History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 2, Part 198

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In politica he has been a republican all his voting year

Harry W Sheets.

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al has served as one of the trusteea of the Rosemont or Jrconnell School. During the World war he took an active p't in the aale of bonds and stamps and worked with the I semont committee that put the community "over the top" every drive. He and Mrs. Frum are members of the Bailey Ithodist Protestant Church, of which he is one of the Estees. His two sons are Masons, Sheridan being a Eriner.

While in Harrison County Mr. Frum made the acquaintance Nora E. Morris, and they were married April 20, 1893. fg is the daughter of John M. and Emilia J. (Robison) orris. Her father, a son of George Morris, an early settler Harrison County, was born in that county, and lived on t3 farm where he died May 26, 1901. His widow survived. rs. Frum was born February 24, 1873, and the other chil- en of her parents were: Flavius C., who was killed by htning and unmarried; Cora, wife of William Nicholson, ing in Harrison County; and George, who died unmarried. rs. Frum was educated in the common schools and was enty years of age when she married. Three song were rn to Mr. and Mrs. Frum, but the youngest, Jerome Bud, ed when about three years of age. The two survivors are eridan and William Hobart. Sheridan is a designer and aftaman for the Hazel-Atlas Glass Company at Clarksburg, arried Ethel Gibson and has a daughter, Margaret. Wil- im Hobart is still in the home circle at Rosemont.

Sheridan Frum was called to the colors during the World ar, was trained at Camp Lee, Virginia, with the Eightieth ivision, and remained at Camp Lee to the end of the war : a boiler inspector.

The younger brother, Hobart, volunteered May 29, 1918, Pittsburgh, as a machinist, and was sent to Fort Sam ouston, San Antonio, Texas. He was in the automobile pair shop for training in the 304th Mechanical Repair bop. This outfit was sent to Camp Merritt, New Jersey, nd thence overseas on the transport Armenia, landing at iverpool, and nine days later went through Southampton ) La Havre, and then to the Argonne Forest, where it was ttached to the Ninety-first Division. Subsequently his unit as sent to Belgium to help the French and English break he German line at Ypres and was at Audenard when the rmistice was signed. Hobart was with his command when ; crossed the Hindenburg line. He witnessed the destruction f that famous line on September 29, 1918. The barrage egan at two o'clock in the morning and five hours later he famous line was completely in ruin. Hobart Frum tarted back from Iseghem, Belgium, stopping enroute to be coast to work in different repair shops, and from Brest ailed in August, 1919, on the U. S. S. President Grant, which landed in New York the seventeenth of that month. Ie received his honorable discharge at Camp Dix, New ersey.

He came home August 28 following, and a few days later entered the West Virginia University, where he took the mechanical engineering course and remained two and one half years. Since then he has been employed by the Rose- nont Coal Company as electrician and also in construction work as a carpenter. He is a member of General David Morgan Post No. 548, Veterans of the Foreign Wars at Morgantown.

JAMEB EDWARD WILSON, M. D. Holding prestige in the ranks of his profession because of the possession of marked natural and acquired ability, aided by a comprehensive train- ing and wide experience, Dr. James Edward Wilson ia firmly established in the confidence of the people of Clarksburg. He ia secretary of the staff of physicians and surgeons at St. Mary's Hospital, and of recent years has become known as an authority on X-Ray work.

Doctor Wilson was born at Princess Anne, Somerset Coun- ty, Maryland, August 3, 1881, a son of Levin James and Mary Evelyn (Dougherty) Wilson, also natives of Maryland, the former born in 1844 and the latter in 1850. They still make their home at Princess Anne, where Levin J. Wilson was engaged successfully in agricultural pursuits for many years. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson are numbered among the highly es- teemed residents of their community and are noted for their many excellencies of heart and mind. Of their children three

grew to maturity, namely: Mary E., Jane D. and James Edward.

The primary educational training of James Edward Wilson was acquired in the graded schools of his native city, following which he attended high- school, thus receiving a good ele- mentary education. After some further preparation he en- rolled as a student at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, the famous Baltimore institution, and, completing the re- quired course, waa duly graduated and received his degree of Doctor of Medicine May 18, 1904. In the following month he began his professional career at Clarksburg, which has con- tinued to be his home and the scene of his accomplishments. Doctor Wilson came to Clarksburg as superintendent of the Harrison County Hospital, which afterward became, as now, St. Mary's Hospital, an institution with which he is still connected, being secretary of the staff of physicians and sur- geons. During the past few years Doctor Wilson haa devoted much of his time and attention to research and investigation in the interesting and inexhaustible field of X-Ray work, a department of his profession in which he has gained some- thing more than a local reputation. He is frequently called into consultation in connection with work of this character, and his associates have the greatest confidence in hia knowl- edge and application of the subject.

Doctor Wilson is a member of the Harrison County Medical Society, the West Virginia State Medical Society, the Amer- ican Medical Association, the Southern Medical Society, the Southern States Association of Railway Surgeona, the Balti- more & Ohio Railway Surgeons Association, the West Vir- ginia Hospital Association, the National Catholic Hospital Association, and the Radiogical Society of North America. He acts as local surgeon at Clarksburg for the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. Fraternally Doctor Wilson is a thirty-second degree Scottish Rite Mason, a Noble of the Mystic Shrine and a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He is interested in civic affairs as a public-spirited citizen, and holds membership in the Clarksburg Rotary Club and the Clarksburg Chamber of Commerce. In politica the Doctor is allied with the democratic party, but has not been a seeker for public preferment. In religious relationship he is a communicant of the Episcopal Church, while Mrs. Wilson is a member of the Catholic Chuch.

On September 6, 1906, Doctor Wilson was united in mar- riage with Miss Mary Evelyn Boggesa, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. E. Stringer Boggess, of Clarksburg, and to this union there have been born the following children: Mary Evelyn, James Edward, Marie Antoinette, Jane Boggess, Ann Persh- ing, Margaret Dougherty and Robert Stringer. Doctor Wilson has a pleasant home at Clarksburg, and maintaina offices at No. 211 Empire Building.

HARRY WILBUR SHEETS representa an old family of Harrison County, was born and grew up in that section of the state, and has justly earned a commendable position at the local bar. He is a member of the prominent law firm of_Carter & Sheets at Clarksburg.

Mr. Sheets was born on a farm near West Milford in Harri- son County, February 14, 1885, son of Arthur and Annie Jane (Wooddell) Sheets, and grandson of George H. Sheets and William Wooddell, all of West Virginia or Virginia birth and ancestry. Arthur Sheets was born in Harrison County and his wife in Pocahontas County. Their four children are Harry W., Earl W., Hazel, wife of Earl Romine, and Miss Mary Sheets.

Harry W. Sheets while a boy on the farm attended the rural schools. He also took some courses in West Virginia Wesleyan College, and a source of valuable training to him in his gubse- quent career was an experience as a teacher in the public schools for four years at Bridgeport. He completed hia law course at West Virginia University at Morgantown with the LL. B. degree in 1909. He was admitted to the bar, and in the same year began practice at Clarksburg as a partner of David J. Carter.

Mr. Sheets votes as a democrat but is not active in politics. He is a Methodist, is a Knight Templar Mason, has attained the thirty-second degree of Scottish Rite and is a member of the Mystic Shrine. He also belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In 1909 Mr. Sheets married Miss Hazel

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LaMont, of Ashland, Wisconsin. They have one child, Alberta Lee.

ERNEST M. MERRILL, whose home is at Charleston has a state wide and in fact national reputation as an authority on the technical and practical side of coal mining. The , practice of his profession has brought his extensive interests as a coal operator and he has been interested in West Virginia mining industries for nearly twenty years.

Mr. Merrill was born at Newark, Ohio, in 1878. The Merrills are a new England family and he is a member of the Sons of the American Revolution, through ancestors on both his father's and mother's side. Mr. Merrill was liberally educated, attended Denison University, and graduated with his degree in engineering from the Ohio State University in 1902. In that year he came to West Virginia as an engineer on the location of the Virginian Railway extending from Deepwater through the southeastern section of the State. Since then both as a mining engineer and operator he has been progressively useful and prominent in the coal mining industry of West Virginia. His profession of engineering has taken him into the coal fields of other states.

His professional work is carried on under the corporate name of Ernest M. Merrill Engineering Company, with head- quarters office in Charleston, and with branch offices at Beckley, Mullens and Madison, West Virginia. As an operator he is financially interested in and a director of eight coal mining companies, these interests being located in the Winding Gulf and Coal River districts.

Mr. Merrill is author of "American Coals for Export" published in 1913. This work is the basis of much of his national reputation as an authority on the technical as well as the practical side of the coal mining industry. The book deals largely with American and European coal pro- duction and the marketing opportunities for American coal in foreign countries.

Mr. Merrill is a member of the American Institute of Mining Engineers, being on the coal committee of this association. He is also a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers and belongs to the college fraternity Beta Theta Pi. He married Miss Faith C. Welling of Columbus, Ohio. Their two children are Ernest M. Jr. and Frances.

HON. JOE L. SMITH. During a very busy and successful career Hon. Joe L. Smith has been printer's devil, editor and bank president, and in the meantime has found time to devote to civic and public affairs. He was formerly state senator, and at present is well known in financial circles of Raleigh County as president of the Beckley National Bank of Beckley. He was born at Marshes, in the Trap Hill District of Raleigh County, May 22, 1880, and is a son of Hulett A. and Angeline (McMillion) Smith, natives, respect- ively, of Patrick and Carroll counties, Virginia.

.Hulett A. Smith was reared to agricultural pursuits, and as a young man moved to Raleigh County and settled at Marshes, where he carried on farming until the outbreak of the war between the states, when he enlisted in the Thirty-sixth Regiment, Virginia Volunteer Infantry, and subsequently fought under the leadership of Colonel Mc- Causland. At the close of his military service he returned to the Marshes, but about 1885 or 1886 took his family to the locality of Beckley, and there rounded out the re- mainder of his life, his death occuring in 1916, when he was eighty-three years of age. Mrs. Smith, who was a child when brought to this section by her parents, still sur- vives her husband and resides at Beckley, at the age of seventy-eight years. They were the parents of six sons and three daughters.

The eighth in order of birth of his parents' children, Joe L. Smith passed through the graded schools at Beckley and finished his education at the age of seventeen years. How- ever, prior to this time he had to start to work, and when less than fourteen years of age, in 1893, became printer's devil in the office of the Raleigh Register. While thus engaged he learned the trade of printer, and eventually, with E. L. Ellison, purchased the Register, which was the

first paper printed in the county, it formerly having b issued as the Raleigh County Index, and the partnera continued until 1905, when Mr. Ellison withdrew and ] Smith remained as editor and publisher. He disposed his interest in 1911, and in 1914, with others, took over Winding Gulf Bank, which had been moved from Hotcoal Beckley, and effected its reorganization as the Beck National Bank. At the time of the reorganization I Smith became vice president, and since then has advand to his present position as president. He has contribu materially to the success of this organization, and has ma the name of the institution an honored one in banki circles.

Senator Smith is an ardent democrat, and has been int ested in civic affairs from the time that the court ho. was the only brick structure at Beckley, and when weekly stipend for work on the Register was fifty cents week. He was the first mayor of Beckley after the char was granted, and during the years of 1908, 1909 and 19. also served at different times as a member of the C. Council, and in 1908 was elected a member of the Sta Senate, in which he acted from 1909 to 1913, serving numerous important committees and conscientiously se ing his constituents. He and his wife are members of t Presbyterian Church, in which he is president of the Bil Class in the Sunday School, and as a fraternalist he hol membership in Beckley Blue Lodge, Beckley Chapter, Hi ton Commandery, Lodge of Perfection at Huntington a: Beni-Kedem Shrine, A. A. O. N. M. S., at Charleston. ] likewise belongs to the Chamber of Commerce and t Kiwanis Club of Beckley.

In 1914 Mr Smith married Miss Christine Carlson, daughter of L. P. Carlson, of Annapolis, Maryland, and this union there have been born two sons: Joe L., Jr., al Hulett C.

GRANT E. TOMPKINS, a citizen of Cedar Grove, Kanaw) County, represents one of the old and prominent famili of the Kanawha Valley.

He was born at the Tompkins homestead at Cedar Grov July 19, 1898, son of Henry Preston and Addie L. (E) wick) Tompkins. His grandmother, Rachel (Grant) Tom kins, was a sister of Jesse R. Grant, father of General U. Grant. The home of Grant E. Tompkins is the old hom stead at Cedar Grove, one of the finest and oldest homes the valley. The residence was erected in 1844 by his gran father, William Tompkins, a pioneer salt manufacturer ( the Kanawha Valley. William Tompkins was the first ma in America to utilize natural gas, applying it to his sa furnaces in 1841. Henry Preston Tompkins was one of tl first steamboat operators on the Kanawha River, and wa also engaged in farming, the coal business and flour millin;

Grant E. Tompkins attended public school at Cedar Grov until he was sixteen, graduated in the academic and con mercial courses from the West Virginia Trade School & Montgomery, June 13, 1919, and since then has been i the coal mining industry, now holding a responsible positio with the Empire Fuel Company.

He was elected and served as a member of the Ceda Grove Council in 1922. In his national political views h is a republican, but at all times votes for the man rathe than the party. He is a member of the Southern Methodis Episcopal Church. At Gallipolis, Ohio, January 22, 1921, h married Violet Lenora, daughter of George and Margare (Ballanger) Holland. Her father is one of the pioneer coa operatora of West Virginia, coming to the New River coa field when a young man and is now operating the Ballinge Coal Company's mine at Winona. Mr. and Mrs. Gran Tompkins have a daughter, Dorothy Lee.

Grant E. is a younger brother of Harold P. and Roge W. Tompkins, the latter a veteran of the World war, mem ber of the Thirty-third Division, Light Field Artillery, il which he saw service in both Belgium and France. He ha two sisters also, Rachel (Tompkins) Settle, of Pineville Kentucky, and Helen A. Tompkins, of Cedar Grove.

ROBERT FINLEY DUNLAP. In range of interests as : lawyer and business man Robert Finley Dunlap has for :

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aber of years enieved recognized prominence nt Hinton. has become well known over the state as well, nartien- v an a democratic leader. He is the present chairman the State Democratic Committee.

Mr Dunlap was born in Giles Connty. Virginia. July 1872. son of Henry and Minnie (Humphreya) Dunlap. nry Dunlap was born in Monroe County, Virginia, in 19. served as a Confederate soldier in the last venr of Civil war. was a merchant and farmer in Monroe anty, and since 1889 has lived in Pulaski County. Vir- ia. He is an elder in the Presbyterian Church. a demo- t and a Mason. His first wife. Minnie Humphreys, was in Angusta County. Virginia. danghter of a Preshv- ian minister who at one time had charge of a school in es Conntv. She was born in 1852 and died in 1884. The ond wife of Henry Dunlan was Maggie Nicholson of rfolk. Virginia. There were three children by the first rriage. the two daughters being: Ida. wife of .John S. aner of Pulaski. Virginia. and of this marriage there are o daughters. Margaret and Mary D .: and Mary. who died the age of thirty-three. the wife of Andrew Hogeman, d waa survived hv a daughter. Nancy. Henry Dunlap s two sons by his second wife: MeCInre, in charge of the me farm : and Lonis. who graduated from Washington and e University in 1922.

Robert Finley Dunlap attended public and private schools Monroe County, also private schools at Newbern and hlin. Virginia. He completed his literary education in Imnden-Sidney College of Virginia, graduating with the grees A B. and B. S. in 1894. He taught school at Hot rings. Virginia. and spent three vears in the study of w with I. H. Larew. of Newhern. Virginia. He was ad- itted to the har before the West Virginia Supreme Court May. 1897. and located at Hinton against his father's shes, who desired that he locate at Bluefield. Having made s own independent choice in this matter. he felt that he nld not ask his father for further financial aid. and bor- wed $40 00 to make his start in Hinton. He roomed with e Sheriff. and soon formed a law partnership with John horne of Union. West Virginia. The firm of Oghorne and nnlap continned for a brief time and then followed a part- rshin with W. H. Garnett. as Dunlan & Garnett. Since 01 Mr. Dunlap has carried on an independent practice. e won his first case at court, which was a precedent for any other successful efforts as a lawyer. He became city eorder in 1901. serving two years, was city attorney until 904, and also held the office of prosecuting attorney one rm.

From the first Mr. Dunlap has been a party worker. and was a delegate to the National Convention at Baltimore 1912 when Mr. Wilson was nominated for the first time. le has attended many state and district conventions and 1 1920 was made atate chairman of the party, an honor nd responsibility fully in keeping with his individual ower and influence.

Mr. Dunlap is a director and attorney for the First Iational Bank, is attorney for the Citizens National Bank f Hinton. Virginia Western Power Company. Virginian Power Company, and has a wide variety of business interests. He is vice-president in charge of operating the aval Sand Company. is president of the Zenith Sand Com. any. Princeton Water Works Company. and Hinton In- arance Company. is an official in the West Virginia Sand : Gravel Company of Charleston, the Dayton Sand & travel Company of Davton. Ohio, the Acme Limestone Company and Woodsen-Mohler Grocery Company of Alder- on. West Virginia, the Hinten Water. Light & Supply Company, New River Hardware Company, Riverview Land Company. Chipola-Florida Land Company, Hinton Toll Bridge Company, Pulaski Land Company. Gravine Coal Company. Gnvan Fruit & Produce Company, Blue Flame Oil and Gas Company, the Kanawha City Oil and Gas Com- any and others.

In 1904 Mr. Dunlap married Emma Wysor. daughter of T. C. Wyser, of Pulaski, Virginia. Their two children are May Lucile and Emma. Mr. Dunlap is an elder in the Presbyterian Church. is superintendent of its Sunday School. chairman of its building committee erecting a handsome new Vol. II-69

church, and is A York and Scottish Rite Mason, a Rotarian. member of White Oak Country Club, of Oak Hill. West Virginia, Willow-wood Country Club. Hinten. Allegheny Sportsmen Association. State and American Bar Associa- tion and of Sigma Chi fraternity. In 1903 he organized the Elks Lodge at Hinton, became its first exalted mler and is a life member. He was president of the Elks Improve- ment Company and Hinton Masonic Development Company when both the Elka and Masonic homes were constructed in Hinton.

Mr. Dunlap is now president of the Chamber of Com- merce of Hinton, and during the war he was chairman nf the Council of Defense for Summers County. attorney for the Draft Board, chairman of the County Fuel Administra- tion, and of the Summers County Red Cross Chapter.

WILLIAM J. MARTIN is associated with his brothers David E. and Gilee R. in the control of a large and important contracting and building business, with headmarters at Hinton, connty seat of Summers Connty. The Martin Brothers have been the contractors in the erection of many of the fine dwelling houses and other buildings not only at Tinten and in other parts of Summers Conntv. but also at numerous other points in the state. especially in the conl- producing districts. All of the brothers were born in Pine- stem district. Summers Conntv. There William .J. Martin was born September 10. 1881. The parents. Richard and Tonisa (Houchina) Martin, were born respectively in Giles County and Anmmers County. Virginia. the latter county heino now in West Virginia. Richard Martin was born .July 31. 1843, and his wife was born on the 5th of November of that vear. This honored couple have celebrated the sixtieth anniversary of their marriage. and thev are numbered among the venerable citizens of Hinton. Richard Martin was a Inval soldier of the Confederacy in the Civil war. took part in the battles of Clevd Mountain. Cedar Creek and Gettva- hurg, and was once captured. hut friends soon effected his release. He was a hov at the time of his parents' removal to Summers County. where he was reared to manhond and where he continued his successful and active association with farm industry until 1904. since which time he has lived retired at Hinton. He is a republican, is affiliated with the United Confederate Veterana. and he and his wife still retain membershin in the Primitive Baptist Church known as Knob Circuit, in Pinestem District. Of their ten children. six are living: Nanev is the wife of W. H. Belcher, of Hinton: David E. was the next in order of birth. the date of his nativity being February 22. 1876: Cora is the wife of Robert Hill, of Hinton : William J., of this review. is the next younger: Giles R .. the youngest member of the firm of Martin Brothers. contractors and builders, is the next in order of birth : Dr. E. L. Is engaged in the practice of dentistry in the City of Charleston. Of those decessed it may be noted that Alice, who died in 1902. was the wife of Levi Matteson Neelv. she having been the mother of Dr. Robert S. and W. Clyde and R. Clande Neelv. of whom individnal mention is made elsewhere in this work: May. who was still a vonng woman at the time of her death. was the wife of Robert Bosham. of Summers Conntv. Robert died at the age of nineteen and Maude, at the age of eighteen years.

William J. Martin and his brothers were reared on the home farm and received the advantages of the local schools. William J. waa eighteen years old when he initiated his anprenticeship to the carpenter's trade. He became a skilled workman and was employed by the Snyder Con- struction Company of Mount Hope. his two brothers who are now his associates in business having likewise learned their trade with this concern, in the employ of which the three brothers continned a number of years. In the initial stage of their independent activities as contractors the Martin Brothers established their headquarters at Hinton. they having been assigned by their former emplovers to erect the Warren residence in this citv. and after completing this work they started their independent enterprise as contractors and builders, in which their success and prestige have proved unequivocal.

William J. Martin has been active in the local ranks of

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the republican party since his early youth, and he and his brothers are known for their civic loyalty and progressive- ness. He has had the management of many local cam- paigns in Summers County, and has been influential in the councils of his party, many of whose leaders in West Vir- ginia are well known to him. In 1914 Mr. Martin was elected city treasurer of Hinton, and in 1916 was chosen mayor of the city, his administration as chief executive having been marked by most vigorous and progressive policies. He has served also as chairman of the Summers County Republican Committee. He and his wife are active members of the Christian Church, and he is treasurer of the building committee which is to supervise in the near future the erection of the new church edifice at Hinton. In the Masonic fraternity Mr. Martin has thrice served as master of the Blue Lodge, and has been high priest of the local Chapter of Royal Arch Masons. He is affiliated also with the Commandery of Knights Templars at Hinton and with the Temple of the Mystic Shrine in the City of Charleston. He and his brothers are representative members of the Hin- ton Chamber of Commerce, and are loyal supporters of its progressive policies.

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History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 2, Part 198

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