History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 2, Part 161

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HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA

WILLIAM RICKS WILSON. Indelibly connected with the history of Kenova, William Ricks Wilson has fairly won his sound position, and is at present efficiently discharging the duties of the office of eity recorder, carrying on a large real estate business as the representative of the Kenova- Huntington Land Company, and handling his own exten- sive interests. He was born at Smithfield, Isle of Wight County, Virginia, June 7, 1877, a son of Joseph Josiah and Luey (Adams) Wilson, the former of whom died in 1907, when forty-eight years of age. Mrs. Wilson survives her husband, and now, at the age of sixty-four, resides with her sons, a part of the time being at Kenova. Joseph Josiah Wilson was a prosperous Virginia farmer in the peanut, corn and potato region, and owned a number of houses at Smithfield. He was a consistent communieant of the Episcopal Church, with which his widow is also eon- neeted. In politics he was a strong demoerat. The Wilson family has been connected with the Smithfield seetion of Virginia for many generations, and there the three ehil- dren of Joseph Josiah Wilson and his wife were born, they being as follows: Blair P., who is extensively engaged in a real estate business at Huntington, is responsible for many additions to that city; John A., who was a Smith- field merchant, died at the age of thirty-three years; and William Ricks, who is known to his friends as "Dick."

Growing up in his native place, William Rieks Wilson attended its publie schools, and when he was eighteen years old entered the employ of Langhorne & Langhorne, rail- road construction contractors, and continued with that firm during the construction of the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad from Whitehouse to Pikeville, Kentucky, up the Big Sandy. He was also on construction work in the Guyan Valley from Barbersville to Logan, West Virginia, and was then employed by Louis Hankins Construction Company, of the James River Division of the Virginia Railroad, from the main line to Charlottesville. Subsequently he did con- struetion work on the Carolina, Clinehfield & Ohio Rail- road from Jonesboro to Bristol, Tennessee. Mr. Wilson was with these eoneerns as general bookkeeper and paymas- ter, and in each case the railroads employing him were the pioneers in the territory. When he came to Kenova the town had no industrial plants, and with his experience and aptitude in pioneer work he applied himself to remedying the various drawbacks, and is largely responsible for the permanent location at this point of the present coneerns which make the Kenova of today an industrial center. For some years he has been the representative here of the Kenova-Huntington Land Company. During 1919, 1920, 1921 and 1922 he has served Kenova as city recorder. Since its organization he has served the Kenova Chamber of Commerce as its secretary, and is a great believer in the effectiveness of such a body in any community.

In 1907 Mr. Wilson married Mabel Mudeman, a daughter of Georg Mudeman, of Manassas, Virginia. They have one daughter, Margaret Blair. Mrs. Wilson is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Fraternally Mr. Wilson main- tains membership with the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, the Knights of Pythias and the Benevolent and Pro- teetive Order of Elks. His political convictions are in ac- eord with the principles of the democratic party.

BENJAMIN DOLLIVER GARRETT, M. D. The service of a , general medical practitioner is not confined, as a usual thing, to his professional connections with his home eom- munity, for his long years of training, varied experience and knowledge of men give him an insight into conditions which make him a valued asset, and his influenee is sought in business and polities. One of the tireless members of the medieal profession in Wayne County, deserving of more than passing mention, is Dr. Benjamin Dolliver Garrett of Kenova. He was born at Wayne Court House, Wayne County, West Virginia, March 29, 1876, a son of Rev. James Dolliver and Mary Helen (Staley) Garrett.

Rev. James Dolliver Garrett was born on Twelve Pole Creek, below the town of Wayne, March 22, 1845, a son of Benjamin Garrett, a veteran of the War of 1812 from North Carolina. For his services in that war Benjamin Garrett received a grant of 100 acres of land from the Gov-

ernment, which he located on Twelve Pole Creek, beco ing one of the earliest settlers of that region, if he was 1 the first. He took an active part in the organization Wayne County and was spared to live into old age. Ve active in polities, he was opposed to seeession and became republican. Benjamin Garrett was a man of small p: portions physically, but a brave fighter with his fists, a was never vanquished.

Growing up in Twelve Pole Valley, James Dolliver G: rett there received his educational training. From a child a deeply religious turn of mind, he entered the ministry the Methodist Episcopal Church when only nineteen yea of age, and was ordained when he was twenty-one. He w a member of the Holston Conference, and preached in ma congregations in Eastern Kentucky and West Virginia, .

of his life being spent in missionary work. His death . curred at his old home in Wayne County February 1 1913. Prominent in Masonry, he belonged to Wayne Lodg A. F. and A. M., Wayne Chapter, and Huntington Com mandery, K. T., and he also maintained membership wi the Knights of Pythias. His political sentiments were accord with the principles of the democratic party. B wife, Mrs. Mary Helen (Staley) Garrett, was also born Wayne County, aud she now makes her home at Ashlan Kentucky. Her father, Peyton Staley, who was for mar years a prominent citizen of Wayne County, died with recent years, aged ninety-six. Mr. and Mrs. Garrett ha nine children, two sons and seven daughters, the sons beir Doctor Garrett and John Garrett, the latter of whom is the employ of the Norfolk & Western Railroad at Port mouth, Ohio.

Doctor Garrett received his early educational trainir in the public schools of Wayne County, supplementing th with a course at Oak View Academy, Wayne Court Hous when he was twenty-three years of age, although he ha been previously engaged in teaching in the publie schoo of his native county, in this way earning the money 1 continue his own studies. He taught seven schools in al. and received for his work a salary of $30 a month. Wit a very small amount of money in 1899 he began to earı out his long-cherished plans for a professional career, an entered the medical department of the Kentucky Universit at Louisville, Kentucky, from which he was graduated i. 1903. Immediately thereafter Doetor Garrett located a Cyrus, Wayne County, and was there engaged in a practic for thirteen years, but then came to Kenova, where he ha since remained. For some years Doctor Garrett has spe cialized in children's diseases, and is very successful in thi branch of his profession. He is pension examiner, and du ing the late war was actively engaged in local war worl

On April 17, 1904, Doctor Garrett married Jennie A Thornbury, a daughter of Dr. J. H. Thornbury, of Dunlor Wayne County. Doctor and Mrs. Garrett have two children Mary Lois and Frances June. They belong to the Meth odist Episcopal Church, Doctor Garrett is a Blue Lodg Mason, and served for six years as master of his lodge He also belongs to Wayne Chapter, R. A. M. For som years he has been a Knight of Pythias. A democrat i: politics, he is firm in his support of party candidates. Prc fessionally he belongs to the Cabell County Medical Society the West Virginia State Medieal Society, and the America: Medical Association. Very active in local matters, he i a member of the board of directors of the Kenova Cham ber of Commerce.

EDWARD JOHN MEYER. A broad-minded, well-balance man, always master of himself and knowing how to b firm and resolute, and possessing the full confidence o: his associates, Edward John Meyer is a prominent figur in the business life of Kenova, where he has played ar important part not only as the superintendent of the Basie Products Company, but as president of the Kenove Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Meyer was born at Sharpe burg, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, near Pittsburgh November 7, 1874, and is a son of William and Sophie (Miller) Meyer, natives of the same county and of Ger man descent.

William Meyer was a self-made man and successful ir

Charles Elliott Van Devender

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business way at Sharpsburg, where for a period of orty-nine years he was engaged in the dry gooda trade. is personal interesta were many and demanded a full are of attention, but he also found the time to inter- it himself in the affairs of his community, in which he as always an active and constructive figure. Ile served 3 a member of the City Council, as burgess and as a ember of the Seliool Board, and was chief of the volun- er fire department for many years. Ia politics be was republican, and his religious belief was that of the utheran Church, in the faith of which he died in 1916, hen seventy-two years of age. He and hia worthy wife, ho aurvives him as a resident of Sharpsburg, aged aev- nty-six years, became the parents of eight sons and vo daughtera.

The fourth in order of birth of the parents' children, dward John Meyer, passed through the grades of the harpsburg schools and was then employed for a few ars as a clerk in his father's dry goods store. Subse- uently he turned his attention to the elcetrical business t Sharpsburg, being first employed by others and then ngaging in business on his own account as a handler of ectrieal supplies. Mr. Meyer developed into a contractor long this line, a business which he followed until 1916, hen he came to Kenova to take charge of the plant of he Basic Products Company, a business which has ben- fited greatly by his connection. Like his father, Mr. leyer has always been interested in local affairs and sinee 921 has been a member of the City Council. A meeting alled by Mr. Meyer in 1921 resulted in the formation f the Kenova Chamber of Commerce, of which organiza- ion he was elected president, and continues to retain hat office.

On June 16, 1897, Mr. Meyer was united in marriage rith Miss Carrie Palmer, daughter of Henry Palmer, of harpsburg, Pennsylvania, and to this union there have eea born three children: Wilbert, a graduate of the sharpsburg High School, who took a course in engineer- ng from the National Correspondenee School, Scranton, Pennsylvania, and now bolds a responsible position with he Enterprise Foundry and Machine Works at Bristol, Virginia; Carl, who is in his third year at the Ohio State "niversity, taking a course in general business and man- facturing; and Russell, who is attending the Junior High School at Kenova. Mr. and Mrs. Meyer belong to the Presbyterian Church. He is a republican.

REUBEN OSBURN. One of the distinguishing features of Wayne County is the excellence of its publie schools, this lesirable condition having been brought about through the ntelligent co-operation between the school board, the par- ats and the educators. One of the men who has long ;iven of his best efforts and mueb of his time to this im- portant work is Reuben Osburn, president of the Ceredo ndependent School District, a notable American citizen who in spite of the fact that he is a bank director and iolds important public offices, is not above carrying his own linner pail, and does so without any loss of dignity or restige.

Mr. Osbura was born at Echo, Wayne County, West Vir- rinia, November 18, 1869, a son of Jobn T. and Louisa 'Crabtree) Osburn. John T. Osbura was born in what is low Wayne County, September 12, 1832, and died April 25, .908. Louisa Crabtree was born near Honaker, Russell County, Virginia, April 22, 1840, and died February 21, .915. They were married over fifty years. John T. Os- urn was noted for his strength and good health. The fam- ly home was located at Echo during the entire married ife of this devoted couple. He was a life-long democrat, and as a farmer he was fairly prosperous. Both he and his rife were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, with which she was connected during her lifetime. He was Mason and belonged to Vincent Lodge No. 66, A. F. and A. M., at Fort Gay, West Virginia. There were one son ad four daughters born to them, and four of these chil- Iren survive, namely : Florence, who is the wife of William Ferguson, resides at Kenova, Wayne County, West Vir-

ginia; Reuben, who was the second in order of birth; Stella, who is the wife of Pharaoh Webb, livea with her husband on the old Osburn homestead at Eclio; Louisa, who is the wife of Sam Smith, baggage elerk at the Union depot at Kenova, West Virginia; Virgin, who married J. II. Throg. den, lived at Wayne Court House, West Virginia, and died when she was twenty-six years of age.

Reuben Osburn received his educational training in the publie sehoola at Echo. When he waa eighteen years of age he began learning the carpenter trade, at which he worked for seven years, during the latter part of that pe- riod being on construction work for the Norfolk & Western Railroad. This connection led to his becoming a brakeman on that road, which position he held for a year, when he was made fireman, and for four years he served as such on the first division out of Kenova, south. In 1901 he went on the home farm, but in 1903 resumed his railroading aa engineer on the Big Sandy, East Lynn & Guyan Railroad, now the East Lynn branch of the Norfolk & Westera Rail- road.

With the exception of a year or two spent on the home farm Mr. Osburn has maintained hia residence at Ceredo and Kenova, and he is atill an engineer oa the East Lynn braneh of the Norfolk and Western Railroad. In 1913 he was appointed to fill out the unexpired term of Dr. J. I. Miller as mayor of Kenova, and the following year was elected mayor of that eity. Mr. Osburn baa also served as reeorder of Wayne, and he is now a member of the chamber of commerce at Kenova. He is serving his third year as president of the Ceredo Independent School Board, and dur- ing his incumbency of this office the Ferndale grade school building and the Ceredo-Kenova High School building have been erected, the latter at a cost of $150,000. It is one of the most modern school buildings in the state, and reflects great eredit on the board and the people of this distriet. It is located on a traet of ten acres, purchased from Col. Joseph S. Miller. Soon after the organization of the First National Bank of Kenova Mr. Osburn was placed on its directorate, and he has since remained a member of it, his connection with this institution giving it extra solidity.

In 1888 Mr. Osburn married Rachel V. Dillon, a daugh- ter of George Pasehal and Naney A. (Booter) Dillon. Mra. Osburn was born on Beach Fork, Wayne County, February 25, 1870. She is the only daughter in the family, but she has brothers as follows: William J. Dillon, who is engaged in a brokerage business at Huntington, West Virginia; R. C. Dillon, who is the owner of the Huntington Restaurant at Huntington, West Virginia; A. T., who is with the Chaf- fee Wholesale Grocery Company of Huntington. Mr. and Mrs. Osburn have four children, namely: Lueian, who is a house salesman with the Huntington Wholesale Grocery Company; Lora Bell, who is the wife of Walter Robinson, secretary and treasurer of the Harry S. Stout Coal Company of Ceredo; and Garrett and Reuben, Jr., who are both at- tending school. Mr. and Mrs. Osbura belong to the Meth- odist Episcopal Church, which he is serving as a trustee. Mr. Osburn is a both a Scottish Rite and York Rite Mason, and belongs to Kenova Lodge, Wayne Chapter, Huntington Commandery, Beni-Kedem Shrine, Rose Croix, Huntington, and Wheeling Consistory. He served as master of Creseent Lodge No. 32, at Ceredo. For many years he haa maintained membership with the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineera, Local No. 511, at Portsmouth, Ohio. It is such men as Mr. Osburn who form the great backbone of this country. Performing the exaeting duties of a responsible position with conscientious fidelity, he haa at the same time found opportunity to render a valuable and efficient public serv- ice which haa given him a claim to the gratitude of his fellow citizena, and opened the way for further advance- ment if he cares to take upon his capable hands added re- sponsibilities.

CHARLES E. VAN DEVENDER, a retired lumberman residing in the City of Parkersburg, has honored his native state by his worthy life and worthy achievement, has been one of the world'a productive workers and has been in the most signifi- eant sense the architect of his own fortunes, as he depended

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upon his owu resources in acquiring higher education, even as he did in his initiation of a business career that eventually was marked by distinctive success.

Mr. Van Devender was born on a farm in the picturesque hill district of Gilmer County, West Virginia, on the 6th of October, 1848, and is a son of Henry and Mary Eliza- beth (Beall) Van Devender. The father was born in Rock- ingham County, Virginia, a member of a family of sterling Holland Dutch lineage, that was founded in the Old Do- minion State in an early day. As a young man Henry Van Devender crossed over the Allegheny Mountains and estab- lished himself as a pioneer in Gilmer County, West Virginia, in the '30s, when this state was still a part of Virginia. He reclaimed and developed one of the pioneer farms of Gilmer County, and otherwise, as a man of intelligence, energy and good judgment, did well his part in connection with the civic and material progress of that section of the state. There was solemnized his marriage to Miss Mary Elizabeth Beall, a daughter of George Beall, and they became the parents of ten children, of whom only three are living at the time of this writing, in 1921. Henry Van Devender was a strong Union man during the climacteric period of the Civil war, and was one of the very few men in Gilmer County who voted the republican ticket and thus aided in the election of President Lincoln. Mr. Van Devender, by virtue of the very conditions and influences of time and place, led an unostenta- tious and somewhat uneventful life, but he was true and loyal as a citizen, labored earnestly to provide well for his family and made his life count for good in all of its rela- tions. He was venerable in years, at the time of his death, in 1874, and his wife likewise died in Gilmer County.

Charles E. Van Devender early began to assist in the work of the home farm, and remained with his parents until 1863, when, at the age of fifteen years, he went to Calhoun County, where he found employment and where he remained two years. He then went to the Burning Springs District, where the pioneer oil excitement was then at its height, and soon resumed his association with the work and management of his father's farm. In the meanwhile he gave as much time as possible to study and reading, in line with his desire to gain a better education. In the summer of 1868 lie and a one-armed young man named James Taylor rented an abandoned log cabin situated in a cornfield, and while Mr. Van Devender assumed charge of the cooking in this primi- tive bachelor hall his companion carried the wood and did such other work as his crippled condition permitted. The two young men made this provision in order to enable them to attend a summer school conducted by Charles Preston, an earnest and efficient teacher who later became prominent and influential in connection with educational work in West Virginia. Mr. Van Devender applied himself with character- istic diligence, made good progress in his studies and finally passed the examination which gained to him a teacher's certificate. For a term of years he gave his attention to teaching during the winter terms, and by this means de- frayed his expenses while he advanced his own education by attending summer schools. In 1879 he became actively identified with the lumber business, through the medium of which he gained substantial success. He continued his active association with this line of enterprise for many years, and still has interests in connection with the same, though he is now living virtually retired. In 1875 Mr. Van Devender married Miss Alice McMillan, of Roane County, and there- after he maintained his residence and business headquarters at Elizabeth, the judicial center of Wirt County, until August, 1890, when he established his home at Parkersburg, where he has since resided.

The life of Mr. Van Devender has been one of productive application, and he has been too busy to have any desire for special political activity or for public office. He is well fortified in his opinions concerning governmental affairs, and has been signally loyal and public-spirited in his civic attitude. He is a stanch supporter of the principles of the republican party, and while, as initimated, he has had no ambition for public office, his civic loyalty and his abiding interest in educational matters led him to give specially effective service when, without solicitation or suggestion on his part, he was elected president of the Board of Education

of the Parkersburg independent school district in 1914. gave much of his time and thought to his executive work this office, promoted measures that did much to advas the standard of school work in his jurisdiction, and it v. within his administration that the grounds were acqui for and the present high school building erected, this bei conceded to be the finest high school in the state and equipment and work being of the best modern standa Mr. Van Devender continued his service as president the Board of Education until 1917, when, much to the reg. of his associates on the board and that of the people Parkersburg, he resigned the office. He has received 1 thirty-second degree of the Ancient Accepted Scottish R. in Masonry, is affiliated with the various York Rite orga izations in his home city, and has extended his Maso* affiliations by membership in the Mystic Shrine. Both and his wife hold membership in the Methodist Episcop Church, South. They have four daughters: C. Byrd, w is the wife of Edgar Smith; Lou G., the wife of E. March; Beryl, the wife of O. L. Wells; and Frances, t wife of W. C. Bingham.

HON. OSCAR JENNINGS RIFE. While it is not always tr that faithful public service meets with due appreciation ar reward, there are some cases in which those who give their communities the care and attention they would besto upon private affairs, receive appropriate honors. It is w. for a community when a man has proven his worth and 1 liability to show material appreciation of such service ar to continue such a man in office, for in this way it di charges a debt and secures for its people the services of 01 who has been found competent. Hon. Oscar Jennings Rif formerly superintendent of schools of Wayne County for long period, is at present principal of schools of Kenow He has been prominent in civic and political affairs, and one of the best known fraternalists in the state, being grar chancellor commander of the Grand Lodge, Knights Pythias.

Mr. Rife was born on his father's farm near Fort Ga Wayne County, West Virginia, April 27, 1879, a son ( Lieut. Moses and Virginia (Wilson) Rife. His mothe; who was much younger than her husband, and who now r sides at Wayne Court House, is a daughter of James Wi son, a pioneer timber man of this section of West Virgini: and belongs to the Wilson family of Staunton, Virginia, r lated to the family of Woodrow Wilson. Moses Rife Wa born in Gallia County, Ohio, in 1836, and at the age ( nineteen years graduated from the high school at Gallipe lis. He adopted the vocation of teacher, and was thus er gaged until the outbreak of the war between the North an the South, when he enlisted as a private in the Fifty-sixt Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and during his servic which extended until 1866, or one year after the close o the war, rose to a lieutenancy. His engagements include Shiloh, Island No. 10 and the Red River expedition unde General Banks, and at Shiloh he received a serious wound During the later years of the war he was with the quarter master's department and was stationed at New Orlean: Louisiana. Returning to Gallia County when his militar service was completed, he resumed his educational labor and remained in the same locality until 1870, when he re moved to Wayne County, West Virginia. A pioneer of tha locality in the teaching profession, he donated the land o which was erected the Rife School, named in his honor where he taught for about fifteen years, in addition to act ing as instructor in several private schools. In 1921 Osca J. Rife donated 100 volumes to the library of that schoo which still bears the same name. Many of the leadin business and professional men of the locality owe thei early educational training to the efficient and kindly labor of this pioneer teacher. Lieutenant Rife was a member o the board of examiners of the county, was a close and care ful student, and the possessor of a large library of care fully selected books. In politics he was a republican. Hi death in 1889 took from his community a valuable an valued citizen. He and Mrs. Rife were the parents of thre children: Oscar Jennings; Dr. Jay Wilson, a sketch o whose career appears elsewhere in this work and Louary

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History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 2, Part 161

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