History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 3, Part 27

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Charles B. Ott, the executive head of the illuminatin glassware department of the Eagle Manufacturing Con pany, was born in the City of Wheeling, and there he wa reared and educated. As a youth he became associate with his father's hardware business in that city, and late he was identified with a mercantile enterprise in the Cit of Omaha, Nebraska, where he remained until he came 1 Wellsburg, West Virginia, and became one of the stoel holders of the Eagle Manufacturing Company, of whic he has since continued as vice president. Mr. Ott is bachelor.

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HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA

JONATHAN CORBLEY POWELL, prosecuting attorney of Pleasants County. is now in his second term, and his record 8 a most interesting and unusual one. He was elected prosecuting attorney before he finished his law course in the State University, and early in his first term turned over the responsibilities of the office to his assistant and for practi- ally two years was in the uniform of an army officer, so that during more than half of his term he was prosecuting attorney n name only.

Mr. Powell was born in Pleasants County November 9, 1892, and evidently his range of experience for a man of thirty has been exceptional. His grandfather, Jonathan Powell, was born in England in 1831, and as a young man came to American and settled in Monongalia County, West Virginia. He was a farmer, timberman and steamboatman. In 1867 he bought land in Pleasants County, and two years later ocated on that land, near the mouth of Sugar Creek, making is home on this place until his death, which occurred May 24, 1917. He owned a large amount of land, carried on extensive operations as a farmer, and also did a large business s a timberman. He was a democrat and a member of the Methodist Protestant Church. Jonathan Powell married Minerva Summers at Little Falls in Monongalia County, where she was born in 1840 and died at the old homestead n Pleasants County in March, 1916. She was the mother of four children: Alice, wife of Theodore Birkhimer, a mer- hant at Cloverdale, Pleasants County; James B., a merchant ut Federal, West Virginia; Thomas B., a merchant at Parkers- burg; and George B., a farmer and merchant at Sugar Valley, West Virginia.

James B. Powell, father of Attorney Powell of St. Marys, was born in Monongalia County August 23, 1857, and is still iving at Federal, near the old homestead in Pleasants County. He acquired a common school education in Monon- galia and Pleasants counties, was married in the latter county, ind has followed farming. He owns a farm in Lafayette District, and is also a merchant there and a stockholder in he Pleasants County Bank of St. Marys. James B. Powell s a democrat, and is a trustee and active supporter of the Methodist Protestant Church. He married Miss Alice Tennie Lucas, who was born in Pleasanta County August 24, 1869. Two sons were born to their marriage. The older, Edmond Perry, died September 14, 1913, at the home farm it the age of twenty-six.

Jonathan Corbley Powell was reared on the farm of his ather, attended rural schools, completed a business course n a business college at Marietta, Ohio, in 1908, during 1909-10, was a student in the preparatory department of West Virginia University at Morgantown, and finished his iterary education in the Fairmont State Normal School in 1912. In 1913 he entered West Virginia University, law lepartment, graduating LL. B. with the class of 1917.

Mr. Powell was first honored with the office of prosecuting attorney of Pleasants County in November, 1916. He was naugurated January 1, 1917, and at once appointed an assis- ant to conduct the office until June 17, 1917, when, having graduated. he took personal charge. In the meantime America had entered the war with Germany, and, his appli- ation being accepted, he entered the Second Officers Training Camp at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana, August 24, 1917. He was in training there and was commissioned second ieutenant November 23, 1917, being ordered to report to he Eighty-fourth Division at Camp Taylor, Kentucky, and was assigned to Headquarters Company of the Three Hundred ind Thirty-sixth Infantry. April 22, 1918, he was trans- erred to Camp Gordon at Atlanta, being made an instructor n the Infantry Replacement Troops in the Manual of Courts Martial in the Smoke, Gas and Flame School, Second Divi- ion. June 17, 1918, Lieutenant Powell was transferred to Camp Hancock, Augusta, Georgia, school of machine gun ire, and on July 25, 1918, was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant and assigned as a company commander and in- structor in the Fourth Officers Training School in Machine Gun work at Camp Hancock. He also instructed in the branches of manual of court martial and in the machine gun work and in the gas, flame and smoke school and was instructor in hand grenades. His work at Camp Hancock was of a very arduous nature, and he was exceptionally gifted for the varied duties to which he was assigned.

Lieutenant Powell received his honorable discharge Feb- ruary 6, 1919, and at once returned to St. Marys and took over the duties of prosecuting attorney in person. November 3, 1920, he was re-elected for another term of four years, hia term running from January 1, 1921, to January 1, 1925. Mr. Powell is a republican, and a member of the County and State Bar Associations. He is a stockholder in the Archer Cord Tire & Rubber Company at Minneapolis. Among other real estate he owns at St. Marys is a handsome stucco residence, which he completed for his own family in 1921. Mr. Powell is present noble grand of St. Marys Lodge No. 22, Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

July 20, 1918, at Augusta, Georgia, he married Miss Lillian Grey Hackney, daughter of James M. and Martha J. (Grey) Hackney, of Morgantown, where her father is a contracting carpenter. Her father graduated A. B. from West Virginia University in 1892. Mrs. Powell is a graduate of the Morgantown High school and was in the junior class of West Virginia University when she was married. She had also taught three terms in the Morgantown public schools. Mr. and Mrs. Powell have two daughters, Rosemary, born April 27, 1919, and Margaret Grey, born October 13, 1921.

HIRAM HUTSON. There is scarcely a better known citizen of Doddridge County than Hiram Hutson, who has lived here all his life, has gained the confidence and respect of an increas- ing circle of frienda and associates, has been a teacher and farmer, and recently was re-elected without opposition to a second term as clerk of the County Court.

He was born on a farm in Doddridge County July 14, 1877, son of Jimison and Ellen (Law) Hutson, and a grandson of Winter and Sarah (Davis) Hutson. Both Jimison and Winter Hutson were natives of Harrison County and moved to Doddridge County when Jimison was two years old. Jimison Hutson was for over eighty years a resident of Doddridge County, a successful farmer, and died at the age of eighty- three years and eight months. He never had a physician attend him in illness until within three months of his death. He was a republican in politics and an attendant of the Methodist Church. His first wife, Ellen Law, was a native of Harrison County, daughter of William Law. She died at the age of fifty-five. The second wife of Jimison Hutson was Eleanor Stackpole. He was the father of eight children by his first marriage and two by the second.

Hiram Hutson had the environment of a farm during his youth and early manhood. After completing his education in the public schools and at Salem College he began teaching in 1895, and for upwards of twenty years his time was divided between teaching and the management of his own farm. He kept his residence on his farm until 1914, in which year he was elected for his first time as county clerk. He was in office six years, and in that time made such a record of efficiency that in 1920 he was reelected without having any opposition from the democratic party. Mr. Hutson is a local leader in the republican party of Doddridge County, a member of the Baptist Church and is affiliated with the Masonic Order and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

In 1898 he married Miss Virginia McDonald, a native of Taylor County, and a daughter of Nathan and Mary Mc- Donald.

WILLIAM J. MCELHINEY. While his early training as a banker was acquired at Baltimore, Mr. McElhiney's working interests in that field for the past decade have been in West Virginia. He is especially well known in Doddridge County, where he is cashier of the First National Bank of West Union.

Mr. McElhiney was born May 25, 1884, at St. Joseph, Missouri, son of William J. and Mary (Watkins) McElhiney. His father was born at Annapolis, Maryland, and his mother, near that city. For only a brief time his parenta lived in Western Missouri, and they then returned to their native state, so that William J. McElhiney, Jr., was reared at Balti- more. He finished his education in a Friends private school of that city, and after school went into the service of a Balti- more banking institution.

On coming to West Virginia Mr. McElhiney was connected with the firat National Bank of Fairmont until 1913, when he became and has since served as cashier of the First National Bank of West Union. He married in 1910 Miss Eliza Jones,

HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA

who was reared at Cincinnati. They have three children: William J. III, Richard Garrett and Thomas Watkins McElhiney.

WADE LINGER ia superintendent of school for Lewia County, a capable and progressive educator, and haa devoted his talenta with singular energy and fidelity to the great cause of education.

Mr. Linger was born in Lewis County April 24, 1886, son of Henry and Sarah E. (Smith) Linger. His father was born in Lewis County February 11, 1839, and his mother was born in the same county December 15, 1849. Both are now de- ceased. They had only the advantages of the local achools, and after their marriage located on a small farm and gave their lives to the routine of home and farm and the rearing and training of their children. Both were faithful members of the Methodist Protestant Church, and the father was a democrat. Of twelve children nine are still living, Philip L., David H. and Marion C., all farmers; Clara B., wife of W. B. Curtia; Mandeville, of Parkersburg, where he is a teacher in the public schools; Ida, wife of C. C. Sharp; Warren, a teacher in Wood County; Wade; and Preston, in the railway mail service on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad.

Wade Linger apent hia youth on the home farm and as one of a large household bore hia share of its duties in addition to making the best possible use of hia opportunities in the common schools. He is a graduate of a State Normal School of West Virginia, taught several terms of country achool and was principal of the Roanoke graded school until his election as county superintendent of schools for Lewis County in 1918. Mr. Linger was chosen for a four year term, and in spite of some difficulties in the way of progresaive school administration during the reconstruction period he has done much to improve the achoola individually and collectively. He is unmarried, is a member of the Methodist Protestant Church, a republican in politica, and a charter member of the local lodge of Foresters. He is also a member of the Knighta of Pythias, the Pythian Sistera, the Junior Order of the United American Mechanics, and the Grange.

ROYAL J. BYRUM. One of the largest concerne in the country supplying industrial housing is located at Wheel- ing, the R. L. Byrum's Sons Company, a group of enter- prising young men who have perfected their organization to a point where they are able to supply housing facilities almost to the extent of an entire town in the briefest period of time.

The secretary of the R. L. Byrum's Sons Company is Royal J. Byrum, who was born in Kansas City, Kansas, November 17, 1885. His grandfather, Eli Byrum, was a native of South Carolina and as a boy went to Randolph County, Indiana, where his parents were pioneera. He had a large farm in Eastern Indiana, and lived there the rest of his life. His second wife was Lucinda Fields, who was born and died in Randolph County. The Byrums are of old English stock. Three children of Eli and Lu- cinda Byrum are still living. Robert L .; Enoch E., a clergyman of the Church of God living at Anderson, In- diana; and Noah H., who is treasurer of the Gospel Trumpet Publishing Company at Anderson, Indiana.

Robert L. Byrum was born in Randolph County, In- diana, in 1856, was reared and married in that county, spent his early life on the farm, and at the age of twenty became a carpenter contractor. In 1884 he moved to Kan- sas City, Kansas, where he followed his trade, but later returned to Indiana and was located at Marion in Grant County until 1899. In that year he moved to Moundsville, West Virginia, and in 1908 established his home at Mar- tin's Ferry, across the river from Wheeling. He is atill active in his business as a contractor, and is director and treasurer of R. L. Byrum's Sons Company. He began vot- ing as a democrat, but in later years has been a republican. He is an active supporter of the Church of God. Robert L. Byrum married Mollie J. Mangas, who was born in Randolph County, Indiana, in 1858. Royal J. is the old- est of their five sons. Rnasell R., the second, is managing editor of the Gospel Trumpet Publishing Company at An- derson, Indiana. The other three sons are all officials of the R. L. Byrum's Sons Company, Ralston E. being presi-

dent, Leo V., vice president, and Don J., general superin- tendent. These sons reside at Wheeling.

Royal J. Byrum was educated in the public schools of Indiana, attended high school at Moundsville, Weat Vir- ginia, and up to 1904 was a student in the Wheeling Business College. For 11% years he was assistant secre- tary of the Wheeling Board of Trade and then became assistant to the manager of the Wheeling Traction Com- pany, continuing in the service of that corporation for twelve years. July 19, 1917, he became secretary of the R. L. Byrum's Sons Company. There is only one other industrial housing firm in West Virginia that vies in ex- tent of business with the R. L. Byrum'a Sons Company. This company specializes in the building of minera' homes, and its service contracts for that work cover nearly all the important mining fields in Ohio, West Virginia and Western Pennsylvania. The company'a offices are in the Wheeling Bank & Trust Company Building.

Royal J. Byrum is a republican, a member of the Church of God. and was a participant in all the local drives for funds during the World war. He owns a modern home at 409 Wheeling Avenue in Pleasanton, Wheeling. April 28, 1906, at Moundsville, he married Mary R. Peters, daugh- ter of Thomas and Lydia (McKeen) Peters. The parents live at Moundsville, where her father is a mine fire boss. Mr. and Mrs. Byrum . have four children: Bernard R., born February 23, 1908; Dorothy M., born October 28, 1909; Robert, born March 15, 1915; and Royal J., Jr., born January 14, 1921.

WILLIAM J. S. HARMER. Prosperity is not only a matter of material possessions, but, even better, of that happiness which results from doing for others. It ia prosperity of thia kind that is reflected in the career of William J. S Harmer, at the head of the oldest established business in Shinnston. With two exceptions he has lived longer in that, his native town, than any resident still there.

He was born at Shinnston February 13, 1856. His father came to Shinnaton in 1852, and in the same year established himself in business as a wagon-maker and undertaker. The chief service of the undertaker at that time was to provide the casket. William J. S. Harmer as a boy became an appren- tice to his father and learned the trade of wagon-maker and the profession of undertaking. When his father died his will contained a provision that his son, William. buy and continue the old established business. It was in compliance with that request that W. J. S. Harmer became proprietor and has continued the business up to the present time. Within his own experience have come about and have been introduced into his establishment at Shinnston many of the most im- portant advances in the undertaker's art. He has kept his service apace with the demands of the time and he has pro- vided the facilities and service of a high class funeral director, and many times has virtually taken the place of the minister in reading the burial service and delivering the general aermon. This part of his work ia not merely professional, but the pro- ceeds from an honest Christian character and conduct main- tained since boyhood when he was converted and became a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He early began the performance of official duties in hia church, and for fifty-six years has been a regular attendant at Sunday School, having failed to attend such service only three Sundaya, when providentially hindered. For thirty years he waa superintendent of the Sunday School. This is a record such as few West Virginiana can exhibit.

Mr. Harmer on January 15, 1880, joined theIndependent Order of Odd Fellowa, and from that date has been a zealoua member of the fraternity. He has also rendered public duty as a citizen, holding a number of officea. including three terms aa atreet commissioner, two terms as assessor, a number of terma on the City Council and five terms as mayor of Shinnston. In politica he has always been a republican.

The life of Mr. Harmer has been an exceedingly active one, and exemplary in every relationship. His word is regarded aa good as his bond, and he has always maintained the atrictest regard for honesty and the keeping of a promise.

Mr. Harmer is descended from an old and highly respected American family. Hia great-grandfather, Jacob Harmer, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. After doing bia

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HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA

uty as a patriot soldier he located at Germantown, Pennsyl- ania. His son, Jacob Harmer, Jr., was born at Philadelphia, ennsylvania, January 23, 1794, and died at Winchester, irginia, March 8, 1868. He married Eliza Tyson Ham. heir children were: Benjamin Tyson, Peter Ham, Emily usan, James Albert, Theodorick S., John E., Edgar R., Iary J., Anna Virginia, Joseph J. and William H. H.

Benjamin Tyson Harmer, the father of the Shinnston usiness man and citizen, was born January 1, 1824, and died ecember 4, 1890. He lived at Shinnston from 1852 until s death, and in that time he exerted the influence of a high aracter and a busy life upon the community. He was an tive member and trustee of the Methodist Episcopal Church r thirty-six years, was a veteran member of the Odd Fellows, rved at one time as president of the County Court and was republican.

He married Margaret Shepler, and their children were: enjamin Tyson, William J. S., James Albert, Lloyd M., Tary Virginia, Harvey Walker, Charles Leslie and Elizabeth. On June 17, 1880, William J. S. Harmer married Ida Susan urry. She was born near the Natural Bridge in Amherst ounty, Virginia, August 7, 1859. The children born to the arriage of Mr. and Mrs. Harmer are: Frank Roscoe, who ed at the age of nine years; Ella C., who died when six ears old; Josephine, born October 16, 1888; Edgar J., born ine 11, 1891; and Beulah, born July 13, 1894.

Edgar J. Harmer, now associated with his father in busi- ess at Shinnston, in the firm of William J. S. Harmer and on, was a volunteer in the great war, joining the Naval eserve Corps May 7, 1918. He was in training for a time id was then detailed to the Medical Officers' Armed Guards Newport News, Virginia, and served there until his honor- le discharge on February 3, 1919.

F. S. SUDDARTH, M. D. The able service of the physi- an and surgeon has been only part of the record Doctor iddarth has made since becoming a resident of Grafton venty years ago. His resources and influence have in a very tal sense been contributed to the community's institutions id commercial advancement.

Of an old Virginia family, he was born at Monterey, High- nd County, February 4, 1871. William Suddarth, his andfather, lived at Charlottesville, and his mother was a ster of General Sumner, one of the brilliant officers of the evolution. William Suddarth married a Miss Mann, and ey had four sons. Two of them became soldiers of the nion, James, now living at Clarksburg, West Virginia, and seph, a resident of Kingfisher, Oklahoma.

Frank Suddarth, father of the Grafton physician, was orn in Albemarle County, and when he was about six years age his father removed to Upshur County. He was living ere when the Civil war broke out, and, differing from his wo brothers on the issues of that conflict, he volunteered in e Confederate Army, joining the Upshur Grays, under olonel Higginbotham. He was wounded at Rich Mountain id again at the Wilderness, but came out of the army with serious afflictions. After his marriage he remained in ighland County, engaged in farming in the country border- g the beautiful Shenandoah Valley, and died there in 1906, ; the age of seventy-four.

His wife, Susan Frances Seiver, a native of Highland ounty, was the daughter of James Seiver, a full-blood cotchman and a tailor by trade. She died in April, 1874, jed twenty-nine, leaving three children: Ada, wife of Albert 'agner, of Monterey, Virginia; Doctor Suddarth; and rchibald, of California.

In common with other enterprising youth bent on making mething of themselves, and without the facilities of wealth ; their command, Doctor Suddarth had problems to solve soon as he was old enough to appreciate them. He tended public schools, a normal school in Virginia, and then tered the National Normal University at Lebanon, Ohio, here he had the fortune to come under the influence of that illiant educator, Professor Holbrook, then in charge there. fter graduating in 1891 Doctor Suddarth returned to his ome state, and for seven years bestowed his talents on aching. His last work in that line was done in the country hools of Highland County.

In the meantime he was making progress in private studies

needed in his medical college course, and also carried on work in the medical department of the University of Virginia, where he graduated in 1897. For five years he looked after his growing practice at Williamsville in his native state, and part of the time was county health officer. Leaving there, he was in New York a student for five months in the Post-Graduate School of Medicine, and with this additional training to supplement his practical experience he established himself in Grafton in 1902. Here his professional interests have had a widening scope of service. He was one of the builders, with Dr. R. H. Powell, of the Grafton City Hospital. For four years he was president of the Grafton Board of Education. The other members of this board, which among other things accomplished the monumental task of building the new high school, were N. F. Kendall and O. Jay Fleming, local bankers, and W. A. Beavers and G. W. Steele.

Doctor Suddarth has proved his faith in Grafton to the extent of his capital and enterprise. He built several homes on the West Side, is a director in the Taylor County Bank, a stockholder and president of the Grafton Mercantile Com- pany, and formerly had interests in other commercial enterprises of the city. On the outside he has done much in coal development, was formerly vice president of the Fairmont Coal Company, is now vice president of the Fort Grand Coal Company, is president of the Suddarth Coal Company, and owner of some undeveloped coal lands.

Coming of a democratic family, he has been satisfied to vote in the same political faith. He is an elder in the Presby- terian Church, and in Masonry is a past high priest of the Royal Arch Chapter, past eminent commander of the Knights Templars, and a member of Osiris Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Wheeling. In Bath County, Virginia, December 10, 1903, he married Miss Eddie McClintic, daughter of William and Hettie (Montgomery) McClintic, she being second in their family of six sons and three daughters, three of the sons being now deceased. Mrs. Suddarth finished her educa- tion with a course in kindergarten training at Washington, and was a teacher until her marriage. Doctor and Mrs. Suddarth have two children: Gertrude, a student in Fairfax Hall, Virginia; and Glen, in the Grafton schools.

ALFRED A. HOLT, a native of Grafton, has been one of the enterprising business men of that city for a number of years. In continuous experience he is one of the oldest druggists, and has a number of other interests that have their share in making that one of the important centers of commerce in West Virginia.

Mr. Holt, who was born March 15, 1875, represents a prominent family. He is the second child of James W. and Anna J. (Jordan) Holt. His father, whose record is given in more detail elsewhere, was the Henry Watterson of the news- paper profession in Taylor County.

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History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 3, Part 27

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