History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 3, Part 118

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Baptist Church holds Mr. Mitchell's membership, and he is zealous in its behalf. Fraternally he belongs to the In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows. Mr. Mitchell's influence is felt in every line at Danville and all over the county, and it is always exerted for constructive purposes. A man of keen discernment and high ideals, he has long sought to advance his home community and county, and been willing to make personal sacrifices in order to accomplish his pur- pose. Such men as he are a valuable adjunct to any locality in which they labor, and Danville is proud of him and what he has been able to accomplish for his fellow citizens.

ROBERT WRISTON, M. D. The career of Doctor Wriston is a physician and surgeon began at Beckley in 1906. He s one of the very aceemplished professional men of Raleigh County, and has been very active in all that concerns his profession and the general welfare and advancement of the community.

Doctor Wriston was born August 23, 1879, at Kincaid, in Fayette County, West Virginia, son of I. G. and Alice (Stanley) Wriston, natives of this state. His grandfather, Caleb Wriston, served as a Confederate soldier in the Civil var, and his maternal grandfather lost his life in that struggle. The Wristous were of Scotch ancestry, and the family has been in Virginia for a number of generations. I. G. Wriston and wife are now living retired at Nesco. He has been a farmer and for two terms held the office of justice of the peace. He is an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Robert Wriston attended common schools in Raleigh County, his parents moving here when he was a child. Later he took the academic course in the Concord State Normal at Athens, taught for five years, and then went East and entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons t Baltimore, where he graduated M. D. in 1905. For a year he was resident physician in the City Hospital at Balti- nore, and with that training he began his work at Beck- ey. Doctor Wriston handles a general medical and sur- gical practice, and every year or so he gets away from the ·outine of home duties to come into contact with the lead- ng men and schools of the country. He took postgraduate work in the New York Polyclinic in 1908 and again in 1911, pursued special studies in Tulane University at New Orleans in 1917, and in 1921 and 1922 pursued courses n the Augustana Hospital and under Doctor Printy at Chicago.

In 1913 Doctor Wriston helped organize the Beckley Hospital, and he owned a half interest in that institution until January, 1922, and is still a member of the hospital taff. He belongs to the County, State and Southern Med- cal Associations, is a republican. is affiliated with the Masonic Lodge and the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.

In 1910, at Beckley, he married Miss Minnie Davis, daugh- er of John F. and Mary (McGinnis) Davis. Her father's areer was distinguished by its long and active connec- ion with public service. He served as sheriff two terms, is county clerk and clerk of court, and he died while still n public office. Doctor aud Mrs. Wriston have four chil- fren, named Mary Alice, June, Marjorie and Mattie.

WORTHINGTON CHENOWETH. In the profession of dental surgery Worthington Chenoweth is one of the oldest ac- ive practitioners in the state. His work and study have een directed along that line for more than a half cen- ury, and for forty-eight years his home has been in Phil- ppi, where he is held in the highest esteem for the in- luence and quality of his good citizenship at all times.

Chenoweth is an historic name in Randolph County of his state. His great-grandfather, John I. Chenoweth, was , native of South Wales, and he and a brother came to America before the Revolution and settled in Maryland. rohn I. Chenoweth served as a soldier in the war for in- lependence. After that war he moved into Western Vir- inia, and spent his life here near Beverly, at the home f his son, John I., Jr., and he was laid to rest in the emetery near Beverly.

John I. Chenoweth, Jr., was a farmer near Beverly, his arm being on Chenoweth's Creek, two miles from Elkins.

He cleared a good farm and owned a large body of land in that vicinity. He was well educated for his time, pos- sessed a strong mind and exercised great personal Influence, was in the official life at Randolph County, was a mem- ber of the Primitive Baptist Church and a whig in pol- itics. He voted for secession, and one of his sons became a captain in the Confederate Army. John I. Chenoweth, Jr., died about twelve or fifteen years after the Civil war. He married Miss Skidmore. Their children were: Eli, Washington, Archibald, Lemuel, Thomas, Elijah, Martha and Jerusha. Only one of the sons served in the war be- tween the states. Martha married Job Daniels and Je- rusha married Allison Daniels.

Archibald Chenoweth, father of Doctor Chenoweth, was born on Chenoweth's Creek in Randolph County, had a country school education, and as a young man learned the trade of wagon-maker. To this trade he devoted all his active lite, maintaining his shop iu Beverly, where for a short time he had his brother Lemuel associated with him. He was a skilled worker, but was a modest and re- tiring citizen. He became a member of the Presbyterian Church after reaching middle life, and was a democrat. Archibald Chenoweth, who died when ahout seventy-five years of age, married Margaret Hyre. Her father, Wil- liam Hyre, owned a farm at the head of Buckhannon River in Upshur County, and was a noted hunter in that vicinity. He was a strong Union man, and two of his sons were Federal soldiers and all of them were republicans in pol- ities. Margaret Hyre was a daughter of her father's first marriage, to Miss VanDeavender. Archibald Chenoweth and wife reared one son and three daughters: Belle, who died at Beverly, wife of John Leonard; Rose, resident of Charleston and wife of John Conner; and Idella, who died unmarried.

Worthington Chenoweth was born October 26, 1848, and up to the age of twenty-four he lived in the historic com- munity of Beverly. He attended some of the old sub- scription schools, and finished his education soon after the free school system was established. He has a vivid recol- lection of some of the events and conditions of the Civil war period. After one of the raids made by the Con- federate general Rosser he helped bury the dead. For several years he worked with his father in the wagon shop, and he began the study of dentistry at Beverly with Dr. D. B. Campbell, a pioneer dentist in Randolph County. He remained with Doctor Campbell four years there, and both of them in 1874 moved to Philippi. Since then Doc- tor Chenoweth has carried on a very successful practice. He has made a specialty of plate work.

In the line of public service Doctor Chenoweth was for one term mayor of Philippi, twice served as treasurer, for twelve years was a member of the Board of Educa- tion and was on the Board when the property was ac- quired for the site of the new high school. While he has rendered public service he has not been in politics as an active candidate for office. Some years ago he was named jury commissioner for the District Federal Court of West Virginia by Judge Alston G. Dayton. Judge Dayton knew him intimately in civil and religious life, and while they were not of the same political faith the Judge explained his appointment by saying: "I know him to be a man I can trust and I want him." Doctor Chenoweth gave his first presidential vote to Horace Greeley, and has voted for all the nominees of the demo- cratie party for half a century, including three votes for William J. Bryan.

Doctor Chenoweth is one of the very prominent Odd Fel- lows of West Virginia, having joined the lodge at Philippi the year he moved to that town. He has been financial secretary of the lodge fifteen years, financial secretary of the Encampment, and has represented both branches in the Grand Lodge. He is also financial secretary of the Knights of Pythias. When he was forty-nine years of age he was converted and joined the Presbyterian Church, and for a number of years has been an elder in the churchi at Philippi and superintendent of the Sunday school.

At Philippi, February 23, 1889, Doctor Chenoweth mar- ried Miss Mary H. Bosworth. Her father, Elam Bosworth,

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was born in the Beverly community of Randolph County, and married Miss Switzer, by whom he had four children: Harriet, Mary, Squire and Erastus. By a second marriage Elam Bosworth had two sons, James and Thomas, the for- mer a merchant at Brownsburg, West Virginia, and the latter a teacher in the high school at Richmond, Virginia. Mrs. Chenoweth was born March 8, 1849, was liberally edu- cated, and died January 5, 1922, at the age of seventy- three. She was associated with her husband in the work of the church, and both of them took an active interest in the war work of the community.

B. RLIN E. SNYDER. After school days were over, sup- plemented by oue term of teaching, Berlin E. Snyder threw himself with all his characteristic energy into the tasks and responsibilities of a commercial career. A steadily growing capacity derived from experience with a modest capital, likewise the reward of his own saving and self- denial, finally put him into the ranks of independent busi- ness men. He is president, treasurer and general man- ager of the Philippi Hardware & Furniture Company, and since 1914 has been one of the active commercial men of that city.

He was born near the Village of Lahmansville, Grant County, West Virginia. His grandfather, Noah Snyder, moved into Grant County from old Virginia, and was one of the successful farmers and good citizens of that locality, where he lived until his death at the age of seventy-eight. He married Susan Lahman, and of their eleven children only one, Seymour A., mentioned in the following paragraph, is deceased. The complete list of the children is as fol- lows: Rebecca, wife of Scott Bergdoll and living in Grant County; John and Jacob, farmers in Mineral County; Buchanan, of Petersburg, Grant County; Seymour Allen; Martin B., of Wellsboro, Indiana; Joseph, a farmer in Grant County; Daniel W., a farmer in the State of Kan- sas; Elizabeth, wife.of Robert Spangler, of Ridgely; Noah W., a farmer in Grant County; and Laura, wife of Wil- liam Kesner, of Grant County.

Seymour A. Snyder was born in Grant County in 1860, followed the vocation to which he had been trained, that of farming, and died there in December, 1920, at the age of sixty. He was a member of the United Brethren Church and a republican. His wife, Mary Alexander Frye, born in 1860, the same year as her husband, died in 1919. Her father was William Baker Frye, a successful West Vir- ginia farmer and a member of the Southern Methodist Church. The children of Seymour A. Snyder and wife were: Berlin E .; Beulah, wife of Albert A. Lahman, of Grant County; llerman, who was in training as a soldier during the World war and is now operating the old home- stead; and Milam, of Philippi.

Berlin E. Snyder spent the first seventeen years of his life on the home farm, gained a country school education and passed the first teacher's uniform examination in the state. His work as a school teacher was done at Gor- mania, and when he left the school room he went to Keyser and for two months kept books for a grocery house and then became clerk in the Siever Hardware Company, whole- sale and retail. After three years of training this house sent him on the road to cover the territory comprised in Grant, Hampshire, Hardy, Mineral, Pendleton, Tucker, Ran- dolph and Greenbrier counties. He built up a large busi- ness for the firm in this territory for five years. For an- other six years he continued his work in practically the same territory, but for the wholesale hardware house of Greer and Laing of Wheeling.

After more than ten years on the road Mr. Snyder put his experience and capital to use at Philippi, where in 1914 he reorganized the old Philippi Hardware and Fur- niture Company as a stock company. His first capital was $5,000, and in 1910-1916 the capital was increased to $10,000, and in 1921 to $50,000. Mr. Snyder is the presi- dent, treasurer and general manager; A. F. Martin, of Elkins, is secretary; and H. B. Martin, of Elkins, vice president.

Mr. Snyder has accumulated other business interests in

Philippi, including some real estate, and is a director in the Talbott-Crawford Coal Company and the Peoples Bank of Philippi.

In Randolph County, July 12, 1910, he married Miss Pearl Martin, daughter of E. Ross and Martha (Jones) Martin. Her parents were reared near Mannington, were farmers there for a number of years, and after retiring from the farm her father established himself at Elkins, where he has since been in the building and contracting business. The Martin children are: Gay, wife of Percey Paugh and a resident of Brownsville, Pennsylvania; Harry B., of Elkins; A. F., of Sharpless, West Virginia; Mrs. Snyder; and Miss Hallie Martin, of Elkins.

Mr. and Mrs. Snyder have one son, Berlin E., Jr., born July 19, 1915.

SAMUEL S. FARIS. In the death of Samuel S. Faris on January 3, 1922, Harrison County lost a citizen who for years had been given every proof of confidence in his in- tegrity and ability as a banker, as a public official and a man of affairs. The late Mr. Faris represented a family that was founded in the county soon after the close of the Revolutionary war. He owned and controlled for many years the extensive Faris lands, nearly two thousand acres, adjacent to Bridgeport.

The first claimant to these lands was his great-grand- father, James Faris, who made his claim in 1785 and sub- sequently developed a portion of the land and was one of the active pioneer farmers in this section. The title to the land he took up has never been out of the Faris fani- ily. This James Faris was killed by the Indians on the Ohio River, near the present site of the City of Wheeling, West Virginia.

The second generation of the family in this state was represented by his son Humphrey, who was born in Penn- sylvania about 1790. His activities as a land holder ma- terially advanced the improvement of the Faris estate. A home he erected on the farm in 1816 is still preserved at Bridgeport. He was twice married, and hy his two wives had seventeen children, including a son named George Thomas.

George Thomas, son of Humphrey Faris, was born Sep- tember 15, 1816, at the old homestead. His life covered a span of almost a century. He died May 9, 1909. He was a volunteer at the time of the Mexican war of 1846, but never reached the front. He was past military age when the Civil war came on. The industry of his life, was devoted to farming. His wife was Mary Ann Sheets, a native of near West Milford, Harrison County, who died at the age of forty-seven. She was the mother of Samuel S., Harriet, Rachel, Byrd, John and Ellen Faris.

The late Samuel S. Faris represented the fourth genera- tion of the family in West Virginia. He was born Sep- tember 5, 1855, on his father's farm a mile and a half Southeast of Bridgeport. While numerous other affairs commanded a share of his judgment and enterprise, he never neglected altogether the business that was part of his inheritance, farming and stock raising. He virtually took charge of his father's business when but seventeen years of age, and he handled with remarkable success the accumulating responsibilities represented by such a large body of agricultural land.

Some of the banking and business enterprises that en- listed his participation were the Bridgeport Bank, which was established in 1903 and of which he was president from 1906. He was also a stockholder and director in the milling and pottery companies, was vice president of the Empire Bank of Clarksburg, a stockholder in the Merchants National Bank and a stockholder in the Clarksburg Trust Company at the same place. His public service included the membership on the Board of Review of the county, and for twelve years he was on the Board of County Commissioners, eight years of that time as president. The late Mr. Faris was a republican in politics. He was a member of Late Lodge No. 63, A. F. and A. M., a thirty-second degree Scottish Rite Mason and a Shriner, and a member of the Simpson Creek Baptist Church.

In 1881, at Bridgeport, he married Sallie Davidson, who

S. S. Davis

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as born in Taylor County, West Virginia, December 24, 56. Her father, John Davidson, was a Bridgeport miller d died in 1892. Her mother, Cornelia (Hurry) David- n, died in 1894. There were nine children born to S. S. aris and wife, six of whom are living: Doctor George omas Faris, who became a practicing physician in iladelphia, married Nell Steele, of Morgantown, West irginia, and they have one child, Samuel Sheets Faris, ; Rachel, who married Dr. Benj. F. Shuttleworth, of arksburg; and Florence, Nell, Mary and Robert, at home. ie latter married Eleanor Mayers, of Fairmont, West Vir- nia. The deceased children are: Clara who died at the 'e of seventeen years, John who died at the age of nine- en months and an infant who died at birth. George and bert Faris, like their father, are Masons, both having ken the Scottish Rite, and the latter is a Shriner. Flor- ce, Nell and Mary are members of the Eastern Star.

ALFRED N. HUMPHREYS is a mining engineer by pro- ssion, has been identified with practical mine operations Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and, briefly, in the North- est, but the bulk of his work has been done since he came a resident of Philippi. He has done much to de- lop the coal measures of the Tygart Valley.

Mr. Humphreys was born in Luzerne County, Pennsyl- nia, February 15, 1880. His grandfather, Robert Humph- ys, was of Welsh ancestry and probably a native of ales. He married Catherine Emerich, whose grandfather, hn Emerich, was a partner of John Jacob Astor in New ork City, where large landed interests are said to belong John's heirs. The children of Robert Humphreys and ife were: Alfred N., Sr., John, Frank, Mrs. Christian ach and Mrs. Joseph Fogel.

Ifred N. Humphreys, Sr., was born at Wilkes-Barre, ennsylvania, had a college training, and as a young mau tered the profession and business of coal operating and inc engineering in Eastern Pennsylvania. Eventually he came general manager of some large coal properties, d had extensive finaneial interests in them. Ife died at ttsburgh in 1910, at the age of sixty-three. Ile was a publican, a Knight Templar Mason and Shriner and a ember of the Episcopal Church. He married Elizabeth Ilespie, who is still living at Pittsburgh. Her father, hn Gillespie, was a merchant in Luzerne County, Penn- lvania, where he died in carly life. Alfred N. IIumphreys, ., was the only son of his parents, and his seven sisters re: Mary H., wife of George F. Brendlinger, of Pitts- rgh; Miss Harriet R., who died in 1909; Eliza G., wife Charles S. Sowash, who died in Bakersfield, California, 1912; Miss Lenore G., of Pittsburgh; Miss Florence, of ttsburgh; Miss Anna, of New York City; and Constance wife of J. Frederick Knoblock, of Chicago.

Alfred N. Humphreys spent the first ten years of his e in the place of his birth, and then grew up at Irwin, nnsylvania. He was educated in the public schools there, d took a coal and mine engineering course in Fordham diversity of New York. From university he went into service of the Westmoreland Coal Company of Irwin an engineer, and did general engineering work at the reral mines of that company for five years. He per- "med work of a similar character two years for the Isworth Coal Company in Washington County, Pennsyl- nia. From there he came into the New River field of est Virginia, and for about a year as superintendent of o 500-foot shaft mines of the New River Coal Company. llowing this came his experience in the Northwest, at llings, Montana, where for a year he was superintendent the Bituminous Coal Company's mines. Returning to est Virginia, Mr. Humphreys then established his home 1 business headquarters at Philippi.

He operated at Philippi a property under the name of e Humphreys Collieries Company, continuing for about ee years and increasing the daily production to 300 s. This property was opened in 1908, and Mr. Hum- reys was president of the company and is still in that ce. Since 1912 the property has been leased to the mphreys Coal Company. He was associated with several er enterprises, and in 1919 opened property two miles

below Philippi, under the name of the A. N. Humphreys Coal Company, of which he is the active head.

Mr. Humphreys is a member of the city council of Philippi, a member of the Kiwanis Club, is a republican, having cast his first vote for Colonel Roosevelt in 1904, and, while a man of unusual social qualities, he is not affiliated with any secret order.

At Philippi, in September, 1910, Mr. Humphreys mar- ried Miss Grace Heatherly, daughter of James E. and Laura E. Heatherly. Her mother is still living at Philippi. Mrs. Humphreys was born at "The Pines," the country home of the Heatherly family near Phi.ippi. Her father was one of the extensive farmers in this region. Mrs. Humphreys is a graduate of Broaddus College. Her sister is Mrs. E. A. Bowers, and her ouly brother is Wayne W. Ifeatherly. Mrs. Humphreys is active in the Missionary Baptist Church.

IKA HARRIS has had an exceptionally busy and useful career extending over a period of thirty years. The founda- tion of his success was laid at farming. He was responsible for the development of and still owns one of the best farms in Barbour County. Upon removing to Philippi he engaged in business as a merehant.

Ilis people were pioneers in Barbour County. His great- grandfather was Simeon Harris, who first established a home in Glade District of Barbour County. The land he acquired remained as a farm in the hands of his sons. Ife built a generous chimney, marking the site of his home, and it is still standing on the farm. Simeon Harris was a Baptist preacher and did much to spread the gospel and religious work in the community. Besides preaching he married the young and buried the old. His own grave is near Meadowville.

George Harris, grandfather of the Philippi merchant, was born in Glade Distriet and devoted his life to farming in that locality. His enterprise and vigor enabled him to accumulate a large amount of real estate, and he was one of the real men of influence in his community. He was a Baptist and demoerat, and he died about forty years ago, when seventy-five years of age. He married Christina Cross, who survived him many years. Their children were: William, who died in Roane County, leaving a large family; Henry, who is still living, at the age of ninety-two, at the old home farm; Barton, who spent his life near Spencer; John; Abraham, a farmer who died near Spencer; Draper, who was a farmer in Glade District, but died in Randolph County; Ingaby, who died at Philippi, wife of Solomon Smith; Minerva, who married Frank Gainer, of Glade Dis- triet ; and another daughter went to Illinois, married and died in that state.

John Harris, father of Ira Harris, was born in Glade District in June, 1833, and as a boy had only the advan- tages of the old-fashioned subscription school. Farming became his permanent vocation after he attained manhood, and his activities were in the vicinity of Meadowville. Ile was physically unable for service in the Civil war, was a democrat, was a member of the Missionary Baptist Church, but for some years before his death had been affiliated with the Methodist Protestant Church. John Harris, who died May 19, 1917, married Elizabeth Martini, who was born in Randolph County in 1835, daughter of Simeon Martini. She died December 24, 1910, the mother of the following children: Elias J., of Spencer; George W., of Belington; Euphrates, a farmer near Meadowville; Page B., of Elkins; Ira; Dee, of Belington; and Olive, wife of Hoy Harsh, of Elkins.

Ira Harris was born March 30, 1872, and spent his early life on the farm in Glade District, acquiring a district school education. He has been one of the prominent men in that locality, and his splendid farm at Kalamazoo is rated as one of the best equipped and most profitably managed country places in the county. His home was on this farm until he removed his family to Philippi to secure better school advantages for his children. In Tucker County he owned 300 acres of grazing land, with build- ings and other improvements. For twenty years while on

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the farm Mr. Harris conducted a country store, and on removing to Philippi he utilized this experience by engag- ing in the grocery business. He is now a member of the firm Hauser and Harris, with a store devoted to ready-to- wear clothing for women and men.

In politics Mr. Harris is one of the old campaigners of Barbour County, and for many years has carried the ban- ner of the democratic party. He first voted for Mr. Bryan in 1896, and at different times was a committeeman of Glade District, helped as a delegate in several state con- ventions, helped name Junior Brown for Congress and has frequently accepted a place on the party ticket for office. He was several times elected constable of Glade District and a member of the Board of Education, and at one time was president of the board. His son Grover was party candidate for county clerk in 1920. Mr. Harris is a Metho- dist and for sixteen years was steward of his church in Glade District. He is affiliated with Kassan Lodge, Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows.

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History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 3, Part 118

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