History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 3, Part 194

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HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA

at Shepherdstown, and remained until graduating in 1911. Following that for two years he was principal of the graded schools at Jenningston, and then entered West Virginia University at Morgantown, where he finished the A. B. course and graduated in 1916.

After leaving the university Mr. Lambert was an in- structor in the Elkins High School, then for one year was at Rowlesburg and another year at Jane Lew, and again interrupted his career as a teacher to enter the University of Chicago for advanced work in the department of his- tory. He specialized in American history and government. After a portion of the school year he returned home and served as supervisor of schools in Fairfax District. In the early summer of 1921 he returned for another quarter of graduate work in the University of Chicago, at the end of which he received his Master of Arts degree. The winter of 1921 Mr. Lambert spent at St. Petersburg, Florida, where he devoted much of his time to collecting historical data along certain lines. In the early spring of 1922 he returned to West Virginia, and at this writing lives with his parents at Parsons. He is unmarried. As a teacher he has been identified with the local and State Teachers Associations. While in the University of Chicago he wrote a history of colonial manufactures in Pennsylvania as a thesis contributing toward his Master's degree.

Mr. Lambert is a republican, casting his first vote for Colonel Roosevelt in the progressive campaign of 1912. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and a teacher in the Sunday School. During the war he was reg- istered and was classified in the fifth clasa. He was a member of the Four Minute Men, and made many speeches in behalf of the Red Cross and Liberty Loan drives.

WALTER WYTHE LAMBERT, present circuit clerk of Tucker County, has been a leader in politics in that county for a number of years, though liis regular business is farming and sheep growing. He has a wide reputation as a breeder of some of the finest sheep for wool in this wool growing district.

He is a son of James B. and Alice (Bonner) Lambert, and further reference to this well known family of Tucker County precedes this sketch. He was born in Dry Fork District, on the home farm, March 24, 1883, and his edu- cation was provided by the public schools of the same lo- cality. He remained with his parents on the farm until past his majority, but as a youth was earning his living both on the farm and in the lumber woods. He helped get out logs, part of the time under contract, and was in the timber business in this connection more or less for a pe- riod of ten years. For twelve months he was on a log train for the Scott Lumber Company, one of the prominent oper- ators in this timber region of Tucker County. After his marriage Mr. Lambert established his home on part of the old homestead, and has been concentrating his attention more and more on the pure bred sheep industry. As a pedigreed sheep breeder he specializes in the famous wool dyeing strain of Rambouillett.

Mr. Lambert's paternal grandfather was a captain of the Home Guard in the Civil war, and the family through several generations have been staunch republicans. He hinself cast his first vote for Colonel Roosevelt in 1904, and again supported him as a progressive candidate of 1912. His first public office was as a member of the Board of Education for the Dry Fork District. For four years he was president of this board. While still on the School Board he was appointed deputy under J. T. Darkey, asses- sor of Tucker County, in January, 1917, and performed the duties until elected circuit clerk. In 1920 he won the re- publican nomination against one competitor and was elected Circuit Court clerk in November by a majority of 216. He succeeded Lewis Spangler, and began his official duties for a four year term in January, 1921. For four yeara he was a member of the Republican County Committee.

Mr. Lambert is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias and the Junior Order of American Mechanics. He is a member of the Methodiat Episcopal Church, and has been superintendent and teacher in his home Sunday School and for one year was district Sunday School superintendent.

During the World war he was secretary of the committe of Dry Fork District in charge of the sale of War Saving Stampa.

In Tucker County July 31, 1904, Mr. Lambert marrie Miss Verna S. Waybright, who was born in Pendleto County, October 18, 1885, daughter of Abraham Waybrigh As a child she removed to Tucker County with her widowe mother. She is the youngest of five children, and the tw other aurvivors are Mary, wife of John Adamson, of Pendle ton County, and Lenora, widow of French Bonner, of Pai sons. Mr. and Mrs. Lambert have four children, name Stanley, Ruth, Lenora and Donald.

JOHN H. SQUIRES. A resident of Parsons nearly thirt years, John H. Squires is a retired business man, and fo upwards of half a century was in the milling business as manufacturer of flour and feed, operating mills in a nuni ber of localities in Preston and Tucker counties.

Mr. Squires was born near Reedsville, Preston County September 17, 1848. The family has been represented i Preston County for fully a century. His grandfather Samuel Squires, was an early settler in the Reedsvill locality, where he owned the Mount Phoebe farm, the high est point of land in all that section. He died during the Civil war, when about seventy-five years of age, and if buried at Bethlehem Church near his own home. His chil dren were: Alexander, who died a few years ago nea Piedmont, West Virginia; Samuel Poling, whose record follows; Dudley, who died near Reedsville; James, whd died near Independence; and Maria, who married John Shaffer and died on Bird's Creek in the Newburg locality of Preaton County.

Samuel P. Squires, father of the Parsons business man spent his life from birth in Preston County, and died in 1902, when about seventy-four years of age. He was & miller, and for a number of years was proprietor of the old Conley Mill on Decker's Creek and also of the Fortney Mill at Independence in Preston County. He conducted milling in addition to farming. He was never in a public office was a republican in politics, a Methodist, and al active Union man at the time of the war, though he had no sons of military age. He married Ann Conley. Her father John Conley, was a farmer near Reedsville, and is buried on the Conley farm. Mrs. Ann Squires was the mother of the following children: John H .; Lucien, of Independence West Virginia; William S., living in Ohio; Bolton, of Mor- gantown; and Charles, an Ohio man.

John H. Squires received much of his early education in a subscription school near Reedsville, and he was out of school and engaged in the practical work of life before the first free school was established in Preston County. For many years his home and business activities were in Independence in Preston County. He remained with his parents until reaching his majority, and for a time he operated a stationary engine in the mines and in sawmills in the Newburg and Scotch Hill localities of Preston County. Then after several years of association with his father in the mill business he became an employe of J. R. Smoot in the Smoot Mill, the first mill to be equipped with the "roller process" in all that section. The mill was at Independence, and he continued his business there until he came to Parsona.

At Parsons he became aasociated with bis brother W. F. Squires in the operation of a feed mill, and when that partnership was dissolved three years later he joined George Mayer in connection with another milling enterprise, known as the Parsons Milling and Mercantile Company. When Mr. Mayer retired from this Mr. Squires continued the husi- ness and developed the milling property and the other in- terests of the firm until be was ready to retire from active life. For two or three years after leaving the mill he was a merchant. He is a atockbolder in the Tucker County Bank.

Mr. Squires cast his first vote for president in 1872. for General Grant, and has not missed voting the republican ticket at a national election in fifty years. He has never been interested in office holdings, and his time has been quite equally divided between business and home. He is a

J.O.Squires

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member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias.

In Fayette County, Pennsylvania, in 1871, Mr. Squires narried Abigail Pickenbaugh. Her father, Reason Picken- augh, was a farmer in Monongalia County, West Virginia, where Mrs. Squires was born in 1849. She died at Parsons oon after the family moved here, on October 15, 1895, the nother of the following children: Florence, wife of J. N. ang, a Baltimore & Ohio engineer living at Newburg; Minnie, wife of Thomas Turnley, of Newburg; Melvin J., a coal miner at Masontown; Gertrude, wife of Hyland Ketzner, of Cumberland, Maryland; Lula, Mrs. Albert Fel- on, of Parsons, and mother of a son, John Albert; Guy Olin, who married Goldie Peterson, lives at Parsons and as two children; and John D., of Morgantown, who mar- ied Frances Imbaugh and has a daughter. John D. Squires s a corporal in charge of the detachment of State Police t Morgantown, West Virginia. Besides the grandchildren mentioned, Mrs. Minnie Turnley has one daughter. Melvin Squires is the father of five children, and Mrs. Ketzner as two daughters and one son.

For his second wife Mr. Squires married Mrs. Burnett Ryan, whose father, Ward Parsons, was the original owner f the townsite of Parsons and one of the very successful farmers and stockmen of Tucker County. It is said that e introduced the first pedigreed live stock into the county, und for many years was a successful cattle man. Mr. Squires lost his second wife by death in August, 1920.

W. F. GRADY. The Purity Baking Company of Charleston s one of the modern and model establishments of its kind n the entire state. The company was organized by W. F. trady in 1919, with the following officers: O. O. Older, president; Dr. Atlee Mairs, vice president; and W. F. Hrady, secretary and treasurer. Mr. Grady, having had the practical training and experience of an engineer, was in a position to render a great service in the supervision of all he details of construction in the plant. This plant, located n Bigley Avenue, is a modern industrial building, built of rick, steel and cement, 75x120 feet, representing an invest- nent of about $80.000. The machinery is entirely auto- natic and is operated in electrically driven units. The nechanical equipment represents the last word in scientific read making, and none of the arts and processes as the esult of age and long experience in bread manufacture have een omitted here. The management has given this busi- Less intensive study and application since its founding, and as built up one of the most important enterprises in Charleston. The products of this sanitary bakery are dis- ributed wholesale over a large part of the normal com- nercial territory adjacent to Charleston.

Mr. Grady is a member of the Chamber of Commerce, the Credit Men's Association, and is affiliated with the Elks odge.

A. C. BABSON. The West Virginia Water & Electric Company is one of the more important public utilities of he state. Its service primarily is supplying water and lectricity for Charleston and suburbs. The present cor- poration is successor to the former Kanawha Water & Light Company, which in turn represented several consolidations mong the water and electric companies of early times. The corporation has expanded its service and facilities in keeping with the great material development of Charleston vithin recent years, and the assets of the company have een augmented by the introduction of several million dollars f outside capital, so that it has the financial resources to nsure a continuance of the adequate service performance f the present. The water department represents a develop- nent from small beginnings with increases almost from year o year, until at present, with a modern plant, a population f 50,000 and many industrial plants are supplied. With present normal filter plant capacity of about 12,000,000 gallons of water each 24 hours and about double this in pumping capacity the demand is only about one half of hat capacity at present. The water supply is taken from he Elk River, near the city limits, and pumped into a two nillion gallon basin, after which it is filtered and pumped Vol. III-69

to a million gallon reservoir and to the city mains. The pumping is by steam pumps direct or by electric motor driven pumps operating with the electric current supplied by the company. All the necessary high pressure water can be pumped by either electricity or steam. Reserve pumping units are always ready to pick up the load in case of emergency or when the regular pumps are shut down for repairs.

While the plant at present is more than adequate to supply the demand, the site is large enough to permit additional growth in facilities.

The electric department likewise represents an interesting development from a small reciprocating engine unit of small capacity to modern steam turbine generators and high pressure boilers, capable of producing 8,750 kilowatts.

Mr. Max Pam, of Chicago, is president of this West Virginia public utility and he, with assistance of his asso- ciates in Chicago, New York and elsewhere has been able to arrange for the large financing necessary to develop this public necessity in the capital of the state. Several million dollars of outside capital have thus been brought into Charleston for this important enterprise through Mr. Pam's influence.

The vice president and general manager of the company is Mr. A. C. Babson, an electrical engineer and commercial executive who has had a widely diversified experience and many important responsibilities along the line of public utility operation and management.

He was born at Sacramento, California, graduated Bache- lor of Science in Electric Engineering in 1900 from the Uni- versity of California, and for a number of years was asso- ciated as manager for the General Electric Company's in- terests in the state of Washington, with headquarters at Seattle. Prior to coming to West Virginia Mr. Babson held an executive position in Wisconsin managing some of the gas and electric properties in the Milwaukee District for the Wisconsin Gas & Electric Company, one of the principal public utility concerns of that state. While there Mr. Bab- son served as vice president of the Wisconsin Public Utilities Association. Mr. Babson took up his duties at Charleston as vice president and general manager of the West Vir- ginia Water & Electric Company, January 1, 1919, and since that time has been actively interested in building up a mod- ern water and electric system for the capital city. He is an active member of the Charleston Chamber of Commerce, and on the executive committee of the West Virginia Public Utilities Association.

CHARLES ARNOLD CABELL. The career of Charles Arnold Cabell of Charleston, one of the foremost coal operators in the state, is a conspicuous instance of the enduring vitality and vigor of an old Colonial family, which in practically every generation has produced men of extraordinary ability in business and the professions and in politics and public affairs.

Charles Arnold Cabell was born in Elk District of Kanawha County in 1870, son of N. B. and Lavina C. (Wood) Cabell. The annals of Virginia contain reference to a dozen or more Cabells of special distinction, including Governor William H. Cabell and also congressmen, judges, educators and others. N. B. Cabell was born in Nelson County, Virginia, and prior to the Civil war came to Kanawha County and settled at Maldeu, entering the salt business and locating his slaves on the farm of Elk-two-mile in Elk District.

Charles Arnold Cabell was reared on his father's planta- tion, acquired a public and private school education at Charleston, attending the Kanawha Military Institute under Major Snyder. Practically from the close of his school days Mr. Cabell has been associated with the coal industry, in its practical and technical phases as well as in the finan- cial and business side of the business. He is a well equipped mine manager, and has opened and operated mines and for a number of years he and his associates have comprised one of the largest groups of producers in the state. An honor and responsibility he enjoys is president of the Kanawha Coal Operators Association, one of the largest associations of the kind in the East.

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His first active connection with the coal industry was with the Mount Carbon Coal Company, Limited, an English syndicate headed by Evan Powell and operating at Powell- ton on Armstrong. Creek in Fayette County. With this corporation his apprenticeship was served. Subsequently he joined a combination with John L. Dickinson, J. R. Thomas and C. A. Scholz, forming the Superior Coal & Lumber Com- pany. Its mining operations were conducted at the head of Kelly's Creek. Subsequently the same men organized the Carbon Coal Company, opening mines at Carbondale on Smother's Creek, in the extreme western part of Fayette County. Subsequently all their coal interests north of the Kanawha River were sold to the Sunday Creek Coal Com- pany, which was one of the J. P. Morgan interests in New York. At that time Mr. Scholz left the firm, and Doctor Boyd of Charleston together with Messrs. Cabell, Dickinson and Thomas entered a new project on Upper Cabin Creek in Kanawha County. The present Carbon Fuel Company was organized in 1900, and Mr. Cabell personally prospected the present holdings of coal lands during 1900-01. While the beginning of development was on a somewhat small scale, progress was rapid iu the opening of mines, so that for a number of years past the Carbon Fuel Company has been one of the most extensive producers of coal in West Vir- ginia. The headquarters of the company are at Carbon, and Mr. Cabell constructed the railroad to that mining center from Leewood. The company mines are grouped around Carbon, there being nine operations in three different seams of coal. One of these is the celebrated Eagle seam, pro- nounced by authorities the finest by-product coal in the world. Other veins are the Powellton seam, noted for its coke making properties, and the Lewiston and Carbon Splint seams, ranking high in special qualities.

The company has the equipment and in normal times can produce an average of a million tons of coal per year. On account of car shortage and other conditions the company 's actual production has run at an average of about 800,000 tons per year. The mining village of Carbon, built and maintained by the company, is a model mining town, the company having erected about four hundred houses for the miners, many of them being of the modern bungalow type, with conveniences and surroundings that tend to promote a contented and wholesome attitude on the part of the operatives.

Mr. Cabell is vice president and active manager of the Carbon Fuel Company. He has a home in Charleston, also one at Carbon, and spends practically all his business time in that mining town. He is a communicant of St. John's Episcopal Church at Charleston. Mr. Cabell married Miss Nellie L. Couch. Their three children are Mary Lavina, Nellie Lynn and Virginia Couch.

WALLACE KNIGHT. The remarkable building era which has almost transformed Charleston within recent years did not have to go abroad for the technical skill and business organization involved in the work. Wallace Knight, who has been located here over twenty-four years, head of the Wallace Knight Construction Company, designers and build- ers, has supplied a large share of the facilities in this building era.

Wallace Knight is a native of West Virginia, and largely through his individual experience has developed a wide range of knowledge and proficiency as a designer of first-class residences and apartments. He was born at Ravenswood, Jackson County, in 1869, and was a child when his parents moved to Mason County, where he was reared and educated. As a youth he learned the carpenter's

trade, worked for several years as a journeyman and in 1897 located at Charleston. From a skilled mechanic he developed his powers largely through private study to a comprehensive knowledge of the wide technique involved in architecture and building construction, and aside from being a competent designer himself has surrounded his individual skill with able assistants, so that his office can supply all the facilities required in any size or type of building con- tract.

His position as one of the leading builders is asserted by numerous examples all over Charleston District of modern

and substantial structures which he has erected and many of which he has designed. Among many business buildings one interesting example is the Virginian Theater. His specialty, however, is modern residence and apartment con- struction, and more of this type of work has been done by him in Charleston than by any other builder. There has been a notable building era in fine residences and apart- ment houses in Charleston in recent years, particularly on Quarrier, Virginia and Kanawha streets, in the eastern sec- tion of the city. Some of the conspicuous homes and apart- ments in that section that testify to Mr. Knight's work are the residences of F. K. Homestead, A. P. Silverstein, L. E. McWhorter, Harry Silverstein, W. J. Builtman, M. B. Goldman, E. A. Agnew, W. E. Wright and U. G. Thomas. Mr. Knight is also designer and builder of the Oberlan Building on Quarrier Street, in which his own offices are located.

Mr. Knight is a thoroughly alive and up-to-date citizen, identified with all progressive matters. He is a member of the Chamber of Commerce, and is affiliated with the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows and Elks. He married Miss Eva Stoglin, of Kanawha County. They have two children. Clarence Knight and Miss Iris Knight.

CORNELIUS R. PARSONS. Representing the fourth genera- tion of a family that has been conspicuous in the affairs of Tucker County from pioneer days, Cornelius R. Parsons has in his own career accomplished something worthy of record. He is a former county superintendent of schools and more recently has been engaged in banking and mer- chandising at Parsons.

He is the great-grandson of the founder of the family in this section of West Virginia, James Parsons. James Parsons came to what is now Tucker County with his brother Thomas from Baltimore, Maryland. They were Englishmen by birth. On leaving Baltimore they first estab- lished themselves at Moorefield, Virginia, and thence came into the Horseshoe country of West Virginia. James Parsons is buried in White Oak Cemetery, on the old home estate. The land of that estate was given by the governor of Virginia for service he rendered Lord Fairfax, but in what capacity cannot now be stated.

His son, James R. Parsons, was born in St. George District of Tucker County about 1812, and during the Civil war moved to Black Fork District, where he died in 1887. His wife, Mahala, survived him and died at the age of eighty-three. They had ten children, all of whom reached mature years: Cornelius, who died in Grant County, leav- ing a family of children by two marriages; Luther, who died leaving a family in Randolph County; Joshua, who died in Parsons; Robert, only one of the children now living and a large land owner at Mackay, Idaho; Thomas Benton, mentioned below; Nancy, wife of Christopher Schoonover, of San Francisco, California; Marcella, who married Sylvester Channell, and left a large family when she died in Black Fork District; Susann, who died in Tucker County, wife of Coleman Schoonover; Harriett, who married Hamilton Burk, of Columbus, Ohio; and Emma, wife of Sylvenus Rennix, of Randolph County.

Thomas B. Parsons, father of Cornelius R., was born in St. George District and lived there until he was eleven years of age, and then moved to Black Fork District, where he was an active farmer until his death in 1916, at the age of sixty-eight.

Cornelius R. Parsons was born in Black Fork District, May 4, 1875, and remained at that locality until he reached his majority. His early training was supplied by the coun- try schools, and with that training he started teaching at the age of twenty. Altogether he devoted fifteen years of his early life to the cause of education. While teaching he was also a student and attended West Virginia Wesleyan College at Buckhannon and the University at Morgantown. He was a teacher in his home district when he was elected county superintendent of schools in 1912. He entered the office in January, 1913, as successor of H. S. Shaffer. His service as county superintendent covered a period of eight years, and was notable for progress made in a time of peculiar difficulty for schools here and all over the country.

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History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 3, Part 194

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