USA > West Virginia > Men of West Virginia Volume I > Part 18
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James Porter Scott, who is now serving his second term as mayor of the city of Parsons, was educated in the common schools of Taylor County, the West Virginia College, and was grad- uated at the Fairmont State Normal School. He then engaged in teaching for a time, became principal of the Web- ster schools and for several years served as a member of the Examining Board of Tucker County. He entered upon the study of the law in the office of Hon. D. B. Lucas, at Charlestown, and one.
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year later, in 1881, was admitted to the bar. In 1884 he commenced practice in Taylor County, removing in 1886 to Tucker County, where he has since been practicing with success.
Mr. Scott is one of the leading Democrats of Tucker County and is well and widely known through the State. After several terms in the City Council, he was elected mayor of his city and during two administrations has worked successfully for the benefit of the public. He was one of a com- mittee appointed by Governor Wilson, to select a site for a State Reform School, at Pruntytown; is chairman of the Democratic County Executive Com- mittee, having filled this responsible position, at various times, for years ; has been a delegate to both State and Congressional conventions, and is one of the most active and useful workers for his party in Tucker County.
In 1891 Mr. Scott married Jennie B. Adams, who was born in 1860, in Webster, Taylor County, and is a daughter of Joseph M. and Annie M. Adams. Two daughters, Lela Ruth and Ethel Fay, have been born to this marriage. Mrs. Scott is an active mem- ber of the Methodist Church at Parsons. Mayor Scott holds fraternal relations with the order of Modern Woodmen of America.
J. MARSHALL HAWKINS,
J. MARSHALL HAWKINS, pur- chasing agent of the Howard Supply Company of Philadelphia, handling railroad cross-ties, manages their ship- ments from West Virginia and Ken- tucky, the main purchaser being the Pennsylvania Railroad. He is also president of the Union Transfer & Storage Company of Huntington. Mr. Hawkins was born in 1866, in Louisa County, Virginia, and is a son of Rev. E. P. Hawkins, of Spottsylvania Coun- ty, Virginia, for many years a well known minister of the Baptist Church.
Mr. Hawkins has been interested in various lines of railroad work for a number of years, and has traveled very extensively over the United States,
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a part of the time as traveling secretary to the president of the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railway, and for five years was at Buffalo, New York, as purchasing agent for the Union Car Company, now a part of the American Car & Foundry Company. One broth- er, J. L., is the secretary of the Em- mons-Hawkins Hardware Company of Huntington, and another is in Missis- sippi, connected with the Mobile & Ohio Railroad. For the past six years Mr. Hawkins has been purchasing agent as mentioned above. As president and treasurer of the Union Transfer & Storage Co., he has a large and grow- ing business to manage. It was organ- ized in April, 1902, with E. V. Carter as secretary and J. A. Carter as man- ager, and is the only transfer company in the city. The warehouses occupy Nos. 1109-IIII 3rd avenue, and they now operate a large moving van and seven wagons, and are preparing to add some 20 more conveyances. This has proven a very successful enterprise.
Mr. Hawkins married a daughter of F. D. Beuhring, one of the venerable and well known residents of Hunting- ton. Mrs. Hawkins died in 1899, leav- ing two sons. The religious connec- tion of the family is with the Baptist Church. Mr. Hawkins is a very prom- inent Mason. He is past master in the
blue lodge at Huntington ; the present high priest of Huntington Chapter, No. 6, R. A. M .; generalissimo of Huntington Commandery, No. 9, Knights Templar, of which his father and brother are also members ; and one of the officers of Beni-Kedem Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of Charleston; in all these organizations he is noted for his efficient work in the order. In poli- tics Mr. Hawkins is identified with the Democratic party.
WILLIAM R. THOMPSON.
WILLIAM R. THOMPSON, junior member of the well known law firm of Vinson & Thompson, of Hunt- ington, West Virginia, was born in
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1856 in Kanawha County, Virginia, now West Virginia. He is a son of Maj. Benjamin S. Thompson, and a grandson of Philip R. Thompson, who emigrated in 1816 from Culpeper County, Virginia, to Kanawha Coun- ty, took up land and there died in 1836. He was a man of parts, prom- inent in the Democratic party, and served as a member of Congress from the Culpeper district from 1800 to 1808.
Maj. Benjamin S. Thompson was born March 26, 1818, at St. Albans, Kanawha County, and is still a man remarkably vigorous in mind and body. During the Civil War he was a brave and efficient officer, holding the rank of major. He has always been active in Democratic circles. The mother of our subject was a daughter of Andrew Lewis, of Mason County, Virginia, now West Virginia, and a granddaughter of Col. Charles Lewis, who was killed October 10, 1774, by the Indians at the battle of Point Pleasant. Gen. Andrew Lewis, who commanded the expedition sent out against the Indians by Lord Dunmore, was a brother of Col. Charles Lewis. William R. Thompson is one of a fam- ily of six children born to his parents, the others being: C. L., who is en- gaged in business at Huntington; J.
S., an attorney at Beckley, Raleigh County, West Virginia ; and Mrs. John I. Harvey, two sisters being deceased. Mr. Thompson graduated in law at the University of West Virginia at Mor- gantown. After his return, he was elected prosecuting attorney of Sum- mers County and served four years. Under President Cleveland he was ap- pointed assistant United States district attorney to assist District Attorney C. C. Watts, of Charleston, his being the first appointment of assistant in the State. After his admission to the bar, he practiced in Summers County and made his home at Hinton until 1892. In 1890 he was elected to the Legis- lature and served the term of 1891-92, following which he located at Hunting- ton and at once formed his present partnership. Corporation work is the firm's specialty, and they have well ap- pointed offices over the First National Bank, at No. 926 3d avenue.
Mr. Thompson married Miss Huie, of California, whose parents had re- moved there from Virginia in the early settlement of that State. One son has been born to this union. Fraternally Mr. Thompson is both a Mason and an Odd Fellow, having joined both or- ganizations years ago in Summers County; at a later date he became a member of the M. W. of A. and the
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A. O. U. W. Both Mr. and Mrs. Thompson belong to the Protestant Episcopal Church.
JAMES A. BRYAN.
JAMES A. BRYAN, senior mem- ber of the firm of Bryan & Speece, and one of the most prominent and popular young men of Parkersburg, was born in that city in 1858. He is a son of Will- iam and Margaret ( Wreath) Bryan. Mrs. Bryan, who was a native of Scot- land, came to Baltimore, Maryland, at the age of 13 years and was there mar- ried.
William Bryan was an engineer and at one time was the traveling engineer for different lines on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, and for many years had
charge at Parkersburg of transfer boats on the Ohio River, connecting with this line. He located in Parkersburg in 1858, and died there in 1885. His fam- ily consisted of eight sons and one daughter; two members are deceased and the other seven who reside in Park- ersburg, are as follows : B. G., a drug- gist ; S. L., until his recent resignation, foreman of the Baltimore & Ohio Rail- road shops ; O. H., manager of the Tur- ner Plumbing Company; William, for 30 years an engineer in the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad shops; Charles, who is an engineer connected with the City Water Works; Mrs. W. T. Ritten- house, whose husband is ex-city clerk and now secretary of the Citizens' Building Association ; and James A., the subject of this sketch.
James A. Bryan was reared in Parkersburg and has always made the city his home. The firm of J. A. Bryan & W. S. Speece, the largest establish- ment of merchant tailors and men's out- fitters in the city, was formed March 4, 1899 and is located at No. 609 Market street. This firm first inaugurated the six o'clock closing plan all the year round, which has been so generally adopted. The firm requires fully a dozen employes, including five coat makers.
Mr. Bryan married a daughter of
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the late Dr. J. E. Kendall, an ex-army surgeon. Of the two children born to this marriage, one died in infancy ; the other is still living. Mr. Bryan has in- terested himself considerably in politics, in business and in religious and fra- ternal affairs. He is treasurer of the Methodist Church and was Sunday- school superintendent for five years, and is now secretary. He is president of the Young Men's Christian Association is a member of the Business Men's League and one of its directors ; is auditor of the Citizens' Building Association; and is serving his 17th year as a member of the School Board, having been elected to the position of president, at the last election, by the largest majority ever given a candidate in Parkersburg. In the Masonic fraternity he is particular- ly prominent. He is a 32nd degree Mason, being a past presiding officer in all the York Rite bodies, and a Shriner ; is secretary of the Masonic Cemetery Association of which he was one of the incorporators ; is secretary of all the Masonic bodies in Parkersburg; is, in addition, grand commander of the State Knights Templar of West Virginia; is grand junior deacon of the Grand Lodge of West Virginia ; and is a rep- resentative of the Grand Chapter of Alabama. He is a trustee of the local lodge of the Ancient Order of United
Workmen; a trustee of Blennerhassett Court, No. 13, Tribe of Ben Hur; and has been prominently mentioned as the available candidate for sheriff on the Republican ticket in 1904. He is the present chairman of the Republican City Executive Committee.
THOMAS J. BULLOCK.
THOMAS J. BULLOCK, road foreman of engines, for the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway Company, with head- quarters at Huntington, West Virginia, has spent 34 years in railroad work. He was born in Spottsylvania County, Virginia, about seven miles from the historic city of Fredericksburg. His father, a farmer prior to the Civil War, died in 1864, and his mother he lost in
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childhood. The former was an officer in the Confederate Army and was taken prisoner by Sheridan's army and never regained his health, which was lost in confinement.
At the age of 14 years, Thomas J. Bullock was thrown upon his own re- sources and started out to make his own way in the world. He began railroad work and in the fall of 1869 became a brakeman on the Eastern Division of the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway, and was later placed in charge of a crew at Richmond, Virginia. From fire- man in 1872, he was promoted to the position of engineer in 1875 and at once was given a run on the main line. On May 12, 1872, when just 21, he removed to Huntington, and that city has been his home ever since, with the exception of six years spent at Hinton. From January, 1882, until November, 1898, he ran a pass- enger engine, at the latter date accepting his present responsible position. Mr. Bullock has full charge of all the host- lers, firemen and engineers of the Kana- wha district and its branches, there be- ing 109 engineers connected with his territory.
For more than three years Mr. Bul- lock served in the Huntington City Council and acted as chairman of a number of important committees. It
was during his chairmanship that the undergrade crossing at 16th street was put in, and the sewer was constructed from 8th avenue to the river, with from five to eight miles of lateral sewer, -- notable public improvements.
In 1876 Mr. Bullock married Viola E. Mathews, of Huntington, and the six children born to this union are: Claudia, chief operator at the Bell tele- phone office in Huntington; Eva, a High School graduate of the class of 1902, living at home; Ollie, married, a machinist at the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway shops ; and three younger chil- dren. The pleasant family home is lo- cated at No. 533 10th street, near 6th avenue. Mr. Bullock is a deacon in the 5th Avenue Baptist Church of Hunting- ton. His fraternal connections include Lodge No. 53, A. F. & A. M .; Chap- ter No. 6, R. A. M .; Huntington Com- mandery, No. 9, K. T .; and Beni-Ke- dem Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of Charleston. Since 1877 he has been a member of the Brotherhood of Loco- motive Engineers; was chief of Di- vision No. 10I at Hinton, but withdrew and organized with 13 members in 1883 Division No. 190 at Huntington, which now numbers more than 100, and of which he is now an honorary meniber. He belongs also to Fidelity Lodge, No. 123, I. O. O. F., of Huntington.
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BENJAMIN FRANKLIN BAILEY.
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN BAIL- EY, one of the prominent and substan- tial citizens of Grafton, Taylor Coun- ty, West Virginia, identified with all the leading enterprises of the city, was born in Taylor County, West Virginia, November 10, 1864. He is one of the six surviving children of Silas P. and Almira (Kelley) Bailey.
The early education of Mr. Bailey was obtained in the common schools of Taylor County, and it was supplement- ed by attendance at Adrian College, Michigan. Later he graduated with honors from the law department of the University of West Virginia in the class of 1891 with the degree of LL. B., and in the same year was admitted to the bar. Mr. Bailey has carried on a very
successful practice at Grafton, and is well known all over Taylor County. He has always taken an active part in politics and is a leading member of the Republican party in his section. For eight years he served as chairman of the Republican County Committee and also for the same length of time was a member of the executive committee. Mr. Bailey has also been a useful member of the City Council and has advocated many of the improvements, which have placed Grafton on an equal footing with cities of greater popula- tion. In 1900 he was elected prose- cuting attorney of Taylor County and still continues in office. Mr. Bailey has many very important business inter- ests, is a stockholder and member of the board of directors of the Crystal Ice Company ; a stockholder and mem- ber of the board of directors of the Grafton Building & Loan Association ; a member of the board of directors of the Grafton Machine & Foundry Com- pany, and of the Consolidated Tele- phone Company and a number of less important organizations.
In 1892 Mr. Bailey was united in marriage with Sarah E. Faris, who was born in Harrison County, West Virginia, and is a daughter of George T. and Mary Ann (Sheets) Faris. A family of four children were born to
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Mr. and Mrs. Bailey, the two surviv- ors being Arline B. and George Silas. Mrs. Bailey is a devout member of the Baptist Church. Fraternally Mr. Bail- ey is associated with several secret or- ganizations, the Modern Woodmen of America; the Elks, in which he is ex- alted ruler : and the Knights of Pyth- ias. He is one of the representative men of Taylor County, where he is held in high esteem for his legal ability, busi- ness qualifications and personal attri- butes.
JOSEPH C. TREES,
JOSEPH C. TREES, of New Mar- tinsville, Wetzel County, who is one of the most prominent and successful oil operators of West Virginia, and busi- ness manager of many of the leading
companies, was born November 10, 1869, in Westmoreland County, Penn- sylvania, and is a son of Isaac and Lucy A. (Johnson) Trees.
Isaac Trees was also born in West- moreland County, but is now a resident of Allegheny County, whither he moved in 1872. For a number of years he fol- lowed the trade of millwright, but is now living retired, at the age of 66 years. In politics he is a Republican. He and his wife belong to the Presby- terian Church. For many years he has been a Mason. The mother of our sub- ject is a daughter of Andrew and Phoebe Johnson, and was born in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. They are the parents of eight children, viz .: George A .; Phoebe, wife of John Sampson; Joseph C .: Myrtle; Bessie; Clyde; Charles and Paul.
Joseph C. Trees was reared in Alle- gheny County and there was educated in the common and graded schools of Wilkinsburg. After two years of teaching, he entered the State Normal School and was graduated in 1892, and then entered the Western University of Pennsylvania, at Allegheny City, grad- uating from the engineering depart- ment in 1895. Mr. Trees is entitled to write A. B. and M. E. after his name. He early became interested in oil pro- duction, and while at school paid his
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way by drilling wells. In 1897 he moved to New Martinsville and became an oil producer, being interested with Pittsburg capitalists during the first two years. He is now operating in the Big Knot oil fields of Ritchie County, also in Pleasants County, in Grant district, Wetzel County, and in Monroe and Washington counties, Ohio. During the past five years he has helped in the drilling of 125 producing wells.
Mr. Trees is interested in the Three Joes Oil Company ; the White Farm Oil Company; Bills Farm Oil Com- pany ; Benedum-Trees Oil Company ; the Trees & Miskimins Drilling Com- pany ; the Trees & Brown Oil Company ; the United States Engine Company of Parkersburg; the New Martinsville Glass Company; the Wetzel Window Glass Company, and is a director in the First National Bank of New Martins- ville. He is the business manager of the above-named oil companies and is identified with all the leading interests of his section.
On December 20, 1894, Mr. Trees married Claudine V. Willison, who was born in Allegheny City in 1871, being a daughter of Andrew Willison, and two children have been born to this marriage, Joe Graham and Myrl L. Mr. Trees is a Mason of advanced standing, having taken the 32nd degree.
In politics he is a Republican. He is widely known in the oil regions and his engineering skill places him in a very prominent position in his section, where oil producing is the great center of in- terest.
JOSEPH B. NEAL.
JOSEPH B. NEAL, one of the prominent and representative men of Parkersburg, West Virginia, was born in Parkersburg in 1830, and is a son of James Harden Neal and a grandson of Capt. James Neal.
Capt. James Neal, who was a na- tive of Greene County, Pennsylvania, removed to Wood County, Virginia, now West Virginia, in 1784, as its first settler. The journey was by way
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of a flatboat down the Ohio River, and settlement was made on the south side of the Little Kanawha River at a point afterward named in his memory "Neal's Station." This was his home until he died in 1822. He was a Veteran of the Revolutionary War, in which he served as captain of the 14th Virginia Regiment under Col. William Russell, and he took the oath of al- legiance to the Continental Congress, with the little patriot band at Valley Forge. Captain Neal was twice mar- ried, his first wife being Hanna Har- den, sister to Col. John Harden, who was slain by the Indians. Six children were reared to this union, namely : Henry, John, James Harden, Hannah, Nancy and Catherine.
James Harden Neal was born in Greene County, Pennsylvania, in 1784, and was appointed clerk of Wood County, Virginia, in 1810, and served in that office until his death, in 1850. Mr. Neal was thrice married, his last union being to Ann Beard, and to this marriage were born three sons and two daughters.
Joseph B. Neal was educated in Parkersburg and in young manhood read medicine for one year under the well-known Dr. Clark, after which he bought a drug store and conducted that for several years. Failing health, how-
ever, compelled him to seek another climate and soon after the Civil War he removed to Lexington, Missouri, where he lived during four years, re- turning then to Parkersburg. He has been interested in many of the business enterprises of this locality. During the construction of the Ohio River Rail- road, he was treasurer of the construc- tion company, and for many years he was president of the Novelty Mill Company. In 1884 the firm of R. L. Neal & Company was organized, in which J. B. Neal is an interested party.
In 1853 Mr. Neal was united in marriage with Elizabeth F. Lewis, of Wood County, and two children have been born to them, namely : Robert L. and Nannie ( Mrs. Bradenbaugh).
Mr. Neal's personal and business interests have centered in Parkersburg and in this city he stands high in pub- lic esteem, having attained prominence through business integrity and a com- mendable public spirit.
HON. GEORGE E. BOYD, who is very well known in legal circles in West Virginia, has been a resident of Wheeling since 1850. He was born in Cumberland, Guernsey County, Ohio, in 1840.
The father of the subject of this
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sketch was born in November, 1812. He removed from Ohio to Wheeling in 1850, where he was engaged in the wholesale dry goods business with Mr. Ott. After Mr. Ott's death he carried on the business alone until 1858, when he went to Philadelphia, where he en- gaged in the banking business. He re- mained in Philadelphia until 1867, when he moved to Chase City, Meck- lenburg County, Virginia. He is now 90 years old, and is conducting a farm near Chase City. His wife has been dead for three years. They enjoyed 64 years of married life. One daughter is living with Mr. Boyd, and the rest of his children are living in New York City and in New Jersey. One son, John W. Boyd, deceased, was for many years engaged in the wholesale grocery busi- ness in Wheeling, and George E., the subject of this sketch, has always lived in Wheeling since he first came here.
George E. Boyd received his pri- mary education in Wheeling, and in 1858, at the age of 18 years, was gradu- ated from Washington and Jefferson College. He then attended the Cincin- nati Law School, and graduated from that institution in 1860. He was ad- mitted to the bar of Ohio County in December, 1861. Judge Boyd at once took up the general practice of the law. His father-in-law, Hon. Alfred Cald-
well, was appointed consul at Hono- lulu, and until 1867 Judge Boyd car- ried on the business under the name of Caldwell & Boyd. In 1867 Judge Boyd went to New Martinsville, Wet- zel County, West Virginia, where he remained five years. During 1871-72 he acted as prosecuting attorney for that county. In 1872 he returned to Wheeling and practiced there until 1876, when he was elected to the bench as judge of the County Court. He served in this office until 1881, when he was chosen judge of the Circuit Court, and served in that capacity until January 1, 1889. During this time Judge Boyd turned over some of his legal business to Hon. Joseph F. Paull. Since 1889 Judge Boyd has followed the general practice of the law. He has always had a large and lucrative practice, and has met with great success in his chosen pro- fession. He is well known in Wheel- ing and in the northern section of West Virginia, having won the confidence and esteem of all who have come in con- tact with him.
Judge Boyd married a daughter of Hon. Alfred Caldwell. He has a son, -G. E., who was graduated from the law department of the University of West Virginia in 1886, after which he attended the law school of the Univer-
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sity of Virginia. Judge Boyd's son, Alfred C., deceased, was a newspaper man. His daughter, Beulah, is the wife of Charles M. Ritchie, of Fairmont, West Virginia.
HOLLY G. ARMSTRONG.
HOLLY G. ARMSTRONG has been a lifelong resident of Ripley, Jack- son County, West Virginia, a well known, influential and public spirited citizen, occupying responsible State, Federal and church positions, and a member of the real estate and insurance firm of Armstrong & Riley, which was established and conducted by Mr. Arm- strong from 1895 to 1900. He was born in Ripley, Virginia, now West Vir- ginia, in 1852, and is a son of Jacob Lorentz Armstrong, deceased.
He earned his first money as page of the Circuit Court at the early age of 12 and 13, having been successively ap- pointed for a number of terms by Judge George Loomis. When not attending school, he clerked in his father's general store.
Holly G. Armstrong received his primary education in the common schools at Ripley, and in 1871 matricu- lated in the Ohio University, at Athens, taking a scientific course. At the Uni- versity he was recognized as a stu- dent of worth and ability and was hon- ored by being invited and initiated into the mysteries of the Phi Delta Theta Greek-letter college fraternity. After completing his studies at the University he returned to Ripley and read law for a few months in the office of Col. John H. Riley, but abandoned the intention of making it his profession, and his fa- ther ( for 20 years clerk of the Circuit and county courts ) took him into his of- fice as deputy. To those who are famil- iar with the routine of a clerk's office, it is scarcely necessary to say that, in this service with his able and methodical father, young Armstrong acquired cer- tain valuable accomplishments that handsomely equipped him for after life. After several years of service as deputy clerk, he embarked in a general mer- cantile business, during which period
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