Lewis County, West Virginia    Biography: James RALSTON

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Submitted by Valerie Crook, <vfcrook@trellis.net>, March 1999
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The History of West Virginia, Old and New
Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc., 
Chicago and New York, Volume III, pg. 132

JAMES RALSTON. One of the oldest commercial concerns
at Weston is the jewelry business of which James Ralston
is proprietor. This business was established by his father
sixty-five years ago, and through all these years it has been
a store adequate in stock and service for satisfying the
demands and tastes of its patronage.

The founder of this business, the late Er Ralston, was a
son of James Ralston and Ann (Lincoln) Ralston and was
born in Ashland County, Ohio, January 23, 1834. When he
was two years of age his parents moved to Richland County,
Ohio, where he grew up, received his education and with
some knowledge and experience in the jewelry business he
moved to West Virginia and located at Weston, May 18,
1856. He was active in the business from that time until
he retired in August. 1913, and he died October 14, 1914,
in his eighty-first year.

November 8, 1859, he married Matilda Bailey, daughter
of Minter and Sallie (Bastable) Bailey. To their marriage
were born six children, the oldest, Lucy Ann, dying in in-
fancy. The other children were Sallie Gilberta, James, Min-
ter B., Genevieve and Ernestine.

James Ralston was born at Weston, May 15, 1863, grew
up in his native town and acquired a public school educa-
tion there. For about four years he was employed as a
clerk in the general store of Barnes & O'Hara, and then
worked in a hardware store at Weston for two years. Leav-
ing West Virginia, Mr. Ralston went to the Southwest and
at Chloride, New Mexico, put in his time for four years
in a store and in work around the mines.

When he returned to Weston in 1889, he entered the
jewelry store of his father, learned the business under the
elder Ralston, and also took special courses of training in
Chicago and Philadelphia. Nearly two years before his
father's death he took over the active management, and
for the past eight years has been proprietor. He owns the
building and has a splendidly stocked store.

October 3, 1894, Mr. Ralston married Emma Hoffman
Harrison, daughter of Matthew and Sarah E. Harrison.
Of their four children, the oldest is Er, a graduate of high
school, who spent two years in West Virginia University
and is now associated with his father's business. Anna
Mayburry is a graduate of high school, attended Gunston
Hall at Washington, District of Columbia, and finished her
education in the Emerson College of Oratory at Boston.
James G., the second son, graduated from high school and
is now continuing his higher education in the State Uni-
versity. Richard, the youngest, is still in school. The fam-
ily are members of the Episcopal Church and Mr. Ralston
is a vestryman and trustee. He is a past master of Weston
Lodge No. 10 A. F. and A. M., a member of Bigelow Chap-
ter No. 4, R. A. M., is a past commander of St. John Com-
mandery No. 8, K. T.; a member of Wheeling Consistory
of the Scottish Bite, and Nemesis Temple of the Mystic
Shrine at Parkersburg. His participation in politics has
been as a democrat, and he is one of the directors of the
Citizens Bank of Weston.