Harrison County, West Virginia    Biography of James Seraphin RODNEY

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Submitted by Ann Schwirian, <TrKeGram@aol.com>, March 2000
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The History of West Virginia, Old and New
Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc.,
Chicago and New York, Volume II,
pgs. 286-287

    JAMES SERAPHIN RODNEY.  A resident of Clarksburg since 1903, James 
Seraphin Rodney has made a progressive record as a business man, and his 
working interests throughout this period have been in the business of mining 
machinery and general contractors' supplies.  He is active in civic affairs 
as well as in business circles.
    Mr. Rodney was born at New Castle, Delaware, June 11, 1880, son of John 
H. and Annie (Reeves) Rodney.  His mother who is still living was born in 
South Carolina and is descended from a signer of the Declaration of 
Independence, George Read.  John H. Rodney, now deceased, was a lawyer by 
profession, a native of Delaware, and son of Hon. George B. Rodney who not 
only gained distinction as a lawyer, but at one time represented Delaware in 
Congress.  This branch of the Rodney family is of English ancestry, and one 
of them was Ceasar Rodney who was one of the signers of the Declaration of 
Independence.
    James S. Rodney was reared at New Castle, was educated in private and 
public schools, and from the age of eighteen took up the tasks and 
responsibilities of life on his own resources.  While both his father and 
grandfather were lawyers, he chose a business career.  He followed various 
lines of employment until 1903, and on coming to Clarksburg he entered the 
service of the West Virginia Mine Supply Company, then managed by D. R. 
Potter, its founder.  Subsequently Mr. Rodney for about five years was on the 
road as a traveling salesman for this company.  In 1916 he and O. W. Robinson 
bought the business, and it is one of the largest concerns of the kind in the 
state dealing in machinery and mill, mine and contractors' supplies.
    Mr. Rodney is a Knight Templar Mason and Shriner, an Elk, a member of the 
Clarksburg Rotary Club, is a democrat in politics and a member of the 
Episcopal Church.  In addition to his business he is now giving much time to 
his duties as a member of the city council, an office to which he was elected 
in 1921.
    In 1906 Mr. Rodney married Miss Louise Everett, daughter of Captain 
William Everett of the United States Army.  They have two children, Louise E. 
and Emily Rodney.