History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 2, Part 108

Author:
Publication date:
Publisher:
Number of Pages:

USA > West Virginia > History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 2 > Part 108

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

326

HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA

On February 10, 1901, in Jackson County, Mr. Hogsett married Miss Cora Alice Greene, daughter of Scarlet F. and Minerva (Foglesong) Greene, farming people of Jack- son County.

CARSON ALLEN WILLIS, M. D. A leading and prominent member of the medical fraternity of Harrison County is Carson Allen Willis, M. D., who has been engaged in prac- tice at Clarksburg continuously since 1911, with the excep- tion of the period during the World's war when he was enlisted in the United States Army Medical Corps. He has built up a large and representative practice at Clarks- burg, and his standing in his profession is that of a thor- oughly capable, reliable and reputable physician and sur- geon.

Doctor Willis was born on a farm at Bridgeport, Ilarri- son Couuty, West Virginia, February 24, 1878, a son of Jesse H. and Olive A. (Gawthrop) Willis. The parents are now numbered among the oldest and most highly respected couples of Harrison County, where both were born, edu- cated and reared and where they have always resided. The father was a pioneer breeder of thorough-bred race horses in West Virginia and followed the races with a "string" of horses for many years. His farm lay close by Bridge- port, and a part of it is now a portion of that city. His many years of active life were attended with success and now, having passed the four-score span of life by seven years, is living in comfortable retirement. When the Civil war came on during the sixties, Jesse H. Willis teudered his services to the Union army, but was rejected because it was thought that he had tubercular trouble, although this trouble was later diagnosed as asthma, from which he was a sufferer for years. During a part of the Civil war he served as a teamster. Mr. Willis never sought political honors, but in politics he has long been known as a stalwart republican. While he has never joined any church, his good and faithful wife has long been a member of the Baptist Church. They had and reared two sous: Walter Warren and Dr. Carson Allen.

Carson Allen Willis was reared on the farm and after graduating from the Bridgeport high school was for a part of two years a student in the West Virginia University, preparing himself to take up the study of medicine. He completed the prescribed course in the medical department of the University of Maryland, at Baltimore, and received his degree of Doctor of Medicine in 1904, following which for the next seven years he practiced his calling at Jen- ningston, Tucker County, West Virginia. In 1911 he lo- cated at Clarksburg, where he soon built up a desirable general practice and gained the confidence and esteem of a large following.

Doctor Willis volunteered his services to the medical de- partment of the United States Army, and in July, 1918, was commissioned a first lieutenant and sent to Camp Lee, where he served until February, 1919. He had been rec- ommended for a commission as a captain, but the com- mission, like many others, was held up because of the signing of the armistice. Some time subsequent to his honorable discharge, he received letters from the War Department notifying him that he was listed with the rank of captain in the Medical Reserve Corps, his present rank. He is now serving as full-time medical officer of the Veterans' Bureau, with headquarters at Clarksburg. Doctor Willis is a member of the Harrison County Medical Society, the West Virginia Medical Society and the Amer- ican Medical Association. In his fraternal relations he is a Knight Templar Mason and a Noble of the Mystic Shrine. His political belief is that of the republican party, but he has taken no active part in political matters. Reared a Baptist he bas always remained true to that faith.

In 1904 Doctor Willis was united in marriage with Miss Hazel Sandusky, and they are the parents of two children : John and James.

KIRK KING has made a record of splendid achievement in the field of life insurance and is now West Virginia state agent for the Michigan Mutual Life Insurance Company, one of the old and substantial insurance corporations of

the United States. Mr. King maintains his home ar executive headquarters in the City of Clarksburg, Harris County, and lie is interested also in oil and gas produ tion enterprise in West Virginia.

Mr. King was born at Slanesville, Hampshire Count West Virginia, July 20, 1878, and was two years old wh his parents removed to Woodstock, Shenandoab County, V ginia, where he was reared to adult age and where completed his studies in the public and high schools. T family removed in 1895 to Davis, Tucker County, whe he joined them in the following year. At Davis his fath was for several years proprietor of the West Virginia Hot

Mr. King is a son of Thomas E. and Martha Ann (Va nosdale) King, both deceased, the former of whom di at the age of sixty-seven years and the latter at the sar age in January of 1922. Of the four children the subj. of this review is the eldest, and the others, Sylvester Mary and Pearl, are all married and have children. T parents were born in what is now Hampshire County, W. Virginia, where the respective families were established the pioneer days and where numerous representatives each still reside.

Kirk King celebrated his arrival at his legal major. by taking unto himself a wife, in 1900, and for the ensui five years he followed the vocation of painter and decorat two years having been given to his apprenticeship and i remaining three years to independent contracting in t line. In 1905 he became a local agent at Davis for t. Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, and three mont later he was promoted to the management of a sub-distri with headquarters at Elkins. After continuing five yer in the service of the Metropolitan Life he resigned his pc tion to accept the state agency for the Reserve Loan L Insurance Company of Indianapolis, Indiana. In Ap 1918, he made another significant advance, in his appoi ment to his present position, that of West Virginia st: agent for the Michigan Mutual Life Insurance Compa of Detroit, for which he has since developed a large volu of business in West Virginia, the annual underwriting : the company in this state having now passed the $1,000,0 mark.

Aside from his splendid record in the insurance busin Mr. King has become identified with oil and gas prod tion, in which connection he is a director of the Latty & Gas Company, besides being one of the principals in . Weekley & King Company, drilling contractors, and be: associated also with other oil and gas producing corpo tions operating in the West Virginia fields. He is a st wart republican, is a member of the Clarksburg Cham of Commerce and the Cheat Mountain Club, is affilia with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and and his wife hold membership in the Methodist Episco Church.

The year 1900 recorded the marriage of Mr. King Miss Myrtle Wilson, a daughter of T. E. Wilson, a ref sentative merchant at Davis, this state. Mr. and Mrs. K have a fine family of nine children: Frederick Wils Constance, Kirk Kenneth, Theodore, Philip Sousa, Dorot Virginia, Donald, and Roger.

KENNETH NEIL SAPPINGTON, whose administration the office of the chief of the police department of Clar burg, Harrison County, is marked by distinctive loya and efficiency, was born at Charles Town, Jefferson Cour, West Virginia, on the 23d of January, 1888. He is a | of Joseph L. and Mary E. (Woody) Sappington and was but seven years of age when his father was killed! a railroad wreck. The widowed mother was left to c) for the family of four sons and four daughters, and fo. tude, courage and self-sacrifice were hers in the rear; of the children. This noble woman is still living and her reward for past struggles in receiving the utmost fi devotion on the part of her children. When the pres chief of police of Clarksburg was a lad of ten years widowed mother removed to Weston and assumed a posit as nurse in the insane asylum. Chief Sappington atten the public schools in a somewhat intermittent and limil way, and early began the battle of life for himself, w1

Bessie Far Griffey

At.Griffey

327

HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA

as earnest desire to relieve his mother of responsibility. A a young man he established his residence at Clarks- big, and here he was varioualy employed until 1909, when he was appointed a member of tha police force. After sering five years as a patrolman he waa retired from the pi.ce department and otherwise engaged for four years. I April, 1918, he was appointed chief of police, for & ten ef three years, and the estimate placed upon his ad- mistration was shown in his re-appointment in 1921, for afurther term of twe years. He has aystematized and mle apecially effective the service of his department and Ir personal popularity in his home city ia of unequivocal der. The Chief is a staneh demeerat, is affiliated with tl Knights of Pythias, the Benevelent and Protective Qier of Elks and the Leyal Order of Meese, and he and hr wife hold membership in the Baptist Church.

Jay 17, 1911, recerded the marriage of Mr. Sappington t Miss Lulu J. Lee, daughter of J. G. Lee of Garrett Ceun- Maryland, and they have four children: Joseph Neil, VIter Carl, Ruth Maxine, and Kenneth Lee.

CHARLES D. RITTER fer thirty-five years has had an active ptieipation in the industrial and commercial affairs of W.eeling. He is head of the Ritter-Smith Metor Company, 01 of the chief organizations distributing motor cars in Es territory.

Mr. Ritter was bern at Wheeling, June 20, 1868. Ritter ia name of Pennsylvania Dutch ancestry. His grand- fher was a Pennsylvanian, and soon after the discovery o geld in California set out for the Pacific Coast and was lt heard from near Denver, Celerade. His widew subse- gently died in Wheeling. Charles Ritter, father of Charles I Ritter, was a native of Pennsylvania, and moved when areung man to Wheeling, where he married. For a num- t: of years be was a steward on Ohio River steamboats. 1. was a member of the Masonic fraternity, and died at Ticeling in 1887. His wife was Miss Minnie Vaas, who Ts bera in Germany in 1845, and died at Wheeling in 1914. fe was the mother of four children, the oldest, Will, dying a the age ef eight days. Charles D. is the secend. Harry ja clothing merchant at Wheeling and Louis is a member c the Wheeling Axle Company.

Charles D. Ritter grew up at Wheeling, attended the blic scheels and Frazier's Business College, and at the te ef sixteen entered the world of industry in the shops @ the Baltimere & Ohio Railway Company. Fer eight vars he was a machinist in the railway shops, and fer le years was similarly empleyed by the City and Elm (ove Railway Company. In 1897 he went with the Spears de Company, and bad a prominent part in that manu- deturing concern for twenty-twe consecutive years, eventu- ly becoming superintendent of the plant.

In 1919 he bought the Eureka Moter Car Company, anging the name to the Eureka Garage and a year later | A. Smith, of Bellaire, Ohie, came with him as partner, ey organizing the Ritter-Smith Meter Company. This empany has well equipped garage and effices at 1517 Eoff reet, and besides eperating a publie garage they de an tensive business as distributors throughout this district the Cele, Hupmobile and Maibohm cara.

Mr. Ritter is a republican in polities. For two years was town reeerder of his home village at Edgeweed, w a part of Wheeling. He is a deacon in St. James itheran Church. September 20, 1893, at Wheeling, he arried Miss Mary Elizabeth Bayba, daughter of Gottlieb d Mary Elizabeth (Hayner) Bayha, both deceased. Her ther was a well-knewn Wheeling baker. Mr. and Mrs. tter had two children, Carl and Clara, but the latter died the age of nineteen years. Carl married Marie Doepken, d they live in Bae Mar, Wheeling, where he is a baker. r. and Mrs. Carl Ritter have two children, Dorothy and arles.

HARVEY F. GRIFFEY, superintendent of the West Virginia heols for the Deaf and the Blind at Remney, is an edu- tor of high standing and came to his present respon- bilities after several years of service as a superintendent sehools in West Virginia. Prier te that he was for many

years engaged in educatiennl werk in his native state of Indinna.

Mr. Griffey was bern in Marion County, near the City ef Indianapolis, July 20, 1878. His father, Henry M. Griffey, was born in Wabash County, anme state, in 1855, and has spent his life as a carpenter, painter and ceatractor, and is still in business at Fertville, Indiana. Ia Marion County ha married Miss Ida L. Gresch. Her father, Levi P. Greach, came from Reading, Pennalyvanin. Harvey F. Griffey is the eldest in a family of fourteen children, twelve of whem are still living.

Superintendent Griffey spent his beyheod and youth in and around Indianapolis, attended high achoel at New Au- gusta, and in preparation for his prefessien attended the State Normal Scheel at Terre Haute two terms. This was fellowed by three years ef werk in Butler College at In- dianapolis. Later he pursued a scientifie ceurse and re- eeived his Bachelor's degree frem the University of Indiana in 1910, and for additional werk he was awarded the Mas- ter's degree in 1915, and since then has dene graduate work in the University of Chicago.

However, his teaching experience began many years he- fore he received his Master's degree. Fer n time he taught a country acheol in Marien County, and his first principal- ship was at Parker City, Indiana. He was superintendent of schools at Meunt Comfert and at Geneva, Indiana, and during 1910-11 he held the chair ef bielegy in the Seuth Dakota State Normal Seheol. Frem there he returned to his werk at Geneva, Indiana, and in 1915 eame to West Virginia as superintendent ef scheels at Hinton. His three years' work there ineluded the period of the World war, and as & sehoel man he had much te do with building up patriotic sentiment in the city and surrennding district. After leaving Hinten Mr. Griffey was for one year super- intendent of schools at Keneva, and in 1920 he took the supervision of the Deaf and Blind Institution at Remney as the successer ef F. L. Burdette.

Ever since coming to West Virginia Mr. Griffey has been active in eeunty institute werk, serving as an instructor in normal training in the eeunties ef Pocahontas, Mereer. Greenbrier, Summers, Fayette. Raleigh, Boene, Mason and Hampshire. During 1909-10 he was located en the Indi- ana University farma. One feature of these farms were some large caves, and in these he did special research work upen the eyes ef blind eray fish. Ilis graduating thesis was on this subjeet. and it is now in precess ef publication. Another scientific thesis seen to be published is the result of his experience and study of the handwriting of 1,000 children, a study eenducted with the purpose of deter- mining which of the three styles of handwriting can be used mest rapidly and with the best quality ef penmanship.

Mr. Griffey's administratien of the schools at Remney has preved him a man thoroughly qualified for the great respensibility of training the unfertunate children placed there. He has made some improvement in the technique of the sehoel itself, intredueing some new metheds of instrue- tien, and since he became superintendent some notable ad- ditions have also been made te the general equipment of the schoel, ineluding a new dermitery fer the blind girls, finished and occupied in 1922, and the remodeling of the eld Potomac Academy building and its addition to the in- stitution 'a group of buildings.

Mr. Griffey married at Mount Comfort. Indiana, Febru- ary 6, 1909, Miss Bessie Dunn. Mrs. Griffey is an experi- eneed educator and shares eempletely in her husband's ideals in this great vocatien. She is a daughter ef William H. and Martha (Wilson) Dunn, and is a graduate of the Meunt Cemfort High School, attended Indiana University and the South Daketa State Nermal Scheel at Springfield. She began teaching with her husband at Geneva, Indiana, and taught at Hinton and Kenova in West Virginia, and is now assistant superintendent ef the West Virginia Scheels fer the Deaf and Blind. Mr. and Mrs. Griffey have one son, Harold F.

Mr. Griffey comes of a family of republican faith, but beyend voting has net concerned himself with partisan poli- ties. He is a member of the college fraternity Pi Ma, is a past grand of the Independent Order ef Odd Fellows

328

HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA

and has represented Hinton Lodge in the State Grand Lodge and is a member of the Junior Order United American Me- chanics. Mrs. Griffey has held several offices in the Eastern Star Chapter. They are active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and both take part in the Sunday school, Mr. Griffey being a teacher of the Men's Bible Class.

JOHN E. STEVENSON. Though he had worked himself up to the responsibilities of a superintendent in the Monessen plant of the American Sheet & Tin Plate Company, John E. Stevenson resigned, changed his destination as a busi- ness man, and as member of the firm Mitchell & Stevenson has developed a highly successful business as investment brokers.

Mr. Stevenson was born at West Newton in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, October 9, 1882. His father, Thomas C. Stevenson, was born at West Newton in 1859. While there he entered the service of the Baltimore & Ohio Rail- road Company, was transferred to Connellsville, Pennsyl- vania, and in 1890 came to Wheeling as freight agent for the Baltimore & Ohio. Three years later he resigned from the railroad, and for two years was sales manager of the Bloch Brothers Tobacco Company. He left that busi- ness to become superintendent for the American Sheet & Tin Plate Company at Wheeling, later was promoted to district manager and in 1905 became district manager at Pittsburgh. Thomas C. Stevenson in 1907 retired from business and has since lived at Wheeling. He is a Mason, a member of the First Presbyterian Church at Wheeling, and votes as an independent. He married Mary Elliott, who was born at Newark, Ohio, in 1855. John E. is the oldest of their three children. Mary Louise is the wife of Charles D. Towar, a salesman at Wheeling, and Elizabeth Plummer is the wife of Henry G. Stifel, a member of the manu- facturing firm of J. L. Stifel & Sons at Wheeling.

John E. Stevenson acquired his early education in the public schools of Wheeling and in Linsly Institute. After a course in the Moise Commercial College at Wheeling in 1898 he became a traveling salesman for the Bloch Brothers Tobacco Company. He was on the road two years for this firm and then entered the local plant and offices of the American Sheet & Tin Plate Company as a clerk. His abilities gained him rapid promotion, and he was general superintendent when he resigned in 1907 to engage in busi- ness for himself. He organized the firm of Mitchell & Stevenson, investment brokers, in 1913. They have made many prominent connections with the financial interests and enjoy a high standing in the financial world. Their offices are at 57 Twelfth Street.

Mr. Stevenson is a director in the Marland Oil Com- pany of Delaware, the Maryland Refining Company, and the Mack Manufacturing Company of Wheeling. He is a republican, is a trustee of the First Presbyterian Church, is a Knight Templar Mason with local affiliations in Mones- sen Lodge No. 638 at Monessen, Pennsylvania. He is a member of the Chamber of Commerce, Wheeling Country Club and Fort Henry Club. December 8, 1914, at Wheeling, he married Miss Laura Stifel, daughter of L. C. and Eliz- abeth (Stamm) Stifel. Her parents both died in Wheeling. Her father was for many years actively connected with J. F. Stifel & Sons, calico printers. Mrs. Stevenson is a graduate of the Penn College for Women. They have one daughter, Henryett, born October 25, 1917.

WILLIAM R. COVEY, president of the Cooey-Bentz Com- pany, of Wheeling, whose retail furuiture business repre- sents one of the two largest enterprises of the kind in West Virginia, holds a place of much prominence in connection with the industrial and commercial life of the City of Wheeling. He was born at McMechen, Marshall County, this state, on the 1st of September, 1860, and is a son of Matthew and Nancy (McCombs) Cooey, the former of whom was born in Greene County, Pennsylvania, in 1828, and the latter was born in what is now Marshall County, West Virginia, in 1830. The parents passed the closing years of their lives at Martins Ferry, Ohio, where the death of the mother occurred in 1895 and that of the

father in 1901. Of the children the eldest was John, whr became a farmer in Marshall County, West Virginia, an. later a huckster at Martins Ferry, Ohio, where he died a the age of fifty-five years; Mary Rachel, who hecame th wife of William Minden, likewise died at Martins Ferry and Mr. Minden is now a farmer near Clarington, Obio William R., of this sketch, was the next in order of birth Ella is the wife of Thomas Hasson, a farmer near Zoar Ohio; Everett is engaged in the shoe business at Martin Ferry.

William R. Covey was reared on the farm which his fa ther owned and operated in Wetzel County, West Virginia where he remained until he was twenty-five years of age his educational advantages having been those of the loca schools. After leaving the farm he was variously employer until 1887, when he came to Wheeling, where for the ensu ing five years he was employed in the furniture store o John Arbenz, the following four years having found hir similarly engaged with the Altmeyer Furniture Company After the death of Mr. Altmeyer in 1897 Mr. Cooey az Herman Bentz purchased the business, which was then on of small order, and their vigor and good management playe: full part in the development of the enterprise to its presen extensive and substantial proportions. The large an moderu store building of the company is situated at th corner of Thirty-sixth Street, and the personnel of th official corps is as follows: President, William R. Covey vice president, Herman Bentz; secretary and general mar ager, Charles Kettler; manager of branch store at Benwood Marshall County, Edward Cooey. In addition to full line of furniture the company also handles house furnishings and has an undertaking department of the most moder equipment and service. Mr. Cooey is a director of th McConnell Box & Barrel Company, conducting one of th important manufacturing industries of Wheeling; is . stockholder in the South Side Bank of Wheeling, the Com munity Loan Bank of this city, the Uneeda Match Company the Wheeling Milling & Grain Company, a brass manu factory at Fairmont and the North Wheeling Glass Works;

Mr. Cooey, a democrat in politics, served one term as member of the City Council of Wheeling, but is essentiall a business man and has not cared to enter the arena o practical politics. He is a trustee of the Wesleyan Metho dist Episcopal Church in his home city, and in the Masoni fraternity his basic affiliation is with Nelson Lodge No. 30 Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, while in the Scottis Rite he has received the thirty-second degree in West Vi ginia Sovereign Consistory No. 1, besides being a membe of Osiris Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Wheeling. He : the owner not only of his modern and beautiful home pro] erty, at 3740 Woods Street, but also of two other house on that street and near his own residence.

In 1885 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Cooey an Miss Mary Sengenwalt, daughter of Frederick and Wi helmina (Kupfer) Sengenwalt, both now deceased. In com clusion is given brief record concerning the children c Mr. and Mrs. Cooey: Walter is a salesman in the store ( Cooey-Bentz Company; Edward has the management c the branch store at Benwood and is individually mentione in the sketch following; Wilbert, who is associated with th Block Brothers Tobacco Company of Wheeling, resides & McMechen, Marshall County; Bertha is the wife of Ro Black, and they reside at MeMechen, Mr. Black being com nected with the Cooey-Bentz hranch store at Benwood Archibald was graduated from the United States Militar Academy at West Point in 1919, just prior to the signin of the armistice that brought the World war to a clos and as a member of the United States Army he is now (1921 stationed at Camp Sherman, Ohio, with the rank of fir: lieutenant; Wilma is the wife of Mr. Elmer Burrall, who . a skilled machinist at the Uneeda Match Factory in Whee ing; and Mary is a student in the Wheeling High School

John Cooey, grandfather of the subject of this review was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, and died at Elm Grov Ohio County, West Virginia, in 1875. He came to th United States as a youth of sixteen years, established h residence at Wheeling, West Virginia, and after his ma riage he engaged in farming in Greene County, Pennsy

& D Judy

329

HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA

nia, which vocation he later followed in Marshall and etzel counties, West Virginia, in which latter county he ( ablished his residence in 1865. After retiring from the irm he passed the remainder of his life at Elni Grove, tio County. His wife, whose maiden name was Mary rter, was born near West Alexander, Pennsylvania, and od at Elm Grove, West Virginia. Both were active mem- Irs of the Presbyterian Church, and Mr. Coocy was a demo- ut in political allegiance.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 2, Part 108

Author: Publication date: Publisher: Number of Pages:

Author:
Publication date:
Publisher:
Number of Pages: