History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 3, Part 89

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Don Cunningham was reared in Randolph and Tucker counties, and attended the public schools, the West Virginia Preparatory School at Keyser, West Virginia, and Wash- ington and Lee University, being graduated from the law department of the latter institution with the degree of Bachelor of Laws. In 1917 Mr. Cunningham enlisted in his country's service as a private, rose through the ranks to second lieutenant, and was at Camp Lee as an instructor when the armistice was signed. Following his honorable discharge he was placed in the Officers' Reserve Corps of the United States army. Following his discharge Mr. Cunning- ham went to Elkins, West Virginia, and took the West Virginia bar examination, was admitted to the bar Septem- ber 30, 1919, for a short time was engaged in practice at Elkins, and in March, 1921, came to Gassaway, where he has since remained.

Mr. Cunningham married, March 12, 1921, Miss Ida L. Leagne, a graduate of the public schools and the Southern Seminary at Buena Vista, Virginia. She is a daughter of John S. and Grace B. (Woolford) Leagne, the former of whom is a jeweler of Gassaway. Mr. Cunningham belongs to Gassaway Lodge No. 196, K. of P., in which he is master

of finance; and to the Loyal Order of Moose. Mrs. Cun- ningham is a member of the Pythian Sisters. She is an active worker in and member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, to which Mr. Cunningham is a liberal contributor. The republican party and ticket receives the strong support of the Cunninghams. Thoroughly abreast of the times, with excellent abilities, both natural and carefully trained, Mr. Cunningham brings to his practice and also to his civic responsibilities the enthusiasms of youth and the results of thoughtful preparation, and is rapidly advancing to a strong position among the legal practicioners of his native state.

ANDY WIRT BERRY. Some men are not content with their home communities, but leave for parts unknown to pursue there a fortune which oftentimes eludes them, but there are others, probably more sensible, who, remaining where they are known and where they are acquainted with the people and customs, earn their money and make their invest- ments locally. Centering their holdings and interests, they are able to acquire means and exert a strong influence along constructive lines. Such is the case of Andy Wirt Berry, one of the large landowners of Braxton County, a merchant and banker of Flatwoods, and one of the city's most repre- sentative men and public-spirited citizens.

The birth of Mr. Berry took place on a farm near Flat- woods, which he now owns, November 25, 1876, and he is a son of William H. and Irene Caroline (Denison) Berry. William H. Berry was born in Braxton County, October 16, 1834, and still survives. His wife, Irene Caroline (Denison) Berry, was born near Janelew, Lewis County, West Virginia, a daughter of Gabriel Denison, and a niece of "Stonewall"' Jackson. They were reared and educated in the rural dis- tricts, and Mr. Berry taught school when young. When the Flatwoods Baptist Church was organized in October, 1889, Mrs. Berry was one of its charter members, and Mr. Berry also belongs to this church. He is a democrat. For many years in addition to his farming activities he was a heavy buyer and shipper of stock, and contributed sub- stantially to the early development of Braxton County. Of the seven children born to these parents four survive, namely: J. G. Berry, who is a contractor in the oil fields of Oklahoma; Andy Wirt, whose name heads this review; Martha E., who is the wife of W. F. Duffield; and Ada, who is the wife of Claude C. Davis.

Growing up on the farm, Andy Wirt Berry attended the common schools, and when only seventeen years of age began teaching school. He spent a couple of years at this work, and then went into his brother's store as a clerk. In 1899 he established himself in business at Flatwoods, and has been handling staves, lumber and coal ever since. He is also interested in oil, gas and coal, and owns a number of farms in Braxton County, as well as stock in the Bank of Sutton and in many other local enterprises.

In 1901 Mr. Berry married Miss May Fisher, who was the daughter of Hon. B. F. Fisher, of Braxton County. She died in 1902, and he subsequently married Miss Anna Zinn, of Troy, West Virginia. Mr. Berry has six children, namely: Irene, Elizabeth, A. W., Jr., May Nell, Robert Zinn, and Richard Waitman.

He is a member of the Flatwoods Baptist Church, which he is now serving as clerk. A Mason, he belongs to Sutton Lodge No. 21, A. F. and A. M., of which he has been master for eight years; Sutton Chapter, Sutton Commandery, K. T., and the Mystic Shrine of Charleston, West Virginia. He completed the eighteen degrees of the Scottish Rite at Clarksburg, West Virginia, and will complete the Scottish Rite up to the thirty-second degree at Wheeling, West Vir- ginia, in the very near future. In politics he is a democrat. He also takes a very active part in county and state politics. In everything he has undertaken Mr. Berry has been suc- cessful, but he has made it a point to look into a matter very carefully before taking action, and to see to his inter- ests personally. He is very proud of his home community and is anxious to secure for it a proper amount of improve- ments, but at the same time he is not willing to sanction an unwise expenditure of the taxpayers' money. Such men as Mr. Berry are a valuable asset to any neighborhood, and he may properly be regarded as one of the best representa-

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tives of the substantial American business man of his time and locality.

HON. JOHN I. BENDER. Because of the leading part he has taken in business, financial and public affairs and the extent and importance of his connections Hon. John I. Bender is justly accounted one of the leading citizens of Braxton County, where he is representative of his district in the Lower House of the State Legislature and president of the Burnsville Exchange Bank. He was born at Chapel, five miles from Gassaway, West Virginia, December 11, 1870, and is a son of Andrew and Eliza E. (Lloyd) Bender.

The paternal grandfather of Mr. Bender, John Bender, was born in Germany, where he was reared, educated and learned the trade of tailor. In his native land he married Mary C. Dabis, and following their union they immigrated to the United States, first locating for a short time at Baltimore, Maryland, and then coming to West Virginia and settling on Steer Creek. Mr. Bender farmed here and also followed his trade to some extent, but finally went to the State of Iowa, where his death occurred. He was a man of religious inclination and was straight-forward and hon- orable în his dealings. He and his worthy wife were the parents of the following children: Henry; Mary, who be- came the wife of N. W. Lloyd; Andrew and John, who were twins; W. K .; and Christina, who became the wife of Azariah Bright. All these children are living in 1922 with the exception of Mary.

Andrew Bender was born in the Chapel community, near Gassaway, where he was educated in the public schools and reared to the pursuits of farming, which he adopted on reaching manhood. Following his marriage he settled on a farm in his native community, where he has always carried on his operations, and at the present time is engaged in the successful cultivation of a valuable and modernly-equipped tract of 350 acres. He is a republican in politics, and he and Mrs. Bender are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Of their nine children six are living in 1922: Tabitha, who is the widow of George C. Gerwig; John I., of this notice; Christina, the wife of W. A. Haymond, of Florida; Iva, the widow of Rev. C. E. Hainrick; L. L., who is engaged in farming in Braxton County; and Otis A., also an agriculturist of Braxton County.

John I. Bender was reared on the home farm in the Gassaway community, and his early education was acquired in the rural schools near his father's farm. Later he received instruction in private schools, and with this prep- aration entered upon a career as a teacher, but after two years decided that the educator's profession was not his forte, and accordingly turned his attention to merchandis- ing. For several years he conducted a store, but in 1905 changed his scene of operations to Burnsville, where he embarked in the lumber business, an enterprise with which he continued to be identified and in which he has achieved a very gratifying success. Mr. Bender was one of the organizers of the Braxton County Bank, of which he was president, and when this institution was taken over by the Burnsville Exchange Bank he became the chief executive of the combined institution. This position he still holds, his fellow-officials in the institution being: W. C. Hefner, vice president; H. B. Marshall, cashier; and Frauk Amos, assistant cashier, while the board of directors consists of the following: John I. Bender, G. D. Marple, C. A. Wade, H. B. Marshall, E. A. Stockert, W. C. Hefner, F. G. Hoover, Frank Amos, John M. Marple, R. D. Dennison and W. G. Wilson. Mr. Bender is also interested in the oil and gas business, and is the owner of a handsome modern' farm, on which he maintains a productive orchard. In his various business connections he has always shown himself thoroughly capable, reliable and trustworthy, winning and holding the deserved confidence of his associates, and through his energy and progressiveness contributing to the success of the various enterprises with which he is identified.

Politically a republican, Mr. Bender has long been inter- ested in public affairs and wields a strong influence in the ranks of his party. He was the first republican ever elected a member of the County Court of Braxton County, serving on that body from 1900 to 1906, and has also been

a member of the Burnsville City Council and of the local Board of Education, in all of which capacities he advocated measures that would add to his community's growth and elevate its standards of morality, education and good citi- zenship. In 1914 he was first sent to the State Legislature of West Virginia, as the representative of his district, and served capably during the session of 1915 and 1916. Again, in 1920, he was the successful candidate for the Legislature, in which he served in the session of 1921 and 1922, to the great benefit of his constituents. His public career has been one in which his record is an open book and has been char- acterized by numerous achievements in behalf of his con- munity and his state.

On May 1, 1902, Mr. Bender was united in marriage with Miss Inez Harbert, who was born in Harrison County, West Virginia, and educated in the public schools and the State Normal School at Fairmont. Five children have been born to this union: Edgar A., a graduate of the Burnsville High School; Earl L., who is attending that school; and John R., William H. and James C., who are students in the graded schools. Mr. and Mrs. Bender are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and active in the work thereof. As a fraternalist Mr. Bender is a past master of Burnsville Lodge No. 87, A. F. and A. M .; a member of Sutton Commandery No. 16, K. T., and Sutton Chapter No. 29, R. A. M .; a past noble grand of the local lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows; and a member of the Modern Woodmen of America.

W. B. GOLDEN. A position of public trust is necessarily indicative of the man who fills it. When the duties of an office demanding a keen intellect, a never-failing diplomacy and a strong moral courage, are, year after year, dis. charged so satisfactorily that the public vote confirms them successively on the same person, we may be imme- diately assured that the individual who occupies the office is possessed of the proper abilities. In this connection mention is to be made of W. B. Golden, who was elected to the office of superintendent of schools of Braxton County in 1910, served four years and was elected again in 1918 and is now serving his second term.

Mr. Golden was born in Upshur County, West Virginia, February 19, 1874, a son of A. B. and Celina (McCauley) Golden, both natives of the same locality and both prod- ucts of the farm and of the country schools. Prior to her marriage Mrs. Golden had taught in the free schools of her native county for several years. After their mar- riage Mr. Golden turned his attention to farming, and settled on a small farm near Rock Cave, but in 1884 disposed of his interests in that locality and moved to a farm near Flatwoods, Braxton County, where they lived until the death of Mr. Golden, which occurred September 3, 1900, after which Mrs. Golden disposed of the farm and now resides at Walkersville, Lewis County, with her youngest son. They were faithful members of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church. Mr. Golden was a member of the Improved Order of Red Men, and his political faith was as a democrat.

The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Golden were as follows: W. B., of this review; Charles O., who is en- gaged in farming in the State of Colorado; Eva, who is the wife of M. H. Crawford, of Weston, West Virginia; J. L., who is engaged in farming and the lumber business at Rock Cave, this state; A. H., of Burnsville, Braxton County; T. R., who is engaged in operating a farm in Oklahoma; Oscar, who while working for the Government as a trained nurse in the Philippine Islands, contracted tuberculosis, from which he died; and Clyde, who resides at home with his mother.

W. B. Golden was reared on a farm, but cared little for agricultural pursuits, and when fifteen years of age taught his first country school. He continued to follow this vocation, in the meantime adding much to his store of information by reading and home study courses.

He has been elected two terms of four years each to the office of county superintendent of schools of his county. In the superintendency, Mr. Golden has done much to elevate the standards of the free schools of his county and

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place them on a higher plane. He has made himself a general favorite with teachers, pupils and parents, and much of his success has been due to the fact that he knows the needs of his county and is working with all the energy at his command for the general betterment. So well has he done his work as superintendent that he is regarded as one of the best in the state and can no doubt be elected again with little opposition.

On May 26, 1899, Mr. Golden married Miss Estella M. Morrison, who was born in Braxton County and educated in the public schools of her county. To this union were born five children: Marvin L., a graduate of the high school at Sutton and has since had two and one-half years at the State University; Mary Marie, a graduate of the Sutton High School and teaches in the graded school at Flatwoods; Audrey, a student at the Flatwoods Higlı School; Opal and Edith, who are attending the graded school at Flatwoods.

The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, in which Mr. Golden is superintendent of the Sunday school. He is a member of the Improved Order of Red Men, in which order he belongs to the State Great Council, and in politics is a democrat.

HOMER THOMAS LAMBERT. Success in life along any path of endeavor demands energy, aggressiveness, proper preparation and self-reliance. Genius and talent may also be present, but for permanency, practicality and the homely virtues are necessary. To the undoubted possession of these may be attributed in part at least the success that has crowned the efforts of Homer Thomas Lambert, of Hunting- ton, a jobber for mine, mill and general contractors' equip- ments, a manufacturer and a man variously connected with leading business enterprises.

Mr. Lambert was born at Kilgore, Boyd County, Ken- tucky, September 12, 1884, a son of Samuel T. and Maggie (Simpson) Lambert, and belongs to a family which orig- inated in France and was founded in Virginia during Colonial times. His grandfather, William Lambert, was born in 1824, in Wayne County, Virginia (now West Vir- ginia), where he was reared and educated, and as a young man removed to Boyd County, Kentucky, where he was married. He was a carpenter by trade, and followed that vocation until enlisting in the Union army for service dur- ing the war between the states, in which he saw much active service. At the close of the struggle he returned to his trade, and lived in Boyd and Greenup counties, Ken- tucky, but finally went to Blue Springs, Gage County, Nebraska, where he died in 1906. He was a republican in politics. Mr. Lambert married Elizabeth Ferguson, who was born in Wayne County, and died in Greenup County, Ken- tucky, in 1864.

Samuel T. Lambert, who is now a resident of Matewan, Mingo County, West Virginia, was born March 7, 1861, in Greenup County, Kentucky, where he was reared and educated, and as a young man became identified with coal operations, in which he has been interested throughout his career. In 1893 he removed to Thacker, Mingo County, this state, and five years later to Matewan, where he has been superintendent and general manager of the Red Jacket Consolidated Coal and Coke Company and of several other companies. In 1912 he engaged in mine operations on his own account, and in 1916 embarked in the general mer- cantile business, in which he is still interested, having the leading general store at Matewan. One of his community's most prominent and influential citizens, he is serving in the capacity of mayor, and for the past sixteen years has been president of the Board of Education. He is a stanch repub- lican in his political sympathies, belongs to the Masonic fraternity, and holds membership in Bluefield Lodge No. 269, B. P. O. E .; Thacker Lodge, I. O. O. F., of Thacker ; and Red Jacket Lodge, K. of P., of Matewan. In 1882 Mr. Lambert married at Geigerville, Boyd County, Ken- tucky, Miss Maggie Simpson, of Kilgore, Kentucky, who died at Thacker, West Virginia, in 1895. They were the parents of five children, as follows: Marvin, a bookkeeper for the Borderland Coal Company at Borderland, West Vir- ginia; Homer Thomas, of this review; Maggie, who died

unmarried in 1916, aged twenty-four years; Ethel, the wife of Luther Hill, train dispatcher for the Norfolk & Western Railroad at Williamson, West Virginia; and Haven, an employe of a United States Government stamping mill at Thane, Alaska, who met his death in a fall from a building in' 1915, when twenty-two years of age. In 1897, at Thacker, West Virginia, Samuel T. Lambert married Miss Dora Christian, who was born at Matewan, West Virginia, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Christian, the latter de- ceased and the former an agriculturist of Okeeffe, West Virginia. To this union there have been born two children: Willie, who left home and has not been heard from; and Frank, who resides with his parents.

The public schools of Red Jacket, West Virginia, fur- nished Homer Thomas Lambert with his primary educational training, following which he pursued a course at the Na- tional Business College of Roanoke, Virginia, from which institution he was graduated as a member of the class of 1904. His first employment was as chief electrician of the Red Jacket mines of Mingo, where he remained two years, and was next with the Jeffrey Manufacturing Company of Columbus, Ohio, for one year. He left this position to he- come master mechanic and electrician with the Pike Col- lieries at Matewan, but after six months joined the Glen Allum Coal Company, Gleu Allum, West Virginia, as elec- trician, remaining six months. Mr. Lambert erected the plant of the McDowell Coal and Coke Company at Me- Dowell, West Virginia, in 1907, and was then with the Goodwill Coal and Coke Company of Goodwill, this state, as chief electrician, for ten months. His next experience was as a traveling salesman for the Emmons-Hawkins Hardware Company of Huntington, for three months, fol lowing which he joined the Superior Supply Company of Bluefield, West Virginia, as a traveling salesman, with head- quarters at Graham, Virginia. In 1911 he left this com pany and accepted a position with the Queen City Supply Company of Cincinnati, handling mining, mill and con- tractors' supplies, and while engaged with this concern came to Huntington in 1913. In January, 1915, he resigned his position and embarked in business on his own accouut as a jobber for mine, mill and general contractors' supplies and equipment, and is so engaged at the present time, hav- ing built up the leading business at Huntington. He is likewise engaged in the manufacture of frogs, switches and light track material for the mines, of which there are 2,200 coal mines within a radius of 150 miles of Huntington. His offices are situated at No. 1017-18 First National Bank Building, and the plant is at Fifteenth Street and Jackson Avenue, West Huntington, on the B. & O. and C. & O. railroads. Mr. Lambert is president and general manager of the H. T. Lambert Company, and president of the Linville Oil and Gas Company. He is a democrat in his political allegiance, and his religious connection is with the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Fraternally he belongs to Huntington Lodge No. 53, A. F. and A. M .; Huntington Chapter No. 6, R. A. M .; Huntington Commandery No. 9, K. T .; Lodge of Perfection No. 4, and Knights of the Rose Croix No. 4, Huntington, West Virginia; West Vir- ginia Consistory No. 1, Wheeling, thirty-second degree; Beni-Kedem Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., Charleston; and Huntington Lodge No. 313, B. P. O. E. He holds member- ship also in the Huntington Chamber of Commerce and the Johbers and Manufacturers Bureau of Huntington, and is a member and director of the Lions Club. Mr. Lambert owns a modern residence at 614 First Street, one of the attractive homes of Huntington.

On July 5, 1908, at Ironton, Ohio, Mr. Lambert was united in marriage with Miss Vernon Webb, daughter of James and Elizabeth (Brewster) Webb, the latter of whom . resides with Mr. and Mrs. Lambert, while the former died at Hanging Rock, Ohio, where he was a cupola tender. Four children have come to Mr. and Mrs. Lambert: Cecil, born April 9, 1909; Howard A., born June 25, 1911; Eleanor Margaret; and Frances Louise.

HON. W. R. PIERSON, JR. In studying the influences which have combined for the advancement of our men of business, professional and public importance, it is in-

He Lambert

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variably to be discovered that these individuals have risen to their present positions largely through the force of their own industry and ability. The traits of character upon which we may depend for the greatest rewards are perse- verance, integrity and self-reliance, and to these may be attributed the success that has crowned the efforts of Hon. W. R. Pierson, Jr., a member of the Lower House of the State Legislature from Braxton County, and a resident of Sutton. He has been the architect of his own fortunes and has occupied an honorable place in the con- fidence of the people because of the straightforward policy ever governing his actions.

Mr. Pierson was born on a farm in Birch District, Braxton County, November 17, 1890, a son of H. H. and Allie (Pierson) Pierson, natives of the same county. His grandfather, W. R. Pierson, Sr., was born December 2, 1842, and still resides on his Braxton County farm, being one of the prominent and influential men of his com- munity. He is a veteran of the war between the states, in which he served as a soldier of the Confederacy. H. H. Pierson was born January 5, 1859, and after receiving a common school education became a school teacher in Brax- ton County, a vocatiou which he followed for fifteen years. After his marriage to Allie Pierson, who was born June 15, 1867, he settled down to farming on a property near where both had been reared, and is still identified with the pursuits of the soil. He is a leading republican and presi- dent of the school board of Birch District, and as a fraternalist holds membership in the local lodge of the Knights of Pythias. He aud his worthy wife are faithful church members and the parents of the following children: H. V., credit man for the Thomas Shoe Company of Charleston, West Virginia; W. R. Jr., of this review; Eva, the wife of J. N. Reip; G. H., a bookkeeper for Hardy, Dana & Company of Charleston; R. H., who holds a like position with the same concern; Ovy O. Pierson, who graduated in the spring of 1922 from the Sutton High School; and Earl H. and Ruth B., who are attending the country school in the vicinity of their father's farm.

The country public and subscription schools furnished W. R. Pierson, Jr., with his educational training while he was being reared on the farm, and in 1910 he went to Charleston, where he became a traveling salesman for the Thomas Shoe Company. He was thus employed when America entered the World war, and June 27, 1917, he enlisted in the American army, with which he served until the armistice was signed. He then returned to his position with the Thomas Shoe Company, and continued therewith until January 1, 1921, when he resigned to give his entire attention to his duties as a member of the Lower House of the West Virginia Legislature, to which he had been elected on the republican ticket. Mr. Pierson has made an excellent official, working faithfully in behalf of his district, his constituents and his state. He has studied deeply the im- portant public questions of the day, and, as a well informed man, of sound and discriminating judgment, has utilized an observant eye and has turned to account the knowledge that he has gained in a somewhat varied career. He has long been a recognized leader in the ranks of the republican party in Braxton County. Fraternally he is affiliated with the Masons, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias, and also belongs to the United Com- mercial Travelers.

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History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 3, Part 89

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