USA > West Virginia > Men of West Virginia Volume I > Part 31
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Brophy of Coopers, an engineer in charge of the work at Mill Creek, Coaldale and McDowell.
The personal biography of the late John Cooper is the history of the great industries with which he was so long associated and which are so well man- aged by his sons. He was born in a mining section, at South Staffordshire, England, November 14, 1842. Instead of attending school when he was a lad, he was placed at work in the mines, at the tender age of six years. His later struggles to satisfy his ambitions for an education give the keynote of the char- acter of this remarkable man. He con- tinued to work in the mines, advancing from one position to another until 1862. when, his father having been killed in the mines, he with his mother and two brothers came to America,-at that time he had filled every position except mine foreman. He remained in Northumberland County, Pennsyl- vania, at work in the anthracite region until 1873, when he came to West Vir- ginia where new coal fields were being opened. He was at Quinnimont, Fay- ette County. West Virginia, during the Hayes-T'ilden presidential campaign and much of the later organization of the Republican party in Fayette Coun- ty was due to the tact and energy of this man of firm principles and settled
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convictions at that crucial time. After leaving Quinnimont, he went to Hawks- nest, Fayette County, where he opened another steam and coking coal mine, but success did not attend him there and in 1877 he was obliged to abandon the point. His personal character was so high and his ability as a mine oper- ator had been so thoroughly proven, that just at this time he was offered a lease on some coal lands by the firm of Echols, Bell & Catlett, of Staunton, Virginia. He accepted the proposition and in company with Capt. J. L. Beury and Judge Williams of Orange Coun- ty, Virginia, opened the mines which have brought prosperity to the whole region. In 1884 the firm of John Cooper & Company was organized and at once began the work of developing the coal deposits at the Mill Creek mines, this being the first operation in the Flat-Top field. In 1890 a charter was applied for and granted. The Mill Creek Coal & Coke Company con- trols by lease from the Flat-Top Coal Land Association 2,300 acres of land lying and operated on both sides of the mountain, the works on the eastern side being conducted under the name of the parent company, while those on the western side are operated as the Coal- dale Coke & Coal Company, although the interests and ownership are iden-
tical. Ovens to the number of 155 are operated at the former colliery and 145 at the latter. The company also operates the McDowell colliery on the North Fork of the Elkhorn, with 200 ovens. This makes a total of 500 ovens and 60 more are in course of con- struction. At Mill Creek, near Coop- ers, they make nut and lump coal; at Coaldale, straight run of the mine; and at McDowell, one-third lump and nut coal is produced. At Mill Creek em- ployment is given 200 men; at Coal- dale, 250; at McDowell, 250. A large general store is operated at each of the collieries. The mine equipments can not be surpassed, electricity being used at Coaldale, steam at Mill Creek ; stean? for hauling at McDowell, and in the last named colliery compressed air is also in use for mining.
John Cooper, to whose energy and great executive ability these great in- dustries owe their prosperity, died in December, 1899, at the age of 56 years. He had been very prominent in political life, was a 33rd degree Mason, a Knight Templar, and a member of Osiris Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., at Wheeling. He was a member of the Methodist Church.
Edward Cooper, the immediate subject of this sketch, practiced his pro- fession until the death of his father,
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but since that event he has given his entire time to the business. In 1895 he married Fanny D. Smith, who was born at Lexington, Virginia, and they have one son, Edward, Jr. They have a beautiful home at Bramwell, it be- ing the former residence of the late Capt. Isaiah A. Welsh, who was a well- known character and pioneer of the Flat-Top fields. Mr. Cooper is a mem- ber of Ivanhoe Commandery, K. T., at Bramwell, Beni-Kedem Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., at Charleston, and also of the Elks. Mrs. Cooper is a member of the Presbyterian Church.
Thomas H. Cooper, president and general manager of the Mill Creek and Coaldale coal and coke campanies, was born in 1867, in Pennsylvania, and was educated at Roanoke College, where he took an engineer's course. Almost from his childhood he has been asso- ciated with mines and most efficiently fills his present responsible position, both he and his brother having the necessary practical knowledge of the business.
In 1893 he married Mary B. Barn- itz, who was born at Salem, Virginia, and they have five children : Thomas, Jr., Elizabeth, John, Ruth and Blanche. The family home is at Coopers. Mr. Cooper is prominent in Masonry, be- longing to Ivanhoe Commandery, K.
T., at Bramwell, and Beni-Kedem Tem- ple, A. A. O. N. M. S., at Charleston. He also belongs to the Odd Fellows and Elks.
The business of these great com- panies could not be in better hands and the volume is constantly in- creasing.
CHARLES C. WENTZ.
CHARLES C. WENTZ, a promi- nent real estate dealer, oil producer and active young business man of Parkers- burg, was born at Hall, Barbour Coun- ty, West Virginia, being a son of James W. and Lucy ( Harris) Wentz, the latter of whom was born in Vir- ginia, and was a sister of Colonel Har- ris of the Confederate Army. The Harris family is of English extraction, and prior to the Civil War were large
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land and slaveowners in Rockingham County, Virginia.
James W. Wentz, the father of Charles C., was born in Augusta Coun- ty, Virginia, but located in Barbour County prior to the Civil War. For a number of years he was largely inter- ested in a lumber business, but now lives retired upon his large farm. Dur- ing the war he served in the Union Army. In politics he has always been a Republican, and has filled a number of local offices. The Wentz family is of German extraction. Charles C. Wentz, the subject of this sketch, was the seventh member of a family of 10 children born to his parents, the others being as follows: J. D., a farmer liv- ing near Craigmoor, Harrison County, West Virginia; W. H., an employee in the pension bureau, at Washington, D. C .; J. A., a farmer of Elk City, Barbour County, West Virginia; G. W., associated with our subject in busi- ness but residing at St. Marys, West Virginia; Mrs. Jennie Crits, of Swamp Run, Upshur County, West Virginia ; Mrs. Ellen Booth, of the same place; Mrs. Martha Anglin, of Hall, Bar- bour County, West Virginia; Mrs. Emma Wamsley of Wood County, West Virginia, near Parkersburg; and Mrs. Alma Shanabarger, of Century, Barbour County, West Virginia.
Our subject remained at home, working on the farm and attending school, until he was 16 years old and then spent some time in his father's lumber camp. The succeeding three years were spent at the Buckhannon Conference Seminary, where he prac- tically completed the course of study after which he taught several terms of school. Mr. Wentz was then made deputy clerk of the Circuit Court at Philippi, West Virginia, retained the position for two years, and then was a traveling salesman, in the furniture line, through West Virginia, until 1896, when he located at Parkersburg. Mr. Wentz is essentially a man of business. He does no commission work in his line, simply buys and sells real estate and is extensively interested in oil production, in Calhoun County, West Virginia. Since locating in Park- ersburg he has become identified with many important enterprises. He as- sisted in the promotion of the West Vir- ginia Western Telephone Company, and in the location of its headquarters in Parkersburg; in 1900 he became in- terested in and assisted in promoting the Parkersburg Wire & Nail Manu- facturing Company,-he served as its secretary during the first year and has been president ever since. As a cap- italist, he is a director in the Central
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Banking & Security Company of Park- ersburg, and in the Business Men's League.
Mr. Wentz married Rosabelle Reed, a daughter of Major M. D. Reed, and a sister of ex-Senator Stew- art F. Reed, of Clarksburg, West Vir- ginia. One son has been born to this marriage, Edward Milton. The beau- tiful home of Mr. Wentz was erected by him at No. 1705 St. Mary avenue, and is one of the stately and elegant residences of the notably beautiful city of Parkersburg. Both Mr. and Mrs. Wentz belong to the First Baptist Church.
JOSEPH H. MCDERMOTT.
JOSEPH H. MCDERMOTT, one of the leading oil operators of Monon- galia County, West Virginia, and a
prominent and influential citizen of Morgantown, was born July 28, 1872, in Crawford County, Pennsylvania, and is a son of Thomas and Samantha (Johnson) McDermott.
Mr. McDermott is an experienced oil operator, having been interested in the business all his active life. He first went into it in the Bradford (Pennsylvania) and Washington (Pennsylvania) fields; from there he went to the Mount Morris ( Pennsyl- vania) field, where he contracted for E. M. Hukill, a pioneer oil operator of Monongalia County, West Virginia. He was then engaged as a contractor by the Standard Oil Company, in Mon- ongalia and Marion counties, West Vir- ginia, and in June, 1889, located at Monongalia. Shortly after this, he went into the oil operating business for himself and has been very successful. He is a man of public spirit and is iden- tified with almost all of the prospering enterprises of his city, including the gas, water, electric railway and electric lighting companies, and the Morgan- town Glass Works. He is a director in the Farmers' & Merchants' Bank.
In politics Mr. McDermott is a Re- publican and is serving as a member of Governor A. B. White's staff. He be- longs to the Sigma-Chi college fratern- ity and is a 32nd degree Mason.
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In May, 1898, Mr. McDermott was united in marriage with Louise J. McLane, who is a daughter of Dr. C. H. McLane, and one child has been born to this marriage.
WILLIAM HAIMES SMITH, JR.
WILLIAM HAIMES SMITH, Jr., President of the Central Banking & Security Company of Parkersburg. and vice-president of the W. H. Smith Hardware Company, was born in 1847, at Ripley, Jackson County, Virginia, now West Virginia, and is a son of W. H. Smith, Sr., who was born June I, 1818, at Loughborough, County of Lei- cester, near Nottingham, England.
Robert S. Smith, our subject's grandfather, brought his family to the
United States in 1819, and after spend- ing a couple of years at Pittsburg and Baltimore removed to Parkersburg, Virginia, now West Virginia, in 1821. Robert S. Smith was engaged in a mer- cantile business and also in the grain and provision business on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, until his death, 50 years ago, at the age of 59. Although 75 years has elapsed since he built his home on the corner of 4th and Ann streets, it is still standing, in good re- pair. Another home was erected on the same lot at a later date and is now occupied by the widow of Capt. C. B. Smith, who was a cousin of W. H. Smith, Jr., and served as captain in the Civil War and was also commander and owner of a steam boat plying on the Ohio River. Captain Smith served twice as mayor of Parkersburg, one term as sheriff of Wood County and was later elected on the Republican ticket to Congress. W. H. Smith, Sr., although 85 years of age, is still active, and spends a part of each day at the office of the hardware company. He was the first Democratic county clerk elected in Wood County. Prior to the war, he engaged in a mercantile business in Wirt and Jackson counties and then purchased a farm near Park- ersburg where he resided a number of years. In 1883 he removed to the city
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which has since been his home. The mother of our subject, who died in 1890, was a daughter of Charles Rec- tor, who served as high sheriff of Wood County in the early days and who was one of the early settlers. He removed to Western Virginia from Fauquier County, Virginia, bringing with him a number of slaves, and settled in what is now Wirt County. This was soon after the War of 1812, in which he had taken part. He was of German ances- try. Benjamin Rector, his grandfath- er, was the first of the family to settle in Virginia, where he secured a large plantation. Charles Rector remained in Wirt County until a short time be- fore his death, and died at the home of his son in Jackson County. He mar- ried a Miss Rust, also a Virginian, of English descent, a daughter of Benja- min Rust of Westmoreland County. At the time of her death, Mrs. Smith had reached the age of 71 years and is survived by two sisters,-Mrs. M. M. Simms, of Parkersburg and Mrs. Su- san Kyger of Roane County The sur- vivors in the family of our subject's grandfather are: Henry and Thomas, residents of Southeastern Ohio; Mrs. T. E. Saunders and Mrs. Elizabeth Edelen of Parkersburg; and Mrs. Maria Cole and Mrs. Lucy Smoot of Kanawha County. The children of W.
H. Smith, Sr., and wife were: Alice, the wife of D. M. Morrison, and Lucy, of Parkersburg; C. R., of Gainesville, Texas, who is largely interested in land and cattle in that State and was the or- ganizer and is the president of a bank at Ardmore, Indian Territory; Arthur B., who resides on a farm near Park- ersburg; T. P., secretary of the Ex- change Building Association; Levin, of the law firm of Merrick & Smith; and William Haimes, Jr., our subject, who was the second member of the family. Levin Smith was born in 1861, attended the school of Professor Nash and graduated from the High school in 1881. In the fall of that year he entered the Harvard Law School, and completed the course in 1884. In the fall of that year he was admitted to the bar and began practice in the office of Mr. Merrick with whom he formed a partnership the next year. In 1887 he married Nellie M. Will- iams, a native of Parkersburg, and a daughter of Alfred M. Williams who was a druggist and an early settler from Fairfax County, Virginia. Four children were born to this union. Lev- in Smith is a member of Parkersburg Lodge, No. 7, I. O. O. F.
William Haimes Smith, Jr., attend- ed the neighborhood schools of the county and later Professor Nash's ac-
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ademy, a noted school in its day. For two years he served in a clerical capac- ity in a general store and later spent some five years with the First National Bank of Parkersburg, prior to engag- ing in the hardware business. This enterprise was established in 1874 as W. H. Smith, Jr., & Company, and was incorporated in 1884 as the W. H. Smith Hardware Company and is the only exclusively wholesale hardware business in the city. Of this company W. H. Smith, Sr., is the president, W. H. Smith, Jr., is the vice-president and T. P. Smith is secretary. The five di- rectors include C. W. Edelen and Lev- in Smith. The main building of this concern was burned in 1899 and the present place of business is situated at 3rd street and St. James court. An- other business enterprise with which W. H. Smith, Jr., is associated, the Central Banking & Security Company, was organized in 1900, chartered and began business on April 22, 1901, and has enjoyed a liberal patronage. The building at No. 615 Market street, op- posite the new Hotel Chancellor, was erected by the bank. In the organiza- tion of this business, our subject was prime mover, his associates being : Levin Smith, C. D. Merrick, A. G. Sine, Olin V. Neal and F. D. McCoy. The company conducts a general bank-
ing business, has a trust and savings department and is one of the substan- tial financial organizations of Parkers- gurg. Its officers are : W. H. Smith, Jr., president ; Levin Smith, vice-presi- dent; W. H. Ogdin, cashier and as- sistant secretary. The directors are : W. H. Smith, Jr., Levin Smith, A. G. Sine, O. V. Neal, Dr. S. B. Langfitt, S. B. Stiles, G. W. Wentz, C. D. Ell- iott, F. D. McCoy of Sistersville and C. E. Schubach. Mr. Smith divides his attention between these enterprises.
In 1875 Mr. Smith was married to a daughter of Gen. J. J. Jackson and they reside at the corner of Juliana and 12th streets. Politically Mr. Smith is a Republican and served as mayor of Parkersburg during 1893-94. Mrs. Smith is a member of the Protestant Episcopal Church. The Smith family has favored the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.
MAJ. THOMAS H. NORTON, one of the best known citizens of Wheeling, West Virginia, is a private banker, with office in Room 5, City Bank Building. He was born in Pitts- burg, Pennsylvania, April 29, 1840, and is a son of George W. and Rachel (Thomas) Norton.
The Norton family attained prom-
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inence as the first to engage in the man- ufacture of iron in Wheeling. George W. Norton, father of Thomas H. Nor- ton, Col. E. M. Norton, the first United States Marshal of West Virginia, ap- pointed by President Lincoln, and F. D. Norton, began as nailers at Phoe- nixville, Pennsylvania, and were sub- sequently in the employ of the Shoen- bergers, of Pittsburg, who were among the first to manufacture iron nails in that city. These three Norton broth- ers moved to Wheeling in 1847, and in connection with E. W. Stephens op- erated the Top Mill. Col. E. M. Nor- ton and his associates left the Virginia Iron Works, which were constructed on the ground now occupied by the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad depot at the mouth of Wheeling Creek, about 1850. In 1852, the Belmont Iron Works were established and operated under the firm name of Norton, Bailey & Company. This firm was dissolved a few years later, and the retiring part- ners built the LaBelle Iron Works, un- der the firm name of Bailey, Wood- ward & Company. In 1862, the Nor- ton brothers sold their interest in the Belmont Iron Works to Henry Moore and others, and moved to Ironton, Ohio, where they purchased, recon- structed and enlarged the Bellefonte Iron Works. George W. Norton
served as president of this plant until his death, and was then succeeded by Col. E. M. Norton, who subsequently organized the Norton Iron Works 3t Ashland, Kentucky. All of these in- dustrial establishments, excepting the Virginia Iron Works, are in active op- eration at the present time, either as independent companies, or as compon- ent parts of the United States Steel Corporation.
Maj. Thomas H. Norton was one of seven sons, five of whom are still living. He attended Linsly Institute and was graduated therefrom in 1858. In 1859, he was a non-commissioned officer in a company of Virginia mili- tia, which the Governor of Virginia called out for duty at the execution of John Brown. Mr. Norton refused to obey and immediately severed his con- nection with the militia. At the be- ginning of the Civil War, he was serv- ing as paymaster at the Belmont Iron Works, from among the employees of which he raised a company of soldiers, upon the first call of President Lin- coln for volunteers. On May 11, 1861, he was elected 2nd lieutenant of this company, and was mustered into serv- ice by Maj. James Oakes. A few days later the company took the field, al- though but partially armed. While with the regiment, Lieutenant Norton
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took part in the engagement at Phil- ippi, Virginia, June 3, 1861, in which Colonel Kelley, commanding the reg- iment, with the co-operation and sup- port of a brigade of Ohio and Indiana troops, defeated and dispersed the Con- federate forces under Colonel Porter- field. In recognition of his services, Lieutenant Norton was appointed cap- tain in the 15th Reg., U. S. Infantry. He was at that time a little over 21 years of age, and probably was the youngest captain who ever served in the regular army. During the remain- der of 1861 and a part of 1862, Captain Norton was on recruiting, mustering and disbursing service, at Columbus, Ohio, and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He mustered in many of the famous Pennsylvania regiments that afterward achieved distinction. He was relieved of this duty in November, 1862, joined his regiment at Memphis, Tennessee, and served in the department under command of General Grant. After the battle at Chickamauga, in September, 1863, his regiment was ordered to join its regular brigade, in the 2nd Division, 14th Army Corps, Army of the Cum- berland, at Chattanooga. He re- mained on duty with his regiment until the close of the war in 1865. He par- ticipated in the engagement at Mission- ary Ridge, on November 25, 1863, and
in all the battles of the Atlanta cam- paign, including Buzzard Roost, Res- aca, New Hope Church, Kenesaw Mountain, Neal Dow Station, Peach Tree Creek, Jonesboro and the siege of Atlanta. He was breveted major for gallant and meritorious services in the above actions, and at the end of the war was awarded a medal of honor by the Legislature of West Virginia. During the Atlanta campaign, the com- pany commanded by Captain Norton was reduced from its original comple- ment of 100 men to 10 members, con- sisting of the captain, one corporal, and eight privates. From 1865 to 1870, Major Norton continued to serve in Alabama, Mississippi and Texas, per- forming duties imposed by the recon- struction laws of Congress, and in 1868 and 1869 he was military inayor of Jackson, Mississippi. He was re- ' tired from active service December 17, 1870, for disability incurred in the line of duty. Major Norton, besides being engaged as a private banker in Wheel- ing, is also interested in mines in Colo- rado, where he has stock in the Plomo Mining & Milling Company, and other enterprises. He is a man of sterling character, and his dignified and courte- ous manner, as well as his kindness of herat, have endeared him to all who know him.
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HON. ARETAS BROOKS FLEMING,
HON. ARETAS BROOKS FLEMING, formerly Governor of the State of West Virginia, is a promi- nent member of the legal profession and has attained high distinction as a corporation lawyer. He is located at Fairmont, West Virginia, where he was born October 15, 1839. He is a son of Benjamin F. and Rhoda (Brooks) Fleming, and a great-great-grand- son of William Fleming, the eldest of four brothers who left the North of Ireland to seek religious freedom and homes in the New World. Our sub- ject's father was a farmer, simple in his manner of living, strong in relig- ious conviction and exemplary in his life. His mother was a daughter of Rev. Asa Brooks, a Presbyterian min-
ister, who was a native of New Eng- land.
Mr. Fleming's early days were spent on his father's farm, and his ed- ucation was acquired in the private schools of his native county. He taught school for a time in Marion and Gilmer counties, and in 1859 en- tered the law department of the Uni- versity of Virginia. Two years later he was admitted to the bar of Marion County and formed a law partnership with Hon. A. F. Haymond, which con- tinued for several years. In 1872 and 1875 he was elected to the House of Delegates, where he served on the ju- diciary and other important commit- tees, in the session of 1875 being chair- man of the committee on taxation and finance. Upon the death of Hon. Charles S. Lewis in 1878, he was ap- pointed judge of the Second Judicial Circuit, and at the next election was elected to that office. When a judi- cial reorganization of the State took place in 1880, Judge Fleming was the nominee of the Democratic party to succeed himself, and was again elected, despite the fact that the district was largely Republican. At the Demo- cratic State Convention held at Hun- tington in August, 1888, Judge Flem- ing was nominated for governor by acclamation, following which he made
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splendid canvass throughout the
a State, winning friends everywhere. He took his seat February 6, 1890, and proved himself to be an executive of such rare honesty and efficiency that he won the respect of all classes and parties. Since his withdrawal from public life, he has devoted himself en- tirely to his law practice, and as a cor- poration lawyer he is acknowledged to be the equal of any in the State. His personality is that of a warm-hearted, generous, unaffected gentleman, his heart and his purse being always open to such projects as have for their aim the welfare of the community.
HON. J. O. THOMPSON.
HON. J. O. THOMPSON, secre- tary of the State Board of Agriculture of West Virginia and a prominent resi- dent of Charleston, was born June 9.
1834, at Waldo, Waldo County, Maine. Mr. Thompson is descended from fine old New England ancestry and is a son of James C. and Esther C. (Farnham) Thompson, the Thomp- sons being prominent agriculturists in Maine, having settled there as early as 1652. They are still numbered among the leading farming people of that State, where our subject's great-grand- father established his family in the town of Bristol, Lincoln County.
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