History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 3, Part 32

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HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA

of the new company, and continued his service in this posi- tion until his death, this concern now controlling an average annual business of approximately $1,000,000. Mr. Hurst was one of the organizers of and was the first president of the Day and Night Bank of Williamson, was president of the War Eagle Coal Company and the Winifrede Land Com- pany, and was a stockholder and director in many other important business and industrial corporations in this section of the state. He was an uncompromising supporter of the cause of the democratic party, was a Scottish Rite Mason and an Elk, and was an elder of the First Presby- terian Church of Williamson. Of him the following ap- preciative estimate has been given: "As a man he was kindly and affable, and his generosity knew only the bounds of his opportunity to extend the same. He was a self-made man, and thus his large and worthy success in life is the more pleasing to contemplate. Probably no man in Mingo County had a greater number of sincere friends than did William A. Hurst, and he knew virtually every man in the county. Mr. Hurst met a tragic and instantaneous death in one of the most terrible wrecks that ever occurred on the lines of the New York Central Railroad, he having been one of twelve persons killed, and 110 having been injured. Mr. Hurst had gone to Buffalo, New York, and was pre- paring to accompany his son William R. and the latter's wife back to Williamson, the son and his wife having been on their wedding tour. On the morning of July 1, 1919, the family party, which included Mrs. James W. Peters, of Williamson, an aunt of William R. Hurst, boarded the New York Central train No. 41 for Columbus, Ohio. Reserva- tions had been made in the rear Pullman car of the train, which was compelled to make a stop at Dunkirk, New York, in order to repair an overheated journal on the rear Pullman. Flagmen sent out to stop the through train No. 7, known as the Westerner, which did not make stops at Dunkirk, failed to arrest the incoming flyer, which collided with and telescoped the rear Pullman of train No. 41, it having been estimated that the Westerner was moving at the rate of fifty-five miles an hour at the time. A scene of terror followed, the engine of No. 7 ran under and overturned the rear sleeper of the No. 41 train, and the escaping steam from the engine scalded virtually all occupants of the sleeper, while smoke added its suffocating fumes to the horror. In this wreck William Alexander Hurst was in- stantaneously killed. Mrs. William R. Hurst was painfully scalded all over her left side, and received a deep cut just above her right ankle; Mrs. Peters escaped with minor bruises and scalds, but, as a result of the shock, she fell down some steps after arriving at her home, fractured her right hip and became permanently crippled; William R. Hurst received concussion of the brain and was made un- conscious, was lightly scalded and one of his knees was badly bruised. Mrs. William R. Hurst has recovered from her injuries save that her right leg remains very weak and her right ankle habitually turns or falls over when she is walk- ing. The remains of the loved father were brought home for interment, and the entire community was not only shocked by his tragic death but also manifested a deep sense of personal loss and bereavement."'

William R. Hurst attended the public schools at War Eagle and the old academy at Williamson. In 1905 he lost his hearing from an attack of spinal meningitis, and in 1906 he received a few months of instruction from a private teacher. In the following year he entered the Pennsylvania Institution for the Deaf and Dumb at Mount Airy, Philadelphia, where he remained until June, 1910, and covered grade and high school work. From the fall of 1910 to June, 1912, he attended the Wright Oral School in New York City. In June, 1912, he became associated with the Hurst Hardware Company, and in his activities as clerk, driver of teams, shipping clerk and assistant bookkeeper he proved that his physical infirmity was slight handicap to progress. Mr. Hurst continued in the employ of the com- pany until it was merged with the Persinger Hardware & Furniture Company, and he then, in February, 1915, en- gaged in the real estate and insurance business, of which he has continued one of the progressive, representative and successful exponents at Williamson to the present time. He is the only surviving child of his parents, the other son,

Frank, having died at birth, in 1902. The widowed moth who was Freelove Thomas, of Emery, Virginia, still ma tains her home at Williamson, she being a zealous memk of the First Presbyterian Church, as are also her son a his wife.

On the 16th of June, 1919, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvan was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Hurst and Miss Et] Wiles, a daughter of William F. Wiles, a representat: citizen of Tunnelton, West Virginia.

JOHN R. THAYER, a resident of Taylor County for more th half a century, now a retired farmer at Grafton, was efficient business man while on the farm, and at one time one of the foremost representatives and leaders among agricultural interests of the state.

He was born in Marion County February 20, 1850. ] father, Franklin Thayer, was born near Williamsport, Mas chusetts, in 1803, and came from that state to West Virgil He married Nancy Mason, daughter of John Mason, and their marriage were born ten children: Mrs. Amanda Hoov who died near Helena, Montana; Caroline, a resident of Bu hannon, widow of George R. Latham, who held the rank colonel in the Union Army, later was a congressman, and appointed by President Johnson to a foreign post in Austral Cordelia, who married Lindley Ray, of Fairmont, both n deceased; Luary, of Grafton, widow of Martin Miller; Milt J., who died at Salina, Kansas; Nancy, who married H White and died at Oswego, Kansas; Frank, Miss Mary s Stephen, all of Grafton; and John R., the youngest.

When John Ralph Thayer was six years old his pare moved to Nuzum's Mill, now the site of Hammond, W Virginia, and in 1864 came to Taylor County and settled n Grafton. John R. Thayer grew up in a time and place wh little attention was paid to the subject of education, and m of his advantages were acquired in the public schools Grafton. As a youth he did work in a brickyard, offbear brick, also worked as tail sawyer in a sawmill, and for t years was an Illinois farm hand in Marshall County, gett sixteen dollars a month and board. On his return to W Virginia he did farm labor at Knottsville, near Grafton, two years, following which he was again a tail sawyer Grafton, worked in a planing mill, and bought and sold lum for the plant. While thus employed he married, and sc afterward settled down to his vocation as a farmer.

Beginning with some land provided by his wife's fat] in the Haymond settlement near Grafton, he bought ot] land and accumulated and improved a farm of two hund and fifty acres, getting two hundred of it under cultivati Crops were marketed almost altogether through livesto which was the main business of the farm, raising cattle, hor and sheep. In connection with farming, Mr. Thayer twenty years was. local agent for the McCormick Harves Company, and he also sold the J. I. Case harvesting, threshi and road-making machinery.

From his own business his interest went out to the welf: of the community and gradually to all movements fort advancement of country life. As a member of the Board Education of the Fetterman District his service might well gratefully remembered. He had a hand in the erection o. new schoolhouse at Thornton, and was the moving spirit in strenuous campaign for two new schoolhouses in the Ha mond settlement. This involved an education of put opinion from the ground up, and it was due to his persiste advocacy that the community finally came over to his way thinking, and secured a modification of the board's plan one schoolhouse in favor of two. Mr. Thayer early espour the cause of the Farmers Alliance when it spread bere fr the Southwest and West, and he took a prominent part in organization work. He was elected county president Taylor County and then vice president of the state org ization, refusing the office of president. Of the ten thousa members of the Alliance enrolled in West Virginia, his p sonal influence and effort were responsible for at least th thousand.

The Alliance was not essentially a political moveme! and when it became evident that its aims could only achieved by political action the organization was larg. merged with the people's party, and Mr. Thayer nature: had a prominent place in the new party's organization

HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA

West Virginia. He was offered the nomination for governor n its first state ticket, but accepted instead the nomination or state senator. In the second campaign there was a fusion between the populists and democrats, and though the results vere not altogether successful Mr. Thayer received the omination of both parties for the House of Delegates. Since be decline of the people's party he has had no official part in politics. His independence of mind is indicated in the mixed ecord he has made as a voter. His first presidential ballot vent to General Grant, he supported James G. Blaine, voted or Bryan twice, once for Colonel Roosevelt, and twice for Mr. Wilson. By appointment Mr. Thayer is now serving as ury commissioner and county coroner.

Mr. Thayer married Miss Bertha Kincaid, only daughter of Moses and Nancy (Knotts) Kincaid. She was born and reared t Knottsville, Taylor County, attended the State University nd two terms at the Fairmont State Normal. Mr. Thayer vas reared in the Methodist faith, but took up Christian Science for the benefit of his wife's health, and both became onverts. She profited wonderfully from the treatment, and ter life was prolonged many years after hope had been aban- loned. She died July 9, 1917. There were two daughters. Rosalee, deceased, was the wife of Ray M. Parrish, of Grafton, nd she is survived by three children. The other daughter, Miss Iva, is the companion of her father.

FRANK BENNETT has been one of the most popular residents f Grafton for many years, and is former county assessor and Low county court clerk of Taylor County, and prior to that ad charge of the city electric light plant.

He was born in Clinton District, Monongalia County, June , 1873, son of William and Mary (Jacobs) Bennett. William Bennett was born at Sheffield, England, where his father was a rick-maker, and came to the United States at the age of six- een, his parents locating at Birmingham, Pennsylvania, but ventually removing to West Virginia, and they are buried in he Simmers Cemetery in Monongalia County. Their chil- ren besides William were: Timothy, a resident of Morgan- own; Albert, deceased, a Monongalia County farmer, whose laughter is the wife of Governor Ephraim F. Morgan; Ann, who died in Pittsburgh, wife of Abraham Kay; and Sarah Ann, who married Elijah Jacobs and is living at the Flats, near Morgantown, nearly one hundred years old.

William Bennett also learned the trade of brick-maker, which he followed until he took up farming as his regular ocation. He had a good education and remained a student he rest of his life, and was noted in his community for his bility to sustain an argument on a wide variety of topics. Ie was a republican, and he and his wife were devont in their eligious duties and saw to it that their children always ttended church and Sunday School. William Bennett died n 1903, when almost eighty, and his wife died five years later, Iso in her eightieth year. Their children were: Mrs. Priscilla Gwyn, deceased; Annarrie, wife of W. H. Gwyn, living near he old Bennett home in Monongalia County; Nelia, un- married and at the old homestead; Joseph, operator of the home farm; and Frank.

Frank Bennett grew up on the farm in Monongalia County, nd completed his common school education there. For one rear he farmed for himself, and soon after his marriage took is bride to Grafton, where he entered the service of the Baltimore & Ohio in the carpenter shops, building engine abs. Five years of his career were given to that line of work. Following this he was put in charge of the electric light service or the City of Grafton. He bandled this department with a are degree of skill and tact, and through all the fourteen years le never missed a payday through absence from duty. At he same time he was a sub-mail carrier for the city post ffice.

Having been a resident of Grafton almost twenty years, und having gained a wide acquaintance throughout the coun- y, he consented to put his name and qualifications before the people as candidate for county assessor. He was nominated n the primaries, and in the fall of 1916 ran ahead of his party icket, making a record vote for a single candidate. He erved his four-year term, and then became candidate for county clerk, being elected by a majority of 2,018 votes over is democratic competitor. He succeeded C. T. Bartlett in office, and began his official term in January, 1921.

Mr. Bennett is an active member of the Grafton Chamber of Commerce. He is a past chancellor of the Knights of Pythias, past noble grand of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and a member of the Improved Order of Red Men. He is one of the trustees and deacons of the Grafton Baptist Church.

In Marion County, June 14, 1896, Mr. Bennett married Miss Etta Summers, who was born near Mt. Nebo in that county and reared on the farm there. Her parents. David and Frances (Shuttlesworth) Summers, were reared in the same county. She was a child when her father was killed by the kick of a horse. Her mother is still living at the old home- stead. Besides Mrs. Bennett the surviving children are: James, of Fairmont; Emma, wife of David Downey, of Pitts- burgh; Luther, on the home farm; Camden, of Fairmont; Albertus, a farmer at Gladesville, Preston County; William, who died in Marion County, leaving a family; and Ollie, who died in Grafton, the wife of William G. Lake.

Of the children of Mr. and Mrs. Bennett the oldest is Ethel, wife of Clarence D. Arnett, of Fairmont. Robert is chief clerk for the Hazel-Atlas Glass Company of Fetterman. Lauda is the wife of Coy H. Hardman, of Fairmont. Dottie and Sarah Olive are students in high school at Grafton, while the younger children are named Roger Gordon, Charles Edward and Marjorie.

WILLIAM BERNARD CRUISE was at one time train dispatcher and trainmaster for the Baltimore & Ohio, and after retiring from the railroad service he returned to his home city of Grafton, where he has built up and is still active in a business of general insurance. He is the present chairman of the Taylor County Democratic Central Committee.

He was born in Reno District of Preston County July 31, 1867. His father, Thomas Cruise, was born in Dunmore, County Galway, Ireland, and married there Mary Kenny. They crossed the Atlantic in a sailing vessel, and spent succes- sive stages in Baltimore, Green Springs and Sykesville. He did construction work for the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, also excavating work and contracted a portion of the tunnel con- struction at Tunnelton. At that point he retired from the railroad service and spent the rest of his life as a farmer there. Thomas Cruise possessed a liberal education, early became an American citizen, was interested in American affairs and was affiliated with the democratic party. He died at Tunnel- ton January 30, 1900, at the age of eighty-six, and his widow passed away August 12, 1904, aged seventy-six. Their chil- dren were: Catherine, of Cumberland, Maryland, widow of Thomas Dorsey, one of the old engineers of the Baltimore & Ohio; Miss Annie, of Fairmont; Agnes, wife of Judge Hay- mond, of Fairmont; William B .; John T., who spent his active life as a telegraph operator and died April 16, 1906; and Ellen, wife of James S. Hunt, of Tunnelton.

William Bernard Cruise, who has never married, lived the first fifteen years of his life on his father's farm near Tunnel- ton, attending the common schools, and at thirteen hegan the study of telegraphy with his brother-in-law, then the Baltimore & Ohio operator at Tunnelton, now Judge Haymond of Fair- mont. He succeeded his relative as operator at Tunnelton, and two years later was promoted to the duties of train dis- patcher at Grafton, where he began his work July 6, 1885, when only eighteen years old. In 1896 Mr. Cruise was trans- ferred to Cumberland, Maryland, and made chief train dis- patcher and then trainmaster of the Baltimore & Ohio division between Cumberland and Grafton. After a time he resigned, and returning to Grafton entered the insurance business and has developed an extensive general agency, handling all kinds of insurance and surety bonds.

Mr. Cruise has worked for the upbuilding of Grafton through the Chamber of Commerce and other organizations, and is one of the well known leaders of the democratic party in the state, having served as county chairman for ten years. He was a delegate to the state convention of 1904 which nominated John J. Cornwell for governor, and has attended many of the local and state conventions since. He served as a clerk in the State Senate through appointment by Senator Kidd. "Mr. Cruise is an exalted ruler of the Elks and was a factor in building at Grafton one of the best homes of that order in the state. He is also affiliated with the Loyal Order of Moose and the Knights of Columbus. He is Taylor County

HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA

chairman and member of the state committee of the Woodrow Wilson Foundation, a movement to raise a million dollar fund to be used for awards or rewards to the individual or group that has rendered, within a specified period, most meritorious service to democracy, public welfare, liberal thought, or peace through justice. Mr. Cruise was chairman of the local Draft Board for Taylor County for 1917-1919, during the World war.

HARRY FRIEDMAN, secretary of the Grafton Board of Education, has been one of the successful attorneys of that city for a number of years, his activities having been in partienlar evidence in the commercial field of the law.

He was boru in Lewiston, Maine, and was a year old when his parents moved to Grafton in 1884. His father, Faibel Friedman, who was active in the clothing business at Grafton thirty-seven years, was born in the province of Saxe-Meinin- gen, Germany, September 8, 1846, was liberally educated, and came to the United States in 1865. Later he returned, and at Bad Kitzingen, Bavaria, married Fannie Goodman, who was born in that part of Bavaria February 28, 1846, daughter of Faibel and Sarah Gutman or Goodman. The surviving chil- dren of these parents are: Simon J .. a Grafton merchant; Alma, wife of Ralph Rothchild, of Richmond, Virginia; Max, a Grafton merchant; Joseph, in the insurance business at Baltimore; llarry; and Jacob H., a clothing merchant at Richmond.

Harry Friedman, who is unmarried, grew up in the atmos- phere of a mercantile business but early decided to employ his talents in a profession. His first teacher in the public schools was Miss Amanda Abbott, now dean of the city public school teachers, and he graduated from high school in 1901. This was followed by the general literary course in West Virginia University, from which he graduated in law with the LL. B. degree in 1906. Admitted to the bar, he tried his first case in conrt at Grafton, and has had an increasing share in the civil and commercial law work of this district.

Mr. Friedman has carried some of the burdens and expense of political work in the county, was candidate for prosecuting attorney in 1916, was a delegate to the last democratic con- vention at Wheeling, and was a spectator of the dramatic . proceedings in the Baltimore convention of 1912 when Mr. Wilson was first nominated. Besides his duties as secretary of the Board of Education Mr. Friedman is a member of the Chamber of Commerce, and is prominent in fraternal affairs. He is a past master of Mystic Lodge No. 75, A. F. and A M., is a thirty-second degree Scottish Rite Mason and Shriner, and member of the Elks, Modern Woodmen of America and Loyal Order of Moose, and the college fraternity Sigma Nu.

C. L. RITTER, president of the Rock Castle Lumber Com- pany, has been actively identified with lumber manufacture in West Virginia since early youth, and the organizations of which he is directing head comprise one of the largest individual groups of capital and resources in the lumber industry of the state.

Mr. Ritter, whose home has been at Huntington for twenty years and whose active associations with the life and affairs of that city proclaim him at once a man of prom- inence, was born at Muncy, Pennsylvania, October 6, 1865. His father, Daniel S. Ritter, was born in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, December 27, 1828, and died at Milton, that state. April 11, 1913. During his long residence in Lycom- ing County he was a farmer, a hotel proprietor, held the office of overseer of the poor and county supervisor. He was a democrat and a member of the Lutheran Church. His wife was Catherine Cramer, born in Lycoming County in 1833 and died at Muncy in 1901. The oldest of their chil- dren is Dr. William E., a physician and surgeon at White- wood, Virginia; C. L. Ritter is the second in age; John is a trader living at Williamsport, Pennsylvania; the youngest, Mazie, died in childhood.

C. L. Ritter acquired a common school education in Lycoming County, attended the Williamsport Seminary, and the first twelve years of his life were spent on his father's farm and after that he lived with his parents at Muncy and Williamsport until he was nineteen. For two years he was in the mercantile business at Muncy, and in 1889 came to West Virginia and entered the lumber business at Oak-

vale on East River. His lumbering interests subsequent) took him into McDowell County and also to Clay County, both of which counties he was a manufacturer, and in 190 he removed his headquarters to Huntington. The Roc Castle Lumber Company, C. L. Ritter and other lumb companies, of which he is president have mills in sever: parts of the state, and the business is both manufacturin and wholesale.

Of his business associations that are more immediatel identified with Huntington are the Central Realty Con pany, of which he is president, also has interests in th Standard Printing & Publishing Company and with th Watts-Ritter Company, wholesale dry goods; is vice pres dent of the Huntington Land Company; has importar interests in the Kenna Land Company; is president of th Empire Furniture Company, furniture manufacturers, a director of the First National Bank of Huntington. H has some valuable property interests, including his offic building, known as the Ritter Building, on Fourth Avenue a three-story structure, owns a half interest in the six story building at the corner of Tenth Street and Fourt Avenue, a half interest in the two-story business house o the opposite corner of Tenth Street and Fourth Avenue and is a half owner of the Orpheum Theater Building.

Mr. Ritter is a republican, a member of the Luthera Church, and is affiliated with the Guyandotte Club of Hun ington, the Country Club, and during the World war wa chairman of the Cabell County Chapter of the Red Cros and gave time and means to the support of the Governmer during that period.

His home is one of the best residences on Ritter Hil In 1910 he purchased Ritter Hill, and was instrumental i securing Ritter Park, part of which was given by him to th city. He was quite active in opening up Ritter Hill as we as Ritter Hill Addition. He married at Huntington i 1902 Miss Mabel MeClintock, who is a graduate of Ma shall College at Huntington. Mr. and Mrs. Ritter hav three children: Charles Lloyd, born March 3, 1904; Wi liam Randolph, born December 31, 1905, and Don M Clintock, born April 24, 1908. Charles Lloyd and William Randolnh are students in Adirondacks-Florida School, whil Don McCintoek Ritter is attending St. Christopher's Scho at Richmond, Virginia.

Mrs. Ritter was born in Dempseytown, near Oil City Pennsylvania. May 9, 1880, a daughter of Charles A. an Adeline (Richey) MeClintock, of whom extended mentio is made in the sketch of Herbert D. Mcclintock. Mr Ritter is a member of the First Presbyterian Church. Du ing the war she was active in Red Cross work, being a the head of the teaching force of surgical dressings fo two years. She is a member of the Woman's Club and a active member of Buford Chapter, D. A. R., having been it regent for two years.

LEE EARL BENNETT is business manager of the Grafto Sentinel. and has been associated with that stanch old We: Virginia newspaper the greater part of the time since he wa released from army service. He is one of the younger men bers of an old and prominent family in Taylor County, a mor complete record being published on other pages.

He was born at the old county seat, Pruntytown, Novembe 1, 1892, and during his boyhood was a pupil in the grad schools there. He had two years of high school work i Grafton and also a commercial course, and then took charge his father's paint store. He left that to become deputy sheri under his father, serving through the four-year term. and ale had charge of the office during the term of Sheriff Melvi Newlon until called to the colors.

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History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 3, Part 32

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