History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 3, Part 161

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Margaret, who became the wife of Henry Chase; and James.

Of these children Martin M. Rice was the last survivor. He spent his early life on a farm, attended subscription schools, and after leaving home he became a farmer in Upshur County. For many years he was in business at Rock Cave as a merchant and postmaster, but some years ago retired from business, though at the time of his death he owned 200 acres of land at Rock Cave and also 200 acres in the Cannan community of Upshur County.

On April 18, 1867, Mr. Rice married Samaria E. Reger, a native of Upshur County. She became the mother of six children, and she and these children are also deceased. On July 12, 1899, Mr. Rice married Anna Belle Reger, a second cousin of his former wife. She was born in Lewis County, February 1, 1866. Mr. and Mrs. Rice had a son, Martin V., born October 30, 1904, now a student in the public schools. Mr. Rice was a democrat in politics.

JAMES B. WILT is one of the well known men in the pulp industry of West Virginia. He is superintendent of the Parsons Pulp & Lumber Company, and has been con- nected with that plant nearly two decades. Ilis name is one that carries great weight both in business and civic circles in Tucker County.

He was born at Texas in Tucker County, June 18, 1881. His grandfather, Peter Wilt, was a native of Maryland and of German ancestry. He founded the family in Bar- bour County, West Virginia. During the Civil war he became a private soldier, served three years as a volunteer, and in one of the battles in which he took part was wounded in the leg, a wound that necessitated his retirement from the service at the end of three years. He married Cath- erine Wilson, and they reared nine children: John H., Mary, Wilson, George, Abbey, Sarah, Thomas, Violena and Enzina.

John H. Wilt, father of James B. Wilt, was born in Barbour County, and spent his active life in that and in Tucker County. He was also a volunteer soldier at the time of the Civil war, going out with the Second Virginia Infantry, Company K. He was in the three days fighting at Gettysburg, the seven days fighting in the wilderness, and in many other battles. He was three times wounded, twice by bullets and once by a piece of shell. These wounds permanently injured him and did much to shorten his life. He was a color-bearer of his regiment. John H. Wilt, who died on his farm in Tucker County in 1910, at the age of sixty-seven, had led an active career on his modest farm for many years. He was a school commis- sioner in his district, road supervisor, a democrat in poli- tics and a member of the Methodist Protestant Church. In Barbour County he married Miss Nancy, Phillips, daugh- ter of Elijah Phillips, of one of the old families of that county. Mrs. John Wilt died in 1883, at the age of thirty- five. Her children were George W., Albert, Alice, Amanda, Mary Catherine, Peter and James Bowman.

James Bowman Wilt spent his boyhood on the home farm, and at the age of seventeen had only the equivalent of a rural school education. After some further prepara- tion he became a rural school teacher at the age of nine- teen, and for two winters taught school. Ile attended a summer normal school, and for a brief period was a coal miner at. Arden and at Meriden.

It was on June 5, 1903, that Mr. Wilt entered what has proved to be his continuous service of nearly twenty years with the Parsons Pnlp & Lumber Company. Several years before he had acquired some experience in the pulp busi- ness with the West Virginia Pulp & Paper Company at Davis. In the Parsons plant he began as a common laborer in the machine room, was promoted to machine tender, then to foreman of the department, and in 1911 was made sulphite mill superintendent and since 1918 has had the responsibilities of general superintendent of the entire plant.

The Parsons Pulp & Lumber Company was established at Parsons in 1900, and the industry was ready for busi- ness in 1901. The product is bleached sulphite pulp, which

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is converted into bond and book paper. Most of the pulp is worked up in this country, though at one time some of the product was exported. The company has 140 men on the pay roll, and besides the mill at Parsons the company operates a sawmill at Horton, West Virginia, and two sawmills in North Carolina. The mill at Horton supplies the pulp wood for the Parsons plant. The main office of the corporation is in the Finance Building at Phila- delphia.

Mr. Wilt has made a deep study of the technical work involved in pulp and paper manufacture. He took special courses in these subjects with the International Correspon- dence Schools of Scranton, and in 1917 began a course in business administration with the La Salle Extension Uni- versity of Chicago, completing it in 1922. 1Ie and some other business men of Parsons organized in 1920 the Par- sons Excelsior and Wood Products Company for the manu- facture of mattress excelsior, lumber and other wood prod- ucts. Mr. Wilt is secretary and treasurer of this com- pany, the president being R. V. Willson.

Mr. Wilt is a member of the River City Club, an organi- zation whose purpose is to advance the general welfare and business prosperity of Parsons. He is a past master of Pythagoras Lodge No. 128, A. F. and A. M., is a mem- ber of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and in poli- tics is a democrat, through frequently casting an inde- pendent vote regardless of party line. In the Missionary Baptist Church he is a deacon, and is treasurer of the fund of the, local church in the hundred million dollar movement of the Baptist denomination for missions. He was one of the contributors to the Broaddus College fund. At the time of the World war he was a member of the Savings Stamp Committee, and he was registered and waived all exemption. He belonged to the technical asso- ciation of the pulp and paper industry and also to the American Pulp and Paper Mill Superintendents' Associa- tion, both of which organizations offered their services as a body to the Government during the war.

In Tucker County, November 30, 1902, Mr. Wilt mar- ried Miss Ella May Parsons, of Randolph County, dangh- ter of Joshua and Lois (Schoonover) Parsons, well to do farming people of Tucker County. Mrs. Wilt was born February 6, 1881, and was next to the youngest in a large family of children, the others being Page; Burl; Maud, wife of Gilbert Ayres; Birdie, wife of Edward Coberly; Jared G., of Parsons, who married Frances Phillips; and Nancy, wife of W. C. Smith, of Belington.

Mr. and Mrs. Wilt have a son and daughter. The son, Wilson J., now eighteen years of age, graduated from the Parsons High School in 1921, and is pursuing the mechanical engineering course' in West Virginia University. The daughter, Thelma Lois, born in 1909, is in the eighth grade of the Parsons schools.

J. W. MYERS, M. D. The work and service that con- stitute the principal distinction of Doctor Myers comprise over a quarter of a century of devotion to the routine of a general medical practice, a leadership in community affairs where business enterprise and capital are essential for the accomplishment of beneficial results, and since his removal to Philippi he has also been a successful manu- facturer of medicines and home remedies.

Doctor Meyers was born near St. George in Theker County, December 6, 1872. His grandfather, Josiah Myers, was a native of Pennsylvania and of Pennsylvania Dutch stock. As a young man he removed to West Virginia, set- tling in Barbour County, was a farmer, and when the Civil war came on he joined the Confederate Army and died in the service. Three of his sons were in the conflict, and all of them wore the Confederate gray uniform.

Michael Myers, father of Doctor Myers, was born in Barbour County but spent most of his life in Tucker County, going there before the outbreak of the Civil war. He was a practical and industrious farmer, did his part in sharing public duty, was a member of the Board of Education and for several years president of the County Court. He joined the Sixty-second Virginia Infantry in the Confederate Army, and served three years as a private

soldier under General Early and General Lee. He wa never wounded, though a participant in some of the great est battles of the war. In one battle he was capturer and was a prisoner in Camp Chase, Ohio, when the wa ended.

Michael Myers, who died in 1910, at the age of eighty married Amelia Anvil, daughter of John Anvil, who was : farmer and miller near St. George. Mrs. Michael Myer is now seventy-six years of age and lives at the hom of her son. There were only two children, the daughte being Mrs. Charles Phillips, who died near St. George.

J. W. Myers grew up in the community where he wa born, attended the country schools there, was one of i small family, and the resources of his parents were ampl to provide a good living and a margin for education While he did not attend a college, he supplemented hi early advantages by serious study and in this way wa well qualified to begin his preparation for a medical careel Just after passing his majority he began reading medicin with Doctor Calvert of St. George. From his office h entered the Physio-Medical College of Indianapolis, In diana, where he graduated in March, 1895. In May o that year Doctor Myers began practice at Nestorville i Barbour County, and performed the arduons duties of : country physician, riding and driving about the country a work that has been well described as a twenty-four hou a day and 365 days a year occupation. After attending to these exhausting duties Doctor Myers found time t help in several community affairs. He was the leading spirit that gave his community one of the best telephon systems in a country district of West Virginia. This wa the Citizens United Telephone Company, of which he wa manager. The system extended over a large portion of Barbour, Taylor, Preston, Tucker and Randolph counties embracing 1,000 miles of wire, 1,000 subscribers, and nin switchhoard exchanges.

Since 1910 Doctor Myers has been a resident of Philipp: Some years ago foresceing a shortage of doctors, especiall, in the country districts, a condition that has recently been the subject of a report and discussion at medical con ventions, Doctor Myers took steps to supplement the wor, of the physicians by compounding home remedies, which have been placed on the market and now include abou twenty-four preparations of different kinds. These reme dies are now on sale in more than 500 drug and genera stores throughout a large part of West Virginia and point in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland and old Virginia. Th laboratory for the compounding of these remedies is on of the industries of Philippi, and in 1914 a company wa incorporated for the manufacture and sale.

Doctor Myers has had little time or disposition to par ticipate in politics. He was reared in a farmer's home was the first physician the family has produced in sev eral generations, at least, and his vocation has been one t absorb all his energies.

In Barbour County October 20, 1898, Doctor Myers mai ried Miss Lennie C. Johnson, daughter of Joseph L. ans Ella (Crim) Johnson, her mother being a sister of th late merchant prince of Philippi, Joseph Crim. Mrs Myers, who was one of a family of three sons and thre daughters, was educated in country districts and summe normal schools, and for two years was a teacher a Hamilton and Parsons in Tucker County. Doctor an Mrs. Myers have a family of five children: Karl J., junior medical student in the University of Maryland Hu C., who is taking his pre-medical work in the Universit of West Virginia; Edna and Elmer, twins, students i the Philippi High School; and Junior Myers, who is i the grammar school.

Doctor Myers is a member of the Kiwanis Club 0 Philippi, is affiliated with the Independent Order of Od Fellows and the Maccabees, is one of the trustees of th Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and is a democrat i national politics.

CYRUS OSCAR STRIEBY. Learned, resourceful and highl trained, with an honorable record and varied experience back of him, Cyrus Oscar Strieby, of Elkins, is easily on

8.01. Myers M.D

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f the leading attorneys practicing at the bar of Randolph ounty, and one of the most prominent citizens of the ommunity in which he has resided for so many years. 'e was born on a farm near Williamsport, Lycoming ounty, Pennsylvania, March 13, 1866, a son of Henry J. nd Rachel (Ridge) Strieby, grandson of Jonas Strieby, ud great-grandson of Jacob Strieby. The Strieby family of German origin, but is one of the oldest in Pennsyl- wnia, where Henry J. Strieby was also born. Rachel idge was boru in Tioga County, Pennsylvania, a daugh- r of Nathan Ridge, also a native of Pennsylvania, but : Scotch lineage.

Henry J. Strieby was horn in 1835, and was reared in ycoming County, Pennsylvania, but left his native state or West Virginia in 1880, to settle in Hampshire County, here he continued to reside upon a farm until his de- ise, which occurred in 1903, when he was sixty-nine years d. His wife died at the age of sixty-three years. They ad six children, as follows: Sadie A., who married Rob- .t J. L. Swisher, and they are residents of Cumberland, aryland; Cyrus Oscar, whose name heads this review ; mına A., who married John F. Portmess, and they reside . Hampshire County; Joseph C., who is a prominent stock- tiser and fruitgrower of Hampshire County; Harry E., ho is a merchant of Romney, West Virginia, owns a fruit trm in Hampshire County; and Clara M., who married . Mack Saville, of Hampshire County. In politics Henry . Strieby was a democrat. Although reared in the faith : the Lutheran Church, after he came to West Virginia united with the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, to hich denomination his wife also belonged.

Cyrus Oscar Strieby was fourteen years old when his arents brought him to Hampshire County, and he was ared on a farm. While living in Pennsylvania he enjoyed ich exceptional educational opportunities that after he me to Hampshire County, at the extremely youthful age : sixteen, he was able to secure and teach successfully country school, and with the money thus earned con- nued his own education, teaching in all four years pre- ous to entering college. He took his classical course in isquehanna University at Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania, and mpleted it in 1889. This institution subsequently con- rred upon him the degree of Master of Arts. Leaving e university Mr. Strieby was engaged in teaching one ar, to earn money to meet debts incurred while at col- ge, and then began the study of law at Saint George, ucker County, West Virginia, under the preceptorship : W. B. Maxwell, now of Elkins. On December 18, 1890, r. Strieby received license to practice law, and in the cceeding January he became associated with Mr. Max- ell in the practice of his profession at Saint George. his association continued for three years and was then ssolved, Mr. Strieby going to Davis, West Virginia, here he was alone in his law practice. In December, 11, he came to Elkins, and has remained here ever since, ilding up a large and lucrative connection. Very promi- ut in the local democratic party, he was elected mayor : Elkins in 1917, and served as such until 1919. He was e incumbent of the office during the period of the war, id in that capacity rendered a much-appreciated serv- e. In the year 1904 he was the democratie nominee for dge in his circuit, which was strongly republican, and though not elected received a large complimentary vote. e is a consistent member of the Lutheran Church, having turned to the faith of his forebears. Fraternally he aintains membership with the Masons and Benevolent and rotective Order of Elks.

On April 16, 1896, Mr. Strieby married Addie Adams, daughter of John J. and Angeline (Ewin) Adams, of int George, and they are the parents of two daughters. eanor and Ruth. Miss Eleanor is a graduate of Goucher llege, Baltimore, Maryland, and for the past two years is been a teacher in the Elkins High School. Miss Ruth a student of physical education at Cambridge, Massa- usetts.

As a lawyer Mr. Strieby is capable, discerning and ustworthy, a convincing pleader, and a man with talents hich make for success. He is upright and straightfor-

ward in all the transactions of life, is generous to the needy, and kindly disposed to all. It is to the lives and activities of such men as he that the younger generation must turn for its inspiration. It is to the accomplishments and character of such men that civilization must give credit for its being and advancement.

SARAH ALICE BARNES is prominent in educational leader- ship in Preston County, a resident of Bruceton Mills, and also a very practical minded young woman who has proved the wholesome qualities of her spirit and energy in her family duties and as a real farmer.

She was born in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, and was reared at Bruceton Mills by foster parents. She is a daughter of Jacob P. and Sarah Ann (Guthrie) Barnes. Her father is still living at Brandonville, has been a farmer and merchant, and in early years was a teacher. J. P. Barnes and wife had the following children: Mrs. George E. Wolfe, of Terra Alta, Mrs. W. H. Thornton, James Q. and William Harrison, all of Duquesne, Pennsylvania; John J., of Morgantown; and Sarah Alice. Sarah Alice Barnes was an infant when her mother died, and she then came into the home and under the care of that goodly and godly couple, Emanuel and Mary Beeghly, of Bruceton.

The Beeghlys came to West Virginia from Pennsylvania. The immigrant ancestor of Emanuel Beeghly was a mem- ber of a German family whose ship was robbed by pirates en route to America and all were killed except the young- est son, Joshua Michael Beeghly. This son settled at Ber- lin, Pennsylvania. His son Joseph was the father of Michael Beeghly, who settled at Cove, Maryland, and was the father of Emanuel Beeghly. Emanuel Beeghly was born at Berlin, Pennsylvania, and was six months old when his father, Michael, moved to Maryland. He grew up there and married, and six years later moved to West Virginia, in 1860, locating on the old Boger farm, about four miles from Brandonville. Emanuel Beeghly always retained farming interests, but in 1866 he bought the mill property at Bruceton and continued to operate the water mill there until 1904. He was one of the strong business men of the community. He built the dam over the Big Sandy at the mill site in 1879. He was a member of the Council at Bruceton and active in school matters. Emanuel Beeghly married Mary Boger, granddaughter of the pio- neer, John Boger. This John Boger was author of the pamphlet printed in German on "the second coming of Christ," a treatise that fell into the hands of "Pastor" Russell and formed the foundation for the Millennial Dawnists Church. Rev. Mr. Boger had worked out cal- culations as to when Christ would come again, and these calculations were taken by Russell and furnished the prin- cipal material for his sensational propaganda. Rev. John Boger is buried on the Boger farm at Brandonville. Mrs. Beeglily's mother was Elizabeth Meyers, of Meyersdale, Pennsylvania. Emanuel Beeghly died August 11, 1912, and his wife, on November 13, 1920. They were strict church people of the old order of German Baptists or Dunkards. They had no children of their owu, but from first to last they reared some twenty orphans under their roof. Among these children in the Beeghly home were Amanda Brom- hall, who became the wife of David Beeghly and left seven children, one of whom, Adaline, grew up in the same home. A. O. Beeghly, who is an electrician, a wide traveler in his profession, is now a resident of Preston County. Henry Swallop, Amy Bromhall, Malinda Maust, Francis Maust, Milton Solomon, Ella Teets and Emma Jane Teets are all grateful for the hospitality and confidence placed in them by the Beeghlys.

Sarah Alice Barnes learned her letters at the home of the Beeghlys. She graduated from the Bruceton schools and then became a teacher and also carried on a farm enterprise. Subsequently she entered West Virginia Uni- versity and did four years work, though still lacking a few items required for graduation. After leaving university she resumed teaching in the fall of 1921. During the World war she planned her farming operations more in- tensively for the production of food to help win the war, but about that time Mrs. Beeghly needed her attention

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during her last illness, and she dutifully cared for this saintly old woman in her final days.

Miss Barnes was one of the Red Cross workers and con- tributed in every possible way to war causes. While at university she was a member of the Columbia Literary Society, the Beowulf Club and University Girls Club. She lent her means liberally to the Inter-World church move- ment, also to the Y. M. C. A. She is a member of the Church of the Brethren. In politics she was active in the woman's suffrage cause, and in 1920 voted for Warren G. Harding, as the Barnesases and the Beeghlys were republicans.

JAMES W. DUNCAN fought as a Union soldier in the Civil war until disabled by wounds, was with a West Vir- ginia regiment, and since the war has enjoyed prosperity and a substantial place in the affairs of Lewis County. He is now retired from the business of farming and lives with his son on Sugar Camp Fork on Skin Creek, fourteen miles southeast of Weston.

Mr. Duncan was born in Albemarle County, Virginia, June 30, 1845, son of Jacob and Martha S. (Key) Duncan. His father was a native of Buckingham County and his mother of Fluvanna County, Virginia. After their mar- riage they lived for a time in Buckingham County and then in Albemarle, and later started west with the intention of settling in Ohio. Instead they remained in Upshur County, West Virginia, where Jacob Duncan was a resi- dent until about a year before his death, when he came to Lewis County. His wife was a member of the Baptist Church. He was a whig and later a republican. Of their twelve children ten reached mature years and five are still living, named Henry, James W., Sarah, wife of J. B. Simons, Lucy J., wife of John Polts, and Martha S., wife of Sanford McNamara.

James W. Duncan was a youth when he came to West Virginia and was about seventeen when on June 1, 1862, he enlisted in Company B of the Tenth West Virginia In- fantry as a private. He had two years of arduous service until disabled by an explosion of a chest of ammunition, July 18, 1864. He was wounded in five places on the head and breast, and remained a patient in the hospital from that time until June 5, 1865, when he was honorably discharged on a surgeon's certificate.

After the war he returned to Upshur County, and ou October 18, 1869, married Christina Peterson and soou afterward they located in Lewis County. His first wife died October 6, 1872, the mother of two children: William E. and Orlando G. Duncan. On March 2, 1874, Mr. Duncan married Mrs. Marsh, a widow, whose maiden name was Nottingham. By this marriage there are seven children: Bertie, wife of Floyd Ferrell; Cammie J., wife of Lloyd Hefner; Oscar H., of Braxton County; Nicholas T .; James E .; Goldie, wife of Ira Jones; and Arlie O., of Clarksburg. The mother of these children died March 25, 1900. She was a member of the Methodist Protestant Church, while Mr. Duncan belongs to the Methodist Episcopal denomination. He is affiliated with the Grand Army Post, is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and is a republican. For six years he was a member of the Lewis County Court. When in his prime as a farmer Mr. Duncan owned a place of 312 acres, and this farm is now under the direction of his son Nicholas T. Duncan.

ED G. DAVISSON is one of the leaders in finance and busi- ness affairs in West Virginia, is president of the National Exchange Bank of Weston, and in former years was a wholesale merchant. The power he wields in business is supplemented by an intelligent and public-spirited attitude toward all the best interests of his home community and state.

Mr. Davisson was born at Jacksonville, Lewis County, West Virginia, November 19, 1867, son of Capt. George I. and Elizabeth (Morrow) Davisson. His father was born at Clarksburg, August 30, 1842. The Davissons have for several generations been prominent in official and business affairs of the state. His grandfather, Granville G. Davis- son, was clerk of the Harrison County Circuit Court from

1836 to 1850. Capt. George I. Davisson was reared il Clarksburg to the age of sixteen, then removed to Weston where he continued his education in a private school. A1 the beginning of the Civil war he enlisted in the Confederate army, in the Twenty-sixth Virginia Cavalry, and served unti captured. The last eighteen months of the war he was a prisoner at Camp Chase, Ohio. After the war he becami a merchant and farmer, and owned about 600 acres of land in Lewis County. He represented the county two terms it the Legislature, and was one of the influential democrats of the state. He and his wife were members of the Episcopal Church. They had eight children, four of whom are living: Ed G .; Lelah, wife of R. B. Phillips, of Clarksburg; Flora who is married and living in California; Mary, wife of F. H. Clater, of Pittsburgh.

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History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 3, Part 161

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