History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 3, Part 40

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Mr. Mohler was born at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, March 26, 1886, and is a son of Albert Curtis and Ellen (Memin- ger) Mohler, of Pennsylvania Duteli aneestry. Albert C. Mohler was a tanner in his native state of Pennsylvania. where he resided until 1900, in that year removing to Iron Gate, Virginia. He eondueted a tannery at that place un- til 1917, when he took up his residenee at Petersburg, West Virginia, and there is the proprietor of the same kind of an establishment. Mr. Mohler is widely known for his in- tegrity in business matters, and has the reputation of a sound, reliable and publie-spirited citizen. He and his worthy wife are the parents of two sons: James H., who is in charge of the dairy farm of the Herschey Candy Company at Hersehey, this state; and George Arthur.

George Arthur Mohler attended the graded schools of Harrisburg, following which he entered high school at Clif-

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ton Forge, Virginia, and was then given a elerical position by the Clifton Forge Ice and Bottling Works. There, by % industry and fidelity, he worked himself to the position of assistant manager, and in 1919 was called to Beckley to take his present position. This plant was originally estab- lished in 1906 and was acquired by the present owners March 5, 1919. The president of the eoneern is L. M. Hogg, of Huntington, West Virginia; C. P. Nair, of Clifton Forge, Virginia, is vice president; C. P. Nair, Jr., of the same place, is secretary ; and A. C. Ford, of Clifton Forge, is treasurer. The business is a very extensive one and has grown considerably during the management of Mr. Mohler, who has effeeted a number of changes in system and equip- ment that have contributed to the coneern's prosperity. The product of this plant is of the highest class and finds favor with the dealers over a large contiguous territory.

In October, 1912, Mr. Mohler was united in marriage with Miss Florence E. Lackey, daughter of Dr. Harry Lackey, a practicing physician of Clifton Forge, and to this union there have been born four sons: George Arthur, Jr., Edgar L., Harry C. and Robert S. Mr. Mohler has been active in religious work, being a deacon of the Presbyterian Church and superintendent of the Sunday School at Tiel School- house. He also takes a keen and helpful interest in civic affairs, although he has never sought public office. His po- litical beliefs make him a supporter of the candidates and principles of the republican party. Mr. Mohler is a popu- lar member of the local Kiwanis Club.

DAVID D. ASHWORTH, who participated in some of the actual fighting in France as a lieutenant of infantry, has been a member of the West Virginia bar for half a dozen years, compiled a record of good service in the educational field, and is the present prosecuting attorney of Raleigh County, with home at Beckley.

He was born at Ghent in that county, May 10, 1889, son of Charles V. and Ida (Lilly) Ashworth. His paternal grandfather, Armistead A. Ashworth, was a minister of a Primitive Baptist Church, and had charge of many congre- gations in Virginia and West Virginia and was widely known in church cireles. He lived to be ninety-four years of age. Charles V. Ashworth, who was born in Grant County, Virginia, in 1854, moved to West Virginia in 1877, and was a farmer and teacher, conducting a number of rural schools in Raleigh County. In 1908 he moved to Mansfield, Missouri, where he is now living, and his later years have been given to the service of a Primitive Bap- tist Church as a minister. He has also served as a justice of the peaee in Mansfield. He had two brothers who were Confederate soldiers. Ida Lilly, first wife of Charles V. Ashworth, was born in Raleigh County in 1857, and died in 1893. The second wife of Charles V. Ashworth was Esta, daughter of George Broyles, of Monroe County. By the first marriage there were six sons and four daughters, David D. heing the eighth child. The oldest, Dr. R. A. Ashworth, is physician at the State Penitentiary at Moundsville, West Virginia. Ezra is in the lumber business and a farmer in Raleigh County. John enlisted in the Regular Army at the age of eighteen, has risen from the ranks to captain of infantry and is now located at Topeka, Kansas. L. L. Ashworth has the Ford agency at Pocahontas, Virginia. Joseph is a mine superintendent at Shady in Raleigh County. Of the daughters, Maude, who died in 1906, at the age of twenty-six, was the wife of H. W. Hicks, of Marion, Virginia. Lilly B. is the wife of T. S. MeKinney, and they live on the Ashworth homestead. Alice, who died in 1913, at the age of twenty-five, was the wife of Dan Griffith. Charlotte is the wife of George Mckinney. Charles Ash- worth by his second marriage has one daughter, Lula.

David D. Ashworth received his first instruction in the grade school of Ghent. Later he attended the Beckley In- stitute, graduated in 1913 from the Coneord State Normal School, and during 1913-15 was a student of law at West Virginia University. He was admitted to the bar No- vemher 9, 1915. In the meantime and afterward he pur- sued a successful career as a teacher and school man. He taught ten terms of school. During 1909-10 he was super- intendent of the Sandy River District in McDowell County.

He was also principal of the Eccles High School. In 1919- 20 he was superintendent of the Town Distriet of Raleigh County. At that time the Beekley High School was in course of construction, and it was finished under his super- vision and is one of the finest schools in the state. Between terms of sehool Mr. Ashworth clerked in stores, and one summer was clerk in the Raleigh County Bank. He also served as deputy sheriff under W. L. Foster.

Offering his services as a volunteer, Mr. Ashworth in Au- gust, 1917, entered the Second Officers' Training Camp at Fort Benjamin Harrison, and was commissioned a second lieutenant of infantry. For some months he was on duty as an instructor in Camp Dodge, Iowa, and August 14, 1918, went overseas, reaching France September 3. He was at the front lines and part of the time on the battle front from October 3 until the signing of the armistice November 11. He was in the Meuse-Argonne distriet, and was promoted to first lieutenant soon after going to France. He was onee slightly wounded, and had the unusual experience of having two canteens shot from his shoulder, and his com- rades spoke of him as the man who could not keep a can- teen. After the armistice he went with the Army of Oceu- pation to Weitersburg, near Coblenz, where he remained until May 3, 1919. He received his honorable discharge from active duty June 8, 1919, but still retains a commis- sion as a first lieutenant in the Reserve Corps.

Mr. Ashworth was elected prosecuting attorney of Raleigh County in the fall of 1920, and entered the office January 1, 1921. He has given a splendid account of him- self in this splendid office. He is a member of the cham- ber of commerce at Beckley, is a Master Mason and Knight of Pythias, and in politics is a republican. He is a mem- ber of the Missionary Baptist Church, and Mrs. Ashworth is a Lutheran.

On June 25, 1919, he married Miss Martha Kellman, of Des Moines, Iowa. She is a graduate of Drake University of Des Moines. They have one daughter, Harriet Ruth.

J. HUGH MILLER. One of the important factors in busi- ness and banking affairs of Beckley is J. Hugh Miller, cashier of the Raleigh Banking and Trust Company. He has been prominently interested at Beckley and elsewhere in a number of enterprises which have benefited by his good judgment and energetic management, and his participation in eivic affairs has served to add impetus to worthy move- ments established for the general welfare.

Mr. Miller was born on a farm in Rappahannock County, Virginia, August 2, 1864, a son of James N. and Catherine (Payne) Miller. James N. Miller was born in 1838, in Rap- pahannock County, Virginia, and as a young man adopted farming as his vocation. During the war between the states he enlisted in Colonel Mosby's command in the Confederate service, and fought with that famous organization through- out the four-year struggle. He returned then to his farm, where he died at the age of seventy-three years, after a useful, honorable and successful career. He was a democrat in politics, and his religious faith was that of the Baptist Church, to which also belonged his wife, who was born in Fauquier County, Virginia, and died at the age of seventy- three years, one year after the death of her husband. They had three sons and seven daughters, the sons being: J. Hugh; Frank, who died at Cheyenne, Wyoming, as a rail- road employe; and W. R., who was traveling freight agent for the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad at the time of his death.

J. Hugh Miller grew to manhood on the home farm and attended the rural schools and the graded schools of Wood- ville, Virginia. Later he spent six months at Westminster College, Maryland, and in 1885 came to Hinton, West Vir- ginia, as clerk and station agent for the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad, which was then little more than a streak of rusty rails, while Hinton was only a small village. After remaining with the railroad for thirteen years Mr. Miller came to Beckley to become cashier of the old Bank of Ral- eigh. Five years later he went to Thurmond, as cashier of the Bank of Thurmond, which during the time he was there hecame the National Bank of Thurmond of which he re- mained the cashier. In 1921 he returned to Beckley and beeame one of the organizers of the Raleigh Banking and

Henry L. Daten -

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Trust Company, of which he has since been cashier. This has already become one of the leading financial institutions of Raleigh County and stands high in public confidence and favor.

In 1902 Mr. Miller was united in marriage with Miss Jane Anderson, born in Iowa, a daughter of Archie Ander- son, a mine foreman who met his death in a mine explo- sion. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Miller: John R. and Mary E., who are attending Beckley High School; J. Hugh, Jr., who is attending the graded school; and Cora Ann. Mr. Miller is a Baptist in religious faith and his wife, a Methodist. He is well known in Masonry, belonging to the Blue Lodge at Beckley, the Chapter at Thurmond and the Shrine at Charleston, and also holds membership in the Loyal Order of Moose, the Knights of Pythias, the Kiwanis Club, the Beckley Chamber of Com- merce and the Young Men's Club. A democrat in his po- litical views, he has taken an active interest in the success of his party and in civic affairs, and while residing at Thurmond served as mayor of that city.

EDGAR W. SMOOT, M. D., one of the skilled physicians and surgeons, and a member of the staff of the Danville Hospital and a veteran of the World war, is specializing with remarkable success in children's diseases, with offices at Madison. He was born in Boone County, March 29, 1870, a son of Daniel and Mary Alice (Atkins) Smoot, both of whom were born in West Virginia. Doctor Smoot comes of English and Dutch descent, the Smoot family be- ing an old one in Virginia and the Atkins family is also prominent in Virginia.

D. J. Smoot, son of William and Martha Smoot, was born near Ballardsville, Logan County, Virginia, now Madi- son, West Virginia, November 10, 1843, and died February 7, 1918. He served in the Confederate Army in the com- pany known as the Logan Wildcats, was at Appomattox when Lee surrendered, and received an honorable discharge, which he prized very highly. He married Mary Alice At- kins on January 17, 1867. To this union were born five children, three sons and two daughters: W. W. Smoot, of Danville, West Virginia; Dr. E. W. Smoot, of Madison, West Virginia; D. A. Smoot, of Danville, West Virginia ; Mrs. W. W. Hall, of Stallings, West Virginia; and Mrs. M. J. Hopkins, of Sumner, Ohio. There are nine grandchil- dren. Mr. Smoot was a democrat in politics, always active in support of the principles in which he believed, and was twice elected clerk of the Connty Court of Boone County. He was a member of the Baptist Church, having united with that organization thirty-five years ago, and lived a con- sistent Christian life. He belonged to the Order of Odd Fellows, American Mechanics and Improved Order of Red Men. He is survived by his wife and children, all of whom were with him at his death.

From childhood Doctor Smoot possessed the ambition to fit himself for the medical profession, and in order to ob- tain the money necessary for his long courses first pre- pared himself for that of teaching by supplementing his common-school training with two terms at the State Nor- mal School at Athens, West Virginia. There he took a gen- eral academic course and secured his teacher's certificate. For four years he taught school in Boone County, and then, going to Louisville, Kentucky, took up the study of medicine at the Kentucky School of Medicine, from which he was graduated in 1897 with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. Immediately thereafter he established himself in a general practice at Madison, Boone County. Becoming interested in that branch of his profession which deals with children's diseases, he did post-graduate work in Louisville in 1899, and again in that city about 1909, and is now spe- cializing on the subject, although he still conducts his gen- eral practice, his former patients being unwilling to dis- pense with his services.

During the late war Doctor Smoot enlisted in the Medi- cal Corps and was stationed in the Embarkation Hospital at Newport News, with the rank of first lientenant. Here he spent seven months, receiving bis honorable discharge in December, 1918, but was almost immediately stricken, was taken to Charleston, West Virginia, where he remained

until July, 1919, when his health was sufficiently regained for him to return home.

In 1913 Doctor Smoot married at Charleston, West Vir- ginia, Miss Rosalie Zinn, a daughter of James B. Zinn, of Spencer, West Virginia. Mr. Zinn and his wife were both born in West Virginia. He is a stone mason and farmer. Doctor and Mrs. Smoot have no children. He belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias, the Improved Order of Red Men and the Fraternal Order of Eagles. With the exception of three years in the coal fields ot Blair and the period of his war service Doc- tor Smoot's professional life has been spent at Madison, and his is a familiar figure in Boone County. Both as a physician and personally he has won the warm friendship of all classes, and is recognized as a skillful practitioner and an expert in his specialty. As a citizen he has never shirked his duty, but striven to give to his community a loyal service, and has always placed his professional skill and knowledge at the disposal of the officials whenever necessary. He is an honor to his calling and his state, and there are many of the veterans of the World war, now scattered all over the country, who have cause to remember with grateful appreciation his efficient service at the time this country was at war.

HENRY L. PORTER studied and qualified for the law, but the profession has been of only incidental service to him in a very practical business career. He early became asso- ciated with the timber and mineral industry of Eastern Kentucky, where some of his heavy interests are yet located. As a coal operator he came into the West Virginia fields several years ago, and is now a resident of Huntington and secretary of the Eureka Coal & Mining Company.

Mr. Porter was born in Floyd County, Kentucky, October 13, 1877. The Porter ancestors came originally from Ire- land and were Colonial settlers in Virginia. His grand- father, Samuel Porter, was born in old Virginia in 1797, and was a pioneer in Johnson County, Kentucky. He acquired and developed to farming uses a large amount of land there. This land afterward became exceedingly valuable for coal deposits, and was acquired as some of the property of the Consolidation Coal Company. Samuel Porter was a useful soldier in the War of 1812, being stationed on duty at the mouth of the James River. He died in Johnson County, Kentucky, in 1882. His wife was Anna Raines. who was born in Tazewell County, Virginia. in 1800, and died in Johnson County in 1884. Henry L. Porter, Sr., father of the Huntington coal operator. was born in Johnson County, Kentucky, in 1843, was reared and married there. and soon after his marriage he moved to Floyd County, and for many years was a successful merchant in that vicinity. He served as a soldier in the Civil war, was a democrat, and was one of the very earnest and active supporters of the work of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. He died in Boyd County in 1912. His wife was Minta Wells. who was born in Johnson Connty in 1845 and died in Floyd County in 1891. A brief record of their children is as follows: Maggie. of Prestonsburg, Kentucky, widow of Col. C. Cline, who was in the timber business there; Laura, who died at Anderson, Indiana, at the age of thirty-five. wife of E. L. Cline. now engaged in the timber business in Flovd County ; Maryland. wife of Thomas M. Peery, a blacksmith at Pike- ville. Kentucky; Henry L., Jr .; and Samuel, at Ashland, Kentucky, who owns and operates several coal mines in Flovd County.

Henry L. Porter. Jr., attended rural schools near his father's home. continued his education in the Prestonsburg Normal School, and for five years was a teacher in Flovd County and one year in Meeker County, Minnesota. He taught his first school at the age of eighteen. While teach- ing he studied law. and for two years was a student of law in what is now called the Western State Normal School at Bowling Green, Kentucky. He graduated LL. B. with the class of 1901. Instead of beginning law practice, he con- tinued teaching in Floyd County until 1905, and for about ten years was also interested in timber operations in that section of Eastern Kentucky. Mr. Porter began dealing in coal lands at John's Creek in Floyd County in 1914, and

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his association with this business for three years led to more active connections with coal mining. In 1917 he helped organize the Long Branch Coal Company, of which he is a director. . He and Harry Leaberry in 1918 organized the Eureka Coal and Mining Company, with mines at Prestons- burg. Mr. Porter is still secretary of this company. The company's mines are equipped to handle from 2,000 to 3,000 tons per day. Mr. Porter in March, 1921, was one of the organizers of the Coal River Collieries, developing mines on Coal River and in Boone County, West Virginia, where the company has over 5,000 acres under lease. The officers of both the Eureka and the Coal River companies are at 522 Tenth Street in Huntington, and Mr. Porter is secretary and treasurer of the Coal River Company.

While a resident of Floyd County Mr. Porter served four years as justice of the peace. He is a democrat, a member of the Johnson Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church, South, of Huntington, of which he is a steward, is a past senior warden of Zebulon Lodge No. 273, F. and A. M., at Prestonsburg, a member of Paintsville Chapter No. 131, R. A. M., Huntington Lodge of Perfection No. 4, Hunting- ton Rose Croix Chapter No. 4 of the Scottish Rite, and West Virginia Consistory No. 1 of the thirty-second degree at Wheeling. He belongs to Beni-Kedem Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Charleston.

Since coming to Huntington Mr. Porter has made some investments in real estate, including his fine home, a ten room brick house in a restricted residential section, at 229 Fifth Avenue. In December, 1903, in Floyd County, Ken- tucky, he married Miss Myrtle Clark, daughter of Morgan and Rebecca (Graham) Clark, the latter still living in Floyd County, where the father died after a successful career as a farmer and stock raiser. Mr. and Mrs. Porter have four children: Ruth, born October 17, 1905, and Esther, born in June, 1908, both students in the Central High School at Huntington; Henry Howard, born October 17, 1910, and Jean, born May 25, 1914, students in the grammar school at Huntington.

HOWARD J. MCGINNIS has become an influential figure in the educational affairs of his native state, and his peda- gogie and executive powers are being effectively used in his present important office, that of president of the West Virginia State Normal School at West Liberty, Ohio Coun- ty, an institution of which due record is made in the gen- eral historical department of this publication.

Professor MeGinnis was born on a farm near Glenville, Gilmer County, this state, and the date of his nativity was April 4, 1882. The family lineage traces back to John Mc- Ginnis, who, as an orphan boy, came to what is now West Virginia nearly a century ago and who here passed his adult life as a farmer in Gilmer County, where his death occurred when he was well advanced in years. On his old homestead farm was born his son John H., father of him whose name initiates this review, and the son passed his entire life on this ancestral farmstead, which is still in the possession of the family, with the exception of a minor area. John H. McGinnis, a man of strong mentality and sterling char- acter, died at the age of sixty years, and his wife survived him a number of years.

The early education of Prof. Howard J. McGinnis was acquired in the public schools of his native county, and there he was graduated in the State Normal School at Glen- ville as a member of the class of 1906. In 1915 he was graduated in the University of West Virginia, with the degree of Bachelor of Science, and later he completed a post-graduate course in the great University of Chicago, from which he received the degree of Master of Arts. He has been actively engaged in educational service in West Virginia for twenty years, and his career in his pro- fession has been marked by consecutive advancement in subjective success and objective influence. For four years he continued to teach in the rural schools, a basic work of major importance; for three years he was prin- cipal of the Fourth Ward School at Morgantown; for two years he was superintendent of the schools at Bridgeport, West Virginia; for one year he held a similar position at Harrisville, Ritchie County, West Virginia; for five years

he was instructor in rural education and registrar at the State Normal School at Fairmont; and in November. 1919, he was elected president of the State Normal School at West Liberty.

Professor McGinnis has given earnest and valuable serv. ice also in connection with the work of teachers' county institutes and in other educational assemblages and organi zations. He is an active member of the National Teachers Association and also the West Virginia State Teachers Asso ciation. He is a republican in general politics, but not super-partisan in local affairs; his religious faith is that of the Methodist Episcopal Church; and he is a member of the Phi Sigma Kappa College fraternity. At West Vir ginia University he was elected to the honorary scholarship fraternity, Phi Beta Kappa, and at Chicago University he was similarly honored by election to the professional edu cation fraternity, Phi Delta Kappa. Mr. McGinnis is also a member of the Odd Fellows and the Masonic lodges.

His fondness for athletics, in which he has taken active part, enhances his value as an educator of youth. He i: an enthusiast in his profession and has the ability to in spire enthusiasm in the students who work under his super vision, as well as in the teachers with whom he is associated in service.

Professor McGinnis wedded Miss Nellie A. Weisman, who was born in the State of Illinois, and who was a teache: under his supervision while he was connected with the publi schools at Morgantown, she being a graduate of Austin Col lege, Illinois. Professor and Mrs. McGinnis have two chil dren: Alma Christine and Helen Virginia.

HISTORY OF THE BURNS FAMILY IN WEST VIRGINIA. Th Burns family of Fairmont descended from William Howard Burns, who was born in 1766 in Belfast, County Antrim Province of Ulster, Ireland.

The last years of the eighteenth century found Ireland in rebellion, and during these troublous times young Burn sailed for America. Born in Ulster, a Protestant and a Orangeman, we have reasons to believe that his departur was for political reasons, and that he left the Irish ques tion to be settled without his aid. In 1797 he came t Hampshire County, Virginia (now West Virginia) an bought land on Pattersons Creek. (Will Book No. 14, P 227.) In 1802 a postoffice was established at Western Port and Mr. Burns was the first postmaster. He died there i 1811.

William Howard Burns married Philadelphia Burbridge who was born in Fredericksburg, Virginia, August 28, 1775 Her father, John Burbridge, was a soldier in the Revolu tion and died "in States' Service in 1782." Her grand mother was Mary Ball, of the Virginia Balls. Philadelphi Burbridge was a descendant of one "Thomas Burbridg Gentleman," who came to Virginia in 1636 and had man hundred acres granted him on the Nausemond River, i: what is now Isle of Wight County (and adjacent coun ties). The family is an old English one, and while th spelling of the name has differed somewhat, there ar sixteen generations of Burbridges behind Thomas. To th union of William Howard and Philadelphia Burns six chil dren were born: Maria, 1798; Patsy Elliott, 1800; Ben jamin B. B., 1802; James, 1801; Philadelphia, 1806; Wil liam, 1810.

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History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 3, Part 40

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