History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 2, Part 117

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W. Frank Stout was reared on the home farm, attended the public schools of Bridgeport and the John Lowe High School. He spent three years as an educator in his native county, teaching both before and after graduation from the State Normal School at Fairmont, class of 1891. In 1893 he entered the West Virginia University at Morgan- town, where he was a student for four years, receiving in 1897 his degree of Baccalaureo Artium in Lege, was admitted to the bar in June of that year. He located at Clarksburg in 1897, where he has praetieed his profession.

While at the university Mr. Stout had the distinction of being chosen the first representative from the Young Mea's Christian Association of the West Virginia University to attend the World's Students' Conference of the Young Men's Christian Association, conducted by Dwight L. Moody, at Northfield, Massachusetts.

In 1900 Mr. Stout was appointed referee in bankruptcy, by Hon. John J. Jackson, United States District Court judge, was twiec reappointed by the same judge, and three times by his successor on the bench, Hon. Alston G. Day- ton. Hon. C. A. Woods reappointed him during the va- eaney of the judgeship. Mr. Stout tendered his resignation but was retained by Judge Baker until July 13, 1921. Mr. Stout had served twenty-one years in this important office, his district in the beginning ineluding Harrison County only, but later being enlarged until at the elose of his long period of service, he had jurisdiction over five counties. Mr. Stout is a director in the Clarksburg Trust Company, and treasurer and general manager of the Stout & Alex- ander Real Estate Company.

On October 25, 1900, Mr. Stout was married to Mrs. Adah Vasear (Alexander) David, who is a daughter of Jobn I. and Ingaby Alexander, of Clarksburg, the former of whom was prominent in polities and served as assessor and also as sheriff of Harrison County. Mr. and Mrs. Stout have had two children: Alexander, who was born November 27, 1902; and Eleanor, who was born January 31, 1908, and died in December of the same year. Mr. Stout and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he is a member of the official board of the First Church at Clarksburg.

In political life Mr. Stout has always been identified with the republican party, conscientiously advocating its principles, and in many campaigns doing yoeman work for his party as a publie speaker. Social by nature, he be- longs to various clubs and for many years has had mem- bership in such representative fraternal organizations as

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the Masons, the Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias and the Elks. In 1912-13 he was grand chancellor of the West Virginia Grand Lodge of Knights of Pythias; was supreme representative at the Portland, Oregon, convention in 1916; at Detroit in 1918, and at Minneapolis in 1920. While at the West Virginia University he was a member of the Kappa Alpha fraternity, and his son, Alexander Stont, now in the university, hears the distinction of being the first son of a member of the fraternity to be initiated into its mysteries.

EDMUND F. GARRETT. The bar at Clarksburg is very generally recognized as one of the ablest in West Virginia, made up as it is of men of education, experience and culture, and of this rather notable body none stand higher in publie esteem than Edmund F. Garrett, an honorable, trustworthy attorney and leading eitizen. His versatility of talent has made him conspicuous in two professions, the church and the law, and in this connection it may be a matter to be thought over whether, in the broad conception of human rights, needs and responsibility, there lies con- cealed a wide difference of teaching and exposition between the two.

Edmund F. Garrett was born in Doddridge County, not far from Salem, West Virginia, March 7, 1872, a son of Elisha D. and Mary (Smith) Garrett, natives of Dodd- ridge and Harrison counties respectively. The paternal grandfather, Addison P. Garrett, was born in Harrison County and was a son of Jesse Garrett, a native of Vir- ginia who established the family in what is now West Virginia. His father, William Garrett, was a native of New Jersey and a Revolutionary soldier. The progenitor of the Garrett family in America was of Irish lineage. The parents of Mr. Garrett now live retired near Salem, West Virginia, and some of their family of eight chil- dren live in the same neighborhood. They are faithful members of the Baptist Church.

Edmund F. Garrett was educated in the public schools, Salem College, Broaddus Institute and Richmond College and the University of Chicago. In 1902 he completed a course in theology at Crozier Theological Seminary, Chester, Pennsylvania, following which, for 41/2 years he was pastor of the First Baptist Church at Bordentown, New Jersey, and from the fall of 1906 to March, 1909, was pastor of the First Baptist Church at New Brunswick, New Jersey.

Mr. Garrett returned then to West Virginia, and instead of accepting another exhausting pastorate, took np the study of law for one year at the University of West Virginia and pursued it so diligently that in June, 1910, he was admitted to the bar and since then has been in active prac- tiee at Clarksburg. His snceess in his profession, which has exceeded the ordinary, has been due to his well poised judgment and natural ability, together with his absolute dependability and sense of fairness. In political sentiment he is a democrat, as is his father, but he has never con- sented to accept a political office. As a private citizen, however, he exerts much influence in civie affairs in regard to furthering the general welfare, and during the World war was active in all patriotic movements and served as chairman of the Harrison County draft board. He be- longs to the Masonic fraternity.

Mr. Garrett was married September 9, 1896, to Miss Fannie D. Late, who is a daughter of Dr. William M. Late, of Bridgeport, West Virginia, and they have two children: Harold M. and Ella Late Garrett.

HAROLD M. GARRETT was born at Bridgeport, West Vir- ginia, September 27, 1897, and is liberally educated. From the West Virginia University he received his A. B. degree in 1918, and in June of that year volunteered for service in the World war. After acceptance by the Government he was sent for military training to Fortress Monroe, and was honorably discharged on December 6, 1918, with the rank of sergeant major. In June, 1920, he seeured his LL. B. degree from the university, in July was admitted to the bar and is now associated with his father in the practice of law. He is a member of the American Legion.

THOMAS L. DUNN is president of the Dunn Woole Company and one of Martinsburg's most substantial cit zens. It seldom happens that the life story of an individu exhibits more of the obstacles in the path of suceer than that of Mr. Dunn. The development of his ow business character through experience and the tenaeiou fight he made comprise a lesson of inspiration.

Mr. Dunn was born in Frederick County, Virginia, an his father, James H. Dunn, in the same locality. H father was a custom shoemaker during his aetive lif and died at the age of seventy. He married Margare Newcomb, who was born in the southern part of Frederic County, and died at the age of fifty-six.

Thomas L. Dunn was one of eight children, grew 1 in a home of very simple comforts, and had only tl advantages of winter terms of school in the country. H. program of help and work began at the age of nine, an from then until he was fifteen he worked for board an clothes on a farm. He then began and served a thre years apprenticeship at the trade of pieking, earding, spir. ning and weaving in a small mill in Frederick Count: After spending three years there he accepted a positio in the carding and spinning department of the Morga Mill on Red Bud Creek near Winchester, Virginia. year and a half later he became foreman of the cardin and spinning department in the Brneetown Mill, eight mile north of Winchester. After two years he accepted a pos tion with his first employer, who at this time was genera manager of the Red Bud Mill, with the promise that afte one year he was to have the contraet to do all the piel ing, earding and spinning at a price per pound to b agreed upon, furnishing his own help. In pursuance of thi contraet be procured the help necessary, and when tw years later the proprietor died he remained with the lesse of the mill for three years longer. The firm then lease a larger mill in Fredericksburg, and Mr. Dunn took eharg. of its carding and spinning department.

After two years there Mr. Dunn and Meredith Tyle leased a small mill at Buckland in Fauquier County, Wes Virginia. In the absence of capital to conduct the opera tions they arranged with C. A. Wyatt & Company o. New York to furnish the raw material and take all th manufactured goods at a fixed price per yard. Unde this arrangement the mill was operated successfully fo nine months, until the water power ceased and a steal power had to be introduced to use up the raw materia Later Mr. Dunn leased the Brueetown Mill, and wit capital furnished by the Wyatt Company additional ma ehinery was installed. It was to be known as the Bruc Town Woolen Company, T. L. Dunn, manager. At tha time Mr. Wyatt took a partner in the milling busines: Mr. W. H. Crawford. They offered Mr. Dunn an interes in the business, but he did not have the required capita and had not yet learned the art of borrowing. There fore, he arranged for a fixed salary and a percentage o the profits. After two years of sneeessful operation T. A Wyatt & Company failed in their New York business, an the Brucetown Mill was drawn into litigation. With th aid of one of Virginia's ablest lawyers, Major Conrad later attorney general of the state, Mr. Dunn had th attachment dissolved, but later, by an order of the cour! a bill of review was granted, which necessitated a receive to be appointed,.and Mr. Dunn was employed to run th mill and use up all the raw material. After three month Mr. Crawford again leased the mill and made arrange ments with Mr. Dunn to operate it. Then followed ar other two years of successful operation. That mill no having the capacity equal to the demand, a search fo additional facilities brought Mr. Dunn to Martinsburg where with the assistance of a few citizens the old skat ing rink at the corner of South Raleigh and Stephe Streets was acquired, steam power installed, and it wa equipped with four looms. The Brueetown Mill was als continued for two years. The Martinsburg plant was the increased until it had eleven looms, two spinning machines two sets of cards and was employing forty people.

This stage in his career came to an end in 1894. Th

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b made by him was no longer salable on account of utroduction of a new line known as the Reading Line. Mr. Duun in this emergency consulted Mr. Craw- rc but the latter had been unfortunate in some of his ar business ventures and had mortgaged the mill and dexhausted his credit. Mr. Crawford, therefore, ap- e to the Building & Loan Associatiou and secured · romise of a loan for making the necessary changes uchinery and equipment to produce the hairline fahric. fv days later the Building & Loan Association notified r.Crawford that they had reconsidered their preposition. r.Junn then went before them and said that Mr. Craw- n would surely fail unless the loan was made, and by ilk he convineed the board of the merits of the pre- o new industry. One of the successful and conservative sess men on the board, Mr. J. W. Bishop, asserted a Martinsburg could not afford to lose the industry d.xpressed his entire confidence in Mr. Dunn's ability. result the loan was made, the needed machinery put , id the new fabrie found a ready sale on the market. yır and a half later Mr. Crawford, en coming to Martins- r had the satisfaction of burning the mortgage papers e plant. A new building was ereeted, new machinery lled, and the plant was soon operating forty looms, t seventy-five persons on the pay-roll.

I the meantime Mr. Dunn's reputation as an expert e technical processes of weaving had spread abroad, che had been approached by some business men of coenville, Ohio, to seeure his eooperation in a plant cosed fer that eity. This proposition he laid before Crawford frankly, and the latter gave him a verbal rise to incorporate the business and give Mr. Dunn tisfactory share of the stock. For this reason Mr. ti elected to remain in Martinsburg. About two years another addition was made to the plant, and the ness was incorporated by Mr. Crawford with five mem- Mr. Dunn then expected to realize on promises p, and he suffered a considerable sheek when he was tted only one share in the new company. It was evi- that Mr. Crawford meant that Mr. Dunn should retain ) the nominal honor of vice president and continue etive superintendent. Mr. Dunn, therefore, eoucluded y some plans .of his own and sueeeeded in interesting [. Graiehen, of Providence, Rhode Island, the overseer he weaving department of the Crawford Mill. Mr. chen had much experience in the manufacture of cotton ted, composed of one-third worsted yarn and two-thirds on yarn, a fabrie for which there was then a great and. They deeided to incorporate their new business $15,000 capital, Mr. Dunn and Mr. Graichen each ake a third of the stock, and another third to be ed to Mr. Crawford. Mr. Dunn went out among his ids and seeured guarantees for $10,000, to take care is and Mr. Graichen's shares. The arrangement was ·ted, a building erected and machinery installed, and husiness was soon prospering so as to necessitate a ling of the capacity. Mr. Graieben resigned from Crawford Mill to give all his time to the new estab- nent, but Mr. Dunn aeted only as an advisor in the concern. In the meantime the Crawford Mill had eased to eighty-five looms and a pay-roll of 300 people. ut that time some men at Winchester secured the asso- en of Mr. Dunn and Mr. Crawford in establishing a mill there, Mr. Dunn being made general manager a stockholder in the Virginia Woolen Mill of Win- ter for the first five years. This establishment had e set backs and reverses in the first few years, but equently became very prosperous and is now one of largest mills in that part of the country.

time the demand for the hairline fabrie had waned, the earnings of the Crawford and the Martinsburg sted and Cashmere Mills were materially reduced. The fabrie gaining popularity with the publie was known arded fahrie. It necessitated the making of warp and g yarns and required double the earding and spinning city of the older processes. To make the necessary ige involved the need of new capital, and Mr. Craw- I was then in financial embarrassment that did not

permit him to come to the help of his associates. There- fore, it was two years before the changes could be made to bring the plant up to full capacity, bonds having been issued. About that time Mr. Crawford, without consult- ing Mr. Dunn, employed another superintendent of the worsted and cashmere plant. Mr. Dunn refused to con- sent to this, and before a meeting of the stockholders, including those from Winchester, he explained the situa- tien and gave assurance of what he could de if allowed to make the line of goods then going into process of manu- facture. The men from Winchester had knewn Mr. Dunn from youth and had perfeet confidenee in his tireless energy and ability. The goods turned out by Mr. Dunn were sold so readily by New York agents that the profit was much larger than he had promised the stockholders. How- ever, the new superintendent appointed by Mr. Crawford began exeeeding bis authority, and to avoid a conflict of authority Mr. Dunn resigned his position with the Crawford Woolen Company, after which he confined his activities to the Worsted & Cashmere Mill, under Mr. H. H. Emmert, receiver of said mills. The product turned out by the new superintendent met no market in New York, and as a result the Crawford mills went into the hands of a receiver, and all raw material was worked up and put on the market at a loss. Afterward the Martins- burg Worsted & Cashmere Company plant was sold at auetien by the receiver, Mr. H. H. Emmert, to Congress- man George M. Bowers, and later purchased by Mr. Dunn, whose only capital consisted of twenty shares in the Vir- ginia Woolen Company of Winchester. Discouragement has never been a feature of Mr. Dunn's career. The difficulties he had had to contend with and his ability were thoroughly appreciated by Martinsburg business men, and after a number of conferences he succeeded in getting forty men as guarantors of a new capital of $35,000, about $12,000 of which were needed to build an addition to the building in order to install sufficient carding and spinning ma- ehinery to balance the plant. In the meantime a new line of samples had been put on the market, about the time the mill was completed. Business was dull, yet the new produet sold fairly well. Then, in August, 1914, the World war started, and not long afterward Mr. Dunn was fortunate in securing from the French Government an order for a large stock of hospital blankets, so that his mill was put in operation night and day and eon- tinued to manufacture blankets and uniform eloth for the Freneh Government for some time. Suddenly, however, he was notified to stop operations, as the French Govern- ment had refused to take more goods, which left a stock of 96,000 yards on the wharf in New York City, on which Dunn Woolen Company had drawn $1.00 per yard through W. H. Duval & Company, the New York agents who had secured the contract for Dunn Woolen Company.

At this time Mr. Dunn was beginning to feel that he eould pay off his indebtness, but the 96,000 yards referred to above had to be charged back on the W. H. Duval & Company's books as returned geods, and interest charges on the $96,000 started at onee. The mill remained idle for about one month, when Mr. W. H. Duval secured a contraet from the Italian Government and permitted the Dunn Woelen Company to run out all the French blue the company had in process, shipping the same to New York, on which he advanced $1.00 per yard. This enabled Dunn Company to start on the Italian order. Mr. Duval expected to get a satisfactory settlement with the Frenel Government every week, but was held up about one year, before any settlement was made.

In the meantime the Italian business ceased and a civilian line had to be gotten out, which was put on the market and the mill output sold in a few days, which necessitated the purchase of additional steek for the above lines. The mill has continued to the present time, not- withstanding it has been passing through the re-adjustment peried, and now (May 1, 1922) is running fully 100 per eent. During all this time it cannot be imagined what mental strain Mr. Dunn passed through, and but for the assistance and comfort he obtained through faith in Divine Provi- denee he could not have withstood the strain.

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At the age of twenty-two Mr. Dunn married Charlotte Adelia Bowden, a native of Frederick County, Virginia. Eight children have been born to their marriage, named William N., Walter, Ada, Blanche, Prince, Frank, Gladys and Garland. The family are members of the Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and Mr. Dunn is active in the Martinsburg Chamber of Commerce.

HARRY B. KIGHT. A fact which is becoming generally recognized is that great corporations are made popular, or otherwise, by the service rendered by their employes, and upou their character and willingness to cater to the de- mands of the public rests the successful business life of the corporation employing them. Especially is this true with reference to the railroads of the country, which are, perhaps, more dependent upon the personality of their em- ployes than any other concern, and the more level-headed and progressive of the officials are giving this matter se- rious attention and striving to retain the services of those men who have proven their value in this connection. One of the men whose loyal service and pleasing manner have won the appreciation of the traveling public over the Bal- timore & Ohio Railroad at Keyser is Harry B. Kight, ticket clerk of his road at this point, and one of the most valued of the road's trusted employes.

Harry B. Kight is a native son of Maryland, for he was born at Westernport, that state, June 5, 1887, but was brought to Mineral County the following year by his father, Ezra Kight. He is a grandson of Henry Kight, who es- tablished the Kight family on New Creek, up from Keyser, where he purchased a farm and became one of the active agriculturists of Mineral County. An earnest Christian, he united with the Southern branch of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, and continued faithful to his creed the re- mainder of his life. He and his wife became the parents of the following children: Mrs. Gauer, of Oakland, Mary- land; Ezra, who became the father of Harry B. Kight; Laura, who married Henry Likens, of Bayard, West Vir- ginia; Jack, who lives at Davis, West Virginia; Jennie, who is the wife of C. W. Burk, of Cincinnati, Ohio; Mar- garet, who married Gaver Bosley, of Davis, West Virginia; Bailey, who lives at Cumberland, Maryland; and Mrs. J. L. Hunter, now deceased, formerly lived at Davis, West Virginia.

Ezra Kight was born in Allegany County, Maryland, No- vember 6, 1852, and was reared on his father's farm nine miles from Keyser, on New Creek, He received a common- school education, and further improved himself by read- ing, so that he was always able to take any position of- fered him. Upon leaving the farm he became a clerk for T. C. Dye, a general merchant of New Creek, with whom he remained for a time, going then into the employ of the New Creek Tannery, another local enterprise. His ambi- tions, however, led him to railroad work, and he commenced his service with the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad at the very bottom, as a common laborer in the shops at Piedmont. As he was willing to work and learn, it was not long, how- ever, before he was made a brakeman and, later, a con- ductor, and he was in the freight service when he passed away, February 11, 1905. One of nature's noblemen, this conscientious railroad worker always sought to do his full duty to his Maker and his fellow citizens, and was an earn- est and consistent Christian. For many years he was an honored member of Grace Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and all who kuew him regarded him highly and esteemed him for his many virtues and loveable nature. He voted the democratic ticket, and his only fraternal re- lations were those he maintained as a member of the Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen.

Ezra Kight married Carrie Patton, a daughter of Basil Patton. Mrs. Kight was born in Ritehie County, West Vir- ginia, May 24, 1860, and died April 20, 1920. They had the following children born to them: Harley, who lives at Key- ser ; Elliott, who is Mrs. M. Lamb, of Covington, Virginia; Harry Basil, whose name heads this review; Frank, who belongs to the aviation corps, U. S. A., is stationed at Kelley Field Number 2, near Fort Worth, Texas; and

Gertrude, who married H. L. Yost, of Berkeley Spri West Virginia.

Growing up at Keyser, Harry B. Kight attended its 1 lie schools, but was not graduated from the high-se course, as he left the schoolroom to enter the railroad s ice December 11, 1903, as a messenger for the master chanie's office. Later he became a caller for the road, still later went into the train service as a brakeman spent four years in this work. At the expiration of it period he was transferred to the station at Keyser ticket clerk and baggagemaster, and was finally promcd to be day ticket agent, October 15, 1915, and is still fil this position. During the summer season he is the ross agent at Deer Park Hotel, Deer Park, Maryland, wherre remains during the tourist season, then returning to Ker for the fall and winter months.

Outside of his regular work Mr. Kight has entered thusiastically into the spirit of Pythianism, having pa: 1 through all of the chairs of Olive Branch Lodge No. 20f Keyser, and has taken the Grand Lodge degree, which s conferred on him at Piedmont, West Virginia, October 1921. He is known in Pythian circles over a wide fi In connection with his lodge work he is now servings secretary of the Third Branch team of his home lodge. religious home is in the Keyser Presbyterian Church, which he is an earnest member, and he is now servings secretary of the board of deacons.

Mr. Knight is a mau of original ideas, and has put t? at the service of his company. IIis unique method of vertising his road has attracted much attention from to ists, and has called forth expressions of commendation f the general passenger agent of the Baltimore & Ohio F. road and from others of its officials who have the intet of the passenger service close to their hearts. Where and in whatever capacity Mr. Kight has served he popularized his employer and contributed that whichs necessary for the well being of his road. His Baltimor? Ohio advertisement in the window of Doctor Gruesendo drug store at Keyser was so original and evoked so mi favorable comment that the same idea was used for a : ilar window decoration at Baltimore, Maryland, where was similarly admired. Mr. Kight is the Keyser co spendent of the Baltimore & Ohio Magazine, an employ magazine published by the railroad company at Ba more for the benefit of its employes. In a recent issue this periodical one of the writers says in part as follows

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History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 2, Part 117

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