History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 2, Part 181

Author:
Publication date:
Publisher:
Number of Pages:

USA > West Virginia > History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 2 > Part 181

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Felix Pyles, father of the Littleton banker, was born near Moundsville in 1835 and spent all his active daya devoted to the professinn and business of agriculture. He waa reared and married in Marshall County, and sunn after his marriage moved to the vicinity of Silver Hill. He served during the last year of the Civil war in a West Virginia regiment of infantry and was a democrat in politics. Felix Pylea, who died at his home near Silver Hill in 1903, married Evaline Rinehart, who was born in Wetzel County in 1831 and died at the old homestead near Silver Hill in 1907. The children of this old couple were: Martha, wife of Alonzo Kelley, a farmer in Marshall County; John, a farmer who died as a farmer in Wetzel County, aged sixty; Jane, wife of William Miller, a farmer, and both died in Wetzel County; Bernard A .; James A., postmaster of New Martinsville; Jacob B., who has charge of the Wetzel Natural Gas Company's plant at Hundred; the seventh child, a son, died in infancy; Thomas I. is a farmer in Wetzel County. aa ia also his younger brother, Michael; and Mrs. Vallarie Higgins died in Clarksburg.

Bernard Alexander Pyles had a common school education in Wetzel County. His father's farm was his home until 1901. In the meantime he had taught two terms in Wetzel County, for a number of years worked in a country store, and did sur- veying and general farming until he was elected in 1901 cashier of the Bank of Littleton, and since then his home has been at Littleton.

The Bank of Littleton was established under a state charter May 20. 1901, and it has a record of prosperous growth and

550

HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA

has unusual resources for a bank in a town of this size. Its capital stock is twenty-five thousand dollars, surplus and profits of fifteen thousand dollars, and deposits averaging four hundred thousand dollars. The bank officials are: S. L. Long, president; F. W. Daugherty, vice president; B. A. Pyles, cashier, and the directors are S. L. Long, F. W. Daugh- erty, B. A. Pyles, Baker Cosgray, all of Littleton, J. K. Long and John L. Carney, of Silver Hill, Ellis Miller, also of Littleton, U. G. Thomas, of Glover Gap, and Dr. W. V. Teagarden, of Cameron.

Mr. Pyles has acquired some good real estate investments in Littleton, including a business building, two dwellings, and his own modern home. As a banker he was especially inter- ested during the war in the sale of the Liberty Bonds and War Savings Stamps, and did much to stimulate this com- munity in filling its quota. Mr. Pyles is unmarried and is a democrat in politics.

MCDONALD FAMILY. Among the pioneer families in the southern part of the state perhaps no one group has shown greater unity in purpose and enterprise than the McDonalds of Logan County. As the name indicates, they are of Scotch ancestry, and they have manifested the Scotch traits of thrift and forehanded judgment in holding on to and developing lands and other interests that came to them by inheritance. Of the present generation two of the prominent members are Bruce McDonald, of Logan, and Millard McDonald, of Mallory, and their father, William Wallace McDonald, is also a prominent figure in the article that follows.

It was before the Revolutionary war that the first men- bers of this family appeared in this region of Virginia. They settled ou Tom's Creek in Montgomery County. The ancestor of the family now under consideration was Edward McDonald, who settled and purchased a large tract on Clear Fork of Guyan in that part of Virginia now Wyom- ing County, West Virginia. He located there about 1787, purchased part of the Gordon and Cloyd survey on Huff's Creek, and these lands are still in the possession of the McDonald family. Edward McDonald developed a farm and was extensively engaged in the live stock busi- ness in that pioneer epoch. All the McDonalds of the present have been hard workers.

Joseph McDonald, a son of Edward, lived to the age of eighty years. He was the father of William Wallace Mc- Donald, who was born at the old home place in Wyoming County, April 1, 1817. In 1844 he moved to the mouth of Huff's Creek, where he first purchased a farm and later acquired 14,000 acres of land, still retained by his descen- dants and now owned by the W. W. McDonald Land Company, which was incorporated in 1913 to handle this and other property interests. Individual members of the family have added large tracts to this original holding. A large part of these lands were underlaid with valuable deposits of coal, and some of the principal coal operations in this part of state are on the McDonald property. These include the Standard Island Creek operations at Taplin, the Logan Mining Company's operations at Earl- ing, the Mallory Coal Company on and at the mouth of Huff's Creek, the Logan-Elkhorn Coal Corporation, the Long-Flame Coal Company.

William Wallace McDonald died at his home place on Huff's Creek, August 15, 1902. He had to teach himself, but was thoroughly well educated and a student and a thinker all his life. As a young man taught a number of schools in Wyoming County. His brother Isaac had in- herited the old homestead, and while William Wallace had some financial assistance from his father, he was, generally speaking, the architect of his own destiny. He went in for high grade live stock, and at one time owned a fine herd of Durham cattle. He was a liberal supporter of the Methodist Church, and his home was always open to the Methodist ministers. He was a democrat, was in sympathy with the South at the time of the Civil war, and at one time was taken prisoner by Northern troops, but soon released.

The first wife of William Wallace McDonald was Minerva Dingess, a sister of John and Guy Dingess. Guy

Dingess lived below Logan in Guyan Valley. By the fir marriage there were two children. Charles L., died the old home in 1888, at the age of forty-one. His sist Mary A., lives with her son, Warren Perry, and is t widow of Oliver Perry, who died in 1895.

The second wife of William Wallace McDonald w Parthena Scaggs. She was born in Montgomery Count and died at the old home in 1873. She was the mother the following children: Millard, who is mentioned in lat paragraphs; Bruce; Bilton, who is unmarried, lives Logan and is president of the W. W. McDonald La: Company; Wayne, born in 1864, who was a merchant a: timber man and died in 1900; Ann Brook, born in 186 died in California in 1908, and was the wife of C. ] Turley, of Boone County, now deceased; Miriam Ali born in 1868, is the wife of John Robinson, a farmer Cambria, Virginia ; Marshall, born in 1872, died in 190

Bruce McDonald, the second son, was born at the mou of Huff's Creek, February 8, 1860. He and his broth Bilton attended the free schools of their neighborhood, ar after getting all the education they could there they ea taught one term of school. Then, in quest of further educ tion, they walked overland to Athens, Mercer Count where they attended a term of school at Old Conco Church, a school taught by Captain French, and out which has since been developed the Concord State Norma After the close of the terni they walked home and taug another term of school at a salary of $18 a month. Fc lowing this they left home to attend school again, and th time they traveled by rafts down the Guyan River to i mouth, went by train to Hinton and thence walked to th Concord School. After the second term at Concord tl brothers continued teaching for several years. In the fa of 1885 Bruce and Bilton entered the National Norm University at Lebanon, Ohio, and remained there at the studies for about one year. Iu 1887 Bilton was electe superintendent of schools for Logan County, but on a count of ill health was unable to fill out the term and h brother Bruce took his place. Many people in this sectio of West Virginia recall Bruce McDonald as a capab teacher in various localities. At one time he taught in tl Town of Logan. He and Martin Jones were teachers of th two-room school conducted in a frame building that stor on the present site of the splendid high school at Loga Bruce McDonald's first official position was as a memb of the school board in the Tridelphia District.

Later, in 1904, he was elected a member of the Legisl ture, and served until 1908, and was a member of the con mittees on mines and mining and education. He was commissioner of the County Court from 1912 to 1919, ar the last six years president of the court. For six years 1 was associated in partnership with his brother Millard i the mercantile business at the mouth of Huff's Cree. They dealt in a large range of commodities, including ginseng and timber, which they rafted down the river ! market. On leaving Huff's Creek Bruce McDonald move to Taplin, where he lived and continued in business fo fifteen years. He brought his goods up the Guyan Rive on a push boat, and at the same time sent large quantitic of timber down the stream by rafts.

Bruce McDonald became a resident of the City c Logan in 1912. He and the other heirs in 1913 inco porated the 14,000-acre estate of their father as the W. W McDonald Land Company, Incorporated, of which Bilton : president, Bruce, vice president, and S. E. McDonald, son of Millard, secretary and treasurer. Bruce McDonal is one of the organizers and is vice president of th Guyan Valley Bank, and is a member of the board o directors of the First National Bank. He is a steward an trustee of the First Methodist Episcopal Church, South and has helped to build several churches. Fraternally b is affiliated with the Masonic Lodge and Chapter, Wes Virginia Consistory No. 1 of the Scottish Rite at Whee ing, and Beni-Kedem Temple of the Mystic Shrine a Charleston. He also belongs to the Elks and is a demc crat. Mr. McDonald is unmarried.

Millard McDonald, the oldest son of his father's secon marriage, acquired his education in the home schools and a

Bruce MDonald.

551

HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA

ung wau he married Vicia Buchanan, daughter of Buchauau. She was born near Matewan on Big y. They have four living children: S. Elmer, who cretary of the W. W. McDonald Land Company, is a tor of the First National Bank of Logan and presi- of the Merchants and Miners Bank; Lillie May, wife . H. Oakley, who is associated with the Guyan Supply any of Logan; Nora, wife of W. D. Phipps, of the n Mercantile Company; and Mabel, wife of Dr. C. B. is, a deutist of Stollings in Logan County.

llard McDonald and wife are Methodiats, and he is a per of the board of stewards in his home church and. his father and brother, has assisted actively in church ing. Millard McDonald was born in 1858. For four he was a merchant on Huff's Creek and for many has continued his operations as a stock dealer.

RACHEL CooMas OGDEN, publisher of the Wheeling Intel- er, is one of the most successful newspaper men in Virginia.

was born at Worthington, West Virginia, January 12, Bon of Presley Benjamin and Mary Ellen (Coombs) 1. He was educated in the Fairmont State Normal ] and graduated A. B. from West Virginia University 37. He aoon afterward entered the newspaper business, 1890 established the Wheeling News. He made the the first permanently successful evening paper in ling, and still continues the active head as secretary News Publishing Company.

1904 Mr. Ogden purchased the Wheeling Intelligencer, has been an institution in the life of Wheeling and the Ohio Valley since prior to the Civil war. Mr. Ogden is ary of the Intelligencer Publishing Company. Besides eavy responsibility involved in the managements of two leading papers of Wheeling he is the principal owner director of a number of other daily newspapers.

. Ogden holds two honorary degrees, LL. D. from ny College and D. C. L. from West Virginia Wesleyan ;e. For yeara he has been an influential figure in repub- politics in West Virginia. He is a member of the Epis- Church, the University, Masonic, Wheeling Country 'ort HIenry Clubs. On October 15, 1890, he married Francea Morehouse of Brownsville, Pennsylvania.

YD GEORGE BEERBOWER. In the citizenship of Pres- ounty among other outstanding lives of usefulness devel- t'rom humble childhood environment, one whose career lete with victory, whether in the varied activities of i:ss and professional engagements or in that aocial con- With his fellows which is an unfailing barometer of the Within, ia Dr. Lloyd George Beerbower, the efficient and le dentist and the auccessful business man of Terra

ile the accident of birth makes him a native son of ylvania, Doctor Beerbower'a life interests have been ated with the people and the thinga of West Virginia, That he ia and what he has accomplished has been och inspiration received in this atate. He was born just the West Virginia line in Fayette County, June 2, 1877. mote American ancestor was Philip Bierbauer, who with bother Casper and a aister, who died at aea, left Germany in 1700, and in 1732 they emigrated from Amsterdam lettled in Pennsylvania. Philip Bierbauer apent the his life in York County. His son Philip moved into on County when this was a country atill undelivered z.he domain of the wilderness. He established hia home Gide Farm, where at the close of hia life he was laid to 'Among hia numerous children was Philip, the third, orithatood the temptation to join his brothera and aistera I West and apent his life where he married and reared his af. Hia thirteen aons and daughtera were the ancestors xst of those of the name atill living in this section. The @ child of Philip the third waa George S. Beerbower, oras born near the aite of old Fort Morris in the Glade er community March 22, 1820, and died July 19, 1879. I rat wife, Catherine DeBerry, waa born April 8, 1818, lied March 18, 1857. Her children were: William D., olas a minister of the Lutheran Church; Silaa; Allen; and

Lydia, who married Milton Robinaon. Saloma Laub, second wife of George S. Beerbower, was born March 24, 1840, and died January 19, 1896. Her children to reach mature years were: Martha J., who married J. Allen Reckard; Charlea W .; Emma Alice, wife of T. L. Gribble; and Dr. Lloyd George, of Terra Alta.

Lloyd George Beerbower waa an infant when his father died. His training therefore fell to his mother, who had scanty means to provide for the necessities of her family. His married sister, Mra. Reckard, exercised a christian influence over the boy, and it is due to theae two good women that he has achieved a large measure of success and good deeds. He and his brother Charles were long cloacly and intimately aaso- ciated, and as boys they shared in the heavy labor of the farm and realized the value of economy and the necessity of per- sonal sacrifice. Both were endowed with capacity for larger things than their environment offered, but it required a teacher to develop thia. About the time hia father died Doctor Beerbower's parenta returned to Glade Farm in Preston County and he remained there to the age of seventeen, getting the fundamentala of his education in the nearby achool- house. About that time his mind was diverted from the com- monplace routine at home by Professor McGrew of Phila- delphia, who furnished the opportunity for delivery from the monotony of the farm by offering him a place in the crew of young men he headed selling Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress. He soon developed the art of aaleamanahip, and in hia expe- rience as a saleaman through Pennsylvania, Maryland, Vir- ginia and West Virginia acquired a really liberal education and the polish of a man of affairs. After returning he waa induced by his brother Charles W. to join him in a selling campaign of their own. They equipped themselves with a wagon fitted for the work, sold Pilgrim'a Progresa by day and created interest in the book by giving stereopticon lectures at night. It was a program successfully and profitably carried out, and while they were making money they were also gaining an indispensable knowledge of the world and affairs. They quickly grasped the advantages of the learned over the un- learned, and while atimulating knowledge they alao perfected themselves in that easy address which carriea men through life. At the same time they were doing something more than a aelfish service. since the literature they distributed brought enlightenment with it to those who craved knowledge.

The next phase of progress of these two brothera was to fit themselves for teaching, and to that end they became pupils of the revered and accomplished historian and teacher, the late Samuel T. Wiley, who proved himself a firm friend of the brothers and placed them under laating obligations for the wise counsel he gave as well as the knowledge he diapenaed. Through that inspiration the brothera entered the Wesleyan College of West Virginia at Buckhanan, of which Dr. Beer- bower is now a member of the Board of Trustees. After an experience as a teacher George Beerbower accepted an offer to travel again, this time representing Underwood & Underwood of New York, selling stereoscopic views in the capacity of a general agent. Among the atudent body of various collegea, furnishing employment to many young men and women to earn money during their vacation period, to enable them to pay their way through college.

In the meantime he had descended upon dental surgery aa his proper vocation. In June, 1895, he graduated from dental college and during hia aummer vacationa he had em- ployed his growing knowledge and skill among hia frienda and acquaintances at home. Before graduating he had de- cided to locate at Galveston, Texas, but he abandoned that idea and chose to settle in the little commercial metropolia of Preston County at Terra Alta, a community that has known him and esteemcd him now for nearly thirty years. His dental offices are on the second floor of the Beerbower-Zeller Building, which he helped build in 1910. Doctor Beerbower is a charter member of the West Virginia Dental Society, has been constant in attending its meetinga, has aerved on some of ita important committeea and in 1913 was chosen president of the aociety. In July, 1911, Governor Glasscock appointed him a member of the Board of Dental Examinera.

Doctor Beerbower ia also president of the Terra Alta Light Company, president of the Terra Alta Development Company, a corporation for the promotion of the city's growth, ia a

552

HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA

director of the Terra Alta Bauk and member of its Finance Board, and is cashier of the Preston Republican Publishing Company.

Hia ancestors were Lutherana, but Doctor Beerbower ia a Methodist, faithful in attendance and for several years was superintendent of the Sunday School. He is a Knight of Pythias, a past master of his Masonic Lodge, ia present high priest of the Royal Arch Chapter, and in politics is a republi- can, with independent leanings in local affairs. He has been three times mayor of Terra Alta, and served four years on the Board of Education of Portland District.

June 28, 1906, Doctor Beerbower married Mary Elizabeth Stafford, daughter of William E. and Mary (Shahan) Staf- ford. Her father was a Union soldier in the Civil war, and the Staffords and Shahans were early represented in the settlement of Monongalia and Preston counties. Mrs. Beer- bower finished her education in a preparatory school at Key- ser, and was a teacher until her marriage. Doctor and Mrs. Beerbower have two sons: Albert Stafford, born April 9, 1909; and Fred Vance, born July 30, 1912.

ULYSSES S. WELCH. Terra Alta in Preston County esteems Ulysses S. Welch as one of the most substantial of its citizens, not only as a business man but as one whose helpful interest and cooperation is extended to any of the affairs of the com- munity, particularly the schools.

Mr. Welch, who for a number of years has operated the custom mill at Terra Alta, was born at Albright, Preston County, March 23, 1867. His remote American ancestors were Welsh people. His father was Samuel E. Welch, whose brothers and sisters were T. Jefferson, Jacob, Joseph, Mrs. Jacob Feather, Mrs. Harry Feather and Mrs. Josephus Childs, all now deceased. Samuel E. Welch was a Union soldier dur- ing the Civil war, being in a cavalry regiment under General Sheridan in the Valley of Virginia. The loss of a finger was the only important wound he received. At the close of active hostilities in the East he was sent with his regiment to the West, where he participated in several Indian campaigns. He was married while still in the army, and after the war he became a locomotive engineer. For some years he was on the Pittsburgh Division of the Baltimore & Ohio, and then made his headquarters at Kansas City and was in the service of the Kansas Division of the Union Pacific. He died in the spring of 1880, at the age of fifty years. Samuel E. Welch married Rachel L. Bishop, daughter of Samuel Bishop, who spent his life as a farmer in the Albright community of Preston County. She is now seventy-three years of age and living at Albright. Her children were Ulysses S., Frank D., of Cumber- land, Maryland, and Reed F., of Morgantown.

Ulysses S. Welch was thirteen years of age when his father died. He had attended the common schools of Albright, and after the death of his father he moved to Terra Alta and began earning his hread as an employe of J. W. Rigg Son & Company in their woolen mills. He learned the carding business or trade in that factory. Leaving that firm, he became a partner in Freeland, Casseday & Company, millers, and was an active participant in the business until their mills burned. He then rebuilt the plant, took over the interests of his partners, and has ever since been doing business as a miller at Terra Alta. He has a forty barrel mill, and its operations have been carried on steadily for the grinding of feed of all kinds. One special product ia buckwheat flour. Much of its output is shipped to markets outside the county, and in this and other ways the plant has proved a useful industry of the town. Mr. Welch is also a stockholder and director of the Terra Alta Bank.

The two years he spent on the council was an era of prac- tical progress of municipal improvement in Terra Alta, and during that time the first brick pavements were laid, the gewer aystem and city water system installed, and gas mains laid. Mr. Welch is now on his second term as a member of the Board of Education of Portland District. The most im- portant matter being considered by the board is the building of the new high school, and an architect has been requested to submit plans for that purpose. Mr. Welch grew up in the atmosphere of the dominant political party in Preston County and cast his first vote for James G. Blaine. About the time he reached hia majority he joined the Terra Alta Lodge of Odd Fellows and is also a member of the Woodmen of the

World. He was reared under Methodist. influcucos, b now a member of the Church of the Brethren.

In Preston County, near Tunnelton, August 14, 189 married Miss Elizabeth Casseday, daughter of John Elizabeth (Bucklew) Casseday. She was born near Tu ton, youngest of twelve children, the others surviving 1} James, Mrs. Harriet Fike and John B. Mr. and Mrs. W. have one daughter, Iva M. She is a talented young wo and a very capable educator. She is a graduate of the versity of West Virginia, is now an instructor in the ] Alta High School, and is continuing her advanced stı during the summer vacations in Columbia University at York.

A. STALEY SHAW, justice of the peace for the Por. District and former sheriff of Preston County, has lived , tically all his life in the Terra Alta community and has be prominent figure therein.

He was born near Albright in that county April 6, 1 His grandfather, Benjamin Shaw, was born in the nort Ireland, and identified himself with Preston County cons ahly more than a century ago. He lived out his life here farmer and married Mary Martin, daughter of Daniel Ma another representative of one of the oldest of Preston C ty's families. Benjamin and Mary Shaw had one son, Will Shaw, and by a second marriage Benjamin Shaw had c descendants.

William Shaw was born in Preston County December 1812, and grew up on Muddy Creek in the locality of V. Point. There were few and limited schoola during his yo and his own knowledge of books was meager, though he came a man of practical industry. He married Sarah G and they lived on the Gibbs farm near Terra Alta. father, Aaron Gibbs, came into Preston County and ma here, and spent his life as a farmer near Terra Alta. Wil Shaw died in August, 1891, surviving his wife just six wi He was reared a democrat, but from the time of the war until his death was a republican and was a membi the Methodist Episcopal Church. His children were: N. A., who was first married to A. P. Jenkins and then to D . Wolfe and died near Cranesville in Preston County; M who was married to Garret T. White and died in Terra 1 Sarah A. who was first married to J. W. Chidester and to J. H. Rigg, and died just east of Terra Alta; and A. Sti

A. Staley Shaw was a pupil in the early schools of locality where the family lived, all of his education b acquired in subscription schools. He responded to the for militia at the time of the Civil war, but did not & away from the home locality. His tasks and responsibil were with the home farm until he was twenty-four, whe married, and then remained at the old homestead as a far Subsequently he bought a farm nearby, and continued career as a practical man of agriculture until 1912. At death of his wife he turned over the farm management ti sons.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 2, Part 181

Author: Publication date: Publisher: Number of Pages:

Author:
Publication date:
Publisher:
Number of Pages: