History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 3, Part 31

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Samuel G. Williamson gained his earlier education in the rural schools of his native county, and in 1912 he gradu- ated from the Shepherds College State Normal School. He taught in the school of his home district when he was a youth of eighteen years. In 1913 he attended the summer school of the University of West Virginia, as did he also the sessions of 1915 and 1916. He did successful work as a teacher in the high school of Leetown, Jefferson County, West Virginia, and in 1917-18 gave similar service in the high school at Welch, McDowell County.

On the 15th of May, 1918, he entered the military serv- ice of the United States in connection with the World war. He received preliminary training in the City of Richmond, Virginia, where he remained three months. He was then

Awarmiliony

HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA

ent to Camp Taylor, Kentucky, where after artillery train- ig he was commissioned second lieutenant. He remained t Camp Taylor until he received his honorable discharge, nd he is now commander of the Three Hundred and Twen- y-fifth Ammunition Train, Reserve Corps.

After his discharge from the army Mr. Williamson be- ame principal of the high school of Iaeger, and in 1921 e assumed his present position, that of secretary, treas- rer and manager of the Iacger Motor Company, which has he local agency for the Ford automobiles. Mr. Williamson a republican, a member of the Presbyterian Church, and ; affiliated with the Masonic fraternity and the Delta Tau Delta college fraternity. He is one of the progressive and opular young business men of Iaeger.

ARCH C. WAGNER, D. D. S., a young man of the sterling haracter and professional ability that augur well for suc- essful achievement, is one of the representative dental ractitioners of McDowell County, with residence and of- ce in the Village of Iaeger, he having been for two years valued member of the McDowell County Dental Clinic. 'he doctor was graduated in the dental department of the Medical College of Virginia, in the City of Richmond, on he 16th of June, 1919. In the World war period he gained pecial training and valuable experience in the regimental ifirmary of the Three Hundred and Seventeenth United tates Infantry, and after receiving his discharge be re- irned to the college at Richmond and became a member of he Medical Reserve Corps. After his graduation Dr. Wag- er was engaged in practice for a few months in his native ounty of Highland, Virginia, where he worked with a ortable dental outfit. He then came to McDowell County, Vest Virginia, where he bas since continued in successful ractice. Since becoming a member of the County Dental linie he has visited nearly every school in the county, the ork of this clinic being largely iu the examination of and irecting the care of the teeth of children, a matter of major importance. The doctor maintains affiliation with he Masonic fraternity, Knights of Pythias, Junior Order Inited American Mechanics, and the Xi Psi Phi college raternity.

Doctor Wagner was born on a farm near Monterey, Highland County, Virginia, March 16, 1895, and is a son f James A. and Lou Ida (Suddarth) Wagner, who still eside on their fine homestead farm in Highland County, here their circle of friends is coincident with that of their cquaintances. Doctor Wagner was reared on the farm and ained his preliminary education in a private school. For our years thereafter he walked four miles night and morn- ig to attend high school, and after his graduation he was ngaged in teaching in the rural schools for two years. Le then began his preparation for his chosen profession. as Iready noted in the preceding paragraph. The doctor is ne of the loyal and progressive citizens of McDowell ounty, has here won a host of friends and he still permits is name to be enrolled on the list of eligible young bache- rs in the county.

THOMAS M. HICKS has been successfully engaged in the cneral merchandise business at Webster Springs, Webster ounty, since 1905, has a modern and well equipped estab- shment, and bis policies have been such that be has devel- ped a substantial and prosperous enterprise.

Mr. Hicks was born in Braxton County, West Virginia, anuary 15, 1877, and is a son of Thomas F. and Mariah Berry) Hicks, both now deceased, the father having been orn in Nelson County, Virginia, in 1839, and the mother aving been born in what is now West Virginia, in 1846. he father engaged in farm enterprise in Braxton County, hence in 1877 he removed with his family to Nicholas ounty, where be continued as a successful agriculturist nd stock-grower until his death, be having been a citizen f influence and having held various offices of public trust that county. He was a democrat in politics, and both he nd his wife held membership in the Baptist Church. They ecame the parents of ten children: Bettie is the wife of I. A. Boso; Bertie is the wife of O. F. Williams; Lee is a rogressive farmer in Wood County, this state; James H.

is a resident of the State of Oklahoma; Nora is the wife of James N. Walker; Ida is the wife of H. D. Walker; Thomas M., of this sketch, was next in order of birth; Ernie is a popular teacher in the schools of Greenbrier County; Lovie is the wife of C. W. Robertson; and John D. is a resident of Greenbrier County.

Thomas M. Hicks was an infant at the time of the family removal to Nicholas County, where he was reared on the home farm and received the advantages of the public schools, his studies having been thereafter continued in one of the normal schools of the state and he having been a suc- cessful teacher in the schools of Nicholas and Webster counties prior to establishing his present business at Webster Springs. He owns the building in which his busi- ness is conducted, and also owns and occupies one of the attractive homes of the village. He is a democrat, and he and his wife are zealous members of the local Baptist Church, in which he is a deacon. He has been a valued member of the Board of Education during virtually the entire period of his residence at Webster Springs, and he is a director of the local banking institution. In the Masonic fraternity his basic affiliation is with Addison Lodge No. 116, A. F. and A. M., of which he is a past master, and he is a member also of the local Chapter of Royal Arch Masons, as is he also of the Commandery of Knights Templars and of the Temple of the Mystic Shrine in the City of Charleston.

In 1898 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Hicks and Miss May Stanard, who likewise was born and reared in this state and who attended normal school prior to ber marriage. Of the four children of this union the eldest is Areta, who attended the University of West Virginia for three years and who is, in 1922, a teacher in the Junior High School at Webster Springs; Dana M. graduated from the Webster Springs High School and attended the State University eighteen months; Elma is a student in high school; and Mary Lee is in the third grade of the local schools.

HENRY W. ARMSTRONG, general superintendent of the Cherry River Boom & Lumber Company at Richwood and. Gauley Mills, Nicholas County, has effectively proved his ability and resourcefulness in the directing of industrial enterprise of broad scope and importance, and as a business executive and loyal citizen he commands high esteem in the state of his adoption.

Mr. Armstrong was born at Horncastle, England, March 9, 1856, and is a son of John and Sarah (Wilson) Arm- strong. In addition to availing himself of the advantages of the schools of his native place Mr. Armstrong attended school in Germany during a period of three years. There- after he was identified with the grain business in England, where he was thus associated with a large commission firm in this line of enterprise for eight years. In 1880 he came to the United States and became actively identified with lumbering operations in West Virginia. At Bayard, Grant County, he operated a sawmill several years, and in the meanwhile he gained thorough experience in all details of the lumber business. In 1893 be became superintendent of the Richwood plant and business of the Cherry River Boom & Lumber Company, and his efficiency and progressive policies eventually led to his advancement to bis present office, that of general superintendent with this important corporation. Mr. Armstrong was one of the organizers and incorporators of the First National Bank of Richwood, and be bas served continuously as its president, Henry S. Smith being its vice president, Jolin D. Rake, its cashier, and the other members of the board of directors are Dr. James McClung, Joseph Tincher, Mr. Feuerherm and T. L. Space. Mr. Armstrong is a republican in political sentiment and adherency, and his wife is an active member of the Presby- terian Church in their home city of Richwood. Her maiden name was Mary Hamil. Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong have no children.

JOHN S. COGAR is distinctively one of the leading mem- bers of the bar of Webster County, of which he is serving as prosecuting attorney at the time of this writing, in 1922,

HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA

and his loyalty to his native county and town, Webater Springs, the county seat, has been signally manifested in his continuous centering of his activities and interests in the community that has represented his home during his entire life thus far.

Mr. Cogar was born at Webster Springs and his early education was acquired in the public schools of his native county. That he made good use of his advantages is shown by the fact that at the age of seventeen years he became a successful teacher, as principal of the village schools of Webster Springs, his entire pedagogic service having been rendered in his native town. In consonance with his well formulated ambition he finally entered the law department of the University of West Virginia, in which he was gradu- ated as a member of the class of 1892 and with the degree of Bachelor of Laws. He soon afterward opened an office at Webster Springs, and in 1893 he here formed a pro- fessional partnership with Senator E. H. Morton, with whom he continued his alliance until 1896, when he was elected prosecuting attorney of the county. At the expiration of his term in this office he was nominated, at the democratic senatorial convention held at Weston, as candidate for representative of the old Tenth Senatorial District in the State Senate, and, notwithstanding the fact that the district was strongly republican, he made so effective a campaign and has such secure place in popular esteem in the district that the republicaa majority was cut down by two-thirds in the ensuing election, in which his defeat was compassed by a small majority. In 1904 he was made the democratic nominee for representative of Webster County in the House of Delegates of the West Virginia Legislature, to which he was elected by a substantial and gratifying majority. He served during the sessions of 1904-5 and made a character- istically effective record in the advancing of constructive legislation and the conserving of the interesta of bis con- stituent district. He has since given his exclusive attention to the work of his profession, and in November, 1920, he was again elected prosecuting attorney of the county.

The year 1893 recorded the marriage of Mr. Cogar and Misa Emma L. Koozer, of Clearfield City, Pennsylvania, and they have two daughters. Beatrice, whose educational ad- vantages included those of the Webster Springs High School, the West Virginia Wesleyan College, the University of West Virginia and Columbia University, New York City, is at the parental home and is a popular figure in the representative social and cultural activities of the com- munity. The younger daughter, Lillian Lee, is the wife of Mendham Parmlee Wilson, of Augusta, Georgia, and is a specially talented musician, in both vocal and instrumental interpretation.

CHARLES S. BRIDGES is giving effective service as station agent for the Norfolk & Western Railroad at Iaeger, Mc- Dowell County, and is one of the progressive and popular men of this community. He was born in Wythe County, Virginia, March 14, 1870, and was there reared on his father's farm. He is a son of John B. and Frances M. (Long) Bridges, the former of whom was born in Wythe County, Virginia, in 1825, and the latter of whom was born in North Carolina, in 1829. The father died in 1899, aged seventy-four years, and the mother passed away in 1915, at the venerable age of eighty-six years. They became the parents of three sons and two daughters: William R., the eldest son, died in his native county at the age of twenty- four years; Henry B. was thirty-four years of age at the time of his death; the elder daughter, Mrs. Jennie R. Moore, is a resident of Max Meadows, that state; and Mrs. B. L. Hudson, the younger daughter, resides in Pulaski County, Virginia.

Charles S. Bridges gained his early education in the schools of his native county and while still a boy he learned telegraphy at Max Meadows, a station on the line of the Norfolk & Western Railroad. He has continued in the service of this railroad for the long period of thirty-one years, and has been a representative of the company in the coal producing districts of West Virginia since 1891. He was first located at Roderfield, when that place was the terminus of one of the branches of the Norfolk & Western,

and as telegraph operator and atatlon agent he has been employed at many different points touched by this railroad system. He was atation agent five years at Cedar Bluff, and thereafter he was agent at Welch, county seat of Mc- Dowell County, four years. Since 1904 he has held his present post in the thriving industrial Town of laeger. He has been actively identified with the development of this village and served as its first mayor after its second organ- ization. In the World war period he was chairman of the McDowell County Draft Board No. 2. He is a democrat in political allegiance. In the Masonic fraternity he is affiliated with the Blue Lodge at laeger, having been the first worshipful master and is the present worshiptul master, with the Chapter of Royal Arch Masons at Northfork, the Commandery of Knights Templars at Bluefield, and the Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Charleston. His wife is a member of the Baptist church and the remainder of the family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.

In 1899 Mr. Bridges wedded Miss Callie Thomas, of Pulaski County, Virginia, and they have four children: Kathleen is the widow of Dr. Harry T. Bauer, a prominent dentist, who was engaged in the practice of his profession at laeger, West Virginia, at the time of his death; Mar- garet, who has been employed as clerk for the Norfolk & Western Railway for the past five years; Louise, who remains at the parental home; and Charles W., who is now his father's efficient office assistant, was formerly in the employ of the First National Bank of laeger.

keverting to the career of John B. Bridges, father of the subject of this review, it is to be recorded that be was a pioneer in scientific horticulture in Wythe County, Virginia, where he developed the hne New River Nursery, in which he raised all kinds of fruit trees and small fruits, and which he successfully conducted until the time of his death. He was a gallant soldier of the Confederacy in the Civil war, and took part in many engagements, including a number of major battles. He was a stanch democrat, waa affiliated with the United Confederate Veterans, and he and his wife were earnest members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South,

JOSEPH P. HATFIELD is giving characteristically efficient service as clerk of the Circuit Court for Mingo County, and is one of the popular citizens of Williamson, the county seat. He was born at Meador, this county, July 17, 1888, and is a son of Floyd and Esther (Staten) Hatfield, the former of whom was born on Guyon River, near the present site of Gilbert, this county, then a part of Logan County, Virginia, September 4, 1846, and the latter of whom was born where the Village of Sprigg, this county, is now estab- lished, the year of her nativity having been 1851. John Hatfield, father of Floyd, was a representative of a family founded in Virginia in the Colonial era, and upon coming to what is now West Virginia in the pioneer days the abundant supply of wild game led him to make permanent location, he having been a nimrod of marked skill and great enthusiasm, and his son Floyd likewise having become a crack shot. Floyd Hatfield gave two years of loyal service aa a gallant young soldier of the Confederacy in the Civil war, and his active career has been one of close association with farm industry, both he and his wife being now vener- able and honored pioneer citizens of Mingo County and both having long been zealous members of the Christian Church, in which he has held various official positions. His political allegiance is given to the democratic party. Of their eleven children nine are living, and of the number the subject of this sketch was the ninth in order of birth.

The public schools of his native county afforded Joseph P. Hatfield his early education, and that he made good use of his advantages is shown by the fact that when eight- een years of age he became a successful teacher in the rural schools. By his pedagogic service he earned the funds that enabled him to complete a course in the Concord State Normal School at Athens, in which he was graduated as a member of the class of 1916. He taught seven years in the rural schools of Mingo County, served one year as assistant principal of the Iaeger High School, was assistant prin-

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HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA

pal of the Matewan High School one year, and for ono ar served as supervisor of the schools of Lee District. In 120 he was elected circuit clerk of the county, on the mocratie ticket, and his able executive service has fully stified his election. His brother Alexander, formerly a pular teacher, is now his deputy in the office of circuit erk. The sister Mary is the wife of Toler Sipple, of Red cket, this state. Six of the children of the family at- nded the Concord Normal School.

Mr. Hatfield is affiliated with the Masonic Blue Lodge at hacker, Lodge of Perfection No. 4, Scottish Rite, in the ty of Huntington, where also he is a member of the nights of the Rose Croix, he having received the thirty- cond degree of the Scottish Rite in the Consistory at heeling, and his maximum York Rite affiliation is with e Commandery of Knights Templars. He is an active ember of the Christian Church and his wife of the Baptist urch.

On the 12th of June, 1917, was solemnized the marriage Mr. Hatfield and Miss Elizabeth Adair, daughter of arvey and Nancy Adair, of Panther, McDowell County. rs. Hatfield and her husband were fellow students at the neord Normal School, and, like him, she taught school to y the expenses of her course in this institution, she having en for eleven years a successful and popular teacher in e public schools. Mr. and Mrs. Hatfield have one son, illiam Adair.

GUY B. YOUNG has found in his native county ample portunity for successful achievement in the work of his ofession, is one of the able and representative members the bar of Gilmer County, and is engaged in active actice at Glenville, the county seat. He was born on a rm near Troy, this county, September 26, 1874, and is a 1 of Capt. A. B. and Elizabeth (Hanger) Young, the rmer of whom was born April 2, 1832, in what is now rrison County, West Virginia, and the latter of whom s born near Staunton, Virginia, in 1840. The parents ceived excellent educational advantages, as gauged by the indards of locality and period, and the father became successful teacher in the subscriptions schools of the y. Capt. A. B. Young went forth as a loyal soldier of Confederacy when the Civil war was precipitated on the tion, and was captain of a company in the command of n. "Stonewall" Jackson. He lived up to the full ten- n of the conflict, and in battle was three times wounded. ter the close of the war he settled on a farm near Troy, Imer County, and with the passing years he achieved ostantial success as an agriculturist and stock-grower. ; added to his farm property until he had a valuable ate of 300 aeres, and he remained on the homestead rm until 1902, when he sold the place' and purchased a 'm of 450 acres in Wirt County, where he passed the re- inder of his life. He was a stanch democrat, and he ved from 1896 to 1900 as county assessor of Gilmer unty. He was affiliated with the United Confederate terans and his religious faith was that of the Methodist otestant Church, his first wife having been a member of : Presbyterian Church. He was twice married, and be- ne the father of seventeen children. Of the six children the first marriage, five are living at the time of this iting, in 1921: Jacob W. is engaged in the mercantile siness at Newell, Hancock County; Rev. J. Arthur Young s graduated in a theological seminary in the City of uisville, Kentucky, and is a clergyman of the Baptist urch; Warren D. is a merchant at Palestine, Wirt unty; Guy B., of this sketch, was the next in order of th; and George H., who is a mechanic by vocation, re- es in the City of Parkersburg, this state.

The childhood and early youth of Guy B. Young were npassed by the influences and discipline of the home m, and after leaving the public schools he entered the ate Normal School at Glenville, in which he continued his dies until his graduation. In preparation for his chosen ofession he entered the law department of the University West Virginia, in which he was graduated as a member the class of 1903 and with the degree of Bachelor of ws. He was forthwith admitted to the bar, and in the

same year he initiated the practice of his profession at Glen- ville, where he has since continued his law business, much of which is in connection with his service as legal repre sentative of the South Penn Oil Company. Mr. Young is a demoerat in political allegiance, and he served for a time as deputy county clerk of Gilmer County. He was formerly engaged in farm enterprise near Glenville, and is at the present time owner of royalty interests on several farms in this county. He is affiliated with the Junior Order United American Mechanies, and he and his wife hokl membership in the Baptist Church.

Mr. Young married Miss Love H. Fling, whose education included a business course and who had held a position as a skilled stenographer for one year prior to her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Young have four children: Guy Bayard, Jr., Donald Bell, Maynard Fling and Mary Elizabeth.

WILLIAM REYNOLD HURST, organizer and executive head of the firm of W. R. Hurst & Company, which conduets one of the foremost real estate and insurance agencies in the City of Williamson, Mingo County, was born at Dingess, this county, October 2, 1897, and is a son of William Alex- ander Hurst and Cynthia Freelove (Thomas) Mfurst, the former of whom was born in Carroll County, Virginia, March 1, 1868, and the latter of whom was born at Burkes Garden, that state, October 16, 1868, a daughter of John L. Thomas. The marriage of the parents was solemnized at Gray, Mingo County, West Virginia, in 1896.

The lineage of the Hurst family traces baek to English origin, and the original American progenitor settled in Loudoun County, Virginia, in the early Colonial period. The family has been for many generations one of proni- inence and influence in Carroll County, Virginia, and there William Hurst, great-grandfather of the subject of this review, was born in the year 1798. He became an extensive planter and slaveholder, and continued his residence in his native county until his death, in 1891, at the patriarchal age of ninety-three years. His son, Jesse T., was born on the old home plantation in Carroll County in October, 1836, and at the inception of the Civil war he went forth in de- fense of the Confederacy, as a member of the Twenty-ninth Virginia Infantry. At the battle of Seven Pines, in 1862, he was wounded, but after his recovery he continued his active service in the army until the close of the war. He served as justice of the peace in Carroll County for a full half century, and has long been numbered among the pro- gressive and successful farmers of that county. Though he is now (1922) eighty-six years of age he retains splendid physical and mental vitality, as does also his wife, whose maiden name was Keturah Smith and who was born in April, 1836. They became the parents of eleven children, of whom the son William Alexander is the father of lini whose name initiates this sketch.

William A. Hurst was reared on the fine old homestead farm which was the place of his birth and received his youthful education in the schools of his native state. As a youth he taught school during the winter terms, and worked on the farm in the intervening summer seasons. From 1890 to 1893 he was a guard at the Virginia State Penitentiary at Richmond, and he then, in 1894, established himself in the general merchandise business at Gray, Mingo County, West Virginia. In 1896 he transferred his business and residence to Dingess, this county, and in 1902 he removed with his family to War Eagle, to enter the coal business. In 1904 he removed to Williamson, where shortly afterward he organized the Hurst Hardware Company, which was in- corporated with a capital of $5,000, and of which he became the president. This company developed a wholesale and retail hardware business that reached an average of $175,- 000 a year. From 1908 to 1913 Mr. Hurst served as sheriff of the county, an office in which he made a record that has not been excelled by that of any other who has been the incumbent of the office. In 1914 he became associated with M. T. Persinger in the organization of the Persinger Hardware & Furniture Company, with a capitalization of $250,000, this corporation having taken over the business of the Hurst Hardware Company. Mr. Hurst became president

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History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 3, Part 31

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