History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 3, Part 190

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HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA

cinda, who was the wife of James Elliott and died in Bar- bour County.

Richard M. Johnson, father of Raymond W. Johnson, was born in Glade District May 10, 1840, and devoted his career to farming and the manufacture of lumber. He acquired a fair education, was a very ardent democrat, but never went into public life. He is a member of the Methodist Episco- pal Church, South, and with his wife resides at Parsons, Tucker County, West Virginia. His wife was Nancy Gainer, a native of Barbour County, born November 14, 1841, a daughter of Samuel P. Gainer. She is a member of the same church as her husband. Their children were: Orvilla D., who died unmarried; Orlando, associated with his brother Raymond at Philippi; James, a farmer in Glade District; William Worth, a garage man at Buckhannon; Troy, a farmer in Randolph County; Johnny G., who died unmarried; and Raymond W.

Raymond W. Johnson was born in Glade District May 15, 1887. He was a farmer's son and lived on the farm un- til he was sixteen. When he left home he had only the edu- cation supplied by the country schools. For three years he worked in the lumber woods. He had been accustomed to hard labor from early youth, and the strenuous work of the field and the woods was the school in which his destiny was shaped. He drove team and sawed timber, and after leaving the woods he engaged in the livery and dray busi- ness at Parsons. This was the enterprise which supplied him with the capital he brought to Philippi in 1910 and turned to account in the livery business. Five years later he sold out in response to the demands of the farm and en- gaged in the garage business. With N. S. Parks as a partner he built at the entrance of the old historic bridge of the city a brick garage 50x150 feet, with a two story front. For the first two years he had the local agency for the Chevrolet car, and since then has been the authorized Ford agent for this locality. This business is known as the City Garage, of which he is active manager.

His business interests have been accumulating rapidly in recent years. In 1920 he resumed the lumber business as a manufacturer. He operates his mill on Laurel Moun- tain and ships the product in the rough. He still continues his farming operations in Glade District and has another farm in New Interest District of Randolph County. At times he has bought and sold real estate and has improved much property in Philippi.

On June 4, 1907, at Cambridge, on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, Mr. Johnson married Cedocia May. Her father, Salathiel May, married Miss Arbellon Wolf, both natives of Preston County, West Virginia. Mrs. Johnson, who was born October 26, 1884, had the following brothers and sis- ters: Miss Isis May; Lenora, wife of Albert Harper; Cyrus, who lives on the Eastern Shore; Ella, wife of Clay Scott and a resident of Philippi; Mrs. Anice Hoddonott, of Cambridge, Maryland; Percy May; and Lloyd, who died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have two sons, Johnny Lester, born September 19, 1908, and James Vance, born June 17, 1912.

Mr. Johnson is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias and Modern Woodmen of America. While his ancestors were all democrats, he has been a republican since casting his first ballot for president.

RALPH O. NEWCOMB. In the modern home building era in and around Charleston Ralph O. Newcomb has fig- ured conspicuously as a contractor and builder, and also as an independent capitalist. His technical reputation and his long business experience have enabled him to launch building programs which are directly and vitally associated with the improvement of the beautiful Kanawha Valley.

Mr. Newcomb was born at Parkman in Geauga County, Ohio, in 1876, and was educated and passed his early business career in Ohio. He attended the public schools of his home town, Hiram College of Ohio, from which he graduated A. B., attended the Ohio State University at Columbus, and is a law graduate of the University of Cincinnati. Mr. Newcomb did not take up the practice of law, being diverted therefrom by active associations with the building business at Cincinnati, beginning about

1905. He conducted a growing business as an architect and builder at Cincinnati, and in the spring of 1918 came to Charleston on a special mission to direct the con- struction of a number of residences for the Libby-Owens Glass Company at Kanawha City, one of the prosperous industrial suburbs of Charleston. After completing this contract, being deeply impressed by the solid and sub- stantial character of Charleston as a city and the pos- sibilities of its future growth and development, he de- termined to remain and take a part in the building up of the city and the contiguous Kanawha Valley.

The beautiful and extremely picturesque locations for home building afforded along the river appealed strongly to the lover of beautiful homes, and Mr. Newcomb set about the development of Kanawha City as a residential center. Here he has invested a large amount of capital in the building of modern and handsome homes, most of them on large tracts of land he purchased for this pur- pose. Most of these residences are sold to home owners on moderate terms.

While this has been the scene of his principal opera- tions since coming to Charleston, Mr. Newcomb as an architect and builder has erected a number of costly and modern residences in Charleston itself. Among these may be mentioned, as indicating the character of his work, the Joshua Davis home, Mrs. Cyrus Hall's home, the S. B. Henshaw home, also the attractive homes of W. E. Connell and A. J. Humphreys.

Mr. Newcomb is a member of the Chamber of Com- merce, was one of the founders of the Kanawha Country Club of Charleston, a member and ex-president of the Kiwanis Club, and a director of the Charleston Chapter of the American Red Cross. He married Miss Phonsie Weinheimer, of Cincinnati, Ohio, and has a son, Ranald Newcomb, now attending Hiram College.

ARTHUR W. GROVE. During his youth and early manhood Arthur W. Grove was in the West Virginia timber and lumber industry, but for a number of years has been settled down to the permanent vocation of farming. He owns one of the good farms in Upshur County, near Rock Cave.

Mr. Grove was born on Pleasant Creek in Barbour County, May 9, 1875, son of J. B. and Cynthia (Woodford) Grove. His father was born in Upshur County, July 3, 1947, while his mother was born on Pleasant Creek in Barbour County. J. B. Grove was reared on a farm and as a young man moved to Barbour County; where he married and settled down to farming there. His wife died in Barbour County in 1879, and about 1883 he moved back to Upshur County and settled ou Middle Fork, where he is still living, at the age of seventy-five. He is a democrat in politics and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. His three chil- dren by his marriage to Cynthia Woodford are: Arthur W., Ida, wife of M. L. Osburn, of Elkins, and Bassil, a teacher in the public schools. The second wife of J. B. Grove was Mrs. Laura (Phillips) Sharp.

Arthur W. Grove was four years old when his mother died, and after that he grew up in the home of his grand- parents. He had a public school education, and at the age of seventeen went into the woods and did the arduous work of a timberman and lumberman for seven years.

In 1897 Mr. Grove married Miss Mattie Hull. After his marriage he began farming, and for a number of years has owned his place of 160 acres near Rock Cave, where he has instituted many improvements and has placed himself among the prosperous men of this rich agricultural country.

Mr. and Mrs. Grove have two sons: Creed, born De- cember 13, 1897, was well educated, taught school one term and is now with his father on the farm; and Hulbert, born May 26, 1904, attending high school at Buckhannon. The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Mr. Grove being on the official board and active in the work of the Sunday school. He casts his vote as a republican.

SUMMERS R. HILL with his wife conducts the leading mercantile establishment at Gaston, West Virginia, and they are also owners of a farm in Lewis County. They are progressive business people who have made excellent use of

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ir opportunities, limited largely to their own achieving ce they started out for themselves with limited means. Mr. Hill was born in Greenbrier County, West Virginia, ne 22, 1886, son of W. B. and Alice (Snedgar) Hill. His ther was born in Pocahontas County, West Virginia, in 57 and his mother in Greenbrier County in 1857. W. B. Il spent his active life as a farmer and had a place of 0 acres in Pocahontas County. He is still living, a repub- an, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. was three times married and had eleven children. His cond wife, Alice Snedgar, died in 1894, and the five chil- en of this union are: Ibena M., wife of G. B. Hill; mmers R .; Lerna S., wife of Frank Clark; Mrs. Lessie I. ltip; and Flossie M., wife of Roy H. Mace.

Summers R. Hill was eight years old when his mother ed. He continued to live at home until he was fourteen d during that time he completed the work of the common hools. Since then he has been doing for himself, and rough his early efforts he paid for a higher course of ining in Valparaiso University in Indiana. Since then has been giving his time and energies to farming and erchandising. He and his wife own 267 acres in one farm Lewis County, and have other farming interests. He has en in business as a merchant at Gaston since 1913. Mr. ill is a republican, and is a past noble grand of Golden dge No. 139, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and also member of the Rebekahs. In Masonry he has attained the irty-second degree in the Scottish Rite and is affiliated th Weston Lodge No. 10, A. F. and A. M., and also the yal Arch Chapter and Knight Templar Commandery. He id Mrs. Hill are members of the Methodist Protestant urch. He married, September 6, 1911, Bertha M. Mace, ho was born in Webster County, West Virginia, in 1876. le was a teacher before her marriage and postmistress at acker Valley for more than ten years, having been ap- inted in 1898. For ten years she was a partner with her other, F. H. Mace, in merchandising.

WILLIS GUY TETRICK was one of the founders and for e past seven years has been active manager of the Clarks- irg Exponent, one of the most successful newspaper enter- 'ises and influential organs of opinion in this part of the ate.

Though an active business man, Mr. Tetrick has been a udent of genealogy, and has done much to preserve the cords of his own and connected families. and his re- arches have proved a valuable source of information in mpiling several of the important family sketches found in lese volumes. The first of the name to appear in Harrison ounty were George Tetrick and Jacob Tetrick, both of hom had records as soldiers in the Revolutionary war. nother. and the direct ancestor of W. G. Tetrick, was enry Tetrick, Sr., a name that is found in the Pennsyl- ania archives of the Pennsylvania soldiers of the Revolu- onary war as a member of the Lancaster County Militia or the years 1780-81-82-83. Henry Tetrick, Sr., is men- oned in the official records of Monongalia County, Vir- inia, in 1783, and Harrison County in August, 1793.

Henry Tetrick, Jr .. probably a son of Henry. Sr., was aid to have been born in Loudoun County, Virginia, prob- bly about 1768 or 1770. He married Catherine Davis in Carrison County, and died near Shinnston in Harrison ounty about 1845. His three children were: Josiah born .ugust 4, 1800, Joseph, born October 24. 1803, and Mary, orn June 19, 1807, all born on Tetrick Ridge in Harrison ounty.

Joseph Tetrick. just mentioned, was a farmer and stock- tan. and accumulated large tracts of land. He died at his esidence near Shinnston, April 26, 1861. He married 'acy Jones, daughter of Joshua and Mary (Sech) Jones. he was born in Harrison County, May 13, 1804, and died ear Shinnston, June 1, 1890. Their children were: Har- ison, George, Alfred, Ozias, Ruhama Ann. Commodore Barnet. Mary Ellen, Henry Marshall, Martha Jane and ohn Blackburn.

Of these Ozias Tetrick was born near Shinnston, Febru- ry 28, 1831, and likewise spent his active life in farming nd stock raising. He was a democrat, but never held a

public office and was one of the thoroughly substantial and honorable men of his community. He died near Enterprise, West Virginia, May 24, 1895. On December 21, 1854, he married Amy Ann Short, who was born in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, October 28, 1834, daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth (Everson) Short. She died near Enterprise, February 11, 1874, the mother of seven children: Luther Blackburn, Willis Emory, Lucius Elmer, Charles M., Lulu E., Ida Myrtle and Daisy Ann. On October 12, 1875, Ozias Tetrick married Nancy Davis, who was born in Marion County, October 24, 1851, daughter of James and Mary (Hobbs) Davis. To this union were born three children, Lela Tacy, Everal Thomas and Arch Ward.

Lucius Elmer Tetrick, representing the fifth generation of the family in Harrison County, beginning with Henry Tetrick, Sr., was born near Enterprise, June 9, 1861, and died August 18, 1901. In a brief lifetime of forty years he prosecuted a successful business as a farmer and in other affairs, and was one of the organizers and for many years an official of the Farmers Bank at Shinnston. He was in- fluential in democratic politics, was a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.

Lucius Elmer Tetrick married Sarah Florence MeIntire, and her name introduces another pioneer family of Har- rison County. According to the land survey records Charles McIntire made two improvements in what is now Harrison County in the year 1773. His former home was probably either in Harford County, Maryland, or just across the line in the State of Pennsylvania. On account of Indian hos- tility he probably did not occupy the land in Harrison County, and it was after his death that his wife and chil- dren moved to the land. His son John was killed by the Indians near Enterprise in May, 1791.

His son James spent his life on the land improved by his father, Charles, just above the Town of Enterprise, where he died and was buried. He married Rebecca James, daughter of Enoch James. Their children were: Enoch, Isaac, Presley, Delila, Sarah, Senneth, Elias and Allison. Their son Enoch was born at the old McIntire homestead, September 1. 1800, and spent his life there as a farmer and stockman. He died February 28, 1852. In 1822 he married Sarah Ann MeIntire, his first cousin, who was born near the old MeIntire place, March 10, 1800, and died near Enter- prise, January 30, 1887, a daughter of Charles and Hannah (Hall) McIntire. Their children were: Edith, Cena. Hannah, James, Thomas Jefferson Charles, James Allison, Van Buren and Jesse. Charles, who was born October 19, 1836, served as a Confederate soldier in the Nineteenth Vir- ginia Cavalry, coming home after the war to find that all his property had been confiscated and sold to pay the claims of Union sympathizers, and none of it was ever recovered. He started anew, followed farming and stock raising, and had accumulated a substantial portion, including a good farm. part of the old MeIntire homestead, before his death, which occurred June 12 1889. Charles McIntire on January 10, 1861, married Rachel Rose Anderson, who was born August 4, 1841, a daughter of John and Cassander (Jones) Anderson, and she died at Enterprise, May 3, 1912. Their children were: Sarah F., Charles J. and James F. The oldest of their children was Saralı F., who was born October 4, 1861, and died August 6, 1901. On March 23, 1882, she became the wife of Lucius Elmer Tetrick, and their four children were: Willis Guy Tetrick. Georgia Pearl, Mabel Grace and Amy Rachel. Georgia Pearl and Mabel Grace were twins. both having died young, the former at sixteen years and the other at the age of two months. Amy Rachel Tetrick became the wife of F. Ridley Anderson, and they have one son, Thomas Ridley.

Willis Guy Tetrick was born on his father's farm near the Village of Enterprise in Harrison County, January 3, 1883, and acquired his early education in the public schools. He lived at home until he was eighteen, but farming did not appeal to him as a permanent vocation. It is easy to understand that a young man who made such rapid strides forward when given the opportunity should have early felt the urge toward the larger life that a wider field of effort afforded. He became bookkeeper and clerk in the planing

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mill and feed store of his uncle, James F. McIntire, at Enterprise, in the meanwhile taking an active interest in general affairs, and on June 1, 1903, he came to Clarksburg as deputy county clerk, in which position he served with so much efficiency that when the county clerk was removed by death he was appointed, March 1, 1907, to fill out the unexpired term. In 1908 he was elected county clerk of Harrison County, for a term of six years, which terminated January 1, 1915. Always a loyal supporter of the principles of the democratic party, his leadership has been many times recognized, and in 1914 he was his party's candidate for mayor of Clarksburg, failing of election only because of his party being in the minority. At different times he has served as a member of city, county and state democratic executive committees.

In 1910 Mr. Tetrick assisted in the organization of the company that established the Clarksburg Exponent, a news- paper widely circulated since it was founded, and one that in the last six years has taken its place as a daily issue with the best patronized journals of Harrison County. On July 10, 1915, Mr. Tetrick became manager of the Exponent, and has made it a paying property. His business acumen has been manifested in other lines and enterprises. He was one of the organizers of the Clarksburg Trust Company, and since that time has been a member of its board of directors and on the finance committee.

On February 9, 1910, Mr. Tetrick married Miss Virginia Ann Heavner, who is a daughter of Homer M. and Lorena Bird (Sexton) Heavner. (See sketch on other pages.) Mr. and Mrs. Tetrick have four children: Willis Guy, born August 23, 1911; Catherine Virginia, born February 16, 1914; Margaret Ann, born June 17, 1915; and James Elmer, born February 22, 1918. All are natives of Clarksburg.

The family home is at Clarksburg, but membership is maintained in the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, of Enterprise. For a number of years Mr. Tetrick has been identified fraternally with the Odd Fellows and the Elks, and belongs also to some social bodies, although a busy life like his does not afford a large amount of leisure. In journalistic circles he is known all over the state. He has been president of the West Virginia Newspaper Publishers' Association, and vice president of the West Virginia Edi- torial Association, and now is serving as vice president of the West Virginia Publishers and Employing Printers Association.

HOMER M. HEAVNER. The interesting history of the Heavner family during the first three generations in Amer- ica has been told in connection with the career of Capt. Jacob W. Heavner of Buckhannon. As noted there, one of the sons of the fourth generation was Jacob Heavner, who was born in Pendleton County, West Virginia, Febru- ary 7, 1801. On January 15, 1823, he married Mary Martin, daughter of Stephen and Catherine (Reger) Martin. Their children, all natives of Upshur County, were: Nathan, born April 8, 1824; Levina, born April 8, 1826; Edith, born November 8, 1829; Mary Etta, born May 7, 1832; Daniel D., born September 15, 1834; Sallie Ann, born June 19, 1836; Gideon Martin, whose record follows; John Props, born October 3, 1841; Jacob William, born January 13, 1844; Elias Marion, horn January 9, 1846; and Stephen Osten, born September 26, 1848. Jacob Heavner, the father of these children, married for his second wife Lydia Ann Foster on September 13, 1860, and their children were: Charles Thomas, born November 21, 1862; Nicholas F., born July 1, 1864; and Philip Gay, born August 4, 1865. The third wife of Jacob Heavner was Sarah Brine, but there were no children by that union.

Gideon Martin Heavner was born in Upshur County, April 12, 1839, and on February 15, 1858, married Barbara Ann Neff, daughter of Jacob and Mary (Brew) Neff. Their children were: Jacob LeRoy, born at Buckhannon, January 10, 1859; Homer Milroy, whose life history follows; Bertha Blanche, born July 31, 1873; and James G. G., born De- cember 23, 1875.

Homer M. Heavner was born in Upshur County, October 19, 1860, was educated in public schools at Buckhannon, and learned from his father the trade of blacksmith. On leaving

home in December, 1880, he worked at Mckeesport, Per sylvania, with several industries, but in February, 181 began work as a blacksmith with the construction force the Grafton and Greenbrier Railroad, between Grafton & Philippi. From September of that year until August, 188 he was a clerk in a drug store at Buckhannon, Weet V ginia, then went to Hancock, Illinois, and worked on 1 uncle's farm, and in April, 1886, went to San Francis California. For several years following he had an intere ing experience in the far West, most of the time engag at his trade, and for several years was located at differe points in Wyoming, and for a time was the blacksmith er ployed in keeping the horses shod for the Northweste Stage Company. In August, 1889, he returned to Buc hannon, married there, and in April, 1890, took his bride the Northwest and located at Helena, Montana. He I mained in Montana, following his trade as blacksmith f some mining and irrigation companies and also for t Great Northern Railroad, until September, 1892, when rejoined his wife at Buckhannon. He continued to live that city for six or seven years, and in 1899 identified hir self with the newly opened oil field at Wolf Summit, We Virginia. In December, 1902, he bought a hotel business : Clarksburg, and for over fifteen years operated a hotel thi had been serving the public of that city from 1845. Tl hotel permanently closed June 3, 1918, and since the Homer M. Heavner has been in the real estate, coal, oil ar gas land business. He is a Methodist and a republican.

He married Lorena Bird Sexton, daughter of Georg A. and Virginia L. (MeNulty) Sexton, of Buckhanno: Their children were: Virginia Anne, who was born whi her parents were living at Helena, Montana, December 1: 1890, and is now the wife of W. Guy Tetrick, of Clark: burg; James Homer, born May 24, 1892; and Mary Edith born September 1, 1895, the two younger children, bot born in Buckhannon, now residing in Clarksburg, Wes Virginia.

WILLIAM T. WILLIAMSON. The subject of the telephone its early history and the remarkable extent of the service facilities and great capitalization involved in the moder. telephone industry in the state, receives special attention on other pages of this history. The division manage for the Bell Telephone System in West Virginia, wher the company is known as the Chesapeake & Potomac Tele phone Company of West Virginia, is William T. William son, who has spent practically all his adult life in th business of transportation or communication, and for twenty one years has been connected with the telephone company during which time his headquarters have been at Charleston

He was born at Marietta, Ohio, in 1871, son of Rev Thomas W. and Lydia (Sayre) Williamson, his mother a native of West Virginia. Both parents are deceased Thomas W. Williamson spent a life of service and rea distinction in the ministry of the Methodist Church. He served churches in the West Virginia, Kentucky and Ohid conferences.

About 1875, when William T. Williamson, was four year: of age, his parents moved from Marietta to Volcano, West Virginia, where he first attended school. Later they moved to Huntington, where he finished the high school course following which he was a student in the Ohio Wesleyar University at Delaware. For some twelve or thirteen years Mr. Williamson was in the service of the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad, in various capacities, and at different pointe in this state, being agent at White Sulphur Springs, agent at Montgomery, claim agent, with headquarters at Hunt- ington, and passenger and ticket agent at Charleston. He resigned the latter office in 1901 to become manager of the Charleston Exchange of the Southern Bell Telephone and Telegraph Company, which company later sold its property in West Virginia to the Chesapeake & Potomac Telephone Company.

Since then his abilities have brought him successive promotions with the Telephone company. He was super- intendent of the commercial, traffic and plant departments, and is now division manager of the company, his division embracing the entire State of West Virginia. He is also

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History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 3, Part 190

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