USA > West Virginia > West Virginia and its people, Volume II > Part 39
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The late Charles Thistle, for a number of years identi-
THISTLE fied with the mercantile interests of Sistersville, and a life-long and most highly respected citizen of that place, was a son of Sampson Thistle, of honored memory, and Dorinda This- tle, his wife.
Charles Thistle was horn April 29, 1861. in Sistersville, received his education in the schools of his native place, and at the Commercial School, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The years of his early manhood were devoted to mercantile business, from which eventually he withdrew, bestowing thereafter his whole attention on his individual property interests. He was recognized as a man of superior business ability and a public-spirited citizen, ever moved by a generous interest in the welfare and advance- ment of his native city, and lending his hearty co-operation to any pro- ject which in his judgment would further her truest progress. In poli- tics he was a Democrat, but neither sought nor desired office, his unas-
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suming disposition inclining him to prefer the quiet life of a private citi- zen. Kindly and genial in his nature, he was a man of many friends. His fraternal affiliations were with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He attended the Presbyterian church and no good work done in the name of charity or religion appealed to him in vain. Mr. Thistle died June 26, 1903, at the comparatively early age of forty-two, leaving a memory which is still cherished in the hearts of his many friends. Throughout his entire life he was identified with his native place, and the Thistle Building, which his widow has caused to be erected as a fitting and enduring memorial of his honorable career, will perpetuate his name in the years to come. This structure, which is one of the finest in Sis- tersville, is now occupied by the Tyler County Bank and constitutes a most appropriate monument to a man of Mr. Thistle's many sterling qual- ities and true dignity of character.
Mr. Thistle married, December 25. 1888, Louisa A., born January 12, 1865, in Sistersville, daughter of George and Julia (Schaal) Graham. Mr. Graham was a native of Ireland, but came as a young man to the United States and was one of the early settlers of Sistersville, where he followed the cooper's trade to the close of his life, his death occurring March 4, 1895. Mrs. Graham was of German ancestry. Mr. and Mrs. Thistle were the parents of the following children: Sampson, born April 14, 1890, now studying electrical engineering at the Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio; Margaret, born July 28. 1894. now a student at Whea- ton Seminary, Norton, Massachusetts : and Virginia Maud, born Decem- ber 14, 1896, attending the Sistersville High School.
HARDWICK Very little is certain about this name, except its Teu- tonic origin. There are many parishes of this name in England, but derivation of the family name therefrom is not certain, as a similar name is found in German, and the meaning may be something like "warlike."
(I) Richard Hardwick, the first member of this family about whom we have definite information, was born in Kentucky, and lived to be eighty years old. His farm was in Lawrence county, Kentucky. He had four sons fighting for the Union, in the civil war, among whom was John, of whom further.
(II) John, son of Richard Hardwick, was born in Lawrence county, Kentucky, in 1837. He was a Union soldier, and served throughout the civil war, in the Fourteenth Kentucky Infantry ; that he was in the very thick of the fighting is indicated by the fact that he was twice wounded. He is now living on the old farm in Wayne county, West Virginia, the Hardwick homestead. He married Isabelle, daughter of Lazarus Vinson, who was born in Lawrence county, Kentucky, in 1852, and died Septem- ber II, 1883. Her father, also born in Kentucky, was a lumberman, and died in 1897, aged seventy years. Children : Lazarus, deceased ; Richard, of whom further : Daniel B. : George, deceased : William ; John : May.
(III) Dr. Richard Hardwick, son of John and Isabelle (Vinson) Hardwick, was born on his father's farm in Wayne county, West Vir- ginia, May 7, 1870. He was educated at Louisa, Lawrence county, Ken- tucky, and at Barboursville. Cabell county, West Virginia, at- tending, at the latter place, the institution now known as Morris Harvey College. From this, he entered the Eclectic Medical Institute, in Cinein- nati, from which he graduated in 1898. For seven years he practiced at Davis, Tucker county, West Virginia, after which he took a graduate course at the New York Polyclinic Medical School. Two years later, he went to Cincinnati again, and in 1907 he graduated from the University
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of Cincinnati. The following year he came to Huntington, Cabell county, West Virginia, and from this time he has had the same office, at Four- teenth street, corner of Washington avenue, West Huntington. Dr. Hard- wick is a Mason, and has taken all degrees as far as the commandery. He is also a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In politics he is a Democrat, and he is a member of the Christian church. Dr. Hardwick married, in Greene county, West Virginia, January 8, 1902, Mollie, daughter of Sinclair and Sarah (Plymale) Roberts, who was born in Greene county, October 23, 1874. Her father who died July 2, 1912, had reached the age of sixty-three, and her mother, born Decem- ber 12, 1855, is living at Kenova, West Virginia. Dr. and Mrs. Hardwick have one child : Merlin Vinson, born October 26, 1902.
GARRETT Allen Garrett, a native of Virginia, was reared and edu- cated in the Old Dominion commonwealth and there de- voted his attention to agricultural operations until death called him, at a very old age. He married Mary Nixon, of Virginia, who lived to the great age of one hundred years. They were the par- ents of twelve children, of whom, Benjamin F., is mentioned below.
(II) Benjamin Franklin, son of Allen and Mary (Nixon) Garrett, was born in Buckingham county, Virginia, March 4, 1844, and he is now living at Maxwelton, Greenbrier county, West Virginia, where he has long been a prominent and successful farmer. He was a Confeder- ate soldier towards the close of the civil war and served in a battery of artillery. His wife, Ann Jane McFeeters, prior to her marriage, was born in Derry county, Ireland, and came to America with her parents when she was a child nine years of age. The McFeeters family lo- cated at Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, and there the father, John MIc- Feeters, was foreman of a rolling mill for forty years. He was born in Ireland and died in Conshohocken at the age of ninety-five years. His wife, whose maiden name was Mary Orr, was likewise a native of Ireland. John and William McFeeters, sons of John McFeeters, were both gallant soldiers in the Union army in the civil war and the latter. William, continued to serve in the United States army after the close of hostilities between the north and the south, participating in numerous Indian wars and serving in all thirty years, in fact, until retired on ac- count of the age limit. William McFeeters is now living with his family, in Philadelphia. Mrs. B. F. Garrett is now sixty-six years of age and she and her husband reside at Maxwelton, this state. They had nine children, seven of whom are living: John E., mentioned below; Wil- liam S., of Scarbro, West Virginia : Mary J., wife of Otho Alexander, of Mount Hope; Isabel, unmarried, lives at home; Allen, a resident of Glen Jean, West Virginia; Ida, unmarried, at home; and Robert T., of Maxwelton, West Virginia. The two children deceased were: Nellie Ellen and Frank.
(III) John Edward, son of Benjamin Franklin and Ann Jane (Mc- Feeters) Garrett, was born in Buckingham county, Virginia, December 30, 1866. When six years of age he came to Greenbrier county, West Virginia, with his parents, and there was educated in the public schools of the locality and period. He came to Fayette county in 1889 and lo- cated at Thurmond Mountain, which place represented his home until 1899, when he settled in Mount Hope. For several years he was fore- man of the Thurmond Coal Company and at the age of twenty-six years he was elected justice of the peace of Fayette county, serving in that capacity for the ensuing eight years. At the age of thirty years he started a general store at Macdonald and conducted the same with splen-
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did success for three years. He is now president of the Warner Real Estate Company, president of the Paintsville Development Company, Paintsville, West Virginia, and is a heavy stockholder in the Electric Light & Power Company of Beckley, West Virginia. He is the most extensive dealer in real estate at Mount Hope and in addition to his local land interests is a stockholder in the Harrah Land & Coal Company, of Charleston, which owns thirteen thousand acres of land in Buchanan county, Virginia. His political convictions are in accord with the prin- ciples promulgated by the Republican party and since 1902 he has been the efficient incumbent of the office of mayor of Mount Hope. Mr. Gar- rett manifests a deep and sincere interest in educational matters and is a member of the Mount Hope board of education. In the time-honored Masonic order he has passed through the circle of the York Rite branch, being a Knight Templar. He is a Presbyterian in his religious faith and is a liberal contributor to various charitable organizations. No man com- mands a higher place in the confidence and esteem of his fellow citi- zens than does he.
On January 22, 1889. Mr. Garrett married Minnie E. Burdette, of Gatewood. Thomas Burdette, father of Mrs. Garrett, died in 1896, aged fifty-eight years : he was a farmer and school teacher. His wife, Mar- inda Burdette, survives him and makes her home at Oak Hill; she is sixty years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Garrett have five children : Patrick H .. Dennis A., John B., Annie J. and Paul.
BAKER Enoch Baker, of Huntington, though not of native lineage, can boast, if he would, of good old Anglo-Saxon stock. He hails originally from one of the maritime provinces of Cana- da, old Nova Scotia, but has been a resident of this country for nearly fifty years. He has distinction as a property owner, also, and is one of the solid and successful business men of the place.
(I) John Baker, was born in Nova Scotia, and cultivated the old fam- ily farm, in a fruitful belt at Melville Square, Annapolis county. He died at the age of eighty-four years.
(II) Ward Baker, son of John Baker, died December 9, 1889, in Nova Scotia, aged eighty-four years. He was a prominent and prosperous farmer there all his days. His wife was Hannah Grimes, also a Nova Scotian, who died in 1880 aged seventy-four years ; her father was James Grimes, who lived and died in Nova Scotia, also, passing away there when eighty years old. Ward Baker was father of nine children : Isaiah, deceased ; Obadiah, living in Indianapolis; Timothy, deceased ; Joseph, now living in Nova Scotia : James, living in Denver, Colorado; Enoch, of whom further ; Charles, now living on the old home place ; Mary Frances, who died at the age of four ; and David Albren, died in infancy.
(III) Enoch Baker, son of Ward Baker, was born May 5, 1842, on the old home place of the family in Annapolis county. He went to school and remained there, working on the farm, until his nineteenth year ; then he struck out to seek his fortune. Gold had been found in Nova Scotia, and his first experience was in the diggings on the Atlantic shore of the province : here he remained, with no great success, for a year. In 1862, at the age of twenty, he went to Boston, and remained there, following his trade, that of carpenter, for seven years ; in the summer varying this employment with mowing grain. In 1869 he migrated west as far as In- dianapolis, and here worked at the carpenter's trade, and took building contracts. For four years he prospered there, but in the panic of 1873, he lost all his money. He struggled on again, however, poor enough, but not disheartened. In September, 1877, he came to West Virginia and en-
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Enoch Baks
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tered into the timber business, continuing in that line until 1884, and then spent a year in Williamson. In 1886, he came to Huntington, and settled. Here he has since made his home, and has been engaged extensively, and on the whole successfully, in the real estate business.
Mr. Baker is now well-to-do, has numerous interests here, and is much respected. Though now in his seventy-first year, he is hale and hearty, a vigorous man, exhibiting the spirit, if not the physique, of his younger days, when he was a champion with both the axe, and as a mower. He can recall the time, when they hunted moose and bear in his native coun- try, pursuing "bruin," his brother and he with axes.
Mr. Baker is a Democrat in politics, and a Baptist in religious faith. He has been raised a Mason in Corinthian Lodge, in old Concord, Massa- chusetts. He belongs also to the Modern Woodmen, and the Knights of Pythias. He married, in Huntington, on Christmas Day, 1906, Anna Bragg, a native of West Virginia. No children have blest this union.
BLEDSOE Among the honored and representative families of Vir- ginia and West Virginia must be mentioned the Bledsoe, the members of which have ever been noted for their excellent characteristics and their unswerving loyalty.
(I) Thomas A. Bledsoe, the first of the line here considered, was a native of Virginia, and his death occurred in Staunton, Virginia, in 1888, aged sixty years. He spent the greater part of his life in the city of Staunton and was an active factor in all projects that advanced its welfare and growth. He was one of the organizers of the National Valley Bank of Staunton, served at first in the capacity of cashier, later appointed vice-president, which responsible position he filled for many years, his tenure of office being noted for efficiency and thoroughness. He was a member of the Presbyterian church, and a Democrat in poli- tics. He married Edmonia Page, a native of East Virginia, who is living at the present time ( 1912), residing with her son, Thomas A., as is also his half-sister, S. Belle Bledsoe. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Bledsoe, one of whom died in infancy and William Randolph died in 19II. The surviving members of the family are: Edmund Page, a physician, practicing his profession at Little Rock, Arkansas; Thomas Alexander, of whom further : Rosewell Page, a student at the University of Wisconsin.
(II) Thomas Alexander, son of Thomas A. Bledsoe. was born in Staunton, Virginia, May 4, 1882. He acquired a practical education in the private and public schools of Staunton, and he pursued advanced studies at Washington and Lee University, from which institution he re- ceived the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1901. The following two years he was engaged in teaching at Locust Dale Academy, and at the expira- tion of this period of time returned to Washington and Lee University and took the law course, graduating with the degree of Bachelor of Laws in 1905. In September of that year he located in Charleston, West Virginia, and began practice with T. R. English, later becoming a part- ner in the firm of Little, Page, Cato & Bledsoe and is now associated with Henry S. Cato under the firm name of Cato & Bledsoe. The success he has achieved in his profession is due largely to the zeal he displays in the cases entrusted to him and to the fact that he possesses all the attributes of a successful lawyer, integrity of character, the judicial instinct and a rare appreciation of the two sides of every question. He has also taken an active interest in the councils of the Democratic party, and in 1912 received the nomination for attorney-general, an office for which he is well qualified. He is a member of the Presbyterian church. and of the
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Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Mr. Bledsoe is unmar- ried.
This family is of German origin, residing in Switzerland.
MOHLER The progenitor of the Mohler family of Pennsylvania and Virginia, Ludwig Mohler, came to this country from Switzerland on the ship, "Thistle," August 29, 1730, and located in Ephrata township, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. He had three sons, George, Jacob and Henry. In 1736 John Whit conveyed to Henry Mohler one hundred and forty acres of land in the above town. In 1764 Henry Mohler, and in 1767 Jacob Mohler, built houses in Lancaster, which are now standing and still owned by members of the family. The Mohler family of Virginia are direct descendants of the Pennsylvania family, several members having moved to Virginia many years ago.
(I) The first progenitor of the Mohler family of Augusta county, Virginia, was John Mohler. He married and had a son Jacob, of whom further.
(II) Jacob, son of John Mohler, was born in Virginia. He married Polly Fischer. Their children were: Daniel Freeman, of whom further ; Mary.
(III) Daniel Freeman, son of Jacob and Polly (Fischer) Mohler, was born on Meadow Run, Augusta county, Virginia, March 17, 1829, died in Millboro, Virginia, April 5, 1896, and was buried at Parnassus, Augusta county, Virginia. He engaged for several years in farming and later became prominent in the lumber industry. During the first two years of the civil war he constructed wagons for the Confederate govern- ment, and later assisted in the manufacture of iron for the government. He was one of the first saw mill owners in Augusta county. He was at first a Whig in politics and later a Republican. He was an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. He married, April 13, 1851, Elizabeth Ellen, born on a farm near Parnassus, Augusta county, Virginia, March 19, 1827, died December 8, 1892, daughter of William and Eliza- beth (Rankin) Silling. Nine children were born to them: William Ed- ward, of whom further ; Minor F., born November 14, 1853; James K., July 25, 1855 : Emma, June 11, 1857; Florence, September 6, 1859: John N., July 10, 1861 ; Thomas Howard, of whom further ; Fannie, May 28, 1867: J. Charles, of whom further.
(IV) William Edward, son of Daniel Freeman and Elizabeth Ellen (Silling) Mohler, was born in Augusta county, Virginia, July 14, 1852. He attended school in Augusta and Rockingham counties, Virginia. At an early age he became identified with the lumber business. He operated for some time a lumber mill in Alderson, West Virginia. In 1882 he re- moved to St. Albans, West Virginia, and soon became connected with many business enterprises in that city and in other localities in the state. In 1888 he with his father and brothers formed the Mohler Lumber Com- pany and built an extensive plant at Lock Seven. He is an extensive real estate owner in St. Albans; stockholder in the Boone County Bank at Madison ; president and manager of the St. Albans Water & Electric Light Company ; president and director of the St. Albans Building Com- pany. He is a director of the Kanawha National Bank of Charleston, the South Side Foundry & Machine Works of Charleston and the Herald Publishing Company of St. Albans. He is a member of the Presbyterian church and a liberal supporter of its many benevolences. He is also con- nected with several mining and transportation companies in Mexico. He is a Republican in politics and served for some time in the city council. He married (first) Maggie Lynch, a native of Greenbrier
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county, West Virginia, February 18, 1880. He married ( second) Jennie A. Reeves, a native of Augusta county, Virginia, November 19, 1884, who died April 8, 1905. Their children: Reba Reeves, married W. D. Hereford, and resides in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Daniel N .; Ruth E. He married (third) May 14, 1908, Mary E., daughter of W. A. and Leonora Alexander, of Frazier's Bottom, Putnam county.
(IV) Thomas Howard, son of Daniel Freeman and Elizabeth Ellen (Silling) Mohler, was born at Long Meadow, Augusta county, Virginia, May 2, 1863. He attended the public schools of his native county, and at an early age became identified with his father in the lumber business. He removed to St. Albans, West Virginia, in 1882, and in November, 1884, he removed to Williamsburg, Kentucky, where he was yard man- ager for the Kentucky Lumber Company for seven years. On October 9, 1891, he returned to St. Albans, at which place he still resides, and became associated with his father and brothers in the Mohler Lumber Company, later incorporated in the extensive lumber mills at Lock Seven. He is interested in coal mining and has served for several years as presi- dent of the Gamoca Coal Company on Gauley river. He is also a stock- holder in the Charleston National Bank, and has served for some years as director and treasurer of the St. Albans Water & Electric Light Com- pany. He is a member of the Congregational church of Williamsburg, Kentucky. In politics he is a Prohibitionist, and has served for several years as a town councilman. He married, at St. Albans, West Virginia, July 16, 1884, Lavinia, born on the Calvert homestead on Upton's creek, Kanawha county, West Virginia, February 29, 1864, daughter of John Wesley and Adeline (Calvert) Campbell. Her father was a farmer. He served for four years in the Union army, being honorably discharged at the close of the war. The children born to her parents were: La- vinia, James A., John Mills, Franklin A., Emma, Myron G., Lucy. One child was born to Thomas Howard and Lavinia (Campbell) Mohler : Edith, September 11, 1886, at Williamsburg, Kentucky ; educated at Wil- liamsburg, Kentucky, Marshall College, Huntington, West Virginia, and Oberlin (Ohio) Conservatory of Music; married Robert Cornell Sweet, at St. Albans, West Virginia, February 15, 19II.
(IV) J. Charles, son of Daniel Freeman and Elizabeth Ellen ( Sill- ing) Mohler, was born in Augusta county, Virginia, May 27, 1870. He was educated in the schools of his native county and Kanawha county, West Virginia. He has been associated with the Mohler Lumber Company since its organization in 1888, and has served for several years as secre- tary and treasurer of the company. He is connected with several com- panies, being a stockholder in the Bank of St. Albans, a stockholder and director in the Citizens National Bank of Charleston. He is a member and steward of the First Methodist Episcopal Church, South, of Charles- ton ; and has taken an active interest in Masonry, having attained all the degrees given in the state. He is past master of his lodge and past high priest of his chapter. He has made his home in Charleston since 1903. He married, September 17, 1894, Lena, daughter of William R. and Henrietta (Shelton) Blackwood, of Kanawha county, West Virginia. Their children are: Madeline W., born January 14. 1896, Dorothy E., November 20, 1902.
Although the exact line of descent has not yet been definitely DAY determined, there is no doubt as to the fact that John Day, first of the line herein given, is a descendant of the George Day who was one of the Milford signers of the fundamental agreement of the original settlers of Newark, New Jersey. This George Day was born
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probably about 1640, and died some time prior to 1685. He married Mary, daughter of Sergeant Edward and Elizabeth ( Roosa) Riggs, who survived him, and married ( second ) Anthony Oliff or Olive, whose home- stead was on the Orange Mountain, within the present limits of Llewellyn Park. Children of George and Mary ( Riggs) Day: 1. Paul, born in Newark, 1668 or 1669, died there about 1712; married Phebe (said, but on very inconclusive evidence) Phebe Roosa, his cousin. 2. George, died about 1720; married his second wife before 1711. 3. Samuel, died 1715: married Abigail -. A complete list of the children of these three sons. of George Day has not yet been obtainable, and it is known from the rec- ords that there were other children than the ones whose names have been discovered and whose lines have been traced. From one of these John Day "of Newark mountains" (i. e. Orange Mountain), is probably de- scended.
(I) John Day, "of Newark Mountains," as he is designated in the register of the First Presbyterian Church at Morristown, New Jersey, is the first member of this family of whom we have definite information. He was born September 7, 1748, and although the date of his death is unknown, he and his wife were both living as late as 1803, when their names appear in a deed recorded in Essex county, New Jersey. John Day married, in the First Presbyterian Church, Morristown, New Jersey, June 4, 1771, Mary Ludlum, who was born October 27, 1749, died April 7, 1818. Children : 1. Rachel, born September 4, 1772, died July 5, 1825 ; married Deacon Bethuel, son of Joseph and Patience ( Pierson) Pierson. 2. Elizabeth, born August 1, 1774. 3. Sidney, August 5, 1776, died De- cember 2, 1817. 4. David, born October 2, 1778. 5. Abraham, July 24, 1780, died February 9, 1831 ; married, and left at least two children : Moses ; and Cornelia, who married
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