History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 3, Part 182

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n the meanwhile, when the Spanish-American war came the young physician was one of the first to volunteer for vice, entering the United States Marine Corps as a vate. Although he never saw any active fighting and not get out of his own country, he found the experience fessionally valuable and was a better informed physician en he returned to his practice at Elk Garden. It was 1901 that he volunteered to serve in the Medical Corps

of the United States Navy, entering the service with rank of junior lieutenant, and when he resigned in 1915 he enjoyed the rank of full senior lieutenant.

When Doctor Peirce returned again to civil life he located at Belington in Barbour County, West Virginia, but before he had become well established there professionally the United States had entered the great conflict of the World war, and once more, with noted patriotism and earnest desire to be helpful along the line for which he was best qualified, Doctor Peirce volunteered early in the Medical Corps of the United States army. He was immediately com- missioned captain, and from then on until the signing of the armistice gave himself entirely to the general hospital at Camp Oglethorpe, Georgia, when he received his honorable discharge. In addition to the invaluable experience with which these various activities had enriched him profession- ally Doctor Peirce in 1916 gave some time and study to post- graduate work in the Presbyterian Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital in the City of Baltimore, but since locating at Elkins, in 1918, has not specialized but has found himself very busy in the field of general practice, although he is oculist and aurist for the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Com- pany at this place.

Doctor Peirce married in 1900 Miss Elsie M. Fenton, of Elk Garden, West Virginia, and they have two children, George Fenton and Lawrence Barry Peirce. With his family Doctor Peirce belongs to the Presbyterian Church.

In the main Doctor Peirce takes little active interest in politics, but as a private citizen, with home interests at Elkins, he concerns himself with civic and social movements that promise to be of substantial benefit. He is a member of the Tri-County Medical Society, of which he was elected president in 1922, and is also a member of the West Vir- ginia State Medical Association, and is a Fellow of the American Medical Association. In fraternal life he is an Odd Fellow, and he is a member of the American Legion.

LEROY SEE, a representative citizen of Elkins, West Virginia, and an able member of her bar, belongs to one of the oldest settled families of this section of the United States. In 1734 Adam and Michael Frederick See, brothers, came from Prussian Silesia, Germany, to America and settled in Pennsylvania. They belonged to a colony of Schwenfelders, a religious sect which immigrated to escape religious persecution.

In 1745 Adam and Michael F. See removed from Penn- sylvania to Virginia and settled in what is now Hardy County, West Virginia. About 1760 Michael See removed to Greenbrier County, and was killed there by the Indians July 17, 1764. Adam See was the father of several daugh- ters and of one son, George See, who in 1767 married Jemima Harness, born in Hardy County, and they had five sons and four daughters born to them: Adam C., Michael, George, Charles and John, Barbara, Hannah, Elizabeth and Dorothy. The two oldest sons, Adam C. and Michael, removed to Randolph County in 1790, where the former was admitted to the bar in 1793. In 1798 he became prosecuting attorney for Randolph County, being the fourth lawyer to hold that office in that county. Afterward he served in both branches of the Virginia Legislature, and in 1829 was a member of the Virginia Constitutional Convention. This able and distinguished citizen was the great-grandfather of LeRoy See, a worthy descendant.

Anthony B. See, son of Hon. Adam C. Sec, married Julia Leonard, and they reared a family of children. Randolph See, son of Anthony B. and Julia (Leonard) See, was born in Randolph County, West Virginia, May 9, 1837, and died in Upshur County, April 16, 1915. He was twice married, first to a Miss Sexton, and afterward to Sarah E. Talbott. One daughter, Minnie, was born to his first marriage, and one son and one daughter, LeRoy and Agnes, to the second. The mother of LeRoy See survives and still resides in Upshur County, of which she is a native. Randolph See was a farmer by occupation and from choice. During the war between the states he served with gallantry in the Con- federate army for two years. In church faith he was a Presbyterian, while Mrs. See's religious association has always been with the Methodist Episcopal Church.

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LeRoy See was born on his father's farm near French Creek in Upshur County, West Virginia, on February 6, 1874. He grew up on the farm and his early education was secured in the rural schools and afterward he taught for five terms in the county, prior to entering Wesleyan College of West Virginia, from which he was graduated in 1899. His tastes and talents indicating the law as a con- genial career, he entered upon its study and for a time was a student in the University of West Virginia, and in 1903 successfully passed his bar examination and at Buckhannon, West Virginia, was admitted to practice.

Since 1905 Mr. See has been established at Elkins, and has honorably built up a very substantial practice. He has been an active and influential factor in democratic politics for many years, and in 1896 was his party's chosen candi- date for sheriff of Upshur County. Although he failed of election it was not on account of lack of confidence by his party, for he carried its full strength, as he also did in 1904, when the contest was for prosecuting attorney. In 1906 he was again honored by a loyal party that chose him as the democratic nominee for state senator, from the Thirteenth Senatorial District, when he again carried his party's full strength, but was defeated, as were many other prominent men of his political faith in that year.

As a private citizen of Elkins Mr. See is public-spirited and watchful of the town's best interests. For many years he has been identified with such representative fraternal organizations as the Odd Fellows and the Modern Wood- men of America, and additionally belongs to numerous social bodies. Mr. See is unmarried.

WILLIAM A. BROWN. Few men in West Virginia know the actual practical operation of coal mines or have had as much to do with the development of the coal industry of the state as William A. Brown, now a resident of Alder- son. His entire life has been devoted to the business from the time that he worked as a mule driver, through the period that he labored in every intervening branch of the . industry until the present, when he is an owner and operator.

Mr. Brown was born at Ashland, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, February 8, 1858, a son of David P. and Margaret (Hamilton) Brown, natives respectively of Eng- land and Scotland. The parents of David P. Brown died when he was a lad, and he accompanied an aunt to the United States, where, having come of coal mining people, he naturally drifted into this line of endeavor and was a pioneer in the anthracite field when coal was carried by gravity to the point of shipment. He married in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, and subsequently moved to Goshen, West Virginia, where he assisted in the de- velopment of ore mines. Later he located at Quinimont, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits, and was so engaged until his death. His worthy wife passed away at Hemlock, West Virginia. They were the parents of eleven children, seven daughters and fonr sons.

William A. Brown had only meager opportunities for the securing of an educational training, but he made the most of what he had, and in later life has improved his knowledge by self teaching, reading and observation. He was only eleven years of age when he began to work, and by the time he was seventeen years of age he was driving a team of mules in the mines. He was indus- trious, faithful and persevering, and was later advanced to boss driver, then to mine boss at Berry, and later to the same position at Caperton. Mr. Brown at this time, having saved his earnings carefully, became a fifth owner in the Alaska Mine in Fayette County, where he had charge of the inside operation, and later was put in charge of the Greenwood, Hemlock and Laurel Creek mines, on Laurel Creek. In the meantime, in 1919, he moved to Alderson, where he now makes his home. Mr. Brown has witnessed practically the entire development of the coal mining industry in this section, and has had a part in most of it. In 1874, right after the advent of the railroad, the Quinimont coal mine was started by J. L. Berry. John Nuttall opened the Nuttallburg Mine, and John McGuffin started the Sewell Mine, these being the

three pioneer operations. Later on the Page Mine af Anstead, the Fire Creek Mine and the Stone Cliff and Caperton mines were established, and still later the Royal and all the mines on the north side of New River below Caperton. These were followed by the Ephraim's Creek Slater and Loup Creek mines, after which the south side of the river brought in mines, those coming later including the Laurel Creek branch, Kinney Creek branch, Piney branch, the Meadow River country, the White Oak and the branch up to Minden, these practically comprising the coal activities in this section. Mr. Brown is not only & thoroughly informed mine owner and a business man of the highest integrity, but is a thoroughgoing American citizen and a loyal supporter of all worthy causes for the general good. In politics he is a republican, and har served as a member of the Board of Education, and also was for a time postmaster at the mines. In religion he is a Presbyterian, and as a fraternalist is a Knight Templa: Mason and a Noble of the Mystic Shrine.

Mr. Brown married for his first wife Miss Henrietta Hughes, who died after having been the mother of ter children: Harry; Ellis; William; Perey; Lester, deceased Joseph, deceased; a child who died unnamed in infancy Annie, the wife of Harry Nickol; Courtney, the wife o. Dr. F. W. Groome; and Margaret. Of these, Ellis served in the World war as an officer and saw service overseas where he had a splendid record. The second wife of Mr Brown was formerly Miss Maude Hickline, daughter o Jesse Hickline, of Bath County, Virginia.

HARRY K. OWENS, M. D. Incomplete indeed would be th history of West Virginia, or any other state for that matter without distinctive and honorable mention of that large hody of men and women who labor in the broad field of medical service. Some have chosen a particular path and some worl under special combinations of method, but all can be justl credited with scientific knowledge and a due regard for th preservation of the public health with a faithful devotion to their own patients that has, on occasion, been heroic Dr. Harry K. Owens, of Elkins, early devoted his energie to the practice of medicine, and after an honorable and successful practice of more than twenty-seven years stand as a representative of all that is best and highest in thi line of human endeavor. He is also one of those who, whey his country stood in need of his services, volunteered in th World war in spite of the fact that he was long past th military age, and had a large and lucrative practice al home. The day will come when the sacrifices made by th physicians of middle age who put to one side all persona considerations, and because of their love of country and desire to provide for the soldiers proper and expert atten tion, went into a service which was arduous to the limit of endurance, will receive proper appreciation. When such day arrives Doctor Owens will be highly honored, even if i comes too late for his personal acceptance of it.

Doctor Owens was born at Bloomington, Garrett County Maryland, September 18, 1869, a son of William M. and Mary Ellen (Kight) Owens. The Owens family is of Wels extraction, and the Kights are of French origin. Both hav long been established in Maryland, where the progenitor settled during the Colonial epoch of the country. The settled on the eastern shores of Maryland, and the parent of Doctor Owens were born on the western slope of tha state. William M. Owens was a civil engineer by profes sion. He and his wife had four sons and two daughters tha reached maturity, but Doctor Owens is the only survivin son.

From the age of seven years, Doctor Owens was reare at Westernport, Maryland, where he attended the publi schools. Subsequently he attended Dickinson Seminary a Williamsport, Pennsylvania, and Wesleyan University & Delaware, Ohio, where he took an optional or selecte literary course. For one year he was a medical student a Bellevue Hospital Medical College, New York City, an then entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons a Baltimore, Maryland, where he obtained his degree 0 . Doctor of Medicine in 1895. From then until 1897 he wa engaged in practice at Davis, West Virginia, from whenc

W. C Brown -

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e went to Hambleton, West Virginia, and remained there atil 1906. In the latter year he came to Elkins, where he as since remained with the exception of the time he was the army. Doctor Owens has taken post-graduate courses ader Professor Simon of Baltimore, Maryland, in icroscopic work, and also under Professor Rytina of altimore, Maryland, in genito-urinary work. He is a mem- er of the Tri-County Medical Society, of the West Virginia tate Medical Society and of the American Medical ssociation.

For three years, from 1903 to 1906, Doctor Owens served s a first lieutenant in the Medical Corps of the West Vir- inia National Guards. In May, 1917, he volunteered in the nited States army for the World war, and was commis- oned captain. He took his training at Fort Benjamin arrison, Indianapolis, Indiana, and remained there until ovember, 1917, when he was transferred to Camp Meade, [aryland, and there attached to the Seventy-ninth Division. Then the division sailed for overseas service, Doctor Owens, a account of his age, he then being over forty-eight, was turned to Camp Meade and placed in charge of one of the amp hospitals. He continued in the service until, at his wn request, he was honorably discharged, February 1, 1919. a September, 1918, he was commissioned major, and is now cting assistant surgeon for the Veterans Bureau. After eceiving his discharge Doctor Owens returned to Elkins nd resumed his private practice. It will always be a source f gratification to him that he was able to euter the service, ut, like the majority of his profession, is very modest with ference to his military record, and if the subject is men- oned will contend that he only did what was his duty to is country and to the boys in the army.

In 1901 Doctor Owens married Gertrude Horton, of Hunt- igdon, Pennsylvania, and they have two children: Harry [. and Barbara Gertrude. Doctor Owens is a republican. n the creed of the Methodist Episcopal Church he finds xpression for his religious faith, and he has long been a onsistent member of that denomination. Well-known in lasonry, Doctor Owens had been advanced to the Knight emplar degree, and he is also a Noble of the Mystic Shrine. Le belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows as ell, and is very popular in his fraternities. During the me he has been in practice he has built up an enviable putation for professional reliability. He has always been close student and has borne his part in research work. eyond performing the duties which he feels are the re- onsibilities of good citizenship, he takes no very active art in public affairs. After his long residence at Elkins e has every reason to be proud of the fact that he is recog- ized as one of the ablest physicians and surgeons in andolph County, and one of the most public-spirited of its tizens.

HERMAN GORDON JOHNSON, newspaper editor and pub- sher at Elkins, is one of the most influential men of Ran- olph County, and one who is a compelling force in this part f the state. He was born near Meadowville, Barbour ounty, West Virginia, October 22, 1875, a son of Levi and elen Angeline (Poling) Johnson. On the same farm on hich Herman Gordon Johnson was born, his father and randfather, John G. Johnson, came into the world. The reat-grandfather, Levi Johnson, settled in Barbour County uring the pioneer period of that part of the state, and he as a soldier in the American Revolution, serving from irginia. He was born in England, from whence he came the American Colonies, and after a time spent in New ersey, came South to Virginia.

Helen Angeline Poling, mother of Herman Gordon John- on, was born on a farm adjoining the one owned by the ohnsons, in Barbour County, and she was a daughter of mory Poling. Mrs. Johnson died May 8, 1920, aged sixty- ve years, but Mr. Johnson survives and is now seventy- ree, and makes his home in Barbour County. Farming as been his life work. Both the Johnsons and Polings were sympathy with the Confederate cause during the war be- veen the North and the South, and Levi Johnson for many ears supported the candidates and measures of the demo- atic party, but for the past few years has been a repub-

licau in politics. For a long time he has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and his wife was also a member of the same denomination. They reared three sons and three daughters to useful manhood and womanhood.

Growing up on his father's homestead, Herman Gordon Johnson early learned under his father's watchful instruc- tion the importance of industry and thrift and the true dignity of labor well performed. His preliminary educa- tion was obtained in the rural schools, and he was for three years a teacher in them during his early manhood. He entered the educational field in order to earn the money to further pursue his own studies, for he was ambitious and realized that it was only through the training of a higher education could he hope to carry out his ideals. He at- tended the Fairmont State Normal School, and then matricu- lated at the University of Nashville, Tennessee, but before completing his literary course there was offered a position as a reporter on the Nashville American, which he accepted and in that connection began his association with news- paper work. From 1896 to 1898 he remained with that news] aper, but in the later year accepted an offer to become manager of the Elkins Inter-Mountain, and was so em- ployed for over one year. Resigning then, Mr. Johnson took charge of the Mountain Echo at Keyser, West Virginia, in which he had bought an interest. Two years later he bought the Elkins Inter-Mountain, which he has since edited and published, being its sole proprietor, although he operates under the firm name of Inter-Mountain Printing Company. The Inter-Mountain is published as a daily every week day, and also as a weekly newspaper, and as an exponent of republican principles. Until 1907 the paper was issued only as a weekly, but in that year its scope was broadened and it has since been a daily as well. For twenty years Mr. Johnson has edited and managed his journal, and has made it one of the most modern and newsy papers in his part of the state.

Always active as a republican, in 1918 Mr. Johnson was the republican nominee for the office of state senator from the Thirteenth Senatorial District, composed of Randolph, Upshur, Barbour and Pendleton counties. Elected by a gratifying majority, he took his seat in the Upper House of the State Assembly, and his record since doing so has been a clean and notable one, and his service has been characterized by more than average ability. As chairman of the Senate committee on education Mr. Johnson led his associates in recommending, and had enacted into laws, sonie of the most important educational measures now on the statute books. He was a strong advocate of what is known as the "depletion tax," a tax on coal, oil and gas.

Mr. Johnson is a member of several fraternities, including the Knights of Pythias, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Ancient and Accepted Order of Masons, in the latter of which he has been advanced to the thirty-second degree, Scottish Rite, and the Knight Templar degree, York Rite, and he is also a noble of the Mystic Shrine. He is also a member of the Elkins Rotary Club, the Elkins Country Club and the Cheat Mountain and Alleghany Mountain clubs. As a member of the Presbyterian Church he finds expression for his religious faith.

In 1899 Mr. Johnson married Miss Mary Barnes, of Elkins, who was born at Cumberland, Maryland. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are the parents of two children, namely : Bess Kathryn, who is a student in the School of Drama in the Carnegie Technical Institute; and Herman Gordon, Jr., who is a student in the Elkins High School.

It is not an easy task to do full justice to a man like Mr. Johnson in a notice of this brevity, for he has entered into so many movements, both personally and through the medium of his paper, has inaugurated and carried to suc- cessful completion improvements of great importance, and never spared himself or his means in order to advance his community. In all of this he has been actuated by the highest principles of good citizenship and local pride, and his worth is fully appreciated by those who know him best. His nomination and election to the State Senate came as a just reward for years of great public service, and the honor was so accepted, although it brought with it added labors,

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for no man as earnest and conscientious as Mr. Johnson could accept such an office without exerting himself to the utmost to do the greatest amount of good. Always a friend of education, for years he had fought for better schools and higher standards for educators. As a member of the Senate he had the opportunity to score a victory over the reactionary element which had always opposed him, and the school children today are reaping the benefits. Mr. John- son has already accomplished much, but his friends contend that his career is not by any means closed, and that further honors will be offered him, for his constituents realize the fact that he is one who will look after their interests fear- lessly, resolutely and successfully, and because of that and their personal friendship for him will desire his advance- ment in office so that their rights may be properly pro- tected and honestly defended.

ELMER ALLEN BOWERS, general attorney for the Western Maryland Railroad in Virginia, division counsel for the Charleston Division of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, gen- eral counsel for the West Virginia Coal & Coke Corpora- tion, and vice president of the Elkins National Bank, is one of the capable lawyers and public-spirited men of this part of West Virginia, and an honored citizen of Elkins, where he has lived since 1900. He was born at Hopewell, Bedford County, Pennsylvania, February 25, 1877, and is descended on both sides from solid Pennsylvania-Dutch stock.

His parents, Henry Harrison and Florence (Detweiler) Bowers, were born and reared in Bedford County, Penn- sylvania. The date of the father's birth was in 1847, and when he was fourteen years old war was declared between the two sections of the country. In spite of his youth he volunteered and for eighteen months rendered gallant serv- ice in the Twenty-second Pennsylvania Cavalry, partici- pating in the campaigns in the Shenandoah Valley. After receiving his honorable discharge he became a laborer, work- ing first on railroad construction, and later in the coal mines. Still later he was engaged in merchandising at Hopewell, Pennsylvania, and died there in 1915. He and his wife became the parents of three daughters and one son, Elmer Allen. Mrs. Bowers survives her husband and con- tinues to live at Hopewell, and is still conducting the store she and her husband established.

In the private and public schools of his native city Elmer Allen Bowers received his preliminary educational training. Leaving school, for two years he taught in the public schools, and then attended and graduated from the Central State Normal School at Lockhaven, Pennsylvania, in 1896. For three more years he continued his work as a public school teacher, and in the meanwhile began the study of law under the preceptorship of Ilon. John H. Jordan, of Bedford, Pennsylvania. Mr. Bowers then attended Dickin- son Law School, at Carlisle, Pennsylvania, completing his course there in 1900, having taken a two-years' course in one. In August of that same year he took up his duties as law clerk in the office of the late C. W. Dailey of Elkins. In 1902 he was admitted to practice at the bar of West Vir- ginia, and thereafter was associated with Mr. Dailey as a partner until the latter's death. Mr. Bowers then succeeded Mr. Dailey as general attorney in Virginia for the Western Maryland Railroad. He is a republican, but has never aspired to public honors, his time and interests being absorbed by his professional duties. Fraternally he main- tains membership with the Masons and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.

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History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 3, Part 182

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