Preston County WV Archives Biographies.....Lakin, James S. March 1, 1864 - March 6, 1934 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/wv/wvfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Connie Burkett MarionWVusgwArch@gmail.com January 13, 2011, 2:57 am Source: A History of Preston County West Virginia, The Journal Publishing Company, Kingwood W.Va. 1914 Author: by J. R. Cole Pages 576-579, James S. Lakin (1864-1934) JAMES S. LAKIN. The subject of this sketch is the oldest son of Rev. Calvin H. and Catherine Finney Lakin and was born in Moundsville, W. Va., March 1, 1864. The other members of this family are Lessie (deceased), Joseph William, Annie Belle, and Finney Lee. Of these, Lessie married J. M. King, M.D., and at her death left two children, Lessie and Jennings, who now live with their father in Buckhannon, W. Va.; Joseph William married Maude R. Rinard, and lives in Huntington, W. Va.; Annie Belle married Jacob Sheets, and lives in Huntington, W. Va.; Finney Lee is unmarried, and lives at Terra Alta, W. Va. On November 14, 1889, James S. married Lura Olivia Lakin, daughter of George W. Lakin, of Columbus, Ohio. At the time of their marriage they were not aware that they were in any degree related, but investigation later disclosed that they were descended from a common ancestor several generations removed. Rev. Calvin H. Lakin, father of James S., was born June 29, 1838, near Freeport, Harrison County, Ohio, and married Catherine Finney of Tuscarawas County, Ohio, March 26, 1863. He was an active minister in the West Virginia and Iowa Conferences of the Methodist Episcopal Church for almost fifty years, having been during that time Presiding Elder of Oakland and Huntington Districts. William Lakin, father of Calvin H., was born in Cumberland, Md., January 2, 1791, and married, first Sarah Chapman, second Lewessa Packer, and died near Freeport, Ohio, March 7, 1855. Thomas Lakin, father of William, was born March 26, 1763, married Priscilla Sullivan, Montgomery County, Md., January 15, 1782, and died February 23, 1834. Thomas, William and Lewessa Lakin and others of their generation are buried on the Moses Wright Homestead near Freeport, Ohio. Of Thomas Lakin, the "History of the Old Baltimore Conference from the Planting of Methodism in 1773 to the Division of the Conference in 1857", says: "Thomas Lakin, a native of Montgomery County, Md., united with the Methodists 1780. Soon after he settled in Bedford County, Pa., one of the first Methodists. He possessed talent above mediocrity and filled frequently the appointments of the itinerants. He ended his life in Ohio, 1834, in his seventy first year, leaving the odor of a good name." Benjamin Lakin, father of Thomas, was born December 21, 1748, was married October 23, 1760 (1770?), to Rebecca Fee, and died April 6, 1776. Abraham Lakin, father of Benjamin, was born October 16, 1713, and died in 1796. He received title deeds for a tract of land in Frederick County, Md., from King George of England, and willed it to his son Abraham. Jr., who willed it to his son William, who willed it to his youngest son Henry Deaver Lakin, Leander, Frederick County. Wm. Gerry Lakin resided on this homestead in 1911. Many members of the older generations of the family are buried in the old graveyard at Leander, where many of the records and data concerning the family are to be found. Mrs. Lakins's brothers and sisters are as follows: Edmund, who married Clara Barnard of Westernport, Md., Herbert H., who married Annie Pheneger, and Florence, unmarried and living at her father's home. George W. Lakin, father of Mrs. Lakin, was the son of Daniel Lakin, Jr., son of Daniel Lakin, Sr., son of Abraham Lakin. Jr., son of Abraham Lakin, Sr. Mr. and Mrs. Lakin have three children, James Offutt, Marion Elizabeth, and Florence Catherine. Mr. Lakin obtained his education in the common schools of West Virginia, at Fairmont Normal School, and at the Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware, Ohio, at which last place he first met the lady who afterward became his wife. In September, 1889, Mr. Lakin and Mr. D. E. Offutt began the mercantile business at Terra Alta under the firm name of Offutt & Lakin, Mr. Lakin having full charge until 1909, since which time his brother, F. L. Lakin, has been manager. The business was successful from the start, and is now located in a substantial three story brick building. From the strictly mercantile business the firm branched out into coal, timber and other lines, and now owns large acreages of timber lands in West Virginia, Virginia and Arkansas. Mr. Lakin is also interested in banking, having been president of the First National Bank of Terra Alta, and director of the Terra Alta Bank. Political and public affairs have always been of great interest to Mr. Lakin, and for many years he was a member of the Republican Executive Committee of Preston County. In 1905 he was the Republican candidate for congress in the Second Congressional District of West Virginia, to succeed Hon. A. G. Dayton, but was defeated by a small majority by Col. Thos. B. Davis, of Keyser, brother of Hon. Henry G. Davis. He was appointed by Governor A. B. White a director of the West Virginia Asylum at Huntington, and re-appointed to the same position by Governor Wm. M. O. Dawson. In 1909 Governor Wm. E. Glasscock appointed him a member of the State Board of Control, which body elected him as its president, and where he proved his ability as an organizer. In the campaign of 1912 he served as Chairman of the Republican State Executive Committee, the campaign resulting in the election of the entire Republican state ticket. In 1913 Governor H. D. Hatfield appointed him a member of the new Public Service Commission, of which commission he was elected Chairman. Inasmuch as it subsequently was held that he was ineligible to this position because of a provision of the law governing the State Board of Control, he resigned, and was re-appointed a member, and re-elected president, of the latter body. He is a 32° Mason, Knight Templar and Shriner, and also belongs to the Knights of Pythias. All his life he has been a hard worker, and is an apostle of the strenuous life. Additional Comments: - - - - - Death Certificate, Kanawha County WV #3404 Full-name: James Sonsome Lakin Date-of-birth: 1-Mar-1864 in Moundsville, WVa Date-of-death: 6-Mar-1934 in Charleston, Kanawha County WV Marital-status: married to Laura C. Lakin Father: Calvin H. Lakin (born in Ohio) Mother: Catherine A. Finney (born in Ohio) Occupation: Merchant, Advertising Place-of-burial: Sunset Cemetery Death Certificate, Kanawha County WV #14271 Full-name: Lura Olivia Lakin Date-of-birth: 3-Dec-1865 in Columbus, Ohio Date-of-death: 7-Nov-1952 in Charleston, Kanawha WV Marital-status: Widowed Father: George W. Lakin Mother: Mary Johnston Informant: Mrs. Marion L. Ray (daughter) Place-of-burial: Sunset Memorial Park File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/wv/preston/bios/lakin134nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/wvfiles/ File size: 7.2 Kb