Boone County, West Virginia Biography of Louis F. ECHOLS ************************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: Material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material, AND permission is obtained from the contributor of the file. These pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written consent of the contributor. Submitted by Valerie Crook, , April 1999 ************************************************************************** The History of West Virginia, Old and New Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, Volume III, pg. 127 LOUIS F. ECHOLS. Some of the most representative men and solid citizens of Boone County are devoting their time and using their energies in behalf of agricultural activities, in this way not only earning a fair competence for them- selves, but rendering a service to the country in the pro- duction of raw materials and increasing the prestige of this region. One of these men thus prosperous and use- ful is Louis F. Echols, owner of a valuable farm near Madi- son, and county assessor. Louis P. Echols was born in Craig County, Virginia, in March, 1866, a son of G. A. and Cartha (Atkins) Echols, the former of whom came of Irish stock, and the latter of Dutch ancestry. The paternal grandfather settled in Giles County, Virginia, at an early day. Both G. A. Echols and his wife were born in Virginia, where they were married. When Louis F. Echols was about one year old they moved to West Virginia, settling in Boone County. G. A. Echols was a farmer and also did contract coal hauling from the mines before the construction of the railroads. He was very active in church work and was an elder of the Chris- tian denomination. Reared in Boone County, Louis F. Echols attended its common schools, and when only sixteen years old began working at making molasses in what was then a new way. The first evaporators that were installed in the county were set up on the Echols farm. Mr. Echols was also en- gaged in farming, and then went into the coal mines, where he remained for three years. His attention was then turned to the lumber and timber business, and for twenty-eight years, or until 1920, he owned and operated a portable saw-mill, and did logging and sawing. All of this time, however, he was also engaged in farming, and is still con- ducting his valuable farm, on which he makes his home. His operations as a farmer are of such magnitude as to make him a leader in this important industry. In 1918 Mr. Echols was elected a member of the board of education, but resigned that position when, in 1920, he was elected county assessor, as, according to the state law, a man can hold but one public office. His work in connec- tion with his present office is of such a character as to place him among the very efficient men to serve in this capacity, and the record he is making is an enviable one in every respect. Mr. Echols married in November, 1893, Miss Viola Long, at Rock Creek, Boone County. She is a daughter of John and Frances Long, the former of whom, a native of Ire- land, came to the United States in young manhood, and subsequently located in West Virginia, where Mrs. Echols was born. Her mother was also a native of this state. Mr. and Mrs. Echols became the parents of eight children. Eva, the eldest, married Siegel Workman, of Madison, who is United States marshal for the Southern Judicial Dis- trict. At one time he served as assistant cashier in the Madison Bank. Mr. and Mrs. Workman have one son, Siegel Workman, Junior. Ezra Echols, the second child, married Lora Lilly, at Madison, and they have one son, Thomas George Echols. Bessie, the third child, married Harry Humphrey, who is deputy county assessor under his father-in-law. Mr. and Mrs. Humphrey have one daughter, Betsy Ann. Jesse, Edgar and Celeste are unmarried and at home. There were two children who died young. Both Ezra and Jesse Echols served in the World war, the for- mer being overseas for eighteen months. Mr. Humphrey was also in the service, so that the Echols family was well represented in the late war. The family all belong to the Christian Church. Fraternally Mr. Echols maintains mem- bership with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Improved Order of Red Men. From the day he cast his first ballot Mr. Echols has been zealous in behalf of the republican party, and is a recognized leader of the local forces. His career has not been spectacular, but his prog- ress has been steady, and for a long time he has held the position in his community to which his ability and accom- plishments entitle him. His name has long stood for effi- ciency and uprightness, and his advocacy of any move- ment stamps it as one worth favorable consideration.