History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 3, Part 160

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Mr. Weimer began voting as a democrat, casting his first presidential ballot for Mr. Cleveland. He has always re- tained a high estimate of the statesmanship of Mr. Cleve- land, and with him he classes such men as Roosevelt, Hiram Johnson and John J. Cornwell of West Virginia. For a number of years, however, he has been a republican, has attended a number of conventions in the state, and has supported the aspirations of the republican governors from the time of Governor Dawson. He was committeeman from Tucker County in the Second Congressional Committee for a time. Mr. Weimer is a past grand of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and past chancellor of the Knights of Pythias, and has represented both orders as a delegate in the Grand Lodge.

At Piedmont, West Virginia, in June, 1890, Mr. Weimer married Maggie Eggleston, daughter of John and Mar- garet (Jenkins) Eggleston, both natives of Scotland. Mrs. Weimer was born in Allegany County, Maryland, in 1874. The two children of Mr. and Mrs. Weimer are Margie and

Maud, the latter still in school at Davis. Margie is wife of Ralph Penrod, of Jeannette, Pennsylvania.

DANIEL J. MORAN. Serving in his second term as pc master of Thomas, Daniel J. Moran is one of the old citizens of this important mining and industrial communi He is a miner by occupation, and for years has been a Ir of influence among his fellow workers and a valued fac in every movement for the welfare and prosperity of town.

He has been a resident of West Virginia since 1886 a is a native of Maryland. He was born at Lonaconing that state April 18, 1866, and comes of an Irish family the best traditions. His father, Daniel J. Moran, Sr., v born in County Galway, Ireland, son of Daniel J. Mor born at Ardrahen in County Galway. The grandfat] spent bis active life as a steward of an estate under Chi topher St. George French. His two sons were Thomas a Daniel J. Thomas, by the terms of English law, inherit all his father's property, and he brought his brother, Dar J., to the United States and they located at Lonaconi Maryland. Daniel J. Moran, Sr., was a Confederate sold in the Ninth Louisiana Tigers. He was buried at Cumb land, Maryland. Before his death he made the requ that on St. Patrick's Day the Irish flag should be plant upon his grave, while on Memorial Day he wanted the fl of the Confederacy planted there. This request has be serupnlonsly carried out every year by his son. Daniel Moran was also a coal miner, and died at Cumberla May 16, 1900, at the age of about eighty-five. He marri Mary Morrissey at Cumberland. She was born in Mevil Galway, Ireland, daughter of Patrick Morrissey. She ca to the United States with her brother Martin abont 18 four years after her husband became an American. Th were married in the Catholic Church, and both are burj in St. Patrick's Cemetery. She died in 1909, when abt eighty years of age. Their children were six sons and i danghters, and the only survivors are three sons and thy daughters. The three sons are: John, who was a co miner at Lonaconing through his active life and is n living at Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania; Daniel James, Thomas; and Michael, shipping clerk at McKaigs St Shafting Works in Cumberland.

Daniel J. Moran secured his education in the pub schools at Lonaconing, and was in the advanced class wh he left to take up his vocation as a miner. He began wor ing in the mines at the age of fourteen, and until he w married contributed a large part of his wages to the fu for the common support of the family. When he came West Virginia in 1886 he located at Elk Garden, was e ployed in the mine there, and in 1894 removed to Thom; He has done all the work connected with mine operation and never had any idle time nor was absent from duty un he was made postmaster of the town. He was appoint postmaster after a spirited party contest on March 2, 191 succeeding Abe L. Helmick, now state senator from th district. He was reappointed for his second term Angr 5, 1919.

Mr. Moran cast his first ballot in Elk Garden and ] first presidential vote went to Mr. Cleveland in 1888. ] has been a staunch democrat through all the years, a: was a member of the Election Board at Thomas until ma postmaster. He was elected to the City Council, and w the only man in that election chosen on the democrat ticket. While he was in the council he made the suggesti that the number of saloons should be doubled in Thoma a matter that increased the city revenue without increasi the distribution of beverages.

At Thomas, May 29, 1893, Mr. Moran and Annie Moran were the first couple married in St. Thomas Catho' Church. Mrs. Moran was born at Terra Alta, Prest County, danghter of John and Bridget (Clark) Mora Her father was a native of Westport, County Mayo, Ii land, and that was also the native locality of her mothe' However, they did not become acquainted until they can to this country, and they were married at Terra Alt John Moran was a walker and watchman with the Ball

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'e and Ohio Railroad, and he is buried at Rodamers in ston County. His widow died in Thomas many years r and is buried at Pittsburgh. Mrs. Moran has two viving brothers, Dominick A., of Akron, Ohio, and John, Pittsburgh. Of the children of Mr. and Mrs. Moran oldest is Mary, wife of Frank Baker, at Cumberland, ryland. The son Michael served with the Sixty-eighth ation Corps at Dallas, Texas, until the signing of the istice. Nellie, the third child, lives at Detroit, Mich- n, and the youngest children are: Ena, a high school lent, Reta and Daniel J.

OSEPH L. MILLER, M. D. The dean of the medical pro- sion at Thomas in Tucker County is Dr. Joseph L. ler, who has general supervision of the medical and gical practice for the Davis Coal & Coke Company in , region. He has some active connections with local iness as well, and his career also serves to introduce of the very old and prominent families of the state. Doctor Miller was born in Beach Hill in the Big Kana- Valley in Mason County, October 10, 1875. In the e locality was born his father, Henderson Miller. His ndfather, John Miller, came from Woodstock, Virginia, settle in this section of the Big Kanawha Valley. Here built the first brick house in 1810. This house stood what is known as the old Judge Moore farm. John ler subsequently presented that farm to his son, and he ted on another one of his Kanawha Valley farms. This n, where he and his wife, Sallie, lived, is now the perty of William H. Vaught of Point Pleasant. Their ies lie in the old family graveyard on the farm. John ler owned twenty or more slaves. His first wife was aughter of William Clendenin, an early and prominent ler of Mason County, who served as a member of the ginia Assembly. His second wife was Sallie Henderson. ler father was Col. John Henderson, a distinguished racter in the pioneer period of Mason County. He a member of the first County Court, in 1804, served sheriff from 1804 to 1809, was a member of the Vir- a Legislature from 1809 to 1824, and was colonel of 106th Virginia Regiment in the War of 1812. He his brother Samuel Henderson inherited 2,000 acres land at the mouth of the Big Kanawha River from r father, Lient. Jobn Henderson, who had acquired it grant from the State of Virginia and had settled there ut 1795. The old Henderson brick house in which Col. n Henderson lived is still standing, just across from nt Pleasant, and its construction dates from 1811. John Henderson was a brother-in-law of Gen. Andrew 'is, who was in command of the Virginia troops at the le of Point Pleasant on October 19, 1774.

ohn Miller by his first marriage had six sons and one ghter, and by his second wife had the same number children, but in reverse sex, there being six daughters one son. The son of his first marriage, Charles Clen- in Miller, lived in Mason County, and for fifty years president of the old Merchants Bank.

enderson Miller, father of Doctor Miller, and only son john and Sallie (Henderson) Miller, spent seventy years his life on the farm where he was born. He was a luate of Marshall College in 1847, was a slave holder planter, little disposed to politics beyond voting as a ocrat, and was a liberal and prominent member of Southern Methodist Church, donating the site and more 1 half the funds required to build a church at Beech

. Henderson Miller, who died February 19, 1898, at age of seventy, married Finetta Lyon, daughter of eph Lyon, at Woodford County, Kentucky. She died 19, 1920, at the age of sixty-nine, and both are buried the Beech Hill Cemetery. Their children are: Dr. ph Lyon, of Thomas; and Stephen Kisling, one of the ninent business men in the Ohio Valley, a resident of isville and vice president of the Kentucky Wagon ks and Dixie Motor Company, where the old Hickory n wagon has been made for a half century.

r. Joseph L. Miller grew up in Mason County in the ronment of his distinguished forefathers, and he first nded country schools, continued his education in Morris- Vol. III-57

Harvey College at Barboursville, spent two years in the University of Nashville, and graduated in medicine from the University College of Medicine at Richmond in 1900. The last six months he was in college he was an interne in the Sheltering Arms Hospital of Richmond. Soon after finishing his course in medicine Doctor Miller moved to Thomas as first assistant to Dr. O. H. Hoffman, then chief surgeon for the Davis Coal & Coke Company. When Doctor Hoffman, in 1917, removed to Baltimore he was succeeded by Doctor Miller, who now has medical charge of the seven plants of the company in this region and is also local surgeon for the Western Maryland Railroad Company. He has been in active practice here for over twenty years. He has twice served as president of the Barbour-Randolph-Tucker Tri-County Medical Society, has been vice president of the West Virginia State Medical Association and is a Fellow of the American Medical Association and a member of the Southern Medical Asso- ciation.

Doctor Miller, in 1914, established a drug store at Thomas, and still owns that business. He is president of the local Board of Health, has been a member of the City Council, and was the only democrat elected to the local school board for many years, overcoming the republican majority to attain that office. He is a past officer of every chair in Thomas Lodge No. 123, F. and A. M., and belongs to the Scottish Rite Consistory at Wheeling. He is a Presbyterian and Mrs. Miller has taken a very active part in the church, especially in connection with the choir. She has a finished musical education, and is a member of the Thomas branch of the Federation of Women's Clubs.

On June 3, 1902, at Ashland, Kentucky, Doctor Miller married Miss Pamelia Hampton, a native of that locality and daughter of John W. Hampton, a successful lawyer, and granddaughter of Judge William C. Ireland, who was on the Kentucky bench for a score of years and served as a member of the Kentucky Senate before and during the Civil war. Judge Ireland's daughter Louisa married John W. Hampton in 1872, and Mrs. Miller is the youngest of their three children. Her surviving brother, William Ire- land Hampton, is a lawyer and cattle man at Fort Worth, Texas. Mrs. Miller is a graduate in music from the Morris- Harvey College and also from Randolph-Macon Women's College at Lynchburg, Virginia.

Doctor and Mrs. Miller have three children, Henderson Hampton, now a student at Yale University, class of 1925. Ireland Fielding is a student of architecture in the University of Pennsylvania. John Hampton, the youngest, is attending Mercersburg Academy at Mercersburg, Pennsylvania.

ROBERT J. DUNHAM. A resident of Philippi since 1881, and still active, Robert J. Dunham is one of the veterans in the commercial life of Barbour County. Destiny did not present him with wealth, though with sound gifts of health, vigor and ambition, and it has been his lot to make good use of such talents for his own advancement and in some degree for the welfare of the community.

He was born near Grafton in Taylor County, October 31, 1857. His grandfather, Jacob Dunham, was a native of New Jersey, and was an early settler in Taylor County, where he spent his active life and where he is buried. He married a Miss Foster, and among their children were: Robert F., Daniel, Enoch, William, Nancy (who married John Henderson), Mrs. Alexander Henderson, and Mrs. Bailey Latham.

Robert F. Dunham, father of the old business man of Philippi, was born March 9, 1817, in Taylor County, soon after his parents settled there. He was reared in a modest home with little schooling, and amid the religious influences of the home was early converted and became active in the work of the Baptist Church. He began the work of the ministry when about thirty years of age. He was a farmer six days of the week and served the pulpit on Sunday, and remained in the ministry for a half century. During the war between the states his sympathy was with the South, though he rendered no active service.

Rev. Mr. Dunham finished his course at Belington, where

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he died June 7, 1907, aged ninety years and three months. He married Harriet Carder, a native of Taylor County, Vir- ginia, now West Virginia, and daughter of Isaac Carder, who married a Miss Bennett. Her parents were also natives of Taylor County. Mrs. Dunham died about 1892. Of their eight children the following grew up: Edith, who died in Taylor County, wife of Reuben H. Hall; John C., who spent his last years at Belington, where he died; Isaac B., a resident of Belington; Jacob A., who was a teacher and farmer and died at Belington; Martha, of Belington, wife of W. Scott Davis; Robert J .; and Elizabeth, wife of John C. Wright, of Belington.

Robert J. Dunham was fourteen years of age when his parents left his native community near Valley Falls and moved to Belington in Barbour County. There he grew to manhood, finished his education in public and select schools, and earned his first money as a teacher. He began teaching at the age of twenty, in the Meadowville School of Bar- bour County, and taught five winter terms, while in the summer he either attended school or worked on the farm.

Following that period of his life devoted to teaching he entered the mercantile business, conducting a store for one year at Meadland, Taylor County, and then for four years was a merchant at Mansfield near Philippi. He gave up store keeping on his own account to become a travel- ing representative for Witz, Biedler and Company of Balti- more, a dry goods and notion house. During the eleven years he represented this firm he covered West Virginia ter- ritory near his own home. Over the same territory and selling the same line of goods he represented John E. Hurst and Company for ten years.

As a traveling salesman he had his home in Philippi, and when he left the road he settled permanently in that city and has since given more or less active attention to his business interests. He owns considerable real estate and other property, is one of the original stockholders and since its organization has been a director of the Citizens National Bank, and he still does some speculative dealing in real estate.

Mr. Dunham had no aspirations for political office and has done his duty merely as a voter in the democratic party. He cast his first presidential vote for General Han- cock in 1880. He is a member of the Missionary Baptist Church.

At Philippi March 31, 1881, he married Miss Etta Lee Thompson, who was born at Philippi in October, 1861, daughter of William C. and Lucretia J. (Marteney) Thompson. Her mother was a daughter of William Mar- teney. William C. Thompson was born near Morgantown and was a child when brought to Philippi by his parents. His father, Henry Thompson, owned the property where Mr. Dunham now lives. Henry Thompson was a cabinet maker and also a preacher in the Primitive Baptist Church. William C. Thompson and wife both died in 1915 and are buried at Philippi. Mrs. Dunham, the only child of her parents to grow up, was educated in the public schools, had a brief experience as a teacher, and she died in July, 1917, at the age of fifty-six. She was reared in the older schools Baptist faith. Mr. and Mrs. Dunham had no children of their own. However, they reared a boy named Harry Scott Mann, who was born at Montelair, New Jersey, and is now in that city in the automobile business. He is married and has two children named, Harry S., Jr., and Frederick William Mann.

EUGENE COFFMAN is founder of one of the largest chain- store organizations in West Virginia, conducted by the Coffman-Fisher Company, of which he is president. The corporation is operating ten stores in the eastern part of the state. They are in a measure the outgrowth of an individual business conducted by Mr. Coffman and his young associates at Davis, his home town, and where he has been a prominent figure for nearly three decades.

Mr. Coffman was born in Shenandoah County, Virginia, June 5, 1867. His father, Henry H. Coffman, was born in the same county in 1843, spent his boyhood on the farm, was a southerner in sentiment, but impaired eye-

sight caused his rejection when he applied for service the Confederate Army. Soon after the war he began me chandising at Conicville, Virginia, and subsequently so goods at Mount Jackson in that state, and for a numb of years at Belington, West Virginia, where be is now li ing retired. His old store at Belington became a part () the Coffman-Fisher chain of stores. Henry H. Coffma married Miss Rebecca Frances Hottle, who was born : Shenandoah County in 1843. Their children are: Eugen of Davis; Clara C., wife of A. Dietrich, of Minerva, Ohie Reverend Luther, a Lutheran minister of Girardsvill Pennsylvania; Anna, of Grafton, widow of A. A. Doal George H., of Elkins; Mabel, wife of P. H. Cornelius, ‹ Masontown, West Virginia; Walter E., manager of t] Coffman-Fisher store at Keyser; Lula and Nellie, residen of Belington.

Eugene Coffman grew up at Mount Jackson in Shena' doah County, and with a common school education ] learned merchandising under his father. Leaving there : 1889, a young man of twenty-two he came over the mou tains to Moorefield, West Virginia, and for eleven month did a thriving business as a local merchant. He the joined his father as a partner, but in 1893 the panic can on and their enterprise was threatened with ruin. At the juncture Eugene Coffman left Mount Jackson with $75.0 in cash, and this money he used to pay his way to Bayan and give him living expense for a time and also pay tl freight on a shipment of goods from New York. For th pioncer stock of goods he utilized bis credit with Charl Broadway Rouse in New York City, who permitted him . have $1,000 worth of racket goods. In a few months t] panic struck Bayard also, and in order to save himse he had to seek another location. This time he came Davis, bringing the remnant of his little stock of good and opening up for business in a room 16 by 24 fee Since coming to Davis Mr. Coffman has had a strenuo career, and at different times has been confronted wi. practically every obstacle, problems and adversity in t] life of a merchant. A detailed story would be an interes ing factor in commercial experience. However, out of th period of adversity he in time achieved success, and ] attributes a large part of that to the loyalty of the your men who have been associated with him. The big busine of which he is today the head represents also the flowerin and fruitage of the moderate investments of the $75.0 which he brought with him to the state. Mr. Coffma from the first was keen to observe a quality in charact of the young men who came to him for employment, al in time several of these became associated with him and constituted the corporation of the Coffman Fisher Cor pany, organized January 1, 1912, with a capital of $100 000. Those associated with him at the beginning and wh have contributed materially to the success of the enterprise were Thomas Fisher, H. Cornelius, Charles H. Coffman a George W. Coffman, and since then others who have p money into the business and also contributed to its succe have been O. C. Rohrbaugh, Lyle Wilson and Walter Dietrich. There have been other stockholders, but the me mentioned have been chiefly responsible for the grow and expansion from one store to nearly a dozen.

About 1910, a year or two before the organization the corporation, Mr. Coffman and Mr. Fisher as partne opened the first group of branches, with stores at Tu nelton, Belington, Thomas, Blaine and Masontown. Sin then new branches have been opened at Piedmont, Keys and Bayard, and also at Albright, so that the company no has ten stores, representing an investment of approximate $200,000, and in 1921 the capital stock of the company w increased to $250,000. Eugene Coffman is president the company, George W. Coffman, vice president, Char] H. Coffman, secretary and treasurer, and Thomas Fishe general manager.

Mr. Coffman has also been a director of the Nation Bank of Davis since 1907. He has never sought politic office, though he served one unexpired term as a memb of the County Court. He cast his first presidential vo for Harrison in 1888, and is a republican in principal.

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At Davis, February 25, 1895, he married Miss Alice Williams, a native of Preston County and daughter of obert Williams, who married Miss Brewer. Her father, ho was a farmer at Lile Point in Monongalia County nd later at Tunnelton, died in 1917, at the age of sixty- x. Mrs. Coffman was educated in the public schools, arned dressmaking at Kingwood, and was living at Davis hen she met Mr. Coffman. Her brother, John J., lost is life in a tractor accident near Morgantown in 1920, nd her sister, Annie, died unmarried at Tunnelton. She as two half brothers, Arthur and Gilbert Williams, the ormer of Reedsville and the latter of Tunnelton. Mr. offman has no fraternal affiliations and is a member of le Lutheran Church.

CHARLES E. CARRIGAN was born at Sherrard, Marshall ounty, West Virginia, April 9 (Easter Sunday), 1871, nd was a son of Jolin and Amanda Ellen Carrigan. On is father's side the grandparents were Irish, and on the other's side the grandparents were Scotch-Irish.

Mr. Carrigan attended the public school at McConnell's ie-room school house, and entered West Virginia Univer- ty, from which he was graduated in the classical course : 1895. Later he studied law and was admitted to the ar in 1902. He taught school in Benwood, West Vir- inia, from September, 1895, to June, 1904, began the ractice of law at Moundsville, West Virginia, in August, 904, and has been so engaged continuously until this time. Mr. Carrigan was elected a member of State Senate of Test Virginia in 1902, for a term of four years, was ected prosecuting attorney of Marshall County, West Vir- inia, in 1908, for a term of four years, and in 1910 was e nominee of the republican party for Congress from e First District of West Virginia, but suffered defeat at e general election in November of that year. In 1920 was again a candidate for the nomination for Congress om the same district, but was defeated by the small argin of fifty-six votes. During the World war he was airman of Local Draft Board for Marshall County, and ith his associates made next to the highest records in le entire State of West Virginia.

Mr. Carrigan is a member of the Presbyterian Church, id belongs to Phi Kappa Psi fraternity, Odd Fellows, lks, and Masonic fraternity. In the latter organization has been active for the past twenty years, being a past cand master of West Virginia, has attained the thirty- cond degree of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, d at this time is grand captain general of the Grand ommandery of Knights Templar of West Virginia. Occa- onally when so requested he indulges in making addresses 1 fraternal, educational, political and religious subjects. In 1907 Mr. Carrigan married Harriett Rebecca Davis, id to them one son, John Edgar Carrigan, was born. e is now eleven years of age. .

MARTIN M. RICE was one of the venerable residents of pshur County at the time of his death, January 18, 1922. e had attained the age of eighty-nine, and for a number " years had been retired from the activities which for- erly engaged him in the Rock Cave community of Upshur punty, where he was a farmer, merchant, and in every nse a leader in community affairs.

Mr. Rice was born in Highland County, Virginia, Jan- ry 21, 1833. His father, Jotham Rice, was a native of nnecticut, where he was reared and educated. 1Ie be- me a Yankee peddler, and in the course of his experi- ces he sold goods in Highland County, Virginia, where met and married Elizabeth Moyers, a native of that unty. Some years after their marriage they brought their mily to Lewis County, West Virginia, but sold their rm there and moved to the vicinity of Canaan in Upshur bunty, where Jotham Rice bought a tract of timbered nd and cleared a farm. After the death of his wife left that farm and lived with his son Martin. He was active member of the Methodist Church and a democrat politics. His six children were: Sarah A., who became le wife of Henry Friend; Martin M; Samuel and Lewis;

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History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 3, Part 160

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