Harrison County, West Virginia    Biography of Kenneth Neil Sappington

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Submitted by Sue Schell, <ms_schell@hotmail.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,
Pg. 326 & 327

	Kenneth Neil Sappington, whose administration in the office of the chief of 
the police department of Clarksburg, Harrison County, is marked by 
distinctive loyalty and efficiency, was born at Charles Town, Jefferson 
County, West Virginia, on the 23d of January, 1888.  He is a son of Joseph 
L. and Mary E. (Woody) Sappington and he was but seven years of age when his 
father was killed in a railroad wreck.  The widowed mother was left to care 
for the family of four sons and four daughters, and fortitude, courage and 
self-sacrifice were hers in the rearing of the children.  This noble woman 
is still living and has her reward for past struggles in receiving the 
utmost filial devotion on the part of her children.  When the present chief 
of police of Clarksburg was a lad of ten years his widowed mother removed to 
Weston and assumed a position as nurse in the insane asylum.  Chief 
Sappington attended the public schools in a somewhat intermittent and 
limited way, and early began the battle of life for himself, with an earnest 
desire to relieve his mother of responsibility.  As a young man he 
established his residence at Clarksburg, and here he was variously employed 
until 1909, when he was appointed a member of the police force.  After 
serving five years as a patrolman he was retired from the police department 
and otherwise engaged for four years.  In April 1918, he was appointed chief 
of police, for a term of three years, and the estimate placed upon his 
administration was shown in his re-appointment in 1921, for a further term 
of two years.  He has systematized and made specially effective the service 
of his department and his personal popularity in his home city is of 
unequivocal order.  The Chief is a stanch democrat, is affiliated with the 
Knights of Pythias, the Benevolent and protective Order of Elks and the 
Loyal Order of Moose, and he and his wife hold membership in the Baptist 
Church.
	May 17, 1911, recorded the marriage of Mr. Sappington to Miss Lulu J. Lee, 
daughter of J. D. Lee of Garrett County, Maryland, and they have four 
children: Joseph Neil, Walter Carl, Ruth Maxine, and Kenneth Lee.