USA > West Virginia > Barbour County > The history of Barbour County, West Virginia, from its earliest exploration and settlement to the present time > Part 51
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First Wilson Homestead West of the Alleghanies-Near Beverly.
that he lived in Scotland and was born about 1650, and had a son David, born about 1685. This David Wilson, the second, took part in the Scotch rebellion of 1715, and being on the losing side, was compelled to leave his native country. He went to Ireland, and so far as there is any record he spent the remainder of his days there. At any rate he was still living in that country in 1722, in which year his son William was born, who settled in Hardy County. Thus the subject of this sketch, Lewis Wilson, traces his ancestry two and a half centuries unbroken, and the descent is thus summarized: Lewis Wilson was the son of William F., who was the son of William, who was the son of William, who was the son of David, who was the son of David Wilson the first. Five generations extend 250 years, which is fifty years to the generation. They are long-lived, for ordinarily a generation is only thirty-three years, and five generations would be 165 years. The descendants of William Wilson, who settled in Hardy County, counting both the dead and the living, probably number two thousand, although it is impossible now to take a full census of them. They are found all over West Virginia, and in many parts of the United States.
SOLOMON THOMAS WILSON, born in Maryland 1841, son of William P. and Eliza A. (Simmons) Wilson, was married in 1867 to Elizabeth, daughter of Benjamin O. and Matilda (Wooden) Ware. Children, Laura V., John W., Mattie B., Henry F., James S., Francis C., Benjamin K., Cora E., Eliza A. Harriet B., William H. and Blanch. He is a member of the German Baptist Church, a Republican and a farmer, living on Sugar Creek, where he owns 400 acres, nearly all improved and in sod, and on which he now grazes sixty- nine cattle. His daughter Mattie, married Ashford W. Stalnaker, a farmer of Glade District; his son James S., married Mertie, daughter of John C.
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FAMILY HISTORY.
Right, a merchant at Huffman, Barbour County. His son Benjamin K., is a student at Buckhannon.
JOHN WILSON, born 1864, near Valley Furnace, is a son of Joseph and Loutta C. (Gainer) Wilson. In politics he is a Democrat, and by profession a teacher. He lives on Mill Run, a branch of Teter's Creek.
JOHN R. WILLIAMSON, born 1817, son of Archibald Williamson, was twice married, and following are the names of his children: Virginia, Edwin D., Columbia A., James A., Mary Florence, George F. Augusta and Laura. The grandfather of the subject of this sketch, came from Scotland and settled in Taylor County. Mr. Williamson was identified with almost every beneficient enterprise of a public nature which came before the people. He was the first Sheriff elected in Barbour County after the adopt- ion of the Constitution of 1852. In all, Mr. Williamson was Sheriff of Bar- bour seventeen years. He accumulated property, which at his death, was considered worth eighty thousand dollars. His farming operations were on a large scale and usually successful. He died in 1876.
JAMES A. WILLIAMSON, born 1846 on Bonica Run, died 1895; son of John R. Williamson, was married in 1869 to Syrena, daughter of Minor and Abigail (Bartlett) Lake. Children, John Omar, Delta A., Thomas E., Guy A., Bessie O., Harold A. Mr. Williamson was an Odd Fellow, a Democrat, and a farmer, residing on Whitman Run where he owned 475 acres, mostly improved, and still in possession of his widow. He was Sheriff of Barbour County two terms. Mrs. Williamson's people are of Irish descent, the grandfather being raised in Taylor and his father in Barbour County.
ABRAHAM WARE, born 1822, at Valley Head, Randolph County, son of James Randolph and Dorothy (Mace) Ware, was married October 5, 1862, in Barbour County, to Diannah, daughter of Conrad and Elizabeth (Harper) Carpenter. Children of Mr. Ware are as follows: Eugenus, Marshall, Enoch, Dororthy, Joseph Worth, James K., Charles William Floyd, Rosa Belle, Daniel, Henrietta, Ida Ellen, Allie and Ada. He is a member of the U. B. Church, is a Republican, and a carpenter and a farmer, residing on Big Flat in Valley District. He has held the office of Constable. His father was born in 1822, and his grandfather was Richard Ware. Ware's Ridge in Randolph County was named from Richard Ware, the first of the family to cross the Alleghanies. Shortly after the Civil War Abraham Ware put up a shop and manufactured household articles, especially chairs, and nearly every home in Valley District has one or more of the Ware chairs. It was on Mr. Ware's farm that Daniel Carpenter found a rattlesnake den, killed thirteen of the reptiles in one fight and almost lost his sight, as was supposed from poison in the air. It was also on this farm that Mr. Carpenter, who was a noted hunter, killed his last buck, and lost his hunt- ing knife. All seven of Mr. Ware's sons are carpenters. Eugenus and Enoch are jewelers, Joseph runs a carpenter shop, and James K. is a far-
'IN is. F.D. Tolook.
D. C.Talbot.
F
Pers. G. V. Gall. Bessie Gall.
Dr. E. D. Talboti
Lania Glaire Gall.
RESIDENCE OF MRS. E. D. TALBOTT.
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FAMILY HISTORY.
mer and teacher, having been born in 1872, and on November 5, 1893, he married Mary Emmaline, daughter of Haymond and Catherine, (Rinehart) Coberly. Their child, Alston Dayton, was born July 5, 1897. Mr. Ware is a member of the U. B. Church, is a Republican, and was educated at Buck- hannon and at the American Correspondence Normal of Dansville, New . York. Joseph Worth Ware married Samantha Jane, daughter of Simon and Louisa (Hewitt) Poling, and has four children, Simon Porter, Mertie Albert and George Dewey. In politics he is a Republican. In 1898 he lost his right leg by the accidental discharge of a gun.
J. BLACKBURN WARE, born near Belington in 1872, son of Elihu and Lucretia (Booth) Ware. He is a member of the United Brethern Church; in politics a Republican, by profession a lawyer, residing at Belington. He was educated in the public schools, the Normal and Classical Academy (1895) and in the Law Department of the West Virginia University (1897). He taught school six years, two years as principal of the Belington school.
DANIEL BURDETT WARD, born 1862, son of Abraham R. and Barbara E. (Cool) Ward, was married February 26, 1883, to Hattie U., daughter of John N. and Caroline (Hickman) Van Horn. Children, Otis A. and Emmett K. He is a member of the M. P. Church, is a Republican, a mechanic, and resides at Peel Tree, where he is post master and Notary Public, and was four years Justice of the Peace. He was educated in the public schools, and was four years secretary of the Board of Education of Union District. His great grandfather came from England and settled in Pennsylvania. Mr. Ward's father was born in Barbour, on Big Run, and at present resides in Lewis County.
SIMON WINANS, born near the Buckhannon River, in 1833, son of Ben- jamin and Catherine (Simons) Winans, was married to Elizabeth, daugh- ter of Joseph Teets. Children, Louisa, Olive A., Benjamin, Margaret Catherine. He is a member of the M. E. Church, and of the G. A. R., is a Republican and a farmer. In 1862 he entered the Union army and fought until the close of the war, taking part in many hard battles. His ancestors were Virginians, and were of a hardy race.
ALBA WOLVERTON, born near Meadowville, 1870, son of Charles F. and Rebecca A. (Smith) Wolverton, was married at Philippi, March 25, 1892, to S. Clara, daughter of Alpheus P. and Jane R. (Thompson) Wilson. He is a member of the Missionary Baptist Church, a Democrat, a farmer and a civil engineer. He was elected County Surveyor of Barbour in 1892, and served four years. He lives on Bonica Run, and owns 36 acres, largely improved. After teaching eight years he began surveying, and has been following that for nine years, working not only for some of the leading companies and landowners of Barbour, but also in Randolph, Upshur, Tucker, Preston and Harrison Counties. Mr. Wolverton traces his ances- try back seven generations, through the Brown family. Beginning with
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FAMILY HISTORY.
himself, the line is as follows: His father, Charles F. Wolverton, married Rebecca Smith. The father of Charles was Benjamin M. Wolverton, who was born at Romney, West Virginia, 1828, and in 1847 married Ann Brown, who was born near Evansville, Preston County, 1823. She was a daughter of George Brown, who was born 1789, married Sarah F. Bartlett in 1819 and died 1862. George was a son of Thomas Brown, who was born 1760 in Prince William County, Virginia, and in 1785 married Anna Ash, and died 1844 in Preston County. Thomas was a son of William Brown, who was born in Prince William County about 1725, married Elizabeth Buckner in 1756, and died in 1807. He was a son of William Brown of the same county, who died before 1732, but the date of whose birth, or the facts of whose marriage, have not been ascertained.
JASPER WINCE, born 1848 in Monongalia County, son of Alexander and Hannah (Currence) Wince, was married May 19, 1872, to Loverna Cath- erine, daughter of Asberry P. and Mary (Hardesty) Sturm. He is a Southern Methodist, a Democrat and a farmer, being superintendent of the Barbour County Poor Farm, on Taylor's Drain. Six years he was a member of the Board of Education. His farm of 47 acres in Glade District is all under cultivation. The Poor Farm has been brought to a high state of cultiva- tion under his management. His grandfather came from Germany to West Virginia, and his Grandmother Currence was born in the fort at Morgan- town and lived to be 96 years old. Smith Wade Wince, his son, has taught school four years.
FRANCIS MARION WATRING, born 1844 in Barbour County, son of John and Catherine (Gainer) Watring, was married near his present home Octo- ber 12, 1865, to Amanda Jane, daughter of Jacob and Lettis Ann (Poling) Sturm. Children, William Arthur, Victoria, Ida, married Andrew Miller; Victoria, married Oscar Kelley. Mr. Watring belongs to the United Breth- ren Church, is an Odd Fellow, a Democrat and a farmer, owning 125 acres, three miles east of Philippi, mostly improved, with a good orchard and un- derlaid with coal. He has been a member of the Board of Education. His great grandfather came from Germany and settled in Preston County.
JOHN C. WILLOUGHBY, born on French Creek, Upshur County, 1845, son of Alfred and Elizabeth (Carter) Willoughby, was married July 1, 1891, at Philippi, to Valeria, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John C. and Elizabeth (Knapp) Bennett. He is a Missionary Baptist and a farmer, living two miles west of Philippi. On his father's side his people are Irish, his grand- father, Joshua Willoughby, came from Ireland and settled in Nelson County, Virginia, whence his son came to West Virginia about 1850. The Carters came into West Virginia from Virginia. Mrs. Willoughby was born 1848.
Y
FRANKLIN JEFFERSON YOWELL was born December 24, 1824, in Cul-
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FAMILY HISTORY.
peper County, Virginia, son of William and Semphronia (Hawkins) Yowell. Mrs. Yowell's father's name was William Hawkins. Mr. Yowell was twice married, first, December 27, 1849, on Simpson's Creek, to Zepporah, daugh- ter of John G. and Nancy (Goodwin) Bartlett; second, November 10, 1880, to Ruth Tyson. Mr. Yowell's children were, Marcellus, Vitellius, John Floyd, Semphronia, William Chester, Victoria. He is a Missionary Bap- tist, and was one of the charter members of the Point Pleasant Church at its organization in 1853, and for twenty years was Church Clerk. He is a Democrat and has held the office of Justice of the Peace sixteen years, and was six years a member of the county court. He owns a highly improved farm of 100 acres, underlaid with coal, on Simpson's Creek, and engages principally in grazing. His grandfather, William Yowell, emigrated from Scotland and settled in Culpeper County, Virginia. The subject of this sketch settled in Harrison County in 1847, and two years later his father, with his family, came, but after a sojourn of one year, moved to Iowa. The father served in the Mexican War, and the grandfather in the War of 1812. The youngest son of J. F. Yowell, William Chester, lives at the old home- stead, where he has made his home after extensively traveling over the western country as far as the Rocky Mountains. He was born in 1866, and and on January 2, 1890, was married to Abbie, daughter of George G. and Mary Catherine (Lake) Cleavenger. Children, Walker, Russell, Ruby C. and Minnie L.
MARY CLARA YOUNG was born in Upshur County, and is a teacher in Union District, Barbour County, having by her perseverance gained a superior education, and having successfully taught four schools. The cause of education in the county has had an able advocate inher, and by her labor in the field of popular learning she has, both by precept and example, con- tributed to the upbuilding of the public schools.
Z
AGUSTUS J. ZINN, born in 1844, on the head of Shook's Run, son of Isaac and Elizabeth (Carlin) Zinn, was married September 12, 1867, at Bear's Run, to Mary Catherine, daughter of George and Louisa (Reed) Kerr. Children, Charlotte, Charles L., Asa G., Emory Otto, Oscar, E. Dowden, Herbert Goff. He is a member of the M. E. Church; a Republican and a farmer, living on the head of Shook's Run, where he owns 125 acres of highly improved land, including a sugar grove and strawberry garden. He had the first wheat reaped by machtnery in Barbour. The Carlins came from Ireland, and the grandfather of the subject of this sketch settled near Wheeling on an island; and the grandfather on the other side, Peter Zinn, married Phoebe Chriss, and settled on the old Zinn homestead near Philippi. The Kerrs came from Highland County, Virginia. Charles Zinn married a daughter of David Smith, and Asa G. married Roberta J. Utz.
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FAMILY HISTORY.
WILLIAM HARRISON ZINN, born 1846 near Philippi, son of David and Louisa Zinn, was married April 15, 1869, on Shook's Run, to Lucinda, daughter of John and Rebecca (Thompson) Corder. Their child's mane is Delbert W. Mr. Zinn is a Missionary Baptist and resides on Taylor's Drain, where he is engaged in farming and gardening. He owns 56 acres of highly improved land, on which he grows strawberries, raspberries and fruits. In educational matters he has always taken much interest, having given his son a good education and made of him a successful teacher.
SYLVANUS W. ZINN, born at the old Zinn homestead, one and a half miles west of Philippi, 1859; son of Alpheus and Lucinda (Gawthrop) Zinn, was married November 11, 1884, at the Adam Woodford homestead, to Lurina, daughter of Hensley and Caroline (Woodson) Harris. Children, Aubrey Lee, Ressa Ann, Rosetta, Lacy Glenn, Bertha Eoline, Gladys. He is a member of the Missionary Baptist Church, is a Democrat, a farmer and inventor. He owns 85 acres of improved land two miles west of Philippi, and handles fine grades of stock. He introduced, crossed and led up a new variety of wheat called the Zinn's Golden, which is a cross of the Fulse and Golden strains. It produces as high as 36 bushels to the acre and is preeminently suited to the soil of this country, and stands the win- ters well. He has also crossed and has introduced a valuable variety of corn and in addition has introduced a new wagon, and a new spike-tooth lever harrow. He invented and introduced a new land-roller. He introduced the first machine into Barbour for weaving wire fence.
JOHN AVIS ZINN, born in Barbour County 1848, son of David and Louisa Zinn, was married at Isaac Talbott's, on Hacker's Creek, March 20, 1872, to Mary Maneta, daughter of Isaac and Martha (Mitchell) Talbott. Children, Albert S. and Dora Belle. Mr. Zinn is a member of the Baptist Church, an Odd Fellow, a carpenter and painter, residing on the head of Hacker's Creek where he owns 50 acres of improved land. His ancestry was English, Irish and German. Mrs. Zinn was born April 17, 1855.
WILLIAM DAVIDSON ZINN, born at the old Zinn homestead west of Philippi, in 1857, son of Alpheus and Lucinda (Gawthrop) Zinn, was mar- ried at Grafton, West Virginia, October 23, 1879, to Florence, daughter of Festus Swearengen. Children, Dorrance Dana and Gay. He is a member of the Baptist Church and contributed largely to the construction of the house of worship at Mt. Olive in 1884. He is a Democrat and a farmer and stockdealer, residing on Shook's Run, where he owns 164 acres of highly improved land. He has also valuable land interests in Randolph, on which he grazes 100 cattle and 150 sheep. In his farming operations he has steadily improved on the methods formerly employed, and has become what may be called a man who farms with his head as well as with his hands. He was formerly an active worker along educational lines, and was twice elected Superintendent of the schools of Barbour County and
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FAMILY HISTORY.
left the imprint of his labor upon them. He was, in the earlier part of his life, a teacher, who completed nineteen successful terms in Barbour and adjoining counties. In 1880 he conducted a summer normal at St. George, Tucker County; and later taught at Newburg, Preston County. He received his education in the public schools, in the West Virginia College at Flemington, and in the Fairmont Normal School. Mrs. Zinn, born in 1857, was formerly also a successful teacher in fifteen different schools. She was educated at the Presbyterian Institute at Charleston, West Vir- ginia, and at Fairmont. Mrs. Lucinda Ann Zinn, mother of the subject of this sketch, was born near Pruntytown, Taylor County, in 1825, the daugh- ter of James and Hulda (Waldo) Gawthrop. On January 4, 1854, she married, in Taylor County, Alpheus, son of Peter and Catherine (Chriss) Zinn. Their children were, William Davidson, Sylvanus Waldo, Luella and Claudius A. By a former marriage with a daughter of John H. Wood- ford, Alpheus Zinn had three children, Virginia C., Nancy E. and Rezin C. Mrs. Zinn belongs to the Baptist Church, and her father was one of the pioneers in that church in this State, preaching in Harrison, Preston, Randolph, Marion, Taylor, Ritchie and Wood counties. His great, great grandfather was Thomas Gawthrop, an Englishman who came to America and founded the family in this country.
CHARLES I. ZIRKLE, born in Barker's District in 1871, son of Jacob and Rebecca (Sluss) Zirkle, was married July 1, 1897, to Georgia, daughter of Albert G. and Rosanna J. (Jones) Wilson. Their child's name is J. Albert. He is a member of the M. E. Church, the Junior Order of United American Mechanics; in politics is Republican, and by occupation is editor of the Philippi Republican and commissioner in chancery of the circuit court of Barbour County. Mr. Zirkle graduated in 1894 from West Vir- ginia Seminary at Buckhannon, and the same year was elected superinten- dent of the schools of Barbour and served four years. He has engaged earnestly in educational work, teaching both public and private schools in Barbour, among them being normal schools at Belington in 1895 and 1896, in connection with M. C. Lough. Mr. Zirkle became editor of the Republican in 1896 and has kept the paper fully up to the high standard of excellence which it has always borne. He owns a fine home in Philippi at the corner of Pike and High Streets. The first man wounded in the Civil War, in West Virginia was shot while in a stable, June 3, 1861, on the site where his residence now stands, a fuller account of which may be found elsewhere in this book.
JOHN H. ZIRKLE, born 1874 in Valley District, son of Jacob and Rebecca (Sluss) Zirkle, is junior editor of the Philippi Republican. He is a member of the M. E. Church, of the Junior Order of American Mechanics, and in politics is Republican. He was educated at the West Virginia Con- ference Seminary, at Buckhannon,
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