History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 2, Part 152

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Mr. Dudley is a Presbyterian, a democrat who frequently exercises independent choice of candidates, is a Knight Templar and thirty-second degree Scottish Rite Mason, a member of the Mystic Shrine, and the Benevolent and Pro- tective Order of Elks. He is identified wtih the Chamber of Commerce and is a member of Blennerhasset and Country clubs.

In 1892 Mr. Dudley married Mary Frances Foley. Their two sons are George L., Jr., and Samuel Burdett. The older was in the aviation section as a second lieutenant during the World war, but the armistice was signed before he was sent abroad. The younger son, at the age of fifteen, ran away from home and enlisted, but had only one month of soldier life.

WILLIAM H. CARFER has been a resident of Wood Connty nearly all his life, and his activities as a farmer, public official and business executive constitute an impressive total that justifies the widespread esteem in which he is held at Parkersburg and in other sections of the state.

He represents the third generation of the Carfer family in America. His grandfather, Henry Carfer, was a native of Holland. Coming to the United States in 1797 as a young man, he settled on a farm near Moundsville, Marshall County, in what is now West Virginia, and lived out his industrious life there.

Of his six children his second son was Stephen Carfer, who was born on the old farm near Moundsville and married in that county Sophia Roberts. He was a farmer there and in 1855 moved his family to Wood County. At the out- break of the Civil war he exhibited a passionate devotion to the cause of the Union. He enlisted in Company K of the Fifteenth West Virginia Volunteer Infantry, though at that time he was past the age for conscription. He ex- plained his enlistment on the ground that he would as soon be killed in the service of his country as killed by bush- whackers. He was a good and faithful soldier in several campaigns, and death overtook him in the battle of Snicker's Gap in the Shenandoah Valley in July, 1864. He was sur-

vived by his widow and six children. She died in W County, March 14, 1875.

William H. Carfer was the ninth of the twelve child a of his parents, only six of whom grew to mature yer. He was born in Marshall County, March 8, 1854, was a infant when the family moved to Wood County, and s a hoy of ten was able to appreciate the tragedy of soldier father's death. He had the advantages of the cr .- mon schools in his neighborhood and when abont sevent n years of age did grade work on the Chesapeake & Ohio R. road. For five years he also assisted in operating a po- able saw mill. Otherwise his place and his duties weren the home farm to the age of thirty-six.

Mr. Carfer removed to Parkersburg in 1890, and fora time was a carpenter and employed in other capacities. e served four years on the Parkersburg police force, ℮ last six months as a lieutenant of police. In 1896 he v3 elected constable, performing those duties four years. 1 1900 he was elected and for four years was a justice f the peace, and in 1904 was chosen for a four year tel as sheriff of Wood County. In 1910 he was a candid 3 for the State Legislature, but was defeated in the democra: landslide of that year.

Since leaving politics and the public service Mr. Cart has been interested in oil production and since 1915 13 been treasurer of the Union Merchandise Company. He3 also president of the Parkersburg Transfer & Storage Co- pany and a director of the Central Bank & Trust Compa:, He is a member of the Official Board of the First Method; Church and a teacher in the Sunday School. He has alwas been a stanch republican, and fraternally is affiliated w the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Knights Pythias.

April 8, 1880, he married Violet, Adelaide Owings. S, died November 20, 1898. She was the mother of four ch. dren: Mary Estella, who died at the age of four year William Clayton, who died June 22, 1902, aged ninete, years; Archie Boyd, who is a graduate of West Virgir. University ; and John Franklin, who has found his work the oil industry, both in Mexico and elsewhere. Octo 27, 1903, Mr. Carfer married Mrs. Sarah Jane (Satterfiel Kiger. She had two children by her first husband, Willia H. Kiger. They are Martha Alta, now Mrs. Walter Doa and Thomas E. Kiger.

ROBERT T. STEALEY went to work in a useful occupati as soon as he left school, and by quiet and efficient pe formance in his line of duty has gained recognition as good business man and is especially well known in hot circles.

Mr. Stealey, who for a number of years has been connect with the Chancellor Hotel at Parkersburg, was born Middleburn, West Virginia, March 20, 1874, son of Lloy L. and Mary H. (Billingsley) Stealy. His father spe practically his entire life as a Middleburn merchant, w. a man who enjoyed a widely extended friendship, and w: active in the Methodist Church.

One of eight children, all living but one, Robert ' Stealy grew up in the family home at Middleburn. He a tended the common schools there and when about sevente he started to learn the printer's trade in the office of country newspaper. He had four years of this training ar experience, but did not put his knowledge to use, since ] left the printing office to become clerk in the Wells Hot at Sistersville. His home has been at Parkersburg sin 1898, and for several years he was clerk in the Blennerha set Hotel, and in 1903 became clerk of the Chancellor Hot Later he acquired stock and is now treasurer of the Bar Block Investment Company, which is the operating corpor tion of the Chancellor Hotel.

Mr. Stealey is a member of the Parkersburg Country Clu and of the Rotary Club. In 1906 he married Miss Lillia Casto, of Parkersburg. Mrs. Stealey died January 22, 191 leaving two children, Robert Evans and Julian Dorr. M Stealey's father was the late D. C. Casto, a well know Parkersburg lawyer.

Walter & MYougle.

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HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA

PHILIP D. NEAL. During the past thirty years Philip . Neal has had an official and directing part in the man- rement uf half a dozen or more of Parkersburg's chief dustries, commercial and banking institutions. His high aco as a business man and citizen is an additional benor a family that has been one of historie distinction in ood County from the very beginning of settlement.

Mr. Neal is a great-grandson of that historie figure, Capt. ames Neal, founder of Neal's Station, the first block house id center of settlement in Wood County. He built this lock house in 1785, and with his family located there ermanently two years later. The connceted faets in the ireer of Capt. James Neal are given on other pages of 10 biographieal section.

Philip Neal's grandfather was John Neal, bern in 1776, . id died in 1825. He is frequently referred to among ioneer characters as Sheriff Neal. He was high sheriff of 'ood County from 1807 to 1809, in the latter year was hosen member of the House of Burgesses, and from 1800 ntil the end of his life he sat on the bench of the County ourt. llis wife, whom he married in 1796, was Ephlis Took, then about sixteen years of age, who died in 1852. sheriff John Neal had thirteen children, and several of lis sons carried the line of descent down to the present generation.

His tenth child was George B. Neal, whe was born Feb- uary 2, 1816, and died December 24, 1892. He spent all is life at Parkersburg, where he was the owner of a wharf oat and widely known in the river traffie. He was a mem- Der of the Episcopal Church, a democrat, and while he never attained wealth he was highly respected. He married Caro- line Mckinley, a daughter of William MeKinley, of an eld time family ef Weston, West Virginia. She died in 1897. Her children were: Eva, widow of W. W. George; Annie, wife of Dr. N. L. Guice; Philip D .; Bettie, wife of Dr. George S. Bowles; Georgie M., deceased wife of Doctor Carr; Edward, who died in infancy; and Emma, Mrs. W. C. MeConaughey, of Parkersburg.

Philip Doddridge Neal was born at Parkersburg Oeteber 11, 1865. He was endowed with sound inheritance, had an aptitude for business, was well educated in publie and private schools, and his first regular employment was as a runner for the Parkersburg National Bank. He was with that institution five years, then became bookkeeper for the Consumers Coal & Mining Company, and in 1899 organized the Citizens Coal Company, of which he became secretary and manager and of which he is now vice president and treasurer. Mr. Neal in 1895 organized and became seere- tary and general manager of the Parkersburg Chair Com- pany, and is now president and treasurer of that industry. He also organized as a subsidiary of the Citizens Coal Company the Citizens Conerete Company. For several years he was president of the wholesale grocery house of Shat- Inek & Jackson Company, a vice president of the Citizens National Bank, and from time te time connected with other local organizations.

Mr. Neal is a Knight Templar York Rite Masen, a member of the Mystie Shrine, and a charter member of the Rotary Club. He is a member of the Episcopal Church. In 1897 he married Miss Daisy Shattuck, daughter of Charles and Annie Shattuck. Their three children are: Caroline MeK., born in 1898; Phyllis Shattuck, born in 1899; and Annie Shattuck, born in 1902.

EDWIN W. CROOKS, M. D., has been established in the successful general practice of his profession in the City ef Parkersburg sinee the year 1908, and his character and ability mark him as ene of the representative physicians and surgeons of Wood County. The doeter is an exemplar of the benignant school of Homeopathy, and has become ene of its specially successful representatives in his native state.

Deetor Crooks was born at Belleville, West Virginia, on the 15th of September, 1874, and is a son of Horatio N. and Marian (Mnir) Crooks. Horatio N. Crooks was born in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, and was a child of about one year at the time of the family removal to West

Virginia, his father, Capt. Horatio N. Creeks, having been for many years a skilled and popular captain of steam- boats plying the Ohio River between the eities of Pitts- burgh, Pennsylvania, and Memphis, Tennessee. Captain Crooks purchased farm land in the vicinity of Belleville, West Virginia, and improved this property into a pro- duetive farm, he and his wife having there maintained their home until the time of their deaths. On this old homestead their son Horatio N. continued to reside until the clese of his life, and he held prestige as one of the substantial farmers and influential citizens of the eoni- munity.

Dr. Edwin W. Crooks acquired his preliminary educa- tion in the publie schools, and in his youth he began reading medicine by utilizing the medical library of his unele, Dr. Edwin W. Crooks, who had removed to Cali- fornia. Finally he entered Pulte Medical College in the City of Cincinnati, Ohio, this institutien, ene ef the oldest and best Homeopathic schools in the West, having been founded by another unele of the doctor. He was graduated as a member of the class of 1906, and sinee thus re- ceiving his degree he has continued a elose student ef the best standard and periodical literature of his profession and thus kept in touch with the advances made in medical and surgical seience. As previously stated, Deeter Crooke has been engaged in practice at Parkersburg since 1908, and this city has been the stage of his earnest and able labors that have resulted in his building up a large and representative practice which gives him precedenee as one of the leading physicians of the metropolis of his native county. He is a member of the Little Kanawha and Ohie Valley Medieal Society and the American Institute of Homeopathy. He gave nine years of effective service as president of the Board of Health of Wood County, is a republiean in politieal allegiance, and in the time-honored Masonie fraternity he has completed the circle of each the Yerk and the Scottish Rites, in the latter of which he has received the thirty-second degree. His maximum York Rite affiliation is with the Commandery of Knights Templars in his home eity, he is identified also with Nemesis Temple ef the Mystic Shrine, and is an appreciative and popular member of Parkersburg Lodge of the Benevolent and Pro- teetive Order of Elks.

The year 1917 recorded the marriage of Dector Crooks and Miss Rebecca Dils, and they have two sons, Edwin W., Jr., and Horatio N. (III). Deeter and Mrs. Crooks are active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

HON. WALTER EDMUND MCDOUGLE. Thirty years as a lawyer and eight years on the Circuit Beneh is embraced in the professional and public record of Judge MeDougle of Parkersburg. He is one of the best loved men in that community, and upright and able judge, and a man who has been true to all the heavy obligations of his life.

He represents the third generation of this family in West Virginia, and was born on a farm eight miles below Parkers- burg, in Wood County, December 4, 1867. His first Amer- iean ancestor was John MeDougle, who was bern in Scotland in 1731. Benjamin MeDougle, of the second generation, was born in Maryland in 1762, and married Elizabeth Duke. Their enly child, Samuel F. McDougle, grandfather of Judge MeDougle, was born in Virginia, June 14, 1798, and for some years had his home in that portien ef Warren County which is now a part of Clark County in Old Virginia. In 1848 he moved to what is now West Virginia. All his active career was spent as a farmer. He was a pronouneed oppo- nent of the institution of slavery, though essentially true to the institutions of the South.

His son, Albert Armstrong MeDougle, whose mother was Mary Armstrong, was born in Warren County, Virginia, De- cember 2, 1838, and spent practically his entire life as a farmer and stockman in Wood County, West Virginia. He was killed on a railroad crossing July 5, 1905. He was a student at Williams College in Ohio when the Civil war broke out. He returned home with the intention of entering the Union army. Three brothers had gone into the Con- federate service, and he was influenced not to enlist. In his old heme community at Washington Bottoms in Wood

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HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA

County, January 11, 1866, he married Louisa Jane Lewis, who was born February 21, 1841, and died October 7, 1870. Her father was Francis Keene Lewis.

Walter Edmund MeDougle was the oldest of four children, and the only one to survive infancy. His boyhood days were spent on the home farm until 1886, and in the meantime he attended the local schools. For about eighteen months he attended the Tri-State Normal College at Angola, Indiana, taking a commercial course, and in 1889 began reading law with Judge John G. McCluer of Parkersburg. In September, 1890, he entered the law school of Washington and Lee University, graduating with the law degree in June, 1891, and was admitted to the bar at Parkersburg, July 13th.

Judge MeDougle continued active in his work as a lawyer for over twenty years, until he went on the bench. He was frequently honored with public office, serving four years, . 1893-96, as prosecuting attorney of Wood County. During this term in office he never had a mistrial or any case suc- cessfully appealed against him in higher courts. The judge before whom he tried many of his cases said that he was the best prosecuting attorney that had ever practiced in his court. From 1909 to 1912 he was assistant prosecuting at- torney. He was elected judge of the Fourth Judicial Circuit of West Virginia in 1912, being chosen on the republican ticket, though for his second term he had no opposition. He has never been a partisan politician, and his widespread popularity is due to the eminent fitness he has shown for his judicial responsibilities.

Judge MeDougle is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and other fraternal and social organiza- tions, and he and his family are Presbyterians. At Marietta, Ohio, April 18, 1891, he married Myrtle Elizabeth Curry, daughter of George and Eliza (White) Curry. Her father was a Union soldier and later a brick manufacturer. The only son of Judge MeDougle is Robert Boreman Mc- Dougle, who was born February 7, 1893. He graduated from the Parkersburg High School, from Washington and Lee University in 1916, and during the World war was a first lieutenant in the Three Hundred and Twenty-fourth Field Artillery, serving two years, fourteen months of which time were spent overseas in France. He was in the battle of the Argonne. He is now rated as one of the ablest young law- yers in this section of West Virginia, and is assistant prose- cuting attorney of Wood County.

LEWIS M. LUDLOW is president and manager of the Acme Fishing Tool Company, one of the important industries that contribute to the prestige Parkersburg enjoys as a business and industrial center of the oil and gas interests in this territory.

Mr. Ludlow, who first came to West Virginia for his health and has remained to engage in business affairs, was born at Ludlow, near New York City, in Westchester County, New York, May 25, 1884, son of Thomas W. and Harriet (Carnochan) Ludlow, his father of English and his mother of English-Scotch ancestry. The New York town of Ludlow was named for his grandfather, Thomas W. Ludlow, who gave the right of way to the New York Central Railroad.

Lewis M. Ludlow was reared at Ludlow, attended St. John's School and Military Academy at Ossining, New York, and subsequently entered Columbia University at New York City, where he pursued special studies for about three years. Lack of money not permitting him to remain to graduate, he turned his attention to the con- fectionery business, and having for some time suffered ill health he sought a change of climate, removing to West Virginia in 1910. For two years he was in Roane County with the Louis F. Payn Oil Company, and his work put him in practical touch with every phase of oil production. With this experience he felt justified in entering the oil business on his own account, but in a short time had lost all his capital and the venture was almost disastrous.

Mr. Ludlow in 1912 became associated with the late George L. McKain, founder and president of the Acme Fishing Tool Company at Parkersburg. He remained with Mr. McKain until 1913, when he resigned his position to

enter into the importing business in New York CF Upon the death of Mr. McKain he returned to Park,. burg and again associated himself with the Acme Fishg Tool Company, in the capacity of president.

Mr. Ludlow is a member of the Episcopal Church, ia republican, belongs to the Chamber of Commerce, the i- wanis Club, Country Club, is a member of the advisy board of the Old Colony Club, and is a Knight Tempr and thirty-second degree Scottish Rite Mason, a memr of Nemesis Temple of the Shrine, and the Benevolent ad Protective Order of Elks. In 1914 he married Harit McKain, daughter of George L. McKain. They hie

one daughter, Ann.

CLARK NELSON. The Nelsons of Parkersburg for or . fifty years have been a family with all the qualities f enterprise and good citizenship that produce a fair al honorable name in a community.

In 1858 Benjamin Franklin Nelson came from Powhat, Ohio, to Parkersburg. He was accompanied by his wi, whose maiden name was Emily Clark, and by four childr, while eight other children were born to them in Parke- burg. B. F. Nelson devoted his time and energies farming in the Williams District of the county, where } died in 1884. His widow survived him with unimpair! faculties until her death in 1905. Only a short time befo she had made a visit to California to see her son. One ! the children of B. F. Nelson was Lafayette Nelson, w; enlisted in the Union army and died of disease while the service.

Clark Nelson, the younger son, was born March 30, 185, and spent his life in Wood County, where he died Se tember S, 1919. He made the very best possible use only ordinary opportunities to secure an education, a: after exhausting the possibilities of the district schools & tended a normal school several times. For sixteen yea he taught in the country district of Wood County, er ploying the vacation periods to farm in the Clay al Lubeck districts. He was a republican in politics, but w seldom known in political councils, though he held sever local positions when necessity required, more as a matt of good citizenship than for any other reason. He was man of single mind and purpose, thought and acted ¿ rectly, and from youth to advanced years never failed earn the respect paid to honesty and a blameless characte His range of knowledge was unusually wide for one wl had to depend upon his own efforts to secure an educ tion. In religious matters he was a devout member ( the Baptist Church. In October, 1879, Clark Nelson ma ried Wilda Spencer, and she is still living at Parkersbur, Their two sons were Arta L., born July 31, 1880, an Harvey H., born January 5, 1882.

These two sons continue the honorable prestige of th name in Parkersburg, and are active in commercial affair Arta L. Nelson attended a commercial college at Parker: burg and was employed as a stenographer and bookkeepe until he entered business with his brother in 1907. Th Nelson brothers now have one of the prosperous mercantil establishments of the city. Arta Nelson married, Nover ber 27, 1912, Mary Crawford. Their three children ar Mary, Clara Elizabeth and William Clark. Arta Nelso is a Methodist, a republican voter, a thirty-second degre Scottish Rite Mason, a member of Nemesis Temple of th Shrine, and the Parkersburg Chamber of Commerce.

Harvey H. Nelson secured a good practical educatio and at the age of nineteen began an apprenticeship at th plumber's trade. He followed that as a regular busines until he entered the plumbing and heating business in 190" Both brothers were active in behalf of the various drive and other patriotic causes in the World war. He is affil: ated with the Masonic Order, Independent Order of Od Fellows, Knights of Pythias, Benevolent and Protectiv Order of Elks, is a member of the Rotary Club and is firs vice president of the Chamber of Commerce. He likewis is a republican and a Methodist. April 14, 1915, Harve Nelson married Nan R. Haddox. They have one daughter Louise.

-M

I . I. Cochraw.

465

HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA

IONROE J. RATHBONE, manager of the Camden Works al Parkersburg for the Standard Oil Company of New Joey, is a native of Parkersburg and represents two prminent families of the state. He is a maternal grandson o! James Monroe Jackson, of the distinguished family o1West Virginia. This subject is more fully treated on ofer pages.

n the Rathbone line he is descended from Wait Rath- bre, who was a New England sea captain and also a cap- tai of militia during the Revolution. A son of Wait was Aliam Palmer Rathbone, a native of Connecticut, subse- qntly a business man of New York City, and for a naber of years a county judge in New Jersey. He set- t.l at Burning Springs in what is now West Virginia in 13, and finally retired to Parkersburg, where he died 11862. His wife was Martha Valleau.

Their son, John Valleau Rathbone, was born in New Jk City in 1821 and accompanied his father to West \ ginia. For several years he and a brother were gen- el merchants, and in 1861 he became interested in the Fnecr phases of oil development and was one of the ni conspicuously successful in that industry. It is said tt in spite of his wealth he always remained a plain un of the people, enjoyed the companionship and fellow- sp of his old friends and acquaintances in Parkersburg, al was a wit and humorist. He died January 11, 1897, his u home becoming subsequently the quarters of the Blen- I hasset Club. In 1841 he married Anna Maria Doremus, c New Jersey. She died in the same year and eight Inths later than her husband. Of their eleven children t seventh in order of birth is Francis Vinton Rathbone, 10 married Mary E. Jackson, daughter of Judge James Inroe Jackson.

Monroe Jackson Rathbone, a son of Francis V. Rathbone, is born in Parkersburg July 23, 1874. He was well ucated, attending the Parkersburg High School and the "rginia Military Institute. As a youth he became a mmer for the First National Bank of Parkersburg, also 11 some experience in merchandising, and for a time was employe of a local gas company. In 1895 Mr. Rath- ne removed to Chicago, and for five years was assistant .nager of the lubricating sales department of the Stand- il Oil Company.

On his return to Parkersburg in 1900 he was purchasing ent for the wholesale grocery house of Shattuck Jackson mpany, but in 1904 resumed his service with the Standard 1 Company, and since 1907 has been manager of the mden Works. He represents the third generation of a mily active in the oil industry in West Virginia. Mr. ithbone is also a director of the Citizens National Bank. Other interests and activities betray the public spirited d benevolent character of his citizenship. He is a mem- r of the Board of Governors of the Country Club, a rector of the Blennerhasset Club, a member of the Rotary uh, Chamber of Commerce, an Elk, is president of the :al council of the Boy Scouts, and during the World war as a member of the War Labor Board. He is a demo- at in politics and a member of the Protestant Episcopal arch.

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History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 2, Part 152

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