History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 2, Part 67

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FRANK KIRBY BRETZ, vice president of the Morgantowr and Kingwood Railroad Company, is a graduate civil en gineer, but for over thirty years has been identified with the operating and executive side of railroading, and the greate part of that time his service has been given to railroads ir West Virginia.

Mr. Bretz is a native of Pennsylvania, of a distinguished American family and one that has been represented ir nearly all the important wars of the nation. He is a de scendant of Ludwig Bretz, who with two brothers, Wendel and Henry, after a voyage from Germany landed at the por; of Philadelphia, August 15, 1750. Ludwig bought a farn in Lancaster County, but some years later sold that property and bought land five miles from Millersville in the Lykens Valley of Pennsylvania. That homestead was his residence the rest of his life. Soon after moving to this second farn the Revolutionary war came on, and he enlisted as a member of Capt. Albright Deibler's "Company of Associates" of the Fourth Battalion of Pennsylvania soldiers, commander by Col. James Burd. This company took part in the battle: of Trenton and Princeton and also in the carlier battle of Long Island, where Ludwig Bretz was wounded. He re turned to his home in January, 1777, but again entered the army as sergeant of Capt. Martin Weaver's company, and later he fought against the Indians in the West Branch 01 the Susquehanna Valley.

John Bretz, son of Ludwig, was born December 15, 1771 and died March 26, 1845. He married Catherine Fox, who was born December 21, 1773. Their son, Thomas Bretz, wa; born January 4, 1798, and died at Newport, Perry County Pennsylvania, June 2, 1866. His wife was Nancy Huffnagle who was born July 3, 1806.

Mahlon T. Bretz, son of Thomas, was born on a farm nea Newport in Perry County, Pennsylvania, July 14, 1843 His wife, Emma Kirby, was born at Williamstown, Glou cester County, New Jersey, October 30, 1850, daughter 0 John and Elizabeth (Carman) Kirby. Her great-grand father was a soldier in the New Jersey line during the Revolution. Mahlon T. Bretz also contributed to the mili tary annals of the family. August 13, 1862, he was musterer into Company I of the One Hundred and Thirty-third Penn sylvania Infantry. At the battle of Fredericksburg, Decem ber 11, 1862, he was wounded by a bullet in his chest and lay on the battlefield until after dark, when he made hi way to the Field Hospital. He was discharged Februar: 24, 1863, but in June of the same year re-enlisted, joining the Thirty-sixth Pennsylvania Infantry and later he enlisted in Company C of the One Hundred and Ninety-fifth Pennsyl vania Infantry. After the war for many years he held th office of cashier for the Pennsylvania Railroad at Kensing ton, Philadelphia. He was finally obliged to resign becaus of ill health due to the wound he had received at Fredericks burg. The bullet was never removed, and eventually i seemed to have changed its position, with the result that h was incapacitated for business. Since 1881 Mahlon Bret has been retired from all active duties, but is still living a his home at Newport, Pennsylvania.

Frank Kirby Bretz is a son of Mahlon T. and Emm: (Kirby) Bretz. He was born at Newport, Pennsylvania August 4, 1872. Energy and initiative seem to have been qualities of his original endowment. While a boy in th public schools he gave his spare time to master stenograph; and telegraphy. During 1888-89 he was being prepared fo college at Cumberland, Maryland, under private tutors, and at the same time was employed as private secretary to hi uncle, Calton L. Bretz, of the West Virginia Central an Pittsburgh Railway. Mr. Bretz was the first employe 0 that road whose duties included the operation of a type

Elliott B. Hopkins.

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riter. In September, 1889, he entered Lafayette College of nnsylvania, where he graduated with the Civil Engineers gree in 1893.

On leaving college Mr. Bretz became private secretary Keyser, West Virginia, to C. Wood Dailey, general coun- l of the West Virginia Central and Pittsburgh Railway. September, 1894, he was made general manager of what is then the Dry Fork Railroad, now the Central West Vir- nia and Southern, at Hendricks, Tucker County. This 19 his responsibility and post of duty until October 16, 02, when he became general manager of the Morgantown Kingwood Railroad, with headquarters at Morgantown. e has been a resident of Morgantown for twenty years, d is one of its best known citizens, always closely identi- d with matters of community progress. He has been vice esident of the Morgantown & Kingwood Railroad since 07.

April 9, 1909, Mr. Bretz married Dove Adams. She was rn at St. George, Tucker County, West Virginia, Septem- r 6, 1881, daughter of John J. and Angelica (Ewing) dams. Her mother is now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Bretz ve one daughter, Mary, born January 21, 1920.

WILLIAM NEWTON DAWSON. The good favor Mr. Dawson joys in Morgantown as a citizen and business man is due twenty years of residence, earnest and faithful work as merchant and business man, and an ever prompt publie irit when the needs of the community required its expres- .מכ

Mr. Dawson was born on the old Dawson homestead four iles from Uniontown, Fayette County, Pennsylvania, where e Dawsons and Nixons have long been prominent in the fairs of that section of the Keystone State. His paternal andfather, John Dawson, settled with his family in Fay- te County many years ago. William H. Dawson, father the Morgantown business man, was born on the Dawson rm near Uniontown, June 1, 1833, and is now living, in a eighty-eighth year, retired. He was a merchant and rmer until 1912. He is a very devout Baptist and a re- blican in politics. William II. Dawson married Pery L. ixon, who was born on the Nixon homestead at Oliphant arnace in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, daughter of oses Nixon. She died in 1912.

William N. Dawson was born December 29, 1862, and ade the best possible use of his advantages in the public hools of Fayette County. From his thirteenth to his renty-third year he was on the farm, sharing in its work id responsibilities, and when he left there he became clerk a grocery store at Uniontown. Thereafter he was sue- ssively a clerk, merchant and traveling salesman, and while the road spent one year in Kansas.

In 1900 Mr. Dawson established himself in business at organtown, and for twenty years owned and operated the ost popular confectionery, stationery and periodical store the city. It was a business that grew and prospered rgely because its proprietor made the service worthy of stronage. In 1920 he sold this business, and has since been the insurance and real estate field, where he is enjoying ell merited success.

Mr. Dawson is affiliated with Fayette Lodge No. 228, . and A. M., at Uniontown, Pennsylvania, Morgantown apter of the Royal Arch Masons, Morgantown Lodge of erfection No. 6 of Scottiah Rite, also belongs to West irginia Consistory No. 1 of the Scottish Rite, and Osiris emple of the Mystic Shrine at Wheeling. He is a member ' Morgantown Lodge No. 411, Benevolent and Protective rder of Elks, and the Morgantown Chamber of Commerce. is first wife was Lola Brown, daughter of John Brown, of air Chance, Pennsylvania. She died in 1890, leaving one aughter, Annie L., who is the wife of F. W. Hussey, living : Clarksburg, West Virginia. Mr. Dawson married for his cond wife Maggie F. Walters, daughter of Elisha Walters, : Uniontown, Pennsylvania.

THOMAS RAY DILLE has been numbered among the very accesaful lawyers of Morgantown for over twenty years. e has given additional prestige to the name Dille, so long asociated with high attainments at the bar of Weat Vir-

ginia. Outside of his profession he is perhaps most widely known over the state through his official leadership in the Knighta of Pythias fraternity.

Mr. Dille waa born at Walnut Hill, now a part of the Fourth Ward of Morgantown, December 5, 1874, son of Oliver Hagans and Gillie (Evans) Dille, and a grandson of Judge John Adams Dille, one of the distinguished figures at the bench and bar of West Virginia at the beginning of statehood and a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work,

Thomas Ray Dille was educated in Morgantown, also attended school at Uniontown, Pennsylvania, and pursued both his literary and law atudies in West Virginia Univer- sity. He received his degree in law in 1897, and graduated with the A. B. degree in law in 1898. Mr. Dillo was in practice at Morgantown with his uncle, Clarence B. Dille, under the firm name Dille & Dille, until 1914, since which year bo has been alone in his profession. lIe waa deputy circuit clerk in 1899-1900 under William E. Glasscock, and for six years acted as deputy county clerk under John M. Gregg. He is commissioner of chancery for Monongalia County and commissioner of accounts. For fourteen con- secutive yeara Mr. Dille was treasurer of the Monongalin County Bar Association, and was president of the association in 1915-16.

He is a charter member of the Kappa Alpha college fra- ternity. He was vice president in 1913-14 and president in 1914-15 of the West Virginia Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution, and has been secretary of the State Society Sons of the American Revolution since 1918.

His official record in the Knights of Pythias order in West Virginia is as follows: He joined Athens Lodge No. 36, Knights of Pythias, in January, 1899, and at once took an active part, elected prelate, June, 1899; vice chancellor, September, 1899; chancellor commander, December, 1899, serving as such the term ending June 30, 1900, being present at every convention of the lodge during his term of office. He served as deputy grand chancellor under Grand Chancel- lor Benjamin F. Sayre. He was representative to the Grand Lodge at the sessions of 1909 nt Parkersburg and 1910 at Elkins. He was appointed a member of Judiciary Commit- tee by Grand Chancellor W. Frank Stout, 1912-13. He was elected grand outer guard at Clarksburg, August 29, 1913; grand master at arms at Fairmont, September 25, 1914; grand prelate at Charles Town, Angust 26, 1915; grand chancellor at Huntington, September 1, 1916.

He joined the D. O. K. K. at the institution of Tau Temple No. 169 at Clarksburg, August 2%, 1913, and was elected a royal prince of said temple in February, 1917. Ile represented Tan Temple No. 169 in the Imperial Palace Conventions of 1919-1921. He joined Athens Temple No. 30, Pythian Sisters, at Morgantown, June 6, 1910.

Oliver Hagans Dille, father of Thomas Ray Dille, way one of Morgantown's able and well known citizens for many years. He was born at Kingwood, Preston County, February 20, 1850, and died at Morgantown. November 22, 1914. IIc graduated from West Virginia University in 1871, read law under his father and was admitted to the bar September 9, 1872. His bealth would not permit his continuing long in the legal profession, and he sought an occupation that would take him into the open, and thereafter his home was the historie Walnut Hill farm near Morgantown. He was a Knight Templar Mason, n member of the Presbyterian Church, and always had the best interests of his community at heart. September 16, 1873, he married Gillie Coleman Evans, daughter of James Evans, of the pioneer family of that name in Monongalia County. The children of Oliver H. Dille and wife were: Thomas Ray; Elisha Merrill. born June 21, 1878; Rachel Jane, born January 23, 1680: Maude Evans, born December 16, 1883, now the wife of Harold E. Campbell; James Evans, born April 6, 1896; and John Adams, born May 20, 1889.

ELLIOTT BUDD HOPKINS, who was a major in the Eighty- ninth Division in France and Germany, was associated as a mechanical expert with the very beginning of produc- tion at the Dodge Brothers motor plant in Detroit, but soon entered the sales department, and has been selling

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the Dodge Brothers cars for many years. He is president and general manager of the Hopkins Motor Company, one of the most complete sales and service organizations at Wheeling.

Major Hopkins was born in Chicago, December 3, 1889. He is a member of a distinguished Colonial American family. The first American ancestor was Edward Hop- kins, who reached Massachusetts in the early part of the seventeenth century, and for several years was governor of Massachusetts Colony, alternating in that office with Governor Haynes. Late in life he returned to England, where he died. One of his descendants was the great- grandfather of Major Hopkins. This was Ira Hopkins, who was born at Cassville, New York, in 1791, was a miller, and ahout 1829 removed to Utica, New York, where he lived until his death in 1866. The grandfather, Charles H. Hopkins, was born at Cassville, New York, in 1819, and spent nearly all his life at Utica, where for many years he owned and operated an extensive flouring mill. He was also postmaster for nineteen years. He was a republican and a stanch friend of Roscoe Conkling. He died at Utica in 1885. His wife was Eliza Budd, who was born at Schodack, New York, in 1826, and died at Columbus, Ohio, in 1905.

Their son, George Emory Hopkins, now a resident of Edgedale, Wheeling, was born at Utica, July 31, 1860, was reared in his native city and as a young man went to Chicago, where he married and where his first business connection was as member of the firm, Blair, Dunlap & Hopkins, heating and ventilating engineers. His second position was with the old Merchants National Bank, where he remained three years, and for another three years was assistant cashier of the Chemical National Bank of Chicago. He then became district auditor for Armour & Company, and served in that capacity at New York City, Philadelphia, and Syracuse, after which he returned to Chicago. He was the accounting and financial expert who handled all the details involving the purchase of the old Hammond Packing Company by the Armour interests, including the main plant at Hammond, the various branches and the foreign agencies. In 1904 George E. Hopkins located at Racine, Wisconsin, and for fourteen years was general auditor of Horlick's Malted Milk Company. His home has been at Wheeling since 1917, and he is vice president and treasurer of the Hopkins Motor Company. During the World war he rendered a valuable service to the Government as senior accountant, stationed at Balti- more and Washington, where he was assigned special work in making adjustments and settling claims with contractors for unfinished contracts due to the termination of hostilities. George E. Hopkins is a republican, a member of St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, and is a thirty-second degree Scottish Rite Mason.

He married Nellie Deane, who was born at Peoria, Illinois, in 1863. They were the parents of two sons, Deane and Elliott Budd. Deane finished his education in the University of Illinois, was a member of the Alpha Delta Phi fraternity, and was general manager of the Hopkins Motor Company when he died at Wheeling, December 9, 1920 at the age of thirty-two.

Elliott Budd Hopkins spent his early life and acquired his early educational advantages at Philadelphia, Syracuse, and Chicago, graduated from the high school of Racine, Wisconsin, in 1909, and following that was chemist for the Tacoma Gas Company at Tacoma, Washington, a year. Major Hopkins is a graduate mechanical engineer, having received his degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Illinois, with the class of 1914. His summer vacations- he employed in work for the Mitchell Motor Car Company at Racine. After completing his technical education he went to Detroit with the Lozier Motor Com- pany, remaining until that company went bankrupt five months later. In the fall of 1914 he accepted the posi- tion of experimental mechanic with Dodge Brothers at Detroit. He was sent out with the third car manufactured by this company to Cleveland, Ohio, and with that city as headquarters he traveled through Ohio, New York, Penn- sylvania and West Virginia as technical representative.

His abilities soon became as pronounced in the sales a in the technical department of the business, and at the end of six months he was transferred to the sales depart ment as district salesman covering the same territory. H continued this work until June, 1916, establishing branch agencies for the Dodge Brothers Company. He then se lected Wheeling as headquarters for his own territory including the Ohio Valley of West Virginia, and organized the Hopkins Motor Company, Mr. H. S. Sands of Wheeling being associated with him. The company was incorporate( in 1917, at which time Major Hopkins, his brother Dean and George E. Hopkins bought the interest of Mr. Sands In July, 1917, George E. Hopkins came to Wheeling te take charge of the business during the absence of Majo Hopkins, and when he, too, entered the service a year later his son Deane became responsible manager. Thi present officers of the corporation are: E. B. Hopkins president and general manager; and George E. Hopkins vice president and treasurer. They own the large building where their salesroom and service station are located a the corner of Fifteenth and Eoff streets, and they handle the sales of their representative line of cars throughou the Panhandle of West Virginia and Belmont County, Ohio

On August 27, 1917, Elliott B. Hopkins entered the Second Officers Training Camp at Fort Benjamin Harri son, Indiana, where three months later he was commis sioned captain of Field Artillery. He was then transferred to Camp Funston, Kansas, with the Eighty-ninth Division under the command of General Leonard Wood. He re mained there six months, then accompanied the command to Camp Mills, Long Island, and embarked for oversea: June 26, 1918. Ten days after he landed in France hi was sent to the French Thirty-second Corps, and remained with that organization six weeks, until the Eighty-nint) Division was sent up front, when Major Hopkins rejoined it. He was with his command through the St. Mihie drive, the battles of the Argonne, and after the signing of the armistice he went with the Army of Occupation into Germany. He was promoted to the rank of major ant remained with the Army of Occupation until the Eighty. ninth Division left for home May 12, 1919. He was the assigned to special duty in Germany, settling up the affairs of the Division in the occupied zone, and con tinued this work until the latter part of August, 1919 when he returned home and received his honorable dis charge at Camp Dix, New Jersey, September 12, 1919 Major Hopkins was re-commissioned in the Reserve Corps and was detailed to command the One Hundred and Seventy Fifth Field Artillery Brigade of the One Hundredth Divi sion.

Major Hopkins is a republican, is affiliated with St Matthew's Episcopal Church, member of the Wheeling Kiwanis Club, Fort Henry Club, Country Club, the Alph. Delta Phi fraternity and the Club of New York City.

March 9, 1921, at Wheeling, Major Hopkins married Miss Eleanor Wright Stewart, daughter of Mr. and Mrs Thomas W. Stewart, living at Triadelphia in Ohio County Mrs. Hopkins completed her education in the Devon Mano finishing school at Philadelphia.

CHARLES EDWARD WATSON, a prominent Morgantown busi ness man, has been a resident of West Virginia all hi mature years, and has proved a leader in the progressiv industrial advancement of the state. He is president o the C. E. Watson Coal Company of Morgantown.

Mr. Watson was born at Newport, Perry County, Pennsyl vania, August 12, 1886, son of Christopher and Matild: (Wentz) Watson, the former a native of New Jersey an the latter of Pennsylvania. His father was a stock buye in Perry County and died at Newport, where the widower mother is still living.

Charles E. Watson grew up at Newport, acquired hi public-school education there, and since 1904 his home ha been in West Virginia. He moved to Morgantown in 1907 and has made use of the successive years to acquire an in creasing share in the financial and business life of thi city. In December, 1919, be organized the C. E. Watson Coal Company, which does an extensive business as whole

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salera in coal. He is also a member of the Concrete Block Company at Morgantown.

Mr. Watsen is a member of the Morgantown Kiwanis Club and the Lutheran Church. March 26, 1907, he mar- ried Mary Jenkins, daughter of William and Elizabeth Jenkina, of Kingwood, West Virginia. They have two daughters, Elizabeth Matilda, born in 1908, and Janet June Watsen, born in 1920.

ARTHUR WILLIAM HAWLEY is aduditer and sales manager of the Preston County Coke Company at Mergantewn. Hle has been associated with this industry a number of years, und is an official in several other ecal operating organiza- ciona of West Virginia.

Mr. Hawley was bern at Burning Springs near Parkers- bourg in Wood County, Mareh 9, 1882, sen of Caleb F. and Eliza (Keister) Hawley. Hia grandparents, Barton and Tane Hawley, were natives of Preston County, West Vir- rinia. Caleb F. Hawley was born on a farm in that county n 1851, and as a young man left his native community and eventually settled at Parkersburg, where he was connected with the Standard Oil Company for many years and where le died in 1905. He was a member of the Methodist Epis- opal Church. Eliza Keister, his wife, is still living at Parkersburg. She was born in Gilmer County, West Vir- ginia, April 16, 1854, daughter of William and Rose Keister, atives of the same enunty.

Arthur W. Hawley when three years of age meved with the family to Parkersburg, in which eity he was reared, iad a public-school education, and in 1903 graduated from he Mountain State Business College. After leaving cel- ege he was for five years bookkeeper for the Buekhorn Portland Cement Company at Manheim, West Virginia. In 1908 he entered the service of the Preston County Coke Company as auditor and sales manager, and in an important measure has been an influential factor in the success of hia industry for the past thirteen years. The headquar- ers of the company were at Masontown until December, 1920, when they were established at Morgantown, where Mr. Hawley has general charge of the business. Ile is also secretary of the Green Ridge Coal Company and treasurer of the Roaring Creek Collieries Company.

Mr. Hawley enjoys the relationship of fraternal and rivie affairs, is a member of Presten Lodge No. 90, A. F. and A. M., at Kingwood, Morgantown Chapter No. 30, R. S. M., Morgantown Lodge of Perfection No. 6, Scottish Rite, West Virginia Scottish Rite Consistery No. 1, and Osiris Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Wheeling. He is also affiliated with Decker's Valley Lodge No. 165, Knights of Pythiaa, at Masontown. He belongs to the Morgantown Kiwanis Club and the Methodist Episcopal Church.

On January 10, 1906 Mr. Hawley married Ella M. Trem- ly. She was born at Terra Alta, West Virginia, daughter of George W. and Eva (Smith) Trembly. Her father is low deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Hawley have three children : Charles Wirt, born June 18, 1907; Ireta Estelle, born May 2, 1909; and Eva Clair, born March 20, 1911.

T. FRANK BURK has gained high standing in his pro- 'ession of publie accountant and is also vice president and auditer of the National Fuel Company at Morgantown, Monongalia County, in which eity he is a representative business man.

Mr. Burk was born at Yardville, Mercer County, New Jersey, December 16, 1870, and is a son of the late Ben- amin F. and Elizabeth (Peters) Burk. Benjamin F. Burk was born in Chester County, Pennsylvania, in 1827. His ›rents were natives of England, and upen coming to the Jnited States established their home in the Philadelphia Dis- riet of Pennsylvania. Benjamin F. Burk was reared and dueated in the old Keystone State and there learned the rades of carpenter and millwright. About the year 1848 le established his residence at Yardville, New Jersey, where le continned in business a number of years. In 1880 he stablished his home at Trenton, New Jersey, and there is death occurred on the 30th of May, 1918. He was a 'epublican in political allegiance, and beth be and his rife beld membership in the Methodist Episeepal Church.

Mrs. Burk was born ut Bordentown, New Jersey, In 1829, and her death occurred nt Trenton, New Jersey, in June, 1900.

T. Frank Burk gained his enrly eduention In the public schools of Yardville and Trenton, New Jersey. In 1897 he graduated from the Stewart Business College at Trenton, and for the ensuing ten years he continued ns a valued member of the faculty of this institution,-un instructor in penmanship, bookkeeper, banking, mathematics, business correspondence, commercial geography, business forms and business practice. After this record of excellent eduen. tional service Mr. Burk passed one year in the offices of the Trenton Rubber Company at Trenton, New Jersey, and thereafter he engaged in independent necounting work in that eity. Later he became senior accountant in the of. fiees of John Heims & Company in the City of l'hiladelphin, where he remained thus engaged for two years.

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History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 2, Part 67

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