History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 2, Part 126

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ELBEAT WILLIS BUSIT. Prominent among the publie officials who are contributing to the civic welfare and advancement of Huntington stands Elbert Willis Bush, city commissioner of public utilities, public buildings and grounds. lle has held some city position regularly since 1915, during which time he has established an excellent record for conscientious and constructive work, and in addition to being well known in public life is a prominent figure in fraternal circles, particularly in the Knights of Pythias.

Mr. Bush was born February 15, 1678, at Sabina, Ohio, the only son and child of Owen and Mary (Fenner) Bush. His father was born in Clinton County, Ohio, and resided near Sabina all of his life, devoting himself without inter- ruption to the pursuits of agriculture, in which he achieved success. He was a republican in his political views, and his religious faith was that of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he was an active worker. 1le died at Sabina in 1915. Mr. Bush married Miss Mary Fenner, who was born in 1857, in Adams County, Ohio, and died near Sabina in 1887.

Elbert Willis Bush was educated in the rural schools of Clinton County, Ohio, and prepared for a business career by attendance at the Buckeye Business College at Sidney. Ohio, in 1896 and 1897. For two years after graduation he served as an instructor in this college, and in 1903 came to Huntington, where he entered the employ of the Hunt- ington Cold Storage and Commission Company in the gen- eral offices. Later he resigned this position to accept one with T. H. Clay, a brokerage commission merchant, with whom he was employed in office work. In 1915 Mr. Bush was appointed assistant city treasurer of Huntington by the city board of commissioners, and filled that office for three years. Next he was appointed city auditor, and held this office one year exactly. In the meanwhile he was elected a city commissioner of Huntington, in May, 1919, for a term of three years, his term of office expiring the second Monday in June. 1999. He is commissioner of pub- lic utilities, public buildings and grounds, and, as before noted, has established an excellent record. All those having business at Mr. Bush's office in the City Hall, Eighth Street and Fifth Avenue, have found him courteous, oblig- ing and prompt, and he has succeeded in making and retaining numerous friends in the regular course of his duties. He is a republican in politics.

Mr. Bush has made a hobby of fraternal organizations. and is prominently known in this connection, particularly in the Knights of Pythias order. lIc was knighted in Huntington Lodge No. 33. Knights of Pythias, in June. 1906, elected chancellor commander in December of that year, received the Grand Lodge rank at Huntington in 1907, and in December, 1907, was elected master of finance, with which office he was connected until 1912, when he was elected keeper of records and seal, a position he has held since. He is the only grand chancellor to fill this office during his term, but the subordinate lodge would not release him. He served as deputy grand chancellor in 1912-13, was a representative to the Grand Lodge at the session held at Charleston in 1912, was made chairman of the com- mittee on reports by Grand Chancellor Sam R. Nuzum, and elected grand outer guard in 1914, after which he was advanecd each wear until 1918, when he was elected grand chancellor at Clarkshurg. Mr. Bush is a member of Shiraz Temple No. 29 Dramatic Order Knights of Khoras- san, of Charleston, having joined at a ceremonial held at Huntington in 1911. He likewise holds membership in

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Lewis Temple No. 22, Pythian Sisters; Huntington Lodge No. 313, B. P. O. E .; Mohawk Tribe No. 11, I. O. R. M .; Huntington Council No. 190, J. O. U. A. M .; Huntington Council No. 53, U. C. T., of which he served as secretary for several years; Huntington Lodge No. 347, L. O. O. M., and Ivanhoe Castle No. 13, K. G. E. He has other con- nections of a business, social and civie character, and is a member of the Huntington Chamber of Commerce. His religious connection is with the Fifth Avenue Baptist Church.

On January 9, 1918, at Covington, Kentucky, Mr. Bush was united in marriage with Mrs. Mamie ( Roberts) IIard- wieke, daughter of Frank N. and Mary Roberts, the latter now deceased and the former a resident of Hamlin, Lin- coln County, West Virginia. Mr. Roberts, who is now ninety years of age, is living in retirement after a long and successful career as a merchant. To Mr. and Mrs. Bush there has come one child, Mary Virginia, who was born at Huntington September 2, 1919.

SAMUEL J. SUBLETTE is one of the keen and resourceful business men of Bluefield, where he has been a retail and wholesale merchant for a number of years. He took up commercial life soon after leaving school, and has achieved his success without special advantages aside from his own character and determined effort.

Mr. Sublette was born at Alleghany Spring, Virginia, February 4, 1876, son of James H. and Aliean A. ( Helm) Sublette. Sublette is an old name in American Colonial history and originated in the south of France, whence an ancestor came to the Colonies nearly 200 years ago. One of the important settlements of the family was at Pow- hatan Court House in Virginia. This family was repre- sented in the Revolutionary war. James H. Sublette and wife were both born in Virginia, where the former was a farmer and stock raiser and took an active interest in politics. However, the only office in which he would con- sent to serve was that of school trustee, and he held that post for many years, due to his very sincere interest in the welfare of schools. During the Civil war he was in Company G of the Fourth Virginia Regiment, and was in from the beginning to the end of the war, though onee he was captured and spent nine months in a Federal prison, where his principal diet was rice.

Samuel J. Sublette attended the common and graded schools of Alleghany Spring, and soon after leaving school he went to work, as a traveling salesman for Bonsack Brothers of Roanoke, Virginia. He was on the road for that firm three years and then set up a mercantile business of his own at Alleghany Spring. He did well there, and after five years sold out and moved to Bluefield, West Virginia, being attracted to this town by its great promise for the future. Here he opened a retail grocery store under the firm name of Sublette & Barnes. The partnership was dissolved in 1915, and after that Mr. Sublette continued alone for two years and then organized the Sublette Grocery Company, wholesale. He was the leading spirit in this corporation for a time, but in 1918 retired from the executive control, though he remained financially iden- tified with the company until January 1, 1921, when he resigned and organized the Sublette Feed & Supply Com- pany, Incorporated, with capital of $100,000. Mr. Sub- lette is president of J. T. McMullin, secretary of this company, which does a business all over Southern West Virginia.

In 1911, at Bluefield, Mr. Sublette married Miss Ethel R. Wall, daughter of James and Margaret Wall. They have two children, Margarette Hill and Samuel J., Jr. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Mr. Sublette has some business and social relations with such organizations as the Chamber of Commerce, Elks Club, is a Royal Arch Knight Templar Mason and Shriner and since coming to Bluefield has worked with other pro- gressive citizens toward the ideal of making this one of the best commercial towns in the state.

SAMUEL B. JOHNSON, M. D. Medical science has so progressed that advances are made in it almost hourly.

Specializing observation on disease has worked marvelou changes in methods of treatment; tireless theoretic exper ments have proved the truth of contentions, and only after results have been demonstrated beyond reasonable doubt are discoveries given to the public. In the work of the past quarter of a century, and especially during the period of the late war, so many practical advances have bee made that it is impossible to enumerate them, but non! of them have come naturally, but are the outcome of thi tireless, aggressive and self-sacrificing work of the me who have devoted themselves to the practice of medicine one of whom in Pendleton County is Dr. Samuel B. Johr son of Franklin. Doctor Johnson was born on the sita of his present drug store, in the City of Franklin, Ser tember 6, 1867.

The Johnson family originated in England, and belonged to the House of Howard. While this country was still a English colony representatives of the name sought here . refuge, and found in the Valley of the Susquehanna, in Pennsylvania, the opportunity they sought. It was fror that region that the Pendleton Johnsons came, and th first of the name in Pendleton County of whom there i record was Joseph Johnson and his son, Samuel Johnson grandfather of Doctor Johnson, who was born at Frankli in 1800 and spent his life as a merchant and farmer During the old muster days he served as a major of it regiment of the militia, and he was very highly regarder as a man and a citizen. Modern methods of doing busil ness had not then been inaugurated, and this old-time merchant kept his own books, making the entries with : quill pen. His transactions as thus recorded were carried on with pounds, shillings and pence, instead of according to our own tables. Samuel Johnson died at Franklin in 1862.

The son of Samuel Johnson, Dr. Johu Dice Johnson father of Doctor Johnson of this notice, was born af Franklin, December 26, 1833, and was engaged in the practice of medicine in Pendleton County for many years! His professional education was obtained at Jefferson Medi eal College, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, graduating there from in 1857, and he immediately thereafter began his practice. At that time he was the only virile practitioner in the whole region about Franklin, and because of this fact he was excused from service in the army by the Confederate authorities, and left to care for the people here. When this section was occupied by the Federa army he rendered professional service to its men just a: conscientiously when it was required.

Dr. John D. Johnson was way ahead of his times, and continued not only a student of his profession throughout his life, but some of his methods of treatment were very original, and were carefully thought out. In the day: when he was in his prime the established method of caring for a typhoid patient was to seclude him in a room at nearly air-tight as it could be made, and to keep fron him all water. This was called the "burn 'em up" treat ment, and was in great favor with the physicians of that day, although the fatalities from this disease were appalling Doctor Johnson was not satisfied with the results, and sought other means of combating the fever. Called to attend a young man ill with typhoid, and realizing that unless a different treatment were followed there was no hope of recovery, he obtained his mother's permission to follow the method he had studied out as a last resort. Braving public opinion and the criticism of his fellow practitioners, Doctor Johnson had the young man carried to the banks of the South Branch and immersed him in its cool waters. Returning his patient to his home, he left him to make his other visits of mercy, trembling at what he had done, and yet confident that death would have resulted anyway. The following morning when he called again he found his patient had rested much easier, and he once more gave him a bath in the river, and kept up this original and vigorous treatment until he had fully restored him to health. This treatment and cure elicited much local interest and discussion, and the editor of Gilliard's Medical Journal, of Philadelphia, a man of considerable education and foresight, urged Doctor John-

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to write up the case and allow him to publish it, the busy physician, much more interested in curing le than securing to himself the honor of so doing, r took the time to follow this adviee, and consequently her, Doctor Brann, of England, who made similar griments at a subsequent date. is given the credit, and treatment is still known as "Brann's" instead of tinson's" as it should be.

the years passed Deetor Johnson commenced to ex- the scope of his activities, and began merchandis- and also acquired farm land which he operated. He a good eitizen's part in politics, as a democrat, and many years he was a consistent member of the Methodist propal Church, South, and during his earlier life he 'd it as an official. He married Isabel Mantz, of erick City, Maryland, although born at Sharpsburg, state, her father having been a merchant of Frederick a number of years, and subsequently clerk of the mit Court. Mr. Mantz married Mary A. Grove, and when he was seventy two years of age. Mrs. Johnson the eldest of a family of four daughters and three of whom four survive, and she died February 12, . when sixty-eight years old. Dr. John D. Johnson his wife had three children, namely: Florence, who when about twelve years old; Charles, who died in hey; and Dr. Samuel Beam, of this notice.

petor Johnson, the younger, whose name opens this le, attended the public schools of Franklin and a ate school taught hy Professor Johnson, and then he me a student of Staunton Military Academy. and sub- ntly of Randolph-Macon College. For his medical ing he attended the University of Maryland at Balti- , and was graduated therefrom April 14, 1892, with degree of Doetor of Medicine. Returning to Franklin, entered upon a general practice. and for four years in partnership with Dr. Fred Mooman. He is now ty health officer, and has held the office for about five , and for a quarter of a century was health offieer Franklin. During the influenza epidemie of 1918-19 practice be ame almost too strennous for human endur- yet as human suffering must be relieved he kept jis post and continued his visiting and ministering out vilding to his own tired and exhausted body the epidemie was dissipated. Some years ago he lished the drug store he is condueting, which is a reliable one and the only one in the county, but inues his large practice as well.

retor Johnson has been very active in many directions. has been president of the Franklin District Board of ation for twenty-four years. As one of the or- zers of the Franklin Bank he has always been active ts management, and has been its president since it opened its doors for business in 1911. Like his or and grandfather he is identified with rural de- bment as a farmer, and in association with his son stockman on a modest scale. He is a member of leton Lodge, No. 144. A. F. and A. M., and is serving secretary and treasurer. Like his father, he is a eber of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and on, is an official of the local congregation.

. December 20, 1893. Dortor Johnson married in Frank- County, Pennsylvania, ten miles north of Hagerstown, Erland, Miss Katherine Kennedy Snively, who was born hady Grove, Franklin County, Pennsylvania, November 1872. She received her early education by private b's, and also attended Wilson College for Women, Cham- burg. Pennsylvania. Her parents were Frederick B and Telia G. (Hammond) Snively, the former a native of vy Grove. Franklin County, Pennsylvania, and the latter Itive of Benevola, Washington County, Maryland. Mr. Mrs. Snively had nine children, those reaching mature

'3 being as follows: Edwin S .: Jessie E., wife of . Seacrest, of Lineoln, Nebraska; Nellie C., wife of mers P. Omwake, of Greencastle, Pennsylvania; and Johnson, who was next to the youngest.

setor and Mrs. Johnson had the following children: Fard Snively is mentioned below. Katherine Kennedy uated from the Franklin schools and Mary Baldwin

Seminary, Staunton, Virginia. She married James L. Mitchell, of Notasulga, Alabama, and resides at Wash- ington, District of Columbia. Cornelia Isabel, who is a graduate of the Franklin lligh School, is now attending West Virginia Wesleyan College at Buckhannon. The son, Edwin Snively Johnson finished the public schools of Franklin and attended Randolph-Macon Academy, Front Roval and Jefferson School for Boys at Charlottsville, West Virginia. He served in the medieal corps at Camp Meade during the World war, where he had charge of the dis- pensary, but the armistice was signed before he was sent overseas. After he received his honorable discharge he returned to Franklin, and is now a very busy young man, carrying on a large fire insurance business, acting as man- ager of his father's drug store and stock business, and in farming. He has beeome prominent in local affairs and is now mayor of Franklin. He is prominent in Masonry as a member of Pendleton Lodge, No. 144, A. F. and A. M., No. 1 Consistory at Wheeling, Thirty-second Scottish Rite, and a member of Osiris Temple of the Mystic Shrine. lle is also a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, No. 411, at Morgantown, and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Franklin.

While his son was at Camp Meade, Doctor Johnson was doing all in his power to render a loyal assistance. lle was one of the examiners for the Draft Board of Pendle- ton County, and was otherwise helpful. He is a man of high ideals and has always lived up to them, and set a standard of right living that all would do well to emulate. Coming as he does of one of the very old and honored families of the country, he is proud of his ancestors, and anxious to so direet his life that his descendants may point to him and his deeds with equal pride.

LUCIAN N. YOST, M. D., who is engaged in the successful practice of his profession in the City of Fairmont, Marion County, was horn at Fairview, this county, November 5, 1871, a son of Dr. Fielding H. and Malinda (Jones) Yost. Dr. Fielding H. Yost was born on the old family home- stead near Fairview, this county, in 1827, and was a repre- sentative of one of the old and influential families of this section of the state. He graduated from the Eelretic Medical College in Cineinnati, Ohio, in 1861, and was for many years engaged in active practice at Fairview and Morgantown, West Virginia. Ilis wife was born in Pleasant Valley, Monongalia County in 1830, a daughter of John Jones, who there condueted, prior to the Civil war, an old-time tavern or inn and who later became a prominent citizen of Morgantown.

Dr. Lucian N. Yost supplemeated the discipline of the publie schools by attending the University of West Vir. ginia, 1889-91. In 1892 he received from the Ohio North- ern University at Ada, Ohio, the degree of Doctor of Pharmaey, and in the following year he attended lectures in Starling Medical College, now the medical department of the University of Ohio, at Columbus. In 1895 he graduated from his father's alma mater, the Eelectic Medical College, in the City of Cincinnati, from which he received his degree of Doctor of Medicine. In the same year he established himself in practice at Fairmont, and here he has continued his offertive service as one of the representative physicians and surgeons of his native county. He has held sinee 1911 the position of health officer of Marion County, his last appointment having been made in July, 1921. The doctor insistently keeps in touch with the advanees made in medical and surgical science, and ix affiliated with the American Medical Association, the American Public Health Association, the West Virginia State Medical Society and the Marion County Medical Society. He is affiliated also with the Masonic fraternity. the Elks and the Knights of Pythias, and both he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church.

In 1895 Doetor Yost married Miss Belle Kennedy. daughter of Rev. W. IF. Kennedy, of Syracuse, New York, and her death oreurred in 1903. The one child of this union is Rufus L., who was born October 20, 1896. In 1905 was solemnized the marriage of Doetor Yost and Miss Minnie Smith, daughter of Rev. H. N. Smith, of Louisville,

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Kentucky. Mrs. Yost is active in church work and club circles in her home city, where she is president of the Woman's Club and where she was specially active in patriotic service during the World war period. Doctor and Mrs. Yost have a daughter, Margaret Ann, born November 29, 1907.

WILLIAM EMMETT BUCKEY is making an admirable record of service in connection with educational work in the City of Fairmont, judicial center and metropolis of Marion County, where he is the efficient and popular princi- pal of the high school. He was born at Beverly, Randolph County, West Virginia, on the 27th of March, 1886, and is a scion of a family that has been one of prominence and influence in that county for three generations. His father, Charles N. Buckey, likewise was born at Beverly, that county, the date of his nativity having been December 29, 1861, and both he and his wife being still residents of Beverly. Charles N. Buckey is a son of Emmett and Margaret (Ward) Buckey, the former of whom was born at Beverly, February 2, 1831, and the latter of whom was born at Elkins, now the judicial center of Randolph County, this state. Emmett Buckey was one of the vener- able and honored citizens of his native town at the time of his death, in May, 1921, when ninety years of age. Charles N. Buckey married Miss Rosa MeCleary, who was born in New York City in 1869, but was taken to Califor- nia when a child. She is of sterling Irish lineage.

In the public schools of his native village William E. Buckey continued his studies until his graduation in the high school, and in 1912 he graduated from the West Vir- ginia State Normal School at Fairmont. He received the degree of Bachelor of Arts from the University of West Virginia in 1921 and in the same year took a post-graduate course in historic old Harvard University, besides which in 1913 he was a student in the University of Pennsylvania. Mr. Buckey initiated his pedagogic career when he was eighteen years of age, and his novitiate was served as teacher in the rural or district schools of his native county. His record in his chosen profession has been one of con- secutive advancement and has involved his service as a teacher in the schools of Central City, now a part of the City of Huntington, this state, and those of the village of Cairo, Ritchie County. He was for seven years principal of the normal training school at Fairmont, West Virginia. In 1921 he was appointed principal of the Fairmont High School, and in this position he is effectively maintaining his prestige as an enthusiastic and successful teacher. Ile is also serving as a member of the Certification Board of the Fairmont independent school district. In the period of the nation's participation in the World war Mr. Buckey served as a member of the Classification Board, an adjunct of the Draft Board of Marion County, and he also aided materially in other patriot activities in his home com- munity. He is affiliated with Tygarts Valley Lodge No. 66, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in Randolph County, and with the Phi Beta Kappa fraternity at the University of West Virginia. At Fairmont he is an active and valued member of the Kiwanis Club, and is a loyal supporter of its progressive eivie policies and service.

On June 23, 1915, Mr. Buckey married Miss Ada Dee Talkington, of Fairmont, a daughter of J. Raymer and Sarah E. (Talkington) Talkington.

JOHN A. CLARK, a highly honored citizen of Fairmont, has given the greater part of his active lifetime to the business and industry of coal mining, has been an independent operator for thirty years, and the interests associated with his name comprise some of the most successful coal com- panies in the state.

He was born January 22, 1855, at Cumberland, Maryland. His grandfather, John Clark, brought his family from Ire- land, locating at Mount Savage, Maryland. His son An- drew was born in Maryland and married Ellen Colvin, whose birth occurred at Green Springs Run in Hampshire County, Virginia. Andrew Clark was a railroad engineer on the Baltimore & Ohio until after the death of his wife in 1857, and he then removed to Louisville, where he entered the serv- ice of the Louisville & Nashville Railway. Early in the

Civil war he enlisted in the Confederate Army and ser in Beauregard's Division. He died in Louisville in 1868 the result of a saber wound in the head received in a h: to hand encounter while serving in the army.

Following the death of his mother John A. Clark given a home by his grandfather Clark at Cumberla Maryland, with whom he remained to the age of eles when he became a bread winner. His education has h the result of practical experience rather than by any c; tinued contact with schools. From 1866 until 1880 elerked in a store at Lonaconing in the Georges Creek reg of Maryland, and succeeding that he was store manager paymaster for the Newburg Orrel Coal & Coke Company Newburg, Preston County, West Virginia. Mr. Clark moved to Fairmont as manager of the store of the Monong Coal & Coke Company at Monongah, and in 1890 he 1 appointed superintendent of the Linden Coke Company Clements.

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History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 2, Part 126

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