History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 2, Part 193

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A newspaper man is almost ex-officio a public servant and leader in church affairs. During the period of the World war Mr. Helt was one of the "four-minute men," and devoted much of hia time and a large amount of the space in the columna of the Sentinel to promoting war sentimenta and the measures of the Government. He has been very active in politics, and the Sentinel is generally recognized as the mouthpiece of the republican party in Taylor County.

The Sentinel office is one of the modern newspaper plants of the state. Ita job plant is hardly to be aurpassed, and the general equipment comprisea three linotype machines, a Duplex web press, cylinder job preas, automatic aelf feeding press. The machinery is electrically equipped, current being generated in the plant. Mr. Holt is a member of the Associated Press and has been active in editorial meetinga in the atate and district. Aa a youth he joined the Lutheran Church at Grafton, and has been active both in church and Sunday School, serving on the church council for some years. Mr. Holt is affiliated with the Knighta of Pythiaa, the Elks and the Moose, ia a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha college fraternity and ia a Rotarian.

October 18, 1911, at Grafton, he married Alice Barher. She was born at Alliance, Ohio, daughter of Findlay and Ella (Crandon) Barber. Her maternal grandfather, James

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Crandon, was one of the prominent citizens of Niles, Ohio. Mrs. Holt was reared in Taylor County, West Virginia. The only child of Mr. and Mrs. Holt is James Findlay, born in 1912.

HON. JOHN HOMER HOLT waa one of West Virginia'a atrong and able lawyers and jurista, and for a number of years was Circuit Judge of the old Third District, now included in the Fifteenth District.

A son of Alfred T. and Maria A. (Stone) Holt, he was born in Gilmer County June 19, 1857. He attended the common achoola, the Preston Academy at Kingwood, and taught for five years, three of them at Kingwood. He began the study of law in the office of William E. Brown and George H. McGrew at Kingwood, finished his studies in the office of James A. Brown, and was admitted to the Kingwood bar in 1878. He began practice among the friends and neighbors he had known so long and so intimately, but in 1881 be removed his office to Grafton. He continued his practice in that city except for two yeara while engaged in special and important duties as a counselor and advocate at Wash- ington, D. C.

In politics he waa atanchly identified with the protection principle for American industry, and for many years had a prominent part in the councils and organization of the republican party. Soon after reaching his majority in Pres- ton County he was elected a member of the Legislature in 1878, and he was a delegate to many of the early atate con- ventions. He was chairman of the state convention at Huntington in 1892 that named Thomas E. Davis of Grafton for governor. He was also a prominent figure in the Elkins convention which nominated Alston G. Dayton for Congress in 1894. He was also chairman of the republican convention that nominated George W. Atkinson, the first republican governor since the Civil war. As a speaker Judge Holt proved himself effective at all times, and was considered almost invincible aa a debater. His knowledge of politica and economic history put him at an advantage over his adversaries, and his good address and pleasing voice supple- mented bis logical and analytical mind. Judge Holt was nominated and elected Circuit Judge of the Third Circuit in 1896 and in 1904 was re-elected. After retiring from the bench he remained a resident of Grafton until his death.

OLIVER IRVIN MONTGOMERY, one of the proprietors of the Exchange Mill Company of Grafton, ia also president of the County Court. Mr. Montgomery has lived in Taylor County thirty years, and prior to engaging in business was in the service of the Baltimore & Ohio Railway Company.

He was born on a farm near Pennaboro in Ritchie County September 24, 1873. His father, John F. Montgomery, was a native of Rockbridge County, Virginia, born in 1844. Not long after the outbreak of the Civil war he left Virginia and came into West Virginia, and at Buckhannon in 1863 enlisted in the Union army. Though he was in the service until the close of the war, he escaped wounds or capture. After leaving the army he settled in Ritchie County, and is now a resident of Richwood, West Virginia. In Barbour County he married Miss Virginia C. Murphy, who died in January, 1919, at the age of seventy-six, daughter of Marshall Murphy, who came from Virginia to Taylor County, where his daughter was born. John F. Montgomery and wife had eight children: Margaret C., of Akron, Ohio, widow of George Plymale; Oliver I .; Mary, wife of Norman McCoy, living at Flatwoods, West Virginia; Miss Savanna Lee, of Richwood; Minnie R., wife of James McKenzie, of Richwood; Ida, wife of Walter Rogera, of Taylor County; Joseph F., a farmer in Taylor County; and Mra. Annie Hoskins, of old Virginia.

Oliver I. Montgomery acquired hia country school educa- tion in Ritchie, Upshur and Braxton counties. When he left the farm he took up railroading, entering the service of the Baltimore & Ohio as a brakeman. He spent fifteen years with the company, and after a period as conductor in the yard service he was appointed assistant yard master at Grafton. When he left the railway company he resumed farming seven miles from Grafton, and was one of the pro- gressive men in the rural districta of Taylor County and gave

his personal attention to hia farm and its personal mana; ment from 1906 until the fall of 1920.

In February, 1921, Mr. Montgomery and A. B. Shroy purchased the Exchange Mill. This is one of the old ind tries of Grafton, having been founded by Whit Heironim who was succeeded by A. B. Blue, and later by a stock co: pany of which Ona C. Jefferys and others were membe The plant is a custom and jobbing mill, grinding buckwhe flour, cornmeal and feed. The company also handles line of feeda and farm machinery. They are jobbers for t. International Harvester Company and distributora for t. Johna Manville Roofing and dealers and handlers of Atl Portland cement.

Mr. Montgomery waa reared in a republican atmoaphe and when he cast his first presidential vote it went to Maj McKinley. He has been taking a more or less active pa in local campaigna for many years. He was elected count commissioner from the Fetterman District as successor Charlea R. Burbin in 1916. He entered the office in Januar, 1917, and two years later was elected president of the board bis time expiring December 31, 1922. While he has bee with the County Court the firat permanent road work wa done in Taylor County, and since then a dozen miles of har surface road has been constructed, besides a number of ama concrete bridgea, making an effective unit in the prograr of modern highway construction in the county.

Mr. Montgomery was reared a Methodist, was active i the Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen while in the service and his only other fraternal connection ia Grafton Lodg No. 31, Independent Order of Odd Fellowa. In Taylo County June 16, 1892, he married Mias Louisa A. Murphy who was born in the county February 6, 1870, daughter o James G. and Christina (Rogera) Murphy. She is the youngest of four children, the others being Sylvanus, Thomas J. and Virginia O., the latter the wife of J. E. Newcomb.

WARREN D. CLINE, M. D. For many years Dr. Warrer D. Cline has been a prominent citizen of Williamstown, West Virginia, an acknowledged leader in civic affairs and a successful medical practitioner. In more than one field of effort ha has demonstrated notable qualities that for over a quarter of a century have been largely used to further the best interesta of Williamatown, where public respect and private esteem are his. Doctor Cline was born in Waah- ington County, Ohio, October 3, 1856, a son of Reuben and Diana (Cady) Cline, and a grandson of David and Sarah (Milla) Cline.

On the maternal side Doctor Cline'a anceators were Ver- mont people who settled very early in Washington County, Ohio. It is related that one of his great-grandfathers, Thomas Milla, was most seriously injured on one occasion by savage Indians, who attacked him while he was fishing in a skiff by moonlight on Fishing Creek, a lonely stream running near Wheeling. David Cline, the paternal grand- father of Doctor Cline, was of German parentage but was born in Monroe County, Ohio, in which state he spent his life aa a farmer. Of his family of thirteen children the only daughter died in childhood, twelve sturdy sons growing to manhood around the home hearth, and at least four of these served as soldiera in the war between the states.

Reuben Cline, father of Doctor Cline, apent the greater portion of his life as a farmer in Washington County, Ohio. Late in life he retired to Williamstown, West Virginia, whers his death occurred at the age of eighty-five years. He was a man of great personal industry, and reared his children with practical ideas in relation to the duties of life. His family consisted of six sons and three daughters, Doctor Cline being the seventh born. The eldeat, Luther A., who is a veteran of the war of 1861-65, still survives and lives in Illinois.

Warren D. Cline grew up on the home farm, assisting his father during the summers and attending the country schools in the wintera. Later he had graded school privileges and also instruction in a private school at Marietta, where ho applied himself closely to his books in order to secure a teach- er'a certificate and after fairly earning the same taught nine terma in the country schools. The money thus earned paid his way through the Eclectic Medical Institute (now College)

Isaac Is to ostan

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t Cincinnati, for which he had been prepared by his brother- a-law, Dr. E. Sloan of Williamstown. He was creditably raduated at Cincinnati in 1886, located for practice at Manchester, Illinois, and spent eight years there. In Septem- er, 1894, he came to Williamstown, and has engaged in a eneral practice ever since, on numerous occasions attending ourses in the New York City Post Graduate College and Hospital.

Although the practice of medicine has largely engaged his ttention since coming to Williamstown, Doctor Cline bas een very active and immeasurably useful in other directions. t was largely due to his earnest efforts in furthering the zelfare of the city that so much has been done in the way of educational progress and opportunity here. During the fteen years he served as president of the Board of Educa- ion he labored ceaselessly for the establishment of the high chool and for the erection of the present well equipped build- ag. He served as mayor of Williamstown for four terms, .nd during this time the place was practically developed rom a village into a modern city. In July, 1913, he was ppointed postmaster, and is now serving in his second term.

Doctor Cline married in December, 1887, in Illinois, Miss Alice Husted, who died July 2, 1891. In 1896 he married Miss Frances Leonard, a daughter of Augustus Leonard, of Newel's Run, Ohio, who served in the Union Army during he war between the states. Doctor and Mrs. Cline have hree daughters: Helen D., Frances D. and Celia E.

In political life Doctor Cline is a democrat, having come rom a long line of that political faith. He was one of the charter members of the Masonic Lodge at Williamstown And its third worshipful master, and belongs also to the Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythiss and the Modern Woodmen. He is an elder in the Presbyterian Church and is the unosten- .atious contributor to many worthy charities.

ISAAC JAMES COSTON. In the twenty years that he has been a resident and in the business life of Clarksburg Mr. Coston has enjoyed that widening diversity of interests that is the synonym of success. His chief business is the Empire Laundry Company, of which he is secretary, treas- urer and general manager.

Mr. Coston was born on a farm in Somerset County, Maryland, November 16, 1876, son of Isaac James and Rosena (Humphreys) Coston, his father of English and his mother of Scotch ancestry. The parents were also natives and life-long residents of Somerset County, where they gained their livelihood from a farm. The maternal grandfather was Samuel S. Coston also a native of Somer- set County.

The youngest in a family of four sons, Isaac James Coston was left an orphan at the age of twelve years, and from the age of fifteen he had to be self supporting. His early life was spent on the farm and his education was lim- ited to the common schools. From the age of fifteen until he reached his majority he worked at the printer's trade in Princess Anne, Maryland. At the age of twenty-one he became associated in the firm of Hayman & Coston, dealers in fancy groceries and confections at Princess Anne. In 1901 the firm sold their place of business, and in the same year established at Clarksburg a similar business, which was conducted under the firm name of Hayman and Coston for ten years. Mr. Coston'a business associate was Newell J. Hayman. On leaving this business Mr. Coston in 1910 organized the Empire Laundry Company, which was in- corporated with a $20,000 capital. The present capitaliza- tion is $200,000, a figure that reflects in a measure the constant growth and development of the business. I. Wade Coffman is president; Dr. C. C. Jarvis, vice president; and Mr. Coston, secretary, treasurer and general manager. A modern plant on West Main Street was built in 1914, build- ing a two-story brick building 40 feet wide and 300 feet deep, and equipped with all the intricate and efficient ma- chinery devised for laundry work. The company handles an immense volume of business, from a large territory sur- rounding Clarksburg, and besides the routine laundry work they have dry cleaning, carpet cleaning and pleating de- partments.

Mr. Coston is also an owner and manager of the Coston Printing Company, n stockholder in the Hayman Green- House Company and a director in the Community Savings & Loan Company. In politics he is a democrat, is a mem- ber of the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Clarksburg, and fraternally is Knight Templar Mason and Shriner, and holds membership in the Chamber of Commerce, the Rotary Club, and Country Club.

In 1905 Mr. Coston married Miss Allena May Holden, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lee D. Holden of Harrison County. The five children born of their marriage are: William H., James D., Dorothy R., Charles D. and Louise.

ALONZO C. PINSON, sheriff of Mingo County, and one of the popular citizens of Williamson, the county seat, was born in Pike County, Kentucky, December 26, 1876, and ie a son of Thomas B. and Louisa (Matney) Pinson, the for- mer of whom was likewise born in Pike County and the lat- ter of whom was born in Virginia, both families having been founded in America many generations ago. It is sup- posed that the lineage of the Pinson family traces back to Spanish origin and that the first representative of the line in America was a Spaniard named Pinzon, who came over with Columbus. Thomas B. Pinson long held prestige as one of the substantial farmers of his native county.

The sheriff of Mingo County profited by the advantages of the public schools of his native county, and his disci- pline included four months' attendance in high school. At the age of sixteen years he initiated his service as a teacher in the rural schools, and he continued his successful peda- gogic work four years. He then came to Mingo County, West Virginia, and became manager of the general store of Morgan & Judd at Matewan. Later he became manager of a branch office of the Yellow Poplar Lumber Company at Buckhannon, where he remained one year. In 1899 he came to Williamson, where he continued to be employed as clerk in a general store until 1905, when he resigned to give hie attention to his duties as mayor of the city, to which posi- tion he had been elected by a gratifying majority. In 1903 he had served as city recorder, and he was a member of the city council in 1904, at the time of his election to the office of mavor, in which he served seven consecutive terms, or until 1915, when he was retired by the provisions of the act passed by the State Legislature that changed the mu- nicipal government of Williamson to the commission form. His long tenure of office shows alike the efficiency of his administration and the estimate placed upon him by the community. After completing his regime as mayor Mr. Pinson was here engaged in the real estate business three veare, besides conducting a retail grocery business. He then hecame a traveling salesman for the Williamson Grocery Company, with which concern he continued his connection until he assumed the office of county sheriff, on the 1st of January, 1921.

Mr. Pinson is affiliated with O'Brien Lodge No. 101. Free and Accepted Masons, at Williamson, with the local chapter of Royal Arch Masons, with the Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Charleston, and has received the eighteenth de- gree in the Scottish Rite of the time-honored fraternity. He is a popular member also of the Williamson Lodge of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. During the World war he served as a member of the draft board of Mingo County. He is a staunch democrat, and he attends and supports the Presbyterian Church, of which his wife is an active member.

On December 4, 1902. Mr. Pinson was united in marriage with Miss Belle Maynard. who was born and reared in Pike County. Kentucky. a representative of a family early founded in America. Sheriff and Mrs. Pinson have no chil- dren.

JOSEPH BUTCHER STRATON, junior member of the repre- sentative law firm of Bronson & Straton. with offices in the Patterson Building at Williamson. judicial center of Mingo Connty, was born at Myrtle, this county. September 10, 1888. and is a son of the late Allen Butcher Straton. who was born in Logan County, this state. The family was es-

Vol. 11-67

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tablished on the Guyandotte River in this section of Weet Virginia for more than a century. It is evident that the Straton family was here founded when this section, then a remote part of Virginia, was little more than a wilderness, and in the succeeding generations the family name has been closely and worthily identified with the record of civic and material development. Allen B. Straton was engaged in both the hotel and the insurance business, and was one of the well-known and honored citizens of Williamson at the time of his death. Here his widow still resides, and he is survived also by four sons and three daughters. The maiden name of Mrs. Straton was Sarah J. Deskins, and she was born in Wayne County, this state, of sterling American lineage of several generatione.

Joseph B. Straton was seven years of age at the time of the family removal to Williamson, and after here profiting by the advantages of the public schools he continued for three years a student in Alderson Academy at Alderson, Monroe County. Thereafter he passed two years in the Ohio Military Institute in the City of Cincinnati. He next passed two years at the historic old University of Virginia, where he took studies in the academic department, but gave most of his time and attention to the pursuing of a course in the law department. He thereafter continued the same system of study in the University of West Virginia. During the summer vacations from 1902 to 1907, inclusive, he held a clerical position in the railroad yarde at William- son. At the Ohio Military Institute he became a member of the Alpha Chi Sigma fraternity, and at the University of Virginia he became affiliated with Delta Chi. At the University of West Virginia he was elected a member of the Mountain Club, an honorary society. During three years of his college work he was pitcher of the baseball club.

In September, 1912, Mr. Straton was admitted to the bar, and forthwith opened an office at Williamson, where he built up a substantial and representative individual law practice and gained secure standing at the bar of his native county. On the first of January, 1920, he became a member of the present law firm of Bronson & Straton.

The political convictions of Mr. Straton caused him to be staunchly aligned in the ranks of the democratic party, and he has held various official positions. In 1917 he repre- sented Mingo County in the State Legislature; in July of that year he became city attorney of Williamson, in which position he served until 1919; and from June 1, 1919, until he resigned, April 1, 1921, he served as assistant prosecut- ing attorney of Mingo County.

Mr. Straton is a member of the American Bar Associa- tion and the Mingo County Bar Association, holds member- ship in the local Kiwanis Club, and is a Scottish Rite Ma- son, in which his basic of ancient-craft membership is in O'Brien Lodge No. 101, Free and Accepted Masons, at Will- iamson. During the nation's participation in the World War Mr. Straton was food administrator of Mingo County, and also was active in the local drives in support of the Government war loans and in other patriotic work.

March 3, 1915, recorded the marriage of Mr. Straton and Miss Mae Sullivan, who was born at Milton, Cabell County, this state, her father having been born in Ireland and her mother being a representative of an old and honored Vir- ginia family. Mr. and Mrs. Straton have no children,

JOHN LEWIS STAFFORD, who is engaged in the practice of his profession in the City of Williamson, judicial cen- ter of Mingo County, has held for more than a quarter of a century a secure place as one of the able and representa- tive member of the bar of this section of the etate, and he is now senior member of the law firm of Stafford & Rhodes, with offices in the Goodman building.

When Mr. Stafford came to Williamson in 1895 and opened a law office in a building at the corner of Pike Street and Third Avenue, the present vigorous industrial city was but a village, with no paved streets and with but few sidewalks, and these of board construction, Third Avenue having been the main street, and the Thacker Mine having been about the only one in operation in thie now important coal field. Mr. Stafford continued in the independent prac- tice of law about ten years, and then formed a professional

partnership with D. W. Brown, under the firm name o: Stafford & Brown. This alliance continued about thre years and was dissolved when Mr. Brown was appointed ti judicial office. Mr. Stafford thereafter continued his indi vidual practice four years and then admitted Mr. Rhode to partnership, under the present firm name of Stafford & Rhodes. In 1896, the second year of his residence here Mr. Stafford was elected prosecuting attorney of the county and served the regular term of four years. In 1909 he wa again elected to this office, and his second term of fou years was marked by the same efficiency that had attender his former incumbency of the office. During the nation' participation in the World war he was active in patrioti service, was a Four Minute Speaker and aided greatly i the local campaigns in support of the Government war loan Red Cross work, etc. He is a member of the American Ba Association, the West Virginia Bar Association and the Mingo County Bar Association. He is a stalwart in the local camp of the republican party, and he and his wife hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal Church, South

October 4, 1900, recorded the marriage of Mr. Staf ford and Miss Minnie B. Mullens, who was born in Lin coln County, this state, and of the two children of this union the first, John Lewis, Jr., was born May 2, 1905, and died March 26, 1908, while with his parents in San Fran cisco, California. The surviving son, Paul Edwards, war born August 2, 1915.

John L. Stafford was born in Mercer County, West Vir ginia, which was still a part of Virginia, on the 22d of Oe tober, 1856, his father, William M. Stafford, likewise having been born in that county, a representative of a family founded in America in Colonial days and of English origin For many years William M. Stafford was a farmer in his native county, and there both he and his wife remained un. til their deaths. Their children were ten in number-four sons and six daughters. Mrs. Stafford, whose maiden name was Harriet Shumate, was born in Giles County, Virginia of Colonial ancestry.

The early education of John L. Stafford was acquired ir the country schools of his native county, and he began to help in the work of the home farm when he was a mere boy. In pursuance of higher education he next attended the Concord Academy at Athens, Mercer County, and ir this institution he was graduated as a member of the class of 1878. He then began the study of law in the office of Johnston & Hale at Princeton, the county seat, and in 1880 he was admitted to the bar. He soon afterward opened 8 law office at Oceana, Wyoming County, and almost imme- diately was elected prosecuting attorney of that county, in which office he served three consecutive terms. Finally he returned to Mercer County and engaged in practice at Blue- field, where, shortly afterward, he formed a law partner- ship with J. M. Saundere, under the title of Stafford & Saunders. This alliance continued about two years and Mr. Stafford then removed to Williamson, which has since con- tinued the central etage of his law husiness, which has been of broad scope and importance and involves his appearance in both criminal and civil departments of practice. He has made a record of large and worthy achievement in his ex- acting profession, and is one of its leading representatives in Mingo County.

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History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 2, Part 193

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