USA > West Virginia > West Virginia and its people, Volume II > Part 45
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been appointed by Governor Glasscock a member of the commission to codify existing laws relating to workmen's liability and compensation and to draft a bill on the subject for consideration by the legislature. Mr. Dice has devoted time and travel to the study of this question. He is a director in several corporations, and a member of the insurance com- mittee of the State Board of Trade. He is a Mason, a member of Greenbrier Lodge, No. 42, at Lewisburg: Ronceverte Chapter, No. 21, R. A. M., at Ronceverte ; Greenbrier Commandery, No. 15, .K. T., Lew- isburg : and Bene Kedem Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., Charleston. He married, in November, 1900, Jane Stuart, daughter of John S. and Susan (McElhenney ) Price. Mrs. Dice is president of Lewisburg chapter, United Daughters of the Confederacy, and state registrar of the same order. No children.
(V) Charles Samuel, son of Rev. John Cunningham and Sallie A. A. ( Roszell) Dice, was born at Rockville, Maryland, May 13. 1876. His early education was received under a tutor and at the schools at Stann- ton, Virginia. He later attended the Randolph-Macon academies at Bed- ford City and Front Royal, Virginia, and Randolph-Macon College at Ashland, Virginia. He entered the law department of Washington and Lee University, and graduated in June, 1896. Thereupon he came to Lewisburg, where he has continuously resided from that time. First, he entered the law office of Judge L. J. Williams, his brother-in-law ; when, at the age of twenty-one, he was admitted to the bar, he became Judge Williams' law partner, and he remained with him until his eleva- tion to the supreme bench, from which time Mr. Dice practiced alone. Judge Dice is a member of the West Virginia State Bar Association, in which he is active, and also of the American Bar Association. He has been counsel for the Lewisburg Bank, the Chesapeake & Ohio Rail- way Company, the Meadow River Lumber Company. the Lewisburg & Ronceverte Railway Company, the Gauley Coal Land Company, and other business concerns. Besides his legal activities, he has several busi- ness interests. In April. 1911, he was appointed judge of the Twentieth Judicial Circuit. to fill an unexpired term ending January 1, 1913; he was not thirty-five years old when he was appointed to this position, and is the youngest man who ever sat upon the circuit bench of West Vir- ginia. He was elected to succeed himself, for a term of eight years at the general election in November, 1912. Like his brother, he is a member of Greenbrier Lodge, No. 42, A. F. and A. M., Lewisburg; Ronceverte Chapter, No. 21, R. A. M., Ronceverte ; Greenbrier Commandery, No. 15. K. T., Lewisburg: and Beni Kedem Temple, Mystic Shrine, at Charleston, West Virginia. In politics the brothers are of opposite par- ties. Judge Dice is a Republican, and a very active supporter of the party. For several years he was chairman of the Republican county committee. He has been a candidate for attorney general of the state. Judge Dice married Nina, daughter of Judge Homer A. Holt. Her father was for many years on the circuit bench in the circuit which included Greenbrier and Pocahontas counties, and was afterwards one of the judges of the supreme court of appeals of West Virginia. Mrs. Dice is a member of the United Daughters of the Confederacy. Her church is the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. No children.
FETTY The Fetty family of Monongalia and Marion counties, West Virginia, of which we suppose the Ritchie county family to be an offshoot or related stock, is said to be of German origin and to have come from New Jersey to Monongalia county, Vir- ginia. by way of Fayette county, Pennsylvania. John Fetty settled in
Char Shis
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Grant district, Monongalia county, and moved thence to what is now Clay district, in the same county ; and he was among the pioneers in the development of Monongalia county.
(I) Calvin D. Fetty, the first member of this family about whom we have definite information, died at Harrisville, Ritchie county, West Vir- ginia, in 1879. His life was spent at Harrisville, and by trade he was a painter. He married Elizabeth Yeager, who died in 1879. Children : Harry W .; May, married Clark Jamieson; Lulu, married Walter New- land; Edward; Anna (twin of Edward), married Addison Main ; Flor- ence, married Richard McGee : Frank C., of whom further. Two others died in infancy.
(II) Frank C., son of Calvin D. and Elizabeth ( Yeager) Fetty, was born at Harrisville, April 25, 1877. Both his father and his mother died in 1879, leaving him an infant of two years old. His education was re- ceived in the public schools at Cairo, Ritchie county, West Virginia. Hav- ing finished his school days he went to work for the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company as clerk at Cairo, and held this position for five years. In 1902 he was promoted to be agent at Cairo, for the same railroad, and in this position also he remained for five years. Leaving the Baltimore & Ohio railroad, he accepted a position July 1. 1907, as auditor with the Cairo & Kanawha Railroad Company, and in this he has remained to the present time. Mr. Fetty has had to make his own way, and he is today one of the representative men of Cairo. In 1907 and again in 1908 he was elected a councilman of Cairo, and he was mayor of Cairo in 1909. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
Mr. Fetty married, April 12, 1903, May. daughter of Columbus and Etta (Haddox) Riddle, of Moundsville, West Virginia. She is a grand- daughter of the late Jonathan Hewey Haddox, of Smithville, Cairo, and Harrisville. Child: Charlotte Pearl, born January 10, 1905.
MARTIN This family is of English origin, and was settled in New Jersey in colonial times. Several revolutionary soldiers of this name came from New Jersey, and at least two Martin families of New Jersey descent are now to be found in Ritchie county. West Virginia. The grandfather of Festus Hanks Martin, of Pennsboro, in this county, was William Martin, of Harrison county, Virginia, whom we suppose to have been Colonel William Martin, of Clarksburg; on this hypothesis his biography is here written.
(I) William Martin, the first member of this family about whom we have definite information, was born in New Jersey. October 10, 1763, and died August 25. 1851. In the revolution he served from New Jersey, in the commissary department, and was present at the storming of Stony Point. He was a very early settler and merchant at Clarksburg, Harrison county, Virginia, a man always prominent in public affairs, and having the respect and trust of his neighbors. He held the office of sheriff of Har- rison county, and for a long time he was a justice of the peace. He owned land near Romines Mills, in Harrison county. The name of his wife is not known, but he had a son James, of whom further.
(II) James, son of William Martin, was born in Harrison county. Virginia, and died in Ritchie county, Virginia, in 1856. With his young wife he came, April 15, 1815. to Pennsboro, Ritchie county, and settled in the stone house where they passed the rest of their lives. This house is at the western end of Pennsboro, the oldest landmark in Ritchie county, interesting and picturesque. Its walls are two feet thick, made of flag- rock in all sizes and shapes, the pieces being held together by cement. The house contains twelve rooms belonging to the original building; twelve
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more have been added, and it is now used for a hotel. In this house James Martin kept the first postoffice in Ritchie county, established in 1820; a small desk furnished sufficient room for the mail of that day. He was prominent in the affairs of the community. He married Edith Davidson, daughter of Benjamin and Phebe ( Davidson) Wilson, who was born November 9, 1799, and died about 1876. Her father was a native of Ireland, son of William and Elizabeth ( Blackburn) Wilson; he was born November 30, 1747, and died January 2, 1828. In 1774, in an expe- dition against the Indians, he held the rank of lieutenant; he was appointed a captain in the Virginia forces in the revolution, and in 1781 promoted to the rank of colonel. He was on one occasion a listener to the oratory of the great Indian chief, Cornstalk, whom he declared to be fully the equal of any speaker ever heard by him, not excepting Patrick Henry. Before the organization in 1784 of Harrison county, he was for several sessions a member of the legislature from Monongalia county, and he became clerk of the county court of the new county at its organization. Later he was county clerk of Randolph county, Virginia. In 1788 Colonel Wilson was a delegate to the convention which ratified the constitution of the United States. He finally moved to Clarksburg, and there died. He married ( first) September 4. 1770, Anne Ruddel, who was born Sep- tember 20, 1754, and died June 18. 1795: (second), December 15, 1795, Phebe Davidson. By the first marriage Benjamin Wilson was the father of twelve children, by the second of eighteen. Children of James and Edith Davidson ( Wilson ) Martin: 1. William, deceased. 2. Benjamin W., deceased. 3. John W., died 1910. 4. Susan, married Thomas Wat- son. 5. Lafayette, deceased. 6. James, deceased. 7. Marshall M., deceased ; married Harriet Smith. 8. Mary, deceased; married W. L. Dunnington. 9. Margaret, died 1853. 10. Harriet M., born April 5, 1843, died August 4, 1901 : married M. P. Kimball. II. Festus Hanks, of whom further.
(III) Festus Hanks, son of James and Edith Davidson ( Wilson) Mar- tin, was born at Pennsboro, in the stone house, September 1, 1840. His education was received in the subscription schools, and he worked in his boyhood on the farm. In 1859 he was appointed assistant circuit clerk under T. W. Watson. He held this position until 1860, then returned to the farm. For about five years he was engaged in agriculture and the timber business; then he went to Burning Springs, Wirt county, West Virginia, and was there engaged till 1869 in the oil business. Selling this interest and returning to Pennsboro, Mr. Martin took a contract in timber and staves, which continued to 1872. Going to Volcano, Wood county, he again engaged himself in oil. In 1878 he returned to Penns- boro, and from that year to 1880 he ran the grist mill. He is now a gen- eral wholesale dealer in hides and wool. Today he is one of the most prominent citizens of Pennsboro, and is the oldest living native of this place. In 1871 he was elected county superintendent of free schools, but his moving to Wood county a few months later caused his resignation of this position. He was appointed by Governor Jackson in 1882 to revalue the land of the first district of Ritchie county. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias, and a charter member of the Pennsboro lodge of this order. Mr. Martin is a member of the Methodist Protestant church. He married, February, 1869, Harriet V., daughter of Jonathan Dye, who died in February, 1897. At the time of her marriage, she was a resident of Marietta, Ohio. Children: Campbell D .; Festus Hall; Edith D., mar- ried Silas F. Smith: Susan, married J. L. Silcott; Charles, died in infancy ; Catharine.
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Cunningham is an Irish name which has existed CUNNINGHAM in Virginia from colonial days, and in Harrison county, now West Virginia, since shortly after the revolution. It is probable but not certain that the present family is connected with this stock.
(I) John Cunningham, the first member of this family about whom we have definite information, married Sarah King. Children: Joseph, of whom further ; James Larkin, married Elizabeth Fox ; John, married Mahala McCray.
(II) Joseph, son of John and Sarah (King) Cunningham, died in Ritchie county, West Virginia, in the summer of 1890. During the spring of 1857 he came from Marion county, Virginia, into Ritchie county, and settled on Gnat's run, on a farm. He married Lavinia McCray (sister of his brother John's wife), who died February 10, 1904. Children : Har- riet, married L. S. Sill : Rebecca, married D. N. Hayhurst ; Jane, mar- ried W. A. Duckworth : Angelina, married Jefferson Marsh : Sarah, mar- ried W. J. Collins ; Mary, married D. Z. Taylor ; Ellen ; Robert ; Andrew, deceased : Joseph Hart Benton, of whom further; James Franklin, de- ceased.
( III) Joseph Hart Benton, son of Joseph and Lavinia ( McCray) Cunningham, was born in Marion county, Virginia, October 5, 1846. In 1857 he was brought by his parents into Ritchie county. Here he has al- ways been engaged in farming; he has also raised stock, and has been interested in oil, forming a company to engage in this business. He mar- ried Clarinda, daughter of Enoch and Mary Ann (Cline) Marsh. Chil- dren : J. Eddy, born August 1, 1874; Emma Jane, born May 6, 1877, mar- ried Frederick Mccullough ; Charles Ramer, of whom further ; Gertrude died in infancy ; Sheban Marsh, born March 7, 1881.
(IV) Charles Ramer. son of Joseph Hart Burton and Clarinda (Marsh) Cunningham, was born in Ritchie county, West Virginia, May 21, 1878. He was educated in the public schools and for two years he taught school. Then in 1898 he engaged himself in mercantile business at Mole Hill, Ritchie county, where he remained for eighteen months. A year was spent at Ellenboro, Ritchie county, also in the mercantile busi- ness. Coming to Pennsboro first in July, 1900, he erected a building and started in the grocery business with his brother Sheban Marsh Cunning- mam. In the following year he sold his interest in this business to E. J. Norris, and in November 1901, in company with Alva Wigner, he Dought two hundred acres of timber land near Ellenboro. Having cut the timber the following year, he went back into the store at Pennsboro with his brother, repurchasing the interest which he had sold to Mr. Nor- ris. About a year later, in April, 1904. he sold his half interest to James Hickman and J. H. Hickman. The same year Mr. Cunningham took a position as assistant cashier in the Citizens' Bank, at Pennsboro. July I, 1905, he left the bank, and he took the management of the Pennsboro Mill and Feed Company, in which he continued until 1906. With others in July, 1906, he went to Gallipolis, Ohio; they bought a tract of land and promoted the town of Kanauga. The next spring they began the building of a street car line from Kanauga to Gallipolis, which was fin- ished in the same year. This company was called the Kanauga Traction Company, and on its line the first gasoline street car in the United States was operated, but the road was electrified in 1908. The promoters sold their interest in December, 1908: but Mr. Cunningham, who was secre- tary and treasurer of the company, promoted and sold lots on this tract until June, 1910. He then returned to Pennsboro and was again engaged in mercantile business in partnership with Clyde Wigner, whose interest he afterward bought. Mr. Cunningham is largely interested in the oil
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business also; he is a director in the First National Bank of Pennsboro, and treasurer of the American Undercurrent System. He is a member of Harmony Lodge, No. 59, Free and Accepted Masons, and of Odell S. Long Chapter, No. 25. Royal Arch Masons.
He married in June, 1900, Blanche, daughter of Spencer and Mary ( Moore) Wigner. Children : Gertrude, born April 1I, 1901 ; Frank, December 24, 1902; Ramer, October 10, 1910, died September 9, 191I.
WILCOX William B. Wilcox, the first member of this family about whom we have definite information, married Lucinda - -, and had a son, Daniel W., of whom further.
( II) Daniel W., son of William B. and Lucinda Wilcox, was born in Doddridge county, Virginia, in 1843. He was a young farmer at the beginning of the civil war. When he was eighteen years old he enlisted in the Union army, in Company A, Fourteenth Virginia Infantry. After the conclusion of the war, he returned to his home in Taylor county, West Virginia, and was again engaged in farming : he reached his home on the morning of the Fourth of July, 1865. He married Lucinda, daughter of Isaac and Mary (Roth) Holmes. Children: John; Ira; Chalmers: Tempa, married Lydia Archer: Goldie, married Charles Hintzman : David Walter, of whom further.
(III) David Walter, son of Daniel W. and Lucinda ( Holmes) Wil- cox, was born at Sistersville, Tyler county, West Virginia, March 13, 1881. His education was received in the public schools, including the normal school at Middlebourne, Tyler county, West Virginia. For six years until 1908 he was engaged in the oil business. In 1908 and 1909 he was a wholesale grocer at Pennsboro, Ritchie county, West Virginia. In 1909 and 1910 Mr. Wilcox was in mercantile business. In 1911 he entered the service of Armour & Company, and he was in their employ- ment as a traveling salesman for one year. Since April, 1912, he has been engaged in the grocery and meat business at Pennsboro, and has a good business. Mr. Wilcox is a member of the Wholesale Grocers' As- sociation. Fraternally, he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias, the Modern Woodmen of the World, and the Modern Maccabees. He is a Methodist Episcopalian.
Mr. Wilcox married, November 25. 1904. Leslie L., daughter of Eber and Tabitha Mason. Children: Helen Wonena, born July 21, 1906; Pauline, born July 14. 1908: Audra, horn July 28, 1910: Opal, born July 2, 1912.
DUTY This is one of the older Irish families of America, members of which have been noted for hardihood, industry and hon- esty, and was settled in Ohio before its establishment in northwestern Virginia.
(I) Mark Duty, the first member of this family of whom we have definite information, was the author of an arithmetic which was used in the schools of his day, and the remarkable fact about it is that he pre- pared it after he had become blind, his wife, Eliabeth Duty, writing at his dictation. Children: Andrew W., of whom furher: Jennie; Eliza- beth, married Platt R. Spencer, the author of the Spencerian penman- ship system.
(II) Andrew W .. son of Mark and Elizabeth Duty, removed from Cleveland, Ohio, to Tyler county. Virginia, where he was among the pioneers, and he was also the first surveyor of that county. He married Martha Ankman, of Tyler county, Virginia. Children : Harm N., Mary, Joseph, John R .: Andrew W., of whom further : Elizabeth. Martha.
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( III) Andrew W. (2). son of Andrew W. ( 1) and Martha (Ank- man) Duty, was born in Tyler county, Virginia, May 12, 1832, died in Garrett county, Maryland, September 21, 1909. He was engaged in mer- cantile business and in agricultural pursuits. In the civil war he served as first sergeant of Company E. Fourteenth Regiment West Virginia Volunteer Infantry, and was later promoted to sergeant-major of the regiment. He was wounded in the battle of Cloyd Mountain, May 9, 1864, being captured by the Confederates in that battle, and was for six and one-half months a prisoner at Andersonville. He served in the ca- pacity of justice of the peace for forty years. From his young manhood he was a member of the United Brethren church, and for a number of years he was a class leader and was superintendent of the Sunday school of that denomination at Centerville, Tyler county, Virginia. He married Hannah Eleanor, daughter of Michael Kern and Jemima ( Upton) Jones. Children : Michael Kern, of whom further : James W., Ellen E., Ellis T., Ida A., Daniel D.
(IV) Michael Kern, son of Andrew W. (2) and Hannah Eleanor (Jones) Duty, was born in a cabin on Hickory Cabin run, Tyler coun- ty, Virginia, December 8, 1855. The cabin was of unhewn logs, with a puncheon floor, and with only one window and one door. He grew into sturdy manhood amidst rugged environments and aspired to high things in life. His education received at his mother's knee was lasting, nor was his education in the branches neglected. He attended common school, the State Normal School at Fairmont, West Virginia, and pursued a course of law at the University of Arkansas, from which he was gradu- ated with honors, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Laws in 1891. He earned the money for his education, having to make his own way in the world and acquire knowledge by his own efforts and means. He then returned to West Virginia, settling in Ritchie county, where he has been prominent in educational, political and business circles. When he had attained the age of thirty-five he had taught forty-three terms of school. His interest in education and fitness to serve resulted in his be- ing chosen principal of the Pennsboro schools, in which capacity he served for twelve years, and for two years he served as superintendent of the schools of Ritchie county. Until 1910 he practiced law, but since then has devoted his entire time and attention to his private business in- terests. In 1901 he purchased the narrow-gauge railroad from Penns- boro to Harrisville, which he has renamed the Lorama railroad, in honor of his wife, and which in 1907 he extended to Pullman: he has been president and general manager of this road since 1901. He has been a director in the Citizens' National Bank at Pennsboro, and the first news- paper of that place was started by him.
Mr. Duty is honored and esteemed in Pennsboro and is a recognized leader in Ritchie county. He was formerly a Democrat, but since 1896 has been a staunch adherent of Republican principles. He was elected to the office of mayor of Pennsboro and served with credit for five terms. his strength of character, the vigor with which he executed his public ser- vice, and his conscientious, cleancut methods giving him a leverage that moved to higher honors in public life. In 1906 Mr. Duty concluded to go to Charleston and help enact wholesome laws for the state, so he made known his desire to a few of his friends and made the race. He won with ease, through his splendid personality and fitness, and at the follow- ing session in 1907 he made his initial bow before the Solons of the state and began his work in a business-like manner. It was soon learned by his colleagues that he was a man of action and high aims, and it also be- came generally known that he believed in good government properly ad- ministered. He was untiring in his efforts to pass laws for the general
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welfare of the masses rather than a special class. At the first session many good laws were created that bore the marks of Mr. Duty's wise statescraft, and for the passing of these he worked loyally and energetically. He served on two important committees in that session, humane institu- cions, and public buildings. Rendering such efficient service to his people, he was again sent as a representative in 1908, and in that session per- formed effective work. In 1912 he was elected United States senator, and since his appointment has gone as far as human limitations would per- mit him to go in carrying out platform pledges, and the record is clear on that point. On the several committees he was among the active and influential, ever at his post and showing an evident fondness for work and a zeal that impressed his associates. His committee assignments were : Mines and mining, penitentiary, chairman federal relations, banks and banking, judiciary, and serving on the commission to examine and report on the coal industry of the state. He has always had the confi- dence and support of his colleagues, for they knew him to be honest and sincere in his legislative work, and this gave him an advantage in carry- ing measures of import to the state to successful ends. Mr. Duty is a ready, interesting and humorous speaker, and even in his legal pleadings his humor was not lacking. He is a Royal Arch and Scottish Rite Ma- son, and is the author of a Masonic text book.
Mr. Duty married Lorama, daughter of Dr. James B. and Jennie L. Crumrine.
THOMPSON Francis Marion Thompson, the first member of this family about whom be have definite information, was born January 1, 1844. He was a farmer in Roane county, West Virginia, and enlisted in the Confederate army at the com- mencemnt of the war between the states, serving under General Beaure- gard. He was present at the Battle of Gettysburg and many other con- flicts, and was taken prisoner and confined for nine months at Point Lookout, Maryland, but was exchanged, and rejoining his regiment, served until the close of the war when he returned to his farm. He married Susan Sophia, daughter of James A. Daniell. Her father came from the vicinity of London, England, and landed at Boston. He lived for many years in different parts of Massachusetts, and finally settled in Roane county, West Virginia. Francis M. Thompson's wife was a Baptist, and his sympathies werewith that church : in politics he was a Democrat. Chil- dren of Francis Marion and Susan Sophia ( Daniell) Thompson: Ste- phen Blackmore, mentioned below : William: Robert L ..: Rosil G. : Charles W. and Homer F.
(II) Stephen Blackmore, son of Francis Marion and Susan Sophia (Daniell) Thompson, was born at Spencer, West Virginia, July 5, 1867. He received his early education in the schools of Roane county, and then attended the Normal School, and after receiving his license, taught for five years in various schools in Roane county. He then settled in Spencer, and in 1890 was elected deputy clerk of the county court, holding that office until 1898, when he resigned to become cashier of the Roane County Bank, which position he now holds. He is a Methodist in religion and a Democrat in politics, and was for four years a member of the town coun- cil, the first two years of which term he served as recorder, and the last two years as treasurer of that body. He is a past grand of Campbell Lodge No. 101, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and a member of the State Grand Lodge of the order. He married. October 18. 1803. Ida May. daughter of Jordan and Bathsheba ( Knox) McMillan. Children: Ron-
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