USA > West Virginia > West Virginia and its people, Volume II > Part 56
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In July, 1903, he married Leona, daughter of G. W. and Mallie (Hammer) Weekley, who was born at Pennsboro, August 30, 1883. Children : Carroll Douglass, born August 26, 1904, and James Nevin, born October 25, 1906.
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John Fleming Shore, of Middlebourne, West Virginia, de-
SHORE scends from English ancestry, the first one of the name to come to the New World being Jonathan Shore. He was a passenger on one of the small sailing vessels that infrequently plied be- tween London and America. He most probably landed at Jamestown, at that time the port of entry into Virginia. Later he, or his son, moved to what is now known as Petersburg. Virginia, and there established him- self.
(I) Simeon Shore, a descendant of the emigrant, Jonathan Shore, was for years a prosperous blacksmith in Petersburg, Virginia. Seeing better opportunities in the western part of the state he moved thence, to what is now Harrison county, West Virginia. Among his children was Albert, of whom further.
(II) Albert, son of Simeon Shore, was born in Fairmont, Virginia. now West Virginia. He was a blacksmith by trade, believing with Ben- jamin Franklin that "he who has a trade has an estate." He was known for miles around for the thoroughness of his work and his desire to please his patrons. He also combined farming with blacksmithing, the dual occupation paying him handsomely. He was a devout Christian and was one of the founders of the Methodist Protestant church, and contin- ued one of its staunch supporters until the day of his death. He mar- ried the widow of Jolin Patterson, and the daughter of David Morris. Among his children was John Fleming, of whom further.
(III) John Fleming, son of Albert and - ( Morris-Patterson) Shore, was born in Shinntown, Harrison county, now West Virginia, August 14, 1856. He was educated in the public school at Shinntown, the Fairmont Normal, and Phillips Academy, Andover, Massachusetts. On leaving school he engaged in the book and stationery business at Clarksburg, West Virginia, for four years. Disposing of his interest he moved to Arizona, where he entered the mining business, remaining two years. At the expiration of that time he returned to Clarksburg, and in 1891 was appointed deputy postmaster at Clarksburg, which position he held for three years, when he resigned and went to Muncy, Indiana. Later he again returned to Clarksburg, accepted the position as clerk in the Traders Hotel and was made manager of the same in a short time. In this position he continued until he was offered that of general book- keeper in the Traders Bank, which he held until 1901, when he came to Middlebourne as cashier of the Middlebourne Bank. He remained with this institution six years, and on resigning came once again to Clarks- burg. In 1909 he went to Middlebourne and became largely interested in real estate. He was one of the promoters of the Clarksburg & Northern railroad, and is one of its directors. He is vice-president of the Bank of Middlebourne : president of the Tyler Brick and Tile Company ; was mayor and was instrumental in getting the streets paved and sewers put in, and in building of the water works. He is president of the Board of Trade and president of the Tyler County Fair Association.
On July 19. 1893. he married (first) Cora Patterson, now deceased. daughter of Wesley and Rebecca Patterson; he married (second) the widow of I. C. Powell, and daughter of W. N. and Mary A. Jemison.
MORGAN The Morgan family is an old and well known one in the annals of American history, the founder of the name in this country having come hither from Ireland in the latter part of the seventeenth century. Settlement was made in the Shenandoah Valley of the Old Dominion commonwealth and subse- quently different members of the name emigrated westward to Kentucky
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and Missouri. The widely renowned General John Morgan is of this family. While a great deal has been written concerning the Morgan genealogy this particular branch of the family has not heen traced.
(I) Daniel B. Morgan, son of A. J. Morgan, was born in the state of Kentucky, in the year 1849. He is a resident of Libbie, Kentucky, where he is a prominent merchant and the present incumbent of the office of postmaster. His wife, whose maiden name was Lucinda A. Lo- gan, died December 3, 1893. Children : 1. Harry L., a physician and surgeon by profession ; resides at Harris, Kentucky. 2. T. W. a farmer in the vicinity of Libbie, Kentucky. 3 and 4. H. H. and W. J., physi- cians and surgeons, maintain their homes at Manchester, Ohio. 5. Laura A., a trained nurse at Los Angeles, California. 6. Cora J., wife of Rob- ert Liles, a farmer in Kentucky. 7. Dr. D. Edward, mentioned below. 8 and 9. Libbie A. and Oscar B., teachers, live at home. 10. Robert, a student in the Williamsburg ( Kentucky) College.
(II) Dr. D. Edward Morgan, son of Daniel B. and Lucinda A. (Lo- gan) Morgan, was born in Lewis county, Kentucky, January 14, 1885. His preliminary educational training was obtained in the public schools of Lewis county, and for four terms he was a student in the Ohio Mechanics Institute, and Young Men's Christian Association College at Cincinnati, Ohio. He was graduated in the Eclectic Medical College, at Cincinnati, Ohio, as a member of the class of 1908, with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. He served as interne at Seton Hospital, Cincinnati, for one year, and he attended the Cincinnati Hospital Clinic during two separate years. He initiated his active practice in Maysville, Kentucky, in 1908, and there was resident physician and surgeon for the ensuing three years, at the end of which, in 1911, he removed to Matewan, West Virginia, here associating himself with the Mining Camp Coal Company. Seven months later he resigned his position with the above coal company and in July, 1912, established himself in an individual medical practice at Mate- wan. His efforts at the alleviation of human pain and suffering have met with splendid success and he now controls an extended and lucra- tive patronage. He is medical examiner for the New York Life and other insurance companies. In February, 1913, was elected health officer for the town of Matewan. Dr. Morgan served as secretary of the Mason County Medical Society during 1908-09, and he is a valued and appre- ciative member of the Mason County, Kentucky, Kentucky and West Virginia State Medical societies, and of the State and National Eclectic Medical Associations. He is president of the eastern auxiliary of the Kentucky State Medical Society. In a fraternal way he is affiliated with the time-honored Masonic order, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Junior Order of United American Mechanics, the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen of America. Although not active in local politics, he votes the Democratic ticket, and in religious matters is a de- vout member of the Christian church.
January 10, 1908, Dr. Morgan married Senta Tedesche, whose birth occurred in Cincinnati, Ohio, January 28, 1883. She was graduated as a nurse in the Cincinnati Hospital, in 1905, and for one year had charge of the Associated Charities in Cincinnati, in which city she did private nursing for three years. Dr. and Mrs. Morgan have one daughter, Orpha Lucille, born at Maysville, Kentucky, August 8, 1909.
MORRIS This name has been borne by a number of persons of dis- tinction in various walks of life in the United States; for examples : By an Episcopalian bishop of Oregon : a United States senator from Ohio; and a governor of Connecticut.
(I) Micah A. Morris, the first member of this family about whom
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we have definite information, made his home in Wetzel county, Virginia, in 1842. He married Elizabeth Smith. Child, Anthony T., of whom further.
(II) Anthony T., son of Micah A. and Elizabeth (Smith) Morris, was born in Wetzel county, Virginia, December 11, 1846, died August 26, 1906. In the civil war he served his country from August 11, 1864, to June 10, 1865, as a private in Company P, Sixth Regiment West Vir- ginia Volunteer Infantry. In 1876 he was elected justice of the peace of Center district, Wetzel county, and he served for four years, being president of the court. He was re-elected in 1880, and served two years, but resigned in 1882 to take up the practice of law, which he followed through the remainder of his life, in Wetzel and adjoining counties. He was admitted to the bar in 1882. Beside his legal practice, Mr. Morris was a farmer and stock raiser on a large scale. He was a member of Philip G. Bier Post, Grand Army of the Republic. He married, March 22, 1865, Tabitha E. Delancey. Children : Franklin M., born January 4, 1866, died May 4, 1876; Sylvania, May 9, 1868, died July 23, 1873; Amanda A., July 22, 1870; Flora E., January 20, 1873, died March 2, 1873; Pressley D., of whom further; Mary E., October 7, 1876, died December 8, 1904; Clark J., January 21, 1879; Eliza J., September 22, 1881 : Riley J., April 3, 1884; Matilda M., July 4, 1886; Cynthia, Octo- ber 10, 1888: Newman A. F., December 11, 1891; Romeo, November 6, 1895.
(III) Pressley D., son of Anthony T. and Tabitha E. (Delancey) Morris, was born in Wetzel county, West Virginia, February 16, 1874. His education was received in the public schools and in the University of West Virginia. In 1898 he was admitted to the bar, and in the spring of the following year he moved to New Martinsville, Wetzel county, West Virginia, where he was engaged with his father in the practice of law, continuing until his father's death. He then formed a partnership with Moses R. Morris, a veteran of the civil war, and at one time prose- cuting attorney of Wetzel county. This partnership was dissolved Janu- ary I. 1913, by reason of the election, in the fall of 1912, of Pressley D. Morris to be judge of the second judicial circuit of West Virginia. From 1906 to the time of his assuming the office of judge he was commissioner of chancery. Judge Morris is a director of the Wetzel County Bank. He is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. In politics he is a Republican, and he is a member of the Christian church, and of the official board of the congregation at New Martinsville, where he still has his home.
He married, in 1895, Nancy Virginia, born June 24, 1873, daughter of Michael and Nancy (Morgan) Barr. Michael Barr is a native of Marion county, (West) Virginia, son of Nicholas and Sarah (Jones) Barr, born November 15, 1836. At the age of fifteen he was brought by his parents into Wetzel county, where he has since that time lived. His marriage occurred March 13, 1860. Children of Michael and Nancy (Morgan) Barr : Nicholas, born March 8, 1861 ; Achilles, June 7, 1862; Roland, September 30, 1863; Eliza, July 30, 1865; Sarah M., June 19, 1867: Samuel, July 4, 1869; Mary B., April 20, 1871; Nancy Virginia, married Pressley D. Morris ; Delia E., May 5, 1875; Maria, May 1, 1878; John. September 19, 1880: Samantha, born May 24, 1883, died May 31, 1883. Children of Pressley D. and Nancy Virginia (Barr) Morris : Ida T., Russell A., Warren F., Thomas W., Michael D., Eugene, Chester, Moses Tavennor.
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This family is from the large German element which has KREPS borne a leading part in making the history and determining the character of Pennsylvania. At the time of our earliest knowledge of the ancestral history, the family is found in southeastern Pennsylvania. One notable member of this family, Rev. John M. Krebs, D. D., a Presbyterian minister in New York City, changed the spelling of the surname to Krebs, believing that to be the correct form.
(I) Michael Kreps, the first member of this family about whom we have definite information, was by trade a hatter. He established himself in business in the town of Lebanon, then part of Lancaster county, Penn- sylvania, and being an industrious and frugal man prospered. The name of his wife is not known, but he had children: Jacob, of whom further ; William, twin of Jacob, born in 1772, died in 1822; Catharine, married Rev. Jacob Schnee ; Polly ; Michael.
(II) Jacob, son of Michael Kreps, was born at Lebanon, Pennsyl- vania, in 1772. He was brought up to his father's trade. Marrying a young woman whose parents had moved a short time before from Dau- phin county, Pennsylvania, to Pittsylvania county, Virginia, he had to make a journey of three hundred miles to claim his bride. For four or five years after his marriage he remained at Lebanon, but about 1798 he settled at Greencastle, Franklin county, Pennsylvania. There he con- tinued in his business many years, employing a number of men, and he made several business excursions south to dispose of his stock. He mar- ried, in 1794, Catharine, daughter of Jacob and Margaret Hetterick. Children : William, John, Charlotte, Michael, Jacob Fordney, of whom further ; Albertus, Augustus.
(III) Jacob Fordney, son of Jacob and Catharine (Hetterick) Kreps, was born at Greencastle, Franklin county, Pennsylvania, June 7, 1806, died at West Newton, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, in May, 1888. While there is some discrepancy among our sources of informa- tion both with regard to the place and with regard to the date of his birth, the statement here made seems the best attested. In his boyhood he accompanied his father on one of his business trips into the south, and at that time he formed decidedly unfavorable judgments with regard to slavery, from which he never changed. His opportunities of education were probably as good as the circumstances permitted; from the age of four to the age of thirteen he was kept in school most of the time, and during the last two years of this period he acquired some knowledge of grammar and geography, these studies having just been introduced into the course. At the age of thirteen he was placed in a hardware store at Hagerstown, Maryland, with his Uncle William, and he remained there until 1822. Then he returned to his home in Franklin county and learned his father's trade. When he was twenty-one he started on a trip to make and sell hats, and went to Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, and several points in Kentucky, traveling some months. The steamer on which he took pas- sage for Wheeling on his return was the scene of an accident at the mouth of the Guyandotte, when the boilers collapsed and killed or injured many persons. For two years he carried on his trade at Greensburg, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, but in December, 1831, he returned to Greencastle, where he was for many years engaged in various lines of business, including railroading and mercantile business. During the ad- ministration of President Polk, he was also postmaster of that place. In 1849 he moved to West Newton, and he there engaged the following year in the foundry business ; later he was a merchant. Throughout his life he was one of the leading men of the county. He presided over the first war meeting held in his part of the county, and rendered several patriotic services to his country during the civil war; five of his sons 25
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were volunteers. In 1863 he was appointed commissioner to visit the Pennsylvania regiments attached to Rosecrans' army in Tennessee, and in 1864 he was commissioner to visit the Pennsylvania regiments in front of Richmond and Petersburg and take their votes. At times he held local offices, membership in the borough council and school board, and in 1869 he was a member of the state legislature. The Freedman's Aid So- ciety was an object of special interest to him later. He was a Republican. In the Methodist Episcopal church he was licensed as a local preacher.
He married, in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, January 20, 1831, Eliza, born at Greensburg, in 1812, died in 1887, daughter of Adam and Elizabeth (or Hannah) ( Weber) Turney. Her maternal grand- father, Rev. John Weber, was a pioneer of the Reformed church in Westmoreland county. Children : I. Catharine, married J. Q. Robinson. 2. George Rippey. 3. Hannah, married A. E. Dravo. 4. John W. 5. Francis A. M. 6. Adam Turney, of whom further. 7. David Dempsey. 8. William A., born November 27, 1846; married, September 22, 1875, Lucetta Taylor. 9. Elizabeth, died in infancy. 10. Jacob Emery, died in infancy.
(IV) Adam Turney, son of Jacob Fordney and Eliza (Turney) Kreps, was born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, December 31, 1842. In the civil war he served three and one-half years as a private in the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, the One Hundred and Forty-fifth Penn- sylvania Volunteers. For a time he was first lieutenant in the Ninety- second Regiment, United States Colored Infantry. Among the battles in which he had part were Antietam and Chancellorsville. Settling at Greenville, Mercer county, Pennsylvania, he was a manufacturer of en- gines and saw mills. Later he moved into West Virginia, and here he was engaged in the timber and lumber industry and was a producer of oil and gas. He was a Republican and a Methodist, a trustee of the First Methodist Episcopal Church at Parkersburg. He married, at Green- ville, Alice, born in Mercer county, August 8, 1849, daughter of John Knapp and Eunice ( Brooks-Hunstable ) Hamblin (see Hamblin III). Children of Adam Turney and Alice ( Hamblin) Kreps: I. John Jacob born January 31, 1871, died in September, 1894. 2. Charles Albert, of whom further. 3. Adam Turney, born September 25, 1880; living at Muskogee, Oklahoma : married Florence Frame. 4. Alice Catharine, born August 25, 1882 . married Marshall B. Weir. 5. William Augustus, born December 2, 1884 : unmarried.
(V) Charles Albert, son of Adam Turney and Alice ( Hamblin) Kreps, was born at Greenville, Mercer county, Pennsylvania, January 25, 1875. He was graduated from the high school of his native place, January 22, 1892. In June, 1899, he graduated from Marietta College, Marietta, Ohio, receiving therefrom the degree of Bachelor of Arts. His legal studies were made at George Washington University, of which he is a graduate, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Laws, in the class of 1903. Six months after his graduation in law, in November, 1903. Mr. Kreps, having in the meantime passed the bar examinations for admis- sion in West Virginia and in the District of Columbia, began professional practice at Parkersburg, and here he has since lived, engaged in general legal practice. He is well known in this city, both professionally and in political affairs. Mr. Kreps is a member of the Greek Letter fraternities, Delta Upsilon, at Marietta College, and Phi Delta Phi, at the law school of George Washington University. In Masonry he is a member of Mount Olivet Lodge, No. 3. Ancient Free and Accepted Masons ; Jerusa- lem Chapter, No. 3. Royal Arch Masons : Calvary Commandery, No. 3. Knights Templar : Purnell Lodge of Perfection, Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite; and Odell S. Long Chapter, Rose Croix, all of Parkers -!
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burg. He is a member of the Graduates' Club, of New York City. In politics he is a Republican, and at the present time he is a member of the Republican committee of Wood county, West Virginia : filling a vacancy, acting as chairman. On January 1, 1912, he was appointed assistant prosecuting attorney. Mr. Kreps is a member of the Methodist Episco- pal church. He is unmarried.
The Hamblin Line.
The name Hamblen, Hamblin, or Hamlin, usually spelled at the pres- ent time in the last manner, is supposed to be of Germanic origin, but the name has long been found in New England, and Alice ( Hamblin) Kreps seems to have been of old New England ancestry in many lines. Hame- lin is still a common name in France, and is found among French Cana- dians. Several of the name are said to have gone in the army of Wil- liam the Conqueror to England in 1066, and the name has since been common in England. Anciently spelled Hameline, a later form was Hamlyn, and other forms are found. Several of this name have come to America from England, with a few from Ireland and Scotland, and some from France. They settled in New England and the south ; the name has been found in New Jersey, but that family is thought to be of New England descent. One family is especially associated with Con- necticut, and is probably related to the Cape Cod family. By far the largest family of the name is of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, descent, the immigrant, James, having come from London, England, and settled at Barnstable, Massachusetts, in 1639. To this family it is most probable that the Hamblins now under consideration pertain. From it have come Hannibal Hamlin, vice-president of the United States with Lincoln, and Rev. Cyrus Hamlin, the founder of Robert College, Constantinople, Turkey.
(I) John, or Simeon, Hamblin, the first member of the present line about whom we have definite information, is said to have been born in Maine ; he was a pioneer of Essex county, New York. His wife was Lois (Knapp) Hamblin, probably daughter of Ebenezer and Elizabeth (Mason) Knapp, who was born, presumably in Massachusetts, June 16, 1743.
(II) Samuel, son of John (or Simeon) Hamblin, was born May 7, 1777, it is said in Connecticut, and died in Licking county, Ohio, in 1838. He married Rhoda, daughter of James Smith, also said to be a native of Connecticut. After his death she came to Mercer county, Pennsylvania.
(III) John Knapp, son of Samuel Hamblin, was born at Washing- ton, Essex county, New York, March 2, 1809. In 1829 he settled at Unionville, Licking county, Ohio, and in that county he was a school teacher two years. Afterward he had charge of a furnace store in the same county for three years, and still later had a similar position in Cleveland, Ohio. In 1835 he returned east, going to Wilmington, Essex county, New York, but after his marriage went immediately to Lake county, Ohio. There he lived until March, 1838, when he moved to Greenville, Mercer county, Pennsylvania. In that town he opened the first foundry, and he was engaged in this business almost continuously for about fifty years. He was a Republican. Mr. Hamblin married (first) at Wilmington, New York. September 20, 1835, Elizabeth Hic- kok, born in Essex county, New York, September 10, 1810, died in No- vember, 1846; (second) in April, 1848, Eunice (Brooks) Hunstable. born July 4, 1808, died April 6, 1888, daughter of Pelatiah and Eunice (Gleason) Brooks. She was a maternal granddaughter of Phineas Glea- son, who married Margaret, daughter of John and Sarah (Crawford) Kelso. Children of John Knapp Hamblin, first-named five by first,
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others by second, marriage. Henry M .; Mary E., married - Thal- imer ; Samuel ; Harriet, married - - Donaldson ; Emeline, married McClelland; Albert ; Alice, married Adam Turney Kreps, (see Kreps IV) ; J. Charles.
The name of Harper is one which has become well and
HARPER favorably known throughout the United States, owing to the popularity of the various remedies in use in veteri- nary surgery which are manufactured by Dr. E. B. Harper, of Eliza- beth, West Virginia, known as the Dr. Harper Remedy Company.
(I) The grandparents of Dr. Harper were natives of Ireland and emigrated from that country to Canada. From there they migrated to Armstrong county, Pennsylvania, where they founded a homestead and spent the remainder of their lives. Among their children was a son, John, see forward; and another son, Robert, who was an officer in the Union army during the civil war, and died in Andersonville prison.
(II) John Harper, son of the preceding, was one of the exploiters of the great oil fields about Oil City, and when the oil gave out in that sec- tion he removed to Crawford county, Pennsylvania, where he has resided since that time. He married Mary Wilson, also of Irish descent, and also raised in Armstrong county.
(III) Dr. Ervin B. Harper, son of John and Mary ( Wilson) Harper, was born on Watson Run, Crawford county, Pennsylvania, April I, 1875, not long after his parents had removed to the east shore of Conneaut Lake. His education was gained in the public schools, as he says "I attended the country school every day in winter, and went fish- ing every day in summer.' His parents having removed, in 1887, to what was then known as Evansburg, but is now known as Conneaut Lake, he became a student at the high school of that section, and was graduated with honor at the age of seventeen years. From his earliest years he had had an intense love for animals and displayed skill in alle- viating their sufferings, so that it was but natural that he should turn to the profession of veterinary surgery as his life work, and he looked about for the means to gratify this laudable ambition. Horses had had an especial attraction for him, and he sought and found employment in a racing stable. He was consistently employed in this line until 1898, at which time he matriculated at the Ontario Veterinary College, from which he was graduated with honor in the class of 1900. The great oil fields of Sistersville, West Virginia, appeared to offer a proper opening and Dr. Harper was successful from the very outset of his career, his efforts being appreciated by the famous horsemen of that section of the country. From there he went to the Elk Fork oil field, where his suc- cess was equally unquestioned, and from there to the Sand Fork oil field, in which is the largest well in West Virginia. It yielded twenty- four thousand barrels of oil every twenty-four hours. The large hospi- tal which Dr. Harper erected in this field was an unqualified success, but this was destroyed by fire in 1902, and a number of valuable horses per- ished in the flames. This was a very serious loss to Dr. Harper, who then engaged in the stallion business, disposing of his stock in the states of Oregon, Washington, California, Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Ar- kansas. His profession, however, had powers of attraction superior to any other calling, and Dr. Harper returned to West Virginia and com- menced the manufacture of veterinary remedies to be used by the farm- er and stockman and for which there appeared to be a popular demand. He commenced manufacturing on a moderate scale, but so excellent were his preparations and the results achieved by their means, that he has been
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