History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 2, Part 84

Author:
Publication date:
Publisher:
Number of Pages:

USA > West Virginia > History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 2 > Part 84

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).

In 1896 Mr. Cunningham was elected sheriff of Marion County, and this office he held four years. He is a charter member and was the first president of the West Virginia Funeral Directors Association; he is a loyal and liberal member of the Fairmont Chamber of Commerce; he is a Knight Templar and Mystic Shrine Mason, and he is af- filiated also with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias.

December 17, 1885, recorded the marriage of Mr. Cun- ningham and Anna Violet Mayers, who was born near the

City of Fairmont and who is a daughter of George W. and Mary E. (Fleming) Mayers, the former of whom d: in 1900, at the age of sixty-nine years, and the latter whom died in May, 1902, aged sixty-four years, she havi been a daughter of Alfred Fleming, a member of one the old and influential families of Marion County. I and Mrs. Cunningham have two children, Lawrence M. a. Genevieve.

Lawrence M. Cunningham was born at Fairmont on 1 12th of July, 1887, and from 1907 until 1913 he was student in Washington and Jefferson College, he havi been a member of the football team each year while tending both the preparatory and collegeate departments this institution. In 1913 he became somewhat interest in traction matters in consequence of his father's inter in the Traction Company of Fairmont, and so contini until the nation became involved in the World war. Aug 24, 1917, he entered the Officers Training Camp at F. Benjamin Harrison, Indianapolis, Indiana, where, on 1 28th of the following November, he was commission second lieutenant. On the 14th of December he report to Camp Sherman, Ohio, and was assigned to Battery of the Three Hundred and Twenty-fourth Heavy Fi. Artillery. He was later transferred to the Headquart Company of the regimental staff. June 3, 1918, with command, he left Camp Sherman and proceeded to Cai Mills, Long Island. A week later, on the English tra port Leicestershire, he sailed for France. Fourteen da later he landed at La Havre, and with a detachment the command went into camp with the 17th French Fi Artillery Corps at Camp Coquetdan, near Rennes. members of Lieutenant Cunningham's command there ceived instruction in the French school of military instr tion and were equipped with French 155 M. M. guns. Aug 1st they proceeded to the Verdun front, and thereafter Li teuant Cunningham was in active service at the front w the Twenty-sixth, Twenty-ninth, Thirty-second, Thir seventh, Eighty-ninth and Ninety-first Divisions, his cc mission as first lieutenant having been received Noveml 4, 1918. He served on several of the French fronts, a he was at Velogan, on the River Meuse, when the armist was signed. With the Thirty-second Division he then p ceeded to Germany, and on December 15, 1918, was Breitneau, Germany, with the advance Army of Occupati There he remained until April 22, 1919, when he returned Brest, France. Shortly afterward he sailed for Ameri and at Camp Mills, New York, he was placed in charge troop trains between that camp and Camp Meade. At latter camp he received his honorable discharge June 1919, his discharge papers showing that he had served France, England and Germany. After his retirement fr military service, Lieutenant Cunningham became associa with his father's business, he having completed a course the Renoard Training School for Embalmers, New Yo City, and being licensed as an embalmer in both New Y. State and West Virginia. He is commander of Heintzlem Post No. 17, American Legion, and the Veterans of Forei Wars. Lieutenant Cunningham's Masonic affiliations : with Fairmont Lodge No. 9, A. F. and A. M .; Ori Chapter No. 9, R. A. M .; Crusade Commandery No. Knights Templar; the Consistory of the Scottish Rite Wheeling, in which he has received the thirty-second degre Osiris Temple of the Mystic Shrine in the same city; a the Order of the Eastern Star. He is a member also of 1 Knights of Pythias and of the Phi Delta Theta colle fraternity.

DORSEY PLUMMER FITCH, M. D., is one of the able phy cians and surgeons of his native state and is engaged active general practice in the City of Fairmont, Mar. County. He was born at Morgantown, Monongalia Coun September 12, 1858, and is a son of Capt. Enoch Plumn Fitch and Louisa (Dorsey) Fitch. Captain Fitch was ht in Preston County, Virginia, (now West Virginia), and v a son of Arthur Fitch, who was a representative of a fam founded in New England in the Colonial period of our 1 tional history. Captain Fitch served as sheriff of Mon galia County, and was one of the first men in that cour

٠٠٠

253

HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA

tender his aid in defense of the Union when the Civil r was precipitated. He received commission aa captain d later became quartermaster, an office of which he was incumbent at the time of his death, May 31, 1864, ia nover County, Virginia. His wife long survived him and s a member of an old and honored family of Monongalia unty.

Doctor Fiteh was reared on his father's farm in Monon- lia County, and hia higher education along academic lines s obtained in the University of West Virginia. He there- ter studied medicine in the office of Drs. Hugh W. and ther S. Brock at Morgantown, and later attended leetures Jefferson Medical College in the City of Philadelphia. r four years thereafter he was associated in practice with former preceptors, the Doctors Broek, at Morgantown, d he then completed the full course in Jefferson Medical llege, in which he was graduated in 1885, with the degree Doctor of Medicine. He then engaged in practice at ostburg, Maryland, where he remained until 1888, aince ich year he has been one of the leading physicians and rgeons at Fairmont, West Virginia, his prestige in his ofession having been won by ability and faithful steward- ip. He has taken a post-graduate course on diseases of eye at Jefferson Medical College, and in bacteriology in Richmond Medical College, Richmond, Virginia. He is w one of the veteran and honored members of the Marion unty Medical Society, is a member also of the West Vir- nia State Medieal Society, and he is affiliated with the al Blue Lodge, Chapter and Commandery of the Masonic iternity, as well as with the lodge of the Benevolent and otective Order of Elks.

September 3, 1884, Doctor Fitch wedded Sallie Haymond, ughter of Marcus W. Haymond, of Fairmont, and she ssed to the life eternal in the year 1896. She was survived two children: George Carroll, who took a course in civil gineering at the University of West Virginia, is now a sident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and is associated with e Pittsburgh Coal Company; and Sallie Louise is the wife Everett C. Butler, who is engaged in the jewelery busi- ss in the City of Cleveland, Ohio. On the 2d of July, 1900, is solemnized the marriage of Doctor Fiteh and Blanche symond, a sister of his first wife.

FRANK REZIN AMOS, who since January, 1921, has been e capable prosecuting attorney of Marion County, is one the prominent young lawyers of Fairmont and is a native that city, representing two well known names among arion County's families.

His grandfather was Edgar W. Amoa, a native of Marion unty, a farmer and an extensive land owner who at one ne owned all the land now included in the site of the ning town of Baxter in that county. The father of Frank Amos was the late Elias S. Amos, whose life was largely voted to the cause of education. He was born in Paw w District of Marion County in 1852, attended the com- in schools and the Fairmont Normal School, and also a nmer school in Wetzel County. For over twenty years was one of the best known schoolmasters of Marion unty. In 1888 he removed to Fairmont, and for a number years continued teaching in the city schools and he also ved as county superintendent of schools. When he left teaching profession he was for several years city col- Itor and for ten years justice of the peace at Fairmont. laetically his entire mature life was devoted to public vice, either in the school room or in public office, and it is very soon after the close of his last term as justice of : peace that he died in 1915. He was a republican and a i'mber of the Baptist Church. Elias S. Amos married Foda Annis (Parker), who was born in Paw Paw District, ry a few miles from the birthplace of her husband. Her rents were Capt. William C. and Rebecca (Conaway) Park- Captain Parker was a native of Marion County, was an Ceer in the Union army during the Civil war, and was a E )stantial farmer and influential citizen. Both the Parker si Conaway families furnished soldiera to the Revolutionary Fr.

Frank R. Amos was born April 15, 1890, and until past l' majority was busily engaged in securing a liberal educa-

tion. He graduated from the Fairmont High School in 1908, from the Fairmont State Normal in 1909, and in 1912 re- ceived his LL. B. degree from West Virginia University. He was admitted to the bar that year, and has since been busy with his growing professional interests at Fairmont. Since July, 1913, he has been in practice with his brother Curtis E. under the firm name of Amos & Amos.

Mr. Amos was for four years chairman of the Republican County Exceutive Committee, and for the same length of time was a member of the Republican Congressional Commit- tee of the First District. lle was nominated for proseenting attorney in the republican primaries of 1920 and at the gen- eral election received approximately a majority of 1,500 votes. He entered upon the duties of his office in January, 1921.

Mr. Amos is a prominent fraternal man, being affiliated with Fairmont Lodge No. 9, F. and A. M., Fairmont Chapter No. 9, R. A. M., Fairmont Commandery No. 6, K. T., Osiris Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Wheeling, Fairmont Lodge No. 294, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Fairmont Lodge No. 12, Knights of Pythias, and Fairmont Lodge No. 9, Loyal Order of Moose. He is also a member of the Sigma Chi college fraternity, the Marion County Bar Association and the Baptist Church.

August 15, 1915, Mr. Amos married Katheryn Donham, a native of Fairmont, where she was a popular teacher in the city schools prior to her marriage. Her parents were H. L. and Ella (Harden) Donham. The Donhams came from Greene County, Pennsylvania, and the maternal grand- parenta of Mrs. Amos were Thomas and Cordelia (Barnea) Harden. Thomas Harden was a Union soldier in the Civil war. Mra. Amos is a member of the Methodist Church. She and Mr. Amos have one son, John Donham Amos, born November 2, 1918.

CALVIN D. CONAWAY, president of the Home Savings Bank of Fairmont, Marion County, former sheriff of the county and present member of the County Court, was born on the old family homestead in Fairmont District, this county, August 3, 1863, and is a son of Maj. James E. and Miranda (Ice) Conaway. On the same old homestead farm Major Conaway was born in the year 1831, and his death occurred in 1910. He was a gallant officer in the Confederate service in the Civil war, as major in the regiment commanded by Colonel Thompson. He was long a representative farmer and merchant in his native county, besides having been identified with the coal industry in this section of the state. He served three terms as justice of the peace, and was one of the honored and influential citizens of Marion County. On the same ancestral homestead was born his father, William Conaway, and the latter's father, John Conawny, was the pioneer representative of the family in this county, the land which he here obtained and which he reclaimed to produe- tiveness having continued in the possession of the family for four generations. John Conaway came to Marion County from Pulaski County, Virginia. He was a patriot soldier in the War of the Revolution, and his widow, Mrs. Rachel (Wilson) Conaway, drew a pension on account of his service in that war.

Mrs. Miranda (Ice) Conaway was born at Barrackville, Marion County, in 1834, and her death occurred in 1901. She was a daughter of Hon. William B. and Dollie (Straight) Iee, her father, a native of Barrackville, this county, having served as a member of the State Senate. William B. Ice was a son of Adam Ice, who was the first white child born west of the Allegheny Mountains in what is now Northern West Virginia, the family having become very early settlers in the Cheat River neighborhood.

Calvin D. Conaway was rcared on the ancestral homestead, which he now owns and on which he has resided almost con- tinuously. For twenty years he was engaged in stone con- tracting work, including the construction of foundations and the supplying of stone in railroad construction and main- tenance. He has recently retired from this business, includ- ing the operation of a large stone quarry. He has been president of the Home Savings Bank of Fairmont since 1917, and ainee 1916 has been president of the Farmers Mutual Fire Insurance Company of West Virginia, of which

254

HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA

he was one of the organizers, the company now having a membership of 9,000, with insurance in force to the amount of $12,000,000. Mr. Conaway is president also of the West Virginia Association of Mutual Fire Insurance Companies, with a membership of 18,000 and with $30,000,000 of insur- ance. He is vice president of the Monongahela Candy Com- pany and a stockholder in many other business concerns of Fairmont.

In 1912 Mr. Conaway was elected sheriff of his native county, in which office he served one term. In 1918 he was elected a member of the County Court, in which capacity he is giving characteristically loyal and effective service. He is a member of the Elks, Knights of Pythias, Woodmen of the World and the Loyal Order of Moose. His wife, whose maiden name was Clara Hunter, was born at Barrackville, Marion County, a daughter of Josephus Hunter, and a repre- sentative of one of the old and influential- families of the county. Mr. and Mrs. Conaway are the parents of two chil- dren, Olive Blanche, deceased, and Nannie M., who is the wife of Archie F. Sandy, a well known business man of Fairmont.

JAMES MCNEIL STEPHENSON, who died at Parkersburg nearly half a century ago, was one of the stalwart char- aeters of his age, and his constructive activities and the impress of his influence are part of the heritage of the pres- ent generation.

He was a son of Edward and Elizabeth (Dils) Stephenson, who were married in 1794, and in the early infancy of their son James moved to Parkersburg, in 1800. The family has therefore been represented in this city for considerably more than a century, and the descendants are numerous and many of them have been prominent. One of the sons of the pioneer couple, Edward, Jr., was a man of most ver- satile gifts and accomplishments, was a lawyer, teacher, preacher, writer, carpenter, but owing to wandering habits never lived long in any place. He traveled extensively by foot and on horseback throughout the West, South and East, and finally died in Mexico. He never married.

James McNeil Stephenson, first named above, was edu- eated for the law and achieved many marks of distinction in that profession. But his chief work was in the field of practical business and affairs. He became one of the largest land owners and tax payers in Wood and adjoining counties. It was due to his exertion more than to that of any other man that the northwestern branch of the Baltimore & Ohio Railway was built. He declined a nomination for Congress in order to enter the Ilouse of Delegates, where he could employ his influence to further the promotion of this rail- road. He was also regarded as the father of the North- western Turnpike, one of the great public undertakings of the day. A large degree of credit is due him for the con- struction of the James River and Kanawha Canal. For years he was president of the Parkersburg National Bank, and was also interested in the Northwestern Bank. A man of tremendous energy, he gave wholehearted support to whatever he undertook, and this largely accounts for his great success. While owning deep moral and religious senti- ments, he chose to distribute his gifts without prejudiee among the various denominations and worthy institutions, and he was equally independent of partisan ties in politics.

James McNeil Stephenson married Agnes Boreman, of the prominent West Virginia family of that name. Their six children were Kenner Boreman, Sarah Elizabeth, James Me- Neil, Isabella, Andrew Clark and Lucy Lazier.

James McNeil Stephenson, Jr., became a physician by profession. He was born in 1838 and died in 1906. He married Veronica Gale.

By marriage the Stephenson family is related to many of the family names that have been conspicuous in the life and affairs of West Virginia, including those of Bird, Tavenner, Newman, Botts, Johnson, Wade, Gale, Dorsey, Hutchinson, Boreman and others.

HARRY E. CALDABAUGH. A native of Wheeling, Harry E. Caldabaugh was educated as an engineer, followed that profession for a number of years, but is now prosperously established as a merchant, a wholesale and retail dealer

in paints and glass. Mr. Caldabaugh has a record of ser ice in the army at the time of the Spanish-American wa

He was born at Wheeling, April 28, 1879. His fathe Philip C. Caldabaugh, now living at Glendale, Marsha County, West Virginia, was born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Ge many, in 1844. Four years later, at the climax of th Revolutionary struggles in Germany, his parents, Charle F. and Laura M. (Kraft) Caldabaugh, left their nativ home in Hesse-Darmstadt and came to America, first se tling in Monroe County, Ohio, and later moving to Whee ing, where the latter died. Philip C. Caldabaugh was reare in Monroe County, and as a young man of nineteen er listed there in 1864, joining Company F of the One Hm dred Eighty-ninth Ohio Infantry. He served the last yea of the war and was with Sherman on the march to the se his regiment being part of the rear guard in this famor campaign. Philip Caldabaugh moved to Wheeling in 1866 was married in this city, and for many years followe' teaming. He is a republican, an active member of th Methodist Episcopal Church, and is affiliated with th Knights of the Mystic Chain and the Improved Order o Red Men. His wife was Margaret Heckler, who was bor in Hesse-Darmstadt in 1848, and died at Wheeling in 1889 She was the mother of the following children: Laura M living with her father; George W., connected with a whole sale hardware house at Los Angeles, California; Laura M unmarried and living with her father; Charles W., a mer chant at Wheeling; John C., a merchant at Glendale, Wes Virginia; Harry E., Lucy M., wife of William Thornburg a resident of Glendale aud an office employe of the Whee ing & Lake Erie Railroad; and Chester W., a Glendal merchant.

Harry E. Caldabaugh attended the public schools o Wheeling and spent three years in West Virginia Wesleya College at Buckhannon, pursuing a course in civil eng neering. From 1906 to 1908 he was employed in structure engineering work at Wheeling and Cincinnati. Then as civil engineer and as purchasing agent he was associate with the United States Engineers in river improvemen and other Federal projects in the Wheeling District. H was in the service of the Federal Government in this ca pacity for 91/2 years. In 1917 Mr. Caldabaugh establishe his present business, beginning in a small way as a deale in paints and glass, and has kept his business growin and prosperous until it is now one of the leading estat lishments of the kind in the Wheeling District. His stor and offiees are at 1058 Market Street.

Mr. Caldabaugh has always been willing to take a kindl and helpful interest in community affairs. He was fo eight years state commander of the State Boys Brigade a national organization. He is president of the Norther West Virginia Fish and Game Protective Association. H is a member of the Wheeling Chamber of Commerce an Kiwanis Club, is a republican, has served on the Officia Board of the Methodist Episcopal Church and as presiden of the Epworth League. In June, 1898, he enlisted i Company D of the Second West Virginia Infantry, as : bugler, being then nineteen years of age. He was wit his regiment at Camp Meade, Pennsylvania, and then a Greenville, South Carolina, until mustered out in April 1899.

In 1910, at Wheeling, Mr. Caldabaugh married Mis Mabel W. Rahr, daughter of David and Jennie ( Wallace Rahr, residents of Wheeling, where her father is employer in the Steel Rolling Mills. Mr. and Mrs. Caldabaugh hav four children: Harry R., born July 31, 1912; Jane E. born April 30, 1914; Phil D., born May 31, 1915; an John W., born August 31, 1918.

CHARLES H. SEABRIGHT is a prominent resident of Wheel ing, has been in business in that section of Greater Wheeling Benwood, since boyhood, his vehicle and implement estab lishment is located at Forty-second and Wood streets, and : deep interest in the welfare of the city and its people ha also brought him several positions of trust. He is a member of the Wheeling City Board of Education.

Mr. Seabright was born at Wheeling, October 1, 1863, 801 of Henry and Wilhelmina (Pappa) Seabright. His parent

H& Caldabaugh

255

HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA

sere both born in Germany, but were married after coming o Wheeling. Henry Seabright was a butcher by trade, and s a young man located at Wheeling and soon afterward pened a shop on Chapline Street, between Thirty-sixth and Thirty-seventh, in what was then the south end. He devel- ped a very prosperous business and continued it until his eath in 1874, when he was about fifty years of age. Hia idow survived him until 1885, and was about the same age Then she died. They were members of the Lutheran Church. After his death the widow operated a grocery store at the Id place of business for a short time. These parents reared bree children : Charles H .; Henry L., a contractor and manufacturer; and Minnie, wife of Elwood Wilson, a native f Wheeling and a mechanic now living at Los Angeles, 'alifornia.

Charles H. Scabright was eleven years of age when his ather died. and he assisted his mother in the store. Later he removed to a residence at Benwood, known as "The Old 'rovers Home," and there she resumed merchandising, open- ag a stock of groceries. In the intervals of his service for is mother Charles H. Seabright attended the public schools. .fter his mother's death he began dealing in buggies at enwood, starting in this line of business in 1886, and has een continuously engaged in the same line now for over hirty-five years. His business was first located at Benwood, ut when the old home was sold to the Sheet & Tube Com- any he removed to his present site, in 1903. Here the busi- ess has continued to grow and expand, and he carries an xtensive line of vehicles, agricultural implements, harness nd other supplies, chiefly for the farmers' trade.

At the age of twenty-four Mr. Seabright married Miss Catie Delbrugge, of Bellaire, Ohio, but a native of Wheel- 1g. They have a family of four children: Earl, a book- ceper; Bruce, in the automobile business at Wheeling; Vilbur, an electrician; and Clyde, associated with his rother Bruce. The family are members of the Trinity utheran Church.

Mr. Seabright has never been so closely tied to his busi- ess affairs that he neglected the call of public duty. He rved twice as a member of the city council, and since 1913 as been a member of the Wheeling Board of Education. le has participated in the general program of the board 's ctivities, and has cultivated as his special interests the mat- 'r of the new high school, the purchasing of the ground hich is now known as the public school athletic field, nd the building of the New Island School. He is a re- ublican. He is now serving as a member of Wheeling City ecreation Commission, other members being Mr. Gundling, oy Naylor, Ed Jefferson and Mrs. Harold Brennan. This ommission has charge of the playground and social centers f the city, and as chairman of the Physical Educational ommittee Mr. Albright had charge of the improvements at have made this field one of, if not the, best athletic elds in the state.

HERMANN BENTZ. Behind the large and impressive suc- 98 of the Cooey-Bentz Company, Incorporated, of Wheeling an interesting story based upon the thrift and enterprise the two original partners constituting the firm that pre- ded the corporation. Close application to their work and genius in understanding and mecting the demands of the ade have been responsible for the success of the company. his business. handling home furnishings and undertaking, as its main location at 3601-3603 Jacob Street, at least a ile from the main business center of Wheeling, and yet the ock carried and the annual volume of sales compare favor- bly with any of the more centrally located concerns. Both 10 proprietors are royal good fellows, substantial citizens, nd the present article is devoted chiefly to the career of [r. Bentz, another article being published concerning Mr. ooey.

Mr. Bentz was born in the south end of Wheeling, not far ·om his present business, on November 22, 1877, son of hristian and Mary (Lewis) Bentz. His father was a native f Germany, but came to America when a lad and for a umber of years was employed as a pnddler in the La Belle ron Works at Wheeling. He married in Wheeling, Mary ewis, who came of a prominent Brooke County family,

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 84

Author: Publication date: Publisher: Number of Pages:

Author:
Publication date:
Publisher:
Number of Pages: