History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 2, Part 25

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sincere, upright life, was tolerant in judgment and was ever rendy to aid those in suffering or distress-those "in any ways afflicted, in mind, body or estate." Generous to a fault, he found ample opportunities for helpfulness, and many there were who were by him nided in the tune of their misfortune, the while he invariably extended such aid with characteristic modesty, ny one who woull "do good by stealth and blush to find it fame." He was an earnest member of the First Baptist Church of l'arkers burg, and was liberal in the support of the various depart ments of its work. llis political alleginnew was given to the democratic party.

Mr. Dudley married Miss Emma Leona d. a daughter of Deacon Albert Leonard, who was the organizer of the first Presbyterian Sunday School at Parkersburg, and their ideal companionship was severed when the devoted wife and mother was summoned to eternal rest in the year 1902 To Mr. and Mrs. Dudley were born thirteen chibiren, two of whom died in infaney and the others of whom still sur vive the honored parents, namely : William, Grace M. (widow of Thomas L. Shields, to whom a memoir is dedi- cated on other pages of this work ), Charles P., Louise, Helen (Mirs. Lawrence O'Neal), Hattie ( Mrs. Frank Coff man), Albert, Emma Gertrude ( Mrs. George D. Heaton), Brainard J., Elizabeth (Mrs. Dorsey Evans , and Clarn (Mrs. Frederick Wood).

OKEY J. STOUT has for nearly a quarter of a century been a prospering business man of Parkersburg, a druggist and also interested in other lines. He is a brother of Parkersburg's postmaster, Walter E. Stout, under whose name a more complete account of the family will be found.

Okey J. Stout was born at Parkersburg. June Is, 1527. and this city has always been his home. Ile completed a publie-school education and in 1-97, at the age of twenty, entered the retail drug business after two years of training as elerk in the drug store of W. E. Skirvin. He has con- eentrated his efforts along this line and is now interested in two drug stores, and is also associated with his brother, Walter, in the oil business and is a director of the First National Bank.

Mr. Stout is a Knight Templar and thirty second degree Seottish Rite Mason, a Shriner a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, belongs to the Rotary Club and is a democrat in politics.

GEORGE MCDONALD. Among the many publie improve- ments that have added to the picturesque City of Parkers- burg, West Virginia, with its natural beauty, within recent years, none arouse more admiration than the magnificent new high-school building in its beautiful landscape setting. The city is largely indebted for this improvement to the untiring efforts of George McDonald and his associates. Mr. MeDonald is the present superintendent of buildings and grounds for the Parkersburg Independent School Diq- triet.

George MeDonald was horn on a farm in Marshall Coun- ty, West Virginia, March 21, 1-64, the year following the birth of West Virginia. Ilis grandfather was born in Scotland and was the founder of the family in America. and after coming to the United States practically spent the rest of his life in what is now Marshall County. James Alexander MeDonald, father of George, was born and reared in Marshall County. When war arose between the states he was a volunteer in the Union Army and served with hravery and honor through two enlistments. He married Elizabeth Meyer, and they had eight children, three sons and five daughters, George being fourth in order of birth. The parents of Mr. MeDonald were members of the Chris tian Church. They spent their lives in Marshall County and were held in esteem by all who knew them.

George McDonald attended the country schools and grew up on the home farm. His first work after leaving home was as a spike driver with the construction gang building of the Ohio River Railroad, which is now a division of the Baltimore & Ohio system, and when the road was com- pleted he continued with the railroad people and worked

HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA

as fireman on a locomotive engine for two years, when he was promoted to engineer.

For the twenty succeeding years Mr. McDonald continued his connection with the railroad. In 1884 he located his home at Parkersburg, and in 1900 established his Model Laundry business, at the same time showing such interest in the welfare of the city that in 1915 he was elected a member of the school board. He served until 1917, when he resigned in order to become the first business manager of the board, which, later, was changed as to title and hecame superintendent of buildings and grounds for this large territory. He has shown executive ability of a high order and business capacity that has been very valuable to the City of Parkersburg. The new high-school building with its modern equipments is the finest structure of its kind in West Virginia and compares well with any in the United States, and Mr. McDonald was indefatigable in his efforts to bring about its completion.

At Marietta, Ohio, in 1887, Mr. McDonald was married to Miss Mary Bishop, of that city, and they have one son, Walter G. McDonald, who during the World war was in military service, being stationed at Alliance, Ohio, and attached to tho Ordnance Department. Mr. McDonald was active during the war in all local patriotic movements and gave hearty support to the various relief organizations. Hc is a Knight Templar York Rite Mason, thirty-second de- gree, A. A. S. R., and a member of Nemesis Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. He belongs also to the Knights of Pythias and to the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. In political sentiment he has always been a republican.

NAT T. FRAME, A. B. Among the modern leaders of achievement in the field of agriculture in West Virginia perhaps none are more widely known than Nat Terry Frame, of Morgantown, who fills the important position of director of Agricultural Extension of the West Vir- ginia University. He is a man of college training and versatile gifts, one to whom opportunity offers many paths in which these gifts would crown him with success, but for a number of years he has devoted himself closely to the study of scientific agriculture.

Professor Frame was born at Depauville, Jefferson Coun- ty, New York, February 25, 1877. He is a son of the late Dr. S. W. and Harriet Antoinette (Terry) Frame, a grandson of Doctor Luke and a great-grandson of Dr. William Frame, his paternal ancestry for generations back being continuously professional. The Frames were known in the Colonial history of New England. Dr. William Frame was a native of Vermont and removed from there about 1810 to Northern New York, settling in Jefferson County, where he spent the rest of his existence pursuing the arduous life of a country doctor.

Dr. Luke Frame, grandfather of Professor Frame, had somewhat better advantages than had his father, whom he succeeded in practice, being a graduate of the Geneva (New York) Medical College, and in turn was succeeded by his son, Dr. S. W. Frame, a graduate of Bellevue Medical College, New York City. He is well remembered in Jefferson County as a farmer and horse breeder, where he became eminent, and practically spent his entire life. He married Harriet Antoinette Terry, who was born in Jefferson County, New York, a daughter of Richard Terry, a country merchant. Her maternal grandfather, John Little, was a native of Glasgow, Scotland, where he re- ceived university training and from there came to Jeffer- son County at an early date, settling there about the same time as did the Frames and Terrys. The early annals of that county mention their importance in its development.

Nat Terry Frame obtained early educational training in village public schools, but in 1890 he entered Union Academy at Bellville, New York, where he completed the entire course in two years, and when he was graduated in 1892 had the distinction of being the youngest gradu- ate who had ever received a diploma from that institution. After teaching school for one year at Rural Hill, Jeffer- son County, he entered Colgate University, New York, from which he was graduated A. B. with the class of 1899.

After completing his university course Professor Frame

hecame principal of the high school at Black River, Ne York, where he continued for two years, retiring in ord to accept the position of superintendent in charge vocational training at the George Junior Republic, N. York, in which work he remained greatly interested f two years. He then turned his attention to other into ests for a time, in 1905 becoming identified with t Mutual Reserve Life Insurance Company in New Yor Indiana and Maryland, and during the latter part of 19 had his headquarters in New York City, where his exec tive ability was manifested at the head of the company: school for the training of agents.

It is some fifteen years ago since Professor Fran came first to West Virginia. He joined with John Stewart in the business of manufacturing and distrib ing horticultural supplies at Martinshurg, under the sty of the American Horticultural Distributing Company. 1910 he became further interested in association wi, Alexander Colhan, Gray Silver and C. B. Hart in +, development of orchards and farms. This association cr- tinued for three years, during which time Professor Fran, in addition to his other duties, served as secretary / the Eastern Fruitgrowers Association and also of t. Berkley Horticultural Society, being also actively co. cerned with the affairs of the West Virginia State Hortic: tural Society and additionally with civic and commun': movements in Martinsburg.

On June 19, 1900, Professor Frame was united in m :: riage with Miss Grace Boomer, who was horn at Be- ville, New York, a daughter of Edward and Mary (Ov. ton) Boomer, who belonged to old pioneer families Jefferson County. Four children have been born to P. fessor and Mrs. Frame: Luke W., born in April, 190 Richard N., born in 1902, died in 1907; Robert, born I March, 1911; and William, born in May, 1912.

In 1913 Professor Frame went to Louisville, Kentucl, in answer to a call to become county agent in agric. tural extension for Jefferson County, but on January, 1914, he returned to West Virginia to become state age in charge of county agents in the extension service, al on January 1, 1919, he was made director of Agricultu! Extension in the West Virginia University. He has mar associated interests and is one of the busy men of 13 university and of the city, enthusiastic on the subjt of his specialty, but not unmindful of the claims of otle important world-wide interests to the attention of scholar men, and to the real need that may arise for the h) of their trained understandings in solving many puk? problems. He is field secretary of the American Coun7 Life Association; is chairman on Co-relations of the St.e Social Workers Conference; aud is a member of the M. gantown Kiwanis Club and of other organizations, - cluding his old college Greek letter fraternity, the li Kappa Psi. He has never been a politician but alwis a sincere citizen, and naturally is proud of his true Am- ican ancestry.

JOHN THOMAS WEST, B. S. The thinking world agr s that knowledge is the master key to unlock the hide mysteries of life made worth while through achieveme; It is the great human leveler, giving to the poor and obsc e the same tools to work with as the rich and more fortuna!, and rewarding them alike according to the use made of the. Leaders in educational work in the United States, those vo have been chosen because of particular fitness to lead, dirt and encourage seekers for knowledge throughout the grt school system of the country, find themselves, perha?, more deeply interested than ever before as they see thr fields of usefulness growing wider. Like the good soldis that they are, they keep their armor bright and stad ready to do battle with the cohorts of ignorance and suf" stition. With the coming of Prof. John Thomas West o Morgantown as principal of the high school this city tık a long stride forward.

Professor West was born in Greene County, Pennsylvan, May 14, 1882, and is a son of John B. and Sarah J:e (Stewart) West. Looking back along the genealogi,l line it is found that the first of the West family record

nat J. France

HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA

America was a soldier in King George's Army who was lled in battle during the Revolutionary war. Ile left de- eadants, and after the war other members of his family me from England and established themselves in Greene unty, Pennsylvania, where Professor West's father, andfather and great-grandfather were born as well as nself. John B. West now makes his home at Morgan- wn, West Virginia. He married Sarah Jane Stewart, who ed October 12, 1884. She also was born in Greene Coun- , and was a daughter of James and Lucinda (De Berry) lewart, the Stewarts being of Irish and the De Berrys of ›lland stoek.

Losing his mother in infancy, John T. West was reared 1 her people in Marshall County, West Virginia, where he tained his early educational training. His talents re- ved recognition, and he prepared for college in the pre- gratory department of the West Virginia University, after- rd taking the full course and was graduated in the elass · 1907 with his B. S. degree, continuing at the university Aring 1907-8 for special work. In the latter year, in as- aciation with Prof. Lawrence B. Hill, principal of the uni- " "sity, he opened a county high school at Middlebourne Tyler County, a most ereditable enterprise, the first of kind in West Virginia and one of the first county high tools east of the Mississippi River. In this school Pro- ssor West was an instructor from 190S until the fall of 13, during the last year being principal. At that time was made aeting principal of the Morgantown High hool, and a few months later, at the beginning of 1914, l'ame principal in fact and so continues.

On December 31, 1908, Professor West married Miss Tiry Elizabeth Sturgiss, who was born at Morgantown ad is a daughter of A. Howard and Elizabeth (Pretzman) furgiss, the former of whom is deceased. Professor and 1.s. West have four young daughters: Margaret Sturgiss, Irn November 15, 1909; Ruth Elizabeth, born March 2, 13; Mary Jane, born December 24, 1914; and Anna Jeanor, born August 8, 1919. Professor West and his inily belong to the First Baptist Church at Morgantown. 1: is a Mason, a member of Middlebourne Lodge No. 34, F. and A. M., and of Morgantown Lodge of Perfection 1. 6; belongs to the Chamber of Commerce; the Kiwanis (b; his old college fraternity, the Sigma Pbi Epsilon, and ia member of the National Teachers Association and of t county and state bodies. As an educator he occupies & foremost position, and his broad-minded policies have pved him exceptionally able as an executive.

SAMUEL JOHN MORRIS, M. D. The distinguishing services ( Doetor Morris in the medieal profession have been as one c the most popular members of the faculty of instruction in t. medical school of the University of West Virginia, Vere he is professor of anatomy.

Doetor Morris was born at Morgantown. August 3, 1887, £1 of Samuel Hall and Elizabeth D. (Morrison) Morris. (e of his forefathers, a native of Maryland, moved to Western Pennsylvania prior to the Revolution and settled i Fayette County, where the place of his settlement be- ene known as Morris Cross Roads. Here the great-grand- 1 her of Doctor Morris, Thomas Morris, was born. It is also the birthplace of his son, John Jarrett Morris, 10 was born in 1825 and subsequently became a farmer i Monongalia County, West Virginia, and spent his last Jars at Morgantown, where he died in 1900. Samuel Hall Irris was born on the Morris farm in Fayette County, (tober 22, 1850. His mother was Eliza Ann Hall, who is born at Hopwood a settlement at the foot of the Alle- Fany Mountains near Uniontown in Fayette County. She vs horn there in 1826 and died in Morgantown in 1902. Ir father, Samuel Hall, was a Quaker and was born in 119 at Kenneth Square, now a part of the City of Phila- ( phia. He was a stone mason by trade and went to Western Pennsylvania to work during the construction of t: National Road. In Fayette County he met and mar- Id Margaret Kendall, and they settled at Hopwood, where 1 er giving up his trade he followed farming the rest of 1 life. Samuel Hall Morris married Elizabeth Delia Mor- lon, who was born in Morgantown, September 7, 1852,

" daughter of Robert and Delin Thomas ( Watts) Morrison. Robert Morrison was a bridge builder, and was the engi- neer who constructed the bridge from Grafton to Fetter. man over Tygarty Valley in West Virginia. This was built for the Baltimore & Ohio, and why the first railroad brilge in that part of the state. Later for many years he was a well-known contrnetor and buildler ot Morgantown. The two children of Samuel llall and Elizabeth Morris were Samuel John and Mrs. Nellie M. Rider.

Samuel John Morris was reared and eduented in Morgan town, attending the public schools, the preparatory depart ment of the university and in 1906 entered the university proper. Ile spent two years in general courses and two years in medicine, receiving his M. D. degree in 1912, and in the same year he also graduated with the M. D. degree from the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Baltimore. This, was followed by one year in Mercy Hospital ut Balti more, and after his return to Morgantown he became an instructor in anatomy at the University. In 1916 he was promoted to associate professor of anatomy in charge f that department, and since 1920 has held the chair of an atomy.

Doctor Morris is a member of the County, State and American Medical associations and the Phi Sigma Kapja college fraternity. June 12, 1912, he married Edna Ley- man, daughter of Michael Leyman, of Mckeesport, Pennsyl vania. They have one son, John D., born February 27, 1919

JOHN NATHAN SIMPSON, M. D. To some individuals are given diversified talents which they have the ability to utilize for the benefit not only of themselves bat humanity at large. With a broader field in which to labor such men are able to direct their efforts along several lines of useful- ness, while their own sympathies are broadened and their characters strengthened. Among the men whose undoubted gifts have made their names familiar to the present genera- tion of West Virginians, one who is accomplishing a great and good work along professional linus is John Nathan Simpson, A. B., M. D., dean and professor of medicine of the University of West Virginia at Morgantown.

Doctor Simpson was born at Mason. Mason County, West Virginia, Mareh 19, 1569. a son of the late George Perry and Phoebe ( Kennedy) Simpson. The American ancestor of this branch of the Simpson family was Andrew Simpson, who was of Scotch-Irish stock and who came to the Amer ican Colonies from near Belfast in about 1724, locat ng first at Boston, Massachusetts, and later removing to Not- tingham, New Hampshire. llis son. Josiah Simpson, the great-grandfather of Dr. John Nathan Simpson, served as a soldier during the American Revolution, and in 1775 came West, settling in Meigs County, Ohio.

Judge Nathan Simpson, son of Josiah Simpson, the Ress lutionary war soldier, was born in Meizs County, Ohio, graduated from the Cincinnati Law School, and for many years was a leading jurist at Pomeroy, Ohio. At the close of the Civil war he removed to Mason, Mason County. West Virginia, where he practiced law and was prominent in the publie affairs of the state. George P. Simpson, son of Judge Simpson, was born at Rutland in Meigs County, Ohio, February 12. 1-29, and attended the l'niversity of Ohio at Athens, that state, subsequently reading law under his father and practicing at Pomeroy lle accompanied his father to West Virginia in 1-65 and was locate l'at Maison eight years, and later at Point Pleasant, the county seat of Mason County where he practiced law until his death in 1592. Both father and son were members of the republican party while living in Ohio, but on coming to West Vir ginia found that they could not subscribe to the conditions of reconstruction then in progress and left the old organiza tion, espousing the cause of the democratic party. They were strongly opposed to the Frick Amendment. which pro vided for the disfranchisem nt of all sympathizers of the Southern cause. George P. Simpson, an eloquent speaker. who loved campaigning, never failed to take the stump during periods of clectioneering, not for political prefer- ment, but because of his fondness for going before the p o- ple in support of a favored issue or in opposition to one which he deemed a menace.

HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA

Phoebe Kennedy, the wife of George P. Simpson and mother of Dr. John N. Simpson, was born at Pomeroy, Meigs County, Ohio, March 30, 1844, and died at Point Pleasant, West Virginia, in 1896. She was a daughter of James and Margaret (VanSchriltz) Kennedy. The Amer- ican ancestor of the Kennedy family came to this country from Scotland in early days, and the family was later founded in Pennsylvania, when it moved to Ohio and set- tled in Meigs County. The VanSchriltz family probably came from Alsace-Lorraine, where its members were of the nobility. The American ancestor of this branch of the family came here in about 1790 and were amoug the first settlers at Gallipolis, Ohio.

Dr. John Nathan Simpson was graduated from Peabody Normal College, Nashville, Tennessee, in 1891; from the University of Tennessee, Nashville, .class of 1893, A. B .; and from Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, class of 1902, M. D .; and in 1904 studied in the universities of Paris, Vienna and Berlin. In 1902 he organized the School of Medicine of the University of West Virginia, of which he was dean and professor of physiology until 1920, since when he has been dean and professor of med- icine. It was through his labors that the new medical build- ing, with its splendid modern equipment, was secured for the institution. Doctor Simpson was director of the Hygi- ene Laboratory of Health of the State of West Virginia Department of Health from 1913 to 1917; was surgeon of the Cadet Corps of the University of West Virginia from 1902 to 1917; and August 5, 1917, was commissioned cap- tain in the Medical Reserve Corps, N. A. During the World's war he was examiner for Northwest Virginia for the United States surgeon general's office for the recruiting of medical officers for the United States. He is a Fel- low of the American Academy of Medicine, Fellow of the American Academy of Physicians, Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and Fellow of the American Medical Association. He is also a member of the Phi Beta Pi, Theta Nu Epsilon and Phi Signa Nu frateruities, is a Presbyterian in his religious belief, and in politics is a democrat.

On December 20, 1906, Doctor Simpson was united in mar- riage with Miss Grace Emily Donley, of Waynesburg, Greene County, Pennsylvania, and to this union there have come a son and a daughter: John Nathan, Jr., born March 25, 1910; and Patricia Donley, born December 21, 1914.

ROSCOE PARRIOTT POSTEN, one of the successful younger members of the Morgantown bar, and prosecuting attor- ney for Monongalia County, has been engaged in practice since 1915, with the exception of the time that he spent in the army during the World war, and his general popu- larity and the confidence in which he is held were evi- denced in 1920, when he was elected to his present office by the largest majority ever accorded a candidate in this county.

Mr. Posten was born May 22, 1889, at Newburg, Preston County, West Virginia, a son of Dr. Smith J. and Emma Georgia (Parriott) Posten. His paternal grandparents, Nicholas and Rosana (Graham) Posten, were descended from two old Virginia families, while his maternal grand- parents, William E. and Sarah Elizabeth (Crawford) Parriott, were also of old Dominion stock. Dr. Smith J. Posten attended West Virginia University in 1882, and was graduated from the College of Physicians and Sur- geons of Baltimore, Maryland, with the degree of Doctor of Medicine in 1888. From that year he practiced at Newburg, Preston County, West Virginia, until 1894, when he removed to Morgantown and spent the rest of his life in practice at this place. In 1888 he married Emma Georgia Parriott, who was born in Marshall County, West Virginia, July 14, 1863, and who still survives him as a resident of Morgantown.

Roscoe P. Posten attended the public schools of New- burg until he was thirteen years of age, and was gradu- ated from the Morgantown High School with the class of 1908. He then entered the University of West Vir- ginia, where he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1912, and as a member of the graduating class of 1915

was given the degree of Bachelor of Laws. In July the same year he was admitted to the bar of West ginia and entered practice at Morgantown. During next several years he made rapid progress in his pro.g sion, but his career was interrupted by the World vr and May 28, 1918, he volunteered and went with drafted men to Camp Lee, Virginia, where he was sho afterwards assigned to the Central Officers' Train. School. The following October 15th he was commissio second lieutenant and ordered to Camp Upton, New Y.k where, until his houorable discharge January 31, 199 he was engaged in drilling detachments for overseas sv ice. Upon leaving the army he returned to Morgante and again engaged in practice, and at the Novem 1920, election was chosen as prosecuting attorney » Monongalia County on the republican ticket. As nod his majority was the largest ever given a candidatex Monongalia County, and he has thus far vindicated confidence aud faith of the voters by giving them ex I lent service in his official position.

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History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 2, Part 25

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