USA > West Virginia > Upshur County > The history of Upshur county, West Virginia, from its earliest exploration and settlement to the present time > Part 54
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He and his wife are the parents of six children : Emma, who died at the age of two years ; Carrie M., died when three years old; Anna May is the widow of Dr. George B. Edmiston, having two children, Matthew and Georgie Bland Edmiston ; Mary Martha is the wife of Norval B. McCarty of Clarksburg, West Virginia, having one daughter, Mary Elizabeth McCarty; Maude Carper is the wife of Benjamin Bassel, residing in Denver, Colorado; Thomas Benjamin, mar- ried Miss Clara R. Teter and resides in Buckhannon.
Thomas J. Farnsworth and wife are members of the Baptist Church and he is a deacon in the same. Mr. Farnsworth's name is inseparately linked with the prosperity of Upshur County and from his active and useful life a lesson of genu- ine worthi may be gleaned. His career has been marked by all that goes to make up useful and noble manhood, and his imprint will long be felt in the section in which he lives.
THOMAS B. FARNSWORTH son of Thomas J., grandson of Nathaniel, great grandson of Daniel, who was the son of Thomas Farnsworth of Staten Island, N. Y., was born July 29, 1874, was raised in Buckhannon and early became desirous to own and operate a farm, his life has been spent in conse- quence on the farm. He owns a farm on the Weston Turnpike, two miles west of Buckhannon, and a residence on Main street, Buckhannon. On October 9, 1905, he married Clara Rue Teter, daughter of Irvin Teter and Catherine White. He is a Democrat in politics and a Baptist in religion. See history of Senator T. J. Farnsworth and Irvin Teter.
THOMAS GRANDISON FARNSWORTH, son of Thomas and grandson of Daniel Farnsworth of Staten Island. who emigrated to Buckhannon in 1821. His mother was Catherine Simon, daughter of Leonard Simon. He was born November 9, 1836, in Buckhannon, educated in the private school and the Buck- hannon Male and Female Academy. Took a course in Medicine at the Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia. He began his business career as a contractor when nineteen years of age, which business he followed until the outbreak of the Civil War, more or less. Moved West to the State of Missouri in 1857, and returned in 1861, when he entered upon the Mercantile business in Buckhannon. At the outbreak of the war he was instrumental in organizing the Upshur Militia, Company B, 133 Virginia, and was elected its Lieutenant, was also Lieutenant of the Home Guard. Later on he recruited a Company for United States service, which was sworn in by Colonel Hughes of the 3d Virginia. That company unani- mously chose him for its First Lieutenant, but on account of some irregularity, the company failed to get its commission and disbanded. He retired to private life and began the practice of medicine, which profession he followed several
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years. He was the last County Treasurer of Upshur County, served as member of Town Council for several years. In 1870 he moved to California, but remained a short time. He was twice elected a member of the House of Delegates from Upshur County, six times elected Mayor of town and is at present Mayor.
He married Mary J. M. Marshall of Bath County, Va., daughter of Thomas Marshall, granddaughter of John Marshall, September 10, 1856. Children: Ida, born October 26, 1857, in Missouri, wife of W. N. Poundstone : Charley M., born July 24, 1862, married Alvie A. Shutterly; Rose E., born November 3, 1864, wife of J. Frank Coursey; Gertrude G., born March 28, 1867, wife of Robert T. Crowley ; Mary G., born August 24, 1869, wife of B. W. Ackles ; Hugh B., born April 13, 1874, married Minta Phillips; John W., born September 24, 1876, married Alice Hammer.
CHARLES BLAINE FARRAR, son of Charles Farrar and Adeline Cut- right. His father came from Highland County, Va., before the war and settled on French Creek, his mother died April 10, 1899. He is a lumberman, now operating on the Coal and Iron Railroad near the Pocahontas line.
ROBERT CARSON FERRELL is a large farmer and stock raiser of Web- ster County, near Cleveland. His birth occurred March 3, 1833. He was the son of Lewis and Martha (Leving) Ferrell of Virginia, who came to this County in 1845, first settling near Centerville and later living on Straight Fork, where he died at the age of 83. His father's children were: Charlotte, Martha J., Gar- land T., W. Mortimer, Ann E., Lewis Skidmore, Susan, Robert C., Cornelia M., Mary, Sarah and Elizabeth.
In this family of twelve children were two daughters of remarkable contrast in avoirdupoise. Charlotte weighed only 80 pounds and Martha J., her sister, weighed 340 pounds. No doubt they were the smallest and largest of their sex in their neighborhood.
Garland T. Ferrell was murdered in the wilderness of Gauley river in the year 1862.
The subject of this sketch located near Cleveland in 1870, on Buffalo Creek, on a tract of land of 300 acres. This tract he cleared out, bought more land from time to time until he now owns 900 acres of which 400 acres are in grass. On this farm he has five orchards and many cattle and sheep.
On October 28, 1858, he married Louisa Young, whose birth occurred May 28, 1834. Mrs. Ferrell was the daughter of Anson and Anna (Brake) Young of Upshur County. The children to this union are: Helena, wife of L. D. Power of Webster County; Martha, wife of Scott Lingel; Dora E., wife of Nathan Berry; Ella, wife of Albert Hummel of Indian Territory; Williard L., married Isetta Harper ; Orval C., single; Ira V., born September 25, 1859, died November 10, 1886; James A., born February 25, 1867, died July 9, 1888; Robert G., born September 2, 1876, died June 4, 1878.
Mr. Ferrell is a Methodist in religion and a Democrat in politics.
GEORGE ELIOT FIDLER, born August 31, 1868, son of William Martin and Mary Jane (Hudson) Fidler, emigrants from Fluvanna County, Va. His father was born January 13, 1820, and was married April 11, 1844. His mother was born March 20, 1828. His brothers and sisters are: Sarah Ann, Virginia, William F., James V., Mary E., Victoria A., Henrietta W., Hudson V., Robert. George E., all of whom were raised by their parents as members of the Baptist Church. And to their parents much honor is due for the noble christian children brought up in the fear of the Lord.
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The subject of this sketch, August 31, 1892, married Sohpronia MacAvoy, who was born September 26, 1872. The daughter of Loyal Y. and Margaret E. (Windle) MacAvoy.
The children to this union are: Lillie Fern, Paul MacAvoy, Loyal Wm., Ardvern Kemp, James Eliot and Ernest Clark.
Mr. Fidler is a merchant and lives at the old homestead at Fidler Mill, now Arlington. He is a Democrat in politics.
HUDSON VAUTER FIDLER, was born December 9, 1861. Was married November 26, 1889, to Eliza Jane (Cunningham) Fidler, who was born April 17, 1861, daughter of Andrew and Frances (Clarkson) Cunningham. Andrew Cunningham was the son of Thomas Cunningham.
Children : Jared French, Russell Hudson, Henry Allen, Glenn, Jane. Mrs. Eliza Fidler died March II, 1898 ..
Mr. Hudson Fidler on the 9th day of August, 1900, married for his second wife, Etta Libbie Marley, who was born August 1, 1874. Children : Bryan Americus and William Edward.
Etta Libbie Fidler is a daughter of Charles S. and Sarah E. (Andrew) Marley. Charles S. was a son of Samuel Marley of "Painter Fork."
Hudson V. Fidler is a son of Wm. M. Fidler and Mary (Hudson) Fidler. William M. was a son of William Fidler who emigrated from Fluvanna County, Va., in 1847, with his family, whose wife was Eliza (Clark) Fidler. Their children were: V. J. Fidler, William M. and Eliza, who married Thomas Desper.
William Fidler the grandfather of the subject of this sketch served six months in the war of 1812. He then took up the mill wright trade and followed that business until his death, which was more than fifty years afterwards. He emigrated from Virginia, settling at Arlington and buying a farm of 200 acres of land.
Hudson V. Fidler is a machinist and a farmer. Belongs to the Missionary Baptist Church and is in politics a Democrat.
ROBERT HENRY FIDLER, born December 13, 1865, son of William M. and Mary J. (Hudson) Fidler. His wife was a daughter of Loyal Y. McAvoy and Margaret E. Windle, who was a daughter of Fielding Windle and Nancy A. Young.
Loyal Y. McAvoy was a son of James and Louisa (Young) McAvoy. Loyal McAvoy's children were: Rosa Ethel, Emma Louisa, Mary Roberta, John Fielding, Margaret Elizabeth, Sophronia and James Robert.
The subject of this sketch married Mary Roberts McAvoy, June 22, 1887. His wife was born July 18, 1862, and their children are : Hugh Fielding, Bernice Gipsy, Mary Marguerite and Robert Doyle.
Mr. Fidler is a merchant and machinist and owns a farm near Arlington, is a Baptist, is a musician, has been a leader in the Church choir for many years and is a Democrat in politics.
WILLIAM FRANKLIN FIDLER was born July 23, 1849. The son of William Martin and Mary Jane (Hudson) Fidler of Virginia.
The original name was Fielding, but by careless pronunciation it has become Fidler. The German spelling, Fiedler, is sometimes used.
William Franklin Fidler was married October 29, 1874, to Mary Emma McAvoy, the daughter of James McAvoy and Louisa (Young) McAvoy. Louisa (Young) McAvoy was the daughter of Lydia Gould, who was the daughter of Martha Gilbert, who was the daughter of Esther Perkins, who was the daughter of Catherine Prifach.
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James McAvoy was the son of John McAvoy and was raised in Bath County, Va. His great grandfather was born in Ireland, who when a school boy was enticed on board a U. S. Vessel and brought to the U. S. Children of the subject of this sketch: Victor Leigh, who died young, Clarence Hall, Blanche Katherina, Stanley Huff, Willard Livingstone.
Clarence Hall married Annie Angold of Pueblo, Colorado. He is a travel- ing salesman. He was educated in the public schools, the Academy at Buck- hannon and the Mountain State Business College at Parkersburg. Stanley Huff is in the U. S. Railway Mail Service.
Mr. Fidler is a contractor and carpenter. A member of the Missionary Baptist Church and a Prohibitionist in politics.
GEORGE L. FISH, was born June II, 1844, at Augusta, Oneida County, N. Y. Son of Charles and Jane Fish, who lived in that state from their early child- hood. The father of Charles Fish was one of the first settlers in that part of the state, having settled there in about the year 1800. George L. Fish remembers well, having heard his parents tell of their trials in the days of the early settlers. He was early schooled in the responsibilities of life, for, being the oldest son of a large family of children, he had to aid in maintaining the family.
About the year 1856, he moved with his father's family, from New York State to East Townsend, about eight miles east of Norwalk, the County Seat of Huron County, Ohio and remained their until August 11, 1862, when he enlisted as a soldier in the Civil War, in the 123d Ohio Volunteer Infantry. His first introduction in the State of West Virginia was at Parkersburg in the fall of that year, at which place his regiment entered cars for Clarksburg, after laying there a short time, marched to Buckhannon and encamped near where his lumber yard, or that of the Alton Lumber Company is now located. He recalls the fact that Buckhannon was not as large then as it is today, and he then thought that he would not take the entire state as a gift and be obliged to live in it.
In the year 1864 he was married to Miss Polly Hoover, and to them were born three children, two daughters and one son.
At the close of the war he engaged in farming and fruit growing, at Col- lins, Huron County, Ohio, and continued in that line until about 1881, when he started in the Hardwood Lumber Business, in a small way, the purchase of the first timber involving the outlay of about twenty-five dollars, but in the spring of 1884, he moved to Cleveland, O., and launched out into a larger business. At that place hie met with a reasonable degree of success. In the spring of 1890, he again came to Buckhannon. where he has taken great interest in its welfare and development.
The Alton Lumber and Coal Company was formed to manufacture the timber purchased, in which firm he associated with him as partners, C. N. Royce of Jefferson, Ohio, and his son G. W. Fish. Later Mr. Royce retired from the co- partnership and it was conducted by the remaining partners until January I, 1903, at which time the Alton Lumber Company was formed in which G. W. Fish and B. W. Ackles were associated with him as partners. In February of the year following the Company was incorporated under the same name with Geo. L. Fish as president. Besides his operations in timber and lumber he has become interested in the development of Upshur County's coal and proving his confidence in its future he has added several hundred acres of coal rights to his original holdings. In this coal deal, he has also been joined by his son, under the firm name of Fish & Fish.
In all of his enterprises he has met with success.
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When about sixteen years old he started out in the Christian life and joined the Methodist Church and has always believed in and has tried to live an active Christian to this time.
JOHN STROTHER FISHER, born in Rockingham County, Va., and edu- cated in Washington and Lee College, Lexington, Va. Was a teacher for several years after his graduation from college in Eastern Virginia. Was admitted to the bar while teaching and in the year 1858 came across the mountains to cast his future with the western portion of the state.
He first located in Ritchie County, where he taught almost continuously until he came to Buckhannon. On settling in Buckhannon he began the active practice of law, which he followed with an ambition and courage that soon made him one of the leaders of the local bar, which position he held until his death.
Mr. Fisher was a close student, thorough scholar, successful lawyer and good citizen. His oratory was of the Henry Clay type. He served as Prosecuting Attorney of the county one term. In 1860 he married Harriet Ann Arnold, daughter of Elijah and Prudence (Jackson) Arnold. His wife's mother was the daughter of George Jackson of Colonial reputation.
Children : Wade Hampton, Maud Strother, Mary Arnold, Grace Lee, John Howard.
GEORGE MERVIN FLEMING was born on a farm near Fairmont, Marion County, Virginia, January 1, 1848, a son of Benjamin F. and Rhoda Brooks Fleming. His grandfather, William Fleming, came with his parents to Western Virginia from Delaware in the early settlement of this section of country. The Flemings emigrated to Delaware and New Jersey from the North of Ireland, but were Norman descent and came to England from the Continent with William the Conqueror. On his mother's side Mr. Fleming is of unmixed Puritan descent. His grandfather, Rev. Asa Brooks, graduated from Williams College in 1815, and in 1816, came to Western Virginia with the New England colony which settled at French Creek, in what is now Upshur County, and was the Presbyterian pastor there until his death at Clarksburg in 1835, he being the pastor of both churches. Mr. Fleming's maternal grandmother was Mary Ever- ett Sumner, and belonged to the two distinguished Massachusetts families, whose names she bore. Her father was a soldier under Washington in the Revolution- ary War.
Mr. Fleming graduated from Washington and Jefferson College, with the second honor of his class, in 1871, and holds the degree of A. B. and A. M. from that institution. He taught in the Fairmont Normal School in 1871-1872, and in the West Liberty Normal School in 1872-1873. He graduated from Princeton Seminary in 1876, and studied law at the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor in 1880-1881, immediately after which he was licensed to practice law by Supreme Court Judges, Alpheus F. Haymond, Thomas C. Green and Okey John- son, and at once entered upon the practice of that profession at Buckhannon.
December 10, 1879, Mr. Fleming was united in marriage with Miss Fannie Edmiston, daughter of the late Judge Matthew Edmiston of Weston. She and Hon. Andrew Edmiston are the surviving members of that family. Mr. Fleming is a brother of ex-Governor A. B. Fleming and Judge Robert F. Fleming of Fair- mont and of Mrs. Lucie Fleming Stewart, now deceased.
He spent some months in Buckhannon in 1875, and returned in 1876, and has resided here continuously since that time. He has been fortunate and successful in the practice of the law. He has at all times had as much business as he could take care of and his clients have been for the most part corporations and people
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of more or less wealth. He has always discouraged small profitless contentions and has seldom entered into them on either side. He has been identified with various business interests, and as a whole his business investments have proved profitable. He has been a Democrat in politics, but has favored a protective tariff, the gold standard in finance and a strong government, and therefore has not always been an enthusiast for his party candidates. He has never asked for or received office, elective or appointive. He has been a Mason since 1872-1873, is a Past Master, and is devoted to the order. In religion he is an old-fashioned Presbyterian.
In the long years of his residence in Upshur County, Mr. Fleming has become identified with its people, and all their interests are his. He has studied people, and is an authority on genealogy and family relationships and characteristics. No native born citizen is more devoted to the County or more proud of its record for intelligence and temperance, and his property interests have anchored him to it for life.
OTHO H. FLETCHER, son of G. C. Fletcher and Elizabeth Allen (Rollins) Fletcher, daughter of Hiram Rollins and Rachel (Pringle) Rollins, the daughter of William Pringle, born February 5, 1868. G. C. Fletcher, born in 1846, was a soldier in the Upshur Battery, and for fifteen years prior to his death in 1903, had been a sawmill man, which trade he turned over to his son, who still pursues it. Otho H. Fletcher's first wife was Hedasy Jane Goodwin, daughter of Clark M. Goodwin and Tersy (Barb) Goodwin. Children; Beatrice, born October 7, 1892 ; Charlotta M., born July 3, 1894 ; C. M., born April 21, 1896; Tersy Elizabeth, born September 26, 1900.
His second wife was Landonia Goodwin, whose maiden name was Debarr. GEORGE WASHINGTON FLINT. Carpenter, son of Joseph and Mary B. (Wolf) Flint, born September 3, 1849, on Hackers Creek, Lewis County. The father of this sketch was the son of Joseph Flint, Sr., and Mary Wires, emigrants from Germany to Harrison County, Va. Was a minister in the Methodist Protestant Church and served as Magistrate of Upshur County in 1853 and was twice married. First, Sarah J. Hinzeman and second Mary B. Wolf.
Children by second wife: Matilda Jane, wife of Eugene Harland; Phoebe Elizaeth, wife of Stickley Casto; Taymer Louvenia, wife of George Swisher ; Alice Malinda, wife of James Hinzeman ; Abram Stockton, married Emma Roby ; John William, married Ollie Rohr and S. A. Talbot; George W., married Sena E. Casto, daughter of Joel and Jemima (Post) Casto and Louella V. Johnson, daughter of Albert and Mary (Radabaugh) Johnson.
BERTHA FOSTER, born August 27, 1880, daughter of John and Virginia, (Patrick) Slaughter, now a resident of Salem, W. Va. Married John Hefner in 1898, and Samuel Foster, son of George Foster, to which union two children were born: Ira Dayton and George Byrne.
FOUNTAIN LEE FOSTER, native of Upshur County, born April 8, 1876, son of John A. Foster and Elizabeth Strader, his grandfather on his father's side came from Albermarle County, Va. His mother was a daughter of Isaac Strader and granddaughter of John Strader and wife, whose maiden name was Post.
John Strader had two brothers, Michael and Christopher, who moved to Ohio, leaving John a settler on Little Sand Run on the Buckhannon River.
John A. Foster was a soldier in the Union Army and the father of eleven children whose names are : Isaac, Alexander, Asa T., John M., Charles, Benjamin F., FountainL., Rebecca, Catherine and David, the last two are dead.
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Mr. Foster was raised on a farm. On January 2, 1900, he married Susan S. Reese, the daughter of Samuel Reese and Caroline Debarr, both of Upshur County.
JOHN T. FOSTER, minister of the U. B. Church, the son of William N. Foster and Sarah Matilda Matheney and the grandson of Thomas Foster and Elizabeth Browning. His mother was daughter of John Matheney and Annie Wade, the daughter of Otho Wade of Highland County, Virginia. He was born February 12, 1872, on Little Sand Run, and was educated in the Public Schools until 1890, when he became a student of the Normal and Classical Academy, graduating therefrom June 17, 1897. He taught school five years, at Tallmans- ville, Sunny Point, Macedonia, Hickory Flat and Queens. On January 24, 1887, he united himself with the United Brethren Church at Mt. Washington, and on April 7, 1894, at Mt. Heron, was granted license to preach. He joined the Conference at Belington September 15, 1897, he was ordained to eldership in the church at West Union, September 12, 1900, Bishop E. B. Kiphart presiding.
He married Rhubirdie Tenney, daughter of Watson and Bettie Tenney, of Tallmansville, October 5, 1900, and to this union were born two daughters, Stacy Myrril, born September 9, 1902; Racy Byrrill born June 1, 1904.
His first wife died, April 12, 1905. He was pastor on the Alton Circuit for ten years and is now serving his second year as pastor at Adamıston Station.
His second wife was Miss Rosa Drummond, the daughter of Edgar and Martha Drummond, natives of Harrison County, whom he married September 24, 1906. She was born January 18, 1876, in Harrison County, was student in Normal and Classical Academy and the West Virginia Conference Seminary, taught school for six terms, three of which were in Buckhannon and resigned her position there to work in the office of T. B. Drummond & Co., three and one half years before her marriage.
MINTER KIRK FOSTER, son of Isaac and Sarah Frances ( Fletcher) Foster, born February 7, 1877. Married Dora Belle Lynch, November 3, 1897, daughter of David and Cassie N. (Debarr) Reese.
Children : Olie Odell, born September 13, 1898; Olita Blanche, born Novem- ber 24, 1900; Otis Doyle, born September 13, 1904.
WILLIAM FOSTER, employe of the B. &O. Railroad Company. Son of George and Jerusha (Hiner) Foster, born May 29, 1862. And married Charlotte Price, daughter of William and Elizabeth (England) Price.
Children : Roy, Minnie, Liddy, Allie, Blanche.
SARAH FRANCES (LOWE) FRONSMAN, born in Albermarle County, Va., and moved to Barbour County. Married Nelson J. Fronsman, a soldier in Company M, 3d West Virginia Cavalry.
Children : Lou, Louie, John, George, Cora May, Charles, Lincoln Decatur, Sarah Ann, Grace Elizabeth and Jennie V.
LIFE AND RECOLLECTIONS OF THOMAS GAWTHROP.
On March 7, 1907, one month and nine days before the closing of his eightieth year, Mr. Gawthrop, after great insistence and with much reluctance, sat down in the home of his daughter, Mrs. A. W. Tenney of Ten Mile, W. Va., and described in strong unpolished language, memories of the past, instances of his life and history of the Upshur Militia.
I was born and raised in Harrison now Taylor County, two miles west of the Reform School at Prunytown. The date of my birth is fixed at March 16, 1827, and I married Catherine A. Whiting near Fetterman, October 4, 1848. My
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grandfather, Thomas, came from Hampshire County in 1800, and setttled on Lost Run, then entirely in the woods. He married Elizabeth Hiet, of Hampshire County and my father, James, was born there October 16, 1798. My grand- father was born 1772, was a native of Hampshire County and was the son of James, who was born in Yorkshire, England, in 1743, and James' father, Allen, was born in Nottingham, 1709.
My grandfather died at the age of 58, my grandmother died in her 95th year. My father died in his 85th year and my mother, a daughter of Dr. John Waldo, of Vermont, lived until she was in her 90th year.
When my grandparents came to Harrison County, they brought with them two good rifles and each of them could use them with precision, and on one occasion, when my grandfather was away several miles at a log rolling, my grand- mother was putting out her washing at a creek some distance from her home. She heard a noise across in the field, which had been cleared the previous year, and on looking up saw a monster panther seize a lamb, one of the few they had secured as a start for a flock of sheep. She took her child and ran with all possible speed to the house, shut the child indoors, got down the gun, ran up to the creek, took as steady an aim as possible and fired at the panther, wounding him so seri- ously that he was unable to get up from his crouched position over the dead lamb. She hurriedly reloaded her gun and at this instant saw a man coming up the creek to whom she called and told what she had done, and where the panther lay in agony. She told the man to take a handspike and finish the animal, which he did. The panther measured ten feet from nose to end of the tail.
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