USA > West Virginia > West Virginia and its people, Volume II > Part 38
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liam, of whom further; Nancy : Betsey and Catherine, twins. All are deceased.
(II) William Brandebury, son of Henry and Mary ( Blagg) Brandy- berry, was born in Gallia county, Ohio, in 1825, died in 1907. He was a carpenter by trade and was likewise engaged in farming in his native place, where he grew to manhood and passed practically his entire life. He was class leader in the Methodist Episcopal church, in Gallia county, for more than fifty years. He married Rose Ann Noel, born in Gallia county, Ohio, in 1835, daughter of Edmund and Mary (Godfry) Noel, her father having been born in Virginia, whence he and his wife jour- neyed to Ohio in a covered wagon. Mr. Noel purchased a tract of eighty acres of government land in Gallia county, paying a dollar and a quarter an acre for the same. His wife was a daughter of John and Irene (Foley) Godfry. Mr. Godfry was English by birth, a Tory in political conviction, and a soldier in Lord Cornwallis' army at the time of the lat- ter's surrender. He was a noted sword fencer and after the revolution- ary war settled in Virginia, whence he later removed with Edward and Mary Noel to Ohio. William and Rose Ann (Noel) Brandebury became the parents of eleven children, nine of whom were living in 1912: I. Syl- vester M. 2. William W. 3. Henry Andrew, of whom further. 4. Mar- tha Wymer, who died in 1866. 5. Charles Eddy. 6. George Franklin. 7. Amantha. 8. James Robert. 9. Rome, who died aged seventeen years, about 1885. 10. Minnie Dell. II. Thomas. Mrs. Brandebury died in 1896, aged sixty-one years.
(III) Dr. Henry Andrew Brandebury, son of William and Rose Ann (Noel) Brandebury, was born in Gallia county, Ohio, September 18, 1856. He received his early educational training in the district schools of his native county, and this discipline was later supplemented with a classical course in Rio Grande College, at Rio Grande, Ohio. For five years after leaving college he was principal of the Gallipolis high school, and in 1889 he was matriculated as a student in the The Medical College of Ohio at Cincinnati, from which he was graduated in 1891. Immedi- ately after completing his medical course Dr. Brandebury came to Hunt- ington, West Virginia, where he initiated the active practice of his profes- sion and where he has since resided. He has had three post-graduate courses in Medicine in New York and Chicago. Dr. Brandebury is af- filiated with the Cabell County Medical Society, the West Virginia State Medical Society and the American Medical Association, and his alma mater conferred upon him the degree of Master of Arts in 1900. In politics he is an uncompromising supporter of the principles and policies for which the Progressive party stands sponsor, and is at present (1912) the first chairman of a Cabell county executive committee of the Pro- gressive party. He was the incumbent of the office of mayor of Hunting- ton for two terms, from 1899 to 1901. He has also been a member of the city council for several terms and at the present time (1912) is a mem- ber of the citizens' board of Huntington.
Dr. Brandebury married in 1887 Ida Belle Haning, born at Albany, Athens county, Ohio, April 8. 1860, and died February 10. 1904. Mrs. Brandebury was graduated from Rio Grande College, Ohio, in 1883, and from Hillsdale College, Michigan, in 1885. She was the daughter of Ira Z. and Irene (Wood) Haning, her father being a free-will Baptist min- ister of note in southern Ohio for many years. They are the parents of two daughters : Helen Gertrude, studying at the University of Michigan, from which she will graduate (classical course) with the class of 1914; Henrietta, a graduate of the Huntington, West Virginia, high school. with the class of 1913, and will graduate from Marshall College, with that of 1914.
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The first of the Parsons family of whom the name is PARSONS known was Jonathan Parsons, but of him nothing is known beyond the fact that he lived in New Hampshire, and had a son Samuel, mentioned below.
(II) Samuel, son of Jonathan Parsons, is the first of whom there is definite information in the records of the family. He was a native of New Hampshire, and at an early age crossed the Green Mountains into Vermont, making the journey by means of the primitive ox team of that time. He first settled at Moquam where he purchased a tract of wild land, and improved and cultivated this for several years. He then moved to St. Albans, Vermont, going from thence to Burlington in the same state. Here he engaged in what were in those days build- ing operations on a large scale. He was a captain in the train band and during the war of 1812 fought in the battle of Plattsburg. He was a Whig in his political beliefs, and later joined the ranks of the Repub- lican party. His religious preferences were for the tenets of the Meth- odist Episcopal church. He married a Miss Sanborn, also a native of New Hampshire, and of this marriage the following children were born : Jethro, of whom further; Josiah; Chester; Chandler; Paulina; Ara- minta ; Mahala, and several who died in childhood. Samuel Parsons died about 1872, aged eighty-six years.
(III) Jethro, son of Samuel Parsons, was born in St. Albans, Ver- mont, and died in 1896, at the age of eighty-six years. He was brought up on his father's farm, and upon reaching man's estate purchased a farm and cultivated it for many years. He was a man of good business ability and succeeded so well in his chosen occupation that at the time of his death he was accounted a rich man. He was a Republican in his political beliefs, but took only a good citizen's part in political matters. He married Comfort Weeks, a native of Sheffield, Vermont, and they had the following children: I. Henry Chester, who was captain of Company L, First Vermont Cavalry, during the civil war and was wounded at the battle of Gettysburg. 2. John Haines, who enlisted when President Lincoln issued his call for three months' men, and after that term expired re-enlisted in Company L, First Vermont Cavalry, and was commissioned quartermaster's sergeant. He died of wounds received in battle, in Washington, D. C. 3. Catherine, died unmarried. 4. War- ren Jethro, of whom further.
(IV) Warren Jethro, son of Jethro and Comfort (Weeks) Parsons, was born in St. Albans, Vermont, April 1, 1846. His first schools were the ^ublic ones of his native town, leaving which he engaged in farming and followed this occupation until he was twenty-five years of age. In 1870 he moved to Virginia, settling on a farm near Barboursville, and cultivating this for a year. In 1872 he moved to Huntington, West Vir- ginia, and engaged in the business of real estate, moving buildings, mill- ing, etc. He later purchased much real estate and is today the owner of a large amount of that kind of property. His whole time is devoted to the management of these properties. He is stockholder in the Union Savings Bank and in the Central Banking Company. He is a Republi- can in politics, and he and his wife are members of the First Congre- gational Church, Mr. Parsons being trustee of the congregation. He married, October 12, 1860. Etta E., daughter of Weeks Graves, who is a native of Vermont. Two children were born to them: John Weeks, of whom further ; Roy, who died in infancy.
(V) Dr. John Weeks Parsons, son of Warren Jethro and Etta E. (Graves) Parsons, was born at Huntington, West Virginia, August 5, 1873. He prepared at the local public schools for Marshall College, after which he took a course at Oberlin College, Oberlin, Ohio. This was fol --
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lowed by study at the University of Pennsylvania, from which he received in 1896 the degree of Bachelor of Science, and two years later that of Doctor of Dental Surgery. For six years after his leaving the university he practised in Cleveland, Ohio, but in 1905 he returned to Huntington and has since practised there, occupying offices at Ninth street and Third avenue. He ranks high in his profession and has a large and exclusive practice among the people of Huntington. Dr. Parsons is also vice- president of the Central Banking Company, at West Huntington, and is a stockholder in the Mutual Land Company. He is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. In his political views he is a Republican, and in his religious faith a Congregationalist. Dr. Parsons is president of the Huntington Dental Association, and he is a member of the Pan-Hellenic Society.
He married at Elgin, Illinois, September 28, 1898, Catherine, born in Elgin, Illinois, in 1873, daughter of Louis H. and Carrie J. Yar- wood, the former who died about 1910, was an early settler in Elgin, and was an artist of exceptional ability. Her mother is still living in El- gin (1913) at the age of seventy-eight. The children of Dr. John Weeks and Catherine (Yarwood) Parsons are: Janet Etta, Warren Jethro, and John Yarwood.
MCDOUGAL This family is of Scotch origin. The name Dougal was originally Dhu Gal, meaning black stranger. In the early history of Scotland, the clan McDougal owned and ruled all the islands near the western coast of the Highlands. They are said to have been a fierce, stubborn, but courageous and warlike race, and are found in the thirteenth century in opposition to the Crown. 1306 led by McDougal of Lorn, they fought against Robert Bruce in the battle of Methven, and were entirely victorious. At this time Bruce lost to the McDougals the "Brooch of Lorn," which was afterward stolen from the headquarters of the clan, but has in recent time been restored. For a few months after this defeat of Bruce, the clan McDougal ruled Scot- land; but Bruce, having gathered together, reorganized, and encouraged his defeated, but not conquered troops, crushed and overthrew the clan in battle in Argyleshire. Their numbers were greatly depleted in the en- gagement ; the victor stripped them of their possessions of land except the district of Lorn; and the clan has never recovered its pristine strength. The Ritchie county, West Virginia, family of the name McDougal is de- scended from the Scottish clan McDougal.
(I) William McDougal, the founder in America of the present fam- ily, came from the district of Lorn, in the Highlands of Scotland, in 1762, and settled in Virginia. He was a Presbyterian minister, and was soon made the minister of a small band of Scotch Presbyterians, at the place where Morgantown has been built, in Monongalia county. Virginia. In 1781 he returned temporarily to the Highlands, leaving his three chil- dren in the care of some of his flock in Virginia. When he returned to America he settled in Kentucky, and he bore a prominent part in the foundation of a Presbyterian school at Danville, Kentucky, which is now Center College. In 1804 he went on horseback from Danville to Marion county, Virginia, to see for the first time since he had left them twenty years before in their childhood his children by his first marriage. desiring to induce them to come and live near him in Kentucky ; he offered them large possessions, but could not persuade them to leave their homes and return with him. On the contrary his son, probably displeased hy his father's long separation, positively refused to return with him under any consideration, and they separated finally, remaining quite apart, in mu-
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tual unbroken silence, thenceforth. William McDougal married (first) in America, in 1774, - Brand, who died about 1780; (second) in Scot- land, -. Children by first wife: John, of whom further ; Sarah, mar- ried - Deviess ; Margaret, married Samuel Dudley.
(II) Rev. John McDougal, son of William and - ( Brand ) Mc- Dougal, died at Dunkard Mill run, Marion county, Virginia, in 1861. Here he had lived the greater part of his life, having moved to this place before his father came to see him, as recounted above. He was an ordained minister of the Methodist Episcopal church, and was also a stock raiser and the owner of much land. He married, in 1798, Mar- garet Hilery, who died at Dunkard Mill run, in 1861. Thus this couple had more than sixty years of married life, and died in the same year. Children : William, deceased; Elizabeth, deceased, married John Amos; Mary, deceased, married William Toothman; Jonathan, died in infancy ; Sarah, died young; Osbourne, of whom further; John Fletcher; Nancy, deceased, married Charles Sturm; Enos Hilery, born June 4, 1824, died March 29, 1875, married, August 17, 1848, Miranda Price.
(III ) Osbourne, son of Rev. John and Margaret (Hilery) McDou- gal, came to Ritchie county, Virginia, in 1845. and settled on a farm at the mouth of Beeson, a stream in the county, and there lived the re- mainder of his life. He married Sarah Brumage, who survived him. Children: Thomas; Elias Cole, of whom further; Charles; Simon; Jo- seph, deceased : Enos, died in the civil war, a Union soldier ; Sarah, died young ; Alcinda, deceased, married - Wigner.
(IV) Elias Cole, son of Osbourne and Sarah (Brumage) McDou- gal, was born in Marion county, Virginia, 1829, died in West Virginia, 1877. At about the age of sixteen he came with his father into Ritchie county, where he thereafter lived. His home was near Pennsboro, and he was one of the representative men of his community. Throughout his life he was engaged in farming. He married Berchena, daughter of William and Eliza ( Marshall) Lawson. She was a native of Vir- ginia, and came across the mountains with her mother at the age of twelve; she is now living at Pennsboro. Children: Enos E .; Marcus M. ; John O., of whom further; William Lee; Ellen H., married Harry Cannon ; Charles W.
(V) John O., son of Elias Cole and Berchena (Lawson) . McDougal, was born in Ritchie county, Virginia, June 27, 1862. He received a com- mon school education, and was engaged in farming until 1884. After serving one term as deputy sheriff, he returned to his farm. He was a breeder of Polled Angus cattle, and made a specialty of fruit raising also. January 1, 1912, he was appointed cashier of the First National Bank at Pennsboro, and he still holds this position. The business of the bank has increased in this short period by more than fifty thousand dollars. In President Cleveland's first administration, Mr. McDougal was postmaster of Pennsboro. He is a member of the Woodmen of the World and of the Maccabees. He married, June 27. 1883, Ingaba, daugh- ter of John Marshall and Rebecca (Clayton) Wilson (see Wilson III). Children of John Marshall and Rebecca (Clayton) Wilson : Sherman, deceased ; Quincy A., deceased; Josephine, deceased, married Howard Broadwater : Lehman : William : Alpheus; Benjamin F .: Lincoln ; John ; Hooper ; Creed : Ingaba, married John O. McDougal. Children of John O. and Ingaba (Wilson) McDougal: Ora, born May 18, 1884: Ola, February 13. 1886: Bettie, December 31, 1891, died April 6, 1906; John, July 6, 1900.
Meller
Lemassey
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MASSEY L. Christopher Massey represents in the present genera- tion one of the. old and honored families of Virginia, dat- ing back more than a century, during which time the va- rious members have been faithful in the discharge of their duties, in the professions, the trades, in church relations and in politics.
(I) William Massey, known as "Uncle Billie" Massey, the first of the name of whom we have definite information, was a native of Virginia, and died in 1885 in Raleigh county, West Virginia, whither he had re- moved during the civil war. He gained a comfortable livelihood by the tilling of the soil, and was active and prominent in the affairs of the com- munity. He married Mattie Children : Steel, of whom further ; Jackson ; Henry ; Floyd; William; Clark ; Ruhama, deceased, was the widow of John Bradford; Martha, widow of Elam Scarborough ; Mrs. Larkin F. Allen, who resided in Raleigh county, West Virginia.
( II) Steel, son of William Massey, was born in Raleigh county, West Virginia, died in the prime of life. He was brought up on his father's farm, and being inured to that labor followed it throughout the active years of his life. He was respected by his neighbors and acquaintances, and his untimely death was deeply deplored. He married Caroline Cant- ley, also a native of Raleigh county, who married (second) James F. Jones, and they are residing at Masseysville, West Virginia ; they had twc children : Virginia, deceased, who was the wife of W. H. Clay, and Eliza J., wife of Squire J. L. Clay, of Raleigh county. Children of Mr. and Mrs. Massey : George W., of whom further ; Henry, a farmer in Raleigh county ; Mary, deceased.
(III) George W., son of Steel and Caroline (Cantley) Massey, was born in Raleigh county, West Virginia, in 1851, died in November, 1895, also in the prime of life. He followed in the footsteps of his ancestors, making agriculture his life work, and was the owner of an excellent property which is still in the possession of his family. He took an active interest in politics, believing that interest the duty of every good citizen, and was an active factor in every movement for the betterment and im- provement of the community in which he resided. He married, in Ra- leigh county, West Virginia, Lydia Rosabelle Acord, born near Charles- ton, West Virginia, daughter of William C. Acord, Esq., of Raleigh county. Children : 1. Romanza, married Lewis H. Pettry ; children : One son and four daughters. 2. L. Christopher, of whom further. 3. Robert L., a farmer near Charleston ; married ( first) Lucy Snodgrass, (second) Twila Pringle ; has three children. 4. Mary J., twin with Robert L., wife of Robert L. Hopkins, of Mercer county, West Virginia ; two sons and three daughters. 5. Lura B., wife of R. L. Williams, of Masseysville. 6. Arizona, wife of C. W. Tabor, postmaster at Saxton, West Virginia. 7. Calvin W., now (1912) of Houston, Texas : married Josephine Brad- ford; one son and two daughters. 8. Virginia A., a teacher in the public schools. 9. Ettie, died in childhood. Mrs. Massey married (second) William G. Daniels (deceased) of an old pioneer family of Raleigh coun- ty, West Virginia.
(IV) L. Christopher, son of George W. and Lydia Rosabelle (Acord) Massey, was born in Raleigh county, West Virginia, April 26, 1878. The public schools of the neighborhood and the Concord Nor- mal School afforded him the opportunity of acquiring a practical edu- cation, and for thirteen years after completing his studies he devoted his attention to teaching. He then became manager for the Black Band Coal & Coke Company, and in 1903, while serving in that capacity was appointed a justice of the peace to fill out an unexpired term. In 1905 he was nominated by the Republican party and elected to the state leg- islature, serving for two years, and was then appointed a member of the
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board of education, having always taken a deep interest in the public school system. In 1907 he served as chairman of the senatorial com- mittee for the eighth senatorial district and is now chairman of the third congressional district committee, consisting of ten counties. In 1908 he was elected county clerk, to serve for six years, his incumbency of office being noted for the utmost efficiency and capability. He is a member of the Presbyterian church, as is also his wife, and he is active in the work of the Young Men's Christian Association. He is a member of Kanawha Lodge, No. 20, Free and Accepted Masons ; also Chapter, Commandery and Shrine; of Spring Hill Lodge, No. 140, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Spring Hill; of Tiskelwah Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star, of which he is worthy patron ; and Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, of Charleston.
Mr. Massey married, March 1, 1904, in Kanawha county, West Vir- ginia, Mary J., born and reared near Charleston, daughter of Captain J. W. and Josephine ( Walker) Matthews, ( the former of whom was a Con- federate army officer during the civil war), and granddaughter of Guy P. Matthews, who served as a soldier in the Confederate army. Children : Guy Matthews, born February 13, 1906; Eustace Lee, born January 15, 1908.
Hon. James F. Brown, actively and prominently identi- BROWN fied with the professional and business life of Kanawha county, West Virginia, is a worthy representative of an old family, ancient and honorable in the history of Old Virginia.
William Brown, the emigrant ancestor, came to the new world from England about 1636, and settled in Prince William county, Virginia, where, and in adjoining counties, his descendants resided for several generations.
Dr. Benjamin Brown, one of his descendants, removed from there to the banks of the Ohio, where Huntington now stands, then part of Kan- awha county, later Cabell county, in 1805, and his son, James H. Brown, was born in Cabell county. West Virginia. December 25, 1818, died at Charleston, West Virginia. October 28, 1900. He graduated from Au- gusta College, Kentucky, in 1842, and later in the same year was ad- mitted to the bar. In 1848 he moved to Kanawha county, then Virginia. and ever after made Charleston his home. He was an old time Demo- crat : he took an active part in the campaign of 1844, advocating the an- nexation of Texas, the then paramount issue : in 1854-55 was a delegate to the state convention nominating Henry A. Wise for governor : in 1855 was candidate for state senator; in 1861 member of the legislature and upheld the Union, and also of the convention which formed the new state and framed its first constitution and was prominent and forceful in its deliberations and actions ; in 1861-62 was elected and commissioned judge of the eighteenth judicial circut of Virginia. from which he re- signed : during his service as circuit judge no appeal was ever taken from his decisions; in 1863 he was elected to the supreme court of appeals. served eight years: in 1875 was caucus nominee of his party for United States senate, and in 1883 and 1886 its nominee for congress, also was elected to the legislature in 1882, and was an acknowledged leader of the house. He married ( first ) Louisa M. Beuhring, who died in 1872, daugh- ter of the late Hon. Frederick G. L. Beuhring, of Cabell county : mar- ried (second) Sallie S., daughter of the late W. D. Shrewsbury, Esq .. who died in January. 1911.
James F. Brown was born March 7. 1852. He obtained his early edu- cation in the local schools, and later entered the West Virginia Uni-
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versity, graduating in 1873. Two years later he was admitted to the bar and ever since has been in active practice, his professional work extend- ing not only widely over his own state but into other states and to the supreme court of the United States. As a lawyer he has gained a high reputation, the firm of which he is a member, Brown, Jackson & Knight, being one of the strongest legal combinations in the state. During his long term of service in the city council the village of Charleston was changed to a city, and many forward movements were inaugurated, among them the paving system, the sewerage of the town, the construc- tion of a City Hall, institution of water works, introduction of street cars, erection of the Keystone Bridge across the Elk river, and the Charleston and South Side Bridge. over the Kanawha, in all of which he was a prominent factor. His only personal campaign was in 1882, when
during his absence he was nominated by his party (the Democrats) as one of three members to be elected to the legislature. For the same po- sition his father was nominated by the opposing party. After an earn- est but dignified campaign the result showed both elected, and both served in the same public body. In 1890 he was appointed to the board of re- gents of the State University, and continued in that position under four successive governors, notwithstanding the change meanwhile in the po- litical control, and had the satisfaction of seeing the University expanded, new buildings commenced, fuller equipment provided, and the attend- ance of less than two hundred at the time of his appointment advanced to more than twelve hundred at the end of his service. Likewise he noted the growth in the population of Kanawha county from fifteen thousand to more than eighty-one thousand, and Charleston advance from a rural village of one thousand and fifty to be the capital city of a new state. Mr. Brown is the vice-president of the Kanawha Valley Bank, one of the leading financial institutions of the state, also of the Southern States Mutual Life Insurance Company, and is an active fac- tor in many other of the live enterprises of that section.
Mr. Brown married, September 13. 1877, at Marietta, Ohio, Jennie M., born in Marietta, Ohio, May 5. 1854, daughter of the late John M. Woodbridge, for many years a leading merchant of Marietta, and his wife Abigail Elizabeth (Darling) Woodbridge, also deceased. Children : Louise Beuhring, born June 30, 1878. wife of Oscar P. Fitzgerald; Jean Mor- gan, born October 9. 1880: Elizabeth Woodbridge, born October 9, 1882, wife of Angus W. McDonald: Ceres, born December 31, 1884: Ruth Dannenberg, born July 25, 1880: Benjamin Beuhring, born March 14, 1893. now attending Princeton University.
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