Lewis County, West Virginia          Biography of CLAUDE W. RINEHART

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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. 280
Lewis County

CLAUDE W. RINEHART is a successful business man of
Weston, where for many years he has devoted his best
energies to the lumber business. He is one of the pro-
prietors and executive officers of the Central Lumber
Company.

Mr. Rinehart was born in Lewis County, West Virginia,
August 24, 1885, son of William and Sarah (White) Bine-
hart. His parents were also born and reared in Lewis
County, grew up on farms, attended the common schools.
and after their marriage settled on the farm where the
father spent the rest of his life.  He was progressive
and industrious and accumulated a body of 200 acres of
first-class farming land. The mother is still living. They
were active members of the Methodist Protestant Church,
and William Einehart was a democrat.  Of their large
family of eleven children ten are still living: Statira, wife
of Charles E. Lamb, of Coolville. Ohio; John A., con-
nected with the Parkersburg Mattress Company; Lloyd of
Weston; Theo, a farmer in Lewis County; Jesse M., a
contractor and builder at Weston; Elza A., cashier of the
Farmers Bank of Clarksburg, West Virginia; Dr. L. G.,
a dentist in Oklahoma; Claude W.; Laura, wife of W. A.
Moneypenny. of Lewis County; and Lona, wife of Oscar
Bailey, of Gilmer County.

Claude W. Rinehart grew up on a farm, attended the
common schools with his brothers and sisters and later
graduated from the Mountain State Business College at
Parkersburg. As a boy on the farm he determined to
enter a commercial career. After his college course lie
spent two years as clerk with the E. J. Kane Hardware
Company. He then transferred his abilities to the lumber
business and for fifteen years was secretary and treasurer
of the Sun Lumber Company. In 1919 he took an active
part in the organization of the Central Lumber Company,
and is the executive head of this corporation.

Mr. Rinehart married Miss Effie A. Atkins, of Weston,
October 16, 1912. She was reared and educated in Harri-
son County, West Virginia. They have a daughter, Mary
Louise, born October 6, 1917. Mr. and Mrs. Binehart
are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is
a democrat and is prominent in Masonry, being affiliated
with Weston Lodge, No. 10, A. F. & A. M., Bigelow
Chapter, No. 4, R. A. M., St. John Commandery, No. 8,
K. T., West Virginia Consistory, No. 1, at Wheeling, and
Nemesis Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Parkersburg.
In the local branches of the order he is a past master,
past high priest and past eminent commander.