History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 3, Part 187

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December 25, 1904, recorded the marriage of Mr. ThomI son and Miss Lenora Stalnaker, who was born and reare in Barbour County, a daughter of Garrison and Mary M (Newlon) Stalnaker. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson have fou children: Wilfred A., Robert E., John A. and Mary Anns

Francis L. Thompson, father of him whose name initiate this review, was born in Barbour County, in December 1859, and was a student in one of the first free school established in the county. He learned in his youth th blacksmith trade under the direction of his father, Joli B. Thompson, who was a Union soldier in the Civil war as a member of Company F. Fifteenth West Virgini Volunteer Infantry. John B. Thompson was born in Bar bour County, where his father, David Thompson, an mother, Polly (Wyatt) Thompson, settled at the time whe Gen. Andrew Jackson was President of the United States David Thompson here purchased an extensive tract of land for which he paid four cents an acre, and his old home ws six miles north of the present City of Belington. John E Thompson married Sarah Ann Jones. Both are dead John B. died in Taylor County. Their eldest son, Solomo. David, became a successful farmer near Moatsville, Bar bour County; Francis L. was the second son; Mrs. Mar; Ogden died at Clarksburg, this state; Excella is the wif

Fred Thompson

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of M. D. Gainer, of Belington; Donna is the wife of Solo- mon Skidmore, of Grafton, this state; Alphonso resides at Belington; and General Ord was shot and killed by a desperado while in discharge of his official duties as chief- of-police at Gassaway, West Virginia.

Francis L. Thompson, now manager of The Belington Progressive, married Anna Weaver, danghter of William and Ellen (Skidmore) Weaver. The Skidmore family have been one of prominence in this section of West Virginia since the early pioneer days. Of the children of Mr. and Mrs. Francis L. Thompson, Frederick Earl, immediate sub- ject of this sketch, is the eldest; Mrs. Edna Richardson resides in Los Angeles, California; Harry D. is engaged in the candy jobbing business at Morgantown; Omer C., commercial traveling salesman, resides at Belington; W. Wayne, a printer by trade, is a resident of Los Angeles, California; Miss Carol holds a position with the agricul- ural department of the University of West Virginia; Hugh A. is a linotype operator at Los Angeles, California; Georgia is in the employ of the Belington Light & Water Company; and Roma, Theodore and Sallie, who remain at che parental home, are, in 1922, students in the public schools of Belington.

BUREN HARRISON TOLER. No calling brings into play a nore diversified exhibition of capability than that of teach- ing. In order to rise to any degree of distinction in that profession it is necessary first to possess the natural nelination toward the work, without which it is almost mpossible to render efficient service, and superimposed upon this must be an extensive training, coupled with varied and extensive experience. The life of a conscientious eacher is one of self abnegation and sacrifice that finds its chief reward in the realization that young minds are de- veloped properly and characters trained so that in the inture, when the stress of life is brought to bear upon them, hey are able to meet its demands. Wyoming County has produced some able educators, and prominent among them s Buren Harrison Toler, supervisor of schools of the Slab Tork District, who, while still a young man, has already nade rapid strides in his calling.

Mr. Toler was born at Clear Fork (formerly Sun Hill), Wyoming County, West Virginia, February 1, 1895, and is son of Henry P. and Darthula (Brown) Toler. His grandparents were John and Polly Toler, of old pioneer stock, who came from Mingo County to the wide bottoms f Clear Fork of the Guyandotte in about 1857. Numerous anecdotes have come down regarding this rugged and tout-hearted couple. It is related of Polly Toler, who was elated to the famous Hatfield family of feudists, that on ne occasion during young wifehood, when she was doing he family washing at the riverside, a deer, pursued by he hunting hounds, managed to find refuge in a narrow oothold on a ledge of rocks under an overhanging cliff on he opposite side of the river. It had been some time since he Toler family had enjoyed venison, and the intrepid Polly, leaping into the water, swam the stream, dragged he deer from the ledge into the water, where she held his tead under until he was drowned, and then reswam the tream, towing with her the means of supplying the family arder with fresh meat. The next day she gave birth to. , child. She lived to reach the remarkable age of 100 ears, passing away in 1918, while her husband, who reached he age of ninety-five years, died in 1902. They were mem- ers of the Methodist Church. Of their large family of hildren three sons survive: Ellis, a resident of Mingo County, and W. S. and Peter, who live at Sun Hill.

Henry P. Toler was born in 1856, at Sun Hill, Wyoming County, and passed his life in agricultural pursuits, in addi- ion to which he dealt in the timber cut from his land, which he contracted to deliver at the river bank. He was a eader in the Baptist Church, and, like the other Tolers, s well as the Browns, was a stanch republican in politics. He died November 30, 1915. At Oceana, West Virginia, Ir. Toler married Darthula Brown, who was born on Big Iuff Creek, Wyoming County, a daughter of Jack Brown, nd was the same age and weight as her husband at the ime of their marriage. She survives him and lives at the

old home on Clear Fork. Of their eleven children seven are still living. W. R., is justice of the peace at Mullens; Lilly died in 1915, as the wife of the late Buoy Goodman; J. Albert, formerly a member of the County Court, later prosecuting attorney, is now engaged in general practice at Mullens; Roxie is the wife of Floyd Graham, living on the old home place at Clear Fork; Cleveland, died as a boy; John H., who went to the Concord Normal School at Athens and the State University, is now principal of the Mullens High School; Eva is the wife of Alfred Moore, of Clear Fork; Buren Harrison; and Cora is the wife of B. Aliff, of Clear Fork.

Buren Harrison Toler secured his early education in a one-room schoolhouse and when he was only thirteen years of age began teaching school at Mill Creek schoolhouse. He subsequently taught two other schools, and then went to Concord Normal School, where his brother John H. was working his way through school by operating the pumping system. Buren H. Toler secured the position of caring for the ladies' dormitory, and by doing this work paid his way through the course and was graduated in 1914. In 1914, 1915 and 1916 he was principal of the Pineville schools, and then entered the State University, but in 1917 resumed teaching at Pineville. In the fall of 1917 he thought that by going to Washington he could be assigned to duty in the aviation service of the United States army, but he was disappointed in this ambition. Accordingly, he volunteered for duty and was assigned to the bacteriological department in the Medical Corps, and after six weeks of training in the Army Medical School at Washington was sent to duty at Fort Leavenworth, where he remained three months. His overseas service began at this time, for he went from Hoboken to St. Nazaire, France, and was then sent to Tours as accountant in the chief surgeon's office. After his return from France he received his honorable discharge at Mitchell's Field, Long Island, May 13, 1919, and his first position after his discharge was as store manager in a road construction camp at Bud, Wyoming County. One month later he was made school supervisor of the Slab Fork school district, a position which he has since retained. He has had charge of the erection of seven schools in his district, including the district high schools at Mullens and Milam Fork, and in various ways has aided the cause of education in this locality, where he is held in high esteem as a progressive and constructive educator and as a citizen who is con- tributing to the advancement of his native locality.

On June 30, 1919, Mr. Toler was united in marriage with Miss Hazel Dunn, daughter of W. W. Dunn, of Peterstown, West Virginia, and a graduate of Concord Normal School. Mrs. Toler is an active worker in the Methodist Church, while her husband is no less helpful in the Baptist Church. He is a member of Mullens Lodge, A. F. and A. M., and Princeton Chapter, R. A. M., and has served as commander of the local post of the American Legion. In politics he is a republican.

JOHN MARSHALL WOLVERTON. In point of continuous service John Marshall Wolverton is the dean of the Nicholas County Bar. He is the present prosecuting attorney, serving his second term, and for many years has enjoyed an extensive practice in all the courts of this district.

His father was a farmer, and the son grew up on a farm, but was named in honor of the great chief justice, John Marshall, and the name may have had something to do with his choice of a career. Mr. Wolverton was born on the home farm at Big Bend in Calhoun County, West Vir- ginia, January 31, 1872, son of James S. and Eliza Ann

(Ferrell) Wolverton. His father was born in 1832 in Taylor County, West Virginia. His mother was born in 1835 at Uniontown, Pennsylvania, and was a child when her parents settled at White Day in Monongalia County, West Virginia. James S. Wolverton was both a farmer and business man at Big Bend in Calhoun County, and for twenty-four years held the office of justice of the peace at that place. He was a democrat. His father, Joab Wolverton, was a Baptist minister, but in the absence

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of a church of that denomination James S. Wolverton became affiliated with the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. He passed away venerable in years, highly re- spected and honored and within a month of his eightieth birthday. His widow is now living with her oldest son, Thomas J., on the home farm in Calhoun County. The nine children of these worthy parents were: Helen A., wife of S. G. Yoke, of Morgantown; Thomas J., mentioned above, a bachelor; Lewis C., a farmer also on the homestead; Robert F., deceased; Joab D., an attorney at Long Beach, California ; James A., deceased, who died a short time before graduating in medicine; Lillian, who died in infancy; John Marshall, next to the youngest of the family; and Hattie M., wife of Doctor S. W. Riddle, of Mount Zion in Calhoun County.

John Marshall Wolverton grew up in his native county, acquired a common school education, attended the Glenville and Fairmont State Normal schools, and graduated in the Law Department of West Virginia University in 1901, being admitted to the bar at Grantsville, Calhoun County, the same year. Mr. Wolverton practiced law at Grantsville until August 1904, when he moved to Richwood, Nicholas County, and has since been permanently established there. He was a partner of A. L. Craig, under the firm name of Craig and Wolverton, for a number of years, until the retirement of Mr. Craig. Since then he has been associated with Mr. Ayres, and the firm is now Wolverton & Ayres. For three years, until April 1, 1922, W. G. Brown, present state prohibition commissioner, was a member of the firm, under the name of Brown, Wolverton and Ayres.

Mr. Wolverton was elected in 1912 for a term of four years as prosecuting attorney of Nicholas County. He had the distinction of being the only republican elected on the county ticket that year. His efficient service justified in every way the confidence of the people indicated by his election. In 1920 he was again elected prosecuting attorney, and in the line of public duty he also served one term as mayor of Richwood. Mr. Wolverton owns the building where his office is located. It is thoroughly modern, and contains perhaps the best law library in Nicholas County. Mr. Wolverton is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. South, and is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

In December, 1907, he married Laura V. Harold, a native of Nicholas County and daughter of Lanty W. and Laura B. (McNutt) Harold. Her father was a prominent and substantial farmer and stockman of Nicholas County. Four children of Mr. and Mrs. Wolverton were: Johu Lanty, born April 12, 1913, and died March 31, 1914; Helen, born June 22, 1914; James H. boru June 19, 1916; and Barbara Ruth, born September 17 1918.

THOMAS EDGAR KIRTLEY, is general office manager of Kirtley & Company, a firm which has developed an extensive business in the drilling of oil and gas wells in Lincoln and Putnam counties, the offices of the concern being at 1415-16 Miller-Ritter Building in the City of Huntington. The firm was organized in 1907, and the three Kirtley brothers, Thomas E., Wade Hampton and John William, are the principals who constitute the organization.

Thomas E. Kirtley was born at Hurricane, Putnam County, this state, on the 28th of December, 1879, and is a son of Malhom Simms Kirtley, who was born in Vir- ginia, August 16, 1838, and who died at Hurricane, Putnam County, August 18, 1881. Captain Malhoun S. Kirtley lived a life of signal activity and usefulness, he having been in earlier days a successful teacher, and having also served as county superintendent of schools in Putnam county, as well as county engineer. He also became one of the progressive farmers of that county, where he resided from the time of his marriage until his death. He was a captain in the Confederate service iu the Civil war, 1861 to 1865, was a staunch democrat, was affiliated with the Masonle fraternity, and he and his wife were members of the Baptist Church. He represented Putnam County in the State Senate for two terms, one at Wheeling and one at Charleston. Mrs. Kirtley, whose maiden name was Edna

Frances Dudding, was born at Winfield, Putnam County, October 11, 1840, and her death occurred at Hurricane, that county, December 1, 1919. Jeanette, eldest of their child- ren, was born November 7, 1861, and died December 31, 1917. She was the wife of Thomas H. Harbour, and both died in Putnam County, where he was a farmer. Woodville, born in 1864, is a merchant at Hurricane. He married Sallie Wingfield, and has two boys and three girls, all living. Della, born December 18, 1866, is the wife of William C. Ely, a retired farmer, and they reside at Huntington. Sallie, born December 28, 1869, married and removed with her husband, William Slagle, to Lafayette, Indiana, where her death occurred October 21, 1892. Wade Hampton. born December 12, 1873, is a member of the firm of Kirtley & Company, and resides at Hurricane and has active charge of the firm's drilling operations, the firm as contractors having developed a very extensive busi- ness. He is also manager of the Sovereign Gas Company and vice president of the Hurricane National Bank. Mary Alva, born in 1874, the wife of Thomas H. Garrett, died at Huntington, December 18, 1921. Her husband is still a resident of this city. John William, born July 14, 1877, of the firm of Kirtley & Company, resides at Huntington and has extensive oil and gas interests. Thomas E., of this review, is the youngest of the children.

In the pubile schools of Hurricane Thomas E. Kirtley con- tinued his studies until he was eighteen years old, and he then learned telegraphy, which he made a vocation two years in the service of the Coal & Coke Railroad, with headquarters at Charleston. Thereafter he served one year as brakeman and one year as freight conductor with this railroad, and he next passed two years as brakeman and conductor with the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton Rail- road, with headquarters at Dayton, Ohio. He then entered the service of the Kanawha & West Virginia Railroad, and after serving three years as passenger-train conductor he held for two years the position of trainmaster. He was then advanced to the office of superintendent of transportation with the same road, with headquarters at Charleston. He retained this position until October, 1916, when he came to Huntington and assumed his present position as office manager of the firm of Kirtley & Company, of which he had been one of the organizers in 1907. He is a director of the Sovereign Gas Company and also of the Huntington Oklahoma Oil Company, which is operating in the atates of Oklahoma and Kentucky. He is a stockholder in the Hurricane National Bank and in several successful oil and gas companies operating in the West Virginia fields.

Mr. Kirtley is a staunch advocate of the principles of the democratic party, and in the Masonic fraternity is affiliated with Clendenin Lodge No. 126, A. F. and A. M., at Clendenin, Kanawha County, and the Temple of the Mystic Shrine in the City of Charleston, besides which he is a member of Huntington Lodge No. 313, B. P. O. E. He owns his attractive home property at 21 West Fourth Avenue, as well as other real estate in Huntington.

September 26, 1907, recorded the marriage of Mr. Kirtley and Miss Hazel Della Fitzwater, daughter of Albert Fitz- water, who died at Huntington, where his widow still re- sides, he having here been a carpenter and contractor. "Camelia Eloise, only child of Mr. and Mrs. Kirtley, died at the age of two months.

CHARLES L. ALLEN. No better estimate can be made of a man's character than that afforded by the regard in which he is held by those over whom he is placed in authority, especially during periods of controversy between capital and labor. Judged by this standard Charles L. Allen, president and general manager of the Mordue Colliery Company, is one of nature's noblemen and a real friend to his employes. He is liked by all classes, and has the faculty, because of his squareness, his good judgment and hls knowledge of human nature, of smoothing out dif- ferences and keeping his men loyal when others, possibly just as sincere, fail to keep operating. It is frequently said that if all operators were like Charles L. Allen there would be no strikes.

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HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA

Charles L. Allen was born in Botetourt County, Virginia, August, 1878, a son of Robert and Anna (Wilson) llen, and grandson of John J. Allen, judge of the Supreme urt of Virginia, and an author of note. The great- andfather, Robert Allen, was judge of the Circuit Court ' Virginia. The Allens are of Scotch descent, but long tablished in Virginia, where they have taken a com- anding part in public affairs. Robert Allen, father of arles L. Allen, was an attorney in active practice prior the war of the '60s, in which he served as captain of ompany A, Twenty-eighth Virginia Infantry, Pickett's ivision, and served until the close of the war without ing either wounded or captured. Following the close of is conflict he retired to his farm, where he spent the reater part of his life, although he practiced law to a rtain extent, and died in 1882. The mother is still living. Charles L. Allen attended the common schools of his ative county, and took the regular course in the Buchanan igh School, from which he was graduated in 1895, follow- g which he went to the Virginia Polytechnic, and was raduated therefrom in 1899, with the degree of Civil ngineer. His first position was that of engineer with e Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad, doing construc- on work at Beaumont, Texas, and he held it for three ears, and then came to West Virginia and was in charge ¿ the construction work of the Chesapeake & Ohio Rail- ad until 1907. Mr. Allen then went with the New River oal Company, and had charge of their construction work one for S. H. Scott & Company, and in 1909 returned the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad and was in charge of l of their construction work in Kentucky, Virginia, West irginia and Ohio, and at one time was engaged on loca- on work on their line into Chicago. In 1917 Mr. Allen ame to Boone County and organized the Mordne Colliery ompany, as president and general manager, and has con- ucted it ever since, having developed bis property into a alnahle one. During the war he, like all of the coal perators, did all he could to increase his production.

In 1909 Mr. Allen married at Beckley, Raleigh County, Test Virginia, Miss Josephine Lewis, a daughter of Joel and usan (McDowell) Lewis, West Virginians. Mr. and Mrs. llen have no children. They are Episcopalians. He is a lue-Lodge Mason and is going on in his fraternity as soon s he can find time to do so. Professionally he belongs the American Civil Engineers Society and the American lining & Metallurgy Society. Since be cast his first vote Ir. Allen has been a democrat, and while not a politician, akes a deep interest in the success of his party.

Mr. Allen is not a man of many words. He prefers to xpress himself in deeds, and to exert his influence in a uiet, sensible way, giving his men a fair deal, and listen- ng to their requests. Experienced in his line of work, e understands its needs, its dangers and its possibilities, nd can appreciate the ambitions of the miners, yet at he same time, possessing as he does their confidence, be an show them just how far he can go, and prove to them what is really his limit. The men appreciate his attitude, nd are willing to meet him half way in any controversy. Vere there more men like him some of the unfortunate pisodes in the mining industry would have never occurred. Iis value to his industry and his community is of great noment, and his example cannot help but prove uplifting o both the operators and miners alike.

WALTER E. STATHERS, M. D. Though little more than , boy at the time Doctor Stathers served a year as a sol- lier in the Civil war. After the war be completed his medical education, and for thirty years or more was en- jaged in a busy practice. Since retiring from his profes- ion he bas lived at Buckhannon and has used bis capital hiefly in the oil industry.

Doctor Stathers was born in Washington County, Penn- ylvania, June 6, 1848, son of Robert and Nancy (Hill) Stathers and grandson of John and Mary (Jennings) Stathers, who were born and married in England and came o the United States in 1823, settling in Washington County, Pennsylvania, where they were substantial and prosperous farmers the rest of their lives. They were

members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and John Stathers was a whig in politics. Robert Stathers was reared and educated in Washington County, and after his marriage he moved to Tyler County, West Virginia, in 1851. For a few years he engaged in merchandising, and then bought a farm and was engaged in its cultivation the rest of his years. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge, was a republican, and served as a soldier in Company C of the Sixth West Virginia Infantry, the same regiment with which his son, Doctor Stathers, served. Nancy Hill, the mother of Doctor Stathers, was a daughter of Robert Hill, and her grandfather Hill came from County Down, Ire- land, and settled in Washington County, Pennsylvania, be- fore the American Revolution, the place of his settlement being afterward known as Hillboro. Robert Hill was in the War of 1812, and his wife's brother lost a leg in the battle of New Orleans.

Dr. Walter E. Stathers was reared near Centerville, West Virginia, being three years of age when the family moved to this state. He attended the old subscription schools, and was sixteen years of age when he went into the army, serving during the last year of the war. After returning home he finished his education, and is a graduate in medi- cine from the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Balti- more, and from the New York Polyclinic. Doctor Stathers practiced for ten years in Tyler County, and then moved to Wheeling, and in 1897 took charge of the West Virginia Hospital. From 1901 to 1904 he lived in Clarksburg, and in the latter year came to Buckhannon, where he has made no effort to resume medical practice, but has been success- fully interested in the oil industry and in looking after his investments.

Doctor Stathers married Mary Smith, a native of Tyler County, West Virginia. She hecame the mother of James, Silas, Fred and Birk. James was a soldier in the Spanish- American war, and he and his brother Fred are dentists hy profession. Silas is a geologist and Birk a lawyer. After the death of the mother of these children Doctor Stathers married Virginia Whiteside, and they have two sons, William and Hugh, the former an attorney at Clarks- burg and the latter a student of law in West Virginia University at Morgantown. Mrs. Stathers is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Doctor Stathers is a Knights Templar Mason and Shriner, a member of Nemesis Temple, and five of his sons are members of the same Shrine Temple, Birk S. Stathers being a past potentate. Dr. Stathers is a republican in politics.

ENSOR R. DUNSFORD, superintendent of the Buffalo- Thacker Coal Company at Ottawa, Boone County, is a graduate mining engineer and bas had an extensive ex- perience in practical miuing operations in different parts of the world.

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History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 3, Part 187

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