USA > West Virginia > Upshur County > The history of Upshur county, West Virginia, from its earliest exploration and settlement to the present time > Part 52
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The close of the war found G. W. a cripple from the wound received in ser- vice and thus he was obliged to follow a trade or business that would both fur- nish him a living and give opportunity for him to recover from his disabilities. He became a drummer and lived in Nelson County, Va., where he had married a Miss Fox. In 1878 he came to Upshur County and entered upon the mercantile business. A few years hence he lost his wife, who had borne him nine children, seven living and two dead. He was Justice of the Peace of Union District eight years. His second wife was a Miss Vest, and their children numbered five, and his third wife was a Miss Balsley of Nelson County, Va. He is postmaster at Overhill.
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FAMILY HISTORY.
THOMAS P. DAWSON, farmer of Warren District, was born August 7, 1852. His father was Amaziah Dawson and his grandfather was John Dawson, a soldier 'in the war of 1812. His mother was Sarah A. Loudin and his grand- mother was Susan Swisher. He was the only son in a family of five children. His sisters being H. L., wife of John Teets, M. A., Bertie S. and Sarah E.
He married Rachel Smith, the daughter of Philip Smith and Elizabeth Brake, April 22, 1879, and to them has been born one child, Julia Lee Dawson.
Mr. Dawson is one of the leading farmers of the Northern part of the County, takes great interest in politics, has been twice elected Justice of the Peace of Warren District on the Republican ticket and has acted as Deputy Sheriff under A. M. Tenney, Jr.
COL. M. A. DARNALL, was born in Greenbrier County, Va., now West Virginia, November 26, 1827, and was married in 1847 to Jane McDowell and moved to what is now Upshur County, in the year 1849. Mr. Darnall was a blacksmith by trade but left his shop in 1861 and joined the Union army, and was made Captain of Company A, West Virginia Volunteers, and was promoted to Colonel of the 10th West Virginia Volunteers, taking General Harris's place when Colonel Harris was promoted to General.
During the war Mr. Darnall was in many engagements, among them was with Sheridan in his thirty days fighting up the Shenandoah Valley and was also with Grant when he marched on and took Richmond.
After the war Mr. Darnall took up his trade as blacksmith, which he followed almost to his death, in 1882.
Mr. and Mrs. M. A. Darnall raised thirteen children. Among them was H. A. Darnall, the subject of this sketch, who was the seventh son and was born July 12, 1860.
Mr. Darnall was brought up on a farm in Meade District of Upshur County, working on a farm in the summer and attending the district school in winter. After completing the course of study in the free schools, Mr. Darnall graduated from the West Virginia Normal and Classical Academy of Buckhannon, W. Va.
Mr. Darnall taught three terms of school in the Rural districts, two years in the village of French Creek and eleven in the public schools of Buckhannon, W. Va., nine of which he was City Superintendent of schools.
Mr. Darnall served one term as Congressional Committeeman from Upshur County, and one term as Chairman of the Upshur County Republican Executive Committee and was nominated postmaster of Buckhannon, W. Va., in 1902, and re-appointed in 1906. Mr. Darnall was married in 1897, to Carrie M. Loudin, daughter of O. B. and Amelia Loudin, of Warren District, and to them two children have been born, Amelia Beth and Robert Bruce.
Mr. Darnall is a K. of P. and a Free Mason.
ALFRED DEBARR, born August 31. 1878, on Turkey Run. Son of Lafayette DeBarr and Mary Ellen Radabaugh, the daughter of Isaac Radabaugh.
His father was soldier in Company E, 4th West Virginia Cavalry, lives at Ten Mile and is a pensioner.
The subject of this sketch has two sisters, Ida and Lona.
His education is practical, having been acquired in active work on saw mills. railroads and other public enterprises. He is now engaged in the saw mill busi- ness as partner of Andrew Beer. They own a portable mill, which does sawing by contract for whomsoever will pay them the most.
He is also a farmer and during the time when the mill is not in operation, he works considerably on his farm of fifty-five acres, near Ten Mile.
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FAMILY HISTORY.
CATHARINE DEBARR, daughter of George and Rebecca (Rohrbough) Warner, born June 20, 1863. Was married to Smith Debarr by Rev. Samuel T. Westfall ; is his second wife.
Children : Solomon, Ernst S., Ella J., Annie May, Perry, Octavia C., Nannte B., Osie, Edith R.
Smith Debarr, son of William Debarr, was first married to a daughter of James Dean, and their children were Louisa, Leander, Samuel and Columda.
CLEATUS DEAN, is the son of John B. Dean and Julia Burkhammer, was educated in the common schools and taught the carpenter trade by his father.
He married Mary L. Casto, the daughter of George D. Casto and Fanny Crites, the granddaughter of Abram Crites, Jr., and the great granddaughter of Jacob Crites, June 23, 1905.
His wife is the grand daughter of William Casto, the son of David Casto, who married a sister of John Cutright of Sycamore Tree.
William Casto married the daughter of George Westfall, son of Zachariah, son af Jacob, son of James, who built the Westfall fort, near Beverly, in 1777.
His child, Ethel Odella, is dead.
JACOB LLOYD DEAN, is a mechanic and farmer of Union District, was born November 1, 1874. Was educated in the common schools of the County. His parents were George Washington Dean and Lucinda Hinkle, his grandfather was John Dean.
He married Virginia Griffith, October 18, 1894, the daughter of Gideon Griffith and Mary E. Dean.
Children : Ivy Jane, Osie Pearl, William Flinch. Ida Hazen, Elza Raymond. Jesse Albert.
LYDA MARSHALL DEAN, is a farmer of Union District, a native of the County, born September 9, 1866. His parents were Marshall Dean and Louisa Kesling. His paternal grandparents were John Dean and Catherine Heavner. John Dean was a son of John Dean, Sr., who came from England and settled 1. Greenbrier County and was a soldier in the war of 1812.
Catherine Heavner was a daughter of Nicholas Heavner and Mary Propts, both of German descent.
His maternal grandparents were James Kesling and Mary Wamsley. James Kesling was a son of Jacob Kesling, who came from Highland County, Virginia, he was a fifer in the Civil War. Mary Wamsley was the daughter of James Wamsley.
The subject of this sketch married Louisa E. Hinkle, the daughter of Sanson Hinkle and Sarah Jane Musgrave, and the granddaughter of Jehu Hinkle, the son of Jonas. Sarah Jane Musgrave was a daughter of B. B. Musgrave and Caroline Chipps and the granddaughter of David Musgrave of Monongalia County, his son settling in Upshur County in 1840.
The ceremony of marriage was solemnized October 7, 1886, and three children have been born to this union: Harly Elston, born September 26, 1890, Oma Grace, born March II, 1895, Necie Jane, born May 4, 1898.
Mr. Dean owns 152 acres of land on the Buckhannon river near the postoffice of Hinkle.
NATHAN HOMER DEAN, a farmer of Union District was born November 16, 1858, about four miles from where he now resides, a son of Marshall and Louisa (Kesling) Dean and the grandson of John and Catherine (Heavner) Dean.
His father was one of fifteen children of the same parents and his father lived
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FAMILY HISTORY.
to be 87 years of age, saw service in the war of 1812, and lived at Norfolk, Va., at the time of the birth of Nicholas, his oldest son and child. His grandmother belonged to the Heavner family, which is scattered over Randolph, Webster, Braxton, Pocahontas, Pendleton and Upshur Counties, W. Va., and Highland County, Virginia. Both the Deans and Heavners are of German descent and be- long to that large influx of German settlers who came down from Pennsylvania to the Valley of Virginia in the 18th Century.
His mother was a daughter of James and Mary (Wamsley) Kesling, the granddaughter of Jacob Kesling, Sr.
Mary Wamsley is a member of the Wamsley family of Randolph County and of English descent.
Subject of sketch, November 14, 1878, married Martha Frances Hiner, the daughter of Samuel J. Hiner and Christina Michael and the grand daughter of Joseph Hiner of Highland County, Virginia.
Their children are Cyrus, Benton, dead, Samuel W. M. and an infant, dead. Mr. Dean is a Notary Public, has been a member of the Board of Education of Union District for eight years. Is a Republican in politics and a Methodist Protestant in religion.
SOLOMON DEAN was born in the year 1832, and has lived a citizen of Buckhannon all his life. He is a carpenter and farmer, his grandfather, John Dean, emigrated from England and settled in Greenbrier County, his father John moved to Upshur County before the Civil War and during his life related fre- quently to his children his soldier career in the war of 1812. His services in this war entitled him to a pension, which he drew for many years prior to his - death. His father married Catherine Heavner, the daughter of Nicholas Heavner and had retained her German tongue so well that at the time of the marriage she could not speak English. Children of John and Catherine Heavener Dean: Nicholas Dean, who married Elizabeth Barrett, and always lived in this county; William, married the daughter of Jacob Kesling; Julia Ann became the wife of Abraham Rohrbough, who moved to West Fork in Lewis County, and there lived until their deaths; Polly became the wife of Samson Huffman of this County; Matilda became the wife of Valentine Hinkle of this County ; Elizabeth became the wife of John H. Crites; Malinda became the wife of Samuel Sheets, of Harrison county ; Louisa Jane became the wife of A. J. Kesling ; Marshall, married Louisa Kesling, the daughter of James Kesling : he is now 84 years old, and Solomon, who married Ruth A. Kesling, daughter of James Kesling, and to them were born; Jennie, the wife of Senator W. D. Talbot and C. L., who married Emma Sawyer of Randolph County.
The tenth child of John Dean, Sr., was John, Jr., who married a Miss Fury, daughter of Harrison Fury for his second wife and now lives in Illinois; Elias Dean lives in Illinois. George married Lucinda Hinkle, a daughter of Archibald Hinkle ; Jacob married Matilda Reger, daughter of Goodman Reger, and Perry the fifteenth child is now a citizen of Kansas.
HENRY DEMASTES a native of Virginia, born August 10, 1852, and was married to Mary Ellen Walton, the daughter of Arthur T. Walton, October, 1872.
Their son, Willis Robert, was born April 18, 1876, and married Rosa Ann Haymond, the daughter of Marcellus Benton and Elizabeth Jane Haymond, Jan- uary 28, 1897, and their child is Cora Avis.
Willis Robert follows sawmilling and farming for a livelihood. His home is near Canaan Postoffice, on the Little Kanawha River, to which place his parents immigrated in 1872.
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FAMILY HISTORY.
He is a Methodist in religion and a Republican in politics.
JOHN W. DICKENSON, born May 29, 1853 son of Valentine M. Dicken- son and Eliza Wood, a grandson of William Dickenson and Mary Head. His. grandparents lived in Albermarle County, Va., as did also his mother's people, John Wood and Sarah Eggleton. His wife, Rachel E. Mowery, born May 5, 1850, is a native of this county and the daughter of John Mowery and Elizabeth Heavner and the granddaughter of John Mowery, Sr., and Nancy Dean. Mrs. Dickenson on her mother's side, belongs to that numerous family of Heavners, now living in Upshur, Braxton, Lewis Randolph, Pocahontas and Pendleton Counties. Mr. and Mrs. Dickenson were married December 18, 1873, and to them were born Daniel Blair, Sarah Margaret, John Carl, and Florence Virginia.
He is a farmer, a Democrat and a member of the Baptist Church on Sand Run.
D. H. K. DIX. I am the fourth son of Isaac Dix, and my mother was the daughter of Philip Reger, Esq.
I was born and reared on a farm, now owned by Daniel Webster Dix, two and one-half miles below the town of Buckhannon, Upshur County, West Virginia, January 24, 1828.
My early privileges were few. I had the advantage of the schools of that day, which were very limited and inferior and these were in the winter months. When I was nineteen years old, I took fifteen months schooling in the Western Virginia Academy at Clarksburg. I taught two terms of school in the winters of 1849 and 1850.
I was admitted into the West Virginia Annual Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, June 7, 1850. I have been, now (1906) in the ministry fifty- eight years.
I was united in matrimony with Miss America Young, the eldest daughter of John D. Young of Kanawha County, Virginia, now West Virginia. She is of an old family of the Kanawha Valley.
We have been living together fifty-three years.
We have three children buried, two sons and one daughter. We have two living, one son and one daughter.
I have filled many responsible positions in the church, notably : Ten years Pre- siding Elder; four years Member of the Board of Missions of the Methodist Episcopal Church. My life has been a strenuous one. I have been four years a member of the State Senate of West Virginia, from 1865 to 1869. I was one of the Committee to Codify the laws of West Virginia in 1868. I have lived to see my native state rise from its infancy to its grand proportions at this date, 1906, and feel a just pride in her success. Now that my life work is nearly done, and I am almost eighty years old, I have no regrets that I should have chosen a different course in life. I wish to leave this statement to others that I believe I was in the line of duty, and so I have a peaceful mind.
I believe that to be just and to deal justly was the right thing to do, and I have realized it to be so.
Now with good wishes to all, hoping that others may take courage to "deal justly, love mercy and humbly with Thy God."
ISAAC DIX, the eldest son of Stephen Dix, who settled on Elk Creek, near Clarksburg, Harrison County, Va., now West Virginia, was born in 1780 or near that date. Isaac had very limited school privileges, and when he reached major- ity he could scarcely read the plainest print, but by perseverance he became a great reader of books and papers.
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FAMILY HISTORY.
He married the daughter of Phillip Reger, Esq., who was an early settler near Buckhannon, Lewis County, now Upshur County, West Virginia. She was the only daughter of Philip Reger by his first wife, who was a sister of George Jackson, who was at one time a member of the United States Congress. Elizabeth Reger and Isaac Dix were married in 1813, and settled soon on a tract of land on the Buckhannon River at the mouth of Turkey Run. The northern line beginning on the said river near the noted Pringle Tree.
A very small opening had been made in the wild woods of that day, near where the Dix home now stands. By their industry and economy and patience, built a comfortable home for their children, all of whom have had a fair measure of success. One of the sons and two grandsons have been members of the State Legislature of West Virginia.
There were born to them nine children ; five sons and four daughters, all of whom have passed the Great Beyond but the fourth son, D. H. K. Dix.
They left to their children a rich inheritance of godly lives and uprightness before their fellow men.
The third son, John G. Dix, inherited the old homestead. He married the daughter of Mr. Isaac Brake in 1852. There were born to them three sons and two daughters.
By their industry and energy gained quite a competence. John G. Dix became one of the most substantial citizens of this county, a very successful business man. His oldest son, Daniel Webster, now owns th old homestead and lives there with his mother and two sisters, Mary E. and America. He is one of the leading farmers and stockmen in the county. He is greatly respected for his uprightness in business and in life. The second son, Philip Arthur, is a graduate of Allegheny College. He is a lawyer and in business with his brother Benjamin S .Dix, in Salt Lake City, Utah. They are both successful business men.
John G. died March 11, 1887. He has left his family a goodly and upright name, a manly christian life, and lasting influence for good to his neighbors.
JOHN GEORGE DIX, born June 1, 1825. Son of Isaac and Elizabeth (Reger ) Dix, was one of a family of seven, namely: James, David, John G., Daniel, Sarah Ann, wife of Benjamin Conley, Emma, wife of Anthony Teets, and Rachel, wife of William Reeder. Married Olive Brake, daughter of Isaac and Polly (Jackson Brake), July 20, 1853.
Children: Daniel Webster, born March 22, 1855, farmer and stockman ; Philip Athur, born October 18, 1856; began the profession of law, left it on account of health, now nurseryman in Utah, married Goulia Sears of Decatur, Neb .; Benjamin Sanford, born February 23, 1858, unmarried, nurseryman in Utah; Mary Elizabeth, born May 17, 1863; America, born May 7, 1865, un- married.
JOHN SETLINGTON DOUGLAS was born; March 2, 1849, on the farm he now owns in Banks District. His parents were John Douglas and Elizabeth Armstrong, natives of Highland County, Va., who emigrated to Frenchton about 1845. His grandparents were James Douglas and a Miss Ervin of the same County. This James Douglas, as legend has it, was one of three brothers, who came from Scotland to America in Colonial days, and one of them settled in Ohio, one in Kentucky and one in Virginia.
The subject of this sketch was raised a farmer but in youth devoted himself so attentively to his school, that success crowned his efforts and after three years of study under Loyal Young, D. D., as principal of the French Creek Academy, he concluded to teach and was amply prepared for that profession.
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FAMILY HISTORY.
He taught fifteen years, two years of which time he taught in the state of Illinois.
He married Vernie A. Ireland, the daughter of John Ireland and Olive Loudin, May 28, 1878, and to this union have been given, three daughters: Ora, Rettie, wife of R. M. Hull, and Rae.
Mr. Douglass owns two hundred acres of land, his father's homestead, and farms it with success. He has held several positions of trust in Upshur County. He was census enumerator in 1880, served as Deputy Sheriff, 1881 to 1885, and also 1893 to 1897, he has been elected as president of the Board of Education of Banks District three times in twelve years. Is the president now, has been a member of the examining board of teachers and was selected and appointed by Governor Dawson as real estate assessor of Upshur County, under the new tax law of 1905. He is a Republican in politics and Methodist in Religion.
JOHN DOUGLAS was one of the early settlers near Frenchton. His wife's maiden name was Elizabeth Armstrong and their children were Jared A., who married Virginia Post, was a soldier in Company E, 3d West Virginia Infantry and died at Heater, W. Va., May 22, 1906; Mariah S., wife of Chapman McCoy, died in 1893; James, who married Theresa Johnson, of Indiana, in 1873, and died the same year; William, who married Rena James of Lexington, Ill., and died 1895, one child, Belle, wife of A. M. Ambrose; George M., captured with Upshur Militia and died at Andersonville, Ga., March, 1864; Martha J., wife of Nathan Clark, one child, Alva, died 1877; John S., Samuel H., married Belle Jones, daughter of Joseph Jones. He lives at Alton, W. Va.
J. M. N DOWNES, lawyer of Buckhannon was born in Carroll County, Ohio, July 3, 1863. His parents were John and Caroline (Guest) Downes. His grandfather on his fathers side was born in Culpepper County, Va., and moved to Ohio about 1816, where the subject of this sketch was reared and educated. After completing his education he devoted a number of years to teaching. He took special courses in the National Normal School and the Glasgow Normal School, from which latter he graduated in 1886 with the degree of B. S.
In 1889 he married May Smith, the daughter of Joseph W. Smith of Glas- gow, Kentucky. They have four children, two daughters and two sons.
His school work lasted through several years, during which time he was principal of the Eastern Ohio Normal, of the High School of Monticello, Ill, and Superintendent of the City Schools of Summerset and Bellevue, Ky. Was secretary and president of the Kentucky E. A., and a member of the Ken- tucky State Board of Examiners.
He was admitted to the practice of law in Kentucky in 1891. In 1901 he moved from Cincinnati, Ohio, to Buckhannon, W. Va., where he has since lived, practicing law.
He is a member of the I. O. O. F. and F. and A. M.
TILDEN B. DRUMMOND was born December 11, 1876 in Harrison County, son of Edgar Drummond and Martha Varner, the grandson of Pendle- ton Drummond and Naomi Hutron and the great grandson of Thomas Drum- mond. His mother was a daughter of John Varner and Phoebe Pugh, the daugh- ter of Abram Pugh and Patsy Pugh. His mother moved to Buckhannon in the year 1892, with her children, her husband having departed this life some years before.
The subject of this sketch received his education in the Buckhannon High School, the Normal and Classical Academy and the West Virginia Conference Seminary. He taught three years, was a clerk in stores of Buckhannon about
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FAMILY HISTORY.
five years and has been general manager of the T. B. Drummond & Co. busi- ness, Wholesale and Retail dealers in building supplies and farming implements.
FRANCIS PAYNE DUMIER son of John William and Margaret (Gray) Dumier, natives of Tucker County. Father a soldier in Company 3, 6th West Virginia Infantry and his father came from Culpepper County, Va. F. P. was born December 14, 1856, and settled in Upshur County in 1899. His first wife was Mary Jane Phillips, daughter of Isaac Phillips and their children are Kenneth Lee, Adda Myrtle, Milton Elbert and Mary Margaret. His second wife was Almira Ours, daughter of John Ours of Upshur County.
JASPER NEWTON DUKE, a blacksmith, farmer of Banks District. His postoffice is Alexander. On his mother's side he is of English descent.
His birth occurred December 12, 1855, on Laurel Fork, of Upshur County.
His parents were Andrew Jackson and Susane (Thompson) Duke, father a native of Angusta county, Va., and mother a native of Albemarle county, Va., who came to this country in 1850, settling near South Bend, north of Buckhannon town, and then moving to Laurel Fork, of French creek.
His father's children are William Thomas, soldier in Ioth West Virginia Infantry, who married Almira Lunsford; Edmond F., a Union soldier, who married Margaret Wentz and lives in Kansas ; Josephine Matheny, lives in Ritchie county ; Frances, dead ; Julia Viola, wife of Dr. Blair, of Johnstown; Emma, wife of Acquilla Ward; Estelle, wife of J. L. Crites, of Alton; Newton, subject of sketch.
He married Ella Snyder, daughter of Thomas Snyder, and she was acci- dently drowned at Alton. She was the mother of three children, W. H., C. B., and H. Q.
His second wife was Mary Jane, now dead, a daughter of A. J. Gladwell, and their children are W. R., Daisy D., Lannie and Lyman, twins; Robert E., Earl and Pearl, twins, the latter dead ; Russell, Archie, Guy F., Andrew, Burdett.
LAWRENCE LOUDIN, born March 27, 1884, on West Fork. Son of Miflin and Ida (Childers) Loudin. His mother was a daughter of William Childers, whose wife was a Miss Ferrell. His grandparents were John Loudin and a Miss Pickens of Harrison County. He is the third son of his father's family. And on October 15, 1905, he married Gertrude Bosley, a daughter of james Bosley and Dona Hicks of Braxton County, and a granddaughter of Rev. David Bosley of Hampshire County. Child, Lowrena, born April 4, 1906.
Mr. Loudin is a farmer and a miner. His home is Bull Town, Braxton.
JACOB COLUMBUS ECKESS, is a farmer of Banks District ; his resi- dence is in Rock Cave. He was born September 15, 1842, and married Lucy Hen- derson, November 6, 1867, and their children are Madge Agatha, the wife of J. M. Smith, Hardware and Furniture Merchant of Davis, W. Va .; Libbie Loverah, the wife of Dr. W. A. J. Brown, a physician of Elkins, W. Va .; Benjamin Franklin, a merchant at Fairmont ; Mary Florede, the wife of Edward Clifford Jones, of Baltimore, now a leading merchant of Fairmont ; Mary Florede, the wife of Franklin Millan, oil producer at Mannington ; Edgar DeWitt Talmage, single.
The subject of this sketch is the son of Jacob Eckess and Catherine Beashlar and the grandson of Christopher Eckess and Elizabeth Werer. They are of German descent.
Jacob Eckess and Catherine Beashlar were married in 1840. The grandfather of Mrs. Jacob Eckess was a Revolutionary soldier and died in Baltimore, leaving one son, George Henry Beashlar, who was the father of Mrs. Jacob Eckess.
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FAMILY HISTORY.
The subject of this sketch enlisted in the army of the war of the Rebellion, February, 1862, and served till the end of the war, he was wounded at the battle of Cedar Creek, and had an attack of typhoid fever while in service. His wife was the daughter of William Henderson and Elizabeth Swisher. William Henderson moved from the Valley of Virginia to the waters of Slab Camp in 1838.
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