Jonathan Caldwell Friend Bio
Braxton Co. WV

Hardesty West Virginia Counties Volume 3 - Page 125
Jim Comstock - Richwood WV 1973

Rev. Jonathan Caldwell Friend - was born on Sugar creek, Otter district,
Braxton county, June 5, 1833, a son of Jonathan Caldwell Friend and
Eliza Jane (Rugless) Friend.  Elizabeth Sutton Davis was born near
Sutton, Elk river, Holly district, Braxton county, March 20, 1832, a
daughter of Nathaniel Callender Davis and Barbara Ann (Wayne) Davis.  In
this county, November 19, 1857, were spoken the words joining the lives
of Jonathan C. Friend and Elizabeth S. Davis, and to them were born six
children:  Miles Mounterville, June 15, 1859, lives in Birch district,
this county; George Washington, July 6, 1860 died August 12, 1861;
Jonathan McDonald, May 27, 1862; Margaret Ann, March 31, 1865; Mary
Leanna, August 18, 1868; Roxy Norris, April 20, 1870 - these four at
home.  Miles M. married Eliza J Carr, in February, 1881.  Jacob Friend,
grandfather of Rev. Jonathan C. Friend was born near Franklin, Pendleton
county, (then) Virginia, and his wife was of the same county.  His son
Jonathan C. went from Pendleton county to Greenup county, where he
married, and he came from there to Braxton county, where he died
February 28, 1856; his widow still lives in Otter district.  He, with
the father of his son's wife, and some other gentlemen, started for
Norfolk to serve in the 1812 war, but peace was declared before they
reached there.  Michael Rugless, uncle of the subject of this sketch,
served with honor through that war.  Mrs. Friend's father was born in
Arkansas, and was brought to Randolph county in childhood and there
raised.  He married in Braxton county, and died here May 9, 1857.  His
wife died in this county.  Rev. Jonathan C. Friend has a farm of 175
acres, 40 improved, in Otter district, where he raises grain and stock,
and has two fine orchards.  The rest of his farm is covered with oak,
poplar and walnut, and he sends it down the Elk to Charleston, engaging
considerably in lumbering.  He was licensed as a local preacher about
1870, and served as such for about three years, when he was ordained by
the Annual Conference at Pruntytown, Taylor county, a minister of the
Methodist Protestant Church.  His first circuit was in Nicholas county,
his next in Braxton, where he is now located, with postoffice address at
Little Otter, Braxton county, West Virginia.