West Virginia and its people, Volume II, Part 13

Author: Miller, Thomas Condit, 1848-; Maxwell, Hu, joint author
Publication date: 1913
Publisher: New York, Lewis Historical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 866

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Mr. Donovan married ( first ) Jennie Conlon, who died April 8, 1904, leaving a son, Charles A., born April 3. 1904. He married ( second) in Charleston, May 21. 1912, Josie Weeks, born in Philadelphia.

CLAY The Clay family ranks among the oldest and most honored in the state of Virginia, having been seated there in the year 1613, when John Clay, the pioneer ancestor, came to the New World from Wales. From the three sons of this emigrant de- scended all the Kentucky Clays, including Henry Clay, the great Ameri- can statesman, born in Hanover county Virginia, 1777, died June 29, 1852.

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( I) General Green Clay, the ancestor of the line here under con- sideration, and the first of the name to locate in the state of Kentucky, settled in Madison county, near the present town of Richmond, his home later becoming known as "Whitehall". He served as a private in the revolutionary war and the war of 1812, displaying both courage and for- titude, characteristics inherited by his descendants. Among his children was General Cassius MI. Clay, a noted character of his day, and Brutus Junius, of whom further.

(II) Brutus Junius, son of General Green Clay, was a resident of Bourbon county, Kentucky, removing there from Madison county, his father's place of residence. He followed the occupation of agriculture, to which he added the breeding of blooded stock, in both of which he was highly successful. He was a man of public spirit and enterprise, and was chosen to represent the Ashland district, made famous by Henry Clay, in the thirty-eighth congress. He married (first) Amelia Field, and ( second ) Anne Field, her sister. Children of first wife: I. Martha, married Henry B. Davenport, of Jefferson county, West Vir- ginia. 2. Christopher Field, a farmer, who lived and died in Bourbon county, Kentucky. 3. Green, a graduate of Yale College, served as sec- retary to his uncle at St. Petersburg, and later as secretary of legation M) Minister Marsh in Italy; for many years he owned and cultivated a plantation in Mississippi, and now resides on his farm at Mexico, Mis- souri. 4. Ezekiel Field, of whom further. Child of second wife: 5. Cassius Marcellus, a graduate of Yale College, served for several terms in the Kentucky legislature, was president of the last constitutional con- vention of Kentucky, a farmer, and owner of "Auvergne", the home place of his father, near Paris, Kentucky.

(III) Ezekiel Field, youngest child of Brutus Junius and Amelia (Field ) Clay, was born in Bourbon county, Kentucky, in 1841. He at- tended the schools in the vicinity of his home and completed his studies at Bacon College, Harrodsburg, Kentucky. During the war between the states he displayed his patriotism by enlistment in the Confederate army, serving first as captain and later as colonel of cavalry, for the greater part of the time under General Humphrey Marshall. He was twice wounded, the second time being taken prisoner and incarcer- ated at Johnson's Island, undergoing the privations and sufferings of that dreadful period. After peace was declared he returned to private life and gave his attention to farming and breeding thoroughbred horses, conducting his operations, which were successful and remunerative, at his home, "Runnymede", in Bourbon county, Kentucky. He married Mary, daughter of John T. and Elizabeth ( Buckner ) Woodford, de- scendants of Virginia ancestors. Children: I. Ezekiel Field Jr., a grad- nate of Yale College, class of 1892, now a farmer in Bourbon county, Kentucky. 2. Woodford, a graduate of Princeton College, class of 1893, now devoting his attention to the breeding and racing of thorough- bred horses. 3. Brutus J., a graduate of Princeton College, class of 1896, studied law at the University of Virginia, now a practicing lawyer of Atlanta, Georgia. 4. Buckner, of whom further. 5. Amelia, mar- ried Samuel Clay, a descendant of a different branch of the family. 6. Mary Catesby, unmarried, resides at home.

(IV) Buckner, fourth child of Ezekiel Field and Mary ( Woodford) Clay, was born in Bourbon county, Kentucky. December 31, 1877. Af- ter a preparatory education in the private schools of his neighborhood, he matriculated in the Kentucky University, from which he graduated in the class of 1897. The year following his graduation he devoted to the occupation of farming, and then entered the law department of the University of Virginia, and graduated therefrom in 1900. He then lo-

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cated in Paris, Kentucky, where he engaged in a general practice of his profession, and in January, 1903, removed to Atlanta, Georgia, and was later admitted to practice in that state; but in June, 1903, he took up his residence in Charleston, West Virginia, to enter the law office of Flournoy, Price & Smith. In January, 1907, he became a member of the firm, the name being changed to that of Price, Smith, Spilman & Clay, and this connection has continued to the present time ( 1912). Mr. Clay is a Democrat in politics.

James Patrick Clark, a prominent business man of CLARK Charleston, in which city he has resided for a number of years, traces his ancestry to Patrick Clark, who was acci- dentally killed in Scotland, and whose widow, after remarriage, came to the United States, locating in Mason City, West Virginia, where her death occurred.

( II) Patrick F., son of Patrick Clark, was a native of England, al- though of Irish ancestry, and died at Shawnee, Ohio, in August, 1888, at the age of fifty-two years. He was interested in the coal business for a number of years and was a mining expert; but in 1874 engaged in the mercantile business at Shawnee, where he spent the remainder of his days. During the civil war he was twice drafted for service, and his brother, James Clark, lost his life in that memorable struggle. He mar- ried ( first ) Margaret Daley, whose death occurred at the early age of twenty-three years, and ( second ) Annie Foster. Children of first wife: Mary, wife of John T. Joyce, of Corning, Ohio; Frank, an electrician, of Shawnee, Ohio; James Patrick, of whom further ; Catherine, widow of S. R. Grant, of Shawnee. Children of second wife: Patrick, Ellen, Michael, Charles, Cecelia, Gertrude, Thomas, John and Emmett.

(III) James Patrick, son of Patrick F. and Margaret ( Daley ) Clark, was born at Pomeroy, Ohio, April 15. 1860. He received but a meagre education, being obliged to earn his own livelihood at an early age, but by observation and travel became well informed on a variety of sub- jects, At nineteen years of age he crossed the Rocky Mountains, as a member of the construction gang engaged in building the Denver & Rio Grande railroad through the Black Canyon of Colorado, and he remained west for a number of years afterward, principally engaged in mining. He also followed the latter occupation upon his return to the east, until 1882, when he embarked in business at Trimble, Athens county, Ohio, Two years later he removed to Columbus, in the same state, where he engaged in business for almost a year ; then removed to Murray City, where he continued for two years more. After this he located in Gal- lipolis, Ohio, where he conducted his business for more than one year. In 1890 he took up his residence in Charleston, West Virginia, where he en- gaged in the wholesale liquor business, prior to that traveling for sev- eral leading business concerns. Mr. Clark has presented in his quiet and unobstrusive way a phase of successful business life which we do not often see, and one that illustrates the fundamental principles of a true life. Permanent success does not grow out of mere activity, persever- ance and prompt action, but personal virtue, combined with these, and these characteristics have been fully emphasized in the career of Mr. Clark, who has been an active factor in the development of his adopted city. contributing liberally to every charitable and benevolent enterprise. He had invested his capital wisely and judiciously in the purchase of real estate in Charleston, and is now the owner of the following pieces of property : Stag Hotel, containing fifty rooms, where are his business quarters; a drugstore on the corner of Smith and Capital street; the

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Roth drugstore building; a fine residence on Lee street. and another on McCorkle Hill, south side; eight dwellings containing eight rooms each ; twenty smaller properties, together with many vacant lots within the city limits, which are increasing in value rapidly. On July 22, 1901, he pur- chased the James F .Brown block, Nos. 24. 26 and 28 Summer street, a three-story brick building, which he occupies as a wholesale and retail store, where is also operated one of the finest barber shops in the city. On July 22, 1908, he purchased the handsome residence of Captain James Sintz at Spring Hill, and he and his family have resided there ever since. Mr. Clark and his family are members of the Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church at Charleston. He is in favor of the principles of the Demo- cratic party, but casts his vote for the candidate whom he considers best capable of filling the office, irrespective of party affiliation.

Mr. Clark married. February 3, 1885, Margaret Geoghan, of Mas- sillon, Ohio, daughter of William and Ellen Geoghan. Children: Mary. wife of Dr. W. P. Kuntz, of Huntington, West Virginia; Margaret : Leo: Virginia : Joseph Staunton ; Julia ; Evelyn ; James : Agato.

The surname Doolittle is one of the most ancient in DOOLITTLE England, having originated in Normandy a thousand years ago. It is perhaps anglicized from de Dolieta : Dolieta is supposed to have been a place on the Norman coast. The first American immigrant spelled it Dowlittell; today it is almost in- variably written Doolittle. There are now very few of this name in England, but in the United States this family is widerspread, being es- pecially numerous in Connecticut, New York and Ohio. Nearly all American Doolittles are descended from Abraham Doolittle.

(I) Abraham Doolittle, the founder of this family, was born in the latter part of 1619 or early part of 1620, died August 11, 1690. He was in Boston as early as 1640, and removed to New Haven before 1642. In 1644, despite his youth, he was the chief executive officer of the New Haven colony. Seven times he was deputy to the general assembly at Hartford. He is said to have been the first white man to explore the forests which then lay beyond the Quinnipiac river. In 1669 he was elected as one of a commission of three to manage the affairs of a new settlement, which was incorporated the following year as Wallingford. He was several times the representative of Wallingford at the general court in Hartford, and held other offices there. He was one of the founders of the church at Wallingford, and sergeant of the first train band. He married (first ) in England, Joane, daughter of James Allen, of Kempston, county of Bedford, England: ( second) July 2, 1663. Abi- gail. daughter of John Moss, who was born April 10, 1642, and died November 5. 1710. Children, first six by first, others by second wife: I. Sarah, married William Abernethy. 2. Abraham (2), of whom further. 3. Elizabeth, born April 12, 1652. married Dr. John Brockett. 4. Mary. born February 22. 1653. died young. 5. John, born June 14, 1655 : mar- ried ( first ) February 13. 1682, Mary Moss, (second) January 29. 1717. Grace Blakesley. 6. Abigail. baptized May 22, 1650. died young. 7. Samuel. born July 7. 1665, died September 25, 1714 : married Mary Corn- wall. 8. Joseph, born February 12, 1667, died May 15. 1733: married (first ) April 24. 1600. Sarah Brown, ( second) October 25. 1720, Eliza- beth Holt. 9. Abigail. born February 26. 1660. married, about 1605. William Fredericks. 10. Ebenezer, born Tuly 6, 1672, died December 6. 1711 : married. April 6, 1607, Hannah Hill. 11. Mary. born March 4. 1674. died before 1600. 12. Daniel, born December 20, 1675, died May 11. 1755 : married ( first) May 3. 1698. Hannah Cornwall. ( second) Feb-

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ruary 17, 1737, Mary Andrews. 13. Theophilus, born July 28, 1678, died March 26, 1740, married (first) January 5, 1698, Thankful Hall, ( sec- ond), Elizabeth Howe.

(II) Abraham (2), son of Abraham (1) and Joane (Allen) Doo- little, was born at New Haven, February 12, 1649, died November 10, 1732. In 1672 he was elected constable of Wallingford. He married (first) November 9, 1680, Mary, daughter of William and Sarah Holt, who died probably in 1688; (second) February 12, 1689, Ruth Lathrop; (third) June 5, 1695, Elizabeth, born in February, 1678, and died Au- gust 27, 1736, daughter of Samuel and Mary Thorp. Children, four by first wife, none by second, six by third marriage : I. John, born August 13, 1681, died in November, 1746; married, February 28, 1705, Mary Fredericks. 2. Abraham, born March 27, 1684; married, August 10, 1710, Mary Lewis. 3. Sarah, born February 5, 1686. 4. Susannah, born April 15, 1688. 5. Thorp, born February 15, 1697, died young. 6. Samuel, born March 14, 1698. 7. Joseph, born May 13, 1700, died De- cember 15, 1726. 8. Elizabeth, married, January 31, 1734, George Arm- strong. 9. Thomas, of whom further. 10. Lydia, born June 26, 1710; married, November 28, 1734, John Joyce or Royce.

(III) Thomas, son of Abraham (2) and Elizabeth (Thorp) Doolit- tle, was born at Wallingford, New Haven county, Connecticut, May 17, 1705. He married, May 27. 1729, Sarah, born at Wallingford, Decem- ber 15, 1704, daughter of William and Mary (Peck ) Abernethy. She probably married (second) April 9, 1740, David Brockett. She was a great-granddaughter of Abraham ( I) Doolittle. Children: Anne, born December 12, 1730, married Ebenezer Parker; Samuel, born December 29. 1731, died January 11, 1732: Jemima, born December 31, 1732, died May 23, 1764; Esther, born August 30, 1734; Thomas, of whom fur- ther.

(IV) Thomas (2), son of Thomas ( I ) and Sarah ( Abernethy ) Doo- little, was born at Wallingford, March 5. 1736. He settled at Bethlehem, Litchfield county, Connecticut. He married Sarah, daughter of Joseph Gitteau, who died in 1796. Children: I. Thomas. 2. Abner, of whom further. 3. Sarah. 4. Thomas, born November 21, 1767 ; married (first) Frisby, ( second) Mrs. Johnson. 5. Ephraim, born March 12. 1770. married Polly Green. 6. David, born June 4, 1772, died in 1824. mar- ried Lucy Clapp. 7. Waitstill, died before 1807, married

(V) Abner, son of Thomas ( 2) and Sarah ( Gitteau ) Doolittle, was born at Woodbury. Litchfield county, Connecticut, June 19. 1765. died at Canadice, Ontario county, New York. November 24. 1826. He re- moved, in 1795. to Middletown, Rutland county, Vermont: in 1815 he was living at Poultney. Rutland county, Vermont ; and in 1825 he went to Canadice. Children: Thomas, married, October 19. 1814. Zerual Rudd: Asa: Sheldon, of whom further: William, died in 1831 ; mar- ried Rebecca Hall: Alvah, born September 22, 1801. died January 16. 1892. married (first) Esther Ashley. (second) Abigail Thompson.

(VI) Rev. Sheldon Doolittle, son of Ahner Doolittle, was born at Poultney, Vermont, May 5. 1798, died at Almond. Portage county. Wis- consin, March 9. 1860. He studied medicine with his uncle, Dr. David Doolittle, and graduated at the Rensselaer Medical School in 1819. He removed to Allegany, New York, near Olean. Giving up his medical work, he became a Methodist minister. He served first at Almond, Allegany county. New York, afterwards in Cattaraugus county. finally in Portage county. Wisconsin. He married, in 1821. at Plattsburg. New York. Lerny Winters, who was born at Plattsburg in 1800: she survived him about two years. Children: 1. Sheldon, born at Rutland, Vermont. Au- gust 22. 1822, died at Onyx. California. December. 1900: married Melissa

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2. John, born October 24, 1824; died at St. James, Minnesota, Janu-

- -. ary 31, 1904; married Susan Carroll, at Burns, New York. 3. Edson, born January 23, 1827. 4. Lamberton, of whom further. 5. William W., born December 25, 1831. 6. Lewis Coburn, died 1855 at the age of twenty-two. 7. Eliza, born May 10, 1837; married Samuel Brown; she died in Wisconsin, November 25, 1868. 8. Augustus Frank, died in 1858. 9. A son, died young. 10. Charles E., born June 8, 1844; mar- ried Nancy S. Shaw.

(VII) Lamberton, son of Rev. Sheldon and Lerny ( Winters) Doo- little, was born at Olean, Cattaraugus county, New York, January 22, 1829, and died at Huntington, Cabell county, West Virginia, July 25, 1909. In the civil war he served three years, enlisting in 1862 in the Ninth New York Cavalry; shortly after enlistment he was assigned to the commissary department. For many years he was a clerk in the treasury department at Washington. In 1876 he was appointed a rev- enue collector, and served two years. He was badly wounded, while breaking up an illicit still in the mountains, being shot in the arm and leg my men in ambush. His son Edward was with him at the time. He married Chloe Ann, born in Steuben county, New York, June 14, 1831, and died at Huntington, March 11, 1901, daughter of James Sturdevant, who was of Connecticut birth, a farmer, and lived seventy-two years. Children: 1. Edward Sturdevant, of whom further. 2. Frank Leslie, living at Huntington. 3. James, died in infancy. 4. Anna L. 5. Wil- liam, died in infancy. 6. Rebecca May.

(VIII) Judge Edward Sturdevant Doolittle, son of Lamberton and Chloe Ann ( Sturdevant ) Doolittle, was born at Wausau, Marathon county, Wisconsin, August 24. 1854. When he was five years old, his parents returned to their native state, New York, where he lived five years in Castile, Wyoming county, then, till he was eighteen, in Steuben county, where his father had a farm. He attended the local country schools and afterward Franklin Academy, Prattsburg, Steuben county, New York. When he was eighteen, his father sold his farm, and the family came to Huntington. Here he attended Marshall College, and finished the normal course in 1874 when he graduated under Champ Clark who was then president of the college. For five years, Judge Doolittle taught school in Cabell and Wayne counties. He was principal after this of a school at Barboursville, Cabell county, and of a graded school at Mil- ton, Cabell county ; in the winter of 1882. he was principal of a school at Guyandotte, now within the limits of Huntington. During this period of teaching he was studying law, and in 1880 he was examined by three judges of the court of appeals and admitted to the bar. His practice of law began in Huntington in 1882: at first he was alone, afterward a member of the firm of Doolittle & Bryan. For two terms, in 1883 and 1884. he was mayor of Guyandotte: the great flood of the Ohio river in 1884 came within his term. In the autumn of 1896 he was elected judge of the old eighth judicial circuit, comprising the counties of Cabell. Lin- coln. Logan, Wayne and Mingo: this office he held for eight years, till the fall election of 1894. when he was elected judge of the new sixth cir- cuit, consisting of Cabell, Lincoln and Putnam counties. This office he still holds, (December. 1912). Judge Doolittle is a member of the Benevo- lent and Protective Order of Elks. His political affiliations are with the Republican party. His religion is of the Presbyterian faith. He mar- ried ( first) Alice, daughter of Dr. Frank Murphy of Cabell county who died in 1890; (second) in Cabell county, October, 1894. Elizabeth, (laughter of John McChesney. Her father was a farmer of Cabell county, and died at the age of seventy years; her mother also is de- ceased. Children, first six by first. others by second wife: Bessie, died

E. S. Doolittle.

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in infancy ; Florence Bryan, died in infancy; Maude Harrison, married Claude R. Murray, now lives at Williamson, West Virginia; Anna Love, married Elmer F. Ohlson, lives in Canal Zone, Panama; Chloe Julia, married George Donald Miller, of the First National Bank, Hunting- ton ; Alice Murphy, at present ( 1913) attending a school for nurses in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania : Mac; Jean ; Elizabeth.

Jacob Barr, descended from Germans who had settled in BARR Pennsylvania, was born in Washington county, in that state, died at an advanced age in Putnam county, West Virginia. He removed to the latter county some years after his marriage, and he and his wife were devoted adherents of the Methodist church. He married Sarah Miller, who also died at an advanced age. They had several chil- dren.

(II) Walter S., son of Jacob and Sarah ( Miller ) Barr, was a lad when his parents removed to Putnam county, West Virginia. The large estate of his father, on which his boyhood and young manhood days were spent, very naturally gave him an especial interest in agricultural pursuits, and these have engaged the greater portion of his time. From his earliest years, however, he has taken a more than ordinary interest in all matters concerning the general public welfare, and is at the pres- ent time very capably filling the office of sheriff of Putnam county. He married, in Putnam county, Victoria Middleton, native of Virginia, daughter of William Jackson and Catherine (Rippetoe) Middleton, the former of whom died in 1910, and the latter in 1909. Both were men- bers of the Baptist church. Children of Mr. and Mrs. Barr: I. Charles, died in childhood. 2. Harry S., of whom further. 3. Hugh, at present serving as deputy sheriff ; married Lillian West. 4. Russell, living at home : married Mayme Howell.

(III) Harry S., son of Walter S. and Victoria ( Middleton ) Barr, was born at Winfield, Putnam county, West Virginia, October 31, 1876. His education was an exceedingly liberal one. After four years tuition at Huntington, where he attended Marshall College, he matriculated at the Ohio Dental College, Cincinnati, and was graduated in the class of 1901, with the degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery. He immediately established himself in the practice of his profession in Charleston, West Virginia, where his careful and thorough work and conscientious meth- ods have been rewarded with a large and constantly increasing practice, and he is recognized as one of the leaders of his profession. Dr. Barr is a Knight Templar, a thirty-second degree Mason and a Shriner.

Dr. Barr married, at Charleston, Laura, daughter of Warwick B. and Virginia ( Mitchell ) Spencer, both born in Virginia. Mrs. Barr was born at Hockingport, Ohio, but received her education in Charleston, West Vir- ginia, to which town her parents had removed while she was still a child. Mr. Spencer had been engaged in the wholesale produce trade in Charleston, for a number of years prior to his death in that town, in 1906. With his father he made the attempt to cross the prairies in 1849. in a "prairie schooner", in order to go to California; but his father. Jonathan Spencer, died while on the way. His son interred him in the wilderness, planting small spruce shoots around the lonely grave, which have now grown into stately trees. Mrs. Spencer lives in Charleston, and is a devout member of the Baptist church. Children of Dr. and Mrs. Barr : Charles H., born August 14. 1904: Walter Bradford, August IO, 1906: Robert Spencer, October 1I, 19II.

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William A. Haley was born in the state of Virginia, and

HALEY late in life removed with his family to Kentucky, where his last years were spent. He married Mary Allen, also a native of Virginia. They had six children.

(II) Rev. Littleberry J. Haley, son of William A. and Mary (Allen) Haley, was born in Virginia. He is now living in retirement on his farm in Louisa county, Virginia, on Elk creek. He became a student at Rich- mond College, from which he was graduated with the degree of Master of Arts, then matriculated at the University of Virginia. He would un- doubtedly have been graduated from this institution, with the highest honors, had not the breaking out of the war between the states closed the university and cut short his successful career in it. He became a minister in the Baptist church, where his brilliant mental attainments made him a leader in the denomination. After forty years of active min- istration in his calling, he retired to farm life. The public affairs of his state and country commanded much of his attention, and for a time he served as member of the legislature of the state of Virginia, and for a period of twenty years held the office of county superintendent of schools. Rev. Mr. Haley married Mary Long, a native of Spottsylvania county, Virginia. Children: I. Nannie, married Dr. George H. Cook. 2. Fan- nie, deceased, married W. W. Boxley. 3. William A., a railroad con- tractor living at Clifton Forge, Virginia; married Champ Bumpass, and has five children. 4. Littleberry J., engaged in the practice of law at Birmingham, Alabama, where he also resides. 5. Dr. Jeter G., de- ceased ; was engaged in medical practice in Hinton, West Virginia; sur- vived by his widow and three children. 6. John Long, a farmer in North- ampton county, Virginia ; married Anna Thomas. 7. John C., a railroad contractor living at Salem, Virginia; married Flossie Chisholm, and has one son. 8. Dr. Peter A., of whom further.

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West Virginia and its people, Volume II, Part 13

Author: Miller, Thomas Condit, 1848-; Maxwell, Hu, joint author Publication date: 1913 Publisher: New York, Lewis Historical Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 866

Author: Miller, Thomas Condit, 1848-; Maxwell, Hu, joint author
Publication date: 1913
Publisher: New York, Lewis Historical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 866