. Va.

JAMES A. VICKERS,* who owns and conducts a farm in Elk district, was born in this district, on the old Vickers home- stead, October 29, 1872, and is a son of William M. and Telitha (Young) Vickers.

William M. Vickers was born on the Ka- nawha river and died in 1896, aged fifty- three years. He was a son of Mordecai Vickers, who came with his family to Ka- nawha county as manager for various salt

works proprietors, and was also manager of the Mill Creek Oil Company. He was manager for the Clarksons at their salt furnace and his last engagement was with the Pioneer Coal Company. He married Mary Alexander of an old settled family of the Kanawha valley. In 1849 he went to California meeting with many adventures in the mining regions. In 1861 William M. Vickers moved to Mill Creek and was engaged in farming in that vicinity during the rest of his life. He married Telitha Young, who died in 1898. She was a daughter of James A. and Rachel Young, the former of whom spent his last years with James A. Vickers. The Youngs were early pioneers in the salt industry in Ka- nawha county. Ten children were born to William M. Vickers and wife, and the present survivors are: Floyd; Patience C., who is the wife of L. Skyles, of Two-Mile Creek; Mary, who is the wife of N. C. Pas- tor, of Charleston; Ella, who is the wife of John Woody, of Elk district; James A .; Stella, who is the wife of L. E. Mason of Charleston; Maggie, who is the wife of L. Farrell, of Putney; Martha, who is the wife of A. M. Norman, of Villa; and Will- iam Morrison, who is a resident of Putney, W. Va.

Until he was fifteen years of age, James A. Vickers attended school, after which he became a miner and worked all through Elk district for many years. When thirty years of age he bought his present farm, near Villa, which is one of the most exten- sive and productive fruit farms in this val- ley. He has an orchard of seven hundred trees and makes fruit growing his main business. The present log house was built by his grandfather and it was taken pos- session of on Christmas Day, 1861, and on the same day he shot a deer near the dwelling. The farm on which Mr. Vickers resides was also the home of Grandfather Young, who came with his family by flat- boat, from the mouth of Blue creek.

Mr. Vickers married Miss Stella Riley, who was born December 22, 1881, a daughter of Moses and Eveline (Sampler)

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Riley, both of whom survive. Mr. and Mrs. Vickers have three children: James D., Delcia May and Lawrence Gilbert. Mr. Vickers has never taken any particu- lar interest in politics.

HON. HENRY CLAY MCWHORTER, whose public and professional services in West Virginia have contributed equally to his promi- nence as a man and citizen, was born February 20, 1836, in Marion county, O., a son of Fields and Margaret M. (Kester) McWhorter, both natives of Harrison county, Virginia (now West Virginia).

Henry C. McWhorter was six years old when his parents moved from Ohio to Harri- son county, Va. His father was a physician and during the Civil War served the Union in a Missouri regiment. Mr. McWhorter never attended the public schools, there being no system of this kind in Harrison county in his boyhood, but private schools and tutors pre- pared him for the old Institute at Ravenswood, in Jackson county, and afterward he began the study of law. The precipitation of the Civil War caused a change of plans by many of the young men over the whole country, and the young law student put aside his books in 1861, and became a member of Co. B, 9th Va. Vol. Inf., in the Federal service. He was shortly afterward commissioned lieutenant, and in March, 1862, became captain of Co. G, 9th In- fantry, and served as such until 1863. In the meanwhile he had participated in numerous en- gagements and had received injuries which pre- vented further field service, but he remained on duty in the provost marshal's office until the close of hostilities; being chief clerk in the en- rollment office of the Third District of West Virginia.

Captain Mc Whorter returned then to his law studies, and was admitted to the bar at Charleston in 1866. His professional career covered many years and during this time he served in many positions of the greatest meas- ure of public importance. After one term as city solicitor of Charleston, in 1869 he was elected prosecuting attorney of Kanawha county and for many years was deputy clerk of the U. S. District Court and also served as

councilman in the common council of the city of Charleston. In 1896 he was elected a mem- ber of the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia, and consequently retired from the practice of law, and served acceptably on the bench for twelve consecutive years. Needing rest he then devoted a period to travel and recreation, after which he returned to Charles- ton and resumed his former business connec- tion as the senior member of the law firm of H. C. & L. E. McWhorter.

Politically, Judge McWhorter is a Repub- lican and still is active and important in West Virginia politics. He represented Roane coun- ty in the legislature of 1865 and represented Kanawha county in the state legislatures of 1866-7 and 1868, and again in the legislatures of 1885 and 1887. In 1866 he served as chair- man of the Judiciary committee, and in 1868 was speaker of the House. He was a dele- gate at large to the National Republican con- vention at Chicago, in 1868, and was postmas- ter of Charleston under President Benjamin F. Harrison; and was postmaster at Spencer in Roane county at the beginning of the Civil War.

Judge McWhorter has been four times mar- ried, the maiden name of his present wife hav- ing been Caroline Matilda Hutchins. At the time of her marriage to Judge McWhorter, she was the widow of Rev. John F. Gates. They are members of the State Street (now First) Methodist Episcopal church, in which he has long been an official and he has repre- sented as a delegate from the West Virginia Conference, twice in the General Conference, and in various conventions of this religious body. He has for many years been president of the board of trustees of West Virginia Wes- leyan college at Buckhannan, West Virginia.

As a citizen of Charleston Judge McWhor- ter has been earnest and active, accepting pub- lic responsibilities as a matter of duty and per- forming the manifold tasks which make up a part of the life of a good citizen, with willing- ness. He has served on numerous charitable boards, and in times of public disaster in other sections of the country, has been foremost in giving relief. He was an elector representing

HON. H. C. MCWHORTER

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the Judiciary for the Hall of Fame, in 1905; was the first president of the board of educa- tion of the Independent School district of the city of Charleston. He is prominently identi- fied with Masonry, being a Knight Templar, Eastern Star and Shriner, and is a member of the Ohio Commandery, of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion, and of the Grand Army of the Republic. No name is held in higher esteem at Charleston than that of Judge Mc- Whorter.

WILLIAM JASPER KRANTZ,* gen- eral merchant doing a very satisfactory business in his line at Malden, has been a resident of Kanawha county, W. Va., since he was eight years of age. He was born on the home farm in Bedford county, Va., March 7, 1847, and is a son of Thomas and Rebecca (Arthur) Krantz.

Thomas Krantz was born in Bedford county, Va., of German extraction, and was a carpenter by trade. He married in Bedford county and in 1855, with his fam- ily, moved by wagon to Kanawha county, 'settling in Malden district. He died there in the first year of the Civil War, at the age of forty-seven years. His widow died in 1904, having passed her ninety-second birthday. Five children were born to them,-James J., William Jasper, Henry, Abraham L. and Laura V. James and Henry are deceased. Laura V. is the wife of Frank Peoples.

William Jasper Krantz attended a priv- ate school after the family came to Kana- wha county, and the first money he ever earned through his unassisted efforts was as a clerk in the store of Elijah Hill, at Malden, with whom he remained for sev- eral years. Afterward he was employed on public works and then entered the mines, where he worked his way up to be foreman, occupying this position for fifteen years with the Campbell's Creek Coal Com- pany. During this long period Mr. Krantz proved himself worthy of the confidence placed in him and when he severed his rela- tions with the company cordial feelings ex-

isted on both sides. In 1908 he bought his present store from Charles White and has conducted it ever since.

Mr. Krantz was married December 22, 1874, to Miss Harriet Woolwine, a daugh- ter of the late Henry Woolwine, and seven children have been born to them, namely: Mertie, who is the wife of Charles Moss, of Malden District; Harry, who also lives in Malden District, married Blanche Estep; Willie, who lives at Malden, married Woo- son Blake; Arthur; Belle, who is the wife of Charles Meadows, of Malden District; and Jennie and Anna. Mr. and Mrs. Krantz are also the proud possessors of eight grandchildren, all of whom are credits to the family. In politics Mr. Krantz is a Re- publican. He belongs to several fraternal societies, taking particular interest in the Red Men's and Odd Fellows' lodges at Malden.

HON. JOHN EDWARD KENNA, de- ceased, a distinguished son of West Virginia, whose statue may be seen in Memorial Hall, in the Nation's Capitol, at Washington, D. C., requires no marble or bronze to recall him to his family or fellow citizens. Although death removed this gifted man before he had com- pleted his forty-fifth year, he had indelibly impressed himself on his State and Nation. He was born April 10, 1848, at Valcoulon, Kanawha county, Va., now West Virginia, and died January 11, 1893, almost one-half of this too brief span of life having been spent in pub- lic service.

Edward Kenna, father of Senator Kenna, was born in Ireland and came to America when a boy of fourteen years. Overcoming a world of difficulties, he finally succeeded in completing his law studies, and gained admis- sion to the bar, subsequently becoming one of its able members and a practitioner in Ka- nawha county, to which section he moved fol- lowing his marriage. This united him with one of the old and aristocratic families of Virginia, his wife being Margery, the only daughter of John Lewis, who was a grandson of Gen. An- drew Lewis. Edward Kenna died in 1856, at

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the early age of thirty-nine years, his only son, John Edward Kenna, being then eight years old.

In 1858 John Edward Kenna accompanied his widowed mother and his two sisters to Missouri, where, on his uncle's farm he was taught practical agriculture. He remained there until he was sixteen years of age and then entered the Confederate army, in which, in spite of youth and inexperience, he bravely bore a man's part until the close of the war, suffering without audible complaint when the sad fortunes of strife not only laid him low with fever and wounds, but also brought dis- aster to the cause he had championed. His mother, in the meanwhile, had returned to Kanawha county, and Mr. Kenna joined her there and, as a means of livelihood, began to work at salt making. Until this time the youth had had scarcely any educational opportunities but was eager to learn and gladly accepted the kind offices of a family friend, Bishop R. V. Whelan, through whom he was enabled to spend almost three years in St. Vincent's Acad- emy, at Wheeling. In 1868 he entered the law office of Miller & Quarrier, at Charleston, W. Va., and in 1870 was admitted to the bar, im- mediately attracting attention through his pro- fessional ability. He was elected prosecuting attorney of Kanawha county in 1872, and in 1875 was elected judge pro tem of the Circuit Court. In 1876 he was elected on the Demo- cratic ticket, to the United States Congress, from the Third Congressional district of West Virginia, and in that legislative body became a prominent and forceful member. He was re- elected in 1878, and in 1880 and again in 1882, but before the beginning of his last term he was elected to the United States Senate, to succeed Hon. Henry G. Davis. When he took his seat in that august body, on December 3, 1883, he was its youngest member, a distinc- tion he had also enjoyed while in the House.

Both mentally and physically Senator Ken- na was notable, and once seen or heard was never forgotten. His public life was singular- ly free from criticism, although he was ever fearless in denouncing wrong and courageous in his battle for the right. He possessed great personal charm and had the truly desirable gift

of being able to win friends and attach them forever to him. As honors and ample means became his, he permitted himself to enjoy, to some degree, the leisurely pursuits dear to the Southern gentlemen of his day, and also proved his Southern inheritance by the lavish hospitality with which he delighted to enter- tain his friends. It were useless to question whether such a man could fail of being tender- ly remembered. He died in the full faith of the Catholic church, and many a traveler to this section visits the Catholic cemetery over- looking the Elk and Kanawha rivers and rev- erently stands beside the beautiful monument erected there to his memory.

In 1870, Mr. Kenna was married first to Miss Rose Quigg, who died in 1874, survived by one daughter, Margaret, who entered the religious life when she reached womanhood, and is now known as Sister Alma Regina, and is attached to a convent in Long Island. In November, 1876, Mr. Kenna was married sec- ond to Miss Anna Benninghaus, of Wheeling, WV. Va., who died in Washington, D. C., Jan- uary 28, 1909, and was buried at Charleston. They became the parents of six children : Ed- ward B., Arthur L., John E., Jo. N., Mary and James J. The last named, the youngest child, died in infancy. Mary S. Kenna mar- ried Blaine Elkins, a son of the late Senator S. B. Elkins of West Virginia, and they reside at Morgantown. Edward B. Kenna is the able editor of the Charleston Gazette. He married Miss Frances Beardsley, of this city. Arthur L. Kenna is a resident of Washington City and is manager of the sales department of the Kanawha Chemical Engine Manufacturing Co. He married Miss Gertrude Higgins of Washington. John E. Kenna, who graduated from the law department of the University of West Virginia in 1907, is engaged in the prac- tice of his profession and maintains his office in the Kanawha Banking and Trust building. Jo. N. Kenna, a graduate of 1909, from the law department of the University of Virginia, is with the well known law firm of Chilton, MacCorkle & Chilton, at Charleston.

SAMUEL PRESTON SMITH, sheriff of Kanawha county, W. Va., and a representa-

SAMUEL P. SMITH

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tive citizen of Charleston, is a member of one of the old settled families of the South, and his ancestors have been leading and influential people in Virginia and West Virginia for many years. He was born at Charleston, March 21, 1875, and is a son of Charles Bal- lard and Mary S. (McConihay) Smith.

Charles Ballard Smith was born in 1847, in Louise county, Va., and at the time of his death, in 1893, was serving Kanawha county, W. Va., in the office of state's attorney. He was a son of Thomas Preston and Lucy ( Bar- rett) Smith, both natives of Greenbrier county, who died in Louise county. Prior to the Civil War, Thomas P. Smith was a man of large estate but the freeing of the slaves and the depreciation in the value of land in that section suddenly deprived him of his re- sources and he died a comparatively poor man. He was the father of the following children: Charles Ballard; Frank P., who now lives in Louise county, Va., where he is a farmer; Frederick, who died unmarried; Sallie, Mrs. Marshall, who lives in Virginia; and Mel Vir- ginia, who married Frederick Roddy. Both are now deceased, but one son, Charles Fred- erick Roddy, survives.

Charles Ballard Smith came to Charleston, W. Va., as a contractor with the C. & O. Rail- road, and after that this city was the scene of his further business activities. He studied law and was admitted to the bar and attained high position as a professional man. He served for some years as circuit court clerk and later, as indicated above, was elected state's attorney. At one time he owned a controlling interest in coal mines but lost heavily on account of strikes in the ranks of the miners. Although he became a stanch Republican in politics, he had been not only a brave soldier in the Con- federate Army, but was lieutenant of his com- pany when he was only fifteen years of age. While the hard experiences of war aged him early, he escaped all serious accidents and was a man of strength and vigor afterward. He was married in Kanawha county to Mary S. Mc- Conihay, who is a resident of Morgantown, W. Va. She is of Scotch-Irish ancestry. She is an active member of the Methodist Episco- pal church, to which her husband also be-

longed. Six children were born to Charles B. Smith and wife, namely: Mel Virginia, who died in early womanhood; Samuel P .; Walter F., who is a resident of Charleston, is connected in a business way with the Newbury Shoe Company of Huntington, W. Va .; Linda S., who is the wife of John William Field, of Morgantown; Helen Barrett, who is the wife of Charles H. Smith, of Morgantown, and they have one child; Lillian, who resides with her mother at Morgantown; and Frederick M., who is a student at Morgantown.

Samuel P. Smith was educated in the public schools of Charleston, has always maintained his home in this city and has been more or less prominent in Republican politics in Kanawha county since early manhood. He served ac- ceptably as a clerk in the office of the prose- cuting attorney of Kanawha county and later became chief clerk under E. W. Staunton, then county clerk, and later was assistant state bank examiner for West Virginia, and it was while serving in that position that he was elected sheriff of Kanawha county, in 1909, for a term of four years. This election made him also county treasurer. Although he has al- ways been a loyal party man, in his present of- fice he performs his duties without fear or favor and is giving the county one of the best administrations it has ever had. He is a wide- awake, progressive man and is identified with all that is best in the growth and development of this section.

Mr. Smith was married at Charleston, in Jefferson county, Va., to Miss Amelia Deaven- port Manning, who is a daughter of Francis Jack Manning, who was a prominent member of Col. Moseby's soldiers, in the Confederate army, during the Civil war. She is also a granddaughter of Captain Manning, of the United States navy, who was commander of the vessel that carried the first United States Minister to Russia. Mr. and Mrs. Smith had one child, Francis A., who died in infancy. She is a member of the Episcopal church, which Sheriff Smith also attends.

GEORGE W. QUICK,* general farmer in Elk District, and a former justice of the peace, was born in Kanawha county, Octo-

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ber 22, 1872, a son of John Wesley and Paulina Octavia (Spinks) Quick, and a grandson of John Spinks, who was one of the pioneer settlers of Charleston, W. Va. The father of Mr. Quick died in 1898 but the mother survives, being now in her sev- enty-second year. There were thirteen chil- dren born to them and ten of these survive.

George W. Quick attended the local schools and later a college at Marshall, W. Va., and then turned his attention to farm- ing and school teaching. For thirteen years he continued in educational work but for some time has chiefly devoted his attention to farming and stockraising.

Mr. Quick was married first to Rosa B. Mason, who died February 3, 1906, at the age of thirty-one years. She was a daugh- ter of Benjamin L. and Hannah A. Mason. Four children were born to this marriage: Arabell, Harry R., Mabel Lee and Earl Eugene, the eldest being now deceased. In 1907 Mr. Quick was married secondly to Miss Mary E. Young, a daughter of Wil- liam and Louisa Young, and they have one son, Grover Lloyd, who is now two years old. Mr. Quick and wife belong to the Methodist Episcopal church at Quick, in which he is a steward, class leader and su- perintendent of the Sunday-school, as was his father before him. In politics he is a Republican and in 1908 he was elected a justice of the peace. He belongs to the or- der of Knights of Pythias at Blue Creek, the Odd Fellows at Quick, and the Red Men at Blue Creek.

WILLIAM C. SHANNON, a general merchant at Cedar Grove, W. Va., is well known all through Kanawha county in which he has lived since childhood and during the larger part of his life has been identified with coal mining. He was born September 29, 1866, in Mercer county, W. Va., and is a son of Richard and Emma (Abbott) Shan- non.

Richard Shannon was born in Virginia, where he engaged in farming and after mar- riage to Emma Abbott, moved to Mercer county, W. Va., and subsequently to Kana-

wha county. He worked for some years at salt manufacturing for Dr. Hale and for John D. Lewis, after which he rented a farm on Two-Mile Creek, then went back to the salt works and again returned to farming. He died at Campbell's Creek in 1903, when over sixty years of age. His widow resides at Malden. Eight children were born to them, namely: William Churchill; Jennie, who is the wife of James Turner; Wesley; Minnie, who is the wife of Charles Sowers; Annetta, who is the wife of Crest Law- rence; Lillian, who is the wife of W. Ruff- ner; Bessie, who is the wife of Theodore Fisher ; and one who is deceased.

William C. Shannon was a child when the family came to Kanawha county and started to work in the coal mines when he was only ten years old, as a trapper, and from this humble position worked up through all the grades until he became mine boss, spending thirty-two years in the business and during the larger part of this long period being with the Pioneer Com- pany at Campbell's Creek. He also worked for a time in the mines on Kelley's Creek. Mr. Shannon erected his two-story store building and opened up his stock of first class goods on November II, 1907, and Mrs. Shannon attends to the business to a large extent.

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History of Charleston and Kanawha County, West Virginia and representative citizens, Part 97

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