History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 2, Part 119

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Alexander L. Wade died at Richmond, Virginia, in 1904, full of years and rich in honora and the respect and venera- tion of his fellow men. In 1854 he married Hettic Sanders, daughter of John and Elizabeth Sanders, of Monongalia County. She survived him until 1909.

Their son, Spencer S. Wade, was born in Clinton Dis- triet, Monongalia County, July 29, 1857, and throughout practically his entire life has been a resident of Morgan-

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town. He acquired an early education in the public schools, through private instruction at home, and graduated in 1879 from the University of West Virginia. At that time he entered the office of the Brock brothers, Dr. Hugh Workman and Luther S. Brock, under whom he read medicine. In 1882 he entered the Jefferson Medical College at Philadel- phia, graduating M. D. with the class of 1884. Following the death of Dr. Hugh Workman Brock he became a partner of his brother, Dr. Luther S. Brock, and the firm of Brock & Wade, physicians and surgeons, is still in existence, one of the oldest medical firms in the state.

Doctor Wade took special work in New York during 1889, post-graduate studies in the University of the City of New York, special instruction in diseases of nose and throat in the out-patient department of Bellevue Hospital, and in the Eye and Ear Infirmary. This custom of keep- ing in touch with leaders of the profession and new methods has been kept up, and he has taken similar courses at Springfield, Massachusetts, New Orleans, Louisiana, and has been a frequent visitor to hospitals in Pittsburgh, Balti- more and Philadelphia. For upwards of forty years Doctor Wade has given his enthusiasm, energy and best devotion to the profession that is one of the noblest callings of men. He is a member of the Monongalia County, West Virginia State and American Medical Associations, the American Public Health Association, and has a number of social and civic connections.

In 1897 Doctor Wade married Miss Rose Chorpering, daughter of John Chorpering, of Clarksburg, West Vir- ginia. Six children were born to their union: Georgia, Frank (deceased), John, Rebecca, Elizabeth and Jean. The tradition of a liberal education is inherent in the Wade family, and these children are being given all the advan- tages that will fit them well for the positions and stations in life to which they may be called.

DELL ROY RICHARDS, cashier and director of the Bank of Morgantown, has been identified with the banking and business interests of the City of Morgantown for the last twenty years, and during that time has worked his way up from the position of street car conductor and bank mes- senger to the cashiership of one of the strongest banking institutions of the city, winning, likewise, a place among he leading citizens of the community. He is of Welsh- Scotch stock, and was born on the old Richards home farm in Belmont County, Ohio, March 7, 1881, a son of William and Catherine (Compher) Richards, and a grand- son of William Richards.

William Richards, the father of Dell R., was born in Belmont County, Ohio, where as a young man he adopted the vocation of agriculturist. This he followed in Belmont County until he removed to New Cumberland, Hancock County, West Virginia, and in that community rounded out an honorable, useful and successful career. He was a man of integrity and good citizenship, and won and held a number of warm friends and admirers. Mrs. Richards, who is a resident of Long Beach, California, was also born in Belmont County, Ohio, and is a daughter of the late John Compher.

Dell Roy Richards spent his boyhood days upon the home farm in Belmont County, Ohio, and at New Cumberland, Hancock County, West Virginia, to which community the family moved when he was eight years of age. He attended the public school at New Cumberland, and in 1898 graduated from high school, following which, in 1900, he entered the University of West Virginia, and spent two and one-halt years at that institution. While a student there, in order to assist in paying for his education, he worked as a con- ductor on the street railway and likewise served as cashier of the Union Utility Company, operators of the street-car lines. In 1904 Mr. Richards began his regular banking experience as a messenger in the Bank of the Monongahela Valley at Morgantown, and during the next seven years worked his way up from that position to that of teller of the institution. He resigned this post in December, 1910, to accept that of cashier of the Bank of Morgantown, an institution then four years old and with resources amount- ing to $300,000, which, since Mr. Richards became cashier,

have increased to the sum of $1,700,000. While banki: has been his intimate and leading interest, he has been cc cerned officially and otherwise with additional honoral enterprises, and for some time has been president of t Central Automobile Corporation, which maintains plar at Morgantown, Clarksburg, Fairmont and Manningto West Virginia. He is a member and elder of the Fix Presbyterian Church of Morgantown, and as a fraternal. holds membership in Lodge No. 4, A. F. & A. M., and t Kappa Alpha college fraternity.

Mr. Richards married Miss Elizabeth B. Davis, daught of the late Marcellus Davis, of Morgantown, who was wide known in business and financial circles of the city.

LEWIS H. WEIMER was born and reared on the fa where he now lives in the Eglon community of Prest County. As a youth he had an ambition to become undertaker, and achieved that profession after many d ficulties and sacrifices, and is now one of the leading funer. directors of Preston County, conducting a business in l country locality, and a still larger at Bayard.

Mr. Weimer was born April 11, 1877. His grandfath George Weimer, was of German ancestry, a resident Pennsylvania and Maryland, and spent his last years on 1 farm in Garrett County of the latter state. He marri Barbara Klingaman, also of German stock. She surviv him, and their children were: Samuel, who died near Sal bury, Pennsylvania; Jacob, who died on his farm in Gra County, West Virginia; Mrs. Mary Neff of Ohio; Jes who was a farmer in Garrett County; John, whose reco follows; Sarah, who died in Garrett County, wife of / bury McCroby; Joseph, who was a Union soldier in t Civil war and spent his life near Oakland, Maryland; Be jamin, who was accidentally killed in Garrett Count Silas, who was a Garrett County farmer, once a memt of the Maryland Legislature, and for several years teacher.

John Weimer was born in Somerset County, Pennsylvan November 22, 1832. He had a limited education a devoted his entire active career to his farm. He remov with his family to Maryland, and after spending a she time near Sang Run in Garrett County came into Prest County, where he married Magdalena Fike, daughter Peter Fike and sister of Rev. Aaron Fike, a Brethren m ister whose life record is published elsewhere. John Wein and wife had the following children: Frank M., of Fre ericksburg, Virginia; Joanna, who died in Garret Coun Maryland, wife of I. O. Thompson; Rachel, wife of D. Judy, of Eglon; Ed of Morgantown; Jemimah, Ephrai Lida and Christiana, all of whom died unmarried; a Lewis Henry. John Weimer died October 21, 1921, wh in his eighty-ninth year, after a residence on the old fa for more than half a century and in Preston County j sixty years.

Lewis Henry Weimer attended the common schools a he was a helpful factor on the home farm until passi his majority. On leaving the farm he took a corresponder course in undertaking, and was licensed to practice in 1 State of West Virginia. He had qualified for his chos profession after many difficulties, and even then he w not equipped for business, having no capital. He secur practical experience while in the service of Mr. A. R. Fi of Eglon, and he borrowed the capital to buy out his e ployer in 1906. He paid interest on borrowed mor until his business profits replaced the loans and creat his own capital. He moved from his cabin home ba from the public highway to the vicinity of Maple Run, a there eventually erected a generous home and equipped hi self with facilities for his business. Later he establish the branch at Bayard, which now does a larger busin than the original establishment and, as it is in a railro town, it seems likely that Mr. Weimer will in time conce, trate his efforts there. He is now head of an extens business, affording a great contrast to the situation wb he started, without capital and with a family and home 1 which to provide. He has a complete equipment of au mobile and horse drawn hearses and his business at Egl is half a mile south of the village. Mr. Weimer is a me

De letras

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1. of the West Virginia Funeral Directors Association and t National Funeral Directors Association.

He gave his first national ballot to Major Mckinley 1 1900, and bas acted in the interest uf that party steadily, rving many years as a committeeman for Union District. Jr ycars he was president of the Union District Board of Tucation, and in 1918 was elected county commissioner as rcessor to Allen Forman. The chief business before the cort of which he was a member was school consolidation, lys for school purposes, and routine business. Mr. Weimer affiliated with the Knights of Pythias, and is a prominent imber of the Lutheran Church, having been its eonneil- un, secretary of the joint eouneil for several years, and now chairman of the joint couneil.

In his home community December 24, 1899, he married ss Lucinda Liller, who was born within two miles of lon, June 2, 1850, daughter of James and Catherine 'ike) Liller. Ifer mother was a daughter of David Fike, brother of Rev. Aaron Fike, above mentioned. Mrs. einer's parents were natives of Preston County and ent their lives as farmers here. Of their fourteen chil- en, thirteen grew up: Mary, whose first husband was vorge Winters and she is now the wife of Joseph Rembolt, Eglon; David of Garrett County, Maryland; Jennie, who s been three times married and is living in Garrett unty; Henry, of Garrett County; Ella, wife of George Wotring, of Bayard; Louvina, who died as Mrs. Thomas nn; Aaron, a farmer in Garrett County; Ida, who died at orton, West Virginia, wife of Jacob Nester; Lizzie, Mrs. e Hurshman, of Philadelphia; Mrs. Weimer; Leola, who arried Thomas Root of Preston County; Ressa, wife of rtbur Sell, of Union Bridge, Maryland; and Myrtle, who ed when a young girl. Mr. and Mrs. Weimer have two ildren, Cleo and John Arnold, the latter attending the glon public school. Cleo completed a liberal education id is now the wife of Early F. Roth, of Bayard.

PAGE ROBERT MCCRUM is the leading merchant of Aurora, d has the distinction of being the oldest merebant from e standpoint of continuous experience in Preston County. is active connection with merchandising at Aurora is a atter of more than balf a century, but at intervals he has so rendered a valuable service in public affairs.

Mr. MeCrum was born at Aurora July 19, 1852. His ther, Summers McCrum, was born in Randolph County, is state, in 1826, and was nine years of age when he as left fatberless. He lived with his step-father until he me to Preston County, aud on going to Aurora he took arge of the Curtis Store and was not yet of age when he came a responsible factor in the business of Curtis & Son. ot long afterward, in 1845, he established a business of s own on the site now. occupied by the Lantz Hotel. rom that time until 1871 he was active in the business fe of the village. Besides general merchandising he was so a farmer and one of the most extensive sheep growers, wning flocks which he let out on the shares and which ere herded over portions of two or three counties. In me ·the sheep business represented the larger part of his pital and enterprise. Summers McCrum was not in lities to any extent. He began as a demoerat, but rough the issues of the war became a republican. In 1860 ily che vote was cast for Abraham Lincoln in Aurora 'ecinet. The voter, Adam Giessman, an old German eiti- n, was threatened with mob violence for thus expressing mself. Summers MeCrum at that time was a Douglas mocrat, but immediately after secession he became a re- ibliean. He was a leader in church work as a Methodist, id the present Methodist Church at Aurora was construeted the result of efforts in which he took a prominent part. Tyler County Summers MeCrum married Eliza H. icklin, a native of that county and daughter of Dr. amuel Nieklin. She died in 1981, while Summers McCrum rvived until 1905 .. Their children were: Page R .; Lloyd , who was a merchant at Gormania and then at Hendricks d died at Germania, leaving a son, A. Bliss; Alvin A., ra September 9, 1858, and now associated in business ith his brother Page at Aurora; and Lillie, Mrs. Charles Trotter, of Washington, D. C.

Page R. MeCrum attended some of the early sessions of the first free schools established at Aurora. At the age of seventeen he entered the University of West Virginia at Morgantown, completing his sophomore year there. lis father desiring tu retire from merchandising, Page re turned to Aurora in 1871, and though not yet twenty years of age took active charge of the business With his ar- ecssion the firm became MeCrum & Son, later when Alvin became a partner, the title was S. MeCrum & Suns, but for a number of years past the firm name has been P. R. and A. A. McCrum. This is the business in which Mr. Metrum has found his time and talents absorbed for half a century. He is a director in the First National Bank of Terra Alta, West Virginia, of which he was also the seeund president.

He began voting as a republican and was one of the first young men in this community to announce his eon- victions for that party. His first presidential vute went to General Grant in 1872. The first official service he ren- dered was assistant to Clerk Henry Startzman, of King- wood, for several months. His first eleetive office was as a member of the house of delegates. He was elected in 1878, serving under Speaker Moffett and re-elected in 1880 under Speaker Wilson. The house in both terms was democratic, and a republican member had little opportunity for constructive work. One matter of importance befure the House during his first term was the inerease of juris- dietion of magistrates. Mr. McCrum voted for the party choice for United States Senator when he knew in advance there was no chance to eleet him.

Subsequently Mr. McCrum was for several terms a mem- ber of the County Court. The business before the board was largely routine, sinee road building had not become an important issue involving a great expenditure based on hond issues. Only a bridge was built now and then, and perhaps the most important duty of Mr. MeCrum was handling the yearly financial settlements with the sheriff. Mr. MeCrum served a number of times as member of the Union Distriet Board of Education, and was also its see- retary. While he was a member of the board the addition to the Aurora schoolhouse was built.

In Rock Island County, Illinois, November 16, 1887, Mr. MeCrum married Miss Lucy B. Brown, going uut to that state to claim his bride, who, however, is a native of Beverly, Randolph County, West Virginia, and member ať an old family of this state. She was born at Beverly August 10, 1853, daughter of Bernard L. and Mary E. (Dailey) Brown, the latter being a daughter of Hugh and Edith (Butcher) Dailey. Bernard L. Brown was for about twenty years clerk of the Circuit Court of Randolph County prior to the Civil war. He died in 1869, and his widow removed with the family to Cordova, Illinois, where Mrs. McCrum finished her education in high school. She was one of a large family of children, of whom Edith, Edwin. Clarence, Oscar and Alice arc deceased, and the others, still surviving, are Mrs. Addic F. Earl, of Fort Worth, Texas; Mrs. S. N. Bosworth, of Beverly, West Virginia; Charles B., of Clinton, Iowa; and Mrs. Roberta William- son, of Pomona, California. Mr. and Mrs. MeCrum have two surviving sons, Summers Dailey MeCrum and Harold B., the former born October 3, 1888, and the latter, De- eember 8, 1891. Summers D. married Elinor Brown, daughter of John II. and Eugenia (Bishop) Brown, of Kingwood, and their two children are Robert Brown and Summers Dailey, Jr. They all live at Aurora. Ilarold Bernard MeCrum graduated in law from the University of West Virginia in 1914, and is one of the popular at- torneys of Preston County. He was elected and served in 1921 as a member of the House of Delegates, and in that session was on the committees of prohibition and temper- anee; counties, districts and municipal corporations and roads.

CLEM E. PETERS has shown fine initiative and eonstrue- tive powers in his executive administration as secretary and treasurer of the Conservative Life Insurance Company of Wheeling, West Virginia, an admirable institution of which specific record is given in following review.

Mr. Peters was born and reared in the State of Ohio

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where he received excellent educational advantages, and he has been a resident of Wheeling, West Virginia, for a quarter of a century. Here he was for some time employed as clerk in a drug store, later was here engaged inde- pendently in the drug business, and it was in his sleeping apartment over his drug store that the insurance company of which he is now secretary and treasurer virtually had its inception, in 1906, while it bas been in large measure due to his resourceful energies and progressive and careful policies that the company has forged to the front as one of most substantial, well ordered and beneficent functions- a home institution of which West Virginia may well be prond. Of the determined spirit that animated Mr. Peters and his associates in their efforts to build up this worthy enterprise results speak for themselves, but the casual ob- server can have slight comprehension of the heavy responsi- bilities assumed, the great obstacles surmounted, and the discouragements set aside in the stupendous evolution of a solid and noble institution of broad scope and ever widening influence. The review of the inception and growth of this insurance corporation, as given in following pages in this publication, should he read in connection with this sketch of the progressive and representative citizen who has played so important a part in the upbuilding of the company and business.

THE CONSERVATIVE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY. With full measure of consistency may this publication offer brief re- view of the Conservative Life Insurance Company of Wheel- ing, West Virginia, for the institution is one that is gain- ing high rank and unequivocal success, and has proved a source of just pride, as well as valne, to the city and state in which it figures as a "home corporation."

This company was organized and incorporated, under the laws of West Virginia, in the year 1906, with an author- ized capital of $500,000. When its first policy was issued, in April, 1907, the assets of the company were about $14,- 000. Of all that has since been achieved an idea is con- veyed by the brief notation that at the close of the year 1920 the assets of the company aggregated $1,575,- 344.56, an increase of nearly $400,000 over the preced- ing year. From an appreciative article that appeared in the publication entitled "Money and Commerce," are taken the following pertinent quotations. After noting the annual statement of the company for the year 1920 the article continues as follows : "Thus it will be seen that from a very meager beginning it has progressed and ad- vanced each year until it now stands among the leading financial institutions in the country. It has always been the aim and policy of the management to build up the in- stitution on a solid and safe foundation, and to that end great care has been exercised in the selection of insurance risks, investment of the funds, and the systematie conduct- ing of its affairs in such a way as to give to the public every attractive and up-to-the-minute form of policy, to- gether with the creation of a permanent ageney organiza- tion, which now numbers approximately two hundred fifty men and women, representing it in the states of West Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Alabama, Missis- sippi, Georgia and Florida. With the constant opening of new state, with the agency force increasing in numbers, and with the volume of business constantly expanding, and naturally the resources of this institution cannot help but swell in proportion, and its future growth and stability can be measured only on the basis of the amazing financial growth of some of the institutions of this kind in the East. Since its organization the company has paid out over $600,- 000 in death claims, and has withstood not only the great World war but also the greatest epidemic the world has ever known, Spanish influenza. This alone increased the expected mortality by over one-half, yet each and every claim was paid the same day that proofs of death were filed and approved at the home office. This alone dem- onstrates to the public at large the financial strength of the company, and is positive evidence and proof of the soundness and stability as well as of the just and equitable treatment received by the policy-holders and their bene- ficiaries. "

The home offices of the Conservative Life Insurance Con pany are established in a fine building that bears the com pany 's name and that is owned by the company. This an enlarged and remodeled structure, the base of which w the old post office or Federal Building at Wheeling, ai with the purchase more recently of adjoining property which was sitnated the Colonial Theater the company no owns a block 132 feet square-one of the most valuat properties in the city.

In conclusion may be given extracts from a New Yo financial periodical, the New York Commercial, whose re resentative found fully justified the "elaim that Wheelil has one of the most successful and best managed lif insurance companies in cities of this class in America. The article further states that the ultimate test of a cor pany's financial solidity is the relation of liabilities assets, and that, gauged by this test, some of the small insurance companies hold the commanding position, "ar this is true of the Conservative Life of Wheeling." ] commenting on the specially liberal policies marking t1 condnet of the business and the company's adoption . "multiform" insurance, the article continnes thus: "Th contract has been the means of the company writing : much or more business in its home state as any other cor pany operating in the State of West Virginia, and tì contract has proved so popular that it is now being copie by some of the older and larger companies. The wonderf success and progress of this enterprising concern is dne. the competent staff of officers and agents. Clem E. Peter the efficient secretary and treasurer of the company, wI is recognized as one of the leading insurance men of th district, has perhaps been more of a factor in bringing tì company through to its present high standing than ar other individual connected therewith, because it has hee through his untiring efforts that the company has a tained its present high rank in financial circles.

Of the secretary and treasurer of the company moj specific mention is made in preceding biography.

WALTER ELMO CHORPENNING. The Chorpenning family while not one of the oldest in Preston County, have fc seventy years occupied one of the most historie homes an homesteads of the county.

This farm is still referred to occasionally as the ol Forman place. The historic log mansion was built ther by Isaac Forman in 1794. The apple orchard plante about the same time continued to bear fruit for 100 year: One of the sturdy trees produced regularly fifty bushel annually throughout its mature lifetime. The first news paper published in Preston County was issued from the ol log house on this farm, its publishers and proprietors bein Frank Alter and Joseph Miller. The newspaper was calle into existence during the memorable presidential campaig of 1840 and was named "The Mt. Pleasant Democrat" 0 the "Preston County Democrat." The paper's name be lied its polities and confused or misled those who did no know its political tendencies, since it was a strong whi organ.

In 1850 this farm was acquired by Jonathan Chorpen ning, and it has remained in the Chorpenning name eve since, the present owner being Millard Fillmore Chorpen ning. Jonathan Chorpenning was a son of Judge Henr. Chorpenning, of Somerset County, Pennsylvania. Judg Chorpenning married Mary Shoaf. Jonathan Chorpenning had a large family of fourteen children. Among these ar named Jonathan, Malinda, Franklin, Mrs. Clarissa Brown Elizabeth, who marred Cyrus Shader, Henrietta, who be. came the wife of William B. Marks, Hannah, Harrison Simon Michael and Millard Fillmore.

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History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 2, Part 119

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