Pocahontas County, West Virginia Biography of FRANK M. SYDNOR This file was submitted by Valerie Crook, E-mail address: The submitter does not have a connection to the subject of this sketch. This file may be freely copied by individuals and non-profit organizations for their private use. All other rights reserved. Any other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval system, or transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other means requires the written approval of the file's author. This file is part of the WVGenWeb Archives. If you arrived here inside a frame or from a link from somewhere else, our front door is at http://www.usgwarchives.net/wv/pocahont.htm The History of West Virginia, Old and New Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, Volume III, pg. 615-616 FRANK M. SYDNOR. One of the representative business men of Marlinton, and a member of an old Southern family, is Frank M. Sydnor, who for many years was identified with the C. & O. Railroad before embarking in the in- surance and brokerage line. While railroad work has its possible disadvantages, like every other vocation, it does teach methodical business methods, based on punctuality and exactness, methods which are equally indispensable for en- tire success in any other line of effort. Mr. Sydnor feels that his years of railroad training were a valuable school of experience. Frank M. Sydnor was born at Bremo Bluff, Virginia, August 7, 1881, the only child of his father's first marriage. His parents were William O. and Mollie (Sutherland) Sydnor, the latter of whom died in 1883. William O. Sydnor was born in Dinwiddie County, Virginia, December 13, 1857, and is a son of Robert H. and Mary J. (Barrett) Sydnor, who were of English birth. Before the war be- tween the states Robert H. Sydnor was a planter and slave owner. William O. Sydnor, who is now assistant general freight agent for the C. & O. Railroad, with headquarters at Huntington, West Virginia, has been a railroad man almost his entire life. He began work in 1878, with the Norfolk & Western road, and from there went to the Rich- mond & Alleghany, but since 1881 has been continuously identified with the C. & O., and is not only one of the best known and highly valued but one of the oldest railroad men in West Virginia. William O. Sydnor has been thrice married. After the death of his first wife he married Mary Wilson, and they had three children: Leslie, Mary and William O. His third marriage was with Mrs. Mattie Seig. They have no children. Although never active in a political sense, Mr. Sydnor has always been affiliated with the democratic party. Following the early death of his young mother Frank M. Sydnor was taken by his paternal grandparents, with whom he made his home until he was nineteen years old. His education was secured in the public schools, and in the meanwhile he learned the art of telegraphy. In 1901 he became telegraph operator and station agent for the C. & O. Railroad at Goshen, Virginia, and later at Marlinton, West Virginia, to which place he came in February, 1904, and has maintained his home here ever since. In 1912 he re- tired from railroad work and engaged in the insurance and brokerage business, the latter including the handling of coal, hay, grain and kindred commodities. He has built up a fine trade, and is named as one of the able and depend- able business men of this city. On October 29, 1902, Mr. Sydnor married Miss Loula Johnson, of Prince George County, Virginia, and they have one daughter, Rebecca. A democrat in politics, he has officiated as mayor and during the World war was chair- man of the Home Service Section of the Red Cross.