Berkeley County, West Virginia Biography of John Robert POLAND This biography was submitted by Valerie Crook, E-mail address: The submitter does not have a connection to the subject of this sketch. This file may be freely copied by individuals and non-profit organizations for their private use. All other rights reserved. Any other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval system, or transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other means requires the written approval of the file's author. This file is part of the WVGenWeb Archives. If you arrived here inside a frame or from a link from somewhere else, our front door is at http://www.usgwarchives.net/wv/wvfiles.htm The History of West Virginia, Old and New Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, Volume III, pg. 340-341 JOHN ROBERT POLAND is one of the substantial and pro- gressive business men of the City of Martinsburg, Berkeley County. He was born on a farm on Black Oak Bottom, bordering the Potomac River, in Allegany County, Mary- land, and the date of his nativity was March 25, 1871. He is a son of Guinn and Anna V. (Holt) Poland, both natives of Maryland. The latter's grandfather, L. O. Holt, repre- sented Allegany County in the Maryland Legislature and served also as county sheriff. The grandmother of John R. Poland was Ruth Cresap, a daughter of Colonel Cresap, who was the founder of the City of Cumberland, Maryland. In memory of Colonel Cresap the Cresap Family Associa- tion has erected a handsome monument in one of the parks of Cumberland, Maryland. Colonel Cresap was a resident of Allegany County, Maryland, at the time of his death. Guinn Poland was born at Dawson, Maryland, in 1844. In his native state he served several years as steward of the Mineral County, West Virginia, Infirmary. Thereafter he established his residence at Keyser, Mineral County, West Virginia, and engaged in the transportation of merchandise between that place and Burlington. He died at Keyser in 1902, at the age of fifty-eight years, and his widow now resides at Clarksburg, this state. Of their two children, John R., of this sketch, is the elder. Bessie Lynn married L. P. Sonders, and they have two children, Lawrence and Ruth Holt. John R. Poland attended the public schools at Burlington and thereafter became a clerk in a general store at Elk Garden. He continued his service as a clerk ten years and then engaged in an independent mercantile enterprise. In 1899 he became a merchant in the City of Richmond, Indiana, where he remained until 1902, when he came to Martinsburg, West Virginia, and with a partner established the Perfection Garment Factory. From a small inception the business has developed to one of substantial order, a second factory having been established, in the City of Charles Town, and a retail store, known as the Garment Shop, at Martinsburg. Mr. Poland served as the first president of the Martins- burg Chamber of Commerce, and he is a former vice presi- dent of the local Rotary Club, in both of which progressive organizations he takes deep interest. He east his first presidential vote for Benjamin Harrison, and has continued an independent in politics. He served one term as a mem- ber of the city council of Martinsburg, is a member of the board of directors of the local Young Men's Christian Asso- ciation, and he has twice served as vice president of the West Virginia State Sunday School Association, of the executive committee of which he is now a member. Both he and his wife are zealous members of Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church, South, in their home city. In the Masonic fraternity Mr. Poland's affiliations are with Equality Lodge No. 44, A. F. and A. M.; Lebanon Chapter No. 2, R. A. M.; Palestine Commandery No. 2, Knights Templars; Scottish Rite Lodge of Perfection at Martinsburg; and Osiris Temple of the Mystic Shrine in the City of Wheeling. In 1908 Mr. Poland married Miss May Supples, who was born at Baltimore, Maryland, a daughter of Thomas A. and Mary E. Supples. Mr. and Mrs. Poland have three children: John E., Jr., Anna Mary and James Lloyd.