History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 3, Part 149

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Edward Lee, who met his death in an automobile acci- dent November 22, 1914, married Mary Becker, who sur- vives him, as docs also one son, James Frederick. Frank Tilden Hess married Bessie McPherson, of Baltimore, Mary- land, where they reside, and he is president of the Hess Printing Company of Baltimore. Carrie Leonora is the widow of Carroll G. Henkel, born near Spokane, Washington State, and has three children, Carroll Hess, Elizabeth Cath- erine and Virginia Marnell. Nellie Estelle is the widow of Prof. Martin L. Wachtel, and she has two sons, Martin L. and William Hess, twins, born in Martinsburg, West Vir- ginia.

Mr. Hess is a democrat in political adherency, is affiliated with the United Confederate Veterans, and he and his wife are earnest communicants of St. John's Lutheran Church at Martinsburg.

CHARLES W. CAMPBELL has been engaged in the practice of his profession in the City of Huntington since 1885, and is not only one of the leading members of the bar of Cabell County, but is a citizen who has exerted much influ- ence in public affairs and civic life and who has served in various offices of public trust.

Mr. Campbell was born on a farm in Monroe County, West Virginia, September 29, 1856, and is a son of Robert D. and Mary Catherine (Johnson) Campbell, who continned their residence in that county until their deaths, the father having been one of the substantial farmers of the county.

Charles W. Campbell, one of a family of ten children, was reared to the discipline of the home farm, and he ac- quired his preliminary education hy attending the district schools. He made substantial progress in his studies and as a youth put his acquirements to practical test by becom- ing a teacher in the schools of his native county. At Ham- lin, judicial center of Lincoln County, he read law, and upon examination before three Circuit Court judges, Ever- mont Ward, Ira J. McGinnis and David E. Johnson, he was admitted to the bar in April, 1881. Thereafter be was engaged in practice at Hamlin for four years, at the ex- piration of which, in 1885, he removed to the City of Hunt-

ington, which bas continued as the central stage of } successful professional activities during the interveni period of nearly thirty-six years. Mr. Campbell is a mer ber of the Cabell County Bar Association, the West Virgin Bar Association and the American Bar Association. 3 served one term as president of the state association. He a democrat in political allegiance, and has been active the councils of his party. In the autumn of 1885 he w appointed assistant prosecuting attorney of Cabell Count and as such he served somewhat more than three years. 1 was elected a member of the city council, gave six years effective service and was the only democratic member of t council, comprising twelve members. In 1911 Mr. Campb was elected to the House of Representatives of the Sta Legislature, in which he made an excellent record a: served as chairman of the important judiciary committe In 1919 he was elected mayor of Huntington, and in 1 administration he brought to bear the force and resolu purpose to achieve the special objects that had prompt his selection for the office. The city had been operati under a somewhat loose municipal system, and the prote of the better element of citizens was shown in the electi of Mr. Campbell, who effectively carried out bis promise enforcing existing laws. As a result it may be noted th Huntington is the only city in the state that enforces clo ing of business places on Sunday, this being but one numerous improvements effected in the government of t city. Mr. Campbell is an elder and active member of t Presbyterian Church in his home city.

He married Miss Jennie Ratliff, of Wayne, this state, a they had five children: Nannie Marie is the wife of Co man A. Staats; Ruth is the wife of Archibald M. Hewi Rollo D., a graduate of both the literary and law depa: ments of Harvard University, is engaged in the practice law at Huntington ; Charles W. likewise resides in this cit as does also Jennie Eloise, who is the wife of P. W. Long.

JOHN JAMES DOWER, mayor of Point Pleasant, h throughout his active life been identified with the busine interests of Mason County, in which county he was bo at Hartford, February 8, 1868.

His father, Patrick F. Dower, was born in County Watt ford, Ireland, in 1841, came to the United States in 18 and settled at Hartford, West Virginia, and his busine was chiefly as a contracting teamster and farmer. He di at his home at Graham in Mason County in July, 1918. ] was a democrat and a Catholic and active in the Mas County Grange and Farmers Alliance. Maria There Weaver, who became his wife, was born in Mason Coun in 1851 and died at Graham in 1890. Her children wer John James; George W., a farmer at Graham; Margaret A of Graham; Mary E., wife of Thomas O'Conner, a mercha at Graham; Patrick V., of Martins Ferry, Ohio; Staunt M., a merchant at Columbus, Ohio; Albert A. and Jeror A., in business at Pittsburgh; Agnes T., wife of Willia, Lightly, of Pittsburgh; Mrs. Frances M. O'Shaunnessy, Pittsburgh; and Josie E., wife of William Boggess.

John James Dower acquired the equivalent of a hij school education in Mason County, and from the age seventeen to twenty worked on the home farm. After th he was in the mercantile business at Graham until 1905, al during fifteen years of that time was station agent for t Ohio River Railroad, which in 1900 became part of t Baltimore & Ohio system. For seventeen years he w either postmaster or assistant postmaster of Grabam. F several months Mr. Dower was a salesman for the St. Grocery Company of Parkersburg, and then returning Mason County was with the mercantile firm of W. E. Ha man & Company at Letart. June 1, 1906, be became traveling salesman and vice president for the Point Plea ant Grocery Company, and that has been his chief busine ever since. In 1920 he was chosen secretary and treasur of the Davis Orchard Company of Mason County.

Mr. Dower was elected mayor of Point Pleasant, May 2; 1921, and began his orderly and efficient administration municipal affairs July 1, 1921. He is a democrat, a mer ber of the Episcopal Church, is a past master of Mintu Lodge No. 19, F. and A. M., was high priest in 1921

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oint Pleasant Chapter No. 7, R. A. M., is a past com- ander of Franklin Commandery No. 17, K. T., is a ember of the Lodge and Encampment of the Independent rder of Odd Fellows, and past chancellor of Oriental Lodge o. 49, Knights of Pythias. During the World war he rved as county food administrator, and gave his effective id to all patriotic causes.

In 1899, near Letart, he married Miss Carrie B. Luse, aughter of Algernon and Rhoda E. (Hart) Luse. Her ather was a soldier of the Civil war. Mr. and Mrs. Dower ave five children. The oldest, Theresa A., was born in Tay, 1900, is a graduate of the Point Pleasant High School, as gained some scholarship honors in the extension work the University of West Virginia, where she is now gularly enrolled as a sophomore, and during the summer : 1921 she was an instructor in the extension department. leanor, the second child, was born March 14, 1903, is a nior in high school; Mary, born in 1905, is in the phomore class; and the two younger children are John J., r., born in 1908, and Louise, born in 1912.

PERRY BRADBURY BUXTON, now in his second elective rm as Circuit Court clerk of Mason County, was for many ars identified with the flour milling industry, and his perience has covered many points both in West Virginia id Ohio.

He was born at Kygerville, Gallia County, Ohio, July 1857. His father, Darius Verney Buxton, was born at omeroy, Ohio, in 1830, was a flour miller, and after 1870 inducted a mill in the Union District of Mason County, Test Virginia, until his death in 1889. He served as a eutenant in the Union army during the Civil war, was I active republican, and a member of the Swedenborgian hurch. His wife, Sarah Samantha Bradbury, was born ; Kygerville in 1833, and died at Gallipolis, Ohio, in 1914. heir children were: Electa Lodica, of Gallipolis, widow : Frank Miller; Perry Bradbury; Mary Agnes, wife of zekiel H. Burdette, a hardware merchant in Mason County; harles, who was Circuit Court clerk of Mason County when died July 29, 1913; and Horace Arthur, a farmer and erchant in Arbuckle District.

Perry Bradbury Buxton was educated in the public hools of Kygerville and of Mason County. At the age : ten he began working in his father's mill, and before was sixteen, during his father's illness, he took charge the mill. Leaving home at the age of twenty-two, he ad a long and varied service as a manager or superinten- ent of various mills, spending one year at Wilkesville, Ohio, x months at Gallipolis, one year at Point Pleasant, twenty- ven months at Cottageville in Jackson County and twenty onths at Silverton in the same county and six months ; Sandyville in Jackson County. Leaving West Virginia, .r. Buxton had an experience working at the carpenter's ade at Corsicana, Texas, until 1889, when he returned me on the death of his father and took charge of the old ill in Union District, operating it until 1897. He was en in partnership operating a flour mill at Buffalo, West irginia, seven years, for six months was part owner of a ill at Leon, and in 1905 returned to Point Pleasant and came manager of the mill of the Point Pleasant Grocery ompany. He continued in this capacity until he resigned ecember 31, 1913, but is still a director of the Point leasant Grocery Company. In the meantime, on August 5, 1913, he was sworn in as successor to his deceased rother Charles as Circuit Court clerk, and in November, 914, was elected for a full term in that office and in 1920 -elected for a second six-year term.

Mr. Buxton is a republican, has served as a member the Point Pleasant Board of Education, is a past master Kanawha Valley Lodge No. 36, F. and A. M., past rand of Point Pleasant Lodge No. 33, Independent Order Odd Fellows, a member of Fidelity Encampment at Point leasant, and Point Pleasant Council No. 146, Junior Order nited American Mechanics.

In 1888, in Jackson County, West Virginia, he married liss Bessie E. MeGlochlin, daughter of John and Nancy [eGlochlin. Mr. and Mrs. Buxton have three children: rederick H., born April 5, 1889, owner of an automobile Vol. III-53

repair and sales shop in Point Pleasant, was in the army service nine months as an automobile repair mechanic, heing located at Richmond, Virginia, Georgia, Camp Funston, Kansas. Walter S., born October 23, 1891, is bookkeeper in the state tax commissioner's office at Charleston. Helen Virginia, born in 1902, is a graduate of the Point Pleasant High School and assists her father in his official duties.

CHARLES K. BLACKWOOD, a representative business man and progressive citizen of Point Pleasant, Mason County, is here president and treasurer of the Western Rivers Com- pany and secretary of the Point Pleasant Grocery Company, of which latter corporation adequate record is given in the personal sketch of its president, F. L. Evans, on other pages of this volume.

The Western Rivers Company was founded in 1913, the interested principals in the organization thereof having been C. K. Blackwood, Homer Smith, J. S. Spencer, M. T. Epling and C. R. McCulloch. Mr. Blackwood became presi- dent and treasurer of the company and Mr. Epling, its general manager. The original capital stock of $20,000 has been increased to $100,000. The company instituted opera- tions as a river-dredging concern, and with its dipper dredges did important channel work for the United States Government. Derrick boats and other modern facilities were later added to the equipment, and the business of the company now includes general contracting in river im- provements, including rip-rap stone work, removing of ob- stacles to navigation, laying of gas mains across rivers, placing intake pipes for water works, erecting filtering cribs, etc. In 1920 the company instituted the conversion of its plant at Point Pleasant into a sand and gravel collect- ing outfit, and this department of the enterprise has since received major attention. On the 1st of January, 1922, J. F. McCullouch became general manager of the company, after purchasing the interest of his predecessor, Mr. Ep- ling. The company gives employment to an average corps of twenty-five men, operates a suction sand-digger of the best modern type, two derrick boats, one steamboat and six barges, all used exclusively in sand and gravel work. The sand and gravel thus removed by the company are utilized largely in the improving of roads and for commercial pur- poses. The company has facilities for the handling of 200,- 000 tons of sand and gravel annually, and the material ex- cavated is derived from virtually illimitable sources, so that its commercial value is certain to be appreciated for gener- ations to come. The material is nearly all granite, with some quartz, results from glacial action, while in the hills are to be found great deposits of the finest type of sand- stone. The rivers of this section produce in the ratio of two parts of gravel and one of sand-the most desirable combination for concrete work. Point Pleasant, at the mouth of the Kanawha River, which here debouches into the Ohio River, seems to supply the ideal combination for such purposes, localities nearer the head of the Ohio River lacking the requisite proportion of sand.

Mr. Blackwood was born in Kanawha County, this state, on the 11th of December. 1870. His grandfather, William Blackwood, came from Warren County, Virginia, to what is now Cabell County, West Virginia, in 1854, and here passed the remainder of his life. In that county his son William R. married Miss Henrietta Shelton, and in 1866 the young couple removed to Kanawha County, William R. Blackwood having previously served as a soldier of the Con- federacv in the Civil war and having been captured by the enemy in 1864. at Winchester, was held a prisoner until the close of the war. He became one of the success- ful farmers of Kanawha County, where his old home- stead is now owned by the Government and is the site of the wonderful industrial town of Nitro, there established for industrial production in connection with the nation's participation in the World war. William R. Blackwood died in 1897, and his widow remained on the old homestead un- til her death in 1917, at the age of seventy-five years. Their son Charles K., of this sketch, was born and reared on this old homestead, and his youthful education included a two years' course in a college at Barboursville.

As a young man Charles K. Blackwood taught school

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two years, and for seven years thereafter he was employed in the office of a contracting company. He has been a resi- dent of Mason County for the past twenty-five years, was one of the organizers of the Point Pleasant Grocery Com- pany, of which he is still secretary, and to the affairs of which he gave his effective supervision for a period of ten years. He now centers his activities in his executive serv- ice as president and treasurer of the Western Rivers Com- pany.

Mr. Blackwood is a stanch supporter of the principles of the democratic party, and was twice nominated by his party for representative in the House of Delegates of the State Legislature. He was for two terms a member of the Point Pleasant Board of Education, he is actively identi- fied with the Kiwanis Club in his home city, and here he and his wife are zealous communicants of Christ Church, Protestant Episcopal, he being a member of the vestry of this parish. In the time-honored Masonic fraternity he is affiliated with the local Blue Lodge and Chapter, of the latter of which he is a past high priest, and at Point Pleas- ant also he is a past commander of Franklin Commandery No. 17, Knights Templars, his Mystic Shrine membership being in Beni-Kedem Temple in the City of Charleston.

Mr. Blackwood wedded Miss Margaret L. Neale, daughter of the late E. L. Neale, who was a representative agricul- turist and stock-grower near Ben Lomond, Mason County. The early educational advantages of Mrs. Blackwood in- cluded those of the Lewisburg Female Seminary. Mr. and Mrs. Blackwood have two children: Neale. a member of the class of 1925 in the University of West Virginia, where he is taking an engineering course; and Attarah, who is at- tending the public schools of Point Pleasant.

WYATT A. ABBITT. Through a busy career Wyatt A. Ab- bitt has been a carpenter, and now for many years, a gen- eral contractor and builder, and for nearly twenty years his home and center of his work and interests have been in Charleston.

Mr. Abbitt was born in Appomattox County, Virginia, in 1871, son of Charles A. and Elvira (LeGrand) Abhitt, also natives of Virginia and members of old families in that state. Wyatt Abhitt acquired a common school education, learned the carpenter's trade in his home county. and for several years was a journeyman before he took up the contracting business on his own account. In 1900 he re- moved to West Virginia, and for three years was associated with the building and operation of the large industrial works at Kanawha Falls, now the plant of the Electro- Metallurgical Company.

Mr. Abbitt in 1903 came to Charleston. which city has since been his home. As a contractor and builder he has taken a leading part in the creation of the modern Charles- ton. His construction work is exemplified in a large number of structures, residential, commercial and industrial, but of late years his business has been chiefly confined to busi- ness buildings. Among those erected by him during the last two or three years may be mentioned the Buick Home, a parochial school, the Soloff Hotel Building on Quarrier Street. the addition to the Telephone Building. the remodel- ing of the Plaza Theater, which he built originally in 1912, the Professional Building, the Simon Cohen Apartment House, and a number of garages and other structures. Mr. Abbitt built the plant of the Virginia Rubber Company at St. Albans.

His thorough and first hand knowledge of real estate and buildings in Charleston led to his being selected as a mem- her of the Appraisal Committee, consisting of five. charged with the duty of appraising the value of the various con- templated sites for the location of West Virginia's state capitol, to take the place of the old capitol destroyed early in 1921. Mr. Abhitt is also president of the Equity Finance and Loan Company of Charleston, and is a member of the Board of Directors of the Virginia Rubber Company. He is active in the Chamber of Commerce, and represents his line of business in the Rotary Club.

Mr. Abbitt married for his first wife Anna Belle Coleman, who is survived by five children. Mrs. Sallie Evans, Mrs. Kathleen Jones, Mrs. Julia Barlow, Elliott and Andrew

Abbitt. For his present wife Mr. Abbitt married Mildre (Simpson) Wildman.

WALTER R. GROSE is a leader in educational affairs i West Virginia, and for the past ten years has been super intendent of the Buckhannon City Schools. He is membe of a family that has been in West Virginia since pionee times, and in the various generations they have played ; worthy part in the building of homes, the development o the land, and also in the learned professions.

Superintendent Grose was born in Nicholas County, Wes Virginia, October 10, 1871, son of William and Rebecc: Ann (Stephenson) Grose. His parents were also born an reared in Nicholas County. His great-grandfather cam from Warm Springs, Virginia, to Nicholas County, havin; acquired a grant of land direct from the government o Virginia an account of his services in the War of 1812 He located on this land shortly after the War of 1812 and lived out his life there. He was buried on his estate William Grose, grandfather of Superintendent Grose, mar ried a Miss Koontz, a native of Nicholas County.

William Grose, father of Superintendent Grose, grew up in Nicholas County on a farm, attended the old subscrip tion schools, and did considerable work in his early lif as a teacher. Later he became a prominent merchant and farmer, owning a farm near Summersville, and conductel a general store near that village. He was a republicar a stanch Union man in sentiment, and one of the three i' his district who voted against secession. He and his wif were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. O their ten children four are living: B. F. Grose, a farme, and stockman on the old homestead in Nicholas County Rev. Logan S. Grose, who graduated A. B. from Bethan College, and is now pastor of the Zane Street Methodis olas County, attended the common schools there and late graduated A. B. from the Wesleyan College of Buckhannon and did post-graduate work in the University of Pitts burgh. Mr. Grose began teaching at the age of nineteen and continued to teach in the intervals of his college and university career. Since 1904 his time has been fully taker up with school work. He was superintendent of school at Richwood from 1906 to 1912, and since 1912 has been head of the city school system at Buckhannon. Mr. Gros is an enthusiastic educator, is an inspiring worker amon; his fellow teachers and among young people, has been i great demand as an instructor in county teachers' insti tutes, and is active in the various professional organiza' tions.

On October 13, 1892, he married Maria S. Rader. The; were schoolmates in Nicholas County. They have tw children. Neva Pearle, born November 10, 1893, is a grad uate of the Richwood High School, received her A. B degree from Wesleyan College at Buckhannon, and is now teacher of foreign languages in the high school at Hunt ington, West Virginia. The son, Clarence Herman Grose was born August 30, 1896, graduated from the Richwood High School and from West Virginia Wesleyan College with the Bachelor of Science degree, and is now teache of chemistry in the Huntington High School. At the clos of the World war he was in the Artillery Officers Trainin; School at Camp Taylor, Louisville.

The Grose family are members of the Methodist Epis copal Church. Mr. Grose is affiliated with Richwood Lodg No. 102, A. F. and A. M., is a charter member of Rich wood Chapter No. 37, R. A. M., a charter member 0 Buckhannon Commandery, Knights Templar, and he an Mrs. Grose and their daughter are members of the Easter Star. He is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias, th Rotary Club, Buckhannon Chamber of Commerce and th Country Club.

Both Superintendent and Mrs. Grose are direct descend ants of Sergeant Benjamin Lemasters, who was a soldie of the Revolution, enlisting in 1776 and serving for thre years. He was with Washington at Valley Forge, and participated in the battles of White Plains, Trenton, Prince ton, Brandywine, Germantown, Fort Mifflin and Monmouth and was wounded at Princeton. During the siege of For

Haablix

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Mifflin he carried dispatches for General Washington. Shortly after the close of the war he moved to Nicholas County, West Virginia, taking possession of his land grant n Bucks Garden Creek. He became a large landholder here, and most of his possessions are still owned by his lescendants. He and his wife had ten daughters, and ll of them married and reared families.

WILLIAM POST was born in Upshur County, and several ears before reaching his majority was in business on a mall scale as a stock shipper. He has had an active ssociation with the agricultural, livestock and business nterests of the county for over half a century.

Mr. Post, who lives at Buckhannon and is president of he Traders National Bank of that city, was born Decem- er 30, 1853, son of Isaac and Emily (Carper) Post. Isaac Post was born in Virginia, where his father settled on oming from Holland. After his marriage Isaac Post set- led on a farm in Upshur County, and became one of the onored and highly respected citizens of that locality. He nd his wife were active members of the Methodist Epis- opal Church. They had four children: Ira C. Post, who ives in Harrison County and for a number of years has een regarded as one of the most progressive farmers and arm leaders in that part of the state; Virginia C., wife f Porter Maxwell; William; and Adam Post, of Upshur County.

William Post grew up on a farm and acquired a com- non school education. At the age of sixteen he made his rst ventures as a cattle shipper, and from this early enter- rise he accumulated a capital of about five hundred dol- ars. In all the years since then he has kept in touch with he livestock industry, growing, feeding and shipping to the market, and has progressively increased his land holdings ntil he pays taxes on several of the good farms of Upshur County. With his growing business interests he became ne of the organizers and a stockholder in the Traders National Bank of Buckhannon, and has been active presi- ent of that institution since its organization. Mr. Post nd wife now spend their winters in Florida. They are ctive in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he is ffiliated with the Knights of Pythias and Mrs. Post with he Eastern Star.

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History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 3, Part 149

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