History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 2, Part 172

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Mr. Hood's commision as postmaster of Keyser wa under date of January 30, 1922. He took the office unde the civil service rules, and in his examination he was hea of the list of applicants of three persons for the postoffice He succeeded Postmaster Philip H. Keys. The way he too hold of the postoffice administration was characteristic o

E. E. Hood

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is vigor, and he has done all in his power to improve the icilities of the service. In the country districts around .eyser are three star routes and one rural free delivery oute, and exchanges of mail from other postofficea occur aily.

In giving a record of his more formal public service, rst mention may be made of his appointment in 1895 as ssistant clerk of the House of Delegates. In 1897 he waa ade clerk of that body. Early the next year, with the out- reak of the Spanish-American war, he was commisisoned aptain of Company L of the Eighth United States Volun- er Infantry, July 21, 1898. He served until April 1, $99. He received his commission from President Mc- 'inley, and was on duty at Camp Thomas at Fort Thomas, Kentucky, and at Chickamauga Park, Georgia, where the egiment was mustered out at the end of the war.

Mr. Hood has been secretary of every republican state Davention for the paat twenty years, and was on the state ommittee of the party until he resigned when appointed ostmaster. He has had an extensive acquaintance with tate leaders of the party, including the late Senator tephen B. Elkins, whom he knew intimately, and also udge Goff, whose personal friendship largely influenced im to come to West Virginia, and it was through the nancial assistance supplied by the judge and senator that e was able to establish the Huntington Herald. Outaide f this Mr. Hood has known personally President Mckinley nd Colonel Roosevelt, and was chairman of the reception ommittee when Mr. Roosevelt visited Charleston as a candi- ate for vice president.

In 1905 he was parliamentary secretary to Honorable 'red Paul Grossenp, speaker of the House of Delegates, and a 1907 was secretary to Honorable Joseph H. McDermott, resident of the West Virginia State Senate. During the World war he was chairman of the War Savings organiza- ion in Mineral County, chairman of the Salvation Army rives and a member of all the Liberty Loan drives in the ounty. He is a charter member of the Rotary Club at Keyser, and he and his family are Presbyterians.

At Ironton, Ohio, in April, 1885, Mr. Hood married Miss Jessie Cole, daughter of Henry Cole. She died in 901, mother of the following children: Lena, wife of G. T. Williams, of Charleston; Frank E., of Charleston, an insur- nce man who married Belva Santrock; and Mary, wife of 3. A. Hamilton, a dentist at Wheeling. At Bane, Virginia, a September, 1913, Mr. Hood married Mrs. Kate Renick, langhter of William Phillips, of Fayetteville, West Vir- rinia. Mrs. Hood was born in Fayette County, West Virginia, and at the time of her marriage was serving is deputy county clerk there. She and Mr. Hood have one langhter, Catherine, born June 4, 1914.

ERNEST FISHER HEASLEY, president of the American Ex- port & Inland Coal Corporation, was for a number of rears a resident and active business man of Huntington, out recently removed to Cincinnati, His career as a coal operator and also his service as a soldier in the World war ire properly credited to West Virginia.

Mr. Heasley was born October 15, 1888, at Zaleski, Vinton County in Southern Ohio, son of H. H. and Ida (Randall) Heasley, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of New York, Ernest F. Heasley was reared ind educated in Southern Ohio, and attended finally Ohio University at Athena. On leaving school he began his busi- less career as stenographer in a railroad office, was pro- noted to chief clerk and then became secretary of the Kanawha Operators Association (Coal), which position he meld for two years. About that time America entered the struggle against the Central Powera, and Mr. Heasley made mia first attempt to get into the army, but was rejected on account of light weight. Subsequently he was accepted as a private in the One Hundred and Twelfth Machine Gun Battalion of the Twenty-ninth Division. He was with this division in all its engagements in France. On October 20, 1918, three weeks before the signing of the armistice, he was wounded at Consevoye. Then followed two months in hospital, and after his return to this country he was mastered ont on June 3, 1919.

After his military experience he resumed his business connections with the coal industry in West Virginia, and soon became head of the American Export and Inland Coal Corporation, which he organized. Mr. Heasley is a demo- crat, ia a thirty-accond degree Scottish Rite Mason and Shriner, and a member of the Cincinnati Gym, and several Masonic clubs. He is a Methodist.

On December 5, 1916, at New York City, he married Miss Marion Scott, daughter of Francis Scott, of New York and London.

ELBERT W. GUM is one of the representative young men of the Village of Camden on Gauley, Webster County, where he is cashier of the Lanes Bottom Bank.

Mr. Gum was born at Monterey, Virginia, November 4, 1895, a son of William E. and Sallie M. (Taylor) Gum, the former of whom likewise was born at Monterey, on the 10th of May, 1873, and the latter of whom was born in the same year, in Pocahontas County, West Virginia, where their marriage was solemnized. The father is now a progressive farmer and contractor at Monterey, Virginia, is a republican in political adherency, is affiliated with the Masonic fraternity and the Independent Order of Odd Fellowa, in which latter he is a past noble grand, and he and bis wife are active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Of the nine children the subject of this review is the eldest; Walter C. waa graduated in the high school and thereafter attended Randolph-Macon College, Ashland, Virginia, and also Emery

University at Atlanta, Georgia; Grace graduated in the high schools and attended also one of the normal schoola of Virginia; Harry, likewise a high school graduate, attended the Massey Buai- ness College, Richmond, Virginia; Fred graduated from the high school, in which Robert is a student at the time of this writing, in 1922; and the younger members of the parental home circle are Mildred, Paul and Pearl.

Reared on the home farm and profiting by the advantages of the public schools of his native place, Elbert W. Gun thereafter completed an effective course in the Dunsmore Business College. He gained valuable experience in the banking institution at Monterey, Virginia, and subsequently "took a position in the offices of the Kanawha Banking & Trust Company in the City of Charleston, West Virginia. Three months later, within a few months after the nation beeame involved in the World war, Mr. Gum enlisted for service in the Three Hundred and Thirteenth Ambulance Company, with which he was on active duty in France from July 10, 1918, to June 1, 1919, he having been with his command in the Argonne sector and having there been asso- ciated with the defensive activities of the Allies, and his experience covered much of the strenuous tension incidental to the great conflict. After his return to the United States and the receiving of his discharge Mr. Gum resumed his position with the Kanawha Banking & Trust Company, with which he continued his service until March 1, 1921, when he assumed his present responsible office, that of cashier of the Lanes Bottom Bank at Camden on Gauley, his wife being a stockholder in this institution.

Mr. Gum is a democrat, and in the Masonic fraternity is a member of Highland Lodge No. 110, A. F. and A. M., also has received the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite, besides being identified with Beni-Kedem Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Charleston. He married Miss Myrtle Brook, of Charleston, she being a graduate of the high school and having attended Marshall College. Mrs. Gum is a most popular figure in the leading social activities of her home community.

HARRY D. KARNES bas served efficiently as Mercer County clerk of the Circuit Court since 1914, he having been re- elected to thia office by a gratifying majority, in November, 1920. He was born near Spanishburg, this county, Febru- ary 25, 1875, and is a son of Russell Floyd Karnes and Sarah Elizabeth (Thompson) Karnes, the former of whom was born in Summers County, this state, and the latter in Tazewell County, Virginia. Russell F. Karnes was born February 25, 1845, and his death occurred on the 6th of July, 1921, his wife having passed away February 14, 1912,

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at the age of sixty-two years. All of the married life of the parents was passed on their homestead farm on Blue- stone River, Mercer County. Russell F. Karnes was one of the first republicans in Mercer County, and though he had no ambition for public office, he served one term as deputy sheriff of the county. He was a member of the Baptist Church and his wite held membership in the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. The Karnes family was early settled at Salem, Virginia, whence the original representa- tives in the present State of West Virginia came and settled in Summers County, removal to Mercer County having been made about the year 1845. Russell F. Karnes was a loyal soldier of the Confederacy in the Civil war. He became the father of three children, of whom the eldest, Opie O., is serving as justice of the peace at Princeton; Harry D. of this sketch is the second of the number; and William A. is a farmer near Spanishburg, this county.

After having attended Princeton Academy, in his present home city Harry D. Karnes entered Emory & Henry College, Virginia, in which he was graduated in 1900, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. He had taught two schools in Mercer County to aid in defraying the expenses of his college course, and between college semesters he likewise taught school two terms. After his graduation he became in- structor in mathematics and science at the Concord Normal School, Athens, West Virginia, and among those who at- tended his classes are many who are now prominent busi- ness and professional men.

In 1904 Mr. Karnes established his residence at Prince- ton, where he purchased an insurance agency and developed a large business as a life, fire and accident underwriter. This enterprise, conducted under the title of the People's Insurance Agency, is now one of the foremost in the city. Mr. Karnes in his early youth was determined to obtain a liberal education, and he is equally insistent at the present time in giving to his children the best possible educational advantages. He and his wife are active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and he is affiliated with the Masonic fraternity, including the Commandery of Knights Templars at Bramwell and the Temple of the Mystic Shrine in the City of Charleston. He is a member also of the Knights of Pythias and of the Mercer County Country Club.

Ou the 18th of June, 1902, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Karnes and Miss Sallie E. Dangerfield, who was born and reared in Mercer County, a daughter of R. C. Danger- field. Mr. and Mrs. Karnes have five children: Elizabeth, Virginia, Margaret, Richard and Francis.

LOWERY G. BOWLING, the efficient and popular County Court clerk of Mercer County, and a valued member of the executive corps at the Court House in the City of Princeton, was born on the family homestead farm near Spanishburg, this county, January 7, 1883, and is a son of Thomas J. and Virginia F. (Karnes) Bowling, repre- sentatives of honored pioneer families of this section of West Virginia. The parents are still living at the time of this writing, in the winter of 1921, the father being eighty-one and the mother seventy-six years of age. Jesse I., a brother of Thomas J. Bowling, died in 1921, at the age of eighty-three years, and another brother, Wilson Lee Bowling, died in August of the same year, at the age of eighty-five years, the family having been notable for longevity. John Bowling, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was a native of one of the eastern counties of Virginia, and became one of the prosperous pioneer farmers of Mercer County, West Virginia, as now constituted, his old bomestead having been on Bluestone Creek. Thomas J. Bowling upheld the prestige of the family name in con- nection with farm industry in Mercer County, and as a gallant soldier of the Confederacy he took part in many engagements, including the battle of Gettysburg. He had many narrow escapes from severe wounds, the buckle of his belt having been shot away on one occasion and the heel of his boot on another. He and bis wife have long been earnest members of the Missionary Baptist Church, in which he has served twenty-five years as a deacon. He has been a successful agriculturist and stock-grower, has been

influential in community affairs and is a staunch democr in politics. His wife is a daughter of the late Madis‹ Karnes, likewise a native of Virginia, and the two famili were pioneer neighbors in Mercer County. Lowery G. Bow ing was eighth in order of birth in a family of eleven ch dren, of whom seven sons and one daughter are living Walter P., who resides at Hinton, Summers County, h: served as sheriff of that county and also as clerk of tl County Court; Mack M. resides at Springfield, Illinois, ar is a passenger-train conductor on the Wabash Railroad Arthur L. is assistant cashier of the Bank of Princetor Otie H. is a farmer near the old homestead of his father, Grover C. is a merchant at Logan, this state; Luther ] is a farmer near Spanishburg; and Emma is the wife ( Daniel R. Day, a farmer near Kegley, Mercer County.

Lowery G. Bowling was reared on the home farm ar gained his early education in the schools at Spanishbur; At the age of twenty-one years be found employment in saw-mill camp, thereafter he clerked in a general store nea Spanishburg, and he was next employed by the Flat Tc. Grocery Company at Bluefield. For three years thereafte he was an express messenger ou the Norfolk & Wester Railroad, and he then became a merchant at Rock, Merce County, and at Bluefield, this county. From 1911 to 191 he was engaged in the real estate business at Bluefield, an in the latter year he was elected to his present office, the of County Court clerk. Though he is a democrat in a count that normally gives a large republican majority, he ws elected by a majority of 230 votes on the occasion of hi first election, and by a majority of 634 in the election o November, 1920. He served one term as a member of th City Council of Bluefield, and from his early youth ha been active in local politics. Mr. Bowling is a member o the Mercer County Country Club, is affiliated with the Blu Lodge, Chapter and Commandery of the Masonic fraternity and with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks 8 Bluefield,. His wife is an active member of the Methodis Episcopal Church, South.

The year 1906 recorded the marriage of Mr. Bowling an; Miss Leota Odell, daughter of Jacob E. Odell, of Bluefield and the five sons of this union are: Thurman J., Lowery G Jr., Billie E. Herbert and Samuel M.

WALTER M. FERGUSON started out in life with a stron; ambition to be a merchant, and merchandising has con stituted his active career so far. He is still a comparativel; young man, and is one of the highly respected busines men of Bluefield, owning a high class grocery establish ment at 406 Bland Street.

He was born on a farm near New Hope in Mercer County May 25, 1884, son of William Riley and Mary Jane (Carr Ferguson. His father was born in Franklin County and hi mother in Montgomery County, Virginia. William Riley Ferguson was a child when his mother brought him t Mercer County, and they located on the farm where Walte: Ferguson was born and where William Riley spent his active career as a substantial farmer. He died in September, 1918 at the age of seventy-three. He was a youthful Confederate soldier and was on guard duty at Richmond at the close of the war. He was affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, having been about sixty years of age when he joined this order, and on account of his popularity and his influence, was accepted at that age. Mrs. Ferguson diec December 4, 1918, at the age of sixty-eight. Her family consisted of three sons and three daughters, all living Walter being the fourth in age.

Walter Ferguson attended school at New Hope, and was on the farm until he was twenty years of age. The first accumulation of capital he was able to make came from his work as a teamster. After getting about $100 he started a little store on Peck Street in Bluefield in 1905. He was in business there about two years, and after that had charge of the grocery department of H. A. Lilly & Company until 1915. In that year be again entered business for himself as. a grocery merchant, at Jones and Bland streets, buying his store on credit from Mr. Lilly, the arrangement being that he was to pay $50 a month on the stock and equipment. He had a successful trade there, but sold out after five years,

Walter M. Ferguson

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ad then for a few months conducted a business at Mullins. October, 1920, Mr. Ferguson resumed his business rela- ons with Bluefield and at his present location. Owing to s many frienda and wide acquaintance he was successful ith the business from the very beginning. Ho has always sisted on a square deal, and his integrity as a merchant as brought him an honored place both in business and in vic circles.

In 1908 he married Miss Ocie Perdue, daughter of O. Perdue, of Brush Fork. Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson ivo a son, Walter M., Jr., and their only daughter, Marie, ed at the age of five years. They are members of the race Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and Mr. Fergu- n is on its board of stewards. He is affiliated with the nproved Order of Red Men, Independent Order of Odd ellows, is a democrat and a member of the Chamber of mmerce.

DANIEL W. REYNOLDS passed his entire life in Pleasanta ounty, West Virginia, was a representative of an honored oneer family of that part of the state, and in his personality ·d achievement he made for himself a place of no minor stinction and influence in connection with civic and business airs in his native county, especially in connection with the velopment of the oil industry. He was born in Pleasants ounty in the year 1859, and was a son of Isaac and Cassadora 'illa) Reynolds. His paternal grandfather, Daniel Reynolds, is the pioneer founder of the family in what is now West rginia. This sterling pioneer obtained land on an island in e Ohio River, opposite St. Marys, Pleasanta County, and ere instituted the reclamation of a farm from the wilder- ss. His son Isaac likewise became a farmer in that locality, d was comparatively a young man at the time of his death, ter which, in order to provide for her family, his widow con- Acted a hotel at St. Marys, at the time when the railroad was ing constructed to that place.

Daniel W. Reynolds was the third in a family of eight ildren, and owing to the death of his father his carly educa- ponal advantages were somewhat limited. But he had the hbition and determined purpose which brook no such handi- ps, and this is clearly shown in the fact that when he was l:t sixteen years of age he had so advanced himself aa to come a successful teacher in the schools of his native county. a popular representative of the pedagogic profession he ·ved for a time as principal of the public schools at St. arys, the county seat. Thereafter he waa for some time gaged in the marketing of railroad ties, in the period of Idroad construction in that section of the state, and when was discovered in Pleasants County he was influential in listing outside capital for the development of the industry his native county. Ile also became a successful operator connection with oil production, and through his well ·ected activities he accumulated a substantial fortune. He is one of the organizers of the Pleasants County Bank at

Marys, and became the owner alao of a large amount valuable real estate in his native county. Mr. Reynolds is a man of fine intellectual ken and of exceptional civic Iralty. Ile waa a staunch democrat, and as the candi- te of his party was twice elected sheriff of Pleasants County. ) was an earnest member of the Baptist Church, as is also li widow, was a zealous advocate of the cause of temperance ad was affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellowa. I: married Miss Addie Lewis Johnson, a daughter of the late illiam Johnson, who was long an honored and influential tizen of Wood County. Mrs. Reynolds now maintaina her Ime at Boaz, West Virginia. Her husband pasacd to the life ernal in June, 1901, honored by all who knew him and known { one of the representative citizens of Pleasanta County. Ir. Reynolds is survived also by two sona, Dan Howard and thur Hiett, who are associated in business in the City of Irkersburg and concerning whom specific mention ia made i following paragraphs.

Dan Howard Reynolda was born at St. Marys, West Vir- Hija, on the 20th of August, 1892, there received his early fucation in the public schools, and he completed his higher (cipline by attending Marietta College at Marietta, Ohio. : haa been auccessfully identified with the real estate, insur- ce and oil businesa, in which lines of enterprise he is now Bociated with his brother, with office and reaidence in the

City of Parkersburg. He is an active member of the Parkera- burg Board of Commerce, the Kiwania Club, the local lodge of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and in' the Masonic fraternity he has received the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite, besides holding membership in the Mystic Shrine. Both he and his brother are numbered among the popular and progressive young business men of Parkers- burg. May 19, 1915, recorded the marriage of Mr. Reynolds and Miss Ethyl Marie Fenton, of Williamstown, Wood County.

Arthur Hiett Reynolds was born at St. Marya on the 23d of September, 1896, and hia youthful education included a full course in Denison University at Granville, Ohio, in which he was graduated as a member of the class of 1918. In June, of that year he enlisted in the coast artillery branch of the national military service in connection with the World war, and later he was transferred to the chemical branch of the Ordnance Department, in which he eventually became a powder inspector in the Government power plant at Nitro, West Virginia, where he continued his service until he re- ceived his honorable discharge on the 5th of February, 1919, since which time he has been associated with hia brother in their successful business enterprise at Parkersburg. He has received the thirty-second degree of Scottish Rite Masonry, is identified also with the Mystic Shrine, and is a popular member of Parkersburg Lodge of the Benevolent and Pro- tective Order of Elka. The brothers conduct their business under the firm name of Reynolds & Reynolda, with offices at 5011/2 Juliana Street.

CHARLES P. MORRISON. Among the representative citizens and worth-while men of Parkersburg, West Virginia, few com- mand more universal respect or enjoy higher esteem over wider territory than Charles P. Morrison, vice president of the Commercial Bank & Trust Company, who has been iden- tified with business activities of large importance in this sec- tion for thirty-four yeara. On retiring from longer active participation in the same he can look back on an honorable career of sterling achievement in the mercantile world. Mr. Morrison was born in Wood County, West Virginia. August 31, 1847. His parents were Hamilton and Jane G. (Simpson) (Dunham) Morrison.

The founder of the Morrison family in Wood County was Hamilton Morrison, the grandfather of Charlea P. fle came to the United States from Ireland and in making his way to West Virginia at that early day followed the old Braddock trial through Pennsylvania and finally located below what is now Williamstown, but then was Williamsport, then in Vir- ginia, the year being about 1790. Ifc was a farmer and weaver, and evidently a responsible citizen, as his name ap- pears as serving on the first grand jury summoned in Wood County. He married Margaret lloagland, and they had three sons: Cornelius, William and Hamilton. After Cor- nelius married he moved to Indiana and died there, and after William married he moved to Ohio and spent the rest of his life in that state.

The third son, Hamilton Morrison, was born June 6, 1803. on the pioneer farm in Wood County, Virginia, now West Virginia, and there grew to rugged manhood. In early man- hood he followed the stonemason trade but in later years was a farmer. He was very active politically, first aa a whig and later as a free soiler, and when the republican party was organized he found he could conscientiously subscribe to its principles and continued in that political faith during the rest of his life. He was a member and liberal supporter of the Methodist Episcopal Church, a man of kind manner, chari- table and hospitable. He waa twice married, firat to Nancy Lee, and they had five children. Hia second wife, Mrs. Jane G. (Simpson) Dunham, waa a widow with two children, and aix children were born to the second marriage.

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History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 2, Part 172

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