USA > West Virginia > Men of West Virginia Volume I > Part 15
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In 1899 Mr. Sinsel married Myrtle Leachman, daughter of Rev. J. D. Leachman, of Clarksburg. A son and a daughter have been born to this union. Fraternally our subject belongs to the Uniform Rank, Knights of Pyth- ias, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Socially he is popular and is a pleasant and genial host.
JOHN CAMBRIDGE BARDALL.
JOHN CAMBRIDGE BAR- DALL, a large whip and broom man- ufacturer, of Moundsville, Marshall County, West Virginia, was born on the ocean in 1839, while his parents were voyaging from Germany to America. He is a son of John and Rachel ( Haas) Bardall, the former of whom, born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Ger- many, located near Harrisburg, Penn- sylvania, where he died in 1893. The mother of our subject was also born in Germany and died in 1852. Both par- ents were worthy members of the Ger- man Reformed Church. The survivors of the family of eight daughters and one son are : Rachel, who is the widow of Adrian Mitchell, and resides in St.
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Louis; John Cambridge, our subject ; Kate, who is the widow of Edward Williams, and lives in Philadelphia ; Henrietta, who lives in Allegheny City. Pennsylvania ; and Annie, who lives in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania.
John Cambridge Bardall was reared in Pennsylvania and learned the trade of whip making. From 1859 to 1877 he resided in Allegheny City, and in 1863 there entered into business in partnership with C. A. Weaver, who is now also a resident of Moundsville. The firm manufactured whips and brooms and the partnership continued until 1900. In 1877, Mr. Bardall came to West Virginia and located his shops in the State penitentiary, making whips and brooms under contract. In the former line, he employs 160 hands and turns out all styles of leather whips and lashes, his concern being the largest of the kind in the United States His broom shops turn out 120 dozen brooms a day. Mr. Bardall is inter- ested in other business enterprises and in addition has large real estate hold- ings, both in Moundsville and St. Paul.
In 1859, Mr. Bardall was married to Lydia Ann Wadsworth, who was born in 1837 in York County, Penn- sylvania, and four children have been born to this union : Kate, Charles, Eva and Daisy. In politics, Mr. Bardall is
a Republican. Fraternally, he is a mem- ber of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He has always taken an active part in the work of the Metho- dist Church and for 25 years has been superintendent of the Sunday-school. He is a trustee of Allegheny College at Meadville, Pennsylvania ; trustee of the Conference Seminary at Buckhan- non, West Virginia, and is president of the board of trustees of the Mounds- ville Methodist Church.
CHARLES WESLEY CONNER.
CHARLES WESLEY CONNER, a much esteemed citizen of Mounds- ville, Marshall County, was born in Marshall County, West Virginia, Jan- uary 6, 1867, and is a son of George W. and Elizabeth J. (White) Conner.
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George W. Conner was born in Marshall County, Virginia, now West Virginia, of German-Irish ancestry. He is now engaged in farming near Barnesville, Ohio. During the Civil War, he served as a private in Battery H, Ist West Virginia Light Artillery, and later as a sergeant in Company G, 17th Vol. Regt., West Virginia Inf. He is now a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. In politics he is a Republican. He is a much respected resident of his community. A family of eight children was born to Mr. and Mrs. George W. Conner consisting of six sons and two daughters, five of the sons and one daughter surviving.
Charles Wesley Conner had edu- cational advantages in the Marshall County common schools and the State Normal School. For 10 years he fol- lowed teaching and then became con- nected with the Wheeling News as a reporter. This congenial position he resigned in order to enlist for service in the Spanish-American War. He en- tered the army as 2nd lieutenant of Company M, Ist Regiment West Vir- ginia Infantry, U. S. Volunteers, and while his regiment was still in camp he was promoted to the rank of Ist lieutenant. His military career how- ever was cut short, for on August 6. 1898, he was stricken with paralysis
at Camp Thomas, Chickamauga, Geor- gia. One week later he was sent home but he has never fully recovered his former vigor. In the spring of 1899, Mr. Conner was made city clerk of Moundsville, and his service of two years was so satisfactory that he was re-elected but resigned in the fall of 1902, when he was elected clerk of the Circuit Court of Marshall County. For two years he served as a member of the City Council, and also as city as- sessor.
On July 23, 1889, Mr. Conner mar- ried Lulu L. Snediker, who was born in Marshall County, West Virginia, February 13, 1866, being a daughter of Joseph M. and Ada ( Kemple) Sne- diker. Both Mr. and Mrs. Conner are members of the Methodist Church. Fraternally, he belongs to the Odd Fel- lows and in politics he is identified with the Republican party.
J. ELLWOOD HUGHES, one of Wheeling's most prominent and active business men, has displayed exception- al ability as president of the Thomas Hughes Company, the largest mer- chant tailoring establishment in West Virginia. The firm was incorporated January 6, 1896, the present officers being J. Ellwood Hughes, president,
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and John P. Troll, secretary and treas- urer. Mr. Hughes practically owns the entire business, and has been identified with it since September 7, 1867. The building, 22 by 115 feet in dimensions, consists of three stories, and from 40 to 75 people, mostly men, are employed. Three traveling men cover the terri- tory in the vicinity, the business having greatly branched out; it now extends as far east as Cumberland, Maryland, and a considerable distance down the Ohio River. The firm carries the most complete stock of goods handled by any similar firm in the State.
The business now carried on by the Thomas Hughes Company was estab- lished in 1840 by Thomas Hughes, Jr., who died March 10, 1886, at the age of 6.4 years. He was born and reared at Wheeling; his father was Thomas Hughes, a gunsmith. Thomas Hughes, Sr., was born in Greene County, Penn- sylvania, and was descended from James Hughes, one of three brothers, who came from the North of Ireland about 1760. Two of them located in Greene County, Pennsylvania, and one in Loudoun County, Virginia. Thomas Hughes, Sr., removed to Wheeling when a young man, and besides fol- lowing his trade as a gunsmith was en- gaged in various lines of business, in- cluding steamboating and lumbering.
He died in 1859, aged about 60 years. He married a Miss Odenbaugh, and had several children. One of them, Alfred, was a prominent physician and at different times was located at Wheel- ing, Richmond and Baltimore. He was at Richmond during the war, in the latter years of which he served in the Virginia Legislature. He moved to Baltimore at the close of the war and died there in 1878. He was a prominent physician, and very successful at Wheeling in the treatment of cholera. Another, John Hughes, was engaged in the lumber business. Thomas, Jr., has been already mentioned as a merchant tailor.
Thomas Hughes, Jr., was educated at the old academy at Wheeling and learned the business of merchant tail- oring with Mr. Leach, beginning about 1837. Upon the death of Mr. Leach, about 1839, he took charge of the busi- ness and later became sole proprietor. The business was then small; the stock at that time did not exceed $800. Since then its volume has grown to be over $100,000. The concern was lo- cated at the corner of Water and Monroe (now 12th) streets, and was moved to its present location in August, 1878.
J. Ellwood Hughes, the subject of this biography, was born in Bedford
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County, Pennsylvania, in 1845, and is a son of James Clark Ilughes, a farmer by occupation. The latter was born in Juniata County, Pennsylvania, Febru- ary 17, 1817, and died in Bedford (now Fulton ) County, in 1892, at the age of 76 years. He married Elizabeth Stew- ard Burdge, who was born in Pennsyl- vania and died in 1856. She was of Scotch descent. This union was blessed by seven children, five of whom grew to maturity, as follows : Albert, who is now in the Cape Nome district, Alaska, and is the owner of valuable gold claims ; John, who died at the age of 18 years; Mrs. David F. Switzer, deceased; Ella, who died at the age of 21 years ; and J. Ellwood.
J. Ellwood Hughes resided on a farm until he reached the age of 16 years, when he enlisted, in 1861, in a company which was organized in Ful- ton County, Pennsylvania, but was as- signed, as Company B, to the 3rd Reg., Maryland Vol. Inf. He served until 1865 as a private and noncommissioned officer, and was mustered out at Balti- more, Maryland. He then attended school in Bedford County, Pennsyl- vania, at the town of Rainsburg, for two years, after which he moved to Wheeling to engage in his present line of business. He started as a clerk, salesman and collector, and was ad-
vanced in salary and position until he was finally given an interest in the business, being recognized as largely responsible for its phenomenal suc- cess.
Mr. Hughes was united in marriage with Anna B. Williams, who was born in Bedford County, Pennsylvania, in 1850, and they have had six children, four of whom are living, as follows : J. Ellwood, Jr., who is a salesman for John B. Ellison & Sons, of Philadel- phia, the largest cloth house in the world; Martha J., who attended Miss Phelps' school at Columbus, Ohio, and entered Wellesley in 1902; John Gray, aged 13 years, who is at home and at- tends school; and Thomas, aged II years, who also attends school. Politi- cally, Mr. Hughes is a Democrat, and was at one time a member of the first branch of the Council from the First Ward. He has a very fine home, lo- cated on the Island. Mr. Hughes was formerly a member of the G. A. R. He is a member of Nelson Lodge, No. 30, A. F. & A. M., of which he was master for three years; and Cyrene Commandery, No. 7, K. T. He is a member of the Board of Trade. He is a member of the Fourth Street Meth- odist Episcopal Church, and is presi- dent of its board of stewards, which position he has filled for 19 years.
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S. E. SWARTZ, A. B., PH. D.
S. E. SWARTZ, A. B., PH. D., principal of Broaddus Scientific and Classical Institute, at Clarksburg, Har- rison County, West Virginia, the only educational institution of the Baptist Church in the State, a man of scholarly attainments, was born in 1856, in Wayne County, Ohio. He is a son of Samuel and Mary ( Miller ) Swartz.
Samuel Swartz went to Ohio from Pennsylvania with his parents when three years of age, in 1816. The mother of Dr. Swartz was born in Ohio and is a resident of Stark County. These parents reared a family of six sons and six daughters.
Dr. Swartz spent six years at Den- nison University, at Granville, Ohio,
and graduated there in 1879, with the degree of A. B. He has devoted his life to teaching and is now regarded as one of the leading educators of the Mountain State. From 1879 to 1892 lie served as principal of the Newark (Ohio) High School, but resigned his position in order to enter the Univer- sity of Chicago at the latter date. He entered the latter institution as a fel- low in chemistry and received his de- gree of Ph. D. in 1896. In the same year he was elected to the chair of phy- sical science at Shurtleff College, Al- ton, Illinois, and continued there until he accepted his present position.
Broaddus Institute was established in 1871 by Rev. E. J. Willis, at Win- chester, Virginia, but was removed to Clarksburg in 1876. In 1893 it re- ceived a new charter from the State and became Broaddus Scientific and Classi- cal Institute. Dr. Swartz has had much encouragement since taking charge, the enrollment of pupils having tripled, the number at present under instruction be- ing about 250. By education and ex- perience he is well qualified for the responsible position he fills. During the season of the World's Fair at Chi- cago, he was the director of the labora- tory of food analysis for the Bureau of Awards and very efficiently met the demands of the position. Aside from
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his educational duties, Dr. Swartz is a man of social culture and pleasing per- sonality. Since 1885 he has been con- nected with the Masonic order.
In 1879 Dr. Swartz was united in marriage with Hattie J. Ellis, who was a daughter of a Presbyterian minister of Cincinnati. The one son of this union, Osman E., is a promising young attorney, with the legal firm of Davis & Davis, of Clarksburg, West Virginia.
HON. LEWIS D. ISBELL.
HON. LEWIS D. ISBELL, a well known and able attorney of Hunting- ton, Cabell County, West Virginia, has been a resident of this city since the fall of 1887. He is a native of Ap- pomattox County, Virginia, and is a
son of John W. and Celia Ann ( Smith) Isbell.
His father, John W. Isbell, was in the War of 1812, and at its close moved from Cumberland County into Appo- mattox County, Virginia, where years afterwards, at the age of 50, he mar- ried Celia Smith, 20 years his junior. He died in 1866. His widow is still living, and is now an honored and revered member of our subject's fam- ily, upon whose venerable head rests the snows of 90 winters. The Isbell fam- ily is an old established one of Vir- ginia, and has contributed many nota- ble members to the bar, one of these being the late Lewis D. Isbell, for whom our subject was named. He was a leading attorney of Virginia, and at one time was judge in Appo- mattox County, Virginia, and was a member of the memorable convention when Virginia seceded from the Union, and linked her fortunes with those of the Confederacy. Later in life, Judge Isbell removed to Missouri, and was again elected judge in the State of his adoption. Our subject's grandfather was of like name. The only surviving member of Mr. Isbell's family, except himself, is a brother two years his jun- ior, John H. Isbell, an attorney-at-law at Clinton, Van Buren County, Arkan- sas.
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Under Judge Isbell, Lewis D. stud- ied law for one year, and afterward at- tended a full course of law, in the law school of Norwood College, Virginia, graduating and receiving first honors in his class, and was admitted to the bar in his native State in 1875, at the age of 21 years. He began his prac- tice in Fayette County, West Virginia, in partnership with Hon. J. H. McGin- nis, of Raleigh County, and later with C. W. Dillon of Fayette County. Since locating in Huntington, he has formed several partnerships, but at present he is engaged alone in a large and lucra- tive general practice, with well appoint- ed offices. He has always been an active Democrat, and has been honored by his party at various times. In the fall of 1876, he was elected prosecuting at- torney of Fayette County, and served the people in that capacity four years, making a successful and able prosecu- tor. At the head of the Democratic county ticket of Fayette County, in 1882, he was named for the House of Delegates, elected by a flattering ma- jority, and was in the Legislative ses- sion of 1883, serving his constituency in an able manner.
He was the chairman of the com- mittee on mines and mining, and intro- duced a bill for the proper ventilation and drainage of coal mines, and provid-
ing for the appointment of a State in- spector. The passage of the bill was strongly opposed by its enemies, but owing to the tact and able advocacy of Mr. Isbell it went through both houses and became a law.
He has served as chairman of the Democratic Executive Committee of the Eighth Senatorial District of West Virginia, and as chairman of the Dem- ocratic Executive Committee of the city of Huntington, and was nominated by his party for judge of the Criminal Court of Cabell County, West Vir- ginia, but was defeated by 18 votes, although running far ahead of his ticket. He is regarded as possessing all the qualifications necessary for future usefulness to his party and State.
Fraternally, he is an ex-master of Lafayette Lodge, No. 57, A. F. & A. M., of Fayette County.
Mr. Isbell married Mary Elizabeth Woodson, a lady born in his native State and county, who was a school and classmate of his, and with whom he read the Latin course. She was a daughter of the late Capt. John W. Woodson, one of the able attorneys of the Old Dominion, and a Confederate soldier and captain in the Civil War. Three children have been born to this marriage, namely : Irving J., who was
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educated at Marshall College at Hunt- ington, and later graduated from Bry- ant & Stratton's Business College, at Baltimore, Maryland, and has been a resident of Cincinnati for some years, being engaged in the handling of coal property; Lillian C., a graduate of Marshall College; and Bertha L., who was partly educated at the same col- lege.
The handsome family residence is located at No. 823 Fifth Avenue, Hunt- ington. The religious connection of the family is with the Methodist Church.
ALFRED HAMILTON COLE.
ALFRED HAMILTON COLE, postmaster of St. Marys, Pleasants County, West Virginia, one of the few
Civil War veterans in the county, was born October 9, 1842, in Belmont County, Ohio. He is a son of Wilson C. and Rebecca ( McFarland) Cole.
Mr. Cole belongs to one of the old- est families of New England, and the name is still preserved in Cole's Hill, Plymouth, which property was first owned and occupied by James Cole, the founder of the family in America,-this land ran down to the shore and on it stands Plymouth Rock. James Cole was born in England, about 1600, mar- ried Mary Lobel, of London, in 1624, and came to Plymouth, Massachusetts, in 1633. He opened the first inn in Plymouth, which was one of the first in New England. He had three sons, -- James, Hugh and John,-each of whom reared large families. Hugh Cole was born in London, England, in 1627, married first Mary Foxwell, of Barnstable, Massachusetts, January 8, 1654; second, Elizabeth Lettuco, of Plymonth, Massachusetts, January I, 1689; and third, Mary Morton, also of Plymouth, January 30, 1693. Hugh Cole was one of the founders of Swan- sea, Massachusetts, was a representa- tive in the Plymouth Colony Council for 10 years, a sergeant in the war against King Philip, in 1675, and held a number of official positions. John Cole, son of Hugh and Mary ( Fox-
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well) Cole was born May 15, 1660, in Plymouth, and married Sarah Backus. The house built by John Cole in Swan- sea in 1712 is still in use, although some additions thereto have been made. John Cole (2), son of John Cole (I), was born at Swansea, November 3, 1695, married first Abigail Butts, November I, 1715, and second, Elizabeth Haile, March 16, 1758. Isaac Cole, son of John and Abigail (Butts) Cole, was born at Swansea, Massachusetts, Feb- ruary 28, 1725, married first Sarah Easterbrook, September 26, 1746, and second, Abigail Rarden. Ichabod Cole, son of Isaac and Abigail ( Rarden) Cole, was born at Swansea, Massa- chusetts, November 17, 1848, married Roby Cole, December 19, 1773, and was a soldier in the Revolutionary WVar. Benjamin Cole, son of Ichabod and Roby (Cole) Cole, was born at Swansea, Massachusetts, February 19, 1775, and in 1811 married Mary Shackleford. He was the first post- master of Powhatan Point, Ohio. Wil- son C. Cole, son of Benjamin and Mary (Shackleford) Cole, was born April 29. 1815, and married Rebecca Mc- Farland.
Alfred H. Cole was educated in the public schools in the locality of his native place, Powhatan Point, Ohio, and assisted on his father's farm until
the outbreak of the Civil War. On August 11, 1862, Mr. Cole enlisted in the 15th Reg., West Virginia Voi. Inf., organized by Colonel McCaslin, commanded later by Col. T. Morris, afterwards killed at Snicker's Ford, when the command went to Col. John Holliday, who lived for several years after the close of the war. Mr. Cole remained in the service until June 24, 1865, when he was mustered out at Wheeling, West Virginia.
On January 1, 1867, Mr. Cole was married to Dorcas M. Reynolds, who was a daughter of Daniel Reynolds, of Pleasants County. To this union have been born nine children, viz. : Charles R., who married Cora Baker, resides in St. Marys, and has four children; Cora M., who married W. L. Core, re- sides in St. Marys, and have four chil- dren: Sarah R., who married James Cook, later married W. A. Smith, re- sides in St. Marys, and has two chil- dren; Walter W., who married Edith Bachman, resides in St. Marys, and they have two children ; Lilian M., who married John Ritchie, and lives in St. Marys; Sylvia A., who married Ira McCandless, and resides in Parkers- burg; Martha P., who married Frank Berney, and resides in St. Marys; and Chester A., who is attending college at Buckhannon, West Virginia. In poli-
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tics, Mr. Cole is a Republican, and af- ter the campaign of 1896 was appointed postmaster of St. Marys by the late President McKinley, an office he still holds under President Roosevelt. Be- longing to the third class, this office is a remunerative one. Mr. Cole was one of the founders of the Methodist Episcopal Church, North, of St. Marys, of which he and his family are active members. He is one of the trustees and was the first Sunday-school super- intendent.
ISAIAH D. MORGAN.
ISAIAH D. MORGAN, one of the most prominent citizens of Wetzel County, West Virginia, was born Feb- ruary 17, 1857, in Wetzel County, of Welsh parentage, being a son of Jacob
Morgan. His grandfather, also named Jacob Morgan, was born in North Car- olina, and came to Tyler, now Wetzel, County, in 1820, settling near Smith- field, where he engaged in farming. Ja- cob Morgan, the father of our subject, was born in Tyler, now Wetzel, Coun- ty, and died March 9, 1896, at the age of 73 years. He was a farmer and stock raiser by occupation. In Dem- ocratic politics he was a leader; he held the position of treasurer of Grant township, and served for a long period as constable. For years he was also a member of the Board of Education. Both he and his wife were members of the Methodist Church. He married Jane Copenhaven, who was born in Monongalia County, Virginia, now West Virginia, in 1818, and died Sep- tember 26, 1902. She was of Holland Dutch extraction, being a daughter of Isaac Copenhaven, who settled in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, where his decease occurred.
Isaiah D. Morgan is one of a fam- ily of four children, his three sisters being: Nancy, wife of Silas W. Snod- grass : Derinda, wife of David L. Cun- ningham; and Catherine J., wife of Erastus Satterfield. He received a common school education and worked faithfully on his father's farm inntil he attained his majority, also teaching
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school for three terms. In 1892 he was elected assessor of the second dis- trict, and after serving one full term declined a unanimous renomination. This was but the beginning of a politi- cal career which has made him a very popular member of his party. In 1900 he was nominated by the Democrats of his district for the office of State Senator, at a time when he was not even in the State. While he was de- feated in the succeeding election, his popularity was shown by the fact that he received 1,000 more votes than were cast for any other candidate on the ticket. In 1902 he was elected clerk of the County Court. He was known to be so strong a man that the Repub- licans declined to oppose him, and he was endorsed by many of them. He has taken an active part in politics for years past and has served the people of his district as delegate to many coun- ty, State and congressional conven- tions and has been very liberal in con- tributing to campaign funds.
Mr. Morgan is probably one of the wealthiest men of the county. At the organization of the Bank of Smith- field, in May, 1894, he was chosen to his present position of president, and holds stock in the First National Bank of Mannington, the First National Bank of New Martinsville, the Bank of New
Martinsville, the West Virginia Monu- mental Works, the New Martinsville Glass Manufacturing Company, the Wetzel Window Glass Manufacturing Company and the New Martinsville Publishing Company. He owns large coal and oil interests, is one of the largest real estate owners in the coun- ty and also owns farms in Ohio and Tennessee and fine city property in Parkersburg, New Martinsville and other cities.
On April 4, 1889, Mr. Morgan married Minnie A. Brummage, daugh- ter of Jacob and Mahala Brummage. Mrs. Morgan was born July 26, 1871, in Marion County, West Virginia. The four children of this union are : Arthur Clement, Lawrence E., Bonnie Pearl and Virginia L. Mrs. Morgan is a member of the Methodist Church. The subject of this sketch is fraternally con- nected with the Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias and the Elks. Mr. Morgan is noted for his liberality and wide-spread charities. He uses his wealth in a manner which has won him the love and esteem of his fellow citi- zens.
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