USA > West Virginia > Men of West Virginia Volume I > Part 19
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he was appointed by President U. S. Grant, postmaster at Ripley. Subse- quently he began a 10 years' service upon the road as a commercial traveler. In 1885 he received from President Cleveland the appointment of post trader to the Crow Indians, this post then being located near Fort Custer, Montana, where General Custer was massacred and his entire command de- stroyed by hostile Indians. After his appointment, Mr. Armstrong visited the post but failed to discern anything favorable in the outlook. As a conse- quence, he declined the appointment and returned to West Virginia ; whereupon Mr. Cleveland appointed him chief of the Stamp Division in the Internal Rev- enue Bureau of the Treasury Depart- ment, Washington, D. C., which posi- tion he filled with marked efficiency until the end of Mr. Cleveland's administra- tion. In this position he was required to keep and settle the accounts of inter- nal revenue collectors and fill their re- quisitions for stamps-a thing in itself which amounted to an average aggre- gate collection of half a million dollars a day.
Mr. Armstrong has been a lifelong Democrat, and after his return to West Virginia, in 1888, he was very active in political campaign work, as chairman of the Democratic organization of Jack-
son County, and in 1891-92 was elected chief clerk of the State Senate ; and was chairman of the Congressional district, for several years, and is now a member of the Democratic State Committee.
When President Cleveland entered upon his second administration, Mr. Armstrong was reappointed to his old position as chief of the Stamp Division. After leaving the Federal service, he returned to his old home at Ripley and opened a real estate and insurance busi- ness and in 1900 was formed the part- nership with his brother-in-law, W. W. Riley. He was appointed in 1899 by Governor George W. Atkinson, for two years, a member of the State Board of Directors of the Humane Society, of which he was elected treasurer. At the election in November, 1902, Mr. Arm- strong was elected president of the board of trustees of the Independent School District of Ripley.
In the fall of 1875 Mr. Armstrong was married to Mary Elizabeth Robin- son, daughter of Richard and Charlotte (Teeter) Robinson of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, and three children have been born to this union : Harry Fleet, who for the past two years has been the bookkeeper of the Trust Company of West Virginia at Elkins, of which Senator Henry G. Davis is president and Senator Stephen B. Elkins, vice-presi-
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dent, but who is at this time cashier of the Bridgeport Bank of Bridgeport, West Virginia; and Eliza Odell and Paul Purnell, both deceased. His wife's father, who was a native of England, came to this country in 1854; he was a man of sterling worth and proud of his noble ancestry.
Mr. Armstrong and family belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, in which he and his wife have been devoted and vigorous workers for a number of years. He is the president of the local board of trustees, and it was mainly through his personal efforts that the members of this religious body have their elegant house of worship in Rip- ley. He was honored by being made a delegate to represent his State Con- ference at the General Conference of the church held in Dallas, Texas, in May, 1902. The Epworth League has also enlisted his hearty support, being elected by the General Conference at its Dallas session a member of the General Epworth League Board; is president of his home League and of the Parkers- burg District League and has been for seven consecutive years, and was the first president of the State or more properly the Conference Epworth League and continued as such until the conference organization was abandoned. He is the church treasurer of the West-
ern Virginia Conference, and also holds many other minor places of trust and confidence.
Mr. Armstrong is a Mason of the 32nd degree. He is a man held in high esteem both in his church and in the business and social circles not only of his home town and- vicinity but throughout the State.
OKEY JOHNSON MORRISON.
OKEY JOHNSON MORRISON, a prominent merchant and substantial business citizen of Ripley, Jackson County, West Virginia, was born Jan- uary 10, 1869, in Jackson County.
His father, Granville P. Morrison, was born in Braxton County, Virginia, now West Virginia, May 28, 1839, and
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is now a resident of Jackson County, engaged in a lumber and real estate business, and also in the management of farming lands. He has been justice of the peace and is a well known citizen. Both he and his wife are members of the Baptist Church. He married Vir- ginia Wolfe, who was born in Jackson County and died March 11, 1897, at the age of 57 years. They had a family of 12 children, as follows: Effie M., the wife of A. P. Fisher; William L., a merchant in Ripley ; Ella, the wife of Lycurgus Maddox; Okey Johnson, Claude M., Homer A., Dollie and John F., of Ripley ; Don L., of Indian Terri- tory ; Emma: Edgar G., who is in the regular army, being stationed in Indian Territory : and Maggie, deceased.
Our subject obtained his education in the common schools and the Hock- ingport (Ohio) Academy. For two years he engaged in teaching and then settled on a farm, where he remained until 1890, when he embarked in a mer- cantile business at Kenna, West Vir- ginia, where he was engaged for two years. In 1892 he removed to Ripley and here opened up a general mercantile store, embracing dry goods, clothing, boots, shoes and millinery. His store is a leading one in the town, his floor space amounting to 4,500 square feet, and his business requires the assistance
of eight clerks. Mr. Morrison began business 13 years ago, with very lim- ited resources, but his energy and good management have enabled him to ac- quire large means and substantial trade relations.
Although a man of business, Mr. Morrison has also literary talent, as is evidenced by a very interesting book which has come from his pen, the story being founded on a crime that was once committed in Jackson County. It is entitled "The Slaughter of the Pfost- Greene Family." It was of such a na- ture as to excite more than local inter- est, for Mr. Morrison, with vivid de- scriptions, portraits and pictures, has made the account very interesting. In this connection it may be recalled that the murderer, John Morgan, was the subject of the last public execution in the State of West Virginia.
On October 1, 1891, Mr. Morrison was married to Cora A. Harpold, born in Jackson County, a daughter of Solo- mon W. and Samantha Harpold, and two children have been born to this union, namely : Freda, born August 9, 1893 ; and Fae, born October 12, 1899. Mr. and Mrs. Morrison are members of the United Brethren Church. In poli- tics, Mr. Morrison, like his father, is identified with the Democratic party, and is a strong admirer of W. J. Bryan.
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CUMMINS E. WHITE, M. D.
CUMMINS E. WHITE, M. D., one of the prominent physicians of Up- shur County, West Virginia, located at the county seat, Buckhannon, was born January 9, 1869, in Lewis County, West Virginia, and is a son of Alex- ander P. and Mary Catherine ( Fetty) White.
Alexander P. White was a pioneer and one of the leading citizens of the Mountain State. The Fetty family, of which our subject's mother is a member, is one of the most respected and prom- inent in Lewis County. Dr. White is one of six children, the record being as follows: Mrs. William S. O'Brien, of Buckhannon, West Virginia; Mrs. Allie A. Rohrbough, of Camden, Lewis County, West Virginia; Mrs. W. S. Gibson, of Canton, Ohio; Pitt. F. and
H. M., of Whatcom, Washington ; and Cummins F., the subject of this sketch.
The Doctor's boyhood days were spent upon the farm, his time being di- vided between agricultural duties and attendance at the public schools. Later he entered the State Normal School at Glenville, where he pursued his studies for a season ; in 1889 he became a stu- dent at the Baltimore University at Baltimore, and was there graduated in medicine. In 1892 he went to North Carolina and located at Fall Creek, and remained there three years, in the suc- cessful practice of his profession. He then returned to his native State and during the winters of 1894 and 1895 at- tended lectures at the Johns Hopkins University, at Baltimore, Maryland, and subsequently located at Vandalia, Lewis County. There Dr. White con- tinued in practice for seven years, and in 1902 removed to Buckhannon, where he has made many personal and pro- fessional friends and has built up a lu- crative practice.
In 1896 Dr. White was united in marriage with Daisy Bond, who was a daughter of Marshall Bond, of Church- ville, Lewis County. Mrs. White died within a few years of her marriage, leaving one son, Ross, a bright and win- some little lad.
Dr. White is a physician of quiet
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and unassuming manner, and kind and sympathetic heart. He is ever ready to respond to appeals of those in dis- tress and no one is left to suffer, no mat- ter in what walk of life they may be, if his skill can give the needed relief. He has the ability, the technical knowledge and the experience needed in a master of the healing art.
HON. GEORGE B. CROW.
HON. GEORGE B. CROW, one of the leading and representative citi- zens of Jackson County, West Virginia, residing in Ripley, was born in 1846, in Monroe County, Ohio, and came to Jackson County with his parents in March, 1847, locating near Ripley. He is a son of Hon. George and Susannah (Horton) Crow, the former of whom was born in Greene County, Pennsyl-
vania, and died in 1899, at the age of 96 years.
The father of our subject was a farmer by vocation and was a very in- fluential member of the Democratic party. He represented Jackson County in the House of Delegates one term be- fore and one term after the division of the State of Virginia. At the opening of the Civil War, he entered the army, belonging to a company of Confederate cavalry, but one month later was acci- dentally wounded by a posse of his own men and so seriously that he was in- capacitated for further military service.
The mother of our subject was Sus- annah Horton, who was born near Dub- lin, Ireland, and died in West Virginia, in 1891, at the age of 81 years. She came in 1818 with her parents, Moses and Dorothy Horton, to the United States, where they located in Monroe County, Ohio. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Crow were seven in num- ber, viz .: Michael, deceased ; Dorinda, the wife of William McCoy; William, who served all through the Civil War, as a Ist lieutenant in the 22nd Regi- ment, Virginia Infantry, C. S. A .; Jane, the wife of William O. Roseberry ; Martha, the wife of Sylvester Hard- man : George B., of Ripley ; and Charles Horton.
The early education of George B.
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Crow was in the local schools; his stu- dies were continued in Bethany College, at Bethany, West Virginia, where he graduated in 1868, in the classical course, with the degree of A. B. After leaving school, he entered the law office of Henry J. Fisher at Point Pleasant, where he read law for 18 months and was admitted to the bar there. In 1870 he located at Ripley and began the prac- tice of his profession, continuing to be thus engaged until 1876 when he pur- chased his farm in Union district, Jack- son County, and embarked in the busi- ness of farming and grazing. Mr. Crow was continuously interested in agricultural pursuits until 1901. He has taken an active part in politics and has been one of the Democratic lead- ers. In 1886 he was elected to the House of Delegates and in 1890 he was elected to the office of county clerk for the term of six years, overcoming by six votes the customary Republican ma- jority of 300. In 1896 he was again elected to the same office, on this occa- sion overcoming by 30 votes a Republi- can majority of 241 ; in 1902 he was re- elected, in this contest overcoming by 28 votes a majority of 446. His public service has been very efficient and has met with general satisfaction.
In 1870 Mr. Crow was married to Eliza M. Polsley, who was a daughter
of Judge Daniel and Eliza (Vilette) Polsley, and was born in 1850, in Ma- son County, Virginia, now West Vir- ginia. A family of eight children was born to our subject and wife, as fol- lows: Daniel P., Hal B., E. Vilette, Eleanor Dorothea, George S., Eugene C., John J., and Raleigh C. Mr. Crow and family attend the Protesant Epis- copal Church. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias.
HON. JAMES FRENCH PATTON.
HON. JAMES FRENCH PAT- TON, whose death occurred March 30, 1882, was for many years a brilliant member of the West Virginia bar, and one of the most distinguished jurists of the State. He was born September 19, 1843, in Richmond, Virginia, and died
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at Wheeling, West Virginia. His fa- ther was Hon. John M. Patton, for many years an acknowledged leader of the Virginia bar, and his mother was Peggy French Williams, both being de- scendants of Revolutionary stock. On the paternal side, Judge Patton was a great-grandson of Gen. Hugh Mercer, the hero of Princeton, in 1776, and on the maternal side he was descended from Maj. John Williams and Capt. Philip Slaughter, officers in the patriot army who fought at Brandywine and Germantown. Also, he sprung from a race of lawyers on both sides, and an- cestor on the maternal side, Pierre Williams, figuring as sergeant-at-law in London.
Judge Patton's early education was an excellent mathematical and classical one, but entering the Confederate army at the age of 18 years prevented his having the other educational ad- vantages which he would other- wise have had. At the age of 14 he became a student at Hanover Acad- emy, which was then presided over by Col. Lewis Coleman. On October 29. 1858, Judge Patton's father died, and in January, 1859, the widow and minor children left Richmond and re- tired to their country seat in Culpeper County. When the Civil War broke out, young Patton promptly entered the
Confederate service as a private, and fought his way to distinction and pro- motion. He was admired as a leader and beloved as a comrade because of his sunny temperament and genial wit. After the war, he returned to Culpeper County and soon after accepted an in- vitation from his brother-in-law, John Gilmer, Esq., to go to the latter's home in Fittsylvania and engage in the study of the law. In due time he was ad- mitted to the bar and his success was rapid ; within two years he enjoyed a lu- crative practice and won a front place in one of the largest and most import- ant counties of the State. In 1870 he entered into partnership with Senator Caperton, in West Virginia, and re- moved to Union, Monroe County, West Virginia. In 1872 he was elected as a Democrat to the office of prosecuting at- torney and served four years with marked ability.
On June 1, 1881, although but 37 years of age, he was called to a seat on the bench as one of the judges of the Supreme Court of Appeals of the State of West Virginia, being appointed by Gov. Jacob B. Jackson, the position be- coming vacant by the resignation of Judge C. P. T. Moore. Judge Patton was the youngest member of the Su- preme Court bench of the State and one of the youngest in any State. Fortu-
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nately, Judge Patton possessed a fine physique and robust health or he would have succumbed to the incessant cares of his position to which he devoted every energy. Before the end of the year 1881, he had delivered 22 carefully prepared opinions, in cases decided by this court, and at the spring term of 1882 he had delivered four opinions. His sudden and unlooked-for death ended a career which promised the highest attainment.
Judge Patton was admired for his legal learning and beloved for his frank and manly qualities. He possessed in an eminent degree that power of analysis, that quickness of perception, that equi- poise of judgment and that knowledge of the law which most befit the character of a judge of a court of last resort.
In April, 1869, Judge Patton mar- ried Malinda Caperton, daughter of Hon. Allen T. Caperton, United States Senator from West Virginia.
A. G. Patton, a well-known attorney of Parkersburg, West Virginia, was born December 1, 1871, at Union, Mon- roe County, West Virginia, and is a son of the late Judge James F. and Malinda (Caperton) Patton. The latter is now Mrs. Judge Bingham and resides in Washington, D. C. A sister, Harriet E. Patton, divides her time between Washington and West Virginia.
Mr. Patton was primarily educated by private tutors and later entered col- lege at Richmond, and still later studied law under Dr. Minor, at the University of Virginia at Charlottesville. He was admitted to the bar in December, 1892, and entered immediately into practice. He remained seven years in Monroe County, being prosecuting attorney dur- ing the last four years, and then moved o Parkersburg, where he formed his present partnership with W. W. Jackson. He comes of a long line of legal ancestors and promises to perpet- uate the family reputation for ability. He is socially connected with the Be- nevolent and Protective Order of Elks. The family is connected with the Prot- estant Episcopal Church.
DAVID E. JOHNSTON, ex- Circuit judge, president of the State Bank of Bluefield and a lawyer and cit- izen of prominence of Bluefield, West Virginia, was born in 1845, in Giles County, Virginia, where his Scotch an- cestors established themselves prior to the American Revolution. Judge Johnston is a son of the late Oscar F. Johnston, and a grandson of Hon. Da- vid Johnston, the latter of whom served during several sessions in the Virginia Legislature between the years 1812 and 1820.
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The Johnston family has been dis- tinguished in the military history of the country, taking part in the Revolu- tionary struggle, the War of 1812 and the Civil War. The subject of this sketch entered the last mentioned con- flict in April, 1861, a lad of 16 years, and served with distinction until 1865. He enlisted for service in a Giles Coun- ty company attached to the 7th Regi- ment, Virginia Infantry, C. S. A., commanded by James L. Kemper, col- onel, later Major-General Kemper, C. S. A. The brigade included the Ist, 3rd, 7th, 11th and 24th Virginia regi- ments, the very flower of the Army of Northern Virginia. Judge Johnston was severely wounded in the famous charge of Pickett's division at Gettys- burg, July 3, 1863.
After the close of the war, Judge Johnston returned to his native county, and for a time was under instruction from Capt. James H. French, a rela- tive of his mother, a. graduate of Georgetown, and of the University of Virginia. After five months of teach- ing school. he began the reading of the law in Giles County with Capt. James D. Johnston, his late guardian, and was admitted to the bar in June, 1867. His practice extended over Giles and ad- joining counties. In 1870 he came to West Virginia and located at Prince-
ton. Mercer County, and later was elected prosecuting attorney of Mer- cer County, serving four years in that capacity. From 1881 to 1888 he served as Circuit Judge, his territory including Mercer, McDowell, Wyom- ing. Boone and Raleigh counties. Prior to this, however, he had served in the State Senate. and had made a fine record. In the 56th Congress he served two years from the 3rd Congressional District of West Virginia.
In the fall of 1893 he located in Bluefield. His later years have been given to the care of an absorbing prac- tice, and to looking after his varied business interests. He is identified with many of the leading enterprises of the sity, being president of the State Bank of Bluefield, a director in the First Na- tional Bank and vice-president of the Princeton Banking Company, and has large real estate and coal interests.
Judge Johnston married Sarah E. Pearis, daughter of Col. Daniel H. Pearis, and great-granddaughter of Col. George Pearis, also of Revolu- tionary fame. Her brother was a vic- tim of the Civil War.
The four children born to this union are: Lula A. (Mrs. Dr. Frank Wil- son), of Bluefield, West Virginia; Mrs. W. E. Pearson, of Bluefield; D. H., educated at Richmond College, who
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is an attorney, married a Miss Mc- Creery, of Beckley, West Virginia ; and Annie, who is at home.
As the Judge himself announces when queried as to his fraternal con- nections : "I belong to but two so- cieties, the Democratic party and the Baptist Church," and those who know him can testify that he is active and use- ful in both.
WILLIAM M. LATE, M. D.
WILLIAM M. LATE, M. D., president of the Bridgeport Bank, a State institution located at Bridgeport, West Virginia, and a director and stockholder in many financial institu- tions of Harrison County, a landowner, and also for many years an eminent physician in the locality, was born in Rappahannock County, Virginia, Octo-
ber 4, 1833, in the vicinity of Flint Hill, He is a son of John and Elizabeth (Woodsides ) Late.
John Late was born in Frederick County, Maryland, about 1796. He was of German descent and conversed in both the German and English lan- guages. In young manhood he moved to Rappahannock County, Virginia, en- gaged in farming, and died in 1837, at the age of 41 years, his remains now resting near Sandy Hook. He married Elizabeth Woodsides, who was born in Fauquier County, Virginia, near what is known as the "Marsh," and was a daughter of William Woodsides, who was born, reared and spent his life near Morrisville, Fauquier County. William Woodsides was of Irish descent, and one of the prominent men of his local- ity. Three children were born to Dr. Late's parents, one of whom died in in- fancy, while a sister, Mary C., survived to maturity, although an invalid the most of her life. Mrs. Late, after the death of her husband, John Late, be- came the wife of the eminent physician, Dr. William Dunkin, and in 1845 the family moved to Bridgeport, Harrison County, now West Virginia. The chil- dren born to this union were : William, an attorney at Independence, Kansas ; John and James, of Bridgeport, West Virginia; Anna, of Bridgeport, West
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Virginia; Elizabeth, of Independence, Kansas; and Amanda (Mrs. A. J. Lodge), of Bridgeport, West Virginia.
Dr. Late was 12 years old when the family located at Bridgeport, and his education was mainly secured in the subscription schools of that time. At the age of 18 years he began the reading of medicine under his stepfather, Dr. Dunkin, and in 1853 took a course of lectures at the University of Maryland, at Baltimore. The next year he entered the University of Pennsylvania, at Phil- adelphia, and, after graduating from this institution in 1855, took a clinical and later a post-graduate course. Since that time Dr. Late has been in continu- ous practice at Bridgeport. Prior to the Civil War he was appointed sur- geon of the 138th Regiment of the Vir- ginia militia and served as such until 1863, although this regiment was only in active service on one occasion. Dr. Late has taken an active part in Demo- cratic politics all his life, and, when less than 21 years of age was appointed deputy sheriff and conducted the first election, under the new Constitution, in the early "fifties."
Dr. Late has diversified his interests. He is known as one of the prominent farmers and stock raisers in his sec- tion, is the owner of 500 acres of land in the vicinity of Bridgeport, is a mem-
ber of the firm of Late & Faris, stock raisers and graziers, owning one of the finest stock farms in the section, all land underlaid with coal and undoubt- edly rich in gas and oil. It is well lo- cated, in the vicinity of Bridgeport. Dr. Late has served several terms as a mem- ber of the City Council, and from 1883 to 1896 served as a member of the State Board of Health. His business interests are numerous and important ; he is part owner of the Bridgeport Gas. Coal Company, whose lands are now under lease to the Fairmont Coal Com- pany, also of the Bridgeport Natural Gas & Oil Company, in both of which he is a director; is interested in the West Virginia Bank of Clarksburg and a director; was one of the organizers of the Agricultural and Mechanical So- ciety in 1867, was for several years a director and is one of its present stock- holders.
On October 21, 1867, Dr. Late was married to Ella A. Harmison, who was born at Berkeley Springs, Morgan County, West Virginia, being a daugh- ter of William and Frances ( Hawkins) Harmison, the former of whom died in 1859, and the latter in 1883. They be- longed to one of the old families of Vir- ginia. Three children were born to Dr. and Mrs. Late, viz. : John H., who died in infancy ; Fannie D., who is the wife ..
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of Rev. E. F. Garrett, a Baptist minis- ter, located at Bordentown, New Jer- sey ; and G. B., who was educated at the military academy at Waynesboro, Vir- ginia, and is connected with the West Virginia Pottery Company and the manager of a stock farm.
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