History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 3, Part 137

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On April 15, 1884, Mr. Bennett began business at Rock 'e by opening a small stock of jewelry merchandise. He been in business ever since, making his store respon- to the new ideas and developments of the community, owner of a prosperous business, also has 100 acres of 1 in Lewis County, and derives a valuable income from even-acre peach orchard. His material prosperity is y a merited reward of so many years of work and nagement, and at the same time he enjoys the complete Dect and confidence of his old friends and associates

December 11, 1890, Mr. Bennett married Delia V. Boggs, ister of Robert C. Boggs, the hotel proprietor at Rock e. Mr. and Mrs. Bennett are members of the Metho- Episcopal Church, South, in which Mr. Bennett is a tee, steward and a member of the Official Board. He ffiliated with the Masonic Order and the Junior Order ted American Mechanics, and votes as a democrat, but had no desire at any time to hold office.

SA D. PAGE is one of the substantial men in the French k community of Upshur County, has lived there nearly his life, has followed farming, still owns a good farm, is interested in many matters of community welfare, uding good roads, good churches and schools.

r. Page was born on Mulberry Ridge in Upshur County, ember 22, 1863, son of Frank and Martha (Young) e. His mother was born on a farm near French Creek, aughter of Gilbert and Amarillys (Barrett) Young. ert Young was a son of Robert Young, who came to ich Creek from Massachusetts. Franklin W. Page was in Virginia and came to the French Creek community ng the Civil war, was married and settled on a farm, re he continued farming until his death in July, 1872. wife died in November, 1888. They were active 'ch members and he was a republican. Their four Iren were: Asa D .; Charles, who died at the age of y; Festus Y., who is interested in the copper industry Arkansas; and L. W. Page, of Buckhannon.

sa D. Page grew up on the home farm and acquired mmon school education. He farmed for several years, e spent a few years in the West, and since his return this marriage he has been settled down to the vocation

farmer and stockman on his hundred acre place. He so a stockholder in the Bank of Adrian. Mr. Page is 'ustee of the French Creek Presbyterian Church, is fated with Columbia Lodge No. 81, F. and A. M., and 'nd his wife are members of the Eastern Star. He also lags to Adrian Lodge of Odd Fellows and to the Junior or United American Mechanics. In politica he casts grote as a republican.

Utober 9, 1907, Mr. Page married Elaie Bunten. They

have three children: French, born in 1909; Martha H., born in 1911; and Ruth, born in 1914.

PARLEY E. CUTRIGHT. It has been the destiny of Par- ley E. Cutright to set in motion those enterprises and influences that in an important degree represent the busi- ness and community activities of the Upshur Village of Frenchton, a thriving and progressive center of trade, church, school and social advantages.

Mr. Cutright was born near Rock Cave in Upshur County August 27, 1882, son of Alonzo and Catherine D. (Strader) Cutright. His parents were also natives of Upshur County, his father born near Hampton and his mother near Tall- mansville. They grew up here, acquiring common school educations, and after their marriage settled on a farm and spent the rest of their lives in that industrious voca- tion. The father died in 1908 and the mother in June, 1921. Alonzo Cutright was also a house carpenter. He was a member of the Methodist Church, a republican, and was affiliated with the Junior Order United American Mechanics. There were three children: Parley E .; Loyd F., a farmer and trader in Upshur County, who married Florence Neely; and Isea, wife of James V. Armstrong, of Clarksburg.

Parley E. Cutright grew up on the home farm, and at- tended the public schools and summer normals until quali- fied for teaching, a vocation he followed five years. He also learned telegraphy, and for fourteen years was in railroad service as an agent and operator. When he re- signed from the railroad company Mr. Cutright engaged in the feed business at Frenchton, and three years later, in May, 1921, he expanded the scope of his enterprise to general merchandising. He is now senior member of the firm Cutright & Neely, general merchants. Mr. Cut- right also owns a farm of eighty acres.

He has been the leading spirit in the growth and devel- opment of Frenchton in every direction. He was the first agent for the Coal & Coke Railroad Company here. His enterprise and capital have been responsible for the chief building development in the town. He was instrumental in organizing the United Brethren Church of Frenchton, and also secured the institution of Lodges of the Knights of Pythias and Modern Woodmen of America, and served as the first officer in, both these lodges.

On August 31, 1903, Mr. Cutright married Miss Maude Neely, daughter of Alva and Christianna (Hinkle) Neely. They have one child, Lola A., born November 4, 1904, now the wife of Monter Harper. Mr. and Mrs. Harper live at Frenchton and have one child. Mr. Cutright and family are active in the United Brethren Church, in which he is a trustee, and he is now superintendent of the Sunday School. He is prominent in fraternal affairs, affiliated with Rock Cave Lodge No. 81, A. F. and A. M., Up- shur Chapter R. A. M., and the Buckhannon Command- ery; is a past noble grand of Lodge No. 375 of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows; past councillor of the Junior Order United American Mechanics No. 77; past chancellor and former district deputy chancellor of the Knights of Pythias in Frenchton Lodge No. 59, and is affiliated with Camp No. 14680, Modern Wood- men of America. He and Mrs. Cutright are members of the Eastern Star, and he is past worthy patron of the Chapter. In politics Mr. Cutright is a republican.

JOSEPH P. MINEAR has devoted the greater part of his active life to the coal mining industry in West Virginia. He is now superintendent of the Minear Coal & Mining Company at Adrian, this being a family corporation.

The Minear family goes back into the pioneer history of Tucker County, West Virginia. The great-grandfather of Joseph Minear was David Minear, who came from old Virginia in 1789 and entered about five hundred acres of land in the vicinity of St. George in Tucker County. That land is still in the family name. David Minear is said to have built the first sawmill in this part of the state, and in the early days that mill cut great logs of walnut timber

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iuto common lumber. The grandfather of Joseph P. Minear was Enoch Minear. David Minear was founder of the Methodist Church in his community, building a church edifice, and his own children followed him in that religious faith. However, his grandson, David S. Minear, became a Presbyterian and was an elder in that church for many years. David S. was affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and voted as a democrat. He married Mary J. Parsons, who was also born in the St. George community. They have six children: Crede W., who grad- uated from the Smith Commercial College at Lexington, Kentucky, and is cashier of the First National Bank of Hendricks, West Virginia; Joseph P .; John W., of Parsons; Crawford W., of Tacoma, Washington; Mary C., wife of Lomax Wamsley, of Herndon, Virginia; and W. S., who lives on the old homestead farm.

Joseph P. Minear was born at St. George February 1, 1870, grew up on the home farm, and supplemented his public school education in the Fairmont State Normal. Hle has had a busy career and for several years was in newspaper work at St. George and Davis. For six years he was railroad agent at Hendricks, and then became store manager for the Wildell Lumber Company, remaining in the service of that corporation six years. He then went to Harding, West Virginia, as store manager for the Davis Colliery Company, remaining there six years, and in 1917 took the responsibility of superintendent of the Minear Coal & Mining Company at Adrian. Mr. Minear is also one of the directors of the Bank of Adrian. He is a democrat, is affiliated with Hendricks Lodge of Knights of Pythias, a member of Beverly Lodge of Masons, and has attained the thirty-second degree in the Scottish Rite. Mrs. Minear is a member of the Eastern Star. They are active in the Presbyterian Church. In June, 1895, Mr. Minear married Anna T. Adams, daughter of John J. Adams. She graduated from the St. George Academy and was a teacher before her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Minear lost their only child, a daughter.

HOMER O. VAN TROMP, M. D. The medical and surgical practice of the French Creek community in Upshur County is ably looked after by Doctor Van Tromp, who was born and grew up in this community and has made a splendid record in his chosen profession. He has practiced here for nearly ten years.

Doctor Van Tromp was born at French Creek Septem- ber 26, 1877, son of Jolin A. and Margaret (Ward) Van Tromp. His father was born in Rockingham County, Vir- ginia, in March, 1840, and at the age of eighteen came to this section of West Virginia. He had acquired his early education in his native state, and he also attended sub- scription school in West Virginia. He was a student, and for many years was a successful teacher. He served nine months in the Twenty-fourth West Virginia Cavalry, and was discharged at the close of war. After his marriage he taught school in Upshur and Harrison counties, and finally moved to French Creek to educate his children at the old academy, and is still living at French Creek. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and a prohibitionist. John A. Van Tromp and wife had seven children, one of whom died at the age of nineteen. Those living are: John M., a teacher and surveyor in Upshur County; Lulu, wife of Jerome Fultz, of Jane Lew, West Virginia; Dr. Homer O .; Miss Iva L., who has been a teacher; Miss Mary E .; and Aleta, who is a graduate of the Fairmont State Normal and has been a teacher.

Dr. Homer O. Van Tromp was reared at French Creek, attended the free schools there and took the work of the summer normal schools. As a young man he studied elec- tricity and steam engineering, and for a time was electri- cian at the West Virginia State Reform School and was also in Washington, District of Columbia, employed as chief engineer at the National Training School for Boys. For several years he had set his mind on a medical career, and in preparation therefor he entered the Eclectic School of Medicine at Cincinnati, where he was graduated in 1913, and in the same year returned to French Creek to begin

practice. Doctor Van Tromp is a member of the County State and American Medical Associations. He is a bus man in his profession, and at the same time takes a dee interest in everything connected with the general welfar and progress of the community. He is a stockholder i the Bank of Adrian, in the Upshur County Fair Associa tion and the Buckhannon Chamber of Commerce. He : a republican, a Presbyterian, and is affiliated with Roc Cave Lodge No. 81, A. F. and A. M., and he and his wif are members of Aletha Chapter of the Eastern Star.

In 1907 Doctor Van Tromp married Blanch E. Brook a daughter of Adolphus Brooks and member of a pron inent family of educators and horticulturists in Upshi County.

THADDEUS K. WINGROVE. Wingrove is a name that ha, been identified with West Virginia community life f( considerably more than a century. The first America ancestor of the French Creek citizen named above W: John Wingrove, who was born in England about 175 came to America at the age of seventeen, lived in Ve mont, where he married, and later moved to Virginia ar finally to West Virginia, establishing his home in Marsha County, where he lived out his life. His son, William Wi grove, was founder of the family in Upshur County ar was a millwright by trade. His son, Harrison Wingrov married Maria Peebles, and they were the parents of Ma shall P. Wingrove, who was born in Braxton County, We Virginia, November 20, 1834. Marshall P. Wingrove gre up in the French Creek community, acquired a good educ tion, and after his marriage settled at French Creek, whe he continued farming and the milling business the rest his life. He was an elder and liberal supporter of ti French Creek Presbyterian Church, and was a very acti prohibitionist in politics. In 1858 Marshall P. Wingro married Roxanna Anderson, who was born in Frenchto Upshur County, March 19, 1834, daughter of James a) Sarah (Syron) Anderson, who settled in Upshur Coun from old Virginia. Of the seven children of Marshall Wingrove and wife six are now living: Warren, of S: Francisco; Oscar, of British Columbia; Maude, wife of J. Dunn, an attorney at Omaha, Nebraska; Miriam, wi of J. S. Curry, of Cleveland, Ohio; Thaddeus K .; al Clarence, a farmer and poultryman at French Creek.

Thaddeus K. Wingrove was born near French Cre, April 9, 1871. He grew up there, acquired a public scho education, and also attended the U. B. Academy at Bud hannon. Since leaving college his years have been stead: devoted to his trade as a carpenter and to his interests a farmer. He also looks after his farm of sixteen acı half a mile southeast of French Creek. Mr. Wingrove is democrat in politics, is affiliated with the Modern Woo men of America, and is an elder in the French Creek Pr. byterian Church and a teacher in the Sunday School.

February 6, 1900, he married Miss Mayme Phillips, w was born at French Creek October 9, 1875. They have a son, C. Lyle, born March 19, 1906, now attending sch at French Creek.

JACKSON V. BLAIR. In his experience as a lawy Jackson V. Blair of West Union, West Virginia, has pre ably covered a wider and more important field in }} adopted county of Doddridge, than any of his contem] raries, now engaged in the work of the profession. He w admitted to the bar in 1877, having been examined by C cuit Judges Charles S. Lewis and James M. Jackson, J' and by Okey Johnson, judge of the Supreme Court Appeals of West Virginia. He had studied law under 1 distinguished judge and public leader Hon. Chapman Stuart, with whom he became associated in the practice

Mr. Blair was born April 16, 1853, on a farm on I Creek, south of Clarksburg, in Harrison County, Virgin now West Virginia. His great-grandfather, William Ble was a native of Scotland where he was educated for 1 Presbytery, but he declined the robes, left his native hea landed at Philadelphia, passed into Virginia, render military service in behalf of the colonists and after

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se of the Revolution, purchased land on Hastings Run, butary to Elk Creek, in Harrison County, where he ahlished his home. He married Miss Martha McCul- igh, a lady of culture, and to this union were born five ildren, the eldest of whom was Dr. Alexander Blair, andfather of the West Union lawyer. Doctor Blair, for veral years a leader in popular education, devoted the eater part of his life to the practice of medicine. He rried Miss Mary Arnold, a native of Harrison County. r sister, Roana Arnold, was the wife of Hon. Samuel Hays, who as congressman from this section of the Dominion, appointed Thomas J. Jackson cadet to West int, and gave him money to pay expenses thereto. Hays rsonally knew young Jackson, and lived to see him ristened "Stonewall" on the bloody field of Bull Run. To the marriage of Dr. Alexander Blair and Mary nold were born three sons and three daughters. The ungest son, George B., became a tailor by trade at which worked, and also farmed some. He married Miss Har- t Morgan, a daughter of Morgan Morgan, ("Mod" organ, as he was known,) a native of Marion County. was a near relative of David Morgan, famed in history a frontiersman and Indian fighter in the upper Mo- ngahela Valley. He was a brother of Col. Zaquell Mor- n, founder of Morgantown. They were sons of Morgan Morgan, who was born in Wales, educated in Lon- , and came to Delaware, where he married Catherine rretson, the issue of this union being Morgan, Jr., Anne, quell (or Zacquil), Evan, David, Charles, Henry and mes. The father with his family, moved to the Valley Virginia near Winchester, his estate being in Berkeley anty.

Of David, Doctor De Hass in his History of Virginia, 's: "Of those who removed with their families to ickett's Fort was David Morgan, one of the earliest tlers on the frontier, and a man of great energy of tracter and sterling worth. He was a near relative of n. Daniel Morgan of Revolutionary memory, and like t distinguished officer, possessed, in a high degree, rage and capacity for almost any emergency."

Into the marriage of George B. and Harriet Morgan tir, were born, Jackson V. (subject of this sketch), rgan Franklin, Mary Ellen (now deceased), Thomas and William A.

Their parents were members of the Baptist Church. kson V. spent his early years on a farm, attended the imon schools and entered the State Normal at Fairmont m which he was graduated in 1875. He taught several ns, his last being as principal of the West Union ded School. He was twice elected superintendent of schools of Doddridge County, and served four years. June 17, 1890, Governor A. B. Fleming commissioned major, as judge advocate of the First Regiment, st Virginia National Guard. and he served four years. n 1898, Major Blair was the democratic candidate for gress from the old first district. Although he was not ted, he had the satisfaction of materially reducing his onent's former majority. In 1912, he was his party 's hinee for circuit judge and again made a most creditable 3. His long and steady practice of law has been varied other interests. He was one of the organizers of The st Union Bank, the oldest in the county, and is a mem- of its board of directors. He was also, one of the Final stockholders in the Ideal Window Glass Com- ty and was president thereof several years.

Socially, Major Blair is a Knight Templar, thirty- nd degree Scottish Rite Mason, a Noble of the Mystic fine and a member of the Independent Order of Odd (ows and Knights of Pythias lodges. He is also a ber of the Baptist Church.

1 1879, he married Miss Ella M. Smith, daughter of Et. Francis M. F. Smith and Julia Ann Smith, founders Smithton, now Smithburg, three miles east of West on. Captain Smith was a native of Fauquier County, ¡inia, and a cousin of the renowned William Smith, 1 was governor of that commonwealth. The wife of tain Smith was a daughter of Matthew and Maria

Newlon Neely, substantial and most worthy pioneer citizens.

Mrs. Blair is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church; past matron in the Order of the Eastern Star and a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Unto Major Blair and wife were born eight children, viz .: Julia, wife of Paul M. Ireland, an attorney; Smith, cashier of The Bank of Jacksonburg; William E. of Cincin- nati; Anne Morgan, wife of George C. Crouse, expert ab- stractor of titles to oil and gas lands; Jackson V., Jr., lawyer of Fairmont; George Neely, broker of Akron, Ohio; Francis Keech, field agent of the Portland Cement Association; and Marion R., a student.

When the United States entered the World war, three of these sons enlisted in the military service. George Neely Blair was already in the service as sergeant on duty along the Mexican border. Thereafter, he enlisted for overseas service. On August 26, 1918, he was promoted and com- missioned second lieutenant of infantry. He participated in engagements in the Meuse-Argonne and was at the front when the armistice was signed. After that he was trans- ferred to the Army of Occupation in Germany, as second lieutenant of Company K, Twenty-sixth Infantry, First Division. In August, 1919, he sailed from Brest, France, and on September 4th of the following month, received his honorable discharge.

Francis Keech Blair, while a student at Bethany College, went to Pittsburgh and enlisted in the navy on the twelfth day after this nation declared war against the imperial government of Germany. He trained at different stations, was assigned to duty on sub-marine chasers and was transferred to The Canonicus, attached to the mine-laying fleet that planted the mines across the North Sea, which "bottled up" the German war fleet, and it finally sur- rendered. On July 16, 1919, he was honorably discharged, as seaman, first class.

Jackson V., Jr., who had had military schooling at the Staunton Military Institute, and as cadet at the State University at Morgantown, enlisted in the aviation branch of the service. He completed the prescribed course at the Military School of Aeronautics at the University of Texas, September 19, 1918; trained in different fields and with his squadron, was ready to embark for oversea duty, when the armistice was signed. Thereafter he received an honor- able discharge. While these sons were doing their duty in the army and navy, their father was active in home work, serving as chairman of the local draft board; and their mother in doing Red Cross work, and patriotically cheer- ing her own and other soldier boys on to duty.

Major Blair, although approaching the "three score and ten" goal, is yet vigorous and active in the practice of his profession.

JOHN A. KIMBLE. The chief officer of the courts and law enforcer of Grant County is Sheriff John A. Kimble, a fearless and alert official whose work in office has justified fully the confidence of the citizens who put him there with their votes. For many years he was associated in the tim- ber and lumber industry, and was in that business during the early years of his residence at Bayard.

Mr. Kimble was born in Pendleton County, April 4, 1863. His father, also named John A. Kimble, was born in Ger- many and as a young man came to the United States. In Pendleton County he married Miss Sarah Shirk, who was of Scotch ancestry. His father devoted his active years to farming, and at the time of the Civil war he enlisted as a Union soldier and died just about the close of the struggle. His widow was left the task of rearing her young children, and she did her part by them nobly. She finally married Isaac Harman, and by that union had one child. Rosa, wife of John Judy, of Maysville, West Virginia. The children by her first marriage were: William R., of Pendleton County ; Wellington F., a farmer in the same county; Phoebe J., who married Jacob Harman and died in Pendle- ton County; Rebecca, wife of David Harman and a resi- dent of Denver, Colorado; and John A.

Sheriff John A. Kimble spent the first thirteen years of

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his life in Pendleton County. He then left the home of his mother, and at that early age began making his own way in the world. His first employment was at Flinstone, Mary- land, where he was waterboy for a tanbark crew, gathering tanbark for the market. He continued his work until the close of the fall season for gathering bark, and then came up the Potomac Valley to the vicinity of Luke, Maryland, where there was in operation a saw mill of the Davis Coal and Coke Company. For two years he operated the gang- saw of this mill. His next removal took him to Mount Pleasant, Ohio, where he worked as a farm hand and utilized some of the experience gained as a hoy on the farm. For this work he was paid wages of $25 a month and board. After a year he continued his western experiences, and for about a year worked on a farm at Spring Hill, Johnson County, Kansas. From there he went on to Texas, joining a brother at Austin, and was in that state some seven or eight months. For a time he rode a cow pony for his brother, and he knows something of the life of the cow- boy. Having in the meantime seen a great deal of the West and the Southwest, he returned to Maryland, and again resumed work with the Davis Coal and Coke Company in their saw milling plant at Deer Park, and later at Chafee on the Western Maryland Railway. From there he came to Grant County, West Virginia, and had charge of the timber property for the Wilson-Colston Company, and then removed to Henry, called Hamilton, and had charge of the timber and mill of the firm of Miller and Levering for eight years. While there he married, and when he left the service of the lumber company he located at Bayard, and has ever since been an influential factor in that community.

At Bayard he entered business, conducting a livery and a retail lumber yard. He followed this enterprise for about six years. Since then his time has been almost fully taken up with public office. For a dozen years he was postmaster of Bayard and deputy sheriff of the county, be- ing appointed postmaster under the Roosevelt administra- tion. He was deputy sheriff until his elevation to the posi- tion of high sheriff. He won the republican nomination for sheriff against three competitors in 1920, and was elected over his democratic opponent by more than 1,200 votes. He succeeded Sheriff W. H. Munsing in office in January, 1921. Sheriff Kimble has discharged his respon- sibilities as sheriff in a way to merit the esteem of all good people and to entitle him to the respect and awe of law breakers. He was personally instrumental in bringing to light the details of the Harman Bell murder and getting the guilty parties brought to justice. The manufacture of illicit liquor in Grant County is rapidly disappearing, since the law violators understand that the sheriff means to en- force the law impartially and firmly.

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History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 3, Part 137

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