David E. Mayhew Bio. Hancock County, WV ********************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ********************************************************************* Submitted by: Valerie F. Crook The History of West Virginia, Old and New Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, Volume III, pg. 222-223 Hancock County DAVID E. MAYHEW. The prosperous stockman and farmer illustrates by his experience the ups and downs of his vocation, its fascinating promises of fortune and its equally abundant opportunities for failure. He has his full measure of both, as a rule, but if he possesses the qualities which make for success he emerges on the top wave and achieves a permanent place among the substan- tial men of his section. Among the agriculturists of Hancock County who have been successful in their life work, one who is well esteemed in his community as an agriculturist and a citizen is David E. Mayhew of Pugh- town. Mr. Mayhew was born at Pughtown, June 21, 1856, a son of James N. and Mary Jane (Crawford) Mayhew. James N. Mayhew was born near Florence, Washington County, Pennsylvania, in 1827, and was seven years of age when he came to West Virginia with his parents, John and Elizabeth (Jackson) Mayhew, the family settling in Han- cock County, adjoining the Village of Fairview, now Pugh- town. John Mayhew, a farmer with about 340 acres of land, lived in a brick house which still forms a part of the residence on the property. He died when past ninety- three years of age, while his worthy wife passed away when seventy-five years old. They were the parents of the following children: Rebecca, who died as Mrs. Albaugh; Eliza, who married a Mr. Buchanan and had a son, John Buchanan, who was an attorney at Beaver, Pennsylvania; James N.; David Simeon, who removed to Illinois; Nancy, who married a Mr. Fulton and died at the age of ninety- six years, being the mother of Rev. W. P. Fulton, a noted Presbyterian divine of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; John W., who died in Beaver County, Pennsylvania; William, who was last heard from in California; Elizabeth, who married a Mr. Travis; and Mary, who married Mr. Caster. James N. Mayhew received a public school education and as a youth engaged in agricultural pursuits, which he fol- lowed throughout life, being one of the well-known and highly-respected men of his community. He married in Columbiana County, Ohio, Mary Jane Crawford, and they became the parents of thirteen children, all of whom are living at this writing, in 1922: Thomas C., a resident of Nebraska; John H., of Chester; David E., the subject of this sketch; William Lucas, a resident of Lisbon, Ohio; Nancy Jane, widow of Wesley Herron, of Pughtown, who has thirty-two grandchildren in 1922; James L. and Charles C., twins, the former mayor of Chester, West Virginia, and the latter a resident of California; Ella, the widow of Howard Warren, of Cleveland; George, of Sebring, Ohio; Ira, residing on the old farm home; Frank, of Salem, Ohio; Elizabeth, now Mrs. Emanuel Thomas, of Salem, Ohio; and Noah, of New Brighton, Pennsylvania. All of the members of this remarkable family still survive, the young- est being now in middle life. David E. Mayhew has passed his entire career on the old farm and at the village nearby. He received a country school education and when given a choice of vocations de- cided upon agriculture as his life work, and has had no reason to repent of his decision. He is now the owner of a property of sixty-seven acres, on which he has made modern improvements and erected substantial buildings, and his progressive methods, industry and good manage- ment have served to gain him a worth-while and well- deserved success. His standing in the community is that of a man of integrity, and his good citizenship has never been questioned. A democrat in politics, he follows the family inclinations, as nearly all of the Mayhews have been supporters of democratic principles and candidates. In 1896 fourteen votes from this immediate family alone were cast for the candidacy of William J. Bryan for presi- dent, including father, sons and sons-in-law. Mr. Mayhew married Miss Lida A. Sproule, daughter of Hugh and Nancy (Donehoo) Sproule, and granddaughter of Hugh Sproule, of Ireland. Both Hugh Sproule the elder and younger were agriculturists all their lives and were men of probity and integrity, both being elders in the old Plats Presbyterian Church. Mrs. Mayhew's father passed his entire life in Hancock County and died at the age of seventy-five years. Her mother, Nancy Donehoo, was a sister of Dr. R. S. Donehoo, the oldest physician in Hancock County. Mrs. Mayhew was reared on the home farm and educated in the public schools, and was eighteen years of age at the time of her marriage. There were two children born to Mr. and Mrs. Mayhew who died in infancy, and they have a foster son, Hubert S. Mills, Mrs. Mayhew's nephew, who was taken into their home and hearts at the age of 2-1/2 years and has been given every advantage. He has passed his life on the farm and is now twenty-three years of age, and accounted one of the capable and industrious young agriculturists of the community. The family are members of the old Presbyterian Church, although Mr. Mayhew was reared in the faith of the Metho- dist Protestant Church, of which his parents were members.