History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 2, Part 28

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On April 6, 1892, Mr. Arnold married in Taylor County West Virginia, Miss Mary Walker Beery, daughter of Bei jamin and Malinda (Moore) Beery. She was born in Grai ton, was educated in the public schools there, and is th youngest in a family of five daughters and one son: Mr. Sarah E. Leith, of Grafton; Mrs. Margaret Byers, of the, city; Mrs. Anna Best, of Los Angeles; Miss Etta Beery, o Grafton; and William Beery.

Mr. and Mrs. Arnold have two daughters and one 801. Their daughter Margaret Catherine is the wife of Leste N. Inskeep, of Washington, D. C., and they have two chi dren, Lester Arnold and William Carter. Helen Lois is student in Bethany College, of Bethany, West Virginia, an the son, Eugene Russell, is a junior in the Romney Hig School.

J. BURR SAVILLE, sheriff of Hampshire County, was bor and reared in this locality, and though a young man ha built up a large and loyal following who ardently supporte him when a candidate for sheriff. Mr. Saville is a me chant and has been a factor in the business affairs of th county for over ten years.

He was born in Sherman District, March 21, 1891. Hi, grandfather, James H. Saville, is also a native of Ham] shire County in Gore District, followed farming, was Federal soldier in the Civil war, always voted the dem( cratic ticket and was a leader in the Methodist Church James H. Saville, who died at the age of eighty-two year: married Miss Caroline Yost, who died about six months afte her husband, when about seventy-eight years of age. The were the parents of six children: John Letcher; Bell Powell, widow of Dade Powell; Jennie, who married Mo decai Cheshire; Imboden Saville, of Sherman District; an Amanda, wife of Charles Van Pelt, of Piedmont.

John Letcher Saville, who was born in Hampshire Count in 1864, has for many years been one of the leading farmer and stockmen of the Augusta section of the county. B had a public school education, was reared on his father farm, and for a number of years has been a feeder of liv stock and a shipper to the Baltimore markets. He is democrat, has served as a member of the Board of Educa tion of his district and is a member of the Methodis Church. John L. Saville married Rosa Miller, daughter c George W. and Jane (Haines) Miller. Her father was bor in Hardy County, West Virginia, a farmer, and was also Union soldier in the Civil war. The children of John I Saville and wife are: G. Floyd, a farmer of Sherman Di: trict; J. Burr; and Guy E., who joined the Three Hundre and Twelfth Field Artillery, and saw active service wit

HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA

his organization on the fighting froat in France, and aince is returu home has been in business as a merchant at Piedmont.

J. Burr Saville attended school in the Sherman and Gore xalities of Hampshire County, also busied himself with ne work of the farm and assisted his father in the stock usiness. After reaching majority he engaged in business s a merchant at Vanderlip, and the firm of J. B. Saville nd Company, in which his brother Guy is a partner, is a ery popular one in that locality and handles a large vol- me of business annually.

Mr. Saville was urged by his many friends to get into he race for sheriff in the summer of 1920. He was nomi- ated against two competitors, and in November defeated is republican opponent and succeeded Sheriff James L. 'ugh. Since taking up his duties it has devolved upon him ) arrest a man who was subsequently convicted for mur- er, but aside from this incident the principal work of his dministration has been chasing moonshiners and enforc- ig the prohibition laws. Mr. Saville is a member of the lasonic Order.

At Cumberland, Maryland, in November, 1914, he mar- ed Miss Mary E. Friend, daughter of John B. and Har- .et Friend, of Garrett County, Maryland, where Mrs. aville was born in August, 1894. Her family is descended :om an old one in Philadelphia, and were originally Quak- cs. The children of John B. Friend and wife are: Fred, Valter, John, Gilbert, Bessie (wife of William Waraiek), [rs. Saville and Robert. Mr. and Mrs. Saville bave two hildren, Jules Byron and Vernon.

JAMES W. SHULL, M. D. Few citizens of Hampshire ounty have made their individual activities and influences ouch and benefit a broader range of interest than Doctor hull of Romney. He has been a practitioner of medicine 1 the county for nearly fifty years, has expressed his in- rest in public affairs in various ways, and has also been leader in the business life of the county.

Doctor Shull was born at Marlboro Post Office on Cedar reek in Frederick County, Virginia, September 25, 1847. he battle of Cedar Creek raged over the scene of his birth venteen years later. His father, Daniel Shull, was also a ative of Frederick County, born within a half mile of the irthplace of his son. He was a militia captain before the ar, and entered the Confederate army as captain of a ompany while Jackson's army was campaigning around omney in January, 1862. He died in 1868, at the age of fty-six years, from ailments brought on by exposure during is war service. He lies buried at Walnut Springs, four tiles north of Strasburg. Daniel Shull married Mary J. rown, daughter of James C. and Sarah (Sherman) Brown. he died at the age of sixty-four, in 1884, and of their five bildren three came to mature years: Josephine, who died s the wife of Lemuel Emswiler; Doctor Shull; and Annie, ife of Theodore Courtney, of Puyallup, Washington.

James W. Shull was reared on the family farm near trasburg, and acquired a primary education in the county chools and in the Strasburg Academy. Until past his majority he was a farmer, and, deciding upon medicine as career, he read the subject four years with Dr. I. H. aldwin, of Marlboro. Doctor Baldwin was a nephew of resident James Madison, and a school book belonging to resident Madison is now one of the prized possessions of 'octor Shull. From his private atudy he entered the Uni- ersity of Maryland at Baltimore, and on completing the ourse there began practice near the town of Strasburg.

A short time later he came to West Virginia, and in pril, 1874, located in Hampshire County and began prac- ee near Rio at Smith'a Gap on North River. After four ears, in 1878, he moved to Pleasant Dale, where he con- nued his work as a physician for twenty-three years, and n May 17, 1901, established his home and office at Romney, ad is still active in his profession. For the past twenty ears he has been county health officer, and has performed long and able service as a practitioner of medicine and cal surgery. He is a member and former president of the rant-Hampshire-Hardy-Mineral County Medical Society nd ia a member of the West Virginia State Medical Asso- ation.

Doctor Shull's interest in politics has beca aroused largely from his desire to find opportunity to munke his influence eouut in the betterment in social and economic conditions. lle was a member of the People's party during the lifetime of that organization, since theu has been a democrat, aud in former years attended a number of party conventions. He was twice a candidate for county superintendent of schools, being defeated by fifty votes in each election. Dur. ing the World war he was chairman and examiner of the Local Draft Board, and examined more than twelve hundred men, more than four hundred of whom weut into the surv iee. He found them a particularly clean and promising body of our junior citizenship. Ductor Shull is a member of the Church of Christ und is ntliliuted with the Masonic Lodge.

In the line of business his most active conucction hay been with that important institution of Romacy known us the Farmers Exchange. He was one of its organizers ns un instrument for carrying out the economic policy of the old Farmers Alliance, and he canvassed the county to promote an interest in the establishment of the store at Romney. Ile has been secretary and one of the directors of the bus1- ness since it was founded in December, 1592. lle is also financially interested in and is secretary of the Farmers Electric Company of Romney, which uutil recently wns the electric department of the Farmers Exchange.

Doctor Shull's first wife was Florence V. Daniels, only child of Alpheus and Eliza ( Wilson) Daniels. She died without issue. In Hampshire County Doctor Shull married for his second wife Miss Etta V. Wolford, daughter of Richard and Phoebe (MeGuire) Wolford. She died in 1997, mother of the following children: Florence, wife of Frank Baker, of Fremont, Ohio; Claude Lereux, who died while a law student in the University of West Virginia, within four months of graduation; Jenner, a wood worker living ut Detroit, Michigan; McGuire, who served a number of years in the United States Cavalry of the Regular Army, was at the Presidio at San Francisco early in the World war and is now in the aviation service. Iu 1559, at law l'uw in Morgan County, West Virginia, Doctor Sbull married Miss Margaret Hyett, daughter of Walter and Margaret |Lar gent) Hyett. The children of this union are: Mrs. lone Cookus, of Winchester, Virginia; Gumeth, wife of the evan gelist Hiram Van Voorhis, of Bowing Gren, Ohio; Worth, wife of Rev. Earl Biddle, of Cincinnati, Omo; Jaties, now living at Romney, aud a member of the Naval Reserve, was on the battleship South Carolina and made four trips across the Atlantic during the World war; and Enal O., who is a graduate of the Romney High School.

JOHN BASSEL was admitted to the bar while the Civil war was still in progress. With the lapse of years his abilities gave him rank as one of the able lawyers of West Virginia, and his career closed in honor and rije achieve meut more than half a century later at Clarksburg. the city with which practically his entire life was Mentihed.

He was born in liarrison County June 9, 1549, un l was in his seventy-fifth year when he died ut Carksourg. December 28, 1914. He was a son of BS njumin an } Lucinda Bassel. After the common schools he spent two years in Moore's Academy at Morgantown, subsequently was an honor graduate from Washington and Jetterson College at Washington, Pennsylvania, and began the study of law in the ethce of John J. Davis. After one year to private study he entered the Cin innati College of has, of which he was a graduate. Mr. Bassel was admitted to practice in the courts of Harrison County, January ". 1864. He looked upon the law as a great profession worthy of his utmost devotion, and never regarded it merely as an occupation. He handled a general practice, though he also handled some special legal busines an l for many years was counsel for the Baltimore & Oh o Railroad Company.

His character as a lawyer is described in th History of the Bench and Bar of West Virginia, from wach th following sentences are taken: "He was netel for his diligence, mental acuteness, and power of ann ysis; hen e it was not long until he received recognition as an at- torney and his success was therefore early assured. lle

HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA

ranked among the able lawyers of his day, always con- ducting his cases with admirable effectiveness and supe- rior judgment. He had a comprehensive and accurate knowledge of the law, and never failed to exalt his pro- fession, in which it was his ambition to excel, and lamented the tendency in later years to lower its ideals. He never failed to keep in mind the advice of Lord Coke, that 'he that knoweth not the reason of the law knoweth not the law.' At the trial of causes he was alert, adroit and un- tiring. In the argument of cases he reasoned well and convincingly. He was a dangerous opponent in debate, but was never spectacular nor offensive. He possessed a remarkably retentive memory and could cite cases with marvelous precision. He was always a student and re- membered what he read, and his mind was accordingly stored and enriched not only by a knowledge of the law itself, but hy the history of events culled from the classics and from profane and sacred writers as well, which he often used with telling effect in his arguments before courts and juries. "

Mr. Bassel gave little time or thought to politics, though he was a democrat. The only office to which he was ever elected by the people was as a delegate to the state con- vention that prepared the constitution of 1872. His thor- ough knowledge of the law made him a valued adviser in that body, and the document bears the impress of his judg- ment. He was elected president of the State Bar Asso- ciation in 1901, and for many years was a faithful at- tendant upon the annual meetings of the organization. The association was in session at Parkersburg the day of his death, and as a mark of respect twenty of its mem- hers were appointed to attend his funeral.

Mr. Bassel was a member of the Presbyterian Church. He was domestic in his traits and habits, and enjoyed the associations of an extensive friendship over the state. His first wife was Miss Martha Lewis, and by this union he was the father of six children. Mr. Bassel is survived by his second wife, who was formerly Miss Alice Bean. She continues to live at Clarksburg.

JOHN D. BLUE is one of the oldest men in the service of the Farmers Exchange of Romney, a business institution with a very interesting history.

The Farmers Exchange at Romney was founded in 1892, and the leading spirits in its organization were Dr. J. W. Shull and J. W. Thompson, both of whom have been on its Board of Directors from the beginning, and Mr. Thompson is now its president and Doctor Shull its secretary. Asso- eiated with them was the late George H. Johnson. The present Board of Directors comprise E. H. Blue, E. J. Fox. G. R. Hamilton, A. L. Ewers, the executive officers including Mr. John D. Blne. The business of the Farmers Exchange is merchandising, milling and the manufacture of ice. Prior to 1922 the Exchange also generated the electricity for Romney, but at the beginning of that year a new com- pany was formed to take over that end of the business, ealled the Farmers Electric Company, of which J. S. O'Hare is manager and electrician.

The Farmers Exchange in its origin is reminiscent of the old semi-political organization known as the Farmers Alli- ance. It was one of a number of similar enterprises estab- lished under such auspiees in Hampshire County, is the only one to survive and assume a permanent form and enjoy continued prosperity. The original investment in the enter- prise was about $2 000.00, and the business was exclusively merchandise. In order to raise the original capital for the opening of the store about one hundred men signed the note as security for the money. This successful business has had three managers, the first being C. W. Haines, the sec- ond, G. W. Arnold, and the third, John D. Blue, who has served longer than either of his predecessors. The Farmers Exchange also has the controlling interest in the stock of the Romney Grocery Company, a local wholesale house.

John D. Blue was born near Wappocomo in Romney District of Hampshire County, December 30, 1877, and has lived within a few miles of his birthplace all his life. His grandfather was Garrett I. Blue, who was born and spent his active life as a farmer in Hampshire County, and died about the close of the Civil war. He married Miss Long,

and among their children were Susan, Sallie, Ursula, Jo. and Marcellus.

John Blue, father of the Romney merchant, was al born in Hampshire County, acquired his education in t. country, and after some years as a farmer he became county official twelve years before his death, being elect. county assessor, and he was in that office when he died , 1903, at the age of about seventy. The first year of t Civil war he joined the Confederate Army as a member 1 the Eleventh Virginia Cavalry, and was in some of the : verest battles of the war. Several times he was captur by the Federals, and finally was sent to the Federal pris. on Johnson's Island in Lake Erie, and for a time was Fort Delaware, being held until the close of the war. later years he was much interested in the proceedings the Confederate veterans, attended a number of reunio: and was an ardent democrat, working for the interest of ]; party and its candidates.

John Blue married Miss Ann Eliza Fox, whose father w Voss Fox and her mother, a Miss Harness. She died 1899, at the age of sixty-eight. Their children consisted Miss Sallie V .; Edwin H., present county assessor of Han. shire County; William F., who was accidentally killed wha logging in the woods; George C. was with a coal company Fairmont when he died in 1901; Rebecca, now Mrs. Geor H. Johnson, Jr., of Hampshire County; John David; a. Mary Elizabeth, wife of Martin T, Hooper, who lives Sacramento, California, and is a mechanical engineer.

John D. Blue spent the first eighteen years of his I on the farm, and while there attended country schools. left the farm to become delivery hoy and clerk in the Far ers Exchange Store at Romney, and in that service he 13 continued steadily through all the years and has been sponsible in no small degree for the prosperity of the ins tution. He has been manager of the Exchange since 191 Mr. Blue is also a stockholder in the Bank of Romney, 1 served on the Romney Council, is a democrat in politics, affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, 1; Masons and the Modern Woodmen of America, and is Presbyterian. He assisted promoting the success of the ' rious drives and campaigns in behalf of the Governme. during the World war, and he registered under the l:> draft law.

In Mineral County, September 24, 1902, he married M3 Mary D. Rinehart, a daughter of John W. and Helen (Hov son) Rinehart. She was born on Patterson Street in M. eral County, was reared on a farm and supplemented 1: country school advantages in the Shepherd College Norm, and was a teacher before her marriage. She is the oldt of six children, the others being Elijah, Mrs. Helen Her- ott, Mrs. Ann Knykendall, deceased, John Rinehart, a re- dent of Alberta, Canada, and Miss Minnie, who lives at 13 old homestead in Mineral County. The three children ¿ Mr. and Mrs. Blue are: Helen, a graduate of the Romu High School and now a teacher in Hampshire County; Jci R., a high school student; and Cathleen.

HON. ROBERT W. DAILEY. In length of continuous se- ice Judge Dailey is one of the oldest Circuit Court judas in the state. For thirty years he has presided over e courts of the Twenty-second Circuit, comprising Hampshi, Hardy and Pendleton counties, a record which has throu ;- out been adorned by his sound abilities as a lawyer, g impartiality as a judge and the integrity of his perso ] character.

Judge Dailey, whose home is at Romney, was born 1 Hampshire County, April 18, 1849. His paternal gra :- father, James Dailey, came to Virginia from Pennsylvan when a young man and achieved a creditable position a: farmer, banker and man of affairs. He died about 18, when about fifty years of age. His first wife, and mot'r of a large family of children, was a daughter of Colo ] Andrew W. Woodrow, who had served as clerk of the cot at Romney. The second wife of James Dailey was Cc- fort Wood, whose grandfather, Colonel James Wood, vs the founder of Winchester, Virginia, naming the place n honor of his native city in England. The children of Cc .- fort Wood Dailey were: Dr. Robert Wood; Jean W., vo became the wife of Charles Lohh; Harriet, who died "

HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA

married; Thomas, who was a physician, practiced at Clarks- burg, and at the beginning of the Civil war joined the Con- federate Army, but ill health would not permit him to serve and he died at Winchester, Virginia.

Dr. Robert Wood Dailey, father of Judge Dailey, was bern at Romney, but spent his early life at Winehester, Vir- zinia, and read medicine with a celebrated physician of hat city, Doctor MeGuire. Ile also attended medical lee- tures in the University of Pennsylvania, graduating there, and fer sixty years he carried on an extensive private prac- ice, beginning at Romney and finally returning to that ity, where he was a dignified and very respected member of the profession. He was opposed to secession, and at the eginning of the Civil war he lived in Cumberland, Mary- and, but when Virginia finally seceded he joined the cause of his neighbors and friends and did what he could to aid the Confederacy. He served as a surgeon in the army, and remained in the service until the close of the war, when je returned to Romney as the home and seene of his active practice. He died in 1902, at the age of eighty-one.

Doetor Dailey was devoted to his profession, having lit- rle concern with business, was a man of strong convictions As a democrat and while orthodox in religion was not a member of any denomination. He married Rebecca Taylor, of Winchester, Virginia, daughter of Benjamin and Eliza Howland) Taylor, whose family consisted of five sous and wo daughters. Mrs. Rebecca Dailey died at the age of seventy-one. Her children were: Benjamin, who was a practicing lawyer at Moorefield, where he died; James, a commercial salesman and later a merchant at Romney ; Judge Robert Weed; Comfort Woed, who became a lawyer and practiced at Keyser and Elkins, and was serving as general counsel for the Western Maryland Railroad in he- half of the Davis and Elkins interests when he died; Griffin Taylor, who was a physician in Romney where he died : Ilow- and, who became an Arkansas farmer; Sarah Cornelia, who died at Romney, the wife of William N. Baird; and Miss Jean Dailey, of Romney.

Judge Robert W. Dailey until after the close of the Civil war lived with his parents and attended scheel for vary- Ing lengths of time in Cumberland, Maryland, then at Win- ·hester, Virginia, and was educated in private schools at Cumberland and Winchester, and at the age of nineteen be- zan the study of law in the office of White and Jacob at Romney. He was admitted to the bar from their office in August, 1870, after passing an oral examination before Judge Joseph A. Chapline and a committee comprising An- drew W. Kercheval and Gen. Joseph Spriggs. Judge IFoke, ater at Moorefield with Judge Chapline, signed his license. Judge Dailey began practice in association with James D. Armstrong, afterwards judge of the Twenty-second Cir- uit, and the firm continued until Mr. Armstrong went on he bench. Following that Judge Dailey was associated with his brother, Wood Dailey, in the firm of Dailey & Dailey. His brother meved te Elkins about the time Robert Dailey was chosen to the bench. Judge Dailey for twenty- :we years carried on a general practice before the courts of Hampshire, Mineral, Hardy and Grant counties, and for a similar length of time served as prosecuting attorney, hokl. ing that position until he went on the bench.

When Judge Armstrong resigned as circuit judge Gover- nor Fleming appointed Robert W. Dailey as his successor antil the next general election, and Judge Dailey was then elected and has never been opposed in succeeding elections. At the expiration of his present term he will have served :hirty-seven years. He is an elder in the Presbyterian Church, frequently attending Presbyteries, occasionally the Synod, and three times was a delegate to the General As- sembly, those at Birmingham, Alabama, Greenville, South Carolina, and Bristol, Tennessee.

In Prince Edward County, Virginia, in February, 1974, Judge Dailey married Miss Louisa Booker, whom he had met at Romney some time before. She was born in Char- otte County, Virginia, daughter of John and Lucilla (Elli- ott) Booker, being one of a large family of children. Her father was a native of Virginia and a merchant. Judge Dailey's children were properly educated and trained and have beeome well established in their respective spheres.

His son, John B., is general manager of stores of a coal company in Huntington, West Virginia. Nelin is the wife of William L. Walker, of Spartanburg, South Carolina. William T. lives at Morgantown. Miss Rebecca Howland in a resident of Romney. Robert W. is a phy ician represent ing the fifth generation of the family in that profession and is practicing at Romney. Lucilla is the wife of Dr Jum # K. Guthrie, of New Hampton, Iowa.

OLIVER MORTIMER RIZER IS one of the moju ar and repre sentative citizens of his native city of l'iedm nt, Mineral County, his birth having here occurrol November 10, 19 Ile is a son of George W. and Mary Jane Jarboe Kizer. the latter a native of Petersburg, Virgin a, and a daughter of Washington Jarboe, who was born and reared in Fran e

George W. Rizer was born in Allegany County, Mary and, in 1829, and became one of the pioneer telegraph operator" in the service of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. lie was stationed at Cumberland, Maryland, during the period of the Civil war, and at one time was forced to leave his post and take his telegraph instruments into hiding from en eronehment by Confederate forces. Through exjos re which he endured in one of these flights from his office he con tracted a severe cold, os a sequel of which his death oc urre l in November, 1>64. His marriage occurred in 1>55, at Piedment, the father of his wife having been proprietor of the old Sims Hotel. Mrs. Rizer was born in 1-32, and long survived her husband, her death having occurred in 19]>. Frank, eldest of the children, died in 1-94. at Wheeling; Oliver Mortimer, of this sketch, was next in order of birth; and Ella Elsworth is the widow of Lew x (* Nolte, of Wheeling.

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History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 2, Part 28

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