History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 2, Part 57

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John Clark Price was born on the old l'rice homestead in Clinton District, Monongalia County. West Virginia, about four miles from Morgantown, February 3, 1958. His par- ents were John Clark and Catherine (Reed) Price. the latter of whom was born in Barbonr County, West Virginia, a daughter of Peter Reed. John Clark Price, the elder, w. " born in Monongalia County, West Virginia, and was a son of Michael and Mary ( Burke) Price. It & life was spent as a farmer in his native district.

John C. Price grew up on the old homestead and through boyhood had country school privileges, entirely sufficient for

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the times but far fewer than considered necessary at the present day. For fifty years he followed farming, giving close attention to his different industries and meeting with the success that usually rewards determined industry and good judgment. During this long interval Mr. Price saw many changes come about in farm methods, and accepted those he found best adapted to his land, and also witnessed the introduction and took advantage of much modern farm machinery whereby some of the old-time burdens of the general farmer were eased. Although he has been retired from active farm life for a number of years, he has never lost his interest in agricultural matters or his friends in the old neighborhood, and he still owns two excellent farm properties, aggregating 288 acres. His realty in Morgan- town includes the substantial brick business block which he erected on Front and Walnut streets.

In early manhood Mr. Price married Miss Sarah C. Kin- kaid, a daughter of William and Serena Kinkaid, farming people in Monongalia County, and they have had the fol- lowing children: George W., who is a major in rank in the United States Army and (1922) is serving on detail in France, is a graduate in law of the West Virginia Univesity, but chose a military rather than a professional career; Wil- liam Logan, who is a deputy sheriff in Monongalia County, spent three years in the university; Stewart Monroe, whose home is in Warren, Ohio; Bruce, who is an overseas veteran of the World war, spending one year in France, is attached to the county engineering department; Paul Holland, who is a student in the University of West Virginia, was in mili- tary training during the World war but was not called from his own country; Ocea May, who is a student in the univer- sity ; and Chauncy Milton, the youngest of the family.

In 1909 Mr. Price located permanently at Morgantown, led thereto by his desire to give his children superior educa- tional advantages, and also in order to have time to look after various business interests and to faithfully perform the duties entailed by his election to the office of county com- missioner. He served out his full term of six years, was re- elected and served his second term, retiring then until in 1921, when he was again called into public life and ap- pointed county commissioner to fill a vacancy and is still serving. In many ways Mr. Price is one of the representa- tive men of Monongalia County, and the esteem in which lie is held is universal. In political life he has always been loyal to his party's best interests and faithful in promised support of friends. He and his family are members of the Baptist Church, and fraternally he is an Odd Fellow and sincere in his support of the principles for which the organ- ization stands.

AMOS LOWRIE DEMOSS. The DeMoss family, represented at Morgantown by Amos Lowrie DeMoss, well known and prominent in Monongalia County for many years, originated in France and was founded in America by the great-great- grandfather of Mr. DeMoss, who accompanied General de Lafayette when he came to the assistance of the American colonies in their fight for independence. He never returned to France but, on the other hand, accepted the liberal grant of land awarded him by the Government in recognition of his military services, and the record is that he spent the rest of his life in peace and plenty on his estates in Virginia. Two generations later his lineal descendant, John DeMoss, removed from the old homestead to what is now Taylor County, West Virginia, and was the first settler on the Creek at Three Forks, five miles above the City of Grafton.

John DeMoss (II), son of John and father of Amos L. DeMoss, was born in Taylor County, West Virginia, in 1822, and died in 1888. He removed from his birthplace just across the line in Taylor County to just across the line in Monongalia County, and followed farming in Clinton Dis- trict during the rest of his life. He married Rachel Bunner, who was born in Marion County, West Virginia, in 1832, and who survived until 1904. She was a daughter of Amos Bunner, a pioneer in Marion County, for whom Bunner's Ridge was named.

Amos Lowrie DeMoss was born near Halleck in Clinton District, Monongalia County, West Virginia, January 12, 1863, a son of John and Rachel (Bunner) DeMoss. His

early education was obtained in the district schools, and later he attended the Fairmont Normal School, paying his way through the same by teaching, and afterward continuec in educational work for a number of years, teaching in both Monongalia and Preston counties.

In the meanwhile he had become somewhat active in the political field and subsequently was honorably identified with important business enterprises. In 1892 he was elected county assessor, and served in that office for four years following which he embarked in the mercantile business and operated a store at Uffington in Monongalia County for six years. He served as deputy sheriff from 1900 to 1904, anc after retiring from that office, became manager of a cement company, in which relation he continued for some years. I. the performance of his public duties as well as in the con duct of his private business he became well and favorably known to his fellow citizens.

On April 1, 1907, Mr. DeMoss entered the postal service as assistant postmaster at Morgantown, and continued ir that capacity under Postmasters Posten, Bowman anc Hodges. On July 23, 1919, he was appointed acting post master, and had charge of the office as such until July 1 1921, when he turned his responsibilities over to Postmaster Grant and resumed his duties as assistant postmaster as before. At all times he has given faithful service to the public.

On June 14, 1894 Mr. DeMoss married Miss Jennie F Lanham, who was a daughter of Eugene Lanham, of Pres ton County, West Virginia. Mrs. DeMoss passed away or August 16, 1916, leaving two children: Bertha Lee and Frederick Eugene, both of whom reside with their father Mr. DeMoss and his family belong to the Methodist Episco pal Church. He maintains a lively interest in civic matters and is an active member of the Chamber of Commerce. II fraternal life he belongs to the Odd Fellows, the Junior Order United American Mechanics and the Daughters of America, the auxiliary branch of the latter great organiza tion. Mr. DeMoss has been prominent for years in the Junior Order United American Mechanics, has passed through all the chairs both local and state, is a member of its national council and in official capacity has attendec: two sessions of the same. Coming into close contact in his everyday duties with his fellow citizens at Morgantown, Mr DeMoss is as popular as he is efficient, and well deserves the respect and esteem in which he is held.

JAMES VANCE BOUGHNER, M. D., was born in Clarksburg Virginia, April 9, 1812. He was the eldest child of Danie and Mary ( Vance) Boughner, whose family numbered six sons and three daughters. During his infancy his parents returned to Greensboro, Pennsylvania, where they had heer married and where they lived the remainder of their lives His father had been engaged in general merchandising in Clarksburg, and continued in the same business until his death. He was also manager of the Greensboro Pottery Works, which were at that time in a flourishing condition.

Daniel Boughner was the son of Martin and Anna Ritten- house Boughner. Martin was born in New Jersey and later resided in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, where he was united in marriage with Anna Rittenhouse. Their children were Anna, Pamelia and Daniel. Martin Boughner and family later removed to Fayette County, Pennsylvania, two miles from Brownsville, on Redstone Creek. His wife died there in 1797, and is buried in the old Baptist Ceme- tery. Daniel was only nine years of age when his mother died and the family abandoned housekeeping. He was thrown upon his own resources at an early age, and when seventeen, went to Greensboro, Pennsylvania, to learn the potter's trade in the works of Alexander Vance. Later he married Mary Vance, the sister of his employer.

Mary (Vance) Boughner was the daughter of James and Amy (Slack) Vance. The Vance family- emigrated to Scot- land (traditionally from Italy) early in the sixteenth cen- tury. The name was originally Del Vance, and family records trace their origin to the nobility of their native country.

The Vance family formed part of the colony sent from Scotland by the English Monarch to colonize the North of

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RESIDENCE OF THE LATE DR. JAMES VANCE BOUGHNER, MORGANTOWN, WEST VIRGINIA

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Ireland, constituting that strong body of Scotch Irish Presbyterians, so eminent in history. Members of this family participated in the famous siege of Londonderry.

James Vance was born in County Down, Ireland (near Belfast), on April 3, 1753. He emigrated from Porter's Ferry, Ireland, when not quite twenty years of age, and, lauding in Philadelphia, lived there awhile before taking up his residence in Flemington, New Jersey, where he enlisted in the Revolutionary army. He was a private in Captain Reddin's Company, Colonel Chambers being in charge of bis regiment. He was in the battles of German- town and Monmouth. He heard Washington reprove Gen- eral Charles Lee for his retreat at the latter place. lle spent the winter with Washington's Army at Valley Forge, where the hardships, privations and suffering endured form a record in the annals of our history.

After serving out his time in the army be bought a farm one and a haif miles from Morristown, New Jersey, and married Amy Slack about the year 1778. His children were all born in New Jersey, but owing to the scarcity of water there for manufacturing purposes he was induced to migrate to Greensboro, Pennsylvania, where his sons introduced the business of making pottery in that part of the country. James Vance was a man of scholarly tastes and acquire- ments, and had collected a large library of general literature.

The maternal ancestry of the mother of James Vance Boughner is largely interwoven with prominent families of Colonial America. Thomas Schooley was one of the most notable ancestors of this line. He was the son of John and Alice Schooley of York, England. In 1677 he sailed from Hull in England on the Flie boat "Martha," with 114 passengers on board. He was one of the masters of this ship, which reached New Jersey in August, 1677. Thomas Schooley was a member of the Farnsworth Society of Friends of Yorkshire, England. He was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Parker, of Burlington County, New Jer- sey, in 1686. They had seven children. Thomas Schooley was granted a concession of 350 acres of land in Burling- ton County, New Jersey. This included the mountain in North Western New Jersey, which was named Schoolcy's Mountain in his honor. In this mountain were situated Schooley's Mountain Springs. In our early social life these springs were a celebrated summer resort. Thomas Schooley died in 1724.

Thomas Schooley, Jr., son of Thomas and Sarah (Parker) Schooley of Burlington County, New Jersey, and Hannah Fowler, of Monmouth, daughter of John and Rose Fowler, were married at Chesterfield, New Jersey, March 26, 1720. Their daughter became the wife of Benjamin Slack of Morris County, New Jersey. Amy Slack, their daughter, became the wife of James Vance, and they were the parents of Mary Vance. Daniel Boughner married Mary Vance, May 9, 1811, and their son is the subject of this sketch.

Greensboro is situated on the Monongahela River, less than 100 miles from Pittsburgh. On the opposite side of the river, beautifully situated on a cliff above the stream, is located "Friendship Hill," once the famous home of Albert Gallatin, who built the mansion on a domain of many broad acres. One of the pleasing memories of Doctor Boughner's childhood was his privilege of seeing La Fayette when he visited Albert Gallatin at "Friendship Hill" in 1824.

There were no railroad facilities at that time and navi- gation on the Monongahela River had not yet been inau- gurated. Life in little towns remote from centers of civilization afforded limited educational advantages. Doctor Boughner possessed a brilliant and active mind, which, united with boundless ambition, led him to supplement hia technical education by extensive reading of classical litera- ture and works of general history. He thua became a self educated and a well educated man before beginning his professional studies. His first responsible work waa begun at the age of aixteen, when his father was appointed post- master of Greensboro. The duties of the office, however, were performed by the subject of this sketch.

He read medicine with Doctor Stephenson. In 1837 be matriculated in the medical department of Cincinnati Col- lege as pupil Number Fifty-three. The matriculation card

beara the name of James B. Rogers, M. D., Dean. This course included lectures on the theory and practice of medicine by Daniel Drake, M. D. The lectures on chemistry and pharmacy were given by James B. Rogers, M. D. He was also regularly admitted to the lectures by Landon Rives, M. D. and Joseph N. MeDowell, M. D. Ilis uncles, Alex- ander and James Vance, had removed from Greensboro to Cincinnati in 1817, where they controlled a line of steam- boats on the Ohio River. Doctor Boughner lived with his uncles while in Cincinnati, and his life there opened new vistas on his social horizon. Dr. Lyman Beecher was at that time connected with Lane Seminary, and he also preached in the Presbyterian Church there. The Vance family were on terms of intimacy with the Beecher family, and Doctor Boughner considered it one of his great pris ileges to be admitted to this social circle. Ilere he met Harriet Beecher Stowe, and Miss Catherine Beecher, who presided over her father's home.

After completing his medical studies he located at Mt. Morris. Greene County, Pennsylvania, on the line between Pennsylvania and Virginia. Ile practiced medicine in both states. He married on May 8, 1$45, Miss Louisa Jane Brown, daughter of Andrew and Martha ( Worley ) Brown, at Browns Mills, Monongalia County. Their family con- sisted of the following aix children: Rosalie, Mary Lavinia, (Mrs. Melville E. Howe), William LeRoy, Martha, Emma and Andrew Brown.

The ancestry of Mrs. Boughner (now deceased) was ex . clusively pre-Revolutionary. She was a direct descendant of Wendell Brown, who was born in 1700 in this country.

Judge Veech in bis "Ilistory of the Monongahela Val- ley " says that Wendell Brown and his son Manus ( Emman- uel) were the first white settlers west of the Allegheny Mountains. For services rendered to the king in border war- fare he was granted a tract of land comprising nine square miles in what is now Fayette County, Pennsylvania. The town of Brownsville, Pennsylvania, is situated on a port.on of this land, which was sold by Thomas Brown, one of Wendell's sons. Wendell Brown and his sons Manus, Adam and Thomas penetrated this land as hunters, but later re turned East and brought back their families with them and made their homes in the wilderness in 1750 or 1751.

According to family tradition Wendell Brown was a descendant of Peter Brown of the Mayflower. He and his sons were loyal frienda of Washington, supplying his stary ing army with beef and chopped flour at Fort Necessity in 1754.

The paternal ancestors of Mrs. Boughner, whose records of service in the Revolutionary war have been established. are Manus (Emmanuel) and Adam Brown, and Capt. Rudolph Statler. Col. Jasper Cather and Briee Worky are recorded Revolutionary soldiers belonging to her mat rnal ancestry.

Doctor Boughner represented Greene County in the legis latures of Pennsylvania of 18-15-1846 and 1-46-1447. On December 15, 1847, he received his degree of M. D. from the Philadelphia College of Medicine. The diploma bears the signatures of John P. Durbin, president, and Robert Me. Grath, secretary, in addition to the names of s x professors in the college.

Soon after his marriage Doctor Boughner removed to Brown'a Mills (l'entress) in Monongalia County. Th arduous duties of a general practitioner of medicine in a country district menaced his health, and in 1859 he removed to Morgantown and retired from the practice of medicine.

The terrible years were now upon the country, and the excitement and agitation preceding the Civil war shook the foundations of our Government. Western Virginia was in the throes of a mighty upheaval, which resulted in its sepa. ration from the parent state. Monongalia Coonty was atrongly in favor of the union, and intense in its opposition to secession. A large assemblage of citizens convened at the Court House in Morgantown on Wednesday evening April 17, 1861, to take action on resisting secession. Doctor Boughner was chairman of the committee on resolutions and the real author of the trend of their sentiments. In these resolutions, which were adopted, a strong protest was em- bodied against the secession of Virginia, with instructions

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to the delegates to the State Convention to propose a division of the state should the ordinance of secession be passed. After Virginia voted to secede the people in North Western Virginia held a convention in Wheeling on May 13, 1861, "to consult and determine upon such action as the people in that section should take in this fearful emergency." Doctor Boughner was elected a delegate to this convention. He became one of the most enthusiastic advocates of the Union, and exerted all of his powers to maintain the stability of our Government. He was an able and fluent writer, and did much to mould public opinion in his community by contributions to the current newspapers.

In 1864 he was appointed paymaster in the Federal Army with the rank of major, and served in this capacity until the end of the war. He was stationed principally at Detroit, Milwaukee and Indianapolis. In the reconstruction period, after the war, in the adjustment of political senti- ments, involving so many new issues, Doctor Boughner joined the ranks of the republican party, although in early life he had been a Jeffersonian democrat.

Early in the history of the new state of West Virginia Doctor Boughner was appointed collector of internal revenue for the second collection district. He was a member of the State Legislature of 1867-68.

He was always an enthusiast in affairs of state, and possessed a profound knowledge of the currents of our political history. He had deep convictions in the problems of his day, and kept in touch with legislation on questions of national importance.

Unschooled in strategy, the arts of diplomacy were foreign to the nature of Doctor Boughner, who retired from active politics and entered a field of usefulness more in accordance with his tastes.

He had always been fond of certain phases of country life, and even when engaged in political activities he was interested in several small farms. His taste in that direc- tion found full bent in later life, when he devoted his time to the supervision of his 500-acre farm near Fairmont, twenty miles from his home. The farm was near a railroad, which afforded a fine opportunity for the shipment of cattle. Stock raising became the principal industry on this fine grazing land, and the cattle were shipped to Eastern markets.

Doctor Boughner always enjoyed splendid health, and had not suffered impaired vitality until his last illness, which was of short duration. At the time of his passing he had not yet manifested any of the failings of elderly life. He was as alert, active and enthusiastic as in youth. His death occurred at his home in Morgantown on February 8, 1882, with interment in Oak Grove Cemetery. He would have celebrated his seventieth birthday on the 9th of the fol- lowing April.

Coming from a long line of Presbyterian ancestry, and imbibing from childhood the principles of this religion, he maintained throughout life his allegiance to its traditions. Reared in a family of austere piety, his nature, always re- tained the simplicity and directness characteristic of such an environment. The elements which gave distinction to his character are not easily defined. His individuality lives in the memory of all who knew him, but no special quality can be mentioned as his supreme gift. His personality seemed to be the composite effect of a multiform mentality. He was an enemy to all sham and pretense, and the keen edge of his sarcasm did not spare the affectations of snob- bishness. He was a good friend, but could deal heavy blows to an antagonist, though he never harbored malice and suspicion, casting them out as enemies of peace. The spirit of youth always dwelt in him, enabling him to attract and hold friends, whose difference in age from his sometimes measured a score of years. His temperament was essentially optimistic, which, united with his brilliant and scintillating wit, caused him to radiate pleasure in any social circle.

His passion for good literature found food for gratifica- tion in a large miscellaneous library he had collected mainly during his life in Cincinnati. He had in his possession many of the classics of the 18th century, including a first edition of the poems of Robert Burns.

With a bright intelligence enriched by culture, he was

capable of enjoying any company. He was democratic in his social ideas, and never failed to derive benefit from association with the great mass of the people. At the time of his death it was claimed that he had a larger acquaint- ance with his fellow men than any other man in the county. His affection for all sorts and conditions of men was one of his predominant qualities.

He was gifted with insight and vision intensified by his life in the open, where all manifestations of nature held his admiration. He thought deeply on the significance and responsibilities of this life in connection with its continuance in the life to come. His musings on the spiritual existence caught the gleam of "the light that never was on sea or land.''

HENRY LOUIS CARSPECKEN. When an individual has been identified with the business, financial and civic interests of a community for a period of more than twenty years it would be an anomaly were he not intimately known to the citizens of that place. In the seething, progressive life of a rising, enterprising town or city the man who shows himself interested in the advancement of the public weal is bound to be more or less in the public eye, and that eye, as it has often shown itself, is capable of piercing its way into the best-buried secrets. For more than twenty years the record of Henry Louis Carspecken has stood inviolate before the citizens of Morgantown, among whom he is recognized as a capable business man of sound integrity, a financier of ability and a citizen of public spirit and constructive ideas.

Mr. Carspecken was born in the City of Pittsburgh, Penn- sylvania, February 3, 1873, a son of Henry and Mary (Schott) Carspecken. His father was a civil engineer at Pittsburgh for many years, the latter's father was educated for that profession, and his grandfather practiced that vocation. In 1879 Henry Carspecken retired from civil en- gineering and removed to Oakland, Iowa, where he engaged in stock raising and farming for a number of years, but for the past twenty years has been living a retired life in that town. The mother of Henry L. Carspeckeu died when her son was an infant but nine days old.

Henry Louis Carspecken accompanied his father and the other children to Iowa, and in that state he attended the public schools, acquiring the equivalent of a high school education. At the age of eighteen years he commenced teaching school in the West, a vocation in which he was engaged for a year, and in the meantime prepared himself for college, with the intention of following the family voca- tion of civil engineering, as had his father, grandfather and great-grandfather. However, after returning to Pittsburgh and attending a business college he gave up, as he then thought temporarily, his intentions as a civil engineer, and in 1893 entered the glass industry as secretary to the presi- dent of the Brownsville Plate Glass Company at New Ken- sington, Pennsylvania, eighteen miles above Pittsburgh. Upon the death of the president of that company Mr. Car- specken reorganized that business under the name of the Brownsville Glass Company, and became its secretary and treasurer. Later on that concern was merged with the Appert Glass Company, whose plant was at Port Allegheny, Pennsylvania, and general offices in New York City. Mr. Carspecken became manager of the new concern. In 1903 he organized the Brownsville Glass Company, a new company with the old name, and became its secretary and general manager, in which capacities he built the plant at Morgan- town, which later was absorbed by the Mississippi Glass Company. Mr. Carspecken continued as manager of the Morgantown plant of this concern, and has remained in the same capacity to the present time. For nearly twenty years he has been identified with the business interests of Morgan- town, particularly those dealing with its oil, coal, glass, gas and allied financial interests, and has been an official and director of numerous companies in these lines, all of which have benefited through his connection. He is now vice presi- dent of the Bank of Morgantown, one of that city's most important banking institutions. He has at all times taken an active and helpful interest in local civic affairs, formerly served as president of the Morgantown Independent School District Board, is a member of the Morgantown Rotary Club,

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History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 2, Part 57

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