History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 2, Part 155

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und the American Medical Association. Ilis political allegiance is given to the republican party, he and hia wife are members respectively of the Presbyterian Church and the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and in the Masonic fraternity he is affiliated with the Blue Lodge at Thacker, the Chapter and Commandery at Tazewell, Virginia, and the Consistory of the Scottish Rite in the City of Louisville, Kentucky. He is a member also of the lodge of the Benevolent aad Protective Order of Elks at Huntington.

January 14, 1911, recorded the marriage of Doctor Cole- man and Miss Nell Lambert, daughter of E. H. Lambert, of Williamson, Mingo County, and the one child of this union is a son, Herbert MeClellan Coleman, Jr.

Doctor Coleman is a son of Joseph and Arminda (Stacey) Coleman, the former of whom died at Ilellier, Pike County, Kentucky, in July, 1911, aged sixty nine years, and the latter of whom likewise attained to the age of sixty-nine years, her death occurring in August, 1915.

Joseph Coleman was born and reared in Pike County, Kentucky, a representative of an old and influential family of that section of the Blue Grass State, and he was a gallant soldier of the Union in the Civil war, as a member of the Thirty-ninth Kentucky Mounted Infantry. His wife was born in Buchanan County, Virginia, and there he became a merchant at Hurley, as did he later at War Eagle in what is now. Mingo County, West Virginia, whenee he finally re- turned to his native county in Kentucky, where he passed the remainder of his life. Ile voted for Abraham Lincoln for President of the United States, and ever afterward continued his allegiance to the republican party. He was affiliated with the Grand Army of the Republic, and he and his wife were members of the Baptist Church. They became the parents of ten children, all of whom attained to years of maturity and seven of whom are now living (1922), Doctor Coleman of this review having been the eighth in order of birth.

THOMAS W. AYRES. The thriving little City of Richwood, Nicholas County, claims Mr. Ayres as one of its leading attorneys and counsellors at law, and the scope and impor- tanee of his praetice indicates the popular estimate placed upon his professional ability and his sterling personal characteristics.

Mr. Ayres was born on a farm near Williamsburg, Green- brier County, this state, October 7, 1884, and is a son of William D. and Margaret (MeMillion) Ayres, the former of whom was born in Buckingham County, Virginia, May 10, 1934, and the latter of whom was born near Williams- burg, in what is now West Virginia. William D. Ayres became a resident of Nicholas County prior to the Civil war, and was one of the pioneer teachers in the schools of this county, he having continued his successful service as a teacher for many years and having also been a progressive exponent of farm industry, his wife having been a teacher in a private school prior to their marriage. Now venerable in years, this gracious and honored pioneer couple still reside on their fine old homestead farm near Williamsburg, he being a member of the Baptist and she of the Methodist Episcopal Church. For forty years William D. Ayres served as a member of the Board of Teachers' Examiners for Greenbrier County, and he held also the office of deputy eounty assessor, the while he was active in the local councils of the democratic party. Of the three children, Thomas W .. of this review, is the youngest; Kate is the wife of Remus MeMillion; and John M. is auditor for the White Spring. Company, the corporation which has control of the historie old health and pleasure resort at White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia.

The childhood and early youth of Thomas W. Ayres were eompassed by the activities and influenees of the old home farm, and that he profited fully by the advantages of the public schools of his native county is assured in the state- ment that for ten years he was a successful teacher in the public schools, in the meantime advancing his own education along higher academic lines. In coasonance with his ambi- tion and well formulated plans he finally entered the law department of Cumberland University, in which he was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Laws. He waa

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admitted to the bar in Nicholas County, and for ten years thereafter was engaged in successful practice at Summers- ville, the county seat. He then removed to the important little industrial city of Richwood, this county, where he is now a member of the representative law firm of Welverton & Ayres, which has specially high standing at the bar of Nicholas County.

Mr. Ayres is a stanch advocate of the principles of the democratic party, he and his wife hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in the Masonic fraternity be is a past master of Summersville Ledge No. 76, A. F. and A. M .; and affiliated with Richwood Chapter Ne. 27, R. A. M .; Sutton Commandery No. 16, Knights Templar ; and with Beni-Kedem Temple of the Mystic Shrine in the City of Charleston. He is also a past chancellor of the Knights of Pythias.

December 24, 1918, recorded the marriage of Mr. Ayres and Miss Maude S. Ryder, who graduated from the West Virginia Wesleyan College at Buckhannen, and who was a popular teacher in that institution prior to her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Ayres have one child, Mary M., bern May 31, 1921.

FRANK STONE is actively identified with one of the im- portant business enterprises in the City of Richwood, Nicholas County, where he is bookkeeper for the Richwood Stere Company. He was born at Linden, Roane County, West Virginia, September 4, 1892, and is a sen of Lewis P. and Viola (Looney) Stone, both likewise natives of that county, where the former was born in 1856 and the latter in 1860. The father is the owner of a fine farm property of 350 acres in Roane County, not far distant from productive oil fields in that county. He is a democrat, is affiliated with the Masonic fraternity, and he and his wife hold member- ship in the Seventh Day Adventist Church. Of the eight children the eldest is Harry, who is engaged in the sawmill business at Clay Court House, Clay County ; Sallie, who is the wife of H. A. Lawrence, was graduated in one of the state normal scheels of West Virginia and was a popular teacher prior to her marriage; Samuel is a progressive farmer in Roane County; John B. is bookkeeper for the Elk Lick Coal Company at Richwood; Frank. of this sketch, was next in order of birth; and Nell, Mary and Kate remain at the parental home.

Frank Stone was reared on the home farm and gained his preliminary education in the local schools, after which he continued his studies in the high school for three years and became a successful teacher in the rural schools of his native county. In 1912 he came to Richwood and became a clerk for the Richwood Stere Company. After the lapse of three years he herame manager of one of the Richwood company's stores in Webster County. where he remained two years. Since that time he has held the position of hoek- keeper for the Richwood Store Company. His political support is given to the democratic party. He is secretary of Richwood Lodge No. 122. Ancient Free and Acrented Masens. besides being affiliated with Richwood Chanter No. 37, Royal Arch Masons, Sutton Commandery No. 16, Knights Templar. and is a Shriner, a member of Beni- Kedem Temple at Charlesten.

The vear 1917 recorded the marriage of Mr. Stone and Miss Velma Wilson. whe graduated from high school and the training school fer nurses at Buckhannon, and was in active service as a trained nurse for one year prior to her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Stone have two children: Jeanette and Allen.

HON. HARRY ALLEN DOWNS. Berkeley County hecame the home of the Downs family during the eighteenth cen- tury. and many of its descendants are new within this and adjoining states. One of them is Harry Allen Downs of Martinsburg, a prominent lawyer. a representative in the Legislature, and a recognized leader in the affairs of the Eastern Panhandle. The earlier gengrations of the family were pioneer farmers, and did their part in transforming the wilderness inte a landscape of beauty and culture. Harry Allen Downs represents the fourth successive genera- tion of the family in what is now Berkeley County.

His great-grandfather was Charles Downs, who erect the first flour mill in what was then Northern Virginia, cated at Falling Waters, Berkeley County. The only tra portation facilities then available were by wagon tra: and, later, the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal, which proved outlet for his products to the eastern markets. Char Downs was born in the latter part of the eighteenth ce tury, not long after the Revolutionary war. He beca one of the largest land owners in Berkeley County. died in the seventy-sixth year of his age at the old Dow homestead at Falling Waters.

His son Davenport Downs, who was born at Falli Waters in Berkeley County in 1826, after attaining his n jerity married Miss Ann LeFevre, and they removed to t State of Iowa, where he engaged in farming until death in 1886. His wife, Ann, died in 1856, at the birth her second son, Joseph Allen Downs.

Joseph Allen Downs was born at his father's Iowa hon stead in Wapello County, and soon afterward his fath took the motherless child back East and he was put in t care of Miss Mary Cookus, on the farm of a relative, Say Van Metre, in Berkeley County. Here Joseph Allen Dow was reared, attending the public schools of the county a: graduating from Hyde's Seminary in Martinsburg. He well remembered as a successful teacher, and for fifte years prior to his death, on April 19, 1901, was princip of the Fifth Ward schools of Martinsburg.

The wife of Joseph Allen Downs was Careline Jeannet Evans, daughter of Tillettson Evans, a farmer of Berkel County, whose name introduces another interesting pione family of this section. Tillettsen was a son of Jam Evans, one of the first settlers in the state and an Indi: fighter. James Evans put up a fort er blocade against t Indians at what was known as Big Spring in Berkel County. On one occasion. when the settlement was attack by Indians, the men folk being away, the women soug safety in the blockade and Polly Evans, a daughter James, began beating a drum, which frightened the Inc ans, causing them to flee and, thereby, saving the unarm women from death. Tillettson Evans married Mary AI Orr. To this union were born three children: James \ B. Evans, Emma Virginia and Caroline Jeannette. Jam W. B. Evans died in 1919, survived by his widow, Mell Orcutt Evans, and six children. all of whom reside in Berk ley County. Emma Virginia Evans was married to Geer; Davenport Swimley, who died at Martinsburg in - 1921, h. ing survived by his widew and one daughter, now the wi of Russell S. Sperow. Caroline Jeannette, who became tl wife of Joseph Allen Downs, survives with three childre William Smith, Harry Allen and Mary Ethel.

William Smith Downs was born at Martinsburg in 188 attended public schools in that city, graduating from tl high school in 1901, and immediately entered West Virgin University at Morgantown, graduating in 1905 with tl degree Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering. Fellow ing his graduation he was for two years in the service ( the Bolivian Government of South America in railroa building. Then. returning to the United States, he locate at Kingwood, West Virginia, and engaged as engineer fc the Pittsburg Hydro Electric Company in water powe enterprises. At this time he is division engineer for th State Road Commission of West Virginia, with headqua ters at Morgantown. He married Miss Nellie Jane A bright, of Kingweed. and they have three children. The are members of the Presbyterian Church.

Mary Ethel Downs, who was born at Martinsburg, A1 gust 20, 1894, graduated from the Martinsburg High Schor in 1913, and subsequently from Randolph-Macon Woman College at Lynchburg, Virginia, with the A. B. degree. Sh was married to Edgar Sites, now connected with the Shei andoah Valley Bank & Trust Company of Martinsburg They have two children and are members of the Luthera Church.

Hen. Harry Allen Downs, whose record is now taken ny was born at Martinsburg, February 14, 1886. As a bo there he attended the public schools, graduating from hig school in 1905, and in 1907 received his LL. B. degree froi the Law School of West Virginia University. Since hi

Harry a. Downs

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g duntion in law he has been engaged in practice at Mar- &sburg, with offices in the People's Trust Building. While Ecollege Mr. Downs waa a member of the Beta Theta Pi I ternity, a member of the Delta Chi law fraternity, and beta Nu Epsilon, cap sheaf of great fraternities. He ryed on the varsity baseball team for three years and on football team three yeara. He was also treasurer of graduating law class.

During bis professional career Mr. Downa baa made a Eendid record in various offices of trust and responsibility igned him. From 1911 to 1913 he was congressional nmitteeman, representing the republican party of Berke-

County in the second district. He was hia party's minee for state's attorney in 1912 and in 1916, being de- ated at both elections by close margins. In January, 13, he was appointed United States commissioner for the orthern District of West Virginia by the Hon. Alston G. yton, then judge of the United States Court, for a term four years. In 1917 he was reappointed for a second rm, and he discharged the duties of this responsible office rough two terms until January, 1921. In the meantime, om 1918 to 1921, he served as solieitor for the City of artinsburg under the administrations of Dr. H. G. Ton- a and C. M. Seibert as mayor. Mr. Downs was nomince his party for the House of Delegates in 1920, and led e county legislative ticket at the elections. During the 21 sesaion he received assignment to six committees, in- uding the committee on judiciary, and hia service was arked by the closest attention to the important program ' legislation before the committees and also before the ouse as a whole.

Mr. Downs is a past exalted ruler of Martinsburg Lodge 0. 778, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and is a ast state officer of the West Virginia Elks Reunion Asso- iation. He is a member of Robert White Lodge No. 67, . F. and A. M., at Martinsburg, is a thirty-second degree cottish Rite Mason and a member of Osiris Temple of the lystic Shrine.

Outside of his profession be is prominently identified with pple culture iu the Panhandle. He is a director and secre- ary of the Shepherdstown Light & Water Company and a irector of the Hodges-Lemen Company, grain exporters. a August, 1920, Mr. Downs married Mrs. Ethel Boyer emen, widow of David Lemen, of Shepherdstown, and hey have one daughter, Harriett Aileen, born November 9, 1921. They are members of the Presbyterian Church.

CHARLES WALKER FERGUSON, prosecuting attorney of Wayne County, is one of the able young attorneya of this ection, and one who has a brilliant future before him. oming of a long line of honorable ancestors, he has always elt obligated to live up to the best traditions of his family, ad is an honor to hia name and to Wayne. He ia a veteran f the World war, in which he made an admirable record s an instructor, and in every respect he measures up to the ighest standards of American citizenship. Mr. Ferguson as born in Wayne County, West Virginia, December 30, 892, a son of Lucian and Fannie P. (Ferguson) Ferguson, oth natives of Wayne County.

Lucian Ferguson was a merchant and farmer, and one of e leading men of Wayne County. He belonged to one of e pioneer families of the South, all of the members of hich served in the Confederate army, and, further back, me bearing the name were Revolutionary soldiers. The aternal grandfather of Attorney Ferguson was Lieut. am J. Ferguson, of Company K, Sixteenth Virginia In- antry; and Judge Jimison Ferguson, an uncle of Lucian ferguson, was colonel of this same regiment of the Con- derate army. Mrs. Lucian Ferguson had two uncles in e army. John Ferguson was one, and he was killed in the attle of Gettysburg, and Harvey Ferguson, who was the ther, was killed in Tennessee, and both were in the Con- derate aervice. The family of Ferguson came into this gion immediately succeeding the termination of the merican Revolution, or in 1787, having served throughout at conflict, and settled about one mile north of Wayne. ne of the Fergusons, known as "Pothead'' Jim Ferguson, ved south of Wayne. He was noted for being the best

shoemaker in the county, and while making shoes, studied law, and in time became the leading lawyer of hia state. He framed the first code of laws for the State of West Vir- ginia, was a member of the firat constitutional convention of the atate, and also a member of the State Legislature. The paternal grandfather of Charles Walker Ferguson, Charlea W. Ferguson, waa also a member of the constitutional con- vention. "Pothead" Ferguson died at Charleston, West Virginia, where through his efforts the capitol of the state WAS located.

Charles Walker Ferguson was educated in the public schools of Wayne County, Oakview Academy, a private school conducted by T. B. McClure, Marshall College for four years, and the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, where he secured his degree of Bachelor of Arts and his degree of Doctor of Lawa, being graduated from the law department in 1915. Admitted to the bar at Morgantown that same year, he began the practice of his profession, and in the fall of 1916 was elected prosecuting attorney of Wayne County, to which office he was re-elected in 1920.

In May, 1918, Mr. Ferguson enlisted in the United States army for service during the World war, and was sent to the Officers' Training Camp at Camp Taylor, Kentucky, Field Artillery, and was commissioned a second lieutenant. After six months at Camp Lee he was sent to Camp Taylor, Ken- tucky, as an instructor of the Officers' Central Training Camp, and remained there until the close of the war, re- ceiving his discharge in December, 1918. He is still a member of the Officers' Reserve Corps. Returning to Wayne, he resumed the practice of law and his official duties as prosecuting attorney. Although one of the young- est men in the state to hold so responsible an office, he is one of the most fearless, and those who appreciate his ability declare that he will be heard of in state affairs before long.

In November, 1919, Mr. Ferguson married Mias Shirley Burgess, a daughter of J. B. and Eria (Garrett) Burgess. Mr. Burgess is a farmer and merehant. Mr. Ferguson be- longs to the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. He is a Blue Lodge, Chapter, Knight Templar and Shriner Mason, and belongs to the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Junior Order United American Mechanics, subordinate order of Odd Fellows, and the Uniformed Order of Encamp- ment of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias, the American Legion, the Wayne County Bar Association, the West Vir- ginia State Bar Association and the American Bar Associa- tion, and is active in all of these organizations. Mr. Fergu- son is very proud of his family, and takes pleasure in trac- ing back his ancestry, not only in this country but in the old world, for the Fergusons are of honorable descent, of Scotch-Irish origin. Possessed of a striking and pleasing personality, Mr. Ferguson possesses the ability to make warm friends and to hold them close. . As a lawyer he is logical, competent and resourceful; as a public official he is brave, alert and upright; and as a citizen he is zealous in discharging his responsibilities, and aiding in furthering the best interests of his city, county, atate and country.

WILL H. PETERS. One of the most important advancea made of recent years in this country is the growth of the sentiment that too much stress cannot be laid upon the necessity for securing for the children the best educational opportunities possible, for as they are trained during their formative period so will they develop in later life. This sentiment has produced the demand for educatora of ability and thorough training, and Wayne County ia fortunate in having in its office of county superintendent of schools a man of the caliber of Will H. Petera, a very interesting and efficient young educator, devoted to his work, popular alike with the parents and pupils, and capable of obtaining from hia teachera a whole-souled co-operation which is working out for a wonderful advancement. He comes of one of the old Virginian families, of Irish descent, on his mother's side, and of substantial Dutch ancestry on his father's, and was born in Wayne County, December 31, 1884.

The parents of Professor Petera, William D. and Tennie (Vinson) Peters, were both horn in Kentucky, and members of both the Peters and Vinson families served in the Amer-

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ican Revolution. William D. Peters was a timberman, legging in the timber regions in his younger years, and later on in life became a farmer of Wayne County. During the time of war between the North and the South he espoused the cause of the Confederacy, and served during the entire war in Company K, Eighth Virginia Infantry. He was wounded at the battle of Piedmont, but recovered and re- joined his regiment. Professor Peters' grandfather Vinson was colonel of this same regiment, and a man of large affairs, his name being associated with much of the history of his section.

Growing up in Wayne County, Professor Peters attended its schools and took his normal course at Marshall College, from which he was graduated in 1912 with a teacher's certificate. From then on he was connected with educa- tional werk in Wayne County, teaching at different points, and acting as principal of the schools at Fert Gray until in 1918 he was elected county superintendent of schools for a term of four years, and took charge of his office in July, 1919.

In 1907 Professor Peters married at Louisa, Kentucky, Miss Nera D. Frazier, a daughter of James and Virginia (Ferguson) Frazier, beth natives of West Virginia and farming people. Professor and Mrs. Peters have five daughters, namely: Virginia, Anna Mayme, Hazel, Minnie Lou and Josephine, all of whem are at home. He belongs to the Christian Church, and finds in its creed the expression of his religious faith. A Masen, he has been advanced through the Chapter and is going on with the werk, and he alse belongs to the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Knights of Pythias. Not only is Professor Peters a born instructor, he is an organizer as well, and is able to conduct the affairs of his office in a systematic manner, and to secure the services of teachers who are helpful and enthusiastic with regard to their work. Through beth precept and example he has awakened a local pride in the pupils, and the different scheels vie with each other in rais- ing the standard of education in this locality, with most gratifying results.

Boss C. BROMFIELD. The office of sheriff is a very ini- portant one at all times and in any community, but at pres- ent, when the country is still in the throes of the reconstruc- tion period, there is great need for the services of men of iron nerve, integrity of character and firm determination to enforce the law and maintain erder. The people of Wayne County feel that they have just that kind of a man in their present sheriff, Bess C. Bromfield, whose election to this office in November, 1920, was viewed with alarm by the lawless element in this region.

Boss C. Bromfield was born in Wayne County, November 14, 1886, a sen of Boss C. and Parilee (Davis) Bromfield, beth natives of West Virginia. The father was a farmer for a number of years, and also served for four years ås jailor of Wayne County, was a member of the Board of Education, and always took an active and effective part in public affairs.

Growing up in his native county, Boss C. Bromfield, the younger, attended its commen schools, Oakview Academy, a private school conducted by Professor McClure, and com- pleting his studies when he was twenty-one years old, began his practical training as a fireman fer the Norfolk & West- ern Railroad. After serving on an engine for about four and one-half years he went into the roundhouse at Keneva, West Virginia, fer eighteen months. Severing his connec- tion with the railroad, Mr. Bromfield went to work in a coal mine, and had charge of the pumps there. His father requiring his services on the homestead, Mr. Bromfield joined him, and for some years was engaged in farming. In November, 1920, he was the successful candidate of his party for sheriff, taking charge of the office the subsequent January, and already by his fearlessness and efficiency he has justified the support given him. It is his determination to make a record for himself as sheriff, to show no favor, but to see that everyone is given a fair deal.

On May 2, 1910, Sheriff Bromfield married at Catletts- burg, Kentucky, Miss Margaret Ferguson, a daughter of Anthony Wayne and Margaret (Ferguson) Ferguson, both

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History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 2, Part 155

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