History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 2, Part 10

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WALTER KENNETH BARNES, one of the younger mem- bers of the bar of his native city and county, was born at Fairmont, Marion County, on April 6, 1891, and is a scion in the fifth generation of the Barnes family in what is now Marion County. Mr. Barnes is a descendant of William Barnes, who came to this section from George's Creek, Maryland, some time prior to 1782 and settled on the Tygart's Valley River, near where the City Pump Station of the City of Fairmont is now located. There William Barnes, one of the pioneers of this section, huilt one of the first water mills in this locality, and followed his trade of millwright. For several generations the land originally occupied by this William Barnes, together with a large part of the land now known as Pleasant Valley, were owned and occupied by the Barnes family and their connections. Abraham Barnes, the eighth son of William Barnes, was born in 1782 at the Pleasant Valley home of William Barnes. He married Mary Ann Hall, daughter of Jordan Hall, of Pleasant Valley. Among their chil- dren was Peter T. Barnes, born September 3, 1828. Dur- ing his young manhood he was a teacher, but later en- gaged in the mercantile and milling business, he together with his brother, Thomas H. Barnes, owning and operat- ing the Palatine Mills near Water Street of Palatine (now Fairmont) for several years. March 11, 1852, Peter T. Barnes married Mary Vandervort Martin, a widow, to

which union several children were born, one of them ing James Walter Barnes, born September 3, 1862.

J. Walter Barnes, the father of the subject of this sketch, engaged in teaching during his early manod. In 1882-3 he studied law at the University of Virgia, and in September, 1883, he was admitted to the ba of Marion County. He practiced law at Fairmont until 185, when he accepted a position as teacher in the Fairont State Normal School, and in 1892 he was made pres ent of this institution, in which capacity he served until 101. In 1902 Mr. Barnes became general manager of the on- solidated Telephone Company, and made it one of the strongest independent telephone companies in the 'un- try. He retained his connection with this company atil it was absorbed by the Bell System in 1915. From 914 to 1919 Mr. Barnes was commissioner of finance ind public utilities of the City of Fairmont, being on of the four city commissioners in charge of the governmital affairs of the City of Fairmont. During the World var he served as Federal fuel administrator for the Sta! of West Virginia, having charge of the enforcement ofthe orders and rulings of the Federal fuel administrator whin the state. In March, 1920, Mr. Barnes was appoited by Governor Cornwell, a member of the State Boar of Control for a term of six years, which position he till holds, being the treasurer of the board. On June 3, 284, Mr. Barnes married Miss Olive Cooper, a daughter of Maj. William P. Cooper, who was the founder and ab- lisher of the Fairmont Index. To this union were arn six children, Hugh Cooper, George Roscoe, Walter en- neth, Fay Evans (died May 17, 1903), Homer Fracis and Mabel Irene.

Walter Kenneth Barnes, the third son of J. W.ter Barnes and Olive (Cooper) Barnes, was educated inthe public schools of Fairmont, graduating from the gries in 1905 and from the Fairmont High School 1909. He then became associated with his father in the telep me business for a while in the plant department, later bng made commercial manager of the Consolidated Telep ine Company and associated companies, and having supervi.on of the commercial affairs of thirty-four telephone ax- changes, covering eleven counties in the northern par of West Virginia. He remained in this position until p- tember, 1912, when he resigned and entered the Colge of Law of the West Virginia University, from wich school he was graduated in June, 1915, with the deree of Bachelor of Laws. The following month he was id- mitted to the bar in Marion County, and has enged in the practice of law at Fairmont ever since, with he exception of the period in which he was in active serice during the World war. In May, 1918, he enlisted in he United States Naval Reserve Force and reported for cty at St. Helena Training Station, being later transfe ed to the Naval Operating Base at Hampton Roads, ir ginia. There he was made a company commander by reason of his cadet training while at the university, nd was assigned to the duty of training new recruits. Ie was discharged on January 4, 1919, and then retured to Fairmont, where he resumed the practice of law. In August, 1919, Mr. Barnes formed a law partnership ith Herschel H. Rose, of the same city, under the firm nhe of Rose & Barnes.

Mr. Barnes is a Presbyterian, as his family has len for the past five generations, his father having sered as an elder in that church since 1890 and as supen tendent of the Sunday School for thirty years. Mr. Bares has been for the past seven years secretary-treasurer of the Board of Trustees of the same church. He is :30 a member of Fairmont Lodge No. 9, Ancient Free Id Accepted Masons, and Fairmont Lodge No. 294, Benevolat and Protective Order of Elks. He also follows the lead ship of his ancestors in his political allegiance, as heis a member of the democratic party.

While in active service in the navy Mr. Barnes jet Miss Margaret Rogan Millar, of Norfolk, Virginia, uc became Mrs. Barnes on July 3, 1920. Mrs. Barnes ia daughter of William H. and Margaret (Rogan) Milr of Norfolk, Virginia, where Mr. Millar is engaged I the wholesale dry-goods business. Mrs. Millar is a B

M. Kenneth Barnes

HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA

pendant of Hugh Patterson, of Eastern Tennessee, and moved to Norfolk from Russellville, Tennessee, at the time of her marriage to Mr. Millar. On December 2, 1921, a daughter, Margaret Cooper Barnes, was born to Mr. and Mrs. Barnes.

WILLIAM J. RODGERS. Among the oil operators of the Huntington District of West Virginia who have won success and prominence, one who has depended upon his own abilities and judgment in the accumulation of prestige and prosperity is William J. Rodgers. His has been an active carrer, filled with achievements, and at present he occupies a position not only high in the business world of his adopted community, but in the esteem and confidence of his fellow- citizens.

Mr. Rodgers was born at Silver Creek, New York, Febru- ary 27, 1967, a son of David R. and Julia A. (Porter) Rodgers. The Rodgers family originated in Ireland whence it was transplanted to the United States by the great-grand- father of William ,I. Rodgers. His grandfather, son of the immigrant, was born in 1787, at Franklin, Pennsylvania, where he passed his entire life in the pursuits of the soil and became a prosperous and extensive agriculturist. A man of excellent education, he possessed oratorical powers beyond the ordinary, and as he was a strict temperance man and a great Abolitionist, and as he did not hesitate to air his views on any and all occasions, in the most aggres- sive way, he was often in the midst of turbulent scenes and experieners. He died at Franklin, Pennsylvania, in 1872, and while he had made numerous enemies because of his outspokenness he also left behind him many friends and admirers who had been attracted to him because of his fear- less stand in support of his own convictions.

David R. Rodgers was born in 1838 at Franklin, Pennsyl- vania, and was reared and educated in Venango County, that state, where he became a pioneer operator in the oil fields. During the war between the states he became a captain in the Eighty-third Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer In- fantry, of the Union army, with which he served throughout the struggle. Among the more serious engagements in which he participated was Gettysburg, and at Little Round Top he had the distinction of capturing Col. R. M. Powell, the famous Texas ranger. In later years, abont 1900, ('aptain Rodgers, as a matter of courtesy, returned Colonel Powell's sword and revolver to him. After taking part in all the engagements of his regiment and establishing a splendid record for bravery and faithful performance of duty, Captain Rodgers received his honorable discharge and returned to the Venango County oil fields. Later he ex- tended his operations to West Virginia, whither he came in 1901, locating at Parkersburg and carrying on his opera- tions from that point, although he maintained his residence at Pittsburgh from 1906. In 1918 he met with an accident in the oil fields, and was taken to his home, where his death occurred. Ile was a man of high principles and of the strietest integrity, and in all the relations of life was worthy nf the respeet and esteem accorded him. At Pleas- antville, Pennsylvania, Captain Rodgers married Miss Julia A. Porter, who was born in 1845, at Pleasantville, and who survives him as a resident of Pittsburgh. They became the parents of the following children: William J., of this notice; Marshall C., who is an oil operator and resides at Pittsborgh; LaVerne, who married Stephen H. Hnselton, also an oil operator of Pittsburgh; and Clara A., un- married, an artist, who resides with her mother at Pitts- burgh.

William J. Rodgers was educated in the public schools of Greenville, Pennsylvania, where he graduated from the high school in 1886, and at that time entered the oil fields at Butler, Pennsylvania, operating with his father at various places in Butler County. Later he moved on to the fields at Findlay and Marietta, Ohio, and in 1894 came to West Virginia, where he operated out of Parkersburg until 1907. la that year he changed his location to Huntington, which has been his home sinee that time, and where he has con- tinued to be active in the oil business as an operator. Mr. Rodgers is seeretary, treasurer and manager of the Hamlin Oil Company of Huntington, secretary and general manager

of the Transylvania Petroleum Company of Huntington, a director in several other oil and gas companies, president of the Branchland Supply Company of Huntington, a com. pany dealing in oil well supplies, and a partner with F. S. Figley in oil well drilling. Ilis offices are situated at Nos. 501-502 Day and Night Bank Building. In polities Mr. Rodgers maintains an independent stand, preferring his own choice of candidates and admitting no party allegiance. He is interested in civic affairs in his adopted city, and is an active member of the Huntington Chamber of Commerce.

On February 10, 1893, Mr. Rodgers was united in mar riage with Miss Mary Bailey, of Panama, New York, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles A. Bailey the latter a resident of Panama, where the father, a farm owner, died. Mrs. Rodgers, a graduate of the Panama High School, took an active part in the local movements during the World war. being executive secretary of Huntington Chapter of the American Red Cross, and devoting her entire time for thre. years to this work. Mr. Rodgers also assisted the activities in various ways. Mr. and Mrs. Rodgers have no children.

D. T. PRITCHARD. In the coal industry of the Huntington District of West Virginia a name that is well and favorably known is that of Pritchard, which has always been identified with large operations carried on in an honorable manner. A worthy representative of the name is found in D. T. Pritchard, who belongs to the younger generation of bus; ness men, and who within recent years has made rapid strides toward a commanding position in the business world. particularly in the line of enterprises connected with the mining and distribution of coal.

Mr. Pritchard was born at Algoma, West Virginia, April 3, 1894, a son of William J. and Ann ( Thomas) Pritchard. His father was born March 19, 1864, at Thrandrovry, Wales, where he was reared and educated, and about the time that he attained his majority. in 1885, came to the United States and settled first at Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania, where he was employed as a coal miner. In 1888 he re- moved to Cooper, Mercer County, West Virginia, where he became a mine foreman, and in 1890 to Algoma, this state, where he was made superintendent of the Algoma Coal and Coke Company. Mr. Pritchard subsequently became inter- ested in this company as a partner, being associated with W. H. Thomas, but in 1900 disposed of his holdings, and since then has been extensively interested in coal operations on his own areount. In 1902 he removed to Bramwell, Mercer County, and that has continued to be his home to the present. Mr. Pritchard is general manager, a storkholder and a director in the Thomas Coal Company and the Crystal Coal Company, of Bramwell; a director in the Flat Top Fnel Company, of Bluefield, West Virginia ; president of the Burnwell Coal and Coke Company, of Sprigg, West Virginia; president of the Long Flame Coal Company, of Lundale, West Virginia; president of the Algoma Block Coal Company, of Lothair, Kentucky: president of the Superior Harlan Coal Company, of Evarts, Kentucky; and president of the Virginia Fuel Company, of Cincinnati, Ohio. The main offices of the last five mentioned companies are situated at No. 619-620 First National Bank Building, Huntington. The career of William J. Pritchard is indeed a remarkable one, including as it does all the elements of self-made manhond. Starting a humble miner, through sheer perseverance and ability he has forced his way upward to a position where he is justly accounted one of West Virginia's leading coal operators. His ability is freely acknowledged by his associates, who at all times accept his judgment as final and his advice as valnable. Mr. Pritchard is a ro- publiean in polities, but polities has played but a small part in his career, which has been devoted to his business affairs. He is a faithful member of the Presbyterian Church, in which he officiates as a deacon, and as a fraternalist is identified with the Masonie order. Mr. Pritehard married Miss Ann Thomas, who was born in Wales, April 9, 1865, and to this union there were born the following children : Marjorie, the wife of Newton T. Roberts, a coal operator of Bramwell, West Virginia; William, of Huntington, who is general manager of the Burnwell Coal and Coke Company. the Long Flame Coal Company, the Mgoma Block Coal

HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA

Company, the Superior Harlan Coal Company and the Vir- ginia Fuel Company; Elizabeth P., the wife of Joseph H. Bowen, a coal operator of Bramwell, West Virginia; D. T., of this review; Daniel H., of Cincinnati, Ohio, general manager of sales of the Pritchard interests, a veteran of the World war, who was trained at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana, and Camp Grant, Illinois, and was assigned to training negro troops, having the rank of first lieutenant; Robert C., of Lundale, West Virginia, superintendent of the Long Flame Coal Company, who during the World war was stationed in the training camp at Lexington, Virginia; and Thomas H., residing with his parents at Bramwell, a student of mining engineering in the Virginia Polytechnic Institute at Blacksburg, Virginia.

D. T. Pritchard was educated in the public schools of Bramwell, and was graduated from the high school of that place with the class of 1914, following which he enrolled as a student at the Wyoming College of Business, Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania, and was graduated in 1915 in a gen- eral business course. Since leaving this institution Mr. Pritchard has been associated with his father in his various coal operations, and has been a resident of Huntington since September, 1920, his well-appointed offices being situated at 619-620 First National Bank Building, he being in charge of the offices in which the Pritchard interests are cared for. Mr. Pritchard is secretary and treasurer of the Burnwell Coal and Coke Company, the Long Flame Coal Company, the Algoma Block Coal Company and the Superior Harlan Coal Company, and vice president of the Virginia Fuel Company of Cincinnati. He is widely and favorably known in the coal industry, and is regarded as a young man of pushing energy and aggressiveness, marked ability of a sound nature, excellent judgment and executive eapacity.

Mr. Pritehard is a republican in his political leanings, but has devoted his attention to business and has had no aspira- tions for public preferment. However, he takes a public- spirited citizen's interest in civic affairs, and gives his support to all worthy civic measures, as he does also to those movements which have for their object better educa- tional, religious and charitable conditions. He belongs to the First Presbyterian Church of Huntington. Fraternally Mr. Pritchard is affiliated with Bramwell Lodge No. 45, A F. and A. M .; Bramwell Chapter No. 15, R. A. M .; Ivan- hoe Commandery No. 10, K. T., of Bramwell; and Beni-Kedem Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S, of Charleston. He likewise holds membership in the Guyan Country Club, the Guyandot Club and the Huntington Chamber of Com- merce. Ile owns a modern residence at No. 724 Thirteenth Avenue, one of the fine homes of Huntington.

On January 1, 1920, Mr. Pritchard was united in mar- riage with Miss Glenna Pack, of Bramwell, daughter of John C. and Emma (Johnson) Pack, residents of Bramwell, Mr. Pack being an extensive coal operator in the West Virginia fields and a man well and prominently known in his community. Mrs. Pritchard, a woman of numerous attainments and graces, is a graduate of the Peabody Con- servatory of Music at Baltimore, Maryland, and a talented pianist.

EDWARD B. RAIGUEL. The profession of civil engineering undoubtedly offers a great future to those equipped by nature and training for this calling. It demands, how- ever, perhaps a more thorough technical knowledge of more subjects than almost any other vocation in which an indi- vidual may engage, but if its demands are severe its rewards are commensurate with its difficulties, and on the pages of history the names of civil engineers who have accomplished the seemingly impossible appear with other benefactors of mankind. A leading consulting engineer of Huntington, who is chief engineer for W. H. Cunningham, is Edward B. Raiguel. He is a native of Reading, Pennsylvania, and was born December 13, 1883, a son of A. Harper and Sarah Louise (Albright) Raiguel.

Abram Raiguel, the great-grandfather of Edward B. Raiguel, was born in Southern France, and iu middle life immigrated to America, settling in Lebanon County, Penn-

sylvania, where he took up farm lands, married and spent the remainder of his life. His son, A. Harper Raiguel, the elder, was born in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, and spent practically all of his life at Philadelphia, having an inde- pendent income from fortunate investments. A republican in politics, he took an active part in party affairs and held several minor offices. He died at Philadelphia in 1870, while his wife, who had been a Miss Boyer, passed away at Reading.

A. Harper Raiguel, the younger, was born at Philadelphia, February 22, 1850, and was reared in that city until young manhood, when he removed to Reading, in which city he was married. He secured a clerkship in the First National Bank of Reading, in which institution he rose to assistant cashier, and after thirty-five years of faithful service retired from active life with a splendid record. He was a repub- lican in politics and a Knight Templar Mason, and belonged to the Presbyterian Church, in the faith of which he died at Reading in March, 1918. Mr. Raiguel married Miss Sarah Louise Albright, who was born July 28, 1852, at Reading, and survives him as a resident of that city. They became the parents of three children: Susan Albright, the wife of George Beggs, assistant sales manager for the Narrow Fabrie Company of Reading; . Edward B., of this record; and Helen Louise, the wife of Carl Moyer, engaged in the insurance business at West Reading, Pennsylvania.

The public schools of Reading furnished Edward B. Rai- guel with his primary educational training, and after his graduation from the Reading High School with the class of 1900 he attended the Reading Classical School. Ile next enrolled as a student at Cornell University, attending two years, and at once commenced work at Reading, being em- ployed by W. H. Dechant, a civil engineer. Mr. Raiguel spent one year with Mr. Dechant and then for a few months was a civil engineer with the New Jersey Short Line Rail- way Company, next being identified with the Batcheller Pneumatic Tube Company of Philadelphia in the capacity of assistant engineer. In July, 1906, he accepted a position with the Temple Ornamental and Structural Iron Company at Temple, Pennsylvania, as assistant draughtsman, but remained only two months. During 1907 he was with the Aeme Motor Company of Reading as assistant superinten- dent, and in April, 1908, came to Huntington as draughts- man for the W. G. Wilkins Company of Pittsburgh in the Huntington offices. He remained in this position for one year and for another year was chief draughtsman, and then became assistant engineer for the same concern, remaining until December, 1913. He was then made chief engineer for the Partridge Woodrow Company of Ocala, Florida, a concern with which he remained one year as chief engineer. From December, 1914, to November, 1915, Mr. Raiguel con- dueted a general engineering business at Huntington, and was then made engineer in charge of field parties for W. H. Cunningham, a well-known consulting engineer, from which position he was advanced to that of chief engineer January 1, 1918. He holds this position today, his offices being situated at No. 802 First National Bank Building. Mr. Raiguel has become well and favorably known in his pro- fession, and his name has been connected with a number of large and important enterprises.

Politically Mr. Raiguel is a democrat, but has found little time from the duties of his calling to engage in public matters or the game of polities. He belongs to the Lutheran Church, and holds membership in the Guyandotte Club and the Guyan Country Club of Huntington and the American Institute of Mining Engineers. He is the owner of a modern home at No. 440 Thirteenth Avenue, in one of Huntington's exclusive residential districts. From Septem- ber, 1915, to August, 1916, Mr. Raiguel was a member of the Second Regiment, West Virginia National Guard, and was honorably discharged with the rank of regimental sergeant-major.

On June 15, 1909, at Williamsport, Pennsylvania, Mr. Raiguel married Miss Ruth Greenwood, a graduate of Fair- mont Seminary, Washington, D. C., and a daughter of Raymond and Julia (Brockett) Greenwood, residents of Montclair, New Jersey, where Mr. Greenwood owns and

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HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA

rates a publie garage. Mr. and Mrs. Raiguel have three eldrea: Julia, born June 13, 1910; Edward Hervey, boru Mey 4. 1913; and Ruth, born March 1, 1919.

JOHN THOMAS MASTERSON, secretary and treasurer of the Wimmer Gas Stove Company at Huntington, was born in ballia County, Ohio, July 17, 1861, and is a son of Bernard and Martha E. (Snowden) Masterson, the former of whom was born in County Cavan, Ireland, in 1838, and the latter of whom was born at Steubenville, Ohio, ia 1841. The death of the father occurred in Gallia County, Ohio, in 1593, and that of the mother at Marietta, that state, in June, 1916.

Bernard Masterson gained his early education in the schools of his native land, and was a lad of fourteen years when he came to the United States. At Steubenville, Ohio. he learned the blacksmith's trade, and in 1862 he removed to Gallia County, that state, where he continued in the sturdy work of his trade until the time of his death-a man of sterling character, a loyal and useful citizen. He served in the Ohio militia or Home Guard in the period of the Civil war, and aided in suppressing the raids of the Con- federate forces under command of Gen. John Morgan. Ile was a demcerat in politics and was affiliated with the Masonic fraternity. Of the family of twelve children six are living at the time of this writing in the spring of 1922: Elizabeth is the widow of John Howarth, who was a carpeater and builder by voration and who died April 30, 1913, ia Gallia County, Ohio, she being now a resident of Huntington, West Virginia; John T., of this sketch, was next in order of birth; Annie G. is the wife of John Scherer, a retired farmer, and they reside at Marietta, Ohio; Homer G., a blacksmith by trade, resides in the City of Huntington, West Virginia; Clara E. is the wife of Herschel V. Brown, a contractor and builder at Marietta, Ohio; Walter L. owns and conducts a restaurant in that eity.

Juha T. Masterson is indebted to the district schools of Gallia County, Ohio, for his early education, which was thereafter continued in the high school at Gallipolis, in which he was graduated as a member of the class of 1883. Thereafter he continued as a successful teacher in the schools of his native county until 1894, when he engaged in similar service in Madison County, Missouri. After his retura to the old home county in Ohio he there continued as a popular teacher until 1901, when he became principal of the schools at St. Albans, Kanawha County, West Vir- ginia. He retained this position until 1905, and thereafter was for one year an instructor in the Huntington Business College. For the ensuing seven months he was here book- kreper for the Huntington Hardware Company, and from 1908 to 1915 he served as assistant eity treasurer of Hunt- ingtoa. He next held for three years the position of book- keeper for the Overland.Perry-Curtis Company of Hunting- too, aad in the meanwhile, in 1916, he became financially interested in the Winner Gas Stove Company, of which he has bera secretary and treasurer since 1918. This enm- pany is incorporated under the laws of West. Virginia and manufactures a very superior type of gas heating stoves, the fartory and offices being at 927 Second Avenue. The company holds patents on the improved burner which is utilized in its stoves, the business is constantly expanding in scope and importance, and the trade extends from Penn- sylvania on the east to the Rocky Mountains on the west, and south to the Gulf of Mexico. William E. Deegans is president of the company, and H. C. Daniels is vice presi- dent and general manager.

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History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 2, Part 10

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