History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 2, Part 14

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one not a member of the family. Andrew Smith marrie Jane Green, and as a successful and influential farmer h became the owner of a landed estate of 1,600 acres, froi which he gave a farm to each of his children who attaine to maturity. On his farm Andrew Smith introduced an bred the famous Plenapose horses, and one horse, whic he sold for $500, was later sold in Philadelphia for $30,00( On the old Smith homestead farm the Pierces Run Ston Chapel was built in 1837, Andrew Smith having given th land for this purpose and having served as a trustee of th church until his death, when he was succeeded by his sor. Andrew, Jr., who served until his death and who in tur was succeeded by Edward M. Smith, the immediate subjec of this sketch. This ancient stone chapel is still in us and is one of the prosperous rural churches of the Methe dist Episcopal Church, South, in Brooke County. The libe ality of the early and later members of this church is be tokened by the fact that the little edifice was gladly opene for the services of other religious denominations. Andre Smith, Sr., passed his entire life on the old homestea and died at the age of eighty-one years, his wife haviL .. passed away seven years previously. William, eldest of tl children, continued his residence in Brooke County until h death, at an advanced age; Sarah, who died at the age ( ninety years, was the wife of Nathan Hunter, their fot children having died young; Rose became the wife of Joh Castner, and after the Civil war they removed to St. Chark County, Missouri, where they passed the remainder of the lives; Mary Ann married John Hunter, and two of the sons became clergymen of the Methodist Church, Re Andrew Smith Hunter being now a resident of St. Peter burg, Florida, and Rev. James J. being a resident of th State of Wyoming; John E., father of the subject of th sketch, was the fifth of the children born to his parent He gave his entire life to constructive farm enterprise, ar he was loyal and liberal as a citizen. He was not a chur( member, but gave financial support to churches of vario? denominations. He commanded unqualified popular estee and was one of the venerable native sons of the count at the time of his death in 1917, as previously noted. H widow will celebrate her eightieth birthday anniversary 1922. She likewise was born and reared in Brooke Count the farm on which she was born having been land grant to a member of the Lucas family, who came here befo the arrival of the first representative of the Smith famil a member of the Lucas family having married a Gret and the property having thus come into possession of tl parents of Mrs. Smith. Of the children of John E. ai Permelia (Green) Smith seven attained maturity, and the number the subject of this sketch is the eldest; Frai E., who became a successful business man and the own of valuable real estate at Wellsburg, died in that city ag forty-nine years; Elizabeth M. is the wife of Henry Ch Wells, who is individually mentioned on other pages this work; John E. as a boy became associated with t. meat-market business of his brother Frank, at Wellsbur where he still is engaged in this business; Miss Catheri: remains with her venerable mother; Pearl Virginia, a ta ented musician who has had three years of musical study Germany, is the wife of Alfred L. Cochran, of Rocheste New York; Robert W. has long been identified with t Atlas Glass Company.

Edward M. Smith, who owns the fine old Green hom stead farm and has made the place known as the stage vigorous and successful agricultural and live-stock ente prise, has here maintained his home from the time of } birth, his early education having been acquired in t schools of his native county. He is now serving his fif term, of four years each, as county assessor, and, as matter of course, he maintains his official headquarters the courthouse at Wellsburg. He is a stalwart in the loc camp of the republican party. At the age of twenty-eig years Mr. Smith was so injured in a railroad accident r Wheeling as to necessitate the amputation of his left ar: and thereafter he supplemented his education by attendir the West Liberty Normal School. He was a successf teacher for some time thereafter, and since 1896 he has be active in political work and in official service in his hor

HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA

unty. He and his family reside on the home farm, and that courmuaity he is a trustee of the old Stone Chapel ethodist Church, as previously noted.

Mr. Smith wedded Miss Mina Forse, who was born in rooke County, but who was reared in the City of Pitts- argh, Pennsylvania. They have five children: Emery issistant county assessor under his father), David F., Ed- ird M., Jr., Mariana V. and John E. III.

HON. LEE OTT was the first and has been the only state mpensation commissioner of West Virginia, and it is ating only a consensus of opinion to say that the admir- le workings of the Compensation Aet and the official Iministration ereated thereby had been primarily due to te exceptional executive ability, the broad vision and mpathetie interest of Mr. Ott.

West Virginia was the seventh state in the Union to put impensation laws into effeet, though such laws had been iforced in European countries for years. Similar legisla- on has sinee been enaeted by nearly all the states of the nion. These compensation laws to a large degree supply 'e object of old liability insurance and substitute a process orderly administration for the old system of damage ·its and other costly litigation. When a candidate for overnor in 1912, H. D. Hatfield incorporated into his per- nal platform a plank advocating the passage of such a ompensation law. The first law providing for the Publie ervice Commission was in the nature of a compromise and auity in many directions. The amended law providing for le office of state compensation commissioner became effee- ve in May, 1915, aud the law was again amended in 1919. he present law and system are regarded as among the very est found in operation in any of the states. It is the duty f the state compensation commissioner to administer the mpensation fund as created and provided for by these IWS.

Mr. Ott has had a life-long and very sincere and heart- ·It interest in the welfare of miners and their families, the lass that is most largely benefitted by the compensation iws of West Virginia, sinee coal mining is the state's reatest industry. He was a leader in having enaeted the resent compensation law, and in order to eoustitute him- elf a reliable refereuee authority to the legislators who ad the responsibility for the legislation he made a thorough tudy of the compensation laws of Belgium, Germany, Eng- ind and other European countries as well as those already n foree in the United States. After the passage of the riginal legislatiou Governor Hatfield appointed him a mem- er of the Publie Service Commission on July 19, 1913, and e was chairman of that body until June 30, 1915, when gain by appointment and express ehoiee of Governor Hat- eld he became state compensation commissioner. His first erm expired in June, 1921, and Governor Morgan then re- ppointed him for a second term of six years.

Mr. Ott was born at Hopewell, Bedford County. Penn- ylvania, January 5, 1859, son of John and Liddie ( Weim- rt) Ott. He acquired a common school education, spent lis early life on a farm, and at the age of sixteen went to work in the mines of his home eouuty in Pennsylvania. He vorked as a miner and in various positions in mines leading up to mine foreman, superintendent and general manager. n the meantime he took a course in mining engineering, ind until he was induced to aeeept publie office mining and nine operation were his sole business. He came to West 'irginia ia June, 1898, being appointed superintendent of he Thomas plant of the Davis Coal & Coke Company, filling hat position until April, 1900. At that time he was trans- 'erred as superintendent to the Elk Garden mines, but re- urned to Thomas November 1, 1907, as general superin- endent of all the mines of the Davis Coal & Coke Company, having charge of the twenty-nine mines of this corporation n Randolph, Tueker, Grant, Barbour and Mineral counties. Uader his management these mines and eoke ovens were brought to a fine state of efficiency and economieal produe- :jon, and he also had charge of the great improvements inaugurated by the corporation. It was therefore a genuine sacrifice financially and otherwise when Mr. Ott was indueed to become compensation commissioner, and in time it was

one of the best moves mude by Governor Hatfeld in bis vigorous administration of the state.

For many years MIr. Ott has been actively identified with business and enterprise, particularly in the eastern section of the state. He is now president of the English Ott Lum fer Company of Charleston, lumber manofactorers with a lomber mill in Bland County, Virginia. He has been a director of the Davis National Bank of Piedmont.

Under his wise and skillful administration the State Compensation Department has been a source of geno ne benefit to the miners and their families. When the present compensation law was amended in 1915 there was a liability detieit of $795,000 in the compensation fund, due to this inadequate provisions of the first law. By October, 1919. Mr. Ott had been enabled to bring about such changes nud improvements in the law and ita operation that there was an actual surplus of something over $750,000. The com pensation to injured persons hand increased, and up to the fall of 1921 there is a pension pay roll of $55,000 a month. Under the direction of the office more than $5,000,000 have been paid in lost elaima. When working conditions nre normal in the state this office handles about 100 necidenty per day, with a total pay roll for compensation premiums (medical and funeral service, etc.), of about $225,000 1er month. There are on the pay roll today 1,400 widows and about 3,700 children under the age of fifteen.

Mr. Ott is a member of the executive committee of the International Association of Industrial Accident Boards, Is an official of the affiliation board of the Coal Mining In- stitute of America, and a member of the executive board of the West Virginia Coal Mining Institute. He is a thirty second degree Scottish Rite Mason and Shriner, being a life member of Logan Lodge No. 490 of Altoonn, l'ennsylvania, and his Cousistory and Shrine affiliationa are at Wherling. He is a member of the First Methodist Episcopal Church at Charleston. He has always been a republican, but his chu f interest in polities has been in the activities and the office already described. Mr. Ott married Miss Ehzaiwth Jenkins, uf l'ennsylvania.

GUY ALLEN SHUTTLEWORTH, a veteran of the Spanish- American and Philippine wars, and postmaster at Nutter Fort (Norwood), is a member of a family of distinction in Harrison County, and his own career since he left the army has involved some active interests in the business life of the community.

Mr. Shuttleworth was born on a farm in Inrrison County, July 3, 1879, son of Samuel Adams and Martha Elizabeth (Stuart) Shuttleworth. His father's birthplace was the sheriff's residence in Harrison County. At that tune the grandfather, Notley Shuttleworth was sheriff. The mother of Guy A. Shuttleworth was born in Barbour County, West Virginia. Iler father, Robert Stuart, was a native of Old Virginia. Mrs. Martha Elizabeth Shuttleworth is now eighty. two years of age, lives at Romines Mills in Harrison Coun- ty, and her home has been in the same locality there for over sixty eight years. For a period of forty five years the leading merchant at Romines Mills was the late Samuel Adams Shuttleworth, who died there in 1903 at the age of seventy-eight. Ile was a very capable business man, and besides his store had farm interests. le was deeply in- terested in the publie welfare on political affairs, though he never held a political office, was a republican voter, and of his twelve children nine are still living.

Guy A. Shuttleworth spent his early youth at Romines Mills, attended publie school there and for two years way a student in the West Virginia University. He was not yot eighteen when the Spanish-American war broke out nnd he volunteered and soon afterward entered the regular army service, and had a service record of six years to his credit before he received his discharge. For two years of this time he was in the Philippine Islands. Mr. Shuttleworth came out of the army with the rank of sergeant, and after a brief visit at the old homestead and a period of work on the farm, he removed to Clarksburg and for several year- was active in the mercantile business. His home since his marriage has been at Norwood or Nutter Fort Post Office, and in July, 1921, he was commissioned postmaster there.

HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA

Like his father he has always been a stanch republican in politics. He is an Odd Fellow and a member of the Presbyterian Church.

Mr. Shuttleworth married in 1916 Miss Rosa A. Kester. Their two children are named Jack Carr and Martha Louise Shuttleworth. Mrs. Shuttleworth is a daughter of William Granville and Louise E. (Carr) Kester. Her fa- ther was born in Harrison County, March 30, 1854, son of William J. and Sarah N. (Nutter) Kester, natives of the same county. The paternal grandfather of William G. Kester was Peter Kester, who was a soldier in the War of 1812, and was founder of the Kester family in Harrison County. Jacob C. Nutter, maternal grandfather of Wil- liam G. Kester was a Harrison County pioneer, and Nutter Fort was named in honor of this family.

Louise E. (Carr) Kester, mother of Mrs. Shuttleworth, was born in Harrison County, a daughter of James Mad- ison and Elizabeth (Cost) Carr.

FRANK C. SHRIVER. The Monongahela Supply Company, of which he is president and general manager, and several other corporations in which he is an official, represent the important business relations of Frank C. Shriver to the commercial life of Morgantown and vicinity. His business career covers only about twenty years and he has achieved a successful position in affairs in advance of most men of his years. He had a good inheritance, and his ancestral history conneets his family with pioneer times in this part of West Virginia.

His family record begins with Abram Shriver who was born in Frederick County, Virginia, September 6, 1768. March 31, 1791, he married Mary Keckley, who was born in Frederick County, April 19, 1770. Of the ten chil- dren of these parents the first three were born in Frederiek County, Virginia, and the others in Monongahela County in what is now West Virginia. The record is: Catherine, born April 16, 1792, was married to Jacob Horner and they settled in Monongalia County; Adam, born Septem- ber 7, 1793; Elias, born August 9, 1795; Jacob, born in July, 1797, the first of the children born in Monongalia County ; Christiana, born April 12, 1799, became the wife of Michael Core of Monongalia County; Elizabeth, born April 5, 1800, was married to Ezekiel Morris; John, born April 30, 1801, and died in 1885, having married Sarah Morris; Benjamin, born May 27, 1805; Isaac, and Abra- ham.

Isaac Shriver, the ninth of these children, was born in Monongalia County, May 27, 1807, and died March 30, 1880. He married Minerva Sine, who was born in Monongalia County, February 2, 1820, daughter of Moses and Saralı (Kelley) Sine. She died October 1, 1899. The children of Isaac and wife were: William Henry, born May 8, 1840, was a Union soldier in the Third West Virginia Cavalry, spent six months as a prisoner in Libby prison, and died April 27, 1920; Jasper Newton, born October 4, 1841; Elizabeth A., born July 8, 1844, became the wife of Titus Remley; Lee Roy; George W., born September 24, 1848; Moses L., born July 11, 1851; Mary J., born August 28, 1853, and died in 1908; Simon L., born March 24 1856, now deceased; John L., born August 26, 1858, deceased; and Alfred, born December 2, 1860.

Lee Roy Shriver, father of Frank C. Shriver, was born June 24, 1846. In early life he was a farmer, later in the lumber business, but kept his home on the farm until 1910, when he removed to Morgantown. For the last fifteen years he has looked after a number of responsibilities and interests. He has secured the rights of way for a number of railroads, has bought and sold coal lands and to some extent has been interested in coal mining. He is justly credited with being a pioneer in the development of the coal resources of Monongalia County. He and his as- sociates in the Seott Run Coal Company opened up the first mine in the Seott Run district, and to him as much as to any other individual is due the honor for this de- velopment. He has bought and sold more coal land in this district than any other and though now seventy-five years of age he is still a thorough business man, and on duty nearly every day. He was one of the promoters of the

building of the Wheeling & Morgantown Railroad, a rel that contributed in large measure to the growth of Morg ?- town and the county. For many years he has been t active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Lee Roy Shriver married Margaret A. Clovis. Th, were the parents of three children, Ernest E., born Nove'. ber 13, 1867, now a partner in the Monongahela Supr Company of Morgantown; Alice, who was born July , 1869, and died January 14, 1870; and Frank C.

Frank Clovis Shriver was born on the Shriver farm ne: Wadestown, Battelle District of Monongalia County, N. vember 8, 1881. He grew up on the farm, was educati in the public schools, and began his business career as. lumber merchant. Selling his lumber interests in 19, in July, 1913, he was one of the organizers of the Monong- hela Supply Company, Incorporated, and has since been president and general manager. This company start! business in a modest way as manufacturers agents, al first occupied the basement of the Rightmier Building ; the wharf. The trade and service rapidly expanded so tl; the company took the entire floor space of that buildi, and it is now known as Warehouse No. 1 of the compal. In 1919 the company erected a three-story concrete buildi: on Wall Street, known as Warehouse No. 2 and used pr eipally for heavy machinery, and pipe. In 1921 the co. pany took its next step in progress, establishing its ma offices aud retail stores in the business block at the cori of Front and Walnut streets, leasing this building from } owners, Frank C. and Ernest E. Shriver. The company WI originally capitalized at $5,000. This capitalization bi beeu raised successively to $25,000, to $50,000 and now ) $100 000. The business is an extensive one, handling bui". ers' supplies, mine, mill and farm machinery, and electric. equipment. They have built up an extensive trade all or Monongalia, Preston, Marion, Harrison and part of Ba bour counties, West Virginia, and portions of Greene a Fayette counties in Pennsylvania.

While the prospering affairs of this company receiv the greater part of his time and attention Mr. Shriver also president of the Marteny Coal Company, viee pre dent of the Shriver Coal Company, secretary of the Sco Run Coal Company, and a director in the Labor Buildi" and Loan Association. Socially he is affiliated with t Elks, Knights of Pythias, and the Country Club, is a mex ber of the Chamber of Commerce and Rotary Club. 1902 Mr. Shriver married Pearl Coburn, daughter of t late C. C. Coburn of Monongalia County. They have o son, Leroy, born February 14, 1904.

THOMAS J. MAHAN, who is now living retired at Follar. bee, Brooke County, West Virginia, a town situated , the old homestead farm which came into the possession the Mahan family more than a century ago, is one of t venerable and honored citizens of his native county al well merits recognition in this history.

lu the year 1814 William Mahan, who was born Wales, in 1804, eame, as a lad of ten years, with his på ents to the frontier wilds of what is now Brooke Count West Virginia, where the family home was established the embryonic farm which became the site of the prese vigorous industrial town of Follansbee, the original own of the property having been a pioneer named Wells. ( this ancestral farmstead, reelaimed and developed by re resentatives of the Mahan family, William Mahan continu to reside until his death, at the age of seventy-five year His wife, whose maiden name was Nancy Jones, w born in England, and she survived him by several years. ( the site of their old home, on the bank of the Ohio Rive now stands the substantial brick residence that was erect by Thomas Mahan in 1865. The father of William Maha was a soldier in the War of 1812, his serviee having ber principally at Fort McHenry, near Baltimore, Marylan Of the four sons and five daughters of William and Nan (Jones) Mahan the eldest of the sons was Thomas, fath of the subject of this sketch; William, Jr., was a res dent of Brooke County until his death and attained venerable age, he having developed and owned one of tì largest and best orchards in the county; John lived in Ha

HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA

>ck County until his death, when advanced in years; and ames was a resident of Missouri at the time of his death. Thomas Mahan bought the interests of the other heirs ad came into full ownership of the old homestead farm, omprising more than three hundred acres. Ile erected the riek house now occupied by Follansbee Brothers as an lice building, and there be continued to reside until his ath, at the age of seventy-six years. In his farm opern- ous he gave special attention to the raising of sheep, and › was one of the substantial and honored citizens of the punty. Ile married Judith Brennaman, daughter of hristian Brennaman, who came from Lancaster County, ennsylvania, and established his residenee near the pres- it village of Arroyo, Ilaneock County, in 1785. Mrs. Tahaa was born and reared in this county, and here she ied at the venerable age of ninety six years. She was woman of fine mentality, a reader and student, and a post gracious and lovable personality, she having been a lost zealous member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, outh, as was also her husband. Of the children the daugh- r, Elizabeth, is the widow of James Hamilton and is resident of Brooke County; Emily is the widow of Wil- am Fisher and resides at Follansbee; Naney died when a Jung woman; Barbara, who died at the age of seventy ears, was the wife of William Hervey, he having been a uecessful farmer near Wellsburg, Brooke County; Wil- am was a farmer in Brooke County at the time of his eath; Richard, who was a soldier of the Union in the Civil war, was a sergeant in the Twelfth West Virginia infantry, took part in numerous engagements and was eld a prisoner of war at Danville for seven months, he iter having been a merchant at Steubenville, Ohio, but aving passed the closing period of his life near the old ome in Brooke County; Thomas J., of this review, is the ext younger son; and Herman is president of the Citizens Bank at Follansbee.

On the ancestral homestead in Brooke County, Thomas . Mahan was born November 26, 1846, and his early eduea- ional advantages included a course in Mount Union Col- ege at Alliance, Ohio. Thereafter he became associated sith his brother, Herman, in the management of the old ome farm, and their progressiveness was shown in their jetting out of a fine apple orchard of fifty aeres. Mr. dahan has kept pace with the march of progress in this ection, has been a successful dealer in real estate and has reeted several houses at Follansbee. In 1879 he here reeted his present attractive residence, before the town of Fellansbee was thought of. He has served as president of he Beard of Edueatien, and had the distinction of being be first mayor of Follanshee, an office in which he served wo terms. He was actively identified with the organiza- ion of the village and has been one of the loyal aids in ts development and upbuilding, especially in connection with providing adequate water, sewer and electric-lighting systems. In 1903 the town of Follansbee was platted on 200 acres of land sold by Thomas J. and Herman Mahaa o the Follansbee Brothers of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, whe here established a plant for the dipping of steel plate. At first Follansbee Brothers employed about one hundred men, and the company now gives employment to fully one theasand. The Follanshee Company has developed a large and important industrial enterprise, with a modern manu- facturing plant at Follanshee, has here ereeted many houses and has urgently encouraged employes in becoming owners of homes a second mill having been established by the company at Toronto. Ohio. The brothers, Benjamin and William U. Follansbee, have been valuable acquisitions to Brooke County and are numbered among the representative "captains of industry" in this section of the state.

In 1919 Mr. Mahan, as nominee on the republican ticket, was elected to the Lower House of the State Legislature, where he was assigned membership on various important committees, ineluding those on eities and towns and agri- culture. He has frequently been a delegate to the state conventions of his party, he was active in patriotic service in the World war period and is still continuing his service as chairman of the local Red Cross. Both he and his wife are zealous members of the Presbyterian Church, and he

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History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 2, Part 14

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