USA > West Virginia > Ritchie County > History of Ritchie County, with biographical sketches of its pioneers and their ancestors, and with interesting reminiscences of revolutionary and Indian times > Part 49
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The Freers .- This little volume would not be complete without a few lines in regard to the life and public service of the only citizen of the county, who has been honored with a seat in the Congressional hali at Washington City; and
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OTHER PROMINENT FAMILIES
this citizen is no other than the honorable Romco Hoyt Freer, 'who has, perhaps, had more "laurels" conferred upon him than any other individual within the bounds of the county.
Mr. Freer is of French extraction and is a product of the "Buckeye" state. His ancestors, leaving France shortly after the massacre of St. Bartholomew, in 1592, took refuge in Holland: and from there, Hugo Freer, senior, emigrated to Ulster county, New York, and settled on a tract of land, granted him from the Indians, near the town of New Paltz, about the year 1670. He (Hugo) had three sons, and one of these sons had a son, called Jonas, who was the antecessor of Romeo H. Freer; he being the father of Johannes, and the grandfather of Martinas Freer, who married Miss Martha Deyo, a member of an ancient Dutch family, of his native town-New Paltz, New York, and settled in Trumbull coun- ty. Ohio, in 1800, where Josiah Devo Freer, the father of Romeo, was born.
Josiah Deyo Freer married Miss Caroline Persis Brown. a native of the Green Mountain state, about the year 1835 : and settled near his parental home in Trumbull county, Ohio. Mrs. Freer was the daughter of William Brown, a dis- tinguished citizen of Vermont, who was an officer in the war of 1812, and who served as a member of the Legislature and held other positions of public trust in his native state. In her early life, she taught school on Hero Island, in Lake Champlain, and among her pupils, here, was John G. Saxe. the renowned poet with whom she retained an intimate ac- quaintance until his death in 1887.
Both the Freers and the Browns were of fighting stock. some of each name having won distinction in the Revolution, and in the war of 1812.
Romeo H. Freer, the subject of this sketch, was next to the youngest member of the family of four brothers and one sister. He was born at Bezetta, Trumbull county, Ohio, on November 9, 1845, and with his parents removed to Hart's Grove, Ashtabula county, that state, when he was but three years of age. Here, his early life was spent on his father's farm. He obtained a limited education in the public schools of Ashtabula county, and spent one term at the Grand River
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HISTORY OF RITCHIE COUNTY
Institute, at Austinburg, Ohio,-a preparatory school for Oberlin college.
In 1862, he enlisted in the Union army, and served as an orderly on General Grant's staff during the earlier part of the war, and had the misfortune to have the General's horse shot under him (Mr. Freer) at Vicksburg, while performing an important service as messenger boy. He was a participant in a number of hot engagements, and served creditably to the close of the conflict.
In 1866, he removed to Charleston, West Virginia, and read law with the well-known firm of Smith and Cracraft. and was, two years later, admitted to the bar, and became a law partner with the honored H. C. McWhorter, who recently resigned his trust as Judge of the Supreme court. He filled the position of Assistant Prosecuting Attorney for Kanawha county from 1868 to 1870, being also Prosecutor for Fayette and Boone counties at the same time.
In 1870, he was elected Prosecuting Attorney of Kanawha county-a position that he held for two years, until his failing health occasioned his resignation. That same year ('72), he was sent as United States consul to Nicaragua, Cen- tral America, where he remained until 1876, when he resigned and returned to Charleston, where he resumed the practice of law until 1882, when he came to Ritchie county.
He was first married to Miss Lillie Fuller, daughter of Judge I. L. Fuller, of Warren county. Ohio, who passed on, in 1873, leaving one son, Romeo H. Freer, junior, who is a skillful civil engineer, and is now engaged in building a rail- road in Gautamala, Central America. His second wife was Miss Mary Jams, of Harrisville.
Since coming to this county. Mr. Freer has filled many and varied positions of honor and trust: He represented the county in the State Legislature in 1891 : was elected Prosecut- ing Attorney the following year. and at the expiration of his term in this office, was made Judge of the Circuit court (in 1896) ; and two years later, was sent to Congress. While here, he served as member of the Judiciary Committee, of the Committee on Patents, and was one of the Special Commit- tee that expelled the Mormon. Roberts, from this body.
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OTHER PROMINENT FAMILIES
In March, 1900, he was elected Attorney-General of the State, serving in this capacity until March, 1903, when he re- turned to Harrisville and became the senior partner of the law firm of Freer and Robinson. He has been editor, lawyer. mayor, and is now serving as post-master of the town. Added to all of these honors is a rare gift of oratory, and a generous amount of wit, which has made him a most popular public speaker. This wit is well illustrated by the following anius- ing story which went the rounds of the press, while he was a member of Congress, and which we take from "Success Magazine :"
"A good story is told in West Virginia involving two of the Congressmen from that snug little state, and Thomas B. Reed, the gigantic speaker of the House. The two West Virginians are Hon. B. B. Dovener and Romeo H. Free1. Both are small of stature, and wonderfully alike in their gen- eral appearance,, and together they went up to be introduced 'to the ponderous Maine man. 'Humph,' said Mr. Reed, 'is that the best the Persimmon state can do?' "What do you mean?' asked Mr. Freer. 'Nothing,' drawled out the ele- phantine speaker, 'I was only wondering at the uniformity of things down your way. I suppose the horses are all ponies, and the persimmons all dwarfs-' 'Well," interrupted Mr. Freer, 'there is one thing in our favor, the persimmon has more taste than the pumpkin.'
"The laugh was on the speaker, and he acknowledged it by cordially grasping the hands of the Lilliputians and join- ing in the merriment."
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HISTORY OF RITCHIE COUNTY
"He liveth long who liveth well! All other life is short and vain, He liveth longest who can tell Of living most for heavenly gain
He liveth long who liveth we'l! All else is being flung away ; He liveth longest who can tell Of true things truly done each day.
Waste not thy being; back to Him Who freely gave it, freely give; Else is that being but a dream- 'Tis but to be, and not to live."
The Younger Men's Calendar
The pomp of gold and' marble are not needed to deck the slumber of genius. -Bayard Taylor.
Dedicated to the Memory
The Late General Francis . Heirpoint and The Date Charles E. Tandox
Fame is the fragrance of heroic deeds. -Longfellow.
CHAPTER LI
The Younger Men's Calendar
ENERAL FRANCIS PERRY PEIRPOINT was one of the first young men of Ritchie county to inscribe his name in the History of West Virginia.
Born a student, and ever diligent, nis career, though so very brief, was one of the most distinguished in the history of the county, for one of his years. Beginning as an office boy in the employ of the County and Circuit clerks of this and Pleasants county. he rapidly forged his way to the front. He studied law and was admitted to the bar at a very early age: and in 1862, when a call was made for volunteers, he went to Wheeling, where he recruited the Twelfth Virginia Infan- try from the counties of the Northern Panhandle, of the state. and entered the regiment as an adjutant. He was promoted to the rank of Major, a little later, and was proffered the Colonelcy, but declined in favor of a brother officer. He was called from the field of action, shortly after the birth of our new Commonwealth, by the appointment to the office of Adjutant-General of the State, by Governor A. I. Boreman : and he it was who prepared the Adjutant-General's Report of the Soldiers of the Civil war-a report which has been so invaluable to these veterans for reference in obtaining their pensions from the government.
His services here being at an end, he entered Harvard University and was graduated in law, he having taken the course a year sooner than was required by putting in all his time, even the vacation season. He then returned home and began the practice of his profession, at Harrisville; but ill health had already begun to prey upon him, and in Novem- ber, 1868, with a Wheeling family by the name of Hornbrook,
M.H.WILLIS
N. B.WOODS
C.E.HADDOX
M.A.KENDALL
OKEY E NUTTER
J.FRANKMARSH
P.PEIRPOINT
FRANCIS
S.M.HOFF
EMERY I. IRE
ND
. LD!
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THE YOUNGER MEN'S CALENDAR
he started to Florida in quest of health, but by the time they had reached New Orleans (on January 1, 1869). the sun of his young life was hanging low in the Western horizon, and on the seventh of that same month it sank to rise no more. And thus his promising career was brought to a close before he had reached his twenty-ninth birthday: for he was born on February 23, 1840. Young, handsome, and talented, he was universally admired, and his untimely end was widely deplored.
The remains were brought back to Harrisville, and tenderly laid away in the cemetery south of town, amid the scenes of his happy childhood.
Judge Homer B. Woods is at this time one of the most widely-known sons of the county that gave him birth.
At the old homestead, near two one-half miles from Har- risville, on July 16, 1869, he was born, and here he grew to young manhood.
He attended the public schools, and at the early age of sixteen years, entered the profession of teaching: and, when scarcely of age, was made a member of the Teachers' Ex- amining Board. He filled the position of principal of the Har- risville school for two years, and was County Superintendent for two consecutive terms ; was a student of the Marietta col- lege, and took a course in the Law department at the West Virginia University, being admitted to the bar in 1892. He was twice elected to the office of Prosecuting Attorney, the last time by the largest majority that has ever been received by a candidate in this county. He now occupies the office of Judge of the Third Judicial district, and is one of the very few sons of Ritchie county that has ever attained to this po- sition ; and he holds a high rank among the judges of the state. He is an orator of marked ability, and a man of un- alloyed integrity. No other citizen of the county is held in higher esteem by his fellowmen.
He married Miss Winifred Davis, daughter of the late Hon. T. E. Davis, of Harrisville, and is the proud father of five children : viz .. Ralph Davis, Homer B., junior. Miriam, Robert James and Samuel Thomas. Phillip Wells, another son, died in early childhood.
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HISTORY OF RITCHIE COUNTY
M. H. Willis .- Though Judge Marsh Haymond Willis is 110 longer a citizen of this county, he shares, with Homer B. Woods, the distinction of being one of the (two) native sons of Ritchie that has attained to the judgeship.
Mr. Willis was born at Mole Hill, on January 31, 1862, and there grew to manhood as a farmer-boy. He attended the public schools and. like Judge Woods, began his career as a pedagogue at the early age of sixteen years. He was a stil- dent of the West Virginia University at Morgantown, but completed his education at the Valpariso University in In- diana, being graduated in 1886. He was the valedictorian of the class, which was composed of seventy-six members.
After finishing his college-course, he taught school in Dakota, Wisconsin, and his native state, and while thus en- gaged, studied law : and in July. 1890, was admitted to the bar, being licensed to practice his profession in this state. This license bore the signatures of the late Judges. Thomas I. Boreman, and Marshall Hagans, and of Judge Thomas P. Jacobs, who still survives.
In 1900, when Hon. Romeo H. Freer resigned his office as Judge of the Fourth Judicial district to accept a seat in Congress, Mr. Willis was chosen as his successor : and at the close of this term he was re-elected. When he first took charge of this office, Ritchie county was included in his cir- cuit, but by an act of the Legislature of 1903, a change was made, and Doddridge, Tyler and Wetzel now compose his circuit, which is designated as the Second Judicial Circuit in- stead of the Fourth. His home was formerly at West Union, but since 1908, he has claimed his residence at New Martins- ville.
In 1891, he was married to Miss Anita Magness, of Waterloo, Iowa, and the one child of this union, Frances Louise, who was born on January 21. 1892, died on Septen - ber 15, 1901.
Mr. Willis is the son of N. G. Willis, of Mole Hill, and a descendant of three of the more prominent pioneer families of the county, and his ancestral history like that of the other young men of this calendar will be found in earlier chapters.
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THE YOUNGER MEN'S CALENDAR
Marcellus Allan Kendall is another son of Ritchie county. whose name is inscribed among the officials of the state.
He was born on the old homestead on Chevauxdefrise creek, near five miles from Harrisville, on July 23, 1862, and here the first fourteen years of his life were spent in an un- eventful way. In 1816, he went to Elizabeth, Wirt county, where he made his home with his elder brother, the late Dr. J. E. Kendall, and clerked in his store and attended school.
After reaching his majority, he was identified among thie commercial travelers for a time, and, in 1885, he went to Parkersburg, where he still resides. Here he was engaged in the mercantile business, both wholesale and retail, until 1897, when he was elected to the office of State Treasurer, and in 1901 at the expiration of his term in this office, he was ap- pointed as Commissioner of Banking for the State of West Virginia ; and in October 1905, he was commissioned as National Bank Examiner, a position which he still holds. He is prominently connected with the Brown-Kendall mercantile firm and other Parkersburg business concerns. He has been a life-long communicant of the Methodist Episcopal church, and has been a member of two General Conferences of this church. He has, also been a member of the Board of Trus- tecs of the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, for the past fifteen years.
On November 2%, 1888, he was married to Miss Hattie Lowther, only daughter of the late Rev. Sylvester Lowther of the Methodist Episcopal church, the marriage taking place in New York city. and one daughter, Virginia, is the result of this union.
C. E. Haddox .- Few of the sons of Ritchie county have enjoyed a more enviable public record than that of the late C. E. Haddox. And few have climbed the rugged heights by thornier paths than the ones that his late feet have trod.
Charles Edwin Haddox was born near the little town of Smithville, on April 18, 1864, and being deprived of his father's care when but a lad of tender years, he began the battle of life for himself, at the age of fourteen years, by en- tering the profession of teaching: and, four years later, he was made principal of the Cairo school, and at the age of
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HISTORY OF RITCHIE COUNTY
twenty he was a member of the Board of Teachers' Exami- ners. At twenty-one, he was elected to the office of County Superintendent, a position which he filled for two consecutive terms. He was President of the Board of Education of Grant district for twelve years ; was post-master at Cairo under the administrations of Benjamin Harrison and William McKin- ley ; and was President of the Cairo Bank, the West Virginia Western Telephone Company, and Vice-President of the Oakland Pressed Brick Company for a number of years.
In 1901, he was appointed as Warden of the State Prison at Moundsville, an appointment which came without any so- licitation on his part, and in 1905 he was re-appointed.
After going to Moundsville, he filled many positions of honor and trust outside of his labors within the walls of the prison, which were constant and continuous for the better- ment of the condition of the unfortunate fellow-creatures that had been placed under his management.
He made a wonderful record as a prison official, one that was recognized all over the country. He introduced many important innovations for the betterment of prisons in gen- eral ; and was one of the chief advocates of the parole sys- tem ; in fact, he was to a great extent responsible for its adop- tion. Making it possible through this system for a man serv- ing his first prison term to be released. and to have the oppor- tunity of redeeming himself among his friends under the guardianship of the state.
His reforms at the State Prison were important and marked, and his ideas of management, as set forth in papers that he read on different occasions, were generally accepted. His work was of such a character as to place him in a high rank among the prison officials of the land, and to make him President of the National Prison Association, a position that he held at the time of his death.
His whole soul and mind seemed to be centered in the noble work of uplifting the fallen, and at his post he stood as a faithful sentinel until his failing health compelled him to seek rest in a sanatorium at Battle Creek. Michigan, where he, amidst his halucinations, leaped to his death from a third- story window. on February 7, 1908.
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THE YOUNGER MEN'S CALENDAR
His remains were brought back to the prison, which was plunged into the deepest mourning ; and the funeral, which took place on the afternoon of the tenth, was attended by the largest crowd that had ever been assembled in the little City of Moundsville. Governor W. M. O. Dawson and his staff and many other prominent personages from all over the state were present. And in the Mt. Olivet cemetery his nar- row bed was made.
He married Miss Ella Carroll, daughter of the late San- ford Carroll, of Cairo, and was the father of two sons, Homer and Harry, who with their mother live at Moundsville.
Nearly every newspaper in the State commented favor- ably on the great work done by Mr. Haddox for the Peni- tentiary and its inmates. Among the number the following, which is a part of a series of extended comments on his life and work made by the "Wheeling Intelligencer" may be taken as fairly representative :
"Often we hear the expression in some form, that a man has made himself a martyr to his work, and often these words are only the sympathetic commendation of sorrowing friends. Of the death of C. E. Haddox, which is recorded in the col- umns of the "Intelligencer" this morning, it may be truly said, that it was the price paid by a loyal, courageous, and sincere man for his devotion to duty. Mr. Haddox was one of the few great men in West Virginia-a man great in many things-whose niodesty to a large extent hid his real worth from all who were not on most intimate terms with him. For seven years he was warden of the State Penitentiary, and in that time completely transformed that institution. Ilis work in prison reform has been recognized by those familiar with it as one of the most brilliant and successful records in the country. But his active interests were by no means confined to the institution of which he was the head. IIe was a keen student of political economy, and few men, if any, have had more to do with shaping legislation during the past eight years than he has had. His advice was sought by many men on many questions, and his native common sense and clear and logical mind, rendered him one of the safest of counsel- lors. Personally he was kind, generous and warm-hearted.
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HISTORY OF RITCHIE COUNTY
He made many friends and few enemies. Among the thous- ands who knew him well there will be few indeed who will not feel a distinct personal loss in his untimely taking off."
On February 10, 1908, the House of Representatives of the West Virginia Legislation passed the following Resolu- tions : "Mr. McCrum offered the following: HOUSE CON- CURRENT RESOLUTION No. 2. in reference to the public services and death of Charles E. Haddox late warden of the West Virginia Penitentiary."
"Whereas, it is with profound sorrow that the members of the Legislature now in extraordinary session assembled, learned of the untimely death of Chas. E. Haddox, late war- den of the State Penitentiary, which occurred at Battle Creek, Michigan, on the 7th day of February, nineteen hundred eight : and.
Whereas he had occupied the position of warden of the State Penitentiary from the year nineteen hundred one, until the time of his death with marked ability and unswerving fidelity, and by his untiring efforts made that institution one of the best equipped and efficiently managed prisons in the United States, and,
Whereas, his reforms in the equipment and government of prisons gave him a world wide reputation, and led to his election as President of the National Prison Congress, which position he held at the time of his death; therefore be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia, That his public services have been of inestimable value to this state and to the unfortunate men and women whose conditions he sought to better; and that in his demise the country has lost one of its most eminent and learned prison reformers, and the state a public servant of the highest order of integrity and ability."
Silas Marion Hoff is at this time one of the most promi - ยท nent official figures of the county. He shares (with H. B. Woods and the late T. E. Davis) the distinction of being one of the three native born sons of Ritchie that have filled the Prosecutor's chair.
Mr. Iloff was born on the "Hoff homestead" below Au- burn, on March 14, 1865, and by his pluck and energy has
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THE YOUNGER MEN'S CALENDAR
forged his way up through many dis-advantages to his pres- ent high-standing. He, like not a few others whose records are herein inscribed, began his public life as a rural ped- agogue. He was graduated from the State Normal at Glen- ville in the class of 1881, and afterwards entered the State Uni- versity, at Morgantown, where he took the degrees of Bachelor of Arts, Master of Arts, and Bachelor of Laws. He served as Superintendent of the Public schools of Sistersville, and was principal of the Pennsboro school for one year ; was County Superintendent for four years, and is now serving his second term as Prosecuting Attorney, and is talked of as a candidate for the Judgeship.
On September 21, 1898, at high noon, he was married to Miss Minnie Wilson, daughter of the late L. P. Wilson, of Pennsboro, who was. also, a teacher, and five children are the result of this union; viz., Rosalind Wilson, Virginia Eliza- beth, Helen Faris, Marion Rowland, and Leroy P. Hoff.
Okey E. Nutter .- Of the long line of Ritchie county's Sheriffs, Okey E. Nutter enjoys the distinction of being the youngest that has ever held the reins of this high office. But notwithstanding his youth, his administration was charac- terized by an executive ability that has placed him in a front rank among his predecessors, as well as among the Sheriffs of the state.
Mr. Nutter, like the other young men of this calendar, comes of hardy pioneer stock, and is a native of White Oak this county. He was born on the one hundredth anniversary of the renowned battle of Bunker's hill (June 17, 1825), and first made his appearance before the public, as a rural ped- agogue. In 1902, he was one of the three Republican candi- dates for the nomination for Circuit clerk, and was only de- feated by the narrow margin of six votes ; and a remarkably complimentary feature of this contest was that he received every vote, save one, in his home precinct.
In 1904, he was elected as Sheriff, and entered upon his official duties on January 1, 1905, with H. E. Wass as deputy and Mrs. Nutter as his office assistant. and thus made a rec- ord for promptness and efficiency in the collection and dis- bursement of taxes which is without parallel in the history of
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HISTORY OF RITCHIE COUNTY
the county, to the present time. When he made his final settlement, he immediately turned over to his successor the whole balance due the various county and district funds, which in all amounted to twenty-eight thousand dollars.
The Tax Commissioner in speaking of Mr. Nutter's of- ficial record, says, that out of the fifty-five Sheriffs of the state, none had a better record than he; and that from the standpoint of the collecting of taxes and the returning of de- linquents, his was the best of the entire fifty-five. Truly, the "office shows the man," and no farther tribute need be paid . to the character of the subject of this sketch, than that shown by his public record.
At the expiration of his term in this office he purchased the Lantz farm in Clay district and turned farmer for a time, but he now resides at Pennsboro where he has prominent connection with the First National Bank.
On August 15, 1898, he was married to Miss Addie Mil- ler, daughter of the late John Miller, of Smithville, who was at that time a teacher, and two bright little children, Darrell and Mabel are the result of this happy union.
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