History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 3, Part 154

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John E. Wright gained his early education in the public schools and as a youth he became a skilled operator of a nail machine in the plant of the LaBelle Iron Works. Later he was made paymaster in the office of the concern, and he continued his advancement through various grades until he became president of the company in 1898. He thus con- tinued until 1903, when he sold his interest in the business. In the following year he engaged in independent business as a broker and contractor, devoting five years to the iron and steel brokerage business and to contracting in public work. While president of the LaBelle Iron Works he pur- chased the Jefferson Iron Works at Steubenville, Ohio, re- built the plant and made the business a success, the same being still a subsidiary of the LaBelle Iron Works.

Mr. Wright wedded Miss Bessie Baron, daughter of Abraham Baron, and her death occurred nineteen years later, in 1914. She is survived by two children: Mary Eleanor is the wife of David W. Sloan, of Baltimore, Mary- land; and John E., Jr., is superintendent of a plant at Elm Grove, a suburb of Wheeling.

EMMIT O. BOYLEN. On land and in the same community where the Pioneer Boylen settled and began his activities as a home-maker a hundred years ago Emmit O. Boylen has found his work, congenial duties, and the relationships that give life value. His home is on rural route No. 2 out of Philippi, but the locality is better known as Taylor's Drain. A prosperous farmer, Mr. Boylen has accepted op- portunities for usefulness outside his private affairs, and has exemplified the same high standard of good citizenship that has always characterized the name in this section of West Virginia.

His pioneer ancestor was his grandfather, Abner Boylen, who on coming to West Virginia settled in the woods and on land now owned by Emmit Boylen. He put up a log cabin and that rude house, with its simple comforts, sufficed him during his life time and continued to be the home

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of his widow for several years. The old house stood until recently.

The oldest son of Abner Boylen was John Boylen, who was born at Taylor's Drain in Barbour County July 16, 1834. For his education he attended the old field subscrip- tion school, and farming was his regular occupation. His first farming experience on his own account was south of Philippi, hut he soon returned to the Taylor's Drain local- ity and finally bought the Heck farm, on which he spent the rest of his life. Mr. Heck was one of the earliest settlers in that region, taking up land on Hacker's Creek and built a log house, in which he lived out his life. His wife and two children are buried at Taylor's Drain Church. John Boylen was a Union man, but his effort to get into the army was rejected. He began voting as a democrat, but the issues of the war made him a republican. He was a leader in the Methodist Church and helped build the church now standing on Taylor's Drain, and his home was the place of entertainment for the minister who served that community. John Boylen was a fine example of physical, mental and moral manhood, stood six feet tall, like men of his day wore a chin beard, and was kindly and helpful in his relations with his friends and natives. He was well informed by reading and observation and an interesting conversationalist.

John Boylen, who died April 13, 1908, at the age of seventy-four, married on September 23, 1862, Elizabeth Ann Read, who represented one of the prominent families in this section. She was born September 15, 1834, and died September 11, 1891. Her father, William Read, was born on Pleasant Creek in Taylor County, and married a Miss Sayre. William Read had a brother, Rev. Frank Read. Their mother was one of the finest types of pioneer women and one of the first settlers in this section of Bar- bour County. She possessed a great deal of courage and resourcefulness. When her husband, who was a great hunter and trapper and supplied most of the meat for the family in that way, was absent from home on his expeditions his wife would prop the cahin door to prevent wolves or bear or other wild animals from molesting her. Her husband was of German ancestry, and he used the language largely in conversation and also read and wrote it. The children of John Boylen and wife were: Francis A .; Celia A., wife of Absolom Poling, of Upshur County; John Calvin, a farmer near Berryberg; Matilda Jane, who married Lewis Poling, of Bedford County, Pennsylvania; William Irvin, who died in infancy; James Lloyd, who was a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church and died in Lewis County, leaving two daughters; Emmit O .; Ellis, who died in childhood.

Emmit O. Boylen was born October 24, 1869, on the old Heck farm and in a log house which stood there. His birthplace was within a mile of the site where his grand- father settled, and for more than fifty years he has remained in this locality and on his present farm. He secured his education in the public school on Taylor's Drain. The day of the log cabin school had passed when he became a scholar. He came under the influence of some very able teachers in that school. One of them was Judge Ira E. Robinson, who was not only a good schoolmaster, but later distinguished himself as an able lawyer and judge. An- other figure in the Taylor's Drain community was Scott White, now a Clarksburg banker, and still another who made a favorable impression was Jimmie Scott. Emmit O. Boylen remained at home with his parents and cared for them in their declining years. When he married he brought his bride to the old home. He learned farming under his father, and has never departed to a great extent from the lessons he thus learned. He not only owns the homestead where he was born, but the place where his grandfather settled. He has grown beef cattle, has kept his stock at a good grade, and has bred some pedigreed Poland China hogs.

In the line of community service Mr. Boylen was post- master at Boylen, being appointed during the adminis- tration of Colonel Roosevelt. He has also been a member of the School Board and supervisor of roads. He and Mrs. Boylen are active members of the Methodist Episcopal

Church, and for many years he was a trustee and stewarche and has been one of the leaders in keeping up Sunday Schod work. He was superintendent of the Taylor's Drain Sundal School, and maintained that institution when his and on other family were the only ones interested.

At Grafton, October 23, 1895, Mr. Boylen married Miskal Maude B. Slane, daughter of John and Annie (Finley o Slane, the former a native of Hampshire County, West Virginia, and the latter of Barbour County, born ofo Buckhannon River, where her father conducted a mil John Slane was a Government teamster in the Civil wari being a boy at the time, after the war was a carpenter in Grafton, and finally entered a pump factory as turner and was in the service of that institution fort years. In 1914 he and his wife removed to Statesville North Carolina, and they celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in that Southern city on April 7, 1922. 'Th members of the Slane family are: Grace, wife of Georg Stephens, of Statesville; Oscar, of Statesville, who is active head of several mirror factories in North Carolina, Kentuck and Tennessee and a man of wealth and influence; Mnur Boylen, who was born September 1, 1877; Effie G., wife of Frank Winneskie, of High Point, North Carolina; Fred, olo Statesville; Willis, of High Point; Lloyd, who died il childhood; Mabel, wife of Fred Whitescarver, of Prunty town, West Vrginia.

At their delightful home in the country Mr. and Mnte Boylen have provided for the material comforts and eduo cation of a happy family of children growing up aboul them. These children are: Elbert D., Carl L., Walter Fred, Clarence, Freda Belle, Neva Clare and Wilford Io The son Elbert is a merchant in the mining town of Midland. Carl is a student in an automobile school i Chicago. Walter Fred is now finishing his education ile Broaddus College at Philippi.

GEORGE D. MILLER is one of the prominent young mel in the financial and business affairs of Huntington, auph a large group of important interests center in him. Hife chief daily routine is in the First National Bank, of which he is cashier. Mr. Miller was born at Huntington, Decent ber 20, 1887. His father, the late George F. Miller, camka to Huntington when a young man, and after his marriage at Catlettsburg, Kentucky, settled here permanently. H assisted in organizing the First National Bank of Hunting ton in 1884, and became its first cashier, holding that post until his death. In the meantime he had done something toward making this the largest bank in West Virginia it point of capital and resources. He was associated with the- group of men who really built up Huntington to an im portant city. He was a democrat, but in 1896 change politics on account of the free silver issue. He was at active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South George F. Miller married Lucy McConnell, a native ol Catlettsburg, Kentucky, who died at Huntington. The were the parents of three sons: James I. is a graduate ou the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Baltimore and it practicing medicine at Huntington. Charles I. is in the wholesale dry goods business at Seattle, Washington.

George D. Miller, the youngest of the sons, was educate in the public schools of Huntington, and attended pro paratory schools at Charlottsville and Alexandria, Virginia He left school at the age of twenty, and soon afterward became bookkeeper in the First National Bank of Hunting ton. He was promoted to teller, again to assistant cashier and since April, 1920, has been cashier of this institution now housed in the magnificent twelve-story business bloc that is the outstanding structure in the Huntington district Mr. Miller is also a director of the bank.

He is associated with his brothers in the ownership of several business buildings in Huntington, and among th other interests that claim a share of his active energie are the Huntington Land Company, of which he is secretary Ohio River Land Company, Pea Ridge Land Company Kenova-Huntington Land Company, and the Enslow Par Realty Company, all of which he is treasurer, and he i president of the Miller-Hunt Homes Company.

Mr. Miller votes as an independent. He is affiliated

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h Huntington Lodge No. 313, Benevolent and Protective der of Elks, the Huntington Rotary Club, Guyandotte tb of Huntington, Huntington Country Club and West le Country Club. During the war he exerted himself in alf of all the patriotic causes, and was particularly uable in leading and insuring the success of the Liberty an drives. Mr. Miller has a modern home at 1056 Sixth enue. He married at Huntington in 1908 Miss Chloe olittle, daughter of Judge and Mrs. Edward S. Doo- le, now deceased. Her father was a prominent West ·ginia lawyer and judge of the Circuit Court. Mrs. ller is a graduate of Marshall College at Huntington and shed her education in the Randolph-Macon College at nchburg, Virginia. Three children have been born to ir marriage: George D., Jr., born in 1911; Jane, born in 4; Chloe, born in 1917.

WILLIAM CALVIN CAMP, M. D., is widely known over ane County for the earnest and capable service he has dered for nearly sixteen years as a physician and geon. He was in the service of the Government for 't of the World war, and now largely confines his atten- a to his practice as a specialist, being located at Spencer. Doctor Camp was born on a farm seven miles south of encer in Roane County, April 30, 1877. The Camp family ginated in Wales. Three brothers, James, Charles and nry Camp, immigrated to Virginia in Colonial times. ctor Camp is descended from James Camp, who settled Wythe County, Virginia. William Anderson Camp, ndfather of Doctor Camp, was born at Wythe Court use in Wythe County in 1809, and from there moved to nroe County, West Virginia, and finally retired and d at the farm of his son near Spencer, June 23, 1896. married Eliza Lowe, who was born in Monroe County in 10, and died also in Roane County, in 1892. Henry np, father of Doctor Camp, was born in Monroe County, quary 10, 1852, and in 1863 his parents removed to inson Creek, near Walton, in Roane County. He became arpenter, followed his trade in connection with operating farm five miles south of Spencer, and since 1920 has d retired in Spencer. He is a republican. Henry Camp rried Margaret Ann Hersman, who was born in Lewis inty, West Virginia, January 26, 1856. Their children : James Howard, a dealer in proprietary medicines at venswood in Jackson County; William Calvin; Ernest L., istant cashier of the Second National Bank of Morgan- m; Jacob Nestor, a foreman in the Goodrich Rubber npany's plant at Akron, Ohio; Carl H., an employe of Goodrich Rubber Company at Akron; John, who oper- s the home farm; Dr. Harry, a dentist at Spencer; Offa, employe of the Goodrich Rubber Company at Akron; is, a dentist at Charleston, West Virginia; and Denver in the drug business at Charleston.

Dr. William Calvin Camp attended the rural schools of ane County, and his boyhood environment was the farm. osequently for three years he was a student in Marshall lege at Huntington and in 1905 entered the University Louisville medical department, graduating M. D. June 1908. He did post-graduate work at Louisville in 1919, cializing in eye, ear, nose and throat. Doctor Camp an practice after graduation at Reedyville in Roane anty, but left that community nine months later and tled at Gandeeville in the same county, where he enjoyed prosperous professional business for ten years. In June, .8, with a commission as first lieutenant, he was assigned duty in the Medical Corps at Camp Sevier, near Green- e, South Carolina, and remained there until honorably charged December 3, 1918. Since leaving the army ctor Camp has practiced at Spencer, and more and more time and abilities are being sought for his special work the eye, ear, nose and throat. His offices are in the Idle Building, at the corner of Church and Main streets, he owns a modern home at 415 South Main Street.

Doctor Camp is a member of the various medical societies, a republican, and is affiliated with Moriah Lodge No. A. F. and A. M., and Spencer Chapter No. 42, R. A. M. tember 24, 1899, at Gandeeville, he married Miss Chessio

Marks, daughter of J. Cornelius and Louise (Hayes) Marks, the latter a resident of Gaudeeville, where the father, who was a farmer, died.

JOHN HUGH ROBINETT, D. O., of Huntington, West Virginia, is one of the leading practitioners of osteopathy in the state. He was born at Mechanicsburg, Bland County, Virginia, August 29, 1886, and is a descendant of one of the early families of the Old Dominion. His father, James Ward Robinett, was born at Kimberling, Bland County, in 1861, where he was reared and educated. At Point Pleas- ant, Virginia, he married Sue Jane Hoge, of Wise County, and began a prosperous career as a farmer and as proprietor and owner of a saw and flouring mill at that place. On September 1, 1904, he moved to Athens, West Virginia, where his wife died May 18, 1921, on the fifty-eightli anniversary of her birth. Since establishing his residence at Athens Mr. Robinett has been engaged in the general con- tracting business. The children of this union in order of birth are: Lillie Hoge, John H. (of this sketch), Lakie Estelle, Annie Jane, Sarah Lee, Hazel Ward and Cleo Idell.

Doctor Robinett acquired his early education in the rural schools of his native county, and after the removal of the family to Athens, West Virginia, he graduated from the Concord State Normal School in both the academic and normal departments in 1908. After his graduation he was employed as principal of schools at Chattaroy, Mingo County, and in the year of 1910 he attended the University of West Virginia at Morgantown. He then entered the American School of Osteopathy at Kirksville, Missouri, the original school of its kind. From this school he graduated as a member of the class of 1914, with the degree of Doctor of Osteopathy, under Dr. Andrew Taylor Still, who founded the science in 1874. Prior to his graduation Doctor Robi- nett had been associated in practice with Dr. R. M. Thomas at Fort Scott, Kansas. In 1914 he came to Huntington, where he has built up a large and representative practice and gained high standing in his profession. He has also extended his professional education with other schools. Since establishing his office in Huntington he has graduated from the School of Orificial Surgery, Des Moines, Iowa, and during the summer of 1922 he attended a special post- graduate course in the Electronic Reactions of Abrams, given by Dr. Albert Abrams, A. M., M. D., LL. D., F. R. M. S., of San Francisco.

At Huntsville, Missouri, on the 2d of August, 1916, Doctor Robinett married Miss Margaret Mae Thomas, who had been a successful teacher in the public schools of Mis- souri. She is a graduate of the Huntsville High School, and received her professional training in the State Teachers College at Kirksville. Mrs. Robinett is a daughter of William and Elizabeth (Jones) Thomas. Her father, who is now deceased, was a coal operator at Huntsville, Missouri, where his widow now resides. Doctor and Mrs. Robinett have two children : Mary Elizabeth, born October 14, 1917; and Paul Ward, born July 30, 1921.

Doctor Robinett is an influential member of the West Virginia Osteopathic Society, of which he served two years as president, and as chairman of the legislative committee of the same society since 1916. He is a member of the American Osteopathic Association, and has represented his state society in the House of Delegates of this association for two years. He is also a member of the American Osteopathic Society of Ophthalmology, and Oto-Laryn- gology ; ; the National League for the Prevention of Spinal Curvature; the International Society for Lymphatic Re- search, and the American Association of Orificial Surgeons.

The doctor is a liberal and progressive citizen. He is a member of the local Chamber of Commerce, the Rotary Club and Business Men's Association. He and his wife are active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, where he has served as a member of the board of stewards, and as president of the Epworth League. In the Masonic fraternity his affiliations are with Huntington Lodge No. 53, A. F. and A. M .; Huntington Chapter No. 6, R. A. M .; Huntington Lodge of Perfection No. 4; Hunting- ton Chapter, Knights of the Rose Croix No. 4; and West

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Virginia Consistory No. 1, A. A. S. R., at Wheeling. He is also a member of Beni-Kedem Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Charleston.

HERBERT SKEEN is in his second term of efficient service as Circuit Court clerk of Jackson County. He is one of the younger men of the county, represents an old family of this section, and his prominence in public affairs is due to his exceptional qualifications and also to his personal popularity and character.

Mr. Skeen was born at Kentuck, in Jackson County, August 3, 1887. His grandfather, Joseph Skeen, was born in West Virginia and was an early day hunter and farmer at Kentuck, where he lived out his life. The grandmother was his third wife, Matilda Casto, a native and life-long resident of Jackson County. David L. Skeen, father of the Circuit Court clerk, was born at Kentuck in 1864, and has spent all his life there. He owns a large farm, is a cattle raiser, a timber man, and for two years was road surveyor of Washington District. His political affiliation is with the republican party. David L. Skeen married Cordelia Winter, who was born in Jackson County in 1863. Their children were Romeo, who was a merchant and died on the home farm at Kentuck; Clifton, who died when nineteen years old; Herbert; Georgia Adeline, who died in infancy ; Otho H., a farmer at Kentuck; Minnie A., who died at the age of twelve years; Elva, at home; Orla, who has passed away, the wife of Delmar Good; and Ada, wife of James Poling, principal of schools at Carpenter in Kanawha County.

Herbert Skeen spent the first twenty-three years of his life on the home farm, and partook of its responsibilities and labors at the same time that he was getting his educa- tion in the rural schools. He had special inclination for mathematics, learned the art of surveying, did consider- able work as a land surveyor, and in 1912 was elected surveyor of lands for Jackson County. He resigned from this office in 1914 to make his first race for clerk of the Circuit Court, being elected in November and beginning his first term of six years in January, 1915. He was re-elected in November, 1920, and is now in the second year of his second official term.

Mr. Skeen is an influential republican. Outside of his official work he is manager of the Ripley Real Estate Company, and is an individual property owner, having a modern home at South Ripley. During the World war he was active both as an individual and as an official, serving on the Advisory Board of the county, making many speeches in behalf of the various war organizations and spending much time in filing out questionnaires for recruited men. He is affiliated with Ripley Lodge No. 16, F. and A. M., the Eastern Star, Ripley Lodge No. 30, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of which he is a past grand; is also district deputy grand master of the Fourth District of the Grand Lodge of Odd Fellows, and is a member of the Rebekahs. Other affiliations are with Walker Wright Lodge No. 198, Knights of Pythias, and Parkersburg Lodge No. 198, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.

In 1909, at Advent in Jackson County, he married Miss Lily Hamon, daughter of Joseph P. and Arena (Siders) Hamon, who still live on their farm at Advent. Mr. and Mrs. Skeen have three children: Dorothy Faye, born in 1911; Ralph Leon, born in 1913; and Inez, born in 1914.

RICHARD EDWARD TALBOTT. While he has been a mem- ber of the Philippi bar thirty years, only his early con- temporaries know Mr. Talbott as a practicing attorney. The main interest of his career has been the Citizens Na- tional Bank, of which he has been cashier and active manager since its organization. He is a former state sena- tor, and has frequently been recruited for official duty in his home city and county.

His family connections are associated with the very beginning of history in Barbour County. His grandfather, Richard Talbott, was the first known settler in what is now Barbour County, West Virginia. At that time all this

portion of the state was included in old Virginia. Th father of the Philippi banker was Richard T. Talbott, native of Barbour County, for many years a well know farmer and citizen at what is now Berryburg, but finall moved to Kansas and died at Pratt in that state in 190. at the age of eighty-one. He married Margaret Webe; who died at Des Moines, Iowa, in May, 1917, age eighty five. These old people were the parents of eight sons an six daughters, twelve of whom reached matured years, Rich ard Edward, being the ninth child.

Richard Edward Talbott was born in Pleasant Distric of Barbour County, February 21, 1867. The first eightee years of his life he lived on the farm. While there b attended the common school, also select schools, became teacher, and taught the school where he himself had bee a pupil. He continued teaching during the winter month and attending school during the summer vacations, an for a time was a deputy in the office of the clerk of th county court, a work that paid him a salary and also gav him a knowledge of public business. Finally, in 1891, M Talbott entered the University of West Virginia at Morgan town, where he graduated from the law department i 1893. He was a member and for one term president of the Parthenon Literary Society at the university.

Soon after leaving university he began his law practic at Philippi, but continued it for only about two year In 1896 he was elected Circuit Court clerk of Barbot County, and served that office for six years. He was electe as a democrat and succeeded James H. Felton. Before th expiration of his term the Citizens National Bank wa organized, and he was selected as the first cashier, and sinc retiring from office has given his undivided time to th duties of that position.

The Citizens National Bank was promoted by the Davi Elkins interests, together with local capital of Philipp The late Henry Gassoway Davis was the first presiden and served six years. The bank was incorporated with capital of $40,000, and on July 1, 1921, the capital wa increased to $50,000. The resources are now one and quarter million dollars, and for a dozen years this ha been the largest hank in Barbour County. Samuel V. Wood is now president, E. R. Dyer, vice president, Mr. Talbot cashier, and Herman B. Watson, assistant cashier.

In getting the things that have gone a long way towar making Philippi a city in fact as well as in name M Talbott has been an enthusiastic worker for a long perio of years. He was a leader in securing Broaddus Colleg for this town. Broaddus College was formerly located : Clarksburg, and its removal to Philippi was the resu of the local citizens of the latter city raising a fund ( $25,000, including the price of the campus. Mr. Talbo had charge of the "thousand dollar" subscriptions an secured fourteen of them. He was elected a member ( the Board of Trustees of the college in 1908, has held tha post ever since and is also treasurer of the college. Fro first to last his interest has been very readily enlisted any matter of education. He was president of the Boar of Education of the Philippi Independent School Distri eight years. He has been a member of the City Counc. city clerk and for one year was mayor. During his ter of mayor the first bond issue was promoted for street pavir and the first actual work of paving was started.

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History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 3, Part 154

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