History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 2, Part 210

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Captain Sherwood takes special pride in his duties as secretary of the West Virginia Coal Mining Institute, which is the oldest organization in West Virginia devoted to the improvement of the mining industry. Its aims have al- ways been along the lines of progress and education, and it has always worked so far as possible in cooperation with the state department of mines and the mining de- partment of the State University.

Captain Sherwood is a member of the Charleston Kiwanis Club, the Army and Navy Club of Manila, and the Order of Elks. He married Miss Edith Bickel, a native of West Virginia. Their three children are Reuel Edwin 2d, Elliot Bamford and Charles Gordon.

MILLARD GILMORE WHITLOW as a young man, graduate of a commercial school, looking for a place in which to utilize his energies and abilities to the best advantage, chose the new town of Bluefield in Mercer County, has lived there thirty years, has linked his own with the larger destinies of the city, and for a number of years has been head of the largest hardware business there.

Ile was born in Franklin County, Virginia, December 27, 1870, son of E. II. Whitlow, who was of Scotch Irish, and of Sallie C. (Gilbert) Whitlow, of English ancestry. An original spelling of the name was Whiteley. E. H. Whitlow and wife were both born in Franklin County, Virginia, and the former spent his aetive career as a farmer, but retired some years ago. During the Civil war he was with a Virginia Regiment in the Confederate Army, and was once captured, but otherwise sustained no bad results from the service.

Millard G. Whitlow acquired a common school education in Franklin County, attended sehool at Martinsville in Henry County, and in 1892 graduated in the commercial course from the Roanoke Business College. Soon after- ward he came to Bluefield, and almost from the first was in business for himself in metal working and plumbing. Gradually he expanded his interests to the handling of a general stock of hardware, and since 1904 has been proprietor of a growing and prospering hardware business, now the largest store of its kind in Bluefield and Mercer County. Mr. Whitlow is a thorough business man, but had the broad interest of one who reads a great deal of good literature and keeps in touch with the welfare of his community.

In March, 1915, at Appomattox, Virginia, he married Miss Margaret Fleshman, a native of Virginia. Mr. and Mrs. Whitlow are members of the Presbyterian Church. HIe is a Royal Areh and Knight Templar Mason and Shriner, a member of the Elks, and is identified with the Chamber of Commerce and Rotary Club at Bluefield.

JOHN H. RINER. With all the calls upon his time and labor involved in the care and ownership of his farm and orchards, John H. Riner acts upon the principle that some of his duty is owed to the community where he lives. He has been an influence for good and orderly government in Berkeley County for a number of years, and is now in his second year of service as county assessor.

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Mr. Riner was born on a farm in Falling Waters Dis- trict of Berkeley County, son of George P. Riner, who was born on the same farm in 1840, a grandson of Henry Riner, whose birth occurred in Bach Creek Valley. The great-grandfather, Peter Riner, was a pioneer in Bach Creek Valley, bought land there and later acquired a tract in Falling Waters District, but did not complete the pay- ments, since his son, Henry Riner, assumed the indebted- ness and undertook the further improvement of the land in the Falling Waters District at the beginning of his independent career. When he located there only a few acres had been cleared, and one or two log buildings con- stituted the other improvements. His industry carried him through, and in later years he enjoyed the revenue from a well developed farm, and lived in a commodious brick house and had a large bank barn for his crops and stock.

George P. Riner succeeded to the ownership of the old homestead in the Falling Waters District, and lived there the rest of his life. During the war between the states this region was overrun by both armies, and he lost a great deal of produce and live stock. George P. Riner died on April 5, 1906, and his wife died just one week later. Her maiden name was Mary Quilliams. She was born in Ope- quan District, daughter of Henry Quilliams. George P. Riner and wife had a large family of thirteen children, named Annie, John Henry, George, Lillie and Rosa twins, Mary, Maggie, William, Walter, Bessie, Theodore, Daisy and Elmer.

John Henry Riner grew to manhood in a large house- hold where industry and other good habits prevailed. He attended the common schools, worked in the fields with his father, and at the age of twenty-two he began his inde- pendent career as a farmer on rented land. One year later his father bought the farm he had been operating as a tenant, and he continued its management for five years and then acquired the property from his father. That has been his home ever since. The farm is on the Warm Springs Road, and when it first came into his possession it contained ninety-five acres and he has since added about thirty acres. He has good buildings, and ten acres are devoted to orchard.

At the age of twenty-two Mr. Riner married Saralı Eliz- abeth Beard, who was born in Falling Waters District, a daughter of William and Isabelle (Cline) Beard. Mr. and Mrs. Riner have seven children, named, Mary, Nora, Maggie, Jane, Coe, Emma, and Miller. Nora, who was killed in a railroad accident at the age of twenty-four, was married to Harry Seibert. Emma is married to Gratton Hyer. Mary, is the wife of Champ Payne, and has a son, named Riner. Champ Coe married Agnes Lefevre, and they have three children, Helen Durward, Henry Coe and George. Mr. and Mrs. Riner are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and he is a steward in the church. In politics he has always acted as a repub- lican, casting his first presidential vote for Benjamin Har- rison. He has been a delegate to several county conven- tions, and was elected county assessor in 1920, his offices being in the Court House at Martinsburg. Fraternally he is affiliated with the Junior Order United American Mechanics and Patriotic Sons of America.

J. FRANK THOMPSON is engaged in the real estate and insurance business in his native city of Martinsburg, Berkeley County, where he formerly served as postmaster. His father, Samuel J. Thompson, was born on what is known as the Bower farm, in the south part of Berkeley County, in the year 1831, a son of James Thompson, who was born in County Down, Ireland, his father, Joseph Thompson, having been an Orangeman and his property having, therefore, been confiscated by the government, a property now said to be held by the Duke of Antrim. Upon leaving his native land Joseph Thompson came with his family to America, soon after the War of the Revolution, and he settled in what is now Berkeley County, West Vir- ginia, where he became superintendent of the Dandridge estate and where he remained until his death, he having served as a soldier in the War of 1812 and on this account having been granted a tract of land in Iowa. James

Thompson was twelve years old at the time of the family immigration to America, and prior to this time he had read the Bible through three times, his parents having been devout members of the Presbyterian Church. He learned the trade of weaver, and in this connection eventually was placed in charge of the woolen mill on the Dandridge es- tate. He was eighty years of age at the time of his death. Samuel J. Thompson was reared on the farm, and he continued his alliance with farm industry until he went forth as a Confederate soldier in the Civil war. He en- listed in Company B, Fourteenth Virginia Cavalry, which became a part of the famous Stonewall Brigade and with which he participated in many engagements, including a number of the important battles of the great conflict. After the close of the war he entered the employ of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company, and he served several years as a conductor on its lines. After his retirement he continued his residence at Martinsburg until his death, at the age of eighty-three years. His wife, whose maiden name was Sally Reed, was born at Martinsburg, a daugh- ter of James and Ann (Snyder) Reed, the former of whom was born at Martinsburg in the year 1818, the house in which he was born being now occupied by his grandsons and being one of the landmarks of the city. His father was a weaver and operated a mill on Tuscarawas Run, at East John Street, his son James having succeeded to ownership of the mill and having also erected and oper- ated another mill, on Tuscarawas, Run, 11/2 miles west of Martinsburg. Samuel J. and Sally (Reed) Thompson be- came the parents of ten sons and three daughters, namely: James F., Annie Lee, Jonn M., Chester E., Robert S., Harry S., Mildred E., J. Frank, George C., Lewis H., Benjamin J., Sally Virginia and Earl B.

J. Frank Thompson gained his early education in the public schools and thereafter became a clerk in the store of his brother, Col. John Thompson, who was a dealer in men's furnishing goods. He later became a partner in the business, and with the same he continued his active connection until 1913, when he was appointed postmaster of Martinsburg. He served eight years in this office and then resigned, on account of a change in the national ad- ministration. He had since been successfully engaged in the real estate and insurance business, of which he is a leading representative at Martinsburg.

Mr. Thompson has taken a lively and loyal interest in civie affairs and has been influential in the local councils of the democratic party, he having served as a member of the party's committee for this congressional district, as well as its executive committees for Berkeley County and for the City of Martinshurg. He is a member of the local Kiwanis Club; Washington Lodge No. 1, Knights of Pythias; the Patriotic Order of the Song of America and the Improved Order of Red Men. He cast his first presi- dential vote for William J. Bryan and has since con- tinued an admirer of the "Great Commoner." He and his wife are zealous members of the Baptist Church in their home city, and he has served on its Official Board for twenty-five years as a trustee and also as treasurer.

September 19, 1897, recorded the marriage of Mr. Thomp- son and Miss Bessie L. Sydnor, who was born in Shenan- doah, Virginia, a daughter of Dr. Charles W. and Mary (Davis) Sydnor. The father of Dr. Sydnor came from England to the United States and served as a member of the American Navy in the War of 1812. He was captured by the British and received ill treatment at the hands of his captors. After his release he was placed in charge of an American war vessel, and as its commander he had the satisfaction of capturing the vessel and crew of the British boat that had captured him. Dr. Charles W. Sydnor became a member of the faculty of the medical department of the University of Maryland, and in the Civil war he served on the staff of General Magruder .. The wife of the Doctor was a representative of the same family as was Jefferson Davis, president of the Con- federaey. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson have six children: C. W. Sydnor, Joseph L., Mary Louise, Bessie Sydnor, Annie Lee and Helen.

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THOMAS ELKINS LEE. In the course of his early busi- ness experience, Mr. Lee became associated with the for- tunes of that phenomenal industry, the Coca Cola Com- pany of Atlanta, and when, some fifteen er sixteen years ago, he selected Clarksburg as his permanent business head- quarters he built the plant fer the bettling and distribu- tien of Coca Cola products, and he has since made that one of the most prosperens concerns ef the kind in the state.

Thomas Elkins Lee is a native of old Virginia and a descendant ef a chain of the Lee family of that date. He was born at Liberty (new Bedford) in Bedford County, June 6, 1870, son of Thomas Newell and Sarah Leak (Gills) Lee. The parents were alse bern in eld Virginia, and while his father lived on a farm he was a man of pronounced technical ability, was at ene time a professor of mathematics and for many years a civil engineer en- gaged extensively in railroad construction werk.

One ef a family of eight children, Themas Elkins Lee at an early age stood face to face with the serious respon- sibilities of life, and after securing an academic educa- tien, and at the age of twenty-ene, he left home and began the battle of life for himself. For three years he was in the lumber business at Lynchburg, Virginia, then fellewed farming in his native cenaty four years, and after selling the farm removed te Atlanta, Georgia, where he was con- nected with the Coca Cola Company for two years. On returning to Virginia he opened up the territory fer the sale and bettling of coca cola in the territory adjacent to Danville.

Mr. Lee removed to Clarksburg, West Virginia, in 1906, and acquired the Coca Cola interests for this territory. He is now sole proprietor of the bettling werks, and has one of the most thoroughly modern plants of its kind in the state, the building being after his own plans of con- struction, and equipped with every mechanical device for a thorough and efficient handling of the product. In ad- ditien te his bottling works Mr. Lee is vice president of the Acme Ice Company ef Grafton, and is vice president of the Federal Carbenic Company of Fairment.

The reasons that prompted him to locate at Clarksburg have many times been justified, and incidental therete he has invested heavily in local real estate and is one of the city's most ardent friends. He is a member of the Chamber of Commerce, the Kiwanis, Country, Allegheny and Cheat Mountain Clubs, is a democrat in politics, a member of the Baptist Church and fer thirty years has been a member of the Independent Order ef Odd Fellows.

In 1895 Mr. Lee married Miss Eustous Wells, a native of old Virginia and of a prominent eld family of that date. The six children of Mr. and Mrs. Lee are Edward, Jimmie (Miss), Russell, Virginia, Thomas and Eustous.

J. LOGAN HILL is president and general manager of the Hill Meter Company, with headquarters in the City of Welch, MeDowell County, and with branches at Bluefield, Northfork Williamson and Mullens. The company in the fall ef 1921 completed its fine new plant at Welch, and the same is said to be the sixth in relative size and capac- ity in the entire United States. Its equipment is main- tained at the highest modern standard, with the best ef repair shops and storage rooms. The building is six stories and basement, and is used exclusively for the ac- cemmedation of the business of the Hill Metor Company. Here the company has the agency for the celebrated Cadillse and Buick sutemebiles and the White and Com- merce Motor Trucks. The company's trade territory in- cludes MeDowell, Mercer, Wyoming and Mingo counties, West Virginia, and Tazewell County, Virginia, and the con- cern figures also as wholesale dealers in gasoline and lubricating oils, as well as in general lines of automobile accessories. The central plant at Welch is probably the mest complete in West Virginia, and the business is of broad scope and importance, with a constantly enmulative tendency. The company was organized hy Mr. Hill in the year 1916 and was incerperated with a capital stock of $20,000. The business of the company for the year 1921 aggregated about ene million and a quarter dollars.

John Legan Hill was bern at Alderson, Monroe County, West Virginia, on the 24th of May, 1885, and Is a son of Albert and Leena (Tincher) Hill, the former of whom was born at eld Brownstown, near Charleston, and the Jatter ia Greenbrier County. The father was engaged in the insurance business at Alderson at the time of his death, in 1889, his wife having died in 1887. The subject of this sketch was thus doubly orphaned when he was a child of four years, and he was reared in the home of his maternal grandfather, James G. Tincher. After having duly attended the publie scheels Mr. Hill continued his studies in the Alleghany Collegiate Institute at Al- dersen, and after leaving school he drove a milk wagon fer one of his uncles at Richweod, Nicholas County. Later he deveted about eight years to clerking in mercantile establishments, and thereafter he was engaged in the livery business at Aldersen twe years. He next accepted the position of collecter for the firm of Heffmyer & Deg- gans at Mount Ilepe, and after serving three years in this capacity he removed, in 1914, to Welch. In 1916 lie here organized the Hill Motor Company, and in this connection he has gained fine vantage-place as one of the progres- sive and representative young business men of the city. He is a republican in politics, and has givea loyal service as a member of the City Council. He is a Knight Templar Masen and a member of the Mystic Shrine.

In 1907 was selemnized the marriage of Mr. Ilill and Miss Arlie E. Sly, ef Spartansburg, Pennsylvania, and they have ene son, Howard.

REV. JOHN MCELHENNEY, D. D., was one of the re- markable characters in the ministry and citizenship of old Greenbrier County. For more than sixty-two years he was pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Lewisburg. This church itself is ene ef the oldest in the state, established in 1796.

Rev. John MeElhenney was born in Lancaster District of South Carolina, March 22, 1781, yeangest of the six chil- dren of Jehn and Ann (Ceil) McElhenney. His father fought as a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and died seen after the close of that struggle. The educational training of the sen was largely directed hy his older brother, Rev. J. MeElhenney. Rev. John McElhenney also attended Wash- ington Academy and the eld Liberty Hall Academy, gradu- ating from the latter in 1804. He was licensed by the Lex- ingten Presbytery in 1808.

In the Spring of 1809 he was assigned to the pastorate of Lewisburg, in what is now West Virginia. The Presby- terian Church at that time was the central institution of the community, and its pastor was not only the recognized head of the fleck, but a leader in every department of the community's affairs. He had the character that well fitted him fer such responsibility, and his life was a leng and utmest devetien te his church, the cause of christianity, the counsel and guidance of his fellow men, and both in Green- brier County and in wider seetions of the state he was thoroughly beleved. Few men had as many friends. He administered the affairs of the church and the neighborhood for over sixty years, though in later years he was given an assistant.

Mr. McElhenney, who died January 2, 1871, married on December 7, 1807, Rebecca Walkup. Their children were James Addison, Elizabeth Ann, John Franklin, Samuel Washington, Mary Jane and Susan Emily.

ALONZO C. KELLY is county superintendent of schools for Mason County, and has given about thirty years of his active lifetime to educational affairs.

He was born in Putnam County, West Virginia, May 29, 1863, son of Isaiah Kelly, a native of Pennsylvania, whose active career was spent as a flour miller and farmer in Gallia County, Ohio, where he died in 1875. He was a Unien soldier in the Civil war. The mether of Superinten- dent Kelly was Samantha Jane Bareus, who was born in Ohie In 1844 and died in Mason County, West Virginia, in Angust, 1918. Her children were Alonzo C .; John, deceased ; Nelson, of Huntington; Maggie; and Isaac.

Alonzo C. Kelly acquired his early education in the rural

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schools of Gallia County, and in 1876 his mother moved to the Arbuckle District of Mason County, where he continued to attend school and at the age of twenty-one began teach- ing. In the intervals of teaching he attended Marshall College at Huntington, in 1884-5-6 and in 1915, took a teacher's training course at Lebanon, Ohio, in 1890, and for two and half years was a student of medicine at Louis- ville, Kentucky. Mr. Kelly was elected county superinten- dent of schools of Mason in November, 1918, and his four year term began July 1, 1919. Under his supervision are a staff of 194 teachers and a scholarship enrollment of 5400.

Mr. Kelly has figured prominently in the affairs of the county for many years. For four years he was justice of the peace in Arbuckle District, where he owns a farm of 100 acres, and has a residence at Henderson. He was elected on the republican ticket to the State Legislature in November, 1907, and again in 1911. He served during the sessions of 1908-09 and 1912-13. For two terms he was assistant member of the Teachers Examining Board of Mason County, and is active in all the school organizations. He is a member of the Missionary Baptist Church. Point Pleasant Lodge No. 33, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and Junior Order United American Mechanics.

In 1895, at Gallipolis, Ohio, he married Miss Cera Lay- well, daughter of Rev. Abraham H. and Catherine (First) Laywell. Her father, now deceased, was a minister of the Missionary Baptist Church. The following children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Kelly: Lowell C., the oldest, saw service in France for a year, being assigned to clerical duty, and is now an employe of the post office department at Washington. Maggie May is a teacher in the rural schools of Mason County. Gladys is the wife of Robert Durst, a mechanic at Henderson, West Virginia. The younger chil- dren are Marvin L., Evelyn, Vivian and Lawrence.

JOHN MARION SYDENSTRICKER, whose death occurred on the 31st of January, 1901, was a life long resident of Greenbrier County, and his character was the positive ex- pression of a strong, noble and loyal nature that made him a man of influence in the county and that gained to him the high regard of all who knew him. His age at the time of his death was sixty-four years and two months, and his sterling character and worthy achievement make most im- perative his recognition in a tribute in this history.

A son of the late Andrew and Frances (Coffman) Syden- stricker, the subject of this memoir was born on the old family homestead farm in Greenbrier County, the second iu a family of seven sons and two daughters, all of whom with his exception are living. The parents provided for their children the best possible educational advantages, and four of the sons are clergymen of the Presbyterian Church, while another is a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Of the earlier phases of the career of Mr. Sydenstricker the following statements have been written: "Jehn M. Sydenstricker, though net a college graduate, was yet a well educated man, receiving his training in some of the excellent classical schools of the county prior to the Civil war, and having been a student at Frankford in 1861, when the war broke out. He taught school a number of years, read extensively, and acquired much literary and general information that was of great service to him in after years.

"Upon the outbreak of the war between the states, in 1861, he volunteered in Company D, Sixtieth Virginia In- fantry, Confederate States of America, but was afterward transferred to the Twenty-sixth Virginia (Edgar's) Bat- talion, in which he served three years, seeing much hard service in battle and on the march. Escaping the dangers of the war, he returned to Greenbrier at its close, taught school for some years, then married and settled down te the active life of a farmer, in which he took a mest com- mendable interest, being always an intelligent leader in every moment for the betterment of his class and the improvement of agricultural and horticultural methods. He studied both from the practical as well as the scientific standpoint, and in all meetings of the Grange er other

organizations of the kind was ever ready with valuable suggestions gathered from careful study and observation."

From the same source as the above quotation, a news- paper article that appeared at the time of his death, are drawn, with minor changes, the following additional words of appreciation: "Mr. Sydenstricker held many public positions of more or less dignity and importance, and the number and character of these positions show the esteem and confidence in which he was uniformly held. He was elected justice of the peace in 1872; president of the County Court in 1874; member of the House of Dele- gates of the State Legislature in 1880, 1886 and 1890; was a director of the Second Hospital for the Insane at Spencer in 1887, was made president of the board of this institution and served five years; received a flattering vote for the democratic nomination for governor of West Virginia in 1892; was commissioned by the Governor, delegate to the International Farmers Congress, Chicago, in 1893, to the Farmers National Congress at Parkersburg, West Virginia, in 1894, and to the National Good Roads Congress, Atlanta, Georgia, in 1895; was a member of the Board of Trustees of the Union Theological Seminary, by appointment of the Virginia Synod of the Presbyterian Church in 1871; was three times a delegate to the General Assembly of the Sonthern Presbyterian Church, and in 1893 was appointed state commissioner of labor by Governor Mac Corkle, holding the office four years. His instructive reports as labor com- missioner were highly valued by the press and the people. In the latter years of his life Mr. Sydenstricker was presi- dent of the Farmers Home Life Insurance Company. Hc long gave earnest service as an elder of the Presbyterian Church at Lewisburg, from which his funeral was held.

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History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 2, Part 210

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