USA > West Virginia > Men of West Virginia Volume II > Part 15
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32
Court. In politics Mr. Beardsley is a Republican.
On the 16th of June, 1886, at Gal- lipolis, Ohio, Mr. Beardsley married Eliza S. Dove, who is a daughter of Col. David Dove, and a descendant of a highly respected family of that lo- cality. The four children born to this union were: Julia D., Frances J., Elise, deceased, and David D. Both Mr. and Mrs. Beardsley belong to the Kanawha Presbyterian Church.
GEORGE ADAMS.
GEORGE ADAMS, who is promi- nently identified with various business enterprises of Wheeling, has been a resident of that city since 1852, and now makes his home at Pleasant Val-
576
MEN OF WEST VIRGINIA
ley, a suburb of Wheeling. He was born at Baltimore, Maryland, Septem- ber 13, 1834, and is a son of Philip Adams.
The Adams family originally came from England and located in Maryland about 1695. Philip Adams died about 1846, and his widow is now living, in her 95th year, at St. Clairsville, Ohio, whither she moved with the family at the outbreak of the Civil War. They became the parents of nine children, two of whom died in infancy. One son, James P., resides in Wheeling, and is secretary of the Franklin Insurance Company of Wheeling.
George Adams was reared in Balti- more, and at an early age entered the employ of a large commission grain and produce house, with which he re- mained until 1857. It was while on a trip to Wheeling with a member of the firm, in 1852, that he decided to locate there permanently. He embarked in the wholesale grocery and commission business on Main street in 1857. In 1864 he organized the First National Bank of Wheeling and became cashier and manager, George K. Wheat being president. The original directors were : Jacob S. Rhodes, John L. Hobbs, Ches- ter D. Knox and John F. McDermott. all deceased; George Edwards, now of Marshall County, West Virginia;
Jacob Hornbrook, John K. Botsford and George W. Franzheim, the last three named deceased; and George K. Wheat. Mr. Adams continued with the bank until 1874, when he resigned, although he still retained his interest in it. The institution was afterward changed to a State bank, the name be- coming, as at present, the Bank of the Ohio Valley. About 1878, at the ur- gent request of interested parties, Mr. Adams again resumed the management, and continued in charge of it until the early part of 1880, when he resigned to travel with his son, Samuel Philip, who died in November, 1882, at the age of 24 years. Although owning interests in various enterprises, he has not since ac- tively engaged in business of any kind. He was interested in the Riverside and Aetna iron companies, which are now a part of the United States Steel Corpor- ation. He was president of the Wheel- ing Library Association, and treasurer of the Soldiers' Aid Society. He was president of the Buckeye Glass Com- pany, a director in the Franklin Insur- ance Company of Wheeling, and a member of the Board of Trade.
Mr. Adams was united in marriage, September 15, 1857, with Mary E. Mc- Clellan, a daughter of Samuel McClel- lan, an old merchant of Wheeling. She died in 1870, having given birth
577
MEN OF WEST VIRGINIA
to three children : Samuel Philip, de- ceased; one who died in infancy ; and Elizabeth, who first married Philip Taylor Allen, deceased, and is now the wife of Charles Russell Caldwell, of Staunton, Virginia. Mr. Adams was married March 24, 1874, to Jane W. McClellan, a sister of his first wife. In politics he is a Republican. He is at present serving as mayor of Pleasant Valley, a beautiful suburb of Wheeling. He attends the Vance Memorial Chapel (Presbyterian), at Woodsdale. He was one of the original directors of Greenwood Cemetery, organized in 1865. His present fine home in Pleas- ant Valley was completed in May, 1895, and is equipped with all the modern conveniences. He served in the State militia during the Civil War, and in September, 1862, was commissioned a captain by Governor F. H. Peirpoint, who was the chief executive of the Re- stored Government of Virginia. In November, 1864, he was commissioned colonel by Governor Boreman, the first Governor of West Virginia. He is a man of excellent character and pleas- ing personality, and has many friends in this section of the state.
C. M. CLELLAND, M. D., the leading physician and surgeon of Jack- sonburg, Wetzel County, West Vir-
ginia, was born September 5, 1858, near Fairmont, Marion County, Vir- ginia, now West Virginia, and is a son of John and Elvie (Clayton ) Clelland.
John Clelland was born in Virginia, and was a son of Patrick Clelland, a native of Ireland. He was a farmer through life, and died in 1889, aged 65 years.
The mother of Dr. Clelland comes from two very prominent families, the Fleming's and the Claytons. She was born in Marion County, and is a daughter of William and Lydia ( Flem- ing) Clayton, both of whom were Vir- ginians by birth. The Flemings were the founders of Flemington and Fair- mont. William Clayton was a son of Little Clayton, of Delaware, who was born in England. William Clayton served under Washington in the Revo- lutionary War and at its close settled in what is now West Virginia. Although past middle life, he also took part in the War of 1812 and died at an ad- vanced age. Mrs. Clelland still resides in Fairmont, at the age of 61 years. be- ing just 16 years and six months older than her son, the Doctor, who was her eldest child, the others being: Olive Sandora; Nellie, wife of Heath Mich- aels, of Fairmont ; Sandora, who mar- ried Festis Morgan; George, of Fair- mont ; Lydia and Hattie.
578
MEN OF WEST VIRGINIA
Dr. Clelland was reared in Marion County and was educated in the schools of his vicinity, finishing in the Fairmont High School. His medical training was obtained in the College of Physi- cians and Surgeons, Baltimore, Mary- land, and in Starling Medical College, Columbus, Ohio; he was graduated from the latter institution in 1882. He settled then in Wallace, Harrison Coun- ty, West Virginia, remaining there in practice for 12 years and then removed to Bristol, Harrison County, for a short time, later to West Union, Doddridge County, and in 1891 located at Jackson- burg, where he has enjoyed a lucrative practice ever since.
In 1883 Dr. Clelland married Alice Robinson, of Wallace, West Virginia, who died one year later. His second marriage was to Hattie Lynch, also of Wallace, and the four children born to this union are: Walter Ramsey, Mary, A .. Bertie and Isaac H., all at home.
Dr. Clelland is a valued member of the Harrison County Medical Society, of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad As- sociation of Surgeons, and is surgeon at Jacksonburg for the Baltimore & Ohio road. In politics he is a very ard- ent and enthusiastic Democrat. In both social and professional life, Dr. Clelland is most highly esteemed in Jacksonburg and vicinity.
ADAM B. LITTLEPAGE.
ADAM B. LITTLEPAGE, prominent attorney-at-law of Charles- ton, West Virginia, was born in Ka- nawha County, Virginia, now West Virginia, April 14, 1859, and is a son of Adam and Rebecca T. (Wood) Littlepage, the former a native of Greenbrier County, and the latter of Kanawha County.
The Littlepage family is of French- Scotch extraction. Adam Littlepage, the father of our subject, settled near Kanawha Saline and there built salt works and engaged in contracting in 1840. He removed to Kanawha Two- Mile in 1847, settled on a farm and en- gaged in merchandising and speculat- ing in that vicinity. At the outbreak of the Civil War he was in independent
579
MEN OF WEST VIRGINIA
circumstances, but like many others in the locality lost almost all his property. He owned three fine six-horse teams and hauled salt barrels from his fac- tories to the salt works, but his teams were confiscated by the Northern Army and he lost on account of the war about $150,000 of property, being left with- out resources except his land. A dis- pute arose concerning the legality of the measure that confiscated his proper- ty, and Mr. Littlepage lost his life, 111 1862, in the resulting duel at Dublin, Virginia, with Lieutenant Brown,- each killed the other. He was a cour- ageous, fearless man, and is still re- membered for his many admirable qual- ities. His widow was left with 900 acres of land, partially paid for, and seven children, as follows: C. F., now a railroad contractor; Alexander, a physician and surgeon; Samuel D., an attorney; Adam B., of this sketch; Birdie, wife of A. M. Putney; and two deceased. Mrs. Littlepage died in Charleston, West Virginia, in 1898, aged 71 years. She was a lady of re- finement and education and was be- loved by all who knew her.
Adam B. Littlepage was educated in the common schools of Kanawha County. His choice of a profession was the law and with the intention of beginning its study he went to Leb-
anon, Ohio. He there found the schools closed on account of a prevail- ing epidemic, and he consequently pro- ceeded to the home of an uncle, at Lodi, Indiana. He remained with his rela- tives until the death of his uncle, in the meantime managing the latter's large estate. He endeavored to apply him- self to his law books, but conditions. were not very favorable until he was offered the use of the office and books of that eminent jurist, Judge Joshua Jump. Mr. Littlepage, favored by this fortunate opportunity, soon was pre- pared for his examination, and was ad- mitted to the bar, beginning his prac- tice at Newport, Indiana. Mr. Little- page can now recall with amusement his early struggles with adverse cir- cumstances, when his little office room meant place of business, and both din- ing and sleeping room, but the discip- line developed elements of strength he never knew he possessed, that have been of inestimable benefit in his later career. The consciousness of contrib- uting to the comfort of his beloved mother enabled him to cheerfully de- prive himself of many luxuries natural to his age. For two years he struggled for a footing in Indiana, and was meet- ing with success, when he returned to his home and started out afresh in his profession. Success has crowned his-
580
MEN OF WEST VIRGINIA
efforts and he is widely known both in the criminal and the civil courts. His legal services have been retained in some of the most important cases in the West Virginia courts. He was the at- torney of the State against the Burnett Boys, John M. Hill and wife and the Margaret Burnett conspiracy which re- sulted in the murder of Dr. Morris in Fayette County, West Virginia. An- other case worthy of mention was that of the State vs. James A. Parker. Mr. Littlepage became the defendant's at- torney after Parker had been sentenced to be hung for murder in the first de- gree, and finally secured in the court of last resort the prisoner's release. He now has five murder cases in Fay- ette County, three in Kanawha and two in Putnam, all of these attracting attention on account of his able hand- ling of them. He has been equally suc- cessful in civil cases, and has at present on hand a number of ejectment cases involving millions of dollars or more in the State.
Mr. Littlepage has been prominent in Democratic politics. He was the candidate of his party for the office of prosecuting attorney and was defeated by but 49 votes, a later counting result- ing in the division of the office between the two candidates. Probably no finer nor more complete library adorns any
office in the State, than the one owned by Mr. Littlepage. He is fraternally associated with these societies: New- port Lodge, A. F. & A. M .; Fernbank Lodge, I. O. O. F .; Necomis Tribe, Improved Order of Red Men; and the Order of United American Mechanics. He is a broad student and splendid thinker, of very strong personal influ- ence. He has succeeded in accumulat- ing some valuable property. He is re- garded as an honest, upright man, a reliable adviser and splendid lawyer. His influence with juries during the trial of causes is indeed very strong. He is a ready, fluent and convincing speaker.
JONATHAN P. BOWEN.
WILLIAM H. BOWEN, famil- iarly known throughout the Flat-Top coal field as Harry Bowen, is secretary
581
MEN OF WEST VIRGINIA
and treasurer of the Booth-Bowen Coal & Coke Company, and one of the prominent citizens of that section of West Virginia, being a resident of Freeman, Mercer County. Mr. Bowen was born October 14, 1860, at Ash- land, Pennsylvania, and is a son of the late Jonathan P. and H. E. (Evans) Bowen.
Jonathan P. Bowen was president of the Booth-Bowen Coal & Coke Com- pany, a practical miner, and one of the leading citizens of Freeman, Mercer County, West Virginia. He died in October, 1902, aged 72 years. His wife died in 1877, aged 40 years. She was born in Schuylkill County, Penn- sylvania, and came of Quaker stock. The two children were William H. and Alice, who is the wife of John D. Kutzner, a druggist of Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania.
Harry Bowen accompanied his par- ents in their removal to St. Clair, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, when he was six years of age, and there he attended the public schools un- til his 16th year when he went to work. IO years later in life than did his father, in the mines of the Reading Coal & Iron Company, of which his father was then superintendent. He continued his association with that company in various capacities, until
February, 1887, when he removed to the Flat-Top coal fields and took the posititon of secretary of the firm of William Booth & Company (now the Booth-Bowen Coal & Coke Com- pany) and still holds this position. On the retirement of James Booth in 1893, and the consequent vacancy in the office of treasurer, Mr. Bowen was selected to fill that position also.
The great company with which our subject is associated was one of the earliest operators in the Flat-Top coal field. It was opened by William Booth & Company in 1884, and was conduct- ed by them until 1889, when it was incorporated under the laws of West Virginia under the title of the Booth- Bowen Coal & Coke Company, with William Booth as president. Jona- than P. Bowen, vice-president and gen- neral manager, Harry Bowen, secre- tary, and James Booth, treasurer. In February, 1892, William Booth re- tired, and Jonathan P. Bowen suc- ceeded him as president. James Booth retired in 1893 and Harry Bowen be- came treasurer. The holdings of the company embrace about 1,000 acres of land, held under lease from the Flat- Top Coal Land Association. About 350 miners and laborers are employed at the operation and the capacity of the mines is from 25,000 to 30,000
582
MEN OF WEST VIRGINIA
tons of coal per month. The plant in- cludes 177 coke ovens with a month- ly productive capacity of about 4,000 tons of high grade coke. There are two mine openings, with a double tip- ple to facilitate the rapid handling of the output : and the ventilation is pro- vided for by the use of a 20-foot fan operated by steam. The coal is hauled from the mines to the tipple by two Baldwin mine locomotives and the pow- er for operating the other machinery is furnished by an engine and two boilers used to operate the deep well pump that forces the water from the well to the reservoirs from which the works are supplied. A second stationary en- gine with two boilers furnishes the power to operate the elevators, crush- ers and other machinery about the tip- ple as well as to operate the machinery in the blacksmith and woodworking shops.
Mr. Bowen was married to Harriet Hopkinson, a daughter of a stationary engineer of St. Clair, Pennsylvania, and six children have been born to this union, viz. : Annis, who died in 1902, aged five years; Elizabeth; Jonathan, assistant to his father at the mines, a thoroughly practical young man ; Ethel, a student at Washington, D. C .; and Joseph and Headly, students at the Episcopal High School at Alex-
andria. Mr. Bowen owns a fine home at Simmons station, or Freeman. Po- litically he is a Republican and takes an active interest in public matters and has been quite prominent in local af- fairs. He has served at various times as councilman, both in Pennsylvania and in West Virginia. He is a mem- ber of almost all the prominent secret organizations, among them the follow- ing: Ivanhoe Lodge, No. 10, A. F. & A. M., at Bramwell, and Osiris Tem- ple, A. A. O. N. M. S., at Wheeling and Lodge No. 269, B. P. O. E., at Bluefield, of which he is a charter member. In religious belief he is a Methodist.
Mr. Bowen is a very successful and popular man. His business enterprise has been shown in the able manner in which he has managed the affairs of this great industry, while on every hand may be found proofs of the high personal esteem in which he is held.
JOHN S. COFFLAND is pro- prietor of the Horse Exchange, the only place of its kind in Wheeling, West Virginia. His business is located at No. 955 Market street, and there he has a very flourishing trade. He was born in Belmont County, Ohio, June 2, 1862. He is a son of George W. and
583
MEN OF WEST VIRGINIA
Martha Ann ( Wadsworth) Coffland, also natives of Ohio.
George W. Coffland became a deal- er in live stock when 20 years old, and continued in the business until his death, June 2, 1895, at the age of 75 years. He was united in matrimony with Martha Ann Wadsworth, who died when 49 years, three months and II days old. Her family was one of the oldest in the county. Her father was a sickle-maker by trade, and was a pioneer settler of Belmont County. To this union were born eight children, as follows : Emily E., the wife of James T. Bentley ; William N., who is en- gaged in the clothing and wool buss- ness in Wisconsin; Milton T., also a resident of Wisconsin, where he is in the gents' furnishing business, and handles wool; Charles C., deceased ; Elwood, who died in infancy ; Mary A., the wife of E. E. Pancoast, a resident of Belmont County, who farms near Belmont ; John S. ; and James E., who lives in Wisconsin with his brother Mil- ton T.
George W. Coffland took little in- terest in politics. He was an attendant of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which his wife was a member. Mr. Coffland was a model man in business, in morals, and in social life. Although doing business with those who drank,
smoked, chewed, and swore, he was never known to do any of these things. He was a great favorite among his ac- quaintances, well known in his own county and those adjoining, and always respected for his firm stand. He died without an enemy.
John S. Coffland obtained his early mental training in the public schools of Belmont County, Ohio. After his school days were ended, he embarked in the live stock business with his fa- ther, handling cattle, sheep, hogs and horses, and continuing in the business in Belmont County until 1896. In April of that year, he sold out and re- moved to Wheeling, Ohio County, West Virginia, where he opened up his present business, at first as a livery and sale concern, and later, leaving out the livery, he gave his attention to buy- ing and selling horses. During last year he handled 1,303 head, and ex- pects to come close to 2,000 head in the present year, as he is doing a splendid business. He has the best location that is possible, and employs seven men all summer in caring for the stock.
Mr. Coffland was united in mar- riage with Mary E. Coffland, on Janu- ary 2, 1885. Although bearing the same name she is not a relative of her husband. She is a daughter of J. W. Coffland, and is a native of Belmont
584
MEN OF WEST VIRGINIA
County, Ohio. Mr. Coffland and his worthy wife have been blessed with two children, -- Lois G. and Howard J. Mrs. Coffland is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Coffland is a member of the Knights of Pythias. In politics he votes for the man he thinks will best fill the office.
ANDREW JACKSON LIGHT.
ANDREW JACKSON LIGHT, who for a period of 25 years has served as justice of the peace in the Big Sandy district, Kanawha County, West Virginia, and is one of its hon- ored cititzens, was born on a farm in Randolph County, Indiana, March IO, 1838. He is a son of Enoch and Mary
(Kelly) Light, both deceased, who were natives of the Old Dominion.
Samuel Light, the great-great- grandfather of our subject, was a man of prominence in his day and is men- tioned in a history of Daniel Boone as one of the old pioneer hunters. His ancestors were of English blood. The grandfather of Judge Light was born in Roanoke County, Virginia, where the family is still numerous. The birth of Enoch Light, the father, took place in Roanoke County, Virginia; in young manhood he married Mary Kel- ly in Fayette County, Virginia, now West Virginia. In 1830 he removed to Indiana, located in Randolph Coun- ty and bought a farm, on which he de- voted his efforts to the raising of grain and stock. There our subject's mother died of the prevalent fever and ague, leaving a family of eight children, of whom two sons and four daughters are still living. Soon after the death of his wife, Enoch Light moved to Mis- souri and located not far from St. Joseph, where he remained a year. then drifted back to Indiana and later to his old home in Virginia. During his residence in the West, his daughters married and one now lives in Oregon, two in Indiana and one in Missouri. A brother, Henry, lives at Fayetteville, West Virginia. On his return to Vir-
585
MEN OF WEST VIRGINIA
ginia, Mr. Light married Mrs. Rachel Suttle of Fayette County and they had a family of four children. Mr. Light died at his home in Fayette County, June 22, 1875, from cancer of the head. and his widow is also deceased.
Andrew J. Light was educated in the common schools although the ac- commodations were such as might have discouraged all but the very ambitious students. Our subject can recali how he and his brother Henry arose before light so that they could reach the school in time, six miles away. The building was of logs, with chestnut bark roof and slab benches; there was no floor and an old-fashioned fireplace occupied the whole end of the building. It was necessary for the sturdy pupils to cut wood during recesses in order to keep the fire going,-an early example of the manual training idea of the public schools of today. At the age of 15 years, with his brother, he re- moved to Kanawha County and at- tended two terms of school there with ex-Governor George W. Atkinson as schoolmate. the lads boarding at the home of Mr. Atkinson's father, and Floyd Jacobs, a lifelong friendship fol- lowing. Andrew J. Light then went to Cannelton in Fayette County and there engaged for a time in coal min- ing, running the incline cars for two 12
years. He then enlisted for service in the Confederate Army, in Company I, Captain Lewis' Cavalry, and served one year, in the 8th Virginia Regi- ment, under that fine officer. He was later transferred to Capt. Tom Jack- son's battery and served in that organ- ization about three years. Mr. Light entered the service as a private and re- ceived rapid promotion, soon being made a sergeant. After his first en- listment in the cavalry, the regiment went into camp at St. Albans and our subject with his company was then sent to Ripley and a few days later partici- pated in the battle of Skcering. The enemy proved too strong and his regi- ment fell back to Charleston, thence to the narrows of the New River, thence to Louisburg, where it was placed under General Echols. Here General Jen- kins took command of the regiment. It then proceeded to Abingdon where General Loring assumed command; thence the regiment went to Lynch- burg, Bristol and Union. During all these movements there had been no ser- ious fighting. From Union the regi- ment then went to Princeton where a hot skirmish took place, thence to the mouth of the Blue Stone River ; it was then ordered to report to Gen. John C. Breckenridge in the Shenandoah Val- ley. It was at this period that Mr.
586
MEN OF WEST VIRGINIA
Light became an artilleryman. Upon the battery's reporting to General Breckenridge in the Shenandoah Val- ley it was sent to Winchester, where it was supplied with Dahlgren cannon ; thence it proceeded to Lynchburg where in the battle that took place our subject was obliged to fight against his brother Elijah who was a soldier in the Union Army, James and Henry also serving in the Union Army. At Lynchburg. General McCauslin com- manded the Confederate troops and General Hunter, the Federals. This series of movements is known in his- tory as Hunter's Raid. From that point the command with which our subject was connected went up through Maryland and into Pennsylvania, hop- ing to draw General Grant from Rich- mond. General McCauslin and his command, of which Mr. Light was a member, crossed the river at Williams- port and advanced to Hagerstown. Then the battery went to Moorefield, West Virginia, and later, on account of an official conflict, the Union troops routed the Confederates. In the be- gining of 1863 they went into camp be- low Staunton, Virginia, and thence moved to Richmond. The battery was in the battles below Richmond under Gen. Robert E. Lee, and then returned to the Shenandoah Valley.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.