History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 3, Part 116

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In 1899 Mr. Miller married at Turtle Creek, West Vir- ginia, Flora Roberts, a daughter of John and Martha Rob- erts, farming people who both live in West Virginia. Mr. and Mrs. Miller have nine children, namely: Orin, Mollie, May, Norma, Opal, Ruby, Haddon, Frank and Albert Sid- ney. Of these children Orin married Ivy MeClure of Lincoln County, West Virginia. They are living at Madison, where he is assistant station agent for the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad. Mr. Miller has been a life-long member of the Baptist Church. He belongs to Odell Lodge, No. 115, A. F. and A. M., of Madison, It would be difficult to speak too highly of Mr. Miller's work and the good influence he exerts on the life of his community. A born educator, he

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ossesses the faculty of not only imparting information, ut also of stimulating a desire for further knowledge, nd he is also able to secure the hearty cooperation of his eachers in his efforts to further advance the standards of he Boone County schools and the rating of the pupils. As clergyman he is equally zealous, and in these two lines f endeavor is rendering Madison and Boone County a most ffective service.

JOSEPH M. HOPKINS, president of the Bank of Danville nd a dealer in timber and coal lands and general real state, is one of the leading business men of Boone 'ounty, and one who has had a constructive influence upon is times. While he has achieved a material success, his ccomplishments in the way of good citizenship and the dis- harge of personal obligations are equally admirable.

The birth of Joseph M. Hopkins took place in Boone 'ounty, West Virginia, January 9, 1856, and he is a son f Henry H. and Julia A. (Hill) Hopkins, both of whom ere natives of Virginia. During the war between the Torth and the South he served for a few months. For a umber of years he was a farmer and merchant, and he lways took an active part in public affairs, and helonged ) the School Board. The Hopkins family is one of the Id and honored ones of the South, and sprung from Scotch- rish stock.

Joseph M. Hopkins attended the district schools, one ear at Saint Albans, and four months at Emery and Henry ollege. His days of usefulness, however, began when he as only twelve years old, when he commenced work on the irm. Losing his father when only eighteen years old, the sponsibilities of manhood came early to him, and he was ept busy looking after the homestead for a time. In 1879 he ad things in shape so that he was able to branch out. [e went into the timber business, and for seventeen years 'as engaged in logging. In 1896 he was elected to the ffice of county clerk, and held it for twelve years, or until 908. During all of this time he was interested in the mbering business, and began to handle coal lands in 1903. ince 1908 he has been concentrating on the handling of mber and coal lands and general real estate, but is also interested in farming, which calling he has never entirely bandoned, always owning one or more farms. In 1914 he nd his son-in-law, H. R. Izard, and others, organized the Bank of Danville, of which he was made president. Under is conservative and wise management, this bank has been eveloped into one of the sound and reliable institutions f the connty, and he still continues its chief executive.

In 1877 Mr. Hopkins married in Boone County Dora E. tollings, a daughter of Joel E. and Martha (Kesinger) tollings, both of whom were born in Virginia. Mr. and Irs. Hopkins became the parents of eight children, as ollows: T. J., who married Alice Thompson, of Danville, as three children, Gladys, Ralph and Elouise; Martha L., ho married H. R. Izard, cashier of the Bank of Danville, as four children, Ralph Stead. Martha Hopkins, Joseph nd Jean; Clarence C., who married Mattie Fulton, of Dan- ille, has two children, Louise and Harold; Ella M., who arried A. B. Chambers, general merchant of Danville, has wo children, Julia and Dora Joe; Eva G., who married oy Smith, of Spencer, West Virginia; and Luther, oseph H. and Lee S., all of whom are unmarried. Luther Hopkins volunteered for service in May, 1917, and went ito the infantry. After a period of service on the Mexi- in border he was transferred to the First Division and ent overseas, where he had twenty-two months of active ervice. He was in the battle of Cantigny, where he was ounded May 30, 1918. He was at St. Mihiel in September nd the Argonne offensive in October, being wounded ctober 9, in Argonne. He arrived in the United States pril 14, 1918, and was honorably discharged at Camp leade, Maryland, on April 25, 1919.

Mrs. Joseph M. Hopkins is a zealous member of the aptist Church, but Mr. Hopkins is not connected with any eligious organization. He is a Blue Lodge Mason, and be- ings to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the enevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Mr. and Mrs. Hop- ins have reared a fine family and have every reason to be

proud of their children, all of whom have justified their parents' faith in them.

CHARLES F. ZIMMERMAN is a young businessman of Charleston who has enjoyed a remarkable rise in finance and affairs within a comparatively few years.

He was born and reared in Benton County, Tennessee, and was educated in the public schools and in the Southern Normal College at Bowling Green, Kentucky. Before reach- ing his majority he was an office employe of the Simmons Hardware Company at St. Louis, and from there took charge of the Hattiesburg Ice & Coal Company at Hattiesburg, Mississippi.

Mr. Zimmerman came to Charleston in 1907. This city has been his home and the scene of his increasing activi- ties for fifteen years. For a time he continued his profes- sion as an auditor and accountant, and later became inter- ested in and for eight years was manager of the Fleetwood Hotel. He then bought the Beckley Hotel at Beckley, West Virginia, which he operated from 1916 to 1921. In 1918 he also opened the Lincoln Hotel at Charleston, and is still owner of that popular place.

Perhaps his most distinctive success has been as owner and operator of a chain of cigar stores, now three in num- ber. The first was opened at 711 State Street November 1, 1916. In connection there is a barber shop and billiard room. The second store, located in the Arcade, opposite the post office, was opened March 26, 1918, and a pool and billiard room is operated in connection with this place. The third and the culminating achievement of Mr. Zimmerman in this line is the shop and store opened in October, 1921, iu the Oberlan Building at 911 Quarrier Street. Probably no cigar store in the country has finer and more elaborate furniture, equipment and fixtures than this. Adjoining is a modern billiard room. The Oberlan Building was built by Samuel Oberlan particularly for Mr. Zimmerman's business and according to the latter's designs and plans. Mr. Zimmerman is lessee of the entire building and has his business offices on the third floor. It is a three-story mod- ern commercial structure, the two upper floors being de- voted to business offices, all of which are occupied. The building was completed in October, 1921. Mr. Zimmerman is also the lessee and has full control of the new Boyd Building, a modern three story building on Summers Street, at the corner of Fife Street, which was completed early in 1922. The first story of this building has five stores, with forty office rooms on the two upper floors. In addition to the business activities already mentioned Mr. Zimmerman has been an active dealer in city real estate, confining his operations largely to residential property within the city limits. He has given substantial evidence of his confidence in the growth of the city by numerous investments in va- cant property, which he would immediately improve by erecting thereon a substantial residence. In this manner he has built nearly fifty homes in Charleston, and through lis enterprise and industry has contributed in no small way towards the material upbuilding of the city. Late in 1921 Mr. Zimmerman completed a handsome new modern residence for his own home at 506 Nancy Street in the East End.

He is an influential member of the chamber of commerce and Kiwanis Club, and also belongs to the Elks. Mr. Zim- merman married Miss Bertha A. Hill, of Kanawha County, West Virginia. Their two children are Anna Marie and Frederick Judson.

WILLIAM OSCAR DAVIS has been a pharmacist for over a quarter of a century, and for the greater part of that time has been in the drug business at Philippi. His liber- ality as a citizen and his work in behalf of community advancement are facts as well known and appreciated as his business success.

Mr. Davis was horn near Uhrichsville, Tuscarawas County, Ohio, September 6, 1872. Remotely he is of wealthy ancestry. His grandfather, Gan Davis, spent his life as a farmer in Tuscarawas County and is buried at Freed Springs Church in that county. His children were Alexander, a resident of Uhrichsville, and a veteran Union soldier;

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John W .; Jane, wife of Nathan Smith and a resident of Uhrichsville; Lou, who died at Uhrichsville, wife of J. Dutton; Sophia, who died in Colorado Springs, Colorado, was the wife of Charles Long; Marshall, of Uhrichsville; James, a paint contractor at Canton, Ohio; and Margaret, widow of Charles Gintz and living at Uhrichsville.

John W. Davis, father of William Oscar Davis, was born in Tuscarawas County and married Catherine J. Dutton, a native of the same county. Her father was William Dutton, who married Miss Burriss. John W. Davis was a farmer in Tuscarawas County, in later years became a carpenter, and was a mechanic in the railroad shops at Dennison, Ohio, when he was accidentally killed February 20, 1907, at the age of about sixty-three. His widow died at Canton, Ohio, in 1914. Their children were: Ed. N .; Frank E .; James O .; William Oscar; Jessie Mabel, wife of C. W. Lykes, of Canton, Ohio; Verna V., wife of Fred Hall, of Houston, Texas; and John B., of Houston.

William Oscar Davis lived on his father's farm until he was about twelve years of age. He learned his first spelling and arithmetic lessons in a country school, later attended the Uhrichsville High School, and in 1894 entered the College of Pharmacy at Scio, Ohio. This school was subsequently moved to Pittsburgh and is now the Pittsburgh College of Pharmacy. After completing his course Mr. Davis entered actively upon the practice of pharmacy. In the meantime during vacations, he had worked in drug stores, and what he calls "the hardest job he ever had" was selling subscription books and during one summer he was with a crew of young fellows making and selling views. After completing his course of pharmacy he was employed by the Graham Drug Company at Zanesville, Ohio, for one year, for two years was prescription clerk with a firm at Mannington. West Virginia, and in March, 1899, came to Philippi and succeeded to the drug business of D. F. Everett, for over twenty years he has conducted a high class drug store and pharmacy, and while that is a business demanding close personal attention he has not neglected some of the duties of citizenship.

He was for several terms a member of the City Council, and was on the council when the sewerage system was provided and some of the street paving done. He has been ready with his interest and aid in other community interests, notably when Broaddus College required extra funds to carry on its work of higher education. He is a member of the Kiwanis Club, is a Scottish Rite Mason. He has done all the work in Philippi Lodge of Odd Fellows, of which he is a past grand, and he is a member of the Methodist Church, while Mrs. Davis is a Presbyterian.

At Uhrichsville, Ohio, December 27, 1897, Mr. Davis married Miss Jessie B. Adrian, a native of the same city and daughter of William and Agnes (Sterling) Adrian. Mr. and Mrs. Davis have three children: Adrian F., now associated with his father in business, who passed the exam- ination before the draft board, but was not called to service before the armistice was signed; Margaret Eliz- abeth, member of the class of 1923 in the Philippi High School; and Curtis Virginia, in the grammar school.

HERMAN J. POLING. While he has carried more or less active business responsibilities, Herman J. Poling is a lawyer, and his hard-working abilities have won him a deservedly high place in that exacting profession in his home county of Barbour. He is a member of the Poling family that has been identified with the farming and civic interests of the county for a number of generations.

He was born in Glade District, Barbour County, April 26, 1885. His grandfather was Jonas Poling. a farmer in that locality, and his father, William J. Poling, was born on the same homestead in Glade District. As his hoyhood coincided with the period of the Civil war he was denied any liberal educational advantages. His life has been spent in farming, and for the most part he has de- rived his living from live stock. He has served as trus- tee of the White Oak School District. William J. Poling married Amanda Jane Shaffer, who was born in Cove District of Barbour County, one of the three sons and five daughters of John C. Shaffer, a native of the same

locality and a farmer there. The children of William Poling and wife are: Herman J .; Lora and Nora, tw sisters, the former deceased; Nettie; and Dottie, wife Camden Mouser, of Philippi district.

Herman J. Poling acquired a country school educatie and subsequently attended the Wesleyan College at Buc hannon and the Fairmont Normal School, where he grad ated in 1909. He taught his first term of school who seventeen years of age, resumed that work after gradua ing from the Normal School, and was principal of tl Academy High School. In the spring of 1910 he enter the law department of the University of West Virgini finishing his law course in 1912. After graduating a1 being admitted to the bar he located at Durbin, whe he taught his last term of school in the country and al did some law practice. He then removed his offices Philippi, and has been engaged in a growing general pra tice. Among his interests outside the fixture lines of h profession he is a partner with H. S. Haller in the Bould Coal Company, and they bought the property and develop the mine, equipped it with electrical machinery. Th mine was opened in February, 1917, and was a consta tribute through the period of the World war. Mr. Polir is director and attorney for the Peoples Bank of Philipp is director, secretary, treasurer and attorney for the 'T gart Valley Water Company, is a stockholder in the Fe eral Carbonie Gas Company of Fairmont, and is own of considerable real estate in Philippi and some far land devoted to the grazing industry along the Belingto Philippi Road in Barker District.

In politics Mr. Poling is a democrat, casting his fir vote for Mr. Wilson in 1912. He has interested himse in several campaigns, is congressional committeeman f the Second Congressional District, and has represented h party in conferences and conventions. He is a memb of the Kiwanis Club at Philippi, is a past noble grai of the Lodge of Independent Order of Odd Fellows, ai a member of the Encampment, is affiliated with the Ma cabees, the Knights of Pythias, tho Modern Woodmen America and the Junior Order United American M chanics. He was reared in the Methodist Episcopal Chure South. In May, 1919, Mr. Poling married Miss Mary Poling, a native of the Valley District of Barbour Coun and daughter of Remus Poling. Her father, who marri a Miss Ware, is a farmer at Boulder. Mrs. Poling is 01 of a large family of three sons and eight daughters. M and Mrs. Poling have a son, Herman J., Jr., born Ma 19, 1921.

HERBERT M. CRAWFORD. One of the well known minis men and operators of Barbour County is Herbert M. Cray ford, a resident of Philippi and president of the Cray ford Coal Company. He is a civil and mining engine by profession, but for a dozen years or more his time h: been fully taken up with the practical operations of co production.

Mr. Crawford was born at Kittanning in Armstror County, Pennsylvania, June 12, 1867. His family can to America from Scotland, and some four or five gener tions have lived in Pennsylvania. His grandfather, Jam Crawford, was a farmer in Armstrong County, and ma ried Rebecca Peoples, whose father was an officer in tl American Revolution. They had four sons and thr daughters. The sons were, James, Samuel M., Jehu ar Robert, the last three being soldiers in the Union Arn in the Civil war. The daughters were: Amanda, wl married William Brown; Susan, who married Silas Ride and Adaline, who married William Morrison.

Samuel M. Crawford, father of Herbert, is a native Armstrong County, received a common school educatic and early in life entered the Union Army. He was the Army of the Potomac, was wounded at Gettysbur but subsequently rejoined his command and continued service until the end. After his military experience ] became a contractor of painting and carpenter work, ar followed that vocation until he retired. He is now livir at Aspinwall, Pennsylvania. He married Rosanna Crui whose father, Capt. Daniel Crum, was a Union soldi

Glenn Ray Eagar.

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and was killed in the battle of the Wilderness. The chil- dren of Samuel M. Crawford and wife are: Herbert Maurice; Mrs. Pearle Beatty, of Aspinwall; and Muriel, wife of Dr. F. C. Robinson, of Uniontown, Pennsylvania.

Herbert M. Crawford grew up at Kittanning, graduated from high school at the age of eighteen, and subsequently entered Lehigh University, where he took the civil engi- neering course and graduated in 1895. For five years he was an engineer on the engineering staff of the Frick Coal and Coke Company. He then opened an engineering office at Uniontown, known as the Fayette Engineering Com- pany, of which he was senior engineer. His first work in West Virginia was as mining engineer, representative of the Fayette Engineering Company of Uniontown in the construction of the Midland Coal Company's plant in Barbour County. During this work he became interested in this mineral region, investing in some coal lands iu the Tygart Valley. He first came to Philippi in 1905, and in 1908 began the development of his property. His company owns the Luella Mine at Arden and the Black Jo Mine at Clements. During the World war these mines were running at capacity, with a force of from 100 to 150 men. He is also vice president of the First National Bank of Philippi and one of its directors.

During the war period he was county chairman of the Red Cross, and had charge of one of the Liberty Loan drives, putting it "over the top." He has been a mem- ber of the Philippi City Council, being on the board when the electric light plant was installed. Mr. Crawford is president of the Kiwanis Club of Philippi, is a Lodge and Chapter Mason, and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

At Indiana, Pennsylvania, June 25, 1901, Mr. Crawford married Miss Luella Smith, a native of Indiana County and daughter of William and Sarah Smith, who had four daughters and one son. Mrs. Crawford has two sisters living: Mattie, wife of George Barron, an attorney at Greensburg, Pennsylvania; and Mrs. Elizabeth Wachoh, of Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania. Three daughters and a son have been born to the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Crawford: Emily Catherine is a student in the Chevy Chase School at Washington, District of Columbia; Ruth and Josephine are students in the Philippi High School; and Herbert Maurice, Jr., is attending grammar school.

EVERETT A. HUNT. Teaching his first school at the age of twenty, his early success led Everett A. Hunt to realize that he had found that vocation in which he could do the most good in the world, and his career since then has been one of steadily increasing service in what is perhaps the greatest of all callings. He is serving his second term as county superintendent of schools of Barbour County.

Mr. Hunt was born March 17, 1878, in Barker District, between Belington and Philippi. His father, John F. Hunt, was born in Pennsylvania, and early in the Civil war period came to West Virginia and joined the Union Army at Grafton as a volunteer. He was with Company H of the Sixth West Virginia Infantry, and was in service through- out the remainder of the war. He was once or twice cap- tured, but escaped each time and was never wounded. For a number of years he was deeply interested in the work of the Grand Army of the Republic. His life after the war was devoted to farming and teaching school. While his early advantages were not above those afforded by the common schools, he proved a very good and effective teacher. He died in 1897, at the age of seventy-five. John F. Hunt married Phebe Minear, who died in 1917. Her father, Adam Minear, was a veteran of the War of 1812, was an early settler in Iowa, and from that state came to West Virginia and spent the remainder of his life as a farmer. The five children of John F. Hunt and wife were: Charlotte, now Mrs. Francis Matillo, of Oil City, Pennsylvania; Dora B., deceased wife of Michael Guye; Everett Answorth; Clinton D., a lumberman in Tennessee; and Ella, deceased wife of Hickman Wright.

Everett A. Hunt grew up on the farm where he was born, received a primary education in the country schools, and attended several summer normals. His first school

as a teacher was the Montrose School in Randolph County. For several years he alternated between teaching and at- tending school. In 1906 he graduated from the Fairmont State Normal School, and subsequently pursued special courses in education and kindred subjects in the University of West Virginia at Morgantown. He did his last work as a student at the State University in 1910.

Mr. Hunt was for three years principal of the Second Ward School of Fairmont, this now being known as the Miller School. On leaving that city he was chosen prin- cipal of the schools of Watson, West Virginia, where he remained three years, for one year was connected with the schools at Elkins, and then, returning to Barbour County, was principal of the grammar school at Belington for four years.

Mr. Hunt has his home at Belington, and while still principal of the school there he entered the race as can- didate for the nomination of county superintendent of schools. He won the nomination in the primaries by a vote of three to one, and on the republican ticket was elected in the fall of 1914 over his democratie opponent by a good majority. He entered upon his official duty in July, 1915, as successor of C. O. Marsh. In 1918 he re- ceived the nomination without opposition in his own party and was elected at the general election by a majority of 500.

His administration of the county schools during the past eight years has struck a high mark in educational im- provement. He has used his influence to secure better school architecture, modern heating and ventilating sys- tems, the installation of sanitary chemical closets, has organized and systematized reading circles in every dis- triet, has established the school system on a sound financial basis, and has organized in different parts of the coun- ty the "Four-H" (head, hand, heart and health) clubs. As a co-ordinate factor in the improvement of school stand- ards and the improvement of rural life in general he has organized parents-teachers associations and civic clubs.

During the World war Mr. Hunt was county food ad- ministrator. He helped organize the Federal Land Bank for the farmers of Barhour County, and is a director and one of the appraisers in the institution, which has been instrumental in distributing about $75,000 on long time loans among the farmers. Fraternally he is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Rebekahs, the Modern Woodmen of America, is a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church, has been superintendent of the Sunday school at Belington, and is teacher-training super- intendent in the county Sunday school organization.

In Randolph County, December 13, 1900, Mr. Hunt mar- ried Miss Bertha L. Bennett, who was born in Barbour County in January, 1882, oldest of the two daughters and five sons of Richard M. and Catherine (Wright) Bennett. Her mother was a daughter of William Wright. Mrs. Hunt, who finished her education in the public schools, is the mother of six children: Gertrude Theresa, wife of Melville Golden, of Belington; Ophelia Belle, Mrs. Warren Phillips, of Belington; while the younger children, still in the home circle, are named Alston Everett, Venola Marguerite, Circe Eurydicie and Theodore Adonis.

GLENN R. EDGAR has been a resident of West Virginia since 1905 and of Charleston since 1907. He has figured prominently in local business affairs and is founder and now gives most of his time to the Nu-Way Company, a Charleston concern with all the equipment and facilities for first class service in cleaning, dyeing, pressing and the gen- eral maintenance of clothing.

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History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 3, Part 116

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