History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 2, Part 154

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MILTON E. SQUIRES has proved his resourcefulness and executive ability in a significant degree through his effective service as cashier of the First National Bank of Cowen, Webster County, a position of which he has been the popular incumbent since 1918, he being also a stockholder in this well ordered institution.

Mr. Squires was born on a farm in Lewis County, West Virginia, December 6, 1890, and is a son of G. Clark and Lucy (Butcher) Squires, the former of whom was born in October, 1855, and the latter in May, 1872. The father was born and reared in Braxton County, early gained a full share of experience in connection with the activities of the home farm, and that he profited by his youthful educational advantages was demonstrated in his successful service as a teacher in the rural schools when he was a young man. After his marriage he continued his alliance with farm enterprise in Braxton County until 1921, when he removed

to Virginia, in which state he and his wife new reside. is a member of the Methodist Protestant Church and wife of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a democt in political adherency and is affiliated with the Improd Order of Red Men. G. Clark and Lucy (Butcher) Squ s have eight children: Milton E., H. Earl, Lena, Bern Thomas, Fay, Alton and Ruth.

After having availed himself of the advantages of e public schools of Braxton County, Milton E. Squires ( tinued his studies in the West Virginia State Normal Schl at Glenville until his graduation therein, and he gave eit years of successful service as a teacher in the pulc schools, principally in rural districts. He was for one yr cashier in the railway station at Burnsville, Braxton Court - and he then, in 1918, assumed his present responsible efi that of cashier of the First National Bank of Cowen. Squires is aligned in the ranks of the democratic par is affiliated with Cauden Lodge No. 107, Ancient Free : Accepted Masons, and Glade Lodge No. 205, Knights f Pythias, at Cowen, of which he is a past chancellor, a both he and his wife hold membership in the Methodt Episcopal Church, South.

In August, 1915, was solemnized the marriage of I. Squires and Miss Mabel Greathouse, who likewise was br and reared in this state and who is the popular chatela3 of their attractive home. They have no children.

ALEXANDER W. BOBBITT. The year 1922 finds Mr. B., bitt a resident of the Village of Cowen and in effect, service as deputy sheriff of Webster County. He was ba in Nicholas County, West Virginia (then Virginia), on 1 1st of December, 1852, and is a son of Rufus and May (Williams) Bobbitt, the former a native of Rockbric County, Virginia, and the latter of what is now Greenbr County, West Virginia. After their marriage the parei3 settled on a farm in Nicholas County, and after the dea of his first wife Mr. Bobbitt contracted a second marria. He was a prosperous farmer at the time when the Civil w. began, but as the result of that conflict he met with revers that placed him far below his previous financial status. continued his active alliance with farm industry in Nichol County until his death, was a democrat in politics and w an earnest church member. Of the ten children of the fit marriage seven are living in 1922, the subject of this sket, and three others of the number being residents of Webst; County : Lydia A. is the wife of Hiram A. Gardner, of th county; Nannie is the widow of Porterfield Morton, who w: a farmer of Webster County; and L. H. is one of t progressive agriculturists of the county. Jolin W. is a re dent of Oklahoma. Elizabeth is the widow of A. P. Whi and she is a resident of Richwood. Elijah, who is a progri sive farmer and stock dealer, resides in Nicholas County.

The old home farm was the stage of the childhood a: youthful activities of Alexander W. Bobbitt, and in t common schools of Nicholas County he acquired his ear education. He remained on the home farm until he w twenty-eight years of age, when he married, and in 1 vigorous career since that time he has achieved substanti success. His activities have included constructive allian with farm industry, and he is prominently identified wi' banking interests in this section of the state. In his hor village of Cowen he is a director of the First National Ban he is president of the Lanesbottom Bank at Camde Webster County, is a stockholder in the Nicholas Coun Bank and is a director of the Kanawha Wholesale Groce Company at Burnsville, Braxton County.

Mr. Bobbitt has been active iu furthering the local succe of the democratic party, served as sheriff of Nichol. County two terms, besides having been for two terr deputy sheriff of that county and is now the deputy sheri of Webster County. Both he and his wife are members the Baptist Church.

In 1881 Mr. Bohbitt married Miss Zerilda Huff, and tl children of this union are six in number: W. Clinton a high-school teacher in Clay County; Luster is the wife ‹ William Rollinson; Mary is the wife of W. R. Roger: Elmer is a member of the firm of J. M. Frame & Brothe

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the City of Charleston; Mabel remains at the parental me and is a successful teacher, as is also Lillian, who is e wife of Harold Smith.

GEORGE R. MORTON, with residence and business head- arters at Camden on Gauley, Webster County, is one of · prominent representatives of the lumher industry in is section of the state. He was born on a farm on Strouds reek, this county, February 16, 1880, and is a son of Felix ad Nannie (Bobbitt) Morton, the former of whom was orn near Staunton, Virginia, in 1846, and the latter of bom was born in what is now Greenbrier County, West irginia, in 1858. The father was reared on a farm and ceived his youthful education in the common achools of the reality and period. When the Civil war was precipitated e became a youthful and loyal soldier of the Confederacy. nt after his enlistment he was released, at the request of is father, he having been only sixteen years of age at the me. In Nicholas County, on the 10th of January, 1879, e married Miss Nannie Bobbitt, and shortly afterward hey established their home on a farm on Strouds Creek, Vebater County, where Mr. Morton became a prosperous ponent of agricultural and live stock industry and where e continued his residence until his death, his widow being till a resident of this county. He was a stanch democrat, vas influential in community affairs and held several ap- jointive offices of loeal trust. His religious faith was that of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, of which his widow likewise is an earnest member. Of their children the subject of this sketch is the eldest; K. H. likewise is en- raged in the lumber business, with headquarters at Camden on Gauley; Pearl P. Is also identified with the lumber business in Webster County; Lela ja the wife of N. Rexroad. Reared on the home farm and early beginning to assist in its work, George R. Morton made good use of the advantages afforded in the public schools of his native county and also attended private normal schools. He be- came a specially successful and popular teacher, and his pedagogie reputation and his secure place in the esteem of the people of his native county finally led to his being elected superintendent of the public schools of Webster Connty, an office of which he continued the incumbent nine years and in which he gave a most loyal and progressive administration. He has been chairman of the Democratic Executive Committee of Webster County since 1912, and in the various campaigns within this period has shown much ability and finesse in directing the politieal forces at his command. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. In the Masonic fraternity Mr. Morton is affiliated with Camden Lodge No. 107, A. F. and A. M., of which he is a past master; Richwood Chapter No. 37, R. A. M .; and Sutton Commandery No. 16, Knights Templar. Mr. Morton is a director of the Lanes Bottom Bank in his home village and a stockholder in the First National Bank at Cowen, and he is also of the First National Bank of Webster Springs, the county seat, besides which he is a stockholder in Camden Mercantile & Milling Company and the Kanawha Wholesale Groeery Company at Burnsville. Braxton County, and is vice president of the Webster Smokeless Coal Company.

In 1905 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Morton and Miss Hettie Withrow, of Lewisburg, this state, and they have three children: Weldon, Chilton and Hampton.

ELBERT B. CHAMBERS. One of the stanch and effectively managed financial institutions of Mingo County is the Matewan National Bank at Matewan, of which Mr. Cham- bers is the president. He was horn near Cedar Bluff, Taze- well County, Virginia, on the 29th of May, 1870, and ig a son of Thomas and Sarah (Mitchell) Chambers, both like- wise natives of that county and now residents of Matewan, West Virginia, to which state they removed in 1880, and established their residence on a farm on Mate Creek, in what is now Mingo County, before the construction of rail- road lines through this section of the state. A man of superabundant energy and ambition, Thomas Chambers not only gave himself effectively to the improving and eulti- vating of his farm but also became actively identified with the timber industry, in connection with which he rafted logs

down the Tug and Sandy rivers. He entered into a con- traet to eut the timber from the right of way of the pro- posed line of the Norfolk & Western Railroad from the tunnel to Grapevine Creek, a distance of eight miles, and in connection with this railroad development and the upbuild- ing of towns along the line he purchased the first lot in the new village of Matewan. Here he erected a modest building and installed a stock of general merchandise. He thus be- came one of the first merchants of the town, and has since continued as one of ita representative business men and influential and honored pioneer eitizena. He conducted his general store many years and is now interested in the hard- ware and furniture business here conducted by his youngest son. The stone used in eonatrueting the foundation for his pioneer store Mr. Chambers hauled on a sled. He has aided largely in the civic and material development and progress of Matewan, contributed liberally to the erection of the two church buildings in the village, has served at varied intervals as a member of the village council, both he and his wife being zealous members of the Christian Church. In the early days of his log-rafting Mr. Chambers brought back merchandise on boats propelled with poles, and he had many friends up and down the rivers, ineluding the Ohio. His eldest son, subjeet of this review, accompanied him on one of these trips, and at this time saw his first railroad train, at Louisville, Kentucky. Of the family of seven sons and three danghters Elbert B. was the first-born. The youngest, Thurman, is engaged in the hardware and furni- ture business at Matewan. Arthur resides in this village and was formerly its chief of police. James A. is engaged in shoe manufacturing in St. Louis, Missouri. John B., a commercial traveling salesman, resides at Huntington, West Virginia.

Elbert B. Chambera as a boy walked four miles daily to and from school, and he early began to assist his father in getting out and rafting timber, and while clearing the railroad right of way he served as eamp cook for the erew of men employed by his father. In 1898 he opened a small general store at Matewan, and from this modest inception he developed a substantial and prosperous business, his wife having been his partner and effective coadjutor, he at- tributing much of his success and advancement to her aid and solicitous and wise counsel. He continued his large mercantile business many years, and upon the organization of the Matewan National Bank, May 13, 1913, he became its president, an office of which he has since continued the incumbent. The officers and directors of the Matewan Na- tional Bank are: Elbert B. Chambers, president; Joseph Schaeffer, vice president; Edgar Chambers, eashier; and M. G. Alley and John H. Greene. He has served several terms as a member of the village council and more recently as a member of the Mingo County Court, his status being that of a liberal, progressive and public-spirited citizen. In national affairs he is a stanch democrat, but in eonneetion with public matters of a local order he is not constrained by strict partisan lines. His wife is a member of the Christian Church.

Mrs. Chambers, whose maiden name was Dora White, was born in the State of Pennsylvania. They have seven ehil- dren: Lee is in the employ of the Norfolk & Western Railroad Company at Matewan; Edgar is eashier of the Matewan National Bank; Bernard is engaged in mercantile business at Matewan; Pearl is the wife of C. W. Over- street, a merchant in this village; Daniel is in the employ of the Union Trust Company in the City of Charleston; and Lena and Everett remain at the parental home.

ALFRED REGER WARDEN, M. D. A resident of Taylor County since 1893, Doctor Warden has practiced medicine with gennine distinction and service, is a former member of the State Board of Health, and outside his profession is known throughout the state as an influential figure in republican politics.

His family connections have been associated with West Virginia for several generations. His grandfather, William Warden, was either a native of Scotland or of Scotch parent- age, and spent many years on a arm at Sand Hill, near Wheeling, where he is buried. His wife was Nancy MeCusky, and their children were: Rev. James M., Samuel, Mary,

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who married James McConn, Margaret, who became the wife of Samuel Steele, and Miss Amanda.

Rev. James M. Warden was one of the scholarly and able ministers of the Methodist Church in West Virginia for many years. He was born in Marshall County, this state, in 1836, graduated from an institution of higher education at West Alexander, Pennsylvania, and immediately entered the ministry, to which the rest of his life was devoted. He died at Grafton in 1918. He was a chaplain in the Union army during the Civil war, and was a member of the Masonic fraternity. His wife, Joanna C. Carmon, was a native of Pennsylvania, and died in Connecticut, but is buried at Grafton. The children of this good old couple were: Rev. William M., a Methodist minister of the New York East Conference; Dr. Alfred R .; S. Watson, chief clerk of the Hazel-Atlas Glass Company at Grafton; Frank R., a physician at Adamsville, Rhode Island; Nancy E., wife of William P. Hendrickson of Grafton; Cora, wife of W. E. Clayton, one of the chief clerks in the Baltimore & Ohio offices at Grafton; and Maud, wife of Edward Kelly, an automobile dealer at Buckhannon.

Alfred Reger Warden was born at Sand Hill, Marshall County, April 19, 1860, and his childhood was spent in the various towns and communities to which the duties of the ministry called his father. Consequently his early schooling was frequently interrupted. He graduated from the Moundsville High School at nineteen, did some teaching, took a course or two in West Virginia University, was for two years a student in Ohio Wesleyan University at Dela- ware, and in 1886 graduated in medicine from Western Reserve University at Cleveland. Doctor Warden performed his early professional services, continuing four years, in a mining community, at Malden in Kanawha County. From there he went to the State of Washington, and was located at Spokane Falls two years. Then, in 1893, he established his home at Grafton, and has been one of the busy profes- sional men of that city for three decades. He has served as president of the Taylor County Medical Society, and is a member of the West Virginia State and American Medical Associations. For twenty years he has been on the staff of the Baltimore & Ohio surgeons.

Governor Dawson first delegated him with the responsibili- ties of membership on the State Board of Health, and he continued to serve through a period of twelve years, under the administrations of Governors Glasscock and Hatfield. He is the present health officer of Taylor County.

In seeking a standard of political action he did not depart from the ways of his family, and his first presidential vote went to James G. Blaine in 1884. He was chairman of the Taylor County Central Committee twelve years, a period marked by some warm and exciting contests, involv- ing the political fortunes of some of the county's best known men. He has a long record of service as a delegate in con- ventions, and at state conventions came to know the national leaders contributed to the party by this state. He knew personally and regarded as very able men Stephen B. Elkins and his colleague in the United States Senate, N. B. Scott, and among his political friends of the present generation are Senator Southerland, Senator Davis Elkins and Harry Woodyard.

Doctor Warden is an official member of the Grafton Methodist Episcopal Church, and is a past master of Grafton Lodge No. 15, F. and A. M., a member of other Masonic bodies, including Osiris Temple of the Mystic Shrine. At Benwood, West Virginia, June 10, 1886, Doctor Warden married Miss Emma Laura Pelley, daughter of Squire A. L. and Mary A. (Morgan) Pelley. Of the three children born to their union a daughter, Rhea, died at Grafton, October 7, 1920, as the wife of Dr. C. F. McCuskey. The surviving son is a graduate of West Virginia University, served two years in the Medical Corps during the World war, is a graduate of Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia, and is now an interne in the General Hospital at Allegheny, Pittsburgh.

CHARLES DUFFY FLOYD. The success which has crowned the efforts of Charles Duffy Floyd, of Clarksburg, clearly evidences the business skill, acumen and judgment of this individual, president of the Astron Oil Company, a produc-

ing concern. He has resided at Clarksburg since 1913. 13 is a utilitarian age, in which advancement and progress coa by activity in the commercial and industrial interests life. There is nothing to which America owes her I eminence among the nations of the earth more than to ); mineral products, and it has been in this field that 1 .. Floyd has become one of the prominent men of his co. munity.

Like many other men who have made their mark in 4 business world, Mr. Floyd is a product of agricultural W Virginia, having been born on a farm four miles east Glenville, Gilmer County, October 10, 1885, a son of Je Lewis and Angellette (Stout) Floyd, both of whom wo born in Braxton County, this state. The maternal grar parents were Thomas R. and Martha (Yerkey) Floyd, . tives of the Old Dominion State and early settlers Braxton County, where their son Jesse L. was born, rear and educated. Jesse L. Floyd adopted farming for his li work, and was engaged therein until the outbreak of t Spanish-American war when, with two of his sons, Erne W. and Thomas W., the latter only fifteen years of age, enlisted for service in the United States Army. After : ceiving his honorable discharge Mr. Floyd resumed 1 farming activities, in which he continued to be occupi until his death in 1913, at the age of fifty-nine years. 1 was a man who was held in great respect and esteem in I community, and bore an unquestioned reputation as a ma of straightforward dealing and much public spirit. M Floyd's first wife died in 1896, leaving three sons: Erne W., Thomas W. and Charles D. In 1902 Mr. Floyd marri( Evelyn Reed, and they became the parents of two children Lucille and Jesse Lewis, Jr.

Charles Duffy was reared on the home farm and a. quired his early education in the rural schools near by, h summer months being passed in assisting his father al brothers on the home place. Later he pursued a course : Glenville Normal School, from which he was graduated : 1908, going then to St. Albans, West Virginia, where 1; was principal of the school for one year. Next he entere West Virginia University and took a one-year literal course, then entering the law course and receiving his degre of Bachelor of Laws in 1912. He has never cared to engag in the practice of his profession and has not, therefore, aj plied for admission to the bar, but has found his leg: knowledge very useful to him in his business affairs. M Floyd had a brilliant college career, both in his studies an in a social way, as well as in athletics. He was admitte to the Tau Delta fraternity, was president of the Centra West Virginia University Club at Clarksburg, and durin the years 1910 and 1911 was a member of the varsit. football team.

On leaving the university Mr. Floyd devoted five year to the real estate business at Clarksburg, where he ha made his permanent home since February, 1913. In 191 he engaged in the coal business as secretary and treasure of the Fort Clark Coal Company, an office which he hel for three years, and resigned from that post to becom president of the Astron Oil Company, a producing concer operating in West Virginia, which was organized in 1926 This company has already extended its operations to grea proportions, and under Mr. Floyd's able direction and mar agement the business is showing a constant and health. increase.

Mr. Floyd is a member of the Clarksburg Chamber o Commerce and the Kiwanis Club, is a thirty-second degre Mason, a Noble of the Mystic Shrine and a member of th Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He likewise hold membership in the Masonic Club, the Allegheny Club, th Cheat Mountain Club and the Oral Fishing Club, and ha numerous friends in all these organizations.

EDWARD G. FEUERHERM is general manager of the Wil liam F. Mosser Company, engaged in the leather busines: in the City of Richwood, Nicholas County, where he is als a director of the First National Bank, with secure statu! as one of the representative business men of this vita and progressive little city.

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Mr. Feuerherm was born at Newark, New Jersey, October 2, 1876, and is a son of Randolph and Bertha (Von roitsczh) Feuerherm. He received his early education in àe public schools of his native place, where also he at- ended the Newark, New Jersey, Technical School, and the ew Jersey Business College after which he continued his tudies in Marquette University at Milwaukee, Wisconsin, esides which he has taken special courses of study per- mining to the tanning and finishing of leather, especially pper and sole and glove leather. When he came to Rich- ood and first became associated with the William F. fosser Company he remained here four years. He there- fter was in the employ of the great meat packing corpora- Son of Morris & Company of Chicago, and when the nation lecame involved in the World war he returned to Richwood nd became associated in the tanneries of the William F. losser Company, these local tanneries being the largest of he kind in the United States and he being now general manager of the same.

Mr. Feuerherm is a stalwart republican, and was active und influential in the affairs of the party while residing in he State of New York and also in the New England States. At Clarksburg, West Virginia, he is affiliated with the Lodge of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and he and his wife are communicants of the Catholic Church. The maiden name of Mrs. Feuerherm was Cath- erine R. Berry, and they have two daughters, Marie and L'atherine, both having attended Mt. St. Joseph College in the City of Dubuque, Iowa.

HERBERT MCCLELLAN COLEMAN, M. D., who is established in the general practice of his profession at Thacker, Mingo County, was born at Hurley, Buchanan County, Virginia, March 12, 1880, and he gained his early education prin- eipally in the public schools of West Virginia, where also he attended the Concord State Normal School at Athens. He aext passed one year as a student in the law department of the University of West Virginia, and in 1901 was gradu- ated in the law department of Southwest University at Jackson, Tennessee. He then engaged in the practice of law in his native county in Virginia, and there he was elected prosecuting attorney. He made an excellent record as a successful young lawyer, but his tastes and ambition led him soon to abandon the legal profession, resign his office of prosceuting attorney and turn his attention to the study of medicine. In 1904 he entered the medical depart- ment of the University of Louisville, Kentucky, and in this institution he was graduated in 1909, with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. He then became associated with Doctor Campbell in practice at Beckley, Raleigh County, West Virginia, and later he became contract physician in the service of the Norfolk & Western Railroad, in connection with construction work in double-tracking its line between War Eagle and Devon. The doctor established his residence at this time in the Village of Matewan, Mingo County, and in his general practice since that period he has continued his effective service as one of the able and representative physicians and surgeons of Mingo County. While in medical school be specialized in study of obstetrics and gynecology, but while having authoritative status in such connection he has gained specially high reputation as a skilled surgeon. In Mingo County he was associated in practice with Doctor Walden until the death of the latter, and Doctor Campbell is now his assistant. Doctor Coleman has the practice of the Thacker Coal & Coke Company, the Thacker Coal Mining Company, the Lynn Coal Company, the Allburn Coal Company, the Stone Mountain Coal Cor- poration, and is local surgeon for the Norfolk & Western Railroad. He gives professional supervision also in con- nection with the operations of the North Matewan Coal Company, of which he is preaident. During the recent mine troubles, when the Mingo County coal fields were being invaded by outsiders, Doctor Coleman shouldered hia rifle and atood ready to protect the interests of the mine operatora and their employes. He removed from Matewan to Thacker in the fall of 1921. Doctor Coleman ia a member of the Mingo County Medical Society, the West Virginia State Medical Society, the Southern Medical Association

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History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 2, Part 154

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