USA > West Virginia > West Virginia and its people, Volume II > Part 92
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(1]) Tilden Edward, son of Joseph Washington and Louise (Jes- see ) Noonchester, was born at Lebanon, Russell county, Virginia. Janu- ary 6, 1890. He received his early education in the public schools and then attended the Highland Technical Institute in New York City, where he won a prize as the most competent stenographer in the school. He then pursued a course of study at Washington and Lee University, Vir- ginia. From 1905 to 1908 he studied law in the office of Judge W. S. Matthews, at Big Stone Gap, and then removed to Princeton, West Vir- ginia, where he was employed for a short time by the Deep Water Real Estate Company, going from there to Charleston to enter the office of the general attorney and vice-president of the Kanawha & Michigan rail- road. Finally deciding to give himself up to the practice of law he re- moved to Spencer and entered the office of Walter Pendleton as a stenog- rapher, devoting all of his business time to the diligent study of his chos- en profession. He passed the bar examinations at Morgantown in 19It, opened an office at Spencer and is now one of the youngest and most successful attorneys of the town. He is a Methodist in religion, and a Republican in politics, and is a member of the National Guard of the State of West Virginia. He is also a member of Spencer Lodge, No. 55- Knights of Pythias.
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William C. Easley was born in Pearisburg. Giles county,
EASLEY Virginia. April 12, 1865. He was educated at Pearisburg Academy, and commenced his business life at the age of sixteen at a salary of fifty dollars per year with board and one suit of clothes. He worked in the commissary department of Crockett & Con- pany, who owned and managed several manufactories dealing with char- coal iron. He remained with the company for two years. After leaving Crockett & Company he took up an appointment with the Norfolk & Western railroad, performing station work, remaining with the railroad in that capacity for about five years. He removed to Bluefield in 1888 and engaged as shipping agent for the Hull Coal and Coke Company, who were engaged in marketing coke in the Pocahontas field. He con- tinued in this occupation until the year 1904 when the company became consolidated with the Red Jacket Coal and Coke Company. Mr. Easley was then transferred to the management of the mine department, a po- sition which he filled until the year 1908 when the company sold out. He then went with the Tidewater Coal and Coke Company of Vivian, West Virginia, as general superintendent, and remained there until June 15, 1912. In that year he resigned and entered into the drug business, asso- ciating himself with J. J. Penn with firm title of The Easley-Penn Drug Co. Mr. Easley is a member of the United Commercial Travelers.
He married, October 15, 1800, Estelle, born at Wytheville, Virginia, April 18, 1869, daughter of Judge G. J. Holbrook, of Bluefield. Chil- dren : 1. Garland Holbrook, born at Bluefield, West Virginia, August 12, 1891 ; he is attending school at Morgantown and has spent his first year at the University there, studying mechanical engineering : He will finish the course in 1915. 2. John White, born in Bluefield, West Vir- ginia, May 10, 1893 : he is a student at the high school at Bluefield. 3. Irene C., born at Bluefield. West Virginia, January 25. 1896; she is also at the high school at Bluefield. 4. Mary Minerva, born at Bluefield, West Virginia, May 27, 1909. Mrs. Estelle ( Holbrook) Easley was a graduate of Plummer Memorial College, Wytheville, Virginia, graduat- ing in the class of 1887.
Judge Garland J. Holbrook, the father of Mrs. Estelle (Holbrook). Easley, was born at Port Republic, Rockingham county. Virginia. Sep- tember 25, 1838, died at Bluefield, West Virginia, June 16, 1912. He was educated at Hampden Sidney College, graduating there with high honors in 1859. He removed to Wythe county, Virginia, the year of his graduation, and in the county he taught school until the breaking out of the civil war. He enlisted as a private with the "Wythe Grays," a vol- unteer company made up at Wytheville under Captain Joseph F. Kent. and April 17, 1861, this company set out for Richmond, where they were encamped for a week or more, and were assigned to the Fourth Virginia Regiment, organized under the command of Colonel James Preston, of Montgomery county, Virginia. At Harpers Ferry this regi- ment joined the famous Stonewall Jackson Brigade, and did valiant ser- vice under that eminent commander.
During the time that Judge Holbrook was a public school teacher in the county of Wythe, he studied law under the direction of Mr. Robert C. Kent, one of the leading lawyers of Virginia, who was afterwards lieutenant-governor of the state. Judge Holbrook was admitted to the bar shortly after the close of the war, and practiced his profession con- tinuously until his death. except during a term as judge of the county court of Wythe county. In the early days of his practice he formed a partnership with a Mr. English, under the firm name of Holbrook & English. Shortly after the termination of this partnership Judge Hol- brook associated himself with C. B. Thomas, under the firm name of
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Holbrook & Thomas, which was one of the leading firms of Southwest Virginia for nearly a quarter of a century. Judge. Holbrook removed to West Virginia in the year 1894, locating at Bluefield, where he prac- ticed law until a few weeks before his death. He was appointed referee in bankruptcy by Judge Benjamin F. Keller, judge of the district court for the southern district of West Virginia, shortly after Judge Keller's elevation to the bench, and he performed the duties of this office with such marked ability and satisfaction to the attorneys practicing before him, as well as the litigants having business in his court, that Judge Kel- ler re-appointed him at the expiration of each term. Judge Holbrook was a Mason of high standing, and received recognition from the Grand Lodge of Virginia for his interest and proficiency in the work, having served as masonic lecturer for southwest Virginia for a number of years. He was also master of the lodge at Wytheville, where his mem- bership remained until his death.
EASLEY This is one of those surnames, the derivation of which is apt to elude investigation, when it is sought in such in- ternal evidence as the word itself affords. At first the name would appear to have some connection with the adverb "easily". but etymologies of that obvious kind are in almost every case found to be incorrect. On the other hand the name might very easily be an angli- cised form of some foreign word the meaning of which would be at once apparent to any one who knew the language. An example of a foreign name which appears to be English with another meaning is easily found, as for instance the German name "Kind", meaning "child", which is sometimes mistakenly derived from or supposed to be the English word "kind", by those who do not know German. The family name Easley would. however, appear to be English in origin, and in that case might quite possibly be derived from the word Eastley, which is the name of a place in Hampshire county, England. This was according to the fashion of the Normans, who assumed names from the names of places with which they were connected, in contradistinction to the custom among the Celts, and particularly among the Gaels, whose extraordinary family pride and devotion to genealogy is shown in their habit of assuming hereditary family names from the personal names or Christian or given names of ancestors in a direct line of descent, in the case of the Brithonic Welsh, by prefixing "Ap". in the case of the Irish and Scottish Gaels, by prefixing "O" and "Mac", and in the case of the Bretons, Manx. Cor- nish and other ancient Celtic peoples, who lorded over Europe when his- tory began, by the use of other prefixes. Easley, assuming therefore that it is correctly derived from the place-name Eastley, may be said to be Anglo-Norman in origin.
(I) Dr. William D. Easley was born in Halifax county, Virginia, in 1832, and was killed in a railroad accident in Kanawha county, 1877. He was a practicing physician at Cannelton, West Virginia, and was the foremost physician in his district. He was a graduate of the University of Virginia and took his medical course at the University of Pennsyl- van'a at Philadelphia. He married Betty, daughter of John S. and Ade- line Chaffin, of Virginia. She died in 1908 at the age of sixty-six.
(II) Edwin H., son of Dr. William D. and Betty (Chaffin) Easley, was born in Amelia county, Virginia. May 19, 1865. He was educated at the public schools of Richmond, Virginia, and commenced work for him- self at the age of fourteen, as clerk in the retail shoe business at a salary of a dollar and a half per week. Obliged to go to work on account of the death of his father he resigned his clerkship and ventured into vari-
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ous other lines of business. In 1884 he engaged in the insurance business in Richmond, Virginia, and continued until 1902 when he removed to Bluefield, West Virginia, and continued in the same business. In 1910 an insurance agency was incorporated under the name of E. H. Easley Insurance Agency, Mr. Easley being the president or principal, C. B. Bell, secretary and treasurer, and M. L. West, vice-president. The Eas- ley Insurance Agency represents twenty-six of the leading insurance companies in the world, life, fire and casualty. This company is incor- porated for twenty-five thousand dollars. Mr. Easley is a thirty-second degree Mason, and also belongs to the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, Eagles. He is a Democrat in politics, and a Presbyterian in religion.
He married, November 19, 1889, Kate, daughter of Charles and Martha ( Storrs) Haner, the former of whom was a Confederate soldier in the civil war and served for four years, being several times wounded. He died in 1892. Children : Wlliam D., born in Richmond, October 31, 1890, attended the Augusta Military Academy, now in business with Eas- ley & West : Martha S., born in Richmond, Virginia, December 9, 1893.
EASLEY Dr. Edwin M. Easley was born at Pearisburg, Virginia, March 10, 1875. He was educated at the Pearisburg Academy. Virginia, and at the Medical College of Vir- ginia, at Richmond. He graduated in 1900 and took two terms in post- graduate work in the New York Polyclinic Hospital. He commenced his professional practice in Bluefield. West Virginia, in 1900. Dr. Easley has made for himself a fine position in the medical world, and his prac- tice has continually grown. He is a member and now president of the Mercer County Medical Society, and also president of Bluefield Acad- emy of Medicine. He is besides a member of West Virginia State Med- ical Society, and the American Medical Association. He is a general practitioner, and as such he is widely known. He belongs to the Ma- sonic Order, being a Master Mason. He also belongs to the Elks, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Owls, and the Modern Wood- men. He is a Democrat in politics, and a Baptist in religion.
He married, October 10, 1900, Fannie Matthews, born at Staunton, Virginia, April 9, 1879. Children: Anna Minerva, born in Bluefield, West Virginia. August 5, 1901 : Lillian Matthews, born January 27, 1905.
CAMDEN Few names are more prominent in the record of West Virginia's commercial development and in its political history than the name Camden. The family is at the present day prominent and influential, at Parkersburg especially.
( I) Rev. Henry Camden, the first member of this family about whom we have definite information, was born May 4, 1773. Early in the nine- teenth century he came from Maryland and settled in Harrison county, Virginia. He married, at Montgomery, Maryland, January 8. 1793, Mary Belt, born in Montgomery county, Maryland. January 9. 1778, daughter of Colonel Frederick and Deborah ( Woodward) Sprigg. Col- onel Sprigg fought in the revolution, and was the original owner of Chevy Chase, near the city of Washington. Children of Colonel Freder- ick and Deborah ( Woodward ) Sprigg: Margaret, born November 27, 1775 : Mary Belt, married Rev. Henry Camden : Prissa Woodward, born April 27, 1780: Johonas, born June 20, 1783. Children of Rev. Henry and Mary Belt ( Sprigg) Camden: 1. Debby Sprigg, born October 22,
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1793. 2. Frederick Sprigg. born May 13. 1796. 3. John Scribner, born September 15. 1798: father of United States Senator Johnson Newlon Camden. 4. Joseph Hill, born February 10. 1801. 5. Lenox Martin, born March 9. 1803. 6. Gideon Draper, born August. 31. 1805. 7. Lor- enzo Dow, born March 24. 1808. 8. Richard Pindle, of whom further. 9. Minerva Weems, born February 4. 1814. 10. Eliza Poole, born De- cember 25. 1817. Of these, the first six were born in Montgomery county. Maryland, the next three in Harrison county. Virginia, and the last in Lewis county, Virginia.
(II) Richard Pindle, son of Rev. Henry and Mary Belt ( Sprigg) Camden, was born in Collin's settlement, near Weston. Harrison county, Virginia, November 19. 1810. died at Parkersburg. January 9. 1876. (The county designations, here and in the former paragraphs, are given according to the county divisions in force at the dates: Weston is in Lewis county, according to the present division. ) Educational oppor- tunities were very meagre in the new and sparsely settled country where his youth was passed. but by force of character he made of himself a gentleman acceptable in all circles. In early life he entered into mercan- tile business, at Weston, with Weeden Huffman, and by close attention to business he laid the foundation of a large fortune. Later, on account of his health. he abandoned mercantile activities and was engaged in cat- tle raising and banking. In all branches of business with which he was connected he earned a fine reputation for skill and judgment, also for rigid exactness and strict honesty in all transactions. At the time of his death he was president of the National Exchange Bank, at Weston, and was carrying on one of the largest grazing farms in his state. although he was living for the greater part of the time at Parkersburg. His death was due to the effects of a kick from one of his horses. Mr. Camden was a man firm in his convictions, sincere in his attachments, affable in society, affectionate and devoted in his domestic relations : he had the regard of upright men, the respect of all who knew him, and the warm affection of his relatives and friends. He was not inclined to public af- fairs, and only once held a state office. In the legislature of 1866 he consented to serve in the hope of soothing the asperities due to the civil war and of bringing about a more kindly feeling between the opposing parties. On account of the pressure of private business and his disin- clination for public life. he refused a re-election.
Mr. Camden married, at Weston, June 2. 1870, Flora, born at Clarks- burg. Harrison county. Virginia, February 15. 1841. died at Parkers- burg. April 7. 1912. daughter of Granville G. and Charlotte (Despard) Davisson. Her grandfather was George I. Davisson, born April 29. 1786, died November 4. 1836: he married. September 9. 1809. Jemima Pindall, born October 3. 1790, a sister of the celebrated lawyer of Clarks- burg. Colone" James Pindall. Granville G. Davisson was born Tune 25. 1810. died April 6. 1856: his wife was born May 2, 1817. died February 28. 185L: they married in 1837. Children of Richard Pindle and Flora ( Davisson ) Camden : (daughter ), died in infancy. August 25. 1871. Richard Pindle, born February 16. 1873. died August 28. 1873: Sprigg D .. born September 10. 1874: Mary Pindall, born January 29. 1876, died December 31. 1879.
COPELAND Among the men who have done notable work along research and discovery lines in the medical profes- sion, not the least known name is that of Charles E. Copeland. MI. D., of Charleston. West Virginia, who, in addition to his extensive general practice. makes a specialty of diseases of children. and has effected many wonderful cures.
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Dr. Copeland was born near Alderson, Monroe county, West Vir- ginia, May 10, 1867, and until his manhood resided in the Wolf Creek district. Always an ardent student, at the age of seventeen years he engaged in teaching, at the same time taking up a full course of studies at the Shenandoah Normal College, at Harrisonburg. Virginia, from which institution he was graduated in 1889. From his earliest years the medical profession possessed an attraction which decided for him the choice of a profession in later years. He continued his work as an instructor, however, while he commenced the study of medicine, subse- quently becoming a student at the Baltimore Medical College, from which he was graduated in 1893 with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. The undivided attention he had given to his studies, and his conscientious work after he had commenced to practice were not without their natural result, and he has been awarded five certificates from the Baltimore Med- ical College and the Baltimore City Hospital for his successful and meri- torious work in the fields of operative surgery, diseases of children, phy- sical diagnosis and diseases of the chest. The Wolf Creek District was the scene of his earliest practice, but at the expiration of three years he located in Lindside, Monroe county, remaining there for a period of five years. He then removed to Charleston, where his excellent reputa- tion had preceded him, and where he has built up a large and lucrative practice, and enjoys the affection as well as the confidence of all those whom he has professionally aided. A number of insurance orders have chosen him for their medical examiner, and his other fraternal affilia- tions are with the Free and Accepted Masons, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias and the American Order of United Workmen. He is a fearless and tireless worker, and in addition to the manifold calls of his profession, has been active in his support of Repub- lican principles and has served several terms as a member of the com- mon council of his city. His residence is a beautiful and commodious one at No. 1532 Quarrier street. Dr. Copeland married, in Monroe county, West Virginia, Luella Conner, born in Wolf Creek district, in 1879, an active and devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal church. They have one daughter, Gladys Conner, who is receiving her education in Sherrad Hall. a private educational institution.
This old Ritchie county, West Virginia, family, whose
HARRIS name is perpetuated in that of Harrisville, the county seat of this county, is of Scotch-Irish origin. Harris is a very common name not only in the United States of America, but in the Brit- ish Isles also, and has been borne by many persons of distinction in vari - ous spheres of activity and service. There are many . American families of the name, and the present family was by no means the 1 st to bring the name to this country : several persons of the Harris surname are found in the records of Massachusetts in the seventeenth century, and the capital of Pennsylvania preserves the name of another Harris family, of eighteenth century history.
(I) -- Harris, the founder of this family, came from Ireland to the colonies, before the revolution, landing in Philadelphia, and about 1800 he came into Harrison county. Virginia. He married Mrs. ( Plum- mer) Miller. Children: I. Thomas, who preceded his brother into what is now Ritchie county, and from him Harrisville is named: he married Nancy Cunningham. 2. John, of whom further. 3. Margaret. married Elijah M. Cunningham. 4. Jane, married Benjamin Starr. 5. Anna. married John Harris. 6. -. married Nutter Webb.
(II) John, son of and Mrs. ( Plummer-Miller ) Harris, came
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from Harrison county, Virginia, in 1809, and settled in what is now Ritchie county, West Virginia. In this county and in Wood county he served for more than thirty years as justice of the peace. He was a prominent and useful citizen. He married, in 1810, Agnes, daughter of Lawrence and Agnes ( Harper) Maley. The Maleys are one of the old- est families of Ritchie county : the mother of Mrs. Harris purchased, in 1795, one thousand acres of land near the present Harrisville, and for this land the Maleys started promptly, but, on account of the Indians, they remained in the Shenandoah valley till 1803. Children of John and Agnes ( Maley ) Harris : 1. Thomas Maley, of whom further. 2. James, married Anne Rutherford. 3. John P., married Margaret Rutherford. 4. Hannah, married Samuel Blue. 5. Margaret, married T. F. Leech. 6. Anne, died young. 7. Mary, died young. 8. Jane, died young.
(III) General Thomas Maley Harris, son of John and Agnes (Ma- ley ) Harris, was born at Harrisville, June 17, 1813, and died at Harris- ville, September 30, 1906. The story of his eventful life is not merely an important part of the history of Ritchie county, but belongs to the his- tory of the state and of the nation. The opportunities for education afforded by his environment were exceedingly limited, but he took such opportunities as were offered, and at an early age became a school teach- er in Ritchie county. Afterward, he taught in Clark and Greene coun- ties. Ohio, and while he was in that state he became interested in medi- cine. In October, 1842, he was teaching in the seminary at Parkersburg, West Virginia, being first assistant, and married the principal of the female department of this institution. During the following winter, he attended medical lectures in Louisville, Kentucky. In the spring he went back to Harrisville, and began the practice of medicine: but one physi- cian had preceded him as a resident in the county, a Doctor Morgan, from Connecticut, who settled at Harrisville seven years earlier, in 1836, but remained only a few months, as the country was not then sufficiently populated to support a physician. In 1856, Dr. Harris moved to Glen- ville, Gilmer county, Virginia, and here he was established when the re- bellion began. Then he brought his family back to Harrisville, and re- cruited and organized the Tenth Regiment. Virginia (Union) Volunteer Infantry (afterward the Tenth West Virginia) entering the defense of his country as lieutenant colonel of this regiment. In May, 1862, after the regimental quota had been filled, he was commissioned colonel. During this and the following year, his service was in West Virginia, and he had command of the posts at Buckhannon and Beverly. On July 2, 1863, he being then in command at Beverly, his regiment of seven hundred and fifty men was attacked by a Confederate force of two thousand two hundred. under Colonel William L. Jackson, a cousin of Stonewall Jackson. Colonel Harris' regiment, as a body, had not before this time inet the enemy, and it was outnumbered by about three to one: yet it held the enemy at bay for two days, until re-enforcements arrived, and Colonel Jackson was then put to flight. In June. 1864. Colonel Harris was transferred to the valley of Virginia, and his command was incor- porated into the army of West Virginia, under General Crook; it had part in the engagements in the valley during the summer and fall. At Winchester, Colonel Harris had command of five regiments; and at Cedar Creek, when Colonel Thoburn was mortally wounded. October 19. 1864, he, being the next ranking officer, came into command of the first division of the army of West Virginia. For gallantry on this occasion, he was breveted brigadier-general. At the close of the Shenandoah val- ley campaign, a new division was formed, and he was placed in com- mand, with orders to report to General Grant at City Point. When the division was reviewed by Secretary of War Stanton, in March, 1865. he
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said that General Harris's promotion had been urged by General Grant and General Ord, but that there was no vacancy : however, he added, he was going to make a vacancy, by mustering out some one who could be spared. A few days later, while he was on the way to Petersburg, he received his commission as brigadier-general. Three days after this, General Harris broke the Confederate lines around Petersburg, and with his brigade took Fort Whitworth, one of the outer posts of the city. For this act of bravery, he was breveted major-general. But his valuable ser- vice was not to end sooner than the war, as he bore a useful part at Appomattox. His division was thrown by a forced march between Lee's army and Lynchburg. When it became evident that General Gor- don was trying to slip out of the surrender with his command, it was General Harris who prevented this : and when he had finally succeeded in silencing the guns of Gordon's command, this was the last firing and the end of hostilities in Virginia. Secretary Stanton, in recognition of his valuable services for the defense of his country, offered him the lieutenant-colonelcy of the Thirty-Seventh Regiment in the regular army ; but General Harris was then about fifty-two years old, and for that rea- son declined.
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