History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 2, Part 127

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April 1, 1891, he became an independent operator wl he organized the Clark Coal & Coke Company, with pl at Pritchard on the Monongahela River Railway. His n plant was at Anderson, on the same railroad, and the th at Chiefton on the same railroad. In 1899 he developed coal property at Ocean on the Parkersburg branch kno as the Cleveland & Fairmont, and in the same year beg developing the Columbia Coal & Coke Company at Columl and also the Fairmont & Baltimore Coal & Coke Compa at Adamston. All these were successfully operated by ! Clark, and the properties were sold to the Fairmont C Company, now the Consolidation Coal Company, in 1901.

In the latter year Mr. Clark began developments on Waldo Mine at Wilsonburg, and also opened up the Golf, New Chiefton and the New Randolph mines, these bei operated as properties of the Madeira Hill-Clark Compa: In 1910 he took over the Pitcairn Coal Company's m: known as the Pitcairn and organized the Harry B. Coal Coke Company, having as his partners his sons Harry John A., Jr., and Kenna. Mr. Clark is president of 1 company, Harry B., general manager, and Jolin A., J. superintendent of all the interests.

The year 1922 finds the Clark coal interests approximate as follows: Harry B. Coal & Coke Company operating i Pitcairn, mining gas, steam and domestic coal; Harry Coal Company operating the Junior Mine for low sulph and gas coal; Salvadore Coal Company operating the Gre Mine and producing gas and domestic coal; Big Four Co Company operating the Big Four Mine for high grade g and steam coal; Dixie Mining Company operating the Ma Mine, gas, steam and domestic coal; Car-Diff Smokel Coal Company operating the Car-Diff, steam and smithi coal, at Tunnelton, Preston County, West Virginia.

Mr. Clark married in 1880 Miss Nannie E. Clark, daug ter of Jackson and Rebecca (Cresap) Clark, of Cumberlar Maryland. Their three sons have already been name Harry, born in 1882, married Ann Nolan, of Pittsburgh, a is the father of a daughter, Mary. John A., Jr., born 1888, married Annette Murphy, of Uniontown, Penns, vania. Kenna, born in 1893, married Maria Haymor daughter of Judge William S. Haymond, of Fairmont.

H. ERNEST HAWKINS is one of the progressive busine men of the City of Fairmont, Marion County, where is secretary and treasurer of the Scott & Hawkins Compan dealers in shoes and clothing. This company, which co ducts one of the leading mercantile establishments of t city, was organized and incorporated in 1912, and il president, John S. Scott, is now postmaster of Fairmor

Mr. Hawkins was born on his father's farm in Winfie District, Marion County, December 21, 1881, and is a si of Marcellus Marion and Ann (Hall) Hawkins, who st reside on their excellent farm homestead. The father h held various local offices, including that of president the school board of his district. He is a republican and member of the Improved Order of Red Men, and both 1 and his wife are active members of the Methodist Episcop Church. John Hawkins, grandfather of the subject of th review, was the original representative of the Hawki family in Marion County, and here he married Amanc

Jaclark

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fedith, a member of an honored pioneer family of tho oity.

. Ernest Hawkins was reared on the home farm and ned his youthful education in the public schools. In $) he took a position as clerk in a department store at rmont, and in this connection, in an experience of about vive years, he gained thorough knowledge of mercantile les and business methods, so that he was well fortified n he became associated with Mr. Scott in organizing Scott & Hawkins Company, as noted in the opening ngraph of this sketch. Ile is a member of Fairmont ge No. 2, I. O. O. F., and the local organizations of h Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Modern Fodmen of America, Loyal Order of Moose, Knights of Maccabees and Knights of Pythias. Ile has been cially prominent in the Improved Order of Red Men, ovhich his affiliation is with Setting Sun Tribe No. 16, I he is a past great sachem of West Virginia. Mr. Iskins is a staunch republican, and he and his wife hold abership in the Methodist Episcopal Church.

lay 3, 1905, recorded the marriage of Mr. Hawkins and Is Sadie N. Harden, who was born at Fairmont, August 188], a daughter of Thomas D. and Delia (Barnes) iden. Mr. Harden was a gallant soldier of the Union jing virtually the entire period of the Civil war, and wounded at the battle of Winchester. As a young man taught school, later was engaged in farming, and leafter was engaged in the lumber business at Fair- it, where, still later, he operated a pottery. His wife born September 4, 1847, a daughter of Isaac and Argaret O. (Holland) Barnes. Mr. and Mrs. Hawkins le three children, whose names and respective dates of .h sre here recorded: Margaret Louise, July 27, 1908; fineth Harden, December 26, 1910; and Ruth Lillian, Wrember 18, 1914.

LENRY J. HOFMANN, JR., who received his training in road offices at Toledo, becoming an expert traffic man, called to Wheeling as traffic manager for the H. Bettis hpany, one of the largest cooperage manufacturing con- tis in the Ohio Valley. Mr. IIofmann has made his rices increasingly useful to this corporation and is now : president.

Ic was born at Toledo October 15, 1888. His father, hry .J. Ilofmann, was born at Toledo, February 12, 1560, has spent all his life in that city. For a number of rs he owned and operated a meat market, Jater was nected with a wholesale meat firm, and finally was a lernment meat inspector, retiring from business affairs 1911. He is a democrat in politics. Henry J. Hofmann, married Louisa Marie Umbs. She was born at De- hec, Ohio, March 21, 1861. Of their five children rise Barbara died at the age of eighteen years. Julia inces was first married to Henry Steinbrecher, a cigar nufacturer, and she is now the wife of Emile Gaffaer, nected with the Toledo Railway and Light Company. le third is Henry J., Jr. George E. of Philadelphia, Pensylvania, is assistant manager of a large furniture com- ny of Philadelphia, and Miss Edna is at home.

lenry J. Hofmann acquired a public school education at edo, completed his sophomore year in high school, and nt a year in the Melchior Brothers Business College. In 5 he became a stenographer in the Gates Union Tieket ce, and after nine months went with the Toledo general ces of the Wabash Railway. For a year and a balf was stenographer and assistant ticket agent, following Ich he became city ticket agent for the Hocking Valley klway Company at Toledo. After two years he was pointed chief elerk to the general freight agent of the cking Valley Company at Toledo.

February 3, 1913, Mr. Hofmann came to Wheeling as ffic manager for the H. Bettis Company. This company anfactures slack cooperage and slack barrels, and its duet is widely distributed all over the Central and stern states. The general offices of the company are in Board of Trade Building at Wheeling. Mr. Hofmann months after he hecame traffic manager was made

vice president in addition to his other duties. In February, 1918, he became secretary and treasurer of the company, and since January, 1921, has directed the extensive business as president.

Mr. Ilofmann is prominently and well known in traffic and business circles of the Ohio Valley. lle is a member of tho Pittsburgh Traffic Club, is vice president of the Wheeling Traffic Club, and a member of the Associated Cooperage Industries of America. He is a member of Council No. 37, United Commercial Travelers of America, Wheeling Chamber of Commerce, Wheeling Associaton of Credit Men, Wheeling Automobilo Club, Old Colony Club, Wheeling Country Club and the Kiwanis Club. He is a republican, a Catholic, holds the chair of Grand Knight in Carroll Council No. 504, Knights of Columbus, being a Fourth Degree Knight of Columbus and holding the otlice of F. C. in Carroll Assembly, and is a member of Wheeling Lodge No. 28, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.

.lune 17, 1914, at Toledo, Mr. Hofmann married Miss Margaret C. Scally, daughter of Roger and Elizabeth ( Rieły) Scally, of Toledo, where her mother resides. Her father was a merchant at Toledo and died in July, 1921. Mrs. Hofmann is a graduate of the Toledo lhigh School. To their marriage were born three children, Betty Jane on December 23, 1915; Henry J., born September 2, 1917, and died in April, 1918; and John Joseph, born June 16, 1920. 1

WILL E. MORRIS. There are few citizens better known in public life in Harrison County, West Virginia, than Will E. Morris, who has ably filled the office of prosecuting attorney of the county for a number of terms. Mr. Morris is well qualified for this responsible position, having had sound legal training and wide and unusual experience. The esteem in which he is held at Clarksburg, his home city, is not only because of recognition of his abilities as a lawyer and his complete fulfillment of every official duty, but also is a hearty tribute to a man of sterling character and civic usefulness.

Mr. Morris belongs to West Virginia through birth and parentage, coming from old and substantial Harrison County families. He was born near Salem in Harrison County January 8, 1872. Ile grew up on the home farm, although agriculture did not particularly appeal to him as a vocation. He was ambitions and needed no urging to apply himself diligently to his studies, passing creditably through the grades in the public schools and when practicable attended spring and summer sessions in the normal schools and in other institutions. He was little more than a boy when he began to teach in the country schools, and alternated teaching with school attendance, and was graduated from the West Virginia Wesleyan College in 1899.

For some years Mr. Morris remained in the educationat field, at one time being a teacher at the Glenville Normal, and for one year was an instructor in Marshall College, Huntington, West Virginia. In the meanwhile by private study and in the West Virginia University he was prepar- ing for the law, and through this connection with the uni- versity, was selected as one of the twelve teachers the university was permitted to name by the Government for appointment as teacher in the Philippine Islands. Mr. Morris accepted this appointment, and the year and a half that he spent in the Orient not only benefited the dusky charges of the United States who came under his instruc- tion, but benefited himself through the broadening in- finence that travel and change give to intelligent and ob- serving persons.

Upon his return to his native land Mr. Morris resumed his law studies in the West Virginia University, completed his course and was admitted to the bar in 1903. He estab- lished himself at Clarksburg, and recognition of his legal ability was shown in the following year by his election to the office of prosecuting attorney of Harrison County, which office he held through two consecutive terms, eight years. Four years later, in 1916, Mr. Morris was again elected prosecuting attorney, and in 1920 was re-elected to

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an office in which he has been unusually efficient. As a lawyer he has always been considered effective as an advo- cate and trustworthy as a counsellor.

In 1903 Mr. Morris married Miss Camella Young, who is a daughter of the late Rev. William Young, formerly a minister in the Methodist Episcopal Conference. Mrs. Morris is a graduate also of the West Virginia Wesleyan College. Mr. and Mrs. Morris have four children: William, Robert, Ruth and John. In political sentiment Mr. Morris is a republican and an influential factor in his party in Harrison County. He leads too busy a life to be very active in social organizations, but is a thirty-second degree Mason and a Shriner and is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and a Kiwanisian.

LLOYD LOWNDES. Clarksburg is the seat of an interest- ing branch of the Lowndes family, which, however, has been most conspicuously identified with the State of Mary- land. To the direct line of the family or its connections Maryland has repeatedly gone for governors and other executive officers of the state. One of Maryland's recent governors, Lloyd Lowndes, was a native West Virginian.

Governor Lloyd Lowndes was born at Clarksburg Feb- ruary 21, 1845. He spent his early life in his native city and at the age of sixteen entered Washington College in Pennsylvania, but subsequently transferred his studies to Allegheny College at Meadville, Pennsylvania, where he was graduated in 1865, at the age of twenty. In 1867 he graduated in law from the University of Pennsylvania, and began practice at Cumberland, Maryland. He soon gained distinction as a lawyer, and became interested in politics and also in business and banking. When only twenty-seven years of age he was elected to Congress, in 1872, as a republican, and served one term. In 1895 he was elected governor of Maryland, and was the first re- publican chosen for that high office in thirty years. He was the forty-sixth governor of the state, and his administra- tion from 1896 to 1900 was one of strength and wisdom in all matters depending upon his judgment. When he left the governor's chair he returned to Cumberland and resumed his law practice and business responsibilities. His death occurred at Cumberland January 8, 1905.

A brief review of the ancestry of Governor Lowndes will be in order. He was a son of Lloyd and Maria Elizabeth (Moore) Lowndes, grandson of Charles and Eleanor (Lloyd) Lowndes, great-grandson of Christopher and Elizabeth (Tasker) Lowndes, and great-great-grandson of Richard Lowndes of Bostock House, Cheshire, England. Elizabeth Tasker, wife of Christopher Lowndes, was a daughter of Benjamin and Anne (Bladen) Tasker, was a sister of Acting Governor Benjamin Tasker of Maryland (1753) and her mother was a niece of Governor Bladen of Maryland. Eleanor (Lloyd) Lowndes, paternal grand- mother of Governor Lloyd Lowndes, was a niece of Gover- nor Edward Lloyd of Maryland.

The family was established in West Virginia by Lloyd Lowndes, Sr., a native of Georgetown, D. C., who with his older brother, Richard, located at Cumberland, Maryland, where they engaged in business, but about 1831 Lloyd Lowndes, Sr., moved to Clarksburg, West Virginia, where he became a successful merchant, and had other extensive business relations until his death. A prominent represen- tative of the family still at Clarksburg is his son Richard Tasker Lowndes, a merchant and banker.

Governor Lloyd Lowndes married his cousin, Elizabeth Tasker Lowndes, of Cumberland. She died at Cumber- land January 4, 1922. They were the parents of eight children: Lloyd and Richard, twins, the latter now de- ceased; Charles, Bladen, Elizabeth Lloyd, Tasker Gantt and two that died in childhood.

FREDERICK SCHMEICHEL, who is now living retired after many years of active association with business and civic interests in the City of Wheeling, is a venerable and hon- ored citizen who specially merits recognition in this work.

Mr. Schmeichel was born at Graudenz in West Prussia, on the 9th of April, 1841, and is a son of Michael and Emelia (Werner) Schmeichel, both of whom passed their

entire lives in that section of the German Empire, tl father having been a wagonmaker by trade but havir devoted the major part of his active life to farm industr The parents were earnest communicants of the Luthera Church.

After leaving school Frederick Schmeichel served a tho ough apprenticeship to the cabinetmaker's trade, in which he became a skilled workman. On the 3d of March, 187; about one month prior to his twenty-ninth birthday ann versary, he set forth for the voyage to the United State the trip being made on a steam vessel that arrived in th port of New York City fourteen days later. From th national metropolis he came forthwith to Wheeling, when he worked a few months at his trade, in the making of office furniture and bar fixtures, after which he was el gaged in the building of staircases and in carpenter wor until 1873, when he formed a partnership with Mr. Behren and opened a small furniture store in a virtual shant on Market Street. In the early period he and his partne manufactured by hand most of the furniture here sold, an- the partnership continued until the death of Mr. Behren in 1883, when he became sole owner of the business, whic. continuously expanded in scope and importance, with th result that he tore down one building after another to pro vide more ample accommodations, a larger building bein; erected each time. He continued the enterprise at the ori ginal location until 1905, when he erected on Market Street near Twenty-third Street, the substantial and modern four story brick building which he still owns and in which th business is continued under the active management of hi son, Edward U., the entire building being utilized fo the business. Mr. Schmeichel continued the enterprise il an individual way until 1896, when he admitted his son Fred C., to partnership, under the title of F. Schmeiche & Son. In 1909 the business was incorporated as the F Schmeichel & Son Company, and the business is owned exclusively by members of the family. Mr. Schmeiche continues as president of the company, of which his wife is vice president, and of which the son, Edward, is secretary and manager. The house is now the oldest of its kind ir Wheeling. Mr. Schmeichel is financially interested also in other business enterprises in his home city, though he is now retired from active executive association with busines: and passes the most of his time in his attractive home at 2137 Chapline Street. He is a stanch republican, is af filiated with the Knights of Pythias and the Improved Order of Red Men, and he and his wife are devout and representative members of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, of which he has served as president and vice presi- dent, and of the Board of Directors of which he is now an honored member.

At Wheeling, November 27, 1873, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Schmeichel to Miss Louisa Ulrich, who was born in the Province of Hanover, Germany, February 24, 1851, a daughter of Heinrich Christian and Ludowika (Brandt) Ulrich, both likewise natives of the Province of Hanover, and both of whom passed their entire lives in Germany, where the father was a veterinary surgeon in the service of the Government for many years. Concern- ing the children of Mr. and Mrs. Schmeichel the following brief data is available: Fred C., who is engaged in the furniture business at Morgantown, is individually men- tioned on other pages; Ludowika, who was born July 12, 1876, remains at the parental home; Harry, born August 4, 1878, is associated with the furniture business founded by his father, the maiden name of his wife having been Jen- nie Vaas, and four children having been born to them, Caroline, Marie (died in infancy), Harry, Jr., and Eugene; Arthur, born February 11, 1880, married Anna McConahey, and they have one daughter, Leota; Marie, who was born June 25, 1883, is the wife of Curtis Lockard, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Edward, born June 25, 1886, is manager of the store of F. Schmeichel & Son Company, as already noted, he having married Emma Guth, and their one child being Edward, Jr .; Oscar, born June 14, 1888, and like- wise connected with the family business at Wheeling, mar- ried Emelia Bishop; and Albert, who was born August 5, 1891, died in infancy.

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Joh meichel

7 Schmeichel

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ON. WILLIAM GILLESPIE STATHERS. Clarksburg, West ginia, is the home of many able professional men, and of the younger generation have become better known rwon greater distinction than Hon. William Gillespie t.hers, overseas veteran of the World war, member of Jaw firm of Brannon, Stathers and Stathers, and mem- e also of the West Virginia Legislature.

"r. Stathers was born at Wheeling, West Virginia, il 27, 1889, and is a son of Dr. Walter E. and II. Vir- a (Whiteside) Stathers, the latter of whom was born Missouri but was reared in Maryland. Dr. Walter E. thers is a native of Pennsylvania, but he served in the on Army with the West Virginia troops. For a num- of years he practiced medicine in Tyler and Ohio oities, West Virginia, and his wise and judicious ad- istration as superintendent of the West Virginia Hos- fl for the Insane, added to his professional reputation the state. Sinre retiring from his duties at Weston he resided at Buckhannon, West Virginia.

"illiam G. Stathers completed his academie course at the Ut Virginia Wesleyan College in 1907, then entered the versity of Pennsylvania, from which institution he re- ed his degree of LL. B. in 1914, and in the same year admitted to the West Virginia bar. He entered into atice in Lewis County, but in the spring of 1915 came 'larksburg, where a promising career opened up before

When the World war eame on, however, he set aside personal ambitions and patriotically offered his services his country. He was sent to the First Officers' Train- School at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indianapolis, In- fia, and later to other training schools, was commissioned rst lieutenant and assigned to the Three Hundred and rty-second Infantry Regiment of the Eighty-third ision, at Camp Sherman, Ohio.

on June 8, 1918, Lieutenant Stathers and his comrades the Eighty-third Division embarked fer Europe, and filed at Liverpool, England, on June 15, 1918. The .ment to which Lieutenant Stathers belonged was sent Italy, and later participated valiantly in the famous oris Venetu campaign, covering a period of twelve days, in October 24 to November 4, of dangerous warfare, in eh the American troops proved their courage and firmly ablished their reputation as gallant soldiers. Lieuten- Stathers was fortunate enough to escape serious injury, he was honorably discharged frem the service on May 1919, after just two years of experience that will never forgotten. He is a member of the American Legion takes an active part in its affairs.

"pon his return from Europe Mr. Stathers resumed the ctice of law at Clarksburg, and is a member of the .minent law firm of Brannon, Stathers and Stathers. th offices in the Goff Building, proved an able counselor La number of important cases before the courts and ful- I'd every expectation of his friends as to his professional ure. An ardent republican throughout his political life, party expressed their confidence and approval in the Itions of November, 1920, by sending him as a dele- re from Harrison County to the West Virginia Legisla- 2, and their faith in his honesty, ability and indepen- Ice has been justified by the nature of the bills which Te reecived his approval, among those he has introduced og that of Clarksburg's present city charter, and the sent West Virginia fish and game law. On June 1, 1921, was appointed Assistant Prosecuting Attorney for rrison County.

On July 12, 1920, Mr. Stathers married Miss Geraldine llis, a daughter of W. T. and Laura (Day) Wallis, a Icendant of old and substantial families of Harrison inty, West Virginia, and Baltimore, Maryland. A Erty-second Degree Mason and a Noble of the Mystic tine, Mr. Stathers belongs also to the Benevolent and Eoteetive Order of Elks, and still maintains interest and Ombership in his old college fraternities, the Sigma Chi il the Phi Delta Phi. He belongs also to the Hare Law .b and the Clarksburg Country Club.

SARL S. LAWSON. In few sections of West Virginia will ter educational conditions be found than in Harrison

County, and it is only justice to attribute this in large measure to such faithful and competent educators as Carl S. Lawson, a former able superintendent of schools iu Harrison County. His life long devotion to his pru- fession is well known, and his election to that responsible office was not only a matter of wise public policy, but a mark of appreciation for a man of unusual worth in the educational field.

Carl S. Lawson was born on his father's farm in Harri- son County, West Virginia, September 11, 1953, and is a son of Agrippa N. and Florence L. (Sileott) Lawson, and a grandson of Abner and Magdalene (Nutter) Lawson. The Lawson ancestors came to America from England at an early day and settled first in that state still known as Virginia, a later generation moving into what is now West Virginia and is an old family of Harrisun County. The parents of Mr. Lawson still reside ou their farm in Ilarri sou County, highly respected in their neighborhood and faithful members of the Methodist Protestant Church. Six sons were born to them, two of whom N. Goff and Clifford, are deceased, the four survivors being: Carl S., Guy R., Claude F. and Willie D.

The eldest son of the family, Carl S. Lawson during boy- hoed and early youth found many duties to perform in assisting his father on the home farm, but these were not permitted to interfere with his determination to seeure a fair education, and he completed the country school course at the head of his classes. Early recognizing the bent of his inclination, he decided to prepare himself for teaching, and with this end in view entered the State Normal School at Fairmont, from which institution he was graduated in 1911.

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History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 2, Part 127

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