History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 2, Part 4

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Mr. Littlepage as a lawyer was equally at home in the civil and criminal branches of the law, and gained dis- tinction not only by individual cases but through the great volume of important litigation he handled. At one time he was general counsel in West Virginia for the United Mine Workers of America. He was a member of several law partnerships at Charleston. In 1907 he became senior member of the firm Littlepage, Cato & Bledsoe. This was succeeded in February, 1911, by the firm Littlepage & Son, and still later by the firm of Littlepage, Littlepage & Littlepage.

The late Mr. Littlepage was a loyal democrat, but seldom allowed his name to be associated with candidacy for office. At one time he was defeated by forty-nine votes for the office of prosecuting attorney, and a recount of the votes was settled by a compromise dividing the office between the two candidates. In November, 1906, he was elected a member of the State Senate from a district 3,000 votes normally republican. During his term in the Senate he was a member of the finance and other committees. In November, 1910, he was elected to the Sixty-second Con- gress as a representative of the Third West Virginia Dis- triet. The normal political complexion of the district was republican by a majority of 6,000, and he received a margin over his competitor by nearly 2,000 ballots. He was re-elected from the Third District in 1914, and in 1916 was elected to the Sixty-fifth Congress from the Sixth District, his third term ending in March, 1919. He served for some time as a member of the committee on military affairs, but at the special request of Secretary Daniels he resigned his membership in this committee and was made a member of the naval affairs committee during the World war.

On April 8, 1884, Mr. Littlepage married Eva Collett, daughter of Stephen S. and Jane (Dunlap) Collett. Her parents were natives of Vermilion County, Indiana, where her father was president of a bank. Mr. and Mrs. Little- page had two children: Clara Frances, who became. the wife of R. F. Irwin, and S. Collett Littlepage, whose career is sketched in biography following.

Mr. Littlepage was a thirty-second degree Scottish Rite Mason and a Noble of the Mystic Shrine, an Odd Fellow, a Knight of Pythias, an Elk and a Red Man.

As an individual, as a lawyer, and as a legislator Adam B. Littlepage stood exemplar of those principles which tend towards the better life. While manifesting and prac- ticing towards others the utmost measure of kindliness and charity, he maintained for himself a rigid adherence to the principles of absolute equity and fairness. Scrupulously

honest in all of his dealings with his fellow men, he coul never countenance, much less practice, the petty tries which too often pass current in the business and politi l world. Kind hearted and generous, almost to a fault, e possessed an affability and charm of manner which W1 and held friendships, and marked him a man among peers.

STEPHEN COLLETT LITTLEPAGE became an active n- ber of the Charleston bar in 1908, for a dozen years actively associated with his distinguished father, and been ably carrying on the great and important volume f the practice of the old firm since the death of lis father.

His father was the late Hon. Adam Browa Littlepag, one of Charleston's most distinguished citizens. He wi born near Charleston, April 14, 1859, son of Adam B. al Rebecca T. (Wood) Littlepage. He was educated in t) public schools near Charleston, and in his professorl career held the offices of prosecuting attorney, menkr of the State Senate, from 1906 to 1910, and represent! the Charleston District in Congress, elected in 1910, te only democrat ever chosen to Congress from this distrt since the Civil war. He was general counsel in W.t Virginia for the United Mine Workers of America. Ada B. Littlepage dicd June 29, 1921. He married Eva ? Collett, of Newport, Indiana, April 8, 1884. She w3 born at Newport, a daughter of Stephen S. Collett, 1 banker, and a uiece of Joseph and John Collett. Joi Collett was distinguished as the builder of the Chica) and Eastern Illinois Railroad, and was its first preside .. Joseph Collett was state geologist for the State of Indian ..

Stephen Collett Littlepage was born at Charleston 1 1887, was educated in the grammar and high schools f his native city, attended Kentucky Military Institute, Wa :- ington and Lee University, and graduated LL. B. fra the University of West Virginia in 1908. He at 019 returned to Charleston, and has since been in active pr :- tice and his personal abilities have won him much of te prestige given his honored father.

Mr. Littlepage early in 1918 volunteered as a priva in the infantry service, and was assigned to duty w2 the One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Depot Brigade at Can Lee, Virginia. While there he was recommended by offices of his company and battalion to enter the line of office ' training school. He was one of only three men who we commissioned first lieutenants at Camp Lee, all the otlr candidates attending school having to be satisfied wi the grade of second lieutenant. Mr. Littlepage is stilla first lieutenant of the Reserves. He married Novemlr 22, 1919, Marguerite E. Payne, of Charleston, West V- ginia, only daughter of Charles K. and Emma E. Pay ..

Mr. Littlepage is a member of the Kappa Alpha f . ternity, Theta Nu Epsilon fraternity, Edgewood Cot- try Club. He is also a member of numerous hunting al fishing clubs, including the Alleghany and Cheat Mount: clubs and the Paul J. Rainey Fox Hunters' Associati and the National Fox Hunters' Association. In frateril circles he holds membership in the Elks Lodge and te Knights of Pythias. He is a member of the Presbyterin Church.

HON. NATHAN GOFF. In the public service of state al nation perhaps no West Virginian had longer and me distinguished service than the late Nathan Goff. He ws one of the first volunteers in the war for the Union, in wha he rose to the rank of major. From the close of the wr he practiced law, was an officer of the state and fedel governments, a cabinet officer, congressman, federal jude and United States senator, and in these varied responsib. ties was almost continuously active until a short time befe his death.

He was born in the City of Clarksburg, which alwas remained his home, on February 9, 1843. His first Am ican ancestors were New England settlers. His gre .- grandparents were Nathan and Mary (Potter) Goff, w) were married at Coventry, Rhode Island, in 1746. grandfather, Job Goff, was born at Coventry, Rhode Islan, November 22, 1760, and was reared in Vermont. He w3

HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA

one of the volunteers from Vermont to the American forces in the Revolutionary war. Subsequently he removed to Otsego County, New York, and in 1804 settled in what is now Harrison County, West Virginia. He lived there until his death on December 8, 1845.

The parents of the late Judge Goff were Waldo Potter and Harriet Louise (Moore) Goff. His father was born in Otsego County, New York, and died at Clarksburg, Septem- ber 17, 1881. He was a farmer and merchant, held several county offices and was a member of the Virginia Senate. At Clarksburg in 1839, be married Harriet Louise Moore, a daughter of Thomas Preston and Rachel (Pindall) Moore. Their children were named: Gay, Henry Clay, Nathan, Thomas Moore, Charles James, May, Flora, Lizzie and Hattie.

Nathan Goff acquired a liberal education, attending Northwestern Academy at Clarksburg and the Georgetown College in the District of Columbia. He left Georgetown College to enlist as a private in Company G of the Third Virginia Infantry at the very beginning of the war, and re- mained in service until the close. He was promoted to lieutenant and finally to major, and at his discharge was revetted a brigadier-general of volunteers. He received his Honorable discharge January 20, 1864. He was once a prisoner of war and spent four months in Libby Prison. After leaving the army he studied law in the University of the City of New York, from which he received his LL. B. degree. Georgetown College conferred upon him the honorary degree LL. B. in 1889. He was admitted to the bar in 1866, and began practicing that year at Clarksburg. In 1867 he was elected a member of the West Virginia House of Delegates and reelected in 1868. In 1869 President Grant appointed him district attorney for the District of West Virginia, and he held that office for twelve years, until 1881, when, toward the close of the administration of President Hayes, he re- signed to become secretary of the navy in President Hayes' cabinet. In the meantime he had been one of the promi- nent republican leaders in his state; was candidate for Con- gress in 1870 and 1874, and for governor in 1876. During 1881-82 he was again United States district attorney. In 1882 he was elected to Congress, serving three terms, from 1883 to 1889. In 1888 Judge Goff was again his party's candidate for governor, and on the face of the returns was elected by a plurality of one hundred and thirty votes, but the election was contested by the democratic candidate, who was seated by a majority vote of the Legislature. In 1884 and in 1888, Judge Goff was chairman of the National Re- publican Congressional Committee.

In 1892 he was appointed by President Harrison judge of the United States Circuit Court, Fourth Division, and he was on the bench for a period of nineteen years and during 1912-13 was judge of the United States Circuit Court of Appeals. In 1913 Judge Goff left the bench to become United States Senator from West Virginia, and served out his six year term, ending in March, 1919. He had been in some branch of the public service for over half a century, and had earned some of the finest distinctions as soldier, lawyer, judge and statesman.

Through all these years he was exceptionally loyal as a citizen of Clarksburg. A monument to his enterprise as a business man and as a citizen include his splendid resi- deace in that city, the Goff office building and the Waldo Hotel.

November 7, 1865, Judge Goff married Laura Despard. Two sons were horn to this marriage, Guy D. and Waldo Percy Goff. Guy D. Goff took up his father's profession, and is now assistant United States attorney-general. Waldo P. Goff is a prominent physician and business man of Clarksburg. On August 28, 1919, Judge Goff married Miss Katherine M. Penney. She survives him and lives at Clarks- burg. Judge Goff died April 23, 1920, at the age of sev- enty-seven.

JAMES A. BRYAN. The serviceableness of good citizen- ship has a most splendid example in the career of James A. Bryan of Parkersburg. While a busy and successful manufacturer, Mr. Bryan at all times has been ready to put the interests of the community first in importance. While so well known and loved in his home community,

he is widely known all over the state for his prominence in Masonry.

He was born at Parkersburg February 14, 1858, son of William and Margaret (Wreath) Bryan. His father was one of the carly engineers on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, running trains over the branch to Parkersburg. lIc waa also at one time a captain of tho Mount Clare transport steamboat.

James A. Bryan was reared in Parkersburg, attended public and private schools there, and has been in business since the close of his school days. He is one of the principal owners of the National Woolen Mills, with its numerous subsidiary establishments.

For twenty years, ending in 1906, Mr. Bryan was a member of the Board of Education, serving without remuneration. The last four years he was president of the board. During bis administration the Mckinley School Building was erected, at a cost of $90,000; $25,000 were expended in rebuilding the Willard School, and $8,000 in the remodeling of the Sumner High School. The Carnegie Public Library Building was also erected, at a cost of $34,000, the gift from Mr. Carnegie being secured largely through the personal efforts of Mr. Bryan. As president of the Board of Education, it may be safely asserted that Mr. Bryan accomplished more than any other citizen ever has in behalf of local educational progress. While he was on the board a system of free text books was adopted, teachers' salaries were increased, and a four year high school course adopted.

Mr. Bryan is a prominent Methodist and has been identified with that church since early youth. He served as steward and treasurer of the Board of Stewards for thirty years, served as secretary of the Sunday School, for five years was superintendent of the Sunday School, and is still treasurer of the church. When the Parkera- burg Y. M. C. A. was organized on a permanent basis he was unanimously chosen as first president of the Board of Directors. During the three years he held that office, the Y. M. C. A. Building was erected and equipped at a cost of $85,000.

His many services as a Mason are well known, and may be only briefly outlined. He was made a Master Mason of Mount Olivet Lodge No. 3, in 1879, filled various chairs in that lodge, was its worshipful master in 1882-84, and for many years past has been its secretary. In 1879 he was exalted to the Royal Arch Degree, was high priest of Jerusalem Chapter No. 3, in 1885, and since 1895 has been secretary of the chapter. In November, 1900, he received the order of High Priesthood. He also was elevated in 1879 to the rank of Knight Templar in Calvary Com- mandery No. 3, and was chosen its eminent commander in 1885, and has been its recorder since 1895. Besides his responsibilities in connection with the York Rite bodies at Parkersburg, he has had many honora in the state organi- zations. In 1907-08 be was grand master of the Grand Lodge of the State of West Virginia. He is now Captain of Host, Sojourner of the Grand Chapter of Royal Arel Masons, and in 1902-03 was grand commander of the Grand Commandery of the state. He has also been repre- sentative of these Grand Bodies. Up to the nineteenth degree of the Scottish Rite he holds membership in Parkers- burg, and acts officially in all the various proceedings. Tbe remainder of the Scottish Rite degrees he holds in West Virginia Consistory at Wheeling. In 1907, at a meeting of the Supreme Council of the Scottish Rite held in Wash- ington, D. C., he was elected a Knight Commander of the Court of Honor and later was made a thirty-third degree, Honorary. Mr. Bryan became a charter member of Nemesis Temple of the Mystic Shrine after having previously been a member of Osiris Temple at Wheeling. He is present recorder of the local Shrine.

In 1884 Mr. Bryan married Miss Lulu Kendall, daughter nf Dr. J. E. Kendall. Of their two children the daughter, Margaret, died at the age of eighteen months. The son, James K. Bryan, is a member of the senior class of the Ohio Wesleyan College at Delaware, was senior class presi- dent, a member of the Boosters Class, on the staff of the college paper, received his athletic Letter in basket

HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA

ball, and was one of the ten men and ten women students elected to the distinction of having been one of the most serviceable to their college. This son was for twenty-two months in the hospital service during the World war, attached to the Thirty-seventh Ohio Regiment and spent eleven months overseas, being at the front during the Argonne battle.

GILBERT L. WATSON. Practically all the experiences of his mature career have identified Mr. Watson with the great industry of oil production. Oil circles know him as a veteran, and his activities have extended from the East to the West. He first became identified with oil production in West Virginia thirty years ago, and for a quarter of a century his home has been at Parkersburg, where he is presi- dent of the Citizens National Bank.

Mr. Watson was born at Olean, New York, May 26, 1855, son of Hiram and Melvina (Freeman) Watson. The Wat- sons were an old New England family, coming from Seot- land about 1629 and settling in and around Hartford, Connecticut. The great-grandfather of Gilbert L. Watson was Simeon Watson, a soldier of the Revolution.

Gilbert L. Watson while a boy spent several years in Northern Illinois, but otherwise his early life was passed in New York. He completed his education in the Olean Acad- emy, and from the age of fifteen to twenty he was employed as an operator and manager of the Olean office of the Western Union Telegraph Company. In 1875 Mr. Watson opened for the Enterprise Transportation Company, the first pipe line offive for the purchase of oil at Bradford, Pennsyl- vania. About two years later this business was taken over by the Standard interests, but he continued in the producing end of the Enterprise Transportation Company until 1884.

In that year he became an oil producer on his own responsibility, his first efforts being made in the Bradford field. Gradually his operations extended down through Butler and Washington counties, Pennsylvania, and during the Belmont excitement in 1891 he came into West Virginia. During the past thirty years Mr. Watson has operated in nearly every oil producing county in West Virginia, and also in the states of Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Illinois and Okla- homa. fle moved his family to Parkersburg in 1896. As an oil producer his endeavors have been attended with a re- markable uniformity of success. This has been due no doubt to his long experience and also to his well balanced mind and detailed practical knowledge of every feature of the business. His interests as an oil producer are still scat- tered over five states.

Mr. Watson is a Knight. Templar Mason, a thirty-second degree Scottish Rite Mason and Shriner and an Elk. He is a member of the Congregational Church and is president of the Union Mission and member of the Rotary Club, Blennerhasset Club and Chamber of Commerce.

April 9, 1884, Mr. Watson married Miss Charlotte Bush- nell, and he began his career as an independent oil producer shortly after his marriage. Her father, Cornelius S. Bush- nell, lived for many years at New Haven Connecticut, and was a man of distinction. He helped the famous engineer, John Erickson, build the Monitor during the Civil war. Later he was actively identified with the construction of the Union Pacific Railway. Mr. and Mrs. Watson had one {laughter, Emily, who died at the age of nine years. Their only surviving child is Cornelins B. Watson, now assistant to the president of the Pure Oil Company of Columbus, Ohio.

GRAY SILVER. What promises to be the most significant and important move ever made for the advancement and welfare of American farmers and necessarily by virtue of that fact benefiting the entire nation as well, was the or- ganization of the American Farm Bureau Federation, which is now in its third year and which at the close of 1921 was a national organization representing through its local con- stituencies every state in the Union except two and compris- ing nearly a million members distributed among the approx imately fifteen hundred county farm bureaus and the forty- six state farm Imreau federations. The Federation in its plan for practical work has nine administrative divisions,

one of which, with official headquarters at Washington,is the legislative. The man in charge of this legislative }- partment, located in the Munsey Building at Washington's a West Virginia farmer and fruit grower, member of an d and distinguished family of Berkeley County, and who 8 expressed his chief life enthusiasm in practical farming ad fruit growing and all the problems incidental thereto.

James Silver, colonist to America, was one of the fit permanent settlers in the Cumberland Valley of Pennil- vania (about 1725.) He gave the site for Silver Sprg Presbyterian Church, six miles from Carlisle, and wasa leading spirit in securing the erection of Cumberland Cour, and served with the rank of captain in the French and )- dian war. He died in 1776. His son, Francis Silver, L., born in 1740, was a large owner and operator of mills in je Cumberland Valley, and took his father's place in business and in ecclesiastieal affairs. He was a soldier of the R". olution, and his mills helped feed the Continental Army. 21 1798 he removed with his family to Berkeley County, V. ginia, where he died in 1820.

Franeis Silver, Jr. ( 1775-1852), lived at Bunker Hill, > quired a large landed estate, operated several mills, wa a soldier in the War of 1812, and a force for good through t his community. He married in 1802 Anne Beall, daughr of Capt. Zephaniah Beall, a soldier of the Revolutiona son of William and Sarah ( Magruder) Beall, the latte a descendant of the Scotch clan McGregor.

The only son of Francis and Aune ( Beall) Silver 18 Zephaniah Silver, grandfather of Gray Silver. Ile was bm at Bunker Hill May 24, 1805, and lived at White Hl, Frederick County, where he dispensed a generous hospital z. He married in 1834 Martha Jane, accomplished daughter f Captain Hiram and Mary ( McConnell) Henshaw. Sprg Hill, her birthplace, was founded by her great-grandfatl John Henshaw, in 1766. The first chapter of the D. A.L. in West Virginia, organized in 1899, was named in honorf her grandfather. Capt. William Henshaw. Martha Jie Silver, a granddaughter of Mrs. Martha Jane Henshy Silver, was a charter member and regent of the chapr 1901-04 and 1914-19. Hiram Henshaw was a captain n the War of 1812.

Col. Francis Silver 3d, familiarly known as (I. Frank Silver, was born near White Hall, Frederick C'our", May 10, 1886, was educated in private schools, and wasn Company B of the First Virginia Cavalry from the outt of the war until the surrender at Appomattox, being sevo- ly wounded at Roods Hill. He was reared a federalist n politics, but after the war voted as a democrat, was a Pri- byterian, and was a gentleman of the old school, courtlyn manner, handsome and generous. Like most Valley V. ginians of his day, his business interests were mainly the of a farmer. He was a director of the Old National Bak and of the Shenandoah Valley Agriculture Society of W. chester. He took an active part in the reconstruction of 's native state. He died at his home in Berkeley County Aj.l 28, 1885.

November 6, 1867, he married Mary Ann Gray, who vs born on the Grav homestead, later known as Grayvis, Berkeley County, December 19, 1841. She was a descend:t of John Gray (1746 1816), who came from Scotland in 175 and settled in Berkeley County, was a government survey, acquired a large landed estate, and in 1787 laid out e village of Gerardstown. His oldest son, James Willil Gray. born in 1811, married Martha Jane Gilbert, daughr of Edward Gilbert, Jr., and their oldest child was May Amı.

The parents of both Colonel Silver and his wife, Ma Ann Gray, were representatives of the best type of Val? Virginians of protestant faith, intelligent and prospero. living on large plantations of considerably more than? thousand acres and until after the War of 1861-5 surround! by a large number of well cared for and contented servar. This property was devastated, or entirely swept away, ? that dreadful conflict between the North and South. T. Silver and Gray plantation homes were both situated in 1 fairest part of the beautiful and far famed Shenando Valley, the immediate scene of the fiereest conflict bet wel

SR Watson

HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA

the contending armies during those four years of dreadful warfare.

It was of such traditions and aneestry and under the fore- going circumstances that Gray Silver began the battle of life. He was bora, February 17, 1870, at White Hall, Fred- erick County, Virginia. In his early infaney his parents re- moved from the Silver homestead at White Hall to Mrs. Silver's paternal estate near Gerardstown, Berkeley County, West Virginia, where the family thereafter made their home, where their younger children were born, and where Colonel Silver spent the remaining years of his life and where his five children grew to maturity. With later additions this estate, now comprising about 900 aeres, is the well known "Silver Ilill Farms" of Inwood, Berkeley County, where the family hold large orehard and other interests.

Gray Silver was educated in the private and publie schools of Berkeley County, being graduated from the latter in the elass of 1885, when but fifteen years of age. Having lost his father at an early age, he soon learned to assume leader- ship and responsibility, consequently we find him in the business world when most youths are in school. His oeeu- pation has been largely that of an agriculturist and horti- culturist since the beginning of his business eareer, and he has also been interested in the breeding of live stock aud the growing of wool. He was a pioneer in bringing raneh sheep to the East for breeding purposes. He was invited to attend the conference of the tariff board to discuss the effect of free wool in the sheep industry. Ile had been active in the development of the Appalachian apple belt, and is a large owner of orchards at the present time.

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History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 2, Part 4

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