History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 2, Part 56

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Mr. Bowlby was born on the Bowlby homestead in Cass District, Monongalia County, West Virginia, November 22,

Жену В. ДанифаХ

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874, a son of the late Joel and Rachel (Evans) Bowlby. lis great-grandfather, a native of New Jersey, came to what is now Casa District in 1798 and bought a traet of land rom a former settler, who had but recently patented it. In that farm he apent the remainder of his life, dying on is own land and being buried there. Ile married Lydia 'arhart. Robert L. Bowlby, the son of James and Lydia Bowlby, was born in New Jersey, May 20, 1795, and was bout three years of age when brought by his parents to Monongalia County. He inherited a part of his father's roperty and passed his life in agricultural pursuits, dying n his farm. He married Polly Smith.

Joel Bowlby, the son of Robert L. and Polly Bowlby, ind father of Arthur W. Bowlby, was born on the old home- stead February 9, 1833, and October 17, 1861, married Rachel Ann Evans, who died in December, 1874. His second marriage was with Eliza, the sister of his first wife. Joel Bowlby was a prominent man in his county for many years. Ie was a member of the County Court when the present Monongalia courthouse was built at Morgantown, and was regarded as one of the best commissioners the county has .ver had. He was a large land owner and most prosperous farmer, and was a devout and helpful member of the Bap- rist Church, in which he served as a deacon. His death occurred July 13, 1907, his widow surviving until May, 19IS.

Arthur W. Bowlby was reared on that part of his great- grandfather's homestead which had been inherited by his father and which came to him in the line of succession. His education was obtained in the free schools of his district and as a youth he adopted farming as his vocation, an occupation in which he was engaged until he sold his prop- erty in 1918 and removed to Morgantown. He was elected a member of the County Court in 1914. for a period of six years, taking office January 1, 1915, and retiring therefrom December 31, 1920, and during the last two years served in the capacity of president of the court. In 1911 Mr. Bowlby became identified with the Central Automobile Corporation, which is probably the largest concern in this part of West Virginia, and has been a member of the board of directors since that year and since 1919, its vice president and treas- urer. He is likewise a member of the board of directors of the Federal Savings and Trust Company of Morgantown. Mr. Bowlby's religious connection is with the Baptist Church, and fraternally he holds membership in Morgantown Union Lodge No. 4, A. F. and A. M .; Morgantown Lodge No. 411, B. P. O. E .; and Monongalia Lodge No. 10, I. O. O. F. He also belongs to the Kiwanis Club.

On December 25, 1898, Mr. Bowlby waa united in mar- riage with Mias Nora Vella Lazzelle, who was born in Cass District, May 29, 1874, the daughter of Cornelius and Mary Prudence (Pope) Lazzelle. Mr. Lazzelle was born in Cass District, the son of Thomas and Rebecca (Bowlby) Lazzelle. Two children have come to Mr. and Mrs. Bowlby: Mary Elizabeth, born November 1, 1901; and Nora Willard, born March 28, 1907.

WALTER HAINES SOUTH. The South family of Monongalia County, of which Walter Haines South, secretary-treasurer and general manager of the Randall Gas Company of Morgantown, is a member in the fourth generation in this county, was established here in very early days by Elijah South, who was born on Whiteley Creek, near Mapletown, Greene County, Pennsylvania. His American ancestor was one of three brothers named South, of Suffolk County, Eng- land, who came to America prior to the Revolutionary war, one settling in New Jersey, one in Maryland and the third in Pennsylvania. Elijah South was born June 10, 1809, and died December 24, 1865, settled in Cass District, Monongalia County. He married Mary Livingood, who was also a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1799, and she died at the age of eighty years on July 14, 1879.

Justus South, son of Elijab, was born on the family farm in Cass District, March 14, 1842, and died at Baltimore. Maryland, June 8, 1901. He left the home place as a young man and located at Wadestown, Battelle District, in the same county, where he followed farming until 1892, and then removed to Morgantown, where for a number of years he was engaged in the real estate business, handling his own

property. He married Mary Haines, who was boro ia Battelle District, March 30, 1549, nad died at Morgantown, June 13, 1921, aged seventy-two years. She was a daughter of William and Martha ( Thomns) Ilnines, who came from nenr Pittsburgh and settled on Dunkard Creek, Battelle Dus triet, in early daya.

Walter Haines South, son of Justua and Mary (llames) South, was born on his father's farm at Wadestown, Bat telle District, January 16, 1575. lle was reared on the farm until seventeen years old and acquired his carly educat on in the public schools, following which he enterel the lini versity of West Virginia, an institution from which he wa graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Arts ia 1900. Ile was not only a close student but was likewise active in athletics, and waa a member of the varsity football team in 1593, 1894, 1895, 1896 and 1898. Leaving the university, he speat one year nt the Baltimore Medical College and one year at Johns Hopkins University Medical School, but at the end of that time gave up his intention of catering the medi- cal profession, returned to Morgantown, nnd in October, 1905, entered the employ of the Randall Gas and Water Company as manager. Ile was made secretary thereof in 1906, and in 1913 assumed the duties of secretary-treasurer and general manager, offices which he has occupied ever since. He is a member of the United States Chamber of Commerce and the Natural Gas Association of America, and is a member and director in the West Virginia Oil and Gas Association. As a frateraalist he belongs to Morgantewo Lodge No. 411, B. P. O. E., and is a member of the Old Colony Club and the Phi Sigma Kappa college fraternity.

On August 11, 1914, Mr. South was united in marriage with Miss Emma Beall, who was born in Wheeling. West Virginia, a daughter of Grafton B. and Martha M. (Dun- levy) Beall, the former of whom died in July, 1920, while the latter survives. Mr. and Mrs. Beall had aix children: A. B., a prominent business man of Sioux City, Town, who died December 27, 1921; Grafton A., a lieutenant.com mander in the United States Navy; May, now Mrs. Kramer, of Los Angeles, California; Byrd, who lives with her mother; Elizabeth, a nurse in the United States Navy, attached to the hospital ship Mercy; and Mrs. South. Mrs. South is a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, being a lineal descendant of Col. Ninian Beall, an officer in General Washington's army during the Revolutionary war.

HARRY ADAMS STANSBURY. Not the least important of the departments of modern educational institutions are those which deal with the matter of keeping the body in the best of condition to meet the daily strains put upon it. For many years athletics were considered but a recreation to he indulged by the faculty as allowing their students to work off their animal spirits. In a way, perhaps, this entera Into the case, but of more recent years the enlightened college and university heads have come to a realization that educa tion is in no way complete that does not teach the student how to care for his body and how to build it up through systematic training under skilled supervision. Therefore, it is that the post of director of athletics at a Inrge institution is one of some importance, and the University of West Vir- ginia is fortunate in possessing in this position auch an able trainer and experienced athlete as Harry Adams Stansbury.

Mr. Stansbury was born December 9. 1591, at Marshes, Raleigh County, West Virginia, and is descended from three old and honored families of Maryland and Southern West Virginia. His father, Charles Stansbury, was born in the City of Baltimore in 1$58, and was of the old Stansbury family of Maryland which figured in the enrly hi tory of that state. He married Ella Calloway, who was born in Raleigh County, West Virginia, the daughter of George W and Sarah L. (Hinchman) Calloway. The Callowny and Hinchman families were among the early settlers of Raleigh and Logan counties, West Virginia. Charles Stansbury re moved from Baltimore to Raleigh County, where he beran e the owner of a large landed estate and followed farming until his death in Iº94.

Harry Adams Stansbury attended the public school and was prepared for college at the academy of Wes eran C 1. lege at Buckhannon, West Virginia. He was graduated a

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Bachelor of Science from Wesleyan College with the class of 1915, and for the two following years was director of athletics at that institution. He came to the University of West Virginia in the same capacity in 1917, and during his administration of the affairs of that post has won a reputation both for himself and for the University in col- lege athletics. Mr. Stansbury is a member of Morgantown Union Lodge No. 4, A. F. and A. M., of Morgantown; Morgantown Lodge No. 411, B. P. O. E .; the Morgantown Rotary Club; the Eastern Graduate Managers' Association; the Athletic Research Society; and the Mountain Society of the University of West Virginia.

Mr. Stansbury married Miss Ada Lillian George, daughter of William T. and Dora (Howell) George, of Phillipi, West Virginia, and to this union there have come two sons and a daughter: Harry Adams, Jr., born September 15, 1917; Richard George, born October 30, 1918; and Mary Elizabeth, born May 5, 1920.

WILLIAM GRIFFEE BROWN. Under the original state pro- hibition law the duties of enforcement were assigned as a separate department of the office of state tax commissioner. The Legislature in 1921, upon the recommendation of Gov- ernor Morgan and Tax Commissioner Hallanan, provided that this department should be separated from the state tax commissioner and made a separate department of the executive branch of the Government under the direction of a state director of prohibition. The law hecame effective on October 1, 1921, and the first man called to the duties of state commissioner of prohibition, by appointment from Governor Morgan, is William Griffee Brown, for many years a prominent lawyer of Nicholas County.

Commissioner Brown, who thus became an official resi- dent of Charleston, represents a pioneer family of Nicholas County. His great-grandfather, Alexander Brown, patented land in that county in 1803, and also acquired lands in sev- eral adjacent counties. The Browns are of Scotch-Irish ancestry. Dr. William Brown, grandfather of Commissioner Brown, and William H. Brown, father, were both natives of West Virginia. However, William Griffee Brown was born in Meigs County, Ohio, in 1864, son of William H. and Arminta (Hypes) Brown. His parents returned to West Virginia in 1869, locating in Mason County, where he first attended school. In 1876 the family returned to Nicholas County. William Griffce Brown graduated Bach- elor of Science in 1889 from the National Normal Univer- sity at Lebanon, Ohio. For several years he was a teacher and institute worker. His last engagement as a teacher was as principal of the Fayetteville Academy. On resign- ing that office in 1900 he took up the study of law and in 1901 removed to Oklahoma Territory, establishing his home in Day County, in the extreme western part. In 1902 he was elected superintendent of public instruction for that county, and was also admitted to the bar in the Federal Court of Oklahoma.

Mr. Brown in 1903 returned to West Virginia, locating at Summersville, county seat of Nicholas County, and began practice as a lawyer. In 1904 he was elected prosecuting attorney, holding that office four years. Since then he has commanded a prominent place in the har of Nicholas County. For ten years he was associated with Mr. L. T. Eddy in the law firm of Brown & Eddy. For three years he was senior member of the law firm Brown, Wolverton & Ayres of Summersville. In accepting the appointment of state commissioner of prohibition Mr. Brown made a con- siderable sacrifice, involving the loss of much of his lucra- tive law practice, and only a fine sense of public duty and the urging of his friends prevailed over the many reasons for declining the office. Mr. Brown is a republican, has been chairman of the Republican County Committee in Nicholas County, is active in church affairs, as a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and his appointment was strongly urged by the temperance forces in the state.

In 1889 Mr. Brown married Miss Margaret R. Groves, member of a pioneer Nicholas County family. They have four children, Heber H., Dama M., Reginald W. and Mabel Evangeline. The two youngest are still in school.

Heber H. Brown joined the colors at Camp Lee in 1917,

was made first sergeant, assigned to duty in the Three Hundred and Thirteenth Field Artillery, going overseas with the Eightieth Division, and participated in nearly all the campaigns in 1918, including the battles of the Argonne.

The daughter, Dama M., during the war was in Govern- ment service at Washington, and later held a Government position as secretary to the superintendent of the Grand Canyon at Grand Canyon, Arizona. She is now the wife of Charles J. Smith, chief ranger of the Grand Canyon National Park.

JOEL E. PECK. New highways of improvement have been opened through the mental alertness and broad expe- rience of the business men of today, whose standing is con- spicuously high, for with competition so strenuous none but the efficient and capable can hope for a full measure of success. These men have risen to their present positions over no royal road to fortune, but rather because of con- structive thinking and aggressive action which are gain- ing for this country an extraordinarily large percentage of the world's business. One of the men whose interests are heavy and whose territory is a large one in West Virginia and adjoining states is Joel E. Peck, president and treas- urer of the Ohio Valley Printing and Stationery Company of Huntington.

Mr. Peck was born February 8, 1875, in Pocahontas County, West Virginia, a son of Daniel A. and Caroline (Hill) Peck. Martin Peck, the paternal grandfather of Joel E. Peck, was born in 1800, in Botetourt County, Vir- ginia, where he, with the assistance of his children, cleared a large property and developed it into one of the best farms in the county. He was a prominent citizen and a man held in the highest esteem, and his death, which occurred in 1853, near Fincastle, Virginia, removed a public-spirited citizen from his community. His wife, Ammen, was born in 1802, at Fincastle, and died in the same community in 1854. They reared a family of three sons and two dangh- ters, all of whom are now deceased. The youngest child, Benjamin, was a Confederate soldier during the Civil war and died of wounds received at the battle of Winchester.

Daniel A. Peck was born in 1838, near Fincastle, Bote- tourt County, Virginia, where he was reared on his father's farm and received a rural school education. In 1861 he went to Nicholas County, now West Virginia, where he re- sided on a farm until 1874, at that time going to Pocahon- tas County, this state, where he spent the rest of his life in agricultural pursuits and died at Lobelia in 1904. He was a successful and highly respected man and a good citi- zen. In his early years he combined with his farming op- erations teaching in the rural schools for a number of years. Mr. Peck was a democrat, and for several terms while living in Pocahontas County served in the capacity of justice of the peace. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and for a long period was its chief supporter in his community, of which he was a stew- ard, and it really being through his generosity that the church structure was erected. Mr. Peck married Miss Caro- line Hill, who was born in 1840, near Hillsboro, Pocahontas County, and died in that county in 1876. They were the parents of the following children: Lucy H., the wife of Thomas A. Bruffey, of near Lobelia, a schoolteacher and farmer, who at present is acting in the capacity of deputy sheriff of Pocahontas County; Fannie L., the widow of Adam C. Young, who died on his farm near Jacox, Poca- hontas County, where Mrs. Young makes her home; and Joel E., of this review.

Joel E. Peck attended the rural schools of Pocahontas County and the Summersville (West Virginia) Normal School, and entered upon his active career as an educator. From 1894 to 1898 he taught in the rural schools of Poca- hontas County, and in the latter year turned his attention to farming, which, with mercantile pursuits, furnished him with an occupation until 1905. Removing then to Green- brier County, he spent four years in agricultural pursuits, and in May, 1910, came to Huntington and engaged in the real estate business. This, however, he abandoned Janu- ary 1, 1911, when he founded the Ohio Valley Printing and Stationery Company, in partnership with Davis L.

Hey Brown

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Barlow. In the fall of 1912 Mr. Peck purchased Mr. Barlow's interest and remained as sole proprietor of the usiness until 1916, when the company was incorporated nder the laws of the State of West Virginia, the officers eing: J. E. Peck, president and treasurer; C. B. Van Bibber, vice president; and W. A. Williamson, secretary. Ir. Peck is the majority stockholder and directing head f the enterprise, which under his aupervision has grown o be one of the leading enterprises of its kind in this ection of the state. The company does all manner of job rinting and handles a complete and up-to-date line of chool and office supplies, the plant, office and store room eing located at No. 603 Ninth Street and No. 833 Sixth avenue. Mr. Peck haa devoted his time without stint to he building up of this business, and his record stands without a blemish. His career is a decidedly creditable ne, for never has a man's auceess been due more to his wn native ability and less to outward circumstances. His rosperity has been the logical sequence of the natural un- olding and development of his native abilities, and his chievements have been the reward of earnest, honest efforts. Mr. Peck is a democrat, but has not been particularly ctive in politica, although a publie-spirited citizen who upports worthy ventures. He belongs to Johnson Memo- ial Methodist Episcopal Church, South, of Huntington, of which he is financial secretary and treasurer, and the work f which received great impetus through his support. lle wns a medern residence at No. 529 Sixth Avenue, which is . comfortable home in a favored residential section, and lso has evidenced his faith in Huntington by investing a art of hia means in other real estate here.

In April, 1899, Mr. Peck married near Edray, Pocahon- as County, Miss Effie F. Barlow, daughter of Henry and Nancy (Castle) Barlow, both deceased. Mr. Barlow was n agriculturist and merchant at Edray for a period of hirty-six years, and a man who was held in high respeet nd esteem in his community. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Peck: Veda Ruth, who is a senior at Marshall College, Huntington; Henry A., a junior at Ran- lolph-Macon College, Ashland, Virginia; and Lee Edward, , sophomore in the High School, Huntington.

HARLOW AUGUSTUS DAVIN has recently rounded out a quarter of a century of consecutive service with the Chesa- eake & Ohio Railroad Company. Aa he is atill under forty, ailroading has claimed nearly all the energies of youth and nanheod. For some years past his responsibilities have een of an executive nature, and at the present time he is ssistant auperintendent in charge of the Logan Division, with home and headquarters at Logan.

Mr. Davin was born at Montgomery, Fayette County, Vest Virginia, September 7, 1884, son of John and Mary Elizabeth (Montgomery) Davin. The town of Montgomery was named in honor of his maternal grandfather, James Montgomery, who at one time represented Montgomery County, Virginia, in the House of Delegates, and was sher- ff of Fayette County, West Virginia. Mary Elizabeth Davin died in 1920, at the age of sixty-one. John Davin was born in County Waterford, Ireland, at the age of five 'ears came to the United States with his parents, who lo- ated in Campbell County, Kentucky, and as a young man e came to West Virginia, during the construction of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad. He was in the Bridge De- artment, being first located at Kanawha Falls, then at Montgomery, Fayette County, when that town was still nown as Cannelton. He had charge of a bridge foree and ater of wrecking and repair departments. John Davin, who died in 1912, at the age of fifty-four, was active in lemoeratie local politics, served as a member of the School Beard and in other offices, and was a Catholic, while his wife was a Presbyterian, and their children adhered to the aith of their mother. These children were four sons and eur daughters. The oldest son, Charles Ashley, died at he age of two years, and all the others came to mature life: Harlow Augustus, being the second; John W., chairman of he Car Allotment Commission at Huntington; T. L., man- iger of the Davin Drug Company of Montgomery; Flor- nce E., of Montgomery; Lottie L., wife of Dr. H. H.

Smallridge, of Charleston, West Virginia; Anna, wife of L. G. Smallridge, manager of a wholesale dry goody house at Tacoma, Washington; and Margaret R., a resident of Montgomery.

Since he began his railroad service at such an early age Harlow Augustus Davin acquired his education beyond the common schools by earning and paying his own way. He attended public school at Montgomery in Fayette County, took a preparatory course in the Preparatory Branch of the University of West Virginia, and for two years was a student in Hampden-Sydney College near Farm- ville, Prince Edward County, Virginia. While in college he was on the football team, interested in other forms of ath- leties, and he seldom misses a year in attending one or more ball games at the University of Virginia. Long before the end of his college career he had performed a great deal of service for the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad. Itis first employment was as a call boy at Handley, a division point two and one half miles from his home at Montgomery. lle walked from home to his duties each day. Later he did clerical werk in the division offices at Ilandley, was pro- moted to assistant yardmaster, then yardmaster at Ashland. Kentucky, was assigned special duties with the Western General Division of the Chesapeake & Ohio, with headquar- ters at Ashland, and succeeding promotions made him as- sistant trainmaster of the Handley Coal Distriet, and then trainmaster of the same district. He was next transferred to Raleigh as assistant trainmaster of Laurel and Piney Creek branches.

Mr. Davin has had his duties at Logan since April, 1917, when he was made assistant trainmaster of the Logan Di vision, the 1st of May of the same year was promoted to trainmaster, and on August 1, 1921, became assistant su- perintendent in charge of the Logan Division. He entered the service of the Chesapeake & Ohio in 1897, and at the next annual meeting he will be eligible to membership in the Veteran Association of the Chesapeake & Ohio En ployes, a membership that carries with it special privileges.

While as big record indieates, he has never neglected his duties with the railroad company, Mr. Davin has also been mindful of his interests as a citizen. While in Fayette County he was a member of the Democratic Committee of Kanawha Distriet, and when Logan adopted a commission form of government he became one of the four commis- sioners. In his railroad service he hag handled a number of critical situations during strikes and industrial wars.

On September 14, 1907, Mr. Davin married Miss Kath- erine Gwinn Bidgood, of Petersburg, Virginia. They have a daughter, Betty Bidgood, born in 1917. Mr. Davin is a Presbyterian and his wife a member of the Episcopal Church, and fraternally he is affiliated with the Masonic Lodge of Montgomery and the Royal Arch Chapter at Lo gan.

JOHN CLARK PRICE. Perhaps no class of citizens can be of more real, practical use in a community than the substantial retired farmers, who, after years of successful experience as agriculturists and live stock raisers, settle in urban centers and take an active interest in civie, social and business life. They usually have a soundness of judgment that it were well for their fellow citizens to heed, for in profitably carrying on their farm undertakings over a long period they have solved problems that affect business prosperity and com- munity well-being. One of the valued retired farmer citizens of Morgantown is found in John Clark Price, whose in- vestments in city realty are heavy and who still owns a large extent of valuable farm land in Monongalia County.

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History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 2, Part 56

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