History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 2, Part 186

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On December 25, 1904, Mr. Smith married at East Baak, Kanawha County, West Virginia, Miss Rose Alexander, a teacher in the school of that county, and a daughter of Houston and Sarah (Mitchell) Alexander, natives of West Virginia and Ohio, respectively. Mr. and Mrs. Smith be- came the parents of the following children: Virginia May, Houston A., Rose Marie and Jacob David, Jr. Mr. Smith is a sincere member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a Scottish-Rite Mason, and belongs to the Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen of America.

Lincoln County has the reputation of being the cleanest county in West Virginia, and this admirable state of af- fairs has been brought about by the aggressiveness and fearlessness of Mr. Smith and the sheriff, Dan Vias, both of whom are recognized to be the best men in their several offices this region has ever had. Mr. Smith is one of the most conscientious of men in his profession, and stands very high with the public generally, and particularly with the best element. He is unwavering in his determination to make all respect the law and live up to the requirements of decent people.

ARTHUR W. MCLEAN is one of the active factors in the commercial development of Lincoln County, and a man whose efforts, always successful, have not only given him a fortune and high standing, but have also brought about many desirable changes in the several localities in which he has labored, and brought into affluence more than one

D.& Shildts

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rsea who has been associated with him. It is euch men i he who are the real leaders, for through them ceme the lances in business life which mark the difference between cre existence and a proper manner of living. At present r. McLean is devoting much of his time and attention to e management of the West Hamlin Mercantile Company nd the Lincoln Feed & Produce Company, of which he is le of the owners.

Born at Wilkeabore, North Carolina, November 12, 1866, rthur W. McLean is a son of Isaac and Harriet (Perkins) tcLean, beth ef whom were born in North Carolina. Isaac IcLean was a farmer and took a very active part in church ad school work, and served for years as a trustee of his chool district. The paternal great-grandfather was Dun- in McLean, and he and his son, David McLean, the grand- ather of Arthur W. McLean, were very early settlers of Vilkes County, North Carolina, and closely connected with uch of its pioneer histery.

Growing up in his native city, Mr. McLean attended its uhlic schools and a private school conducted by Rev. R. W. :arber, which institution, fer beys only, was located twe miles outside of Wilkesbore. It was a very high-class cheol, and Mr. McLean remained a student of it until he zas eighteen years of age. At that time he went just cress the state line into Virginia and worked in a saw-mill, is duties being firing the engine that furnished the power, nd he remained on this job for six months, and then went o Cranberry, North Carolina, to run the ateam drill in the ron mine. Leaving the mine after a year, he obtained em- loyment on the construction ef a tunnel at Alban, near Birmingham, Alabama. This tunnel begins near Leeds, and le worked en it fer nine months, but then left for Peint Pleasant, West Virginia, te help build the Baltimore & )hio bridge across the Kanawha River. After four months on this construction jeb he began steamboating on the Kanawha River, towing coal barges, and this occupied him 'er two years. He then began railroading, and for eight ears was a brakeman for the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad. During all of this time Mr. McLean was gaining an experi- ence of men and affairs which was te be very valuable to im later on in life, but it was not until he entered the nercantile field that he found the work for which he was minently fitted by nature and inclinatien. It was upen eaving the Chesapeake & Ohio that he formed connections with Charles Love, of Barboursville, West Virginia, which le maintained for fourteen months, in that time acquiring 1 knowledge of merchandise that enabled him to take a position as traveling salesman for Blake, Bell & Company of Huntingtoa, West Virginia, and he remained with this concern for a year, leaving them to occupy a similar pesi- tion with the Newberry Clay Shoe Company. After three vears on the read as this company's representative he went into the hotel business at Logan, West Virginia, where he opened and placed upon a paying foundation the popular Buskirk Hotel. but subsequently sold it. In the meanwhile he organized the Logan Laundry and Bottling Works, of which he was president for eighteen months, and retained his interest in it for some time after he sold his hotel, but eventually he disposed of it also. In 1907 he came to West Hamlin and organized the West Hamlin Mercantile Com- pany, which has been developed into the leading establish- ment of its kind in Lincoln County.

In 1893 Mr. McLean married at Barboursville, West Vir- ginia, Miss Nellie Blake, and they had three children: Birdie, Mary and Virginia. Mrs. McLean died in 1911. In 1917 Mr. McLean married Mrs. Nettic Davis, of Barbours- ville, and she died in 1919. of influenza. In November, 1920, Mr. McLean married Miss Matilda Craig, of Yates, West Virginia, a daughter of Joseph and Lucy Craig. For a number of years Mr. McLean has been a zeslous member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. He belongs to the Junior Order of American Mechanics. His interest in West Hamlin is a strong ene, and he has displayed his faith in the future of his home by supporting its best develop- ment in every way. As & high-class merchant he is giving his fellow citizens a service, and placing within their reach timely stocks of the best goods at prices uniformly as low as is consistent with market quetations. While he has not

cared te go into politics, he gives a hearty support to those measures and candidates he believes best suited to the needs of the community, and in every way proves his goed citi- zenshlp.

JAMES ALBERT HARLESS, assessor ef Lincoln County, is one of the reliable and public-spirited citizens whose capa- bilities are finding adequate expression in the discharge of the onerous duties of his present office. His popularity is remarkable, and is evidenced by the fact that he was elected to his office on the republican ticket ia a democratic strong- hold. For seme years he was connected with the business life of Hubball. He is known all ever the country, and no ene man enjeys more of the public's confidence than he.

A native son of Lincoln County, Mr. Harless was born at Branchland, November 15, 1883, and haa always centin- ued leyal te this region. His ancestors were of goed, eld Virginian stock, of Scotch origin, and members of the fam- ily served in the American Revolution. He is a sen of J. M. and Emma (Eplin) Harless, both natives ef West Vir- ginia, born in Lincoln County. The mother died when James Albert Harless was twe years old, but the father sur- vives and ig teday one of the leading men of Lincoln County. He is still engaged in mercantile business &t Branchland. Although too young himself te participate in the great war between the two sections of the country. J. M. Harless had an elder brother in the service under Gen. "Stonewall" Jacksen, the sympathies of the Harless family being with the Confederacy.

The educational training of James Albert Harless was limited to that afferded by the common schools of his na- tive county, and after completing his attendance at them he never had any further instruction, except that gained in the great school of experience, of which he still considers himself a student. Going inte the mercantile field, he and his brother for eight years conducted a stere at Branch- land, and then Mr. Harless, selling, was left free fer other operations. He went to Hubball and established himself in a similar business, hut at the termination of two years seld his store to A. J. Harland so as to give his time and atten- tion to his campaign for the office of county assessor. Elected to this office in November, 1920. he assumed the du- ties of his office in January, 1921, and is making a wen- derful record for theroughness and fair dealing.

In 1913 Mr. Harless married at Irenton, Ohio, Miss Katie Rew. Her father is conducting extensive timber opera- tions in the South. Mr. and Mrs. Harless have one daugh- ter. Opleimagine. Mr. Harless is a Baptist, and his wife belongs to the Christian Church. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias, in which he is a dokie, the highest rank in that order. and is also a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Fraternal Order of Eagles and the Med- ern Woodmen of America, and is deservedly popular in all of these organizations. Mr. Harless' carcer affords proef of the statement se often made that the best officials are those who have had a successful business experience. It stands to reason that one who can manage his own affairs profitably and efficiently will give to the taxpayers an equally judicious conduct of public business, and the people of Lincoln County feel satisfied in their choice of James Albert Harless to regulate matters ia the office of county assessor, for they not only have confidence in his ability, but also in his integrity and realize that he is a man who will shew ne favors, hut make his levies impartially, giv- ing exact justice te all. no matter what influence may he brought to bear upon him.

In April, 1922, Mr. Harless established a general mer- cantile business at Branchland, Lincoln County, West Vir- ginia, where he now resides.

GEORGE WASHINGTON NELSON. The "good reads"' move- ment is gaining impetus with each day and is here to stay. The increase in the use of automobiles hns been & potent factor in awakening the people all over the country to the necessity and importance of improving the roads, and there is scarcely a community which has not felt the effects of this urge. One of the first requisites for permanent improve- ment is the seenring of the services of an expert engineer.

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and Lincoln County has taken a wise step in the right direc- tion in selecting for this important work George Washing- ton Nelson, a very substantial man who thoroughly under- stands his calling, and who as county engineer in charge of the roads of this region is doing a remarkable work.

George Washington Nelson was born at Chatham, Vir- ginia, July 29, 1875, a son of George W. and Mary (Scol- lay) Nelson, natives of Virginia and Jefferson County, West Virginia, the former coming of English origin and the latter being of Scotch descent. Both families were estab- lished in Virginia during its Colonial epoch, and their mem- hers were connected with its development. When war was declared between the North and the South George W. Nel- son east his lot with the Confederacy, and while serving as a captain in the Hanover Artillery had the misfortune to be captured by the Union forces and confined at Fort Pu- laski and later at Johnston Island and Fort Delaware until the close of the war. A man of high educational attain- ments, he was a professor in the Episcopal School at Alex- andria, Virginia, later becoming a sub-professor in the theo- logical seminary at Alexandria, and, finally entering the ministry, became a rector of the Episcopal Church at War- renton, Virginia, where he remained for twenty-three years, or until his death.

George Washington Nelson attended the public schools of Virginia, the Cleveland High School at Markham, Vir- ginia, the Military Academy at Warrenton, Virginia, and then for two years was a student at the Virginia Polytech- nic School, which he left in 1895. He then went on a United States coast and geostatic survey for three years, leaving this in 1898 to enlist for service during the Spanish-Ameri- can war. Following his honorable discharge from the army Mr. Nelson was on a preliminary survey and location for the Southern Railroad for two years, on 160 miles of road be- tween Bergin and Jellico, Kentucky. He then went as a student with the Westinghouse Company in the shops to learn the electrical end of engineering, and was with this corporation from 1901 to 1903. Following his completion of this course Mr. Nelson was for a year assistant engineer on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, leaving it to become lo- cating engineer for the Raleigh & Western Railroad. For a year he was draftsman for the Seaboard Air Line Rail- road, and for another year was transit man for the South- ern Railroad. The subsequent year he was with the At- lanta, Birmingham & Atlantic Railroad as assistant engi- neer on construction. For another year he was with the Cape Fear Lumber Company's railroad as locating engineer. From 1909 to 1912 he was engineer for the Blue Creek Coal & Land Company, the Elk River Coal & Lumber Com- pany and the New River Colliery Company; from 1913 to 1914 he was with the Boone County Coal Corporation; from 1914 to 1916 he was a member of the firm of Ewing & Nelson, engineers, but in the latter year went with the White Ash Coal Company at Alco, West Virginia, as su- perintendent for a year, leaving it in 1917 to become en- gineer and superintendent of construction for the C. Crane Company. During the two years he was with this concern he built four miles of railroad and located twenty-two miles for the road. In 1919 he came to Lincoln County as assist- ant engineer on the construction of roads in the county, and held that position for a year, and then was engaged in lo- cating the road between Mullens and Amegan, Wyoming County. In February, 1921, he was made county engineer of Lincoln County, and is still holding that office. He is unmarried. Mr. Nelson has been a communicant of the Episcopal Church from his youth. Fraternally he belongs to the Knights of Pythias and the American Association of Engineers. A quiet, hard-working man, Mr. Nelson goes about his work with characteristic efficiency, always know- ing just what he wants to accomplish and the best way to do it. His record for accomplishment in his calling is un- blemished, and under his capable supervision the roads of Lincoln County will soon be placed in excellent condition.

REV. WILLIAM DELBERT REED has not only gained prestige as one of the able and honored clergymen of the Methodist Episcopal Church, but has shown also much constructive power in connection with practical business affairs. He is

actively identified with the coal industry as an operat and has also been successful as a dealer in real estate. is now associate pastor of the Diamond Street Method Episcopal Church in the City of Fairmont, Marion Coun

Mr. Reed is a native of West Virginia and is a represen ative of two of the old and honored families of the sta His paternal grandfather, Benjamin Reed, was born Barbour County, West Virginia, as the state is now cons tuted, and was of English parentage, his parents havi: been very early settlers in that county. Ananias Cast maternal grandfather of the subject of this review, w born in what is now Upshur County, West Virginia, } parents, of Irish lineage, having become pioneers of th county.

Levi D. Reed, father of him whose name initiates th sketch, was born in Barbour County in 1853, and his dea. occurred in 1916. He was for many years numbered amor the successful exponents of farm enterprise in Harrisc County, and since his death his widow has continued 1 reside on the old home farm near Janelew, that count She was born in Upshur County.

On the farm of his father near Janclew, Harrison Count. William Delbert Reed was born, May 7, 1876. After havin profited fully by the advantages of the public schools h was for three years a student in the West Virginia Wesleya College at Buckhannon. In 1897 he was ordained a clergy man of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he has sine continued an honored member of its West Virginia Cor ference. He held pastoral charges in turn at Moundsville Grafton and Fairmont, and for six years he was presidin elder of the Oakland District of the West Virginia Confer ence. In 1915 he was pastor of the Diamond Street Metho dist Church at Fairmont, and he is today an associate pasto of this church, with his zeal in all departments of church work shown in effective service and gracious stewardship In 1912 he was a delegate to the General Conference o: the Methodist Episcopal Church at Minneapolis, Minnesota and in 1916 he was again a delegate, the conference being held on that occasion at Saratoga Springs, New York. II 1921 he was a member of the Ecumenical Conference of Methodism, held in the City of London, England.

In 1916 Mr. Reed virtually retired from the active work of the ministry as a vocation, and at that time he initiated his association with the coal industry at Fairmont, where he became secretary and treasurer of the South Pittsburgh Coal Company, the Fairmont & Masontown Coal Company, and the North Fairmont Coal Company. He is still continu- ing his executive service with each of these corporations and has his office headquarters in the American Building at Fairmont. Mr. Reed is affiliated with Acacia Lodge No. 157, A. F. and A. M .; Grafton Chapter No. 12, R. A. M .; Crusade Commandery No. 6, Knights Templars; Osiris Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Wheeling; the Knights of Pythias; the Independent Order of Odd Fellows; and the Modern Woodmen of America. He is a loyal and valued member of the Fairmont Chamber of Commerce.

In 1897 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Reed and Miss Attie Reed who was born near Clarksburg, this state, a daughter of William B. and Olive (Cottrill) Reed. Mr. and Mrs. Reed became the parents of four children: Foster Dale, William Cranston (died at the age of six months), William Arbuthnot and Ruth Beatrice. Foster D. Reed, who completed a course in the Pennington Military Acad- emy in the State of New Jersey, is now associated with his father in business. He married Miss Clauda Layman, of Fairmont, and they have one child, Patricia Ann.

GARFIELD L. PAULEY. Within recent years the interest of the public has been awakened and stimulated in the matter of improving the country schools, so that they are today, all over the country, in much better condition than ever before, and the efforts of educators and citizens are directed toward a further raising of their standard. One of the men of Lincoln County who is attaining some very grati- fying results in this important connection is Garfield L. Pauley, county superintendent of schools and an educator of experience and popularity.

Garfield L. Pauley was born in Lincoln County, Septem-

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wer 6, 1881, and comes of old and honored families of the South, his mother's people being prominent in Kentucky nd his father'a in Virginia. The McClures are of Irish lescent, and the Pauleya of Dutch origin, and both lines ave been established in this country for many generations. fr. Paulcy is a son of Lafayette W. and Martha F. (Mc- 'lure) Paulcy, both of whom were born in Weat Virginia. afayette W. Pauley was a farmer and lumberman. Hc emained loyal to the Union when war was declared be- ween the two sections of the country, and enlisted in Com- any I, Second West Virginia Volunteer Infantry, in which a served as a second lieutenant under Capt. Charles Smith, ras wounded at the second battle of Bull Run, but his in- ury was but a light one, a ahell wound in the shoulder, rom which he fully recovered, and after he was honorably iacharged, at the close of the war, he returned home and esumed his farm work. He was a great worker in the Bap- 'st Church, in which he was a deacon, and a leader in the rohibition movement in West Virginia, much of his time uring his last years being devoted to this cause.

Garfield L. Pauley attended the common schools of Lin- oln County, and when he was sixteen years of age he went o work in a general store at Siota Post Office. After about year there as a clerk he went into the timber and saw- mill business, and continued to work in it until he was wenty-six years old, but during all of this time he contin- ed his studies, for it was his ambition from childhood to t himself for the profession of teaching. Passing the ncc- ssary examinations, he secured his teacher'a certificate and ntered the educational field, continuing in it for cleven ears, or until his election in 1918 to the office of county uperintendent of schools for Lincoln County. During the ime he was teaching he was elected a justice of the peace, ut resigned that office before the close of his first year n office.

On July 11, 1902, Mr. Pauley married at Snowden, West irginia, Miss Alice Harless, a daughter of James H. and fary E. (Mann) Harlesa, both natives of Virginia, who moved to West Virginia. Mr. Harless was a farmer, tim- erman and also conducted a general store at Snowden. Mr. nd Mrs. Pauley have eight children, all of whom are at ome, namely: Earl, Opal, Zema, Lyman, Brookie, Arno, )oc and Dell. Mr. Pauley belongs to the Missionary Bap- ist Church. Fraternally he maintains membership with the ndependent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pyth- as and the Improved Order of Red Men. Not only is he endering a great service through his office, but he is also xerting an influence for good in his community through is strong personality and his rigid stand for those princi- les and things which make for good citizenship and true Christianity, and few men in this region stand any higher 1 popular esteem.

EVERETT J. ELKINS, county clerk of Lincoln County, is a member of the old Elkins family of Virginia and West irginia, of English descent, which in early times played ) important a part in the history of the Old Dominion, nd from which representatives have gone forth to all parts f the Union. Everett J. Elkins was born in Lincoln ounty, West Virginia, January 29, 1887, a son of Alaman- er and Lucinda (Cooper) Elkins, both of whom were na- ves of Lincoln County. Alamander Elkins waa a merchant t Bernie, Lincoln County, and is one of the leading men f hia locality, active in all public affairs, and from 1904 ) 1908 served the county as assessor. He ia one of the ading members of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows the county.

Growing up in his native county, Everett J. Elkins at- ended the common schools and the aummer normal school eld at Hamlin, and after completing his achooldays took e position of deputy county clerk, holding it until he was ected to the office of county clerk in November, 1920, when e assumed charge of its duties. During the late war he was ae of the moat zealous of war workers, and was exempted com aervice because of the position he held.

In 1910 Mr. Elkins married Miss Myrtle Bolt at Hamlin (ra. Elkins was born in Kentucky, a daughter of Sylvester nd Mattie (Lawson) Bolt, both of whom were born in Ken-

tucky and came to Hamliu in 1905. Mr. Bolt is a carpenter and builder. Mr. and Mrs. Elkins have two children, Eloiae and Everett J. Mr. Elkins does not hold membership in any religious organization. Ha belongs to the Knighta of Pythiaa. A careful man of orderly habits, he takes a pride in his work, and the records of the county are being kept in admirable shapo under his supervision. While he has always faithfully discharged his duties, he has never for- gotten his responsibilities as a citizen, and does all that lies in his power to further the cause of education, promote the industrial welfare of hia city and county, and bring about improvementa which he feels will be of permanent value. Such men as he are a tangible asset to any con- munity, and should be prized accordingly.

JOSEPH C. MCCONNELL is giving a most effective ad- ministration as mayor of the City of Princeton, judicial center of Mercer County. His birth occurred on a farm in Mercer County, Pennsylvania, on the 30th of March, 1876. His parents, Joseph and Sarah (Welker) McConnell, werc børn and reared in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, and ahortly after their marriage removed to Mercer County, that state, where they passed the remainder of their lives on their excellent homestead farm, the father having died in 1895, at the age of fifty-two years, and the mother having been sixty-three years of age when she passed to the life cternal in 1903. All of the twelve children attained to years of maturity, the subject of this sketch having been the eighth in order of birth, and of the number ten are still living. Four of the sons became successful contractors in the coal fields of West Virginia, and these four had previously been teachers in the public schools. One aon is a clergyman of the Presbyterian Church, of which the par- ents had been earnest members. The son, Norman is now a contractor in Tazewell County, Virginia; Harry resides on a farm near the old home in Mercer County, Pennsylvania; George is a contractor and resides at Princeton, West Virginia, the four brothers, including Joseph C., of this review, having come to this atate in 1895 and having been partners in their original contracting operations in the coal fields, all of the number having previously learned the trade of brickmason in their native county. The father served many years as justice of the peace in Springfield Township, Mercer County, Pennsylvania, and was otherwise a prominent figure in community affairs. One of his broth- ers was killed in battle while serving as a Union soldier in the Civil war, and another brother likewise waa in the service of the Union, he having been captured and having been held a prisoner both at Andersonville and Libby prisons, notorious in the history of the war. The lineage of the McConnell family traces back to Scotch-Irish origin, and the Welker family is of the old Pennsylvania Dutch atock.

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History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 2, Part 186

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