History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 3, Part 193

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Moreover, he represents an old family of the West Vir ginia Panhandle. He was born in Brooke County, Decem. ber 29, 1863. It was in 1776 that Richard Wells received a grant of 640 acres lying along the state line east of Steu- benville, part of which is still in the family. He rode on

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rseback from Baltimore, when his son James was a child. thaniel, son of James, established and operated the ferry d owned land up and down the river for three miles. The ir and one half miles of railroad from the Pennsylvania e to the river bridge at Steubenville was built by him in npany with Jesse Edginton in 1849. This was done to around the state law prohibiting outside capital from king such improvement. Later the law was modified 80 to permit the sale of this short line to the Pennsylvania ilroad. This four and one half mile stretch crossing the nhandle gave what is still retained as the name of one of largest divisions of the Pennsylvania system, the Pan- ndle Division. Nathaniel Wells was a very prominent n not only in business, but in public affairs, was a mem- of the Virginia Legislature of 1849-50 and attended the st Wheeling Convention. He bad beeu a slave holder in lier life, but he set his slaves free and was an ardent porter of the new state. He died in 1884, at the age seventy-five.

Nathaniel Wells married Mary Atkinson, daughter of illiam Atkinson, and granddaughter of John Atkinson, o settled in Washington County, Pennsylvania, in 1772. illiam Atkinson was born in Brooke County in 1791, 'ved as a soldier in the War of 1812, and died in 1873, part of the farm settled in 1790.

Lewis Wells, father of W. E. Wells, was an infant when mother died, and he was reared by his maternal grand- ther, William Atkinson. He married Rose McCord, of ica, New York. In 1884 he removed to Steubenville, and ed there until his death in 1915, at the age of seventy- e.

W. E. Wells attended the public schools, was for several ars bookkeeper in a bank and in a wholesale drug house Steubenville. In 1889 he entered the office of the Laugh- Company and soon after was put in temporary charge the entire plant, then comparatively small. He was nager of the East Liverpool plant when the corporation s formed in 1897, and be has been the responsible execu- e head during the great development and expansion of business since that time.

Mr. Wells has served as chairman of the Republican ate Convention, and was a member of the commission for settlement of the West Virginia-Virginia debt, and ne of his suggestions effected a saving to the state of iny thousand dollars. He married Elizabeth Mahan, ughter of the late William B. Mahan, of Follansbee. ey had three sons, Joseph M., W. E., Jr., and Arthur kinson, and also five grandchildren.

Among business men and men of affairs generally Mr. ells is widely known not only as a great business execu- e, but as a very fluent speaker and with a wonderful mmand of language fitted to the expressions of his ideas. is masterpiece is entitled "My Garden," which has been dely quoted and published. The ideas for this gem of erature were derived from the pursuit of his favorite creation and hobby, working in his garden at his home. is residence stands on an eminence overlooking the town Newell and commands a view of the Ohio Valley for ny miles.

WALTER T. McVICKER controls a prosperous industrial terprise in the production of chestnut poles for the use telephone and telegraph companies, and he has his resi- nce in the thriving little city of Belington, Barbour unty. He was born on the home farm, in Union District, is county, December 20, 1881, and there he was reared to lult age, bis educational advantages having been those the rural schools. At the age of sixteen he found employ- ent and began to depend upon his own resources, and with oney which he saved finally defrayed his expenses of a urse in the Mountain State Business College, Parkersburg, 'est Virginia, finishing his schooling in 1902. In the me year went into the lumber woods of this section of e state as a log scaler, and was thus employed until )04, when he became a partner in the business conducted y Belington Planing Mill Company, with which he con- nued his active association until 1908. He was then ade eastern representative of the Farrin-Korn Lumber

Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, with headquarters in New York City, which position he held for three years. Returning to Belington in 1911 he became connected with Belington Handle & Manufacturing Company, having been actively concerned in the initiation and development of the sub- stantial business of this company. From October, 1917, to May, 1920, be was a successful field representative of the great Western Electric Company, with which he is still affiliated, but in May, 1920, he founded his independent enterprise in the producing aud marketing of chestnut poles at Belington, with the Western Electric Company as his principal customer, making shipments of chestnut poles to the various telephone and telegraph companies through- out the eastern and middle western states. His enterprise thus lends stimulus to the commercial activities of West Virginia.

Mr. McVicker is one of the vital and progressive busi- ness meu of Belington, served in 1921 and 1922 as a member of the City Council, is an influential member of the local Business Men's Club, is affiliated with Belington Lodge No. 125, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, attends and sup- ports in his home city the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.

Mr. Me Vicker's father, Granvil G. McVicker, was the son of Levi MeVicker, who was one of the early settlers of Taylor County. The descendants of Granvil G. MeVicker, the father of Walter T. are as follows: by his first marriage, John Mor- gan MeVicker and Joseph Lee MeVicker. By his second mar- riage, Walter T., of this review; Lonzo C., who served in the employ of the United States Government for a number of years in Philippine Islands, died November 25, 1920, while on board a vessel euroute to a hospital at Zamboanga, Philippine Islands; Otoway S., farmer, in Union District, Barbour County; Hazel, wife of P. H. Fallen, Buckhannon, West Virginia; and Columbus O., who served with the American Expeditionary Forces in France, in Company M, One-hundred and Thirty-second Infantry, Thirty-third Division.

January 24, 1916, recorded the marriage of Mr. Mc- Vicker to Miss Chloe Sherman, who was born and reared near Belington, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Sherman. Mr. and Mrs. McVicker have two sons: William R. (adopted) and Walter T., Jr.

ELAM DOWDEN TALBOTT. No profession or calling has ever presented such opportunities for the really capable man as that of the law, and from its ranks bave come the ablest men of the country. It has always been im- possible for any man to rise to distinction in the law with- out a thorough preparation, even if it be self-earned, and this study and thought naturally develop the reasoning faculties and broaden the brain and character so that other problems are more easily solved as they arise for disposal by every public-spirited citizen. Randolph County is proud of the fact that it has given to West Virginia some very able lawyers, and among them one who has gained a reputa- tion not by any means confined to local lines is Elam Dowden Talbott, of Elkins.

Elam Dowden Talbott is a native son of Barbour County, West Virginia, in which he was born on a farm, near Berryburg, November 8, 1857. His parents were William Woodford and Sarah (Simon) Talbott, both of whom were born and reared in Barbour County, and there they spent their useful lives, the father dying at the advanced age of eighty-five years. The mother was over sixty when she died. By occupation the father was a farmer, and he was success- ful in it and as a citizen. He and his wife had the fol- lowing children born to them: Salathiel, Lewis W., Elam Dowden, Abram I., Mary Florence, Fitzhugh Lee, Waitman T., William Floyd, Virginia Belle, Robert D. and Rosa M., all of whom are living but Rosa M. The parents were members of the Baptist Church, in which both were zealous workers, and they reared their children in a Christian home and to habits of industry and right living. The father was a democrat, but did not care for a public life. He was a son of Robert and Polly (Woodford) Talbott, who were also born and reared in Barbour County, where Richard Talbott. the father of Robert Talbott, was a pioneer set-

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tler, and the founder of the Barbour County branch of the Talbott family. Richard Talbott came to Barbour County from Fairfax County, Virginia, where he was born and where he was reared. He was a son of William Talbott, an Englishman, who was the progenitor of the Talbott family of Virginia. On the mother's side Elam Dowden Talbott is of English and German lineage.

Elam Dowden Talbott grew to manhood on his father's farm, where he did all of the various work of it, and learned the dignity of labor and the importance of thrift and perseverance, which lessons, then grounded by watch- ful parents, have remained with him through his profes- sional career and been largely instrumental in securing his success as a lawyer. He gained his early educational train- ing in the free schools, and later taught in them for two terms, following in this respect in the footsteps of many of the illustrious men of the country who, while learning themselves, taught others. For three years he was a stu- dent in the West Virginia State University, where he furthered his literary education and also studied law, and he completed his legal studies in the University of Vir- ginia. Subsequent to his graduation Mr. Talbott was ad- mitted to practice at the bar of his native state, in 1883, and established himself in active practice at Beverly, then the county seat of Randolph County, and immediately began to make his influence felt in his profession and as a citizen. When the county seat was removed to Elkins Mr. Talbott followed, and has been a resident of Elkins since January, 1900. He has long enjoyed a large and lucrative practice in both the state and federal courts, and is recognized as one of the ablest and most resourceful men practicing at the bar of West Virginia. He has always been a democrat in politics, but, while he has always been zealous in behalf of his party, he has never sacrificed the interests of his profession to that of politics, nor has he aspired to public honors. Yet, he was a delegate to the democratic conven- tion in 1896, held at Chicago, Illinois, which nominated Wil- liam Jennings Bryan for the presidency, and accepted the latter's "free and unlimited coinage of silver" doctrine. In 1912 he was elected a member of the West Virginia House of Delegates, in which he served for one term with credit to himself and benefit to the state. It is worthy of note that in young manhood Mr. Talbott, inspired by the sug- gestion of Horace Greeley, who so often advised the young men of his day to go West and grow up with the country, left West Virginia for Southwestern Missouri, and there spent two years. However, while there he decided that he preferred the surroundings and opportunities of his native state to those of any other section, and returned, continued his studies, and carried out his original plan of entering the profession of the law. His gratifying success in it proves most conclusively the wisdom of his choice, although there is no doubt but that if he had remained in Missouri the same qualities which have advanced him in West Virginia would have made him a man of note there. Following the teachings of his boyhood and youth Mr. Talbott is a Baptist in religious faith. For more than thirty years he has been a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is also well-known in Masonry, in which he has been advanced to the Knight Templar degree, and he is also a noble of the Mystic Shrine.

In 1886 Mr. Talbott was united in marriage with Miss Lutie Lee Bosworth, and they have five children, namely: Evalyn B., Margarite, Eugenia, Winnifred and William Donald Talbott.

As a man Mr. Talbott has always stood for the highest principles. During a long and very active career he has been the companion and co-worker of those eminent in his profession. His friends are numbered by legions, and are to be found in all ranks of life, those of long years stand- ing and even strangers feeling the genial personality of the man. An incalculable influence, a wonderful life lived to its fullest attainment in the service of others, is an inspira- tion and appeal to every young man to do his best. Mr. Talbott has never been content to rest upon the work of the past when good judgment and counsel have been such a power for good, but his interests continue keenly alive to current happenings and the needs and ambitions of his

fellow citizens. His various acts in connection with h civic responsibilities are characteristic of him and but serv to cement the bonds of affection and gratitude in whic he is held by the entire community, and extend the scor of his influence throughout the state.

MORTON VAN VOORHIS. Though vice president of the Federal Trust & Savings Company at Morgantown, and a officer in several industrious corporations, Morton Va Voorhis has always lived in the country and has kept i close touch with agricultural interests. He is one of Monos galia County's most substantial citizens, and is a membe of a family that has participated in the progressive activ ties of this part of the Monongahela Valley for severa generations.

The family originated in three brothers who came from Holland, one locating in New York, one in the West an one in Washington County, Pennsylvania. Some of the descendants of the old stock spell the name Voorhee Morton Van Voorhis is a great-grandson of Daniel Va Voorhis. The grandfather, L. G. Van Voorhis, was born i Washington County, Pennsylvania, about 1810, but afte his marriage lived in Greene County, Pennsylvania, when he died at the age of ninety-six. It was on a farm sti owned by his brother Charles in Greene County, Pennsy vania, that Morton Van Voorhis was born October 8, 1868 son of Isaac and Lydia (Ross) Van Voorhis, both natives cf that county. Isaac Van Voorhis spent all his life at th old homestead adjoining the West Virginia state line. B was a very substantial citizen, owned large tracts of land much of it underlaid with coal, along the Monongahelf River. Van Voorhis Station on the Baltimore & Ohio Rai road was named for him. He was vice president of th Citizens National and the Federal Savings & Trust Com. pany at Morgantown, but he, too, kept his home ou hit farm in Greene County, where he died in 1906, at the agf of seventy-one. He did a large business grazing cattle an shipping stock to eastern markets, and at one time had track on his farm for the training of horses. Mr. Morto Van Voorhis has always acknowledged a keen interest i good horses. The wife of Isaac Van Voorhis died at th same age as her husband, and their two sons are Morto and Charles.

Morton Van Voorhis grew up on the home farm. As youth he made modest deals in livestock, and as a prad tical farmer has done a great deal to stimulate improve livestock breeding in his section. For the past twenty eight years his home has been on his farm eight mile north of Morgantown, in the Cass District, where he own about 500 acres. He succeeded his father as a director an at once was elected vice president of the Federal Trust Savings Company of Morgantown, and keeps in close touc with this substantial financial institution. He is also a df rector in the Morgan Realty Company and one of the own ers in the Strand Theater Company. With his two sons h is identified with gas production, their ownership extending to about eighteen wells. He is vice president and director of the Rosedale Coal Company at West Van Voorhis, company operating two mines, and one of the highly profit able coal operations in this section. As a stockman Mi Van Voorhis grazes from 200 to 400 steers. He built hid attractive home on an elevated site above the river in a fine a section of country as the state affords, and there i an improved state highway leading up to his home. MI Van Voorhis has always voted as a republican, but has had no desire for public office.

At the age of twenty-three he married Mary L. Evans? of Monongalia County, daughter of Lindsay Evans, wh died when she was a child. Mr. and Mrs. Van Voorhis hav three children, Isaac L., John R. and Jessie Mildred. Isaa was trained at Camp Lee, Virginia, was commissioned second lieutenant and was on duty in France. He wen into the army while a senior in the West Virginia Stat University, and after receiving his discharge resumed hi studies and graduated.

JOHN F. REPAIR, former sheriff of Tucker County and one of the representative figures in the business life of the

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unty and its judicial center, the City of Parsons, was rn at Rowlesburg, Preston .County, this state, July 17, ,68, and he was a boy at the time of the family removal a farm near St. George in Licking District, Tucker bunty, where he was reared to adult age and where his mewhat limited educational advantages were those of the ral schools. His father, Frank Repair, was drowned in e Cheat River May 1, 1893, and his wife died at Parsons, e remains of both resting in Macedonia Cemetery near annahsville, this county. Frank Repair was born at Bal- more, Maryland, and was a child at the time of his moth- 's death. He was sent by his father to kinsfolk in Vir- nia, and after the father contracted a second marriage e only son of the first marriage returned to Baltimore and as placed in a Catholic school. The boy did not like his hool and at the age of thirteen years ran away and came to what is now West Virginia. When the Civil war be- in he entered the Union service as a member of the Sixth est Virginia Cavalry, and after the close of the war he as identified with Indian warfare in the West about two ears. Upon his return to West Virginia he married, at owlesburg, Miss Annetta Hebb, a daughter of Thornton ehh, and of their children six sons grew to maturity : ohn F., William, deceased, George, a resident of Kenton, hio, Richard, who lives at Parsons, and Nathan Ellsworth und Thomas, both likewise residents of Parsons. Frank epair was one of the prosperous farmers of Tucker County ; the time of his death, and commanded unqualified popu- r esteem. He was a man of jovial and generous quali- es, was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and e and his wife were members of the Protestant Methodist hurch.

As a youth of eighteen years John F. Repair began to aft logs down the Cheat River to Rowlesburg, and he con- nued his active association with the timber industry about ve years, in the employ of Dewey & Sons. At the age of wenty-nine years he purchased the old home farm on which was reared, and also took unto himself a wife, who has een his devoted companion and helpmeet. After leaving is farm he established his residence at Parsons, where for ree years he conducted the feed store owned by one of is brothers. In the election of 1908 he was chosen sher- f of the county by a majority of about 500 votes. He ssumed office in January, 1909, and prior to the expira- on of the term he purchased and remodeled the Pifer fotel, to the conducting of which he directed his attention fter retiring from the office of sheriff. Four years later e was again elected sheriff, and his administration covered le period during which the nation was involved in the World war. His eldest son met his death in the severe pidemic of influenza that prevailed at this time, as did Iso his chief deputy in the office of sheriff, James Bed- ord, a fine young man who was his representative on the raft Board of the county and who had charge of the rec- rds of the office. Mr. Stewart, who was supplied by the ate auditor to fill the vacancy as clerical assistant in the heriff's office, succumbed to the influenza within ten days fter assuming his duties, he having been succeeded by 'aul Dudley, who is still in service, under the administra- ion of Sheriff Close. Mr. Repair continued the successful peration of his hotel and farm, and in the summer of 1922 e resumed his connection also with the cutting and mar- eting of timber.

Mr. Repair is a staunch republican, and while on his arm he served six years as president of the School Board f Licking District. He is affiliated with the Odd Fellows nd the Knights of Pythias.

August 15, 1897, recorded the marriage of Mr. Repair nd Miss Virginia M. Shaffer, who was born and reared in 'ucker County, a daughter of Samuel and Angeline (Miller) haffer. Of the children of Mr. and Mrs. Repair the first- orn, Dewey Dale, was just approaching manhood at the ime of his death, of influenza, as previously noted; Georgia foldie is a stenographer in the extension department of he University of West Virginia; William F. was gradu- ted from the Parsons High School and is a member of he class of 1922 in the Mountain State Business College t Parkersburg; Lena Rivers graduated from the Parsons

High School as a member of the class of 1922; Ruby An- netta graduated from the Parsons High School, class of 1922; and the younger children are Maude Ray, attending high school, Helen Angeline and Frank Fleming.

As a boy and youth Mr. Repair was of normal size and weight, but he now weighs 425 pounds, a record not equalled in Tucker County. He claims the distinction of being the heaviest man who ever served as a sheriff in the State of West Virginia.

OSCAR D. LAMBERT, scholar and educator, is one of the best qualified school men of the state. His practical teach- ing experience has been largely in his home county of Tucker, where his people have been well known and promi- nent for many years.

His first American ancestor came from England and set- tled on a farm in what is now Pendleton County, West Vir- ginia. Agriculture has been the favorite vocation of most of his descendants. One of his sons was James Lambert. The grandson was James H. Lambert, grandfather of the Tucker County educator. James H. Lambert was born in 1832, in Pendleton County, and founded the family in Tucker County about 1860. He was a farmer and stock man, a timber dealer, and served as captain of the Home Guard during the Civil war. He and other members of the family were staunch Union men, and his brother Nathaniel bore arms as a Federal soldier through the war. James H. Lambert had a good education acquired by private study as well as in the country schools. He was a republican, and served several years as a member of the Tucker County Court. His death occurred January 1, 1912, in Randolph County, though his farm which he developed out of the woods was in Dry Fork District of Tucker County. He married America Yoakum, whose death occurred five years before that of her husband. Of their nine children eight grew up: Alfred, who died in Randolph County, leaving four children; James B., mentioned below; Columbus, a farmer in Dry Fork District of Tucker County and a jus- tice of the peace; Lorenzo Dow, a farmer at Rawlings, Maryland; Provy, wife of Warren Swearingen, of Dry Fork District; Nathaniel, a merchant at Canton, Ohio; Ella, wife of Jacob Montony, of Dry Fork District; Floda, who married Doctor G. W. Wyatt, of Randolph County ; and Edward, who died just about the time he reached his ma- jority.

James B. Lambert was born December 11, 1852, and was about eight years of age when the family left Pendleton County and settled in Tucker County. He acquired a com- mon school education, taught school about six years, and also acquired a good knowledge of the subject of surveying and did a large amount of work in that field. His home was in Dry Fork District until 1918, and then for three years he lived at Kenton in Hardin County, Ohio. In 1921 he returned to Tucker County, and is now a resident of Par- sons. He cast his first presidential vote for Rutherford B. Hayes in 1876, and since that year has not failed to cast a vote at each presidential election and always for the re- publican candidate. In Tucker County in 1875 James B. Lambert married Alice Bonner, daughter of Solomon and Mary (Bright) Bonner. Her father, a native of Harrison County, was a farmer and a practical civil engineer and surveyor, a profession he followed in connection with farm- ing. He died in 1894 at his home in Dry Fork District. His wife died some years earlier. They had the following children : Seymour, a farmer in Tucker County; Archibald, a farmer in the same county; James, who died in 1912, leaving a family of five children; Rebecca and Mary, who married brothers, Washington and Henry Snider; Mrs. James B. Lambert, who was born in 1856; and Margaret, who married W. A. Ault, of Tucker County.

Oscar D. Lambert, son of James B. and Alice Lamhert, was born June 2, 1888, and spent his early life at the old farm in Dry Fork District. He attended country schools there, and at the age of eighteen began teaching in his home district. For several years he taught school and at- tended school, and in that way he provided his own oppor- tunities for a higher education. After his second term as a teacher he entered the Shepherd College Normal School

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History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 3, Part 193

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