History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 2, Part 7

Author:
Publication date:
Publisher:
Number of Pages:

USA > West Virginia > History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 2 > Part 7

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

The year he was admitted to the bar he was nominated the republican ticket as candidate for county prosecuting torney. Randolph County then had a normal democratic ijority of 1,200, but his democratic rival that year had to satisfied with a margin of only fifty-one votes. Judge aker was a skilled campaigner, had been interested in litics for several years, and his father had also in his time en an able man in local politics. However, after this mpaign Judge Baker applied himself assiduously to the actice of law, and had built up a reputation as an able wyer before he again became a candidate for office. His ther was not a wealthy man and had helped the son rough college at considerable sacrifice. The son had re- lid this aid by hard work and rigid economy in completing s college career, and he began practice as a lawyer with a ew to establishing himself professionally before he could ke up any of the side lines and side issues of the law.

About the time he removed to Elkins Judge Baker was tained as counsel by the Elkins and Davis interests, and r years, in fact until he went on the bench, he repre- nted those interests and was also closely associated with nited States Senators Elking and Davis. He was a valu- le supporter of Senator Elkins in his aspirations for ection to the United States Senate. In 1912 Judge Baker rain expected the nomination of his party for prosecuting torney, and again had about the same majority to over- me, and this time was defeated by only thirty-zeven votes. In 1920 he was prevailed upon to become state chairman ' the republican party, and he took a very prominent part the campaign that year and for four months spent prac- cally all his time in the national campaign headquarters . Chicago.

Judge Baker ja a Knight Templar and thirty-second de- ·ee Scottish Rite Mason and Shriner. In 1906 he married artha R. Davidson at Evansville, Indiana. She was born ad reared in that Southern Indiana city, daughter of Wil- am and Elizabeth Davidson. Her father was for years prominent citizen and manufacturer at Evansville. The ily child of Judge and Mrs. Baker is Miss Janet.

LUTHER SAMSON BROCK, M. D., has been closely identified ith the history of the City of Morgantown for upwards of alf a century, during which time he has won success and

prominence both in the profession of medicine and in business circles, and is today recognized as one of the leaders in the public affairs of the community, as well as one of the worth- while men of West Virginia.

Doctor Brock was born in Greene County, Pennsylvania, December 19, 1844, a son of Fletcher and Rachel Stephenson Brock. This branch of the Brock family is descended from Burbridge Brock, who came to America from England, settling in New Jersey in the middle of the seventeenth cen- tury. His son William, who was born in New Jersey in 1760, married Margaret Dunn, and brought his family to the borderland of Virginia, where he settled on land lying on each side of the "Mason and Dixon Line" in Pennsylvania and Virginia (now West Virginia). Fletcher Brock, son of William and father of Dr. Luther S. Brock, was born in Virginia May 5, 1807. He built his home practically upon the spot where he was born, on land touching and overlapping the "Mason and Dixon Line," and became a prominent citizen of his section. While his business was in Virginia, his home was in Pennsylvania and he was always a citizen of the Key- stone State, which he represented in the Legislature. In 1829 he was united in marriage with Miss Rachel Stephen- son, of Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, and four sons and five daughters were born to them, two of the sons dying in infancy. Of the five daughtera, three are now living: Mrs. Cynthia B. Glenn and Mrs. Harriet B. Showalter of Kansas City, Missouri, and Miss Martha Brock of Morgantown.

Living on the border line between the states of Pennsylvania and Virginia (now West Virginia), Luther S. Brock attended the free schools of Pennsylvania and the subscription schools of Virginia. At the age of fourteen he entered the Monon- galia Academy at Morgantown, an institution of very high grade and standing, where he completed the full classical course. He read medicine under the preceptorship of his brother, Dr. Hugh Workman Brock, who after the death of their father had taken upon himself the care and educa- tion of his younger brother and sisters. After his graduation from Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, with the degree of Doctor of Medicine, in 1874, Dr. Luther S. Brock entered the general practice of medicine in partnership with his brother, Dr. Hugh Workman Brock, a distinguished physician and surgeon of Morgantown, an association which was terminated by the death of the latter in 1882. Since the above year he has been a senior member of the firm of Brock and Wade of Morgantown, the junior member being Dr. Spencer S. Wade. During the more active years of Dr. Brock's professional labors his practice extended over a broad area of surrounding country, often reaching beyond the borders of the neighboring states.

For a number of the years Dr. Brock served as a member of the United States Board of Examining Surgeons, and under the administrations of Governor A. B. Fleming and Governor William E. Glasscock, served as a member of the State Board of Health of West Virginia. He likewise was a member of the Board of Trustees of the Fairmont Miners' Hospital, in the locating of which institution he was largely instrumental. He also served as president of the West Virginia State Medi- cal Society, and was one of the founders of the Monongalia County Medical Society, and for several years was its presi- dent. He is still a member of these societies and of the American Medical Association. He served for at least fifteen years as a member of the Morgantown School Board, and still retains a keen interest in educational affairs. He is a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and has been for many years one of its trustees.

Doctor Brock has been one of the Board of Directors and vice-president of the Bank of the Monongahela Valley since its organization in 1888, and is now its president. He was one of the founders of the Morgantown Brick Company, and has been its vice-president since its organization.

In 1891 Dr. Brock was united in marriage with Miss Agnes Lauck, daughter of Rev. William and Sarah (Benny) Lauck, of Beaver, Pennsylvania, and to their union two daughters and one son have been born: Rachel Stephenson, who" is deceased; Eleanor, who has won national distinction aa a singer; and Robert Luther, a graduate of the West Virginia University, who served during the World war with the rank of lieutenant, and is now married and living in Morgantown.

Vol. II-3

HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA

ROBERT LUTHER BROCK, son of the well-known physician and banker, Dr. Luther S. Brock, is an interesting example of the vigorous young American who loses no time after leaving college to connect himself with the important re- sponsibilities of business. Mr. Brock is treasurer of the Mon-Scott Fuel Company and treasurer of the Sesaminc Coal Company of Morgantown.

He was born at Morgantown May 26, 1896, attended city schools, graduating from high school in 1914, and then entered the West Virginia University. He was a stu- dent there when the World war came on, and in June, 1917, he joined the West Virginia National Guard, and later attended the Third Officers Training Camp at Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia. He was commissioned a second lieu- tenant of infantry and from Fort Oglethorpe was sent with other officers to Camp Gordon, Georgia, thence to Camp Pike at Little Rock, Arkansas, and subsequently, to secure a better prospect of getting overseas, joined the Tank Corps at Camp Polk, Raleigh, North Carolina. He was assigned to duty with the Three Hundred and Fifth Battalion of the Tank Corps. Orders came for the embarkation over- seas only a few days before the signing of the armistice. Mr. Brock received his honorable discharge at Camp Polk on Jannary 8, 1919.

After returning to Morgantown Mr. Brock resumed his work in the university, was granted his A. B. degree in 1920, and continued a student in the law department, but after a year abandoned these studies to enter business. He was one of the organizers of the two coal corporations of which he is treasurer, and is now giving his full time to the executive responsibilities of this business.

Mr. Brock is a member of the Phi Kappa Psi college fra- ternity, the Morgantown Chamber of Commerce, the Kiwanis Club, and Morgantown Lodge No. 411, Benevolent and Pro- tective Order of Elks. May 25, 1921, he married Miss Esther Bair, a native of Greensburg, Pennsylvania, and daughter of Edward H. and Esther Bair.

GEORGE JACKSON ROGERS has been a Wheeling lawyer for the past twenty years, with an extensive civil practice. He belongs to a family of lawyers, his father having been one of the prominent members of the West Virginia bar.

The grandfather of George J. Rogers was Alexander Rogers, who was born at Newry, County Armagh, Ireland, in 1801. He came to America when a young man, about 1830, settled at Wheeling, and was prominent in business, at first as a merchant tailor and later as owner and operator of an iron foundry. He died at Wheeling January 5, 1887. After coming to Wheeling he married, in 1836, Miss Eliza- heth Johnston, who was born at Wheeling September 28, 1815, and died in that city February 24, 1897. Of her five children three reached mature years: James P. Rogers; Margaret Johnston, wife of Frederick H. Lange, who is president of the Home Outfitting Company at Wheeling and manager of the Alexander Rogers estate; and Thomas Johnston Rogers, who died at Wheeling in 1864, at the age of twenty-four. Elizabeth Johnston, the mother of these children, was a daughter of Thomas Johnston, who became identified with the Village of Wheeling about 1798 and was one of the leading merchants of the town in early times. He died at Wheeling in 1849. Thomas Johnston married Miss Meholin, who was born in Harrison County, Ohio, and died at Wheeling.

James Patterson Rogers, who was born at Wheeling April 29, 1838, spent all his life in his native city, graduated A. B. from Jefferson College at Cannonsburg, and for abont forty years was engaged in an extensive law practice. He was one of the leaders in the democratic party, and shortly after the Civil war served as prosecuting attorney. He was Municipal Court judge in 1874-75, and always after that was known as Judge Rogers. He died at Wheeling Jannary 24, 1904. He was one of the founders of St. Luke's Epis- copal Church at Wheeling, and was senior warden from 1881 until his death. He also belonged to the Masonic fraternity. Judge Rogers married Martha Joanna Jackson, who is still living in Wheeling. She was born at Cedarville, Ohio, Janu- ary 9, 1850. George Jackson Rogers is her oldest child. Elizabeth Johnston Rogers is the wife of James W. Ewing,

a Wheeling lawyer. Ladora Kerr Rogers is the wife f Newton Waltz, who is engaged in the carriage and auton- hile manufacturing business at Wheeling. Minerva Towney Rogers, the youngest child, died in April, 1882, at the :c of seventeen months.

George Jackson Rogers was born at Wheeling March 1876. He acquired a public school education at Wheeli gradnated in 1894 from Linsly Institute, and was major f a battalion of cadets while in the institute. With ts preparation he entered the University of Virginia at Ch - lottesville, graduating A. B. in 1897, and did his law wix at Harvard University, gradnating LL. B. in 1901. Sin2 then he has been steadily engaged in the practice of law t Wheeling, and has confined his attention to civil cases at has almost altogether an office practice. His offices are the Wheeling Steel Corporation Building. Mr. Rogers in member of the Ohio County Bar Association, is a vest- man in St. Luke's Episcopal Church and votes as a del crat. At Bellefontaine, Ohio, September 11, 1912, he mr |- ried Miss Clara E. West, daughter of John E. and Elear (Johnson) West, residents of Bellefontaine, where le father is one of the leading lawyers of his district. M. Rogers is a graduate with the A. B. degree from Woog" University of Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Rogers have four cl- dren: Elizabeth Johnston, born July 15, 1913; JOI West, born December 2, 1914; James Patterson, born M vember 6, 1916; and Eleanor Johnson, born December 1920.

WILBERT S. MILLER is president of The Wheeling Rea Company. This is an organization amply financed and w) a number of years' record of successful handling of bo large and small properties, city and agricultural, with! number of large transactions to its credit in the transfer industrial properties. It is a member of the Chamber Commerce and the Real Estate Board. Mr. Miller is a me ber of the Lions Club.

He represents some of the prominent land holding fai lies of Eastern Ohio. His great-grandfather, Daniel Mill was born in Maryland in 1788, and was eighteen years age when his parents came west and settled in Harris County in 1806. The Millers acquired Government lai Daniel Miller married Susannah Lowmiller, who was bo in Pennsylvania in 1796 and was four years of age wh her parents, John and Katherine Lowmiller, settled in H: rison County. John Miller, grandfather of Wilbert Miller, was born in Harrison County February 22, 18: grew up under pioncer conditions and was a prospero and well to do farmer of the county. He was especia. active in the affairs of Harrison County, and held the off of county commissioner. In 1849 he married Susan Mikese representing another old family of Harrison County, whe she was born in 1824. John Miller and wife had nine ch dren, and seven of them are still living: Oscar B., a re dent of Ironton, Ohio, and one of the oldest teachers in t state, hoth in length of service and in age; Andrew Miller; Rev. Daniel D., a Lutheran minister at Smithto Pennsylvania; Joseph, a farmer in Hancock County, Wc Virginia; Samuel H., formerly professor of science at Th College in Pennsylvania, now in the insurance busines Clement E., who operates the homestead farm in Harris County; and Rev. Jesse L., who for over twenty-five yea has been pastor of Grace Lutheran Church at Youngstow Ohio.

Andrew B. Miller, father of Wilbert S., is still active a farmer in Harrison County, where he was born Decemb 9, 1852. He had a good education in public and norm schools and for half a century has devoted his time grain and stock farming. He has been a life-long democr and a leader in the Lutheran Church. Andrew B. Mill married Flora A. Smith, who was born in Jefferson Count Ohio, February 16, 1859, daughter of Aaron and Sara (Weir) Smith. Aaron Smith was a life-long resident . Jefferson County, and owned half a dozen farms ther His wife, Sarah Weir, was a native of Ireland. Aarc Smith and wife reared a family of five children: Samn Jefferson, now living retired at Amsterdam, Ohio; Mr Flora Miller; John Charles Fremont, district superintender

Robert L. Brocks

HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA

r the Methodist Episcopal Church at Norwalk, Ohio; illiam E., at Alliance, Ohio; and Margaret, wife of ank Knox, a farmer of Jefferson County, Ohio. Andrew B. Miller and wife are the parents of five chil- en. Rev. Charles D., who is a graduate of Grove City llege of Pennsylvania and Mount Airy Lutheran Seminary Philadelphia, now pastor of the First English Lutheran lurch at Cleveland; M. LeRoy, now farming a place joining his father's in Harrison County; Wilbert S .; ura B., wife of Fred W. Miller, of Jefferson County, io; Ilarry C., a partner in The Wheeling Realty Company. Harry C. Miller was born in Harrison County June 24, SS, attended high school at New Jefferson, Ohio, and the liott Commercial School of Wheeling, and for a time was iployed by the American Sheet & Tin Plate Company of renmore, Pennsylvania. In 1911 he removed to Wheeling, jere he has aince been associated with his brother in the al estate business, being secretary and treasurer of The heeling Realty Company. He is one of the active mem- rs of the Kiwanis Club, is an ex-service man, having ined the colors in August, 1917, and towards the close the same year went overseas, serving with the Trans- rtation Department in the Operative Engineers Corps. e became a sergeant, first class engineers, and was on .ty in France for nineteen months, receiving his honorable scharge July 5, 1919. He has been post commander of heeling Post No. 1, The American Legion, at Wheeling. Wilbert S. Miller, who was born in Harrison County ovember 17, 1883, was educated in the public schools of ew Jefferson, graduating from high school there in 1900, id attended Seio College, at Seio, Ohio. He became in- rested in a mercantile concern in Ohio, and in 1909 lo- ted at Wheeling, being one of the organizers of The heeling Realty Company, of which he is president. This mpany does a business all over the Tri State District of est Virginia, Ohio and Pennsylvania, handling city prop- ty, subdivisions and farms, and coal and timber lands. s officers are in the Wheeling Steel Corporation Building. On June 18, 1919, Wilbert S. Miller married Misa Ruth Snyder, daughter of Casper S. and Margaretta Snyder. er parents live on their farm in Armstrong County, Penn- ·Ivania. Mrs. Miller atudied musie in Philadephia and nished her musical education in the Dana Institute at arren, Ohio, and she and Mr. Miller were married in the tter city. They have two children: Frank R., born April 3, 1920, and Flora Margaretta, born September 18, 1921.

JOEL E. Moss bas become one of the most influential dustrial leaders in Wheeling within a comparatively few ears. He has developed one of the principal industries of le city, the J. E. Moss Iron Works, of which he is presi- ent. While this is his main business, he is interested in a umber of financial and industrial organizations, and at all mes has kept in close touch with the civic welfare.

Mr. Moss was born in New York City January 19, 1887. lis father, Julius Moss, was born in Bavaria, Germany, in 352, and was reared in his native country, where he learned le trade of ornamental iron worker. About 1875 he came › the United States, and for a number of years followed is trade in New York City, where eventually he became iperintendent of the Prince & Kinkel Iron Works. In 1895 e removed to Wheeling, and organized and started the architectural Iron & Wire Works, a business he conducted v himself until 1900, after which for two yeara his brother- 1-law, E. A. Reich, was his partner. Two years later Julius foss retired, and he died at St. Louis in 1904. He was a emocrat in his political affiliations, was a member of the Coff Street Temple and was affiliated with the Knights of `ythias and Ancient Order of United Workmen. He mar- ied Celia Reich, who was born in Austria in 1860, and died t Wheeling in 1912, she having come to the United States rith her mother when a girl. Julius and Celia Moss had even children. The oldest, Julius, is an advertising man- ger in the theatrical business at Chicago; Jerome A. is a eneral contractor at Chicago; Joel E. is the third; Edward 1. is a steel contractor at Cleveland; Miss Rosa is engaged a social service work at Cleveland; Jeannette is the wife f Samuel Orenstein, in the bakery business at Stenbenville,

Ohio; Miss Sarah Leah is a teacher in the kindergarten department of the Cleveland public schoola.

Joel E. Moss was eight years of age when the family moved to Wheeling. He first attended school in New York City, and was a pupil in the Wheeling High School until 1901. By home atudy through the International Corre- spondenec School of Seranton he perfected hia technical knowledge of structural engineering. While thus studying he was doing practical work as an employe of the Architec- tural Iron and Wire Works uutil July, 1910, and he then engaged in business for himaelf as a contractor and quiekly had an extensive business involving contracts all over the state. After a year he started a small shop on Eiglitcentlı Street as an auxiliary to his contracting business, this shop employing only teu men at the beginning. Within a year the quarters were outgrown, and in 1913 he secured a piece of ground on Twenty-eighth Street and built a modern plant, while the following year he bought the plant of the Architee- tural Iron & Wire Works. This is the industry now known as the J. E. Moss Iron Works, and by subsequent exten- aions the plant now covers six aeres of ground and employs 500 men. The annual business is in excess of $2,500,000. This plant ia equipped for the manufacture of structural and ornamental steel products of all kinds and these products are shipped all over the country. The plant and officers are at Twenty-eighth and Chapline streeta.

While this is a business constituting heavy carea and responsibilities for Mr. Moss, he is also a director in the Quarter Savings & Trust Company of Wheeling, the Wheel- ing Axle Company, the North Wheeling Glass Bottle Com- pany, and is president of the Compo Tile Fire Proofing Company. He is a director in the Industrial Relations Association of Wheeling, a member of the Chamber of Commerce, and his counsel is sought in all matters affecting the industrial welfare. He is a republican, a member of the Eoff Street Temple, is a past president of the Independent Order of B'Nai B'Rith, and ia affiliated with Nelson Lodge No. 30, A. F. and A. M., West Virginia Consistory No. 1 of the Scottish Rite, Osiris Temple of the Mystic Shrine and Wheeling Lodge No. 28, B. P. O. E. During the war he had a place on many of the committees for the sale of Liberty Loan Bonds, raising the funds for Red Cross and other purposes. Mr. Moss owns considerable improved real estate in Wheeling, including his modern home on Hilltop, overlooking the Pike District, where he has a modern country home. On September 14, 1914, at Ashtabula, Ohio, he mar- ried Miss Sarah Thomas, daughter of Richard and Elizabeth Thomas, residents of Wheeling, where her father is foreman of the La Belle Mill of the American Sheet & Tin Plate Company. Mr. and Mrs. Moss have four children: Joel Kenneth, born October 13, 1915; Jerome Leo, born February 15, 1918; Cecil Reich, born August 23, 1919; and Jay Eea, born on Mr. Moss' birthday, January 19, 1922.

EDWARD SAMUEL BIPPUS, M. D., has been engaged in his steadily broadening service aa a physician and surgeon for the past fifteen years. Doctor Bippus is also a member of the city council.

He was horn across the river at Bellaire, Ohio, November 26, 1884, son of Christian Bippus, who was born in Strass- burg, Germany, in 1826, and at the age of seventeen came to the United States and settled at Bellaire. He was a stationary engineer by trade, and several of his sona have followed the same oceupation. A republican in polities, he was twelve years a valuable member of the school board of Bellaire and was closely identified in membership with the Presbyterian Church. He was affiliated with the Ma- sonie fraternity and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Christian Bippus died at Bellaire in 1902. He married Sophia Fauple, who was born in Essen, Germany, in 1838, and is still living, at the age of eighty-three, in Bellaire. She came to this country with her parents at the age of thirteen and was reared and educated in Cumberland, Mary- land. The children of Christian Bippus and wife are: Catherine, wife of Frank Rielley, a retired lumber dealer at St. Paul, Minnesota; William, president of the Joyce Cridland Company at Dayton, Ohio; George and Jesse T., stationary engineers, the former at MeMechen, Weat Vir-

HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA

ginia, and the latter of Bellaire; Harry T. is also a stationary engineer at Bellaire; Howard is proprietor of the Bryan Bippus Boiler Works at Bellaire; and Edward Samuel is tho seventh aud the youngest, and the only one of the children to take up a professional career.

He acquired a publie school education in his native city, attended high school there, completed the work of the sophomore year in Franklin College at Franklin, Ohio, and in 1902 graduated in the pharmacy course from Scio College. Without making use to any important extent of his pro- tession as a pharmacist Doctor Bippus soon afterward en- tered the Ohio Medical College, which he attended two years, and in 1906 received his M. D. degree from the Mary- land Medieal College at Baltimore. He is a member of the Phi Chi college fraternity.

On graduating in 1906 Doetor Bippus located at Wheel- ing, and has since been engaged in general practice. 11is offices and home are at 77 Sixteenth Street. He is a mem- ber of the County, State and American Medical associa- tions. He has been a member of the Wheeling City Council for two years. He is a republican, is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church, and is a member of Bellaire Lodge No. 267, F. and A. M., West Virginia Consistory No. 1 of the Scottish Rite at Wheeling, and Osiris Temple of the Mystic Shrine. He also belongs to Wheeling Lodge No. . 28, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 2, Part 7

Author: Publication date: Publisher: Number of Pages:

Author:
Publication date:
Publisher:
Number of Pages: