Lincoln County, West Virginia Biography: Dan BIAS ************************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: Material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material, AND permission is obtained from the contributor of the file. These pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written consent of the contributor. Submitted by Valerie Crook, , April 1999 ************************************************************************** The History of West Virginia, Old and New Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, Volume III, pg. 140-141 DAN BIAS. In the trying period of reconstruction after any great war one of the most serious problems confronting the officials is the enforcement of the laws, and the creation and maintenance of a proper respect for them. In some communities those in authority have lamentably fallen short of living up to very high standards, but Lincoln County, West Virginia, is fortunate in having as its high sheriff Dan Bias, whose utter fearlessness, high personal integrity and great popularity with all classes have given him a prestige and secured for his section a remarkable record. Mr. Bias belongs to one of the old and honored families of the South, and he is very proud of it and his descent from men and women of stainless honor and courageous deeds. Dan Bias is a native son of the county, where he was born July 5, 1855. His father, Anderson Bias, was born in West Virginia, while his mother, Mrs. Nancy (Bias) Bias, was born in Virginia, and they were farming people, and for a number of years he was overseer of the poor of Lin- coln County. The sheriff had two brothers to serve in the war between the North and the South, Enos and Linvil, the latter being a sergeant, and both were in the Third Vir- ginia Cavalry, under Capt John Witcher. They were in all of the campaigns in the Shenandoah Valley, and although participating in all of the heavy fighting, escaped any serious injury. Completing his schooldays at sixteen, Dan Bias began working on the farm, and later became seriously interested in politics. He was appointed deputy sheriff under Sheriff Adkins, and served under him from 1896 to 1900, and was re-appointed under Sheriff H. H. Baker, and served until 1904. He then began farming on his own account, and continued in this occupation until his election to the office of high sheriff in November, 1920, and assumed the duties of his office in January, 1921. During the late war he rendered an appreciated service by operating his farm at full capacity. On December 20, 1877, Mr. Bias married Emily Selvinas Alford, a daughter of James and Mary Jane Alford, Lin- coln County farming people who came here from Virginia. Mr. and Mrs. Bias became the parents of nine children, eight of whom survive, namely: S. C., who married Maggie Powel, have four children and are living in Lincoln County, but Miss Powel came from Kentucky; A. M., who married Miss Polley, lives at Logan, Logan County, West Virginia; E. W., who married Ersie Johnson, and they had one child, and he was a brakeman on the Norfolk & Western Railroad when he was run over by a train in 1920 and killed; Queen Victoria, who married Frank Scites, of Lincoln County, and has six children; E. R., who married first Emma Galloway, had two children, and after her death he married Hattie Johnson, they have three children, and both wives were of Lincoln County; Crosby Ellis, who married Eva Johnson, of Lincoln County, has five children; Chauncey M., who mar- ried Essie Zigan, has two living children, their third one having died; Charles H., who is unmarried; and Otis O., who married Addie Hazelett, and has one child. Mr. Bias is not connected with any religious organization. He is a zealous member of Hamlin Lodge, A. F. and A. M., lives up to the highest ideals of his fraternity, and is a fine example of the Christian gentleman of the old school. While he is rigorous in his prosecution of a criminal, he is equally in- sistent in securing for each man fair treatment, and will not permit any persecution of anyone under his charge. Be- cause of his well-known character and his stainless reputa- tion the lawless element recognize that Lincoln County is not a profitable field for their nefarious operations, and as a rule give this region a wide berth. Such men as Sheriff Bias not only secure results for their own communities, but set an example which stimulates other officials to live up to their oath of office, and in this way their influence is much more than local.