History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 2, Part 31

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In 1902 Mr. Phillips came to Morgantown, this state, and established a dancing academy, and he built up n prosperous and representative business in the teaching of dancing. lle continued his academy until 1906, and he hnd entered the music business also, this enterprise having grown to anch proportions that he found it expedient to give it his un- divided time and attention. His original music store was in a room 15 by 30 feet in dimensions on l'leasant Street, near High Street, and here he installed Baldwin pianos and a stock of Vietor aad Edison phonographs. In 1905 the business had so expanded that he found larger quarters imperative. He removed to the Grand Thenter Building on Walnut Street, and in 1911, for the same reason that had prompted his former change of location, he removed to the White apartment building on High Street. In 1915 further increase of business led to hia removal to his present fino headquarters at 374 High Street, where he has one of the most attractive and well equipped musie stores to be found in any city of comparative population in the South. IIere he utilizes more than 5,000 square feet of floor space, and an enlargement is contemplated at the time of this writing, in 192]. Mr. Phillips atill represents the same high-grade musical instruments as nt the beginning of his enterprise, and by reason of his remarkable record in the sale of the Edisoa phonographs he had the distinction of being chosen chairman of the Edison Dealers Phonograph Convention held in New York City, June 9 and 10. 192]. In the banquet incidental to this coavention he and his wife occupied seats of honor at the same tahle with Mr. and Mrs. Thomas A. Edison, 1,500 Edison dealers having been present at the convention.

Mr. Phillips was elected a member of the City Council of Morgantown in 1920, and was instrumental in bringing about the adoption of the new city charter in 1921. During the campaign to effect this action he served as chairman of the general committee in charge of the same, and under the new charter he was made chairman of the Board of Equalization and Review, in which capacity he is now serv- ing. During the World war period he took active part in all local partiotic service, including that of the Red Cro.ª. Ile is a vital and valued member of the Morgantown Chamter of Commerce, is a member of the local Kiwanis Cinb. an l is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias, the Elks and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Vol. II-11

HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA

September 7, 1905, Mr. Phillips wedded Miss Blanche M. Meeks, who was born and reared at Morgantown, a daughter of the late John W. and Josephine (Low) Meeks, the former of whom was born in this state, a son of Joseph Meeks, his wife having been born in a western state, a daughter of William Low. Mrs. Phillips is an active coadjutor of her husband in his business enterprise, to which she devotes the major part of her time and attention. She is an active mem- ber of the Methodist Church in her home city. Mr. and Mrs. Phillips have one son, Samuel Allen, Jr., born August 29, 1911.

SYLVESTER P. ALLEN, M. D., has the sterling personal characteristics, the professional ability and the substantial practice that mark him distinctly as one of the representa- tive physicians and surgeons of Webster County, where he maintains his home and professional headquarters at Webster Springs, the county seat.

Doctor Allen was born in Doddridge County, this state, on the 20th of April, 1872, and is a son of Stephen and Mary (Frum) Allen, both representatives of honored pioneer families of that part of Virginia which now constitutes the State of West Virginia. Stephen Allen was born in Dodd- ridge County, January 24, 1836, and his wife was born in Taylor County, March 16, 1838. The parents were reared under the conditions that marked the pioneer period in the history of what is now. West Virginia, their marriage was solemnized in Taylor County, and thereafter they estab- lished their home on a farm in Doddridge County. In 1874 removal was made to Harrison County, and in 1880 the family home was established in Braxton County, whence re- moval later was made to Webster County, where the father continued his association with farm industry until the time of his death. He was a republican in politics, and both he and his wife were earnest members of the Baptist Church. Of their eight children four are living (1922) : Rebecca is the wife of Daman Ash; Samantha F. is the wife of James W. McCray; Sylvester P., of this sketch, is the next younger ; and S. M. P. is the wife of David F. Heafner.

Sylvester P. Allen was reared to the invigorating dis- cipline of the farm, attended the local schools in the differ- ent counties in which the family resided during the period of his boyhood and youth, and in the furtherance of his higher education he entered the Central Normal College of Ken- tucky, in which excellent institution he was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Science. He depended entirely upon his own resources in defraying his expenses at this college and also at the Kentucky School of Medicine at Louisville, in which he was graduated as a member of the class of 1901 and with the degree of Doctor of Medicine.

On the 11th of July, 1901, Doctor Allen opened an office at Webster Springs, and here he has since continued in the successful general practice of his profession, in which he has shown both marked ability and a fine sense of profes- sional and personal stewardship. In his various activities of study and research that have kept him in touch with advances made in medicine and surgery he has taken an effective post-graduate course in the medical department of the University of Louisville. He is a member of the Webster County Medical Society and the West Virginia State Medical Society. The doctor is a stalwart republican, and in Webster County, which is strongly democratic, he was elected county clerk by a majority of 166 votes, he having retained this office six years and having given a most effec- tive administration. In the time-honored Masonic fraternity Doctor Allen is affiliated with and is a past master of Addison Lodge No. 116, A. F. and A. M., at Addison, Webster County; Sutton Chapter No. 29, R. A. M., at Sutton, Braxton County, where he is a member also of Sutton Commandery No. 16, Knights Templars, besides which he is a Noble of Beni-Kedem Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Charleston and the Scottish Rite Consistory at Wheeling. Both he and his wife are active members of the Baptist Church in their home village.

In 1904 was solemnized the marriage of Doctor Allen and Miss Lenora Miller, who had attended both the State Nor- mal School at Fairmont and the University of West Vir- ginia and who had been a successful and popular teacher

prior to her marriage. The only child of Doctor and M Allen died in infancy.

SAMUEL MILLER WHITESIDE, who, under the title of S. ] Whiteside & Company, conducts at Morgantown, Monongal County, one of the largest establishments in the city voted to the handling of ladies', misses' and childrer apparel, was born at Benwood, Marshall County, this sta December 31, 1865, a son of Robert J. and Amanda (I Moss) Whiteside, both now deceased. The parents we born and reared in Maryland, where their marriage w solemnized, and whence they came to West Virginia a established their home in Marshall County.

Samuel M. Whiteside received the advantages of t public schools of his native city, and was a lad of fourte years when, in 1880, he found employment in the departme store of George E. Stifle & Company in the City of Wheeli He continued in the employ of this representative mercant concern for twenty-six years, worked his way through t various departments and by faithful and efficient serv gained eventual advancement to the position of buyer in c of the important departments of the establishment. ] resigned his position in 1906 and came to Morgantov where he opened a small store on the site of the present n building of the Bank of the Monongahela Valley, on Hi Street. A year later the increase of his business led to removal to larger quarters in the Wiles Block, at 338 Hi Street, where he has since continued his substantial a prosperous business. When he removed to his present cation Mr. Whiteside at first utilized only 1,400 square f of floor space, and an idea of the splendid expansion of business is conveyed in the statement that at the time this writing, in 1921, after three additions, the establi ment utilized 4,900 square feet of floor space.

Aside from the representative business enterprise that has thus developed Mr. Whiteside takes loyal and help interest in the civic and social affairs of his home city,a is known and valued as one of its liberal and progress citizens and business men. He is an active member and former director of the Morgantown Chamber of Commer holds membership in the local Kiwanis Club, and is affilia with Morgantown Lodge No. 411, Benevolent and Protect Order of Elks.

Mr. Whiteside married Miss Bertha L. Zevely, of Wh ing, she being a daughter of John H. and Mag (Couniahn) Zevely, of that city.

WILLIAM HARRISON ASHCRAFT, cashier of the Commer Bank of Morgantown, at the judicial center of Mononga County, was born in this county, on a farm near Halleck Clinton District, October 12, 1879, and is a representat of two of the old and honored families of this section West Virginia. His paternal grandfather, Harrison A craft, a native of Wales, came with his parents to the Uni States, and eventually established his home in Mar County, West Virginia. Rollo Trickett, the maternal gra father, is supposed to have been born in America, and of English parentage. He became a farmer in Pres County, West Virginia, which was at the time still a part Virginia, and at the time of the Civil war he removed Monongalia County, where he passed the rest of his life.

Dextrous T. Ashcraft, father of William H. of this revi was born in Marion County, this state, December 14, 18 and in his youth he learned the carpenter's trade, to wh he continued to give his attention in Marion County until marriage. He then engaged in farm enterprise in Mon galia County, where he has continued as a prominent : substantial representative of farm industry. His w Amanda, was born in Preston County, January 14, 1853 daughter of Rollo Trickett, mentioned in the preced paragraph.

William H. Ashcraft so fully profited by the advant of the public schools of his native county that he pro himself eligible for pedagogic service. After five years successful work as a teacher he entered the University West Virginia, but before completing the full course in same he withdrew to enter business. September 1, 1901, Ashcraft became bookkeeper in the Second National B

HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA

of Morgantown, in which he was promoted to teller in 1903 and assistant cashier in 1906. He continued his connection with thia institution until September 15, 1920, when he re- signed to accept his present post, that of cashier of the Commercial Bank, which was then in process of organization. Ile had active charge of the opening of the new bank March 26, 1921, this being the youngest of the financial institu- tions of the county but its solidity and representative per- sonnel of its exceutives and stockholders give it sceure place in popular confidence and support. Mr. Ashcraft is a mem- ber of the Morgantowa Chamber of Commerce, and he and his wife are zealous members of the First Baptist Church, of which he was treasurer for more than twenty years.

June 15, 1906, recorded the marriage of Mr. Ashcraft with Miss Alice Maude Gilmere, daughter of Col. T. J. and Sarah (Epper) Gilmore. Colonel Gilmore came to Morgantown from Albermarle, Virginia, and became a prominent railroad contractor.

JOSEPH KERR BUCHANAN, manager of the West Virginia Utilities Company, and one of the younger prominent busi- ness men of Morgantown, was born April 22, 1883, at Clin- ton, Allegheny County, Peansylvania, the son of the Rev. Aaron Moore Buchanan, D. D., now of Uniontown, Penn- sylvania.

The Buchanan genealogy appears on record as follows:

(I) James Buchanan, born in Lancaster County, Penn- sylvania, on May 23, 1761, served as a private in Captain Morrison's Company of Potter's Battalion of Pennsylvania Infantry in the Revolutionary war; he removed to Washing- ton County, Pennsylvania, where he died November 25, 1823; he married Margaret Ross.

(II) John, son of James and Margaret (Ross) Buchanan, was born February 28, 1798; married on February 4, 1823, Margaret Chambers, and removed to Hancock County, Vir- ginia-now West Virginia, where he died in 1834.

(III) Joseph Kerr, son of John and Margaret (Cham- bers) Buchanan, was born in Hancock County, West Vir- ginia, January 23, 1830. His parents dying before he had reached his fifth year, he was reared in the family of Aaron and Polly (Stevens) Moore, of Beaver County, Pennsylvania. He married Martha Bigger, who was born April 9, 1830; he died August 30, 1894, his widow on January 16, 1909.

(IV) Aaron Moore Buchanan, D. D., son of Joseph K. and Martha (Bigger) Buchanan, was born in Hanover Township, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, July 7, 1856. Ile attended Frankfort Springs Academy, Beaver County, Penn- sylvania; was graduated from Washington and Jefferson College A. B., Class of '79; graduated from Western Theo- logical Seminary, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1882; was licensed to preach April 21, 1881, by the Presbytery ef Washington, and was ordained by the Presbytery of Pitts- burgh, October 4, 1882; from October, 1882, to May, 1886, he was pastor of Hebron Presbyterian Church, Clinton, Pennsylvania, and became pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Morgantown, West Virginia, in May, 1886, con- tinuing until 1915; he is now superintendent of missions of Redstone Presbytery and resides at Uniontown, Pennsyl- vania. Washington and Jefferson College gave him the D. D. degree in June, 1899; he served as chaplain of the First Regiment of Infantry, West Virginia National Guard, from July 24, 1894, for twenty years. On June 28, 1882, he was united in marriage with Sarah Wiley, of Washington, Penn- sylvania, the daughter of John and Margaret (MeLain) Wiley, and granddaughter of William Tayler and Martha (Harbison) Wiley. Her maternal great-grandparents, John and Massy (White) Harbison, figure in the early history of Western Pennsylvania, both John Harbison and Edward White having served in the American Revolution. Massy (White) Harbison was twice captured by Indians, and all of her children except a baby in arms were killed by savages.

Joseph K. Buchanan was reared in Morgantown, where he was prepared for college and entered West Virginia Uni- versity. He left the university before completing his junior year in 1904 to enter the employ as meter reader and general utility man of the then Union Utilities Company at Morgan- town, and has continued with that corporation through its different reorganizationa, having been made manager in

1910 and continues in that position with what is now the West Virginia Utilities Company. He is president of the Morgantown Hardware Company, president of the Reger On Company and a director in the Morgantown Savings nad Loan Society. Hle is first vice president of the Morgantown Chamber of Commerce and a member of Morgantown Rotary C'lub and of the Kappa P'si l'hi fraternity, of which fratern- ity his father is also a member.

Mr. Buchanan married Frances Louisa, daughter of Hugh Craig and Pauline ( Davis) Allison, of Uniontown, l'enn sl vania, and they have one daughter, Mary Buchanan, beru December 26, 1919.

ROY CLARK SMITH. Few figures are better known in the educational profession of Monongalia County than Roy Clark Smith, who since 1913 has been superintendent of the public schools of Morgantown. Identified with educational work since the beginning of his career, he has been located at Morgantown since 1909, constantly filling places of trust and responsibility, and during this time has impressed him self upon the life and institutions of the community in a manner alike ereditable to himself and productive of lasting benefit to the city.

Mr. Smith was born at Cambridge, Maryland, Decemtur 4, 1883, and is of English French-Irish stock, being de srended from three of the oldest families of Maryland, the Smiths, Harpers and Clarks, His grandfather, Henry Smith, a native of Maryland, married Martha Harper, a daughter of Edward Harper, who was an extensive Inudholder of Dorchester County, Maryland, owning land which came to the Harper family by grant directly from Lord Baltimore. He married Miss Beauchamp, who was born in France. The father of Roy C. Smith was Marcus II. Smith, who was born in Dorchester County, Maryland, in July, 1857, and was in early life a farmer, later a mill owner and operator nt Denton, and finally a merchant at that place. lle married Sarah Matilda Clark, who was born in Caroline County, Maryland, in December, 1861, a daughter of John W. Clark, who at the time of his death in 1599 was probably the largest land holder in Caroline County.

Roy Clark Smith was born at Cambridge, Maryland, De- cember 4, 1853, and secured his primary education in the public schools of Denton. Caroline County, Maryland Graduating from the high school at that place in 1902, he entered the Western Maryland College, from which he was graduated as a Bachelor of Arts in 1906. At that time he commenced teaching, but did not give up his studies, as later he was graduated from the University of Pennsylvania. class of 1911, with his Master of Arts degree, and in 1916 he took post-graduate work at Columbia University.

Mr. Smith entered public school work as principal of the schools of Preston, Maryland, and next became teacher of mathematies and history at Friends Academy, Long Island. New York, in the fall of 1907. In 190% he was hond of the department of mathematics of the Westchester ( Pennsyl- vania) High School, and in the fall of 1909 came to Morgan- town to become principal of the high school here. lle con tinued to act in this capacity until elected superintendent of city schools in the fall of 1913, and has ocenpied that posi tion ever since. Superintendent Smith has made education and the organization and direction of educational netivities his life work, and has been remarkably successful. In almost every field of the work from the primary to teaching classes in a university, from grade to superintendent of schools, he has left the mark of an earnest student and apt instructor, an intelligent organizer and a judicious director. In a pro- fessional way his connections include membership in the West Virginia State Educational Association and the de. partment of superintendents of the National Educational Association. Fraternally he is affiliated with Morgantown Union Lodge No. 4, F. and A. M .; and Lodge of Perfection No. 6, R. and S. M. He belongs likewise to the Morgantown Rotary Club and the Morgantown Chamber of Commerce and his religious faith is that of the Presbyterian Church.

On June 16, 1913. Mr. Smith was un ted in marrag wh Charlotte Wade, daughter of Clark Wade, of Monongalia County, and granddaughter of Alexander Wade, one of the most prominent of West Virginia's public school educators

HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA

Mr. and Mrs. Smith have one son, Robert Wade, born June 5, 1918.

HON. KREIDER H. STOVER. As a young man from college Kreider H. Stover took up railroading. He left that after a few years and was in the wholesale lumber business, be- eoming one of the very influential men in this industry in West Virginia. But the call of the railroad service was strong and clear, and for the past twelve years his energies have been definitely committed to railroad work. He is now Baltimore & Ohio agent at Keyser.

Mr. Stover was born at Coburn, Pennsylvania, July 12, 1873. His people were an old family of Pennsylvania, and for a number of years lived in Bueks County. His grand- father, Jacob Stover, was a native of that state, an only son, and was killed in early life in an explosion while on publie road building. George W. Stover, father of Kreider H., spent his life on his farm at Coburn, where he died in 1887, at the age of sixty-one. His wife was Malinda A. Kreider, who was born in 1828 and died in 1912. Her father, Philip Kreider, was a hotel man at Lebanon, Penn- sylvania, and died in early life. The children of George W. Stover and wife were: Perry H., of Elkins, West Virginia ; Elmira, wife of Thomas B. Motz, of Millheim, Pennsyl- vania ; Calvin J., who died at Coburn, survived by his widow, Olivia J., and two sons, George S. and Guy Z. Stover, and the daughter, Myra, wife of Robert Breon of State College, Pennsylvania; Oscar, who died in infancy; and Kreider H.

Kreider H. Stover lived on his father's farm the first fourteen years of his life. He then spent two years in Palatinate College, and in 1890, at the age of seventeen, be- came an office employe of A. Pardee & Company at Pardec, Pennsylvania, and in 1893 was promoted to superintendent. Soon afterward he resigned to complete his education in Franklin-Marshall College at Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and left that institution in his junior year, in 1896. At that date he began railroading with the Pennsylvania Railway Company, and served until 1900, in different capacities.

Mr. Stover came to West Virginia in 1900 and became manager of the Hosterman Lumber Company at Hosterman in Pocahontas County. He was there until 1904, when he moved to Elkins and engaged in the wholesale lumber busi- ness under the name Stover Lumber Company. While there he founded and for four years published the West Virginia Lumberman and National Wholesaler. From 1904 to 1908 he was also president of the West Virginia Sawmill Asso- eiation.

Mr. Stover resumed railroading as joint agent at Roaring Creek Junction for the Western Maryland Railway Con- pany. He was in the service of that railroad for ten years, performing the duties of operator, agent and yardmaster at Ridgely, Hendricks, Henry, Elkins and West Virginia Central Junetion. He resigned from the Western Maryland in 1920, and in September of that year accepted the ageney of the Baltimore & Ohio at Keyser, as successor to Agent Terrell, who is now warden of the West Virginia Peniten- tiary at Moundsville.

For a number of years Mr. Stover has been one of the moulders of political thought and legislation in West Vir- ginia. He east his first vote for Major MeKinley in 1896, and was a delegate to the Republican County Convention in Pocahontas County in 1902. For a number of years he has been regarded as a conservative labor man, and for six years he was general chairman of the Order of Railroad Telegraphers. The public service that partienlarly dis- tinguishes him came in the House of Delegates, to which he was elected in 1918 as a representative of Mineral County, succeeding Newton Moore. His service was under Speaker Luther Wolf. In the regular session of 1919 he was made chairman of the labor committee, and was a member of the railroad, printing and contingent expenses committee. Some of the important legislation of that session bears the impress of his work and influence as chairman of the labor commit- tee. Two bills came out of that committee, both of which he introduced. One was Bill No. 50, increasing the powers of labor. Another bill that became a law was the West Virginia Child Labor Law. He also actively supported the ratification of the eighteenth and nineteenth amendments,

providing for federal prohibition and woman suffrage. He was opposed to the creation of a state constabulary, his ground of opposition being that his constituents in Mineral County did not need such a police force. Mr. Stover made an unusual record of useful service during his one term in the Legislature. In 1920 he was candidate for the repub- lican nomination for congressman of the Second West Vir- ginia District. In 1922 he is again a candidate for Congress.

In 1898 he joined the lodge of Masons at Center Hall, Pennsylvania, is affiliated with the Royal Arch Chapter of Ronceverte, the Knights Templar Commandery of Lewis- burg and the Shrine at Charleston. He is affiliated with Olive Branch Lodge No. 25, Knights of Pythias, at Keyser. He was reared in the Reformed Church of America.

At Coburn, Pennsylvania, September 28, 1898, Mr. Stover married Bertha J. Young, daughter of William and Mary (Kurtz) Young. Her oldest sister is Mrs. T. G. Hoster- man, of Akron, Ohio. The mother of Mrs. Stover is now Mrs. Mary Weiser and lives with her daughter at Keyser. Mr. and Mrs. Stover have no children of their own, but have an adopted son, Allen Graham Stover.

BERNARD JOSEPH PETTIGREW is one of the younger men rising to prominence in the affairs of West Virginia. He has substantial connections at the bar of Charleston and enjoys a large criminal practice, and has also had the advantage of experience in the State Legislature.

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History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 2, Part 31

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