History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 2, Part 113

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OBERT WALKER LOVE, M. D. For nearly twenty years fre in his profession as a physician and surgeon at Erefield in Hardy County, Doctor Love had a wide range fprofessional experience and training before coming to Vol. II-89

West Virginia. Ile is a native of Scotland, was reared and partly educated in that country, completed his medical course in America, and for a time was a medical missionary in South America.

lle was born in the City of Glasgow, Scotland, August 25, 1873. Ilis father, Hugh Love, was born in Lanark- shire, near Johnson, where his people for generationa had lived, being merchants and manufacturers mainly. It was a family of local distinction and noted for integrity of character. The mother of Doctor Love was Jemimah Walker, daughter of Robert Walker, who enmo from tho Burns District of Ayrshire. Hugh Love died in 1921, at the age of eighty years, and his wife died in 1912, at the age of sixty-nine. They had two children: Miss Susan Young, of Glasgow; and Doctor Love, of West Virginia.

Robert Walker Love spent most of his childhood and youth in the Vale of Leven and Dumbartonshire, where his father was in business. He attended the primary and sec- ondary schools corresponding to the American grade and high school, and began the study of medieine in Glasgow. He made his first trip to the United States from Glasgow on the S.S. Nebraska, landing at New York and at once en- tering the Baltimore Medical College at Baltimore. Ile graduated there in 1897, and then returned to Scotland for a year. Following that came his experience in South America as a medical missionary among the Indians in the Gran Chaco of Paraguay. ITis work took him into a dis- trict where white men rarely ventured. The Gran Chaco is a vast extent of prairie country on the Parana River, in- habited by many tribes of semi-hostile Indians, whose at- titudo toward the white man was friendly and safe when the white man observed the golden rule in his treatment of them. A white man who was well disposed and trusted the Indians would surrender his unloaded weapons to them before he retired for the night, thus giving the Indian as- surance that the visitor had no hostile designs. Doctor Love spent two years in that country, and has many interesting recollections of his experience there. These Indians would inoeulate themselves with the virus of a snake whose poison is weak so as to make themselves immune from the snake whose virus is deadly. In massaging, Doetor Love observed, their practice was to rub upward instead of down, and though the Indian could not give a scientific explana- tion of why he did so, it happened to be the proper way to give a massage.

After this experience in South America Doetor Love again returned to Scotland, and a few months later came again to the United States. For about a year be worked in the Maryland General Ilospital, and in 1901 he came to West Virginia and for three years practiced at Pleasant Dale in Hampshire County. Then, in 1903, be established himself at Moorefield, and began his long and useful ca- reer as a medical man in this community. For a number of years he has been county health officer, bas held the office of secretary and president of the County Medieal Society, is a member of the State Medical Society and a Fellow of the American Medical Association. During the World war he did all he could to aid the allies in winning the war, and throughout the entire period of America's participation was a member of the local draft board. He is an elder in the Presbyterian Church of Moorefield and has represented his church in the Presbyterial meetings. In polities he is a democrat in all national issues, but on the whole favors the man rather than the party.

Miss Elizabeth Duncan was born at IFuntley, Aberdeen- shire, Scotland, daughter of John Duncan, a farmer of Edinglassie in Aberdeenshire. His daughter Elizabeth was educated in the grammar school of Keith and in board- ing sehool, and on examination at Edinburgh University in England won honors in English. She taught school for several years, and was teacher of French and German in the schools of Melrose, the old home of Sir Walter Scott. In 1901 she came to America for the purpose of joining Doetor Love, her fiance, and they were married in New York City in October of that year. Mra. Love is an ac- complished woman and has done much art work with the brush as a painter. She was chairman of the surgical dressing department of the Hardy County Chapter of the

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Red Cross. The children of Doctor and Mrs. Love are: Raymond Cecil, a graduate of the Moorefield High School and now a student in Hampden-Sidney College in Virginia; Ian (John) Alastair, a high school student in Moorefield; and Ronald Walker and Winifred. Doctor and Mrs. Love jointly exercised their art and good taste in the planning of their beautiful and generous home at Moorefield.

ANTHONY BENJAMIN HASLACKER has been active in the banking affairs of Moorefield for the past dozen years, he- ing cashier of the Hardy County Bank. He entered this bank a year or so after it was organized in 1909. Its pro- moters were Robert A. Wilson, George T. Leatherman, William Ran Orndorff, Ed McNeill and A. A. Parks. The Hardy County Bank is capitalized at $50,000, has surplus and undivided profits of $6,000, and carries average de- posits of $100,000. The president is Mr. Orndorff, Charles E. Vance is vice president, and the board of directors com- prise Mr. Orndorff, Mr. Vance, Mr. Haslacker, Robert A. Wilson, P. S. Mathias, George W. Mathias, Jr., William M. Kessel and Hetzel S. Pownall.

Mr. Haslacker was born at Maysville, Grant County, West Virginia, June 27, 1879, son of John and Elizabeth (Hesse) Haslacker, both natives of Grant County and still living on their farm in the vicinity of Maysville. John Haslacker was horn there, had a country school education and has spent his busy life with the industry of his farm and his stock. He has never been in politics as a candidate for office, is a republican voter and he and his wife are Baptists. Their children are: Anthony B .; Minnie, wife of Calvin Stonestreet, of Maysville; Edward, a farmer in Grant County; Ernest, with his parents on the homestead; Clellie, wife of Albert Umstot, of Reese's Mills of West Virginia; Randolph II., at home; and Larry B., of Scherr in Grant County.

Anthony B. Haslacker attended the common schools while on the farm, and for three years was a student of the Fairmont State Normal School. He left that institute be- cause of lack of funds to continue the course, and for about five years his work was teaching in the Maysville locality. Subsequently he joined the Union Tanning Company's service as accountant and in other capacities, and the com- pany successively transferred him to Cumberland, Paw Paw, Petersburg and, finally, to Davis.

Leaving this industry, Mr. Haslacker in 1911 joined the Hardy County Bank as assistant cashier, holding that post under cashier Robert A. Wilson, and in June, 1919, suc- ceeded Mr. Wilson as cashier. As one of the active bank- ers of this community he took a prominent part during the World war in promoting the sale of all the Liberty Bond issues, and joined other patriotic organizations as well. Mr. Haslacker is affiliated with the Masonie Lodge, and during the greater part of the time since becoming a citizen of Moorefield he has held some public office involving serv- iee to the community without more than nominal remunera- tion. He is a former recorder of the town, has been presi- dent of the school board for one year, and usually co- operates with any movement for the general benefit of the community.

On April 17, 1907, Mr. Haslacker married Miss Marie A. Parks, of Petersburg. Her father, A. A. Parks, represented a pioneer family of Grant County, was in business there and at one time hield the office of sheriff. Mrs. Haslacker was born on her father's farm in Grant County in Octo- ber, 1886, and is the elder of two children. Her brother, John A. Parks, is active in several lines of business at Petersburg, the roller-mills, light plant, ice factory and the Potomac Valley Bank. Mr. and Mrs. Haslacker have two children, Ralph P. and Agnes R.

JOHN M. SHORT, deputy United States marshal at Wheel- ing under United States Marshal C. E. Smith of Fairmont, has a great record as a criminal expert and criminal of- ficer, detective and secret service agent.

Mr. Short was born at Wheeling, June 11, 1853, son of Henry Short. His father was a native of Birmingham, England, but spent bis long aand active life at Wheeling as an iron worker and molder, for a number of years being

an employe of A. J. Sweeney's foundry. He diedit good old age, and his wife died at the age of fift five Both were active members of the old First Presby ria Church at North Wheeling. Their family consisted of mare sons and two daughters: Saline, a widow living in Dhi County; John M .; Rose, a widow, whose home is at Main' Ferry; Alfred, who was killed in the mines early inife and Robert J., a retired resident of Aetnaville, Ohio.

John M. Short was reared and educated in Wh lin learned the molder's trade and followed it two years and left his trade to become a patrolman. He was on dir a North Wheeling, and he was the first plain-clothesma an pointed on the police force of Wheeling. In 1893 Govno MacCorkle appointed Mr. Short to represent the state ; th Columbian Exposition in Chicago. He was soon made hie of the night force of plain-clothesmen, who at times um bered 125 men. His record at Chicago attracted the tie of the officials of the Baltimore & Ohio Railway, and ron 1893 for fourteen years he was captain of the Baltaon & Ohio police, having jurisdiction over all the lines o: ba system in West Virginia and portions of Ohio and ary land. He held the highest positions of responsibili i the railroad detective service. It became his duty tap prehend and arrest men for every offense in the calo of crime, including several murderers. Among his arl duties was an assignment to break up the thieving an between Wheeling and Grafton, where other officer: ha failed. In a short time organized thieving ceased Ito gether, and he sent several offenders to the penitenary During the first year he was captain of the Baltimel Ohio police force he apprehended eight-five per ce o all depredators, while forty per cent had long been on sidered a good record. Later he organized the Shor De tective Agency, operating it for several years and fall selling it. Subsequently Mr. Short was with the Whi ker Glessner Mill Company, and as a private detective hatle a number of important cases. As a democrat he reeve his appointment as deputy United States marshal.

At the age of nineteen Mr. Short married Ella W. Sog gins, of Wheeling. They have two children, Robe and Rosa, the latter Mrs. Arthur Chance of Wheeling. M Short is affiliated with Baltimore Lodge No. 6, Kaphat of Pythias.

Mr. Short reconnts many interesting experiencesan stories of his associations with crime and criminals. years ago Wheeling citizens were aroused to great indna tion against the Gas Company officials. Many person ha their meters sealed, though gas bills were presente usual. The gas office was in the rear of the MeLnre bte One Sunday evening fire was discovered there, and M Short, being on the ground, went to the door, pushed i and fell on a pile of burning books saturated with kerem while thousands of gas bills were exposed on a counterals saturated with oil. The blaze was stamped out an th books saved and also several thousand dollars of cur ne in a slightly open safe. Arrests were made, but tria ne sulted in acquittals. Another case that attracted 'ea attention in the newspapers for a time was a diamond lef that occurred in a Wheeling resort. Mr. Short trad suspected girl to Pittsburgh, and after some days of ril ing procured from her information that the stolen diand valued at $6,000, were pinned under the wardrobe o th police matron at Pittsburgh. Mr. Short secured the juel much to the consternation of Pittsburgh's detectives.

During his services at the Chicago World's Fair a'ot bery occurred in the Mines and Mining Building, a ive brick, weighing 150 pounds, and a number of opalsan amethysts being stolen from a case in the building. Th chief of detectives detailed Mr. Short for an investig; for He discovered an underground conduit for electric ire opening by a hatchway in a niche covered by a ite sprinkling cart in the rear of the exhibit, and le. in outside. Mr. Short secured a confession from the march operated the cart and from a man and woman whola charge of the exhibits.

For all his long experience in meeting and hanin criminals Mr. Short is an optimist rather than a pess ist and it has been his aim to treat fairly and especial

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uard the reputation of those who have committed their rst criminal offense, permitting thein a chance to reform other than remaining permanently branded. 1Io is an advo- ate of prison reform, and believes that half the prison amates should not be there.

ARTHUR CUNNINGHAM, of Moorefield, has devoted a long nd active life to constructive business, political and pub- e affairs. He was born on a farm a mile north of Moore- eld, December 13, 1856. His great-grandfather was James unningham. His grandfather was Jesse Cunningham, who pent his life in a community south of Moorefield, was a rivate citizen, a substantial farmer, and died before the ivit war. Ilis first wife was Miss Elizabeth Hutton, and jeir only child was Benjamin Cunningham. Ilis second ife was Martha Snodgrass, and the two daughters of that arriage were Mrs. Mortimer W. Gamble and Mrs. George . P. Price, the latter the wife of a lawyer.

Benjamin Cunningham, father of Arthur Cunningham, as born in Hardy County in December, 1511, and he died a the farm where he was bora. All his industrious life as given to the duties of the farm. Ho was a Southern impathizer during the war between the states, but was ever active in public affairs. In the last year of his life e joined the church. Benjamin Cunningham, who died 1 1883, married Miss Eunice P. Fisher, daughter of George nd Mary (Harness) Fisher and granddaughter of Adamı arness. Both the Fisher and Harness families were solid nd substantial people of this locality, all of them farmers.

Irs. Eunice Cunningham was born in 1812, and reached le venerable age of ninety-two, passing away in 1904. She as the mother of eighteen children, ten of whom reached ature years : Jesse, George, Phoebe, James, Mary, Edwin, william, Kate, Arthur and Alice. Phoebe became the wife f Will Cunningham; Mary married Joseph V. Williams; Cate was Mrs. Warfield Taylor; and Alice married F. C. Telton. Three of the sons, Jesse, George and James, were onfederate soldiers, and all of them escaped serious in- iry and spent the rest of their active careers as farmers. Until he was married Arthur Cunningham lived on the Irm with his parents. IIe finished his edneation in the [oorefield High School, but the education and training that ave counted for most in his life were derived from expe- ence after he left school. Until he was forty-six years of ze his energies were solely devoted to the farm. When he ented his farm he entered the service of the MeCormick arvester Company, selling machinery. After two years le MeCormick interests were part of the consolidation re- ilting in the International Harvester Company, and he ontinued with that corporation as salesman over the coun- es of Hampshire, Hardy, Mineral, Grant, Pendleton and portion of Randolph until he had given ten years to the ompany. Then, in 1912, he returned to the farm, and lough he lives in Moorefield he owns and supervises his arm three miles south of the county seat. Mr. Cunning- am was one of the original promoters of the Branch [ountain Orchard Company. He is president of the cor- oration. This company has 130 aeres on Nicholas Moun- sin, now in bearing fruit trees, 4,000 of them being ap- le trees.

While his business interests have been important, Mr. unningham is best known over Hardy County and sur- ounding counties for his publie leadership. For the past velve years he has been chairman of the democratie party r Hardy County, and has repeatedly attended state con- entions and likewise has been a delegate to many of the istrict conventions. During the past four years he has een president of the Hardy County Court. Mr. Cunning- am haa used the full extent of his influence and his offi- al power to give the county a modern good roads sys- m. The building of hard surface roads has been the lief concern to the board and to the general public. leven miles of such road have been finished, including the instruction of six small eonerete bridges. The County ourt also provided a machine shop for the repair work of le county, with a force of mechanics sufficient to keep up le machinery and equipment. After the roads were taken

over by tho stafe the shop and equipment passed under the same control.

During the period of the World war Mr. Cunningham regarded no other duty paramount to any service he could render in keeping up Hardy County's quota of war activ- ities. He was not a dollar a year man, giving his service without even that nominal consideration, and he feels that nothing he ever did has repaid him better than his patriotic efforts at that time. Ile went over the county time and again participating in the various drives and campaigns for funds and the building up of patriotic morale. Ile as sisted in the Red Cross and Y. M. t. A. campaign, and was chairman of the Victory Loan drive after the signing of the armistice. Mr. Cunningham is affiliated with the Masonie Order and United Commercial Travelers and is a member of the Presbyterian Church.

In llardy County, November 10, 1850, he married Miss Eliza Williams, daughter of George D. and Margaret (Seymour) Williams. Her parents were natives of llardy County and spent their lives as farmers. Her father was a graduate of the University of Virginia and a teacher, and always a leader in the edneational work of the county. The seven children in the Williams family were: Felix, Mrs. Cunningham, Edward, Miss Rose, George, Walter and Robert.

Mr. and Mrs. Cunningham have three children. Alice is the wife of Prof. Earl Ilyde, superintendent of the Pres- byterian Orphanage at Barium Springs, North Carolina, andI they have three children, Margaret, Arthur and Earl. An- nie Cunningham married J. D. Chipley, of Moorefield. Thomas, the only son, is a farmer and in the lumber busi- ness at Moorefield, and married Franees Bowen.

ROBERT A. WILSON is a native of Moorefield, has spent an unusually active life of more than three score and ten years in that vicinity, has performed a great deal of official service and at the same time has been active in business as a banker and merchant and is the present mayor of Moorefield.

Ile was born Marel 21, 1847. His grandparents were Stacy M. and Elizabeth Wilson, who moved from old Vir- ginia to Hardy County, where Stacy Wilson, a tailor by trade, spent the rest of his years and died during the '50g. Ilis children were: David L., John Wesley, Aaron Ii., Stary M., Amos (who died in young manhood), and Vic toria, the latter the wife of William II. Violett. Wesley. Aaron and Stacy were Confederate soldiers, Aaron holding a commission as colonel. David L. Wilson, father of Rot- ert A., was born in Fauquier County, Virginia, and was a child when brought to Ilardy County, where he grew up, learned the tailor's trade, acquired a practical education, and was active both in business and in public affairs. Ile is a Methodist. David L. Wilson married Mary Catherine Friddle, a daughter of Henry Friddle, and survived her some years. Their children were: Robert Asbury: Miss Etta, deceased; David L., Jr., of Moorefield : James Hunter. who died in childhood; Miss Bettie, deceased; Arthur V., a farmer in Hardy County ; and Turner Ashby, deceased.

Robert A. Wilson was attending school when the Civil war broke out, and had that struggle lasted a few weeks longer he would have been enrolled as a Southern soldier, following the example of his older brothers. He attended country school and school in Moorefield, did some farming while the war was going on, and had a knowledge of that occupation on reaching manhood. About the time he at- tained his majority his father was appointed sheriff of Hardy County, and the son became his deputy. Mr. Wil- son served altogether sixteen years as deputy sheriff, under his father and two other sheriffs, ench of whom died in office, leaving Mr. Wilson to succeed to their duties. About the expiration of his last term as deputy he was elected circuit clerk and county clerk, and entered these offices as successors of Charles Lobb. Mr. Lobb had been elerk for half a century, and Mr. Wilson finally defeated him as candidate. Although he received the majority of the votes and was declared elected, he had to overcome considerable opposition from the old clerks before he was able to take

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office. He finally entered upon his official duties as a re- sult of a decision of Judge Armstrong, then circuit judge. He served the six year term, became a candidate for re- election, and altogether held that office for twelve years.

After this long and faithful service to the county Mr. Wilson engaged in the mercantile business at Moorefield under the name of R. A. Wilson, and when he retired his son Robert Cleland succeeded him and still continues under the old firm name of R. A. Wilson. After his business career as a merchant Mr. Wilson was for ten years cashier of the Hardy County Bank, leaving that position in June, 1920. Although he had served the public long and well and felt that he had done his whole duty, the citizens of Moore- field urged him to become a candidate for mayor, and he was elected in April, 1922. In that office he has demon- strated to the public that law and order can be enforced and a peacable and orderly community maintained. He selected his own force to administer the ordinances of the city, and violators of the law have learned to appreciate the strength as well as the reasonableness of the new admin- istration.

Mr. Wilson comes of a democratic family, and his father was a democrat when there were only three of that political faith in Moorefield. However, R. A. Wilson has performed his public service under both political regimes. In former years he was a delegate to local and state conventions, the last state convention he attended having been held at Hunt- ington about twenty-five years ago. Mr. Wilson is still a director and stockholder in the Hardy County Bank, and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.

At Winchester, Virginia, in April, 1872, just half a cen- tury ago, he married Miss Gelia M. Belt, a native of Hampshire County, daughter of James Belt, who was a harness maker and spent his last years at Winchester, Vir- ginia. Mrs. Wilson has a sister, Mrs. Cecelia House, and a brother, Frank, still living. Her sister Sallie, who is de- ceased, married James A. Clinedinst, of Washington, D. C. Another sister is Louisa Ramey, of Washington, D. C. Of the three children born to Mr. and Mrs. Wilson the youngest died in infancy. Miss Bessie S. lives at Moore- field, and Robert Cleland is the merchant there. By his marriage to Pauline Williams lie has a son, Robert Cleland, Jr.

J. SHIRLEY Ross, an ex-service man, widely known in Charleston social and business circles, is a former city official and for a number of years has employed his energies and capital in the development of land and real estate in and around the capital.

He was born at Charleston, August 31, 1883, son of John Tyler and Hannah (Creel) Ross. His father was born in Patrick County, Virginia, in 1841. He and five brothers became Confederate soldiers, and he played a valorous part in that war from beginning to end. Soon afterward he came to West Virginia, locating at Charleston, and from that time until his death in 1896 his principal business was as a brick manufacturer. As a manufacturer of brick he aso did considerablle work as a contractor, and he had the distinction of laying the first brick paving in the city. This was a handsome brick pavement on Sum- mers Street, completed during the year 1873. His public spirit led him constantly into all movements for the general advancement and welfare of Charleston.

J. Shirley Ross is still living at the old home on Court Strect where he was born and adjoining which property was his father's brick yard in carly years. After completing his public school education he was associated with his father in brick manufacture for a time. Mr. Ross in 1907 was elected city recorder and police judge of Charleston, and by subsequent elections served four terms, his service being from 1907 to 1915. Since leaving office his work has been chiefly in the land and real estate business, and primarily in the opening and development of residential subdivisions. He has sold six or more large additions in Charleston and vicinity, including the Rossdale Addition to South Charleston.

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History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 2, Part 113

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