History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 2, Part 116

Author:
Publication date:
Publisher:
Number of Pages:

USA > West Virginia > History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 2 > Part 116

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).

Manasseh Dasher spent the first seventeen years of ]. life on his grandfather's farm at Milam, and his ear training gave him a practical knowledge of the agricultur vocation. He attended the country schools, taught for ti years in his home district, left that occupation to becor bookkeeper in a store in Pendleton County, and from the came to Moorefield to work in the store of J. W. Gilkes & Company, but left that service to become, in 1896, boo keeper and clerk in the South Branch Valley National Bar Since then his service has been continuous with this instit tion, and as the official in closest contact with the bank clientele he has shared in the credit for the prosperity the bank. In 1910 he was made assistant cashier and 1915 was promoted to cashier, to succeed J. William Gill son.

Mr. Dasher helped promote one of the commercial o chards of this locality. In the line of public service ) was a member of the Moorefield Council several years, al recorder, and is now continuing a number of years' servi as a member of the board of education. He is a democra but has seldom found time to participate in partisan po. tics. Mr. Dasher is a steward of the Moorefield Methodi Church, has also been a trustee and superintendent of i Sunday school and has represented the church in sever annual conferences. He is affiliated with the Mason Lodge. During the war he used his utmost influence as banker to promote the sale of Government securities, al still continues as one of the county executive committ and treasurer of the Red Cross Chapter.

At Moorefield, June 19, 1899, Mr. Dasher married Mi Daisy L. Rogers, daughter of John H. and Hannah 1 (Thompson) Rogers. Her father was born on Cabin Ri in Mineral County, West Virginia, spent part of his life ; a farmer, later became a merchant and finally a travelii salesman, and is now living at Moorefield. The Roge children were: Wardneigh T., of Bird City, Kansas; Er wife of R. L. Knee of Moorefield; Clara, wife of Brans Snyder, of Wardensville, West Virginia; Florence G., w] married C. E. Bonney, of Moorefield; William T., who w: a coal miner, and died as a result of an accident at E Garden; Mrs. Dasher; and Miss Jemimah L., of Moorefiel

Mrs. Dasher was born June 19, 1877, and she died : Cumberland June 1, 1918, after she and Mr. Dasher ha been married nearly nineteen years. The following . chi dren survive her: William C., a student in West Virgin University ; Omar Lee, student in a music school at Dayto Virginia; while the younger children are Margaret I Ruby L., Mary E., Dalton D., Wayne Gilkeson and Chark Edward.

KARL BYRON KYLE entered upon the work of his pr fession as a lawyer with every advantage that good birt. rearing and scholastic training could hestow. He has & ready made a favorable reputation for himself in his nati city of Clarksburg, where he is a junior member of the we known law firm of Carter & Sheets.

He was born in Clarksburg, May 29, 1897, son of Aquil T. and Mollie (Boyles) Kyle. His parents represented tw

351

HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA

kand honored names of Harrison County. His father a born and renred in the county, for many years was a.ged in farming and still owns a farm, but for the past wity years has been a letter carrier with the Clarks- vo; postoffice. Ho and his good wife reared eight children. arl B. Kyle graduated from the Clarksburg lligh levol and then entered West Virginia University at I gantown, taking one year of academic work and com- ded his four years' course in law and received his de- r in 1920. He was then admitted to the bar and re- u ing to Clarksburg became associated with the well Evn law firm of Carter & Sheets. Ile is a member of h County and State Bar associations, in politics is a eiblican, and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Arch. Mr. Kyle was active in college fraternities at b university and has reached the eighteenth degree in k tish Rite Masonry.

LENN F. WILLIAMS. One of the best known citizens of J.ksburg, West Virginia, and one who, in many ways justified the high regard in which he is held, is Capt. ¡ in F. Williams, able lawyer, overseas veteran officer of b World war, member of the American Legion, and police tge presiding at Clarksburg.

aptain Williams is a native of West Virginia, and was un at Bristol, Harrison County, June 2, 1892. He is a c of Thompson H. and Ollie E. (Conaway ) Williams, wh of whom were born in Ten Mile District, Harrison Inty, and now reside at Clarksburg, in which city Mr. h liams is interested in the real estate business. Captain "liams has one sister, Merle, who is the wife of Andrew Eniston, Jr., of Weston, West Virginia. His paternal radparents, William J. and Elizabeth (Riley) Williams, e of Harrison County, but his maternal grandparents, Joshua B. and Elizabeth (Amos) Conaway, were born Marion County, West Virginia.

When he was ten years old, the parents of Captain Wil- ins came to Clarksburg and he attended the public schools, 1909 being graduated creditably from the high school, lowing which he had a year of training and tuition at it notable hoary old institution dear to the memory of usands of young men in their day, St. John's College, at napolis, Maryland. He then spent three years in the dy of the law at the West Virginia University at Mor- town, receiving his degree of LL. B. in 1913. In the ne year he was admitted to the bar, one of its youngest mbers in Harrison County, and immediately entered into ictice at Clarksburg and soon won a recognized place at , bar.

For some years before the great calamity of war cast its idow over his beloved country, Mr. Williams had been a mber of the West Virginia National Guard, and was ›tain of his company in the First Regiment when, on urch 31, 1917, he entered the service of the United States. · was sent first to the camp of the Thirty-eighth Division, Hattiesburg, Mississippi, retaining his rank, and on June 1918, accompanied this division overseas, it being utilized a replacement troop in the Fourth Regulars. He was ide captain of Company C, Twelfth Machine-gun Bat- ion, and served as such during the furious battle of St. hiel and the never to be forgotten struggle in Argonne rest. Following the signing of the armistice with the emy, he was detailed to serve in the army of occupation Germany until he received his welcome order home, where was honorably discharged, with the rank of captain, on igust 16, 1919. Faithful in the performance of every mili- ry dnty, Captain Williams did his share in earning the rld's tribute to the splendid courage and noble qualities the flower of American youth. Upon his return to arksburg, he quietly resumed the practice of his profession d since then has been associated with the well known law m of Carter & Sheets. On May 1, 1921, he was appointed lice judge at Clarksburg, an appointment giving general tisfaction, for it is known that Judge Williams has not ly intelligent opinions on all matters that can be brought thin his jurisdiction, but that no other than a rigid sense justice can influence him in enforcing them.

In 1913 Mr. Williama was married to Miss Elizabeth

Ilciskell, a daughter of N. C. IIciskell, of Morgantown, West Virginia, and they have one son, Neill Thompson Williams.

In political affiliation, Captain Williams is a sturdy sup porter of the democratic party, reared in this faith as also in the Methodist Episcopal Church. Ile is a member of the Harrison County Bar Association, of which he is treas- urer, and belongs also to the West Virginia State Bar Asso- ciation. He is a Thirty-second Degree Mason and a Shriner, a member of the Knights of Pythias and is affiliated with other organizations that pleasantly connect him with social community life.

ORVILLE L. MCDONALD. To come into a field already crowded with competitors, a professional man must possess unusual qualities to be able to reach a foremost place in their ranks and in a comparatively short apace of time, and this is just what Orville L. McDonald has done since coming to Clarksburg, where he is recognized as an able attorney and is a member of the well known law firm of Strother & McDonald, general practitioners, with offices in the Union National Bank Building.

Mr. McDonald was born on a farm in Harrison County, West Virginia, December 7, 1888, and is a son of Mordecai Smith and Emma Virginia (Roe) McDonald, and a grand- son of James McDonald. For generations back the name McDonald has been known and respected in Harrison County, to which its earliest American members came from Scotland. Mordecai Smith McDonald followed an agricultural life and died on his farm in Harrison County at the age of sixty-six years. He married Emma Virginia Roe, who was born in Taylor County, West Virginia, and still survives, and as was her husband, is a faithful member of the Baptist Church. They had two sons: Orville L. and Carl Smith.

Orville L. McDonald attended the public schools of Har- rison County, graduating from the Bridgeport High School in 1907. He later entered the preparatory school at Keyeser, now the Potomac State School, where he completed the academic and scientific courses, and later entered West Vir- ginia University. Following this he entered Washington and Lee University, where he completed a full course in law and was gradnated with his degree of LL. B. in 1912. In the same year he was admitted to the bar and immediately entered into practice at Clarksburg in association with Ray L. Strother. They are practicing under the firm style of Strother & McDonald. During his nine years at the bar, Mr. McDonald has given a good account of himself and has been professionally and successfully connected with some of the most important litigation coming before the Harrison County courts within this period.

Mr. McDonald was married in 1916, to Miss Nellie W. Reese, who was born in Taylor County, West Virginia, and they have one son, Robert Orville McDonald. Mr. McDonald was reared by a Christian mother in the faith of the Baptist Church and has never wavered from his early tenching, and largely dispenses his charities through this worthy medium. In his political attitude he is a democrat, a loyal party man but no seeker for public office. He belongs to the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and is a Knight Templar Mason and a Shriner. He is interested in all that pertains to the welfare of Clarksburg and both professionally and personally is held in high esteem in this city.

BIAGIO MERENDINO. . Deservedly prominent among the representative citizens of Clarksburg, is Biagio Merendino, a leading member of the Harrison County bar, and Spanish Consul for West Virginia, as well as Royal Consular Agent of Italy, for this state. For sixteen years Mr. Merendino has been a citizen of the United States, but he is a native of Italy, a country that has long been associated with America in the bonda of friendly appreciation.

Biagio Merendino was born at Corleon, Italy, May 5, 1877, the second of three sons born to Vincent and Frances (Col- letti) Merendino. His older brother, Anthony, is an archi- tect residing at Mount Vernon, New York, and his younger brother, Joseph, is a practicing physician in New York City.

The late Vincent Merendino, in the boyhood of his son Biagio, was an extensive grower of oranges and lemons,

352

HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA

owning vast plantations in Italy and doing an extensive ex- porting business. He was a man of wealth and influence second to none iu his province and had every reason to be- lieve that his loyalty and good intentions were understood by those in authority. But political changes came about in Italy as elsewhere, and Mr. Merendino found himself ruined in business and despoiled of his honestly earned wealth, and these unhappy conditions made it easier for him to seek a home with his family in another country, and in 1898 they came to the United States. During the latter part of his life he resided at Mount Vernon, New York, and there his death occurred in 1917, at the age of seventy-two years. His widow survives and resides at Clarksburg, West Vir- ginia.

Biagio Merendino enjoyed both educational and social ad- vantages in his youth in his native land. He had private tutors in boyhood and under their instruction was prepared for his seminary course at Montereale, following which he entered upon the study of medicine at Palermo, but when his family came to the United States he accompanied them, and shortly afterward was graduated at the New York Institute of Pharmacy, and then entered into the business world as a drug clerk, not having given up at that time, however, his hope of becoming a physician. Some time later Mr. Merendino became adjuster of claims, in New York City, for the Union Casualty Company, a business connection that involved many legal issues and led to his taking up the study of law, in which he became so interested that he finally put aside his medical hopes and decided to prepare himself for the practice of law, discovering latent talents in this direction. He completed his law course in Cumberland University, at Lebanon, Tennessee, in 1912 receiving his degree of LL. B.

Mr. Merendino returned then to New York City, where he occupied himself for a time in clerical work in an abstract department and other minor law business, it not being very easy then, as now, to secure a firm footing without capital and influence. Such being the case he worked too hard, even to the point of a breakdown in his health, but he was preserved from that calamity by one of those fortunate incidental occurrences that have changed many a man's whole carcer.

In the course of his legal efforts, Mr. Merendino had be- come chief counselor for the Richland Improvement Company which had interests to be financed at Clarksburg, West Vir- ginia, and in 1913, mainly as a matter of relaxation, he con- sented to accompany the company 's representative to Clarks- burg to look the field over. It was just at this time that an Italian was being held in that city on a charge of murder, and on account of his nationality, Mr. Merendino was em- ployed to defend the unfortunate man. To this accidental incident the good people of Clarksburg owe the locating here of one of their ablest lawyers and most highly esteemed citizens. From the first he has enjoyed a large practice and for several years past has been associated with W. Frank Stout, under the firm name of Merendino & Stout.

In 1904 Mr. Merendino was married to Miss Cira Bivona, a native of Italy, and they have five children. Mr. Meren- dino is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Politi- cally he is a republican and fraternally an Elk. Since 1916 he has filled his consular offices with thorough efficiency.

HOMER STROSNIDER. That what is worth doing at all is worth doing well, may be one of the old but timely axioms that occur to Homer Strosnider, as he quietly and success- fully performs his manifold duties as a prominent lawyer, public official and trustworthy private citizen of Clarksburg, in which city his thorough efficiency and public usefulness have long been recognized.

Mr. Strosnider was born at Waynesburg, in Greene County, Pennsylvania, January 28, 1875, and is a son of Rezin and Sarah (Lemley) Strosnider, both of whom were born in Pennsylvania, the father being of German and the mother of English ancestry. When Mr. Strosnider was three years old his parents removed from Pennsylvania to West Virginia, settling first in Ritchie County but moving later into Dodd- ridge County. There he spent his boyhood, attending the public schools at Center Point and assisting his father until

he was ready to enter the State Normal School at Fairme Subsequently he entered the University of West Virginia Morgantown. He then took a two-year course in law in university, when he took his diploma without a degree, a ing to continue his law studies in Yale University.

Very often in life a chance incident changes its course, ¿ this change in Mr. Strosnider's plans for the future, ca about through his coming to Clarksburg about this time, make a short visit. It was while here that Hon. Millard Snider became interested in him and offered to take him i: his law office, at Clarksburg, Mr. Strosnider eagerly acce ing this unlooked for professional opportunity. He v admitted to the bar in 1907 and for two years was associa' with Mr. Snider, since which time he has carried on an dividual general practice. He was admitted to pract before the United States Supreme Court December 7, 19 He has made an honorable record and is a member of 1 Harrison County as well as the West Virginia State I associations.

In 1900 Mr. Strosnider was married to luiss Della K who was born in Doddridge County, West Virginia, and th have two daughters and one son: Mabel, Luther and M jorie Jean.

In political life Mr. Strosnider is a democrat and qu active in the councils of his party, his sound judgment a thorough understanding of the complex public problems the day rendering his advice of the utmost importance. F three years Mr. Strosnider has been city solicitor of Clar hurg and as city law officer has performed his duties in manner that has brought forth the highest praise.

ISADORE COHEN, who is one of the representative you business men of the City of Bluefield, where he conducts well equipped jewelry establishment, was born in Russ May II, 1884, and is a son of Rabbi S. A. and Mol (Katz) Cohen. The father was graduated in a leadi: Jewish theological school, and was in charge of a Jewi congregation in Russia until 1905, when, at the age seventy-one years, he came to the United States, some his children having previously established their homes this country-located respectively in Washington, D. 1: Baltimore, Maryland, the State of Georgia and in Blt field, West Virginia.

Reared in a home of intellectual and cultural influence Isadore Cohen attended school in the City of Riga, Russ: and at the age of twenty years he graduated from t University of Kiev. In 1905 he came with his veneral father to America and established his residence at Blu field, West Virginia, where he entered a private scho for the purpose of learning the English language, whi he could not speak at that time. So effectively did he stur that he now speaks the language with fluency and wi no foreign accent, besides being able to read and wri with the high standard of efficiency that his previous liber education has made possible. While at the University . Kiev he studied dentistry, but he has never entered t. practice of the same. After attending private school . Bluefield Mr. Cohen here engaged in the cigar busine in 1907, with one stand in the Altamont Hotel, and lat another at the Matz Hotel, his original capitalistic i vestment having been $300. In 1912 he opened his jewel: store, and he has built up a most prosperous enterpris based alike on his personal popularity and the effecti service rendered to an appreciative trade. From 1916 1921 Mr. Cohen was a member of the Board of Directo of the Bluefield Chamber of Commerce. He is one of tl loyal, liberal and public-spirited citizens of the Mere County metropolis. During the World war period he w: a member of the local organization of the National Coune of Defense, a member of the fuel administration of Mere County and the Jewish Welfare Board, and chairman of tl local committee of the American Jewish Relief Con mission, the committee of this body having raised at Blu field the sum of $25,000 for relief work in Europe. M Cohen is on the Executive Board of the Boys Club ( Bluefield, West Virginia, and through the efforts of Re S. H. Mabie, a clergyman of the Baptist Church, an those of Mr. Cohen was established the first public pla:

Isadore Cohen

353

HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA

rind at Bluefield. Mr. Cohen is deeply appreciative of Aprican institutions and advantages, and his loyalty is ex- rsed in service in behalf of communal welfare. He is a heter member of the Rotary Club ia bis home city, is fiated with Bluefield Lodge No. 85, F. and A. M., Blue- le Lodge of Perfection No. 8, West Virginia Conaistory t Wheeling. No. 1, and Beni-Kedem Temple, A. A. O. T.S. S., of Charleston, West Virginia. He and his wife are eous members of the Jewish congregation at Bluefield, r are popular in social circles of the community.

1 1910 Mr. Cohen wedded Miss Flora Charlotte Green- Fı, daughter of Solomon Greenspon, and the two children this union are Helen and Emanuel B.

RED LAWRENCE SHINN. Public preferment does not fn come to a man undeserved, and a city like Clarksburg, Et Virginia, with its continuous important municipal u Jems, has been exceedingly alert as to the qualifications personal standing of those who have been chosen for b responsibilities of publie office. A very important part n:he handling of city affairs is that played by the city trney, and in Fred Lawrence Shinn, Clarksburg has a c petent, discriminating lawyer and a citizen of high tracter.

[r. Shinn was born on a farm in Harrison County, West ginia, May 23, 1881, a member of one of the oldest and w :- known families in this section of the state. His par- 13 were Joseph M. and Ella (Short) Shinn, his grand- mer was Abel Shinn and his great-grandfather was Ben- tin Shinn. In the main it was an agricultural family, during the latter balf of bis life, Joseph M. Shinn fol- ced agricultural pursuits, although earlier he engaged ni real estate and insurance business. His death occurred [1898, at the age of fifty-two years, his widow surviving il 1919, passing away when sixty-four years old.

An only child, Fred L. Shinn lived on the farm until was sixteen years old, in the meanwhile having com- .ed the public-school course. He then spent some time a student in the State Normal School at Fairmont, and pr in the preparatory school department of the West ginia University at Morgantown, in which institution completed his course in law in 1906. Although he was nitted to the bar in the same year, he did not begin practice of law until 1908, since which time he has vanced steadily in his profession, through merit winning Leading position as a lawyer and the respeet and confi- lice of his professional brethren. In the above interval, . Shinn devoted himself to newspaper work, for 1% urs being connected with the Clarksburg Daily News, l during that time gave evidence of versatile talent that Ight, if cultivated, make him known in journalism as ul as in the law.

`n 1913 Mr. Shinn was married to Miss Ruth Hyde, a ighter of the late Hon. H. C. Hyde of Kingwood, West ·ginia, who was a prominent attorney and author of "de's Digest, of West Virginia Supreme Court Reports. ey maintain their hospitable home at Clarksburg. Mr. 1 Mrs. Shinn are members of the Presbyterian Church. [a political life Mr. Shinn is a democrat and an influ- :ial member of his party in Harrisoa County, for some irs serving as secretary and at times as chairman of the .rrison County democratie executive committee. In 1921 was appointed eity attorney of Clarksburg, and since ·n has devoted a large part of his time to the law business the city. He is a member of the order of Knights of thias, being past chancellor commander of Clarksburg dge No. 39, of which lodge he has been a trustee for 'eral years. Mr. Shinn'a offices are in the Union Bank ilding, Clarksburg.

W. FRANK STOUT. An old family name in Harrison anty, West Virginia, honorably mentioned in its an- Is, and through generations back to the present day stifying the esteem in which it has been so long held, that of Stout and a representative member of this old mily is found in W. Frank Stout, of Clarksburg.

W. Frank Stout was born on his father'a farm near idgeport, Harrison County, West Virginia, May 1, 1867,

and is a son of Lemuel E. and Eleanor J. (Harter) Stout, and a grandson of Benjamin and Lovey (Reynolds) Stout. The grandfather was born in Harrison County, Virginia, January 25, 1788, in the very shadow of Revolutionary war days. He developed into a man of local importance and served as high sheriff of Harrison County. His wife, Lovey Reynolds, was born July 10, 1796, and they had the fol- lowing children: John R., Harriet, Thomas Payne, Kitty Jane, James P., Rheuhanna, Edward, Lemuel E., Benjamin B., Lovey Ann, Porter, Caroline and Charles.

Lemuel E. Stout was born in Harrison County, Virginia, February 17, 1829, and died in October, 1915. During his younger years he engaged in business at Bridgeport as a blacksmith, and during a part of the war between the states, served in the Union army as an expert at this trade. He was honorably discharged and in 1866 retired to his farm in the vicinity of Bridgeport, and devoted himself to agricultural pursuits until within fifteen years of his death. He was an advocate of temperance all his life and after the organization of the prohibition party, was ardent in its support. He belonged to the Masons and the Odd Fel- lows, and both he and his wife wero faithful members and liberal supporters of the Methodist Episcopal Church, the church edifice at Bridgeport being know for years as the Lemuel E. Stout Memorial Chapel. He married Eleanor J. Harter, who was born in Harrison County, November 16, 1832, and died May 27, 1890, and they became the parents of the following children: Charles Alonzo, Ben- jamin Filmore, George Harter, Elsworth K., Ella Myrtle, W. Frank and Lillian Estella, all of whom survived to ma- turity except Elsworth K., who died in infancy.

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 116

Author: Publication date: Publisher: Number of Pages:

Author:
Publication date:
Publisher:
Number of Pages: