History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 2, Part 153

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October 19, 1898, Mr. Rathbone married Miss Ida Vir- nia Welch, daughter of W. M. Welch. Four sons were rn to their marriage: Monroe Jackson, Jr., Richard A., illiam Vinton, and James Vinton. The youngest died in fancy.

JACKSON FAMILY. John Jackson was born near Lon- aderry, Ireland, in 1719, was reared in the City of padon, where he learned the builder's trade, and in 1848 ossed the ocean to Calvert County, Maryland. About '69 he and his family crossed the mountains into North- estern Virginia and made permanent settlement on the uckhannon River, just below Jackson's Fort. Both he and s wife had experiences during the period of Indian war- tre, and in mental, moral and physical strength they were :ted to become the forebears of an illustrious race of ascendants. John Jackson died at Clarksburg September i, 1801. His wife, whose maiden name was Elizabeth ummins, died in 1825. Of their eight children the second

son, Edward, was the grandfather of Thomas Jonathan Jackson, known to immortal fame as Gen. Stonewall Jackson.

Their first son was known as Col. George Jackson. He was born about 1750 and in 1773 entered 400 acres of land in the vicinity of Clarksburg. He had a sound mental and physical inheritance, and was a natural leader, though without the opportunities to secure a literary education. He was with the frontier militia in the Indian wars, was commissioned colonel of a Virginia regiment by General Washington in the Revolution, and in 1781 joined General Clark's expedition against the British at Detroit. The first County Court of Harrisoa County was held at his home in 1784. He was elected a member of the House of Bur- gesses, was a member of the State Convention that ratified the Federal Constitution, and three times was chosen a member of Congress. It is said that a speech he made in Congress caused so much amusement among the members that he announced he would go home and send his son to Congress, and he would not be laughed at. His son Joha, in fact, immediately succeeded him, entering the Eighth Congress.

This son, John George Jackson, was born near Buek- hannon, Virginia, and died at Clarksburg in 1825. He was liberally educated by his father, was elected a member of the Legislature in 1797, was appointed surveyor of Government lands west of the Ohio in 1793, and, as noted, was elected to Congress as suecessor of his father, serving from the Eighth to the Fourteenth congresses inclusive, ex- cept the Twelfth. He was a brigadier general of militia and in 1819 appointed United States judge for the Western District of Virginia, and was on the bench when he died. The first wife of John George Jackson was Mary Payne, who was born about 1781 and died February 13, 1808. She was a daughter of John and Mary (Coles) Payne. She and Mr. Jackson were married in the executive mansion at Washington, this being the first wedding celebrated in the White House. That honor was granted the bride by virtue of her being a sister of the wife of the President of the United States, the famous Dolly Madison. The second wife of John George Jackson, by whom is descended an- other line of the Jackson family in West Virginia, was a daughter of Return Jonathan Meigs, of the distinguished Meigs family of Ohio.

The only son of the first marriage of John George Jackson was Gen. John Jay Jackson, who was born in Wood County, Virginia, February 13, 1800. Much of his early life was spent in Parkersburg. He was educated privately and in Washington College in Pennsylvania, and by appointment from President Monroe entered West Point Military Academy in 1815, graduating in his nineteenth year. As an officer of the Regular army he performed service in the Seminole war in Florida, and at one time was a member of Gen. Andrew Jackson's staff. About January 1, 1823, he resigned his commission and turned his attention to the law. He goon reached the front ranks of his pro- fession and was many times elected to public office. From 1830 to 1852 he was prosecuting attorney in the Circuit Superior Court. He was a brigadier general of Militia from 1842 until the beginning of the Civil war. His last public service was as a member of the Convention at Richmond in 1861, where he eloquently upheld the Union. He organized and was president of the Second National Bank of Parkersburg. He died January 1. 1877.

Gen. John Jay Jackson married in 1823 Emma G. Beeson, who died in 1842. In 1843 he married Jans E. B. Gardner.

While without doubt one of the ablest and most useful men in his generation in Parkersburg and bis section of Virginia, Gen. John Jay Jackson had perhaps an even greater distinction in being the father of five eminent sons, all of whom became conspicuons in the history of West Virginia. These sons were Judge John Jay Jackson, United States District Judge James Monroe Jackson, Gov- ernor Jacob Beeson Jackson, Henry Clay Jackson and Andrew Gardner Jackson.

WILLIAM T. COCHRAN, present sheriff of Wood County, was for forty years closely identified with the educational

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affairs of the county, has also been a practical farmer, and altogether is one of the best known citizens of that locality.

Though a resident of West Virginia since early boyhood, he was born in Monroe County, Ohio, July 12, 1861. He was ten years of age when his parents, William and Sarah (Morris) Cochran, moved into Wood County, West Virginia. William Cochran was born In Ireland, came to the United States with his parents when a boy, and spent his active life as a farmer. He died in 1908, when about eighty years of age, and is survived by his widow, who was born in Pennsyl- vania in 1831, and is now ninety years of age.

One of eight children, six still living, William T. Cochran acquired his early school advantages in Ohio, and also at- tended public school in this state. He was very young when he did his first duty as a teacher, and at the age of eighteen he was granted a regular license to teach. His active inter- est in the cause of education has never ceased. For fifteen. years he was a member of the Board of Examiners for teachers under the old school law. In 1890 he was elected superintendent of schools for Wood County, and after one term of four years was re-elected and filled the office eight years. Mr. Cochran enjoys the distinction of being one of the few teachers of the state who have been granted a state life certificate. From the time he left the superintendent's office he alternately taught and farmed until 1920. He owns 100 acres of land and other property in Wood County, and has been a careful, conservative business man.

On May 25, 1920, he was nominated for sheriff of Wood County over five competitors, and was chosen to the office by a majority of 422. He had qualifications for this post, since he had acted as deputy sheriff for sixteen years under four different sheriffs. Mr. Cochran is a republican in poli- ties. He has been a life-long member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and is affiliated with the Elks and the Loyal Order of Moose.

Mr. Cochran married Miss Martha J. Bonar, daughter of Matthew Bonar, of Wood County. Six children were born to their marriage, two of whom died in infancy. Walter E. died in Alaska while on duty as a teacher in Government schools. Emma was also a teacher, who died at the age of twenty. Mont is now the manager and operator of his father's farm. Ethel is a teacher in the graded schools of Lubeck District of Wood County.

ALVIN L. COTTRILL is not only one of the progressive representatives of farm enterprise in Gilmer County but is also serving, in 1922, as mayor of Glenville, the judicial center of the county. He was born in Harrison County, this state, January 19, 1868, and is a son of Mortimer and Sarah (Cottrill) Cottrill, who were of the same family name but of no kinship. The parents were reared under the in- fluences of farm life in Harrison County, and the father gave his entire active career to farm industry, in which he gained substantial success. He continued his residence in Harrison County until 1893, when he removed to Gilmer County and purchased a farm on the Waters of Dusk Camp in Glenville District. There both he and his wife passed the remainder of their lives, both having been zealous mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Mr. Cottrill having beeu a stanch democrat. Of their six children four are living: Jane is the wife of George Davis; Rev. Fred- erick is a clergyman of the Methodist Episcopal Church; Mary is the widow of I. E. Helmuth; and Alvin L., of this review, is the youngest of the number.

The old home farm in Harrison County was the scene of the experiences of Alvin L. Cottrill from the time of his birth until he had attained to adult age, and he gained his early education in the public and select schools. He early assumed his full share of responsibility in connection with the work of the home farm, and in his youth gained also a goodly skill as a carpenter, with the result that there was no little damage for his service as an artisan in this line. In his independent farming enterprise Mr. Cottrill has brought to bear the energy and progressive policies that make for maximum success, and near his home village of Glenville he is now the owner of a valuable farm property of 386 acres, on which are two producing gas wells, also a fifteen-room residence. He also has two

lots in town. He has given special attention to the raig of cattle, and has been a leader in vigorous farm induly in this county. He is a stockholder in the Glenville Ber- ing & Trust Company, and his civic loyalty and public sĩ it is indicated not only by the fact that he served in 1921 d 1922 as mayor of Glenville, but also by his having previony been called upon to function in this office, in 1915. His unwavering in his support of the cause of the democr je party, is affiliated with the Independent Order of (d Fellows, and he and his wife are leading members of e Glenville Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he ia trustee, besides being the present superintendent of s Sunday school.

In 1896 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Cottrill d Miss Angeline Davis, who was born in Lewis County, state, December 10, 1873. Mr. and Mrs. Cottrill have children: Floda G. is a graduate of the State Nor il School at Glenville and is now a clerk in a mercan e establishment in this village; Nellie M. was born in 1:1 and is attending the public schools of Glenville.

"HARVEY A. HALL is giving a most progressive and effient administration of the office of county agent of Gilur County, with official headquarters at Glenville, the couy seat. He was born on a farm in Lewis County, this st.c, May 30, 1891, and is a son of Minor J. and Amandal. (Gaston) Hall, both likewise natives of Lewis Cour?, where the former was born in March, 1853, and the latr in March, 1855, both having been reared on farms in e same neighborhood and having received the advantages f the local schools of the period. After their marriage e parents settled on a farm on Freeman's Creek in Les County, and here they have maintained their home to e present time, both being members of the United Brethn Church and the father being a republican in politics. f the eleven children five are now living: Tensie is the we of C. N. Robinson, of Lewis County; Della is the wife f C. M. Gall, of that county; Enoch M. is a resident f Weston; Blonda S. graduated in a business college and s now a progressive farmer in Lewis County.

Harvey Hall was reared on the home farm and supp mented the discipline of the public schools by attending e West Virginia State Normal School at Glenville and lar the Iowa State College of Agriculture and Mechanil Arts at Ames, Iowa, in which he was graduated with e degree of Bachelor of Science. For five years thereafr he was actively associated with farm enterprise in his nate state, and he was then appointed to his present office, tt of county agent of Gilmer County, a position in which e finds ample opportunity for the effective use of his technil knowledge and administrative ability. His political alle. ance is given to the republican party, and in the Masoe fraternity he has received the thirty-second degree of e Scottish Rite. At Westou, Lewis County, his basie Masoe affiliation is with Weston Lodge No. 10, Ancient Free : 1 Accepted Masons, he is affiliated also with the Chapter f Royal Arch Masons and the Commandery of Knigs Templar at that place, and is also a member of Nemes Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., at Parkersburg, West Virgir ..

December 15, 1919, recorded the marriage of Mr. Hall al Miss Mabel MeGinnis, a graduate of the State Norrl School at Glenville, and the one child of this union ist winsome little daughter, Roberta, born July 23, 1920.

CHARLES T. WHITING has long been numbered among 19 representative merchants of Glenville, the judicial eenr of Gilmer County, and is the owner also of a well improv farm of 100 acres, as well as the small farm on wh) he resides, adjacent to Glenville, and the Whiting Hou, with a block of ground, at the county seat. Mr. Whitig was born on the old homestead farm of the family ner Glenville, and the date of his nativity was October 14, 18 .. He is a son of Samuel S. and Susan (Varner) Whitir. Samuel S. Whiting was born and reared in England, al upon coming to the United States he first settled in 19 State of New York. From the old Empire State he cas to what is now West Virginia and acquired a large tract e land in Gilmer County, where he became a successful ag-

wat with

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turist and stock-grower and where be died in 1857, when h son Charles T., of this sketeh, was not yet three yeara o age. Mrs. Whiting survived her husband many years, al both were earnest members of the Methodist Episcopal (urch. They became the parents of six sons, of whom the ject of this sketch was the fifth in order of birth. John deceased, as is also Samuel H. W. R. was a Union soldier the Civil war, as a member of Company G, Tenth West rginia Volunteer Infantry. W. D., who was formerly en- ged in the mercantile business, is now superintendent of te of the largest and finest orchards in Hampshire County, 1s state.

Charles T. Whiting was ten years of age when his dowed mother removed from the farm to Glenville, where attended the village schools and supplemented this dis- line by bere continuing his studies in the State Normal hool. In 1869 he here took a position as clerk in the neral store of W. T. Wiant, and two years later he was mitted to partnership in the business. The enterprise was ereafter conducted for eight years under the title of iant & Whiting, and later the firm name became Whiting "others & Company. In 1902 Mr. Whiting engaged in- pendently in the same line of business, but later he again rmed a partnership with his brother, W. D. Whiting, for short time, and has since conducted an associated mer- ntile business alone.

Mr. Whiting is a progressive and liberal citizen, is filiated with the Knights of Pythias, is a member of the aptist Church, and his wife holds membership in the resbyterian Church,

Ia February, 1875, Mr. Whiting married Miss Sarah A. .ump, and after her death he wedded Miss Emma Law- nce. Of the six children of the first marriage three e living, and of the second unioa have been born three ildren, namely: Charles S., Harry and Andrew. Charles . is a veteran of the World war, and is now a clerk in le state prohibition office at Wheeling. Harry has active anagement of the Whiting House, one of the leading hotels t Glenville, this hotel property being owned by his father. ndrew, the youngest of the three sons, is at home,

JAMES N. BERTHY, Sa., president of the First National bank of Cowen, Webster County, was born in Preston 'ounty, West Virginia, August 1, 1858, about five years rior to the time when this commonwealth was segregated rom Virginia and made an independent state. He is a son f William and Mary E. (Tanner) Berthy. The father was orn in Ireland, in 1832, and was about thirteen years of ge when he accompanied his parents on their immigration o the United States in 1845, the family home having at hat time been established in Preston County, Virginia now West Virginia). Within a few years thereafter he father of William Berthy died, and William was eared to manhood near Baltimore, Maryland, his educa- ional advantages having been those of the common schools of the period. As a youth he became identified with con- truction work in the building of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, and thereafter be served many years as a locomo- ive engineer with this railroad system. He was a democrat n politics, and was a man of broad views and sterling haracter. Both he and his wife were residents of Preston County at the time of their deaths. All of their seven children attained to maturity, five of the number surviving t the time of this writing, in 1922, and James N., of this review, being the eldest of the five; William is a farmer a Preston County; Mary is the wife of George A. Ott; Miss Ella residea with her brother William on the farm n Preston County; and Frank is in the employ of a coal- mining company in that county.

James N. Berthy, Sr., was reared at Newburg, Preston 'oanty, and there profited by the advantages of the public chools, besides which he there gained practical business xperience, he having been a lad of eleven years when he began clerking in a general store. He continued his service n this capacity until he had attained to his legal majority, when he became a partner in the business, his connection with which continued until 1891, when he removed to Upshur County and engaged in the lumber businesa as a member

of the firm of Smoot Lumber Company, in which they were successful. In 1899 the company purchased timber land in Webster County, where they continued successful activi- ties as manufacturers of and dealers in lumber, they having cut much of the timber on the land which they secured. Mr. Berthy has now virtually retired from this important line of industrial enterprise, by selling his lumber interesta to Mr. C. D. Howard, his partner, and the mercantile inter- ests to his son and son-in-law.

Mr. Berthy became a director of the First National Bank of Cowen at the time of its organization and incorporation, and he is now president of the institution, in the upbuilding of the business of which he has been a most influential factor. E. R. Rogers is vice president of the bank and M. E. Squires is its cashier. Mr. Berthy and his associate, Mr. C. D. Howard, are the owners of valuable timber, coal and farm lands in this section of the state. Mr. Berthy, is one of the substantial and progressive citizens of Webster County. His political allegiance is given to the democratic party.

June 6, 1883, was the date that marked the marriage of Mr. Berthy and Miss Ethel O. Smoot, daughter of J. R. and Susan (Howard) Smoot. She was born and reared at Newburg, Preston County, and her early education included a collegiate course. Of the five children of this uaion the eldest is James N., Jr., who is successfully engaged in the general merchandise business at Cowen; J. Howard is located at Cowen, this state, and is a traveling salesman; Maude B. is the wife of G. F. Wilkins; Margaret is the wife of W. H. Herold; and Mary is at home.

WILLIAM II. SMITH has been a forceful factor in the com- mercial, financial and civic affairs of Parkersburg for more than half a century. The City of Parkersburg is in a sense a modern development and creation, though it has been a center of some trade and importance since the pioneer period in Western Virginia. With its growth and development this branch of the Smith family has been closely identified for just a century.

The grandfather of the Parkersburg merchant and banker was Robert Saurin Smith, who located at Parkersburg in 1821. He was born in Nottingham, England, November 2, 1793, son of Rev. Robert Smith and a grandson of Rev. Francis Smith, both of whom were ministers of the General Baptist Church in England and were pastors of the church of that denomination at Nottingham through a long period of years. Robert Saurin Smith came to the United States with his wife and one child in 1819, and for the first two years lived in Baltimore and Pittsburgh. In Parkersburg he entered business as a tinsmith and coppersmith, gradually extending his enterprise to general merchandise and prod- uee, and became one of the leading dealers in grain and other commodities, shipping such products down the river to New Orleans. He was greatly prospered in business, but eventually, on account of ill health and other reverses, lost most of his property. His home was at the corner of Ann and Fourth streets, and that property is still in the posses- sion of his family. He was kindly and generous in all his relations with the community of Parkersburg, and from the first deeply interested in its public affairs. He was elected a trustee of the town corporation in 1826, but could not qualify, since he was not yet a naturalized American. Later, when he had fulfilled that duty, he was chosen a trus- tee in 1834, and at different times was an official of the town government and also served as a magistrate under the old Dominion laws. The wife of Robert S. Smith was Lucy L. Brook,

Their son, William Haimes Smith, was born in Notting- ham, England, June 1, 1818, and was only three years of age when brought to Parkersburg. He completed his educa- tion in Kenyon College at Gambier, Ohio, and on returning to Parkersburg became associated with his father ia the produce and river traffic, taking many cargoes of grain to the South. Subsequently he extended hia merchandising in- terests to Wirt and Jackson counties, but in 1860 returned to Wood County and bought a farm aear Parkersburg. He was successful in his agricultural operations, and enjoyed the quiet environment of the country for many years. While

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on the farm he was county commissioner, member of the school board and county clerk, and also appointed by the Legislature as commissioner to value and assess the real estate of the county. On returning to Parkersburg in 1883 he organized with his sons the W. H. Smith Hardware Com- pany, a business that has continued in successful operation for nearly forty years. He was for sixty-six years a dutiful member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and at his home entertained the bishop, elders and other officials of the church, and lived a life of exemplary Christian cou- duct. He died February 22, 1906, at the age of eighty-eight. In 1841 he married Sarah Rector, daughter of Charles and Sarah (Rust) Rector, and granddaughter of Benjamin Rector and Peter Rust, both of whom were Revolutionary soldiers. The Rector family lived around Rectortown in Fauquier County. Her father, Charles Rector, was a soldier in the War of 1812 and soon afterward moved to the eastern part of Wood County, and was one of the influential men in the affairs of that community the rest of his life. He was born in 1776 and died in 1859. The children of William H. Smith, Sr., were Alice B., William Haimes, Charles R., Arthur B., Lucy, Troilus and Levin.

William H. Smith, Jr., is the oldest son of this family. He was born in Jackson County, Virginia, February 16, 1847, and was about thirteen years of age when his parents returned to Wood County. A portion of his early life was spent on his father's farm, and he had the advantages of the common schools. In 1864, at the age of seventeen, he began clerking in a store at Parkersburg, and from 1867 te 1874 was employed in a local bank. He has been in the hardware business since the fall of 1874, and for many years has been president of the W. H. Smith Hardware Company. However, he is perhaps best known as a banker. In 1901 he organized the Central Bank & Trust Company of Parkers- burg, and as president has wisely guided its affairs and made it one of the outstanding financial institutions of the state.

His powers and talents as a business man have been care- fully trained and developed through a long period of years and consecutive experience. He started life well equipped in inheritance, and had the good fortune to receive wise direction from his parents, both of whom represented the highest standards of Christian character, and again and again Mr. Smith has expressed a sense of gratitude and obligation to his father and mother for their early teaching and training. He has always worked hard in the chosen field of his achievement, and has also accepted duties presented from time to time to every conscientious and thoughtful citizen. He has been a moral force in the community of Parkersburg, and to such men the modern city owes in large part the solid structure of its resources and the spirit of its enterprise.

Mr. Smith was mayor of Parkersburg in 1893-94. He is a republican in politics, a member of the Methodist Church, and as a citizen, he is an attendant of a church, and in home and business he has found complete expression for his great fund of energy. Mr. Smith on September 21, 1875, married at Parkersburg, Miss Collie Jackson, daughter of Gen. John J. and Jane (Gardner) Jackson.

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History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 2, Part 153

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