Ohio County, West Virginia Biography of Royal J. BYRUM ************************************************************************** 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. 80 ROYAL J. BYRUM. One of the largest concerns in the country supplying industrial housing is located at Wheel- ing, the B. L. Byrum's Sons Company, a group of enter- prising young men who have perfected their organization to a point where they are able to supply housing facilities almost to the extent of an entire town in the briefest period of time. The secretary of the R. L. Byrum's Sons Company is Royal J. Byrum, who was born in Kansas City, Kansas, November 17, 1885. His grandfather, Eli Byrum, was a native of South Carolina and as a boy went to Randolph County, Indiana, where his parents were pioneers. He had a large farm in Eastern Indiana, and lived there the rest of his life. His second wife was Lucinda Fields, who was born and died in Randolph County. The Byrums are of old English stock. Three children of Eli and Lu- cinda Byrum are still living. Robert L.; Enoch E., a clergyman of the Church of God living at Anderson, In- diana; and Noah H., who is treasurer of the Gospel Trumpet Publishing Company at Anderson, Indiana. Robert L. Byrum was born in Randolph County, In- diana, in 1856, was reared and married in that county, spent his early life on the farm, and at the age of twenty became a carpenter contractor. In 1884 he moved to Kan- sas City, Kansas, where he followed his trade, but later returned to Indiana and was located at Marion in Grant County until 1899. In that year he moved to Moundsville, West Virginia, and in 1908 established his home at Mar- tin's Ferry, across the river from Wheeling. He is still active in his business as a contractor, and is director and treasurer of R. L. Byrum's Sons Company. He began vot- ing as a democrat, but in later years has been a republican. He is an active supporter of the Church of God. Robert L. Byrum married Mollie J. Mangas, who was born in Randolph County, Indiana, in 1858. Royal J. is the old- est of their five sons. Russell R., the second, is managing editor of the Gospel Trumpet Publishing Company at An- derson, Indiana. The other three sons are all officials of the R. L. Byrum's Sons Company, Ralston E. being presi- dent, Leo V., vice president, and Don J., general superin- tendent. These sons reside at Wheeling. Royal J. Byrum was educated in the public schools of Indiana, attended high school at Moundsville, West Vir- ginia, and up to 1904 was a student in the Wheeling Business College. For 11/2 years he was assistant secre- tary of the Wheeling Board of Trade and then became assistant to the manager of the Wheeling Traction Com- pany, continuing in the service of that corporation for twelve years. July 19, 1917, he became secretary of the R. L. Byrum's Sons Company. There is only one other industrial housing firm in West Virginia that vies in ex- tent of business with the R. L. Byrum's Sons Company. This company specializes in the building of miners' homes, and its service contracts for that work cover nearly all the important mining fields in Ohio, West Virginia and Western Pennsylvania. The company's offices are in the Wheeling Bank & Trust Company Building. Royal J. Byrum is a republican, a member of the Church of God. and was a participant in all the local drives for funds during the World war. He owns a modern home at 409 Wheeling Avenue in PIeasanton, Wheeling. April 28, 1906, at Moundsville, he married Mary R. Peters, daugh- ter of Thomas and Lydia (McKeen) Peters. The parents live at Moundsville, where her father is a mine fire boss. Mr. and Mrs. Byrum have four children: Bernard R., born February 23, 1908; Dorothy M., born October 28, 1909; Robert, born March 15, 1915; and Royal J., Jr., born January 14, 1921.