History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 3, Part 52

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HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA

Fortney since graduating, for nearly twenty years, has enjoyed an exceptionally large practice at Newburg in Preston County, though for nearly a year he was absent from duty as a medical officer in the army.

Doctor Fortney is a native of Preston County and a member of one of the older families here. His great- grandfather came from Maryland more than a century ago and is buried in the old graveyard at Bethlehem, near Reedsville, in Preston County. His son, Daniel R. Fortney, was born in that community, and for many years was a prominent minister of the Methodist Protestant Church. The home of his later years was at Kingwood, and he died in 1902, at the age of eighty-three. As a youth he had limited opportunities to attend school, and his education was largely the result of his eager intelli- gence and ambition to perfect his knowledge. He was an extensive reader and was noted for his knowledge of history, especially sacred history and the New and Old Testament. Daniel R. Fortney married Mahala Pell, daughter of John Pell, representing another early family in Preston County. Their children were: Francis Asbury, father of Doctor Fortney; Amaziah Pell, who spent his life as a farmer near Kingwood; Isaiah Kirk, who was a railroad man with the Baltimore & Ohio and later an oil operator and died at Parkersburg; William Fairfax, who was a farmer at Eglon; and Emma, the only daugh- ter, died near Kingwood, wife of Solomon P. Hawley.

Francis A. Fortney was born near Kingwood, January 23, 1837, and he came to manhood with a country school education. His record as a Union soldier is one that will always be cherished by his descendants. Early in the war he enlisted in Company C of the Third West Vir- ginia Infantry, and for three years was with the Army of the Potomac. He was a musician. He was in the first battle of Bull Run and in a number of others, until finally he was takeu prisoner and at the close of his service he was in Andersonville, where he endured greater hardships and sufferings than in all his marchings and fighting. He was a mere skeleton and completely broken in health when released. Following the war and after recovering his strength he was a worker in the oil district at Burning Springs, Wirt County, and from there returned to Pres- ton County and resumed his place on a farm near King- wood, and during the rest of his active years was devoted to agriculture and the duties of a good citizen in that locality. He cleared the timber off a large part of the land he cultivated. He always voted as a republican but was never concerned in partisan politics and was a mem- ber of the Methodist Church. Francis A. Fortney, who died February 28, 1917, at the age of eighty, married Virginia L. Pickering, a native of Wirt County, and daugh- ter of Daniel Pickering, an old settler there and descended from an American family whose record runs back into the early history of Boston, Massachusetts. Virginia Fort- ney died in August, 1916. They were the parents of four sons and four daughters: Dr. Clark S., of Hundred, West Virginia; Ellen, wife of Claud E. Keefover, of Reeds- ville; Dr. Frank D .; Rebecca, whose first husband was A. A. Pell and she is now Mrs. James Phillips, of Inde- pendence, West Virginia; Florence, wife of George W. White, of Kingwood; Evelyn B., a trained nurse at Terra Alta; Dr. Millard H. and Milford D., twin brothers, the former at Arcola, Illinois, and the latter a dental student and a farmer.

Frank D. Fortney was born at the old homestead near Kingwood, January 27, 1875. The farm was his environ- ment until he was twenty years of age. While growing up he attended country schools, qualified as a teacher, and in the intervals of teaching attended the Fairmont State Normal. Doctor Fortney at the age of twenty-four left teaching to enter the Baltimore Medical College, now the medical department of the University of Maryland. He graduated in 1904 and for six months was an interne in the Maryland General Hospital at Baltimore. With this very thorough equipment for practice Doctor Fortney lo- cated at Newhurg, but has since kept in touch with the advanced work in his profession by various post-graduate courses, spending twelve weeks in the Johns Hopkins Hos-

pital at Baltimore, three months in the University of Illi- nois, one month in the New York Post-Graduate School, and one month in Harvard Medical College in Boston.

In July, 1918, Doctor Fortney was commissioned a cap- tain in the Medical Corps, and during his active service was attached to the Base Hospital at Camp Shelby, Mis- sissippi. He received his honorable discharge on Decem- ber 28, 1918. Doctor Fortney since the war has been a member of the Board of Examiners for soldiers' pensions, and is a member of the County, West Virginia State and American Medical associations.

The affairs of his home town as well as his profession have not been neglected. He is a member of the Board of Education of Lyon District, and this board built the new Lyon District High School. He has served on the town council. Doctor Fortney gave his first presidential vote to Major Mckinley. He is one of the trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church and is affiliated with the Ma- sonic Lodge.

In Preston County, April 12, 1920, Doctor Fortney mar- ried Miss Lula B. DeMoss, daughter of Frank H. and Kate (Shafferman) DeMoss. Her people have lived in Preston County for several generations. Mrs. Fortney was educated in the Newburg public schools and was a teacher before her marriage. They have two children, Elihu S. and Catherine L.

CHAUNCEY W. HUSTON. Three successive generations of this branch of the Huston family have been identified with the building trades, primarily as carpenters. Some build- ings dating from Civil war times in Morgantown attest the skill of the family. Chauncey W. Huston, of the present generation, was also a carpenter and contractor, but in later years has broadened his field to general real estate development.

He was born in Morgantown, June 3, 1863, and is de- scended from Peter Huston, a native of Ireland who came to America before the close of the eighteenth century and located in Somerset County, Pennsylvania. His son, Chambers Huston, was born in Somerset in 1809, and was both a carpenter and cabinet maker. He died in his native county in 1889. He married Margaret Pritts, who died in. 1896. They were the parents of thirteen children, includ- ing two pairs of twins.

The late Samuel P. Huston, their third child, was for many years prominent as a contractor and builder and substantial citizen of Morgantown. He was born in Somer- set County, Pennsylvania, January 3, 1835. As a youth he learned the carpenter's trade and in 1858 moved to Morgantown, where in after years he became one of the leading building contractors. He was senior member of the firm Huston & Demain, which was organized October 1, 1881, and continued in business until 1910, a period of thirty years during which they handled many of the im. portant building contracts in this section of the state, and in conjunction they also operated a lumber yard, planing mills and did an extensive business in builders' supplies Samuel P. Huston always did his part as a public-spirited citizen, served on the city council, and was an active leader in the Methodist Episcopal Church and in the Sunday School. He died November 22, 1912. On March 1, 1861 he married Louise Murphy. To their marriage was born two sons and a daughter, Chauncey W .; Charles R., bort February 18, 1865; and Louise, born August 8, 1875, whe became the wife of Louis T. Krebs.

Chauncey W. Huston was reared in Morgantown, wher he attended the city schools and West Virginia University He became a carpenter, and during the existence of th firm Huston & Demain was active in its extensive business After the firm dissolved he concentrated his attention o: his growing real estate interests. Mr. Huston was a: associate of Judge I. G. Lazzelle, Dr. S. S. Wade, Joh W. Wills and the late Col. James Frazier in organizin the Morgantown Bridge Improvement Company. Thi company built the South Park Bridge and developed Sout Park, putting in all the paving and sewerage and the marketed what is today the most beautiful and finest re stricted residence section of Morgantown. Mr. Huston i

Stephen & Tering

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low president of the company while Doctor Wade is vice president, and Donald Lazzelle is secretary and treasurer. Mr. Huston is also interested in oil properties in West Vir- rinia and later extended his holdings in this industry to Oklahoma and Kansas.

Mr. Huston married Mary E. DeTar, daughter of M. S. DeTar, of Kansas. Mr. Huston is a member of the Metho- list Episcopal Church and is affiliated with Morgantown Lodge No. 411, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.

STEPHEN F. ELKINS. With large business interests ably managed, Stephen F. Elkins, prominent in financial affairs nd officially identified with many of the important indus- ries of Morgantown and Monongalia County, is one of the epresentative men of this part of West Virginia. He was born in New York City, August 26, 1880, and is a son of Tathan and Rebecca (Fan Tell) Elkins, and is of the third eneration of his family in America.

Stephen F.,Elkins was reared in New York, attended the ublic schools and New York College, in preparation for Columbia University. For a time he was a glass sales- an and afterward became interested in the manufacture f glass in Pennsylvania and Ohio. He came to the coal lining sections of West Virginia and became interested in he coal industry " A document in his possession, on which Ir. Elkins places great personal value, is his first class cense from the West Virginia Bureau of Mines as a prac- cal mine manager. He is a member of the Morgantown Wholesale Coal Association, and of the American Whole- ale Coal Association.

On May 6, 1920, Mr. Elkins married Miss Anna May ursglove, who is a daughter of Samuel and Lydia Purs- love, of St. Clairsville, Ohio. Mrs. Elkins' parents came com England to the United States about forty years ago. he is a member of the Episcopal Church.

Mr. Elkins is a member of Morgantown Union Lodge No. Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, Morgantown Com- andery No. 18. Knights Templar, and Osiris Temple, ystic Shrine, Wheeling, West Virginia. He belongs to e Kiwanis and Old Colony Clubs, and to the Morgantown hamber of Commerce. He has proved his worth as a tizen in many ways since coming to Morgantown, where erling traits of character are quickly recognized. He essentially a business man and possesses in large degree ose qualities which tend to encourage and energize effort, valuable asset to any community. As a personality, he genial, liberal minded and charitable ..

BASIL E. SWIGER M. D. A skillful physician and sur- on whose work has been done in his native state since graduated in medicine in 1905, Doctor Swiger is one , the capable members of his profession at New Martins- lle.

He was born at Sardis, in Harrison County, December , 1878. This is a Colonial American family of German igin. William and Mary Swiger immigrated from Ger- any to Pennsylvania in 1768. William Swiger developed wholesale drygoods business at Uniontown, Pennsylvania. hile abroad on a trip to Germany for the purpose of ying a cargo of goods he was lost at sea. The grand- ther of Doctor Swiger was Abel Swiger, who was born Marion County, West Virginia, in 1803, the family hav- g in the meantime moved from Pennsylvania to this state. e spent the greater part of his life as a farmer in Harri- n County, and died near Sardis in 1891. His wife, Eliza- th Haney, was a native of Marion County, and also ed at Sardis.

Blackburn G. Swiger, father of Doctor Swiger, was born Horners Run, in Marion County, in 1850, was reared d married in Harrison County, and owned and con- cted a large farm there. He was a democrat and an tive member of the Baptist Church. Blackburn Swiger, to died at Sardis in 1916, married Emeline Drummond, 10 was born in Tyler County in 1851 and died at the old me at Sardis in February, 1921. She was the mother of o children. Flora B., is the wife of George Douglas, to spent his active life in the regular army and is now ing retired at Abbeville, South Carolina.

Basil E. Swiger spent his early life on his farm in Har- rison County, attended rural schools there, and later entered the Baltimore Medical College, from which he graduated M. D. in 1905. He is a member of the Alpha Omega Delta medical fraternity. From 1905, the year he gradu- ated, until 1914 he practiced at Brown in Harrison County, and then for four years was surgeon for the Hutchinson Coal Company at Dover in the same county. His pro- fessional work has been done at New Martinsville since 1918. He has his offices in the Masonic Temple Building on Main Street, and he is a member of the various medi cal societies. Doctor Swiger is a democrat, a member of the Baptist Church, and is affiliated with Shinnston Lodge No. 24, F. and A. M., and Dover Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

His home is at 448 Linden Avenue. In 1904, at Balti- more, before he graduated from Medical College, he mar- ried Miss Edna Ens. 4h, daughter of John and Sarah (Thompson) English, now deceased. Mrs. Swiger, who died at Brown, West Virginia, is survived by three children : Clair, born February 5, 1906, a student in the New Mar- tinsville High School; Ruth, born March 28, 1908; and Esther, born November 23, 1912. In 1914, at New Mar- tinsville, Mr. Swiger married Miss Virge Burlingame, daughter of Thomas and Amanda (Burgess) Burlingame, residents of New Martinsville, where her father is a re- tired merchant. Mrs. Swiger is a graduate of the New Martinsville High School. They have a little daughter, Betty Jane, born October 16, 1917.

ANDREW JOHNSON JONES, wholesale grocer in the City of Moundsville, Marshall County, is a grandson of Thomas S. Jones, whose parents were natives of Wales. Thomas S. Jones married Miss Shinn, a member of the family for which Shinnston, West Virginia, was named. He was born in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia in 1801, and died in 1897, at the patriarchal age of ninety-six years. He came to what is now Doddridge County, West Virginia, and became the owner of a large farm property on a branch of Arnold Creek. He was one of the extensive farmers of that county, and gave to each of his sons a good farm. He and his wife died on the old homestead, and their large family of children became somewhat widely scattered. The son William S. was born in 1832 and died in 1911, he having been a successful merchant at Cen- tral Station, Doddridge County and having also been for forty years one of the leading physicians in his native county. In 1861 Doctor Jones married Martha Isabel Bond, of Shenandoah, Virginia, and she died in 1903, after a married life of forty-two years. Doctor Jones later mar- ried Mrs. Lucy Hall, the widow of a lawyer of that name, her family name having been Manning. She survives her second husband and resides at Moundsville. The only child of the second marriage is Manning Jones, a graduate of the Moundsville High School. Of the eleven children of the first marriage of Doctor Jones two daughters and two sons are living: Z. W. is associated with a glass manufac- tory at Moundsville, and the other son is the subject of this sketch.

Andrew J. Jones gained his early education in the puh- lie schools of Doddridge and Marshall counties, and he was for twenty-two years in the employ of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company, having served as telegraph operator and station agent and having been for a time superintendent of the company's shops and station at Graf- ton, besides which he was for a time station agent at Morgantown. In 1892 he was made agent for the company at Moundsville, and here he became interested in the sand and gravel business. In 1902 he resigned his railroad office, and thereafter he continued his extensive sand-production operations until the five pits were exhausted, the enter- prise having involved the shipping of twenty carloads a day. In 1913 Mr. Jones engaged in the wholesale gro- eery business in this city, and he also conducted several retail grocery and produce stores, two of which he con- tinues to operate. He has developed a large and prosper- ous wholesale trade in groceries, feed, seeds, etc. In 1906 he became one of the organizers of the Mound City Bank,

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and he is secretary of its board of directors. He is a director also of the American Building & Loan Association, which has provided a greater number of homes for citizens of Moundsville than has any other one agency. He was one of the original stockholders in the United States Stamp- ing Company, and is still one of its substantial stock- holders, besides which he has other important financial and real estate interests at Moundsville. He has been the loyal supporter of measures and enterprises tending to advance the general welfare of his home city, has served as a mem- ber of the city council, is a republican in politics and is affiliated with the Masonic fraternity.

At the age of twenty-eight years Mr. Jones wedded Miss Grace Virginia Jeffers, of Salem, this state, and they have had three sons: Lynn E., John Marshall Kingdon and Andrew Johnson, Jr. Lynn E., who is now associated with his father's business, is a graduate of Bellefonte University in the State of Pennsylvania. John M. K., the second son, died at the age of seventeen years. The young- est son is, in 1921, a student in high school. Mrs. Jones is a daughter of J. M. Jeffers, formerly of Kingwood, this state, and her maternal grandfather, Mr. Davidson, was a clergyman of the Missionary Baptist Church, of which she herself is an earnest member. Mrs. Jones is secretary of the Woman's Club of Moundsville and is a graduate of Broaddus College, one of the excellent educational insti- tutions of West Virginia.

RUSSELL B. HIXENBAUGH is one of the aggressive young business men of Hundred and is proprietor of a hard- ware store that is the leader in that line of merchandise for all this section of Wetzel County.

Mr. Hixenbaugh represents an old and substantial family in this section. His grandfather, George Hixenbaugh, was born near Hundred in 1810, spent all his life as a prosper- ous farmer in that vicinity and died in 1892, at the age of eighty-two. George W. Hixenbaugh, father of the Hun- dred merchant, was born in the same vicinity in 1851, and is still living on his farm. He has acquired and im- proved some of the valuable land in this locality and is now developing an extensive orchard for the production of fancy high grade fruit. He is a republican, a promi- nent member of the Christian Church and is affiliated with Hundred Lodge No. 200, Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows. In the paternal line Russell B. Hixenbaugh is a descendant of the Church family, one of the very first to establish homes in Wetzel County. George W. Hixenbaugh married Mollie Elizabeth Johnson, who was born near Hundred in 1864. Russell B. is the oldest of their three children. Miss Aera E. is at home and Clement Stanley was for several years in the banking business and recently traveled to California for his health.

Russell B. Hixenbaugh was born on the farm near Hun- dred August 17, 1888. As a boy he attended the country schools, spent three terms in the Fairmont State Normal School, and in 1909 graduated from the West Virginia Business College at Clarksburg. After completing his edu- cation Mr. Hixenbaugh entered business at Hundred by purchasing the hardware store of White & Henderson, and in a dozen years has greatly extended the trade and volume of business done by this store until it is a leader in its line over the district between Mannington and Cameron.

Mr. Hixenbaugh lives on Cleveland Street in a residence owned by his mother. He is the present city recorder of Hundred, is a republican, is a, past grand of Hundred Lodge No. 200, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, a member of Littleton Encampment, and is a past chan- celler of Hundred Lodge No. 84, Knights of Pythias.

On August 23, 1911, at Moundsville, he married Miss Irene Evans, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Michael D. Evans, now living at Folsom in Wetzel County. Her father is passenger agent for the Burlington & Ohio Railway. Mr. and Mrs. Hixenbaugh have had three children: Kenneth, who died at the age of four years, Florence Lee, born in Jannary, 1917, and James Keith, born in 1918.

OKEY L. HUDKINS, M. D. To his chosen profession Dr. Hudking has brought in addition to a thorough training

some fine natural qualifications, has always enjoyed a good practice and a high reputation, and has also made good use of his talents in a business way. He is one of the leading professional men of Lewis County.

Doctor Hudkins was born at Chapel in Braxton County West Virginia, November 23, 1881, son of Minter T. and Josephine (Young) Hudkins. His father was born ir Braxton County, February 4, 1856, while his mother war born in 1861 and died at the age of fifty-one. Minter Hudkins, who now lives at Salem in Harrison County, was reared on a farm, and after his marriage made farming his permanent vocation. He owned a good place of 127 acres. He is a past noble grand of the Independent Orde: of Odd Fellowg, has sat in the Grand Lodge, is a republi can and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church Minter Hudkins has seven living children. Ida is the wife of John H. Moore. Wirt, who for seventeen years ha been a teacher in the public schools, is now deputy count: assessor of Braxton County. Wilbur is a f .rmer and ear penter. Guy, formerly a teacher, is now a farmer. Nina who also taught school, is the wife of E. I. Knight. Lu cile is a graduate of the Glenville Normal School and teacher.

Doctor Hudking grew up on a farm, had a public an normal school training, and followed the traditions of th family by teaching school for five years. He employe the vacation seasons in the practice of farming. He bega the study of medicine in 1905, entering the medical de partment of the University of Louisville, where he wa graduated M. D. in 1908. For thirteen years Doctor Hud kins practiced his profession at Flatwoods, Braxton County though during the year 1912 he practiced in Iowa. 0 November 8, 1920, he moved his home and offices to Westor Doctor Hudkins is a member of the County, State an American Medical associations.

November 25, 1914, he married Catherine V. Scanlon who is a graduate nurse. They are members of the Methe dist Episcopal Church at Weston. Doctor Hudkins affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, th Improved Order of Red Men, Modern Woodmen America, and is a republican. In a business way he is director in the Mountain State Gas Company, the Ris Oil and Gas Company, and individually owns four pr ducing gas wells. He is a stockholder in the Home Nation. Bank of Sutton and is the possessor of considerable re: estate, including his modern home at Weston.

WILLIAM E. WHARTON is proprietor of the leading u dertaking service and equipment in Wetzel County, at Ne, Martinsville. He has been associated with this profe sion and business since boyhood, and is a former membr of the State Board of Embalmers.

Mr. Wharton was born at Valley Mills, Wood Count West Virginia, April 11, 1869. The Wharton ancestry Irish but the family was established in Pennsylvania Colonial times. His grandfather, Daniel Wharton, w born in Greene County, Pennsylvania, in 1813, and ma ried there Miss Hoy, who was born in 1820. Soon after ward they removed to Wood County, West Virginia, al lived the rest of their lives on a farm there. Daniel Whe ton died on Laurel Creek in 1904 and his wife in 191 Isaac Wharton, their son, was a life-long resident of Wo County, a very successful farmer, he was living practical retired at the time of his death, although he still own his farm at Valley Mills. He was born in Mononga' County, West Virginia, January 17, 1845, and died Mar 24, 1922. He was a youthful soldier of the Union Arr during the Civil war, going into the West Virginia Caval and participating in the battle of Shiloh, later Chickamaug Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge, and was with three miles of Appomattox when Lee surrendered. He wi a republican in politics. Isaac Wharton married Ameri Victoria Rice, who was born near Valley Mills in 1845 a died at her home there March 23, 1919. William E. is t oldest of their children. Josephine died at Valley Mil at the age of thirty-six, and Miss Rose Anna died Fr ruary 7, 1922. She was living with her father at the ti of her death.

William E. Wharton made good use of his education

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opportunities in the public schools of Valley Mills and in the Mountain State Business College at Parkersburg, which he attended in 1889. When only thirteen years of age he was doing duty as an assistant undertaker near Valley Mills. He has made a thorough study of the science of embalming and is one of the recognized leaders in the pro- fession. He was a general merchant and undertaker at Waverly until 1902, and in that year he moved to New Martinsville and bought the furniture and undertaking establishment of Staniford Brothers. In successive years he made this a recognized center for reliable merchandise as well as an unexcelled service in undertaking, and in time the combined business became too severe a tax upon his energies as sole proprietor and recently he sold his stock of furniture and now gives his entire time to under- taking. He owns the well equipped parlors at 300 Main Street, and has all the facilities of a high class funeral di- rector, including motor equipment. His service as a mem- ber of the State Board of Embalmers of West Virginia came through appointment by Governor A. B. White. He was on the board four years. Mr. Wharton owns a very comfortable home at 242 Clark Street. He is a republican, served two years on the City Council of New Martinsville, was for 912 years treasurer of the Presbyterian Church and is now president of its Board of Trustees. He was worshipful master in 1916 of Wetzel Lodge No. 39, A. F. and A. M., is a member of Parkersburg Chapter, R. A. M., Calvary Commandery No. 3, K. T., at Parkersburg, has aken eighteen degrees in the Scottish Rite Consistory at Parkersburg, and is also affiliated with Magnolia Lodge No. 42, Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

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History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 3, Part 52

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