History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 3, Part 192

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HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA

nington, in his old home, changing the name to the Koen Hotel. Very soon after his return the oil boom struck Mannington, and he was one of the first to invest his capital in the development operations, and has been exceptionally successful in that line.

In 1898 Mr. Koen and his brother T. F. Koen engaged in the house furnishing business at Wheeling, under the name of the Palace Furniture Company. This enterprise was a prosperous one and was conducted by them jointly until the death of his brother in 1904. Soon afterward Mr. Koen disposed of his interest in the business and for sev- eral years past his investments have been largely concen- trated in the immediate vicinity of Mannington.

In 1869 Mr. Koen married Miss Florida B. Knotts, daugh- ter of John and Rebecca (Kidwell) Knotts, of Fairmont. Her father was a West Virginia merchant. Mr. and Mrs. Koen had three children, their son Harry dying at the age of eight years, another child dying in infancy, while the only survivor is Daisy Leonore, wife of Glover Beardsley. Mr. Beardsley is a graduate of Yale University, and is now manager for the Otis Elevator Company in the New York City zone. Mr. and Mrs. Beardsley had two children, An- nette and Nelson Porter. Mr. and Mrs. Koen, who are among the most highly respected residents of Manning- ton, are active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he is one of the trustees of the society.

JEHU KING. A native son of Preston County, born here more than three score and ten years ago, Jehu King has heen faithful and loyal to the locality where he grew up and to its substantial interests. During his active career he followed farming, and is now enjoying the comforts of a retired home at Bruceton Mills.

He is one of the numerous descendants in this section of West Virginia of the pioneer James King, who with sev- eral brothers settled on Laurel Run more than a century ago. Thomas King, a son of James, the pioneer, was the grandfather of Jehu King. He was one of the very suc- cessful farmers on the Big Sandy, and he married Jane Brandon, a member of the well-known Brandou family of Brandonville. Albert King, a son of Thomas, and father of Jehu, was born at Laurel Run, and left his family to enter the service of the Union Army. After more than three years he was captured, and with his brother William sent to Andersonville Prison, where as a result of hard- ships and starvation both died. Albert King married Hes- ter Ann Jenkins, daughter of Evan Jenkins. Jehu was one of the several sons born to that union and who re- mained behind with their mother when the father went to war and did their part in helping cultivate the homestead.

Jehu King, who was born December 19, 1851, was about ten years of age when his father went to war, and his edu- cation was acquired in local schools. He had no liking for school routine or the studies of books, aud he left school as soon as the opportunity presented itself. He proved a duti- ful son to his widowed mother, and left the farm only after his marriage, hut remained in the same locality. For forty-two years Mr. King conducted a farm now owned by the Metheny brothers. He was primarily a grain grower, keeping only sufficient stock for use and for food, and out of his efforts he accumulated the competency which en- abled him to spend his declining years in comfort.

Mr. King left the farm and the old home locality in May, 1919, after disposing of his personal property by public sale, and since then he and his small family have lived in Bruceton Mills. His home is the old John Spin- dler property, a place built for Mrs. Hyde, a sister of Spindler. While Mr. King came to town as a retired farmer, he has sought some means of employing his ener- gies, and as a matter of fact puts in many working days, though not so strenuously as on the farm.

Mr. King has been a man of conviction in politics and religion. He is a republican, and has supported the party ticket since voting for General Grant for president in 1872. He was reared by a mother who was an earnest Christian, and he himself joined the Baptist Church in 1876, just be- fore his marriage, and helped build the Union Church at Laurel Run and the church at Hopewell.

January 1, 1877, Mr. King married at Smithfield, Penn- sylvania, Miss Mary Collins, daughter of Andrew Collins and sister of Walter Collins, one of the leading farmers and stockmen in the vicinity of Bruceton Mills. Mrs. King was born at the old Collins farm near Bruceton Mills July 25, 1855, and was educated in the district schools. Mr. and Mrs. King have three children: Laura is the wife of George Steward, a carpenter living at Point Marion, Penn- sylvania, and they have a daughter, Virginia. Charles. King is a farmer near Bruceton Mills, and by his marriage to Eva Worman has a son, Harold. Miss Pearl King lives at home with her parents. The Kings have willingly assumed a share of community burdens, making their contribution to church and other causes, and were active with all their means and influence in behalf of the various campaigns during the war period.

SOLOMON GRANVILLE MOORE, M. D. It is impossible for the conscientious physician to arrive at a state of mind where he is satisfied with what he has accomplished, no matter how much it may be, for with an understanding of what is awaiting the man of science, the many doors yet unopened which will lead to new realms in the ameliora- tion of the ills of mankind, and the constant yearning to add to his store of knowledge, he, of necessity, keeps on striving for perfection as long as life remains. It is true that in no other profession or calling is so much con- stantly demanded of its members as that of medicine, and those who have adopted it for their life work often find but little leisure and are frequently kept in active service both day and night. Que of the men who has accomplished much of value in the medical profession in Randolph County is Dr. Solomon Granville Moore of Elkins.

Doctor Moore was born in Belington, Barbour County, West Virginia, December 1, 1877, a son of Alpheus and Lucinda (Yoak) Moore, both of whom were born in Bar- bour County, the father, July 15, 1844, and the mother, April 10, 1842. The paternal grandfather, William Ran- dolph Moore, married a Miss Price, and they came from the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia to Barbour County, West Virginia, at an early day. William Randolph Moore was a son of Samuel Moore, a native of Virginia. The Moore famly is one of the oldest in Virginia, and its orig- inal settlement was in the vicinity of Winchester. The Moores are of Scotch-Irish stock and have always been protestant in their religious belief. The Yoak family is also an old Virginia one, prominent in Rockingham County. Jeremiah Yoak, the maternal grandfather of Doctor Moore, married a Miss Jones.

Alpheus Moore has been a farmer, and still resides in Barbour County, where he is held in high respect. The Moore family was one of those who remained loyal to the Union during the war between the states, William Ran- dolph Moore and his eldest son, Silas Moore, serving in the Federal army as soldiers. Therefore it was quite con- sistent that Alpheus Moore should be a life-long republican, as the principles of this party are in accord with the teach- ings he received in his boyhood and youth. He and his wife joined the Baptist Church in early life and have con- tinued to give it a generous support and to carry into their every-day lives the Christian virtues they have so long pro- fessed. They reared nine children to useful maturity, giv- ing them the benefit of a real home atmosphere, and in- culcated from the beginning of their understanding lessons of right living, and taught them habits of industry and thrift which will remain with them throughout their lives. Too much stress cannot be laid upon the importance of early teaching. As a child is taught, so will the mature man act, and Doctor Moore and his brothers and sisters realize that they must attribute much of their present pros- perity and standing in their communities to the watchful care and earnest efforts of their noble Christian parents.

The boyhood and youth of Doctor Moore was passed in a normal manner, for he was reared on the farm, attended the local schools, and as soon as he could obtain a teacher's certificate he began teaching school, and continued that work for three years. He then matriculated in the Uni- versity of West Virginia, and was graduated therefrom in

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904, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. In 1906 he btained his degree of Doctor of Medicine from the College f Physicians and Surgeons of Baltimore, Maryland. For he subsequent three years he was engaged in a general ractice at Coalton, West Virginia, and in March, 1910, he ›cated permanently at Elkins, where he has since remained. G 1914 he took up post-graduate work in the Harvard Medical School and in 1921 at the New York Post-Graduate chool of Medicine. Together with a general practice Doctor Moore specializes somewhat with internal medicine. Ie is a member of the Tri-County Medical Society, the Vest Virginia Medical Society and the American Medical ssociation. From 1910 to 1915 he was professor of hemistry at the Davis & Elkins College at Elkins. He is member of the staff of physicians and surgeons of the avis Memorial Hospital, and physician for the West Vir- inia Odd Fellows Home at Elkins. During the late war e served as a member of the Medical Advisory Board. He 3 a republican and a Baptist. Fraternally he maintains membership with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, he Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and he is a hirty-second degree and Knight Templar Mason and a Toble of the Mystic Shrine.

In 1903 Doctor Moore married Miss Perie Miller, of Freene County, Pennsylvania, and they have two children: "lizabeth and Virginia. Holding to high ideals in his pro- essional work, his service has always been characterized y a devotion to duty, and with an appreciation of the esponsibilities resting upon him. He is a man of broad nformation, and in his profession he ranks among the aders. Doctor Moore is interested in all that pertains o modern progress and improvements along material, in- ellectual and moral lines, and his charities assist many orthy enterprises and people.

W. MERLE WATKINS was born at Grafton, Taylor County, Vest Virginia, on December 21, 1881, and has continued to eside in Grafton to the present time. Trained to studious abits by his parents, be rapidly passed through the public chools of Grafton and finished the high school course in 898. He immediately entered West Virginia University, where he ranked high as a student and specialized in math- matics and was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Arts at the age of twenty. He taught one year in the ountry schools and three years in the Grafton High School, where he was the first athletic coach of that institution and andled the first regular teams that represented the school. Ie declined the high school principalship in order to enter aw school, and in the fall of 1905 matriculated in the Uni- ersity of Pennsylvania, at Philadelphia, where he received he degree of LL. B. For the past twelve years Mr. Wat- ins has been doing a general law practice in his home own, except for temporary interruptions in the perform- ence of public duties for his community, appearing in the ocal courts, the State Supreme Court of Appeals, the Fed- ral Courts and as general counsellor.

In 1912 Grafton citizens, becoming disgusted with law- essness. particularly open gambling, in the city, persuaded Mr. Watkins to accept the position of mayor and clean up he town. Upon coming into office he fulfilled expectations n this respect so well that he was defeated for re-election by the campaign cry that the city was too tightly closed. However, when a few years later be became a candidate for prosecuting attorney of the county, his record was well re- nembered and better considered, and he had no difficulty n being elected, and four years later, re-elected to the term Je is now filling. His administration has been notahle for the vigorous prosecution of the wreckers of the Grafton Bank against the strongest opposition by national, state, and local politicians of both parties, business pressure, and other influences, making the fight practically alone against some of the ahlest trial lawyers in the state. This prose- cution was terminated only by the death of the prinicpal defendant and the seeking of an asylum in a neighboring state of the other main instrumentality in the hank looting. Political and other influences brought to bear caused the governor of that state to refuse to honor requisition secured from the governor of West Virginia. Numerous homicidal

and other grave crimes were prosecuted, and Jacob Lutz, assassin of J. E. B. Phillips, Grafton's chief of police, was convicted of murder and hanged for his crime after two trials carried through the various Appellate Courts of the state, being the first man ever executed from Taylor County.

Mr. Watkins is a republican of strong progressive ten- dencies. He was a staunch supporter of Theodore Roosevelt in all his campaigns. He is a past master of Mystic Lodge No. 75, A. F. and A. M., as was his father before him, past high priest of Copestone Chapter No. 12, R. A. M., eminent commander of DeMolay Commandery No. 11. Knights Templar, a member of Osiris Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., Grafton Lodge No. 308, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, member of the County and State Bar asso- ciations, charter member of Grafton Rotary Club, director of Grafton Chamber of Commerce, Grafton Y. M. C. A. and Boy Scout Council. During the World war Mr. Watkins was barred for the first few months by official duties and later by the minimum age limit, but acted as government appeal agent for the County Draft Board, was a Four Minute Speaker, and volunteer worker in the various drives. When the age restriction was removed his application to the Artil- lery Officers Training Camp was accepted and he was ordered to report at Fort Taylor, Kentucky, on November 21, 1918, but the signing of the armistice prevented active military service.

Merle Watkins is widely known as an athletic enthusi- ast and has excelled in many lines of sport. He has never married, and resides at the family home with his mother and two sisters.

The parental grandparents of Mr. Watkins were James Matthew and Mary Anne (Kear) Watkins, who crossed the Atlantic from Blen Avon, Wales, in 1852 and settled at Minersville, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, where the grandfather continued his occupation as a coal miner until his death. They reared the following children: Mrs. Anne Wilson, who died at Lykens, Pennsylvania, in 1908, William, father of W. Merle, who died at Grafton, West Virginia, in 1892, James Kear, who died at Mahoney City Pennsylvania, in 1885, Miss L. K. Watkins. now living at Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania, and Matthew K., who died in 1917, at Mount Carmel.

William Watkins, father of Merle Watkins, was brought by his parents from Wales when seven years old, and his youthful experiences were gained around the hard coal re- gions of Eastern Pennsylvania. On reaching maturity he followed mercantile pursuits, and later entered the lumber business at Grafton when that industry was in its first activity. He was one of the community builders of Grafton, promoting many movements to improve local conditions. He was impressed into public service as mayor and president of the County Court. He was a zealous Presbyterian and Mason. In 1876 he married Grace Marie Deppon, daugh- ter of Adam and Sophie (Putt) Deppon, of Berks County, Pennsylvania. Their children are Grace Minette, teacher of English in the Grafton High School and holder of the A. B. degree from Wilson College and West Virginia University and the degree of A. M. from Columbia University Graduate School; W. Merle; Mabel R .; and Blanche E., wife of Lon L. Cokeley, clerk of the Circuit Court of Ritchie County, West Virginia.

WILLIAM E. PATTERSON, who eerved five years as post- master of Davis, came to that lumber center thirty years ago, was in the service of two of the leading milling com- panies that worked up the timber resources of this region, and is still in business and an influential factor in the mod- ern life of the community.

Mr. Patterson was born on Little Capon, Gore District, Hampshire County, West Virginia, July 4, 1871. His fa- ther Silas B. Patterson, was born in the same county and in the same locality in April, 1832. He was the son of Silas, who came from Pennsylvania, but he never saw his father, being reared by his widowed mother, who had two sons and two daughters. She was of Irish birth. These children were: James, who spent his life as a farmer in Gore District of Hampshire County; Johanna, who mar-

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ried Silas Stanholtzer and spent her life in the old commu- nity; Catherine, who married Silas Burkett and moved to Elmwood, Illinois; and Silas Barton. Silas Barton Patter- son was a Confederate soldier during the Civil war. He went into the army practically at the beginning of the war, served in General Imboden's command in West Virginia and Virginia, and was also under the command of Stone- wall Jackson. While fighting in the Valley of Virginia he received a slight wound in the leg, but that did not keep him away from active duty. Finally he was captured and confined in the military prison at Fort Delaware until ex- changed just before the war ended when he returned home. In his private life he was a man of great industry, and always employed his time usefully at something. He oper- ated a small farm in Hampshire County, and lived there until his death in 1897. He was a democrat and a member of the Baptist Church. His wife was Martha Alkire, old- est of the children born to the marriage of her father, Peter Alkire, to Miss Howard. She was born in Hamp- shire County in May, 1842, and died in 1915, near the old home where ber life had been spent. Her children were: Alcinda, Mrs. Jasper N. Carter, of Mineral County, West Virginia; Sallie, wife of A. N. Pownall, of Hampshire County; Ida, wife of Rev. H. H. Pownall, of Cedar Grove, West Virginia; Alberta, Mrs. R. F. Sanders, of Hampshire County; Nannie, wife of William Peters, of that county ; William E .; Charles A., who enlisted in the regular army in 1904, is still in the service with the rank of first lieu- tenant, and during the World war was assigned to duty in training troops at Camp Grant and Camp Pike; Emma, Mrs. Pearl Strohsnier, of Preston County; Otie, wife of E. N. Patterson, of Elkins; Ellis H., who married Gertie San- ders and lives in Pennsylvania; and Lester Virginia, a resi- dent of Fairmont.

The boyhood and early manhood of William Patterson were spent on the old farm in Hampshire County. He acquired a common school education, and qualified himself to teach, beginning work in the school room as a teacher at the age of seventeen. He followed this vocation for three years, and soon afterward left the old home vicinity and came to Davis, Tucker County.

Davis was then a mining camp without any municipal improvements, but a large population was gathered here employed in the mills and in the timber. Mr. Patterson 's first employment was in the saw-mill of the Blackwater Lumber Company. When that mill was burned he went with the Beaver Creek Lumber Company, with which he spent several years, the greater part of the time as a lum- ber inspector. Subsequently he rejoined the Babcock Lum- ber Company, successors of the Blackwater Company, and was on duty with that corporation as lumber inspector dur- ing summer seasons until he took charge of the post office.

He became postmaster in July, 1916, as successor of J. E. Houston, and his service continued until January 1, 1922. He was appointed postmaster without a contest. Upon civil service examination under the ruling of the re- publican administration he headed the list for appointment, but political influence turned the office to a republican. Mr. Patterson was elected city recorder of Davis thirteen times, served one term as member of the Board of Educa- tion of Davis District, and twice was appointed secretary of the Board of Education. In January, 1922, he was elected mayor without opposition, and as successor of John Raese. As mayor, outside of the routine administra- tion, his chief function has been to handle the strike situa- tion so far as it affected the town of Davis. Mr. Patter- son was reared in a democratic household, cast his first vote for Grover Cleveland, and in old convention days at- tended local conventions and was a delegate to the state convention at Parkersburg and that of Charleston. He was a spectator at the national convention in Baltimore where Woodrow Wilson was first nominated for president.

At Romney, West Virginia, July 5, 1892, Mr. Patterson married Miss Bettie Montgomery, daughter of William and Caroline (Alkire) Montgomery. Her father was born in Allegany County, Maryland, spent his early life as a farmer and then became a shoemaker. He was a Confederate sol- dier in Company A of the Thirty-third Virginia Regiment,

and served four years, two months and thirteen days behalf of the lost cause. William Montgomery died Hampshire County, West Virginia, June 6, 1821, at the as of eighty-three. His wife when he married her was a widow Caroline (Alkire) Bryan. She was a native of Hampshi County, daughter of John Alkire, a farmer and old res dent of that section. She died in 1912, at the age < eighty-five. The only child of William Montgomery an wife is Mrs. Patterson, who was born August 22, 187 Her mother's children by her marriage to Mr. Bryan are James Bryan, of Luke, Maryland; Flora, wife of William Patterson, of Springfield, West Virginia; Doctor Lanna Bryan, of Springfield; and John Bryan, of Masonic, Cal fornia.

Ruth, oldest of the children of William Patterson an wife, is the wife of William Miller, of Davis, and the have two children, Billie and Caroline. The two sons c the family are Barton M., a mechanic at Davis, and Ca W., an automobile mechanic in the same town. Barton M who married Alda Olson and has a daughter, Bettie, was volunteer at the time of the World war and served as a instructor in the Students' Army Training Corps at Ricl mond.

Mr. and Mrs. Patterson are active members of the Pre: byterian Church at Davis. He is a past noble grand of th Independent Order of Odd Fellows, a past representativ to the Grand Lodge, and is a past worthy president an past representative of the fraternal Order of Eagles. H is a stockholder of the National Bank of Davis, and sinc leaving the post office lie has been in the service of the Davi Coal and Coke Company.

CHINAWARE MANUFACTURE IN WEST VIRGINIA. At New ell, the northernmost point in the Northern Panhandle, ar located the main plant and executive offices of the Home Laughlin China Company, the largest pottery plant in th world. In point of time the industry at Newell is a younge development of the old pottery center of the United States at East Liverpool, Ohio.

The Homer Laughlin China Company was started i 1871 by Homer Laughlin and his brother, Shakespear Laughlin, at East Liverpool. It was one of the first, if no the first, pottery erected in this country for the makin; of whiteware. There were only two kilns at the beginning In 1876 the Laughlin Pottery received the highest aware at the Centennial Exposition. After 1878 Homer Laughli: carried on the business alone until 1897, when the pres ent corporation was formed. At that time the busines consisted of only four kilns. The company during th next six years increased the number to thirty-two kilns, al located at Liverpool. In 1905 the company purchased : 500-acre tract just across the river from East Liverpool and laid out the present town of Newell. A suspension bridge was built over the Ohio and a trolley line to con nect the new with the old pottery center. At Newell the Homer Laughlin China Company built the largest single pottery unit in the world, consisting of thirty kilns unde one roof. It is a six-story building, 660 by 450 feet. Thi; plant, together with the other units at East Liverpool brought the total number of kilns up to sixty-two, but as & result of the heavy demand put upon the business through foreign competition during the World war the number of kilns was increased to seventy-eight, and the production rose to two and one half times as great as the next larges pottery in the world. In 1921 the business of this com pany was nearly eight million dollars, and figured approxi mately as one tenth of the total pottery production in the world.

The directing and managing head of this great industry is W. E. Wells, the genius of pottery manufacture and the biggest man in the pottery trade of the world. He is sec- retary and treasurer of the company, but has in reality been everything from office boy to president.

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History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 3, Part 192

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