History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 3, Part 201

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Lewis Everly was born in 1811 in Preston County, and acquired such education as the schools of his day provided. He learned his trade in Portland District and he erected the first mill on Muddy Creek some time in the '30s or even earlier. He operated the mill as long as he lived there, and when he moved over to Big Sandy he built the first mill at Rockville about 1852, and conducted this plant through the period of the Civil war. After he abandoned the mill he applied his energies to the farm and died in 1893. He was a democrat, very active in that party, and a Methodist. Lewis Everly married Eva Zwyer, a native of West Virginia, daughter of Adam Zwyer, of German an- cestry. She died in August, 1885. Her children were: John L., whose record follows; Henry, who was a teamster in the Union Army and died in Preston County in 1882; Adam, who was a. Union soldier in the Fighting Seventh West Virginia, and spent the rest of his life farming in Pleasants County; William, who was a teamster in the Union Army during the Civil war, later was a farmer, and is now a merchant in Pleasants County; Elizabeth, wife of Robert O'Brien, living in Noble County, Ohio; Sivilla be- came the wife of Samuel Forman and died in Preston County; Thomas was a farmer and died in 1882; Joseph is still farming in Grant District; Lewis Wesley, a farmer near his brother Joseph in the Laurel Run region; and Sarah J., who married Preston King and died near Aurora, Preston County.

John L. Everly was born January 12, 1837, and the inci- dents and experiences of his boyhood and youth are largely associated with the old home on Muddy Creek, in the vicin- ity of his father's pioneer mill and his grandfather's black- smith shop. He also came to his majority near Rockville. In 1856-57 he taught school at Harmony Grove, Pleas- ants District and in 1858 at Cole, same district. On July 4, 1861, he entered the Union Army as a member of Company A of the Fighting Seventh West Virginia In- fantry under Col. J. H. Lockwood of Moundsville, whose wife presented the regiment with an extra service flag. Mr. Everly after enlisting joined the regiment at Oakland where he was in training about a month and was then sent out on scout duty. The first man killed was Zach Caughron, sheriff of Taylor County, who lost his life not at the hand of the enemy but by members of his own Company A on ac- count of his refusal to surrender for an offense he had com- mitted against the state. The first fighting in which Mr. Everly participated was at Romney, following which came Winchester, Luray, Port Republic, all in the Shenandoah Valley, then at Harpers Ferry, and from there to Richmond, where his command was in the battle of Seven Pines. He was at Antietam September 17, 1862, and the following

spring went into the Wilderness campaign with the battle of Spottsylvania, was at Cold Harbor in June, was in the battle of Fredericksburg, at Chancellorsville in May, 1864, and had previously been in the three days' battle of Get- tysburg, fighting during the second and third days in front of General Pickett's men when the Confederates made their final charge. He was at Petersburg in the early days of the investment of Richmond, and received his honorable dis- charge in August, 1864, a month and seven days after the expiration of his enlistment. His service as a soldier was in some of the greatest battles and the most ardnous cam- paigns in the principal theater of the war, yet he escaped wounds, his haversack and canteen only being riddled by bullets. Once a comrade was shot through the head and a piece of his skull struck Mr. Everly in the temple and drew a little blood. With more than three years of fighting he had more than satisfied all his taste for military life, and after his discharge he returned home and resumed his du- ties on the farm. For a time he remained near Rockville, then established his home near Greenville Furnace where he remained until his heavier responsibilities were concluded. There he cleared up sixty acres in the timber, fenced it, and put up the improvements necessary for home and pros- perous agriculture. Among those buildings are two houses and two barns which are still standing. From 1871 to 1877 he was surveyor of roads.

Though the son of a democratic father. Mr. Everly cast his first ballot for Abraham Lincoln in 1860 and again in 1864, and has been a voting member of the republican party for sixty years, casting his sixteenth successive ballot for a national ticket in 1920. He has been interested in com- munity affairs, but the only local offices he has held have been those of road surveyor and trustee of district schools. Mr. Everly has been a faithful church man sixty-five years and is an old fashioned Methodist and one of the trustees of the Laurel Run congregation. He was one of the build- ing committee when the church was constructed, and he holds the deed to the property in the church name. He is a charter member and the oldest brother of Pisgah Lodge, Knights of Pythias.

In March, 1858, Mr. Everly married Miss Hila Liston. They have gone along life's highway hand in hand for al- most fifty years when their companionship was severed by her death on February 5, 1918. She was born in Preston County April 2, 1840, daughter of Abraham and Elizabeth (Smith) Liston. Her father's farm was near Harmony Grove Church in Pleasant District, where Abraham Liston was also reared. Mrs. Everly was a girl of seventeen when she united with the Methodist Episcopal Church and her life was an exemplification of its spirit of Christly service. Mrs. Everly was the mother of the following children: Fletcher Camden; Mintare A .; Serilda Belle, wife of Philip Gribble of Morgantown; John Barton.

Fletcher Camden Everly, the oldest son, was born August 20, 1859, attended the local district schools, and his career has been that of a farmer, though he early learned the trade of carpenter and has built many barns and other farm im- provements in his neighborhood. He married Emma Jane Galloway and their children are: Flora, wife of Thurman Wolfe; Mary, wife of Robert Benson; William of Fayette County, Pennsylvania; Ethel, Mrs. Sanford Christopher; Hazel, wife of Frank Cale; and Earl.

Mintare A. Everly, the second son, was born at Rockville March 29, 1864, acquired a common school education, and his career has likewise been taken up with agriculture and he resides on part of his father's old homestead. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias. He married Mary L. Speelman July 17, 1885. Their children are: Emma, wife of Harry Ryan of Pisgah; Lillie, wife of Jesse Fowler of Morgantown; Dayton, of Fayette County, Pennsylvania; Ray, a farmer near his parents; Goldie, wife of Ellis Fow- ler of Morgantown; and Miss Annabelle, the only child at home. M. A. Everly is surveyor of roads.

John Barton Everly, horn April 11, 1873, grew up on the home farm and acquired a liberal education and as a young man taught school. Since his marriage he has been farm- ing and lives near Clifton Mills. He married Arminta Yeast and their children are: Zora, wife of Alva Chris-

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topher; Bertle, who married May Sliger; and Elsie, wife of Guy Gibson. John B. Everly was county commissioner for Grant District during 1919-20.

These sons of Mr. Everly have his political faith and they also have the carnestness in civic affairs of their fa- ther, though they have seldom sought office or any other political distinction.

GARRETT G. MCFERRAN. With the exception of the time which he spent in military service during the Mexican hor- der trouble and the World war, Garrett G. McFerran has been identified with the coal industry ever since entering upon his active career. His present connection is with the West Virginia Coal and Coke Company at Elkins, of which concern he has been auditor since his return from overseas. Mr. MeFerran was born September 29, 1881, at Fincastle, Virginia, and is a son of John S. and Nannie (Bryan) Me- Ferran. His father, a native of the same place, belonged to one of the old and honored families of the Old Dominion, and came of Scotch stock. His father, Martin McFerran, was a captain in the Confederate Army during the war be- tween the states. Jobn S. MeFerran was a planter by oc- cupation, and passed his life in the vicinity of Fincastle, where he was well known and highly respected. He married Nannie Bryan, who was born at Warm Springs, Virginia, she also being a member of an early family of Virginia, of Irish stock, her father, William H. Bryan, having been a private in the Confederate Army during the struggle be- tween the South and the North. Mrs. McFerran survives her husband as a resident of Virginia. They had six sons and two daughters, all of whom were reared to maturity.

Garrett G. McFerran was given the advantages of instruc- tion in private schools at Fincastle and Roanoke, Virginia, and at the age of eighteen years gave up his studies to be- come an accountant for a coal mining company in South- western Virginia, being thus employed at the time of the outbreak of the trouble between Mexico and the United States on the border. Mr. McFerran enlisted in the Second Virginia Infantry, securing a commission as second lieuten- ant, and accompanied his organization to the scene of threatened hostilities, where he was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant. Soon after his return to West Virginia the United States entered the World war and his regiment was mustered into service. Mr. MeFerran was commis- sioned captain in May, 1917, and was first stationed at Camp MeClellan, Alabama, with the Twenty-sixth Division. Subsequently he was transferred to Camp Wadsworth, South Carolina, with others, and became a member of the Fifty- sixth Division of Pioneer Infantry, with which he went overseas for service to France in August, 1918, his regiment arriving in the country of conflict September 1. His con- tingent immediately got into action, being in the great Ar- gonne drive, and after the signing of the armistice went with the American Army of Occupation into Germany. In July, 1919, he was ordered back to the United States where he was mustered out of the service in October, 1919, at Fortress Monroe, Virginia, receiving an honorable discharge as captain. He is a member of the American Legion. In November, 1919, Captain MeFerran accepted his present position as auditor of the West Virginia Coal and Coke Company at Elkins, a community in which he has formed numerous pleasant and profitable connections, and where he is held in high regard by his associates and superiors in the company. Mr. MeFerran is a Blue Lodge and Chapter Ma- son. He has found little time for public affairs, but has been a consistent supporter of worthy movements calculated to be of benefit to Elkins and its people.

In September, 1917, Mr. MeFerran married Miss Esther Southward, of Columbus, Ohio.

FRENCH MORGAN. This member of the historic Morgan family of West Virginia has been a resident of Washington for some years, being in the Government service during the war period. He spent the early part of his life at Buck- hannon, where he was in business with his father. French Morgan has been an interested student of West Virginia history, particularly of the Morgan family.

His ancestral line, beginning with the first American, the

famous Col. Morgan Morgan, is as follows: Col. Morgar Morgan, born November 1, 1688, and died November 17 1766, married Catherine Garretson; emigrated from Wales and settled near Winchester, Virginia, about 1726. His son David Morgan, the noted Indian fighter, was born May 12. 1721, died May 19, 1813, married Sarah Stephens. The old- est son of David was Morgan or "Mod" Morgan, born December 20, 1746, and died in 1820, married a Prickett. Capt. James Morgan, horn December 12, 1778, died Febru- ary 2, 1860; married Rachel Bunner. Stephen Morgan, born June 10, 1820, died August 28, 1893; married Salome Van- gilder. Hezekiah Boyers Morgan, born June 13, 1851, married Minerva Jane Bunner, daughter of Joseph and Eliza (Moran) Bunner, who were born in Marion County, West Virginia, and moved to Randolph County, just prior to the Civil war. Of the children of Hezekiah B. Morgan, the oldest son is French Morgan and the other children are Sylvia, Joseph Jefferson, Nellie, Levi and Mary.

Recent investigation has revealed from official records that substantiate the claim long made that Col. Morgan Morgan was the first white settler to make his home in what is now West Virginia. It was about 1726 that he crossed the Blue Ridge and built his house at Bunker Hill in Berkeley County. Recently there has been located the original patent for 1,000 acres of land granted by King George II to Colonel Morgan in 1735. From certain language used in this document it is evident that Morgan was on the ground prior to 1735, so that the date 1726 is not very, if at all, incorrect.

The Morgans are a long lived and a sturdy people, the energy and vitality of the stock being apparently undimin- ished in later generations. As a whole they have led clean moral lives and have engaged in wholesome outdoor labors, a fact no doubt contributing to their longevity. From the above record it is noted that Col. Morgan Morgan died at the age of seventy-eight, his son David, at ninety-two, the latter's son Morgan, at seventy-five, Capt. James, at eighty- five, Stephen, at seventy-three, and Hezekiah Boyers is now in his seventy-first year and in rugged health.

Hezekiah Boyers Morgan was born in Marion County, about six miles east of Fairmont, and moved to Palace Valley in Upshur County with his father, Stephen, just after the close of the Civil war. This entire trip was made by wagon, taking six days. Hezekiah Boyers Morgan was assessor of Upshur County four years, deputy sheriff under his brother, Dr. J. J. Morgan, for one term of four years, and deputy county clerk twelve years.

Mr. French Morgan was born at Palace Valley on Buck- hannon River, near Buckhannon, August 31, 1880. He graduated from the Buckhannon High School in 1898, then taught school a year, and in 1901 entered West Virginia Conference Seminary at Buckhannon, graduating in the classical course in 1903, and completing the business course the following year.

In 1906 Mr. Morgan married Mary G., daughter of George W. and Hatie (Townsend) Pick, of Buckhannon, and to this union have been horn two sons, Norman D., born De- cember 1, 1907, and Arthur Raymond, born April 17, 1913.

For about twelve years after leaving school he was asso- ciated with his father and brothers in operating a planing mill at Buckhannon. At the beginning of the World war he disposed of his interest in this enterprise, and, going to Washington, worked one year for the auditor of station ac- counts for the Southern Railroad. Since then he has been in the Government service as an employe of the general accounting office, Navy Department Division. His home in Washington is 2601 Brentwood Road, N. E.

CATHOLIC CHURCH OF WESTON. Not an inconsiderable factor in the early history and subsequent development of Lewis County and Weston was a sturdy body of Irish and German Catholics and the local Catholic Church. Settlement of these people were made in the western and southwestern part of the county and in and about Weston. They were true pioneers. They attacked the virgin forests, subdued them by hard toil, and finally converted them into fairly prosperous farms. Their children now represent some of the best and most prosperous citizens in the community.

+ Pr. Rev. J.J. Swint LL.

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Probably the first Catholic priest to visit Weeton was 3v. A. F. Grogan in 1845, who rode over on horseback om Greggsville, now known as Tunnelton, Preston County. e attended the place periodically till 1850, gathering the attered people together wherever they might be found, lding services in public halls or private houses.

In 1850 Weston and the surrounding country was put charge of Rev. B. Stack, who began almost immediately e building of a small brick church. This was the fourth atholic Church erected in what now comprises West Vir- nia. In these early days Weston was the religious center or all the scattered Catholics throughout the counties of ewis, Upshur, Randolph, Barbour, Webster, Braxton, oddridge and Harrison.

Shortly after the first small church was built a school was arted in the basement thereof. This was before the days f the public or state schools. This school played an im- ortant part in the life and advancement of the community. t continued its good work till the year 1876, when the old murch was abandoned. Many of the most prominent pro- essional men, non-Catholic as well as Catholic, received leir primary education in this school.

A second and larger church was built in the year 1876. 'his did service till 1914, when new ground was purchased, nd a splendid stone church, au ample school, a priests' ouse and sisters' house were erected at a cost of $120,000. The generosity of the Catholic people at this time gave a timulus to the entire community, with the result that Wes- on now stands as a city of beautiful churches and other andsome buildings.

This remarkable period of material growth and spiritual prosperity has been coincident with the pastorate of Father T. J. Swint at Weston. Father Swint is a native West Vir- ¡inian, born in Randolph County, December 15, 1879, son of Peter and Caroline (Winkler) Swint. His father was born n the Duchy of Luxemburg, February 22, 1850, and his nother, in Baden, Germany, June 10, 1850. Peter Swint was reared in his native country to the age of seventeen, icquired a common school education there and learned the rade of painter and decorator. On coming to America he ocated at Catskill, New York, where he followed his trade. His wife came to the United States at the age of twenty- and after their marriage they lived for several years at Catskill and then removed to Randolph County, West Vir- ginia, locating on a farm, though Peter Swint continued to follow his trade to some extent. He cleared bis land, thus improving a good farm. His wife died in 1919. All their nine children are still living.

Father J. J. Swint had the farm as his early environment. He attended the local schools, and with the encouragement of his parents started preparation for the priesthood at the age of fourteen, when he entered college, pursuing his elassi- cal course for six years and then spent five years in a theological seminary and had one year of post-graduate study. After being ordained a priest Father Swint was for three years in charge at Hinton, West Virginia. He then performed the arduous responsibilities of looking after a group of mission churches for seven years, with head- quarters at Parkersburg. From Parkersburg he came to Weston in 1914, and has been the spiritual and administra- tive head of the Catholics of Lewis County while they have constructed their new church and other buildings. He now has 150 families in his parish. Father Swint is a member of the Knights of Columbus. On the 22d of February, 1922, he received appointment as Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Wheeling, West Virginia.

JOSEPH FLOYD BURDETTE, has had a career marked by exceptional enterprise. In earlier years he was a timber and coal operator in some of the eastern counties. His home for over twenty years has been in Mason County, where farming, livestock and fruit culture on a commercial scale have occupied his attention. His main orchards as a fruit grower are across the river in Ohio, but his home and his general farming operations are at his country place two miles north of Point Pleasant.

He is of French ancestry, though the first of the name came to this country as long ago as 1740. Joseph Floyd

Burdette was born in Putnam County, West Virginia, December 30, 1861. His grandfather Archibald Burdette, was born in 1798, and died in Putnam County in 1860. He had lived at various times in the Kanawha Valley, and was also a resident of Mercer County, but moved to Putnam County during the '50s. Archibald Burdette was a son of William and Sarah (Cornwell) Burdette. Sarah Corn- well was a daughter of Edward Cornwell, who served as a soldier of the Revolution. Archibald Burdette married Rhoda Shumate, who was born in 1797, and died in 1845. Her father Lieut. Daniel Shumate, was a native of Fauquier County, Virginia, and was in the Virginia Militia during the Revolution. He moved to Monroe County, West Virginia, where he died in 1826.

The father of Joseph F. Burdette was Lewis Burdette, who was born in Mercer County, West Virginia, in 1837, and married in Putnam County, Catherine J. Hill, a native of Monroe County, West Virginia, who came to Putnam County with her parents. Lewis Burdette spent his active life as a farmer in Putnam County, near Hurricane, and died in 1905. His widow, now in her eighty-second year, is still living at the old homestead. They had four child- ren : Joseph F .; George L., a fruit grower in Mason County ; Virginia Belle, wife of C. W. Cottle, of Putnam County, and Napoleon B., who died at the age of eighteen.

Joseph F. Burdette married in Putnam County, Vatura A. Mynes, who grew up in the same community with him. After his marriage Mr. Burdette engaged in the coal and timber business in Fayette County. He operated saw mills that cut the logs from over 15,000 acres. When he sold out his timber interests he bought coal land and leased a mine, and for four years had a production averaging four hundred tons per day, with 125 men employed. Both these operations were very profitable, and after selling out Mr. Burdette in 1901 came to Mason County and bought 800 acres bordering the Baltimore and Ohio Railway for three quarters of a mile and extending back into the hills. About 200 acres comprised rich bottom land, well suited for general farming, while the rest was pasture land and was sold two years ago to J. O. Shinn. On his farm Mr. Burdette was a Hereford cattle breeder for about nine years. The fine home in which he formerly lived on the farm is now on the property of Mr. Shinn, and he has since constructed a large brick residence at his present home place two miles north of Point Pleasant.

A variety of business enterprises have occupied his time. For about ten years he was manager of the Kanawha Dock at Point Pleasant. During the past ten years he has owned and developed a 175 acre orchard in Gallia County, Ohio, a few miles from Gallipolis. This is a commercial orchard, chiefly apples, with some peaches and plums. His splendid variety of apples are the Rome Beauty, Grimes, Jonathan, Stayman Winesap, Gano and Ben Davis. This fruit orchard has proved a satisfactory venture, and has taken much of Mr. Burdette's personal attention.

Mr. Burdette is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias, and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. He and his wife have two children, Pearl T. and Gertrude. Pearl, who is connected with the National Contracting Company, build- ing river improvements under the Government, married Carrie Connor, and has three children, Jack Connor, Joseph Floyd, Jr., and Alice Reynolds. The daughter Gertrude, now at home, graduated from Marshall College at Hunting- ton with the class of 1911.

EVERETT F. MILLARD. During a long and active career Everett F. Millard, sole owner of the Millard Sand Works of Berkeley Springs, has worked his own way to a position of prosperity and importance among his fellow men, by whom he is known as a citizen of public spirit and enterprise and a man who has proven his worth and loyalty as a friend. It has been his fortune to have chosen a field of endeavor for which his abilities eminently equipped him, and in the working out of his success he has never found it necessary to take advantage of another or to step from the straight path of legitimate dealing.

Mr. Millard was born on a farm adjoining the Harris-

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burg and Middletown Turnpike, four miles from the state capital, a son of Michael Millard, who was born in York County, Pennsylvania, in 1832, and a grandson of a native of England, who immigrated to the United States and settled in York County, where he married a lady of Pennsylvania-Dutch birth. The grandparents passed the rest of their days in York County, where they were well- known and very highly respected. Michael Millard after obtaining an ordinary educational training served an apprenticeship to the blacksmith trade, to which vocation he devoted his activities for a time after he acquired its mastery. Later he went to Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, where he was employed in a limestone quarry for a time, and at the breaking out of the war between the states volunteered for service in the Union army, but was rejected by the examin- ing physician. The Government, however, accepted his ser- vices as a blacksmith, and for the greater part of the war he was employed in shoeing horses at Washington, D. C. Following the close of the struggle he leased a limestone quarry at the Half Way Honse, four miles east of Harris- burg, and operated it several years, after which he moved to Steelton, Pennsylvania, where he lived in retirement until his death in his eighty-second year. He married Martha Orth, who was born in Germany and was but four years of age when she was brought to the United States by her parents, who settled in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, and there spent the remainder of their days. Mrs. Millard died at the age of fifty-three years, having reared a family of five children: Jacob F., a resident of Lebanon, Pennsyl- vania; Everett F., of this notice; Charles and Michael, who are deceased; and Martha, who is the wife of Frank Davies and lives at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

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History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 3, Part 201

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