History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 3, Part 200

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Alexander White acquired a common school education, and taught school for several years. Soon after the Bank of Wadestown was opened he was offered the position of cashier, and to acquire a technical knowledge of banking he entered the Federal Trust Company of Morgantown, where he remained until entering upon his active duties as cashier. Besides his work at the bank Mr. White superin- tends the operation of his farm. He is a republican in politics.

In 1911 he married Miss Ada Renner, of Greene County, Pennsylvania. They have three children: Ralph M., Alma and Fred. Mr. and Mrs. White are members of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church, and Mr. White is affiliated with the Iudependent Order of Odd Fellows.

WASHINGTON IRVING BOOTH. This is a name of genuine prestige in banking circles of West Virginia. Mr. Booth has been and still is identified with several banks, but his main achievement is represented in the Clarksburg Trust Company, which he helped organize and of which he is president.

Mr. Booth is a native of Barhour County, West Virginia, and was born at Belington on June 11, 1882, son of John and Rachacl R. (Coyle) Booth. His father, now seventy- six years of age, was born and reared in the same county, and has spent his active life there as a farmer, sawmill operator and building contractor. The great-grandfather of the Clarksburg banker was Gen. Isaac Booth, a Virginian by birth, a soldier in the War of 1812, and for twenty-one years a member of the Virginia Legislature. Payton R. Booth, grandfather of W. I. Booth, was born in Barbour County, was a Confederate soldier, and while a prisoner of war at Chester, Pennsylvania, died in prison. John and Rachael Booth were the parents of three sons and four daughters. The mother (now deceased) was a Baptist and was greatly beloved for the qualities of her heart and mind. The father is a Presbyterian, has always been a stanch democrat, and his life has been one of commendable industry and good citizenship.

Washington Irving Booth during boyhood and youth worked on the farm and in his father's sawmill. This labor gave him habits of industry that no doubt have contributed in no small degree to his success as a financier. He ac- quired a good cominon school education, and after gradu- ating in 1903 from a business college at Parkersburg he became associated with the First National Bank at Beling- ton as assistant cashier. In that institution he laid the foundation of his banking experience and knowledge. Re- signing in 1908, he became assistant cashier of the Mer- chants and Mechanics Savings Bank at Grafton. Mr. Booth has gained a high reputation for his success as a bank organizer. He organized the First National Bank at Shinn- ston, and on July 15, 1909, became cashier of that institu- tion. He was also the organizer of the First National Bank at Fairview, and is still vice president at that point. Acquiring a block of stock in the Dunkard Valley Bank at

Blacksville, he has since been vice president of the institution.

Mr. Booth was the prime mover in the organization ( the Clarksburg Trust Company, which opened its doors fo business September 15, 1914, with him as president. Whi this is one of the younger banking institutions, in point ( resources and strength it is one of the most solid in th state. During the presidency of Mr. Booth it has ei perienced wonderful growth, now has resources of ove $3,000 000, total deposits of more than $2,500,000, and ove 14,000 accounts. The bank has a capital of $400,000.

Among other business connections Mr. Booth is presider of the Clarksburg Wholesale Company, is treasurer of th Prunty Real Estate Company and secretary-treasurer of th Parr Coal Company. He is a democrat in politics, a membe of the Baptist Church and is affiliated with the Independer Order of Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias and Elks.

On January 18, 1911, he married Miss Eleanor M. Tre gellas, of Grafton, who is of English ancestry. Two chi dren were born to their marriage, but their daughter, Rut Eleanor, died at the age of seven years. Their son is Joh Irving Booth.

REZIN W. SINE. While his home and business activities nearly all his life have been on his farm two miles south of Blacksville i nClay District and twenty-two miles west d Morgantown, Rezin W. Sine has exerted a broad and cor structive influence in the life and affairs of Monongali County. For many years he was one of the vigilant mem bers of the County Court, and has always been an influential factor in his home community.

He was born in Clay District November 23, 1856, so of Alphcus and Phebe (Tennant) Sine. His father wa born in Monongalia County, January 5, 1827, and died i 1916, at the age of eighty-nine. The mother, a daughter of Adam Tennant, was born in Monongalia County and died at the age of eighty. They lived together more tha: fifty years. Alpheus Sine was a farmer, a dealer in lumber and one of the first oil wells in this section was drilled o: his farm. He and his wife had five children: Prudence wife of Minor Tennant, living at Mount Gilead, Ohio Rezin W .; Sarah Ann, wife of D. S. Keck, of Waynesburg Pennsylvania; Delpha C., wife of William Strosnider, o Putnam, Illinois; and Louisa F., who became the wife of Alonzo Lemley and died in middle life.

Rezin W. Sine has lived at his present home since he wa six years of age. He was reared and educated in this com munity, and after reaching his majority acquired eighty five acres from the old estate. Since then he has added other land from time to time, until he has about 200 acres most of it from the original Sine farm. Mr. Sine as youth helped to clear this land from its timber. He is : stock and grain farmer, and there are five producing oi wells on his farm, pumping about seventeen barrels per day and the gas wells have given an ample domestic supply fo: many years.

Mr. Sine has been a member of the Board of Education for his district. He was twice elected and served six year as a county commissioner. Later he was three times ap. pointed to fill vacancies in the County Court, his last term in the court expiring December 31, 1918. Altogether he was a member of the County Court for twelve years. Ir this capacity he helped buy the present county farm and made the contract for the present county home. He was president of the County Court when the Morgantown and Kingwood Railroad was built, and was influential in pro moting that important transportation line for Monongalia County. He was also president of the court at the building of the first bridge over Cheat River, a structure subsequently carried off by ice. He was a member of the court wher the old suspension bridge at Morgantown was purchased.

Mr. Sine has always been a republican, and his father was of the same political faith and offered his services to the Union at the time of the Civil war. R. W. Sine has been a delegate to various conventions, has been a district com- mitteeman and is a member of the Methodist Church at Blacksville.

DErook

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At the age of twenty-five be married Miss Sula M. Sloan. he died three years later, leaving two children: Ottie W., ife of Dr. J. R. Weakley, of Philippi, West Virginia, and Villiam A., an electrician living at St. Louis. The present Irs. Sine was Louie Kent, of Kents Mills, Pennsylvania. 'hey have three children: H. Kent Sine, now a sophomore a West Virginia University; Hazeltine M., who has a high chool education and a teacher's training in Normal and Vest Virginia University, and is a teacher in the home istrict; and Annie Laurie, a student in the Blacksville High School.

CHARLES W. TAYLOR was four years old when his father, Union soldier, died in a Southern prison. He early learned o face the serious responsibilities of the world, and in spite f handicaps he has won a substantial success. For a num- er of years he was a teacher, but the solid basis of his prosperity has been laid as a farmer.

Mr. Taylor, who lives on his farm up the waters of Stone Coal Creek, six miles east of Weston, was born on another arm, three miles nearer Weston, on September 7, 1860, son f Sandy and Augusta C. (Newberger) Taylor. His father was born in Buckingham County, Virginia, in 1835, and moved to West Virginia when about fifteen years of age. He had a limited education, and was married in Lewis County. His wife was born in Baltimore, Maryland, No- vember 28, 1838, and had a public school education. After their marriage they settled on a farm in Lewis County, and Sandy Taylor never got beyond the stage of a renter. When his children were all small he enlisted in Company D of the Fifteenth West Virginia Infantry, and was with his com- mand until wounded at the second battle of Bull Run. He died in 1864, being one of many Northern men who literally starved to death in Southern prisons. He was a republican in politics. His four children were: Frank, who lives on First Street in Weston; C. W .; Celia, deceased; and Sandy, a farmer on Stone Coal Creek.

Charles W. Taylor grew up on a farm, and always made the best possible advantages of his opportunities in the public schools, thus qualifying himself as a teacher. For seven terms he taught in West Virginia and then went out to South Dakota and took up a homestead and farmed there for five years. On his return to West Virginia he taught seven more terms of school and farmed at the same time.

On July 25, 1888, Mr. Taylor married Barbara Danfel, of Bunker Hill, Indiana, She died in November, 1892, the mother of two children, Lillie, wife of O. W. Gum, of Lewis County; and Leslie O., who graduated from the Glen- ville Normal School, the State University, with the A. B. degree, served in two training camps during the war and is now a student in Chicago. In 1900 Mr. Taylor married Iza Swisher, of Lewis County. Two children were born to this union: Ralph, now deceased, and Clifford, who is a graduate of an automobile school in Detroit. On February 9, 1922, Mr. Taylor married Elizabeth Hindinan, of Flor- ence, Alabama.

The well managed and valuable farm of Mr. Taylor con- tains 184 acres. He is also a stockholder in other enter- prises. His political allegiance is with the republican party, and he is a past noble grand of Lodge No. 136, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, is a member of the Encampment, and is affiliated with the Methodist Protestant Church.

H. ROY WAUGH, who is presiding on the bench of the Circuit Court of the Twentieth Judicial District of West Virginia, was elected to this office in November, 1920, and the preferment came as a consistent recognition of his ability as a lawyer and his high standing as a citizen. He maintains his home at Buckhannon, county seat of his native county.

Judge Waugh was born in the southern part of Upshur County, on the 4th of January, 1879, and is a son of Homer M. and Melissa J. (Morrison) Waugh, the former of whom was born May 19, 1854, and the latter August 14, 1858. Homer M. Waugh was born in Pocahontas County, this state, a son of James Waugh, whose father, James Waugh, Sr., immigrated from Scotland to America in 1739 and established his residence in Virginia. His son James

married Miss Sarah McGuire, and the son Samuel married Ann McGuire. The son James was a patriot soldier in the War of the Revolution. Jacob Waugh, another of the sons, was born in 1809, married Mary Brown and they became the parents of thirteen children.

Homer M. Waugh was reared in Upshur County, received the advantages of the common schools of the locality and period and became a prosperous farmer and rural merchant. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, in which Jacob Waugh was a local preacher, besides which he served twenty years as clerk of the Circuit Court for Upshur County. Homer M. and Melissa J. Waugh became the parents of three children who attained to years of ma- turity, and of the number Judge Waugh of this sketch is the eldest; Ica remains at the parental home; and Jay is engaged in business activities at Clearfield, Pennsylvania.

Like other farmer hoys, Judge Waugh had his character founded on the fundamental of life, and his alert mentality has enabled him to supplement most effectively the training given by the realism of the farm. His early education was obtained in the public schools of his native county, and after a period of successful service as a teacher he entered West Virginia Wesleyan College, in which institution he continued his studies until he received therefrom his degree of Bachelor of Arts. Thereafter he attended the law de- partment of the University of West Virginia, in which he was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Laws, with virtually coincident admission to the bar of his native state. He engaged in the practice of his profession at Buckhannon, and under the administration of President Taft he was ap- pointed United States district attorney for the Northern District of West Virginia, during his four years' incum- bency of which office he maintained his residence at Parkers- burg. He then returned to Buckhannon, where he continued to give his attention to his substantial and representative law business until his election to the bench of the Circuit Court in November, 1920, his assumption of the duties of this important judicial office having occurred on the 1st of January, 1921. Judge Waugh had previously served four years as prosecuting attorney of his native county, besides which he was for one term a member of the State Legisla- ture, in which he made a characteristically excellent record of loyal and progressive service. His political allegiance is given to the republican party, he and his wife hold mem- bership in the Methodist Episcopal Church, he is a past master of the local lodge of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, is a past chancellor of the local lodge of the Knights of Pythias, is a member of the Buckhannon Chamber of Commerce and the Rotary Club, and is a di- rector of the Peoples Bank of Buckhannon.

On the 17th of October, 1905, was solemnized the marriage of Judge Waugh and Miss Louisa P. Newlon, who likewise was born and reared in West Virginia and who was gradu- ated in both the musical and elocutionary departments of Keymeyer College. Judge and Mrs. Waugh have three children: Mary, John and Helen.

ALEXANDER MITCHELL was a native son of what is now the State of West Virginia, and he honored the common- wealth by his upright life and large and worthy achieve- ment. From the Wheeling Intelligencer of July 15, 1921, are taken the following extracts: "News that Col. Alex- ander Mitchell, for many years a foremost figure in banking circles of the city, passed away this morning at the Ohio Valley General Hospital, shortly after midnight, will be received with profound sorrow throughout this community. No man was more greatly admired and re- spected for many fine qualities of mind and heart. Integrity was synonymous with his name. His life work, the guidance of the Mutual Savings Bank, which he organized in 1887. has been a business achievement to which any man could point with pride. Kindly and unassuming, be counted friends and admirers by the thousands."

Alexander Mitchell was born on the old homestead farm of the family on the Bethany Pike, east of Wheeling, and the date of his nativity was March 19, 1847. He was a son of Zachariah and Ann (Baird) Mitchell, the latter a daughter of George Baird, of Washington, Pennsylvania.

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Upon the death of his mother, in 1853, Alexander was takon into the home of his maternal grandfather at Washington, Pennsylvania, his father having removed to the West. He gained his early education in the schools at Washington and in 1867 graduated from Washington and Jefferson College, at Washington, Pennsylvania. In the same year he began the study of medicine in the office of his uncle, Dr. George Baird, at Wheeling, later he held a clerical position with the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, and in 1872 he became connected with the National Bank of West Vir- ginia. In 1879 he became assistant cashier of the Peoples Bank, and in 1887, assisted by Dr. George Baird, Howard Hazlett and other substantial citizens, he organized the Mutual Savings Bank, of which he was the guiding execu- tive until the time of his death. This was the first savings bank in West Virginia, and under his able administration it became one of the great financial institutions of a great industrial city and state. There is all of consistency in the following estimate: "Alexander Mitchell typified honesty, ability and honor in business, and his personality more than any other factor counted in the bank's wonderful progress." He was the father of the Wheeling Clearing House Associa- tion, which was organized in 1900, and he otherwise did much to stabilize and advance the general financial interests of his home city and native state. He was a loyal and ardent supporter of the principles of the republican party, but had no desire for political preferment. His fine civie loyalty was shown, however, in his vigorous and effective service as a member of the city council, to which he was first elected in 1887, his final election having occurred in 1907. He held for several terms the office of West Virginia vice president of the American Bankers Association. He was an earnest member of the Presbyterian Church, as is also his widow. Colonel Mitchell was one of the vital and progressive men who did much for the development of the "' Greater Wheeling," his civic liberality being in evidence at all times and his influence and co-operation being given in support of measures and enterprises advanced for the general good of the community.

In 1880 was solemnized the marriage of Colonel Mitchell and Miss Delia G. Harbour, daughter of the late Joseph C. Harbour, of Wheeling. Four children survive the honored husband and father: Baird, who succeeded his father as executive head of the Mutual Savings Bank; Harbour, who is vice president of the American Foundry & Construction - Company at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Miss Katharine, wlio is secretary of the Mutual Savings Bank; and Alexandra, who is the wife of Harry Eckhart, of Fort Worth, Texas.

WILFORD BRUCE SNODGRASS, who was born and has lived most of his life in the Smithfield community of Wetzel County, was a teacher for several years, has been interested in the practical side of farming, and for a number of years has been farm foreman for the South Penn Oil Company.

Mr. Snodgrass was born near the present site of Smith- field on December 5, 1870. He is member of a family that has been in West Virginia for four or five generations. The founder of the family in this country, a native of Holland, came to Virginia in Colonial times and settled in what is now Marion County, West Virginia. He married a native of Ireland. The great-grandfather was John Snodgrass, who spent all his life in Marion County as a farmer. The grandfather was John Dearborn Snodgrass, who was born near Reevesville in Marion County in 1814, and as a young man moved to Wetzel County, married there and followed farming. He died at Smithfield December 10, 1903. His wife was Nancy Hayes, who was born in Wetzel County in 1819, and died at the old homestead in October, 1908.

James T. Snodgrass, father of Wilford B., was born in Grant District of Wetzel County in June, 1847. He was a youthful volunteer on the Union side in the Civil war, en- listing in the Seventh West Virginia Infantry, and serving during portions of the years 1863-64. From 1873 to 1881 he lived in Harrison County, but otherwise his life was spent in Grant District, and he was a very successful farmer and wool buyer. He was a democrat in politics, and he died at his home near Smithfield April 11, 1904. James T. Snodgrass married Eliza J. Moore, who was born in

Harrison County February 22, 1850, and died near Smith- fer field June 9, 1919. These parents had two sons: William Je Riley and Wilford B. The former is an oil field worker, led with home four miles east of Smithfield.

Wilford Bruce Snodgrass was educated in the free He sehools of Grant District, also attended select schools, and Por in 1890 began teaching. His service as an educator was s rendered at Jacksonburg one term, in the Starkey school In four terms, and three terms at Pricetown. Mr. Snodgrass bor has been in the service of the South Penn Oil Company top since 1899, beginning as a roustabout for the Smithfield 18 headquarters of that company. Since 1903 he has been big farm foreman. He owns two residences in Smithfield, each pr one being near the high school, and both are modern resi- dences with all the comforts. He also has a dwelling in of Pricetown, a farm near Pricetown, and is interested in the m old homestead of 102 acres on Pickenpaw Run in Grant District.

Mr. Snodgrass is a democrat, is affiliated with Wetzel Lodge No. 39, A. F. and A. M., at New Martinsville, Fair- mont Chapter No. 9. R. A. M., Fairmont Commandery No. 6, K. T., West Virginia Consistory No. 1 of the Scottish Rite at Wheeling, Osiris Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Wheeling, and is one of the oldest and most prominent members of Lily Lodge No. 161, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, at Pricetown, being a past grand, and for the past twenty-five years has been secretary.

Mr. Snodgrass suffered the loss of a son in the World war, and he was one of the leaders in local war activities, being a member of the Legal Advisory Board of the county and assisting personally to promote the success of every drive made in his home district. He married in Wetzel County, West Virginia, in 1894 Miss Hattie L. Nutter, who was born at Worthington, West Virginia, dangliter of Lewis and Elizabeth (Nay) Nutter. Her father was a carpenter and died near Fairmont. The mother is now Mrs. Joseph W. Copenhaver, and they live at Pricetown.

The soldier son of Mr. and Mrs. Snodgrass was James Paul, who was born March 5, 1896. He was a graduate of the Fairmont Normal School, a member of Mannington Lodge No. 31, A. F. and A. M., also past vice grand of Lily Lodge No. 161, I. O. O. F. He was an oil field worker when he enlisted May 7, 1918. He was on duty six weeks at Akron, Ohio, was made a sergeant from the ranks while in training at Columbia, South Carolina, and on August 4, 1918, started overseas with Battery C of the Twentieth Field Artillery. During the great Argonne battle on Sep- tember 5, 1918, he was gassed and wounded, and on the 8th of September he died in Base Hospital No. 31 at Contrexe- ville, Vosges, France. His body was brought home to the United States and was buried with soldier's and Masonic honors near Smithfield May 30, 1921.

Mr. and Mrs. Snodgrass have four younger children : Harry Alphonso, horn September 11, 1899, enlisted and was sent to the Army Training School at Buckhannon, where he remained from September 21, 1918, to December 21, 1918, when he was honorably discharged. He lives with his fa- ther, and is an oil field worker and a graduate of the Fair- mont State Normal School. He is a member of Manning- ton Lodge No. 31, A. F. and A. M. The third child, Gypsy Jaqualine, was born October 14, 1901, is a graduate of the Smithfield High School, and is doing advanced work dur- ing the summers in the Fairmont State Normal School, while teaching during the regular school year in the public schools of Smithfield. Gladys Daphne, born December 29, 1903, is a junior in the Smithfield High School and Walter B., the youngest child, was born March 24, 1909, and is an eighth grade student in the schools of Smithfield.

JOHN LAFAYETTE EVERLY. Any American community might be proud to claim such a citizen as the venerable John Lafayette Everly of Grant District, Preston County, whose years have been spent in exemplification of the best standards of patriotism, loyalty to his government and his fellow men, and the cardinal virtues of industry and integ- rity.

He is member of the old family that was introduced into Preston County by his grandfather Henry Everly, who came

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ere in company with his brothers Peter and Joseph. joseph had fought as a Revolutionary soldier and they set- a led in this part of West Virginia soon after the close of the zar for independence, probably coming from Delaware. ra Ienry Everly made settlement north of Terra Alta in Portland District. On Muddy Creek he set up his black- mith shop and continued it in connection with farming. n the late thirties he moved to the Sandy Creek neigh- sporhood near the present town of Hudson, buying the Chris- opher Cale farm. He lived there until his death abont 852 when about seventy years of age. He was held in ligh regard as a citizen, one of the early Lutherans and prominent in that church, and possessed some education, ince he kept his own accounts and was a studious reader of the Bible and of other current literature. Henry Everly married Miss Lewis. A brief record of their children is as follows: Peter, who spent his life in the Bull Run commu- mity of Preston County, where he died at the age of ninety; Lewis; Polly, who was the wife of Joseph Smith and lived n Portland District; Sarah, wife of Jacob Cale, died in Pleasant District at the age of about eighty; Joseph, who was a Union soldier in the West Virginia Infantry and spent his civil life at Terra Alta; Nancy, wife of John T. Smith, lived and died at Hazelton; Julia Ann was the wife of Augustine Wolfe and died in Preston County; William, who moved to Iowa and served from that state in the Civil war; Henry, who as a young man went to Ohio and died in Noble County, that state.

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History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 3, Part 200

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