History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 3, Part 213

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character. He was one of the founders of the Broad Run Baptist Church in 1804, and survived until 1849, dying in his eighty-second year.

Three children were born to Thomas Marion Smith and his wife: Edward Grandison, Harvey Faris and Ella Earle. During his active years he was a farmer, grazer and miller, but he and wife now live retired at West Milford, where they are well known and highly esteemed. Mr. Smith has reached his seventy-sixth year and Mrs. Smith has passed her seventy-first birthday.

Edward Grandison Smith was reared on his father's farn and attended the public schools of West Milford. Later he spent four years in the University of West Virginia and from that institution received his degree of LL.B., in 1889, and in 1892 the same degree from the Washington & Lee University, which institution he represented in the Southern Intercollegiate Contest in oratory, in 1892 at Vanderbilt University, winning the medal. Admitted to the bar in the above year, Mr. Smith entered into practice at Clarksburg, and has won high honors at the bar, during his long period of practice taking part in some of the most important cases of litigation coming before the Harrison County bar.

In October, 1899, Mr. Smith was married to Miss Jessie Blackshere, who is a daughter of John Blackshere, of Mannington, West Virginia, and they have two children, a son and daughter: John B. (Jack) and Gill.

Mr. Smith belongs to the Masonic fraternity. In his political preference he is a democrat. In 1912 he was put forward as his party's choice for the office of judge of the Supreme Court of Appeals, but otherwise has not con- sented to the use of his name in connection with public office. He is one of Clarksburg's representative citizens, honored in his profession and respected as a private citizen.

WALTER FRENCH BOGGESS who has practiced law at Ripley for fourteen years, is former prosecuting attorney of Jack- son County and is one of the prominent citizens as well as leading lawyers in that section of the State.

The name Boggess is of English origin. People of that name were early settlers in Old Virginia. Mr. Boggess' grandfather, George Boggess, was born in 1837 and was a Confederate soldier in the Civil war, participating in Gettys- burg and other engagements. He was a farmer in Jackson County, West Virginia, for many years and died there in 1917. His wife Martha Smith died at their home near Meadowdale in 1914. Perry A. Boggess, father of the Rip- ley lawyer, was born in Jackson County in 1857, and is still living on his farm near Millwood in Jackson County. In former years he conducted farming on an extensive scale, but has now limited his activities commensurate with his ad- vancing years. He is a republican. Perry A. Boggess married Ida Hartley who was born near Liverpool, Jackson County in 1852. Their family consists of three children: Ona, wife of Otho C. Williams, a teacher and farmer living at Millwood; Walter F .; Rubie, wife of Frank Spicer, a farmer and assistant county assessor of Jackson County, living at Leroy.

Walter French Boggess was horn near Liverpool in Jack- son County, March 25, 1886. While a farm boy he showed a strong inclination for study and partly through his own efforts and earnings acquired a liberal education. He at- tended rural schools and at the age of seventeen began teaching and made a commendable record during the five years he was connected with the rural school work of Jack- son County. In the meantime he attended Marshall College at Huntington one year, spent one year in the Preparatory School of West Virginia University, and in June, 1908, graduated from the University Law School at Morgan- town.

Mr. Boggess was admitted to the bar June 3, 1908, and in the same year began practice at Ripley. He is an able attorney in both the civil and criminal branches of his pro- fession. His law offices are in the Starcher Hardware Build- ing on Main Street.

Mr. Boggess is one of the leading republicans of Jackson County. He was secretary of the County Committee from 1912 to 1916. He was elected prosecuting attorney in No- vember, 1916, and held that office from January 1, 1917, to

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January 1, 1921. Since retiring from office he has been chairman of the Republican Committee of the county. Mr. Boggess is a Past Grand of Ripley Lodge No. 30 Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, is a member of Ripley Camp Modern Woodmen of America. During the World war he was Government Appeal Agent for Jackson County, and through his profession and as a private citizen exerted him- self to the extent of his needs and abilities in securing the successful outcome of every local campaign.

September 26, 1906, at Duncan in Jackson County he married Miss Lillian Ice. Her parents Rev. David M. and Amy (Sturn) Ice live on their farm at Buffalo in Putnam County. Her father is a farmer, a teacher and a minister of the Christian Church. Mr. and Mrs. Boggess have two daughters, Marie, born March 25, 1908, and Pearl, born March 25, 1909.

FRANK ENSLOW. The name Enslow has been prominent- ly associated with the upbuilding of the city of Hunting- ton practically from the beginning. The late Frank B. Enslow was one of Huntington's well known bankers, and coal, oil and gas operators. His son Frank Enslow is a lawyer by profession, but his largest interests are as a coal operator.

The late Frank B. Enslow was born at Wheelersburg, Ohio, son of Andrew Jackson Enslow who was born near Richmond, Virginia, and settled at Huntington about 1871. He was a railroad contractor and helped build the Chesa- peake & Ohio Railroad. His last days were spent in Cali- fornia. Frank B. Enslow grew up in Huntington, where he married and where early in life he entered the profession of the law. His extensive interests brought him many busi- ness interests. He built the gas lines from Macon Connty, West Virginia, to Cincinnati and owned extensive produc- tions of oil and gas. He helped organize and was president of the Huntington National Bank for a number of years. Frank B. Enslow who died at Huntington in 1917 was a leader in the democratic party though never as an office seeker, was a vestryman of the Episcopal Church and at all times had the welfare of his community completely at heart. He married Mrs. Julia (Garland) Buffington, who was born in Richmond County, Virginia, and died at Huntington in 1897. Their only child is Frank Enslow who was born at Huntington September 24, 1882. Her first husband was Dr. John Buffington, a prominent physician and surgeon, and by that union one child survives, Florence Buffington, whose first husband was the late Will Stanton, a Charles- ton business man, and she is now the wife of Rev. R. H. Merrill, a Presbyterian minister at Charleston. Frank B. Enslow's second wife was Mrs. Juliette (Buffington) Bald- win, still living at Huntington and the mother of a daughter, Dorothy Enslow.

Frank Enslow was educated in the public schools of Huntington, spent two years in Marshall College and two years in the University of West Virginia at Morgantown. He graduated LL.B. in 1902 and is a member of the Sigma Chi college fraternity and the Delta Chi legal fraternity. In 1902 on graduating he entered his father's law office and was admitted to the bar in 1903 upon attaining his major- ity. He remained with his father for six years, and for three years was a member of the law firm of Simms, Enslow & Staker. In later years he has used his profession as an adjunct to his own business affairs. Mr. Enslow is presi- dent of the Twin States Fuel Company of Huntington, and is a partner in the firm of Cunningham, Miller & Enslow, owners of extensive and valuable coal properties in the Cabell Creek distriet and the Logan district of West Vir- ginia. Mr. Enslow is also affiliated with many subsidiary companies and does a large business in real estate. His offices are in the First National Bank Building of Hunting- ton.

During the World war he was a member of the committees for the sale of Liberty Bonds, was chairman of the Red Cross drives in the city and county. He is a democrat, a member of Huntington Lodge No. 313, B. P. O. E., the Guyan Country Club, and Guyandotte Club.

In 1909 at Huntingtou he married Miss Mary Winters, daughter of E. E. and Gabriella Winters, residents of

Huntington. Her father is chief railroad inspector for the Public Service Commission of West Virginia. Mrs. Enslow is a graduate of the Huntington High School. They have one child, Frank, born July 2, 1910.

ROBERT TAYLOR BAIR. One of the most prominent of the building agencies in the development of the city of Beckley has been the firm of Bair Brothers, Inc., dealers in lumber, building material and kindred supplies, owners of the Bair Building and agents for Ford, Buick and Lincoln automobiles and Republic trucks. The secretary and treasurer of this concern is Robert Taylor Bair, who has been a resident of this city since 1899 and whose rise in the business world has been truly typical of real American enterprise, industry and perseverance.

Mr. Bair was born on a farm near Washington Col- lege, Washington County, Tennessee, September 10, 1880. a son of George W. and Mary (Beard) Bair, and was named in honor of the famous Tennessee chief executive Governor Robert Taylor, whose family home was in the same community. George W. Bair was born in Floyd County Virginia, and followed farming until his death in 1887 at the age of forty-eight years, or when his son, Robert T., was only seven years of age. He was a democrat ir politics. Mrs. Bair was born in Washington County, Ten- nessee, and died in 1891, aged fifty-three years. Like her husband, she was a member of the Presbyterian Church They were the parents of eight children, of whom sever grew to maturity, and of these three now live at Beckley George W. and Robert T., of the firm of Bair Brothers and Mrs. J. C. Maples.

Robert Taylor Bair attended the public school at Wash ington College, and after the death of his parents lived at the home of his sister, Mrs. Maples, in the meantime being employed on the farm, in the timber and at sawmills at several points. Mr. Bair came to Beckley in 1899 with his brother Sydney. They had very little money to pay rail road fare, but this did not affect their case, as there was no railroad at that time over which to travel and they consequently made the journey afoot. Sydney Bair was the owner of a sawmill and Robert worked for him for about a year, following which he and his brother, George W., bought a worn-out mill that was regarded as useles: for the sum of $250, on credit. By making some ingenious changes they managed to get the old mill working and or making a little money bought a better structure and began. purchasing boundaries of timber, which they converted into lumber. Still later they established a planing mill and from that time to the present, their growth and devel opment has been consistent. They have furnished the lumber and other building material for many of the mine! in this district, used in building mine structures, tipples store buildings and miners' homes and also the building material utilized in the erection of many of the leading structures of Beckley and other towns in this territory They have prospered exceedingly and their prosperity i: well merited.

From 1907 to 1912 Robert T. Bair was superintenden- of the United Lumber Company, at Uniontown, Pennsyl vania, this company being owned by the Palmer Seamar interests. He has seen all the mines opened up in thi: locality, has witnessed the building of the railroads and has seen Beckley grow from a sparsely-settled hamle into a full-fledged city of importance in its part of the state. He has contributed materially to this development and the Bair Building, erected by him and his brother in 1921, is one of the substantial structures of the city He has been active in civic affairs and holds membershij in the Beckley Chamber of Commerce and the Beckley Kiwanis Club, and as a fraternalist is affiliated with the Blue Lodge and Chapter of Masonry.

In 1899 Mr. Bair was united in marriage with Mis Mabel Kent, daughter of S. H. Kent, of Beckley, and to this union there have been born two sons: Adolph who is attending Blacksburg Military Institute, is the

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eldest child; and Ruth, one of six daughters, is the second eldest and a student at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music.

JAMES JORDAN DOTSON, for ten years bas been editor and manager of the Nicholas Republican, one of the two newspapers published in Nicholas County and established in 1903. It is the official organ of the republican party in the county, but its editor and manager is not a politician. Mr. Dotson for a number of years has been a teacher, and the object of his highest ambition has been achievement in the field of educational affairs. He is credited with being one of the most active meu respon- sible for the building in Nicholas County of one of the finest school buildings and gymnasiums in the State. Through his personal effort and his newspaper he has been constant and untiring in his labors for the cause of educa- tion and better schools. For the past eight years he has served as a member of the school board of Richwood.

Mr. Dotson was born at Clendenin in Kanawha County, West Virginia, January 7, 1874, son of Jacob L. and Susan E. (Hart) Dotson. His parents were natives of West Virginia. His father served as a Union soldier in the Civil war, was a carpenter by trade, and died near Sum- mersville in Nicholas County in 1907. The widowed mother passed away at the home of her son James J., in Rich- wood, in 1921. These parents had ten children, five still living, James Jordan, being next to the youngest.

When he was about eight years of age his parents moved to the vicinity of Summersville in Nicholas County and there he grew up attending the common schools and in 1894 graduated from the Summersville Normal. He at once took up his career as a teacher, and for several years was active in school work in the vicinity of Summersville. From 1908 to 1912 he conducted a normal school for teachers near Summersville.

Mr. Dotson moved to Richwood in 1912, and became financially interested in the Nicholas News Company, pub- lishers of the Nicholas Republican, and has since become owner, editor and manager of the newspaper. He has a modern and thoroughly equipped newspaper and job print- ing establishment. Mr. Dotson also carries on a fire in- surance and real estate business.

In 1895 he married Ledona S. O'Dell, daughter of Jacob W. and Margaret O'Dell of a well known family near Summersville. Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Dotson, three sons and four daughters, all of them having been carefully educated and all are still in school except the oldest Zela, wife of James M. Dobbins, manager of the Nicholas Republican at Richwood. The second child Gertrude is a student in West Virginia University, is editor-in-chief of the Anthenaeum, the student publication, and was the first young woman honored with that position since the paper was established nearly a quarter of a century ago. The other children are: James Kyle, a student and assistant to his father in the newspaper office; Nola Susan and Boyd, both attending the Richwood High School; Leo and Willa Lee, pupils in the grammar school.

Mr. Dotson is an elder in the Richwood Presbyterian Church and superintendent of its Sunday school. He is prominent in Masonry, being affiliated with Richwood Lodge No. 122, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, Richwood Chapter Royal Arch Masons, Sutton Commandery No. 16, Knights Templar and is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Modern Woodmen of America.

FRANK C. HEATH, M. D. During the past twenty years Doctor Heath has had a busy professional career in West Virginia, has been established in several localities, was at one time a mine and railway surgeon, but since 1904 his practice and home has been in the city of Weston in Lewis County.

He was born May 4, 1868, at Laurel in Prince Georges County, Maryland, member of an old and distinguished family of that state. His parents were Col. S. P. and

Margaret (Smith) Heath. His grandfather S. P. Heath was a machinist, a man of great ingenuity, and was the originator of a loom for weaving cotton. Col. S. P. Heath was born in Prince Georges County, April 3, 1835, was a college graduate, and for many years was superintendent of a cotton factory at Guilford, Maryland. He was also employed for a time in the Navy Yards at Washington, and was superintendent of a cotton mill in Baltimore. He was affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and was a member of the Episcopal Church. His wife, who died in 1871, was born in Pennsylvania. She was of Holland-Dutch ancestry. Doctor Heath has one sister, Miss Carrie A., living in Baltimore.

Frank C. Heath spent his early youth at Guilford, Mary- land, attended public school there, and for several years lived at Washington where he graduated from Wood'e Commercial College June 5, 1894, and subsequently en- tered the Medical Department of Columbian now George Washington University, where he did three years of his medical preparatory work. He was graduated M. D., from the University of Maryland at Baltimore May 2, 1901. In the same month he was granted a license to practice by the Maryland Board of Medical Examiners. He was licensed by the West Virginia State Medical Board June 15th, and by the State Board of California July 22, 1901. His first practical duties as a physician were performed in association with Dr. E. H. Johnston at Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, during August-September, 1901. In Octo- ber and November, 1901, he practiced with Doctor West at Hancock, Maryland. In December, 1901, he located at Great Cacapon, West Virginia, where he remained a year and in 1902 moved to Blaine, this state. He acted as sur- geon for the West Virginia and Pittsburg Railroad, as min- ing physician for the Blaine Mining Company, the Smith mines at Blaine and the Dodson mines at Dodson.

September 5, 1904, Doctor Heath moved to Weston, where he has found most congenial associations in a civic and social way and also a profitable professional practice. He is a member of the County, State and American Medical associations.

Doctor Heath married Ama Bland Carper, daughter of Wirt D. Carper, and a granddaughter of the late John B. Brannon. Mrs. Heath was born in the same house where her mother was born and she and Doctor Heath now occupy that house as their home. She is a graduate of the Bishop Strachan School in Toronto, Canada. Doctor and Mrs. Heath have one son, Frank C. Jr., born August 30, 1913, in the same house as his mother and grandmother. He is now attending the public schools. Doctor Heath is affiliated with Weston Lodge No. 10, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, with the Modern Woodmen of America, the Royal Neighbors, and is independent in politics.

WILLIAM H. DOWER is general superintendent of the Proctor Eagle Coal Company at Robinette, the Proctor Coal Company at Amherstdale and the Maude Coal Company at Robinette, whose operations are all in the Buffalo valley of Logan County. These mines were opened during 1915- 16, and the executive officials of the operating and own- ing companies are A. J. Dalton, president; J. A. Kelley, vice president; and former Governor Hatfield, secretary and treasurer. Mr. Dower is one of the most competent mining officials in this district. He has been through all phases of mine work, and for a number of years has been an expert electrician in everything of that nature pertain- ing to mines.

Mr. Dower was born at Logan, Clearfield County, Penn- sylvania, March 11, 1877, son of William and Anna (Sey- monr) Dower. Her father was a native of Cornwall, Eng- land, came to the United States at the age of sixteen, after having had some experience in the mines of Wales, and for a time he lived in Nova Scotia, was then in the Iron Mine District of Lake Superior, in the Iron Mines of New York State, entered the Pennsylvania coal field at Wilkesbarre, and later at Logan and Clearfield County.

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His wife was born at Cardiff, Wales, and was seven years of age when her parents came to America. From Pennsyl- vania the Dower family moved to West Virginia in 1879, and William Dower Sr., was a pioneer in the coal develop- ment of this state, opening mines at Caperton for William Beury, the Gaymont Mine for the English Manufacturing Company and other operations as well. He died January 4, 1897 at the age of forty-nine. His widow is now living at Turkey Knob on Loup Creek, Fayette County, West Virginia, at the age of sixty-seven. Of their thirteen chil- dren, four sons and two daughters are living, and all the sons are practical coal men, Richard, being a resident of Turkey Knob, in Fayette County, John, mine foreman for the Cadle Ridge Coal Company in Fayette County, and Edward, at MeDonald on Loup Creek.

William H. Dower was two years old when the family came to West Virginia, and he acquired his education in the public schools of Fayette County. In 1898, he began the study of electrical engineering with the International Correspondence School, and since then has kept in constant touch with electrical and other technical problems pertain- ing to the mine engineer's profession. This advanced education came long after he had learned the practical start of mining. At the age of nine he was a trapper boy in the mines, later a mule driver and from one thing to another was promoted until at the age of eighteen he was a mine foreman under his father, then superintendent of a mining property. For a time he was the electrician in the J. L. Beury Mine in the New River field. His services as an expert in the electrical equipment of a mine have been given to a number of corporations including the Chapman Coal and Iron Company, the Goodman Manufac- turing Company of Chicago, manufacturers of mining machinery, and for a time he was in New Mexico and at Clarksville that state installed the mining machinery for some properties owned by Senator Clarke. For eight months he was electrician for the Chapman Coal and Iron Company at Elverton in Fayette County, later mine foreman for the same property, was electrician and superintendent for J. L. Beury at Elmo, and he installed a power plant for the Standard Splint and Gas Coal Company on Paint Creek, and installed a power plant for the Cherokee Coal Com- pany on Cabin Creek. He served as electrician for the Win- nefrede Coal Company at Winnefrede, chief electrician for the Imperial Colliery Company on Paint Creek, and as electrician for the Cabin Creek Consolidated Coal Company. From November, 1909 to September, 1910, he was assistant chief electrician for Westinghouse, Church Kerr Company at the Chesapeake and Ohio Shops in Huntington. From that time until 1914 he was assistant chief electrician at Kayford on Cabin Creek for the Cabin Creek Consolidated Coal Company.

Mr. Dower came to the Logan field for the Main Island Creek Coal Company as chief electrician, and was in their service for six years until he accepted his present duties. In the course of his wide experience he has witnessed and taken a technical part in the coal mine development and the railroad and transportation development of a number of the important West Virginia fields.

Mr. Dower in 1902 married Mattie White, daughter of Charles White of Hurricane, Putnam County. Their three children are: Edith, Thelma and William O. Mr. Dower is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.

JAMES H. HALL, sheriff of Gilmer County, is giving a vigorous and effective administration that is fully jus- tifying his election to this office, the holding of which implies his residence at Glenville, the county seat. He was born in Lewis Conuty, this state, January 29, 1873, and is a son of William H. and Mary E. (Erwin) Hall, both of whom likewise were born in Lewis County, where the mother passed her entire life and where the father still resides, at Weston, the county seat. Of the six children of William H. and Mary E. Hall, five are living:

James H., of this review; A. F., a farmer near Auburn, Ritchie County; M. R., a merchant at Hurst, Lewis County; Guy L., a resident of Ritchie County; and Cora S., wife of A. D. Dent, of Gilmer County. E. L., the fourth in order of birth, is deceased.

James H. Hall was reared on a farm in Lewis County, attended the schools of the locality and continued his association with the home farm of his father until the time of his marriage. He then settled on a farm which he rented, in Gilmer County, and later he purchased this property, to which he has since added until he is now the owner of a valuable farm estate of 285 acres. He gave his undivided attention to the management of his farm, as one of the progressive exponents of agricultural and live-stock industry in Gilmer County until he was elected sheriff of the county. He has the distinction of being the first republican to be elected to this office in the county, which has a normal democratic majority of somewhat more than 600 votes and which he carried by a majority of 182 votes. Sheriff Hall is a stockholder in the Glenville Bank & Trust Company, is a leader in the local councils of the republican party, is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and with Gilmer County Lodge, No. 118, Ancient Free and Accepted Ma- sons, and he and his wife hold membership in the United Brethren Church.

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History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 3, Part 213

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