History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 3, Part 109

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The pioneer log schoolhouse, with its primitive equipment and facilities, afforded Jacob McLean his early education, which was necessarily limited in scope, and he was an active exponent of farm enterprise in Barbour County at the incep- tion of the Civil war, but he was not called into military service. As a young man familiar with slavery, he had no prejudice against that institution, but in later years he has realized the injustice thereof and recognized that war be- tween the states was inevitable and the cause of abolition was just. After their marriage Mr. McLean and his young wife established their first home in a two-story log house on his father's old farm, the house having five rooms and being superior to most domiciles of the locality and period. A part of this ancient building is still standing, two miles distant from Belington. Mr. McLean remained on the old homestead and continued as one of the substantial farmers of Barbour County until advancing age justified his retire- ment, and he removed to Belington, where he has since main- tained his home and enjoyed the rewards of former years of earnest and worthy endeavor. He purchased the in- terests of his brothers and sisters and thus became the owner of a valuable farm property of 144 acres, upon which he made many improvements. He served as school trustee, lived at peace with his neighbors and never was personally involved in a law suit, though he had his share of service on petit and grand juries. His first presidential vote was cast in 1860, and he has continuously given his allegiance to the democratic party since that time. He and his wife are earnest members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, as was also his first wife, and his identification with the church has covered a period of forty-five years. In 1863 he wedded Mary, a daughter of Samuel Kelley, and her death occurred in 1907. Of the eight children of this union six are living: Samuel is a resident of Clay County ; Hanning F. lives in the State of Nevada; Arthur resides at Cedar Grove, West Virginia; Fleming is a resident of the State of Idaho; Edmond resides at Fallon, Nevada; and Charles resides at Elkins, West Virginia, where he is a postal clerk. For his second wife Mr. McLean married Mrs. Sarah Pitzer, widow of Silas Pitzer. She was born on Laura Creek, Barbour County, June 14, 1840, and is a daughter of the late Willis and Nancy (Dignan) Stalnaker. The first husband of Mrs. McLean was Ikeney Poling, and they became the parents of eight children: Adolphus D., Rachel (Mrs. William Talbott), Ellen (Mrs. Samuel Tal- bott), Blue Dell (Mrs. George Haller), Willis (married Nora Nestor), and three who are deceased. No children were born of the second marriage of Mrs. McLean (to Silas Pitzer). She and her husband are passing the gracious evening of their lives in peace and comfort and surrounded by friends who are tried and true.

CLARK L. ROHRBOUGH, M. D., is one of the able and repre- sentative physicians and surgeons of Barbour County, where be has been established in successful general practice since

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1883, with residence and professional headquarters at Belington.

The Doctor was born on a farm near Buckhannon, Up- shur County, February 23, 1858, and is a son of John M. and Matilda (Butt) Rohrbough, the latter having been born in Lewis County, as was also her father, William Butt, who was a member of one of the sterling pioneer families of that county. John M. Rohrbough was a son of Anthony Rohrbough, who came from the vicinity of the north branch of the Potomac River and became one of the very early settlers of what is now Upshur County, West Virginia, his farm having been two miles east of Buckhannon and he having there reclaimed his land from the wilderness. He was a member of the first class, of ten members, that established the first Methodist Church in that county, and his Christian faith was ever shown in his daily life. He and his wife remained on the old homestead until their deaths, and there were reared not only their children but also a number of their grandchildren. The eldest son, George, removed to Illinois and there remained until his death in Hancock County; Anthony remained in Upshur County until his death, as did also Benjamin; John M., father of the subject of this sketch, was the next younger son; Jacob died at Buckhannon and Isaac in Lewis County. Dorcas, the elder daughter, became the wife of Michael Strader after the death of her first husband, whose name was Tenny, and Mahala, who became the wife of John Love, died in Barbour County.

John M. Rohrbough continued as a successful farmer in Upshur County until his death, in the spring of 1860, and his widow survived him by more than thirty years, her death having occurred in 1893, on the old home place near Buckhannon. All of their ten children attained to adult age: Elizabeth is the widow of Seth Williams and resides at Buckhannon; Marietta is the widow of John Griffith and now resides at Harlingen, Texas; Virginia, the wife of John Hyer, died in Upshur County, when still a young woman; William lives at Beverly, Randolph County; Je- mina, wife of Jerome Fultz, died in Lewis County; Matilda is the wife of S. S. Leonard of Buckhannon; Columbia is the wife of Archibald Hinkle, Jr., and they maintain their home at Belington; Ardelia, the widow of Tillotson Martin, resides in Barbour County; Vermont died unmarried; and Dr. Clark L., of this review, is the youngest of the number.

The public and county normal schools afforded to Doctor Rohrbough his early education, and for six years he was a successful teacher in the schools of his native county, his earnings enabling him to realize his ambition and begin preparation for his chosen profession. After reading medicine two years under the preceptorship of Dr. J. P. Miller, of Buckhannon, he entered the Medical College of Ohio in the City of Cincinnati, and in the spring of 1883 he received from this institution his degree of Doctor of Medicine. For five years thereafter he gave his attention to a wide rural practice in Barbour County, with residence at Talbott, and he then removed to Belington, where he has continued in practice as one of the leading physicians of the county and where he has status as one of the loyal, public-spirited and influential citizens. He is actively iden- tified with the Tri-County Medical Society ( Randolph, Bar- bour and Tucker counties) and also with the West Virginia State Medical Society. He has served as health officer of the Belington independent school district, was city recorder one term, and later gave two terms of specially effective administration as mayor of Belington, he having been very strenuous in his efforts to eliminate the liquor traffic in the city. He has given unfaltering allegiance to the repub- lican party, and he and his wife hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he has been an active member of thirty years.

On the 27th of January, 1885, was solemnized the mar- riage of Doctor Rohrbough and Miss Hulda Carpenter, who was born and reared in Barbour County and who was the third in order of birth of the five children of Coon and Julia (Harris) Carpenter. Doctor and Mrs. Rohrbough have four children: Pearl, wife of Herbert Sparks, of Niles,

Ohio; Otis C., of Davis, West Virginia; Flossie, wife of Frank Phillips, of Belington; and Mrs. Hazel Dunlap, o. Mount Clemens, Michigan.

GARRISON J. STALNAKER, of Belington, Barbour County is a popular representative of one of the old and honored pioneer families of what is now West Virginia-a famil that has contributed much to the civic and industrial devel opment and progress of this favored commonwealth. H was born on a farm near the present village of Gilman Randolph County, June 11, 1858, and he was a lad abou seven years when the family home was established, in th spring of 1865, on a spot that is now within the corporat limits of the City of Belington and near the old home o John Belin, in whose honor the city was named.

Granville Stalnaker, father of Garrison J., was bor and reared on a farm in Randolph County, and in his hom community was solemnized his marriage to Mary, a daughter of Jacob Hilkey, who was born near Patterson and wh passed his mature life as a farmer in Randolph County Granville Stalnaker became one of the substantial farmer of Barbour County, and was fifty-four years of age at th time of his death, his wife having died in 1867, and Garr son John, of this review, was the only child of this union The father subsequently contracted a second marriage, wit Amanda Phillips, and she likewise preceded him to the lif eternal. His father, Garrettson Stalnaker, who passed hi entire life in Randolph County, was a son of Isaac Sta naker, a native of Virginia and of German ancestry, th family having been founded in Virginia in the Colonia days. Garrettson Stalnaker married Rachel Taylor, an their mortal remains rest in a little cemetery near Gilman Randolph County. They became the parents of six children Granville, Hyre, Tallman, Alfred, Almira (Mrs. Randolp Phares) and Elizabeth (Mrs. Haymond Summerfield). A fred Stalnaker was identified with the Union service in tł Civil war.

Garrison J. Stalnaker received the advantages of th rural schools and also attended select schools. As a yout he taught two terms of school, and his success gave ev dence that he had profited by the scholastic advantage that had been his. He thereafter initiated his independer career as a farmer, and after a time he engaged in th operation of a sawmill, he having been for nine years manufacturer of lumber in Barbour, Randolph and Upshu counties. He finally sold his lumber mill and business ar confined his activities to the management of his farm, thoug his sons now have charge of the productive affairs of ti excellent old homestead farm, where they are giving speci attention to dairy farming and supply milk to the City Belington. As a prerequisite in the dairy business modern silo was erected on the farm, and thereafter wi built a dairy barn with cement floor and drain, improve stanchions, adjustable feeding troughs, watering syster and an effective ventilating system. From a modest i ception this has been developed into one of the best dait plants in this section of the state.

Mr. Stalnaker is a charter stockholder and a direct of the Citizens National Bank of Belington. He serve four years as justice of the peace, and had the distincti( of being the first mayor of Belington, an office to whi he was later elected for a second time. He played a ları part in organizing and making effective the municip government of Belington, and in 1900 he was elected commissioner of the County Court, a position which J retained for the prescribed term of six years. Within th period the new Court House was completed, and he al supported the granting of licenses to saloons, as he al other members of the County Court believed such acti would be better than the toleration of all manner surreptious and often disgraceful sales places for lique His attitude in this matter brought to him criticism on t part of the prohibition element, but his conviction as the question was not changed thereby, but he had no desi for re-election to office. He is a stanch advocate of t cause of the republican party, and his service to the com munity has included his incumbency of the position of ci

Malle &. Clara

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ecorder of Belington and depnty sheriff of the County, nder Sheriff A. F. Bennett. He and his wife hold mem- ership in the Methodist Episcopal Church.

In May, 1879, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Stal- aker and Miss Mary Magnolia Newlon, who was born at he "bend of the river" near Mount Liberty, Barbour County, in October, 1861, a daughter of Burr P. and Sallie inn (Lake) Newlon. The Newlon family was established Taylor County in the early pioneer days. Mrs. Stal- aker is one of a family of ten children, the names being ere recorded : Elijah, Adolphus, Benjamin, Charles, Melissa Mrs. Ira Shockey), Virginia (Mrs. Frank Shockey), manda (Mrs. Andrew McCauley), Olive (widow of War- en Shurtleff), Mary M. (Mrs. Garrison J. Stalnaker), nd Martha (Mrs. C. W. Hillyard). Of the children of Mr. nd Mrs. Stalnaker the eldest was Allman J., who was ashier of the Citizens National Bank of Belington at the ime of his death. He married Mannah E. Holbert, who urvives him, as does also their one child, Edrie. Porter ., the second son, is one of the principals in the conduct- ig of the Stalnaker dairy farm. He married Rose Harvey, nd they have two children, Neil and William. Lenora is le wife of Frederick E. Thompson, of Belington, of whom idividual mention is made on other pages. Leoral O. is lentified with the family dairy farm. The maiden name of is wife was Opal Williamson, and their two children are illon and Wilda. Mary Ila, the youngest of the family f children, died in infancy.

BERNARD E. WILMOTH. A distinction significant of serv- e rendered, duty, loyalty and efficiency, belongs to Bernard Wilmoth, in that he is the oldest locomotive engineer .

active duty on the Monongah Division of the Baltimore Ohio Railroad. He has worked forty years as a railroad an, and for a quarter of a century has been a resident : Belington in Barbour County.

Mr. Wilmoth was born in the old town of New Interest, andolph County, West Virginia, May 24, 1864. His father Isburn Wilmoth, the venerable and aged citizen of Graf- n, whose life has been spent chiefly as a brick mason. e early took up contracting, and much of his work in hilding at Elkins and also at Grafton is still in evidence. e has been a good business man, faithful to his obliga- ons, but has sought no honors of politics or public life. e is a democrat and a Methodist. Isburn Wilmoth mar- cd Rebecca Stalnaker, who was reared in Randolph County, d was a distant cousin of Garrison J. Stalnaker, men- oned elsewhere. She died at the age of fifty-two. Her ildren were: Perry L., who lost his life by accident Sturgeon Lake, Minnesota, and was unmarried; Charles , who died in 1919, a locomotive engineer on the Cum- erland Division of the Baltimore and Ohio; Lucy, who ed unmarried in a hospital at Clarksburg; Bernard E .; rench, a locomotive engineer living at Grafton, with a n on the Buckhannon branch of the Baltimore and nio; Dollie, unmarried and is the companion of her red father; Walter, who is unmarried and is a house inter at Grafton.

Bernard E. Wilmoth lived in Randolph County until was ten years of age, when his parents established eir home at Grafton in Taylor County. He grew up ere, acquired a common school education, and at the 'e of sixteen started out to earn his living by practical rk. For a time he was employed in a livery stable. borked twelve months with an engineer corps in the eliminary survey and finally with the locating survey Grafton for the Greenbrier Railway. He was then ade tie inspector for the railroad, and two months later is given the congenial task of firing the first locomo- le to run over the new road. After eighteen months was promoted to engineer, and now for forty years has been in charge of the throttle of an engine until has become the oldest in the service on the Monongah vision of the Baltimore and Ohio. Most of his service s been between Grafton and Belington, and for a time had the run between Belington and Morgantown and

from Belington to Fairmont. His work is now with the Berryburg branch.

Mr. Wilmoth in 1913 finished one of the fine and sub- stantial homes of Belington. It is an eight room brick veneer building, comfortable, attractive and a perfectly appointed home. Mr. Wilmoth is a charter member of the Citizens National Bank of Belington, is one of its di- rectors, is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and fraternally is a Lodge and Chapter Mason, an Odd Fellow, and since reaching his majority has been affiliated with the Knights of Pythias, of which he is a past chan- cellor. As a young man he also received his card in the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, and is one of the older men in that organization.

In September, 1889, at Grafton, Mr. Wilmoth married Mary Williams, who was born at Buckhannon, West Vir- ginia, July 13, 1869, daughter of Jerome B. Williams. Her mother was a Miss Hyer. Mrs. Wilmoth was the youngest of four daughters, and her two surviving sisters Mrs. Dora Butcher, of Weston, and Mrs. Rose Lilly, of Grafton. The only child of Mr. and Mrs. Wilmoth is a daughter, Sevva R., who graduated from the Belington High School, later from Westminster College in Mary- land, where she rounded out her education in vocal music, and she is now one of the High School teachers at Belington.

WALTER E. CLARK. The enviable success of The Charles- ton Daily Mail both as a newspaper and a business institu- tion is credited to its proprietor and editor, Walter E. Clark. Mr. Clark has been a newspaper man all his life, and he brought to this West Virginia journal an exceptional range of experience.

Mr. Clark was born at Ashford, Connecticut, January 7, 1869, son of Oren Andrus and Jeannette (Jones) Clark. He graduated from the Connecticut Normal School at New Britain in 1887, and from the Wesleyan University of Mid- dletown, Connecticut, with the Ph. B. degree, in 1895.

From a local sphere of experience in journalism in his native state Mr. Clark went in 1895 to Washington, where for a year he was telegraph editor on the Washington Times. For more than a dozen years he was Washington correspondent for a number of leading newspapers, includ- ing the New York Commercial Advertiser in 1897; was as- sistant to the Washington correspondent of the New York Sun from 1897 to 1909; was Washington correspondent for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer from 1900 to 1909; and of the New York Commercial and Toronto Globe from 1904 to 1909.

In 1909 Mr. Clark was called from the busy routine of a newspaper man to the important post of governor of Alaska Territory. He served in that office until 1913, and soon after his return to the United States in 1914 he acquired The Charleston Daily Mail.

Mr. Clark is a republican, a member of the Congrega- tional Church, is affiliated with the Chi Psi college frater- nity, and was editor of its magazine during his early career at Washington. He has membership in the Metropolitan and Chevy Chase Clubs of Washington, the Arctic Club of Seattle and the Edgewood Country Club of Charleston.

June 15, 1898, at New York, he married Lucy Harrison Norvell, daughter of Captain Edward Norvell of Lynchburg, Virginia.

FRANK H. KNEISLY. Early in life Frank H. Kneisly learned to depend upon himself and his exertions, and his industry and good character have brought him both pros- perity and the general esteem of the people of Berkeley County, among whom he has lived the greater part of his life.

Mr. Kneisly was born in Washington County, Maryland. His father, Joseph H. Kneisly, was born on a farm a mile from Columbia in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and as a youth learned the trade of shoemaker. This was then a good business for which to qualify, since there were few factories for the manufacture of shoes by machinery, and a shoemaker was in realty the proprietor of an important

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local business. However, he did not follow his trade long, but, moving to Washington County, Maryland, bought land on the road leading from Hagerstown to Half Way and in connection with farming he engaged in the transport of produce and merchandise between Hagerstown and Wil- liamsport. He lived there until his death at the age of seventy-three. He married Leah Huber, a native of Lan- caster County, Pennsylvania, who died in early life, her only child being Frank H. Kneisly.

Frank H. Kneisly attended public schools, acquired a good business education, and at the age of nineteen left home and since then has been self-supporting. He was employed as a farm hand until 1890, when he moved to Berkeley County and at Martinsburg established a transfer 'line, fully equipped for all the demands put upon it. About that time he also bought the farm he now occupies on the Martinsburg and Williamsport Pike, two miles from the courthouse. This farm has few superiors in that section of the country in the way of equipment of buildings and other improve- ments.

On August 28, 1890, Mr. Kneisly married Lucy Helena Kensel, who was born on a farm in Falling Waters District of Berkeley County. Her father, John J. Kensel, a native of Franklin County, Pennsylvania, was left an orphan at an early age, was reared by an uncle in Berkeley County and as a youth returned to Franklin County to learn the trade of tailor. Eventually he returned to Berkeley County and located in Falling Waters District and engaged in farming. Subsequently he lived in Arden District eight years, eleven years in Dry Run District, and then moved to the Williams- port Pike, where he spent his last days and died at the age of eighty-two. He married Elizabeth Turner, who was born in Falling Waters District, daughter of James and Sophia Turner. Elizabeth Kensel died at the age of eighty-five. Mr. and Mrs. Kneisly have five children, James Franklin, Hamilton Bernard, John Joseph Arlington, William Adrian and Lucy Helen, and they lost a daughter, Berkeley Vir- ginia, at the age of five and a half years. The son James married Lucy Shriver, and they have three children: Paul Preston, James Kenneth and Paulina. The family are all members of St. Joseph's Catholic Church.

SAMUEL SHOWALTER FELKER is a citizen of varied and important interests in Berkeley County, a successful business man, a democratic leader, and at all times cultivating the best interests of the community.

Mr. Felker was born on a farm two and a half miles west of Greencastle, Pennsylvania. His father, Jacoh Felker, was born on a farm near the line of Franklin County, Pennsylvania, and Washington County, Maryland. and at an early age was left an orphan. He then lived, until he was grown, with his uncle, Abraham Felker, in Franklin County. At the beginning of the Civil war he enlisted as a Union soldier and served in a Pennsylvania regiment. In 1869 he moved to Berkeley County, West Virginia, buying a farm in the Hedgesville District. He remained there work- ing and prospering until his death at the age of seventy- two. He married Mary Showalter, a native of Washington County, Maryland, who died at the age of eighty-two. They reared a family of nine children: Kate. who married James Robinson; Annie, who married Moses Kilmer; Louise, who became the wife of Calvin Zentmeyer; Charles H .; David, who died at the age of thirty-three; John D .; Calvin G .; Rebecca, who married George A. Mason; and Samuel S.

Samnel S. Felker attended school in the Hedgesville Dis- trict, and at the age of seventeen began learning the trade of miller in Brown's Mill in Pennsylvania. After three years there he returned to Berkeley County, and for two years operated Kilmers Mill, for one year the Back Valley Mill and for two years the Darkesville Mill. Ill health compelling him to make a change of vocation, he then became agent for the Cumberland Valley Railroad Com- pany at Darkesville, and at the same time conducted a general mercantile business there for three and a half years. On leaving the railroad service Mr. Felker moved to Martins- burg, and since then has been one of the progressive business men of this city. For three and a half years he was in business on West King Street, near the Square, following

which he bought property on West King, near the postoffice and continued his store in that location about three years Selling out, he entered the real estate business, and ir 1904 was elected a justice of the peace, an office he filled eight years. For three years Mr. Felker had a rather widely extended business in the sale of coal rights and coal lands He and D. W. Shaffer were then partners in the real estate business for two years, and since then Mr. Felker has con. tinued alone, dealing in city and farm lands, and he make! sales over the three states of West Virginia, Maryland and Virginia.

At the age of twenty-two Mr. Felker married Alice Virginia Shipper, a native of Berkeley County and daughter of James B. and Hester (Stuckey) Shipper. Mr. and Mrs Felker had one son, Guy G., who was educated in the city schools, prepared for college in Washington and Lee Uni versity and subsequently entered the University of West Virginia. He graduated in the law department and had already achieved a substantial place in his profession wher his early death occurred at the age of twenty-nine. For some time prior to his death he had been in the service of the income tax department of the Federal Government Guy G. Felker married Gertrude Manown. He is survived by a son, Samuel Showalter Felker, who lives with his paternal grandparents.

Mr. and Mrs. Felker are active members of the Presby terian Church, and he is president of the board of deacons Mr. Felker is prominent in the Masonic Order, being a pas master of Equality Lodge No. 44, A. F. and A. M., pas high priest of Lebanon Chapter No. 2, R. A. M., pas eminent commander of Palestine Commandery No. 2, K. T. was president of the class that took the Scottish Rite degrees at Wheeling in 1920, and is a member of the Martinsburg Masonic Club. He is also affiliated with Washington Lodge No. 1, Knights of Pythias, and for six years was repre sentative to the State Lodge and is a past grand master of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He is also a mem ber of the Loyal Order of Moose.

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History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 3, Part 109

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