History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 3, Part 141

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In 1910, at Ripley, Mr. Straley married Miss Madaline Taylor, daughter of William and Alice (Riley) Taylor, the latter a resident of Akron, Ohio. Her father died on his farm near Ripley. Mr. and Mrs. Straley have two children, Marguerite, born July 1, 1912, and Robert, born September 1, 1916.

ARTHUR M. GOULD represents one of the old established families of Upshur County, has followed the traditional occupation of farming, and was one of the organizers of the Bank of Adrian, which began business January 7, 1920. Mr. Gould is president of this bank, which is capitalized at $25,000, and is one of the growing and prosperous bank- ing institutions of Upshur County.

Mr. Gould was born on Bull Run, West Virginia, Jan- mary 26, 1853, son of Benjamin and Eliza D. (Morgan) Gould. His father was born at French Creek in 1822, son of Gilbert Gould, who settled on French Creek from Massa- chusetts. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, was a successful farmer and large land owner there, and died in 1877. His wife was Mehitable Taylor, and they were the parents of eight children. Benjamin Gould grew up in the French Creek community, acquired about three hundred acres of his father's estate, and was a leading and success- ful farmer for many years. He was a Presbyterian and a republican. Of his seven children, four sons and three daughters, three are now living: Arthur M .; Albert G., a farmer near Weston; and Perey B., a farmer in Upshur County.

Arthur M. Gould grew up on his father's farm and had a common school education. For many years he has owned and operated a fine farm of 140 acres, a mile and a half west of Adrian. His activities have extended beyond his home farm to various community affairs, including the Bank of Adrian. He has served as president of the Board of Education, is an active republican, and, like his father and grandfather before him, is an elder in the Presbyterian Church. On November 21, 1889, Mr. Gould married Mary Louise Sexton, a native of Upshur County and a daughter F. F. and Virginia (Craig) Sexton, farming people of the French Creek District.

FRED E. BROOKS represents a family of scientific attain- ments, and is himself a scientist whose carecr has been largely devoted to study and eradication of the insect pests that ravage the fruit growing districts of West Vir- ginia. Mr. Brooks began his scientific work on his own orchard at French Creek, was formerly connected with the State Experiment Station, and is now an entomologist in the employ of the United States Department of Agricul- ture.

Mr. Brooks, who keeps his home at French Creek, was born there June 8, 1868, son of Adolphus and Josephine (Phillips) Brooks. His parents were also born in the same community, were educated in the public schools there, and Adolphus Brooks was a teacher in the public schools, a teacher of music, owned and operated a farm, was leader of the choir of the Presbyterian Church and for forty years superintendent of its Sunday School. He always voted as a republican. Of his nine children seven are liv-

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ing: C. L. Brooks, superintendent of buildings and grounds at the State University; Abbie, wife of James McDonald; Fred E .; Rev. Earl A., a minister of the Presbyterian Church and a lecturer at Harvard University; A. B. Brooks, chief game protector of West Virginia; Mabel, wife of Dr. F. W. Vance, of Mannington; and Blanche, wife of Dr. H. O. Van Tromp, of French Creek.

Fred E. Brooks was reared in French Creek, had a pub- lic school and college education, and as a youth turned his scientific inclinations to account in the observation of his own orchard at French Creek. Later he was called to the State Experiment Station as inspector of orchards and nurseries, and for eight years remained there as associate entomologist. Since then he has been in the Federal service, making special investigations of insect pests of deciduous fruit trees. At the present time his work is an investigation of the insects attacking the nnt trees in the Eastern States.

Mr. Brooks is well known in scientific circles, is a life member of the West Virginia State Ilorticultural Society; a member of the American Entomological Society and is a Fellow in the American Association for the Advance- ment of Science. He is a member of the Chamber of Com- mierce and Rotary Club at Buckhannon. Mr. Brooks is a republican and is an elder in the Presbyterian Church.

He married Miss Grace Coburn, of French Creek. Three children were born to their marriage: Maurice G., who is a student in West Virginia University and during the war was a member of the Student Army Training Corps; Eliza- beth, deceased; and Dorothy, born in 1915.

CLAYFORD T. GRIMM, general superintendent of the Buck- hannon River Coal Company at Adrian in Upshur County, is a young man who has worked his way through the technique of mining operations, is a competent engineer, and has a bright future as an official in the mine industries of the state.

Mr. Grimm was born at Newburg, Preston County, West Virginia, December 4, 1894, son of John W. and Jennie (Wolfe) Grimm, both natives of Preston Connty. His mother is still living. His father, who was born in 1864, was superintendent of a coal mine at Newburg, West Virginia. He lost his life in an accident at the Rosemont Coal Mine in 1912. He was a republican and an Odd Fel- low, and both were active in the Methodist Episcopal Church. Their five children are: E. F. Grimm; Angie, wife of Walter J. Menear; Clayford T .; E. M., who was a soldier in the World war and saw service in France; and Charles T., a young man now in school.

Clayford T. Grimm was reared in Preston County, was educated in the Newburg High School and took corre- spondence work in civil engineering. He was associated for a time with J. 11. Weaver & Company, Clarksburg En- gineering Company, and in 1917 came to the Buckhannon River Coal Company's properties at Adrian and is now general superintendent of these mines. When he took charge the output of the mine was 250 tons per day, and the output now exceeds 1,200 tons. Mr. Grimm in 1914 passed the examination at Grafton and holds a first class mine foreman's certificate.

On September 10, 1915, he married Miss Genevieve Fal- lon. They have a daughter, Catherine, born July 6, 1917. Mrs. Grimm is a member of the Catholic Church. Mr. Grimm is affiliated with Rock Cave Lodge No. 81, F. and A. M., is a republican, and always tries to do his duty as a good citizen. He is a stockholder and director in the Bank of Adrian and a director in the Buckhannon Chan- ber of Commerce.

M. F. STOCKERT is one of the very prosperous and in- fluential citizens of Upshur County, a farmer and stock dealer, also interested in banking and other affairs at Buckhannon.

He was born in Lewis County June 29, 1884, son of G. F. and P. (Bailey) Stockert. His father was born at Scottsville, Virginia, September 3, 1853, and his mother in Lewis County, August 25, 1857. G. F. Stockert as a

boy went to Parkersburg and later to Lewis County, where he was reared and educated in the public schools. He was a good business man, had energy and persistence, and in spite of many reverses received a signal success in life. After his marriage he bought a sawmill, but after oper- ating it for a time was stricken with illness and when he recovered he had lost his investment and had to borrow money to buy a cook stove and continne his simple house- keeping. In twenty years he moved twenty-one times, but eventually became highly successful in the timber busi- ness, buying up tracts and logging and converting the logs into lumber. He gave generously of his means to various public causes, was identified with Broaddns College, was a deacon in the Baptist Church, and built the water works and ice plant at Buckhannon. Ile was a member of the Masonic Lodge.

M. F. Stockert is the only survivor of seven children. He was educated in the public schools, graduated in a business course, and for several years was associated with his father in the timber business. Since then he has been farming and dealing in livestock. He owns a large amount of farming land, and is also a director in the Traders National Bank of Buckhannon, the largest hank in Upshur County.

October 16, 1904, he married Georgia Sharps, who was born in Upshur County, March 30, 1883. She was edu- cated in the public schools and in Wesleyan College, and began teaching at the age of sixteen. Mr. and Mrs. Stockert have four children: Mary, born October 20, 1905; Frank, born March 17, 1908; William, born October 31, 1910; and John A., born May 10, 1915. Mr. and Mrs. Stockert are active members of the Baptist Church, he is one of the trustees of the church at Buckhannon and he is a Knight Templar Mason, and both are members of Buckhannon Chapter No. 18, of the Eastern Star, of which Mrs. Stockert is worthy matron. Politically Mr. Stockert is a democrat.

WILLIAM H. HOWELL, M. D. His brilliant record as a surgeon with the British and American military forces dur- ing the World war Doctor Howell has continued in times of peace in his native State of West Virginia, and is now superintendent and chief surgeon of the Methodist Episco- pal Hospital at Spencer.

The Howell family originated in Wales and was estab- lished in Virginia in Colonial times. His great-grandfather, Larkin Dexter Howell, was a Revolutionary soldier. The grandfather, William Marple Howell, was born in Augusta County, Virginia, in 1839. During the Civil war he was a captain in the Confederate army under General MeCansland, serving from the beginning until the end of the war. His old commander, General McCausland, is now a resident of Point Pleasant, West Virginia. William M. Howell was a resident of Barbour County, West Virginia, until 1867, from 1867 until 1880 lived in Roane County, and from there moved to Muses Bottom in Jackson County, where he owned a farm of 400 acres of rich bottom land. He devoted all his active energies to farming. His death occurred at his home in Jackson County in 1913. He was a democrat, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and a Mason. William M. Howell married Elzena Tennant, who was born in Barbour County, and is still living at the old home at Muses Bottom.

Daniel T. Howell, father of Doctor Howell, was born in Barbour County in September, 1860, and was liberally educated, attending Ohio University at Athens, Ohio. He is a member of the Delta Tau Delta Greek letter fraternity. He accompanied his parents to Roane County in 1867, and in 1880 established his home at Lone Cedar, near Ravens- wood in Jackson County, where he was married and where for forty years he has been a farmer, specializing in the raising of cattle, sheep and horses. He is a democrat, and one of the very active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, in this community. In 1921 he was worship. ful master of Ashton Lodge No. 12, F. and A. M., at Ravenswood. Daniel T. Howell married Mattic J. McBride who was born in Loudoun County, Virginia, in November

Hilliam A.

Howill. -

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862. Doctor Howell is the oldest of their children. Miss Iabel, at home, is a graduate of the Ward-Belmont Girls School at Nashville and of the Boston Conservatory of Insic and is an accomplished pianist. Thomas Harold, who perates a portion of his father's estate at Lone Cedar, is a raduate of the Ravenswood High School, of the Michigan Agricultural College at Lansing, and was an enlisted man a the navy for a year during the World war. Marie A., a raduate of the Ravenswood High School, is the wife of 'hurmon McGuire, now assistant chief engineer for the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad shops at Huntington, West irginia.

William H. Howell was born on the home farm at Lone 'edar in Jackson County, May 28, 1888. His education rom the beginning was carefully considered from the tandpoint of the most effective use of his talents. After he rural schools of Jackson County he entered the Staunton filitary Academy at Staunton, Virginia, graduating in 904. In 1904-05 he was a student in the Ohio University t Athens, and then entered the University of Virginia at charlottesville, from which he graduated A. B. in 1907. le is a member of the Delta Tau Delta, the same fraternity s his father. Doctor Howell attended the medieal depart- ient of the University of Pennsylvania at Philadelphia two ears, and completed his course in the University of Louis- ille, where he graduated M. D. in 1914. He is a member f the Alpha Kappa Kappa medieal fraternity. As further reparation for his profession he spent one year as an in- erne in the Louisville City Hospital and another year in he Skin and Caneer Hospital and the New York Polyclinie. t that time Doetor Howell accepted an opportunity to go ) England, in November, 1916, and join the Royal Army Medical Corps. For three months he was on duty at the eading War Hospital, and was then given field service as attalion medical officer of the Sixteenth Battalion, Rifle brigade. His front line duty in Belgium and France took im to the great battle eenters of Ypres, Arras, Messienes idge, Cambrai. June 28, 1918, he was formally trans- erred to the American Army Medical Corps, though in his ervice he was still attached to the British Army. He was t the Marne, Chateau Thierry, and also in serviee in the ampaign in Northern Italy along the Piave. In February, 918, he was commissioned a eaptain in the Medieal Corps, nd on June 29, 1919, after three years ahroad, returned ome and received his discharge at Hoboken, New Jersey, une 30th. Doctor Howell received the British decoration of le Military Cross March 30, 1918, for gallantry and initia- ve displayed in the neighborhood of Cachy on March 30, 918. The French Government hestowed upon him the roix de Guerre June 19, 1918, for activity displayed during le retreat from the Chemin de Dames. October 15, 1918, e suffered an abdominal wound near La Cateaux, south of ambrai.

From July 1, 1919, until February 1, 1921, Doetor Howell as associated at Parkersburg in surgical practice with r. W. J. Davidson. At the latter date he entered upon his uties as superintendent and chief surgeon of the Metho- ist Episcopal Hospital at Spencer. This is one of the ell equipped hospitals of the state, with accommodations or forty patients. Doctor Howell is a member of the Little Canawha and Ohio Valley Medical societies, the State ledical Society, the American Medical Association and the outhern Medieal Association. He is a democrat, and is ffiliated with Ashton Lodge No. 12, F. and A. M., at avenswood, Parkersburg Lodge No. 198, Benevolent and rotective Order of Elks.

On June 18, 1916, at Parkersburg, he married Miss eulah M. White. They were married only a few months efore he entered the British Army Medical service. Her arents, Albert J. and Amanda (Wile) White, are residents f Parkersburg, her father being a retired furniture mer- ant and undertaker. Mrs. Howell is an alumnus of the arkersburg High School. To their marriage have been orn two sons, William Herbert, Jr., born September 24, 920, and Albert Daniel, born October 17, 1921.

HARRY A. DARNALL, superintendent of the public schools E the village of Adrian, Upshur County, resides at Buck-

hannon, the county seat, and is one of the well known and essentially representative men of his native county, besides being a scion of one of the sterling pioneer families in that section of Virginia that now constitutes the State of West Virginia. He was born on a farm in Upshur County, July 12, 1860, and is a son of Colonel M. A. and Jane (Mc- Dowell) Darnall, both natives of what is now Greenbrier County, this state, where the father was born November 12, 1827, and the mother on the 25th of December, 1832. Colonel Darnall was reared in his native county, and there learned the blacksmith trade. In 1849 he engaged in the work of his trade at Frenehton, Upshur County, but later moved to Rock Cave, and in 1860 moved to the French Creek neighborhood. He organized and became captain of Company A, West Virginia Volunteers, which became a part of the Tenth West Virginia Regiment in the Union service. He made a record of most loyal and gallant serviee, won promotion in turn to the offices of major, lieutenant colonel and colonel, and continued in service un- til the close of the war. After the war he returned to his French Creek home, where he continued to follow the work of his trade until his death, on the 8th of October, 1882. Colonel Darnall became the owner of one of the excellent farms of Upshur County, was a man of strong mentality and sterling character, was a republican in poli- ties, and he served for many years as a local magistrate. He was affiliated with the Masonic fraternity, and both he and his wife were faithful members of the Baptist Church, in which he served as a deacon. All of their thirteen ehil- dren attained to adult age: Anna is the wife of J. E. Vanee, of French Creek; Robert is a prosperous farmer and trader in Upsbur County and is a former president of the County Court; Calvin, who died in 1882, was known as one of the best mathematicians in Upshur County, and was identified with the teaching profession at the time of his death; William, a blacksmith by trade and vocation, died in 1886; H. B. has been a successful teacher in Upshur County, and has been for a quarter of a century the postmaster at French Creek; Harry A., of this review, was the next in order of birth; Wren, who was a success- ful teacher, is now the wife of James W. Ball, of Piekens, Randolph County; Ethel was a popular teacher in the schools of Upshur County and was twenty-two years of age at the time of her death, in 1886; R. L. has been an extensive farmer and fruit-grower in Lewis County for many years; Blair is engaged in the furniture business in the City of Ashtabula, Ohio; O. E. is cashier of a bank at San Diego, California; John C., a resident of Cincin- nati, Ohio, is the inventor of the Darnall sterilizer, and a ball-hearing trolley wheel; Zona became the wife of Ray- mond Wade and is now deceased.

Harry A. Darnall was reared at French Creek and sup- plemented the discipline of the publie schools by attend- ing the United Brethren Normal and Classical Academy, in which he was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Pedagogy. Later he took post-graduate work in what is now West Virginia Wesleyan College, at Buckhannon, and in the pedagogie profession he has made a record of splendid success. He was for ten years superintendent of the public schools of Buckhannon, and brought the same to a high standard of efficiency. For twelve years there- after he served as postmaster of Buckhannon, and he had the further distinction of being mayor of the city for one year. He was for five years editor of the Buckhannon Delta, and sinee that time has served with characteristic efficiency as superintendent of the public schools at Adrian. He is the owner of seven residence properties at Buck- hannon, including his attractive home place.

Mr. Darnall is a stalwart in the ranks of the republican party, and has been active and influential in its councils and campaign work in his county. He has served as chair- man of the republican county committee of Upshur County and as a member of the republican committee of this con- gressional district. He is affiliated with Franklin Lodge No. 7, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, at Buckhannon, and is a member of the Baptist Church in this city.

August 16, 1897, recorded the marriage of Mr. Darnall

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and Miss Carrie Loudin, who graduated from the West Virginia Wesleyan College, as did also their only daughter, Miss Beth, who was born February 9, 1899, and who is now a popular teacher in the Buckhannon High School. Robert, the younger of the two children, was born Jan- uary 28, 1906, and is a member of the class of 1923 in the Buckhannon High School.

H. A. ZICKEFOOSE, president of the Peoples Bank of Buckhannon, is also serving as sheriff of Upshur County, to which office he was elected in November, 1920, and in which he had previously made a splendid record during the term from 1913 to 1916. After an interregnum of four years he was again called to the office of sheriff of his native county, for a term of four years, and this elec- tion attested alike the efficiency of his previous adminis- tration and the secure place that is his in public confidence and esteem.

Mr. Zickefoose was born on a farm in Upshur County, December 15, 1873, and is a son of Sampson and Marietta (Queen) Zickefoose. From his boyhood until he attained to his legal majority Sheriff Zickefoose was actively asso- ciated with the operation of the home farm, and in the meanwhile he profited by the advantages offered in the local schools. After leaving the parental home he was employed a short time in a lumber camp, and he next ob- tained employment in a boarding house, at a salary of $20.00 a month. He was thus engaged one year, and he then purchased from his brother a general store, with a small stock of goods, at Hemlock, this county, his invest- ment in this enterprise being $475. He continued in suc- cessful business at Hemlock eleven years, and in the meantime had served as postmaster of the village. While conducting the store at Hemlock he had purchased a good farm, which he still owns, and also had become interested in the lumber business. After selling his store he removed to Buckhannon, the county seat, and for two years there- after he was a traveling salesman for a wholesale grocery house. Upon retiring from this position he gave his at- tention to the lumber business until he was elected sheriff of the county, without opposition, in 1912. He gave a most vigorous and effective administration of four years, and upon retiring from office the audit of his books showed that the county still owed hin $27.98. After an interval of four years his services were again enlisted in the office of sheriff, the duties of which he assumed in January, 1921. Sheriff Zickefoose is chairman of the Republican Executive Committee of Upshur County, and has been active and influential in the councils and campaign activ- ities of his party for a number of years. He became a stockholder and director of the Peoples Bank of Buck- hannon, and of this substantial institution he is now the president. He is affiliated with the Masonic fraternity, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias, and he and his wife hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal Church. The maiden name of Mrs. Zickefoose was Nellie Lewis, she being a daughter of A. D. Lewis, a merchant at Hampton, Upshur County. Sheriff and Mrs. Zickefoose have one child, Gladys, who was born in 1909, and who is attending the public schools of Buckhannon.

E. W. MARTIN, a former postmaster of Buckhannon, Upshur County, in which city he still maintains his home, has been closely and successfully identified with coal pro- duction and real estate enterprise in this section of his native state, and aside from bis varied business interests he has been an active and influential force in the ranks of the republican party in West Virginia.

Mr. Martin was born at Peel Tree, Barbour County, this state, in February, 1866, and is a son of John D. and Eliza (Young) Martin, the former was born at Buckhannon, Upshur County, and the latter at Staunton, Virginia. John D. Martin was for many years engaged in farm enterprise in Barbour County, where he also built up a prosperous general merchandise business at Peel Tree. After selling his property interests in that county he was

for a number of years engaged in the mercantile business at Buckhannon, and later he resumed his activities as a farmer in Harrison County, where his death occurred in 1901. He was the only one of his generation in the Mar. tin family to be aligned as a staunch supporter of the cause of the republican party, and both he and his wife were active members of the Methodist Protestant Church, Of the six children all but one are living, and of the num. ber the subject of this review is the eldest; L. O., a pros- perous farmer and livestock dealer, resides at Buckhannon; Rose C. is the wife of Jeremiah Dillinger, of Buckhannon; H. C. is one of the substantial farmers of Harrison County ; and Hettie is the wife of Alfred Stout, of Denver, Colo- rado.

E. W. Martin passed his childhood on the home farm and attended the rural schools of the locality. At the age of fifteen years he found employment as clerk in a gen. eral store, and after several years of service in this capacity he was for twelve years a successful traveling salesman, In 1898 he became postmaster at Buckhannon, and of this office he continued the incumbent until 1902. He was for sixteen years a member of the Republican State Central Committee of West Virginia, and he has been a delegate to three national conventions of his party, including that of 1920, where he was the first West Virginia delegate tc vote for the nomination of President Harding. Mr. Martin served several years as vice president of the Peoples Bank of Buckhannon, and he is the owner of valuable real estate in Upshur and adjoining counties. In a fraternal way he is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias.

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History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 3, Part 141

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