USA > West Virginia > Prominent men of West Virginia: biographical sketches, the growth and advancement of the state, a compendium of returns of every election, a record of every state officer; > Part 62
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CHARLES M. SHINN.
LMOST with the political creation of the State came within its limits for residence the journalist heading this sketch. He was born December 30, 1847, in Marshall county, Kentucky, but was reared and educated to the age of sixteen in the public schools of Southern Illinois. He became connected with the Fairmont West Virginian, at the age of twenty, in the first year of its existence. He sold out in 1876, but again became asso- ciated in its publication in March, 1884, and has so continued to this hour. His journal is the voice and exponent of Repub- lican principles for its county and section, and is edited and con- ducted with vim, prudence and ability. He was a candidate at the age of 22, by nomination of his party, for the House of Del- egates, but was defeated by only forty-six votes. At the age of twenty-nine he was the candidate upon the State ticket for Au- ditor in 1876. He served several years at Washington in the Revenue Bureau and then in the Pension Department. During the campaign of 1888, he was the active and able President of the State League of Republican Clubs, and was re-elected to that responsible party position for another term. Under Com- missioner of Internal Revenue, John W. Mason, he was ap- pointed by President Harrison and now holds the Chiefship of the Stamp Division in Washington City.
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WEST VIRGINIA.
JOHN EVAN PRICE.
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OHN E. PRICE, who is of Welch and German descent, was born, September 24, 1840, on Dunbar creek, Monon- galia county, Virginia ; was raised on a farm, and is an agri- culturist and surveyor by occupation. He was a student at the school of J. R. Moore in Morgantown when the rebellion began, and enlisted as a private soldier in Company A, Third West Virginia Infantry, and served until the war closed. In 1868 he was elected County Surveyor, and served four years. From 1881 to 1888 he was a Deputy Sheriff and rode on the West side of the Monongahela river. He represented Monongalia county in the House of 1885, and served on two very important committees of Judiciary and Military Affairs. The two principal measures of legislation were Prohibition, and Co-Education for the State University. In his advocacy and vote he was in the affirmative upon both bills.
JOHN ALEXANDER EWING.
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OHN A. EWING was born October 11, 1845, in Marshall county, Virginia, and lived on the farm with his parents, William and Martha Ewing. When he was fifteen years old his father died. In 1865 he was clerk for several months in a store, and then attended an academy for three months. In 1866 he re- moved to Catlettsburg, Kentucky, and again entered a store as salesman. In 1868 he returned to Marshall county and began the study of law in Moundsville. He was admitted to the Bar in 1871, and has been engaged in practice in that and adjoining counties ever since. In May, 1876, he was elected to the City Council, and in the fall of that year, on the resignation of Mayor Baker was ap- pointed to the vacancy. In 1878 he was elected to the State Leg- islature. Since that time he has been almost constantly connected with the municipal government. In 1887 Governor Wilson ap- pointed him Superintendent of the Penitentiary, to fill a vacancy until the meeting of the Legislature. He was married, May 14, 1872, to Mary V., daughter of William and Ann H. Blake, of Moundsville. He is an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and takes a leading part in church work. He is a man of sterling integrity, and is a good lawyer.
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PROMINENT MEN OF
A:LITTLE.
J. H. BROWNFIELD, M.D.
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WEST VIRGINIA.
JAMES H. BROWNFIELD.
NE of the few men of the old or new Virginia who would never accept political office when importuned, is Dr J. H. Brownfield, having, as he says, always preferred to devote his time and energies to his profession. He did once allow him- self to be made Chairman of the Republican County Committee of Marion, but resigned as soon as he defeated the enemy. He was born in Fayette County, Pa., July 5, 1836, was educated at the University in Lewisburg of that state, received his medical training at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia. He was merchandising from 1856 to '57, but quit it to study medicine, and began practice in 1860, continuing it to the present. He was President of the Fairmont Independent School district, and at one time Mayor of Fairmont, and was also the State Medical Examiner for the Knights of Honor, and U. S. Pension Exam- ining Surgeon. During the late war he was Assistant Surgeon of the 14th regiment West Va. Vols.
Few professional gentlemen are more devoted to their calling, more scrupulous in its exercise, and more properly esteemed therefor than is Dr. Brownfield.
J. PHILLIP CLIFFORD.
J. PHILLIP CLIFFORD was born in Clarksburg, Harrison , county, Virginia, December 13, 1857, and has always re- sided there. He was educated at St. Vincent's College, Wheel- ing, West Virginia, and at Rock Hill College, Ellicott City, Maryland. He studied for the legal profession at the University of Virginia, and after rigid examination before the Supreme Court of Appeals of that State, was admitted to practice in 1881. He was at one time a merchant, but abandoned a mercantile for a professional life and has since continued to be an Attorney-at- Law. The people elected him Prosecuting Attorney of Harrison county for four years from January 1st, 1889. Mr. Clifford was married, May 18, 1886, to Miss Calore V. Stout, and their home has been blessed with one child, Lucy Clare. As one of the promising young men of the Harrison Bar, and as an ardent member of the Republican party, there is a bright and useful future before him.
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PROMINENT MEN OF
FELIX JOSEPHUS BAXTER.
MONG the members of the West Virginia Senate in 1877 and '79 was F. J. Baxter who was elected from the Moun- tain district to serve his constituents, and did so with that ener- gy and intelligence characteristic of our brawny mountain men. He was born in Sutton, West Virginia, August 10, 1830, and has never resided outside the State. The common schools and his own rearing, study and observation fitted him for the varied duties he has since performed with credit to himself. He was salesman in a store about the time he arrived at maturity ; but having prepared therefor, he began practicing law in Braxton county, and has since continued it, having been Prosecuting At- torney for that and Nicholas county at different times. He also engaged in farming, and was Surveyor of Braxton county from '55 to '58. He was a soldier in the late war, and also ably rep- resented his district in the State Senate. In 1889 he was United States Fish Commissioner, serving acceptably to the Government and profitably to the people of the State.
GEORGE BOONE MOFFATT.
HIS able physician, George B. Moffatt, was born October 20, 1820, in broad Augusta county, Virginia. His father died when the son was only five years old. At 15, he entered the classical school of Rev. James Morrison, near Brownsburg, Rock- bridge county, Virginia, and spent four years therein. Then he entered Amherst College, Massachusetts, but, from ill health, was compelled to return South before the close of the session. In 1841 he began the study of medicine under Dr. L. Waddell, of Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, and one year thereafter entered the medical department of Pennsylvania University, and graduated therefrom in 1844. He located in Pocahontas county, Virginia, and in 1846 wedded Margaret E., only child of the late Col. Robert H. Beale. When the war began he rendered professional aid to General Lee's soldiers. In 1862 he volunteered into the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia. Afterwards was trans- ferred as Surgeon to the Forty-ninth Virginia Infantry. After the battle of the Wilderness he was detailed by General Early to take charge of his Division Hospital at Locust Grove. After closing the hospital he rejoined Early's command in the valley, and con- tinued with it till the winter of 1864, when General Gordon took
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command and removed his corps to Petersburg, under whose command he remained till the evacuation of Petersburg and sur- render at Appomatox. After the war he removed to Parkers- burg, where he engaged in his profession. He was appointed by Governor J. B. Jackson, in 1881, as one of the members of the State Board of Health, and at the first meeting of the Board was elected President. He was a member of the State Medical Society of West Virginia, also of the American Public Health Associa- tion and the American Medical Association.
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MILTON SUTTON BRYTE.
M. S. BRYTE was one of the boy patriots in the late war, having enlisted for the Union in the Third Maryland In- fantry at the age of 16, and was commissioned Lieutenant at 17, serving throughout the struggle. After the war he attended George's Creek Academy, Pennsylvania, after which he taught school in Pennsylvania and West Virginia, seven or eight years, in the meantime reading medicine, and then finished the course at Jefferson Medical College, in Philadelphia. He was a mem- ber of his county Board of Examiners six years; also President of the Board of Education, Delegate, from Preston in the session of 1889, and Commander of Gibson Post, No. 88, G. A. R. After being licensed, he practiced medicine at Bruceton, Preston county, where he still continues an honored member of his profession, a skillful and respected physician.
JOSEPH T. McCOMBS.
N Ohio county, Virginia, June 4, 1847, was born the above named Presbyterian elder, soldier and legislator. Until four- teen years old he lived on a farm. At that time his father re- moved the family to Wheeling creek, in Marshall county. He had the benefit of free schools a few years. When only sixteen he enlisted in the Union Army, in Battery D., First Virginia Light Artillery, and served until the war ended, then returned to the farm. He was a member of the House of Delegates, ses- sion of 1887, and was re-elected to the pending one of 1889. He is on Committees of Humane Institutions and Buildings, Peni- tentiary, Immigration and Agriculture, Roads and Internal Navigation. Mr. McCombs is a prosperous merchant at Wolf's Run, Marshall county. I
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PROMINENT MEN OF
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CHAS. P. DORR.
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WEST VIRGINIA.
CHARLES PHILIP DORR.
HE legislative session of 1889 will ever be memorable for two events around which centered the interests and par- tiality of members, the divided favoritism of the people, and the anxiety of the principal actors and expectants-the Sena- torial struggle, and the count of the Gubernatorial returns. In the former proceedings the exciting and suspensive feature was the opposition in the Democratic party, which held a majority of one in joint session, to the re-election of Senator Kenna, and the uncertainty of the probable vote of the labor-elected members.
The member from Webster county, whose portrait stands op- posite this page, for many days in the joint assembly was the observed of all observers. He was born August 12, 1849, in Monroe county, Ohio. He grew up to manhood, the son of a farmer; received an ordinary education; attended high school at Woodsfield; taught common schools awhile; studied law under Amos & Sprigg, and was admitted to the Bar in 1872. He soon after went West, but returned soon after to locate in Fay- ette county, West Virginia. He again taught school, and prac- ticed till he moved into Webster county, where he now resides, and whence he entered the Legislature, session of 1885, having been elected upon the Democratic ticket. In the House of Del- egates of that year he was a member of the Committees of Elec- tions and Privileges, Judiciary, and Mines and Mining, and chairman of that of Military Affairs. In 1887, he was elected Sergeant-at-Arms of the House of Delegates, and became very popular and well known over the entire State.
To the lower House of 1889 he was elected by a Democratic majority of nearly five hundred votes. He was made a member of the Judiciary and Railroad Committees, and chairman of that upon Forfeited and Unappropriated Lands. Amid all the ex- citing hours, himself the frequent center of criticism in joint session, he was active upon the floor of his House in duty to his constituents, and needed legislation for the public good. He introduced a bill to repeal the exemption act of 1881, which was not reached upon the calendar. Framed and urged a bill to repeal the act of 1879, regarding sale of land for taxes. This bill was reported favorably but not reached. He also introduced a bill " to secure fuller and better return of property for taxation, and to prevent omission of property from the personal property
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PROMINENT MEN OF
book." In this he sought to favor the farmer and land owner, and poorer class, by taxing all personal property. With view to a proper adjustment he offered a resolution to call a constitu- tional convention. .
Delegate Dorr's position in opposing the re-election of the Hon. John E. Kenna to the United States Senate, was, as stated on the floor of the House, that his election was not to the best interest of the Democratic party. Finally, when his further per- sistence seemed to lead to a failure to elect, or danger of Repub- lican success, he cast the vote which decided who should serve West Virginia in the United States Senate for the six years from March 4, 1889. In explanation thereof, he said : " I have noth- ing personal against Mr. Kenna, but am his friend. I have heretofore cast my vote against him, because I believed it was for the best interests of the Democracy of the State ; and I believed until a day or two ago that he could not be elected. A month ago, in the presence of the Democratic conference, I then and there announced that I would not vote for him ; but to-day, Mr. President, a different state of affairs exist; we are surrounded by a peculiar condition of things ; we have a prospect of having three Governors and three United States Senators. We are in the midst of a complication of difficulties, and for me to stand here, not only against the members of this body, but against the Democracy of the State, although I think, as I said before, I am right, is hardly fair and just to myself and to them. I have stood here and cast my vote, and I have done it honestly and conscientiously, and yet the blame has been heaped upon me. Now I propose to rest the blame upon somebody else, if neces- sary; and by so doing show that I am no longer the stumbling block. You have heard that Hon. John E. Kenna was the cau- cus nominee of the Democratic party, but that was not the case, and the Democratic members of this House must bear me out in this. We have never had a caucus nominee, and now have none. I have voted against him until the present hour, for reasons I have stated, but now I am going to cast my vote for the Hon. John E. Kenna." He so voted, and Mr. Kenna was accordingly elected to succeed himself in the Senate of the United States.
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WEST VIRGINIA.
JOHN WHITE MITCHELL.
M AJOR JOHN W. MITCHELL, who for a number of years past has been Clerk of the Circuit Court of Ohio county, was born at Wheeling, Virginia, December 31, 1838. He is a grandson of Alexander Mitchell, a native of Pennsylvania, who emigrated to Ohio county, Virginia, in the Indian times. He was employed by the Government as Indian Scout contemporary with the Zanes and McCullochs. His maternal grandfather was John White, who came from Scotland and settled in Wheeling, when the city was a mere village. It is claimed that he erected the first brick house ever built in Wheeling-recently removed by the Steifel Brothers, on Main street, between Eighth and Ninth streets, to give place to a more modern and more sightly edifice. His father was Isaac W. Mitchell, who was several terms Sheriff of Ohio county, and subsequently became a citizen of Missouri, and died at Lexington, some years ago. Major Mitchell was a law student in 1859 and '60; was a Confederate soldier for four years; was Deputy Sheriff of Ohio county from 1876 to 1883, when he was elected to his present position of Clerk of the Circuit Court of Ohio county.
GEORGE A. DUNNINGTON.
G EORGE A. DUNNINGTON was born in Fairmont, Vir- ginia, July 17, 1858. His father, R. C. Dunnington, is a prominent business man in that place. George received a fair common school education, and at the age of fifteen was appren- ticed to learn the printer's trade in the office of The West Vir-" ginian. Later, when the fire of 1876 destroyed the business por- tion of Fairmont, burning the newspaper offices, he formed a partnership with Clarence L. Smith to continue the Index as a business venture. It was raised from the ashes and published during the campaign of 1876, but being a Republican, Mr. Dun- nington was dissatisfied with the Democracy of the paper, sold out his interest and went West. After a brief residence in the employ of a grain merchant in Indianapolis, Indiana, he returned to Fairmont, West Virginia, and in partnership with O. S. McKinney, printed the Supreme Court work. Next he went to Cincinnati, Ohio, and edited a dramatic and society weekly. Resigning this he accepted a Government position in Washing- ton, and after three years service, returned to his native State,
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PROMINENT MEN OF
G. B. GIBBENS.
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WEST VIRGINIA.
and edited the Grafton Sentinel. While at the National Capital he was the regular correspondent of the Oil City Derrick, of Pennsylvania, and his letters were widely copied. For three years he was Secretary of the West Virginia Republican Asso- ciation of Washington City. In 1880 he wrote and published the History of Marion County, a neat octavo volume, which had a large local sale. For the past two years he has been news editor of the Wheeling Daily Intelligencer.
GORDON BUTCHER GIBBENS.
ORDON B. GIBBENS, the present Mayor of Parkersburg, was born in that city, February 19, 1842, he received a fair English education in the select schools of the period, and a prac- tical business training in the store of his father, Jefferson Gib- bens, who was one of the early Mayors under the charter as a city. During the opening days of the war he was an Independ- ent Scout in front of the Union forces. By trade he is a prac- tical printer and engraver. In newspaper life he was local edi- tor of the Gazette in its palmy days, and later of the Daily Times. Along with Dr. James G. Blair, as editor, he established and was publisher and co-proprietor for six years of the Educational Monthly Magazine, the first periodical of its kind in the State. He has been for one term Grand Dictator of the State of the Knights of Honor, and State Representative to the Supreme Lodge of the United States, for two terms; was Treasurer of the Wood County Building Association, then of its successor, the Mutual, now for the tenth year of the Traders'; was Chief Deputy and Cashier during the administration of Col. George W. Patton, United States Marshal for the District of West Vir- ginia, and held a similar position under his successor, Hon. George W. Atkinson ; was Deputy Collector of Internal Revenue under General I. H. Duval, and in April, 1839, as the Republi- can nominee, was elected Mayor of Parkersburg, by a majority of 188 votes, carrying every ward in the city, over one of the most popular Democrats. He is one of the Directors of C., P. & N. Railway Company, which proposes a line of road from Park- ersburg to the Virginia tide-water.
October 16, 1867, he married Florence N., only daughter of the late Rev. James G. Blair, LL.D.
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PROMINENT MEN OF
GEORGE ROBERT TINGLE.
G EORGE R. TINGLE, who from April, 1885, to the incom- ing of the Harrison Administration of 1889, was United States Agent in charge of the Fur and Seal Fisheries in Behring Sea, Alaska, was born March 6, 1836, in Norwich, Muskingum county, Ohio. He removed to Wheeling, March 1, 1852, and began business life in the wholesale shoe store of Tingle & Marsh. In 1853 he was clerk for Tallant & Delaplain, whole- sale dry goods, and became their book-keeper. In 1855 he changed to the grocery house of List & Howell, where he re-
mained until 1858, when he became a member of the firm of Maxwell, Campbell & Tingle, wholesale grocers. He continued therein, building up a good business, until 1866, when Mr. Campbell was elected Sheriff and retired, leaving the firm Max- well & Tingle. In 1870 Mr. Maxwell retired, and in his place W. R. Isham was substituted, and the business was successfully conducted in the firm name of Tingle & Isham until 1876, when by the death of Sheriff Brown, Mr. Tingle was appointed Sheriff, and in the same year was elected to that office. In 1880 he was a candidate for Congressional nomination against three Colonels, but was defeated in the convention. He has served the people of the locality and State as member of City Council, Board of Supervisors, Sheriff, and as Director and President of, the Re- gency Board of Hospital for the Insane. He was Chairman of the Capital Removal Committee, and was successful in urging the transfer temporarily for ten years from Charleston to Wheel- ing. In this contest for the interests of his city and county he made for himself a State record. He was mainly instrumental in organizing the present State Fair Association of West Vir- ginia, and placing it on a solid footing. He has always been active in the furtherance of all enterprises for the benefit of Wheeling and the State. In June, 1882, he removed to Mon- tana, and was soon made the Democratic nominee, and in No- vember, 1884, elected a member of the Legislature from Dawson county, and took a prominent part in all important measures considered by the Legislature during the winter of 1885. In 1885 he was, by President Cleveland, sent in the Government ser- vice to protect our seal interests in far-off Alaska. Even when a merchant he always took an active part in politics, and was Secretary of the Democratic State Executive Committee from
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WEST VIRGINIA.
1864 to 1872, and never hesitated when his party called for his services. He is an Episcopalian, and never turned away empty a worthy applicant for charity. He voted against the ordinance of secession, and for the new State of West Virginia.
JOSEPH VANCE BELL.
OSEPH V. BELL was born in Berkeley county, Virginia,
April 10, 1844; educated at a country school ; was placed in a drug store in Washington, D. C., in 1861 ; in 1866 went into the drug business at Piedmont, but sold out in '69 and opened a dry goods store which was burned out in 1870, when he went into the employ of the" West Virginia Central and Pittsburgh Railroad Company. In 1867-9 was Assistant Assessor of Inter- nal Revenue; was also a City Councilman of Piedmont five years and at one time its Mayor, and a member of the County Court in 1876-'80. He represented Mineral county in the West Vir- ginia Legislature in 1878 and 1880. During the extra session of 1881 his wife was taken seriously ill and died shortly after the adjournment of that body. In 1884 he was appointed Clerk of the Circuit and County Courts of Mineral county to fill a vacancy occasioned by the death of W. T. Head, and at the ensuing election was elected to the same for six years.
ALEXANDER LAUGHLIN.
LEXANDER LAUGHLIN was born at Wheeling, Vir- ginia, January 10, 1834. He began business when a mere lad of sixteen years as a drug clerk; and afterwards, in partner- ship with his brother Samuel, conducted a large wholesale drug store, giving to it his undivided attention until early in the seventies, when he entered the iron business as President of the Benwood Iron Works. For a time he was also President of the Mingo Iron Works, at Mingo, Ohio. In 1878 he resigned the Presidency of the Benwood company, when the Laughlin Nail Company purchased the old Ohio City Iron and Nail Com- pany's mill, at Martin's Ferry, Ohio, and he became its Presi- dent, and remained in that capacity until his death, November 5, 1885. Under his management, it was built up, in seven years time, from a small concern to one of the largest nail mills in the world. He was a man of rare business sagacity, and was highly respected in Wheeling business circles.
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PROMINENT MEN OF
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HON. J. W. MORRISON.
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WEST VIRGINIA.
JAMES WESLEY MORRISON.
N TO endowment of our Mountain State affords employment to more laborers, or is so inviting to the investment of cap- ital as that of the timber of our rich forests, which grandly grace our pure streams and dots picturesquely our everlasting and min- eral supported hills. In this endowment, and its uninterrupted transportation down Elk river to better markets, the State Sen- ator named above takes a pride, and has, from practical knowl- edge, advocated legislation accordingly.
He was born January 10, 1843, in Flatwoods, Braxton county, Virginia, near that point which in the struggle for State House location was called often the geographical center. His ancestors were originally from Scotland, first settling in Pennsylvania, then moving to the Valley of Virginia. His father located in Braxton, in 1830, and there died at over eighty years of age, November 12, 1886. The son received only a limited education in the ordinary schools of the locality. In 1866 he was deputy, and to 1870 Sheriff of the county, and gave general satisfaction.
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