West Virginia and its people, Volume II, Part 88

Author: Miller, Thomas Condit, 1848-; Maxwell, Hu, joint author
Publication date: 1913
Publisher: New York, Lewis Historical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 866

USA > West Virginia > West Virginia and its people, Volume II > Part 88

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He married, in 1842, Sarah Clotworthy, a native of Philadelphia, and they had a son Orlando.

Orlando, son of Governor William Erskine and Sarah (Clotworthy) Stevenson, was associated with his father as his secretary during the lat- ter's term of office as governor of West Virginia. He is interested in mercantile pursuits. He married, and one daughter, Carrye A., is the wife of Horatio Wilmer Russell ( see Russell III), the other, Sarah Eliza- beth, married A. H. Farrell.

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The Stout family, of Virginia, is of Pennsylvania German

STOUT descent, the twin brothers, Benjamin and Hezekiah Stout, having come from Pennsylvania to Virginia in their boyhood. ( I) Benjamin Stout married Sarah Wilkeson, who was originally from Pennsylvania or Maryland, and their children were: Elias L., of whom further; John; Benjamin (2) ; Ezekiel; William.

( II) Elias L., son of Benjamin Stout, was born in Pruntytown, Vir- ginia, in 1799, and was a farmer by occupation. He was a Democrat in his political views, and a member of the Baptist church. He married Martha, daughter of Samuel Hathorn. She was two years the junior of her husband. Her father, Samuel Hathorn, was of Irish descent, and shortly after the revolutionary war, he, with his wife, Ann ( Rockhold) Hathorn, and his daughter Martha, left the region where they had lived, near Baltimore, and crossed the Alleghenies into western Virginia, coming by way of Cumberland. Besides their daughter Martha, of previous mention, the other children were: Sally, Jemima, and George, who went out to the far west and was in Southern Kansas during the Kansas sla- very troubles. The children of Elias L. and Martha ( Hathorn ) Stout were: Mortimer, who died when seven years old; John W., of whom further; Granville, Sarah Ann, Mary, Benjamin M., George Dexter, and Elmore, who died when five years old.

( III ) John Wilkinson, son of Elias L. and Martha ( Hathorn) Stout, was born in Pleasants county, Virginia, June 23, 1825. He was a farmer by occupation, and also a civil engineer. He served the community for years as school commissioner. He was a member of the legislature of West Virginia, and also served as state senator. He surveyed the tract of land once owned by George Washington, and blocked out the marks from marks that had been made over a hundred years ago. These blocks are now kept in the court house as interesting mementoes. He married Ruth Ann Curtis, and to them were born seven children: John Lowther, William Grandville, George Gale. Elias Marion, deceased; Martha Eleanor, Benjamin Dexter, and Hiram Beauregard, of whom further. These children were all born in Pleasants county, West Virginia, eight miles from St. Mary's. Ruth Ann ( Curtis) Stout was the daughter of John Curtis, and the granddaughter of Matthew Curtis, of Connecticut. Her father. John Curtis, had come from Newtown, Connecticut, in 1820, and having come into the possession of about six thousand acres of land in what is now Pleasants county, West Virginia, settled in that region. The land had come to him through inheritance from his mother's family, she having been a Hilliard. John Curtis married, in Virginia, Eleanor, daugh- ter of Zephaniah Burch, of Marshall county, Virginia. Their children were: Ruth Ann, of previous mention; Jeannette, twin with Ruth A .; Delilah; Hiram J.

(IV) Dr. Hiram Beauregard Stout, son of John Wilkinson and Ruth Ann ( Curtis) Stout, was born February 25. 1862, on McKim's creek, Pleasants county, West Virginia. He was educated in the country schools of the neighborhood, and in 1886 entered the Ohio Medical College, grad- uating in 1889. In 1900 he attended the New York Post Graduate School for three months and received his certificate in 1901, doing other work there later. Dr. Stout as a boy showed from his earliest youth an indom- itable ambition and a tireless energy. He worked as a very young lad on his father's farm in Washington Bottoms, a farm once owned by Wash- ington, and named in his honor. Here he remained until he had attained man's estate, when he obtained a position at watchman on the tow boat "S. L. Wood," which in the fall of 1881 was slowly making its way to Pittsburgh. Upon its arrival it was laid up till New Year's Eve, when the return trip was started with a load of coal to be taken to New Orleans.

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After this glimpse of the world the youth began to study medicine, as has been already related. Dr. Stout has served for eight years as the presi- dent of the Wood county board of health. He was also the city health officer in Parkersburg for a few years. He belongs to Lodge No. 28, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and to Mt. Olivet Lodge, No. 3, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. In 1891 he joined Jerusalem Chap- ter, No. 3, and a few months later he joined Calvary Commandery, No. 3; still later he joined Osiris Temple, of the Mystic Shrine, at Wheeling, West Virginia. He belongs to Lodge No. 198, of Elks, at Parkersburg. He has also taken the Scottish Rite of Free Masonry, up to the thirty- second degree. He has held an appointment office in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Outside of the fraternal societies, Dr. Stout is a member of the Elks Club, and also of the Little Kanawha and Ohio Val- ley Medical Society, of the Baltimore & Ohio Railway Surgeons' Associa- tion, and is eligible to membership in the American Medical Association.

He married, June 28, 1904, at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Clara Ger- trude, born in Pittsburgh, April 23, 1878, daughter of David and Mar- garet (Lynch) Page. David Page was connected with the Howe Brown Company Steel Works, of Pittsburgh, but has been retired from business since 1900. The children of David and Margaret (Lynch) Page are : Mary H., Joseph M., May Josephine, Clara Gertrude, of previous men - tion ; Francis T., Blanche B., Maud E., Austin W. Dr. and Mrs. Stout have two children : Margaret Page, born May 3, 1907; Helen Ruth, born November 25, 1908.

HUBBARD The power and resources of Wheeling as an industrial and business center are the result of numerous personal factors, who have combined their enterprise with the advantages of the locality in building a splendid commercial center. Of the names that during the past century have been most closely identified with the making of this city, probably none is deserving of more credit for the big results that have been attained than that of the Hubbard family, who through several generations have been associated with man- ufactures and civic progress in this community.

Chester Dorman Hubbard, the father of the present active genera- tion, was one of the most striking characters in the citizenship of Wheel- ing during the last century. His father before him had founded the family in this locality and was one of the pioneer business men. Ches- ter Dorman Hubbard was the eldest son of Dana and Asenath (Dorman) Hubbard, and was born in Hamden, Connecticut, the 25th of November, 1814. When he was four and a half years old his parents came to Wheel- ing. He attended school up to the age of thirteen, and then worked for his father in the brick yard and mills until he attained his majority. Am- bitious and self-reliant, he had already planned for himself a career of large usefulness, and to prepare himself for it he entered the Wesleyan University at Middletown, Connecticut, where he was graduated in 1840, valedictorian of his class. His father's failing health then caused him to return to Wheeling and take up the business.

Thenceforth his career in business was one of the most notable in the history of Wheeling. He was in the lumber business until 1852, when with D. C. List and others, he established the Bank of Wheeling, which he served as president until 1865. He later became president of the German Bank of Wheeling, and held that office until his death, in 1891. He rendered valuable aid in securing manufacturing industries for Wheeling, and his services in this direction account for the presence of some very extensive plants in the Wheeling district. In 1859 he was

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one of the four men who, under the title of C. D. Hubbard & Company, leased the Crescent Iron Mills and engaged in the manufacture of rail- road iron, the company controlling these mills for about a year. He was also one of the organizers and directors of the Wheeling Hinge Company. In 1871 he became secretary of the reorganized Wheeling Iron & Nail Company, and held the office until 1891. For twenty years he was a member of the drug house of Logan & Company, and when the business became the Logan Drug Company he was elected president.

In 1873 Mr. Hubbard became actively identified with the promotion and building of the Pittsburg, Wheeling & Kentucky Railroad, and in 1874 was made its president. Due to his executive ability this road was put on a paying basis and under lease to the P. C. C. C. & St. L. Railroad Company became a valuable connection for Wheeling business.

Mr. Hubbard's career in public affairs was not less successful and prominent than in business. He was a member of the Virginia house of delegates in 1852-53. As a member of the state convention of 1861 he strenuously opposed the ordinance of secession, and when that meas- ure finally passed he at once returned home and began working for the cause of the Union. He promoted the organization of military companies for home defense with such vigor that two days after his return he had the satisfaction of seeing two companies sworn in to support the Consti- tution of the United States and its old flag. By the end of a week ten companies had been organized into a regiment. This prompt action was of great service to the community and to the nation.

He was a member of the Wheeling convention of May 13th and called it to order, thus being the first man to take an open part in the move- ment which resulted in the reorganization of the government of Vir- ginia in loyalty to the U'nion government and the formation of its western counties into the state of West Virginia. He was also a member of the convention of June 11, 1861. Both these conventions were held by the Union people of the state for purpose of establishing a loyal government and in preparation for the formation of the new state of West Virginia. When the new state had been organized he served as a member of the state senate, and was subsequently elected from the first district to the thirty-ninth and fortieth Congresses. He was a faithful and distinguished representative of his district and state, and was an earnest friend of edu- cation all his life, and was prominently associated with well-known local institutions. In 1848 he was elected trustee of Linsly Institute and in 1873 was made treasurer of the board. He took an active part in the founding of the Wheeling Female Seminary in 1848, becoming one of its trustees, and after the seminary became, in 1865. the Wheeling Female College, he was made president of its board of trustees.

In the death of Chester D. Hubbard, which occurred August 23, 1891, Wheeling and the state lost one of its most eminent citizens. He was one of the most efficient builders of the business and industries which were the nucleus of the modern Greater Wheeling. His energies were largely constructive, and his work and the ideals and principles for which he contended have still a vital force in his home city.

His forefathers were of that fine New England type which has pro- duced strong men in many periods of our history. From England in 1630 came William Hubbard to Plymouth, Massachusetts, and settled later at Ipswich, which town he represented in the general court six years, between 1638 and 1646. He afterwards settled at Boston. Rev. William Hubbard, a son of William, the immigrant, was one of the early graduates of Harvard College, became a minister and historian. and had the distinction. at the commencement exercises of 1688. of officiating as president of Harvard College. From him the descent

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comes down through (3) John Hubbard, (4) Rev. John Hubbard of Meriden, Connecticut, (5) Major General John Hubbard, one of Con- necticut's military men. to (6) Dana Hubbard, the father of (7) Chester D. and the founder of the family in Wheeling.

Dana Hubbard in 1815 moved from Connecticut west to Pittsburgh, and in 1819 brought a flat-boat down the river and anchored it in Wheeling creek, using the boat for a house to shelter himself and family while he was building the log cabin home. He was the pioneer manu- facturer of Wheeling. In 1827 lie built the first saw-mill and also the first grist mill in Wheeling. Later he set up the first steam saw mill in western Virginia. In connection with his mill he was a large dealer in lumber, and also operated a sash factory. His last days were spent on a farm in Ohio county, where he died October 16, 1852. His wife survived him many years, passing away April 23, 1878. They were both devont members of the Methodist church. Their five children were: Chester D., Henry B., William D .. John Roger and Martha R.

MUHLEMAN A highly educated and successful physician of Park- ersburg, West Virginia, but a native of the state of Ohio, is Dr. Charles Louis Muhleman. His father and mother, Frederick and Elizabeth Muhleman, lived in Monroe county, Ohio, where Mr. Muhleman was a wealthy farmer: and there Charles Louis Muhleman was born, November 9, 1854. He attended the public schools of his native county, until he was sufficiently prepared to take a collegiate course. For the purpose of taking such a course, he then first entered Baldwin University, Berea, Ohio: but he did not complete his college course at this institution. Leaving Baldwin University. he entered Mount Union College, Mount Union, Ohio, and there he was graduated, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Arts. Meanwhile, he was working, when he was at home, on his father's farm; and, in the winter seasons, until he entered on the study of medicine, he taught in the public schools of his state. He was made superintendent of the schools at Powhatan. Ohio, and with his holding of this position, his work as a teacher was ended. In all, he had taught for six years. He entered the Cleveland Medical College, Cleveland, Ohio, and from this college he was graduated in 1882 ; it is from this institution that he received his degree of Doctor of Medi- cine. For eighteen months following his graduation in medicine, Dr. C. L. Muhleman practised in partnership with his brother, Dr. R. W. Muhle- man, at Bellaire, Ohio. In November, 1883, he came to Parkersburg, West Virginia, where he has since lived ; and then he began the medical career of distinction, which he has here followed for nearly thirty years. Dr. Muhleman is not only one of the older physicians of Parkersburg, in length of service to this community and in general medical experience, while still vigorous and active; but he has added to his original funda- mental medical education by spending a year abroad. in further special studies. This he took the opportunity to do, in 1889 and 1890, when he pursued courses of advanced study, in Berlin, Vienna and Paris. Dr. Muhleman's attention has been devoted undividedly to his profession, and he has neither commercial nor banking interests. His office as a physician and surgeon is in the business heart of Parkersburg, and at the same place he has his home. He is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Parkersburg Lodge, No. 198, of the Elks' Club and of the Blennerhassett Club, both of this city; of the Blennerhassett Club, he is a charter member. Dr. Muhleman is a member also of the Parkersburg Country Club.

Although Dr. Muhleman has never been active in politics, nor held any

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political office, he has sought to perform the duties of a citizen of the United States at the polls. Prior to 1896, he was a Democrat. He did not, however, believe in the issues advanced by the Democratic party, under the lead of William J. Bryan, in the campaign of that year, and he cast his vote for William McKinley. Since that time, he has steadily voted with the Republican party. Dr. Muhleman is a Methodist. He has not married.

Ellis Mather, the first member of this family of whom we

MATHER have definite information, lived in England. He married Alice - John,, son of Ellis and Alice Mather, was born near Manchester, England, March 13, 1813, and died at Parkers- burg, West Virginia, June 20, 1898. Coming to Philadelphia, he there met and married his wife, also a native of England, and they removed to Wilmington, Delaware, where their first son was born. At Wilmington, Mr. Mather was a manufacturer, but his factory like others was com- pelled to close in the panic of 1837. He emigrated to Virginia, traveling overland, and settled at Parkersburg. Here he farmed; he also became agent for the Pittsburg Coal Company at its formation, and started a transfer business. In advancing age he retired from business activity and lived with his son, John William, for the rest of his days. At first a Whig; and a strong Union man, he naturally became a Republican in the early days of that party. In his younger days he filled several town offices. He was the first man initiated into the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Parkersburg, and was a charter member of Parkersburg Lodge, No. 37, of Virginia, now No. 7. of West Virginia. In fact, he was the only one initiated in the night when his initiation occurred, November 19, 1846. He married, in Philadelphia, in August, 1836, Alice, daughter of John and Sarah Leach, who was born in Manchester, England, January 28, 1810, and died at Parkersburg, March 30, 1891. She had come with her mother from England and settled in Philadelphia : her mother died in one of the cholera epidemics, about 1830. Mrs. Mather was a lifelong member of the First Presbyterian church. Mrs. Mather's brother, Wil- liam Leach, also lived in Philadelphia, where he died, leaving a large fam- ily. Children of John and Alice (Leach) Mather : I. Ellis, born June 1, 1837. 2. Andrew, born March 7, 1840, died July 20, 1864: he was cap- tain of Company D. Fourteenth West Virginia Volunteer Infantry, and fell in battle in defense of his country at Winchester, Virginia. 3. Sarah Alice, born April 20, 1842. 4. Thomas Leach, born October 9, 1844. 5. John William, of whom further.

(III) John William, son of John and Alice (Leach) Mather, was born at Parkersburg. September 16, 1847. In his boyhood there were no public free schools in the present state of West Virginia, and he attended private schools and the Nash Academy at Parkersburg. In January, 1860, he began to learn the jewelry business, entering the employment of G. E. Smith, at Parkersburg. At the end of eight years, his health being impaired by close confinement at the bench, he temporarily abandoned this business. After a short trip westward he accepted a position in the wholesale and retail general store of Mr. James M. Dils: while in his employment he was offered by postmaster James W. Boreman a clerk- ship in the postoffice, but declined. He afterward took a position at his trade of watchmaker for Mr. George F. Bowles for a few months. Mr. Mather was then offered a position as bookkeeper for the oil firm of M. J. O'Brien & Company, of Volcano, West Virginia. Instead of accepting this offer he entered into business for himself, having only some tools and a watchmaker's bench in a window of a two-story frame building.

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then on the corner of Fifth and Market streets, Parkersburg; his first job was done on his twenty-second birthday. About two years later he leased from Mr. William Berry a lot at No. 405 Market street, on which he erected a frame building of one story, where he kept a small stock of watches, clocks, jewelry, and similar goods. On May 27. 1896. he pur- chased this lot from the Berry heirs, and he erected there a three-and-one- half-story stone front building. Here Mr. Mather has a fine jewelry stock and one of the most attractive stores in the city. He resides at No. 317 Ninth street, on a property which he inherited from his father : and here this three sons were born. The house in which he was born was purchased from his father by the Baltimore & Ohio railroad when he was ten years old, the railroad then building a line to Parkersburg.

Mr. Mather is much interested in the work of many fraternal orders. He is a member of Mt. Olivet Lodge, No. 3, A. F. and A. M., of Parkers- burg ; Jerusalem Chapter, No. 3, R. A. M., of the same city ; a member and past eminent commander, of Calvary Commandery, No. 3, Knights Templar, of Parkersburg : a member of Nemesis Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of Parkersburg, West Virginia. He joined Parkersburg Lodge, No. 7, I. O. O. F., December 23, 1869, and became past grand, and past grand representative to the grand lodge of West Virginia ; he was financial sec- retary and afterward treasurer of his lodge for twenty years. He is also a member of Miriam Rebekah Lodge, No. 1, I. O. O. F., of Parkersburg. But the Knights of Pythias have been the object of special interest on his part. In June, 1871, he joined Hope Lodge, No. 10, as a charter member. He was chosen master of exchequer; having faithfully per- formed the duties of this office for twenty years, he was made past chancelor by the grand lodge, for meritorious service, at the session of 1876. From 1883 to 1888 he represented his lodge in the grand lodge, and in 1888 he was elected grand chancelor of West Virginia, by unani- mous vote. The order had dragged in West Virginia until this time, and was not in very good condition. The time for action, Mr. Mather felt, had come. A new era for the order began with his election. He be- lieved in actively pushing the interests and work of the order, organizing new lodges, and promoting the growth of the order in many ways; so that his chancelorship marked the beginning of a new era that was the most distinguished in the history of this society in West Virginia. He first published an edition of five thousand pamphlets setting forth the condition of the order, and his own projects for its betterment. His ad- ministration gave an impetus the effects of which are felt to the present time and the order, largely on account of his changes in method, now stands among the foremost in the state in numbers, weaith, and influence. At the beginning of his year there were thirty-one lodges ; at its end there were forty-four. These thirteen new lodges were in various parts of the state ; and four new divisions of the uniform rank had also been insti- tuted. In October, 1891, he was elected supreme representative. He was a charter member of Parkersburg Company, No. 3, uniform rank, Knights of Pythias. At the grand lodge session held at Clarksburg in 1890, nine companies reported ; at the regimental meeting called at this time by Ma- jor-General Carnahan, Sir Knight Mather was elected colonel of the first regiment : a year later the West Virginia brigade was formed, and he was unanimously elected brigadier general of West Virginia, which position he held for five years He is a member of Parkersburg Temple, No. 11, Pythian Sisters.

In politics Mr. Mather is a Republican, casting his first vote for Gen- eral Grant for president, and although interested in public matters, he would never accept public office. He united with the First Presbyterian Church at Parkersburg, April 9, 1865, and has been a deacon in this

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church, and also served as treasurer. He is now ruling elder and clerk of the session.

Mr. Mather was married, January 12, 1871, Rev. John B. Reed, then pastor of the First Presbyterian Church at Parkersburg, officiating, Rosa- lie Vallejo, daughter of Manuel Joseph and Jayne (Smith) Leese, who. was born at Newport, Kentucky, October 12, 1851. Children of Manuel Joseph and Jayne ( Smith ) Leese: Johanna Ophelia; William Henry, who served in the civil war as a member of the Second United States Artillery ; Elizabeth Amanda; Oscar Smith, died in September, 1862, was a member of Company H, Fifteenth Kentucky Volunteer Infantry, and died in defense of the unity of the nation, at the battle of Perrys- ville, Kentucky; Josiah Meyer : Rosalie Vallejo, married John William Mather, of whom herein ; Jayne Ann; Walter Albert. Mrs. Mather had lived at Parkersburg for some years before their marriage, and was a member of the First Presbyterian church, having united therewith Sep- tember 17, 1865. Children: 1. Andrew William, born at Parkersburg, December 31, 1871; he attended the public high school at Parkersburg, and graduated from Eastman's Business College, Poughkeepsie, New York, September 12, 1893. He learned the jewelry business with his father, and accepted a position with Tiffany & Company, New York City. After about twelve years' employment in their diamond department he resigned to accept a position with Dreicer & Company, pearl and diamond merchants, No. 560 Fifth avenue, New York City. He united with the First Presbyterian Church at Parkersburg, July 7, 1886, and has been transferred by letter of May 15. 1895, being now a member of the Marble Collegiate Church, New York City. He is not married. 2. Ellis Oscar, born at Parkersburg, September 3. 1878. After his schooling, which included study at the high school at Parkersburg, he accepted a position with the Parkersburg National Bank, and was promoted step by step until he was made receiving teller and individual bookkeeper. This he was obliged to resign on acount of his health, and later went to Detroit, where he engaged in the automobile business. He united with the First Presbyterian Church, July 12, 1895. He is not married. 3. Walter Thomas, born at Parkersburg, April 24. 1880. He also attended the public high school at Parkersburg. After leaving school he became clerk with Mr. John A. Bee, grocer. Later was employed successively by Henry Keller and Joseph Stern, both being clothiers, then entered his father's employment to learn the jewelry business. He is not married.

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West Virginia and its people, Volume II, Part 88

Author: Miller, Thomas Condit, 1848-; Maxwell, Hu, joint author Publication date: 1913 Publisher: New York, Lewis Historical Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 866

Author: Miller, Thomas Condit, 1848-; Maxwell, Hu, joint author
Publication date: 1913
Publisher: New York, Lewis Historical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 866