West Virginia and its people, Volume II, Part 34

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

USA > West Virginia > West Virginia and its people, Volume II > Part 34

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(III) Charles Frederick, son of Jacob (2) and Catharine (Schweitz- er) Hess, was born July 17. 1854. in Hoffenheim, Baden, Germany, and is now living at Point Pleasant, West Virginia. He is the founder of his family in this country. He received his early education in the com- mon schools at Hoffenheim, and completed his education in the Univer- sity of Heidelberg, Germany. He came to Pomeroy, Ohio, in 1872, and entered the drug business, which he continued until 1876, when he spent one year in Germany. He returned to this country and settled at Point Pleasant and commenced the manufacture of brick, and later cement blocks, and contracting, a business which in 1906 he greatly enlarged and in which he still continues. He is an Episcopalian in religion, a Demo- crat in politics, was a councilman 1901-1907, and has been a member of the County Board of Health for three years. He is a charter member of Oriental Lodge No. 49. Knights of Pythias, was elected colonel of the Second Brigade of West Virginia, and quartermaster-general of the state of West Virginia. He is also a member of Rheine Lodge, No. 33, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Pomeroy, Ohio: Minturn Lodge, No. 19, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, Point Pleasant Chapter, No. 7, Royal Arch Mason, Franklin Commandery, No. 17, Knights

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Templar, also of Beni Kedam Temple, Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine of Charleston, and trustee of Point Pleasant Lodge of the Knights of Honor.

He married, June 17, 1877, in Pomeroy, Ohio, Josephine, only child of Joseph and Anna ( Assman) Hein, who was born in New York City, February 28, 1854. Her father was born in Kissingen, Germany. He emigrated to this country and fought during the civil war, under Gen- eral Rosecrans, as a member of the Eleventh Battery, Ohio Artillery, being present at the battle of Chattanooga and Lookout Mountain. He was superintendent of the high school in Pomeroy, Ohio, from 1866 to 1869, later owning a brewery and removing to Point Pleasant, where he owned considerable property in 1878. Children of Charles Frederick and Josephine (Hein) Hess: 1. Josephine, born February 4, 1878, mar- ried Clarence Stewart ; children, Virginia and Eleanor. 2. Freda, twin with Josephine, born February 4. 1878, married C. C. Tippett of Point Pleasant : children, Joseph, Bernie and Roderick. 3. Carl Frederick. born 1880, married Mertie, daughter of Jefferson Newberry of Hunting- ton. 4. Frank, born 1882, married Daisy, daughter of W. W. Baker, of Hamlen. 5. Alvena, born in 1884. married Clarence E. Whitney. who is in the United States government employ at Lock 28, Ohio River Lock and Dams, and is stationed near Huntington. 6. Frederick Hiram, born in 1886, resides in Texas.

SMITH This is in all probability by far the most common name in the United States, and there is evidence that it has long been in this position. English names are frequently names of occupation, and smiths, of one sort and another, are numerous in any community. Hence, when surnames came into vogue, this would natur- ally be born by many families, of no traceable relation one to another. It may be noted that there are some names also indicating special varie- ties of smiths : of these. Goldsmith is the best known. To all the Eng- lish Smiths, which would have made a numerous body, other nationalities have added a quota ; for similar names, Schmidt and Smit, are found in German and Dutch, and the latter, at least, is the true ancestral spelling of the name of a considerable body of American Smiths of the present time. From one source and another, the name has become common in all parts of the United States, and it might almost be said in every com- munity in the country.

(I) Jacob Smith, the first member of this family about whom we have definite information, was born in Greenbrier county, Virginia. All his life he was a farmer, living in that county and Raleigh. Child, James of whom further.

(II) James, son of Jacob Smith, was born in Raleigh county, Vir- ginia, in 1840. He was a farmer and stockman. He married Susan, daughter of Jacob Bennett, who was born in Raleigh county. Her fath- er, a farmer and stockman, was a native of Greenbrier county. Child. Jackson, of whom further.

(III) Jackson, son of James and Susan ( Bennett) Smith, was born in Raleigh county, West Virginia, October 21, 1868. He attended both public and private schools ; and for eighteen years was engaged in school teaching in Raleigh county. He was a very popular teacher and has con- tinned to enjoy this popularity in other spheres of action. He is a Re- publican, but not active in party politics. In 1902, he was elected clerk of the circuit court. taking office on the first day of January. in the fol- lowing vear. Six years later, he was re-elected, having been nominated by the Republican party. He married Minnie May Hurt, a teacher in the

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public schools. Both Mr. and Mrs. Smith are members of the Christian church, and he is a deacon. Children : Aubrey Overton. a graduate of the Beckley Institute, in the class of 1912, afterwards deputy circuit clerk and now a student in the Wesleyan College at Buckhannon : Thelma Harland, a student at the Beckley Institute; Loy Ogden, a student at the Beckley Institute; Guy Wilfred, a student at the Beckley Institute ; Orliffe Jaxon, a student at the Beckley Institute; Wendell Ware, a student at the Beckley Institute ; Alma Evelyn.

WARD This family is of English origin. The name is said to have stood in the roll of Battle Abbey. Yet Ward is probably an Anglo-Saxon word, and as a name, one of that class which were taken from occupations. It is doubtful at least, whether all the Wards form one family. A frequent spelling of this name is Warde. Both in England and in Ireland the Ward, or Warde name is found. In America a large family is descended from Andrew Warde, who was made a freeman of Watertown, Massachusetts, in 1634. His descend- ants are in all parts of the country and most of them omit the final "e." They have long been strongly represented in the neighborhood of New York City and in Westchester county, New York. Another Ward fam- ily, smaller, but distinguished, is of somewhat later American origin and Rhode Island is its center. There is a Virginian Ward family, set- tled by 1634, and connected with Henrico county: its ancestor, Seth Ward, was probably a relative of Bishop Seth Ward. of the Church of England. They have been notably fond of the Christian name Seth, nearly, if not quite to the present time, giving it in various instances to oldest sons.

(I) Thomas Ward, the first member of this family about whom we have definite information, came to Raleigh county, Virginia, about 1855. and engaged in farming. He married Harriet Morgan. Child, Gilbert. of whom further.

(II) Gilbert, son of Thomas and Harriet ( Morgan) Ward, was a farmer in Raleigh county. He married Mary, daughter of Timothy and Nellie (O'Neil) Fitzpatrick. her parents being immigrants from Ire- land, who had settled in Raleigh county. Child, C. M., of whom further.

(III) C. M., son of Gilbert and Mary (Fitzpatrick) Ward, was born in Raleigh county. West Virginia, February 3, 1879. He attended hoth private and free schools, and prepared himself for school teaching, which he followed in Raleigh county for six years. In 1904. he entered the law department of Grant University and graduated therefrom in 1906, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Laws. Thereupon, he took a grad- nate course of one year in the law department of the University of West Virginia. In 1907 he was admitted to the bar, and he entered in that year the law firm of Farley, Sutphen & Ward, at Beckley, Raleigh coun- ty. West Virginia, the firm is now Farley & Ward. He is a member of the West Virginia State Bar Association. From 1903 to 1905. he was a member of the examining board for teachers in his county. He is a Democrat and at this writing ( 1912). is Democratic candidate for pros- ecuting attorney of the county. He married, September 16. 1908, Nel- lie, daughter of John and Catharine ( Kennedy) Collins, who died March 13, 1910. Her parents lived in Ohio county, West Virginia, and she was a graduate of the high school at Hinton, Summers county. West Vir- ginia, and of the Concord Normal School, Athens, West Virginia. Child, John Collins.

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Thomas G. McKell was born in Chillicothe, Ross county, McKELL Ohio, in 1845, and he lived in the above city during the entire period of his lifetime. He died in 1904, aged fifty- nine years. He was engaged in the queensware business at Chillicothe and was president of the Central National Bank in that city from the time of its foundation until his death. His wife was Jean D. Dun in her girlhood and she is still living, aged sixty-eight years, her home being in Chillicothe. There were two children born to Mr. and Mrs. McKell, namely : William, mentioned below ; and John D .. born in 1873, is an attorney in Chillicothe.

(II) William, son of Thomas G. and Jean D. (Dun) McKell, was born in Chillicothe, Ohio, March 1, 1871. As a boy he attended the public schools of his native place and for a time he went to school in Lawrence- ville, New Jersey. His collegiate education was obtained in Yale Uni- versity, in the scientific department of which institution he was grad- uated as a member of the class of 1893. Immediately after the gradua- tion he came to Glen Jean, where he at once became treasurer, which position he still holds, of the McKell Coal & Coke Company, of which John D. McKell is president ; and Thomas Nichol. general manager. In 1909 he organized the Bank of Glen Jean, which began business August IIth of that year. This substantial and reliable institution has a capital stock of fifty thousand dollars and its surplus and profits. June 14. 1912. amounted to $19,906.63. The official corps of the bank is as follows : William McKell. president : C. B. Lee, vice-president : and J. E. Drum- heller, cashier. This institution is the designated depository for the state of West Virginia and the United States Postal Savings.

In politics Mr. McKell is a Republican. He is an essentially repre- sentative citizen of Fayette county and is recognized as one of the lead- ing business men of Glen Jean. He has shown his faith in the future of West Virginia by locating in this state and by investing considerable money in local enterprises. Mr. McKell is unmarried.

MONTGOMERY Dr. Lawrence C. Montgomery was born in Fay- ette county. West Virginia, in the town of Mont- gomery, July 17, 1873. Henry Montgomery, his great-grandfather, came to Fayette county in a very early day with Gen- eral Andrew Lewis, who made so many successful campaigns against the Indians. John Carlin Montgomery, first mayor of the town of Mont- gomery, is the father of Dr. Lawrence C. Montgomery.

Dr. Montgomery was educated in the public schools of Fayette coun- ty and in the University of Virginia. He studied medicine in the Medi- cal College of Ohio, at Cincinnati. now the University of Cincinnati, and he was graduated in that institution as a member of the class of 1897. duly receiving the degree of Doctor of Medicine. He initiated the active practice of his profession in Montgomery and here has since maintained his home and business headquarters. His medical practice has grown to extensive proportions and he is renowned as one of the most thoroughly equipped and most skillful doctors in the entire county. His fraternal connections are with the Benevolent & Protection Order of Elks, the Knights of Pythias and the Eagles. Dr. Montgomery has ever mani- fested a deep and sincere interest in all matters affecting the general wel- fare of his home town. He it was who organized a fire department of fourteen well trained men and had the usual equipment, consisting of reels, hose, ladders and chemical engines, installed. He is a Republican in politics but has no time for public office of any description, all his at- tention being devoted to his ever increasing medical practice.

Postillon

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At Lewisburg, Greenbrier county, West Virginia, December 23. 1897. Dr. Montgomery was united in marriage to Pattie Alderson Feamster, a native of Lewisburg. Dr. and Mrs. Montgomery have three children, whose names and respective dates of birth are as follows: John Carlin, February 4, 1899: Janice Meredith, September 3, 1901 ; and Lawrence Carlin, December 7, 1903. Dr. and Mrs. Montgomery are devout mem- bers of the Presbyterian church, in the faith of which denomination they are rearing their children.

DILLON John Wesley Dillon was born in the commonwealth of Virginia, and there grew up and was educated. He was a farmer in Bland county, Virginia, during the major por- tion of his active career, and he married Docia Evans, a cousin of the late Admiral "Fighting Bob" Evans. They had a number of children, among them being the Hon. Charles Wesley. mentioned below.

(II) Charles Wesley, son of John Wesley and Docia (Evans) Dil- lon, was born in Bland county, Virginia, February 8, 1865. He grew up on the old parental homestead, and his rudimentary educational training was obtained in the district schools of his native place. Subsequently he attended the Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College, now known as the Virginia Polytechnic Institute, at Blacksburg. Virginia. Mr. Dillon's first work after assuming the active responsibilities of life was that of farm hand in Virginia. Later he worked with the grade con- struction crew on the Norfolk & Western railroad, which was then being built from Radford to Pocahontas, Virginia. In 1886 he located in Fayette county, West Virginia, where he secured employment as a country school teacher, having previously passed the examina- tions required by the school board. For the ensuing two years his work- ing hours were given over to teaching, and all his spare time was de- voted to reading law. In 1888 he entered the law office of the late L. G. Gaines, of Fayetteville, under whose able preceptorship his progress was so rapid that he was admitted to the Fayetteville bar in that same year. with the Hon. Joseph Holt Gaines. He immediately entered upon the active practice of his profession at Fayetteville, where his rise to promi- nence has been swift and sure. In 1892 he was honored by his fellow- citizens with election to the office of prosecuting attorney of Fayette county, and he was re-elected to that office in 1896, discharging his offi- cial duties in that connection with such great efficiency that his fame spread throughout the county and other sections of the state. In regard to his next position, that of state tax commissioner, the following para- graphs, which appeared in an article published in the Fayette Journal, February 22, 1912. are considered worthy of reproduction here. the same describing faithfully the political conditions existing at that time.

"In politics, Mr. Dillon had interested himself in the progressive march of the Republican party, and in West Virginia, where ascendancy had been brought about by the overturning of the old and decadent methods of the Democracy and the establishment of modern and progressive ideas of popular government, he. along with the other young leaders of the party, took advance steps in advocacy of the laws for the assessment and taxation of property and the collection of the taxes of the people, which would insure a more nearly equal distribution of the burden. This great movement culminated in the authorization of the State Tax Commission. a body of men taken from the most prominent walks of life, whose efforts resulted primarily in the enactment of the present uniform tax laws which are now being copied and adopted in other states and which have resulted in the equal distribution of the tax burdens and saving of hundreds of thousands of dollars to the people.

"Mr. Dillon was a strong advocate of this new system, and from the stump was a great factor in determining the influence in favor of its final adoption. With the advent of the administration of Governor White, he saw the perfection of this new

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system, and the creation of the office of State Tax Commissioner. The duties of the office required unusual accomplishments, mature legal knowledge, and an almost unlimited amount of executive ability. For the inauguration of this new and untried system, the chief executive of the state labored long and earnestly in the selection of a person upon whom the duties should fall. In the light of development and promi- nence of young men, the investigation and consideration of those of maturer years, and the general casting about for the medium through which to launch the outcome of the most important legislation within the history of the state, and the most momentous to the Republican party, the choice fell upon the young and vigorous Fayette county attorney, and, when the duty was cast upon him, he undertook the work with the vigor and ability which had characterized his efforts in the past, and, when he had fully mastered the intricacies of the new system, put the vast fiscal machinery of the state into full execution, organized the department in consonance with the laws formulated by the astute leaders of thought in the state, the people very soon realized that the new system possessed the merit claimed for it, and it has constantly grown in favor until to-day it stands as the chief monument of Repub- lican success in West Virginia.

"It would be saying too much to write that in Mr. Dillon the then Governor White found the only available person for the important duty made necessary by the enactment of the laws proposed by the state tax commission. But it is only just to declare that in Mr. Dillon was found the man pre-eminently fitted by experience, temperament and general surroundings to take up the initial duties involved and to carry out the full purpose and scope of the new legislation. Unwise interpretation of these laws would have resulted disastrously to the administration, the party responsible for their enactment, and for the new commissioner. So clear and com- prehensive were the applications of the new laws, so wisely were they administered and so carefully were the unusual interpretations announced and promulgated that the transit on from the old system, almost primitive in character, to the modern and fairer methods soon found the people in one acclaim for approval, albeit the pessi- mist, who must assume the negative in all things in order to maintain an existence."

Mr. Dillon assumed charge of the office of State Tax Commissioner in the fall of 1904. and he filled that office with the utmost efficiency for the ensuing three years. In April, 1907, he resigned from that position and returned to Fayetteville, where he again took up the practice of law. His prominence in the public eye as prosecuting attorney and as state tax commissioner brought innumerable clients to him and he has figured prominently in many of the most important litigations in the state and federal courts. In 1908 he was a delegate to the Republican national convention in Chicago, that nominated William H. Taft for president and James S. Sherman for vice-president. In the spring of 1912 he was urged to accept the candidacy for governor of West Virginia. In the spring of 1912 he was urged to make the race in the state-wide primary for the nomination for governor on the Republican ticket. This was a most spirited contest and the first state-wide primary election for the nomination of candidates to fill state offices ever held in West Virginia. The said primary resulted in the nomination of Hon. H. D. Hatfield for governor, who was elected in the general election by a large plurality. Mr. Dillon loyally supported the nominee in the general election, and the Republican ticket, and made an active canvass in the campaign of 1912 for the election of the entire state ticket. Following is a concluding paragraph taken from some of Mr. Dillon's campaign matter :

"I believe in a strict enforcement of all laws, and that every officer, high and low, should measure up to the full responsibilities of his duties. That those admin- istering public affairs should stand for civic righteousness, for the highest ideals in citizenship and for those things which make for the moral development of our people as well as their material advancement."

His candidacy was endorsed by many of the leading citizens of Fay- ette county and of remote sections of the state. One of the oldest and most powerful Republicans of Fayette county gave out the following statements as an encouragement for the people, unfamiliar with his per- sonality, to vote for him :

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"The announcement of Mr. Dillon for governor suits me exactly. I like that man, and I admire his courage and character. When a man without the aid of powerful influences can forge his way from the cornfield, the railroad grade, the school room and the dingy office of the country barrister to the places of trust and responsibility attained by Charles Dillon, and then make good in every one of them, the Republican party can make no possible mistake in elevating him to its leadership. I shall take great pleasure in voting for Mr. Dillon for governor and in doing so, I believe I am voting for the man best fitted to bear the standard of the Republican party to victory in the approaching campaign."

In the spring of 1900, Mr. Dillon, assisted by E. L. Nuckolls, com- piled and had published the book entitled the "West Virginia Pocket Code." The same contains the constitution of the United States, the constitution of West Virginia, all the statutes of a general nature con- tained in the West Virginia Code of 1891, with all amendments by the acts of the legislature since the adoption of the code of 1891, together with a complete index to the code and to all new laws of a general na- ture, passed by the legislature since 1891. It also contains the United States bankruptcy law, passed by congress in 1898, with index thereto. This book was compiled as a digest to the West Virginia Reports, and is of invaluable assistance to the practicing attorney. being a remarkable time saver.

Mr. Dillon was appointed in 1909 by the governor as one of the com- missioners to represent his state in the national organization known as the Commission on Uniform State Laws, which organization meets an- nually and just preceding the date of the meeting of the American Bar Association and at the same place. He is still a member of this commis- sion, and also a member of the American Bar Association, and takes great interest in the proceedings of these associations. He is also a Mas- ter Mason, a Knight Templar and a Shriner, holding membership in Beni-Kedam Temple, Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, of Charleston, West Virginia. No citizen in Fayette county is more respected than he and no man more fully enjoys the confidence of the people or more richly deserves the esteem in which he is held. Hon- orable in business, loyal in citizenship, charitable in thought, kindly in ac- tion, true to every trust confided to his care, his life represents the high- est type of Christian manhood.

MOORE

This name is found in many parts of the United States of

America and has been borne by a number of persons of distinction, in both secular and religious activities. The present family has long been settled in what is now the state of West Virginia, but came into Virginia from Maryland.

(I) Alonzo Moore, the first member of this family about whom we have definite information, lived in Maryland. It is not known whom he married, but he had a son Philip, of whom further.

(II) Philip, son of Alonzo Moore, was born in Maryland. Coming into Virginia, he settled at Jake's run, in Monongalia county, where he lived from that time and was owner of a large tract of land. The name of his wife is not known, but he had a son William, of whom further.

(III) William, son of Philip Moore, was born in 1807, and died in 1884. In 1840 he came from Monongalia county into Tyler county, Vir- ginia. He was a carpenter and farmer and was one of the first persons growing fruit in Tyler county. He married (first) Rebecca Sine ; (sec- ond) Ellen -, (third) Anna Johnson. Among his fifteen children was William Nelson, of whom further.

(IV) William Nelson, son of William and Rebecca (Sine) Moore. was born in Monongalia county, Virginia, August 1. 1829, and is yet liv-

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ing. When he was about eleven years old, he came with his parents into Tyler county. There he was a farmer and for a number of years he was a member of the county court. He married Lucinda, daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth (Morris) Sweeney, who died September 16, 1907. Children : Charles, Virginia, married D. C. Smith ; Sarah, married A. N. Fordyce; Mary E., married J. W. Stewart; Margaret, Kit Carson, of whom further.

(V) Kit Carson, son of William Nelson and Lucinda ( Sweeney) Moore, was born at Joseph's Mills, Tyler county, West Virginia, Octo- ber 16, 1874. His education was received in the public schools, in West Virginia academy at Buckhannon, the West Liberty Normal School and the University of West Virginia, wherefrom he graduated, in 1900, with the degree of Bachelor of Laws. For one year he practiced law at Sis- tersville, West Virginia, after which time he came in 1902, to Middle- bourne, and here he now has a large and successful practice. In 1908 Mr. Moore was elected prosecuting attorney of the county. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He married, in 1906, Edna, daughter of Dr. E. B. and Mary E. (Smith) Conaway. Children : Richard C., born September 9, 1907 : Mary. Virginia, born Au- gust 13, 1909.

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West Virginia and its people, Volume II, Part 34

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