History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 3, Part 38

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HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA

He votes as a republican and was a delegate from the Fourth Congressional District to the National Convention in Chicago in 1912. He has served the past four years as city attorney of Sistersville. Mr. Sugden is registrar and a vestryman in St. Paul's Episcopal Church; is a member of Phoenix Lodge No. 73, A. F. and A. M .; Sisters- ville Chapter No. 27, R. A. M .; Mountain State Com- mandery No. 14, K. T .; West Virginia Consistory No. 1 at Wheeling; and is a past potentate of Osiris Temple of . the Mystic Shrine at Wheeling. He is also a member of Sistersville Lodge No. 333, Benevolent and Protective Or- der of Elks, and the Kiwanis Club. Mr. Sugden had lit- tle time to devote to profession or business affairs during the war, since he was an associate member of the Legal Advisory Board of Tyler County, a Four Minute Speaker, chief of the Tyler County Division of the American Pro- tective League and chairman of the Publicity Committee for the County Chapter of the Red Cross.

In 1916, at New Matamoras, Ohio, Mr. Sugden married Miss Rachel E. Hutchison, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John M. Hutchison, residents of Monroe County, that state, where her father is a farmer and farm owner. Mrs. Sug- den, who died in 1918 at Sistersville, is survived by one daughter, Elizabeth Jane, born January 21, 1918.

JOHN H. ZIRKLE. Member of an old Barbour County family, John H. Zirkle was at one time a newspaperman at Philippi, and while in the Government service came to Martinsburg, where for the past thirteen years he has prac- ticed law with success and honor and is also the present eity recorder. He is a descendant of one of three Zirkle brothers who came out of Germany in Colonial times and settled in Virginia.

His grandfather was Daniel Zirkle, who was born in Rockingham County, Virginia, in 1805, and married Cath- erine A. Will, who was born in Shenandoah County, Vir- ginia, in 1816. About 1836 Daniel Zirkle moved with his family to what is now Barbour County, and settled near the Town of Philippi. He was a farmer, and in the days before railroads took his surplus products to Baltimore and Phila- delphia with four-horse teams, a trip that required several weeks when the roads were bad. On returning be loaded his wagons with merchandise. Daniel Zirkle died December 18, 1868, at Philippi in Barbour County. His wife died March 3, 1841, just two weeks after the birth of her son, Jacob Zirkle.

Jacob Zirkle, father of John H., was born in Barbour County, February 17, 1841, and was reared on a farm. On August 23, 1862, he enlisted in Company F, of the Fifteenth West Virginia Infantry, and served in all the campaigns and battles of that regiment until the final surrender. He was onee slightly wounded in the shoulder. He participated in the battles of Cloyd Mountain, New River, Middlebrook, Lexington, Lynchburg, Berryville, Hall Town, Opequon, Fishers Hill, Cedar Creek (first and second hattle), Hatch- er's Run, Petersburg, Rice Station, and was at Appomattox and in many other skirmishes besides. He received his honorable discharge June 14, 1865. After the war he resumed farming, having inherited the old homestead in Valley Distriet, and became a large land owner and a very prosperous and influential citizen. He celebrated his eighty- first birthday in February, 1922, and is now living with bis oldest son, A. D. Zirkle, at Philippi.

In Barbour Connty, August 27, 1865, Jacob Zirkle mar- ried Rebecca Sehleuss, who was born in Shenandoah County, Virginia, April 4, 1842, daughter of Andrew and Sarab F. (Carter) Schleuss. Her father was born in Maryland in 1809, and her mother in Rappahannock County, Virginia, in 1824. The Schleuss family removed to Barbour County in 1842, and her father died December 18, 1864. Jacob and Rebecca Zirkle were church members from early youth, being reared in the United Brethren Church, but later joined . the Methodist Church. Jacob Zirkle was class leader for about twenty-five years. His wife died May 17, 1917, and was buried in Fraternity Cemetery at Philippi.

These worthy parents had a family of ten children: Andrew D., born August 6, 1866, and living at Philippi; Mary F., born October 25, 1867; and died December 15th,

following; Roxanna, born April 15, 1869, now living neal Garden City; Kansas; Charles I., born March 20, 1871, als living at Garden City ; Daniel O. L., born February 26, 1873 and died March 1, following; John H., the Martinsburg lawyer; Lorenzo Dow and Davit T., twins, born August 10 the former living at Garden City, Kansas, and the latte: died February 28, 1879; William Luther, born Decembe 25, 1880, now living at Moundsville, West Virginia; and Simon Elijah, born April 18, 1883, a resident of Garder City, Kansas.

John H. Zirkle was born on the home farm near Philippi December 17, 1874, and the labor of the farul was the firs item in his practical experience. Ile attended the fre schools there until he was eighteen, aud then entered wha is now Wesleyan College at Buckhannon, where he com pleted a three year college course. Then for three years h taught school, the first school being a mile from Belington in his native county. He left the schoolroom to purchas a half interest in the Philippi Republican of Barbou County, and was junior editor of that paper for eight years He gave up newspaper work when assigned to a Govern ment position as storekeeper and gauger, his first assign ment being at Jarrett's Distillery at Grafton, and later h was transferred to the Hannis Distillery at Martinsburg where he served eleven years, until removed after the elec tion of Woodrow Wilson.

While in the Government service at Martinsburg MI Zirkle studied law by correspondenee courses and later tool the lectures at West Virginia University, also passed hi law examination there and was admitted to the bar ij 1909. For a number of years he has had an extensiv practice in all the courts of his district. While in Philipp he was for two years city recorder, and since 1915 be ha been city recorder and auditor of Martinsburg. Mr. Zirkl is active in republican politics, is affiliated with Equalit Lodge No. 44, A. F. and A. M., at Martinsburg, with th Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and he and his wif are members of the First Methodist Episcopal Church.

In 1901, at Philippi, he married Miss Grace Ice, daughte of Judge William T. and Columbia (Jarvis) Ice. He father was for several years judge of the Circuit Cour in the district comprising Barbour, Preston and Randolp! counties. To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Zirkle wer born four children: Robert, now employed by the Martins burg Paid City Fire Department; Fred, in the eighth grad of the grammar school; Willard and Elizabeth Columbia both deccased.

WALTER J. LAMBERT, first vice president of the Citizen Bank of Martinsburg, Berkeley County, was born at Fred erick City, Maryland, on the 15th of July, 1850. He is son of Frederick Lambert, presumably a native of Vir ginia. The original American progenitors came from Eng land in an early day and settled in the historic Ok Dominion State. Frederick Lambert became a representa tive merchant at Frederick City, Maryland, his store an residence having been at the west end of Patrick Street The maiden name of his wife was Catherine Lambright, sh having been born and reared in Frederick City, where sh and her husband continued to reside until their deaths They became the parents of the following sons and daugh ters: David, Michael, William H., Charles O. (served thre terms as mayor of Martinsburg, West Virginia), John C. Harriet A., George Dallas (served as a member of the cit council at Martinsburg, West Virginia, and was a soldie in the Civil war three years), Thomas F., Lewis E., Walte J., Franklin P. (died at the age of four years), and Emm: J. The daughter Harriet became the wife of Walter H Keedy, who served as a soldier of the Union in the Civi war. Mr. and Mrs. Keedy became the parents of six chil dren, namely: Eugene, Mary, Laura, Naomi, Mabel and Emma, the latter of whom died in infancy. Emma J Lambert became the wife of Charles E. Zieler, now deceased and she now presides over the domestic economies and socia regime of the home of her brother, Walter J., subject o this review.

In his youth Walter J. Lambert attended the excellen schools conducted by Professor James English at Frederic]

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City, Maryland, and he early manifested distinet native alent as a trader, he having been a lad of twelve years ld when he entered the employ of Augustus Fraley, a lealer in horses and other live stock, for whom he bought nd sold with remarkable judgment for a youth of that mmature age. Mr. Lambert was fourteen years old when e came to Martinsburg, West Virginia, to enter the employ f his brothers, George D. and Charles O., who had here stablished themselves in the provision business. He con- inued to be thus associated with his brothers until they issolved their partnership. Thereafter he was for three ears in the employ of his brother George D., who then onsolidated his business with that of his father-in-law, Andrew Grazier. After remaining for a time with this new rm Walter J. Lambert engaged in the provision business in n independent way. Three years later he turned his atten- ion to the restaurant business, with which he continued to e successfully identified a few years, in the meanwhile aving been successful also as a local buyer and shipper of ive stoek. Mr. Lambert was one of the organizers of the Citizens Bank of Martinsburg, and has been a member of ts directorate from the time of its incorporation, besides which he has given effective executive service as its first iee president, an office of which he is the ineumbent at the resent time, his mature business judgment and effective ounsel having been a potent influence in connection with he development of this substantial financial institution. Ir. Lambert has made judieious investments in Martins- urg real estate, and was the owner of the local operahouse, chieh was destroyed by fire in 1920. He is a member of Robert White Lodge No. 67, Ancient Free and Accepted Jasons, Martinsburg Lodge No. 778, Benevolent and Pro- ective Order of Elks, and of Washington Lodge No. 1, Knights of Pythias.

Mr. Lambert has taken deep and helpful interest in the elfare of the fine little city that has long represented his ome, and while he has had no desire for publie office he as been at all times a liberal and progressive citizen-one ho has inviolable place in the esteem and good will of the ommunity. Mr. Lambert is a bachelor.

LEWIS H. THOMPSON. It is possible to characterize justly Ir. Thompson's position in Martinsburg as that of a man f affairs. In private business he has prosecuted his in- erests with a vigor and judgment that have earned some- hing more than ordinary success. At the same time he has ecognized the elaims of citizenship, and has been efficient nd competent in publie office. Organized movements and nstitutions which are the source of Martinsburg's best ame before the world have profited from his wise leader- hip and influence.

Mr. Thompson is a native of Martinsburg. His great- randfather, Joseph Thompson, was born in County Down, reland, but of Scotch aneestry, and brought his family to meriea and became a pioneer in Berkeley County. He erved as a soldier in the War of 1812, and for these serv- es was granted land in Iowa. He died at the age of eventy eight, transmitting the vigor of his mind and body o his descendants. His son James Thompson was twelve ears of age when brought to America. He possessed the ssential talents of the scholar, and it is said that before e came to America he had read the Bible through three imes. He learned the trade of weaver, and that was his hief occupation during his aetive life. He died at the age f eighty.

Samuel J. Thompson, father of the Martinsburg business an, was a soldier in the Confederate army, being with . E. B. Stuart's command until wounded. Following the ar he entered the service of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company and was a passenger conductor until late in years e resigned and lived retired until his death at the age of ighty-three. He married Sally Reed, whose father, James 1. Reed, was born in Martinsburg in 1818, and was the on of a weaver who owned and operated a mill on East ohn Street. James F. Reed succeeded to the ownership f the mill, and also operated another mill a mile and a alf west of Martinsburg. James F. Reed married Ann Snyder. Sally Reed Thompson died at the age of sixty-

seven, after rearing a family of ten sons and three daughters.

In this last family Lewis H. Thompson was next to the youngest son. While growing up at Martinsburg he at- tended the city school, and at the age of seventeen became a clerk in the store of Thompson & Tabler, remaining with that firm five years, and for three years was with his I.rother James F. He then engaged in business with his brother Benjamin, and subsequently became sole proprietor and still eonduets a high class men's furnishing store. However, that business is only one of several important affairs in which he is interested as a stockholder and execu- tive. He is viee president of the Shenandoah Bank and Trust Company, was for a number of years a director of the Bank of Martinsburg, is president of the Cherry Run Orchard Company, is president of the Martinsburg Fruit Exchange and for several years was president of the Business Men's Association and is a director of the Cham- ber of Commerce.

Mr. Thompson was for six years a member of the City Board of Affairs and for six years a member of the City Council, and during that time was also city treasurer. A prominent democrat, he has been chairman of the County Democratic Committee, a member of the Congregational District Committee and has attended as a delegate a number of local, district and state conventions.

At the age of twenty-one Mr. Thompson married Alice A. Grimes, a native of Martinsburg, and daughter of Harry and Julia Grimes. They have two children, Ethel Amelia and LaGarde Jones. Ethel Amelia is the wife of Capt. Hugh C. Parker, of the United States Army. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson are members of the Baptist Church, and for twenty-two years he served as superintendent of the Sun- day school.

BRUCE LEONARD HOLLAND while not one of the oldest men is one of the oldest citizens of Logan, and has been a factor in the expanding business affairs of that community more than twenty years. He has perhaps the oldest and largest business in real estate, insurance and bonds in the town, and is also vice president of the Bank of Logan.

Mr. Holland was born near Morgantown, West Virginia, October 20, 1877, son of Capt. W. C. and Agnes Jane (Selby) Holland. The Holland family were pioneers in and around Morgantown. His parents were both natives of Monongalia County. The mother is now living at Parkers- burg, where the family located in 1907. Captain Holland. who died there in 1910, at the age of seventy-five, was a well-to-do farmer and engaged in the timber business on the Monongahela River. He was always interested in politics as a matter of good government, was a republican, and for a number of years held the post of justice of the peace, and was on the school board and in other official positions. Captain Holland and five brothers were Union soldiers, and his service began at the opening of hostilities and con- tinned until the close of the war. He was in many battles, including Gettysburg, was twice wounded and for a time was a prisoner of war at Libby Prison. His youngest brother entered the service at the age of fourteen years as a bugler. Captain Holland was a member of the Grand Army of the Republie and a high degree Mason, and he and his family were Baptists. They had a family of four sons and three daughters. The oldest, B. O. Holland, who died at the age of fifty years, was a pioneer merehant at Logan, being a member of the firm Moore & Holland, held the office of postmaster a number of years, and was deeply in- terested in the general development of the Guyon Valley and was one of the first republican voters in the community. The second child, Sally, is the wife of John Ball, who for several terms served as sheriff of Wyoming County. The third ehild, Fannie, is the wife of Judge Blizzard, of Park- ersburg. Frank C. is in the real estate and insurance busi- ness at Mullins in Wyoming County. Bruce Leonard is the next in age. Fred is an accountant in Baldwin Tool Works at Parkersburg.

Bruee Leonard Holland acquired his early education in elistrict schools and also attended school at Grantsville in Calhoun County. Soon after leaving school he came to

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Holland, and for eight years was assistant postmaster under his brother. In 1906 he was commissioned by the governor of West Virginia to transcribe the records pertaining to that part of Logan County which went to form the new County of Mingo. This was a task that required eighteen months, and its performance gave him perhaps a wider and a more intimate acquaintance with the people and affairs of Logan and Mingo counties than was possessed by any one in this section.

Many years ago Mr. Holland began selling life insurance, and his insurance business has since taken on a broad and general scope, representing some of the strongest companies in fire and life, marine, mining and all other branches of insurance service applicable to such an industrial community as Logan County. He is also connected with several bond- ing companies. While in this business he began dealing in real estate, and his knowledge and experience of real estate give some vital facts indicating the growth of the com- munity. A number of years ago he paid $600 for one tract of land for which he has since been offered $60,000. Among other properties owned by him is the Jefferson Hotel at Logan. He was one of the organizers of the Bank of Logan, which started business in 1920, and of which he is vice president and member of the discount board. This bank has had a rapid growth, its deposits aggregate $800,- 000, and these deposits also reflect the prosperity of this mining community, since the larger part of the deposits are made by miners. Mr. Holland is also a stockholder in the First National Bank.

He inherits the interest of his father in public affairs, is one of the leading republicans of the county and a number of times has been chosen chairman of the county committee. In 1903 Mr. Holland married Kittie F. Ald- ridge, daughter of Jolin F. Aldridge and a nicce of Judge Wilkinson of Logan. They have three children: Paul, who just completed his high school course, has proved a very able assistant to his father in business, and is now continuing his education in Yale University; Max S., now thirteen years of age and in his first year in high school; and Mary L.

WILLIAM FRAZIER NARET is one of the leading representa- tives of real estate enterprise and fire and casualty insurance business at Morgantown, judicial center and metropolis of Monogalia County. He was born at Buffalo, Putnam Coun- ty, this state, October 25, 1876, and is a son of Dr. Edward and Rhoda F. (Frazier) Naret. Edward Naret was born in the City of Paris, France, in 1823, and there his educational discipline included the study of law. He was nineteen years of age when he came to the United States in 1842, and later he returned to his native land, where he devoted about two years to the study of medicine. He then came again to the United States, and he continued his studies in the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania until he there received his degree of Doctor of Medicine. He then engaged in the practice of his profession at Gallipolis, Ohio, and there was solemnized his first marriage. Later he met in the City of Philadelphia some Frenchmen who owned land at Buffalo, West Virginia, and who wished to sell the property. The doctor purchased the land and re- moved to that place, where several French families had established their homes. There he continued in the prac- tice of his profession until his death in 1876, and he long was known and honored as one of the influential citizens of that community. His first wife died, and at Buffalo he was united in marriage with Miss Rhoda F. Frazier, who was born and reared in what is now Putnam County, this state, a daughter of William Frazier, who came with one of his brothers from another part of Virginia and settled in Putnam County, which was at that time a part of the Old Dominion State. The locality where he settled became known as Frazier's Bottoms. Mrs. Naret sur- vives her husband and still resides in her native county.

William F. Naret obtained his youthful education in the public schools of his native place, and in the fall of 1892 he entered the preparatory department of the University of West Virginia, where he continued his studies until he entered the agricultural department of the University, in

which he was graduated in 1898, with the degree of Bach- elor of Agriculture. In 1900 he received from the uni- versity the supplemental degree of Master of Arts, he having previously received a fellowship in the university.

In 1900 Mr. Naret became associated with the Alleghany Orchard Company at Martinsburg, this state, where he remained about one year. Thereafter he was employed in a drug store at Morgantown for a period of about two years, and he then became associated with Curtis R. Hayes in the real estate and insurance business in this city. About two years later he purchased the business and formed the Hayes-Miller corporation to continue the same. Three years later he became the sole owner of the substantial and prosperous business, which he has since continued success- fully and in an individual way under his own name. Mr. Naret handles city, suburban and farm realty, and his transactions have been of broad scope, the while his repu- tation constitutes one of the most valuable assets of his business. He is also representative of a number of leading fire and casualty insurance companies and has a repre- sentative clientage in his underwriting business. He is also secretary of the Fair-Mor Coal Company, the coal mines of which are situated near Fairmont, Marion County, though most of the stockholders in the company are residents of Morgantown. Mr. Naret is financially interested in several Morgantown industrial enterprises, and is one of the liberal and broad-gauged citizens of Monongalia County. He is a member of the local Kiwanis Club and is affiliated with Morgantown Lodge No. 411, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and with Athens Lodge No. 30, Knights of Pythias.

WILLIAM SMITH SNYDER is a native of Martinsburg, and was an active business man of the city for twenty years or more, but now gives his time chiefly to the management of his private property interests. He is member of one of the substantial old families of the Eastern Panhandle.

Mr. Snyder was born at Martinsburg, January 28, 1858. His grandfather, John Snyder, at one time was a resident of Chillicothe, Ohio, and from there came to Virginia, lived for a time in Jefferson County, and then established his perma- nent home at Martinsburg. He was a hatter by trade, and he served as a constable in Martinsburg. He had three sons. Two of them, John and Daniel, were shoemakers at a time when shoe making was a manual trade and all boots and shoes were made to order. John Snyder continued the business of custom shoemaker in Martinsburg for many years, and was also a member of the official board of the Methodist Church. All business houses of the city were closed during his funeral. Daniel Snyder specialized in the making of women's shoes. His son removed to Baltimore and for many years was in business in that city.

Samuel Snyder, father of William Smith Snyder, learned the trade of carpenter and followed that occupation. He was a Union sympathizer when the war broke out between the states, removed to Pennsylvania and was soon stricken with diphtheria, and died in May, 1861, soon after return- ing home. He married Mary A. P. Legg, who was born at Annapolis, Maryland. Her father was a farmer in Mary- land, and on leaving the farm lived with her at Annapolis. Mrs. Mary Snyder was left a widow with three small children, named Clara W., who subsequently married Wil- liam Rouark, Maggie O. and William Smith. William Smith was only three years old when his father died. The mother kept her children together and carefully reared and educated them, and she died at the age of sixty-two. She and her husband were active members of the First Methodist Episcopal Church.

William Smith Snyder attended the city schools, and early songht a useful occupation that would provide his self- support. He learned the tinner's trade at the age of twenty, established himself in business as a tinsmith, and that was the active business line he followed. Mr. Snyder has made numerous investments in local real estate, and his accumulating interests in this field give him property that requires much of his time.

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History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 3, Part 38

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