History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 2, Part 130

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A man of unusual business capacity, his years of orderly and abundant work have resulted in acquired wealth and the sane enjoyment of it, and he has at the same time maintained his interest in securing and preserving the wel- fare of his community. He has given strict attention to

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his business since his retirement from the office of sheriff, conducting it with a thoughtful and intelligent manage- ment which could not help but bring about satisfactory results. Mr. Smith continues to keep himself thoroughly posted on public events and matters of general interest, and is highly esteemed as a forceful, substantial man and excellent citizen.

ISAAC D. SMITH. Still a young man and a product of the agricultural community, Isaae D. Smith, prosecuting attorney of Grant County, has gained a recognized place among the lawyers of this section. His keen faculties of perception and analysis, and his mastery of the principles of the common law have made him a striking and success- ful prosecutor. If there is a close legal point involved in any issue his examination of authorities bearing upon it is exhaustive. With a thorough knowledge of the case in all its bearings and unerring and ready application of the principles of the law, his addresses before court and jury are necessarily models of clearness and convincing logic. Quick to perceive and guard the weak phases of his own case, he never fails to assault his adversary at the point where his armor is defective. In a word, Mr. Smith has developed the necessary talent of the modern court lawyer, to think and act both powerfully "on his feet."

Mr. Smith was born on a farm near Petersburg, Grant County, West Virginia, January II, 1890, and is a son of Isaac D. and Mary L. (Harper) Smith, and a grandson of Henry Smith, who lived an industrious life on his farm, his home being located near the Pendleton and Grant County line. Mr. Smith never saw his father, who passed away in October, 1889, after nearly all of his life had been passed in farming and raising stock in Grant County. He married Mary L. Harper, a daughter of Amby and Elizabeth (McClure) Harper, the latter being a sister of John McClure, the well known stockman and capitalist of Pendleton County. They became the parents of four daughters and six sons: Oceola M., of Petersburg, one of the leading merchants of Grant County; Harry S., of Petersburg; Jacob A. and Charles A., also residents of this city; R. G., of Keyser, West Virginia; Mrs. Bessie L. Crawford, of Petersburg; Mary P., the wife of Carroll Elliott, of Oakland, Maryland; Sue M., the wife of W. H. VanMeter, of Mitchell's Station, Alabama; Nellie, now Mrs. George Copland, of Healdton, Oklahoma; and Isaac D., Jr., of this review.

The years of his childhood and early youth were passed at the family home in the country near Petersburg, and when he was sixteen years of age Isaac D. Smith, the younger, succeeded in securing a license to teach. After two years he entered the preparatory school of West Vir- ginia University, at Keyser, for additional educational training on his own account, and there passed two years. This gave him sufficient credit to enter Washington and Lee University, where he enrolled as a student in 1913, following which he pursued a law course of two years and graduated with the Class of 1915, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Laws. Continuing his preparation for his chosen life work, in the fall of the same year he entered Emerson College of Oratory, at Boston, Massachusetts, and took part in the class work of the sophomore, senior and post-graduate classes, specializing in all studies per- taining to public speaking. On leaving the Boston insti- tution Mr. Smith returned to his home and was admitted to the Grant County har in January, 1916, at Petersburg. His first certificate to practice was issued in November, 1915, and when he returned from New England he opened an office to practice his calling. In the summer of 1916 Mr. Smith became a candidate for the office of prosecuting attorney of Grant County, being nominated in the pri- maries and elected in November following, on the repub- lican ticket. Succeeding Arch J. Welton, he assumed his duties in January, 1917, and his records show him to have been industrious, honorable and careful in the preparation of his cases. Being a trained public speaker, he was not only efficient, but it was not long before he had impressed his merits upon the minds of his constituents, and he has achieved a rare popularity. In the general election he had

no opponent. In 1920 he was not opposed for a renom tion for the office in his own party, but the democ put up a candidate to oppose him in the fall elect This, however, did not affect his party vote.

From early life, even in youth, Mr. Smith has beet republican. When he became of age he espoused his par cause actively. His first presidential vote was cast William H. Taft, and his party fealty has been cons ever since. He believes in the achievements of the Gi Old Party, and is proud of the statesmen which it given to the country. In local affairs Mr. Smith t: an active part in the movements calculated to be of ber to the community, and is a supporter of education, reli- and charity. Fraternally he is a Master Mason an member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, ini of which he is popular. His religious faith is that of Presbyterian denomination, and his aetive church wor done as a teacher in the Sabbath School. In a busi way Mr. Smith is a stockholder in the Grant County B and one of the charter members of the Potomac Vi Bank, both of Petersburg. His work during the W war was done as United States Government appeal a of Grant County until he entered the army. He bee a member of the army under the selective service act, . 16, 1918, and was assigned to Headquarters Company the Thirty-second Field Artillery at Camp Meade, w he received his honorable discharge December 10, 1 Mr. Smith attained the rank of corporal, and durin part of his service he was in charge of a regimental teen.

Mr. Smith is unmarried. He has been more than I to the maternal home, and the principal events of his have been those affecting his standing as a citizen ar man and his career as an honored and capable membe his profession.

JAMES BREWER SOMMERVILLE was born near Beth Brooke County, Virginia (now West Virginia), Jun 1852.

His parents were William M. Sommerville, a natiw Harrison County, Virginia (now West Virginia), and ] garet A. Sommerville, whose maiden name was Margare Steele, and who was a native of Belmont County, Ohio

His paternal ancestors were of Norman stock, while maternal line was Irish. His father, although without € educational opportunities, was a man of nnusual me powers, comprehensive knowledge and strict integrity. mother, while not highly educated, was a woman of st common sense and was of irreproachable character.

The son showed but little interest in educational ma until he was about fifteen years old, when he develop strong taste for miscellaneous reading. This naturally to a desire for a better education. He attended the p. school at Bethany during parts of the winters of 1868 1869, where he made rapid progress.

In the spring of 1870 the family moved to the vic of Clinton, Ohio County, West Virginia. Here the yı man, while performing the duties of a farm hand, dilig pursued the studies which he began in the Bethany p school, and continued his course of general reading.

In the fall of 1871 he determined to become a stu of the West Liberty Normal School. West Liberty, seat of this school, was, however, nearly four miles a and he was without the means of supporting himself : from home. This problem he solved by resolving to b at home and walk to and from school every day. He cordingly entered this institution in the fall of 1871, a two months after the beginning of the session and conti until the close thereof, in June, 1872. During the sun and fall of 1872 he worked part of the time on a f and part of it for a man who had a contract for mace work on a public road in the community. In the winte 1872-73, he taught a country school.

During all this time he continued his studies and eral reading, and in the spring of 1873 again becar student at the West Liberty Normal School, resuming daily walks between his home and the school, and gradu

I.B.Sommerville.

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wh the class of 1873. After this lie taught school one yr in Ohio County, and, the family moving in the mean- de returned to Brooke County, he became a student in B hany College, in which he took special courses in mathe- r'ics and languages. While a atudent in this institution was nominated by the democratie party of Brooke County & the House of Delegates, to which position he was ted, serving in the session of that body for the year 7, and being the youngest member thereof.

After serving in the Legislature he worked on the farm he summer and taught school in the winter, and pursued study of the law whenever he had an opportunity to do w and was admitted to the bar in the fall of 1878. He ned his first law office in Wellsburg, the county seat his native county, on April 1, 1879, and soon became one the leading members of that bar. He continued to prae- ] in Wellsburg until the summer of 1887, when he located Wheeling, the chief city of the state, where he still Ne des.

le has served on the boards of regents of the Normal wpols, the Deaf, Dumb and Blind Institute, and the West ginia University, remaining a member of the latter body h nine years.

a 1884 he was elected to the State Senate from the Ist Distriet of West Virginia, composed of the counties Haneoek, Brooke and Ohio, and including the City of Peeling. While serving in this body, during the session 1887, he was the recognized leader of the eaueus forces the demoeratie party in the most bitter and most memor le contest for a seat in the United States Senate that ever occurred in the history of the state, during which, rough he was not a candidate, he was repeatedly voted for that office, and on several ballots laeked but a few es of being eleeted.

hortly after he located in Wheeling he became Ioeal ansel for the Pennsylvania Railroad System, and several rs later beeanie solicitor therefor, and was placed in rge of the legal matters thereof for the State of West ginia, which position he held until he was ealled to the eh. In addition to this he enjoyed an extensive and cessful general practice, which frequently ealled him to leourts of adjoining states.

u the early part of the month of September, 1918, a laney occurred in the office of judge of the Cireuit courts che First Judicial Circuit by reason of the death of Hon. C. Hervey, who had held the position, by sueeessive elec- ils, for a number of years, and who was one of the ablest tges the eireuit has known.

'he law, as it then was, provided for the filling of this taney by executive appointment, the appointee to serve il the next general election, in November, 1919. It also vided that at that election a judge should be chosen to ve until the expiration of Judge Hervey's term, January 921; and that, at the election to be held in November, 10, two judges should be chosen for the eireuit, for the term of eight years, beginning January 1, 192).

hortly after the death of Judge Hervey the members of I bar of the First Cireuit met and, without regard to tical considerations, and against Mr. Sommerville'a judg- it and against his wishes, selected him to fill the vaeaney, unanimously requested Governor Cornwell to appoint thereto which he promptly did. At the election of vember. 1919, the name of Judge Sommerville was, with- i his solicitation, placed on the tiekets of both the re- liean and demoeratie parties, and he was unanimously sen to fill Judge Hervey's unexpired term. And at the tion of November, 1920, his name was, without his. citation, placed on the tickets of both parties, and he unanimously ehosen for the full term of eight years. is now serving under the last election, with general sfaetion to both the bar and the publie.

OLOMON VANCE YANTIS, whose death occurred at his le in the City of Harpers Ferry in the year 1899, ae- nted well to the world in sterling attributes of char- er and in large and worthy achievement. He passed entire life in Jefferson County, and was a scien of one its honored pioneer families. In this eounty he was Vol. II-45

born on the 21st of September, 1826, and in the same county was born his father, Isaae Yantis, a well fortiflod family tradition being that the latter was a descendant of one of four brothers who immigrated to America from Helland in the early Colonial period of our national his- tory, one of the number settling in Ohle and the other three in the South. The aneestor of the subject of this memoir was one of the very early settlers in what is now Jefferson County, West Virginia.

Solomon V. Yantis was reared and educated under the conditions that marked the middle-pioneer period in the history of Jefferson County, and upon establishing his residence at Harpers Ferry he engaged in business aa a tobaeeonist. He also beeame secretary and part owner of the company that operated the flour mill in this eity, gave loyal and effective service as a member of the City Council and also held for a number of years the office of post- master. His wife, whose maiden name was Josephine .Jones, was born in Fanquier County, Virginia, and ahe preceded him to eternal rest, her death having ceeurred in 1892. They became the parents of aeven children, namely: Shaulter Vance, Arnold Stevens, Eleanor, Ger- trude W., Margaret M., Josephine A. and Laura S. Laura S. is the widow of Theodere M. Conner, whose biography follows this and she is serving, in 1922, as postmistress of IIarpers Ferry.

THEODORE MCKIM CONNER was one of the prominent and highly honored citizens of Harpers Ferry, Jefferson County, and was serving as postmaster of this historie little eity at the time of his death. His widow, who had been his valned assistant in the postoffice, sueeeeded him in this office and ia postmistress here at the present time.

Mr. Conner was born at Winchester, Virginia, in the vear 1852. His father, Patrick Conner, was a native of Ireland, and was a young man when he came to the United States and established his residenee in Virginia, both he and his wife having long maintained their home at Win- chester, where they remained until their deaths. The subjeet of this memoir was edueated in the schools of his native place, and in 1880, when twenty-eight years of age, he established his residence at Harpers Ferry, where he became a representative business man and one of mueh influenee in eivie and political affairs. In 1889 he pur- chased the hotel which still bears his name. At the time when he bought this property the city was in the midst of a serious flood, and the water had risen to the height of the second floor of the hotel. He remodeled and re- furnished the hotel, and made it one of the popular and well ordered houses of publie entertainment in this see- tion of the state, the hotel having continued to be con- dueted by him until the elose of his life. He was a atoek- holder and direetor in a number of important industrial and commercial corporations, and was a member also of the directorate of the Bank of Harpers Ferry.

Mr. Conner was unfaltering in his allegianee to the demoeratie party and was influential in its local eouneils and campaign affairs. In 1916 he was appointed post- master of Harpers Ferry, and of this position he con- tinued the efficient and popular incumbent until bis death in 1920.

On the 4th of August, 1900, waa solemnized the mar- riage of Mr. Conner and Miss Laura Yantis, who waa born and reared at Ilarpers Ferry and who is a daughter of the late Solomon Yantis, a memoir to whom is given in the preceding sketeli. so that further review of the family record is not demanded in this connection. The discipline which Mrs. Conner received in the publie schoola of her native eity was advaneed by study under the direc- tion of private tutors, and at the age of eighteen years she became a popular teacher in the schools of her native county. She served as assistant postmaster under the administration of her father and later under the regime of her husband, so that she was fully qualified when she was appointed acting postmaster after the death of her husband. Under this appointment she served two years. and then, in March, 1922, she was regularly appointed and commissioned postmistress. Mrs. Conner takes lively in-

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terest in all that concerns the well being of her native city and county, and here her circle of friends is coincident with that of her acquaintances. She is a stockholder in the Harpers Ferry Bank and the local electric light cem- pany, and is one of the representative members of the local Woman's Club.

BRISCOE BALDWIN RANSON, M. D., who is one of the representative physicians and surgeons of Jefferson County, is here established in successful general practice in the historic City of Harpers Ferry. He was born at Staunten, Virginia, August 18, 1845, and is a son of James M. and Mary Eleanor (Baldwin) Ranson, the former of whom was born in what is now Berkeley County, West Virginia, and the latter of whom was born at Staunton, Virginia, a daughter of Judge Briscoe Baldwin, a representative lawyer and jurist of that section of the Old Dominion. Matthew Ranson, grandfather of Doctor Ransen of this review, was born at Charles Town, Jefferson County, and he became the owner of a large and valuable landed estate in Jefferson and Berkeley counties, his extensive farm operations having been conducted with slave labor. Mat- thew Ranson married Elizabeth Bedinger, a member of the well known family of that name in Berkeley County, and both passed the span of three score years and ten.

James M. Ranson was in the commissary service of the Confederate states in the period of the War between the States, with the rank of captain. He succeeded te the ownership of the old homestead farm near Charles Town, and it is on this farm that the present village of Ranson, named in honor of the family, is situated. Captain Ran- son here continued his active association with farm in- dustry until his death, at the age of seventy-twe years, and his widow passed away at the age of seventy-three years. Their children were seven in number, Thomas, Bris- coe B., Mary, James M., Stuart, Betty and Martha, the last three being deceased.

Dr. Briscoe B. Ransen attended the Jaceb Fuller School at Lexington, Virginia, and thereafter continued his studies in the Charles Town Academy. In 1862 he aban- doned his studies to enter the service of the Confederacy in the Civil war. He became a member of Company B, Twelfth Virginia Cavalry, and from that time forward until the close of the war the history of this gallant com- mand constitutes the record of his military career, which was marked by participation in numerous engagements, including a number of important battles.

After the close of the war Doctor Ranson was for twe years a student in a preparatory scheel in Clark County, Virginia, and thereafter was a student in the medical department of the University of Virginia until he with- drew to enter the medical department of the University of Maryland, in which latter he was graduated, with the degree of Doctor of Medicine, in 1869. He further forti- fied himself by two years ef service as an interne in Bay View Hospital at Baltimore, and for the past thirty years he has been engaged in the successful practice of his pro- fessien at Harpers Ferry, where he now holds precedence as one of the veteran and honored physicians and sur- geons of Jefferson County. The Doctor is an active mem- ber of the Jefferson County Medical Seciety, the West Virginia State Medical Society, the American Medical Association and the Baltimore & Ohie Railroad Surgeons Society. He has long been retained as a member of the surgical staff of this railroad, and is also surgeon of Jef- ferson Camp of the United Confederate Veterans, of which he is one of the prominent and valued members, besides which he is affiliated with Logan Ledge, No. 25, A. F. and A. M.

In 1870 Doctor Ranson married Nannie Truxton For- rest, who was born at Norfolk, Virginia, a daughter of Samuel Forrest, who was a purser in the United States Navy. Mrs. Ranson passed to the life eternal in 1888, and was survived by four children: Anna Truxton, James M., Briscoe B., and Lyle M.

For his second wife Doctor Ransen married Josephine, daughter of Solomon and Josephine (Jenes) Yantis, and the one child of this union is Josephine Briscoe. Briscoe

B. Ranson, Jr., graduated from the medical departm ef the University of Maryland as a member of the Cs of 1902, and is now engaged in the successful practice t his professien at Mapleweod, New Jersey. He marid Daisy Yarbrough, of Staunton, Virginia, and they 1} four children: Briscoe Baldwin III, Mary and Nar (twins), and John Pattersen. Nannie is deceased.

JOHN HALL ALLSTADT passed his entire life in Jeffer County, and long held prestige as one of its mest : cessful farmers and substantial and honered citizens. e

was born on a farm near Halltown, this county, that lage having been named in honor of the family ef wth his mother was a representative. After his marriage purchased and settled en a farm on the Charles Town rel about three miles distant from Harpers Ferry. When J. Brown made his histeric raid in this county he and a men proceeded to the house of John H. Allstadt and tr Mr. Allstadt and his son Thomas prisoners. The fat? and son were confined with other prisoners in the army at Harpers Ferry and later in the engine house, we they remained through the siege and witnessed the killg and weunding of many ef Brown's men. The sen Thony now eighty years of age, recalls in vivid memory this i dent in his early career and alse the histeric subsequt execution of John Brown. John Hall Allstadt acqui several farms, and continued to reside on his old ho: stead on the Charles Town read until his death, at a age of eighty-one years. He married Mary Ann Gardı who was born near Charles Town, a daughter of Fri Gardner, the latter having come frem Pennsylvania :1 having become a pioneer owner of a large landed este in Jefferson County, where he died at the patriarchal :a of ninety-four years. Mrs. Allstadt passed to the eternal when seventy-three years of age. Mr. and M John H. Allstadt reared a family ef five children: Sas Thomas, Harriet, Fanny and Mary, the last named bey the wife ef Benjamin F. Moler, of whom specific ment is made in the biography following.

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN MOLER, who recently left his faz and is new living retired at Harpers Ferry, Jeffers County, was born on a farm one and one-half miles tant frem Halltown, this county, en the 24th of Noveml 1851. In this county was also bern his father, He Moler, who was of Pennsylvania German lineage and wha parents were early settlers in Jefferson County, Virgia (now West Virginia). Henry Meler passed his en e life in this county, was a prosperous farmer, and 1 eighty years of age at the time of his death. He maril Miss Harriet Moler, whe likewise was bern and reared a Jefferson County and whe here died at a venerable au Of their fourteen children the following attained to 1. turity: Robert W., Sally Ann, Henry Clay, Emily Mary Louise, John G., George A., Raleigh, Newton Daniel J. and Benjamin Franklin.

Benjamin F. Moler made the best possible use of a somewhat limited educational advantages that were his? his youth, and has since broadened his mental heria through reading and through the practical experiences f a busy and useful life. A few years after his marris he settled on a farm near Keyser Ferry, and there y preved a vigorous and successful expenent of farm inc try. Rock found in deposit on this farm had for yes been held as of no value and a detriment to the pla He finally found this rock a source of profit, for he leal the farm to the Keystone Lime and Stone Quarry Ci- pany, which is now shipping from these quarries la quantities ef stene to the steel factories in Pennsylvan In 1920 Mr. Moler and his wife left the farm and est lished themselves in an attractive home at Harpers Fer

April 30, 1873, recorded the marriage of Mr. Meler : Miss Mary Allstadt, who was born on a farm near By pers Ferry and whe is a daughter of the late John El Allstadt, to whom a memoir is dedicated on other pas ef this work. Mr. and Mrs. Moler have five child Susan is the wife of Robert Stifler, and they have children: Belle, Edith, Geneva, Rebert and Gaily. Ha!

smile

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ev is married and has one daughter, Mildred. Bessie [ay is the wife of Clarence Watson, and they have two jildren, Evelyn (Mrs. Frank Lake) and Louise (Mra. 'ichola). Jessie Darke is the wife of Robert Huffmaster, nd they have five children: Charles, Jeanette, Franklin, Marguerite und Forrest. Jeanette is the wife of John ailess.

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History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 2, Part 130

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