History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 2, Part 170

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Andrew C. Brewster was reared on the old home fari and for many years continued his successful alliance wi farm industry in McDowell County. In early years he w: a great hunter, and he made a record of killing more the 1,200 bears, he having been widely and familiarly known : "Uncle Fuller." In 1897 he removed with his family . Welch, the county seat, where he became associated wi his son Clinton D. in the mercantile business and engage also in the real estate business. He was active and i fluential in politics, and he served as county assessor, coun' jailer, member of the City Council and finally as may of Welch. He was a republican and was a zealous memb of the Christian Church, as is also his widow, who st resides at Welch, where he died in 1915, at the age sixty-five years. John Daniel Brewster, eldest of the ch: dren, was a merchant at Newhall at the time of his deat when fifty years of age; Robert G. is now an extensi

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ange grower and real estate dealer in the State of Florida; r. Glen W., ef this sketch, was next in order of birth; ad Clinton D. is individually mentioned in a personal cord on ether pages of this werk. The father was a Idier of the Confederate service in the war between the orth and the South.

After the discipline of the public schools at Welch Dector rewster continued his studies in Tazewell College, Taze- ell, Virginia. At the age of eighteen he entered the medical partment of the Louisville Medical College, Kentucky, in hich he was graduated in 1903, with the degree of Doctor ' Medieine. After a short period of practice at Welch he rved as railroad surgeon and physician in various con- ruction camps during the building of the Norfolk & estern Railroad lines through this section of West Vir- nia, in which capacity he cared for the ill and injured, hospitals being then available, so that he often per- rmed operations on patients who were placed on tables .provised of beards and placed in tents or primitive eabins. e finally engaged in practice at Davy, MeDowell County, here he also conducted a drug store five years. He then is engaged in practice for a brief interval at Ashland, entucky, and upon his return to his native county he en- iged in mine and private practice at Rederfield, where he s since continued his earnest and effective ministration in s exacting profession. The doctor is a republican, is filiated with the American Medical Association, the West irginia State Medical Society and the McDowell County edical Society. He and his wife are active members of e Christian Church.

In 1903 Dector Brewster married Miss Beatrice Hardin, .ughter of James Hardin, the marriage ceremony having curred the day after his graduation in medical college. rs. Brewster was born in Henry County, West Virginia. . and Mrs. Brewster have three children: Lester C., is, 1922, a student in the Kentucky Military Institute, and preparing to enter the medieal department of the Uni- rsity of Louisville, with the intention of specializing in rgery, as has his father, both as a student and practitioner. le younger children are both daughters, Pearl and Millie arie, both at the parental home and attending school.

HARRY A. McCoy is superintendent of Mines Nos. 1, 2, 4 and 5 of the Dexcar Pocahontas Coal Company at Twin ·anch and Hensley, McDowell County, and maintains his ecutive headquarters at Twin Branch.

Mr. McCoy was born at Yellow Branch, Campbell County, rginia, June 10, 1885, and is a son of Dr. James W. and iney (Barnes) MeCoy. Doctor McCoy died at Twin anch, March 18, 1922, aged sixty-eight years. He had en formerly physician in charge of mine practice at Big ndy, this county. The doctor came to the West Virginia al fields of this district at the initiation of development ork, in 1891, at the time when the Norfolk & Western tilroad was extending its line into this district. He was rn in Virginia in 1854, was graduated in the medical partment ef the University of Pennsylvania as a mem- r of the class of 1876, and became a pieneer physician d surgeon at the Pawnee Indian Agency in Indian Terri- ry, where he remained until 1881. Thereafter he was gaged in practice in Virginia, at Lynchburg and Rust- ry, until 1891, when he came to McDowell County, West rginia, and established his residence at Welch, his early actice here having been principally in railroad con- quetion camps on the Norfolk & Western. He thus con- med until 1894, and thereafter was engaged in practice Lynchburg, Virginia, until 1901, when he became fysician in a large sawmill and timber camp in South rolina. In 1903 he returned to MeDowell County, where became mine physician and surgcon at Big Sandy. From 16 until his death he resided at Twin Branch and cen- qued his praetice largely to service as relief physician and rgeon in connection with mining operations in this field. le doctor was a republican, was affiliated with the Masonic ternity, was a member of the Presbyterian Church. His dow holds membership in the Methodist Episcopal Church, uth. Of their five children the eldest, John A., has until :ently been in Government service at Washington, D. C.,

as a lumber expert in the quartermaster's department of the United States Army service, he having been in this service during the period of the World war. Carrie, the next younger of the children, is the wife of A. S. Perkins, of Richmond, Virginia. Harry A. is the immediate subjeet of this sketch. Wesley C., who is now in the employ of the New England Coal & Coke Company, at Lowsvillo, West Vir- ginia, served in the World war as a member of the Fifth Kegiment of the United States Marine Corps, was actively identified with the operations of the American ferces on the battle lines in France and later was with the Allied Army of Occupation at Coblenz, Germany. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal of the United States and also the French Croix de Guerre. Thomas R. is an engineer for the Turkey Gap Coal Company at Dott, Mereer County, West Virginia, and in the World war period he served two years as yeoman en the United States Navy Ship Florida, in the North Sea.

Dr. James W. McCoy was a son of Dr. John A. McCoy, who was a surgeon in the United States Army, with the rank of captain, and who was in service with the Fourth Penn- sylvania Cavalry in the Civil war, with the army of General Sherman. In the latter part of the war he was stationed at Lynchburg, Virginia, and he died in Campbell County, that state, at the age of sixty-seven years. The first repre- sentatives of the MeCoy family in America came to this country with the British troops that bere took part in the carly French and Indian war, the original home of the family having been in Scotland. Members of the family were patriot American soldiers in the war of the Revolu- tion. In the Colonial period the family was given, by the United States Government, a grant ef land in Butler County, Pennsylvania, in recognition of service in the Revolutionary war. For many generations the custom of the McCoy family has been to name the first son in each generation John A.

The early educational advantages of Harry A. McCoy included those of the high school at Lynchburg, Virginia, and after leaving school he was employed a year in a shoe factory, later becoming a boekkeeper. He finally became bookkeeper in the home offices of the Virginia Life In- surance Company at Richmond, and his next service was. in the offices of the State Mutual Life Insurance Company at Rome, Georgia. He later served as boekkeeper for the Georgia Engineering & Construction Company, and in 1907 he became pay-roll clerk for the J. B. B. Coal Company at Twin Branch, West Virginia. He made advancement through the grades of service, as supply and shipping clerk, purehasing agent, chief clerk and mine superintendent, and in the last mentioned capacity he is giving effective admin- istration as mine superintendent for the Dexcar Pocahontas Coal Company. In the Masonic fraternity he is a past master of the Blue Lodge at Welch, is affiliated with the Chapter of Royal Arch Masens at Northfork, the Cem- mandery of Knights Templars at Bluefield, and the Temple of the Mystic Shrine in the City of Charleston. The year 1922 finds hin the incumbent ef the office of chancellor eom- mander of Twin Branch Lodge of the Knights of Pythias.

In 1910 Mr. McCoy wedded Miss Esther Mabel Harris, daughter of S. S. Harris, of Davy, McDowell County, and her death occurred in February, 1917. She is survived by two children, John A. and Louise. A daughter, Helen Virginia, died June 15, 1916. In 1918 Mr. MeCey married Miss Naney Ellen Straughan, daughter of W. A. Straughan, of Huntington, this state, and she is the popular chatelaine of their pleasant home.

WILLIAM G. COOPER, who is giving a most excellent ad- ministration as cashier of the Bank of Davy, at Davy, Me- Dowell County, was born at Brushfork, Mercer County, West Virginia, September 28, 1886, and is a son of James A. and Theodosia (Taber) Cooper, who now reside at Athens. this state. James A. Coeper is a son of Captain William A. Cooper, who was in (1921) mayor of Athens and who was eighty-six years of age at the time of his death, December 21, 1921. Captain Cooper was a man of remarkable per- sonality, and his vigor of mind and physical powers indi- eated that the years rested lightly upon him. He was the first mayor of the City of Bluefield, he having owned a

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large tract of land now included in the central part of that city, which was originally known as Cooperstown. The Captain was born in what is now Summers County, West Virginia, the family having been one of prominence in con- nection with the pioneer history of the portion of Virginia now constituting West Virgina. Captain Cooper gained his military title through loyal service as an officer in the Con- federate Army in the Civil war. He is an active member of the Christian Baptist Church and was liberal in the support of churches and schools. He erected the first build- ing of the Concord Normal School, at Athens, this being now a state normal school, and the original building, con- structed in 1871, having been a log structure. The Cap- tain was the oldest member of Concord Lodge No. 48, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, at Athens, and it is interesting to record that his son James A. and the latter's son, William G., the immediate subject of this sketch, are likewise affiliated with this lodge. William G. Cooper now wears the Masonic ring that was worn by his grandfather for many years he having been presented with this heir- loom because he was the first grandson of Captain Cooper to become a Mason. James A. and Theodosia (Tabor) Cooper became the parents of ten children, of whom four sons and four daugthers are living, William G. being eldest of the number.

William G. Cooper was graduated from the West Vir- ginia State Normal School, still known as the Concord Normal, at Athens, and in the pedagogic profession he made an excellent record. He taught one year in the graded schools at Matoaka, Mercer County; two years in a rural school on Crane creek, that county, where he taught the higher branches and his wife the lower branches of study; and he was for two years a popular teacher in the schools at McDowell, McDowell County. In 1915 Mr. Cooper became assistant postmaster at Gary, MeDowell County, where he continued his service in charge of the office until September 8, 1917, when he entered the United States Army for World war service. He was assigned to the Three Hundred and Fifteenth Heavy Artillery, and received his preliminary training at Camp Lee, Virginia. With his command he landed at Bordeaux, France, June 10, 1918, and soon after- ward was on the battle line in the St. Mihiel sector. Later he was at the front on the Meuse-Argonne sector for fifty- six consecutive days. He received a wound in one of his hands, and in November, 1918, was severely gassed. He was serving as ammunition sergeant at the time he was wounded, at Dead Man's Hill, September 26, and after being a victim of gas attack, on the 3d of the following month, at Romaigne, he was sent to the base hospital at Bordeaux, where he was confined until December 20. He was in active service one year and two days, and received his honorable discharge at Camp Lee, Virginia.

After his discharge from the army Mr. Cooper returned to Gary, where he served one year as payroll clerk of Mine No. 11 of the United States Coal Company. Thereafter he was in charge of the Gary Club House until October, 1920, when he hecame assistant cashier of the Bank of Athens, from which he came to accept his present position, that of cashier of the Bank of Davy. His Masonic affiliations in- clude his membership in the Chapter of Royal Arch Ma- sons at Athens. He is also a member of the Eastern Star, Athens Chapter No. 33. He is a member also of the Amer- ican Legion. He and his wife, Placette, a daughter of Joseph Thompson, are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, at Athens.

FRANK JEROME COLLISON, M. D., has been engaged in his duties as a physician and surgeon for thirty years, and has been located at Bluefield since 1917 as medical examiner of the Relief and Pension Departments of the Norfolk & Western Railway. Doctor Collison for a number of years practiced at Columbus, Ohio, and both there and in West Virginia is recognized as a man of unusually high attain- ments in his profession.

He was born in Washington County, Ohio, September 3, 1867, son of William and Drusilla (Nulton) Collison. His parents were natives of Ohio, where his father devoted his life to the farm and to his home and family.

Doctor Collison attended the common schools of his nave county, graduated from the high school at Beverly, O0, in 1885, and finished the scientific course in the Natical Normal University at Lebanon, Ohio. Following that br three years he taught school in Colorado, and then returnd East and began the study of medicine in the medical e- partment of the University of Maryland at Baltime After graduating he took one year's special course in gery at the Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia d for two years was an interne in the Massachusetts Hospal for the Insane at Bridgewater. All these were yearsof earnest preparation for his independent practice at a physician and surgeon, which he carried on at Colum's Ohio, until 1917, when he removed to Bluefield for is special duties as medical examiner for the Norfolk & W't ern Railway. His official duties comprise a wide rangeof work, since all the injured in accidents are attended y him, and this means a great deal of surgical work. district extends from Walton to Davey and all the int- mediate branches. He has three assistants.

In 1890, at Columbus, Ohio, Doctor Collison married 338 Mae O'Hara, daughter of Michael and Nancy O'Ha, natives of Ohio. Dr. and Mrs. Collison are members of ie Methodist Episcopal Church, South. He is a member if the County, State and American Medical Associations the Association of Railway Surgeons, and fraternally is affiliated with the Masonic Lodge, Woodmen of the Wod, Elks and Knights of Pythias.

EDWARD WALDSCHMIDT is a native of Alsace, wherele gained his common school education and learned a trae, but he sought his opportunities in America, and in this cca- try has extended his energies in various forms of usul service, has established a family, an honored name, and years has been one of the prominent business men and vi- zens of Parkersburg, where he is president of the Ical Corrugated Box Company.

Mr. Waldschmidt was born in Alsace, France, Febrny 22, 1862, son of Daniel and Elizabeth (Frauenfeld.) Waldschmidt. His father was a customs officer on the Rlie until 1870, when he became a pensioner of the French C. ernment. He and his wife had four sons and six daughts. The oldest son, Fred, served in the French Army in le Franco-Prussian war, was captured at Metz and held a F3. oner six months at Magdeburg, and when the war was er in 1871 he came to the United States, being the first of ie family to become an American. He died at Pittsburghn 1919. Several of his sons were soldiers in the Amerin. Army during the World war. All four sons of Dael Waldschmidt came at different times to the United Stres and two of them Parkersburg has claimed as citizens.

Edward Waldschmidt had a common school educata, served an apprenticeship at the shoemaker's trade in Als: 9, and at the age of eighteen left his native land to begin is real life in America. In 1883, at the age of twenty-one, se joined his older brother, Fred, in a shoe mannfacturg establishment at Pittsburgh. In 1885 they bought a facty at Watsontown, Pennsylvania, where the two factories wie consolidated. Mr. Edward Waldschmidt sold his interest.D this business in 1898, and for six years following was sujr- intendent of a factory at Tyrone, Pennsylvania. W le there he manufactured goods for the Graham-Bumgarr Company, then a jobbing house making a specialty of shes at Parkersburg. Eventually the Graham-Bumgarner C1- pany decided to establish a factory of its own for the mal- facture of workmen's shoes, and Mr. Waldschmidt was 1. vited to come to Parkersburg and supervise the establishmit and management of the factory. Thus he became a ri- dent of the city in 1906, and for nine years was super tendent of the Graham-Bumgarner Company's facty. This, it may be stated incidentally, was the first factoryif its kind in West Virginia. Since then Mr. Waldschmid's business interests have taken on a broad scope. In All 1915, he and two others organized the Ideal Corrugated Jx Company. He has been president from the beginning, d. though the original plant and capital were small it is 1w rated as one of the important industries of Parkersburg :d

Edward. Waldschmidt

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ne of the few factories that have experienced practically ao t up in times of depression.

Mr. Waldschmidt is thoroughly American in spirit as well ; in the letter of geed citizenship. He is a member of the oard of Commerce at Parkersburg, a Presbyterian, a re- ublican, and a member of the Mnsonic Order. In 1890 he arried Miss Rosanna Kamp, of Turbotville, Pennsylvania. hree children were born to their marriage: Chester, who ied in infancy; Martha E., wife ef B. B. Reger, and they ave one child, Evelyn Catherine; and Catherine M.

JAMES B. EADES, D. O. Immediately on graduating as Doctor of Osteopathy Doctor Eades entered the medical rvice of the Navy during the World war, and was on uty over six months with the rank of lieutenant. Then fter a post-graduate course he located for practice at luefield, where he enjoys an exceptionally high standing ot enly with the public but with the older schools of edicine as well.

Doctor Eades was born at Roanoke, Virginia, February 1892, son of William Henry and Alice (Nash) Eades. is parents were born in Virginia. His grandfather Eades as a native of Scotland. His grandfather Nash came from reland, and served in the Civil war, being shot at the attle of Bull Run and dying frem his wounds. William [. Eades has for a number of years been a mechanie in the rvice of the Norfolk & Western Railway Company.

James B. Eades attended the common and high schools t Roanoke, also was a student in Roaneke College at alem, Virginia, and prepared for his profession in the merican School of Osteopathy at Kirksville, Missouri, here he graduated D. O. in June, 1918.

In the meantime, on May 24, 1918, he volunteered his rvices and went to Washington, D. C., as an officer in le Medical Corps of the first Navy Hospital. For one oath he was assigned to duty in the Dispensary at the avy Yard in Nerfolk, Virginia. and then was put in the . S. Naval Base Hospital at Hampton Roads, where he as connected with the surgical staff in the operating room nd continued on duty until January 4, 1919, when he was lieved and returned te Roanoke. He is still a member of le Medical Reserve Cerps, subject to call.

On leaving the army Doctor Eades went te Chicage and ent a year in the Chicago School of Osteopathy. January 0, 1920, he located at Bluefield, and is the leading repre- atative of Osteopathy in the city, and a large part of is practice has come to him on recommendation from ›presentatives of the old schools of medicine.

Doeter Eades has a very able helper and assistant in is professien in Mrs. Eades, an accomplished young woman, ctive socially and looking after the office routine of Decter 'ades. Dr. and Mrs. Eades were married at Kirksville, [issouri, in May, 1918. Her maiden name was Harriet ula Smith, and she also belongs te an eld family ef oanoke, Virginia, being a daughter of Samuel Henry and ney Cora (Nowlin) Smith, natives of Virginia. Both the randfathers of Mra. Eades were in the Civil war, her randfather Nowlin on the Confederate side and her grand- ather Smith in the Union Army. Grandfather Nowlin died t the advanced age of eighty-nine. Doctor Eades is a mem- er ef the State and American Associations of Osteopathy, i a member of the Kiwanis Club, and is a Royal Arch and night Templar Mason and Shriner. He and Mrs. Eades re members of the Methedist Church, South.

WILLIAM MCKINLEY MAYS is one of the vigoreus and enterprising younger citizens of Bluefield, where he is man- ger of the Bluefield Bottling Company. This company is ne of three bettling plants operated by the Keystone bottling Company or the C. W. Elliott & Company. The usiness was started at Bluefield on a small scale in 1907. ad in recent years it has enjeved remarkable growth and spansion. Only recently Mr. Mays took possession of a omplete new plant in a new building specially erected at Inefield Avenue and Cherry Street.

Mr. Mays was born at Levelrun, Pittsylvania County, irginia, December 16, 1896. son of W. R. and Queen :lizabeth (Jacobs) Mays. W. R. Mays was a substantial

tobacco farmer in Virginia, and died in March, 1921, at tho age of sixty. He was a democrat and a Baptist. He was four times married, and altogether had fourteen children. William McKinley Mays was tho oldest of these ehildren and was a small child when his mother died. He acquired his early education in home schools, and finished with six nontha in Valparaise University in Indiana. At the age of eighteen he was at werk driving a six mule team on road construction. He did that for fifteen months, and for nine months worked aa a car repairer at Kimball, West Vir- ginia, for the Nerfolk and Western Railroad. On leaving that service the Virginia Bridge Company employed him four days at Roanoke, Virginia, and he left that to enter the employ of the Keystone Bottling Company at Norfolk. Ten days later he was transferred to Williamson, West Virginia, as bottler, and after nine months was promoted te manager of the plant.

He was still at Williamson when he volunteered his service to the Government at the time of the World war. He was assigned te duty with the Merchant Marine at Boston, and for three months was on a training ship and the rest of the time he did the heavy manual labor ef coal heaver. He still has a reminder of his service in the loss of one finger. Mr. Mays received his discharge in February, 1919, and returned to Williamson and a month later was made manager of the business at Bluefield. He is a popular citizen of this industrial eity, is a member of the Loyal Order of Moose and a democrat in politics.

PATRICK J. KELLEY has been a resident of Bluefield sinee 1890, was one of the first merchant tailers of the city, and his interests have kept apace with the expansion of this commercial and industrial city through all the years. He is president of the Husbands Creamery Company and presi- dent of the National Armature Company, two of the lead- ing industries of the city.

Mr. Kelley was bern at Pottsville, Pennsylvania, March 12, 1865, son of John J. and Ellen F. (Nolan) Kelley. His parents were natives of Ireland, his father ef Tipperary and his mother of Kilkenney. They came to the United States when young people, were married at Pottsville, Pennsyl- vania, and spent the rest of their lives in Schuylkill County. John J. Kelley was a coal miner, and died at the age of sixty-three, and his wife survived him until 1917, when she passed away at the age of ninety-six. They were devout Catholics. Of their nine children Patrick was next to the youngest. The other two still living are at Pottsville, James, formerly in the real estate business, and Mrs. John P. Bell.

Patrick J. Kelley when only eight years of age was em- ployed as a breaker hoy at the coal mines, picking out the slate. At the age of eleven he began an apprenticeship nt the barber's trade. but four years later took up tailering. In the meantime he attended school when time and other duties permitted.

It was his knowledge and experience of the tailoring busi- ness that he brought as his chief capital to Bluefield when be located in the small and muddy village in 1890. He conducted a tailoring shop on Raleigh Street. In later years Mr. Kelley became interested in a broader scope of business and in 1907 was one of the organizers of the Blue- field Brewing Company, and served as its vice president and general manager. When the brewery was converted into a creamery he became president of the business. The National. Armature Company, of which he is president, is an industry occupying part of the brewery plant. He is also a director of the Flat Tep National Bank.

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History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 2, Part 170

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