History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 3, Part 91

Author:
Publication date:
Publisher:
Number of Pages:

USA > West Virginia > History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 3 > Part 91

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).

Mr. Moore, who was born October 16, 1874, grew up on the old homestead, had the advantages of the rural schools, spent one year in the West Liberty Normal School, and graduated Bachelor of Pedagogy in 1896 from West Virginia Wesleyan College at Buckhannon. He spent two years in West Virginia University Law School and in 1900 was admitted to the bar and began practice at Sisters- ville. A year later he moved to Middlebourne, where for twenty years he has been busily engaged in handling a civil and criminal practice, and since 1912 has been a member of the firm, Underwood & Moore, one of the best known law firms of Tyler County. Mr. Moore was prosecuting attorney of Tyler County from 1908 to 1912. He has been active in the republican party, has been a delegate to state, congressional and judicial conventions, and in recent years has seldom missed attending conventions for the nomination of judicial and congressional candidates. He is a member of the State Bar Association.

During the war Mr. Moore gave precedence to such work as he could perform for the Government, including the filling out of questionnaires for recruited men in the county and as a Four Minute Speaker in behalf of the Liberty Loan, Red Cross and other drives.

At Alma, West Virginia, in 1906, he married Miss Edna E. Conaway, daughter of Dr. Eli B. and Mary Elizabeth (Smith) Conaway. Her mother still lives at Alma, where her father was a greatly loved country physician, prac- tieing medicine forty-seven years. Mrs. Moore finished her education in West Virginia Wesleyan College at Buckhan- non. She has two children, Richard Conaway born Sep- tember 9, 1907, and Mary Virginia, born August 13, 1909.

DAVID M. PETERSON. A business experience covering a number of years is honorable or otherwise, according to its nature, but in either case it develops capacity and broadens the outlook upon life. While every honorable career must include certain qualities to attain success, that of the banker finds those qualities indispensable which rest on a higher plane than in many other lines and for this reason, if for no other, the banker occupies a position in a community of a distinctive character. While he is still comparatively a young man, David M. Peterson has had sixteen years of honorable experience in the banking busi- ness, and at the present time occupies the position of vice president of the Bank of Weirton.

Mr. Peterson was born at Steubenville, Ohio, May 24. 1888, a son of one of the successful and influential busi- ness men of that city who lived in retirement for some years before his death. The education of David M. Peter- son was acquired in the graded and high schools of Steubenville, and when he was only eighteen years of age he began his banking career as a minor employe in the National Exchange Bank of Steubenville, with which in- stitution he remained for six years, during which time he gained not only promotion but valuable experience. In 1912 he came to Weirton to become cashier of the Bank of Weirton, of which he has since become vice president. This institution was chartered in 1911 and was opened for business in April, 1912, with a capital of $40,000, those active in its organization being E. T. Weir, president; and Cyrus Ferguson, the first vice president. At the pres- ent time the officials are: E. T. Weir, president; D. M. Peterson, vice president; H. E. Hawkins, cashier, and E. D. Rothrock, assistant cashier, the board of directors consisting of: E. T. Weir, D. M. Weir, C. Ferguson, W. J. Hudson, G. L. Buchanan, J. A. Purdy, F. S. Loeb, D. M. Peterson and J. C. Williams. The bank now has resources of $1,500,000, and has paid dividends regularly. In 1921; a modern banking house was constructed by and for the' bank, which includes all the latest devices and appurte- mances for the insuring of absolute safety for the deposi- tørs' money.

Mr. Peterson is one of the popular men of Weirton, both among his business associates and the depositors of the institution which he represents. He is a thirty-second degree Mason and member of Aladdin Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Columbus, Ohio, and in politics supports the republican party's candidates. He is unmarried.

LOWRY M. STOOPS. Among the younger generation of educators who have made rapid strides in their calling with- in recent years and who have contributed through their labors to the advancement of the cause of education in Hancock County, one who is well and popularly known is Lowry M. Stoops, superintendent of schools of the New Cumberland Independent District. Since the start of his career Mr. Stoops has applied himself to educational work with the exception of the period when he was serving in the United States Army in the World war, in which he saw much overseas service.

Lowry M. Stoops was born at Tustin, California, April 5, 1892, and is a son of Rev. J. P. Stoops, a minister of the Presbyterian Church. Reverend Stoops came orig. inally from Pennsylvania and has filled pulpits in various parts of the country, including his native state, California, Ohio and West Virginia. In the last named he served

R. O. Johnson

273

HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA

eight years, at West Liberty and Warwood, and at the latter place organized the congregation and erected the present church edifice. At the present time he is filling a charge at Wooster, Ohio.

The early education of Lowry M. Stoops was acquired in the public schools, following which he pursued a course in the normal school at West Liberty and was graduated from that institution in 1909. In that year he became principal of the Ward School at Benwood, and remained in that capacity for five years, or until 1914, when, feeling the need of further preparation, he enrolled as a student at the West Virginia University. While he was engaged in his collegiate work he conducted an extension course. Mr. Stoops had a brilliant college career and was duly graduated in 1917, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. At this time his career was interrupted when the United States became involved in the World war, and he enlisted in the Fifteenth United States Engineers, with which unit he saw two years of service, twenty-one months being in France. This was a railroad organization, in which Mr. Stoops held the rank of sergeant, and its work, principally the building of railroad yards, new roads, bridges, etc., frequently brought them within range of the enemy'e fire. Sergeant Stoops was with the Headquarters Com- pany, and his record was one of conscientious attention to duty. On his return, and after he had received his honor- able discharge from the army, he again took up the pro- fession of teaching, and during 1919 and a part of 1920 was principal of the Weirton High School. In the latter year he was elected superintendent of the New Cumberland Independent School District, which includes seventeen teachers and a student enrollment of 500. Of these ninety pupils are in the high school, and in 1921 the graduating class consisted of twenty graduates. Mr. Stoops is greatly interested in his work and is indefatigable in his efforts to improve the system and elevate the standards. In his labors he is being assisted by the teachers and pupils, with whom he has become greatly popular, and his work is also receiving the sanction and appreciation of his fellow- citizens at New Cumberland. Mr. Stoops stands high in the esteem of his fellow educators and is a valued member of the West Virginia Educational Association and the National Educational Association. He is partial to all forms of out-door and indoor exercise, particularly basket- ball and baseball, but primarily the latter. While a stu- dent at West Virginia University he was a member of the varsity team, and at present acts as coach for the local school team at New Cumberland, which under his instruc- tion and guidance has won several county championships in contests with other Hancock County School clubs.

Mr. Stoops was united in marriage with Miss Mary L. Williamson, of Ben's Run, Tyler County, West Virginia, whom he met as a fellow-educator at Weirton. Mrs. Stoops has taken an active and helpful part in all work of local progress and has been a leading figure in several move- ments.

GEORGE LOREN BAMBRICK. Few members of the Hancock County Bar have advanced more steadily to leadership than George Loren Bambrick, of New Cumberland, the prime secret of his uniform success being the union of remark- able business judgment and a keen legal insight into the most involved transactions. In addition to being promi- nent in his profession he has also been active and con- structive in civic affairs and at various times has been the incumbent of public office.

Mr. Bambrick was born in Wayne County, Iowa, Sep- tember 4, 1869, a son of Lewis S. and Sarah M. (Baxter) Bambrick, natives of Hancock County, West Virginia. Thomas Bambrick, the grandfather of George L., was born in Ireland, where he received his education and as a young man became a teacher and surveyor. He came to West Virginia about 1820, and at first taught school, but later turned his attention to farming, which he followed in con- junction with his work ae a surveyor and in which he traveled all over the county. A man of superior education, he was called upon to do much legal work of the period, especially before the creation of the County Court, and

largely in this way came favorably before the people. He became the author of the bill creating Hancock County, which was cut off of Brooke County, sat in the Virginia House of Representatives at the time the county was created, in 1848, as a delegate, and named the county Han- cock in honor of John Hancock, first president of the Continental Congress. He was a stanch democrat. When he died, at the age of eighty-four years, the county lost one of its strong characters.

Lewis S. Bambrick, like his father, was a teacher in his earlier years, but later turned his attention to farming. and continued to be engaged therein without interruption in Hancock County with the exception of two years spent in Wayne County, Iowa. He is now living retired at the age of eighty years, but continues to take an interest in matters, especially those pertaining to civic affaire, and holds membership on the Board of Equalization. He is a democrat. Mr. Bambrick married Sarah M. Baxter, daugh- ter of Samuel Baxter, who was born in Brooke County and at marriage came to Hancock County, where he spent the rest of his life in progressive operations as a farmer and sheep and cattle breeder, and died at the age of eighty- four years. Mrs. Bambrick died at the age of sixty-six years, a happy married life of about forty-five years.

George Loren Bambrick, as had his forebears, entered upon his career as a teacher, and for two years engaged in educational work in the rural districts. He then entered the University of West Virginia, where he finished his law course in 1896, was given his degree of Bachelor of Laws, and at once engaged in the practice of his calling at New Cumberland, where he has been successful in build- ing up a desirable clientele and making steady advance- ment in his calling. A stanch democrat in politics, he has been active in public affairs, served eight years as city attorney of New Cumberland and four years as prosecuting attorney in a county which is normally republican by a majority of two to one, and was special judge of the Cir- cuit Court during the sickness of an incumbent judge. In 1904 he was his party's candidate for the office of state senator, but met with defeat. As a fraternalist Mr. Bam- brick is a thirty-second degree Mason, a Knight Templar and a Noble of the Mystic Shrine.

Mr. Bambrick married Miss Christine Donehoo, and to this union there were born two children, Eleanor Mccown and George Donehoo. Mrs. Bambrick is the youngest daugh- ter of the late Hon. John R. Donehoo, who at the time of his death, in 1917, at the age of eighty-two years, was the oldest member of the Hancock County bar, of which he had been a member for more than a half a century. He had studied law under Charles Russell of Wheeling, was at one time editor of the New Dominion at Morgan- town, and served in various official capacities, including state senator and member of the Board of Trustees of the Romney State School. In politics he was a democrat. Recognized as a master of the English language, he was very able in writing opinions, as well as in translating Latin and other languages, and his articles were widely read. One of his sons, the late Rev. J. DeQ. Donehoo, was a graduate of Washington and Jefferson College and became a minister of the Episcopal Church, serving various charges in Louisiana and Texas. He was also an author of some note, and his "Apocryphal and Legendary Life of Christ" is well known. Mrs. Bambrick is a graduate of the Washington (Pennsylvania) Seminary, and her mother, who bore the maiden name of Eleanor Mccown, was a graduate of the Steubenville (Ohio) Seminary.

R. OSBURN JOHNSON while a young man learned and worked at the plumbing and heating trade in all branches. That is a business he knows from every standpoint. Some years ago he became a traveling representative for one of the largest and most exclusive houses manufacturing and distributing plumbing goods and supplies, the Standard Sanitary Manufacturing Company of Pittsburgh, and for this company he established a branch jobbing house at Huntington, of which he is the manager.

Mr. Johnson is a native of the famous Blue Grass District of old Kentucky, born in Woodford County, January 29,

274

HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA

1889. He is of Scotch-lrish ancestry. His grandfather, Van Johnson, was born in Kentucky in 1838, and spent nearly all his life in Woodford County. He was a distiller by trade, and in that capacity he was in the service of the Old Crow Distillery in Woodford County for a half century, until finally pensioned hy the company. He died in Wood- ford County in 1912. His wife was a Miss Jennings, who was born in Kentucky in 1840 and died in Woodford County in 1910. William P. Johnson, father of the Huntington business man, was born in Woodford County, was reared and married there, and was a merchant in the county until 1903, when he removed to Lexington and coutinued in busi- ness in that city until his death in 1907. He was a demo- crat, a member of the Baptist Church and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. William P. Johnson married Clara Williams, who was born in Woodford County in 1863 and is now living at Lexington. She was the mother of three children. Ola is the wife of George Compton, a bookkeeper for the Second National Bank of Lexington. R. Osburn is the second in age. Sampey is the youngest, and is asso- ciated with his brother at Huntington as warehouse superin- tendent. He enlisted at Lexington as a mechanic in the navy, was stationed at the Great Lakes Training Station and then at Hampton Roads, became a second-class seaman and was in the service two years before bis honorable discharge.

R. Osburn Johnson attended rural schools in Woodford County, but left school at the age of sixteen and for three years was clerk in a dry goods store at Lexington. For two years he was bookkeeper for Buford A. Graves, cement contractor at Lexington, and then took up the business in which he has made his real success. For seven years he was in the employ of J. J. Fitzgerald, a plumbing and beating contractor at Lexington, and while with him be acquired every detail in the practical and technical knowledge of heating and plumbing as a business.

Mr. Johnson went on the road as a traveling representa- tive for the Standard Sanitary Manufacturing Company on February 15, 1915. His territory was West Virginia and portions of Virginia and Kentucky, with headquarters at Huntington. His success in building up business for the company led to the opening of a branch jobbing house at Huntington in 1918, with Mr. Johnson in charge as man- ager. The offices and jobhing house are located at the corner of Second Avenue aud Tenth Street. Through this house an extensive business over the adjacent territory is transacted in plumbing, heating, mill, mining and factory goods, supplies and machinery.

Mr. Johnson regards himself as a permanent factor in Huntington's business affairs. He has acquired a home here at 525 Seventh Avenue and the business building at 612 Third Avenue. He is a democrat, a member of the Fifth Avenue Baptist Church, the Guyan Country Club, the Kiwanis Club, Chamber of Commerce and the Credit Men's Association.

In March, 1911, at Georgetown, Kentucky, Mr. Johnson married Miss Grace Rice, a native of Fleming County, Kentucky, and a graduate of Hamilton College, Lexington.

JOHN R. PLATTENBURG. Three generations of the Platten- burg family have had as their chief business interest the editing and publishing of the Hancock County Courier, now published at New Cumberland by John R. Plattenburg, the grandson of the original founder. This newspaper has been in existence for more than a half a century, during which time it has become a part of the daily lives of the people of the county, whose opinions it largely moulds and whose actions it greatly influences.

John R. Plattenburg was born at New Cumberland, Jan- uary 28, 1888, a son of Jesse T. and Lou (Lockhart) Plat- tenburg. His grandfather, J. W. Plattenburg, was born in Illinois, where his parents had been pioneers, and in young manbood adopted the vocation of teaching. This be fol- lowed for several years, in the course of which he went to Wellsburg, West Virginia, and there learned the printer's trade. Later, as a journeyman, he set the first line of type on the old Wheeling Intelligencer. His first newspaper,

the Wellsburg News, was founded about 1859, and was still being published when Mr. Plattenburg joined the Union Army during the war between the states as a captain of West Virginia infantry. He was wounded during his serv- ice, being shot through the shoulder, but continued in the army until the close of the war, when he resumed the printer's trade. In 1869, at Pughtown, then the county seat of Hancock County, he established the first newspaper in the county, known then, as now, as the Hancock County Courier. It was a four-page, six-column publication, demo- cratic in its policies, and while its form and style bave changed to some extent during the fifty-three years of its existence, its politics bave remained unswervingly the same. The paper continued to be published at Pughtown until 1895, with Mr. Plattenburg as editor and publisher, but in that year the county seat was removed to New Cumberland, and the paper went with the seat of government. The founder continued as its active head until his death in 1907, at the age of seventy seven years. A good newspaper man and a capable writer, he made the publication well known and its articles and editorials were widely quoted by con- temporaries in the journalistic field, His widow, who was Sarah Wetheral, of Wellsburg, survives at an advanced age.

At the time of his death J. W. Plattenburg was suc- ceeded in the ownership of the paper by bis son Jesse T. Plattenburg, who died five years later, in 1912, after a career which had been devoted entirely to the paper. While attending Bethany College he met Lou Lockhar, also a student, and they did not wait until their graduation to be married. They became the parents of four children: Joseph L., who is identified with the Weirton (West Vir- ginia) Steel Corporation; John R., of this notice; Julia, who is the wife of T. T. Bambrick; and Mary, the wife of A. O. Dorman.

John R. Plattenburg received his education in the public schools of New Cumberland and practically grew up in the office of bis grandfather's and father's newspaper. From early youth be has been perfectly familiar with its every detail of preparation, make-up and production, and since the death of his father has taken over the duties of editor and publisher. He is now producing an attractive, inter- esting and thoroughly reliable eight-page, seven-column paper, which has a wide circulation throughout Hancock and the surrounding counties in this part of the state, and which wields a distinct influence in directing public opinion and action. Mr. Plattenburg is a democrat. He has a number of business and social connections and has taken an active part in civic affairs. During the World war he served for thirteen months in the adjutant general's depart- ment at Camp Johnson.

Mr. Plattenburg married Miss Mary McDonald, and they have two children: John W. and Mary L.

CHARLES T. HEDGES is a native of Lumberport, and his chief business experiences have been acquired in that thriv- ing little city of Harrison County. He was formerly a merchant but is now in the real estate and coal business.

He was born at Lumberport April 6, 1890, son of Henry Clay and Alice (Robinson) Hedges, the latter now de- ceased. In the family were six sons and one daughter. Henry Clay Hedges, son of Charles and Nancy G. Hedges. was born on a farm at Worthington, West Virginia, July 30, 1844, had a rural training and common school educa- tion, and on leaving the farm went to work as clerk at Clarksburg and subsequently entered merchandising on his own account at Lumberport. He was in business there for a number of years and later engaged in the real estate business. He still has interests at Lumberport, but spends only his summers there, his winter home being at Orlando, Florida.

Charles T. Hedges was reared at Lumberport, attended the public schools and completed a business course at Buckhannon. Some five or six years of his early life were, spent in the West, as far as the Pacific Coast, and he had a variety of experiences and employment. On returning to Lumberport in 1911 he engaged in business as a member of the general mercantile firm of Hedges and Oyster Com-

D.O. Hundley

275

HISTORY OF WEST VIRGINIA

ny. He sold out to his partner in 1919, and since then s concentrated his attention on the coal and real estate Isiness.

Mr. Hedges is a Master Mason, an Elk and an Odd Fel- w. He married Miss Mary Lamar, of Kingwood. She is trained nurse by profession. They have one daughter, izabeth Ann.

WALTER PAUL HAMMER, M. D. In one of the most osperous rural localities of Harrison County a few brief ars have been sufficient to prove the professional skill d usefulness of Dr. Hammer, who has become an ap- eciated friend and helper among the widening group of milies that esteem him as their trusted physician.

Doctor Hammer was born on a farm near Ruddle in endleton County, West Virginia, January 31, 1890, son Isaac Taylor and Fannie Urbana (Conrad) Hammer, 30 horn and reared iu Pendleton County, and grandson Elias Hammer, of the same county. Isaac Hammer ent his active life as a farmer. The mother of Doctor immer is still living.

He was one of six children and as a background his rly life was the farm. He attended the rural schools ere, and later finished his education in Valparaiso Uni- rsity of Indiana. In 1916 he graduated M. D. from the icago College of Medicine and Surgery, and on the 7th December of the same year he began his work as a acticing physician and surgeon at Lumberport, Harrison unty. In six years he has built up an extensive practice, a member of the Harrison County, West Virginia State d American Medical associations, and fraternally is affili- ed with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the accahees.

Doctor Hammer in 1914 married Miss Etta M. Duff, of itler County, Pennsylvania. Their two children are Mil- ed Gale and Walter Dorland Hammer.

WILLIAM RUSSELL SHOWACRE. Lumberport is one of the ominent small towns of West Virginia, long the center a rich agricultural region, and with ample coal re- urces considerable manufacturing has been done there. te natural gas field adjacent has brought renewed activity industry. Perhaps the largest and most important in- strial plant is the Mound City Glass Company, of which illiam Russell Showacre is secretary and general manager. Mr. Showacre, who has had a long and extensive ex- rience in the glass industry, was horn March 11, 1881,

Moundsville, Marshall County, West Virginia, son of illiam H. H. and Christina Isabelle (Jackson) Showacre. s father, a native of Maryland, early entered the rail- ad service as a railway station agent, and subsequently is a well known banker at Moundsville. He served a 'm of sheriff of Marshall County.

W. R. Showacre was reared in Moundsville, completed common school education there and spent one year in est Virginia University. His first regular employment es in a glass factory, the Fostoria Glass Company at bundsville. For five years he was with the Consolidation al Company. He hecame secretary of the Mound City ass Company at Lumberport in 1916. Since 1919 he Is also performed the duties of general manager. The found City Glass Company was organized in 1915, and le importance of the industry to the population living and around Lumberport is evidenced by the fact that proximately 125 people are carried on the pay roll. le output of this factory is punch tumblers, vases and ched ware.

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 91

Author: Publication date: Publisher: Number of Pages:

Author:
Publication date:
Publisher:
Number of Pages: