USA > West Virginia > Men of West Virginia Volume I > Part 22
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OLEY ORD SUTTON.
OLEY ORD SUTTON, a leading member of the bar of Braxton County, West Virginia, and the senior member of the legal firm of Sutton & Sutton, was born on a farm in Braxton Coun- ty, four miles north of Sutton, and is a son of Hon. John D. Sutton, present United States storekeeper of internal revenue at Martinsburg.
Oley Ord Sutton graduated from the public schools at the unusual age of 15 years and then entered the Eng- lish department of the Burnsville Acad- emy, where he graduated in 1896. He engaged in teaching and during the following year was made assistant principal of the Flatwoods graded school. During 1898 and 1899 he was a student and a member of the cadet corps of the West Virginia University. Mr. Sutton then went south and after teaching a summer term of school in Weakley County, Tennessee, entered the law department of the Southern Normal University, at Huntingdon, Tennessee; on June 2, 1900, he grad- uated and received his degree of Bach- elor of Laws, being the third youngest person that ever received a law degree from that noted school, while his brother, Felix Oren Sutton, has the honor up to the present time of being the youngest graduate. On May 24, 1900, he was admitted to the Tennessee bar, and during the fall of the same vear he did post-graduate work at the Southwestern University, and in 1901 completed the prescribed law course in the West Virginia University. At the June commencement of the Burnsville Academy, in 1902, an honorary classi- cal diploma was conferred upon him. The date of his admission to the bar
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of West Virginia was December 17, 1900, his 21st birthday, and for one year he enjoyed the distinction of be- ing the youngest attorney in the State. The present law firm of Sutton & Sut- ton is composed of two of the youngest lawyers in West Virginia. On No- vember 19, 1902, he was admitted in the city of Charleston to practice in the District and Circuit courts of the United States in West Virginia.
Although Mr. Sutton has displayed such ability in the legal field, the study of the law has not occupied all of his attention. He has literary tastes and leanings, and as early as the age of 16 years had compiled a small book. entitled, "Key to the Wars of Our Country," which he later revised and issued under the title of "Compendium to Our Wars" and appropriately dedi- cated it "To the Unknown Heroes of the Spanish-American War." The edi- tion consisted of 3,000 copies. "Life and Works of a Great Man, Pictured by a Young West Virginian" is an in- teresting booklet written for and dedi- cated "To the Senior Law Class of the Southern Normal University of 1900," of which class the author was a member. Another neat and compre- hensive pamphlet from his ready pen is entitled, "General Outline of Law," which he dedicated to his fellow stu-
dents at the West Virginia University College.
Mr. Sutton has proved himself a zealous Republican, and in spite of op- position effected the organization of the young men of the State, early in 1902, into what is known as the First Voters' Republican State Club. In ad- dition to other qualifications for suc- cess, Mr. Sutton is a young man of means and is an active promoter of a new banking institution to be located at Sutton in the ensuing year. He is a man with high standards, is ener- getic, ambitious and public spirited, just the kind of material with which to build up a great State.
CHARLES W. SEABRIGHT, de- ceased, who was for many years a lead- ing merchant tailor of Wheeling, Ohio County, was born in Brunswick, Ger- many, October 11, 1836. His father was a contractor in the German mail service, in which Charles was employed for four years previous to his emigra- tion from his native country. He came to Wheeling in 1849, having landed in Baltimore on July Ist of that year. A brother had located in the city a couple of months before his arrival and had engaged in the meat business, and Charles joined him, but did not find the
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work congenial, so on September 1, 1849, he entered the employ of Thomas Hughes, who then conducted a large merchant tailoring establishment on Water street, just north of 12th street, with the intention of learning the tailor- ing trade. After a few days' work on the bench the errand boy in the concern left and young Seabright was called down stairs to take his place. Mr. Sea- bright continued with the firm for 21 years and five months, and from his humble position rose to that of head clerk, in which capacity he was serving at the time he left this employ. Feb- ruary 1, 1871, he formed a partnership with Charles Pfaffenbach in the mer- chant tailoring business, and in less than a year the latter retired. Mr. Sea- bright then secured a partner in the person of C. A. Schmulbach, the firm name becoming Seabright & Company. He purchased his partner's interest the following year, and thenceforth con- ducted the business alone, although Frank Gruse was largely interested in it for a time. The business was very sticcessful from the start amounting to as much as $60,000 or $70,000 per an- nim, and 3.5 to 40 hands were employed at times.
Charles W. Seabright was an un- compromising Democrat, and took a great interest in public affairs. In 1881
he was the Democratic candidate for the House of Representatives and was elected. In 1887 he was the Democratic candidate for mayor of Wheeling, and was elected, defeating Hon. B. B. Dove- ner by 96 votes. Two years later he was again a candidate and his majority was 638. During that time, in pursu- ance of legislative enactment, the mayor was made judge of the Police Court, and Mayor Seabright was the first city executive to fill that responsible posi- tion and have a salary.
Mr. Seabright was a member of Zion's Evangelical Lutheran Church. He belonged to several secret organiza- tions, among them Wheeling Lodge, No. 28, B. P. O. E., and also was a member of the German Pioneer So- ciety. He took an active interest in German-American affairs, and was a familiar and well-known figure at all gatherings and outings where the Ger- man element predominated, as well as in distinctively American assemblages. By virtue of his offices and standing in the community, he was often a conspic- 1011s and prominent figure at public meetings of many sorts, and made num- erous addresses on occasions of import- ance. both in Wheeling and elsewhere. On the occasion of the national reunion of volunteer firemen at San Francisco several years ago Mr. Seabright was a
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prominent figure, and his genial person- ality secured him much attention. In 1861 he was united in marriage with Isabella O'Callahan, of Sistersville, West Virginia. She died in 1877, leav- ing three children, of whom but one is now living Edward C., the subject of this sketch. On February 13, 1896, Mr. Seabright was married to Mrs. Sarah McGough, of Baltimore, who is also deceased.
HON. JOHN W. STOUT.
J. L. STOUT, dealer in mantels, grates and tiles, is a leading business citizen of Parkersburg, West Virginia, and was born in Tyler, now Pleasants, County, West Virginia. He is a son of
Hon. John W. Stout, and a grandson of Elias L. and Martha ( Hathborn) Stout, old residents of Harrison Coun- ty, Virginia.
Elias L. Stout was born in Harri- son County, and prior to becoming a farmer worked as a hatmaker. In the spring of 1833 he moved to Tyler County, and later, when Pleasants County was formed from portions of Wood, Tyler and Ritchie counties, he bought land in Pleasants County and lived there until his death, in the winter of ISSI, when 73 years of age. His wife, who was born near Baltimore, Maryland, died in 1879.
John W. Stout, father of our sub- iect, was one of a family of six children, namely : John W .; Granville, a dep- uty marshal at Parkersburg ; Benjamin, a Baptist minister, who died in Tennes- see; Benjamin D., a farmer and mer- chant of Pleasants County ; Mrs. Sarah Valentine, a widow, a resident of New Matamoras, Ohio; and Mrs. Mary Har- vey, who died at Bloomfield, Ohio, in 1867.
John W. Stout left Harrison Coun- ty when eight years of age and lived in Pleasants County until the close of the Civil war. In 1865 he removed to Wood County and located on Wash- ington Bottoms, where he bought land and engaged in farming for many years,
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but disposed of his fine 160-acre farm to his children, in October, 1902. He began work in civil engineering when a young man and during the past 15 years has located almost all the roads and bridges in Wood County, and has been frequently appointed by the United States courts to adjust and settle dis- putes arising concerning property. In politics he has always been a Democrat, and represented Wood County in the Legislature two terms and in the Senate one, and is remembered as the origina- tor of the "Stout Bill", establishing the County courts of West Virginia. His first bill was regarding the distribution and application of Normal School funds. During his term in the Senate, 1879 to 1881, he introduced a bill to organize a special criminal court for Wood County and Parkersburg. John WV. Stout married Ruth Curtis, who was born in 1824 and died in October, 1885. They reared these children : J. L., of this sketch ; William, a contract- ing teamster at Parkersburg; George, superintendent of the Parkersburg, Marietta & Inter-Urban Railway; Capt. Benjamin, formerly of Louisville, Kentucky, now a resident of Parkers- burg. in the employ of Pittsburg coal companies ; Elias, formerly a steamboat man, died in 1895, leaving a widow and one daughter ; Dr. H. B. ; and Martha
E., who married C. R. Rector, and re- sides on the home farm. For the past 35 years, Mr. Stout has been a member of the Baptist Church.
J. L. Stout resided on his father's farm until 1884 when he moved to Parkersburg, where he engaged in haul- ing and teaming. Later with his broth- er George, he embarked in the mantel business, his brother Benjamin also be- coming a partner at a later date. The firm deals in mantels, grates and tiles, and the energy of the partners has pushed the business to the front where it now enjoys a large share of public patronage.
Mr. Stout was first married, in Wood County, to America Maddox, daughter of Rev. Martin Maddox, who was one of the early residents of the county. She died in 1885, leaving four sons, viz. : Charles R., who died at the age of 21; Walter E., who is the pres- ent county clerk ; Elden M., who died at the age of 17 years, was a clerk in the Second National Bank; and Okey J., who is a member of the well-known drug firm of Ruberry & Stout, on Market street. Our subject's second marriage was to Deborah S. Cook. The family residence is located at No. 1607 Murdoch avenue. The whole Stout family has been prominent in the Baptist Church for many years. Fra-
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ternal relations are held by Mr. Stout with the Masons, the Odd Fellows, and the Mystic Chain.
HON. R. F. KIDD.
HON. R. F. KIDD, a prominent member of the State Senate of West Virginia and a well known citizen of Glenville, Gilmer County, was born in Upshur County, Virginia, now West Virginia, February II, 1853, and is a son of Thomas and Margaret (John- son) Kidd, both natives of Virginia. Thomas Kidd was engaged in agricul- tural pursuits throughout his active life, dying in 1889. His wife died in 1878, having given birth to 13 children, of which number eight are living at the present time.
R. F. Kidd received his educational 17
training in the private and public schools of his native county, after which he went into the newspaper business. He edited the Buckhannon Banner until 1882, then moved to Glenville where he accepted the position of principal of the Glenville Normal School. Two years later he read law with C. C. Higgin- botham of Buckhannon, and then with John Bassell, of Clarksburg, West Vir- ginia. He was admitted to the bar in 1882, but for two years thereafter en- gaged in teaching school. He then en- tered upon the practice of his profes- sion at Glenville, soon attaining rank among the leading lawyers of the State. In 1886 he was elected to the House of Delegates and served his constituency well, but declined to be a candidate for a second term. In 1888, he was ten- dered the nomination for Congress by the Democratic convention but declined. In 1898 he was elected to the State Senate from the old Third Senatorial District, and in 1902 was elected from the Tenth Senatorial District. He is a member of the committees on rules, election, judiciary and education. He has the confidence of the community in which he lives to a marked degree, and has been honored with the office of mayor of Glenville and a member of the Council. He is not only one of the leaders in the Democratic party, but one
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of the substantial men of the city, al- ways taking a deep interest in the pro- motion of Glenville's welfare. He is a director of the First National Bank of Glenville, and has been identified with numerous other important enter- ests. He is interested in buying and selling coal lands, in which enterprise he has been very successful.
In 1884, Mr. Kidd was united in marriage with Lelia Johnson, by whom he has five children, all of whom are at- tending school. Religiously, Mrs. Kidd is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.
HON. ALEXANDER MCVEIGH MILLER.
HON. ALEXANDER MCVEIGH MILLER, a representative citizen of Alderson, Greenbrier County, West
Virginia, is a substantial business man and is prominent in the ranks of the Republican party. He was born in Nicholas County, West Virginia, and is a son of William and Isabel ( Mc- Veigh ) Miller.
Mr. Miller received his early edu- cation in private and subscription schools in his native county and State, after which he engaged in teaching. He taught school for several years and proved a competent instructor, and had he continued in that profession might have risen to a position of prominence in that calling. He is a man of excellent business qualifications and for some years engaged in the lumber business with success. During the past 10 years he has dealt in coal and lumber land, and has built up a very prosperous business. He was for years president of the Bank of Alderson. Mr. Miller has been very prominent in political affairs, being one of the advisors of the Republican party in his community. He has served in the State Senate, and is president of the board of directors of the Hospital for the Insane at Weston, West Virginia, receiving his appointments through Governors McCorkle, Atkinson and White. In official capacities he has al- ways discharged the duty he owed to the public, never permitting his private interests to swerve him from his course.
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He is one of the substantial men of his vicinity and enjoys the confidence and good will of his fellow citizens to a man.
In 1878, Mr. Miller was joined in the bonds of matrimony with Mrs. Mat- tie (Point) Davis, who has become famed in this country as a writer. Mrs. Miller was born in Hanover County, Virginia, and was reared in the city of Richmond, where she was graduated from the Woman's College. After her marriage, she began an interesting liter- ary career by doing serial work for the magazines and the weekly story papers, such as the New York Weekly, the Fire- side Companion and the New York Family Story Paper. She has also done some popular work in the short story line, and written considerable poetry of merit, which has never been published in book form. She has had a most suc- cessful literary career, having earned about $100,000 with her clever pen, which has produced such well known books as "Rosamond," "Laurel Vane," "Bonnie Dora," "Lancaster's Choice," and "The Senator's Bride." Mr. and Mrs. Miller are parents of two sons and a daughter, all of whom are graduates of the University of West Virginia. The summer home of the family is "The Cedars," on the heights at Alderson,
but the greater part of the colder weather is spent in traveling and sight- seeing in warmer latitudes.
WILLIAM THOMAS GREER.
WILLIAM THOMAS GREER, who for many years has been one of the leading men of Jackson County, West Virginia, prominently identified with the enterprises which have so nota- bly contributed to its development, was born March 4, 1835, at the old Greer homestead, in "the Flats," Jackson County, Virginia, now West Virginia. This estate is now the property of I. Cunningham, Esq., and upon the old farm are situated the beautiful Evans fair grounds. His parents were Will- iam and Martha Elizabeth ( Monroe)
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Greer, the latter being a member of the distinguished Monroe family of Virginia. Both parents were natives of Virginia, and the grandparents were born in Ireland and Scotland.
On March 9, 1869, Mr. Greer was united in marriage with Mary Virginia Bennett, who was the only daughter and child of Capt. George Henry Ben- nett and Andasier Robins Richardson, his wife, of Snow Hill, Worcester County, Maryland. Mrs. Greer is a di- rest descent of the old Custis family of Virginia and Maryland. Her ma- ternal great-grandfather, William Cus- tis, was a brother of Daniel Custis, whose widow, Martha (Dandridge) Custis, became the wife of Gen. George Washington. A family of five children was born to Mr. and Mrs. Greer, all of whom survive, as follows: Henry Glenmore, born August 30, 1870; Will- iam Homer, born October 4, 1872; Wilmer Custis, born September 1, 1876; Gordon Bennett, born October 15, 1879, and Andasier Virginia, born February 23, 1883.
Mr. Greer has filled many positions of honor and responsibility, both elect- ive and appointive, and in all of them; he has been faithful to the trust im- posed in him and has acquitted himself with the greatest credit. In the "fifties" he was deputy sheriff under his brother,
Sheriff John M. Greer, and in 1859 was electer sheriff of Jackson County by the largest majority ever received by a candidate for sheriff in that county. Be- ing elected as a Democrat in a Republi- can county, he was required by a Re- publican court to give a bond of $90,- 000. This demand was complied with, and, although he was but 24 years of age, he made an excellent official. In 1858 he attended Duff's Commercial College in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and graduated the same year, with high honors. In 1865 his eminent fitness caused his appointment, by Judge Rob- ert S. Brown, as commissioner of the courts and he served six years. In 1888. he was appointed, by Judge John Jay Jackson, a commissioner of the United States Court, and served four years. In 1890 he was appointed, by Judge Virgil S. Armstrong, jury commissioner for Jackson County, but resigned said office after two years of service, having dem- onstrated his qualities as a faithful of- ficial.
Mr. Greer was the prime factor in the building of the Ripley & Mill Creek Valley Railroad, and was not only one. of the largest stockholders but also the first president and general manager of the company. In company with D. K. Hood. treasurer, he superintended the construction of every foot of the road
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and they were the happy witnesses of its completion in the fall of 1888. Mr. Greer resigned the presidency in 1891, when the Ohio River Railroad Com- pany became the controlling power in the new road. Mr. Greer was one of the incorporators of the Jackson Coun- ty Exposition & Mechanical Associa- tion at Ripley, and was treasurer of the organization for 13 years. He was likewise a charter member of the Jack- son County Farmers' Stock & Mechan- ical Association at Evans, and was the first president of same and remained in that position for four years. Since its organization in 1892, he has been pres- ident and director of the Ripley Build- ing & Loan Association.
In city affairs Mr. Greer has been equally conspicuous and useful. having served as mayor, recorder and member of the Common Council of Ripley dur- ing a long period. In educational af- fairs he has always been actively in- terested. Mr. Greer has long been an earnest and faithful member of the Protestant Episcopal Church, has served as senior warden of the vestry for several years and as superintendent of St. John's Sunday-school since its organization. On several occasions he has been a delegate to the Diocesan Council. In 1869 he was made a Mas- ter Mason and has his membership
with Ripley Lodge, No. 16, A. F. & A. M .; and is a member of Ripley Lodge, No. 32, I. O. O. F., having identified himself with this order in 1857
Mr. Greer was actively engaged in a mercantile business at Ripley from 1859 to 1882, and was associated with his son, Henry Glenmore Greer, in a hardware business from 1893 un- til 1900, having stores at Harris- ville, Pennsboro and Cairo, in Ritchie County. Mr. Greer has now retired from mercantile pursuits and he and wife are residing in their beautiful home in Ripley. For pleasant occupa- tion he devotes attention to his farm, which is located within one mile of the town.
LAWRENCE E. SANDS, a gen- tleman well known in the financial cir- cles of Wheeling, is cashier of the Na- tional Exchange Bank of Wheeling. He was born at Fairmont, Virginia now West Virginia, August 4. 1859, and is a son of J. E. Sands, who has been cashier of the First National Bank of Fairmont since 1856.
Lawrence E. Sands was reared in Fairmont and received his education in the public schools of that town. In 1876 he entered the First National Bank of Fairmont as clerk, and in 1880 re-
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moved to Wheeling. He served in vari- ous capacities with the National Bank of West Virginia at Wheeling until 1895, when he was elected cashier of the Exchange Bank of Wheeling, which on January 1, 1899, was converted into the National Exchange Bank of Wheeling. Having devoted his entire business ca- reer to the banking business, he is famil- iar with it in all its details, and makes an excellent official.
HON. VIRGIL S. ARMSTRONG.
HON. VIRGIL S. ARM- STRONG, a lawyer, soldier, statesman and prominent citizen, is well known through Jackson County, West Vir- ginia, where he was born, in 1836, at Ripley, which is the county-seat, and his present residence. He is a son of
James and Catherine ( Weese) Arm- strong, the former of whom was a na- tive of Preston County, Virginia.
For many years James Armstrong was colonel of the Jackson County militia, hence he was always known as Colonel Armstrong. He served as a justice of the peace for a long period, receiving his first appointment from the Governor. His death took place in 1879. He was a very liberal sup- porter and an active member of the Baptist Church.
Virgil S. Armstrong received his education in the public schools and at Bethany College, at Bethany, Virginia, now West Virginia, and then began to read law with Judge Joseph Smith in Ripley. In 1861 he was admitted to the bar and began the practice of his profession, but soon abandoned clients in order to offer his services to the South in the war between the States. He assisted in raising Company G at Ripley and was made Ist lieutenant of the company, which was assigned to the 17th Regiment, Virginia Cavalry. Upon the reorganization of the com- pany, a year later, he was elected cap- tain and served in this capacity until the close of the war. Captain Arm- strong did not escape injuries, being twice wounded by bullets, in the Valley of Virginia, and once by a fragment of
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a shell, the same disabling him for several months. His career was one of gallantry and is recalled with just pride.
About a year after the close of the war, Captain Armstrong returned to Ripley and attempted to resume the practice of his profession, but was not permitted to do so until the passage of the "Flick amendment." He then opened an office in his native town, and was later elected prosecuting at- torney for two consecutive terms, and was honored by the Democratic party with a term in the State Legislature. His abilities as a lawyer were recog- nized and for eight years he served as judge of the Circuit Court,-his term as judge expired in 1896, and he then resumed the general practice of the law.
In 1869 Judge Armstrong was married to Annie J. Thompson, of Steubenville, Ohio, and five children were born to this union, viz .: Walter W., who practices dentistry in Ripley ; Annie B .; Edna, who married C. W. Starcher of Ripley; Clara, who mar- ried Franklin F. Starcher; and Harry S., who is cashier in a bank at Bev- erly, West Virginia. Mrs. Armstrong belongs to the Protestant Episcopal Church, while the Judge is a Baptist. Fraternally he has membership with the local Masonic lodge.
THEODORE L. GARDINER, A. M., D. D.
THEODORE L. GARDINER, A. M., D. D., president of Salem Col- lege, located at Salem, Harrison Coun- ty, West Virginia, is a conspicuous figure in religious and educational life throughout Central West Virginia, and is well and widely known as an edu- cator. Dr. Gardiner was born in Lit- tle Genesee, Allegany County, New York, April 15, 1844, and is a son of David C. and Sarah Gardiner. He was born into a family where rigid economy and persevering industry were necessary elements of existence, and his youth was passed in hard work on the farm.
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