History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 2, Part 133

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corge Harry Gordon was three years of age when his ents moved to Winchester and was about twelve when by came to Clarksburg, which has been his home sinee bapring of 1882. He finished his common school ednea- i. here, and soon after his marriage, at the age of vuty-one, became engaged in mercantile pursuits at ka'In, West Virginia. After two years he went into the hth Pennsylvania oil fields, and for ten years was in hemploy of the South Bend Oil Company and for a few E's thereafter with other drillers of oil wells. Mr. idon in the fall of 1905 was appointed justice of the we to fill the unexpired term of his father. This office wield ten years, and left it to become mayor of Clarks- z, an office to which he was first elected in April, 1915. I was re-elected in 1916 and again in 1917, and these be terms marked a period of high efficiency in the con- ht of municipal affairs. Mr. Gordon when he left the e'or's office in 1918 became an oil and gas well eou- r tor, a business which he still continues. He also handles e estate and insurance, and since May, 1921, has per- cned the duties of United States commissioner at Clarks-

Ir. Gordon is a republican, a Methodist, and has long M1 active in the Masonie fraternity, being a Knight Piplar and thirty-second degree Scottish Rite and a Uliner. lIe is also affiliated with the Knights of Pythias the Elks. September 29, 1891, he married Miss Mary ard. She was born at Plymouth, Vermont, and was raght by ber parents to Clarksburg when five years of Four children were born to their marriage, the son eph dying at the age of four years. The three living I Susan, Ruth and George Samuel Gordon.

OWARD WILLIAM VAN SCOY. In the requirements and Irts that it demands of its devotees the work of the edu- ar is very exacting. Primarily, the business of the eher is to instill into the mind of youth a practical r.sing knowledge; yet at the same time the ideal educator se who can also instill ebaraeter into his pupils as well Eworthy precepts. When the teacher has risen to a k tion where he governs not only one school or class, but ay, he must be possessed of executive abilities far be- ci the ordinary. In this connection it may be said of Irard William Van Scoy, superintendent of schools of Irison County, and at present a resident of Clarksburg, h during the time he was engaged in teaching he was

able not alone to teach his children the ordinary rudiments of education, but likewise to gain their interest in the morr spiritual side of character development; and that sinee as- suming the duties of his present position he has exhibited abilities that have dono mineb to advance the enuse and standards of education in the county.

Mr. Van Seoy is a product of the agricultural com munities of Harrison County, West Virginia, having been born on a farm near Good Hope March 25, 1895, a son of John A. and Rebecca (Cheuvront ) Van Scoy. Ilis father was born in Harrison County, May 10, 1863, a son of Ad:un and Susan (Wagoner) Van Seoy, the grand- father being a Union soldier during the war between the states, during which struggle he died as a prisoner at Andersonville stockade. Jerre Cheuvront, the maternal grandfather of Mr. Van Scoy, was of French origin and married Mary M. Brooks, a daughter of a Methodist Epis eopal divine, born in England. Their daughter Rebecca was born in Harrison County. The Van Seoys are of Hol- land Dutch stock. John A. Van Scoy was left an orphan when a lad, and his early life was filled with hardships and obstacles, which he overeame through persistence and in dustry. In his young manhood he adopted farming for his life work, and this voeation he has followed throughout his active eareer, being now one of the substantial agrieultur- ists of Harrison County and a man much respected and esteemed in his community. Ife is a member of the Metho- dist Church, as is his worthy wife, and in politica is a supporter of the republican party, but not a seeker for personal preferment. There are seven children in the fam- ily, of whom six are sons.

Howard William Van Seoy was reared on the home farm, where he assisted his father and brothers during the sum mer months and in the winter terms applied himself to his studies at the rural schoolhouse. Later he attended the high school at West Milford and spent two years at Salem College, finishing the standard normal course. At the age of twenty-one years be began teaching, and has since de- voted himself to educational work. For a time he taught in two rural schools, after which he became a teacher in the Lost Creek ITigh School, where he spent one year. He then moved to Salem, where he again took up the work of teach- ing in the country schools, continuing until he became principal of the Wolf Summit Junior High School and was thus employed until January 1, 1922, when he became county superintendent of schools of Harrison County. His career as an educator has been one marked with success, and he is giving the people an administration as county superintendent that is gratifying to them as it is beneficial to the public school system. Mr. Van Scoy is a republican in his political allegiance, and his religious connection is with the Methodist Episcopal Church. As a fraternalist he belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America, and has numerous friends in both. He comes of good teaching stock, as his maternal grandfather was the first teacher of public schools in the Harrison School, located at the mouth of Isaac's Creek. where he settled and built a home.

In 1916 Mr. Van Seoy was united in marriage with Miss Mary Chadwell, of Salem, and they are the parents of two sons : Frank and Warren.

HON. J. WALTER BARNES, member and treasurer of the State Board of Control at Charleston, has for thirty years been a prominent figure in the educational, business and public affairs of the state. He was the administrative head for ten years of the Fairmont State Normal School. He developed and managed some of the strongest and most successful independent telephone companies in the state. His career at all points anggests a man of gifted person- ality, unusual resourcefulness, sound judgment and executive power and undeniable publie spirit.

Mr. Barnes was born at Fairmont in Marion County Sep- tember 3, 1862, son of Peter T. and Mary (Vandervoort) Barnes. This is one of the historie families of that part of old Virginia, now West Virginia, and has had a long and honorable history. The family is English and more remotely of Norman-French ancestry. In the early Colo-

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nial period it was represented by different branches in New England, Maryland and Virginia. The great-grand- father of J. Walter Barnes was William Barnes, who moved from Georges Creek, Maryland, to Monongalia County, West Virginia, prior to 1782. He was a millwright and farmer, and his son, Abraham Barnes, followed similar occupations. Peter T. Barnes was born on Tygarts Valley River, two miles above Fairmont, September 3, 1828, and for many years owned and operated the principal flouring mills at Fairmont. He was a member of the Seventeenth West Vir- ginia Infantry during the war. His wife, Mary Vander- voort, was born in Monongalia County in 1827.

J. Walter Barnes attended public schools in Marion and Taylor counties, and was graduated from the State Nor- mal School at Fairmont in 1879. He also took post-gradu- ate courses there in 1880-81, and in the meantime taught in Doddridge, Pleasants and Hancock counties, and also studied law in the office of U. N. Arnett, Jr. He finished his studies in the law school of the University of West Vir- ginia in 1882-83, and was admitted to the bar on attain- ing his majority in the latter year. Mr. Barnes began practice at Fairmont, but other demands on his time and talents have never allowed him the consecutive exercise of his profession. In the spring of 1885 he was induced to teach in the Fairmont State Normal School, and again in the spring of 1886, and soon afterward was elected to the regular teachers' staff. Mr. Barnes filled every position in that institution until he was made principal or president in 1892, and continued as its administrative head until 1901. In the meantime the Fairmont State Normal grew and prospered and enlarged its facilities so as to perform its functions as a source and training school of well qual- ified teachers for the state. Mr. Barnes was leader in the movement to secure from the Legislature adequate appro- priations making possible the principal building of the Normal school, which was erected on the South Side.

In 1901 Mr. Barnes removed to Shepherdstown for one year, where he lived on a farm, but not finding country life altogether congenial he became manager of the Con- solidated Telephone Company at Fairmont. He developed and enlarged the company's service from a few counties until it covered fourteen counties, and continued as mana- ger of the company until the business was taken over by the Bell interests in 1915. He was also secretary and man- ager of the National Telephone Company of Monongalia County and of several other telephone companies. He served as president of the West Virginia Independent Tele- phone Association, being its first president in 1905. He was president of the Western Pennsylvania Independent Telephone Association, and president of the National In- dependent Telephone Association. He is also vice president of the Fairmont Trust Company, and has been a member of its board of directors since its organization in 1903.

All these offices and interests broadened the horizon of his experience as a man of affairs. Besides he was com- missioner of finance and public utilities for the City of Fairmont from Jannary 1, 1914, to September 1, 1919. He edited the Blue Book of Fairmont, setting forth the com- plete records of the administration of the city's affairs under the commission form of government. From 1911 to 1915 Mr. Barnes was a member of the Board of Education of the Fairmont Independent School District, and has long been a prominent layman of the Presbyterian Church, serv- ing as an elder since 1890, was superintendent of the Sab- bath school at Fairmont from 1889 to 1920, when be re- moved to Charleston, and was chairman of the building committee that constructed the beautiful church of the Presbyterians at the corner of Jefferson and Jackson streets in Fairmont.

Mr. Barnes was appointed by Governor Cornwell as mem- ber of the State Board of Control of West Virginia in March, 1920. This board, created by the Legislature in 1909, has entire control and management of all the state's penal, charitable and educational institutions. The new system has been justified by the results. The board con- ducts these institutions on strictly business principles, and the efficient and economical handling of the affairs has

saved the state millions of dollars. The budget of exp di tures through the state board of control now aggre; to over $3,500,000 per annum.

Mr. Barnes in politica is a sound democrat, loyal te.he principles of Jefferson, Jackson and Wilson. In 190h was a candidate for Congress on the democratic tiet running ahead of the Parker and Davis ticket by over :'00 votes. Most West Virginiana will recall his work ande sponsibilities during the war. By appointment from By A. Garfield, Federal fuel administrator, he was fuel ad istrator for the state, an office of peculiar importancebe cause of West Virginia's great coal mining industry. was also a Four Minute Speaker, but he neglected alni personal business to effect a thorough organization o. h fuel resources of the state for war purposes. This se le was voluntary, and he received at the end of his eigl eu months' service $1.00 from the Government in recogn or of his service with the United States Fuel Administra This token of appreciation of the Government reprent something very much greater than money value.

On June 3, 1884, Mr. Barnes married Miss Olive Co-er daughter of Maj. William P. Cooper. Mrs. Barnes, h was born at Clarksburg, has long been identified withh activities of the W. C. T. U., has served as recording x retary and vice president, and for a number of yearsa been president of the West Virginia organization of h union. Mr. and Mrs. Barnes bave five children: Il Cooper, born July 23, 1886; George Roscoe, born Marc 1888; Walter Kenneth, born April 6, 1891; Homer Frai born May 12, 1895; and Mabel Irene, born July 17, 18 The oldest son graduated from West Virginia Unive:ty and is an engineer by profession. George Roscoe was of the three sons representing the family in the army navy during the war. He enlisted in the army as a prit but came out with a commission. He is now a road tractor. Walter K. served with the navy and was " pany commander. " He is an attorney-at-law at Fairmf Homer Francis enlisted in the army as a private in My 1917, and rose to the rank of captain. He received his A degree from West Virginia University the same year. [ went overseas as adjutant of the Eight Hundred and ond Pioneer Infantry, and was discharged with the ) of captain in July, 1919. While in England he sper semester of study at Oxford University, and on being charged from the army continued his college work in Jr vard University, from which he received his A. M. dege He is now instructor in a boys' school at Marion, Mas chusetts, and he married Miss Mary Frances Hartley) Fairmont, a graduate of Smith College. Mabel Iren i teaching history in Central Junior High School of Chas tou. All are graduates of the West Virginia Univer;y except one, and he was a student there.

EDWARD JOHN WOOD is one of the able and succes il architects in West Virginia and is engaged in the praca of his profession in the City of Clarksburg, Harr: County. His status as a leading representative of his p fession and as a prominent citizen is specially pleasing note by reason of the fact that he is a native of Harri County, his birth having occurred on a farm on Ten I Creek, near the old Point Pleasant Church, now known Maken Church, and the date of his nativity having ta August 28, 1863. On the paternal side the lineage tra back to Irish origin, and on the maternal to English. is a son of James Alexander Wood and Margaret (Pritchard) Wood, the former of whom was born in Cl County, Virginia, and the latter in what is now Harrin County, West Virginia. John Wood, grandfather of subject of this review, was born and reared in the Shen doah Valley of Virginia, where his marriage was sol nized and whence in 1852 he came with his family to present Harrison County, West Virginia, where he pas the remainder of his life as a farmer and where he died the age of fifty-three years. Family tradition is to effect that he was a descendant of one of three broth who in an early day immigrated to America from tl native Ireland, one of the number becoming a settler the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia.

Edw. J. Hood

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ames A. Wood was a young man at the time of the fuily removal to Harrison County. Ae a youth he taught wool for a time, but during the greater part of his uve career he was a carpenter and builder by vocation, eld of enterprise in which he was specially successful. F an interval during the Civil war he served as a team- t. in the Union Army. In Harrison County was solem- it ghter of Edward Pritchard, who passed his entire life n his county and who was a prosperous farmer, carry rep- wintatives of the Pritchard family having been iron w kers in Pennsylvania and having come from that state hwhat is now West Virginia.

Award John Wood gained his early education at Salem, ta county, whence in 1878 the family removed to Clarks- bg. the county seat, where the father long held prestige a representative contractor and builder and where he Il at the age of eighty years, his wife having preceded h to eternal rest. In the schools of Clarksburg Edward J Wood continued his studies until he was seventeen years age, when he found it incumbent upon him to find em- pyment and aid in the support of the family, he having hn one of twelve children. Under the direction of his fher he learned the earpenter's trade, and as a youth h also worked at the blacksmith trade about one year. bom 1882 for a period of eighteen years he was associated wh his brothers Wirt W. and James L. in contracting al building. About 1690 Mr. Wood began the private sdy of architecture and he carried his technical reading ml work forward to the point that eventually gave him nst ample fortification for the work of this profession. 1 1900 he returned to Clarksburg, where he opened an nce and has since given his exclusive attention to archi- ttural work. in which he has met with gratifying ste- es. lle has drafted plans and specifications for many rdern buildings, among the more important of which ny be mentioned the following: Marion County jail and w.riff's residence. St. Mary's High School at Clarksburg. t. Prunty and the Traders Annex office buildings and the 1 B. Maxwell residence at Clarksburg, besides many lildings of high grade in other cities and towns in this F.tion of the state. Mr. Wood is a member of the Ameri- « Institute of Architects having been elected to member- i.p in June, 1922, and being assigned to the Pittsburgh (apter.

Mr. Wood has long been affiliated with the Ancient Order United Workmen, and he is a member of the Clarksburg Idge of Elks, the Clarksburg Chamber of Commerce, the al Rotary Club, the Clarksburg Automobile Club and f. Cheat Mountain and Allegheny Clubs. He attends Id supports the Baptist Church, of which his wife is a rmber. He maintains his offices in the Lowndes Build- ir and in the practice of his profession now has an able kistant in the person of his only son, upon whose admis- tu to partnership the firm name of Edward J. Wood & on was adopted. Politically Mr. Wood is a democrat and as clected to the City Council in 1906, serving in that pacity until 1908, when he was elected mayor of Clarks- rg serving one term after which he retired from palities. In 1893 Mr. Wood married Miss Jessie P. Cost, who like- se was born and reared in Harrison County, her father, e late Jacob F. Cost. a native of Virginia, having been r many years a representative farmer and citizen of irrison County. Mr. and Mrs. Wood have two children, rleton C. and Virginia M., both of whom remain mem rs of the parental home circle.

Carleton C. Wood was born in the City of Wheeling, De- mber 11, 1893, and his public-school education was con- ated by his graduation in the Clarksburg High School, a member of the class of 1913. For a year thereafter was in his father's office and studied architecture, be- les assisting in the general work of the office and busi- ss. In the fall of 1914 he entered Carnegie Institute of chnology, Pittsburgh, where he completed a two years' nrse in architecture. For one year thereafter he was gaged in the work of his profession at Pittsburgh, and then returned to his father's office. When the nation came involved in the World war he enlisted, October 15, 17, at Allentown, Pennsylvania, and was assigned to the

ambulance service of the United States Army. Eight months later he was detailed on construction work at Camp Crane, and finally he was formally transferred to the con- struetion corps of the army. In this service be continued until February 27, 1919, when, at Allentown, Pennsylvania, he was honorably discharged, as ranking first sergeant. Ile is an appreciative member of the American Legion and is affiliated with its post at Clarksburg. As previously noted, he is now associated with his father in the practice of his profession, and he is making an excellent record as a skilled and successful architect.

CHARLES LEWIS HICKMAN was the first formally to prae- tire the profession of architect in Clarksburg, and to the increasing burden of responsibilities in that vocation he has devoted more than forty years of his life. As a youth he manifested an inclination to the technie of mechanical construction, and while engaged in the practical work of a building contractor he studied and became proficient in the general science and art of architecture.

Harrison County has been his home since birth, and he is a member of one of the historic families of West Vir- ginia, his ancestors having fought the Indians before they could establish their homes in peace and security on the western slope of the Alleghenies.

His pioneer forefather was Sotha Hickman, who was of English ancestry and was born in Montgomery County, Maryland, June 10, 1748. He settled in what is now Harri- son County, West Virginia in 1772. He lived here throughout the period of the Revolution, and in the fall of 1780, toward the close of the struggle for independence. he enlisted at Nutter's Fort in what was then Monongalia County for a period of six months, under Capt. William Louther. He re-enlisted in the fall of I7SI for two months, and again, in the fall of 1782, volunteered for a period of six months, his captain being the same in all enlistments. He did his part toward holding off the Indians in tres- passing the frontier. His record appears in the archives of the United States War Department in connection with his elaim for a pension, which was granted. Prior to his service as a soldier he and Levi Douglas, another pioneer of Harrison County, were taken prisoners by the Indians and carried to Seioto County, Ohio. While their Indian guards were asleep they slipped away, crossed the Ohio River on a log raft and finally returned home in safety.

For a century and a half the seat of the Hickman family in Harrison County has been the little community of Quiet Dell, five miles south of Clarksburg. That was the old home of Sotha Iliekman, and he died there April 2, 1832. He married Elizabeth Davies, who died December 16, 1937. Their children were named Thomas, Comfort. Rebecca, Notha, Jr .. Arthur, Cynthia, Nancy, Zacariah and Elizabeth.

One son of this pioneer couple was Thomas Hickman, who was born at Quiet Dell and died there February 8, 16.81. He married Love Scranton, who was born in Mar- shall County, West Virginia, and died April 16, 1856. Her children were named Marshall, James Luther, Hiram, William. Rufus Theodore, Ruth and Rudolph H.

The third generation of the family lineage was repre sented by Marshall Hickman, who was born near Quiet Dell, October 4, 1815, spent all his life in that locality and died November 24. 1864. He married Mary Butters, daughter of Samuel Butters, who came from Ohio to what is now West Virginia. The first home of Samuel Butters was at Morgantown, and from about 1821 he lived at Clarksburg. He was a potter by trade conducting the first pottery in Clarksburg. and in later life he operated a grist mill near Quiet Dell, where he died. Mary Butters, his daughter, was born at Clarksburg June 27, 1823. and died March 1, 1876. The children of Marshall Hickman and wife were Lloyd, Sarah Love, Laura Ann, Samuel Butters and Charles Lewis.

Thus Charles Lewis Hickman comes in the fourth gen- «ration of this historie family in Harrison County. He was born nt the old homestead at Quiet Dell August 3, 1848, and spent his early life on the farm and had a share in its responsibility owing to the early death of his father. He acquired a common school education, learned

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the carpenter's trade by apprenticeship, and at the age of twenty began taking contracts as a builder. He had a vision of a wider service than that offered by his success as a building contractor, and he diligently carried on his studies for several years in architecture, until in 1878, when he was thoroughly qualified, he opened the first architect's office in Clarksburg. Nearly forty-five years has passed since then, and he is still active in his profession, and a long list of important buildings and other structures might he mentioned as a glimpse of the miracle work he has done in his profession. He has not only designed, but has super- vised construction. He was architect for the Clarksburg Post Office and the Merchants National Bank, Clarksburg, West Virginia, also Science Hall, State Building at Mor- gantown, West Virginia, and in charge of their construc- tion. Under appointment from the governor he is a member of the State Board of Examiners for licensing of architects in West Virginia. His high professional and business standing is in no small measure due to his integ- rity of character. He was the originator of the independent telephone service in West Virginia, and he and T. Moore Jackson of Clarksburg installed the first independent tele- phone exchange of West Virginia, at Clarksburg.

Mr. Hickman has been a very busy man, has manifested no disposition to get into politics, is a democratic voter, a member of the Sons of the American Revolution, a mem- her of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Clarksburg Chamber of Commerce.

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History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 2, Part 133

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