History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 2, Part 73

Author:
Publication date:
Publisher:
Number of Pages:

USA > West Virginia > History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 2 > Part 73

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).

James Browning possessed some of his father's pionee spirit and also participated in the hunting expedition that were an essential part of the life of his time. Hi real ocenpation was that of a farmer, and he established his home in Preston County and is buried at Terra Alta where many of his relatives and members of his own fam ily are buried. His wife, Minnie Benard, had lived in th vicinity of Keyser, West Virginia. The children of this ok couple were Meshach, Notley, Isaac, J. Ferdinand, Rebecca who married John H. Feather, Mary, who is the wife o Smith Kelley, Susan, who became Mrs. Adam Parsons Minnie, who was married to Dr. M. Fichtner, Louise, Mrs Charles Jackson. All the daughters married Preston Count men, and many of their descendants are still in the county

Notley Browning, father of James D. Browning, wa born in Preston County in December, 1839. He grew np i a district yet untamed, and had much of his grandfather' disposition to hunt. He killed a great many bear and othe big game, and his hunting and trapping excursions were source of profit as well as a diversion from the other care of life. He farmed rather extensively, owned thousands o acres of land, and made many real estate deals. His in terests in politics was that of a republican voter. Meshac Browning, the pioneer, was of a family Catholic in fait but later generations sought membership in the Protestan church and Notley became a Methodist. The wife of Notle Browning was Susan C. Fichtner, whose father, Danie Fichtner, a physician, moved from Somerset County, Penr sylvania, to Preston County, West Virginia, and lived ou his life there. Notley Browning died February 14, 1917

C.O. Whitten

T-

219

HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA

en well on toward fourscore, while his widow passed away July, 1919. This couple had only two sons, James Daniel d B. Franklin, The latter is a farmer and merchant at rra Alta.

James D. Browning, who therefore represents the fourth neration in the history of Preston County, was born near anesville, September 19, 1866. He attended the country tools, had an increasing part in the labors of his father's ·m, and since reaching his majority his business has en farming and merchandising at Cranesville. Since iring from the office of sheriff he has resumed farming, d plans to make that the principal vocation of his re- ining years. He had been out of merchandising for a le when it was suggested that he enter the race for sheriff the county. It was a gratfying surprise that he secured nomination practically without effort, and in the fall 1916 was elected as the successor of Sheriff H. Foster rtman. His official term ineluded the war period, and re were some erimes due to strikes and labor unrest, : on the whole his term of four years was without notable ident and he showed himself a firm master of every gency. Mr. Browning was elected as a republican, and 3 been an active member of that party since he east his e for Harrison in 1888. He has represented the county a delegate to numerous local and state conventions, and the acquaintance of some of the state party leaders. . Browning is affiliated with the Independent Order of d Fellows and Knights of Pythias and his family are thodists.

In Preston County he married Miss Effie Van Meter, o was born near Cranesville, December 4, 1877, daughter Robert and Martha (Feather) Van Meter, her mother ng a daughter of James and Christina (Summers) ather. Robert Van Meter was an Evangelical minister, 1 was born in Mason County, West Virginia, while his 'e was born near Cranesville. Mrs. Browning, the only ld of her parents, was educated in the common schools. . and Mrs. Browning have four children : Nellie, Hareld, tley and Hugh Browning. Nellie is married, being the 'e of Forest Cuppett, of Cranesville.

CHARLES O. WHITTEN is proprietor and active head of : Whitten Paint Company of Charleston, the only ex- sive paint supply house in the capital city. This is a sperous business recently organized, but Mr. Whitten been in business as a painting contractor, handling the hest class work, for many years, and is one of the most cessful men in his line in the state.

Mr. Whitten was born in Monroe County, West Virginia, 1881, son of J. A. and Margaret (Campbell) Whitten, idents of Hinton, West Virginia. His father was also a ive of Monroe County, and represents an old Virginia nily. The original seat of the Whittens in old Virginia Botetourt County.

Charles O. Whitten acquired his carly education in the lie schools of Monroe County, and in that county learned trade as painter and also at Bluefield, West Virginia. has been working as a painter at Charleston at inter- s since 1901, and as a journeyman his experience has ered many states, particularly in the Southwest.

Soon after his return to West Virginia in 1916 Mr. Whit- entered business on his own account as a painting con- ctor. During the war with Germany he did much vernment work, the most important job being as boss nter on the great naval ordnance and armor plant at th Charleston.

The Whitten Paint Company of Charleston was organized Mr. Whitten and incorporated June 8, 1921, and he is etically the entire owner. The establishment is located 119 Court Street, and carries a complete stock of paiots, , varnishes, colors, painters' supplies and painters' ape- ties.

is the largest painting contractor in Charleston Mr. itten has handled many contracts involving thousands dollars. The work of his organization extends to many er towns and cities of the state. While a complete list his work would be too long, it will suffice to give a com- hensive idea of the style and class of the contracts he

handles by noting some of the contracts performed by him during 1921. These include the residences of John Malone, William Klinger, the Bonham residence on Quarrier Street, the Brawley, Doctor Davis, Hughes, Clyde Swinburn and other modern residences; a number of the large apartment houses, such as the Barkus apartments, the Cohen apart- ments, the Schwabe and May apartments, the Lipske twen- ty-four apartment house on Donnaly Street, the Shields apartment house on the south side, the Soloff Hotel and the store building of the Wagner Candy Company. Mr. Whitten is in every way an expert in the painting business and is a thoroughly able business man as well.

He married Miss Catharine Selby, of Charleston. They have one son, Charles O., Jr. Mr. Whitten is a member of Charleston Lodge No. 153, A. F. nod A. MI., a Knight of Pythias and a D. O. K. K. Ho is also a member of the Baptist Church of Charleston.

P. F. KING, present county elerk of Preston County, has an interesting career that, in the main, has been one of essential public service, first as a teacher and Intterly ns a public official. Not from liberal advantages bestowed upon him when a youth or by any specially favoring fortune, but out of his quiet determination and persistence Mir. King has demonstrated his worth and usefulness.

He represents one of the older families of West Virginia and was born near Aurora in Prestou County, March 16, 1884. His remote aneestor came to America from Eng. land several generations ago. It is said that he belonged to a family of wealth in England and had a fortune in his own right. It was for religious reasons that he left the old country, abandoning his fortune, and his American heirs have never made a determined effort to secure their share of legacies that might properly be theirs. The old ancestor located in Frederick County, Maryland.

It was in Frederick County, Maryland, that Mr. King's grandfather, Nathan J. King, was born, and he married there Mias Hale. He was a blacksmith by trade, also owned a farm, and lived for some years near Fellowsville in West Virginia and also at Stemple Ridge. He died at the home of his son, John W. King, and is buried in Carmel Cem- etery at Aurora. He died at the age of seventy five. His son, Francis, was a soldier in a West Virginia regiment and was killed in the battle of Antietam. Nathan J. King had the following children besides Francis: Christiann who married P. S. Fike, of Eglon, West Virginia; Daniel J., who was a blacksmith at Eglon; Joshua M., who lived for many years and died at Ogden Center, Michigan; Lydia A., who became the wife of J. N. Il. Woodring, n farmer near Aurora; Alice, whe married Phenis Miller and died in Pres- ton County; Luther, who has lived for several years in Michigan and is connected with an automobile factory; and John W.

John W. King, father of the county clerk, is still living on the King farm near Aurora where he has had his home for nearly forty years. He was born in Preston County in November, 1861, grew up on a farm, learned the black smith's trade under his father, and worked at the trade until almost forty years of age, since which time he has concen- trated his efforts upon the farm. He belongs to a republican family and has always acted with that party, though he had no ambitions for public service.

Page Franklin King lived during boyhood and early youth on the farm at Aurora. During that period of his life the chief encouragement held out to him was to make use of his physical strength, and beyond the common schooly there was no thought of a higher education. His labors seemed necessary as a means of sustaining himself, and the most available employment was in the lumber woods and about the sawmills. While the years were adding strength to his body, his mind had little nourishment from the knowl edge sealed up in text books. and his days were being apent in strong arm and strong back work at n small wage. He continued this routine until he attained his majority. It was then that he returned to school in the fifth grade, de- termined to make up for lost time. He had the native qualities of intelligence which when spurred and supple. mented by his great determination enabled him to finish the

220

HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA

term with record grades, and with this encouragement he pressed on to greater achievements. He attended the sum- mer normal school at Terra Alta and later completed a corre- spondence course. After successfully passing an examina- tion for a teacher's license he began teaching in rural dis- tricts, and altogether was a factor in educational affairs for twelve years, part of the time in grade schools and finished as principal of the Corinth schools.

Mr. King left the schoolroom when appointed deputy sheriff under Sheriff J. D. Browning. He served with him through his term of office and then became a candidate for clerk of the County Court. There were three candidates aspiring for the nomination, bnt Mr. King secured the right of way at the primaries, and at the following general elec- tion it seemed that the people of the county were almost unanimous with regard to his special qualifications and fit- ness. He defeated his competitor by a ratio of three to one, and a majority of almost 5,000, securing more votes than the normal vote of the entire county. Mr. King entered the office in January, 1921, as the successor of E. C. Everly. One improvement he is installing is the Russell system of indexing, known as the L. M. N. R. T. system, which will make the deed records one of the most complete found in any county clerk's office in the state.

On December 25, 1913, Mr. King married Miss Lesta Fries. She was born near Terra Alta, August 29, 1895, daughter of John and May Cramer Fries, farmers near Terra Alta. Her father grew up at his father's mill, was a millwright by trade, but in later years has devoted his time to the farm. Mrs. King has a sister, Mabel Fries, and a brother, Jesse Fries. Mr. and Mrs. King have a danghter, Bernice, born December 7, 1916.

Mr. King is affiliated with Preston Lodge No. 90, A. F. and A. M., the Scottish Rite and the Shrine, and is also a member of Brown Lodge No. 32, Knights of Pythias, and Kingwood Lodge No. 1515 of the Loyal Order of Moose. He and Mrs. King are members of the Methodist Church and Mrs. King is active in all church causes, including the Ladies' Aid Society.

SCOTT HARTER WILSON became a resident of Kingwood while he was in the railroad service, aud when he resigned his post as a conductor he established a drug business, and has since been active in merchandising and is one of the public spirited men of that prosperous community.

Mr. Wilson represents one of the old and prominent fami- lies of Preston County, some of its members being repre- sented on other pages of this publication. He was born in Portland District, October 28, 1877, son of Nathan and Sarah (Schaeffer) Wilson.

Scott Wilson grew up on the home farm, attended the common schools and accepted the duties of the farm until he was twenty. He then entered the service of the Virginia and Northern Railroad, and was with that company nine- teen years, serving through the ranks until he reached the position of conductor. For several years he had maintained his home at Kingwood, and when he left the railroad he established a new business, The Korner Drug Store, of which he is proprietor.

Mr. Wilson has never been active in politics, though he has always voted at local and general elections, and has exer- cised an independent choice though nominally a republican. He is a Scottish Rite Mason and Shriner, being a past master of Preston Lodge No. 90, F. and A. M., and has represented it in the Grand Lodge. He is past grand of his lodge of Odd Fellows, has been district deputy grand master, and is a member of the Encampment Degree of Odd Fellowship. He is a member of the Methodist Church and Mrs. Wilson is active in Home Mission work and in the Ladies' Aid Society.

In Preston County, June 8, 1904, Mr. Wilson married Eula Menefee, who was born in this county in April 1884, daughter of James and Jane (McMackin) Menefee. Her father was a soldier in the Civil war, and his civil life was spent as a farmer, his death occurring near Albright. There were six sons and six daughters in the Menefee family, and the survivors are: Mrs. Ollie Fenton, of Idaho; Frank,

of California; Mrs. Ella Smith, of Albright; Robert, Terra Alta; James Walker and Wesley, of Morgantowi Mrs. Wilson; Mrs. Anna Morgan, of Morgantown; ar Clint, Mrs. May Phillippet, and Mrs. Leila Waterbury, res dents of California. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson have two daug ters: Genevieve and Syreta Mae Wilson.

GAY E. WILSON is active head of the Kingwood Har ware Company. He has been a merchant in Preston Coun for a number of years and is a member of one of the o and prominent families of that section of the state. H father was Nathan A. Wilson, and a more extended reco of the family is published on other pages.

Gay Elbert Wilson was born in the Whetsell settleme of Preston County, five miles cast of Kingwood, April 2 1883. The common schools gave him his early advantage At the age of eighteen he left home and went west Springfield, Illinois, where he was employed as a merchant clerk. For five years he remained in the city which is t) shrine of Abraham Lincoln, and interested himself in better knowledge of the modest president, sitting in the o chair of the great lawyer and familiarizing himself wi: many local incidents of Lincoln's career. From Springfie Mr. Wilson returned to Preston County and established general store at the lumber camp at Caddell. He was business there eight years, until the camp was "eut out, when he closed his store and since then has been identific with the commercial life of Kingwood. Here he becan successor to the hardware firm of Martin & Company, ti business being known as the Kingwood Hardware Compan in which his brother, Lawrence S. Wilson, is his only partne This is the sole hardware concern in Kingwood and has a extensive retail business over the county.

Mr. Wilson comes of a democratic family and has ber similarly aligned in his political action. He is secretary - the Business Men's Association of Kingwood and at : times is ready to work for the welfare and progress of t. community. In the way of permanent improvements not ing makes a stronger appeal to him than good highway Practically all the permanent roads out of Kingwood ha been built since he moved to the town, and he has done } part in furthering that commendable work. During t World war he invested his funds liberally in Governme securities, helped in the sale of Liberty Loans among t laboring classes, and was an active member of the R Cross. Mr. Wilson is a trustee of the Kingwood Presb terian Church, for three years was superintendent of t Sunday school and is secretary of the Monroe Bible Clas He has been affiliated with the Masonic Order at Kingwor since 1911, being a member of Preston Lodge No. 90, A. and A. M., which he served as master in 1916, and is also member of Royal Arch Chapter No. 33, at Terra Alta, We Virginia Consistory No. I of the Scottish Rite at Wheelin and is a member of the Scottish Rite Guard of Perfection Morgantown. He belongs to the Odd Fellows and Knigh of Pythias Lodges at Kingwood.

In Preston County, February 20, 1908, Mr. Wilson ma ried Miss Rheua Copeman of Bruceton Mills. She was bo in the northern part of Preston County. Her father, Fr Copeman, was a native of Germany, came to the Unit States in 1871 to escape enforced military duty, and h devoted his active life to farming. His first wife was Miss Cale, who was the mother of Mrs. Wilson, born Jan ary 8, 1884; Isa, wife of Ross Spiker, of Preston Count; and Henry, a farmer near Brandonville. Fred Copem: married for his second wife another Miss Cale, and she w the mother of a daughter, Matha, now Mrs. Harry Orcu of Akron, Ohio. The third wife of Fred Copeman w Jennie Wolfe, and they have a son, Paul. Mrs. Wilson gre up on a farm near Bruceton and was educated in the schor of that locality. She and Mr. Wilson were married by Re Mr. Ramsey at Kingwood. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson had : infant daughter, Willard, who died before she was two yea of age.

BRUCE SPINDLER, a brother of Charles Spindler and mer ber of a pioneer family in Preston County, the family reco

26.7. Shepherd

221

HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA

eing a subject presented on other pages, is an active busi- ess man of Kingwood, where he is the only licensed under- ker and also conducts a furniture business.

Mr. Spindler was born in Grant District, Preston County, ecember 4, 1873, one of the family of five sons and tive aughters of Andrew and Nancy ( llaines) Spindler and was le youngest of the children to grow up. Ile lived until anhood on the home farm and began his career with a ommon school education. After leaving the farm Bruce pindler was in the livery business at Fairchance, Pennsyl- ania, a year, and then took up the work of the carpenter's 'ade, which he had learned from his father. He was a ourneyman carpenter and also did some minor contracting. In course of time his activities and inclinations lead him engage in the undertaking business at Kingwood, in february, 1914, and he has sinee devoted his whole time to e furniture and undertaking line.

Mr. Spindler inherits his polities from his father, is a publican and east his first presidential ballot for Major fcKinley in 1896, but in local affairs is somewhat inde- endent. He is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias, Inde- endent Order of Odd Fellows, Woodmen of the World, and a member of the Methodist Church.

July 22, 1914, near Chalk Hill, Pennsylvania, he married Iiss Margerie Wirshing. She is survived by a daughter, ettie Elmyra. On July 19, 1920, at Grafton, Mr. Spindler married Estelle Evick, daughter of Pendleton and Florence Lough) Evick of Franklin, West Virginia, where Mrs. pindler was born in August, 1896, being one of a family of ree sons and two daughters.

HIRAM FRANCIS SHEPHERD. The Motor Car Supply Com- any of Charleston, of which H. F. Shepherd is organizer nd president, is a wholesale eoneern exclusively, dealing in utomobile supplies, accessories, parts, garage machinery nd equipment. Its home is a modern five-story brick trueture at 908 Kanawha Street, the entire building being ccupied for salesroom and stock. Though the company as been in existence less than two years, its growth has rought it a magnitude that gives it favorable comparison rith many of the largest wholesale establishments of "harleston, a city in which are grouped some of the lead- ig wholesale interests of the state. This sueeess is an special tribute to the keen, alert and conservative manage- ment of its executive, who has exhibited business ability of he very first order.

Mr. Shepherd was born at Coffeen, Montgomery County, llinois, and as a boy he attended the local schools there. Te finished his education in Valparaiso University in Indi- na, and on leaving sehool went to Chicago. He entered usiness life as a bookkeeper, later becoming a credit man, nd remained in Chicago for ten years. As a eredit man e removed to Des Moines, Iowa, and while in that city ecame actively interested in the automobile business, a eld in which his experience has been continuous sinee bout 1909. Early in 1919 Mr. Shepherd came to Charles- on, and was associated with the Baldwin Supply Company ntil he organized the Motor Car Supply Company, which egan business in Charleston January 1, 1921.

Mr. Shepherd is a member of the Charleston Chamber f Commerce. the Kanawha Country Club, Lions Club and 3 a Knight Templar Mason and Shriner and a member of he First Presbyterian Church of Charleston. He married fiss Bessie A. Robertson, of Moberly, Missouri. Their No children are Robert F. and Naney Elizabeth.

HENRY ASA ALT. Among the highly popular and strongly fficient officials of Grant County is found Henry Asa Alt, f Petersburg, deputy sheriff, who is now serving as chief eputy under Sheriff Kimble. During a long and active areer Mr. Alt has been engaged in various business ven- ires, in which he has maintained a reputation for integrity nd capability, and at the present time is the owner of a ood farm, although he does not apply himself to its opera- on personally, his official duties requiring all of his atten- on.

Mr. Alt was born in Pendleton County, West Virginia, in [ill Run Distriet, August 27, 1868, and his life was passed

in his native commumty until he was twenty five years of uge, his education coming from the country, where he at tended the old-fashioned log cabin school, although the puncheon bench with pegs for legs was absent. His father had been a schoolboy in the same locality when the primitive schoolhouse with its crude equipment was the only means of public education to be secured. Mr. Alt's father way A:her Alt, likewise a native of Pendleton County, and throughout his life a farmer. He died when but thirty seven years of age, about 176. He was a Union man, In ing a member of the Home Guards and not a participant in the war between the states, save for n time nº n civilian prisoner of the Confederate forres. Asher Alt married Emily Hedrick, a daughter of Jacob Hedrick, who was a native of Pendleton County, but a son of German parent -. Mrs. Alt was born in Pendleton County and died when her son, llenry A., was but four years old. There were four children in the family : Rebecen J., who died as Mrs. A S. Landis, in Grant County ; Henry Asa, of this review ; Chris tina, who married George W. Sites and resides in Grant County ; and Emily S., who is unmarried und a resident of Pendleton County.

The father of Asher Alt and grandfather of Henry Asa Alt was Jacob Alt, who came out of old Virginia or from Pennsylvania and was of German stock. He was a life- long agriculturist and died in Pendleton County, where he lies buried in the Mill Run District near his old home. lfe married Mary Goodnight, and they became the parents of six children: HIannah, who married George W. Borror ; Michael, who passed his life as a farmer and died in Pendie- ton County; Isaac, who spent his life on the farm in that county; Asher, the father of Henry Asa; Christina, who married Henry Hedrick and died in Pendleton County; Letitia, who became Mrs. John W. Hedrick and died in Grant County, where she had passed her married life.

After the death of his father Henry Asa Alt went to live at the home of aa uncle, in the rural districts of Pendleton County, and there grew to man's estate. He was given an ordinary public school education in the country, and ns n youth began teaching school, a vocation which he followed for fifteen years, in the meantime advancing his own educa tion by attendance at Shenandoah Normal College, Basic City, Virginia. During the summer months, when school did not keep, he engaged in farming. His last school was taught at Thorn Run, and when he gave up the educational profession he engaged in the milling business at Williams- port, Grant County, where he purchased a mill property from J. W. McDonald. For five years he conducted this enterprise, making flour and doing custom work, but even. tually sold this business and purchased a half-interest in the flouring mill at Petersburg. He was first associated with Abel A. Parks, and later with Mr. Park's son, John A. Parks. When he sold his interest to the latter he in vested his means in a farm near Lahmanville, which he con- ducted for some years himself, and of which he is still the owner. This is a successful grain and stock raising propo sition and is still owned by Mr. Alt, who, however has not engaged personally in farming since coming to Petersburg.

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 73

Author: Publication date: Publisher: Number of Pages:

Author:
Publication date:
Publisher:
Number of Pages: