History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 3, Part 188

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He was born at Lindsay, Ontario, Canada, August 21, 1887, son of John Landon and Margaret (Clark) Dunsford. The Dunsford family came from Devonshire, England. His parents were natives of Canada, and in 1890 moved to Columbus, Ohio, where Jolin L. Dunsford was for many years in the real estate business. He is now living retired in Florida. He is a Mason and for a number of years was superintendent of the Sunday school of the Episcopal Church.

Ensor R. Dunsford was educated in the grammar and high schools of Columbus, and in 1911 graduated with the degree of Mining Engineer from Ohio State University. During the following year he was with the Sunday Creek Coal Company at Long Acre and the Darby Coal Mining Company at Darby, Virginia. For three years he traveled all over the United States, Canada and South Africa, as representative of the Myers-Whaley Company of Knoxville, Tennessee, manufacturers of loading machines for under- ground work. Then for two years he had charge of the Gypsum mines of the Victoria Gypsum Mining and Manu- facturing Company at Saint Ann, Nova Scotia. On re- turning to the United States in 1917 Mr. Dunsford became superintendent at Ottawa, West Virginia, for the Monte Coal Company, and when that business was sold to the

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Buffalo-Thacker Coal Company he continued as super- intendent for the new owners.

At Columbus, Ohio, in 1912, he married Miss Aline Carder, daughter of Thomas H. and Caroline (Zimmer- man) Carder, natives of Ohio. They have two children, Ellis Aline and Ruth Helen Dunsford. Mr. Dunsford is a Presbyterian, is a Scottish Rite Mason and Shriner and a member of the Knights of Pythias.

JOHN WALLACE BISCHOFF. A long connection with and extensive experience in the coal industry have made John Wallace Bischoff, general manager of the West Virginia Coal and Coke Company, one of the best-informed men in the industry in West Virginia. Mr. Bischoff, who has been a resident of Elkins since 1908, was still a lad when he received his introduction to the business, and since then has risen steadily through the various departments and posi- tions, his experience having been of a practical character and covering a number of states.

Mr. Bischoff was born at Westernport, Maryland, Janu- ary 4, 1877, a son of John and Ellen Catherine (Heckert) Bischoff. His great-grandfather was John Bischoff, a na- tive of Pennsylvania, where the family was well known for a number of years. His grandfather, also named John Bischoff, was born in Maryland, and married Eunice Twombley, they subsequently removing to what is now Pres- ton County, West Virginia. Samson Heckert, the maternal grandfather of Mr. Bischoff, was born iu Preston County, West Virginia, and married a Miss Sell. The Bischoffs and Heckerts are both of German lineage.

John Bischoff, the father of John Wallace Bischoff, was born in Preston County, West Virginia, where he was reared and educated, and married Ellen Catherine Heckert, a na- tive of the same community. Later they removed to Mary- land and for a time lived at Westernport, but in the spring of 1882 returned to West Virginia and located at Elk Garden, which was their home until 1904, in which year they went to Springfield, Ohio. There the father died when seventy-seven years of age, being survived by his widow, who is a resident of Cumberland, Maryland. When still a young man John Bischoff served in the State Militia, with the rank of colonel, and his title always remained with him. As a youth he had learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed for a number of years, but about 1876 turned his attention to coal mining, which vocation occupied him dur- ing the remainder of his active years. He and his wife were the parents of eight children, of whom John Wallace is the fifth in order of birth.

John Wallace Bischoff was but five years of age when his parents located at Elk Garden, West Virginia, and there he attended the public schools. At the age of twelve years he began working in the coal mines during the summer months, but did not neglect his education, as he attended school during the winter terms. In 1894 he entered the Ohio State University, where he pursued a course in mining engineer- ing, and was graduated with his accredited degree with the class of 1899. For one year thereafter he was a civil engineer for a coal mining concern at Thomas, West Vir- ginia, and afterward held a like position for a short period at Clarksburg. He was then employed in a similar manner in the coal fields of Kentucky and later in Montana, and in December, 1908, came to Elkins and became assistant chief engineer of the West Virginia Coal and Coke Company. He was later made general superintendent of this concern, and in 1919 was promoted to his present post as general manager. He is accounted one of the experts in his line and his labors have been prolific of results.

In 1903 Mr. Bischoff was united in marriage with Miss Bess Sapp, of Preston County, West Virginia, and they have one daughter, Margaret Ellen, who is being given ex- cellent educational advantages. Mr. Bischoff is a thirty- second degree Scottish Rite Mason, a Knight Templar and a Noble of the Mystic Shrine, and also holds membership in the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He lends his support to all worthy community movements and has a well-established reputation as a reliable, constructive and public-spirited citizen.

ROBERT LEE HUNTER, M. D. Not only has Dr. Robert Lee Hunter lived up to the highest ideals of his profession iu his private practice, but when this country was at war he offered his services, responded to the call and, leaving his large practice, went into the army and remained with it until he was honorably discharged. While he is at present carrying on a general practice, he has given much attention to children's diseases and skin troubles in his post-graduate work, and is planning to soon devote all of his time to these special branches. During all of his practice he has been located at Jarrolds Valley, which is the oldest settlement in this part of the state, having been in existence long before the developmnt of the mining interests in this locality.

Doctor Huuter was born at Dry Creek, Raleigh County, West Virginia, June 13, 1881, a son of Lewis and Arminta (Honaker) Hunter, natives of West Virginia and Tazewell County, West Virginia, respectively. Lewis Hunter was a teacher and farmer, and one of the leading men of Raleigh County. For two terms lie served the county as deputy sheriff, and for one term held the office of sheriff. His death occurred some years ago.

The preliminary training of Doctor Hunter was acquired in the common schools of Raleigh County, and he was pre- pared for teaching at Beckley. After securing his certificate he engaged in teaching for a short time, but found the work was not congenial, and so took up the study of medicine, and, going to Louisville, became a student of the University of Louisville, from which he was graduated in 1907, with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. After a preliminary experience of about a year with Doctor Pettry at Dorothy, West Virginia, and ten months in Martin County, Kentucky, Doctor Hunter established himself permanently at Jarrolds Valley. When the mines were opened here he became their physician, and so continued until the expansiou of his private practice made it im- possible for him to attend the cases other than as a part of his own clientele. In 1917 Doctor Hunter took post- graduate work at Atlanta, Georgia, at the Emory University, and in 1920 at the Southern Post-Graduate Medical Depart- ment of the University of California. During the late war Doctor Hunter entered the medical department, was called to the service in October, 1918, and went to Base Hospital at Camp Sevier, South Carolina, as a first lieutenant, and remained there until December 14, 1918, when he was honorably discharged and returned home on December 20. 1Ie is still a first lieutenant in the Medical Reserve Corps.

In 1908 Doctor Hunter married at Jarrolds Valley Lula May Jarrell, a daughter of G. M. and Mollis (Farley) Jarrell, both natives of West Virginia, and farming people. Doctor and Mrs. Hunter have one daughter, Priscilla. Doctor Hunter belongs to the Presbyterian Church. He is a Chapter Mason, and is going on in his fraternity. Politically he gives his support to the candi- dates of the democratic party. An earnest, resourceful and carefully-trained practitioner, he has been eminently successful, and there is no doubt but that when his plans are carried out, will achieve distinction in the special branches to which he has given so much thought and study. His personal following is large, and his patients hold him in grateful regard, for to them he is more than simply their medical man, he is a friend and a tower of strength iu times of great trouble.

ALBERT FRANKLIN BLACK. Back of every industrial and commercial enterprise of each community, standing as a bulwark of strength to safeguard the community's finances, are the banks of the country. As long as they are solvent a general bankruptcy is impossible. Therefore it is eminently important that the men placed at the heads of these institutions should be possessed of unusual character and strength of purpose, for upon them, their sound judg- ment and wise management the very life and prosperity of the whole nation depend. The directors of the banks of Lincoln County have borns these facts in view and made a careful selection of their officials, and one who belongs in the foremost ranks of astute and conservative financiers

FwBischoff

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Albert Franklin Black, president of the Farmers & Merchants Bank at Hamlin.

Albert Franklin Black is a young man for his responsible position, for he is not much over forty, having been born at Myra Post Office, Lincoln County, June 18, 1880, and he is a son of William Fletcher and Adeline (Ashford) Black, both natives of West Virginia, of Virginia stock. William Fletcher Black for a number of years played a dominant part in Lincoln county affairs, being in business as a merchant, real-estate dealer and extensive operator in timber, saw-milling and lumbering. Later he became president of the County Court, and at all times he was very active in church work, serving on the board of the local Methodist Episcopal Church, and as a class leader for a long period.

Leaving school at the age of eighteen years, Albert Franklin Black began to be self-supporting, working for a lumber corporation on Aarons Creek, in a clerical posi- tion, later becoming manager of the store of Smith & Black of that region, and eighteen months later buying into this firm. Subsequently he became a member of the firm of W. F. Black & Sons of Myra Post Office, and was manager of its general store until 1915. In 1908 he became interested in the development of the oil and gas field near Myra, and, securing leases on the property, is now a stockholder of the Octo Oil Company of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, formerly Elkins & Swisher, whom he served for three years as manager during the time this firm was putting in wells and developing the property. In 1916 Mr. Black acquired other lease holdings, and organized the Laurel Development Company, in which he still has large interests, and is its secretary. This last named concern is a very good-paying company. In 1919 Mr. Black organized the Phoenix Oil and Gas Company and acquired some excellent properties. Finding that this company was not big enough to handle the business, he re-organized it under the name of the United Oil & Gas Company, both West Virginia corporations. In 1921 the United Oil & Gas Company sold to the Superior Oil & Gas Company of Huntington, West Virginia, and Mr. Black is treasurer of the last named corporation, which same office he held with all of the other companies mentioned. When he began the organization and promotion of these com- panies he publicly stated it was with the intention of de- veloping the natural resources and promoting the interests of Lincoln County, and during the years which have inter- vened has succeeded way beyond his original expectations. Mr. Black, however, has not confined his efforts to the oil field, for the first company organized by him was the Lincoln County Telephone Company, which built lines between Sheridan in the Guyan Valley through the Myra and Griffiths oil fields, and this company is still in operation. In 1919 Mr. Black organized the Farmers & Merchants Bank at Hamlin, and opened its doors for business June 23, 1919.

Not alone as a promoter of industrial and commercial interests does Mr. Black serve his community, for he is very much interested in Sunday School work and was president of the Lincoln County Sunday School Board during the period between 1912 to 1916, inclusive. He is a very zealous member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Fraternally he maintains membership with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias.

On Thanksgiving Day, 1907, Mr. Black was united in marriage with Miss June Adkins, of Lincoln County, a daughter of Edward Adkins, a native of West Virginia, who was a farmer and was also extensively engaged in logging operations in the timber. Mr. and Mrs. Black have five children, namely: Ruby Gladys, Janice Marie, Albert Jennings, Alta Lee and William Edward. Mr. Black is a man of great initiative and foresight, and possesses the courage of his convictions. However, he feels that the secret of his remarkable success may lie in the fact that in all of his undertakings he has had at heart the betterment of his native county and the material advance- ment of its people, and that his own prosperity has come because of his determination to render in all of his work

a real service to his fellows. His standing is of the highest, his motives are unquestioned, and he stands today as one of the most public-spirited and successful men of his time and locality.

HON. HARRY C. WOODYARD, whose service in Congress as representative of the Fourth West Virginia District has at once been characterized by repeated re-election and by extreme fidelity to the duties and responsibilities of his office, is a resident of Spencer, where for many years he was active in business affairs.

He was born at Spencer, November 13, 1867, son of Wil- liam and Isabelle Woodyard. William Woodyard was born in West Virginia, spent the greater part of his life as a merchant at Spencer, was a Union soldier at the time of the Civil war, and died at Paris, Illinois, in 1896. His wife, Isabelle Chapman, was born at Great Barrington, Massa- chusetts, and died at Detroit, Michigan. Her father, Henry Chapman, was in his time a well known physician and sur- geon at Spencer.

Harry Chapman Woodyard was reared and married at Spencer, and early took up a railroad career as a telegraph operator with the Ravenswood, Spencer and Glenville, now a part of the Baltimore & Ohio system. While in this service he was station agent at Spencer several years. Following that he was in the wholesale grocery and lumber business at Spencer, became vice president of the Roane County Bank, and has had other extensive interests in this section. He has long been an influential figure in republican politics of the state. He was elected and served four years, 1896-1900, as a member of the State Senate from the Fourth Senatorial District. He was candidate for the 57th Congress in 1900 and treasurer of the State Committee of West Virginia that year. In 1902 he was elected to represent the Fourth West Virginia District in the 58th Congress, and served consecutively eight years, through the 59th, 60th and 61st Congresses. In 1910 he was defeated as a candidate for re-election by John M. Hamilton. Then, in 1916, he was chosen to fill the unexpired term of Judge Hunter H. Moss, Jr., in the 64th Congress, and is a member of the 65th Congress and has been re-elected in 1918 and again in 1920. Some of his most important work in Con- gress has been as a member of the committee on post offices and post roads.

Harry C. Woodyard married Emma Douglas, who was born near Clarksburg in Harrison County in 1870. They have three sons. Edward Douglas, born October 13, 1896, was in the ordnance department of the military establish- ment at Washington during the World war, and is now asso- ciated with his brother, William, in the management of the Spencer Times-Record. The youngest son is Henry C., Jr., born June 6, 1899, manager of the Simmons Woodyard Automobile Company at Spencer.

WILLIAM WOODYARD, business manager of The Times- Record at Spencer, is a son of Congressman Harry C. Woodyard.

William Woodyard was born at Spencer September 13, 1894, and was liberally educated, graduated in 1911 from the military school, Nazareth Hall, in Pennsylvania, and also attended the University of West Virginia four years. On June 7, 1917, he was commissioned a lieutenant in the Ordnance Corps, and for one year was in service at Ilion, New York, and another year in Chicago. He was promoted to captain, and received his honorable discharge in October, 1919.

In January, 1920, Captain Woodyard became business manager of The Times-Record. This paper was founded in 1888 by E. H. Flynn, under the name the Roane County Record. Later S. A. Simmons established The Spencer Times, and the two were consolidated in 1911 as The Times-Record. At the consolidation Congressman Wood- yard acquired a half interest in the paper, and since January 1, 1920, has been sole proprietor, but while in Con- gress turns over the business and editorial management to his sons, Edward D. Woodward, acting as editor and William as business manager. It is a republican news-

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paper, one of the leading journals in influence in this section of the state, and has a large circulation over Roane and surrounding counties.

William Woodyard, who is unmarried, is a republican, a member of the Presbyterian Church, Maria Lodge No. 38, F. and A. M, at Spencer, Spencer Chapter No. 42, R. A. M., West Virginia Consistory No 1 of the Scottish Rite at Wheeling, and Nemesis Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Parkersburg, and the Rotary Club of Spencer. He lives at the Woodyard suburban home a mile northwest of Speucer.

HENRY GILMER was the able and honored dean of the bar of Greenbrier County at the time of his death, which occurred at Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland, ou the 1st of April, 1922. He honored his profession and his native state by his sterling personal character and his large and worthy achievement, and he was numbered among the distinguished lawyers and influential citizens of his native county at the time when his life came to its end.

Mr. Gilmer was born on a farm near Lewisburg, judicial center of Greenbrier County, August 8, 1858, and was a son of Samuel A. B. and Sallie E. (Callison) Gilmer, the latter having been a daughter of Colonel Elisha Callison, who came from Tennessee and settled in Greenbrier County in 1802. He became one of the leading pioneer citizens of this section of the present state of West Virginia, and served as a representative in the Virginia Legislature. Samuel A. B. Gilmer came to Lewisburg about the year 1850, as a young man, and here he became editor and publisher of the old Lewisburg Chronicle. Older residents of the county recall him as a man of exceptional ahility and sterling character. His sympathies and convictions led him ardently to espouse the cause of the Confederate States, and when the Civil war began he became a lieu- tenant in the Greenbrier Rifles. This fine organization became a part of the brigade commanded by Gen. "Stone- wall" Jackson, and he continued in active service until he suffered an attack of typhoid fever, to which he suc- cumbed in January, 1862, his widow having survived him a number of years and Henry Gilmer, of this review, having been the last survivor of their family of three sons.

Henry Gilmer was reared at Lewisburg to the age of seventeen years, and then removed to the farm owned by his mother near this place. In the meanwhile he had profited fully by the advantages afforded in the local schools, and he early determined to prepare himself for the legal profession, his study of law having been initiated when he was but sixteen years old. At Lewisburg he continued his studies under the able preceptorship of Judge H. A. Holt and Judge Adam C. Snyder, and in 1884, after pass- ing examination with high ranking, he was admitted to the bar of his native state. Thereafter he continued in the active practice of his profession at Lewisburg until the close of his life. From an appreciative estimate that appeared in a Lewisburg newspaper at the time of his death are taken the following extracts:

"Mr. Gilmer was always a democrat in politics and took an active and forceful part in his party's councils and campaigns. He was recognized as one of the most forceful and logical speakers in the state, whether on the stump, before a jury, or in an Appellate Court. As prosc- euting attorney of Greenbrier County he served two terms, and in 1904 he was the nominee of his party for judge of the Supreme Court of Appeals. He was later the demo- cratie nominee for circuit judge of the Greenbrier-Poca- hontas Circuit, in 1912, but met defeat with the rest of the party ticket. Thereafter he devoted his entire time to his large and varied legal practice in the State and Federal courts. Just prior to his death there developed a strong call for him to become a candidate for Congress in the Sixth District, against Congressman Echols.

"Mr. Gilmer was a man of much ability and unique of character. Few men in West Virginia were hetter known or more admired."

On the 5th of December, 1895, was solemnized the mar- riage of Mr. Gilmer and Miss Bettie Gabbert, daughter of Charles and Martha (Sammons) Gabbert, of Greenbrier County. Mrs. Gilmer survives her honored husband, as

do also two sons and three daughters: Ileta, Stella (wif of Dr. R. B. Whittaker. of North Carolina), Samuel A Harry and Bessie. Samuel A., who is now a resident o Huntington, this state, served in the World war as a lieu tenant in the Fifty-sixth United States Infantry, an was with his command in active service in France some what more than one year, he having escaped injury sav that he was slightly gassed.

ALEXANDER HI. GOAD. Fitted by genius as well as by ex perience for the business of merchandising, Alexander H Goad has handled successful enterprises in several localities and for the past six years has been an active figure in th grocery and real estate business at Charleston.

Mr. Goad was born and reared in Clay County, Wes Virginia, and his parents were natives of the same county His grandfather, Alexander H. Goad, Sr., came from old Virginia to Clay County in 1851. He served as high sherif of that county, and is one of the best known citizens there He died at the age of eighty-eight. Jeremiah Goad, fathe of the Charleston merchant, spent many years as a timbe man, getting out logs for lumber companies, and he is nov living retired there. He married Mary Walker, who died in 1894.

Alexander H. Goad for one year was a merchant in the coal mining town of Cooper's Creek in Kanawha County and then conducted a store at Pinch, an oil town. Suc cess attended both of these propositions, but in 1916 ho moved to a larger field in Charleston, and in six years time has built up a flourishing business as a grocery merchan at 1422 Crescent Road. This is a business demanding five employes. He has also handled real estate, hoth on a com mission basis and for himself. He began dealing il realty as a young man. He is a member of the Charleston Real Estate Board.

In 1900 he married Miss Donna Procious, of Clay County. They have two children, Arthur Herman, attend ing the Lincoln High School, and Mary Josephine, born ir 1917. Mr. Goad is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Moose, and the Junior Order United American Mechanics.

GEORGE R. KREBS has gained prestige as one of the able and successful civil and mining engineers in his native state of West Virginia, and maintains his home and professional headquarters in the City of Charleston.

Mr. Krebs was born at New Martinsville, Wetzel County, this state, on the 5th of March, 1872, and there he acquired his early education. In preparation for his chosen pro- fession he entered the University of West Virginia, in which he completed a scientific course that included thorough in- struction in civil and mining engineering, he having gradu- ated as a member of the class of 1899, with the degree of B. S. He forthwith became associated with railroad con- struction service, and in 1899-1900 was resident engineer for the White Oak Railroad, a branch of the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad extending from Glen Jeau to Oakwood. In 1901-2 he was identified with the construction of the "Rend's Scenic Railroad," this work being one of the most difficult ever attempted in railroad construction to afford facilities for coal-mining operations in West Vir- ginia. For two years Mr. Krebs was superintendent of mines for the New River Coal Company, for which he had charge of the construction of shafts, drifts, tipples, etc. lu 1910 he became junior member of the firm of Clark & Krebs, which has developed a large and important pro- fessional and constructive business in the domain of min- ing engineering. In its operations the firm at times finds it essential to employ numerous assistants, entailing a pay- roll output of fully $8,000 a month.

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History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 3, Part 188

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