History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 3, Part 21

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SAMUEL BOARDMAN BROWN. Distinguished as author, ducator and scientist, Samuel Boardman Brown, A. M., ho is a member of the faculty of the University of West irginia and known to scientists the country over, for venty-nine years haa filled the chair of geology in this reat institution of learning. To the scientific knowledge od researches of Professor Brown the university owes its riceless collection of fossils and minerals, that under his asterly arrangement and classification reveal without ords the whole geological history of West Virginia.

Samuel Boardman Brown was born March 5, 1860, in reston County, West Virginia, with which section of coun- y his people have been identified for generations. His arents were Granville and Elizabeth (Watson) Brown. This branch of the Brown family was founded in merica by one William Brown. In 1726 William Brown ceived from Lord Fairfax a grant of 312 acres of land ear Dumfries, Prince William County, Virginia, which nd, situated six miles from Manassas, remained in the ossession of his descendants until 1825, almost 100 years. is eldest son, William Brown (2), in 1756 married Eliza- eth Buckner, and to that union were born four children, le of whom bore the name of Thomas.

Thomas Brown, son of William and Elizabeth (Buckner) rown, was born in Prince William County, Virginia, Sep- mber 7, 1760. He served as a soldier in the Revolution- y war, and in recognition of his services drew a pen- on after 1832 during the rest of his life. In 1785 he arried Anna Ash, and in 1805 be purchased a large tract land, comprising 578 acres, situated near Kingwood in reston County, Virginia. He was survived by children. Samuel Byrne Brown, son of Thomas and Anna (Ash) rown, was born in Prince William County, Virginia, in 793. He served as a soldier in the War of 1812. In 1820 married Permelia Zinn, and they reared a family of chil- en, one son bearing the name of Granville. Samuel B. rown spent the rest of his life in Preston and Monongalia unties, mainly following agricultural pursuits.

Granville Brown, son of Samuel Byrne and Permelia (Zinn) rown, was born near what is now Gladesville, Preston ounty, January 6, 1832, had educational privileges and ter taught school. When the war between the states came i he volunteered for service in the Union Army, and was mmissioned first lieutenant of a company in the Four- enth West Virginia Infantry, later transferred to the ourth West Virginia Cavalry, and was mustered out in 65 from the Seventeenth West Virginia Infantry. He id two brothers, William and Lycurgus, who also served ith the West Virginia troops, and a cousin, Bailey Brown, as the first Virginia soldier to give up his life in defense : the Union, being killed in action at Fetterman, near rafton, May 22, 1861, on the day preceding the settle- ent of the question of the secession of West Virginia. ranville Brown married Elizabeth Watson.

Samuel Boardman Brown spent his early yeara on his ther'a farm in Preston County, and attended the neighbor- od schools, later had other educational advantages in

preparation for college and then entered the West Virginia University, from which he was graduated with the degree of A. B. in 1883. In the same year he took courses in natural history at Washington, D. C., and in Harvard Col- lege, coming under the instruction of such competent men as Professors Shaler and Davis. For two years afterward Professor Brown conducted a private school at Martinsburg, West Virginia, in which he taught mathematics and lan- guages, and he recalls with some pride the fact that one of his pupils was Hon. Newton Baker, who afterward became a man of national importance as Secretary of War.

In 1885 Mr. Brown was elected principal of the Glen- ville (West Virginia) Normal School, where he continued until 1890 when he resigned in order to accept a still more congenial position as assistant professor of geology in the University of West Virginia, in 1892 taking his present chair as a member of the faculty. Before that time and ever since he had given much time to geological research, making geology his specialty among the sciences, with all of which he is more or less familiar, and he has a large amount of literary output on this subject to his credit. He has written numerous papers and scientific pamphlets in relation to the geology of West Virginia, and wrote that portion pertaining to the minerals and productions of the book entitled "West Virginia's Agricultural Resources and Possibilities," published under the authority of the West Virginia State Board of Agriculture for distribution at the Jamestown Centennial. Professor Brown is the author also of a text book on geography that is in use throughout the state. He is a valued member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and probably would find himself with little leisure remaining if he responded to every urgent request for scientific papers or addresses.

On June 17, 1890, Professor Brown married Miss Luella Butcher, who is a member of an old Virginia family of note and military prominence. She is a daughter of James Evan Butcher, and a granddaughter of John Anderson Butcher, who served in defense of Norfolk, Virginia, in the War of 1812. He was a member of Captain Davidson's company, to which Samuel Byrne Brown also belonged. The family belongs to the Episcopal Church. Professor Brown owns valuable city property at Morgantown and is a director in the Second National Bank.

OLIVER A. FLESHER is one of the prominent young business men of Harrisville, Ritchie County, a druggist, a graduate pharmacist, and member of an old family of West Virginia.

He was born on a farm near Hebron in Pleasants County September 23, 1883, son of William H. and Mary J. (William- son) Flesher, the former a native of Lewis County and the latter of Pleasants County. William H. Flesher when a boy moved to Tyler County, acquired a common school education there, and after his marriage settled on a farm in Pleasants County. When he sold the farm he moved to Pennsboro, was in the livery business and remained there until his death. He and his wife were active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he was affiliated with the Masonic Order and was a republican. Of the twelve children of the family aix are living: Eli, of Pennsboro; Louisa, wife of N. A. Steele, of Clarksburg; John W., of Parkersburg; G. S., of Cairo; Oliver A .; and Alice, wife of Ferdinand Wery, of Clarksburg.

Oliver A. Flesher spent the first eight years of his life on the farm, and he acquired his early education in the schoola of Pennsboro and Cairo. He is a graduate pharmacist from the University of Pittsburgh, and he followed his profession as a prescription clerk for various establishments until 1909. In that year he bought his present drug business at Harris- ville, and as a pharmacist he is one of the most skillful repre- sentatives of his profession in Ritchie County. He is a good business man and owns a large store building and well equipped establishment.

February 7, 1917, Mr. Flesher married Orpha Adams, of Harrisville. They are members of the Baptist Church, and he is one of the trustees. Mr. Flesher is a past master of Harrisville Lodge No. 98, A. F. and A. M., and is a member of Odell S. Long Chapter No. 25, R. A. M. In politics he ia a republican.

HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA

CALVIN F. BROWN, who is giving a very efficient adminis- tration in the office of postmaster of the City of Harrisville, judicial center of Ritchie County, was born on his father's farm on Hughes River, one and one-half miles east of Harris- ville, and the date of his nativity was June 5, 1873. He is a son of John M. and Eliza (Collins) Brown, the former of whom was born in Lewis County, this state, in 1840, and the latter of whom was born in Indiana. The father was reared on a farm in his native county, where his early education was obtained in subscription schools, and he was a gallant young soldier of the Union in the Civil war, in which he served three years, as a member of Company M, Sixth West Virginia Volunteer Infantry. He received an injury which partially disabled him the remainder of his life. After the close of the war John M. Brown married and settled on a farm, but he also continued to follow his trade, that of miller, during the remainder of his long, useful and worthy life. He was a staunch republican, served two terms as assessor of Ritchie County, was affiliated with the Grand Army of the Republic and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and both he and his wife were consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Of the three children Iona, now deceased, became the wife of John M. Wagoner; May is the widow of John L. Harris; and Calvin F., of this sketch, is the only son.

Reared on the home farm and afforded the advantages of the public schools, Calvin F. Brown early learned the miller's trade under the direction of his father. In addition to follow- ing this trade he has been employed in the oil fields of West Virginia, first as a tool-dresser and later as a driller of wells. He served four years as deputy sheriff of his native county, under Sheriff John Hulderman, wh se daughter Laura he wedded on the 16th of April, 1904. His service as postmaster of Harrisville has been marked by a fine stewardship and a desire to give to the local public the best possible service. Mr. Brown is a republican of inflexible loyalty, i, a past master of Harrisville Lodge No. 98, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, besides being affiliated with Odell S. Long Chapter No. 59, Royal Arch Masons, and with the local camp of the Woodman of the World. His wife is a member of the Meth- odist Protestant Church. Mr. Brown is the owner of a valu- able tract of sixty-two and one-half acres of land, lying partly in the corporation limits of Harrisville. Mr. and Mrs. Brown have three children: John H., Mary E. and Lester C.

JOSEPH N. SHARPNACK, the efficient and popular county clerk of Ritchie County, was born in Wirt County, this state, on the 12th of August, 1868, and is a son of William H. and Catherine C. (Smith) Sharpnack, the former born in Wetzel County, this state, (then Virginia), April 15, 1842, and the latter in Venango County, Pennsylvania, in 1844. She was a child when her father, Sinclair Smith, came with his family to Wirt County, West Virginia, where she was reared and educated and where her marriage was solemnized. William H. Sharpnack represented West Virginia as a valiant young soldier of the Union in the Civil war, he having continued with his regiment until the close of the war and having then returned to West Virginia, where he gave many years of effective service as a teacher in the public schools, his peda- gogic activities having continued until his death in 1912, and his wife having previously passed away in 1906. Both were earnest members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Sharpnack was a stalwart republican, and he served a number of years as postmaster at Freeport, Wirt County. He was actively affiliated with the Grand Army of the Republic. Of the two children of the family Joseph N., of this review, is the elder, and Minnie C. is the wife of R. C. Marshall, of Cairo, Ritchie County.

Joseph N. Sharpnack received the advantages of the public schools, and thereafter he worked in a store in his native county. In 1897 he took a position as clerk in a general store at Cairo, Ritchie County, and later he served as cashier of the Bank of Cairo. In 1910 he removed to Harrisville, the county seat, and initiated his service as deputy county clerk, of which position he continued the incumbent until 1914, when he was elected county clerk, an office in which he has since continued his careful and effective service, he having been re-elected in November, 1920. He has purchased an attractive residence property since removing to Harrisville, and the same constitutes the family home. He is a republican n politics, is affiliated with the Blue Lodge and Chapter of

the Masonic fraternity at Pennsboro, this county, and h wife is an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church

In 1904 Mr. Sharpnack wedded Miss Mabel C. Mitchel of New Matamoras, Ohio, a daughter of Joseph and Mary I (Schwartz) Mitchell. Her father was an ex-soldier of 8 Ohio regiment during the Civil war, and was prominent in th politics of Washington County. He died in 1907. The moth of Mrs. Sharpnack still survives, her residence being in Ne Matamoras. Mrs. Sharpnack is a popular figure in the repr sentative social activities of Harrisville.

SYLVESTER O. PRUNTY has made in his profession a recol that marks him as one of the representative members of th bar of Ritchie County, where he is established in active ger eral practice at Harrisville, the county seat. He was born c a farm in this county, July 17, 1878, and is a son of Marsha N. and Flora (Lawson) Prunty, both likewise natives of th county, with whose civic and material development an progress the respective family names have been long an prominently identified. The parents received the advantage of the common schools, and the mother attended also th State Normal School at Fairmont. Marshall N. Prunty wa for many years engaged in successful farm enterprise nes Oxford, this county, and he and his wife now reside in th village of Pullman, likewise in Ritchie County. He is democrat, and he and his wife hold membership in the Meth odist Episcopal Church. Of the eight children all but one ar living: F. O. is a contractor and also engaged in the oil an general production business at Blackville, Oklahoma; Anna the wife of John Long, a locomotive engineer, and they resid at Fairmont, West Virginia; Jessie is the wife of H. B. Lowther a civil engineer, and they reside at Salem, this state; May the wife of Everett Nay, of Pullman, Ritchie County; Ray mond is a farmer in this county; Marshall E. is a minin engineer at Fairmont; and the subject of this sketch is th oldest of the number.

Sylvester O. Prunty passed his childhood and earlier yout on the home farm and in the meanwhile profited fully b. the advantages of the public schools of his native county Later he graduated from the Regent School, White Plains New York, and in preparation for his chosen profession h completed a course in the law department of the Ohi Northern University, in which he was graduated with th degree of Bachelor of Laws. After his admission to the ba he was engaged in practice in the village of Cairo, Ritchi County, four years, and he then, in 1911, transferred his resi dence and professional headquarters to Harrisville, the count: seat, where he has since built up a large and representativ law business. He served two terms as mayor of Cairo, and for three terms was mayor of Harrisville, his administration in this city having been signally progressive and effective He is a leader in the local councils and campaigns activitie of the republican party in Ritchie County, and is now a mem ber of the Board of Education of Harrisville. He is affiliated with the Masonic fraternity and the Independent Order o Odd Fellows. Mr. Prunty is a director of the People's Banl at Harrisville, is a stockholder in the First National Bank o this city, and he is a stockholder also in each of the follow ing named corporations: Kansas & Gulf Oil Company Central Mexican Oil Company, Imperial Ice Company a Parkersburg, the National Woolen Mills in that city and other corporations. He has real estate holdings not only a Harrisville but also in the City of Washington, D. C.

HARRY SANDERS, senior member of the representative real estate and insurance firm of Sanders & Miller, in the City of Morgantown, Monongalia County, was born at Maids- ville, this county, and is a representative of old and hon- ored families of the county, the Sanders, Millers and Houstons. John Sanders was the founder of the family in Monongalia County, where he purchased land and established a homestead at Maidsville, Cass District, on the Monongahela

River, about five miles below Morgantown. He here made settlement about the opening of the nineteenth century. He was born in the State of Delaware, and represented that commonwealth as a patriot soldier in the war of the Revolu- tion. He enlisted in Captain McClement's company, Second Delaware Regiment, commanded by Col. Henry McNeil, and saw much of active field service in the great conflict for national independence. John Sanders became one of the

Harry Sanders

HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA

rominent and influential citizens of what is now Mononga- ia County, West Virginia, developed a fine farm property nd was prominent in community affairs of a public order, e having served as tax collector for a number of years. n 1823 he visited Richmond, the capital of the then great omain of Virginia, on official business, and then returned o Delaware to attend to some personal business, his death aving there occurred in that year, while he was at the ome of kinsfolk of his wife. In 1800 he married Esther Griffin, daughter of Samuel and Mary Griffin, she having een born in Kent County, Delaware, February 2, 1781, and aving died at the old Sanders homestead at Maidsville anuary 2, 1815. Her father, Samuel (III) was of the hird generation in direct descent from Samuel (I), who ame to America, probably in the latter part of the seven- eenth century, and settled in Delaware, where his death occurred in 1759.

John Sanders (II), son of John and Esther (Griffin) Sanders, was born on the old homestead farm at Maids- ille, in 1805, and there his death occurred in 1872. His irst wife, Elizabeth, was a daughter of Purnell and Mary 'Tumbleston) Houston. Purnell Houston was born in Somerset County, Maryland, February 1, 1755, and was a routhful soldier in the war of the Revolution. In 1790 he ame to what is now Monongalia County, West Virginia, ind settled on a pioneer farm near Pentress, where his leath occurred March 3, 1835, his wife having passed away January 1, 1830. Elizabeth (Houston) Sanders was born February 23, 1802, and remained in the old homestead at Maidsville until her death. John Sanders (II) later married Sarah Hunt, and she likewise died at Maidsville.

James Sanders, son of John and Elizabeth (Houston) Sanders, was born on the ancestral homestead at Maids- ville, December 2, 1832, and there his death occurred Febru- ary 19, 1917. In his youth he learned the tanner's trade, and for more than twenty-five years he owned and operated tannery at Maidsville, besides which he was for a number of years engaged also in the timber business. He served as president of the Board of Education of Cass District, was a staunch democrat and he and his wife were earnest mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He married Sarah Jane Miller, who was born July 26, 1839, and whose death occurred November 29, 1916. She was a daughter of Amherst and Sarah (Lock) Miller. Amherst Miller was born in 1805, a son of James and Sarah (Messenger) Miller and a descendant of William Miller, who came from England and settled at Northampton, Massachusetts, where he passed the remainder of his life. The Sanders, Millers, Locks and Houstons were all represented by patriot soldiers of the Continental Line in the war of the Revolution.

Harry Sanders, son of James and Sarah Jane (Miller) Sanders, was born at Maidsville April 16, 1876. He re- ceived the advantages of the public schools of his native county and early began to assist in the work of his father's farm and tannery. He thus continued until he was nine- teen years of age, and thereafter he was for two and one- half years a student in the University of West Virginia. He left this institution in 1900 and engaged in the real estate and insurance business at Morgantown, where later he formed a partnership with Charles E. Miller, the firm of Sanders & Miller having since maintained recognized leadership in the real estate and insurance business in the city and county. The members of this progressive firm organized the Morgantown Security and Development Com- pany, and of the same Mr. Sanders is the president.

Mr. Sanders is an active member of the Morgantown Chamber of Commerce, and is a trustee of Athens Lodge No. 36, Knights of Pythias, in which he has passed the various official chairs. He is a zealous member of the First Methodist Episcopal Church at Morgantown, and is a member of its official board.

December 25, 1901, recorded the marriage of Mr. Sanders and Miss Mildred Lenora Hewitt, daughter of Abram S. and Mary (Crago) Hewitt, of Maidsville, and of the three children of this union the names and respective birth-dates are here entered: Sarah Frances, September 16, 1902; John Vernon, June 22, 1904; and William Albert, February 10, 1912.

THOMAS GOOCH TICKLE, M. D., is one of the able and representative physicians and surgeons of the younger generation in McDowell County, with residence and pro- fessional headquarters at Lick Branch, where he is official physician and surgeon for the Pocahontas Fuel Company. Further distinction is his by reason of the loyal service which he gave in the great World war.

Doctor Tickle was born at Bluefield, Mercer County, West Virginia, January 29, 1891, and is a son of Stephen and Mary (Gooch) Tickle, he having been two years old at the time of his father's death. Stephen Tickle was a native of West Virginia, as is also his widow, and he became one of the leading merchants and influential citizens of Bluefield, in which city he continued to reside until his death. He was affiliated with the Masonic fraternity and was a zealous member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, as is his widow. Doctor Tickle is of Scotch and English lineage and is a representative of families founded in Virginia in the Colonial period of our national history.

In 1910 Doctor Tickle graduated in the high school in his native city, and thereafter he completed a two years' academic course in the University of West Virginia. He then entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Baltimore, Maryland, and in this institution he was gradu- ated in 1916, with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. For six months thereafter he served as an interne in St. Luke's Hospital at Bluefield, West Virginia, and he then returned to Baltimore, where for six months he held the position of assistant superintendent of the Gundry Sanitarium. The ensuing eighteen months found him engaged in general practice at Keystone, West Virginia, where he served also as physician and surgeon for the Keystone Coal & Coke Company. When the nation became involved in the World war Doctor Tickle subordinated all personal interests to the call of patriotism and on the 18th of August, 1917, en- listed and was sent to Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia, where he remained six weeks and where he gained commission as first lieutenant in the medical corps. Thereafter he passed about six months at Camp Wadsworth, South Carolina, and in June, 1918, he arrived with his command at Brest, France. He went to the front as a member of the First Army Corps of the American Expeditionary Forces, and as surgeon with the Fifty-third Pioneer Infantry took part in the historic St. Mihiel and Argonne campaigns, his command having been constantly on the move and having endured the maximum tension of the great conflict. After the signing of the armistice Doctor Tickle was transferred to the Goundie Court Replacement depot, and about three weeks later became a surgeon at the camp at Tours, where, on the 22d of February, 1919, he received his commission as captain. About four months later he was sent to Marseilles, and August 18th of that year he arrived in the port of New York City. He received his honorable discharge at Camp Lee, September 4, 1919. After his return to Bluefield, West Virginia, he went to Bramwell, this state, where he remained five months, as assistant to Doctor Tanner, physician for the Pocahontas Fuel Company, Booth-Bowen Coal & Coke Company and the Buckeye Coal & Coke Company. From Bramwell Doctor Tickle removed to Lick Branch, where he has since been physician and surgeon for the Pocahontas Fuel Company, with a well equipped office and operating room, besides a dispensary. His hospital patients are sent to State Hospital No. 1 at Welch, St. Luke's Hospital or the sanitarium at Bluefield, in consonance with their wishes.

Doctor Tickle is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, has become a member of the Mercer County Medical Society and the West Virginia State Medical So- ciety, is affiliated with the Phi Sigma Kappa and the Kappa Psi college fraternities, and is an appreciative member of the American Legion.

RICHARD S. WHITEHEAD is superintendent for the Poca- hontas Fuel Company in mining operations in McDowell County at Lick Branch station on the Norfolk & Western Railroad, the postoffice being Switchback.

Mr. Whitehead was horn in Nelson County, Virginia, April 29, 1877, and is a son of Kincaid and Frances Ann

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History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 3, Part 21

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