History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 3, Part 60

Author:
Publication date:
Publisher:
Number of Pages:

USA > West Virginia > History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 3 > Part 60

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

tory No. 1, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, at Wheeling; and Nemesis Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Parkersburg.

December 27, 1899, recorded the marriage of Mr. Hale and Miss Maude Vandervoort, who likewise was born and reared at Weston and who is a graduate of the local high school. They have three children: Marjorie, Robert and Margaret.

CHARLES P. SWINT, who is engaged in the practice of his profession at Weston, judicial center of Lewis County, has gained secure vantage-ground as one of the able and representative members of the bar of this section of the state, and his status is the more pleasing to note by reason of the fact that he early became dependent upon his own resources and by his own ability and efforts worked his way forward to the goal of success.

Mr. Swint was born at Catskill, New York, on the 8th of July, 1876, and is a son of Peter and Caroline (Wink- ler) Swint, the former of whom was born in the Grand Duchy of Luxemburg, Holland, February 22, 1850. He was an infant at the time of his father's death and was thirteen years old when he accompanied his widowed mother to the United States and made settlement in the State of New York, where he was reared to adult age and where his mar- riage occurred. He became a skilled workman as a painter and decorator, and as such was engaged in West Virginia prior to his marriage. He returned to New York for his bride, and upon his return to West Virginia he purchased land and engaged in farm enterprise in Randolph County, besides continuing in the work of his trade to a considerable extent. He finally removed from his farm to Weston, where he has since lived virtually retired. He is a republican in politics, and both he and his wife are zealous communicants of the Catholic Church. Of the children the eldest is Miss Minnie, who is a trained nurse by profession; Charles P., of this review, was the next in order of birth; Louis is engaged in farm enterprise in Randolph County; John, a college graduate, has taken post-graduate work also, is in charge of St. Patrick's Church and parochial school at Weston, and was recently appointed Bishop of this diocese; Peter is a mechanic and farmer in Lewis County; Mary is a Sister and teacher in the Catholic convent in the City of Wheeling, as is also her sister Agnes; Dr. Benjamin H. is a successful physician and surgeon in the City of Charles- ton; and Josephine is the wife of Rupert Cannon, of Logan, West Virginia.

Charles P. Swint remained on the home farm until he was fifteen years of age, when the family removed to Weston. Here he continued his studies in the public schools nntil his graduation from high school, and thereafter he entered the law department of the University of West Virginia, in which he was graduated as a member of the class of 1900, his reception of the degree of Bachelor of Laws having heen virtually coincident with his admission to the bar. He forthwith opened an office at Weston, where he has since continued in the successful practice of his profession, with a representative clientage, and where he served one term a prosecuting attorney of the county. He is a leader in the local councils of the republican party, and has served several terms as chairman of the Republican County Com- mittee of Lewis County. He and his wife are active com- municants of St. Patrick's Catholic Church in their home city.

On the 12th of June, 1909, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Swint and Miss Agnes Cleary, who graduated from the Weston High School and who had been a popular teacher in the public schools prior to her marriage. They have two children, Mary C. and Agnes C.

FENTON BROTHERS. The origin of glass manufacture is of so ancient a date that it is lost in the dim shadows of time. That the process was known in Egypt and other Oriental countries as far back as 5000 B. C. has been proved by specimens taken from ancient tombs, and that genera- tions later the secret of manufacturing ornamental glass was claimed by many European cities. The history of this industry in the United States begins with primitive at- tempts as early as 1608, but the perfection of the art, as

179

HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA

exemplified in the great art glass manufacturing plant of Fenton Brothers at Williamstown, West Virginia, was not reached until generations later, and the discovery of the manufacture of iridescent glassware was left for very modern days, the Fenton Brothers being the originators of the process.

The importance of a concern to the community in which it is situated may be estimated when it is stated that the Fenton Brothers' works at Williamstown transact an an- nual business of from $300,000 to $400,000, and have but one real competitor in the United States. The history of the founding and growth of the business is interesting, illustrating, as it does, the value of technical skill in com- bination with exceptional business ability.

To James Fenton, a merchant at Indiana, Pennsylvania, six sons were born: Robert C., John W., James E., Wil- liam H., Charles H. and Frank L. They were educated in the public schools of Indiana and afterward found em- ployment in various useful lines. The youngest son, Frank L. Fenton, entered a glass manufacturing establishment at Indiana, and there secured a practical knowledge of glass making. He had a natural talent for art, and at the end of one year was at the head of the decorative depart- ment of the company. From there he went to Steuben- ville and from there to Wheeling, gradually perfecting himself in this line and reaching a high degree of artistic skill.

In 1905 John W., Charles H. and Frank L. Fenton formed a decorative glass concern, the original firm that embarked in business at Martin's Ferry, Ohio, where they prospered beyond their expectations. Up to the time of coming to Williamstown the Fentons had been buying sup- plies of various firms that in a small but crude way were also doing decorative work, but when the latter, resenting the growth of the Fenton business, refused to sell wares to them the latter felt compelled to seek a new location, and after wise consideration selected Williamstown. Within eighty-eight days after starting their plant here they had their first furnace going and sixty hands at work. The business prospered from the start, and in time two addi- tional furnaces were added, and at present 200 or more hands are employed. Upon coming to Williamstown, two brothers, Robert C. and James E. Fenton, became stock- holders. Marvelous progress had been made since the business was founded at Williamstown in October, 1906. Instead of general glass making the Fentons confine their activities to the manufacture of art glass, table ware, vases and innumerable articles of beauty and value, and their products are shipped all over the civilized world. The special sand from which their glass is made is pro- cured from Berkley Springs, West Virginia, and the other ingredients from various points where close investigation has found them most suitable.

Robert C., James E., Charles H. and Frank L. Fenton are residents and property owners at Williamstown. Frank L. Fenton was born March 24, 1880, married Miss Lillian M. Muhleman, and they have seven children: Martha Eliza- beth, Dorothy Jane, Lillian Maria, Carol Margaret, Frank M., Ruth and Marjorie. Mrs. Fenton is a daughter of Rudolph Muhleman, of Bridgeport, Ohio. In addition to his manufacturing interests Mr. Fenton is president of the Farmers & Mechanics National Bank. He is a repub- lican in politics, as are all his brothers, and is a thirty- second degree Mason and a Shriner.

Robert C. Fenton married Miss Grace Dudley, of Marion, Ohio, and they have three children: James D., Ethel Marie (wife of Daniel Reynolds, of Parkersburg), and Robert C. Mr. Fenton is a thirty-second degree Mason and a member of the Mystic Shrine.

Charles H. Fenton married Miss Lulu P. Davis, of Steu- benville, Ohio, and they have one surviving son, Charles H.

James E. Fenton, born, reared and educated at Indiana, Pennsylvania, like his brothers, was married there to Miss Nettie Clawson, who at death left four children: Edward L., Eva, Herbert and Violet. Mr. Fenton's second mar- riage was with Miss Flora Legleitner, of Gravel Bank,

Ohio, and they have three children: James, Richard and Mary.

The Fentons are all men of substantial business stand- ing and high personal character, church members, inter- ested in educational progress and hearty encouragers of all movements that promise social betterment and advance- ment of the welfare of city, state and nation.

THE HENDERSON FAMILY of Wood County, West Vir- ginia, of which Wallace P. Beeson of Williamstown is a descendant was one of the earliest Scotch families to be- come established and prominently recognized in the neigh- borhood of Colchester, Virginia. Alexander Henderson, the settler, was born in Scotland in 1689, a son of Rev. Richard Henderson, a noted clergyman of his time in Glasgow, Scotland. He came to Virginia in 1756, was an importing merchant and settled at Colchester and later at Dumfries. Before the Revolutionary war he served in the Virginia House of Burgesses, and was one of the five members of a committee appointed to determine the boundary line be- tween Virginia and Maryland, his associates being: George Washington, George Mason (of Mason-Dixon Line fame), Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. The work of this commission is historically known as the "Compact of 1785." He was not only a political supporter of Wash- ington, but a personal friend and associate. He later moved to Alexandria, Virginia, and he was a vestryman in Christ Church, where his name appears on a pew in that church. He married Sarah Moore, and three of his sons, John, Alexander and James, all came to what is now Wood County, then known as Harrison County, and helped to later set off and lay out Wood County.

Alexander Henderson, or "Sandy," as he was famil- iarly known, located on the Little Kanawha River in April, 1799, and built cabins for himself and his servants, re- turning then to his former home at Dumfries, Virginia. On May 25, 1801, he married Jane Hutchinson Lithgow and brought his bride to Wood County. It was a new ex- perience for her. She had been reared in luxury and was a petted beauty, unused to any kind of hardship. She took up the duties of life with good cheer and resource- fulness, and in her cabin in the wilderness, five miles dis- tant from a neighbor, learned to spin and weave, and some examples of her handiwork are still preserved and treasured by her descendants. For many years Alex- ander Henderson was a magistrate in Wood County. So- cially they were identified with many leading people of the time and section, frequently visited Blennerhassett Is- land and in turn hospitably entertained the Blennerhassetts on their Little Kanawha plantation. They were both sum- moned as witnesses in the noted trial of Aaron Burr.

The children of Alexander (Sandy) Henderson and his wife were: George W., John A. and Mary Page, the two latter dying when young. George Henderson was edu- cated at Athens, Ohio, attending college there from 1814 to 1818. He married Elizabeth Ann Tomlinson, a daugh- ter of Joseph Tomlinson, also a pioncer, and they became the parents of a large family: Joseph Tomlinson, Mary Page, Alexander, Georgianna, Alexander Lithgow, Anna Maria. Lucy Lithgow, Margaret Wallace, George Washing- ton, Henry Clay, Jock Bedell and Arthur Taylor. Mary Page, the mother of Wallace P. Beeson, died January 4, 1922. Jock Bedell and Arthur Taylor are residing on the old home place three miles below Williamstown, West Vir- ginia. Jock married Anna McIntosh and Arthur T. mar- ried Olinda McIntosh. Mary Page Henderson July 29, 1849, became the wife of Benjamin Tomlinson Beeson, to whom eight children were born: Lucy McMahon died in in- fancy; Elizabeth Rebecca married George W. MeDougle; Georgianna Henderson; Ida Drusilla; Mary Isabella, dead; Benjamin Meade; Wallace Page; and Mary Winifred. The father of the family was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, while the mother was a member of Christ Church (Episcopal), of Williamstown, West Vir- ginia.

Samuel and Joseph Tomlinson from whom this line descends were the first pioneers, blazing the first trees as

180

HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA

far south as this on the Ohio River in the year 1771, opposite where the Jater settlement of Marietta, Ohio, was made. They brought with them their sister Rebecca who afterwards became the wife of Isaac Williams, a pioneer srout. The present site of Williamstown was given Rebecca by her brothers, where she and her family dwelt, and from whom the town of Williamstown (at first called Williamsport) took its name.

John G. Henderson, a brother of Alexander (Sandy) Henderson married Drusilla Williams, a daughter of Isaac and Rebecca Williams. They died childless.

WALLACE P. BEESON. It is a fine trait in human nature that leads one to take pride in his ancestors, ignoring their possible fanlts and remembering only their virtues and their unusual achievements in the face of danger and hard- ship. The early settlement of what is now Wood County, West Virginia, was brought about by sturdy effort, re- sourcefulness and great personal courage and in the rec- ord of those early days no names more frequently or hon- orably appear than those of Tomlinson, Williams, Beeson and Henderson, all of which are still worthily represented in West Virginia.

Wallace P. Beeson, capitalist, vice president of the Fen- ton Art Glass Company and identified with numerous other important business enterprises at Williamstown West Vir- ginia, was born January 21, 1861, on the banks of the Ohio River in West Virginia, near where the Parkersburg Steel Mills now stand, in the same house in which his father was born on January 8, 1820. His parents were Benjamin Tomlinson and Mary P. (Henderson) Beeson.

The great-grandfather of Wallace P. Beeson was the founder of the family in West Virginia, a member of the same family that founded Uniontown, Pennsylvania, at that time a Quaker community. Great-grandfather Beeson was accompanied from Pennsylvania by his two sons, Jonas and Jacob. He bought a tract of land in what is now the northern part of Parkersburg, separated in two portions, with a 100-acre strip of land running between, and these two strips of land were deeded to his sons, Jonas receiving the strip in Beechwood and Jacob the strip at Redwood. It was the father's idea that by separating the land in this way the brothers would never be tempted into any land disagreement in the future. Jacob Beeson read law and practiced at Wheeling. He became the grandfather of the "Jackson boys," famous in West Virginia history. Federal Judge John J. Jackson, Governor Jacob Beeson .Jackson and Judge James Monroe Jackson. and the latter's statue now stands in front of the Court House in Parkers- burg, West Virginia. Jonas Beeson was a farmer and lived on bis land all his life. He married Rebecca Tom- linson and they had a large family, five children reaeh- ing mature years, one of whom, Benjamin Tomlinson Beeson, was the father of Wallace P. Beeson. He was a well known farmer and stock dealer and in early days drove his cat- tle to Maryland and marketed them in Baltimore. He was a man of influence but would never consent to become a candidate for public office. He moved his family to Wil- liamstown in 1887. IIis death occurred December 6, 1909, when nearing the ninetieth year of his age. His wife Mary P. (Henderson) Beeson survived until January 4, 1922, Jiv- ing at Williamstown. In spite of her advanced age, ninety- three years, she was as alert in mind as one but half her age and retained her mental faculties up to the elosing hours of her life.

Wallace P. Beeson was reared on the home farm and attended the common schools. In 1890 he came to Wil- liamstown to take up his residence here, and has been active in business and prominent in polities ever since. He was one of the original members of the Fenton Broth- ers' firm at Williamstown and has been one of the lead- ing stockholders and is vice president of the Fenton Art Glass Company. For many years he has been more or less engaged in oil and gas production and has additional interests.

Mr. Beeson was married October 29, 1896, to Miss Mary Fawn McIntosh, who was born at Fernandina, Florida,

and is a daughter of John Travis and Mary D. (Johnson) MeIntosh, natives of North Carolina, later residents ot Florida, the former deceased and the latter now resid- ing at Williamstown. Both Mr. and Mrs. Beeson ale members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics a lifelong demoerat, Mr. Beeson has been more than onee honored by his party with public office and has served as mayor of Williamstown with great business efficiency.

WALTER A. EDWARDS, cashier of the Bank of Weston, at Weston, the county seat of Lewis County, was born in this fine little city ou the 13th of October, 1872, and is a son of Thomas A. and Mary O. ( Hoffman) Edwards, the former of whom was born near Oakland, Maryland, September 10, 1834, and the latter was born at Weston, .West Virginia, February 16, 1840. Thomas A. Edwards was a young man when he came to West Virginia, and at Weston was solemnized his marriage to Miss Mary O. Hoffman, a graduate of Mount de Chantal Academy. At Weston Mr. Edwards was for several years engaged in mercantile pursuits, and thereafter he became editor and publisher of the Weston Democrat, which he made au effective exponent of local interests and of the cause of the democratic party. He served as a member of the County Court, and gained prestige as one of the pro- gressive and influential citizens of Lewis County. He was an earnest communicant of the Catholic Church, as is also his widow, who still resides at Weston. Of the four children Walter A., of this sketch, is the third in order of birth; James H. is engaged in the oil and gas busi- ness in this section of the state; Miss Lonise G. remains with her widowed mother; and Thomas A. is a mem- ber of the firm of Edwards & Edwards, engaged in the general insurance business at Weston.

After having profited fully by the advantages of the public schools of Weston, Walter A. Edwards became a clerk in the office of the auditor of the West Virginia & Pittsburgh Railroad, and in 1895 he resigned this post to accept that of teller in the National Exchange Bank at Weston. Hle won promotion to the office of cashier, and continued his service in this eapacity until 1907, when he effected the organization of the Bank of Weston, with a representative corps of stockholders, and he has been cashier of this institution from the initiation of its busi- ness, on the 1st of April, 1908. His personal popularity and his executive ability along financial lines have inred greatly to the success of this substantial institution. The other officers of the bank are as here designated: Presi- dent, Porter Arnold; vice president, George W. Wilson; assistant cashier, J. G. G. Heavner. Mr. Edwards con- tinued a member of the directorate of the National Exchange Bank of Weston and is a director also of the Weston Electric Light, Power & Water Company, besides which he is treasurer of the Sprigg Lumber Company, director of the Glen Elk Lumber Company at Clarksburg. and one of the owners of the Monarch billiard parlor at Weston. His political allegiance is given to the demo- eratie party, he is affiliated with the Knights of Colum- Is and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. and he and his family are communicants of the Catholic Church.

On the 16th of April, 1895, was solemnized the mar- riage of Mr. Edwards and Miss Mary J. Whelan, who was reared at Weston and who received the advantages of the excellent public schools of this city. Mr. and Mrs. Edwards became the parents of seven children, of whom five are living: Mary O. is a graduate of the Weston High School, as is also Thomas' A., who is, in 1922, a student in the great Catholic University in the City of Washington, District of Columbia; Eugene H. likewise is a graduate of the local high school; and Alice G. and Katherine are attending the Catholic parochial school at Weston.

EARLE REGER is a native of Lewis County, and here has the distinction of being postmaster of the fine little City of Weston, judicial center of the county. He was

181

HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA

born on his father's farm June 9, 1887, and is a son of William and Mary E. (Jones) Reger, the former of whom was born in Upshur County, this state, and the latter in Lewis County, in 1844. William Reger was reared ou a farm, received a common school education, and as a young man went forth as a gallant soldier of the Union in the Civil war, in which he continued his service until the close. After the war he continued as one of the sub- stantial and honored representatives of farm industry in Lewis County until the time of his death, both he and his wife having been zealous members of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, South, and his political allegiance having been given to the republican party. Of their children all except one are living: Thomas L. is employed in the accounting department of the Pennsylvania Railroad in the City of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Avis is the wife of George C. Hinzman; Charles H. resides in the City of Philadelphia, as an employe in the accounting department of the Pennsylvania Railroad; Mattie is the wife of Albert M. Crothers; Robert B. is bookkeeper for the Clarksburg Casket Company at Clarksburg, West Virginia; W. F. is postmaster at Berryburg, Barbour County, where he is also manager of the Consolidated Coal Company; S. S. conducts a general store at Burkburnette, Texas.

Earle Reger was reared on the old home farm, and was afforded the advantages of the publie schools of his native county. He continued to be associated with the work of the farm until he was nineteen years of age, when he became mail carrier on rural free delivery route No. 4 from Weston. After thus serving six months he was appointed a clerk in the Weston postoffice, and in fourteen years of continuous service he gained an accurate knowledge of all departments and details of the service, so that he was a logieal candidate for office when, on the 5th of June, 1920, he was appointed postmaster, under civil service examination and under the administration of President Wilson. His long experience and personal popularity give him special prestige in this office, and his administration is giving unqualified satisfaction.

Mr. Reger is a republican in politics, is an active mem- ber of the Weston Chamber of Commerce, is affiliated with Weston Lodge No. 10, Free and Accepted Masons, and Bigelow Chapter No. 4, Royal Arch Masons, and he and his wife hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.

In 1910 Mr. Reger married Miss Mamie F. Jones, whose death occurred in 1917 and who is survived by one child, Christine F. In September, 1919, Mr. Reger wedded Miss Mary Louise Stephens, of Parkersburg, West Virginia, and she is the gracious and popular chatelaine of their pleasant home, which is known for its generous hospitality and good cheer.

PORTER ARNOLD, president of the Bank of Weston, at Weston, judicial center of Lewis County, was born in this attractive little city on the 25th of October, 1866, and is a son of George J. and Anna (Swick) Arnold. The former was born in Virginia, in 1817, and was reared and educated in what is now Lewis County, West Vir- ginia, where his father became a pioneer farmer and substantial and honored citizen. George J. Arnold received the advantages of the common schools, and his early expe- riences were those of the farm, his wife, who was born in this county, in 1837, having likewise been reared on a farm. As a young man George J. Arnold studied law and gained admission to the bar. He and his wife estah- lished their home at Weston, and here he continued in the practice of his profession until he retired and returned to his farm, where he passed the remainder of his life. He became a representative member of the bar of Lewis County, and was a man of marked business ability also. He was one of the largest landowners of Lewis County at the time of his death. Both he and his wife were earnest communicants of the Protestant Episcopal Church, and he was a leader in the local councils of the democratic party. He served one term in the State Legislature, and

was also nominated for county judge, but was defeated Of the eight children five are living, the subject of this sketch being the eldest of the number: Genevieve is the wife of Dr. T. J. W. Brown, of Washington, District of Columbia; Mande, a graduate of the college at Winchester, Virginia, is the wife of E. A. Gillen; Jackson, who was graduated in law, is now at the head of the state police of West Virginia; and Flora, the widow of Lee Gowell, resides at Sutton, Braxton County.

After completing his studies in the public schools Por- ter Arnold entered Rockhill College, near Baltimore, Mary- land, and after leaving this institution he had charge of his father's farm until the time of his marriage, February 14, 1900, to Miss Bernice Alkire, who is a graduate of Luthersville College. After his marriage Mr. Arnold not only continued his association with farm enterprise and the buying and shipping of live stock, but also engaged in the mercantile business at Weston, where he is still iden- tified with this line of business. He served for a long period as a director of the National Exchange Bank, and in 1908 he became one of the organizers of the Bank of Weston, of which he has since served consecutively as the president, George W. Wilson being vice president and W. A. Edwards, the cashier, the directorate including these officers and also Charles M. Snaith, Lot Hall, Frank Mertz and Riley Gugg. Mr. Arnold is the owner of a fine landed estate of 1 023 acres in Lewis County. He is a stanch democrat, and was at one time his party's candidate for county sheriff. He is affiliated with the local lodge of Knights of Pythias, and he and his wife are communicants of the Protestant Episcopal Church. They have five chil- dren: Engenia, Margaret, Elizabeth, John P. and Samuel J. Eugenia is a graduate of the exclusive school of Stewart's Hall, Virginia, and Margaret is a graduate of the Weston High School. The family home is a center of gracious hospitality and is the stage of much of the repre- sentative social life of the community.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 3, Part 60

Author: Publication date: Publisher: Number of Pages:

Author:
Publication date:
Publisher:
Number of Pages: