History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 3, Part 82

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Mr. Allison married Miss Anna Baxter, a daughter of Absalom Baxter, a farmer of this locality. She was edu- cated in the normal school at West Liberty, and prior to her marriage was a successful and popular teacher in the public schools. To this union there have been born two

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daughters and two sons: Eunice M., a graduate of Wilson College, Chambersburg, and principal of Newell High School, who is active in the work of the Presbyterian Church; Helen R., a graduate of the Pennsylvania College for Women at Pittsburgh, elass of 1922; and Ralph B. and Howard R., both deceased.

JOHN E. NEWELL. It would be impossible to deal prop- erly with the men of Hancock County whose names stand out conspicuously in the banking interests of the county, and who through inherent characteristics and achievements have contributed to the upbuilding and development of the community of Chester without paying special attention to John E. Newell, president of the First National Bank of Chester and of the Haneoek County Building and Loan Company, for it is one that compels more than passing mention. For a number of years he has been prominently identified with financial, industrial and agricultural mat- ters, and such has been his foree of character and natural inclinations that he has attained prominence, not only as a thorough business man, but as manager of large affairs, in which he has displayed marked executive ability.

Mr. Newell was born in Tomlinson's Run, near Pugh- town, Haneoek County, where his grandfather, John Newell, ran a mill, December 22, 1861, and is a son of Hugh Newell. John Newell, the grandfather, was a son of Hugh Newell, who built the old fort on his farm, and was him- self the original settler of this section, from Cross Creek, Washington County, Pennsylvania. John Newell was a tanner by trade, and at the age of twenty-one years came to Pughtown, where he operated a tannery in the village, his son Hugh being born here in 1827. Hugh as a lad assisted his father in operating a grist mill, which was later sold, John Newell then building a mill further down, known later as the Baxter or Hartford mill. This he also sold to settle on a farm at Newell, a niee level property on the "hill,"' a part of which is now owned by the Vil- lage of Newell. There he resided from about 1837 until his death, at the age of eighty-six years, in 1884, being laid to rest at Fairview Flats, Pughtown. His first wife was a Miss Elder, who died without issue. His second wife was Lydia Edie, of Hancock County, who was the mother of Hugh Newell. His third wife was a widow, Mrs. Jo- hanna (Hastings) Frazier, who survived him. They had no children, but Mrs. Frazier had two sons who served in the Confederate army during the war between the states, while Mr. Newell had two sons serving in the Union armny at the same time. The children born to Jolin and Lydia (Edie) Newell were as follows: Hugh the father of John E .; Elizabeth, who married Alfred Marks and died in Han- roek County; William, who was in the United States army and later went to California as a freighter on the plains, and died in the West; Rachael, who married George S. llarker, a pioneer pottery man, and died at East Liver- pool, Ohio: George, who went to Colorado after his parents' death and died there; Benjamin, who lived on the old home farm and for whom the Village of Newell was named; and Rev. James, who served as a lieutenant in the Union army during the Civil war, after which he became a minis- ter of the Presbyterian Church, preached locally for a time, then served in California, where he became pastor emeritus of Bethesda Church at Los Angeles, Washington and Jefferson College and Allegheny Seminary.

Hugh Newell, the father of John E. Newell, conducted a mill until coming to Chester with his wife's brother, Alfred Marks, with whom he was in partnership for several years. Later he bought land on Marks' Run, a property of about 500 aeres, on which he lived from 1871 until his death in 1903, breeding sheep and clearing up a good deal of land. This old farm, the present residence of his son John E., whose home is but a short distance from that of his brother Samuel, at the old residence, lies about one- half mile back from the Ohio River, up Marks' Run. Hugh's residence was about one mile from the bank at Chester. Hugh Newell was active in securing the building of a bridge across the Ohio River to East Liverpool, served as school trustee, acted as roadmaster and was one of the organizers and the first president of the Hancoek

County Building and Loan Company. His wife was Alizan Marks, daughter of Samuel and Mary (Ferree) Marks. ller maternal grandfather Ferrec, of French origin, was a manufacturer of guns at Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and on moving to Coryopolis, then old Middletown, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, was said to have manufactured the first rifles to be made west of the mountains, these being tested by his daughter Mary, according to her personal statement some years ago to her grandson, John E. Newell. Samuel and Mary (Ferree) Marks eame to Haneoek County about 1818, and their old stone house is still standing, it having been built when their daughter Alizan was about thirteen years of age. Samnel Marks had a 100-aere tract of land, patented by President Washington, including what is now the upper end of Chester. A son, Alfred, sue- eeeded to the ownership, and his old farm is now covered by the Potteries Park, ete., including the old stone house. Alizan Newell, who was born on this farm, in the same year as her husband, died five years later. Her brother Alfred, who passed almost his entire life in the old stone house referred to, died as the result of an accident. Mr. and Mrs. Newell were faithful members of the Presby- terian Church. He was a Union man, an honorable citizen, and a man who was greatly respected in his community. lfe and his wife had five children: Mary, the widow of Dr. Hamlin Barnes, of Cleveland, Ohio; John E .; Anna, the wife of S. W. Root, of Los Angeles, California; Frank, the owner of a fruit ranch at Bakersfield, California; and Samuel, residing on the old home place as a partner of his brother John E.

John E. Newell received a public school education and as a youth adopted the voeation of farmer, one which he has never relinquished, although numerous other interests have also attracted his attention. In partnership with his brother Samuel he is the owner of 450 acres of land, on which he is carrying on dairying with a herd of Holstein eattle, supplying milk by wholesale. He has also met with sneeess as a fruit grower, raising apples and peaches, with twenty-five aeres in fruit, mostly set on the higher land. A few miles inside the "horseshoe, " partly surrounded by the Ohio River, constitutes what is recognized as one of the best fruit-growing sections in this part of the United States. The hills are some 500 feet above the river and are comparatively free from frost injury, and even in 1921. a notoriously bad year for fruit, a good apple erop was harvested here.

Mr. Newell is president of the National Bank of Chester, having sueeeeded the first president, Judge Campbell. He is also president of the Haneoek County Building and Loan Company. As a public-spirited citizen he has accepted the responsibilities of public life, and as the regular party nominee was sent to the State Legislature for the session of 1902-1903, during Governor White's term of office. He has since served as county commissioner, the county jail and residenee of the sheriff being erected during his term of office, and during the World war he was chairman of the Haneoek County Draft Board. With his family he belongs to the Presbyterian Church at Chester, in which he is president of the board of trustees.

Mr. Newell married Miss Minnie Rose, of Chester, daugh- ter of Samuel F. and Martha (Pugh) Rose, Mr. Rose hav- ing been an early merehant of Chester, now deceased. Mrs. Rose was a daughter of John Pugh, of the family who settled Pughtown, the old county seat of Hancock County. The five children of Mr. and Mrs. Newell all reside with their parents, being: Helen R., a teacher at Chester; Martha M., a teacher at Newell; Frances E., a teacher in the high school at Newell; Rachael E., a student in the West Virginia University, from which she will graduate as a member of the class of 1924; and John Roseoe, who is attending the high school at Chester.

FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHESTER. During the twenty years of its existence the First National Bank of Chester has developed into one of the strongest financial organiza- tions for a community of its size to be found in the north- ern part of the State of West Virginia, and one which has won its standing in banking circles and in the confi-

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dence of the general public through a strong yet conserva- tive policy, honorable representation and the connection therewith of men of known integrity and probity.

This financial institution was opened October 15, 1903, its original capital being $50,000. The original board of directors included the following: Judge Joseph A. Camp- bell, president, now deceased: Joseph N. Finley, vice presi- dent, as now; F. W. Stewart, now deceased; John R. Donahue, now deceased; James Porter, now deceased; C. F. Allison, at that time sheriff of Hancock County, and now deceased; John E. Newell; John D. Stewart, now deceased; J. H. Maxwell; George R. Ahrendts; Mark Mil- ler; A. B. Allison; S. E. Calhoon; and T. R. Cunningham, now deceased. O. O. Allison was the first cashier, but was not then a member of the board of directors.

Since the opening a number of changes have taken place in the personnel of the board, but the same policy of conservatism and honorable conduct has been adhered to. The present board consists of the following: John E. Newell, president; O. O. Allison, cashier; Joseph N. Fin- ley, first vice president; George E. Lewis, M. D., second vice president; J. C. Cunningham, E. C. Stewart, Robert R. Hobbs, S. A. Stewart, J. M. Calhoon and R. M. Ramsey.

The present home of this banking house, which was erected in 1907, at a cost of $20,000, includes the bank, a store and general offices overhead. At the close of business December 31, 1921, the resources of the bank were over $790,000, and the deposits over $600,000.

HANCOCK COUNTY BUILDING AND LOAN COMPANY. The wonderful growth of realty values during the '90s in Northern West Virginia brought to the forefront a class of men who for general ability, astuteness and driving force have been seldom surpassed in the annals of trade in this section. It is all well enough to say that condi- tions develop men, but it is better and more accurate to state that men bring about conditions. Hancock County owes what it is to the men who had the courage to perse- vere, to act wisely and to keep their operations clean in one of the most difficult fields of endeavor.

In 1899, when Chester was but a small village, the urgent demand for more homes made the time opportune for the organization and operation of a modern savings and loan association in the community. The original plan of the Hancock County Building and Loan Company was devel- oped and formulated by a few of the leading citizens in the latter part of 1899, and December 31 of that year the association was incorporated under the laws of the State of West Virginia, by S. T. Herbert, G. Y. Travis, N. G. MacCrum, J. W. Gipner, O. C. Vodrey, C. A Smith, S. F. Rose, W. N. Voegtly, William Banfield, J. E. McDonald and Hugh Newell, with a total subscription of $6,100 as the capital thereof, and paid in on said subscriptions, $610. On January 10, 1900, the stockholders met and elected the following directors: Hugh Newell, C. A. Smith, J. E. McDonald, S. T. Herbert, S. F. Rose, J. W. Gipner, G Y. Travis, O. C. Vodrey and W. N. Voegtly. The board then organized by electing Hngh Newell, president; C. A. Smith, vice president; S. T. Herbert, secretary; N. G. MacCrum, treasurer; and G. Y. Travis, attorney.

The Hancock County Building and Loan Company com- menced business in a modest and unassuming manner March 8, 1900, and for four years thereafter its office and place of meetings were in the law offices of Herbert & Travis at East Liverpool, Ohio. The first application for a loan was made by James S. Cochrane, of Chester, and was granted. The first secretary received a salary of $25 per year for the years 1900 and 1901, $50 for the year 1902, and $9 for the year 1903. On March 17, 1904, the offices of the association were removed to the rooms of the First National Bank of Chester, West Virginia, and S. T. Herbert having resigned as secretary and N. G. MacCrum as treasurer, O. O. Allison was elected to the dual office of secretary-treasurer.

During the early days of the life of the association it was impossible to supply the money necessary to make the loans required by the people of Chester and the vicinity, and realizing that the home is the bulwark of civilization,

that every individual or institution that makes it easier for the general pubile to build or purchase a home adds strength and perpetuity to their government and prosper- ity to their community, the board of directors resolved to put forth every effort to induce the people to become mem- bers of the association, which has resulted in hundreds of people building and owning their own homes.

The men behind the company are responsible for its success. They are not new in this section of the country nor are they new to the building and loan business. They have been born and reared in this part of the country and hence know the value of the property npon which they make loans. The association is now firmly established in the confidence and esteem of the people of West Virginia and adjoining states, as the best place in this section of the country to save money at an earning rate of not less than 5 per cent per annum compounded semi-annually, or to borrow money on easy terms either on farm or city prop- erty. This splendid reputation has been secured by prompt service, fair dealing, safe business methods and economical management during the more than twenty years of its existence.

The present officers of the company are: John E. Newell, president; A. B. Allison, vice president; O. O. Allison, secretary; Daniel S. Dawson, assistant secretary; O. O. Allison, treasurer. Perry L. Rigby, attorney, and these gentlemen (with the exception of Mr. Dawson), form the hoard of directors, together with the following: R. W. Pugh, Thomas C. Glenn, Robert R. Hobbs, Thomas G. Stewart, A. L. Skinner, Frank Finley, W. W. Thompson, J. C. Cunningham, J. S. D. Mercer, Thomas R. Timothy and George E. Conkle.

EDMUND L. HENSLEY. Among the lahors to which men devote their activities there are none which have a more important bearing upon the business and financial welfare of any community than those of the business educator. The community which may boast of able and energetic workers in this field seldom want for enterprise and civic zeal. In his connection mention is made of Edmund L. Hensley, pro- prietor of the West Virginia Business College of Hunting- ton, a man of broad, varied and thorough experience, who has developed an institution that is accounted one of the leaders of its kind in the state.

Mr. Hensley was born in Bath County, Kentucky, July 31, 1881, a son of Edmund C. Hensley. His great-grandfather, Samuel, came from near Jamestown, Virginia, and took up a claim at or near the present site of Catlettsburg, Kentucky, prior to or about the time of the Revolutionary war, in which community was born the grandfather of Edmund L. Hensley, Richardson Hensley, in 1821. He became a pioneer near Holbrook, Kentucky, where he was engaged in farming all his life, and in his death, which occurred in 1888, his locality lost one of its enterprising agriculturists and de- pendable citizens.

Edmund C. Hensley was born December 14, 1848, at Hol- brook, Kentucky, and was reared and educated in that community, but as a young man went to Bath County, where he was married and where he carried on agricultural pursuits for many years. In 1904 he retired from active pursuits and settled at the home of his son, with whom he now lives. He is a democrat in politics and a member of the Christian Church, of which he is a strong supporter. Mr. Hensley married Miss Lydia Hall, who was born in Bath County, Kentucky, in 1853, and died in that county in 1893. Of their two children, Edmund L. and Elbert, the latter is a graduate of Bethany (West Virginia) College, and is now a minister of the Christian Church at Sparta, Kentucky.

Edmund L. Hensley received his education in the public schools of Salt Lick, Bath County, Kentucky, where he was graduated from the high school with the class of 1899, and for a number of years taught in the rural districts of that county. In 1904 he left the educator's profession tempo- rarily, accepting employment with the Cherry River Boom and Lumber Company of Richwood, Nicholas County, West Virginia, but in 1909 again became an instructor, when he went to Clarksburg, West Virginia, and taught in the

Édeslie Hensley

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West Virginia Business College until 1911. In that year he removed to Waynesboro, Pennsylvania, and became prin- cipal of the commercial department of the high school, a position which be retained for one year, and January 1, 1913, came to Huntington as instructor in the West Virginia Business College. During the summer of the same year he became proprietor of this institution by purchase, and since was built up this college to one of the leaders of its kind in he state. It has more than a state-wide reputation, as ts pupils are attracted not only from all over West Vir- ginia, but from Ohio, Kentucky and other states as well. The college occupies the entire third floor of the Miller Building and is complete in every department. Mr. Hensley s independent in politics, and a member of the Christian Church, in which he officiates as a deacon. He holds mem- pership in the Huntington Chamber of Commerce and the Huntington Business Men's Association, and is active in civic affairs. His comfortable home is located at 1110 Eleventh Avenue, in a desirable residence district of the ity.

In 1911, in Braxton County, West Virginia, Mr. Hensley married Miss Bessie Riffle, who was born in Braxton County, und is a normal school graduate. She was a school teacher prior to her marriage to Mr. Hensley, and is now his assist- int in the college. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Hensley: Edmund, born November 1, 1912; and Eluda, born May 13, 1914, both attending the Huntington schools.

GEORGE CAMPBELL. During a long, useful and active areer George Campbell has applied himself to the vocation of agriculture with such good results that he is now ac- ounted one of the substantial men of the Holliday's Cove ommunity of Hancock County. He has brought to his vork industry, energy, careful application of modern nethods and intelligent management of the various depart- ments of farm work, and has thus developed a property as attractive as it is valuable. Also, while so doing he has gained and held the well wishes, esteem and confidence of his fellow citizens.

Mr. Campbell was born on the farm where he now lives, Tune 7, 1851, a son of Robert and Margaret (Purdy) Campbell, the latter a sister of James Purdy, the father f James A. Purdy, a sketch of whose career will be found Isewhere in this work. Robert Campbell was born Sep- ember 27, 1803, at Furnace Place on King's Creek, Han ock County, a son of Alexander Campbell, who should not be confused with the old minister of that name, being not ven of the same immediate family. Alexander Campbell vas a son of James Campbell, a native of Scotland, who ettled here about 1780, and it is thought that Alexander was born in this locality. James Campbell bought the old Carr Furnace, which was the first west of the mountains, ind at which much of the ammunition and cannons were manufactured for Commodore Perry on Fort Erie, as well is ammunition used by General Jackson at the memorable battle of New Orleans during the War of 1812.

Alexander Campbell married Jane Bell, a neighbor girl, whose nephew, William Bell, still follows the vocation of ollier in the same community. Following his marriage Mr. Campbell came to the "Hill," as a certain section s known, a part of which is included in the present farm f George Campbell and is located about one mile from Weirton. His father, James, then died, leaving him 500 cres of land in a tract that had been secured from the Government when Patrick Henry was governor of Virginia, ind in addition to this Mr. Campbell also owned other ands, so that he was able to give farms to his five sons. ater he sold his remaining property and went to Illinois. Iis sons were: Alexander, who sold his farm, removed to llinois, and died in the West; Archibald, who removed to Tan Bnren Connty, Iowa, where he died; David and Daniel, wins. the latter of whom also removed to the West and passed away there; and Robert. David and Robert, the mly sons to remain, received the 500-acre farm with one ister, Elizabeth who married a Mr. Casson and lived near Parkersburg, West Virginia. Polly, another sister, mar- ied Morris Baker and removed to Hardin County, Ohio,

and a third sister, Patience, remained a maiden and died in old age at Steubenville, Ohio. David continued to live on his farm during the remainder of his life, and since his death the property has been sold.

Robert Campbell, as before noted, secured a part of the 500-acre farm, on which he spent his entire married life, during which he added 165 acres to the property. This he gave to his eldest son, John P., who is now living in Arkansas at the advanced age of ninety-one years. Robert Campbell died at the age of seventy-eight years. His wife, Margaret, having died when she was sixty-three years of age, in his declining years he married Alice Linduff, who survived him some years, without issue. By his first mar- riage he had the following children: John P .; Jane, who married Daniel Stansbury and died in Hancock County; Cyrus, who became a physician and surgeon and went to Missouri, where he practiced until his death; William, who removed to Missouri and died there; Elizabeth, who mar- ried Ephraim Evans and died on a farm in Washington County, Pennsylvania; James, who went to New Mexico as a prospector and miner and died there; Robert A., who followed carpentry at Chester, West Virginia, until his death; Julia, of Wellsville, Ohio, the widow of James Wright; Susanna, who married Francis Ralston and still resides in the Holliday's Cove neighborhood; George, of this notice; and Hiram T., a retired agriculturist now liv- ing at Holliday's Cove.

George Campbell was reared on the old home place, attending the public schools, and some time after attaining his majority, in company with his brother, Hiram, he purchased the old farm. They continued to operate the property as partners for twelve years and then divided the land, George securing 150 acres. He sold a part of his coal when it was worth only one-half or one-third what it is today, but for the past several years has mined quite successfully, has received a comfortable income from his extensive orchards and has been prosperous in his work as a breeder of Poland China hogs. He has kept his business on the farm and has found fortune and contentment in his work. Mr. Campbell is a democrat, as has been the family for generations with the exception of two brothers. With his family he belongs to the Presbyterian Church at Holli- day's Cove.

At the age of twenty-four years Mr. Campbell was united in marriage with Miss Alice Hammond, daughter of Wil- liam Hammond, an old-time teacher now living at the Cove. Mrs. Campbell became her father's housekeeper when she was fourteen years of age, and continued to act as such until she was married. Four children have been horn to Mr. and Mrs. Campbell: Charles L., a sketch of whose career will be found on another page of this work; Robert Elmer, of Holliday's Cove, formerly a teacher in the public schools but now a car inspector on the Pennsyl- vania Railroad. married Bessie Brice and has three chil- dren, Robert Brice, Mary Brown and Kenneth; Walter Hammond, formerly a car inspector on the Pennsylvania Railroad and now carrying on operations on a part of the home farm, married Ila Leonora Gilmore and has four children, Fred H., Walter B., Pauline Roberta and Vir- ginia Belle; and Jessie Agnes, the wife of David Diekie Mercer, of East Liverpool, Ohio, formerly a teacher, as was she, and later a machinist in the foundry, and now deceased, and they had two children, Alice M. and Walter.

ABSALOM L. CARTER. Prominent among the representa- tives of the agricultural industry of Brooke County is Absalom L. Carter, a member of an old and honored family, who now resides two miles from Follansbee, on the Elders- ville Road. Mr. Carter has followed farming and stock breeding all bis life, at varions times has been identified with other lines of endeavor, and his career has been a successful and gratifying one, both from the viewpoint of material gain and from that of seenring the good will and esteem of those with whom he has been associated.

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History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 3, Part 82

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