History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 3, Part 171

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It was Senator Chilton, who discovered by digging through the records, that when in 1784 Virginia conveyed the Northwest Territory to the General Government of the colonies it did not deed it outright, but in trust, and

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that all the subsequent dealings of the Government dis- regarded the spirit of the words "in trust," and that all the revenues from the sale of the land in the Northwest Territory had been applied to the Federal Treasury and without any benefit to Virginia. West Virginia as an original part of the old State of Virginia was competent to sue in the Federal Court to share in the recovery of any moneys that might be recovered on this account. Senator Chilton was author of the bill authorizing West Virginia to sue for this purpose. His proposal met a great deal of ridieule, and among others Senator Cum- mings ealled his bill the "eoldest trail and the longest line to the United States Treasury he ever heard of.'' Yet Cummings after studying carefully the document Sen- ator Chilton had prepared and the latter's argument be- eame a supporter of the bill. Similar ridieule was en- countered from Senators Gallinger and Lodge, and they too became converted and the bill passed the Senate, but failed in the House through the congestion of business that piled up at the elose of the session.

Senator Chilton has been chairman of several state conventions, including the Wheeling convention of 1920. He is chairman for West Virginia of the Woodrow Wilson Foundation. For twenty years he has been interested in oil development in West Virginia and more recently in Kentucky, and also in the development of the eoal lands over the state. For eighteen years he has been owner of the Charleston Gazette, now the paper with the largest circulation in West Virginia. He was appointed a colonel in the National Guard of West Virginia in 1897. Senator Chilton is affiliated with the Masonic Order, the Elks, Modern Woodmen of America, Knights of Pythias and the Moose.

On December 19, 1892, he married Mary Louise Tarr, of Wellsburg, West Virginia, daughter of Campbell Tarr, who was the first treasurer of the State of West Virginia. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Chilton are four in number. William E., Jr., is president of the Daily Gazette Company of Charleston, is married and has a son, William E. Chil- ton, third. Joseph Eustace is completing his education abroad, in the University of Paris, where he is making a special study of French literature and institutions. The older daughter, Eleanor Caroll, graduated in 1922 from Smith College at Northampton, Massachusetts, and while in college distinguished herself as a playwright, being the author of several dramatie compositions that have won favor. The youngest child, Elizabeth Leigh, is the wife of Girard Rice Lowrey, of Essex, New York, and they have a son, Girard Riee, Jr.

ROBERT E. SLACK is bringing to bear the personal char- aeteristics and the exeentive and scholastic ability which make for ideal administration of the affairs of the import- ant office of which he is the ineumbent, that of superinten- dent of the public schools of Clay County, his residence and official headquarters being at Clay, the county seat.

Mr. Slack was born in Kanawha County, this state, De- eember 5, 1885, and is a son of William H. and Martha J. (Huffman) Slack, both likewise natives of Kanawha County, where they were reared and educated and where their mar- riage was solemnized. The parents continued their residence on their farm in Kanawha County until 1898, when they sold their property there and removed to Clay County, where they still reside on their well improved farm of 125 acres, not far distant from Servia, which is in the adjoining County of Braxton. They are active members of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church, South, and in polities the father is a loyal supporter of the principles of the republican party. Of their nine children seven are living: Lillie is the wife of Mr. Hardway; Robert E., of this sketeli, was next in order of birth; George E. continues as a successful farmer in Kanawha County, where he is also a popular teacher in the rural schools; Henry C., who is associated in the work and management of the parental home farm, was in the nation's military service in connection with the World war, his service having been principally at Camp Lee, Virginia; James H., a farmer and teacher in Clay County, married

Miss Mary Rollyson; and Charles W. and Lewis C. are 1 younger members of the parental home circle.

A vitalizing environment and discipline was that whi the home farm gave to Robert E. Slack in his childho and early youth, and after profiting by the instruction - fered in the public schools he attended the West Virgin State Normal School at Glenville. He made a record of ni years of earnest and effective serviee as a teacher in t public schools, and in 1918 he was elected to his prese office, that of superintendent of the publie schools of CI County, his able and progressive administration having do much to raise the standard of the sehools under his jur dietion, and his professional enthusiasm gaining to him t ready co-operation of the teachers and the people of t county in general. He is aligned stanchly in the ranks the republican party, is affiliated with Henry Clay Lod. No. 233, Knights of Pythias, and is a stoekholder in t Elk Electric Light & Power Company. Mr. Slack's nan remains inscribed on the roll of eligible bachelors in Cli County.

GEORGE W. MCCUNE is elerk of the Circuit Court for Cla County, and in his home village of Clay, the judicial cent of the county, he is secretary of the board of directors the Elk Valley Bank, in which he is a stockholder and director, and he is also secretary of the Board of Educatic of the Henry District, in which Clay is included. He is tl owner of a tract of fourteen aeres of land just outside tl corporate village limits, and on this place is his attractiv residence. Mr. McCune is a stanch republican, and has bee active in the local councils of the party. He served : deputy circuit clerk of Clay County for six years, and wa then elected circuit clerk, of which office he has been tl incumbent since January 1, 1920. He is affiliated with th Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Wood men of America, and he and his wife are active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

George W. MeCune was born in Roane County, West Vill ginia, March 9, 1876, and is a son of William H. and Mar J. (Reed) MeCune, both natives of Kanawha County, wher the former was born in 1844 and the latter in 1848. Willian H. MeCune was a soldier of the Union in the Civil war, held the office of orderly sergeant, took part in many engage ments and was twiee wounded. After the war he continued his activities as a farmer in Roane County until 1877, when he removed with his family to Clay County, where he and hi wife passed the remainder of their lives, he having been one of the substantial farmers and highly honored eitizen of this county. He was a republican in politics, and he and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church Of their nine children eight are mentioned: Harrison is : prosperous farmer in Clay County; Jane is the wife o: Henry Holeomb; Grant is numbered among the progressive farmers of Clay County ; George W., of this sketch, was nex in order of birth; Nancy is the wife of Henry Keller; Lucy died at the age of eighteen years; Patriek C. is a merchant at Clay; and Benjamin, who now holds a clerical position in the postoffice in the City of Charleston was in service with the American Expeditionary Forces in France in the World war, and took part in much of the terrific conflict that finally won victory for the allies .

George W. McCune was reared on the home farm in Clay County, and that he profited by the advantages afforded in the public schools is attested by the statement that for twenty years he was a successful and popular teacher in the schools of this part of the state, within which period he served as district superintendent of the schools of the Henry District.

Mr. McCune wedded Miss Martha E. Dodd, and to this union have been born nine children: Ada is the wife of Curtis Davis; Howard is employed in the general store of the Elk River Lumber Company; Edith is the wife of John Davis; Alice is the wife of Ervin Moore; and Vernie, Earl C., William, Kathleen and Blanche are the younger mem- bers of the parental home circle.

SAMUEL H. MCLANE, who is a member of the bar of West Virginia, has been cashier of the Clay County Bank at

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since 1908, and his professional training and knowledge materially furthered the success of his administration e affairs of the substantial institution with which he is ;ified.

:. McLane was born in Barbour County, West Virginia, ch 17, 1866, and is a son of Jacob and Mary (Kelley) ane, both natives of Randolph County, this state, which at that time still an integral part of the old mother of Virginia. Jacob McLane's father was William, and latter was a son of Daniel McLane. The family was ded in Virginia in an early day. The maternal grand- nts of the subject of this review were Samuel and y (Cade) Kelley. After his marriage Jacob MeLane lished his residence on a farm two miles north of igton, Barhour County, and there he continued for y years as one of the substantial and successful ex- nts of agricultural and live-stock industry. Upon his ement from his farm he removed to Belington, where ow maintains his home, as one of the venerable and red citizens of Barbour County. He is a democrat in ical allegiance, and is a zealous member of the Meth- : Episcopal Church, South, as was also his wife, whose h occurred in 1910. Of their eight children the follow- still survive the devoted mother, and of the number uel H., of this sketch, is the eldest; Haning F. is a er in the State of Nevada; Charles L. resides at Elkins, t Virginia, and is a railway clerk on the line between point and Grafton; Fleming is a farmer in the State of o; and Edwin P. is a resident of Nevada, so that only of the number remain in the old home state of West inia.

muel H. McLane was reared on the old homestead farm Barbour County, and after leaving the public schools ttended and was graduated from the State Normal ol at Fairmont, besides which he attended the Univer- of West Virginia one year. He became a successful hier in the public schools, and in the meanwhile applied elf diligently to the study of law, his admission to the having been recorded in 1904. For the ensuing four s he was in the employ of the Davis Trust Company at ns, and he then, in 1908, assumed his present executive , that of cashier of the Clay County Bank, in which 3 a director. P. M. Summers is president of the bank, . Bradley is its vice president, and in addition to the utive officers the directorate of the institution includes H. B. Davenport, L. H. Samples, J. F. Wilson, W. S. son and B. C. Eakle.

r. McLane is a democrat in politics, is a director of the County High School, is the present (1922) master of

· County Lodge No. 97, Ancient Free and Accepted ons, is affiliated also with the Modern Woodmen of rica, and his wife is an active member of the Baptist rch at Clay.

1 1906 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. McLane and 3 Ella Hutton Poe, who was educated in the West Vir- a Wesleyan College, at Buckhannon, and who is a alar figure in the social and cultural activities of her e community. Mr. and Mrs. McLane have one son, ry N., who was born March 31, 1909, and who is a stu- ; in the local high school at the time of this writing, in

APT. FRANCIS W. TURNER was an officer in the American es during the late war, is a captain in the. West Virginia ional Guard, and is a prominent young business man of Albans, Kanawha County, where he is engaged in the rance business with his father.

is father, W. T. Turner, was born at St. Albans, repre- ing a pioneer family of Kanawha County. For a num- of years he has carried on a general insurance business t. Albans, the firm being now Turner & Turner. Francis Turner was born at St. Albans in 1895, son of W. T. and mie (Wheeler) Turner. He acquired a public school cation in St. Albans, and for three years was a student the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of st Virginia. While at the university he received his tary training, and was a member of the Cadet Corps. Vol. III-61

Soon after America entered the war with Germany he en- listed, in May, 1917, at Camp Kanawha with the Second West Virginia Infantry. When this organization was mus- tered into the army it was sent for training to Camp Shelby, Mississippi, and while there Mr. Turner was commissioned a second lieutenant. The Second West Virginia beeame a part of the Thirty-eighth Division, but on going overseas, however, in September, 1918, Francis Turner went into the Twenty-ninth Division. With this division he was in the fighting in the Argonne Forest. He received his honorable discharge in June, 1919, and for some time thereafter at- tended the University of New Mexico at Albuquerque.

On returning home he joined his father in the insurance business. With the reorganization of the Old National Guard after the war, as a permanent unit in the Federal Military Establishment, Mr. Turner joined Company B, One Hundred and Fiftieth Infantry, and in the fall of 1921 was commissioned captain by Adjutant-General Charnock, of West Virginia. Captain Turner is in active charge of this unit. The National Guard is now formally incorporated in the Federal army, and is no longer officially designated as the First National Guard.

Captain Turner is a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity and is affiliated with the Masons, Knights of Pythias and Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

JOHN M. ABBOTT, division supervisor of supplies and motor vehicles for the Chesapeake & Potomac Telephone Company of West Virginia, has earned every step of promo- tion to his present responsibilities, and his career as a tele- phone man is an interesting personal story which will be elaborated more fully, after noting the facts of his life.

He was born at Newbern, North Carolina, in 1894, and was reared and attended common schools in that city. He left home at the age of thirteen and became an office em- ploye of one of the lumber companies at Newbern, Subse- quently he went to South Carolina, worked in the offices of the Hammer Lumber Company at Little River, and later with the same corporation at Wilmington, North Carolina. In 1909 he entered the service of the Fosburg Lumber Com- pany at Norfolk, Virginia. Upon leaving that company he made application for work in the Norfolk office of the Southern Bell Telephone & Telegraph Company, and a few days later secured a reluctant consent from the manager, his first duty being cleaning a storeroom, a job he did so well that he was put on the pay roll. November 21, 1912, he was transferred to Charleston as material clerk for what is now the Chesapeake & Potomac Telephone Company, in 1917 was promoted to division storekeeper, in 1919, to division chief clerk, and in 1920, when the corporation organized the new department, he was selected as the first to fill the posi- tion of division supervisor of supplies and motor vehicles for the division embracing the State of West Virginia and several Ohio counties. His rapid rise to this important position as an executive of the company is a splendid tribute to his thoroughness, efficiency and fidelity to his work.

How he became a loyal lieutenant of E. F. Hill, at first in the Norfolk office and later at Charleston, was inter- estingly told by Mr. Hill in an article in a telephone journal a year or so ago. Mr. Hill describes his appearance as an applicant for work and his creditable performance. in the storeroom and then continues:

"Within thirty days he could read a blueprint, and I found one day that he was instructing an employe with several years' service in the proper way to rewire a sub- set. Shortly after this he was made a helper to an installer. On one occasion I happened to be out of my office for a few hours, and while away arranged to have my telephones changed.

"On coming in unexpectedly I found the wireman seated at my desk looking over the correspondence and smoking a cigar which he had found in the desk. After sticking around out of sight I found the helper was doing the work and the wireman was amusing himself in other ways. That night the services of the wireman were dispensed with and the helper was given the job.

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"Within two or three months my clerk left and I had considerable trouble in locating another. One day this young man called up and remarked that he had heard I was looking for a clerk and that he had been studying shorthand and a business course at the night school, and that while he was not very proficient with his stenographic work, he could write very well on the machine and that if I were willing to give him a trial he would make every effort to please me.

"This I was very glad to do, and he became very efficient and in every way a satisfactory clerk. If I happened to be out of the office for a day, incoming mail was usually attached to the file if there was any, and after a very short period he was able to get the necessary information from the districts and answer certain portions of the correspon- dence.

"On July 1, 1912, when I was transferred to Charleston, he immediately requested permission to come also, but realiz- ing that a new man going into the job at Norfolk would have an added hardship with a new clerk, I made him see the necessity for his staying on the job and doing his part. After being bere a short time he again applied for permis- sion to come out, but was still advised to stay on the job there. Later he got permission from Mr. Richardson to be transferred to this division, and came out early in 1913. In 1914 he resigned to accept a position as inspector with the Home Telephone and Telegraph Company at Henderson, North Carolina, but left them after five months and was re- engaged in October, 1914.

"During the time of his employment with the C. & P. Company he has looked after supplies. In fact he was the supply clerk for this division from 1913 to 1916; in 1917 he was made storekeeper at Charleston; in January, 1919, he became division plant clerk; early in 1920 he was pro- moted to division supervisor of supplies and motor vehicles, and has filled that position with credit to himself and his associates.

"To sum it up, John M. Abbott has made himself what he is today, and I consider him an efficient and reliable employe, who has educated himself by night study and correspondence school courses, so that he is at present capable of holding down any job on which he is started."

Aside from bis absorbing duties with the Telephone Com- pany, Mr. Abbott for several years bas had a keen interest and active part in the Boy Scout movement, and is deputy commissioner of the Charleston Council of the Boy Scouts of America. These activities led quite naturally to his becoming interested in safety and first aid matters, and in October, 1921, he completed a course in First Aid with the American Red Cross at Washington, receiving the Red Cross diploma certifying to this fact, under which he is authorized to teach first aid to others. This instruction work he is directing among the telephone employes in West Virginia, a work that testifies to the interest the company has in its employes and the general public as well. Mr. Abbott is a Royal Arch Mason, a member of the Scottish Rite Lodge of Perfection, and is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias.

DAVID H. GAY, Charleston agent for the American Rail- way Express Company, is a young man who has made good in a very exacting line of work, and for his fidelity and efficiency has received repeated promotions, each one to higher positions and larger responsibilities.

He was born in the university city of Charlottesville, Vir- ginia, in 1888, son of George W. Gay. He acquired his education in the Miller School at Charlottesville, and in 1906, at the age of eighteen, entered the service of the old Adams Express Company as a driver. The subsequent sixteen years have been a record of steady promotion to his work, and he was with the Adams Company until it and other express companies were merged as a war measure in the American Railway Express Company.

His first work as a driver was done at Hinton, West Virginia, and subsequently he did similar work at Char- lottesville, Alexandria and Clifton Forge, Virginia. From driver he was promoted to messenger, having a run between Richmond and Clifton Forge on the Chesapeake & Ohio

Railroad. From road messenger came promotion to cash in the company 's office at Alexandria, Virginia. From th he was made agent at Alexandria, and in 1916 was sent Charleston as agent in this city. Two years later, in 191 he was transferred to Charlottesville, Virginia, where continued his duties as agent until May, 1921, when he w again returned to Charleston. The express business of t Charleston office and the territory served from this city beadquarters makes up a large part of the volume of su business in the entire state, and the position occupied Mr. Gay is one of important executive responsibility. M Gay married Miss Vera Thomas of Virginia. He is member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and t Knights of Pytbias.

ULYSSES SIMPSON JARRETT. For over thirty years M Jarrett has been a working force in all that concerns t growth and progress of the little community of St. Alba In that time St. Albans has grown from a very small villa to one of the thriving little cities of Kanawha County. ] was in charge of the business of the railroad at this poi for a number of years, has been a merchant, head of t city government, and is now postmaster.

Mr. Jarrett was born on Cabin Creek, Kanawha Coun June 26, 1870. The Jarrett family has been represented several branches of the name in Kanawha County sin pioneer times. One of the original settlers was Owen Ja rett, who came from Greenbrier County, and was the seco man to settle on Elk River at Jarrett's Ford in Kanaw County. He died at the age of fifty-three. Eli Jarrett, son of Owen, spent his life at the old farm and died 1897. His wife was Nancy Newhouse, daughter of Micha Newhouse. She died in 1899, at the age of eighty-eigl Her children were Squire Bennett, Eli T., John T., Mark Mary E., who married Marshall De Pew of Roane Count Caroline, who married Burdett Price of Elk River, a Nancy Catherine, who married D. S. Jarrett. Another repr sentative of the name was William R. Jarrett, a grands of William Jarrett and a son of Strawther Jarrett. W liam R. spent his life mainly on Elk River, and in his la year kept a hotel on Kanawha Street in Charleston. E son Strawther, born in 1848, and died June 22, 1898, was cooper by trade and made salt barrels and later was iden fied with gas production. He married Nancy Young, a their son, William R., has been in the postoffice service Charleston since 1895 and became superintendent of mills 1908.

The parents of U. S. Jarrett were Addison and Margar (Keeny) Jarrett. Margaret Keeny was a daughter Moses Keeny, representing another old family. Addis Jarrett spent thirteen years of his life in Missouri, ne St. Joseph, and was a member of the Home Guard the during the Civil war. He returned to West Virginia abo 1868 and located at Cabin Creek. He was a carpenter, a: he worked at this trade for thirty years with one coal co pany. He died at the age of seventy-four and his wife, seventy. Their two sons were John A., a former sheriff Kanawha County, and U. S., who was named for Gener Grant, then President.

U. S. Jarrett attended country schools, at the age fifteen learned telegraphy, and for twenty years was in t service of the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad Company telegraph operator and agent. He was assigned to duty St. Albans in 1889 as operator, and became agent in 189 continuing in that capacity for eight years. When he car to St. Albans in 1889 the place had a population of on 100. There are now between 3,000 and 4,000 people livin in this community. After leaving the railroad service 1901 Mr. Jarrett was in the hardware business, was al deputy revenue agent, for a time resumed work as a tel graph operator, and during Taft's administration w appointed postmaster. He held that office until the chan; of administration, and later was called back to the duti of postmaster for a year and a half during Wilson's secor term. Soon after the Harding administration came in was selected as postmaster, and his present term bega January 1, 1922. The business done by the postoffice whi he has been connected with it is a graphic illustration of th

Myron. G. Campbell

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owth of St. Albans itself. The receipts of the office are o times now what they were when he first became post- ister. The receipts now average about $12,000 per year. ere are four clerks and two rural carriers.

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History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 3, Part 171

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