Jefferson County, West Virginia         Biography of Benjamin Franklin MOLER

This biography was submitted by Sue Schell,
E-mail address:  <ms_schell@hotmail.com>

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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. 396 & 397

BIO: Benjamin Franklin Moler, Jefferson Co., WV

	Benjamin Franklin Moler, who recently left his farm and is now living 
retired at Harpers Ferry, Jefferson County, was born on a farm one and 
one-half miles distant from Halltown, this county, on the 24th of November, 
1851.  In this county was also born his father, Henry Moler, who was of 
Pennsylvania German lineage and whose parents were early settlers in 
Jefferson County, Virginia (now West Virginia).  Henry Moler passed his 
entire life in this county, was a prosperous farmer, and was eighty years of 
age at the time of his death.  He married Miss Harriet Moler, who likewise 
was born and reared in Jefferson County and who here died at a venerable 
age.  Of their fourteen children the following attained to maturity: Robert 
W., Sally Ann, Henry Clay, Emily V., Mary Louise, John G., George A., 
Raleigh, Newton M., Daniel J. and Benjamin Franklin.
	Benjamin F. Moler made the best possible use of the somewhat limited 
educational advantages that were his in his youth, and has since broadened 
his mental horizon through reading and through the practical experiences of 
a busy and useful life.  A few years after his marriage he settled on a farm 
near Keyser Ferry, and there he proved a vigorous and successful exponent of 
farm industry.  Rock found in deposit on this farm had for years been held 
as of no value and a detriment to the places.  He finally found this rock a 
source of profit, for he leased the farm to the Keystone Lime and Stone 
Quarry company, which is now shipping from these quarries large quantities 
of stone to the steel factories in Pennsylvania.  In 1920 Mr. Moler and his 
wife left the farm and established themselves in an attractive home at 
Harpers Ferry.
	April 30, 1873, recording the marriage of Mr. Moler and Miss Mary Allstadt, 
who was born on a farm near Harpers Ferry and who is a daughter of the late 
John Hall Allstadt, to whom a memoir is dedicated on other pages of this 
work.  Mr. and Mrs. Moler have five children: Susan is the wife of Robert 
Stifler, and they have five children: Belle, Edith, Geneva, Robert and 
Gaily.  Harry Lee is married and has one daughter, Mildred.  Bessie May is 
the wife of Clarence Watson, and they have two children: Evelyn (Mrs. Frank 
Lake) and Louise (Mrs. Nichols).  Jessie Darke is the wife of Robert 
Huffmaster, and they have five children: Charles, Jeanette, Franklin, 
Marguerite and Forrest.  Jeanette is the wife of John Bailess.