USA > West Virginia > West Virginia and its people, Volume II > Part 74
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(III) Major William Straton, son of Joseph and Polly (Henderson) Straton, was born at the Henderson homestead, Logan county, Virginia, April 14, 1821, died in the city of Logan, June 29, 1903. He was edu- cated in the public schools of his native county, and at an early date be- gan the study of law. He was admitted to the bar and practiced his profession in Logan for a number of years. On the breaking out of the civil war he offered his services to the Confederacy, and was commis- sioned major in the Thirty-fourth Virginia Cavalry. In the engagement at Beech Creek, Logan county, now West Virginia, August 7, 1862, he was severely wounded in the arms and breast and for a time his life was despaired of. He recovered his health and returned to his com- mand and served during the remainder of the war. He was a gallant and efficient officer and had the love and respect of the officers and men of his regiment. He was a Democrat in politics and held many offices of trust in his county. In March, 1845, he was elected clerk of the Logan county court, and the following year was also elected clerk of the cir- cuit court for Logan county. These offices he held until 1865. He rep- resented his district in the state legislature during the years 1871-77. He was one of the highly respected citizens of his county. He married, Sep- tember 13, 1849. Mary Ann Perry, born in Logan county, Virginia, June I, 1831, died in Logan, October 24. 1896. Children: I. David, born January 4, 1853. died May 15, 1890; married Nancy Beverley. 2. A]- len. born June 7. 1855; married Jane Deskins, and resides in William- son, West Virginia. 3. Victoria, born December 23. 1857, died April 23, 1858. 4. Minnie, born June 12, 1859: married John F. Aldrich ; she died September 17, 1886; Mr. Aldrich is now engaged in farming at Beech Creek, West Virginia; one son, James Edward, mentioned below.
5. Vicie, mentioned below. 6. Mary B., born March. 1864: married Judge John B. Wilkinson, and resides in Logan county.
(IV) Vicie, daughter of Major William and Mary Ann ( Perry) Straton, was born in Logan, Virginia. December 9, 1861. She married, December 14. 1889, James Andrew Nighbert. She was educated in the
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schools of her native county. Mrs. Nighbert takes a deep interest in all matters pertaining to the good of her city and county. She contributes liberally toward the support of many charitable enterprises. While she has no children of her own, she has generously assisted in the education of several of the young people of her city.
James Andrew Nighbert was of German ancestry. His grandfather immigrated to America prior to the revolution, and settled in Wythe county, Virginia. His son. George W. Nighbert, father of James An- drew Nighbert, was born in Wythe county, Virginia. In 1837 he re- moved to Kanawha county and in 1844 to Logan county, where he was a prosperous farmer. His wife was Elizabeth Scaggs, born in Mont- gomery county, Virginia. James Andrew Nighbert was born in Mont- gomery county, Virginia, July 23. 1832, died in Logan. December 17. 1898. He was educated in the public schools of Kanawha and Logan counties. On the breaking out of the civil war he espoused the cause of the south. He enlisted in the Thirty-sixth Infantry and was commis- sioned first lieutenant of Company B. He was soon promoted major and transferred to the First Virginia Regiment, serving until 1863. He took part in several battles and engagements, and was distinguished for his bravery and efficiency, being highly respected by the officers and men of his regiment. He was connected with several business enterprises. He met with marked success in his various financial ventures and acquired a large property. He was the largest individual land owner in Logan county. He was a Democrat in politics and took a prominent part in the councils of his party. He represented his district in the Virginia leg- islature during 1863-65 and was president of the county court for Logan county during the years 1880-88. In this last year he was delegated to the national Democratic convention. He was a generous and public- spirited citizen, giving freely of his time, means and influence to all worthy enterprises, having for their object the advancement of his city, county and state. He was highly respected by the citizens of his com- munity and by all who knew him. He was an active member of the Knights of Honor.
James Edward Aldrich, son of John F. and Minnie (Straton) Ald- rich, and grandson of Major Straton, mentioned above, was born in Logan, West Virginia, September 13, 1886. He attended the schools of his native county and finished his preparation for college at the celebrated Bingham Military School in North Carolina. He entered the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery in 1910 and graduated in 1912. He is now practicing his profession in his native city, having his office in the Oak- ley building.
SOMMERVILLE The names Somerville and Sommerville appear to be merely variant spellings of the same name, and also to be of local origin. As a surname neither of these forms is at all common, yet a number of persons named Sommerville may be found in West Virginia. It will be noted that the immigrant ancestor of this family had a good number of sons, and there are Sommervilles also in the state whose direct relation to this line seems doubtful. As a name of a place, Somerville is best known in the United States in connection with a city of good size in Massachusetts, one of the suburbs of Boston.
(I) Samuel Sommerville, the founder of this family, came from Ire- land, and settled in what is now Wirt county, West Virginia. on Somer- ville's fork of Reedy creek. The name of his wife was Susan Sheppard and he had the following children : Hiram, of whom further ; James,
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Jonathan, Samuel, John, Andrew, David, Nancy, married Jacob Bum- garner.
(II) Hiram, son of Samuel and Susan ( Sheppard ) Sommerville, was born in Wirt county, Virginia, in 1825, died in 1889. Throughout his active life he was a farmer. He married (first) Mary Ann Ingram, who died in 1850: (second) Emeranda Grant. Children, all except first-named two by second wife: Samuel L., of whom further ; Susan, married E. R. Woodyard, ex-sheriff of Wirt county ; Lafayette, Preston, Henry, John, George, Charles, Edgar, Alice, Emma.
(III) Samuel L., son of Hiram and Mary Ann (Ingram) Sommer- ville, was born in Jackson county, Virginia, March 30, 1846. He received a common school education, and was then engaged in farming in Jackson county. In 1863 he enlisted in the defense of the country as a member of Company F, Seventh West Virginia Cavalry, and he served for fifteen months. In 1866 he went to Illinois and there he was engaged in farming for ten years. Then he returned to West Virginia, settled in Wirt county, and here he has since lived as a farmer. In Wirt county Mr. Sommerville has served for four years as constable, and he was deputy sheriff of the county in 1892. He is a Republican, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He married, October 18, 1867. Emily B. Montgomery, daughter of Asbe and Ann ( Hardin) Montgomery. Children : Effie May, died in infancy : Hiram Asbe, of whom further ; Samuel Ellsworth, died in 1875: Anna May. died in 1877; Dora, married A. E. Harris in 1909; Hattie Roselle, married A. S. Hickman, in 1903.
(IV) Hiram Asbe, son of Samuel L. and Emily B. ( Montgomery) Sommerville, was born in Marion county, Illinois, April 22, 1870. His education was received in the public schools, including the high school, and he spent the years from 1891 to 1894 in the University of West Virginia. In 1894 he was graduated from the law department of this institution, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Laws. In the same year he took up the practice of law at Elizabeth, Wirt county, West Virginia, where he still lives. Beside his legal practice Mr. Sommerville is engaged in farming. He is a member of Wirt Lodge, No. 82, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and past master of the lodge. Mr. Sommerville is un- married.
STOWERS S. Frazier Stowers, the first member of this family of whom we have any definite information, was born in Bland county, Virginia. November 5. 1872. He re- ceived his early education in the public schools of his native county, and graduated from Sharon College in Virginia in 1894. He then entered the Southern Business College at Lynchburg, Virginia, from which he graduated in 1895. He then turned his attention to farming, in which he was engaged for several years. In July, 1902, he settled in Bluefield. West Virginia, and opened a general merchandise store and is still en- gaged in the mercantile trade, living in Bluefield. He was one of the or- ganizers of the American Fruit Company of Bluefield and is one of the directors of the company. He has been a member of the Chamber of Commerce of Bluefield since its organization, and he was at one time a member of the board of supervisors of the town. In 1909 he was elected mayor of the city of Bluefield for a term of four years, and is now serving in that office. He is a member of the Order of Eagles, and is also a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He is a Democrat in politics, and a Methodist in religion.
He married, August 25. 1897, Julia N., born in Bland county. Vir- ginia, March 4. 1881. daughter of D. M. Bailey. Children: Eugene
Haven't Rity
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Sewell, born July 5, 1898: Aubrey Caperton, Lillian Pauline, Mason, Elizabeth Virginia, Lucille Frazier.
James M. Ritz, the first member of this family of whom we
RITZ have any definite information, was of German descent, and was born in Wheeling, Virginia, and is now living in Hunting- ton, West Virginia. He was a farmer, but has now retired from active business pursuits. He married Catherine McCarthy. Children: James M. Jr., a lawyer ; Harold Arthur, referred to below; Stuart Lytton, an editor ; David Oliver, a college professor; John Eldon, a lawyer, died June 2, 1908; Russell Sage, referred to below; Charles L., doctor of dentistry ; Kathryn Alva, married A. F. Kingdon; Rosa, student at Marshall College.
(II) Harold Arthur, son of James M. and Catherine (McCarthy) Ritz, was born in Wheeling, West Virginia, July 25, 1873. At the age of six years he removed with his parents to Wayne county, near Hunt- ington, West Virginia. He received his early education in the public schools and the high school of Ceredo, West Virginia, and when fourteen years of age entered Marshall College at Huntington, from which he graduated in 1889. In 1890 he studied stenography in Oswego, New York, and on completing his course secured employment in the construc- tion department of the Norfolk & Western railroad, and was stationed at Louisa, Kentucky. In 1891 he was transferred to Bluefield, West Virginia, as a subordinate to N. D. Maher, who is now the general man- ager of the Norfolk & Western railroad, and remained in that position for three years. During these latter years he had utilized his leisure time in the study of law, and in the autumn of 1894 he passed his examina- tions and was admitted to the bar. He entered the office of Judge John- ston in Bluefield, and remained with him during 1895 and 1896, and in January, 1897, opened his own office in Bluefield, West Virginia, where he is now living and actively practicing his profession. In March, 1905, he was commissioned on the staff of the governor of West Virginia with the rank of colonel, and in the spring of 1906 was appointed assistant attorney general. He was appointed, June 16, 1906, a judge of the cir- cuit court to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Judge L. L. Cham- bers, and served in that office until December, 1906, when the vacancy was filled by the election of Judge Herndon. On April 28, 1909, Mr. Ritz was appointed United States attorney for the southern district of West Virginia by President Taft. He is a member of the Chamber of Commerce of Bluefield, and is also a member of the Benevolent and Pro- tective Order of Elks. He is a Republican in politics.
He married (first) August 15, 1893, Harriet Eleanor, born in Lex- ington, Virginia, March 31, 1872, died March 12, 1911, daughter of Rev. Matthew A. Wilson, who was a Baptist minister and missionary and was instrumental in the building of nearly all the churches of his de- nomination throughout southwest Virginia and West Virginia. Harold Arthur and Harriet Eleanor ( Wilson ) Ritz had no children. He mar- ried ( second ) April 30, 1913, Mrs. Helen J. Jackson, of Charleston. West Virginia.
(II) Russell Sage, son of James M. and Catherine (McCarthy) Ritz, was born in Kellogg, near Huntington, Wayne county, West Vir- ginia, February 21, 1886. He received his early education in the public schools. He learned telegraphy and worked for several years in the em- ploy of various railroads throughout the country, and by his diligence at- tained the position of train-despatcher. In 1906 he attended Marshall College and in 1907 turned his attention to the study of law, and entered
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the law school of the West Virginia University, from which he graduated in January, 1909, was then admitted to the bar and commenced the ac- tive practice of his profession as a member of the firm of Ritz & Ritz in Bluefield, West Virginia, continuing until April, 1913, when he retired from this partnership and began practice for himself. In 1912 he was appointed assistant prosecuting attorney, of Mercer county, West Vir- ginia, which office he now holds. He is a Republican in politics, and in religion a member of the Northern Methodist church. He married, June 30, 1909, Cleon Clyde, born in Hinton, West Virginia, May 18, 1884, daughter of Porter Wellington Boggers. Child, Eleanor Cleon. born December 10, 19II.
The Watson family, of Martinsburg, Berkeley county, WATSON West Virginia, is of straight English descent, the immi- grant progenitor and founder of the American branch of the family was James Watson. Watson has been a conspicuous name in Maryland and West Virginia, and has had much to do with the develop- ment of the country and in making laws and enforcing same in the sev- eral commonwealths in which members of the family have lived.
James Watson, with three brothers, came from Scotland, via England, prior to 1740, and settled in St. Mary's county, Maryland. He married Mary Greene, family tradition says, a sister of General Nathaniel Greene, of revolutionary war fame. He bought land near Port Tobacco, Charles county, Maryland, and erected thereon a handsome house and the estate was known far and wide as "Chestnut Ridge," and was famous for its lavish hospitality. By marriage the Watsons were connected with Charles Carroll, of revolutionary memory. Many of the members were Indian fighters, scouts and soldiers of the revolution. Among the numerous children of James and Mary (Greene) Watson were three sons, Joseph, Zephaniah and James Greene, and from them have descended the Wat- sons of West Virginia and Maryland.
Roger Earl Watson, a lineal descendant of James Watson, the Eng- lish immigrant, was born at Leetown, Jefferson county, West Virginia, February 10, 1886, in the old Lee homestead of Charles E. Lee, a hero of the revolutionary war. He attended the public schools of Martinsburg, and later the high school of the city. He graduated from the Martins- burg high school in 1904 and was elected president of the class. He en- tered the University of West Virginia the same year, taking a course in the chemical department, and in 1906 engaged with the H. C. Frick Coke Company, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, for two years. At the expiration of that time he re-entered the University of West Virginia and began the study of law. He graduated from this department in the class of 1910 and was made president of the junior class of 1910. After fin- ishing his legal course he opened an office for the practice of law in Martinsburg, and has in a short time built up a large clientele, making an enviable reputation for himself as an able, conscientious and hard work- ing attorney, devoting his time and talents to the interests of his clients. He is a Democrat in politics, has been active in the various campaigns and is one of the hard workers of his party. He is a member of the Greek letter fraternities, Pi Kappa Alpha and Theta Nu Epsilon, of the West Virginia University, and was active in the different college organizations of the university. He was assistant manager of the baseball team of 1910, and manager of the second team of that year. In the short time that he has been in the professional world of Martinsburg he has become conspicuously identified with its professional, industrial, commercial and social life to a marked degree.
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He married, November 16, 1912, Bertha Lucielle Cook, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Cook, of Pontiac, Michigan.
DUDGEON Richard Dudgeon, father of Gail T. Dudgeon, present chief clerk in the postoffice department at Williamson, West Virginia, was a farmer by occupation and during the greater part of his lifetime he lived in Jackson county, this state. During the war of the rebellion he enlisted as a soldier in the Union army and he saw hard service at the front during the war. His twin brother, J. M. Dudgeon, was likewise a Union man and served as sur- geon in the northern army. He was a member of the Eleventh Regiment, Company K, West Virginia. After the close of hostilities J. M. Dud- geon was assessor of Jackson county for several years. Richard Dud- geon died January 29, 1891, and his wife, whose maiden name was Han- nah Armstrong, died September 15, 1890. They were the parents of several children, of whom Gail T. is mentioned below.
(II) Gail T., son of Richard and Hannah (Armstrong) Dudgeon, was born at Ripley, Jackson county, West Virginia, May 1, 1887. He received his rudimentary educational training in the district schools of Jackson county and likewise attended the Ripley Normal School. For one term he was a student in Marietta College in Ohio. He lost both his parents when he was a mere infant and most of his education was ob- tained through his own efforts. He began teaching school in Logan county, West Virginia, at the age of sixteen years, and followed the pedagogic profession for a period of seven years. For one year he was principal of the high school at War Eagle, Mingo county, West Vir- ginia, and for a similar period was principal of the high school at Glena- lum, Mingo county. After giving up his work as a teacher he was en- gaged for one year as assistant editor of the Mingo Republican. July I, 1911, he entered the employ of the postoffice at Williamson, West Vir- ginia, and for more than two years served as its chief clerk. His politi- cal support is given to Republican principles, and in religious matters he is a devout member of the Baptist church. In a social way he is a valued and appreciative member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
Gail T. Dudgeon is a selfmade man in the most significant sense of the term, having earned his own education and having himself won the distinctive prestige he now enjoys as an honored and esteemed citizen of Williamson. His first work was in a brickyard in Pennsylvania and he says he received his best lesson in that yard. It started him in real life and he has remembered to this day what hard manual labor means. This early employment resulted in his determination to fit himself for a posi- tion that would require brains rather than brawn. Mr. Dudgeon is un- married, and he is popular in the younger set of his home community.
HERSCH A prominent merchant of the city of Parkersburg, West Virginia, is William Abraham Hersch, son of Emanuel and Freda Hersch. Both his parents and he himself were born in Austria-Hungary. Mr. Hersch is proprietor of the United Woolen Mills Company. While the headquarters of this business are at Parkersburg, its stores are found in seven of the cities of the western part of West Virginia, including the four largest cities in the whole state. namely, in Wheeling, Huntington, Charleston, Parkersburg, Clarksburg, Fairmont and Bluefield. The business is extensively advertised in this section, and in adjacent parts of the state of Ohio.
William Abraham Hersch was born at Warano, Hungary, in 1868,
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and came to the United States in 1880. In his native country he had re- ceived a little religious education, and he attended school for a very short time at Hicksville, Ohio. Until January, 1892, he was employed in various towns of Ohio and Indiana as clerk in stores. Then he went to New York City and there learned to cut clothes. For about ten years, until January, 1902, he was working in many places as a cutter. He then started the first United Woolen Mills Company, and was finally success- ful in this venture. On June 14, 1912, Mr. Hersch came to Parkersburg and entered into business with seven employees and a capital of one thou- sand dollars. The business has greatly prospered, so that now nearly three hundred persons are employed by the company. He is a Mason, a member of the Blue Lodge, Chapter and Council. In politics he is a de- cidedly conservative Republican, believing in the old policies and methods of the party, and not sympathizing with the Progressive movement. He has held no office. His religion is the Jewish.
MATHISON This name is by no means common in the United States, and is probably borne by very few families.
(I) George Mathison, the founder of this family, was born at Cromerty, Scotland, about 1816, died August 31, 1903. He was a soldier in the British army, and was honorably discharged after fifteen years' service. Afterward he came to Wheeling, Virginia, where he was a tailor. He married Alice Grant, born at Waterford, Ireland, about 1818, died September 7, 1903. Their children, besides five who died in infancy, were: George Joseph; Elizabeth, died in September, 1908; Katharine; James Alexander, of whom further.
(II) James Alexander, son of George and Alice (Grant) Mathison, was born at Wheeling, Virginia, December 21, 1859. He was educated in St. Vincent's College, in that city, after which he learned the trade of a tailor. This he followed, by himself, at Wheeling, until 1882. Then the firm of Mathison, Hissrich & Company was formed to conduct a mer- chant tailoring business, and in this he continued up to 1886, when this business was closed out. He then came to Parkersburg, West Virginia, as a cutter for J. L. Buckley. Having remained with him for thirteen years, Mr. Mathison then accepted a similar position with Bryan & Speece, also of Parkersburg, and he was employed by them for seven years, but in 1906 he gave up his trade and started his present business as a dealer in real estate and an insurance agent at Parkersburg. He is a charter member of Parkersburg Council, No. 594, Knights of Colum- bus, and is the grand knight ; he was the first state treasurer of this order for West Virginia, and held this office two years. He is a member of O'Connell Division, No. 1, Ancient Order of Hibernians, of Parkers- burg, and was for six years county president in this order for Wood county. In the Ancient Order of United Workmen also he is a member, having been a charter member of Enterprise Lodge, No. 25, of Parkers- burg, for sixteen years was keeper of the records of the lodge, and he has been grand overseer of the Grand Lodge of West Virginia. Mr. Mathi- son is a Democrat and a Catholic, being a member of St. Xavier's church, at Parkersburg.
He married, May, 1885, Margaret, daughter of Robert and Mary Agnes Williamson, of Wheeling. Children : Regina, Elizabeth, Frances Grant, Robert George. Of these, Robert George Mathison is a clerk in the Citizens' National Bank.
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Tazwell Myers, the first member of this family about MYERS whom we have definite information, was born in Monon- galia county, Virginia, now West Virginia, July 6, 1816, died September, 1865. In 1837 he was united in marriage to Delila, born in Monongalia county, Virginia, January 3, 1819, died July 17, 1904, daughter of Jacob Horner. Both Mr. and Mrs. Myers were buried in Horner cemetery, at head of Campbell run, Marion county, West Vir- ginia. To this union were born the following children: 1. Nelson, of whom further. 2. Mary Catharine, born November 3, 1841 ; married Isaac Glover, son of William and Elizabeth Glover. 3. Margaret, born July 7, 1844; married Levi Horner. 4. Mahala, born November 14, 1846; married Ezra Syx. 5. Martha, born April 24, 1849, died in 1865. These were born in Monongalia county, Virginia. Shortly after the birth of Martha, Tazwell Myers removed his family to head of Camp- bell run, Marion county, Virginia, now West Virginia, where he had purchased a tract of land in the wilderness. Here the following children were born: 6. John Lindsay, July 6, 1854, died in 1899. 7. Cornelius, June 12, 1857, died February 8, 1896. 8. Ervin D., May 20, 1859. The latter yet lives on the old home place.
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