USA > West Virginia > Men of West Virginia Volume I > Part 16
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HON. ABRAM McCOLLOCH, who is engaged in agricultural pursuits near Clinton, Ohio County, West Vir- ginia, comes of one of the most promi-
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nent of the early families of Ohio County. He was born in 1844 on the old homestead established by his grand- father in the 18th century, which has continued in the family down to the present time, now being owned by our subject's brother and sister. He is a son of Samuel McColloch, who was al- so born on the old homestead in 1802. He was a farmer and for many years a justice of the peace.
Abram McColloch, grandfather of our subject, came to Ohio County, Virginia, with three brothers in the latter half of the 18th century. They were typical representatives of the sturdy pioneers of that day. They were foremost in the many engage- ments with the Indians of that period, and Abram was slightly wounded up- on one occasion while trying to effect his escape on horse. His oldest broth- er, Samuel, was major of the forces and at one time was surrounded by the In- dians on Wheeling Hill above the spot where Fort Henry was located ; escape seemed impossible, but he succeeded in forcing his horse over the almost precipitous hill to Wheeling Creek, and thence made his escape to the fort, sorely disappointing the Indians, who wished his scalp for the deeds he had previously done. This daring act is often related at the present time by the
residents of the county, and the spot of "McColloch's Leap" is pointed to with pride. Shortly afterward he was killed by the Indians and his brother John superseded him as major and was also known as a fearless fighter. Another brother, George, was more given to peace and followed farming all his life.
Samuel McColloch, father of our subject and his wife had the following children : Mary L., wife of Samuel Sprigg; Jacob, a farmer living in Ohio county ; Rebecca B., who married L. D. Wilson, M. D., of Wheeling; Ta- bitha, wife of H. H. Dils, Jr., of Park- ersburg ; Samuel Wilbur, a farmer who died in 1888; Millard F. and his sister Catherine, who own the old homestead, both of them being unmarried; Mar- garet, who married William Baird; Jessie, who died at the age of fifteen years; Simon L., an inventer, who died in April, 1900; and Alexander, who is a successful farmer.
Abram McColloch, whose name heads this sketch, attended the common schools and completed his education in the academy at Morgantown, West Virginia. He has always devoted his efforts to farming, and has met with the success that well-directed industry merits. He lives on a beautiful farm near Clinton, in Ohio county.
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In 1870 Mr. McColloch was joined in marriage with Drusilla R. Jacob, a daughter of John J. and Mahala W. (Ridgley) Jacob, her father being a prosperous farmer. This union was prolific of the following offspring : Sally M., born June 1, 1872, a grad- uate in 1891 of the West Liberty State Normal School, married H. F. B. Mc- Lain, who is identified wth the Moun- tain State Electrical Company at Wheeling, and they have two children, Henry and Adele ; J. C., born June 29, 1875, who was educated at the West Liberty State Normal School and re- mains with his father as a farmer ; and Jessie D., born in 1882, also educated at the West Liberty State Normal School, who lives at home. Mr. Mc- Colloch has been an active member of the M. E. Church for 42 years, and for many years has been steward and trus- tee. He is a Republican in politics and has held numerous offices. He was ap- pointed a member of the executive board of the West Liberty State Nor- mal School; was elected a member of the State Legislature in 1900; and was president of the State Board of Agri- culture. Fraternally, he is a member of Liberty Lodge, No. 26, A. F. & A. M., and at the present time is district deputy grand master of the First Ma- sonic District.
CAPT. WILLIAM SMITH O'BRIEN.
CAPT. WILLIAM SMITH O'BRIEN, one of the most eminent members of the bar of Buckhannon; Upshur County, West Virginia, was born in Barbour County, West Vir- ginia, January 8, 1862, and is a son of Gen. Emmet J. and Martha A. (Hall) O'Brien.
Gen. Emmet J. O'Brien was of Irish and English descent, and was a man prominent in the affairs of the State. He exerted an important influ- ence in the formation of the State, be- ing a member of the first Constitutional Convention and afterwards of the State Senate. His death occurred in 1887. Like many others in Virginia at that time, he lost all his properties
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on account of the Civil War and de- voted the latter years of his life to the education of his children. The mother of the subject of this sketch, Martha A. (Hall) O'Brien, belonged to one of the most prominent families of Lew- is County, this State.
She is of German-English and French descent, and is still living. The family consisted of four children : Lient. A. L., of the U. S. Cavalry, now dead; Capt. D. W., an officer in the late war with Spain, now a prom- inent farmer and grazier of Glenville, West Virginia ; Mary L., wife of Hon. William M. Arnold of Linn, Gilmer County, West Virginia; and Will- iam S.
When William S. O'Brien was quite young, his parents moved from Barbour County, West Virginia, to Weston, Lewis County, where he grew to manhood. His early life was spent working on the farm and in brick- yards. Mr. O'Brien's early education was acquired by home instruction, in the public schools, and at the West Vir- ginia, where he partly completed the literary course. About 13 years of his life were spent as teacher in the public schools. It was while engaged in teach- ing that he commenced the study of the law, securing his first books and receiving his first instruction from the
late Hon. John Brannon, of Weston, one of the most distinguished lawyers and jurists of the State. The degree of Bachelor of Laws was conferred upon Captain O'Brien by the West Vir- ginia University in 1891. In 1892 he located at Buckhannon for the practice of his profession.
In politics Captain O'Brien is a Democrat, residing in a county that is Republican by an overwhelming ma- jority. He has been chosen as a candi- date for the Legislature and for State's attorney by his party, and, as evidence of his popularity, each time ran ahead of his ticket. He was prominently spoken of for Congress in the last campaign and without being consulted or notified was unanimously nominated for the State Senate. This latter honor, how- ever, he was compelled to decline on account of his business affairs, and his law practice.
In 1896, Captain O'Brien was uni- ted in marriage with Emma White, daughter of A. P. White, a prominent farmer and grazier of Camden, Lewis County, West Virginia. Three chil- dren, two boys and one girl, were born to this union.
Captain O'Brien is one of the most successful lawyers of Buckhannon, and has acquired a large practice. He has very recently formed a law partnership
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with Hon. W. D. Talbot, a prominent and able member of the Buckhannon bar, under the firm name of Talbot & O'Brien. Personally, the subject of this sketch is a man of engaging ad- dress, a genial, whole-souled, compan- ionable man, with whom it is a delight to associate. He is admired and loved by the people of his own and adjoining counties, where he is well known.
W. W. VAN WINKLE.
W. W. VAN WINKLE, a promi- nent member of the legal profession in Parkersburg, West Virginia, and one of the city's most esteemed citizens, is a direct descendant of Jacobsi Waling Van Winkle, who came to America from Hoorn, Holland, in the good ship
"King David" and settled in 1636, at Bergen. New Jersey.
The three sons of this ancestor were Jacob, Waling and Symon. Jacob es- tablished the name and founded a fam- ily in Hudson County (Jersey City), New Jersey, and the other brothers, in 1679, purchased and lived on lands named in the old records, "Haguegeu- nunck," "Aguackanonck," now covered by Passiac City, New Jersey.
Adolphus W. Van Winkle, the father of the subject of this biography, descended from the brother Symon, while his mother, Petrina Van Winkle, descended from Waling, from whom our subject, in the ninth generation, re- ceives his unusual name.
IV. W. Van Winkle was born No- vember 19, 1845, in Lodi, Bergen County, New Jersey, and received his primary education in the public schools of Jersey City, later attending the Uni- versity of New York. For two years he was engaged in the mercantile busi- ness in the city of New York, during this time studying for the law under the advice and direction of his uncles, Ed- gar S. Van Winkle and P. G. Van Win- kle, the former of New York, and the latter United States Senator from West Virginia. In October, 1864, he removed to Parkersburg and continued study under the direction of his uncle,
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Senator Van Winkle, and his cousin, Rathbone Van Winkle, and was ad- mitted to the bar December 1, 1866. Until 1874 he practiced alone, but at that date the well-known firm of Van Winkle & Ambler was formed, com- posed of W. W. Van Winkle and B. Mason Ambler, continuing thus until July 1, 1901, when M. G. Ambler was admitted without change of firm name. This is conceded to be one of the strongest combinations of legal talent in the city.
For 28 years Mr. Van Winkle has been connected with the legal depart- ment of the Baltimore & Ohio Rail- road Company. From 1865 to 1889 he was secretary of the Parkersburg branch of the road and became a di- rector in it at that date. He has been one of the prime movers and successful promoters of many of the city's most valuable franchises and leading finan- cial institutions. He was one of the original incorporators, in 1886, of the Parkersburg Electric Light Com- pany, which formed the present Parkersburg, Marietta & Inter-Urban Railway Company and has been continuously its secretary and director. Other business interests are as fol- lows : Director in the First Na- tional Bank; one of the incorpor- ators of the Parkersburg Ice Com-
pany and for several years a direc- tor; a director in the Novelty Mill Company ; was the first secretary of the Little Kanawha Navigation Company and was identified with the improve- ment of the Little Kanawha River by locks and dams, and is also connected with many lesser enterprises.
Fraternally Mr. Van Winkle has been long prominent in the Masonic order, being initiated in May, 1870, into Mount Olivet Lodge, No. 3, A. F. & A. M., at Parkersburg; in 1888 and 1889 he was worshipful master of the lodge; on July 13, 1879, he was made a member of the chapter of the Royal Arch Masons; became high priest in 1893, and grand high priest in 1899. He was eminent commander, Knights Templar, in 1889, and in 1894 was grand commander of the same order. He became a member of the Scottish Rite, 33rd degree, Southern Jurisdic- tion, October 23, 1897. For several years he has been a member of the Holland Society ; belongs to the Amer- ican Bar Association and for several years served as its vice-president for West Virginia, and was also one of its general counsel for a term of four years, acting on the committee on uni- formity of State laws, and on general and sub-committees on John Marshall Day. Mr. Van Winkle stands high in
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the estimation of his fellow citizens and belongs to the leading and influen- tial class which has made that part of the State bordering on the Ohio River so well known to the world at large.
CHARLES MADISON ROACH.
CHARLES MADISON ROACH, who is engaged in a mercantile business at Grafton, Taylor County, West Vir- ginia, where he has been a resident for 36 years, and is a well known and es- teemed citizen, was born in 1841 in Culpeper County, Virginia, and came with his parents to Webster, Virginia, now West Virginia, in boyhood. Mr. Roach is a son of Page B. and Martha (Kelby) Roach, the former of whom was born in Warrington, Fauquier
County, Virginia, and died in 1869, at the age of 65 years. He had followed an agricultural life and was a man worthy of respect and esteem. In pol- itics he was first a Whig and later a Republican. The mother of our sub- ject was born in Culpeper County, Vir- ginia, and died in 1872 at the age of 67 years. Both she and her husband were members of the Baptist Church. A family of 10 children was born to them, and eight of these were reared to maturity.
Mr. Roach was educated in the common schools of Taylor County, and reared on his father's farm. Upon leaving the latter, he went on the Bal- timore & Ohio Railroad as a fireman, later went to braking and then for 12 years was conductor on a freight train. In 1897 he left railroading and ac- cepted the office of city collector. In 1900 he became a merchant of Grafton, and is now engaged in a prosperous business in that line. In politics Mr. Roach is a Republican, and in 1891 was elected mayor of West Grafton, and during 1897 and 1898, as referred to above, was the efficient city collector.
On August 3, 1865, Mr. Roach was married to Sarah E. Talbott, who was born in Preston County, Virginia, now West Virginia, and who died De- cember 28, 1874, in her 29th year. The
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one daughter of this marriage, Ethel L., is an expert bookkeeper. On Sep- tember 2, 1878, Mr. Roach was mar- ried to Lucinda A. Stalnaker, who was born in Beverly, Virginia, now West Virginia, in 1842. Mrs. Roach is a de- vout member of the Methodist Church. Fraternally, Mr. Roach is a member of Grafton Lodge, No. 31, I. O. O. F., and is past grand master of West Vir- ginia, and also belongs to Reno Post, No. 7, Grand Army of the Republic.
JOHN M. BROWN.
JOHN M. BROWN, sheriff of Brooke County, West Virginia, a prom- inent politician and a leading citizen of Wellsburg, was born August II, 1858, near Warrenton, Jefferson County, and is a son of Van Buren and Martha
(Lyon) Brown. Mr. Brown's father died while serving in the army in 1861, and his mother died when her son was but six years of age.
Mr. Brown, becoming an orphan in tender years, became a member of the household of a neighbor, in Jefferson County. This neighbor, S. S. Bigger, was a butcher by occupation, and oper- ated a peddling wagon through the country districts, and soon found the lad a useful companion on his trips. He remained with Mr. Bigger until he was 12 years old, when he left Mr. Big- ger's home, and went to Brooke Coun- ty, West Virginia. There instead of being apprenticed to any one for a long term of years, without salary and compelled to perform all kinds of heavy and unpleasant tasks, he found farm work by which at first he could earn $6 per month and was better paid as his usefulness increased. He did not neglect educational opportunities, but attended school through the winter sea- sons and later spent some winter at coal mining. Thus he gained a fair educa- tion and accumulated means and in 1882 was married. He still continued to farm, but in 1886 he moved into Wells- burg and engaged in a butchering busi- ness. In 1891 he took F. E. Smith into partnership, to whom he sold out in the spring of 1893, when he was
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elected to the position of city marshal. He has also served as tax collector, city treasurer, being elected to this office in 1895, and chief of police. In 1897 Mr. Brown bought a farm and lived again in the country for a year, but later returned to the city, and, un- til 1900, conducted an express business. At this time he was elected sheriff and the duties of this office are being per- formed by him with the greatest effi -. ciency.
On December 24, 1882. Mr. Brown was united in marriage with Dora Jane Wharton, daughter of Gibson Whar- ton, a retired farmer living in Wells- burg. To them have been born three children, viz .: Elmer Earl, a student in the Wheeling Business College; and Bertha May and Ida Bell, who are liv- ing at home. In politics Sheriff Brown is a Democrat and at the time of his election to his present office he was serving in the City Council. He is a leader in his party's councils and is a member of the Democratic County Ex- ecutive Committee. Fraternally he is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Ancient Order of United Work- men.
GEORGE E. STIFEL .- This gen- tleman is a member of the well known dry goods firm of George E. Stifel &
Company. dealers in foreign and do- mestic dry goods, wraps and notions, etc., at Nos. 1154-56-58-60 Main street, Wheeling, West Virginia. Mr. Stifel was born in Wheeling, May 5, 1849, and is a son of J. L. Stifel, who was a prominent resident and manufacturer of Wheeling. J. L. Stifel manufac- tured calico prints, a business which is now carried on by his son, William F. Stifel.
At the age of 14 years, George E. Stifel entered the employ of Stone & Thomas, and remained with them five years. He then entered the employ of Henry Brues, and remained in that gen- tleman's employ for 10 years. Mr. Brues was one of the early dry goods men of Wheeling. In 1878 Mr. Stifel, in partnership with F. C. H. Schwert- feger, engaged in the general dry goods business on Main street, near 10th street, in a building which is now occu- pied by Friend & Son's furniture store. In 1890 the store was moved to its present location, the main building then being erected by the company. In 1896 they erected the building adjoin- ing it. This has a stone frontage of 92 feet, facing Main street, and is five stories high. George E. Stifel & Com- pany have also leased the building just north of the one occupied by them.
Over 100 people are employed by
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George E. Stifel & Company. An im- mense stock is carried, the first floor be- ing devoted to the sale of silks, dress goods, notions, wash goods, linens and flannels; the second floor to cloaks, suits and ladies' and gentlemen's under- wear; the third floor to curtains, dra- peries, upholstery, rugs, etc. ; and the fourth and fifth floors are devoted to the reserve and duplicate stock, while the basement is used for toilet and boil- er rooms and storage for domestic goods. The building is 135 feet in depth; and is heated with steam and lighted with electric lights, including the mammoth show windows. These windows are always artistically decor- ated, and present at night a most beau- tiful and attractive appearance, illumin- ating the street for some distance. This store is very largely patronized, hav- ing the exclusive trade of Wheeling. It is the largest dry goods store in Wheeling, and thus has established a wide reputation.
Mr. Stifel married Emma Beck, a daughter of Peter Paul Beck, a pio- neer of Wheeling, and formerly in the brewery business. Mr. and Mrs. Sti- fel have two daughters,-Nellie and Alberta. They have lived at No. 807 Main street for the past 16 years. Mr. Stifel is independent in politics. He is a member of the Lutheran Church.
HON. JOSEPH R. MCCLURE.
HON. JOSEPH R. MCCLURE, member of the West Virginia House of Delegates, from Sioto, Lincoln County, resides on a beautiful farm of 100 acres within two and one-half miles of the village. He was born April 12, 1839, in Kanawha County, Virginia, now West Virginia, on his father's farm, 25 miles southwest of Charleston, and he is a son of Elijah and Rhoda ( Pauley ) McClure, the lat- ter of whom is a daughter of Joseph Pauley, a native of Virginia.
Elijah McClure was born in Vir- ginia but accompanied his father, Rich- ard McClure, to Lawrence County, Kentucky, near Louisa, where the lat- ter engaged in farming. Elijah Mc- Clure's marriage to Rhoda Pauley re- sulted in the birth of 17 children, 12
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sons and five daughters. The record of these children is as follows : Nelson, William H., Louisa and Reece, de- ceased; Allan H .; Lucretia and Lean- za (twins) ; Joseph R .; Harrison; As- bury, deceased; George W .; Martha ; Elijah J .; James ; Thomas R. and Pet- er. The McClures are of Irish de- scent, and are a virile and long-lived family.
Until the age of 22 years, our sub- ject remained under his father's roof and assisted in farm work. His edu- cation was secured with difficulty, for modern methods and ideas were not yet prevalent in his locality and school accommodations were of the poorest kind,-most of the school-houses un- der the old regime were only about 16 feet square, with 12-foot fireplaces, and greased paper instead of glass for win- dows. On January 1, 1863, he enlisted for service in the Civil War in a State company, and later, on August 22, 1864, in the 7th West Virginia Vol. Cav., and was discharged June 3, 1865. His first vote was for Abraham Lin- coln in 1860 and again in 1864, and ever since he has been an active work- er and supporter of the Republican party. In the year 1867 he was ap- pointed township tax collector of Washington township, Kanawha Coun- ty, West Virginia, and performed the
duties of that office for a term of two years. He served one year as consta- ble; for 12 consecutive years he was elected justice of the peace, and for 20 years he has been a notary public. The county was Democratic until about 1900; in that year Mr. McClure was elected a member of the House of Del- egates on a straight Republican ticket, ----- the first one to meet with success ; in 1902 the majority was still larger and Mr. McClure's majority as candi- date for the House of Delegates was the largest of any candidate on the ticket. He is much interested in edu- cational matters and in laws against the liquor traffic under high license. He' is well known and is regarded as one of the judicious and high principled men of the legislative body.
On September 12, 1867, Mr. Mc- Clure was married to Nancy M. Hall, who is a daughter of William Hall, a native of Virginia. They have had these children, namely : Elizabeth, who married John L. Carper, of Griffiths- ville, and has five children ; Edith, who married W. C. Priestley, has six chil- dren, and resides in Lincoln County, near Rome; Ada, deceased, who mar- ried George W. Pauley, is survived by her one child, Goldie E., who lives with the subject of this sketch; Jose- phine A., who died at the age of two
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years; May, who married J. C. Wood- rum, has one child, and lives near Sioto, Lincoln County ; Maud, Romeo, Ama- zon, Ethel and Goff, the youngest aged 13 years, reside at home. Amazon at- tended the Normal School at Hamlin, and has taught school near home for the past two years. Mr. McClure has given all his children educational ad- vantages. For many years he has be- longed to the Missionary Baptist Church. He is a quiet, earnest man, and belongs to no secret organizations. All Mr. McClure's public and private business has been such that he has never been a litigant at law.
ROBERT D. CLINE, chief of the fire department of Wheeling, Ohio County, West Virginia, was first ap- pointed to the important position in 1899 by the mayor and City Council. The department under him has been conducted so well that his yearly re-ap- pointnient has followed as a matter of course, especially since his executive ability has been shown throughout the whole department. Mr. Cline was born June 8, 1856. He is a son of W. W. and Rebecca M. (Deggs) Cline.
W. W. Cline was born in Wheeling, and during his life was an expert black- smith. He died at the age of 79 years. Rebecca M. (Deggs) Cline was born
in 1826, and was the daughter of Rob- ert T. and Rebecca (Evans) Deggs. Her father was a saddler by trade, and owned and conducted one of the finest saddlery shops in Wheeling. His death took place at St. Louis, Missouri, at the advanced age of 85 years. The ma- ternal grandmother of Robert D. Cline attained the age of 81 years.
Mr. Cline's parents were married in 1843, and had 24 children, all of whom are deceased except Robert D. and two sisters. One sister married and left home, but the remaining sister and Robert D. still reside at the home place, the solace and comfort of the aged mother, who has been a devout member of the Methodist Episcopal Church since her childhood. Some time after their marriage Mr. Cline's parents pur- chased a family Bible, in which they placed the records of their marriage and of the birth of their children, and which they keep to-day as a family relic. Mr. Cline's mother also has a little chair, given to her by her father 65 years ago, when she was a child, which she also keeps as a relic.
Mr. Cline's early years were spent in obtaining mental instruction in the Wheeling public schools, and at the age of 17 years he began work as a rail- road contractor, and continued at this for several years. At the age of 27
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years he entered the fire department of the city of Wheeling, and has been in- terested in this work ever since, with the exception of a short time spent in the hotel business.
Mr. Cline is a Republican, and has taken an active part in politics for sev- eral years. Fraternally, he is a char- ter member of Wheeling Lodge, No. 114. K. of P .: Reliance Lodge, No. 18, A. O. U. WV., and Lodge No. 28, B. P. O. E. In religious views he favors the Methodist Episcopal Church. He resides at No. 1516 Jacob street.
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