USA > West Virginia > Men of West Virginia Volume II > Part 16
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In all the operations in the Shenan- doah Valley leading up to the battle of Winchester, Mr. Light had charge of one of the pieces of ordnance. Later, at the battle of Gettysburg, he with liis battery took an active part and in fact until the close of his service, in danger at all times, he proved what mettle he was made of. All of these movements of the army belong to the country's history. He met with many sad ex- periences and was more than once hon- ored with words of approval from those brave commanders whose names will ever live. At the battle of Fish- er's Hill, our subject was Ist sergeant of the first piece of artillery and dis- tinguished himself by discovering the Unionists, when the scouts had failed, and fired three shots, the first of the engagement. Mr. Light had the hon- or of being called upon to make special shots upon different occasions, with flattering results. When his company later was ordered back to Staunton, he with others surrendered to the Union troops, at New Creek, was paroled and went to Wheeling and thence home. This very incomplete record indicates the character and gives a glimpse of the war record of one of Kanawha County's war survivors.
After the close of the war, Mr. Light went to work in a machine shop
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at Charleston, later engaged in run- ing a sawmill, being among the first in Kanawha County to operate a cir- cular saw, and followed that business for 20 years.
On April 7, 1867, Mr. Light mar- ried Lucy Jane McCarty and a family of eight children were born to this marriage, seven of whom are living. The only son, Enos J., lives on Elk River some six miles below Clendenin. The daughters are: Mrs. Nannie B. Odell, of Blue Creek; Mrs. Emma Samples, of Blendenin; Mrs. Effie Campbell, of Clendenin; Mrs. Mattie Robinson, of Roane County ; and Min- nie and Uma, who live at home. The grandchildren number 12. Judge Light had always been a Democrat un- til 1883 and had supported that party, but since then has been identified with the Republican party, but has never asked for any office. In 1872, in Elk district, he was elected justice of the peace for one year. In 1874 he bought a farm at Fallen Rock and resided there five years, but in 1893 he re- moved to Clendenin and has resided there since, in 1897 purchasing a lot and erecting a handsome residence. Ever since his first election to the magistracy he has been re-elected, and has had 25 years of continuous serv- ice, the oldest in his section. His de-
cisions meet with general approval and he is thoroughly posted on all statutes and codes. On May 12, 1885, he was appointed a notary public by Governor E. W. Wilson.
Fraternally Mr. Light is a past grand of Lodge No. 142, I. O. O. F., of Clendenin. For more than 20 years he has been a liberal supporter and a consistent member of the Missionary Baptist Church, to which his wife and family also belong. He is held in high esteem in Kanawha County.
J. A. JARRETT.
J. A. JARRETT, sheriff of Ka- nawha County, and a prominent citi- zen of Charleston, West Virginia, was
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born in Clarence, Shelby County, Mis- souri, and is a son of Addison and Margaret (Keeney) Jarrett, both of whom were natives of what is now West Virginia. They returned to the State when their son was six years of age.
Sheriff Jarrett was educated in pri- vate schools and began his business ca- reer as a telegraph operator, serving as such for 10 years and also as joint agent for the Winifrede Railroad and the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway, at Winifrede Junction, West Virginia. Mr. Jarrett also served as distributing agent for the Winifrede Coal Com- pany, during the 10 years prior to 1896. From early manhood he had been deeply interested in politics and in 1896, when he removed to Charles- ton, he was appointed chief deputy county clerk, under E. W. Staunton, and filled the position for four years. In the fall of 1900, he was made the choice of his party for sheriff of Ka- nawha County, and took charge of the office in January, 1901. Mr. Jarrett has proved himself a judicious and capable public official and has given entire satisfaction to his constituents. He has been a leading member in the Republican party for a number of years and has been no small factor in some of its successes in his section.
Personally he enjoys the esteem of a wide circle of friends on account of his genial manner and his many sterling traits of character.
HON. JOSEPH MARCELLUS MCWHORTER.
HON. JOSEPH MARCELLUS MCWHORTER, judge of the Tenth Judicial Circuit, ex-Auditor of West Virginia, is a prominent citizen who for many years has been one of the his- tory makers of the State. His birth took place at a little settlement called McWhorter's Mills, seven miles north of Weston, Lewis County, Virginia, now West Virginia, April 30, 1828, and he is a son of Dr. Fields and Mar- garet M. (Kester) McWhorter, the former of whom spent the latter part
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of his life in Sullivan County, Mis- souri, where he died in 1892, aged 84 years. The latter was a daughter of Joseph Kester of Harrison County, Virginia, now West Virginia, a veteran of the Revolutionary War, who lived to the age of 87 years and was a mem- ber of a family of 27 children, 24 sons and three daughters.
Few families can more clearly trace an honorable descent than can that of which Judge McWhorter is a member. The founders of the McWhorter fam- ily in America emigrated from the North of Ireland to New York, prior to the Revolutionary War.
Henry McWhorter, the great- grandfather of Judge McWhorter, was the youngest in a family of six sons,-James, Thomas, John, Robert, Gilbert and Henry. The father died while the children were still young. necessitating the apprenticeship of the sons to various masters of trade in the neighborhood. Those were days of slavery but not of concerted "strikes" and when Henry was subjected to in- human treatment, it is recorded that he ran away, and although but a lad of 16 years succeeded in entering the pat- riot army. With valor he served through the Revolutionary War and after its close he married Mary Fields, who was a daughter of Walter Fields,
of New Jersey, and with his wife pene- trated to the frontier, settling in Lew- is County, Virginia, now West Virgin- ia, on Hacker's Creek, near the present location of the town- of Janelew. This was about the period of the close of the troubles with the Indians in that section. Henry McWhorter reared three sons,-John, Thomas and Walt- er,-and died in 1848, at the age of 87 years. He was one of the founders of the Methodist Church in that locali- ty, and during many years was very active in religious work. He was suc- ceeded by his son John, who inherited his sterling character and his military valor. In the War of 1812 he raised a company of soldiers, of which he was captain, and took a gallant part in that struggle. After the close of that epi- sode, he returned to his country home, applied himself to the study of the law, was admitted to the bar and with pow- er and ability practiced his profession until the age of 72 years. It was at this time that he became thoroughly convinced of the truths of Christianity, joined the Methodist Church, entered the local ministry and until his death at the age of 95 years served as a local preacher. The McWhorter family has been noted for many characteristics and its longevity has been truly re- markable. John McWhorter never
.
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married. His brother Thomas mar- ried Delilah Stalnaker, daughter of Samuel Stalnaker, and they reared a family of five children ; one of these, Henry Stalnaker, became a soldier in the United States service when past the age of enlistment and was killed in battle during the Civil War.
Walter McWhorter, the third son of Henry McWhorter, and the grand- father of Judge McWhorter, married Margaret Hurst, a lady of German descent. They settled on a farm and reared a family of 10 children, namely : Fields, Eli, Levi, John M., Walter, Mansfield, Mary, Elizabeth, Sarah and Cassa.
In 1833 Dr. Fields McWhorter re- moved with his family to Morrow County, Ohio, where he practiced med- icine for eight years, but in 1841 he returned to West Virginia, and, as noted, spent his last years in Missouri. The children of Dr. Fields McWhorter and wife were these : Joseph Mar- cellus, of this sketch ; Henry C., a resi- dent of Charleston, Kanawha County, who is one of the judges of the Su- preme Court of Appeals of West Vir- ginia; John D. W., who died in Oc- tober, 1901, at Moberly, Missouri; Walter F., a member of the 9th Reg., West Virginia Vol. Inf., who was killed during the Civil War, at the bat-
tle of Cloyd's Mountain; Mary L .; Margaret E .; and Sarah A.
Joseph Marcellus McWhorter ac- companied his parents to Ohio and was then five years old and able and anxi- ous to go to school. The educational advantages were far superior in Ohio than they were in the old home, and during the eight years of residence in the Buckeye State the boy studied hard in the public schools, regretting the re- turn to his native State on account of the lack of school facilities. At this time in the latter State, no public edu- cation was afforded, and the children, who were not taught in their own homes, attended the subscription schools, paying from $2 to $2.50 for a session of three months, under very incompetent instructors.
Judge Mcwhorter was the eldest in the family and the three following children were daughters. Hence, as his father was a man of very limited means, it early became necessary for the youth to study out a future career which he could make possible by his own efforts. With work on the farm and the securing of every advantage for education which came in his way, the youth attained his 21st year with a fair knowledge of the English branch- es, but with ambitions which encom- passed a much wider horizon. The
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family military spirit came to the front for a season, influenced perhaps by the esteem and admiration he possessed for that soldier and Christian gentleman, "Stonewall" Jackson, who was a neighbor, and a graduate of West Point. So near was the career of one of West Virginia's distinguished jur- ists directed in another direction, that the fact of his being one year over age alone prevented his applying for a cadetship at West Point, which, with his recommendations and qualifica- tions, he would no doubt have re- ceived. He then began teaching school during the autumn and winter months and from 1851 to 1856 employed his springs and summers on the farm. In March of the latter year, the organiza- tion of Roane County having been effected, he accepted an appointment as clerk of that county and two months later, was elected by a handsome ma- jority to the same position, for a term of two years. At the end of that per- iod, a general election taking place, he was the candidate chosen from seven aspirants, and was elected by a majori- ty of 150. This was in 1856 and he capably filled that office and also that of deputy clerk of the Circuit Court, performing nearly all of the duties of both offices, necessitating much study and careful attention.
Before his term of office closed, the Civil War was on the country and brought to Mr. McWhorter, as to many others, many complex problems to solve. He had been captain of a company of State militia for more than a year and had upheld against other States the superiority of his own, but the principles for which his beloved State was fighting found no honest response in his heart. He believed in the Union, he was opposed to slavery and could not sanction secession. On the other hand, he was a native of Vir- ginia and owed her fealty, had been an office holder and he saw his friends and companions donning the Confed- erate gray. But even then, the future jurist saw his duty clearly, as so often since that crucial time he has done the same, and his resolution was soon formed. When a company in his neighborhood was formed to enter the Union Army, he enlisted as a private and served through the year 1861. Upon several occassions he was in great personal danger, one of these being a time when his party was sur- rounded by a force three times their number for almost a week. Relief came, when, one night, 24 volunteers crept out of the besieged camp and surprised and routed the enemy. This resulted in the raising of the siege and
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nearly the whole of the State troops later joined the Union forces.
At the time of the outbreak of seri- ous trouble, Mr. McWhorter packed up his public records and hid them in the house of a man in the country where they were preserved until a re- organization of the civil authorities was effected. In May, 1862, the gov- ernment was reorganized at Wheeling and, an election being held, a Union man, James H. Brown, of Kanawha County, was elected judge of the Cir- cuit Court and J. M. McWhorter, clerk of the same, and the hidden records were then brought to the Court House. Only one term was held, as a raiding party of Confederate cavalry destroyed the records of the court just held. On January 1, 1863, President Lincoln signed the bill by which West Virgin- ia became a separate State. Mr. Mc- Whorter was elected from Roane County to the first Legislature, held at Wheeling, June 20, 1863, and was soon placed on the judiciary committee. Probably few legislative bodies have had more serious questions to consider than came before this Legislature, and through it all may be traced the mental alertness and the wise judgment of Judge McWhorter. He was a loyal party man, but he was not swayed by party prejudices. His opposition to
what is remembered as the "test oath" prescribed for all persons accepting office, can be recalled without effort of memory, he claiming it was uncon- stitutional and he continued to fight for what he believed was right al- though his party advocated and passed the bill. No one doubted his loyalty. his personal character was too high, but they regarded the bill in the light of an expediency and he could not ap- prove of sich legislation, as the Con- stitution already prescribed the oath to be taken. He turned his influence in many reformatory directions, one of these being common practice of the use of intoxicants on election days, Mr. McWhorter pointing out that fre- quently the voter would be even un- able, by reason of the custom, to read the names on his ballot. He succeed- ed in procuring the passage of a law making it a penal offense to offer in- toxicants on election days, the law still remaining in force and contributing to the peacefulness of these occasions, -- other States have also adopted sim- ilar measures. Soon after the con- vening of the Legislature, General Morgan made a raid through Ken- tucky, crossed the Ohio River into In- diana and thence into Ohio, his object then seeming to be to get back in West Virginia. A portion of his command
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succeeded in crossing at Buffington's Island, but the main command was forced to seek a crossing higher up the river. Great excitement was pro- duced all along the border and as it was suspected that the bridge at Wheeling was his objective point a company of defenders was formed, chiefly of members of the Legislature. They manned a boat, had two pieces of artillery, and with bales of hay as a barricade and armed with Enfield rifles they started up the river to pre- vent the Confederate general's cross- ing. As this was looked upon as a gunboat, a name which inspired terror, no enemy came in sight. Judge Mc- Whorter possesses a regular discharge from his company, a paper he values highly. His father and two brothers also engaged in the Civil War. His father enlisted, although over age, in the 23rd Reg., Missouri Vol. Inf., took part in the battle of Shiloh, and served through the war. Capt. H. C. Mc- Whorter and Walter F. McWhorter, brothers of our subject, were enrolled in the 9th Reg., West Virginia Vol. Infantry.
After the adjournment of the first West Virginia Legislature, Mr. Mc- Whorter was appointed by the Govern- or, State Superintendent of the Peni- tentiary, the object being to try to es-
tablish a system of labor for the con- victs confined in the jail at Wheeling as a temporary penitentiary. How- ever, the plan did not seem to promise real benefit to the State, and Mr. Mc- Whorter resigned. In 1864, the Re- publican convention held at Grafton nominated him for State Auditor and not only was he elected to that high position but was re-elected for a second term in 1866; in 1868 he declined an- other nomination to that office and also refused to be considered as a candidate for the position of governor. He was strongly backed by his party and such papers as the Wheeling Intelligencer. In 1869 when the West Virginia In- surance Company was organized, he was elected its secretary and filled the position until March, 1870, when the resignation of Judge Harrison left a vacancy in the Circuit Court and he was appointed to the position, the dis- trict comprising the counties of Green- brier. Monroe, Nicholas and Poca- hontas. He then removed to Lewis- burg where he has since resided. His term expired January 1, 1873, and in July of the same year he was appointed superintendent of the schools of Greenbrier County, where he has prac- ticed his profession with marked suc- cess. As superintendent of schools, he infused new life into the system and
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instituted reforms which have been of lasting benefit. More than once has Judge McWhorter been approached with proffers of Congressional honors and at one time was nominated, but factions in the party and a large Dem- ocratic majority in the district, caused him to decline to run. President Gar- field appointed him postmaster at Lewisburg and both before and after the war he had filled the same office at Spencer, Roane County. In 1892 he received the Republican nomination for judge of the Supreme Court of Appeals for the long term of 12 years. He ran the full strength of his party. but the Populist vote threw the elec- tion to the Democrats. In 1896 he was elected judge of the Tenth Judi- cial Circuit, by almost 500 majority, this district including Pocahontas, Greenbrier, Monroe, Summers and Fayette counties.
Judge Mcwhorter has been twice married. In 1852 he married Julia A. Stalnaker, of Harrison County and these children were born to them : Alessandro: Artemus: Louis E .; Vir- gil S., deceased: William B .: Buell, deceased: Maggie E .; Joseph C .; Walter W., deceased; and Decie J. Mrs. McWhorter died August 26, 1869. On October 26, 1870, Judge Mc- Whorter married Julia Kinsley, daugh-
terter of Rev. Hiram and Elsie S. Kinsley, of Geneva, Ohio, and these children were born to the second union : Emma L., Jennie P., Kinsley F., de- ceased, and Charles N.
Judge Mcwhorter is identified with the Masonic fraternity. He is a prominent member of the Methodist Church, South. He long and honor- able public career has won him uni- versal respect.
STEELE A. HAWKINS.
STEELE A. HAWKINS, senior member of the well known real estate firm of Steele A. Hawkins & Son, of Charleston, West Virginia, was born at Malden, Kanawha County, Virgin-
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ia, now West Virginia, April 24, 1854, and is a son of William N. and Sarah A. (Oliver) Hawkins. Both parents were natives of Virginia. By occupa- tion the father of our subject was a house painter and this trade he fol- lowed until he became a railway mail clerk in 1877. He died January 22, 1896, at the age of 72 years. A fam- ily of six children were born to Will- iam N. Hawkins and wife, three of whom still survive. Both parents were consistent members of the Methodist Church.
Steele A. Hawkins, of this sketch, was educated in the public schools of Charleston and learned his father's trade of painting and decorating. Mr. Hawkins followed the same for a pe- riod of 13 years. In the meantime he became interested in State politics, and was appointed custodian of the United States postoffice at Charleston, West Virginia, a position he held under three Republican administrations. He has served as a delegate to many con- ventions and was a delegate to the na- tional conventions held at Cincinnati and Baltimore. During 1899-1900 he was sergeant-at-arms of the West Vir- ginia Senate, during the Goff-Fleming contest, and performed his duties with faithfulness and efficiency. Mr. Haw- kins was the first man from West Vir-
gina in the National Club League con- vention, at Baltimore, who suggested Stephen B. Elkins' name as State com- mitteeman for West Virginia on the National Club League Executive Com- mittee.
Mr. Hawkins became tired of poli- tics and for a time engaged in selling goods on commission for an install- ment house, but in 1894 established his present real estate business. This has proved very successful and he is prob- ably the largest dealer in Charleston property. He owns much valuable land both in the city and in the adjoining counties, some of it being valuable in coal and oil. He has the reputation, well established, of being a man of the highest business integrity.
In 1873 Mr. Hawkins was married to Mary E. Davis, a member of the old Davis family of Virginia. Six chil- dren were born to this marriage, the five survivors being: William, the junior member of the firm of Steele A. Hawkins & Son; Sallie E. Lislie : Eva; Ewart; and Nellie. Mrs. Haw- kins died May 13, 1890. The second marriage of Mr. Hawkins was to An- na Taylor, who was born in Fayette County, West Virginia, and the chil- dren of this union are Chilton Taylor ; Steele A., Jr. ; Nathan ; Anna Louise; and Fannie Taylor, deceased.
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JOHN J. KEEFF.
JOHN J. KEEFF, a prominent citizen of Charleston, West Virginia, and superintendent of the Charleston & South Side Bridge Company, was born in Lewisburg, Greenbrier Coun- ty, West Virginia, April 31, 1862, be- ing a son of Daniel and Bridget ( Bar- ry) Keeff, both natives of Cork, Ire- land.
Daniel Keeff came to America about 1850 and landed at Boston, Massachusetts, where he was employed for a time. His early life was spent in railroad work and he assisted in the construction of some of the best known railroads in the Eastern States. He assisted in the completion of the 'Shenandoah Valley Railroad, and then
acted as foreman in the construction of what was known as Cady's Tunnel. He later moved to Staunton, Virginia, where he was married and lived for sev- eral years. When the Civil War broke out he located in Lewisburg, and later in Charleston, Virginia, now West Vir- ginia, where he was employed by the government. After the war he moved to Ohio, then returned to West Virgin- ia, locating at Point Pleasant and fin- ally at Charleston where he continued to, live until his death. He died on July 3, 1889, at the age of 74 years, and his wife died in 1891 at the age of 66 years. They were devout Catholics in religious faith, and in politics Mr. Keeff was a stanch Democrat.
John J. Keeff was educated prin- cipally at night schools and through such channels as self-made men usually acquire their intellectual training. He spent much of his early life in various manufacturing establishments, and then learned stationary and marine en- gineering, at the present time hold- ing a license for river engineering. He later superintended the operation of the ferry across the Great Kanawha River at Charleston for Ruffner Brothers un- til the iron toll bridge was built across the stream. He was appointed super- intendent of this bridge in 1891, col- lecting all tolls and seeing that the
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bridge is properly repaired, and this position he has held to the present time. The bridge is one thousand feet long and was manufactured by the Keystone Bridge Company. The first officers were: B. L. Wood, Jr., pres- ident; T. H. Given, secretary and treas- urer, and these two officers, with R. S. Carr, W. P. Wood, J. W. Moon, C. H. Schrider, W. E. Jennings, L. H. Partridge and S. C. Weiscopf, com- posed the board of directors. The present officers are: J. Wainwright, president; T. H. Given, treasurer ; and L. H. Partridge, auditor. Mr. Keeff is one of the substantial citizens of Charleston, in which city he has considerable valuable property. Polit- ically, he is enthusiastic in his support of the Democratic party.
John J. Keeff was united in the holy bonds of wedlock with Bridget M. O'Connor, by whom he has had four children, namely : John J., Jr., deceased; Mary; Lawrence; and John J., Jr., Thomas O'Connor, Mrs. Keff's father, who was a native of Ireland, was a prominent business man in Charleston for about a third of a cen- tury, and at his death was numbered as one of the well-to-do men of the city. His death was mourned by a large circle of acquaintances and friends. He assisted in bringing about
many of the public improvements the city of Charleston is now enjoying. He is a self-made man and a great friend to education. He died in 1902, aged 74 years. His widow, a lady of many noble traits of true womanhood, is filling out the last years of an hon- ored life in Charleston. The family are Catholics in religious attachment.
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