History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 3, Part 43

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In 1914 Doctor Harless married in Mason County Miss Lucetta Kay, a daughter of John and Elsie Kay. Mr. Kay is a native of Scotland, and his wife was born in Pennsyl- vania. In early life he was engaged in the coal business, but is now a farmer. Doctor and Mrs. Harless have one daughter, Eleanor. They belong to the Methodist Episco- pal Church, South, and take an active part in the work of the various church organizations. Fraternally Doctor Harless maintains membership with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He is a strong republican, but has not cared to come before the people as an office seeker.

Ever since he located at Clothier Doctor Harless has played an important part in its life. His drug store is one of the best-conducted in this part of the county, and he takes pride in it and the one at Madison. As a physician and surgeon he has won the approval of his professional associates as well as the affection and gratitude of his pa- tients, and his practice shows a large increase annually. While he has not been an official, he has not spared himself in working for the good of the city, but cheerfully ren-

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dered a valuable service whenever it was needed, and is especially zealous in forwarding those measures designed to improve the sanitation of the city and county. Person- ¿. lly he is very popular, and has friends all over this part of the state.

LOUIS F. ECHOLS. Some of the most representative men and solid citizens of Boone County are devoting their time and using their energies in behalf of agricultural activities, in this way not only earning a fair competence for them- selves, but rendering a service to the country in the pro- duction of raw materials and increasing the prestige of this region. One of these men thus prosperous and use- ful is Louis F. Echols, owner of a valuable farm near Madi- son, and county assessor.

Louis F. Echols was born in Craig County, Virginia, in March, 1866, a son of G. A. and Cartha (Atkins) Echols, the former of whom came of Irish stock, and the latter of Dutch ancestry. The paternal grandfather settled in Giles County, Virginia, at an early day. Both G. A. Echols and his wife were born in Virginia, where they were married. When Louis F. Echols was about one year old they moved to West Virginia, settling in Boone County. G. A. Echols was a farmer and also did contract coal hauling from the mines before the construction of the railroads. He was very active in church work and was an elder of the Chris- tian denomination.

Reared in Boone County, Louis F. Echols attended its common schools, and when only sixteen years old began working at making molasses in what was then a new way. The first evaporators that were installed in the county were set up on the Echols farm. Mr. Echols was also en- gaged in farming, and then went into the coal mines, where he remained for three years. His attention was theu turned to the lumber and timber business, and for twenty-eight years, or until 1920, he owned and operated a portable saw-mill, and did logging and sawing. All of this time, however, he was also engaged in farming, and is still con- ducting his valuable farm, on which he makes his home. His operations as a farmer are of such magnitude as to make him a leader in this important industry.

In 1918 Mr. Echols was elected a member of the board of education, bnt resigned that position when, in 1920, he was elected county assessor, as, according to the state law, a man can hold but one publie office. His work in connec- tion with his present office is of such a character as to place him among the very efficient men to serve in this ca- racity, and the record he is making is an enviable one in every respect.

Mr. Echols married in November, 1893, Miss Viola Long, at Rock Creek, Boone County. She is a daughter of John and Frances Long, the former of whom, a native of Ire- land, came to the United States in young manhood, and subsequently located in West Virginia, where Mrs. Echols was born. Her mother was also a native of this state. Mr. and Mrs. Echols became the parents of eight children. Eva, the eldest, married Siegel Workman, of Madison, who is United States marshal for the Southern Judicial Dis- trict. At one time he served as assistant cashier in the Madison Bank. Mr. and Mrs. Workman have one son, Siegel Workman, Junior. Ezra Echols, the second ehild, married Lora Lilly, at Madison, and they have one son, Thomas George Echols. Bessie, the third child, married Harry Humphrey, who is deputy county assessor under his father-in-law. Mr. and Mrs. Humphrey have one daughter, Betsy Ann. Jesse, Edgar and Celeste are unmarried and at home. There were two children who died young. Both Ezra and Jesse Echols served in the World war, the for- mer heing overseas for eighteen months. Mr. Humphrey was also in the service, so that the Echols family was well represented in the late war. The family all belong to the Christian Church. Fraternally Mr. Echols maintains mem- bership with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Improved Order of Red Men. From the day he cast his first ballot Mr. Echols has been zealous in behalf of the republican party, and is a recognized leader of the local forces. His career has not been spectacular, but his prog- ress has been steady, and for a long time he has held the

position in his community to which his ability and accom- plishments entitle him. His name has long stood for effi- ciency and uprightness, and his advocacy of any move- ment stamps it as one worth favorable consideration.

DELLET NEWLON, whose home is on rural route No. 1 out of Simpson, has given a satisfactory account of his abilities in several capacities, but his outstanding service has undoubtedly been in education. His term as county superintendent was an area of educational progress for Taylor Connty. Recently he resumed teaching in his home locality.

Something is said on other pages of the Newlon family, one of the best known in Taylor County. His grandfather, William Newlon, was born in old Virginia, was a soldier in the War of 1812 under General Dearborn, and soon after leaving the army settled on Long Run. The old farm he owned there is now the property of Daniel R. Shafer of Grafton. He gave the rest of his life to the management and cultivation of this farm. After coming to West Vir- ginia he married Miss Powell, and their childern were: Burr P., who was a farmer and died near Belington; Wil- liam, who moved to a farm in Doddridge County and died at Tollgate; Payton, Nathan and Lemuel, all of whom were farmers on Long Run, where the widow of Lemuel is still living; Chapman, who was born on Long Run and was a farmer there; Frederick, who died when a young man; and Alfred.

Alfred Newlon, father of Dellet, enlisted in the Union Army during the Civil war, at first in Company D of the Sixth West Virginia, a company subsequently consolidated with Company E. He was iu service in the Valley of Vir- ginia, participated in the battles of Bull Rnn and Antie- tam, and was with Sheridan's forces at Winchester and Cedar Creek. At the close of the war he went with the regiment to fight the Indians on the western plains. The command went up the Missouri River by boat from St. Louis to Fort Leavenworth and thence overland to Fort Laramie, Wyoming. As souvenirs of this western experi- ence he brought home a large Indian knife and a silver medal, both now the property of his son Dellet. He was never wounded while in the army, but had his feet frozen. Alfred Newlon was as good a citizen as he was a soldier. He was a constable of his district, a republican and a member of the Baptist Church. He was killed by a Balti- more and Ohio train in 1901. He married Elizabeth Yates, daughter of Martin and Elizabeth (Wiseman) Yates. She died in 1909, and of their nine children Dellet is the fourth in age.

Dellet Newlon was born June 2, 1876, and his home today is within a mile of his birthplace. He grew up on the farm on Sand Lick, and laid the foundation of his educa- tion in country schools. He attended the summer normal courses in the old West Virginia College, and began teaclı- ing at the age of twenty-two. His first school was the Cather School, near the old college which he had attended. He was a teacher five consecutive terms, and in 1902 was elected county superintendent of schools as a successor of Wallace T. Phillips. He was thrice elected his own suc- cessor. Here it is possible only briefly to note some of the more important educational progress made during his ad- ministration. A beginning was made of school cousolida- tion. The consolidated school at Webster is the result of combining the districts whose schools were five miles from Webster, the pupils being gathered up in wagons and car- ried five miles to the consolidated school. Also the Gabe's Fork School was consolidated with the Simpson School. Two high schools were established, one at Flemington and the other at Simpson. He was the first superintendent to introduce the graduating system for free school diplomas. He also established district institutes, which brought to- gether both teachers and patrons of the schools.

After leaving the office of county superintendent Mr. Newlon taught one year, and then turned his attention to business, spending about two years as clerk in the store of the Maryland Coal Company at Wendel. For three years he was deputy sheriff under his brother, Melvin New- lon. After leaving the sheriff's office he was manager of

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the Simpson Cooperative Store, has also done considerable teaching and has been in charge of the Long Run School since the fall of 1921.

In Taylor County, February 5, 1903, Mr. Newlon mar- ried Miss Effie Dearing, who was born in Berry's Run locality, February 4, 1874, daughter of E. Nelson and Elizabeth (Greathouse) Dearing. Her mother was a dangh- ter of John Greathouse, of Ravenswood, West Virginia. Nelson Dearing was born at Buck Run, Taylor County, was a farmer, served as deputy sheriff under Sheriff Davidson, and died January 20, 1920, while his wife passed away No- vember 30, 1919. The Dearing children were: Maud, Jes- sie and Mrs. Newlon. The two oldest daughters were the successive wives of Okey Goodwin. Mrs. Newlon was edu- cated in the public school at Berry's Run. She is the mother of three children: Mildred E., who is a junior in the Simpson High School; Merle, also a junior in high school; and Alfred, a pupil in the Long Run Grade School.

In politics Mr. Newlon is a republican and cast his first presidential vote for Major Mckinley in 1900. He has attended several local conventions as a delegate. He is a past chancellor of the Knights of Pythias Lodge and a member of the Woodmen of the World, is a Baptist, and has been teacher of the young men's class in the Simp- son Sunday School.

LEWIS EDWIN LANTZ, president of the Bank of Jack- sonburg, a farmer and oil producer, is serving his second term representing Wetzel County in the West Virginia House of Delegates.

Part of the Town of Jacksonburg is built on land that was once included in his grandfather's farm. His grand- father was Alexander Lantz, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1793, and established his home at Jacksonburg in 1833, acquiring an extensive home site and operating it as a farm during' the remainder of his life. He was a soldier in the War of 1812 and died at Jacksonburg in 1875. His wife was Margaret Minor, a native of Pennsylvania, who died at Jacksonburg. Their son, Samuel Lantz, was born De- cember 10, 1824, at the mouth of Hoovers Run, near Blacks- ville, West Virginia, and was nine years of age when his parents moved to the site at Jacksonburg. He was reared and married there, and in his day was regarded as one of the most progressive farmers and stock raisers in this vicinity. He was a democrat in politics, the family faith, and was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Samuel Lantz died at Jacksonburg March 26, 1920, in his ninety-sixth year. His wife, a Miss McCormick, was born near Blacksville, in Monongalia County, May 22, 1836, and at the age of eighty-five lives with her only surviving child at Jacksonburg. Her older son, Pierson, died in 1882.

Lewis Edwin Lantz was born at Jacksonburg, Wetzel County, November 25, 1870. He was educated in common and private schools, lived on his father's farm at the age of twenty, and then for ten years conducted a store near Jacksonburg. He then removed his mercantile business into that town, and is still financially interested in this busi- ness, though his commercial relations are now widely ex- tended. He has much invested capital in the wholesale grocery business at New Martinsville, Wheeling and Clarks- burg. Mr. Lantz has been a successful dealer in livestock and land, and since 1906 has been heavily interested in oil and gas production in the West Virginia fields and in the Bridgeport field of Illinois. He still has some pro- duction, though he sold most of his holdings during the war. He owns a large farm of 600 acres adjoining Jack- sonburg. The Bank of Jacksonburg was organized in Jan- uary, 1904, and he has been its president from the begin- ning.

Mr. Lantz has for many years been a leader in his sec- tion of the state in the democratic party, has served as chairman of the County Executive Committee and as a member of the State Executive Committee. In November, 1918, he was elected to the House of Delegates and re- elected in 1920. During the 1919 session he was a member of the committees on roads, fish and game, banks and bank- ing, military affairs, and was again placed on the same com- mittees in 1921. A subject that he regards as of primary

importance and to which he has given study for a number of years and much attention while in the Legislature is good roads.

He is a prominent Mason, both in the York and Scottish Rite, being affiliated with Wetzel Lodge No. 39, F. and A. M., at New Martinsville; Sistersville Chapter No. 27, R. A. M .; Mountain State Commandery No. 14, K. T .; West Virginia Consistory of the Scottish Rite at Wheeling; and Osiris Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Wheeling. Mr. Lantz was one of the men who really neglected business to devote their time and influence to aiding the Govern- ment in the successful prosecution of the war. He was as- sociated with every drive made in Wetzel County for sale of Liberty Bonds, raising of funds for Red Cross and other organizations, and helped many of the recruits fill out their questionnaires.

June 17, 1893, at Jacksonburg, Mr. Lantz married Miss Violet Morgan, daughter of Elisha and Elizabeth (Ander- son) Morgan. Mrs. Lantz is a member of the historic Morgan family that originally settled at Morgantown. Her mother still lives at Jacksonburg, and her father, a farmer, died there. Mr. and Mrs. Lantz have reared an interest- ing family of children: Florence, born December 24, 1894, is the wife of Capt. Roy F. Miller, both graduates of West Virginia University. Captain Miller served with that rank in the World war as an instructor at Camp Meade and was recommended for the rank of major when the armis- tice was signed. He is now minister of the Presbyterian Church at Cochranton, Pennsylvania. Bryan Pierson, the second child, born June 4, 1897, finished his education in the Staunton Military Academy at Staunton, Virginia, and is an oil well driller in Oklahoma. Phyllis, born in 1899, is a graduate of the Visitation Academy at Parkersburg, spent two terms in West Virginia University and is a book- keeper in the Bank of Jacksonburg. Margaret, born in 1901, and Ruth, born in 1903, live with their sister at Cochranton, Pennsylvania, where they are seniors in the Cochranton High School. Pearl, born in 1906, is in the sophomore class of the Jacksonburg High School, and the two younger children are Lewis Edwin, Jr., born in 1911, and Harry Lee, born in 1913.

HARRY OUTEN COLE. It is generally a difficult matter for the layman to even partly appreciate the work accomplished by one of those men who are essentially an outcome of twentieth-century progress, the construction engineers, for the public for the most part has no realization of the impor- tance of the work of those who labor for the service of mankind in this special direction. No man can enter upon this important field of endeavor without a careful and com- plete preparation if he desires to succeed. His training must include a sound knowledge of mathematics, physics, chemistry, hydraulics, mechanical engineering and elec- tricity, while he must have a practical knowledge of geol- ogy, surveying and architecture, and be fully acquainted with the nature and strength of the materials which he may be called upon to use. Among the leading construc- tion engineers of West Virginia, one who has won a well- merited position and reputation in his calling is Harry Onten Cole, of the firm of Cole Brothers.

Mr. Cole was born on Dent's Run, near the City of Mor- gantown, April 3, 1874. His great-grandfather, Coverdale Cole, came from Delaware into Monongalia County in 1794, and bought 700 acres of land, paying for it the sum of 800 pounds sterling. He was the pioneer of the family in West Virginia, and his son, Draper, was the grandfather of Harry O. Cole. Nimrod Cole, the father of Harry O., was born on Dent's Run in 1836, and died in 1910. He married Sarah Jane Lough, daughter of Matthew Lough, whose wife was a member of the well-known Willey family, which came to Monongalia County from Red Stone, Penn- sylvania.

Harry O. Cole was reared on the home farm and acquired his early education in the public and select schools of his native neighborhood. In the spring of 1893 he entered the University of West Virginia, from which institution he was graduated with the class of 1898, receiving the de- gree of B. S. C. E. In that same year he commenced en-

NObol

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gineering work with the Keystone Bridge Works at Pitts- hurgh, and during 1900 was with the National Steel Com- pany of Youngstown, Ohio. During 1901 and 1902 and a part of 1903 he was employed by the American Bridge Company of Philadelphia, and from 1903 to 1907 was with V. G. Bogue, a consulting engineer of New York City, as assistant in charge of design of bridges for four different railroad companies. During a portion of 1908 Mr. Cole was employed as special expert computer with the investi- gating commission on the Queensborough Bridge, New York City. In the same year he became identified with the Isthmian Canal Commission, and continued to be connected with that commission until 1914, as follows: From 1908 to 1909, as office engineer in charge of designs for the Pa- cific Division; 1909-1910, assistant engineer in charge of the office and also in the Municipal Division, including Panama City; 1910-1911, resident engineer in charge of lock and dam construction of the Pacific Division; 1912- 1914, engineer in charge of Pacific Division, covering con- struction of locks, canal excavations, hydraulic work, elec- trical department, quarries and municipal work in Panama City, reporting direct to the chairman and chief engineer.

From 1914 to 1916 Mr. Cole was president of Cole Brothers Company, construction engineers of Baltimore and Morgantown, engaged in general engineering and contract construction work, and from 1916 to 1920 was employed by the Guggenheim Brothers, 120 Broadway, New York City, as follows: 1916-18, assistant construction engineer ; 1918-1920, construction engineer in charge of designs and construction of copper plant development work for the Chile Exploration Company and the Braden Copper Com pany, with headquarters in New York City, which work covered the designs, specifications, purchase of materials, transportation and field construction work for the two com- panies in South America, with expenditures approximating $65,000,000. During this period he made occasional trips of inspection to South America, also during the war ren- dered considerable assistance to the United States War Department by supplying expert engineers in various gov- ernmental branches, Mr. Cole having some 300 experts in the engineering department of his New York City office from whom to draw.

Since 1920 Mr. Cole has been in construction and con- tracting business as senior member of the firm of Cole Brothers at Morgantown, having handled during 1921 nu- merous contracts for bank and office buildings, railways, highways and general construction work in the surround- ing counties. Mr. Cole is a member of the American So- ciety of Civil Engineers, and in 1921 was elected vice presi- dent of the Morgantown Chamber of Commerce. He is prominent in Masonry, a member of Sojourners Lodge at Cristobal, Panama, and a Knight Templar, and a Shriner, having been made a member of the latter body at the time, in the Miraflores Lock Chamber, the ceremonial was put on by Osmar Temple of St. Paul, Labor Day, 1913, one of the greatest ceremonials in the history of Shrinedom. He belongs to the Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity. His re- ligious connection is with the Presbyterian Church.

Mr. Cole married Miss Mabel Wilson, daughter of A. A Wilson, an attorney of Cumberland, Maryland, and they have one daughter, Catherine, born January 26, 1905.

JAMES E. HIBBS. There is not a better known or more highly esteemed citizen of Booths Creek District of Taylor County than James E. Hibbs, farmer, and a resident of the county for over fifty-five years. He has been a capable manager of his own affairs, has been faithful to hie obli- gations in the community, and he has justly earned the confidence of all with whom he has been associated.

His great-grandfather, a Pennsylvanian, established the family in West Virginia, locating on the waters of Painter- lick Run in Marion County, where he remained until death and was buried in the Wilson graveyard. His son, William Hibbs, was a farmer in the same region, lived without of- ficial or military service, and at his death he was buried in the Toothman private cemetery. By his marriage to Lovicy Wildman he had the following children: Samuel, mentioned below; Bettie, who married John Reed; Millie,

who became the wife of David Haynes; John; William, who was a Union soldier and lived in Marion County; Thomas, also a soldier of the Union Army; Ellen, who married Alfred Ammons; Arthelia, who married Arch Walls; Phoebe and Lovicy, who married brothers, Zimri and Wesley Am- mons.

Samuel Hibbs, father of James E., was reared in Marion County, had little opportunity to secure an education, and from that county moved to Ritchie and some years later to Taylor County. He was an active member of the Metho- dist Church, and died May 29, 1916, at the advanced age of eighty-six. He married Sarah Yost, daughter of David Yost, and she passed away some years before her husband, being the mother of only two children, James E. and Lovicy Ellen, who died unmarried.

James E. Hibbs had an unusually limited family rela- tionship even for a man of his years. He has neither par- ents, brother or sister, nor children of his own. He was born in Ritchie County, August 31, 1858, and became a resi- dent of Taylor County with his parents in April, 1866. He grew up on the farm where he lives today, attended a school on Booths Creek nearby, and since early manhood his business has been with the farm. The chief feature of his enterprise has been the growing and grazing of stock, cattle and sheep, and this line of business still de- mands his efforts and the fruit of his long experience.

Mr. Hibbs is sincerely interested in the growth and ad- vancement of his community, and is president of the Board of Education for Booths Creek District. He served about twenty years as justice of the peace of his district. In politics he is a democrat, casting his first vote for Gen- eral Hancock in 1880, and twice gave a ballot to Cleveland and twice to Mr. Wilson. Fraternally he is affiliated with Pruntytown Lodge of the Odd Fellows and with the Loyal Order of Moose at Grafton.

In Taylor County, November 18, 1880, he married Miss Frances J. Humphreys. She was born in the Pleasant Hill locality of Ritchie County, daughter of Dr. J. B. and Nancy (Gaines) Humphreys. Her father, who came to West Vir- ginia from old Virginia, was a capable physician, and spent the last twenty years of his life in the Booths Creek Dis- triet of Taylor County. He and his wife are buried in the Greenlawn Cemetery at Warksburg. Their children were: Mary, wife of Sherman Strother, of Clarksburg; Virginia, wife of E. Y. MeElroy, of Clarksburg; Mrs. Hibbs; and Thomas J., of Wheeling. Without children of their own, Mr. and Mrs. Hibbs opened the doors of their home and their hearts as well to several children otherwise homeless. These children had the benefit of a hospitable home and superior education and moral training. One of them now lives in Ohio. Three others, a brother and two sisters, still comprise the home circle of Mr. and Mrs. Hibbs.

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History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 3, Part 43

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