USA > West Virginia > West Virginia and its people, Volume II > Part 59
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Crawford is the name of a place in Scotland, where
CRAWFORD the Romans suffered a severe defeat. It is said to be derived from two Celtic words, signifying a shel- tered place. Among the earliest settlers of Augusta county, Virginia, coming thereto about the middle of the eighteenth century, were two brothers it is said, who bore this surname, Alexander and Patrick. They are thought to have been natives of the north of Ireland. Alexander, the older of these, married Mary McPheeters; they were murdered by the Indians, about October, 1764. Patrick Crawford, according to one of the historians of Augusta county, migrated from Ireland to Penn- sylvania, and thence came to Augusta county, Virginia, about 1750; he married Sallie Wilson.
The early record of the present family is not certainly known. Sam- uel Davies Crawford, with whom our account will begin, had a brother, Colonel James Crawford, but their parentage is unknown. It is said, however, that their father was named John; he seems to have had a brother called "Robin:" and James Crawford, who died in 1798, and married Mary, daughter of Patrick Crawford, is said to have been a brother of John and "Robin."
(I) Samuel Davies Crawford, the first member of this family about whom we have clear information, was born at Bonnie Doon, Augusta county, Virginia, in 1775. His father died when he was still a young
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man, leaving two sons, Samuel and James, who were brought up by a relative called "Robin;" this relative, probably uncle, moved to Ken- tucky. Samuel Davies Crawford was a farmer, and served in the war of 1812, with the rank of lieutenant. He was a Presbyterian. He mar- ried Nancy, daughter of Rev. William Wilson. Her father was the sec- ond minister of the Old Stone Church (Presbyterian), of Augusta county. Children: George Washington, James Wilson, Thomas Poage, Samuel Davies, of whom further.
(II) Samuel Davies (2), son of Samuel Davies (1) and Nancy ( Wil- son) Crawford, was born at Bonnie Doon, Virginia, July 4, 1820, died at Bonnie Doon, Virginia, July 26, 1885. He made his home at Bonnie Doon, Augusta county, Virginia, and was a farmer. He married, Janu- ary 4, 1847, Permelia Catterton, daughter of Isaac Durrett and Nancy Davis (Catterton) Simms, who was born at Free Union, Albemarle county, Virginia, March 31, 1825, died at Bonnie Doon, Virginia, Octo- ber 10, 1892. Children: Alexander, born December 21, 1847; Sallie Davis, February 1, 1849; Emma Vernon, June 19, 1850; Millard Henry, of whom further ; Charles Davies, August 17, 1854; Thomas Preston, August 24, 1856; Elsie Montgomery, August 29, 1858.
(III) Dr. Millard Henry Crawford, son of Samuel Davies (2) and Permelia Catterton (Simms) Crawford, was born at Mount Crawford, May 29, 1852. Having received a general education at Bethel Military Academy, Warrenton, Virginia, he attended the medical department of the University of the City of New York, and was graduated there in 1874. November 1, 1876, he entered the medical corps of the United States navy as assistant surgeon. In 1890 he was promoted to surgeon. Dr. Crawford, as senior surgeon, attached to the United States Ship "Boston," was in the engagement of Commodore Dewey's fleet with Admiral Montojo, in the battle of Manila Bay, May 1, 1898. On No- vember 1, 1903, he resigned from the naval service, with the rank of surgeon. Since that time he has followed agriculture, and he has a farm near Shepherdstown, Jefferson county, West Virginia. He has been president of the Farmers' Bank at Shepherdstown, having held this office for two years, and is at present a director in the same bank. He is a member of the Royal Arcanum. In politics Dr. Crawford is indepen- dent ; having been so long an officer of the navy he has necessarily taken no active part in political strife.
He married, at Gainesville, Cooke county, Texas, October 31, 1900, Cora Means, born at Gainesville, August 26, 1866, daughter of Francis Marion and Louisa Armstrong (Huffman) Dougherty. Her father was ranchman and banker, and served in the legislature of Texas. He was also a Confederate veteran, having served from 1861 to 1865, and was captain in William Fitzhugh's regiment throughout the war. Chil- Iren of Francis Marion and Louisa Armstrong (Huffman ) Dougherty : William Holmes, Francis Marion, John Isaac, Cora Means, married Mil- ard Henry Crawford. Mr. and Mrs. Crawford have no children.
Thaddeus Taylor Huffman, postmaster of Keyser, HUFFMAN West Virginia, and prominently identified with the business interests as well as with the political life of the county. comes, as his name denotes, of that sturdy Teutonic stock which has given to our country many of her best and most useful citi- cens.
(I) Christian Huffman was born in Germany, and in 1818 emigrated to the United States, settling in Hardy county, West Virginia, where he
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engaged in farming. He married and had a son Daniel, mentioned below.
(II) Daniel, son of Christian Huffman, was born in 1807, in Ger- many, and was still a child when brought by his parents to the United States. In early manhood he removed from Hardy county to Hamp- shire county, now West Virginia, and there passed his life as a farmer. He married Mary Ann High, and their children were: Frederick, men- tioned below ; Christian, deceased, married - Cline, also deceased, and had one child : Elizabeth, married James P. Gannon, of Keyser, and has five children ; Harriet, married Edward Taylor, and died leaving two children who live with their father in Indiana; Mary Catherine, mar- ried Thomas Sharpe, deceased, and lives at Piedmont, West Virginia; Elijah, married Sarah Taylor, and has eight children ; Garrett, died at the age of eight years ; Jacob V., married Myra Ashley, has twelve children and lives in Mill Creek, near Purgitsville; Tabitha, married Sampson Taylor. Mrs. Huffman, the mother of this family, died August 2, 1877, at the age of sixty-nine. She was a member of the United Brethren church. Daniel Huffman, the father, died in 1889, near Purgitsville, Hampshire county. West Virginia.
(III) Frederick, son of Daniel and Mary Ann (High) Huffman, was born November 28, 1831, on Mill creek, near Romney, Hampshire county, now West Virginia. He passed his boyhood and youth in Hardy county, where he attended private schools. Until nearly twenty years of age he was a farmer, and thenceforth followed the carpenter's trade in various parts of the county. During the civil war he served in the quartermaster's department, at Keyser, and was captured by Rosser. While being marched through the country, under guard, to Richmond, he escaped one night at nine o'clock, and after a time found his way back to Keyser. After the war he engaged in the wagon making business which he followed for eighteen years. Politically he is and always has been a Republican, and for nine years held the office of postmaster of Keyser. Mr. Huffman married Mary M. Taylor and they are the par- ents of two sons: Daniel Frederick, married Ethel May Nelson, and is assistant postmaster of Keyser ; Thaddeus Taylor, mentioned below. Mr. Huffman has now retired from business and lives in Keyser with his younger son. Mrs. Huffman is a member of the Presbyterian church. Daniel Taylor, father of Mrs. Mary M. (Taylor) Huffman, was a farm- er near Keyser, and married Martha Ann Rodgers. They were the par- ents of a large family of sons and daughters, of whom the following are living : Edward, of Denver, Colorado, married (first) Hattie Huffman, (second) Lottie Hughes : Sampson, married Tabitha Huffman, and lives near Keyser ; Nancy, widow of James W. Dye, lives in Wolcott, Indiana ; Nathaniel R., married Annie Taylor, and lives on the homestead; Sarah, married Elijah Huffman : Daniel Zac, married Mary Cunningham, and lives near Purgitsville ; Mary M., married Frederick Huffman. The fol- lowing are deceased: John Wilhelm, married Sarah Cunningham ; War- ren James, married Margaret High; Asethran Frances, married Green Stalton ; Martha Ann, who died at the age of sixteen years. Daniel Taylor, the father of the family, died near Keyser, December 18, 1875, having reached the advanced age of eighty-three.
(IV) Thaddeus Taylor, son of Frederick and Mary M. (Taylor) Huffman, was born March 6, 1879, in Keyser, West Virginia, where he received his education in the public schools. His first employment was at bridge building for the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company, and after- ward he served six or eight years as a clerk in his father's store. At the age of nineteen he became a clerk in the postoffice and after serving four years was appointed to fill the unexpired term of his employer. At the
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end of that time, in 1903, was appointed postmaster of Keyser, being re- appointed in 1907 and 1911. His present term will expire in 1915. In view of the fact that he is not yet thirty-five years old, Mr. Huffman's long tenure of office is remarkable, and speaks volumes for his ability and faithfulness in the discharge of duty. In this he follows in the foot- steps of his father whose fidelity as postmaster of Keyser was attested by his long retention in office. The name of Huffman is synonymous, in Keyser, with faithful public service and good citizenship. Mr. Huffman is identified with the fruit-growing industry of the county, being largely interested in the following firms: The Knobbley, Alkire, Keyser, Min- eral and Abrams Ridge Apple and Peach Orchard companies. In the three of these first named he holds the position of secretary. He affiliates with the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen of America and is a member of the Presbyterian church.
Mr. Huffman married, November 12, 1903, Nellie Maria, born at Grafton, West Virginia, daughter of Philip and Elvira (Nelson) Nine, natives of Grafton and parents of one other daughter, Laura Irene, who is married to Frederick Davis and lives near Keyser. Mr. Nine, who was a railroad employè, died December 24, 1887, in Keyser, where his widow is still living. Mr. and Mrs. Huffman have three children : Fred- erick Nine, Mary Nelson, Thad Taylor.
This is an old Pennsylvania family, the progenitor of its rep- OTT resentative in West Virginia being John H. Ott, a native of Rebecca Furnace, Blair county, Pennsylvania, and one of the leading farmers of that place. (II) Lee, son of John H. Ott, and the present general superintendent of the Davis Coal & Coke Company, of Thomas, West Virginia, was born in Bedford county, Pennsylvania. He obtained his education in the public schools of this native state, after which he immediately entered business in the employ of the Morrisdale Coal Company of Bedford county, launching upon the career in which he has subsequently proved so successful. Proving his adaptability to the work, he was appointed foreman of the mines owned by the com- pany, remaining with them for several years in that capacity. He then became mine foreman of the Clearfield Consolidated Coal Company of Houtzdale, Clearfield county, Pennsylvania, gaining additional knowl- edge and experience, and on December 1, 1885, passed the first state examination for mine foreman with an average grade of 97%.
After this brilliant achievement he became superintendent of mines for the Altoona Coal & Coke Company, at Kittanning, Blair county, Pennsylvania, and remained in that capacity for about four years. He then changed to a position of the same kind with the Crescent Coal Com- pany, at Sandy Run, Bedford county, Pennsylvania, holding this posi- tion until he resigned in order to accept the appointment as mine inspec- tor for the Davis Coal & Coke Company, of this city. His duties here were to investigate thoroughly the condition of the company's mines, and make suggestions for modern improvements and the adoption of better methods. This work was performed most satisfactorily and was concluded within six months, at the end of which time he was appointed superintendent of the Thomas mines, where he remained until April, 1900. He was then transferred as superintendent to the Elk Garden Mines, returning to Thomas as general superintendent of all mines of the Davis Coal & Coke Company on November 1, 1906. During his very able administration of the company's mines and ovens, he has brought them to a high state of efficiency and economical production. He
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has also had charge of all the vast improvements enumerated and out- lined in the history of the company.
Mr. Ott is now one of the best known and esteemed business men in this region, and is connected with various other concerns and enterprises, being a director of the Davis National Bank, of Piedmont, West Vir- ginia. He is also an official of the affiliation board of the Coal Mining Institute of America, and a member of the executive board of the West Virginia Coal Mining Institute. He is also well known in Masonic cir- cles, being a life member of Logan Lodge, No. 490, of Altoona, Penn- sylvania ; a member of West Virginia Consistory, No. I, Wheeling, West Virginia; and Osiris Shrine, Wheeling, West Virginia. He is also a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. In his political opinions Mr. Ott is an adherent of the Republican party; though he is not an active politician, his support is solicited by all politicans in five counties of West Virginia along the western border of the state, and his acquaint- ance covers considerable of the state with the business interests especially. His interest, however, is always very strong in any movement which con- cerns the public welfare.
Besides being thoroughly and technically versed in the mining and coke manufacturing industries, he has made a study of the geology of coal formation, and his recommendation on undeveloped coal properties is very valuable. He is an extremely well informed man on many sub- jects ; has a very fine library, is well read in general literature and con- versant with all the important topics of the day. With his employees he has always been extremely popular as he is personally interested in their welfare and the education of their children for the making of bet- ter citizens, and is held in the highest regard in the community by every- one with whom he is acquainted. Mr. Ott married Elizabeth Jenkins.
FLANAGAN John Griggs Flanagan was born September 13, 1849, near Bakerton, Jefferson county, now West Virginia. (See genealogical account of the Flanagan family in this work.) He was one of Jefferson county's most prominent citizens and business factors as well as a large land owner. He was of a genial, kind, pleasing disposition, ever ready to aid those in distress who might call upon him. He was a consistent member of Zion Presbyterian Church, liberal in benevolences : a member of the school board; one of the first to develop the limestone quarries in his county, having followed that business for thirty years. The last decade of his life he was retired from active business, living on one of his three farms, "Rock Hill."
He married (first) October 26, 1876, Miss E. J. Tamson Krepps, of Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. Of this union one child, a son was born, dying in infancy. The wife died September 7, 1892. He married (sec- ond) June 3, 1897, Miss Bertha Dreisbach Spreckler, of Circleville, Pickaway county, Ohio, whose ancestors were of prominent pioneer stock and of Presbyterian faith. She was a member of the King's Daugh- ters, joining in 1886, her mother also was a King's Daughter. Of this marriage one child was born, John Griggs Flanagan, May 19, 1898. He was instantly killed in a runaway accident, March 25, 1913. He was a member of the graduating class of the Shepherdstown Graded School and a bud of much promise.
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KIDD Of the existing generation of public men, there is none more thoroughly identified with the public affairs of West Virginia and has its welfare more at heart than the Hon. Robert F. Kidd, who has ably filled many responsible public offices. As a politician he has been remarkably successful, and the secret of his success and in- fluence may be stated in a few words. Utterly fearless in the expression of his views. his friends know him as one on whom they can depend, while his enemies find in him a man who can be neither frightened nor Cajoled.
(]) Thomas Kidd was born in Virginia in the year 1801, and during all the active years of his life was engaged in farming and tobacco grow- ing. His death occurred in 1889. He married Margaret Johnson, who died in 1878. They had children : Matthew. Luraine, Andrew Jackson. Wilson, John, Elias C., William, Thomas, Simpson, Bethelam, Margaret, Robert F., Phoebe, Nancy.
(II) Hon. Robert F. Kidd, son of Thomas Kidd, was born in Up- shur county, Virginia, February 11, 1853. Having received an excellent practical and thorough traming in the public schools of his section of the country, upon the completion of his education, which he had supple- mented by diligent study at home, he commenced his business career with newspaper work, for which his readiness with the pen eminently fitted him. He edited the Buckhannon Banner until 1882, at which time he removed to Glenville, Gilmer county, West Virginia, and accepted the principalship of the Glenville Normal School. In 1880 he had com- menced reading law with C. C. Higgenbottam, and continued his pro- fessional studies with John Bassell, of Clarksburg. He was admitted to the bar of the state in 1882, but continued in the position of principal for two years. He then engaged in the practice of his profession in Glenville, and it was but a short time when his natural and acquired abil- ity asserted itself and he had obtained a rank among the leading lawyers of the state. In 1886 he was elected to the house of delegates, but de- clined the honor of a second term. The Democratic nomination for congress was tendered him in 1888. but Mr. Kidd declined to serve. In 1898 he was elected to the state senate from the old third senatorial dis- trict, and in 1902 he was elected from the tenth senatorial district, and re-elected in 1906 and in 1910. He has been a member of the committees on rules, election, judiciary and education. He has earned and deserves the confidence of the community to an unusual degree, has been hon- ored with membership in the council, and by the office of mayor of Glen- ville. Mr. Kidd is not only one of the leaders of the Democratic party, but he is one of the substantial men of the city, and has its welfare in- tensely at heart. Any project which is proposed, whose purport is the improvement or development of Glenville in any direction, is sure to have his hearty approval and all the assistance he is able to give. He is sym- pathetic and charitable in his disposition, and is the center of a large cir- cle of friends. In financial matters he is also a man of sound judgment and has been in office as vice-president of the First National Bank of Glenville.
Mr. Kidd married, in November, 1884, Lelia Johnson, and they have had children: Lenora L., married W. L. Jacks; Edith, married C. C. Morris ; Johnson C., died March 25, 1913 : Robert F. Jr. : Paul H.
This old Virginia family has an able representative in Fay- LEWIS ette county. West Virginia, in the person of Joseph Stuart (2) Lewis, who is acknowledged as one of the leading bus- iness men in Oak Hill, where he has maintained his home since 1800. He was born in Buckingham county, Virginia, January 13, 1874, and is
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a son of Joseph Stuart ( I) and Mary ( Anderson ) Lewis, the former of whom is deceased and the latter of whom is now the wife of Rev. T. H. Fitzgerald, pastor of the Oak Hill Baptist Church. The father, who was likewise a Baptist minister, died in Buckingham county, West Virginia, in 1877, at the early age of thirty-three years.
Joseph Stuart Lewis was educated in the public schools of his na- tive county and in 1890, at the age of sixteen years, he accompanied his mother and step-father to Fayette county, locating in Oak Hill. His first employment here was as a clerk in Jones Brothers' store and with the passage of time, after he had saved up a little money, Mr. Lewis en- His gaged in the mercantile business at Oak Hill on his own account.
subsequent career is a noble illustration of what independence, self-faith and persistency can accomplish in America. He is a self-made man in the most significant sense of the word, for no one helped him in a financial way and he is practically self-educated. As a young man he was strong, vigorous and self-reliant. He trusted in his own ability and did things single-handed and alone. Today he stands supreme as a successful busi- ness man and a loyal and public-spirited citizen. Numerous business en- terprises of large scope and importance owe their existence and pros- perity to Mr. Lewis. He is vice-president of the Merchants & Miners Bank and of the Anderson, Lewis, Gray Company, Inc., Richmond, Vir- ginia, wholesale drygoods and notions : is president and a director of the Oak Hill Hardware Company ; he deals extensively in real estate, hand- ling both city and farming property, also coal and timber lands. Mr. Lewis is a Republican in his political faith and in 1894 was elected a member of the board of education of Fayetteville district. He has ever manifested a great interest in educational matters and has been a mem- ber of the Fayetteville board for the past eight years. During his in- cumbency of this office teachers' salaries have been raised, the length of the school term increased, better buildings erected, high schools estab- lished, a modern system of education installed and co-operation amongst the teachers and principals brought about. Religiously, he is a devout member of the Oak Hill Baptist Church, to whose charities he is a most liberal contributor. In Masonic circles he has served as master of Oak Hill Lodge, No. 120, two terms, and is a Knight Templar and a Shriner.
November 17, 1897, Mr. Lewis married Ella Mahood, of Oak Hill. This union has been prolific of one son, Joseph Stuart (3), who is a pu- pil in the Oak Hill high school. The Lewis family occupies a beautiful residence in Oak Hill and the same is the scene of many attractive gath- erings.
ENGLAND This family have been for many years residents of West Virginia. A. J. S. England, father of Edward Theodore England, of Logan, West Virginia, was born in Barbour, West Virginia, in 1834, died in 1899. For many years he engaged in farming in his native county. He married Mary Elizabeth Welch, of Jackson county, West Virginia, born in 1842, and is still liv- ing, daughter of John and Elizabeth ( Arnold) Welch. Her father en- gaged in farming for many years in Jackson county, West Virginia, and died there in 1883, at the advanced age of eighty-three years. Her mother was a daughter of - Jackson, a near relative to General T. J. Jackson, the distinguished Confederate officer. Seven children were born of this marriage.
(II) Edward Theodore, son of A. J. S. and Mary Elizabeth (Welch ) England, was born in Jackson county, West Virginia, September 29, 1869. He prepared for college in the public schools of his native county
F. Servis
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and of Mercer county, West Virginia. He graduated from the State Normal School at Athens, West Virginia, in 1892. In 1898 he entered the Southern Normal University at Huntingdon, Tennessee, and gradu- ated from the law department in 1898 with the degree of Bachelor of Laws. He continued his studies in the same institution and graduated from the scientific department in 1900 with the degree of Bachelor of Science. He began the practice of law in Oceana, Wyoming county, in 1900, and in 1901 he located in Logan, West Virginia, where he has continued his professional labors to date. He has met with marked suc- cess in his practice, and is considered one of the rising attorneys of his county. In politics he is a Republican and has held a number of offices. He has served as mayor of his city during 1903-04. and was elected from the eighth district to the state senate in 1908, being re-elected in 1912. In the senate he has served on many important committees. He has been chairman of the judiciary since 1911. was twice the Republican caucus nominee for president of the senate, when that body was a tie politically. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church; the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias. Many of his Eng- lish relatives performed honorable service during the civil war. His rel- atives on his father's side served in the Union army. His relatives on his mother's side served in the Confederate army. An uncle, Alex Welch, was killed at the battle of Gettysburg.
He was married in Moulton, Iowa, December 25. 1901, to Hulda Leona Lenburg, born in Moulton, Iowa, November 4, 1879, daughter of Peter L. Lenburg, who for a number of years resided in Iowa. He is now en- gaged in business in Brooksville, Florida. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. England: Arline Isis, born in Logan, September 10, 1902; Frances Max, March 4, 1907; Marjorie Elizabeth, June 22, 1912.
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