History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 2, Part 168

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In 1867 Mr. MeClure was happily married to Rebecca Skidmore. Their married companionship continued for nearly half a century, being broken only by the death of

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HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA

dr. McClure on April 12, 1915. In 1878 he joined the Presbyterian Church of Franklin and was one of its faith- ul members nearly forty years. Ho never sought nor desired public office, but he found means of helpfulness n the community through the wisdom with which he coun- eled his fellow men, the leadership he took in business development, and the kindliness which he repeatedly ex- pressed in private transactions.

THEODORE GABRIEL LEAP. manager of the Ohio Valley Builders Supply Company at New Martinsville, is a native of hat city, member of an old and substantial family there, and zas educated for the law, but has found more active work in ther business affairs, including a period of service with the Canadian forces during the World war.

Mr. Leap was born at New Martinsville November 24, SS9. In the paternal line he is of Irish ancestry, but the eap family was established in old Virginia in Colonial days. His grandfather, Gabriel Leap, was born near New Martins- ille in 1826, spent all his life in Wetzel County, was one of he old time merchants of New Martinsville and died there a 1899, at the age of seventy-three. He married Eliza McLeod, who was born near New Martinsville in 1832 and lied in 191S. This old couple were the parents of five ehil- Iren: Belle, of New Martinsville, widow of Levi Tucker, an il operator; Susan, wife of William Stewart, a physician and urgeon at New Martinsville; Robert C .; Percy, president of a Irug company at llarrisburg, Pennsylvania; and Clyde, ashier of the Ohio Gas Company at Cleveland.

Robert C. Leap has spent his life in New Martinsville, where he was born in 1868, and aince early manhood has been n the real estate business, and has extensive and prosperous connections in that line. He is a democrat, has served on the New Martinsville City Council, and is a member of Magnolia odge No. 42, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and Doolin Lodge No. 129, Knights of Pythias. Robert C. Leap married Mias Lillian Hornbrook, who was born at Powhattan, Ohio, u 1873. She is the mother of two children, Theodore G. sad Gertrude. The latter is the wife of Clay M. MeCormiek, resident of Pittsburgh, where he is settlement officer of the Potter Title & Trust Company.

Theodore G. Leap was edueated in the public schools of New Martinsville, graduated in 1909 from the Marietta Ohio) Academy, spent one year in Washington and Jefferson Academy in Pennsylvania, one year in Washington and Jefferson College, for a year and a half attended Washington ind Lee University at Lexington, Virginia, and then after inother year of study graduated in 1913 from the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa with his law degree, LL. B. During he fall of 1914 he took a post graduate course in the Kent College of Law in Chicago. Mr. Leap is a member of the Kappa Sigma and Alpha Delta Gamma college fraternities. On account of his qualifications as a lawyer he became a member of the official personnel of the Chicago headquarters of the Adams Express Company, where from 1915 to 1917 he served in the claim and legal departments, hia work covering practically the entire United States for that corporation. He gave up this position and on November 16, 1917, enlisted in the Canadian Army, going overseas February 25, 1918. He anded at Liverpool, later proceeded to Wittey Camp where he was put in training, and on July 17, 1918, reached LaHavre, France, with the Western Ontario Reserve Battalion. He was then transferred to the Stratheombe Horse Guard and was stationed in the Arras Sector and the Cambrai Sector, and participated in two major engagements. After the sign- ing of the armistice he was returned to the United States and received his honorable discharge at Halifax, Nova Scotia, July 25, 1919.

After his war service Mr. Leap returned to New Martins- ville and was connected with the Wetzel County Road Depart- ment until May, 1921, at which date he became secretary of the Wetzel Building Supply Company, with which he remained until February 1, 1922, when the Ohio Valley Builders Supply Company was organized and Mr. Leap became manager, being also one of the organizers. This company handles building materials of all kinds, and ia the largest concern of its kind between Parkersburg and Wheeling. The business was incorporated in January, 1922, with a cap- ital of twenty-five thousand dollars. The officers are: W. J.

Williamson, president; H. C. Hawkins, vice president ; Theodore G. Leap, seeretary and manager.

Mr. Leap is an independent voter. He is secretary of the New Martinsville Kiwanis Club and a member of Sistersville Lodge No. 333, B. P. O. E. Ile owns a modern home on Clark Street. September 22, 1921, he married in Chicago Miss Eleanor Golonowski, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Colonowski, resident of Chicago, where her father is in the wholesale coal business. Mrs. Leap is a graduate of a Chicago high school.

GEORGE L. MCKAIN. A strong, intense and noble char. acter was that of George Leonard MeKain, who died in the City of Parkersburg on the 28th of July, 1918. His was a life of signal honor, of unremitting activity and worthy achievement, though, like many another man of exceptional initiative and inventive ability, he failed to reap due financial rewards. He was one of the world'a productive workers, vital, resourceful and determined in the face of adverse conditions, and always ready to meet emergencies with courage and with the will that refuses to acknowledge failure. He was a pioneer in the oil industry in West Vir- ginia, was the inventor of many devices of great practical value in connection with this important line of enterprise, and, above all, he ordered his life upon a high plane of integrity and honor, so that he ever commanded the un- qualified confidenee and respect of his fellow men.

Mr. McKain was born in Emlenton, Butler County, Penn- sylvania, November 4, 1869, and thus was in the very prime of his strong and useful manhood at the time when death set its seal upon him. His parents, David and Katherine MeKain, were born and reared in the vicinity of the City of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and his father was among the early and influential factors in oil producing industry in Pennsylvania, where such production in America had its inception. David McKain became widely known as one of the first oil contractors in the Pennsylvania fields, and his connection with the oil industry continued during virtually the entire course of his active business career. He is now venerable in years, and maintains his home in Washington, Pennsylvania, where his wife died March 4, 1921.

George L. MeKain, the eldest of his parents' children, was reared in the atmosphere of the oil business, and in the meanwhile he profited by the advantages of the public schools of the old Keystone State. Owing to a serious ac- cident that befell his father, he found it ineumbent upon him when about seventeen years of age to assume practical charge of his father's business, and for some time the two were actively associated in the conducting of that business.

When the first oil wells were put down in Wetzel County, West Virginia, George L. MeKain appeared on the stage of activities and began contracting in an independent way. There he passed about ten years in the most arduous of contract work, in the drilling of wells and the furthering of other phases of pioneer oil development in that county. The difficulties were increased by reason of the fact that at that time railroad facilities were there lacking. He became an authority in all details of oil production, and, as he him- self said in later years, he gained little except experience. At times he was successful in the gaining of productive wells. and at other times a series of unfortunate accidents and unfavorable contingeneies were his portion. His restless energy knew no limitations, and in connection with his activities in the oil fields he utilized his inventive skill in devising tools and other accessories for use in the oil dis- tricts. Gradually he thus drifted into the manufacturing of "fishing" tools, and he became an expert in the fishing phase of oil-well enterprise. He invented and manufactured a number of original and effective fishing tools, and his manufactory turned out also a number of devices and tools not invented by him. He lost a fortune by neglecting to push his claims for patents on his inventions, many of which are now in general use in connection with oil operations throughout the Union. He was among the first to develop, the system of using wire instead of rope cable in oil-well work, but he realized little or no financial profit from this or from many other of his inventions. Eventually Mr. Me- Kain gave his undivided attention to the manufacturing of

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fishing toola, and he established a well equipped factory at Parkeraburg. This manufacturing plant was to a large extent devoted to special forging work for the Government during the period of America's participation in the World war, and Mr. McKain early showed his patriotism by doing all in his power to foster the various war activities of the Government, but his death occurred about four months after the nation had become formally involved in the great con- flict. His was a tragic death, but a death marked by char- acteristic nobility and unselfishness, for he lost his life by drowning in the Kanawha River while attempting to save the life of another person.

Mr. McKain completed the circle of each the York and Scottish Rites of the Masonic fraternity, in the latter of which he had received the thirty-second degree and in the former of which his maximum affiliation was with the com- mandery of Knights Templar in his home city. He held membership also in the Mystic Shrine and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.

On Christmas day of the year 1890 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. McKain to Miss Lina Morton, of Bradford, Pennsylvania, and since his death she has continued to main- tain her home at Parkersburg. Of the eight children aeven survive the honored father, namely: Harriet K. (the wife of Lewis Ludlow), Edith M., Merrill M., Marjorie, George L., Walter P. and Lina L.

In all of the relations of a signally active and earnest life the late George L. McKain held himself true and loyal, and his name and memory shall be enduringly honored by all who came within the sphere of his influence.

FRANCIS EUGENE MARTIN, M. D. The community of New Martinsville recognizes Dr. Martin as one of the very able and proficient physiciana and surgeons of Wetzel County. He has practiced there a dozen years, and his connections are those of a well established physician, a successful business man and a thoroughly public spirited citizen.

Dr. Martin is the third physician in as many generations of the Martin family. His father and grandfather both prac- ticed medicine in Washington County, Ohio, at New Mata- moras.

It was at New Matamoras that Francis Eugene Martin was born June 19, 1881, only child of Dr. John H. Martin and grandson of Dr. Francis Potts Martin. The Martins are an English family, were established in New Jersey in Colonial times, and later generations removed to Pennsyl- vania and from there to Ohio. Dr. Francis Potts Martin was born in Monroe County, Ohio, in 1836, graduated from the Barnesville Academy of Ohio and the Cincinnati School of Medicine, and his active career as a physician was spent in New Matamoras. He located there about 1862. How- ever, when he retired from his profession he returned to Monroe County, and died at Clarington in 1917. He was a democrat, a Methodist and a member of the Masonic fra- ternity. His wife was Adaline Davis, who was born in Monroe County in 1843, and is now living at Marietta, Ohio. They were the parents of nine children, two of whom died in infancy, and the others were: Dr. John H .; Lillian, wife of Fred B. Wermuth, a jeweler at Pittsburgh; Thaddeus, super- intendent of an oil refinery at Tulsa, Oklahoma; Nimrod, a barber at New Matamoras; Luther, a farmer at Cheshire, Ohio; Matilda of Marietta, Ohio, widow of Henry Stephens, who was an oil well contractor; and Lucy, wife of Thomas Fleming, a real estate man at Marietta. Dr. John H. Martin was born at Clarington in Monroe County March 3, 1861, but from early infancy has lived at New Matamoras. He graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Baltimore in 1893 with the M. D. degree. His service of nearly thirty years as a physician and surgeon at New Matamoras has earned him all the real distinctions of a capable, hard working and conscientious man in his profes- aion. He has served as health officer of his home town, and many times has taken the lead in support of moral reforms and civic improvements. He is a democrat, a prominent member of the Methodist Church, a Knight Templar Mason, also affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellowa, Knights of Pythias, and with the Washington County, Ohio State and American Medical Associations.

Dr. John H. Martin married Amelia V. Burbacher, who was born at Woodsfield, Monroe County, June 18, 1863, but waa reared and educated in New Matamoras

Dr. Francia Eugene Martin grew up in his home town, graduated from the high school in 1900, and in 1905 received his M. D. degree from the College of Physiciana and Surgeons at Baltimore, his father'a old school. He is a member of the Phi Beta Pi medical fraternity. Dr. Martin began practice after graduation at Friendly in Tyler County, remaining there a year and a half, and then located at New Martinaville. A year later he accepted the opportunity to serve as interne in the Haskins Hospital at Wheeling for a year. Since 1909 he has been busy with his general medical and surgical prac- tice at New Martinsville, with offices in the Ober Building He was Wetzel County's health officer three years, health officer of New Martinsville three yeara, and was elected presi- dent of the Board of Education but could not qualify because of the pressure of his professional dutiea. He is a member of the Wetzel County, West Virginia State and American Medi- cal Associations. During the war he was commissioned a lieutenant in the Medical Reserve Corpa, but was not called to active duty, though he did his ahare of home work in assisting in all the drives for funds.

Dr. Martin is a democrat, a member of the Official Board of the Methodist Episcopal Church, ia affiliated with Wetzel Lodge No. 39, A. F. & A. M., and has taken fourteen degrees in the Scottish Rite Consistory No. 1 at Wheeling. He is a atockholder in the Doolin Building & Loan Association at New Martinaville.

June 24, 1908, at New Matamoras, he married Miss Nellie; Grant Harvey, daughter of George W. and Lida (Talbott) Harvey, residents of New Matamoras, where her father is in the fire and life insurance business. Mra. Martin ia a graduate of Miss Phelps School for Girls at Columbus, Ohio. The two daughters born to their marriage are Nancy Kath- erine, born July 15, 1909, and Frances Eugenia, born July 14, 1915.

GEORGE A. HARMAN is County Court Clerk of Wetzel County, and was an active business man of New Martinsville, before his accession to thia public office. He is a member of a family that has aupplied a number of most substantial citizens to the commercial life of Wetzel County.

He was born in Monroe County, Ohio, January 25, 1873. His grandfather, Samuel Harman, was born in Pennsylvania, in 1816, and on leaving his native atate settled in Belmont County, then in Monroe County, Ohio, followed farming and eventually, on retiring from the farm, located at New Marting- ville, West Virginia, where he died in 1902, in advanced yeara. He was a democrat and a very devout member of the Christian Church. Samuel Harman married Mary Gates, who was ol Scotch descent and who died in Monroe County, Ohio. Joseph S. Harman, father of George A., was born in Belmont County, Ohio, in 1844, but spent most of his early youth in Monroe County. In 1861, at the age of seventeen, he enlisted in the Seventy-seventh Ohio Infantry, and served unti. wounded at the battle of Shiloh, which incapacitated him for further military duty. After leaving the army he went out to Elgin, lowa, where he married and where he learned the wagon making trade. Subsequently he returned to Monroe County and in 1873 settled at New Martinsville. He was an exceedingly skillful wagon maker, and in hia ahop at New Martinsville he made a number of atrong and durable wagons that served a generation of users. Joseph S. Harman died at New Martinsville in 1912. He was a democrat, a member ol the City Council several terms, and during the latter part ol his life was chiefly identified with the Methodist Episcopal Church. He married Mary Bauder, who was born neal Berne, Switzerland, in 1853, and ia now living at New Martins- ville. Of her children George A. is the oldest; Frank is a clothing merchant at New Martinsville; Ernest is deputy under his brother George; Charles owns a tailor ahop at New Martinsville; Ross is in the plumbing business at New Martinsville; William is senior partner of J. W. Harmon, a clothing merchant at New Martinaville; Anna is the wife of Thomas G. Allen, aasistant poatmaster at New Martinsville; and two other aons, Julius and Clarence, who died in child- hood.

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George A. Harman was an infant when brought to Wetzel County, was reared in New Martinsville, attending grammar nd high school there to the age of seventeen, and then earned the trade of blacksmith. Blacksmithing was his reg- lar occupation until 1918, and after that he was in the firm of loth & Harman, automobile dealers, uutil 1921, when he sold is interest to Mr. Roth. Mr. Harman was elected county lerk in November, 1920, beginning his six year term in Jan- ary, 1921. He was elected as a democrat, and had been a andidate in the primaries in 1914 for the same office. He as been a member of the New Martinsville City Council everal times, and as a councilman was a member of the City Vater Board.

Mr. Harman is president of the Board of Stewards of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and secretary of the Sunday School. He is a Past Master of Wetzel Lodge No. 39, ". & A. M., and is a director in the Doolin Building and Loan Association at New Martinsville. During the war he was eady with his means and influence for every patriotic cause, whether it required active personal work or financial sub- cription.

Mr. Harman and family reside at 747 Maple Avenue. He married at New Martinsville in 1900 Miss Mollie Stamm, a ative of Tyler County, West Virginia, and daughter of John And Mary (Wheeler) Stamm, who were born in Switzerland and now live in New Martinsville. Her father owns and perates a saw mill and has some extensive timber interests. The only son of Mr. and Mrs. Harman is Clarence S., who was born September 11, 1901. He is a graduate of the New Martinsville High School and is a graduate of the School of Pharmacy of West Virginia University.

JUDGE MARSH HAYMOND WILLIS. For steady, consecutive and, in the highest degree, useful work at the bar and on the bench Judge Willis would be accorded a first rank in his profession in any state of the Union. However, it is a matter of great satisfaction to him that his responsibilities as a brilliant and successful lawyer and jurist have been performed 'n the state where his lot was east by birth and family as- ociations.

Judge Willis was born in Ritchie County, January 31, 1862, son of N. G. and Louisa (Martin) Willis. He is of Revolu- .ionary ancestry. The Willis family immigrated from England about 1635, settling in Virginia. There were two branches of this family, the Gloucester and the Fredericksburg branches. Judge Willia is a descendant of the Gloucester branch. His grandfather, Notley Willis, was born at Winchester, Virginia, in the year 1800. On the maternal side the Martin and the Clark families were also connected with the early Colonial history of the New World.

Marsh Haymond Willis' earlier years were spent upon his father'a farm, where he obtained a whipcord muscle and a physical development that have served him well as he advanced in life. He became a teacher in the common schools at the early age of sixteen, and for several years there- after his time was given principally to that occupation. At the same time he was industriously engaged in the acquirement of knowledge and the development of his own vigorous and receptive intellect. For a time he was a student at the West Virginia University at Morgantown. Later he entered Valparaiso (Indiana) University, from which he graduated cum laude in 1SS6, being the Valedictorian of his elass of seventy-six members. For a short time he engaged in school teaching in Dakota, Wisconsin and West Virginia, while at the same time he was engaged in reading law. In 1890 he was granted a license to practice in the Circuit Court of Doddridge County, where he resided for a number of years and built up a profitable clientage. His license was signed by the late Judges Thomas 1. Boreman, J. Marshall llagan and Thomas Perry Jacobs. In 1900 he was named without opposition in convention as the republican candidate for judge of the Fourth Judicial Circuit to fill the unexpired term of Hon. Romeo H. Freer, who had resigned to accept a seat in Congress. He was elected and immediately entered upon the duties of his office. All of the counties of this circuit were in the oil belt and the work was very heavy. The Legislature of 1903 rearranged the judicial circuits, and in so doing took off Ritchie County, leaving Doddridge, Tyler and Wetzel together, and called the new eircuit the Second instead of the

Fourth. His work on the bench was so satisfactory to the bar and the people generally that he was renominated without opposition, and was re-elected for the full term of eight years.

Judge Willis while on the Circuit Bench moved his residence to New Martinsville, Wetzel County, and here since being relieved of his judicial responsibilities he has done some of his best work as a lawyer. In 1887 Judge Willis married Anita Magness, of Waterloo, lowa. Their marriage was blessed with one child, Frances Louise, born January 21, 1892, and this daughter was with them until nearly ten years of age, her death occurring September 15, 1901.

JAMES H. ANDERSON. When, in the early part of the year 1921, this sterling citizen of Parkersburg turned over to bis son the active control and management of the well equipped retail grocery establishment which he had long and success- fully conducted, he had the distinction of being the oldest retail grocer of this city in point of consecutive identifieation with this line of enterprise, Mr. Anderson has been a resident of Parkersburg since 1878, and his course as a business man and loyal citizen has been so ordered as to gain and retain to him high place in the confidence and esteem of this com- munity.

Mr. Anderson was born in the City of Washington, D. C., on the 2d of December, 1853, and is a seion of a family that was founded in America prior to the war of the Revolution. The original American representatives eame from England, and the lineage shows a staunch English strain for many generations, with a vitalizing element of Irish blood. Jesse Anderson, great-grandfather of the subject of this review, was a soldier in the War of 1812 and lived to be more than 100 years of age. Hia son Thomas was the grandfather of him whose name initiates this sketch. William Thomas Anderson, father of James H., was a blacksmith by trade and followed his sturdy vocation in the national capital until after the close of the Civil war, when he removed to Pitts- burgh, Pennsylvania, where he passed the remainder of his life. His widow, whose maiden name was Mahala Skidmore, was born in Alexandria County, Virginia, and after his death she returned to Washington, D. C., in which city her death occurred in 1904.

James H. Anderson found his boyhood and earlier youth marked by the disturbed conditions of the Civil war, and thia fact, together with the absence of free schools and the necessity of his aiding in the support of the other members of the family, caused his early educational advantages to be notable primar- ily for their absence. He did not learn to read or write until after he was seventeen years of age, but his alert mind and persevering effort enabled him to overcome in large measure his early educational handicap, and by self-discipline, careful reading and study and active association with men and affairs he effected a normal educational development in the passing years, with the result that he is a man of broad information and mature judgment. Until he had attained to the age of twenty-four years Mr. Anderson followed various vocations, including farm work, blacksmithing, railroading, milling, steamboating, operation of stationcry engines, etc. In 1876 and 1877, under two special enlistments, he served in the United States Navy, on the United States steamships "Talla- poosa " and "Gedney." After receiving his final discharge from the latter vessel he forthwith made hia way to Parkers- burg, West Virginia, where for the first year he was employed as helper in a blacksmith shop. In this period he saved the sum of twenty-five dollars, and with this limited capital he then established himself in the green-grocer's business. His initial enterprise, as may readily be understood, was eon- ducted on a very modest seale, but fair and honorable dealings and effective service eaused his business to expand year after year, with the result that eventually his retail grocery estab- lishment became one of the best equipped and most liberally supported in the city. He still retains his interest in the busi- ness, though since the early part of 1921 he has given its active management over to his son, who is well upholding the prestige of the family name in connection with thia substan- tial enterprise.

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History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 2, Part 168

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