Morgan County, West Virginia    Biography of William Franklin LEARY

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Submitted by Nancy Taylor, <Spritehawk@aol.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. 434

    BIO: WILLIAM FRANKLIN LEARY,  Morgan County


    WILLIAM FRANKLIN LEARY has clearly proved his resourcefulness and
progressive policies in connection with business enterprise in West Virginia, and is now
one of the representative business men of Berkeley Springs, Morgan County.
    Mr. Leary was born at Downsville, Washington County, Maryland, on the 2nd of
January, 1864, and is son of Benjamin and Virginia (Edwards) Leary, the 
former of whomdied at the age of fifty-four and the latter at the age of sixty-eight years. 
 As a skilled millwright the father followed his trade successfully in the equipping and 
repairing of flour mills, and he was a resident of Keyser, Mineral County, West
Virginia, at the time of his death.  The subject of this review is the eldest 
in a family of eight children, the names of the other children being as here noted: 
Albert, Green, Ella, Clifford, Bessie, Earl, and Annie.
    William F. Leary was a lad of seven years at the time of the family removal to Keyser,
West Virginia, where he was reared to adult age and profited duly by the advantages of
the public schools.  At the age of eighteen years he found employment in a tannery at
Romney, and after being thus engaged eight years he operated he a flour mill at Romney,
Hampshire County, thirteen years.  He then purchase one-half interest in a mill at Great
Cacapon, Morgan County, but six months later he traded this interest for an interest in the
Berkeley Springs Mill, the operation of which he continued until 1921, when he retired
from this enterprise.  In the meanwhile he had engaged also in the ice business, and with a
well equipped plant and substantial business he now gives his attention to 
this well-ordered enterprise at Berkeley Springs.
    Mr. Leary is liberal and progressive as a citizen, is a staunch advocate of the principles
of the democratic party and is, in 1922, chairman of the Democratic Executive Committee
of Morgan County.  While a resident of Romney, Hampshire County, he there 
served as amember of the city council.  He is affiliated with Indian Mound Lodge No. 207,
Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and with the Patriotic Sons of America.  Both he and
his wife are active members of the United Brethren Church in their home village.
    In 1898 Mr. Leary married Miss Victoria Shull, who was born and reared in
Hampshire County, this state, a daughter of James and Maggie (Marshall) Shull, both
natives of Frederick County, Virginia, Mr. Shull was a miller by trade, and for many years
operated a flour mill at Romney, Hampshire County, where both he and his wife died.  Mr.
and Mrs. Leary have eight children, namely:   Ottie, George, Margaret, James, Kenneth,
Gladys, Lola and Katherine.  Ottie is the wife of Charles M. Woodruff, and they have two
children, Virginia Lucille and Warren Franklin, George married Miss Nellie Waters, and
they have three children, Eveline, Bernetta and George William.  Margaret is the wife of
J. Walker Shockey, and they have two children, James Walter and Charles Franklin.