USA > West Virginia > Men of West Virginia Volume II > Part 4
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Mr. Crawford married a Miss Yates of Lawrence County, Ohio, and they have a family of six sons, namely : Herschel, Frederic L., Charles Hobart, Robert Evan, James Myron and John
Perry. His residence is at No. 520 7th street. In politics, Mr. Crawford is a Republican. He was at one time a member of Gen. Milroy Camp, Sons of Veterans, his right coming through his father, who was a member of Company E, 5th Reg., West Virginia Vol. Inf., for three years and three months in the War of the Rebellion, but that is the only secret society with which he has ever been connected.
E. A. HILL, M. D.
E. A. HILL, M. D., a prominent physician and surgeon of Salem, Har- rison County, West Virginia, was born September 5, 1866, near the headwaters of McKim Creek, Tyler County, West Virginia, and is a son of Ira and Mel-
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vina Jane (Joseph) Hill, both of whom were natives of Tyler County.
Dr. Hill comes of old established families of Tyler County, of Welsh- Irish stock, pioneers from Eastern Vir- ginia. The Hills are very numerous in Tyler County, although all have not descended from the same common an- cestry.
Thomas Hill, the great-grandfather of Dr. Hill, was reared in the vicinity of Mannington, Marion County, and was the founder of the family in Tyler County, near Mckim Creek. There Ira Hill, the father of Dr. Hill, was born, being a son of Horace and Mar- garet (Davis) Hill, who were also natives of the same section. Ira Hill still resides near McKim Creek, aged about 55 years. Mr. Hill first married Melvina Jane Joseph, who was a daugh- ter of Nathan and Ann (Hustead) Joseph, residents of Joseph's Mills, Tyler County, where Nathan Joseph's father founded the family early in the last century, coming from Virginia. Mr. Joseph still resides in the old home- stead at Joseph's Mills at the age of 86 years. The mother of Dr. Hill died when he was about two years old and he is the only surviver of her three children. The second marriage of Ira Hill to Salina Gregg resulted in two
sons, of whom the survivor, Leonidas, resides at home.
Dr. E. A. Hill was reared a farm boy in Tyler County, and passed his youth alternating between attendance at the local schools and work on the farm. At the age of 20 years he began to teach school, and followed this pro- fession four years, spending part of the time in attending school himself. His medical education was commenced under Dr. I. S. Jones, of Mole Hill, Ritchie County, West Virginia. He then spent one year in the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Baltimore, Maryland, subsequently entering Starl- ing Medical College at Columbus, Ohio, where he graduated in medicine in 1892. In 1898 Dr. Hill took a post- graduate course in the New York Polyclinic Medical College and Hos- pital. After his graduation in 1892, he entered into practice at Shirley, Tyler County, where he continued for six years. After his return from his post-graduate course in New York, he engaged in practice for one year at Pine Forks, an oil district, and one year at West Union, in Doddridge County. Dr. Hill then removed to Harrison County, locating at Salem, since which time he has been successfully engaged in practice all through his section of
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the county, particularly at Salem and Wolf Summit.
In 1888, Dr. Hill married Angeline Harper, a daughter of George and Elizabeth ( Markle) Harper, natives of Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Harper resided near Pennsboro, Ritchie County, West Virginia, from 1865; the former died in 1902, and the latter in 1903. Mrs. Hill was born in the home in Ritchie County, in 1866. Two children have been born to this union, Albert Bleile, whose birth occurred July 26, 1893; and a son born March 20, 1895, who died in infancy.
Dr. Hill has given faithful and efficient service during his residence in Harrison County, and is highly esteemed both by the profession and the public.
JOSEPH DORSEY DUBOIS, late secretary, and at present a director, of the Wheeling Steel & Iron Company was born at Dorsey's Flats, Jefferson County, Ohio, April 13, 1827. His fa- ther, John P. M. DuBois, was a native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and was a son of John Joseph DuBois, who im- migrated from Strasburg, France, to the United States, settling in Phila- delphia.
John P. M. DuBois removed to Steubenville, Ohio, in the "twenties,"
and was engaged as a clerk in the drug store conducted by his cousin, Dr. George Wilson. In February, 1826, he was joined in marriage, in Jefferson County, Ohio, to Nancy Dorsey, who was born near Brownsville, Pennsyl- vania, in 1800, and came from the well known Dorsey family of Maryland. Our subject's maternal great-grandfa- ther was Peter Miller, who came from Mannheim, Germany, and for a half century lived in Philadelphia; he was vice-president of the German Society of Pennsylvania from the beginning of that organization until 1772. At one time Mr. Miller was employed in a printing office with Dr. Benjamin Franklin, and later was himself proprie- tor of a publication. He was an ap- pointee of the Crown in the office of notary public, and drew up legal docu- ments and acted as German interpreter. After his marriage, John P. M. Du- Bois began farming at Dorsey's Flats, Ohio, where he lived until 1857, remov- ing in that year to Iowa, where his death took place in 1868. His wife survived him until 1888, when she, too, passed away.
Joseph Dorsey DuBois was reared on his father's farm and received his educational training in the common schools up to his 12th year, when he became a pupil in the Grove Academy
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at Steubenville, and subsequently at- tended advanced schools. In 1847 he entered upon the study of the law with Joseph M. Mason at Steubenville, and also for a period was in the office of Hon. Edwin M. Stanton with a fellow student, Robert L. McCook, with whom he was admitted to the bar of Ohio at Cadiz in 1848. In September, 1849, he went on the river as steamboat clerk, and in December, 1853, became clerk of Union Line packet "City of Wheeling," of which the late Capt. John McLure was in command. Mr. DuBois re- mained on the river as clerk and cap- tain until 1864, when he resigned as captain of the St. Louis and New Or- leans steamer "J. C. Swan." In con- nection with others, in 1860 he built the steamboat "Prince of Wales," and ran between St. Louis and New Orleans until the commencement of the Civil War.
After resigning his position as cap- tain of the "J. C. Swan," Mr. DuBois returned to Wheeling, and on June 30, 1864, became secretary and business manager of the Belmont Nail Com- pany, which position he occupied until the Belmont Nail Company, in June, 1892, was consolidated with the Ben- wood Iron Works, the Wheeling Iron & Nail Company and the Wheeling Steel Works, constituting the Wheeling
Steel & Iron Company, of which Mr. DuBois was elected secretary. This position he resigned March 16, 1899, and retired from active business.
Mr. DuBois was a prominent pro- moter of the Wheeling & Elm Grove Railway Company, and served as its president for 16 years. At the time of the company's organization, the project had but few friends and strong oppo- sition, many people considering that it would be impracticable. Numerous difficulties had to be overcome before the railway could be built. The organ- izers were forced to contend with the State Legislature, the Board of County Commissioners and the City Council, all of which refused to allow the use of steam motors. The Legislature hesi- tated in permitting a steam railway along the National Road, and horses were used for a number of years, but with varied success, and the operation of the road was about to be abandoned, when the use of steam motors was finally permitted,-this has since been succeeded by the electric trolly system. Owing to the convenience of travel be- tween the city and the end of the line, many palatial residences and hundreds of houses have been erected along the entire length of the road, from Wheel- ing to Elm Grove. Mr. DuBois re- signed the presidency of the company
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on January 16, 1892, in favor of Anton Reymann, the present incumbent.
Mr. DuBois was married January 27, 1857, to Ellen Zane Armstrong, a native of Wheeling, and daughter of the late Francis Rawdon Armstrong, who immigrated with his parents from Ire- land to Virginia when a lad. Our sub- ject and his wife had two daughters, one of whom is now living, Mary P., wife of J. J. Holloway, a well known, enterprising citizen of Wheeling. Mr. DuBois has made his home in Leather- wood for many years, having com- menced to improve it in 1868. It is very beautiful and attractive. Much of the shrubbery and all of the trees were planted by his own hand. It is a charm- ing place and one of the most attactive homes in that suburban village. His wife died July 24, 1894.
Mr. DuBois has been connected with many public enterprises outside of his regular business as an iron and steel manufacturer. At present he is a director of the Wheeling Steel & Iron Company, Wheeling and Elm Grove Railroad Company and Franklin In- surance Company. He was a mem- ber of the City Council for a time. He has been a Mason for the past 48 years, and has been a member of the vestry of St. Matthew's Protestant Episcopal Church 31 years,
being at present senior warden. He is well known as a man of honor and in- tegrity.
ARMOR STEWART COOPER.
ARMOR STEWART COOPER, a prominent citizen of New Cumber- land, Hancock County, West Virginia, has served in the capacity of county clerk since 1896 in such a manner as to gain the approval of his fellow citi- zens. He was born at Port Homer, Jefferson County, Ohio, February 6, 1866, and is a son of Ephraim W. and Harriet S. (Stewart) Cooper, and grandson of Alexander and Elizabeth (Vantilburg) Cooper.
Alexander Cooper, who was a native of Washington County, Penn- sylvania, migrated in early life to Jeffer-
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son County, Ohio. He was married to Elizabeth Vantilburg, May 12, 1812, and they became the parents of the following children: Sarah, wife of John Travis, both deceased; Jane, wife of -Leatherberry, both deceased; Elizabeth, wife of John Culp, both de- ceased; Susan, wife of Isaac Hukill, both deceased; Henry, deceased ; Alex- ander, Jr., deceased; Ann Eliza, wife of Silas Householder, both deceased ; Francis V., deceased; Nancy, widow of Mathias Householder ; and John and Ephraim W., who live in Jefferson County, Ohio.
Ephraim W. Cooper was born in Jefferson County, Ohio, June 24, 1834. and is now engaged in fruit growing on an extensive scale, his earlier life hav- ing been devoted to mercantile busi- ness. He is a well known and sub- stantial citizen. He has the honor of serving as justice of the peace in his county longer than any other man in the State of Ohio. He is a Republican and has always taken an active part in political affairs. He was united in mar- riage with Martha A. Cole, of Jeffer- son County, Ohio; she died in one year after their marriage, leaving an infant daughter, named Jennie S., who died at the age of 18 years, being at the time of her death a member of the graduating class of the Wellsville High
School. Mr. Cooper was again mar- ried, on the 12th day of April. 1865, to Harriet S. Stewart, of Hancock County, West Virginia. She was born on the 22nd day of August, 1838, and is a daughter of James and Cathar- ine (Fibbs) Stewart, and a grand- daughter of Col. George Stewart, de- ceased.
Col. George Stewart was born in Ireland, and immigrated to America previous to the Revolutionary War, locating in the eastern part of Pennsyl- vania. He served in the Colonial Army as colonel and bore an honorable record. Whilst that memorable strug- gle was in progress, he paid a short visit to his home. One day during the period of this visit, three Tories, or British sympathizers, entered the house of a widow lady in the vicinity, and con- ducted themselves in such a shameful and discourteous manner that the lady and her daughter were greatly alarmed. Colonel Stewart was dispatched for and immediately went to their assist- ance, captured the three men and held them as prisoners until he could report to headquarters, when they were justly dealt with. When capturing them, he relieved them of a sword, bayonet and pistol, which remained in the possession of the Stewarts until a few years ago. Colonel Stewart was married to a lady
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in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania ; she died after a union of 15 years, leaving a family of six children, namely : John, George, Joseph, David, Robert and Charles. Colonel Stewart was again married, after the lapse of a few years, to Susan Wilson; six children were born to them: Samuel; William ; Benjamin ; James, grandfather of our subject ; Mary and Ross. At an early day he moved with his family to Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, and in 1790 they migrated to Grant district, Hancock County, Virginia, now West Virginia, settling on a farm owned later by Franklin Stewart. On this farm Colonel Stewart remained until his death which occurred about 1800. His relict survived him until 1842, when she too departed this life.
James Stewart, father of Mrs. Ephraim W. Cooper, was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, in 1787, and removed with his father to Hancock County in 1790. He lived there until his death in 1869, and his wife followed him to the unknown beyond in 1871. He married Catharine Fibbs, and shortly after their marriage they located on a tract of land now in possession of Samuel Stewart's heirs. Eleven children were born to bless their union, namely: Mary Ann, wife of James Pugh, both deceased : Mrs. Eliza
White, deceased; Jane, deceased, who was the wife of David S. Anderson; Harriet S., wife of Ephraim W. Cooper ; Margaret, deceased; George, deceased ; John, deceased; Charles, de- ceased; William, deceased : Samuel, deceased ; and Robert, who lives at Colfax, Iowa.
Seven children were born to Eph- raim W. and Harriet S. (Stewart) Cooper, namely: Armor S., our sub- ject ; Edwin W .; Lorena B., wife of Dr. W. L. Carroll; Dr. Chase D .; R. Hayes; George W., who died in child- hood ; and Charles A.
Armor S. Cooper was reared in Jefffferson County, Ohio, and educated in the public schools. He graduated from Duff's Commercial College in 1886, after which he engaged in the steamboating business as a partner of T. J. Garlick and others, under the name of the Silver Cliff Towboat Company, operating between Pittsburg. Pennsyl- vania, and Louisville, Kentucky, for a period of three years. He then with- drew from that business and became identified with the Shetter Foundry & Machine Company, of which he was- secretary and treasurer for several years. He has been a resident of New Cumberland since 1888. In 1896 he became a candidate for the office of county clerk of Hancock County, and
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his election followed; he took charge of the office in January, 1897. In 1902, he was re-elected for a second term of six years, and is now serving in that office.
Mr. Cooper was united in marriage October 6, 1887, to Mame V. Thomas, of Hancock County, a daughter of William and Sarah A. (Collver) Thomas, who reside at Moscow, West Virginia. Her father was born June 28, 1847, in Hancock County, his par- ents having migrated from Lynchburg, Virginia, in 1820,-his father's name was William Thomas and his mother's maiden name was Lynch. On the 15th day of February, 1864, at the age of 18 years, the father of Mrs. Cooper re- sponded to the call of his country, enlisting at Wheeling, West Virginia, as a private in the War of the Rebellion, under Capt. Oliver Phelps, in Company B, Ist Vet. Reg., West Virginia Vol. Inf. He was present and took part in Hunter's Raid, and the historic battles of Lookout Mountain, Winchester and Cedar Creek, and was honorably dis- charged from the service at Cumber- land, Maryland, July 21, 1865. Mr. Thomas was united in marriage Janu- ary 21, 1866, to Sarah A. Collver, who was born in Hancock County, May 28, 1848, and is a daughter of the late Levi and Mary Collver. Levi Collver was
born in Canada, February 14, 1805, came to this country in early life and located in Hancock County, Virginia, now West Virginia. On August 3, 1830, he was united in marriage to Mary Latimer, who was born October 21, 1805, and was a daughter of Will- iam and Mary (Brown) Latimer. William Latimer was born in Ireland in 1796 and with his family immi- grated to this country in 1805, settling in Brooke County, Virginia, now West Virginia. Mrs. Mame V. Cooper was born in Hancock County, October 6, 1869, and is one of the following children born to her parents, Edward A .; Mame V .; Charles ; Lewis ; George B .; Hugh W .; Maude E .; Jeffry, de- ceased ; Florence N., deceased ; Bennett, deceased; Harry and Elizabeth.
Three children have blessed the union of our subject and his wife, namely : Walter Waldo, born July 16, 1888: Donald Beaumont, born July 3, 1900, and died November 10, 1902; and Kathryn Virginia, born July 17, 1895. Mr. Cooper has always been an active worker in the Republican party. He is a member of the Methodist Protestant Church, having united with that church when a boy, and has always been much interested and actively en- gaged in church and Sunday-school work.
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E. R. B. MARTIN.
E. R. B. MARTIN, a prominent member of the Pleasants County bar, residing at St. Marys, was born August II, 1874, near Middlebourne, Tyler County, West Virginia, and is a son of Robert B. F. and Laura ( Engle) Mar- tin, the former of whom was a son of Reuben and Nancy (Courtney) Martin, the latter of whom was of Scotch-Irish descent, and was born on the passage from Ireland to New York.
The maternal grandfather of our subject was Christian Engle, whose ancestors came from Saxony. Chris- tian Engle was born in Greene County, Pennsylvania, in 1817, and came to what is now West Virginia in 1837, by way of the Monongahela and Ohio rivers, stopping first at Sistersville, and
then proceeding to Middlebourne, where he still resides at the age of 85 years. Christian Engle is perhaps more widely known as an old pioneer and useful citizen than any other West Vir- ginian. For 42 years he served con- tinuously as Circuit Court clerk of Ty- ler County and was the first deputy clerk of the combined Circuit and County courts before the separation, and went out of office in 1897. This is the most remarkable public record in the State. He was noted for his mar- velous memory,-of people, papers, events, and it has been said that he was better posted in common law practice than most of the lawyers, who fre- quently consulted him. It was under this very capable man that the subject of this sketch gained his most valuable knowledge of the common law, which led him into the study of the law and eventually to his admission to the bar. The wife of Christian Engle, Amy Hartley, was of English, Irish and Ger- man extraction, and was born in Greene County, Pennsylvania, in 1818, and died in 1898. The Engles and Hart- leys came together to West Virginia. The Courtneys settled in Monongalia County, Virginia, now West Virginia. The Martins were of German descent and natives of West Virginia.
Robert B. F. Martin was one of
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the pioneers of Tyler County. He was the seventh member of a family of 12 children. He attended the subscription schools of his day, but they afforded but meager instruction. His occupa- tion was farm work until the outbreak of the Civil War, when at the age of 23 years with his two brothers, Reuben and Anthony, he enlisted for service, in Company K, 7th Reg., West Vir- ginia Vol. Inf. ; he took part in the bat- tles of Antietam and Gettysburg, and after two years was honorably dis- charged. Returning home to Tyler County, he married Laura Engle, eldest daughter of Christian and Amy ( Hart- ley) Engle, and the three children born to this marriage were: Christian R., born October 18, 1865, who is engaged in the practice of law at Middlebourne; Asia, horn March 20, 1867, who is re- siding at home; and E. R. B., of this sketch. R. B. F. Martin has been a very successful business man and practical farmer. Both he and his wife still reside near Middlebourne, aged re- spectively 65 and 62 years. Mrs. Mar- tin is a lady who possesses literary abil- ity. Had she been given advantages in youth she would doubtless have be- come widely known as a writer of verse.
Our subject was educated in the common schools of West Virginia and then took a complete business course at
Wheeling, where he graduated in 1894. Then he entered the University of West Virginia at Morgantown, where he graduated with the degree of LL. B., in IS98. When but 17 years old he began to teach school, following this vocation for two years in Tyler Coun- ty, subsequently becoming principal of the Middlebourne High School. He also served on the Tyler County Board of Education for the examination of teachers. It was in 1893 that he began the desultory study of the law, in con- nection with various other occupations, and in July 1898, he was admitted to practice, and opened up an office with Hon. T. P. Jacobs at Mannington, where he remained eight months, and then moved to St. Marys in 1899, where he entered into partnership with Hon. W. S. Allen, now at Parkersburg. Owing to ill health, he gave up his office practice in 1900 and engaged in outdoor occupa- tion of leasing oil lands in the interest of the South Penn Oil Company, under S. S. Miller, district superintendent. A year later he severed this connection and formed a partnership with Hon. Clyde B. Johnson, of the St. Marys bar, which has resulted in the upbuild- ing of one of the most prominent and able law firms of West Virginia.
In politics Mr. Martin has been a
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lifelong Republican, this being a family trait, and he has devoted much study to the fundamental principles of this party and is a man thoroughly informed on all affairs pertaining to State and national as well as civic matters.
On February 6, 1900, Mr. Martin was married to Jessie E. Stealey, daughter of L. L. and Mary H. (Bill- ingsley) Stealey, of Tyler County. They have one son, Bruce, born July 14, 1902. Their beautiful home is sitt- ated on the Ohio River, in St. Marys.
GENIUS PAYNE.
GENIUS PAYNE, president of the Salem Bank, at Salem, Harrison County. West Virginia, and one of the large land owners and oil producers of
that county, was born November 25, 1844, on the West Fork River, three miles from Clarksburg, Harrison County, Virginia, now West Virginia. He is a son of Thomas T. and Henri- etta (Smith) Payne, the former of whom was born April 8, 1814, in Fauquier County, Virginia, being a son of Turner and Lucy ( Payne) Payne.
The Paynes are old residents of Virginia, the family having been estab- lished there at an early day by four brothers from England. It has been an agricultural family.
Turner Payne was a son of Thomas Payne, who died in Virginia. Turner Payne and his family removed to West- ern Virginia about 1840, remaining for a time in Taylor County and then set- tled in Harrison County on the Judge Lee place, on the West Fork River, now known as the Gore farm. Turner Payne and Lucy Payne had four chil- dren, namely : Francis B., who spent his life in Harrison County; Susan, who never married; Thomas T., who died August 19, 1899; and Sarah,-all are now deceased. The grandfather of our subject died in 1862, aged 82 years, his wife having died in 1850.
Thomas T. Payne, the father of Genius Payne, lived to the age of 85 years. He was twice married. The mother of Genius Payne died in 1854,
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leaving four children, viz. : Amos, of Clarksburg; Olivia, wife of Jacob Romine, of West Milford; Lucy, widow of Scott Davidson, deceased, of West Milford; and Genius, of this sketch. The second marriage of Mr. Payne was to Elizabeth Thompson, and the two children of this union were : Maggie, wife of M. D. Stewart, of Clarksburg; and Nancy Bird, wife of R. A. Garrett, also of Clarksburg.
Genius Payne was reared on a farm and was educated in the local schools. Until the age of 24 years he was oc- cupied on his father's farm and in the neighborhood of Wilsonburg, within four miles of Clarksburg. When he started out for himself, it was as a farmer on rented land. This property he now owns and on a part of it there have been successful oil developments. His father owned 140 acres near Jarvis- ville; Mr. Payne has added to the original tract and now owns 450 acres. He was one of the early experimenters in oil and holds the record of being the first man to sell oil that was pro- duced and marketed in Harrison County, the first transaction taking place September 13, 1897. The oil was run into market by way of the Eureka Pipe Line and was sold for 69 cents per barrel. Mr. Payne also owns tracts in different sections and valuable lands
in Kansas. Since October 27, 1898, he has been president of the Salem Bank, and, since 1900, a resident of Salem. On January 14, 1869, Mr. Payne married Amanda C. Hammond, who was born on Lambert's Run, about six miles north of Clarksburg, and is the second member of a family of eight children born to Joseph and Susanna (Ash) Hammond, the others being : John, who lives near the old homestead; Margaret, who died aged 14 years ; Joseph A .. who lives two miles north of Clarksburg; Peter H., who resides at Los Angeles, California; Andrew Jackson, who is deceased; Etta, who is the wife of George Elliott ; and D. W., who lives on the old homestead. Both the Hammonds and Ashes are old West Virginia families. Mrs. Payne's great-grandfather came from Germany and founded the family, and his son Peter was her grandfather. Joseph Hammond is of Irish and German descent and is a son of Robert Ham- mond, also an early settler. Both Mr. and Mrs. Hammond reside on the old homestead where Mrs. Payne was born.
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