History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 2, Part 40

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ALCINUS F. MCMILLEN, of Masontown, is an old-time educator and surveyor and civil engineer, but for a num- ber of years past his studious energies have been directed along the line of scientific as well as practical farming. Mr. McMillen has been a leader in the modern agricultural movement in this section of Preston County, and his farm is interesting as a practical experiment station for the test- ing out of methods and crops best suited to this region.

The family history of the McMillens in Preston County runs back to 1790. Iu that year Robert MeMillen, who had served as a soldier on the American side in the Revolu- tionary war, patented 500 acres of the virgin soil near Friendship Schoolhouse in Valley District. His old cabin stood near the residence of William H. Everly, now one of the prominent old residents of the county. It was elose to the river where fishing was good and where game, was plentiful, and the climate somewhat milder than further up the valley. Robert McMillen was one of the first to begin the cultivation of the soil in that locality. He was buried not far from the scene of his labors and activities. Among his numerous children were William, James, Robert and Elizabeth.

William McMillen, representing the second generation of the family in Preston County, was born in the wild and somewhat romantie spot where his father settled. He grew up with little knowledge of books but became skilled in the arts of woodcraft and frontier accomplishments. While still a youth he learned to handle a gun expertly, and was the chief dependence of the family for its meat supply. When he settled down be located at Masontown, on the farm now occupied by his grandsons, Newton W. and Alcinus F. He married Sarah Cobun, daughter of Simon Cobun, and member of another carly pioneer family of Preston County. William McMillen and wife lived out their lives on the Masontown farm and are buried in the cemetery on said farm, half a mile from the village. Their children were: Robert ;. James, who served in the Union Army during the Civil war, reared his family near or on the patented land of his grandfather and is buried in Mount Zion Cemetery; and Sabra, who became the wife of William Anderson, and both are now at rest in the cemetery on the home farm near Masontown.

Robert McMillen was born October 24, 1824, and lived just half a century, passing away October 24, 1874. His education was such as could be obtained from the schools of that day. He was a good farmer and was constant and devoted to the life and leadership of the community. For

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many years he was one of the most ardent workers in the Methodist Church, and exerted a constant influence in behalf of education and morality. He belped build school houses and churches and had a kindly interest in the wel- fare of the younger generation as well as that of his own. He could make an effective speech when the occasion de- manded, and he usually led the singing at church. Phy- sically he was a man six feet one, weighed about one hun- dred fifty pounds, and had a florid complexion and red hair.

Robert McMillen married Nancy Hartley, of Masontown. Her father, Edward Hartley, founded this numerous and prominent family ia this vicinity. Naney Hartley was bora November 23, 1826, and died October 9, 190], at the age of seventy-five. Her children were: Newton W., a farmer a mile north of Masontown; Alcinus Fenton; Rev. Edward W., a Methodist minister at North Platte, Neb- raska; John L., of Masontown; Dr. Robert M., of Wheeling; Charlotte, wife of John S. Miller, of West Liberty, Ohio County, West Virginia; and Emily Bell, who married O. D. Sims, of Short Creek, near West Liberty.

Alcinus F. McMillen was born December 4, 1853, and bis home through practically all his life has been at the place where he was born. He attended the free schools, took a course in the Fairmont State Normal, and at the age of twenty began teaching. His service as a teacher, covering a period of twelve years, was in the schools of Masontown, Reedsville, Kingwood, Rowlesburg and else- where. The intervals of teaching he employed in farm work and in surveying. Mr. McMillen had the mathematical and mechanical gifts required of an expert eivil engineer. His reputation in this field brought him engagements 80 that he was employed in the surveying of timber and coal lands in Virginia, Tenuessee and North Carolina as well as in his bome state. For sixteen years he was county surveyor of Preston County, and was also the first county road engineer, serving from 1909 to 1911. The duties of his office were especially strenuous when coal development began in the county, and while preparations were under way for the milling of timber lands. After his long and ef- fective service with his surveying instruments he was quite ready to be relieved and retire to the less arduous pursuits of agriculture.

As a farmer he has not kept strictly within commercial lines and with commercial objects in view, but has frequently done a season's work with every prospect of failure in order that he might demonstrate a new principle or method. The methods of former years in farming were much dif- ferent from those practiced by him today. The shovel plow was the common implement then, and the harrow was seldom used to pulverize the soil. Harvesting progress bas been marked by the successive introduction of the sickle, the cradle, the self binder, and, finally, the tractor bas enormously increased the power and effectiveness of all farming machinery. In early times when the soil was new it was exceedingly productive, and the scratching of the surface was all that was required to produce crops. It was many years after the Civil war before the need of fertilizer appeared, and with fertilizer came the new in- vention of manure spreader and the use of lime to swceten the soil, especially for grass crops. Clover and timothy have been the standby crops for hay, but Mr. McMillen was one of the first to experiment with alfalfa, which re- quired special treatment and conditions to secure a perma- nent stand. With the use of extra lime and inoculation alfalfa has proved its money-making qualities here as else- where, and Mr. McMillen has frequently cut three crops a year, with an average yield of about three tons per acre. His success has encouraged his neighbors in the same direc- tion. Mr. McMillen has also done much practical experi- ment work with seed potatoes, until he has found the variety and strain best adapted to this region and is now regarded as the foremost authority on potato culture in this section of the state.

Mr. McMillen has been ready with personal work, influ- ence and his purse to promote the institutions of school and church. The erection of a high school and the building of a new Methodist Church were both accomplished through

popular subscriptions, and the MeMillen donation to both was ample and unstintedly made. Mr. and Mrs. MeMillen for many years have been faithful workers in the Methodist denomination.

March 22, 1887, he married Miss Christie Giuseman, who was born in Monungalia County, April 29, 1559, daughter of John W. and Carrie (Snider) Guseman. Carrie Snider was a daughter of John and Julia ( les) Snider. John W. Guseman was descended from Abraham Guwman, and was a son of Jacob Guseman. Abraham came from Ger many and located at Baltimore in 1776. John W. Guseman and wife had fourteca children, and the nine still living ar Samuel R., Mrs. Christie McMillen, William A., Mrs 1.in Ashburn, Robert, Mrs. Ida Smith, Amos E., Pryor and Stanley Guseman.

Of the children of Mr. and Mrs. MeMillen the oldest, Herbert, was born December 25, 1987. He was n graduate of the University of West Virginia, for a time was in the employ of the National Carbon Company nt Niagara Falls, but is now at home farming during a leave of absence. Ile married Edith Protzman, of Monongalia County, and they have two children, Jean and Christine. The second child, Mabel, a graduate of the West Liberty Normal School, in the wife of Claude C. Spiker, of a well-known l'reston County family and professor of romance languages in the University of West Virginia. Professor and Mrs. Spiker have a son, Robert Claude. The third child, Harry MeMil- len, is actively associated with his father on the farm. llo married Mary Long and has three children: Byron, James and Kyle Clinton. The youngest of the family is Frank Vincent, connected with the farming interests of Manitoba, Canada.

ROGERS PHARMACY. The Rogers Pharmacy at Morgan- town is one of the most perfeetly appointed establishments of its kind in West Virginia. The proprietors are two brothers, Paul M. and William M. Rogers. Western men by birth, although their father at one time lived at Morgan- town, and their mother was born in West Virginia.

Their father, Daniel R. Rogers, was born at Connells- ville, Pennsylvania January 8, 1835. He attended public schools, the State University of West Virginia at Morgan- town, where he began his medical studies, and later grad- uated from Jefferson Medical College at Philadelphin with the class of 1880. For four years he practiced at New Martinsville, West Virginia, where his wife, Margaret E. Martin, was born June 20, 1858. They were married Sep- tember 15, 1886. After leaving West Virginia Doctor Rog. ers moved to Nebraska, and for forty years has carried the duties and burdens of an active practitioner at Ragan, that state. Of their children the oldest is Anne E., the widow of Dr. B. B. Cox, one of Morgantown's honor men in the World war. He was attached to Base Hospital No. 103 at Dijon, France, when he was killed. The one child in this family is Margaret Evelyn Cox. Thomas C., the second oldest, is cashier of the Bank of Ragan. Ile married Jean McKee, of Alma, Nebraska, and has two children, Daniel and Everett. The next in age is Paul M. He and William M. are proprietors of the Rogers Pharmacy. The two youngest of the family are Margaret N. and William M., who are twins. Margaret N. is a member of the faculty of Mannington, West Virginia, High School, and is u grad- uate of the University of West Virginia.

Paul M. Rogers was born in Ragan, Nebraska. August 13, 1891. He attended public schools there, graduated from the Kearney Military Academy at Kearney, Nebraska, and took his professional work in the University of Ne raska, graduating in pharmacy. He then left Nebraska anl for three years was employed as a pharmacist in Pennsylvan a. first at Brownsville, then at East Liverpool, Ohio, and then at Charleroi, Pennsylvania. From there he came to Morgantown.

William M. Rogers was born at Ragan, Nebraska, Orto- ber 27, 1896, attended the same schools as his brot er. graduating from the Military Academy and receiving h s degree in pharmacy from the State University in 1917. After graduation he weat West instead of East, and for three years was a pharmacist at Las Vegas, New Mexico,

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and while there organized a transfer business consisting of a fleet of trucks operating to points within 200 miles of Las Vegas. This is still a flourishing business at Las Vegas. In 1921 the Rogers Brothers opened their present place of business at Morgantown. Both are thorough pharma- cists and also able young business men as well, and they have left nothing undone that will afford the most com- plete service in the preparation of drugs for physicians, and they have introduced into Morgantown as complete stock of surgical supplies as is seldom found iu a city of this size. While they emphasize the thoroughness of the service as pharmacists and druggists, they have also given their store other features that attract the public, including the serving of soft drinks. Their fountain is one of the most elaborate and costly made, the base being of pure Italian marble. It is a business highly creditable to the proprietore and to the city as well.

WILLIAM LAWSON MITCHELL, D. D. S., of Mannington, was born in Bellville, Wood County, West Virginia, Sep- tember 8, 1883, the son of the late Horace and Ella ( Wil- liamson) Mitchell.

Horace Mitchell was one of the leading business men and popular citizens of Wood County for many years. He was born in that county in 1853, and died at his home in Bell- ville, June 6, 1914. He was the son of Henry and Ann (Hupp) Mitchell, natives of Wood County, whose par- ents came from old Virginia and were pioneers in that section of what is now West Virginia. His wife, Ella Wil- liamson, was born in Wood County in 1860, and died No- vember 11, 1902. She was the daughter of Anthony and Sarah Williamson, natives of West Virginia and Pennsyl- vania respectively.

Henry Mitchell, grandfather of our subject, was an early merchant of Bellville, and when his son, Horace, was a boy of only eight years the latter went to work in the store, he having been so small at that time that he stood upon a box to wait upon customers. Horace continued in his father's store, and following the death of his father he and his brother succeeded to the business, conducting it until the death of Herace in 1914.

Horace Mitchell was probably as well known and highly esteemed, especially among traveling men, as any man in the Ohio Valley. He, like his father and grandfather, was an ardent demecrat, though he never sought or held public office. He was a member of the different Masonic bodies, including the S. R., thirty-second degree, K. T., also a member of Osiris Temple, Mystic Shrine, Wheeling, and was active in civic and social affairs.

Dector Mitchell was reared in Bellville and acquired his early education in the public schools. He was a student at Marshall College in 1901-2, and then entered the Ohio Col- lege of Dental Surgery at Cincinnati, Ohio, where he was graduated D. D. S., class of 1907.

He practiced at Parkersburg, West Virginia, from 1907 to 1909, from 1909 to 1912 at Follansbee, West Virginia, and then located at Mannington, where he has established himself as a successful dentist and a worth-while citizen.

Doctor Mitchell is a member of the Masons, including the Consistory (thirty-second degree S. R.) and Shrine. He has been a member of the Elks since he was twenty-one years old, and is a charter member of the Mannington Ki- wanis Club and also a member of the Presbyterian Church.

On October 20, 1915, Doctor Mitchell married Nell Jack- son Burt, who was born in Mannington, the daughter of William and Rose (Prichard) Burt, the former of whom is deceased.

GEORGE ROBERT MILLER, M. D. The community of Fair- view, Marien County, expresses its appreciation of Doctor Miller net only by saying that he is the oldest physician in the tewn in point of years of service, but likewise has special qualifications for his profession and is never be- hind in the exercise of public spirit when something needs to be done requiring the co-operation of all local citizens.

Doctor Miller after completing his medical education returned to what is practically his home neighborhood. He was bern en a farm in Lincoln District, about six miles

from Fairview, on December 23, 1871, and except wheu away to school has kept quite constantly in touch with old friends and neighbors there. His father, a son ef John Miller, was born on a farm at Boothsville in Marion County in 1838, and the duties of agriculture engaged him until his death in 1873. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mary Prichard Miller, mother of Doctor Miller, was bern on the old Prichard homestead in Lincoln District in 1840, daughter of John Prichard and represent- ative of a pioneer family. She died in 1912.

George Robert Miller was only two years old when his father died. He spent his boyhood on the farm, alternating between its duties and his lessons in the district schools. For three years he supplemented this early education in the Fairmont State Normal School. Teaching was his first active service for humanity, and the five years he worked in the district schools of his home county also furnished him part of the capital needed to gain his medical education. While teaching he likewise carried private studies that fur- nished the equivalent of preparatory work for college. Doctor Miller graduated M. D. from the Eclectic Medical College of Cincinnati in 1901. Following a year of prac- tice at Blacksville, West Virginia, he returned to his home district, and his continued work here, besides being highly successful, has made him the oldest physician in years of practice at Fairview.

He keeps in touch with his profession through member- ship in the Marion County, West Virginia State and Ameri- can Medical associations and also in the National Eclectic Medical Association. His public spirit has led him to as- sume the responsibility of service on the Town Council. He is a thirty-second degree Scottish Rite Mason, member of the Masonic Club of Fairview, the Knights ef Pythias, and on the Board of Trustees of the Fairview Methodist Episcopal Church.

In 1900 Doctor Miller married Harriett Phillips, a native of Greene County, Pennsylvania, and daughter of Lindsey and Ellen (Fordyce) Phillips. Doctor and Mrs. Miller have three sous and a daughter: Themas Byron, born in 1902, now a high-school student; Aldene, bern in 1903, now teaching in the public schools of Granttown; George Robert, Jr., born in 1906, in high school; and William Edward, born in 1910.

A. M. HEWITT. That all men do not find the niche for which they consider themselves especially fitted is largely due to their inability to fit themselves for those niches which they could occupy with profit and henor. They do not concentrate themselves upon that which they under- stand and for which nature and training have made then ready, but diffuse themselves over too wide a territory, and in the end accomplish little or nothing. The success- ful man in any line is he who develops his latent strength by the use of vigorous fitness, innate pewers and expert knowledge, gradually attaining to a proficiency not possible in the beginning. Each line of endeavor demands certain special qualifications. Some men are bern executives, be- ing able to direct others to carry out plans which are for- inulated in the active brain of the leader; while others can only follow. A man who does possess this power to promote and direct is wise indeed if he bends all his ener- gies to attaining an executive position, fer in it he cau reach heights he could attain in no other way. Among the able executives of Huntington who have made their mark in the business world by concentrating upen a given line of endeavor, one who demands more than passing attention at this time is A. M. Hewitt, president and treasurer ef the D. E. Hewitt Lumber Company.

Mr. Hewitt was bern at Conneautville, Pennsylvania, December 5, 1886, a son ef Daniel Elmer and Cora M. (Walton) Hewitt. His grandfather, Francis Marion Hew- itt, who is of English descent and still a resident of Cen- neautville, was born July 26, 1838, probably in Ohio, but for the greater part of his life has made his heme at Con- neautville, where he was a lumber manufacturer in pioneer days. He is a veteran of the Civil war, having fought as a Union soldier all through the struggle between the North and the South. Mr. Hewitt married Penelope Lampson,

DENumit

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sho was born at Pierpont, Ohio, and died at Conneautville. Daniel Elmer Hewitt was born May 23, 1865, at Con- leautville, Pennsylvania, and was reared and married in his native community, where be learned the lumber busi- mess with his father. That business be followed through- out a long and eminently successful and useful career. In $88 he removed to Butler, Pennsylvania, where he be- anie head of the firm of R. F. Wilcox & Company, whole- ale lumber manufacturers, but in 1890 moved back to Conneautville, although retaining the same position with he same concern. Mr. Hewitt came to Huntington in 903 and founded the Hutchinson Lumber Company, of vhieb he was president until 1908, then disposing of this company and founding the D. E. Hewitt Lumber Company, f which he was president until his death, and which he developed into one of the leading lumber enterprises in West Virginia, dealing in hardwoods as a wholesale manu- facturer. Mr. Hewitt was president of the Kermit State Bank of Kermit, West Virginia, and president of the Buek Creek Coal Company. In politics he was a republican, ind bis religious connection was with the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Huntington, the movements of which „]ways received bis hearty and generous support. Ha ield membership in the Masonic fraternity, being a Knight Templar Mason, and also belonged to Beni-Kedem Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of Charleston. Mr. Hewitt married Miss Cora M. Walten, who was born November II, 1865, it Conneautville. She still survives at Huntington, while Mr. Hewitt died at Columbus, Ohio, December I, 1921. They were the parents of three children: A. M., of this notice; Irene, the wife of George H. Parker, manager of the Kentucky Actuarial Bureau at Louisville, Kentucky ; and Lina, the wife of Robert J. Foley, a coal operator of Huntington.

A. M. Hewitt attended the public schools of Conneaut- ville, Pennsylvania, and after his graduation from the high school there in 1903 entered his father's office at Hunting- ton and began to learn the lumber business from the bot- tom. He worked his way up the ladder to the position of secretary and treasurer, and at the death of his father became president and treasurer of the D. E. Hewitt Lum- ber Company. This concern manufactures a line of West Virginia hardwoods, and at present is operating 17,000 acres of forests. It is incorporated under the state laws of West Virginia, and maintains offices at 1003-4-5-6 First National Bank Building, Huntington. The officers are: A. M. Hewitt, president and treasurer; G. H. Parker, viee president; and E. F. Sticklen, secretary. Mr. Hewitt is also a director in the Kermit State Bank of Kermit, West Virginia, and president of the Buck Creek Coal Company of Huntington.

Mr. Hewitt is a republican, but save as a good citizen bas had little to do with political affairs. He is a member of the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Huntington. He is a thirty-second degree Mason, a member of Hunting- ton Lodge No. 53, A. F. and A. M .; Huntington Chapter No. 6, R. A. M .; Huntington Commandery No. 9, K. T .; Beni-Kedem Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of Charleston ; West Virginia Consistery No. 1, Wheeling, thirty-second degree; and of Huntington Lodge No. 313, B. P. O. E. He has several other connections, among them the Guyan- dotte Club, the Guyan Country Club and the Huntington Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Hewitt owns a modern resi- dence at No. 1116 Twelfth Avenue, in a desirable residence district of Huntington.

On November 17, 1915, at Huntington, Mr. Hewitt was united in marriage with Miss Ruth Campbell, daughter of Hon. Charles W. and Mrs. (Ratcliff) Campbell. Mr. Campbell is one of the distinguished attorneys of the Cabell Connty bar, and at present is serving as mayor of Hunt- ington. A review of his career appears elsewhere in this volume. Mrs. Hewitt is a graduate of Belcourt Seminary, Washington, D. C., and of the Conservatory of Music, Cin- cinnati, Ohio, and is talented in both vocal and instrumental music. She and her husband are the parents of three ehil- dren: Nancy Frazier, born September 30, 1917; Marion, born January 13, 1920; and Ruth, born September 20, 1921.

RICHARD B. PARRISH is known as a banker all over the great coal and industrial district of Southern West Vir. ginia. lle has been an official in several prosperous bank- ing institutions in this part of the state, and is now presi- dent of the Bluefield National Bank, an institution with up- wards of a million dollars in resources.

Mr. Parrish was born at Malden, Kanawha County, West Virginia, August 15, 1576, soa of John W. and luna (Put ney) Parrish. llis parents were antives of West Virginia and his great-grandfather on his mother's side was a mem her of the Ilouse of Burgesses in old Virginia, while a grent unele was a patriot soldier in tho Revolution. Jahn W. Parrish spent the greater part of his life as a merchant, and took a keen interest in public affairs. For many years he was on the local school board and he was also a mem ber of the State Legislature at the time of the Goff contest, one of the notable events in legislative annals in West Vir- ginia. While he was in the Legislature his son Richard served as page in the House.

Richard B. Parrish began his education in the common schools of Malden. In 1×89 his parents removed to Hluat- ington, where he continued through grammar school and high school, leaving high school to go to work as clerk for the Ensign Manufacturing Company, now American Cnr and Foundry Company. He was with that concern two years, and since then his experience has been almost entirely in banking. His early training for banking was nequired in the First National Bank of Iluntington, which he entered as bookkeeper and collection elerk, and was teller when he left in 1906. In that year Mr. Parrish became assistant cashier of the Mingo County Bank of Williamson, now the National Bank of Commerce. He left this in 1907 to be- come cashier of the newly organized First National Bank of Northfork, West Virginia. Mr. Parrish while living at Northfork served one term as mayor, and he was also sec- retary of the Masonie Lodge there. In 1911 he returned to Williamson with the Mingo County Bank, and when it was reorganized in 1912 as the National Bank of Commerce he remained with it at the post of cashier.

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History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 2, Part 40

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