History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 3, Part 6

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Rev. Clinton B. Meredith is a native of West Virginia and one of the permanent ministers of the Methodiat Episcopal Church. He has been in active work with the West Virginia Conference since 1881, and has a creditable record of service in several pastorates. He and his good wife now reside at Morgantown. They were the parents of ten children.

William A. Meredith was born in Ten Mile District, Harri- son County, March 9, 1882. Like the other children, he attended school in the different localities where his father resided as pastor, and, therefore, had frequent changes of environment during his youth. He acquired a good common school education, and while his father was pastor of the church at Philippi he began his apprenticeship in a local news- paper office. He remained in Philippi when the duties of the church called his father elsewhere, and he continued work at the printer'a trade until 1902. In that year he first became identified with the newspaper interests of Shinnston, as manager of the News. About five years later he bought this weekly newspaper, and continued its publication until 1910, when he sold out and, going to Salem, bought the Salem Herald. He had active charge of this other Harrison County newspaper until 1913, when he sold out and again bought the property of the Shinnston News, and under his management the paper has had a steady increase of circulation and in- fluence. He also conducts a successful job printing business.

Mr. Meredith is a republican and has served as county committeeman of his party. He is a thirty-second degree Scottish Rite Mason and Shriner, and a member of the Methodist Church. In 1910 he married Miss Eva B. Robin- son. Her father, Thadeus Robinson, was a farmer in the vicinity of Shinnston. The three children of Mr. and Mrs. Meredith are: Madeline, William and Thadeus.

BENJAMIN BASSEL JARVIS, a native of West Virginia, and the son of William L. Jarvis and Mary Martha (Stout) Jarvis, was born at the country home of his parents, situated on the waters of Bruahy Fork, near the village of Quiet Dell, Harrison County, West Virginia, and was the youngest of a family of six children, namely: Celia T., Louise, Meigs Jack- son, Arnold Brandley, Paul V. and Benjamin Baasel.

His grandparents on the paternal aide were Jesse Jarvis, and Sarah (Werniger) Jarvis, of Jarvisville, Harriaon County, West Virginia, and on the maternal side, James M. Stout and

Celia (Bassel) Stout, of Quiet Dell, Harrison County, West Virginia.

Benjamin pursued the duties of a farmer boy in Harriaon and Barbour counties for about sixteen years, with the excep- tion of about three years, which were spent in the City of Vernon, Texas, between the age of five and eight years.

At the age of seventeen he entered the West Virginia Business College at Clarksburg, West Virginia, and upon the completion of a business course accepted a position as book- keeper for a lumber company, which occupation he followed for a few years, when he entered Broaddus College at Clarks- burg, West Virginia, and from there entered West Virginia Wesleyan Seminary at Buckhannon, West Virginia.

After leaving the Seminary he was engaged in the lumber business for about four years, after which time he entered the Law School at the West Virginia University at Morgantown, West Virginia, and graduated with the class of 1909.

On October the second, 1909, Benjamin Jarvis married Grace Caroline Biddle, of New Castle, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Frank W. Biddle and Elizabeth (Marquis) Biddle.

Shortly after their marriage they moved to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, where they resided for about three years, and dur- ing this period he was in the employ as an accountant of a large lumber dealer, after which time he and his wife moved to Clarksburg, West Virginia, where he soon entered the; practice of law. Outside of the practice of law he became interested in investments and promotions of coal, oil and gas companiee.

Politically Mr. Jarvis is a democrat and a great believer of the Jeffersonian democracy. He is greatly interested in fraternities and clubs, being a Master Mason and member of Hermon Lodge No. 6 of Clarksburg, West Virginia, and' member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Clarkshurg Lodge No. 482, a member of the Greek letter fraternity, Sigma Chi, from Mu Mu Chapter, at the Univer -? sity of West Virginia, Morgantown, West Virginia, a member of the Clarksburg Country Club, and the Allegheny and Cheat Mountain Clubs.

To Mr. and Mrs. Jarvis were born three children, namely: Jackson M., born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, December 27, 1911, Donna Louise, born August 10, 1913, and Elizabeth Biddle, born June 18, 1918, in the City of Clarksburg, West Virginia.

HARVEY G. VAN HOOSE is a practical mining man, oper- ator and executive, with wide experience in the coal fields of East Kentucky as well as West Virginia. For some years past he has been president of the Winifrede-Thacker Coal Company, whose mine is located one mile west of! Nolan, on the Norfolk & Western Railroad in Mingo County. Mr. Van Hoose resides at the mining property. This mine! was opened in 1916, and he was organizer of the company.

Mr. Van Hoose was born in Ironton, Ohio, June 25, 1875, son of Moses D. and Mary (Adkins) Van Hoose. His father, a native of Lawrence County, Kentucky, was a pioneer in the coal developments of Eastern Kentucky. For many years, beginning in early manhood, he was associated with Big Sandy coal fields. He opened the Peach Orchard, one of the first mines opened in Eastern Kentucky, long before railroads were built through that section and when the coal was shipped in barges on the Big Sandy and Ohio rivers. The Peach Orchard Mine was opened by the Great Western Mining Company. After many years with the Peach Orchard property Moses D. Van Hoose removed to Knox County, Kentucky, and was with the North Jellico Coal Company, at first as mine foreman and then superin- tendent of mines. From Jellico he removed in 1906 to Herrin, Illinois, where until his recent retirement he con- tinued to be associated with mining operations. He is now living at Herrin, at the age of seventy-two. His wife was born in Elliott County, Kentucky, and died in 1919, at the age of sixty-six. Both were active Methodists. Moses D. Van Hoose represented Lawrence and Boyd counties in the Kentucky Legislature in 1889-90, and was chairman of the committee on mines and mining and geological survey. He has been active in democratic politics and served as chair- man of the county committee. He is a member of the

HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA

Jasons and Odd Fellows. Their six children, four sons and wo daughters, are all associated in some way with the lines and mining industry. William, the oldest child, is tine manager at Christopher, Illinois; Harvey G. is the cond child; Jeff is mine manager at Herrin, Illinois; R. vee is an operator at Cartersville, Illinois; Jennie is the ife of R. A. Bowling, commissary manager at Harlan, Centucky; and Ruth is the wife of Earl Connor, mine elec- :ician of Herrin.

Harvey G. Van Hoose acquired his early education in lawrence County, Kentucky. He has been a constant udent, his reading covering a wide range of technical, ining and general subjects. In 1912-13 he was a member f the first examining board of mine inspectors in the State f Kentucky for applicants for positions for mine foremen. his board was under the auspices of the University of Centucky, which had established courses in mining. Mr. 'an Hoose took these courses himself, and to his reading ad studying he has added years of practical experience. le is a recognized authority on coal mines. At the age of en years he began work in mines as a trapper boy, and has eld every position in and outside of mines up to president f mining companies. He was for a number of years, until 915, general manager and treasurer of the Peach Orchard line. In the latter year he was made superintendent of [ajestic Collieries Company, Majestic, Kentucky, where he mained five years. He then took over the active manage- tent of the Winifrede-Thacker Coal Company's mine in [ingo County.

In 1896 Mr. Van Hoose married Bessie Frank, daughter f Conrad Frank, of Ashland, Kentucky. Mr. and Mrs. an Hoose kept their home at Ashland for many years. heir only son, Harold, acquired his early education in the chools of Ashland, was a member of the Students' Army raining Corps, and is now in the class of 1923 at Rush [edical College, Chicago. Mr. Van Hoose is a member of e Methodist Church at Nolan, is independent in politics, ad is affiliated with the Blue Lodge, Chapter, Commandery nd Mystic Shrine, Ashland, Kentucky.

MARTIN VAN BUREN CRIGGER is one of the mining execu- ves of Mingo County, being superintendent of the Wygarb lining Company's property on Tug River, two miles below Williamson. This mine was opened and has been in opera- on since 1904. L. E. Armentrout is president of the Zygarb Company.

Mr. Crigger was born at Speedwell, Wythe County, Vir- inia, April 29, 1885, son of Joseph H. and Mary Hicks rigger. His father was born in Wythe County, Virginia, 1 1853, and is now living in Fries, Grayson County, that ;ate. Mary Hicks was a native of Illinois, and died in 904, at the age of forty-seven. Joseph H. Crigger spent a active life as a farmer, is a Methodist, an enthusiastic publican, and is affiliated with the Redmen and I. O. O. . fraternities. He and his wife had two children, Martin nd Carrie, the latter the wife of James L. LaRue, of Fries, irginia.

Martin Van Buren Crigger, whom his friends always now as Van, acquired a public school education in Wythe ounty, Virginia. He has carried his education into mature ears, being a reader and a student of mining and technical 'orks. At the age of sixteen he began service for the Nor- olk & Western Railroad Company and construction work 1 the coal fields. For three years he was a foreman, and 'as then employed as engineer at the power plant of the f. S. Coal and Coke Company at Gary, McDowell Connty. Three years later he went to Rawl, Mingo County, as elec- rician for the Crystal Block Coal and Coke Company, and t the end of three years was promoted to mine superin- andent, and continued in that capacity for the Crystal ompany for four years. At the end of that time he bought farm in Jackson County, Ohio, but in a brief time had set side his ambition for agriculture as a permanent vocation, nd a year later returned with renewed enthusiasm to the oal mining industry. It was at that time that he became uperintendent of the Wygarb Mine in Mingo County.

In 1908 Mr. Crigger married a former schoolmate, Miss >encie Jones, daughter of George W. Jonee, of Speedwell, Vol. III-8

Wythe County, Virginia. They have five children, four sons and a daughter: Hubert, Eugene, Van, Jr., Catherine and Price. Mrs. Crigger is a member of the Methodist Church. He is active in the fraternities of Elks and Masons, being a member of the Lodge and Chapter at Williamson, the Knights Templar Commandery at Huntington, Wheeling Consistory and Charleston Temple of the Mystic Shrine. In politics he is a republican.

REGINALD P. ROBOSSON, vice president of the Davis Na- tional Bank at Piedmont, Mineral County, was born at Flintstone, Maryland, on the 14th of October, 1881, and is a son of Dr. Thomas P. and Virginia (Bell) Robosson, both likewise natives of Maryland, where the former was born at Flintstone and the latter at Piney Grove, a daughter of Josiah Bell. Doctor Robosson passed his entire life in Allegany County, Maryland, and was one of the oldest and most revered citizens and leading physicians and surgeons of that country for many years prior to his death, which occurred at Flintstone in 1913, when he was seventy-three years of age, his widow being now a resident of Cumber- land, Maryland. Doctor Robosson gained his professional education in the medical department of the University of Maryland, and as a young man he was able to render an appreciable amount of professional service in connection with the Civil war, as a surgeon. He was in full sympathy with the cause of the Confederacy, was a democrat in poli- tics, was affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows and was a zealous communicant of the Protestant Episcopal Church, as is also his widow, members of the Robosson family having erected the first Episcopal Church in Allegany County, Maryland. Of the children of Dr. Thomas P. and Virginia (Bell) Robosson the following are living: Charles T., of Flintstone; Mrs. J. B. Humbird, of Cumberland; Mrs. L. D. Bridges, of Hancock, all in Mary- land; Mrs. R. D. Witherspoon, of Mercersburg, Pennsyl- vania; William F., of Cumberland, Maryland; Miss Grace L., of that city; Reginald P., of this review; and Mrs. Hattie B. Wolford, of Flintstone. The Robosson family was founded in the Flintstone District of Allegany County, Maryland, in the early pioneer days, and the family there acquired ownership of extremely large tracts of land. Dr. Thomas P. Robosson was the only child of his parents, and in all of the relations of life he well upheld the prestige of an honored family name.

After having fully profited by the advantages of the public schools of his native town Reginald P. Robosson com- pleted a course in a business college at Cumberland. After his graduation in this institution he assumed a clerical position in the Second National Bank of Cumberland, with which he continued his connection fifteen years and won advancement to a responsible executive position. Upon severing his association with this institution he came to Piedmont, West Virginia, was elected vice president of the Davis National Bank and assumed active direction of the same on the Ist of January, 1918. His thorough experience in banking and his progressive executive policies have done much to advance the interests of this solid and well ordered financial institution of Mineral County. He is a republican in politics, is affiliated with the Elks and the Knights of Pythias, and is a communicant of the Protestant Episcopal Church, in the faith of which he was reared. He was active in promoting the sale of Government bonde and furthering other patriotic measures in the World war period, and while under the draft he was duly registered and classi- fied in A-1, he was not called into military service. Mr. Robosson's name is still enrolled on the list of eligible bachelors in Piedmont.

ALEXANDER R. SMALL is a successful and progressive contractor and bnilder in his native city of Martinsburg, Berkeley County, and in direct and collateral lines is a representative of well known pioneer families of this county.

Mr. Small was born at Martinsburg, West Virginia, on the 26th of September, 1887, and is a son of Wendell Seibert Small and Margaret Ann (Burr) Small. Wendell Seibert Small was born on a farm near Berkeley Station, this county, in 1842, a son of John Carson Small, who was born.

HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA

on a pioneer farm in Hedgeville District, this county, in 1801, it being virtually assured that the latter's father was born in Pennsylvania, of the stanch old "Pennsylvania Dutch" stock, he having been the pioneer representative of the family in what is now Berkeley County, West Virginia, where he reclaimed a farm from the wilds and where he passed the remainder of his life. John Carson Small here engaged in farm enterprise on land which he inherited from his father, and prior to the construction of railroads he used to drive with team and wagon to Baltimore, Maryland, to market his surplus farm products, several days having been required to make the trips back and forth. On his old homestead farm is now situated the production plant of the Security Lime & Cement Company, one of the important industrial concerns of this section of the state. John C. Small remained on his farm until his death, at the venerable age of eighty-nine years. He married Sarah Mong, who was born on a farm about three miles west of Martinsburg, in the year 1806, a daughter of John and Mary (Painter) Mong, the latter's mother having been a Seibert. The Small, Mong, Carson, Painter and Seibert families all figure prominently in the pioneer history of Berkeley County. Mrs. Sarah (Mong) Small died at the age of sixty-seven years. The names of her children are here recorded: Mary Ellen, Ann Rebecca, Lucinda Catherine, James Henry, Reubeu Wiser, John Mong, Susan Virginia, Wendell Seibert, Sarah Jane, William Hunter and Emma Elizabeth. The religious faith of the family has been that of the Lutheran Church. James H., Reuben W. and John M. Small were loyal soldiers of the Confederacy in the war between the states.

Wendell S. Small was reared on the old home farm, and as a youth he learned the carpenter's trade, at which he became a skilled workman. After working for a number of years as a journeyman he engaged in contracting and building in an independent way, he having continued his association with this line of business enterprise until his death, in his sixty-eighth year. At Martinsburg, West Vir- ginia, he was a member of Equality Lodge No. 44, A. F. and A. M., and was affiliated also with the Royal Arcanum. He was a devout communicant of the Lutheran Church while his wife was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Mrs. Small was born about one mile east of Shen- andoah Junction, Jefferson County, a daughter of William and Mary Ann (Porterfield) Burr and granddaughter of James and Nancy (MeGary) Burr. James Burr was a son of Peter and Jane (Calhoun) Burr. On the maternal side Mrs. Small was a granddaughter of William and Mary (Williamson) Porterfield. Mrs. Small died at the age of fifty-five years. Her children were five in number: Eugene is a carpenter and builder at Martinsburg; Nan Burr is in the Government employ at Washington, D. C .; Wendell S. is a rural mail carrier in Berkeley County; May is the wife of William H. Johnson; and Alexander R. is the immediate subject of this sketch.

Alexander R. Small gained his youthful education in the public schools of Martinsburg, and as a lad he began to assist his father, under whose direction he learned the carpenter's trade with much thoroughness. He continued his association with his father until he established himself independently in business as a contractor and builder, and he is one of the successful representatives of this line of enterprise in his native city. His basic Masonic affiliation is with Equality Lodge No. 44, A. F. and A. M., and he is affiliated also with the Lodge of Perfection, fourteenth de- gree, and with Tuscarora Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

THOMAS JONATHAN JACKSON WOTRING has for over twenty years been a prominent figure in the citizenship of Morgantown, where he has enjoyed an extensive and busy practice as a civil and mining engineer.

He was named for his father's great commander in the Civil war, Stonewall Jackson, and was born in Frederick County of the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, November 7, 1868, son of John Henry and Martha Virginia (Hall) Wotring. His great-grandfather was General Wotring, who commanded the German Army at Berlin, and for his activ- ities in promoting a federation of German states, an object

achieved many years later by Bismarck, he had to lea that country and came to America about 1812, settling North Carolina, where he invested his fortune in extensi land purchases. Some years later he moved to West Vi ginia and settled on Horse Shoe Run in Preston Count where he bought upwards of 25,000 acres of land and whe he lived the rest of his life. His son Abram Wotring w born in Preston County and devoted his active years to t. cultivation of a large farm of about 500 acres. He marri Elizabeth Felton, who was a great-granddaughter of Lo. Felton of England. John Henry Wotring was born Preston County in 1844, and as a young man began wo for his brother, then general superintendent of the Nort western Turnpike in the Shenandoah Valley. While th engaged, in 1862, at the age of eighteen, he enlisted Company K of the Thirty-third Virginia Regiment, Stor wall's Brigade, and served until wounded at the seco) battle of Manassas. Thereafter he served as provost ma shal of Shenandoah County until the close of the war. T year following the return of peace he operated a saw m in Frederick County, and then for six years devoted 1 attention to his farm. In 1876 he was elected coun treasurer of Frederick County, and filled that office twel years, dying while still in office, in 1888.

His wife, Martha Hall Wotring, was born in Frederi County, Virginia, in 1844, daughter of James B. and V ginia (Rosenberger) Hall, and a granddaughter of Cal Hall, a native of Philadelphia and an early settler of t Shenandoah Valley. Caleb Hall was a half brother Lyman Hall, one of the signers of the Declaration of Inc pendence. James B. Hall was born in Frederick Coun Virginia. Martha Hall Wotring died in 1918.

Thomas Jonathan Jackson Wotring grew up on } father's farm and found work to do there until 1892. that year he joined an engineering crew in field work Botetourt County, Virginia, at Roanoke, and by study a practice perfected his knowledge of the profession. In 18 he returned to Frederick County, and in 1898 joined :, mother, who the preceding year had located at Morgantov Here Mr. Wotring engaged in the work of his professi and for five years from 1899 was engineer in the employ the Standard Oil Company at Morgantown. Following t! he was a mining engineer with the Ross Engineering Co pany, and for one year was with DeMoins Utt, gene engineer. He then formed a partnership with Clarence Cox, under the name of Cox & Wotring, general engine at Morgantown. Seven years later he bought out partner, and since then Mr. Wotring has continued in profession under his own name, doing a general engine ing work, largely in the service of mining corporations. is a member of the American Society of Engineers and i' Lutheran.

REV. JONAS BARRETT CHAMBERLIN, who has given a and successful service as a clergyman of the United Bre ren Church but who has been identified with business en. prises in the period of his residence at Martinsbi Berkeley County, was born at Winchester, Freder County, Virginia. His father, Abraham Chamberlin, born in Hampshire County, that state, August 11, 1822 son of Jonas Chamberlin, born in Frederick County, ™ ginia, January 13, 1774. The latter's father, Jonas, was born in England and came to America in company v two of his brothers, one brother, Joseph, having settled Pennsylvania and the other in Massachusetts, they hav been members of an old and prominent family in Birmie ham, England. Jonas Chamberlin, Sr., settled in Frede: County, Virginia, where he passed the remainder of his I his religious faith, that of the Society of Friends, which opposed to warfare, having prevented him entering milit service in the War of the Revolution. He was a gradu of Oxford University, and after coming to America he gaged in the manufacturing of silk hats for the gentry! that period. Jonas Chamberlin, Jr., engaged in the mat facturing of scythes in Hampshire County, Virginia, wl he continued to reside until his death, February 20, 11 His wife (Ann Bane) was born in that county Septem 11, 1787, a daughter of English parents who were pion

Thomas &Wolsing.

HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA

of Mineral County. By marriage the Bane family was connected with that of which General Morgan, the Revolu- tionary patriot and officer, was a member. Jonas Chamber- lin and his wife were members of the Society of Friends. Mrs. Chamberlin died June 9, 1825. Their children were: Margaret, Mary, Joseph Morgan and Abraham.

Abraham Chamberlin received his early education under the direction of private tutors, and as a man of fine mental- ity and mature judgment he became influential in com- munity affairs and was called to various offices of public trust. In the Civil war period he was sheriff of Hampshire County, Virginia, a position which he held at the time of the formation of the new state, of which he became one of the first county sheriffs under the new regime. He was interested in mercantile business, and he ever commanded unqualified popular esteem. His death occurred June 15, 1907. He married Elizabeth Ann Barrett, who was born in Frederick County, Virginia, where her parents, of English lineage, passed their entire lives. The death of Mrs. Chan- berlin occurred May 20, 1901. Her children were four ia number: Jonas Barrett, Mary (Mrs. Joseph Martin), Nancy Jane (Mrs. C. E. Liller) and Joseph. The parents were birthright members of the Society of Friends, to the gracious faith of which they adhered until the close of their lives.

Joseph Barrett Chamberlin attended the rural schools, a state normal school in Virginia and the Shenandoah Acad- eniy at Dayton, Virginia. In his youth he became a mem- ber of the United Brethren Church, and after due prepara- tion was ordained a clergyman in the same at Winchester, Virginia, in 1893. Thereafter he held pastoral charges at Winchester, Virginia, and Martinsburg, West Virginia, and in Washington, D. C. In the meanwhile he took a special course in Columbian University (now George Washington University), at the national capital, with the intention of engaging in foreign missionary work, but impaired health frustrated his plans, and since establishing his permanent home at Martinsburg he has been identified with various business interests. He is treasurer of the Farmers & Me- chanics Mutual Insurance Company, a director and a men- ber of the finance committee of the Old National Bank of Martinsburg, and a trustee of the local Kiwanis Club.

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History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 3, Part 6

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