History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 3, Part 128

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HON. SANFORD L. COBUN. In Preston County few fam- ilies have advanced a better claim to being pioneers in this region, forceful factors in its development, and workers at every point of its advancement than the Cobuns.

It was in 1770, five years before the beginning of the Revolution, that James Cohun, a son of Jonathan, made settlement at Dorsey's Knob and built his cahin a little south of Masontown. Only three years earlier Zackwell Morgan had established himself in Monongalia County. thus gaining the historieal fame of being the first settler of Morgantown. Monongalia County at that time included all of the present Preston County. In 1790 James Cobnn patented a thousand acres of land where he settled, and on this estate his descendants have been numerously repre- sented for 130 years. James Cobun was born in Old Vir- ginia, December 17, 1746, and died September 17, 1822. He was a slave holding farmer, a man of means, of in- tegrity and probity of eharaeter. His wife was Sarah 'Troder, and she accompanied her parents to Western Vir- ginia and was a member of the same party as James Cobun. The Indians called her "the pretty sqnaw." She was born September 10, 1756, and died October 1, 1843. Their children were Catherine, Susanna, James, Arthur, Isaac, John, Jacob and Sabra. The present line of the Cobuns runs through Isaac Cohun, who was born October 30, 1786, and died June 24, 1867. He spent his life as a farmer and on the lands acquired by the pioneer. He married Prudence Davis, who died January 19, 1873. Among their numerous children one was Benjamin F. Cobun, who was horn in September, 1831, and lived all his life in the Masontown locality. He was a farmer and merchant, and at his death was president of the Board of Education. He was a stanch republican and a member of the Official Board of the Methodist Episcopal Church many years. Benjamin F. Cobun married Jane Hartley, who was born near Masontown, and was seven years the junior of her husband and ontlived him a few years. Her father was Edward Hartley, and this family was likewise connected with the early history of Preston County. Benjamin F. Cobun and wife had the following children: Albert, who was associated with his father as a merchant and died in

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Preston County; Harriet, who became the wife of Samuel Fields, lived for many years in Illinois, but is now a resident of Masontown; Homer, a farmer near Reedsville; Sanford Lee; Elmer, a farmer near Masontown; Louie, wife of A. J. Stuck, of Masontown; W. G., a merchant of Recdsville; Florence, wife of Edward Wasson, of Fair- view, Illinois; Myra, who married Sherman Snyder, of Keyser, West Virginia; and Allie, who died young.

Sanford Lee Cobun was born within a mile of Mason- town September 11, 1860, and his childhood and youth were spent there until he was twenty years of age. After the select and free schools he had an experience for two or three years as clerk in the store with his father and older brother, and then took over the general mercantile business on his own responsibility, and for abont thirty- five years was proprietor of the firm of S. L. Cobun. While a merchant he erected a large brick business house, now owned by the Penn-Mary Company. After selling this property and business he erected the large hotel building across the street, and has employed his capital in other development in Masontown. He is now retired from the heavier responsibilities of business, but as an occupation he conducts a modest real estate office.

Mr. Cobun was one of the organizers in 1907 of the Bank of Masontown, capitalized at $25,000, and in 1908 he succeeded Mr. E. M. Bartley as president. The Board of Directors comprised fifteen members, the active officers of the bank being Earl Dixon and Mr. Cobun, while the vice presidents are Doctor Post and H. A. Hartley. Other directors are Prentis R. Watson, E. E. Cobun, J. F. Wat- son, S. C. Mckinney, J. E. Hartley, I. N. Roby, Frank L. Street, S. D. Snyder, Earnest Watson, M. H. Orr and B. T. Gibson. The bank early in 1922 occupied its new home, a modern two-story brick building.

Mr. Cobun has an interesting record of public service. He was frequently chosen to the Town Council and served one year as village mayor. In 1911 he was elected to the House of Delegates and was re-elected in 1913. During his first term the speaker of the House was Mr. Whetsell, and he was assigned as chairman of the committee on banks and banking and member of several other commit- tees. During his second term he served under Speaker George and was again chairman of the banks and banking committee. In 1916 Mr. Cobun was elected to the State Senate for the Fourteenth District, comprising Preston, Tucker. Mineral, Grant and Hardy counties, and succeeded Bliss MeCrum in the Senate. He served under Presidents Goodykuntz and Sinsel, and in both sessions was a member of the finance committee and chairman of the committee on agriculture. He introduced and secured the passage of Senate Bill No. 76, empowering the preparatory school at Keyser to receive Government aid, and also Senate Bill No. 95, permitting a minimum charge of $1.00 for making a loan and interest charge for the use of the money. An- other measure he introduced which became a law was that regulating commercial food products, and another was one granting a soldier from West Virginia the right to vote by mail while on active duty. Another bill which passed provided for the entry or filing of historical documents or writings with the Archives and History Department of the State at Charleston and the issuing of a copy of the manuscript to anyone making application for it. He was also a supporter of some of the measures claiming special precedence in the special sessions. He supported the rati- fication of the national prohibition amendment and the woman's suffrage amendment. While he was in the House of Delegates le took part in the last election of a United States senator, voting for Nathan Goff, the compromise candidate of the party, though his personal choice was David Elkins.

Mr. Cobun grew up in a republican household and cast his first presidential vote for James G. Blaine in 1884 and has supported every party nominee at a national election since then. He has been a member of a number of local and congressional conventions.

At Reedsville in 1885 Senator Cobun married Miss Mat- tie Loar, who died twelve years later. Her only child was

Lucile Cobun, who died within two weeks of graduating from Buckhannon College. In 1903 Mr. Cobun married Rosa Rohy, daughter of Albert Roby. She was born in Monongalia County.

WILLIAM MARSHALL WOLF is now living retired at Bruce. ton Mills, past the age of fourscore, having accumulated a record of good honest work as a carpenter and mill. wright and later as a successful farmer. He has been attentive to the duties of good citizenship, and his life is one of those that give honor to the name Wolf in Preston County.

He was born in Bruceton Village, on the site of the Home Hotel, October 23, 1840, son of Augustine and Sarah (Mosser) Wolf, his mother being a sister of the venerable Daniel Mosser of Clifton Mills. His grandfather, Samue. Wolf, came from Germany and spent his last years in West Virginia. His sons were Michael, John, Peter and Augustine, and he also had a daughter, Mrs. Nancy Wor man. Augustine Wolf was born in 1811, and in 1844 moved his family to a farm near Rockville. He lived past the age of eighty-six, and his wife, who was nine year: his junior, reached the age of nearly eighty-five. They reared the following children: William Marshall; Laodicea who married R. F. Jenkins; John Allison, a farmer nea) Rockville; Phoebe, whose first husband was Levi Cale and she is now Mrs. Harvey Walls, living at Albright, Wes Virginia; and Lehamer, who died in Fayette County, Penn sylvania, leaving a family.

William Marshall Wolf grew up in the vicinity of Rock ville, and he attended one of the pioneer schoolhouses 01 that time and section. He sat on a slab bench supported by pegs, wrote on a writing table which was a board lean ing against the wall, while the room was heated by a fire place. The schoolhouse itself was of logs and stood on thu, site or near the Harmony Grove Church. This building has long since decayed. On reaching his majority Mr. Wolf became a journeyman carpenter and cabinet maker and his honest workmanship could be testified to by numer ous examples in Grant and Pleasant districts. He buil several of the early homes there, among them the Lockar Bircher residence, the home on the Jesse Forman farm now the property of Bert Forman, the Pleasant Valley schoolhouse, and he worked on the Centenary, Harmony Grove and Nebo churches. It was his custom to follow hi trade throughout the winter and other seasons of the year until his time and energies were demanded in the harves fields. He also did much work as a millwright, and pu in the roller processes at Rockville, Bruceton and the Dells, low mills, and a waterwheel on the Muddy Creek Mill.

An early injury physically disabled him for the dutie of a soldier, so that he did not enlist at the time of th Civil war. However, for a short time he was a teamste with General Meade's army in the Shenandoah Valley going as far as Winchester and Halltown. After leavin; his trade Mr. Wolf applied himself to the practical sid. of farming, though he still kept his set of tools and worked occasionally both on his own farm and for others. Hi farm was near Hopewell in Grant District, and he kept up his work there until 1918, when he retired and remover to Bruceton Mills. He was one of the promoters and is stockholder in the electric light plant of the village. H was a farm friend and financial supporter of the movemen to seenre a new high school for the village.

Mr. Wolf has been rather independent in politics, thoug in the main he has voted the democratic ticket. His firs vote was cast against secession, even before he reached hi majority, and he was in favor of William G. Brown, Sr for Congress. He favored the election of Douglas fo president in 1860, but did not vote that year. His fathe supported Breckenridge for president. Mr. Wolf gav his ballot to General McClelland in 1864 and to Governo Seymour of New York four years later, and has seldor, missed voting the democratic national ticket, though occa sionally he has supported another party man for Congress Mr. Wolf joined the Baptist Church in 1861, and for mor than thirty years was church clerk.

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In December, 1868, he married Mis Hester A. Jenkins, aughter of Graham and Louisa (King) Jenkins. She died 1 1880, the mother of three children: Dora Ann, wife of . Y. Shaw, of Bruceton; Oliver, who died unmarried in 918; and Lucian Marshall, of Morgantown, who married [azel Morris and has a son, Woodrow Wilson. In 1884 Ir. Wolf married Florence Collins, sister of Walter Col- ns of Bruceton. There were no children by this marriage. In December 1, 1920, he married Miss Ola Martin, mem- er of a prominent family of Preston County, where she as born, daughter of Milton F. and Lydia (Forman) Martin, farmers in the conuty. Mrs. Wolf is one of five hildren and was born October 14, 1875. Her two sur- iving brothers are Ashbel, of Des Moines, Iowa, and Dr. 1. T. Martin, of Seattle, Washington.

THOMAS WINFIELD KING. King is one of the first family ames encountered in the annals of Preston County. The ubstantial qualities of the family have always been ap- arent in each generation, and the career of Thomas Win- eld King, of Bruceton Mills, has been fully in keeping ith the high standards of the entire family. Mr. King a merchant at Bruceton Mills, and for many years fol- wed his trade as a carpenter and builder.

His great-grandfather, James King, came to Preston ounty from Oldtown, Virginia. Several of his brothers ccompanied him, among them John, Valentine and Wil- am. They all settled on Laurel Run in the vicinity of aurel Church and Schoolhouse, and on the hill overlook- ag the little valley below James spent his final years. He nd his brothers were farmers, although Squire Jolin King wned a mill on the Run, some traces of which pioneer dustry are still evident. James King reached Preston ounty by the beginning of the nineteenth century. His on, Thomas, was born on the Run in 1805. James King married Emma Short. Their children were: Thomas, just entioned; Alpheus, the other son, who spent his life at he old homestead; Annie, who became the wife of Bayles haw and died near Mannington; Bettie, who was the wife f William Herrington and spent her life near Newburg; Hiza, who was the wife of Graham Jenkins and lived on tig Sandy, near Harmony Grove Church; Margaret, who ied near Cuzzart, wife of Henry Chidester; and Sophia, ho married William Douglass, and both died in Jackson 'ounty, Iowa. Thomas King came to manhood through a eriod in which there were few schools and little oppor- unity to gain more than the merest fundamentals of nowledge. Nevertheless he became a successful man, and t his marriage established his home on Big Sandy, where e was busy with his farming activities, extended the scope f his land holdings, and at his death left a good estate. [e was never a church member, was a republican in poli- .cs, and among other accomplishments he was skilled in hoemaking and did much of the community repair work nd also made new shoes and boots for his neighbors.

" Thomas King married Jane Brandon, who was born and ared at Brandonville, daughter of William Brandon, the illage taking its name from the family. Jane Brandon as several years younger than her husband and outlived im about as long. Their children were: Albert and Wil- am, who were taken captives and starved to death in the onfederate prison at Andersonville; George, who was a oldier in the First West Virginia Cavalry and spent his vilian life in the Laurel Run community and about Bruce- on; rugeneus B., of Bruceton Mills; Thomas, a farmer Fayette County, Pennsylvania; Serenia, who became the ife of Ami Jenkins and died in Preston County; Persis, ho was married to Isaac Jenkins and lived in Preston ounty; and Mary, who was the wife of Irvin Christopher ad died near Pisgah.

Albert King, father of Thomas Winfield, was born at aurel Run, and his early life was devoted to his farm. arly in the War of the Rebellion he enlisted in the Third laryland Infantry, and served more than three years be- re he was captured. He and his brother, William, were oth taken prisoners while on the march, and they were nt to Andersonville, where both perished as a result of

the sufferings entailed by exposure and lack of food. Albert King married Hester Ann Jenkins, daughter of Evan Jenkins. With the help of her older children she carried on the work of the farm during the absence of her soldier husband and after his death. She remained there until late in life, when she left the vicinity in which so many useful and hard working years had been spent, and thereafter lived in comfort at the home of her son in Bruce- ton, where she died in April, 1920, at the venerable age of ninety-seven. Her children were: Alcinins and Mary Armena, twins, the former a resident of Preston County, while the latter died as the wife of Silas Metheny; Thomas Winfield; Jehu, of Bruceton Mills; Hannah, wife of Ben Huggins, of Terra Alta; Evan, who conducts a farm at Laurel Run, in the same vicinity where liis pioneer ances- tors lived; and Sarah, who became the wife of Marshall Harnet and died in Preston County.

Thomas Winfield King was born on the old farm at Laurel Run, November 3, 1849, and he had the companion- ship and guidance of his father until he was twelve years of age. He assisted his mother on the farm, attended conn- try schools, and early took up the trade of carpenter. For some time he did journeyman work at Connellsville, Penn- sylvania, and then resumed his residence in Preston County. His home has been at Bruceton Mills for thirty-five years, and he has done carpenter work all over this vicinity. About twelve years ago he opened a general merchandise store, and enjoys a large and prosperous trade.

In Preston County, April 10, 1871, he married Mary F. Haines, a daughter of Henry Haines, a farmer in the Hazel Run settlement, though he and his wife spent their last years near Connellsville, Pennsylvania. The children of Mr. Haines were: Mrs. Lavina Gribble, of Bruceton Mills; Catherine, wife of Thomas King, of Connellsville; Mrs. Winfield King, who was born at Hazel Run, Novem- ber 9, 1853; John, who died near Connellsville; Edward and Hudson, near Connellsville; Bina and Hattie, both of whom died unmarried.

Mr. and Mrs. King had two children. The daughter Cora is the wife of Charles Feather, of Fairmont, and they have four children, May, Freda, Mabel and Hazel. The only son, William, joined the Regular Army, and while stationed in foreign lands died of cholera some seven- teen years ago, his body being brought back to San Fran- cisco and buried.

Mr. King has satisfied his interest in politics and pub- lic affairs by casting his vote as a republican, beginning in 1872, when he supported General Grant. He has been one of the substantial upbuilders and upholders of Bruce- ton's prosperity, and owns considerable residence prop- erty in the village. He is an active member of the Baptist Church, though Mrs. King is a Lutheran.

FRED L. FEASTER. An interesting example of true edu- cational leadership is found in the person of the superin- tendent of schools of Grant District in Preston County, Fred L. Feaster. A brief description of what he has done there and elsewhere is in an important sense a valuable contribution to the educational system of the state.

Mr. Feaster is a school administrator in his native state, his birth occurring at Maysville in Grant County, August 25, 1885. The Feaster family was established in Grant County by his great-grandfather, who came about 1810 from Rockingham County, Virginia, and acquired con- siderable land in Grant County. Though he lived before the Civil war he always employed free labor in his fields. He died about the time of the war. Among his sons were William Henry, John, Cornelius, Mrs. Mary Raceler, and Margaret, who married Henry Keplinger.

William Henry Feaster, grandfather of Superintendent Feaster, spent his active life as a farmer, held the office of squire in the early days, was a Union man at the time of the war and a republican and a member of the Disciples Church. He died at the age of seventy-eight. By his marriage to Mary McDonald he had four sons and a daughter, and by his second wife was the father of four other children.

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William C. Feaster, whose mother was Mary McDonald, was born near Maysville, April 30, 1855, and secured his education in the old type of subscription school. He be- came a farmer, and continued actively in that vocation until he retired and is now living at his home near Mays- ville. He married Rebecca Painter, daughter of Elias Painter, an old settler of Grant County, who came as a boy to Rockingham County, Virginia. Iu later life he acquired extensive holdings of land in the county. Elias Painter married Eliza Danna, and they had six children. William C. Feaster and wife had the following children: Albert, a teacher and farmer at Maysville, Grant County; Mrs. Sophia Simpson, whose husband is a farmer near Mays- ville; Samuel O., a representative of the Metropolitan In- surance Company at Fairmont, West Virginia; Fred Lewis; Lulu, wife of Milton Simpson, of Maysville; Harry U., a roller in a tinplate mill at Marietta, Ohio; Lottie, wife of Ed Haslacker, of Maysville; Orrie, wife of Edward Puf- finbarger, a farmer near Maysville; and Elvin, who is also a farmer near Maysville.

Fred L. Feaster grew up on the home farm, and the knowledge he gained of farming and country life has been an important asset to him as a leader in rural education. He attended the public schools, Broaddus Institute, then located at Clarksburg, now at Philippi, and later the State University at Morgantown. When he was a boy there was not a high school in his home county, and to secure advantages beyond the common schools necessitated paying tuition and living expenses, all of which he earned. He began teaching at the age of eighteen, and alternatły was teacher and pupil until he had completed his education and secured a high rating as a teacher. His first term of sehool was taught in his home county. In order to board at home he walked three and a half miles back and forth, and received $25 a month as wages. After teaching four terms he left the state and went to the far Northwest, stopping in Hubbard and Baker counties, Minnesota, and during the two years he was there he taught a term of nine months' school in each county. On returning to West Virginia Mr. Feaster resumed teaching in Grant County for three years. He was then called into Monon- galia County as teacher of the village school of Blacks- ville. While there he had much to do with arousing public opinion and bringing about the establishment of a district high school, which gave a great impulse to education, in- creasing school attendance and developing the school from a two-room grade to a first class high school, wherein half the teachers of the district have taken college work.

In 1918 Mr. Feaster came from Blacksville to Bruceton Mills to take up his work as superintendent of Grant Dis- triet. In this field he has been practically the pioneer in the matter of advanced education. He has had to achieve the establishment of a high school, which was started three weeks after he began his term. Its first en- rollment was nineteen students, and in its third year the enrollment was forty. At Hazelton the first centralized rural school in Preston County has been created, and its work has justly aroused much enthusiasm. It is the result of a consolidation of five older districts, and the school is now graded, with three teachers in charge. Its children are transported by the district to and from school, and some of the pupils had not previously attended school for sev- eral years. The facilities of this school comprise full eight grades.

The schools of Grant District have been graded to har- monize with the state course of study, and as a means of providing school supplies supplementing the funds pro- vided by the state the schools have raised more than $1,800 by holding socials and other entertainments for that pur- pose. The records in the office of the county superintendent of schools show that Grant District has the best school attendance in the county. Club work among the boys and girls has been encouraged. Many have carried out some projects in harmony with instructions issued by the extension department of the State University, and Mr. Feaster has busied himself with keeping the project and the people in touch with the University Extension System.

Pig Clubs, Poultry Clubs, Potato Clubs and Corn Clubs have been formed by the boys, and the girls also have elubs in sewing, poultry, potatoes and sheep. The district has an annual camp, where members of these clubs meet to consider and develop the "Four-eight" idea. "Four- eight" stands for hand, head, heart and health develop- ment. This camp is continued for a week. The prize win- ners in the different projects are sent to the state camp, usually held at the university, and there compete for the degree or honor of being an all star iu the project idea.

Mr. Feaster has spent eighteen years in different dis- tricts and in different types of school work. He un- doubtedly has the fundamental qualities of a real cdu- cator, being an inspiring leader rather than a routine in- structor. He is broadminded, keeps his mind open to new ideas and is ready to support anything that will make the' schools more efficient in the training of men and women. A district "round table" provides the teachers with an opportunity to exchange views, and the twenty-three teach- ers of Grant District are regularly associated to their benefit in these table meetings.

Mr. Feaster was married while teaching in Minnesota, at Park Rapids, July 30, 1909. His wife was Bessie E. Me- Indoe. Mrs. Feaster was born in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, daughter of James and Elizabeth (Lauer) MeIndoe. Her father was born in Pennsylvania and was a Baptist minister. Mrs. Feaster was one of a family of four daughters and two sons, and during her girlhood shc lived in Pennsylvania, Maryland and West Virginia, her father having pastorates in all these states. She finished her education in the Shepherd College State Normal and Broaddus Institute at Clarksburg, and for several years before her marriage was a grade teacher. Mr. and Mrs. Feaster have four children: Irene, Nellie, Marguerite and Lois. The family are Baptists and Mr. Feaster has been active in church and Sunday school work, serving as super- intendent or class teacher in the Sunday school.

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History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 3, Part 128

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