History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 2, Part 95

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W. B. Taylor has a notable record both as a minister and as a business man. He first became identified with this section of West Virginia as one of the officials of Bethany College. Mr. Taylor was born in Mason County, Kentucky, March 28, 1865. His father, George M. Taylor, was a building contractor, a native of Bracken County, Kentucky, and about 1870 returned to that county as his home. W. B. Taylor was reared in Bracken County, at- tended school there, finished his literary education in Transylvania University at Lexington, and did post grad- uate work in the University of Chicago. For five years of his early life he taught school in Bracken County, was also superintendent of his father's farm, and had proved his business judgment and energy long before finishing his education. He did seven years' work in six at the uni- versity. While a student he began preaching as a minister of the Christian Church. For seven years was pastor of a North Side church in Chicago and for two years was general superintendent of church work in that city. Mr. Taylor for three years was pastor of a church at Ionia, Michigan, and while there began dealing in and develop- ing Michigan lands, buying up a large tract of "cut-over" land and promoting a settlement of Danes.

Rev. Mr. Taylor came to Bethany College as its vice president in 1905. For eleven years he remained active in the business administration as teacher of philosophy and sacred literature. For five years he was pastor of the Christian Church at Bethany, and for eight years past has been pastor of the West Liberty congregation. Mr. Taylor covered a large area in promoting the interests of Bethany College.

He has always been interested in politics, particularly the cause of good government and social welfare. He was a participant in an interesting triangular fight for the republican nomination for Congress in 1920. While in Chi- cago he worked with other forces for good government in driving the gray wolves out of the City Council. He was on the executive board of his church while in Illinois, and in Michigan was president of the Missionary Society. Mr. Taylor is treasurer of the Kiwanis Club of Wellsburg, was chairman of the Brooke County Chapter of the Red Cross, and during the war was chairman of the County Council of Defense and perfected an efficient organization of the entire county, so that every quota was more than filled.

In Cynthiana, Kentucky, in 1895, Mr. Taylor married Miss Ammie Jean Eales, of Cynthiana. They are the par- ents of seven children: Robert Graham Taylor, assistant cashier of his father's bank; Joy, a Y. W. C. A. and so- cial service worker at Miami, Florida; Henry M., a student in the University of West Virginia; Ammie Jean and Gladys, students in Bethany College; and William B., Jr., and Eloise.

JAMES WILLIAM ENGLE, D. D. For almost thirty years the West Virginia Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church has recognized in Doctor Engle one of the ablest and most devoted ministers, a man of exalted character who has not only represented his church but has made his life an expression of the essential meaning of Christian service.

A native of West Virginia, James William Engle was born in Barbour County, December 19, 1865, youngest of the nine children of William and Tabitha (Criss) Engle. His father was born in Pendleton County, son of Solomon Engle who was of English lineage. His mother was born in Barbour County, daughter of Isaac Criss. Doctor Engle had an example to direct his choice of a profession in both his father and grandfather who were local Methodist preach- ers. His father was also a carpenter by trade and lived on a farm.

When James William Engle was seven years of age his parents removed to Gilmer county, where he grew to man- hood on a farm, attended rural schools, and was further

educated in the West Virginia Academy at Buckhannc West Virginia, and the Ohio Wesleyan University. At t age of eighteen he began teaching and for five or six yea alternated between teaching and attending school. Gro City College conferred upon him the degree of Doctor Divinity in 1911.

Doctor Engle was converted and became a member of tl Methodist Episcopal Church at the age of nineteen, ar at the age of twenty-seven he began preaching. After tv years of supply work he joined the West Virginia Confe ence in 1894, and since then has been pastor of church at the following places in the order named: Weston Ct Beverly, Ravenswood, McMecken, Parkersburg, Terra Alt: Grafton, Huntington and Clarksburg. Between the pa torates of Grafton and Huntington, he was District Supe intendent of the Charleston District for three years. Doct Engle is now engrossed in his congenial and importar responsibilities as pastor of the First Methodist Episcopa Church of Clarksburg.

Besides the service represented in the pastorate and th district superintendency several other honors commensurat with his abilities have been conferred upon him. He is member and president of the Publishing Committee of th Pittsburgh Christian Advocate, is a member of the hoar of the Epworth League representing the Fourth Genera Conference District of the Methodist Episcopal Church, i a trustee of West Virginia Wesleyan College, and truste and president of the West Virginia Anti-Saloon League He was a delegate to the General Conference of the churel in 1920. Doctor Engle is a republican, and fraternally i a Knight Templar Mason and Shriner.

October 15, 1895, Doctor Engle married Miss Dora B McCray who was horn and reared in West Virginia and was a successful teacher before her marriage. Her par- ents, now deceased, were Evan David and Martha Jane (Bartlett) McCray, the former was born and reared in Lewis County, West Virginia, and the latter was a native of Charlottesville, Virginia, and as a child came to Upshur County, West Virginia, with her parents. Her father, Eleazer Bartlett, was a prominent farmer and citizen of Upshur County, and served as a Confederate soldier.

Evan McCray was a son of Robert and Margaret (Ben- nett) McCray. Margaret Bennett was a daughter of Wil- liam Bennett, who was a son of Joseph Bennett, a native of New Jersey, and son of an Englishman who came from London to this country as a soldier under General Brad- dock in the French and the Indian war. After the con- clusion of his military service he settled in what is now Pendleton County, West Virginia. William Bennett was born in Pendleton County, after his marriage moved to Lewis County, his wife being Rebecca McCally, daughter of James McCally who was a captain of British Marines, but resigned in order to join the colonists in their struggle for independence. One of the oldest and most prominent families in the annals of West Virginia is the Bennett.

Doctor and Mrs. Engle have one son, James Paul, who is now eighteen years of age and is a student in West Virginia Wesleyan College.

JAMES SERAPHIN RODNEY. A resident of Clarksburg since 1903, James Seraphin Rodney has made a progressive record as a business man, and his working interests through- out this period have been in the business of mining ma- chinery and general contractors' supplies. He is active in civic affairs as well as in business circles.

Mr. Rodney was born at New Castle, Delaware, June 11, 1880, son of John H. and Annie (Reeves) Rodney. His mother who is still living was born in South Carolina and is descended from a signer of the Declaration of Independ- ence, George Read. John H. Rodney, now deceased, was a lawyer by profession, a native of Delaware, and son of Hon. George B. Rodney who not only gained distinction as a lawyer, but at one time represented Delaware in Con- gress. This branch of the Rodney family is of English ancestry, and one of them was Ceasar Rodney who was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.

James S. Rodney was reared at New Castle, was educated in private and public achools, and from the age of eighteen

S. GEORGE

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up the tasks and responsibilities of life on his own rees. While both his father and grandfather were wars, he chose a business carcer. Ile followed various of employment until 1903, and on coming to Clarks- u he entered the service of the West Virginia Minc Sup- y'ompany, then managed by D. R. Potter, its founder. lequently Mr. Rodney for about five years was on the mas a traveling salesman for this company. In 1916 ad O. W. Robinson bought the business, and it is one e largest concerns of the kind in the state dealing in incry and mill, mine and contractors' supplies.

1. Rodney is a Knight Templar Mason and Shriner, :lk, a member of the Clarksburg Rotary Club, is a nerat in politics and a member of the Episcopal Church. ddition to his business he is now giving mnuch time to sluties as a member of the city council, an office to mi he was elected in 1921.

I 1906 Mr. Rodney married Miss Louise Everett, daugh- rf Captain William Everett of the United States Army. we have two children, Louise E. and Emily Rodney.

Er F. ASH. The young men who volunteered for serv- the World's war returned to their own land to find a tions greatly changed. Industrial affairs and economic ators, as always in the wake of a great international cata- re, were unsettled in a degree that made it a difficult oem for the returned soldiers to place themselves in e cheme of things, and, indeed, such conditions prevail great degree at the present time. Among those who tried after seeing much active service was Roy F. Ash. it once recognized that the man with special ability vu have the better chance in readjusting himself, and achingly trained himself through special study for the e ssurance business, with the result that he ia at present mnber of the successful insurance firm of Ash & Lynch, (ırksburg.

M Ash was born on a farm in Doddridge County, West rmia, November 15, 1895, but was only two years old e his parents removed to Harrison County, where he Is eared. He is a son of Harvey H. and Ruth Elizabeth g:on) Ash, both of whom were born in Doddridge Coun- . His paternal grandparents were Silas and Mary J. "rerwood) Ash, and they, too, were born in Doddridge uy, where the Ash family has long been numbered )og the oldest and most highly respected people. The stif the Ash family to settle in Doddridge County was Im Ash, the great-great-grandfather of Roy F. Ash, who m from North Carolina to old Virginia and then to what LV West Virginia. He and a brother, William Ash, nborn in England, whence they came to America and til in North Carolina. From that colony they enlisted Itriot soldiers in the Colonial army for service during evolutionary war, in which struggle for independence illm Ash was killed. Silas Ash, the grandfather of y'., served with gallantry in the Union army during the ar etween the states, and at the close of hostilities re- lind in the United States regular army for the cam- igs against the hostile Indians on the western plains. ft leaving the army he engaged in the oil business and sich at Clarksburg, where his death occurred.

R F. Ash is one of three sons, his brothers being Noah rtår and Russell H., the former older and the latter four ar younger than he. There was a sister who died in fay. Roy F. Ash was reared on the home farm to the ;e 2 fifteen years, attending the rural schools, and then on to Clarksburg, where he obtained a high-school educa- on. He then entered the West Virginia University, at or ntown, which he left in his junior year to volunteer t' United States Army when this country became in- lw in the World's war. He was accepted and sent to ort Benjamin Harrison, at Indianapolis, to enter the Of- er Training School, and later, upon examination, was missioned a second lieutenant in the regular army and nt.› Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, to the Sixtieth Infantry. ite he was transferred to Camp Greene, South Carolina, Id lere was appointed aide on the staff of General Craw- rd Sixth Infantry Brigade, Third Division, and as such entoverseas in April, 1918. In France he was promoted Vol. II-88

to a first lieutenancy and subsequently returned to tho Sixtieth Infantry Regiment and served until the signing of the armistice. Later he was with the Army of Occupa- tion until June, 1919, when he was sent back to the United States. At Washington, D. C., he received his honorable discharge, September 5, 1919. lie is a member of the American Legion and in 1921 served as post commander at Clarksburg.

Upon his return to the United States, and after receiv- ing his honorable discharge, Mr. Ash attended the Carnegio Institute at Pittsburgh, to prepare himself, in a three-month course, for the life insurance business. At the end of that time he came to Clarksburg and has sinco been a member of the firm of Ash & Lynch, representing the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, with offices in the Goff Building. Ile is a thirty-second degree Mason of tho Scott- ish Rite, a Noble of the Mystic Shrine and an Elk. Ilis religious connection is with the Christian Church. MIr. Ash is unmarried.

DIEGO DELFINO, M. D. An especially varied and interest- ing professional career has been that of this representative physician and surgeon of Fairmont, Marion County. Doctor Delfino was born at Villa San Giovanni, Province of Reg gio, Calabria, Italy, on the 6th of May, 1875, and is a son of Joba Vincente and Maria Antonia (Filocano) Delfino, the former of whom was but thirty three years of age at the time of his death and the latter lost her life in the Italian earthquake of 1908. As a boy Doctor Delfino at- tended the schools of his native town, and after proper education along academic lines he entered Messina Uni- versity, in the medical department of which excellent Italian institution he completed the full course and was graduated in 1905, after having been a student in this university for six years. He initiated practice in his native town, but in the latter part of 1907 he took the post of ship physician and surgeon on a trans-Atlantic passenger steamship plying between Naples and New York City. In 1908 he retired from this position and, after passing a successful examina- tion before the Vermont State Board of Medical Registra- tion, he established himself in practice at Burre, that state. He became a member of the local medical society and also of the American Medical Association at the time of his residence in Barre. Following the disastrous Italian earth- quakes of 1908, the Doctor made a visit to his native land, and upon returning to the United States he engaged in practice at Canton, Ohio. Later he established himself in practice at Columbus, the capital city of that state, where he remained until 1919, when he camo to Fairmont, West Virginia, where he has built up a substantial practice and where he has gained secure civic and professional prestige. While a resident of Columbus, in 1918, the governor of Ohio sent Doctor Delfino on a mission to Italy, in con- nection with World war issues, and he spent several months in Europe.

In 1912 was solemnized the marriage of Doctor Delfino to Miss Minnie Richner, of Canton, Ohio, and they have three children: Mary Ellen, John Vincent, and Cosimo.

SAMUEL GEORGE. For half a century the late Samuel George was perhaps the central figure in point of extent of enterprise in the commercial life of the historic old town of Wellsburg. He was a manufacturer, banker, merchant, and was serving in the State Senate when he died.

Wellsburg's most notable industries are perhaps the S. George Paper Company and the George-Sherrard Paper Company, both of which derived their original impulse from the late Mr. George. About 1873 he and two other ag- sociates converted an old cotton mill into a paper mill for the manufacture of paper bags. With various changes this business was continued until 1892, when the S. George Company was incorporated. The chief outpat in former years was paper for flour bags, and about 1882 the line was broadened to shipping bags of different kinds, and the output now is five times what it was a few years ago. The president of the S. George Company is George Bowers.

The George-Sherrard Company was incorporated in 1906 and has a plant about double the capacity of the older

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institution. The plant represents an investment of about four hundred thousand dollars, has modern equipment, and produces a similar line of paper products, including flour bags, cement plaster and lime bags. Both plants use simi- lar material. The paper fabric for such bags is re-enforced hy manila thread, and about 3,000 tons of this material is required annually in the manufacture. Much of it is secured from worn out rope and about twenty-five per cent imported direct. These paper companies used natural gas as fuel for about a quarter of a century, but the fuel is now coal, mined in the near vicinity of Wellsburg. The S. George Company employs about sixty men, and the George-Sherrard Paper Company from 90 to 100.

The late Samuel George was born on a farm in Brooke County in 1827, his parents having been substantial farm- ing people and early settlers of Brooke County. Samuel George had only limited school advantages of his time, but possessed a natural intelligence, an industry and self reliance that made him a notable character in his environ- ment. When he was about sixteen years of age he engaged in the Ohio River flatboat trade, making a number of trips south to New Orleans and transporting commodities to the southern market and returning with loads of sugar and other supplies. Mr. George was a resident and active busi- ness man of Wellsburg from 1852. He was identified with the pork packing industry in the later years of that in- dustry. He was a wholesale grocery merchant during the Civil war, and at one time he was the chief wool buyer for all this section. Prior to engaging in the business of paper manufacture he opened a private bank known as the Wells- burg Bank or S. George Bank, and when it was reorganized in 1903 and incorporated as the Wellsburg Bank & Trust Company he was elected its first president. He was chosen member of the State Senate in 1900, and was a member of the Senate when he died on August 6, 1903, at the age of seventy-six. Samuel George also built and operated the electric railway at Wellsburg, and he employed his power and influence as a financier in many ways for the sub- stantial development and progress of the community. He was a very active member of the Presbyterian Church.

His second wife was Eliza Kimberland, of Brooke Coun- ty. She was the mother of seven daughters and two sons. Of these five daughters and the two sons are still living. The sons are Samuel George, Jr., president of the Wells- burg Bank & Trust Company and also general manager of the George-Sherrard Paper Company. The other son is T. H. George, secretary and treasurer of the S. George Com- pany.

BENJAMIN H. POWERS, laundry owner and operator, has through successive changes developed the largest business of this kind in Huntington. He is one of the younger busi- ness men of the city, and before taking up the laundry industry had an extensive training and experience with the Huntington branch of Armour & Company.

Mr. Powers was born in Wayne County, West Virginia, December 6, 1888. His father, Harvey S. Powers, was born in Scott County, Kentucky, in 1856, was reared there, and as a young man moved to the southern part of West Virginia, where he married and during his active career engaged in farming and the business of cattle buyer. Soon after his marriage he moved to Wayne County and in 1898 to Cabell County. He retired from the farm in 1916, and lived in Huntington until his death in January, 1918. He was a republican and an active member of the Methodist Church. His wife, America Watts, was born in West Vir- ginia in 1860, and is living at Huntington. Their children were: Era, wife of George H. Gibson, in the laundry busi- ness at Huntington; Ira, in the real estate business at Huntington; Utoka, who died in Wayne County in 1909, at the age of twenty-four, wife of George Chatterton, a farmer in that county; Benjamin H .; Walker, in the laundry busi- ness at Huntington; Ada, wife of Perley E. Beckner, who has extensive farming interests near Beldin, Nebraska; Nettie, wife of Harry Leap, a dairy farmer near Hunting- ton; and Nannie, wife of Floyd Crouse, a druggist at Hunt- ington.

Benjamin H. Powers during his boyhood attended the

rural schools of Wayne and Cabell counties. He spent yeare as a student in Marshall College at Huntington, left college in 1906. During the next four years be employed as houseman in the local plant of Armou Company, and then for five years was salesman for corporation.

Mr. Powers entered the laundry business in 1915, w he established the Model Laundry at Twentieth Street Third Avenue. He continued this five years. In 1919 bought the Tri-State Laundry at Sixteenth Street and Teh Avenue, and changed it to the Powers Brothers Laun his brother Ira being his partner until 1920, when Benja acquired the sole ownership. In 1921 he changed the n of the old Tri-State Laundry to the Peerless Laundry, in that year he sold the Model Laundry and bought Ideal Laundry on Thirteenth Street, between Second Third avenues and changed the name of this to the Pov Brothers Laundry. He therefore is in active charge of operations of two lanndry establishments, and in connec with the Peerless he established and operates the Hunt, ton Wet Wash Laundry. He has therefore developed facilities sufficient to handle a large part of the laun? business originating in Huntington and surrounding c; munities,

Mr. Powers is also a stockholder of the National Rute Company of Pottstown, Pennsylvania, and in the Du. burg Automobile and Motors Company of Indianapolis in the Jay Pepsatone Company of Huntington. He ju republican, a member of the United Brethren Church, is affiliated with Reese Camp No. 66, Woodmen of World, Huntington Lodge No. 33, Knights of Pythias, the Huntington Chamber of Commerce. As a succes: young business man he has acquired considerable real es in Huntington, including his home in the restricted sec of High Lawn on Latoole Avenue.

In September, 1911, at Catlettsburg, Kentucky, Powers married Miss Lena Bevan, daughter of Miles M ... Viroka (Johnson) Bevan, the latter a resident of 2. Fifth Avenue in Huntington. The father, who died Huntington, February 8, 1921, was at that time dep. sheriff of Cabell County. Mrs. Powers had a good edt tion, being a graduate of the Huntington High School ; also attended the West Virginia Business College Huntington.

LEON SHACKELFORD. The various branches of busil life give an opportunity to certain individuals to exp: their abilities in a certain and practical manner, and directly afford channels along which the development of community may flow in a natural manner. To no one ca or person is the present prosperity of Huntington due, to the combination of all taken as a whole. The cou seat of Cabell County is known as the home of some Ia and important industries and interests, which have b gradually developed, sometimes from small beginnings, : are solidly founded upon the bed rock of honorable purp! and upright dealing. One of these thoroughly relia houses is that operating as the Huntington Drug Compa the leading wholesale drug company between Cincinn Ohio, and Wheeling, West Virginia, the treasurer of wh is Leon Shackelford.

Mr. Shackelford was born November 18, 1892, at Hu ington, West Virginia, a son of John and Blanche (Wood Shackelford. His father was born December 12, 1859, Charlottesville, Virginia, and at the age of fourteen ye came to West Virginia with a railroad construction ga as a water boy, and thus assisted in building the Norf & Western Railway. Settling at Huntington during very early days of the city's history, he developed a gr business as a stone contractor and did the masonry work nearly every railroad station between Huntington & Parkersburg. Subsequently he engaged in mercantile p suits until 1901, when he became a merchandise broker alt continued in that line until his death, while on a visit Battle Creek, Michigan, March 29, 1921. He was a rep lican in politics. A very devout Christian, he was an act member and generous supporter of the Fifth Avenue Bi tist Church of Huntington. Fraternally he was affiliati

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ith Huntington Lodge No. 53, A. F. and A. M .; Hunting- on Chapter No. 6, R. A. M., and Huntington Commandery To. 9, K. T., in all of which he had numerous friends. Mr. hackelford married Miss Blanche Woody, who was born Tovember 15, 1865, in West Virginia. She survives her usband and is a resident of lIuntington. They were the arents of two children: Leon, of this notice; and John, r., who died at the age of three years.

Leon Shackelford attended the publie schools of Hunt- ngton and then entered Marshall College, from which he as graduated as a member of the class of 1910. At that me he secured employment as collection clerk with the first National Bank of Huntingtou, and through industry, delity aad ability worked his way up to the post of first eller. He resigned from that position in 1917 to accept hat of treasurer of the Huntington Drug Company, an ffice which he has since occupied and in which he has been irgely instrumental in securing the prosperity that the usiness has enjoyed. This, the leading wholesale drug isiness in the territory between Wheeling, West Virginia, ad Cincinnati, Ohio, is incorporated under the laws of the tate of West Virginia, its officers being W. S. Vinson, resident; W. C. Price, vice president; Leon Shackelford, easurer; and James Murphy, secretary. The jobbing puse and offices of the concern are situated at the corner Seventh Avenue and Seventh Street.

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History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 2, Part 95

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