West Virginia Statewide Files WV-Footsteps Mailing List WV-FOOTSTEPS-D Digest Volume 99 : Issue 121 Today's Topics: #1 BIO: Wm. Claude HEFNER, Braxton Co [Valerie & Tommy Crook To: WV-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-Id: <3.0.5.32.19991126010643.00f8d2c0@trellis.net> Subject: BIO: Wm. Claude HEFNER, Braxton Co. WV Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" The History of West Virginia, Old and New Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, Volume III, pg. 315-316 WILLIAM CLAUDE HEFNER. Braxton County has always held its own among its sister counties of West Virginia for high rank in her banking system, and in this field of activity the business is represented at Burnsville by many men of high standing and of more than local prominence. Among the men, alert and enterprising, who during recent years have utilized the opportunities offered for business preferment and attained thereby success, one whose career is typical of modern advancement is William Claude Hefner, vice president of the Burnsville Exchange Bank. Mr. Hefner 's career has in the main been devoted to the pursuits of agriculture, but his business judgment and foresight are greatly appreciated by his associates in the banking field. Mr. Hefner was born on the farm which he now owns at Burnsville, May 28, 1864, and is a son of William S. and Rachel McNiel (Wallace) Hefner. His father was born in Greenbrier County, West Virginia, November 20, 1817, and his mother, in Pocahontas County, this state, August 12, 1820. William S. Hefner was reared on a farm in Green- brier County and received only a limited education, the most of which was self gained. As a youth he left home and went to Pocahontas County, where he learned the black- smith trade and for four years conducted a shop. He made a success of this venture, was married in Pocahontas County, and then came to Braxton County and purchased the nucleus for a farm, a part of which is now included in the property of his son William C. From a small beginning William S. Hefner became the owner of a tract of 560 acres of splendid farming land, and at one time was the largest taxpayer in the northern end of Braxton County. He was one of the pillars of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, the move- ments of which he supported with a willing hand and an open purse,' and throughout his life he was at all times ready to go to the assistance of the poor or the bedsides of the sick. Fraternally he was affiliated with Sutton Lodge No. 21, A. F. and A. M., and at the time of his death was the first member of Weston Lodge. His political belief made him a democrat. The fact that his own education had been neglected always made him a stanch friend of the public schools, and for a number of years he served as a member of the local Board of Education. He and his worthy wife were the parents of eleven children, of whom seven survive in 1922: B. L., who is engaged in blacksmith- ing at Bnrnsville, where his father conducted a shop for many years in connection with his farming operations; Samuel, who is a resident of Missouri; M. W., of Burns- ville; William Claude, of this record; Edna, the wife of A. J. Knight; J. B., of Clarksburg, West Virginia; and Rachel, the widow of Hugh Amos. William C. Hefner was reared on the home farm, on a part of which he still makes his home, and acquired his education through attendance at the rural schools. His schooling completed, he began fanning in association with his father, and remained in this connection until he was twenty-three years of age, when he decided he would like to have a view of the western country. Accordingly, the next year was passed in the West, after which he returned to the home place and spent one year in agricultural pursuits. Following this he ventured into mercantile pursuits at Burnsville, and during the next years was a successful mer- chant, but the call of the country proved too strong, and at the end of that time he disposed of his holdings and re- turned to the farm. Since that time he has been engaged in agricultural operations with much success, and at the pres- ent time has 195 acres of valuable land, all in a high state of cultivation and with the latest modern buildings and sub- stantial improvements. Mr. Hefner is also interested in the oil and gas business in this region, where he has some valuable holdings, represented by producing and paying properties. He is a vice president and a member of the board of directors of the Burnsville Exchange Bank, in which he is likewise a heavy stockholder, and through his wise counsel and business acumen has contributed materially to its success. On January 24, 1899, Mr. Hefner was united in marriage with Miss Mary Hamilton, who was born and reared in Highland County, Virginia, where she was educated in the public schools, and was still a young woman when brought to West Virginia by her parents. Of their children nine are still living in 1922, as follows: Elizabeth, a graduate of the Burnsville High School, who took a short normal course at Sutton and is now a primary teacher in the Burnsville public schools; Wallace Hamilton, attending Marshall College at Huntington; Leah, a graduate of the Burnsville High School; Mary, who is attending high school; and Lorena, Charlotte, Marjorie, Rachel and Lillian. The family be- longs to the Methodist Episcopal Church, Mr. Hefner being a member of the official board, on which he succeeded his father. As a fraternalist he holds membership in Burnsville Lodge No. 87, A. F. and A. M.; and Burnsville Lodge No. 92, K. P., in which he is a past chancellor and a member of the Grand Lodge. In politics he is a democrat. Like his father, he has taken a genuine and helpful interest in school matters, having been a member of the Board of education for the past seventeen years, and was the original promoter of the movement which resulted in the building of the high school at Burnsville. ______________________________X-Message: #2 Date: Fri, 26 Nov 1999 01:05:07 -0500 From: Valerie & Tommy Crook To: WV-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-Id: <3.0.5.32.19991126010507.00f99e80@trellis.net> Subject: BIO: Clyde Hamilton SNEDEGAR, Cabell Co. WV Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" The History of West Virginia, Old and New Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, Volume III, pg. 320-321 Cabell CLYDE HAMILTON SNEDEGAR. The part public utilities have played in the development of the country has never, perhaps, been fully realized by those who enjoy the benefits accruing therefrom, but as time progresses people are com- ing more and more to appreciate the debt owed by them to the men who keep these conveniences in working order. Particularly is this true with reference to the great railway systems, although the general public usually hears only about the heads of these companies and little about those in more humble positions, whose duties, however, are just as exacting and important in comparison, and whose respon- sibilities are numerous and heavy. In this connection is mentioned Clyde Hamilton Snedegar, of Huntington, train- master -of the Huntington Division of the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway Company, a man who has worked his own way up to responsibility, and who in his present capacity is working along lines of mutual interest, confidence and opportunity. Mr. Snedegar was born at Ona, Cabell County, West Vir- ginia, July 3, 1877, a son of Robert Jesse and Mary Eliza- beth (Douglas) Snedegar. His father was born in 1843, in Greenbrier County, Virginia (now West Virginia), where he worked on his father's farm until 1861. At the outbreak of the war between the states he enlisted in the Union army, joining a West Virginia infantry regiment which was later consolidated with the Thirty-sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Mr. Snedegar saw four years of service, was severely wounded in the left shoulder and participated in the second battle of Bull Run and other notable engagements. He had a splendid record for valiant service and fidelity to duty, and on the receipt of his honorable discharge served on United States Government surveys in Missouri, Indian Territory and other sections of the then West. In 1871 he returned to Huntington, where he became a pioneer fireman for the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway Company, and in 1873 was promoted to the post of locomotive engineer, a position which he held until his death at Huntington in November, 1917, at which time he was one of the oldest engineers of the road in point of service. He was a republican in his politi- cal convictions, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. While with the surveying party, at Kansas City, Missouri, he was initiated into the mysteries of Masonry, and continued to be a member of that order until his death. He also held membership in the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. Mr. Snedegar married Miss Mary Elizabeth Douglas, who was born in 1858, in Rockbridge County, Vir- ginia, and died at Huntington in April, 1918. They became the parents of seven children, as follows: Clyde Hamilton, of this notice; Pearl, who is unmarried and an employe of the Anderson-Newcomb Company department store at Hunt- ington; Vesta McCorkle, the wife of Eli McComas, of Huntington, a locomotive engineer for the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway; Lilla, the wife of Wiley Agnew, of Earling, West Virginia, store manager for the Logan Coal Company; Percy D., of Huntington, a conductor for the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway; Lillian, unmarried, a clerk in the time- keeper's office of the same road; and Robert, a Chesapeake & Ohio locomotive fireman, residing at Huntington. Clyde Hamilton Snedegar received his education in the graded and high schools of Huntington, leaving the latter at the age of sixteen years to become a telegraph operator for the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway, a vocation which he followed for four years on the Huntington Division. In 1904 he was made train dispatcher at Huntington, and in 1918 was advanced to the post of trainmaster, which he has since held, his offices being situated in the passenger station building of the road, on Seventh Avenue, between Ninth and Tenth streets. He is a thoroughly competent railroad man, who has the confidence of his superiors and associates and the good will and friendship of his men. In politics he is a republican, and his religious connection is with the Presbyterian Church. He belongs to Syracuse Lodge No. 82, K. of P., of Huntington; Huntington Camp, M. W. A.; and the Huntington Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Snedegar owns a modern residence at 1664 Sixth Avenue, a com- fortable and attractive home in one of Huntington's exclu- sive residence districts. In February, 1902, at Milton, West Virginia, Mr. Sned- egar married Miss Mary Agnes Martindale, a daughter of Hugh and Matilda (Irwin) Martindale, the latter of whom is deceased. Mr. Martindale, who was formerly a school teacher and farmer, is now retired from active life and is making his home with his son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Snedegar. The latter have five children: Mildred, who is a freshman at the Huntington High School; Robert Hugh, a freshman at the Junior High School; Ruth, who is taking a preparatory course at Marshall College; Helen, attending the graded school; and Creth, the baby. ______________________________X-Message: #3 Date: Fri, 26 Nov 1999 00:46:44 -0500 From: Valerie & Tommy Crook To: WV-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-Id: <3.0.5.32.19991126004644.00f8e440@trellis.net> Subject: BIO: JUDGE SAMUEL WOODS, Barbour Co WV Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" The History of West Virginia, Old and New Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, Volume III, pg. 318-319 JUDGE SAMUEL WOODS was the son of Adam Woods and his wife, Jane Long. They came to America in 1818 from the North of Ireland, and their people had come to the North of Ireland from the North of Scotland. Samuel Woods was educated at Allegheny College, and graduated from that institution about 1846, at the head of his class, and he was thereafter made principal of the Morgantown Academy at Morgantown, West Virginia, and continued therein until 1848. He studied law with his old friend, Timothy John Fox Alden, an able lawyer of the Pittsburgh bar. The home of Mr. Woods had been at Meadville, Pennsylvania. He was admitted to the bar in 1848, and located at Philippi, where the new county of Barbour had just been formed, and there formed a partnership-at-law with John S. Carlisle. His brother-in-law, the late James Neeson, who likewise lived at Meadville, settled about the same time at Fairmont, where he was a distinguished lawyer. Mr. Woods was six feet high, large of frame, weighed about 210 pounds, had a clean shaven face, and was as straight as an arrow, physical characteristics which belong to all of his sons. He was elected a member of the Virginia Constitutional Convention of 1861, which passed the Ordinance of Seces- sion, and he voted for that instrument and signed the same, and was afterward a soldier in the Confederate Army, in Stonewall Jackson's Army Corps. In 1871 he was elected a member to the Constitutional Convention, which framed the present Constitution of West Virginia, which has stood the test of time for more than fifty years. In that convention he was one of its most able and distinguished men, and took a very prominent part in the work which was there done. In January, 1881, he was appointed judge of the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia, and was afterward elected thereto, and continued in that position until the 1st of January, 1889. Mr. Woods was a great lawyer, practising his profession in the courts of West Virginia for more than thirty years before he went on the bench. He was undoubtedly one of the ablest and most distinguished lawyers in the State of West Virginia, and had long enjoyed a large, extensive and profitable practice when he went on the bench. Judge Woods was bora on the 19th of September, 1822, in East Canada, at Three Rivers, and in his childhood his family moved to Meadville, Pennsylvania, where he attended the public schools, worked at the trade of plasterer, and worked his way through Allegheny College, from which he graduated at the head of his class when he was twenty years of age, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. Mr. Woods was a devoutly religious man, through all of the vicissitudes of the Civil war, and was a constant member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He always took the right side of every high and moral question, and never apologized for his opinion, nor feared any adversaries in public, private or professional debate. He was a dis- tinguished man in personal appearance, distinguished in his public service, distinguished in his professional and private life. In the history of the bench and bar of West Virginia, Judge Woods is described as "large in brain and stature, over six feet tall, weighing over two hundred pounds, round of face and handsome, of commanding appearance, and stalwart in moral as in physical qualifications. He pos- sessed strong religious convictions, and never apologized for his faith and demonstrated his faith by his work. It was his character as well as his long experience and knowledge in the law that enabled him to achieve such remarkable success in his profession. He was a gifted orator, and one of the strongest advocates who ever appeared in a court trial in the state. Perhaps one of his most striking characteristics in an age when profes- sional men generally were given to conviviality was his abstinence from the use of alcoholic liquors and narcotics. He possessed an excellent literary taste, and his literary style appears in all of his opinions from the bench." In 1848 Mr. Woods married in Meadville, Pennsylvania, Isabella Neeson, and they had six children. Their three sons all became lawyers, Frank Woods, who died in Balti- more in the year 1900, J. Hop. Woods, who died at Philippi, West Virginia, on the 25th of October, 1921, and Samuel V. Woods, who still lives at Philippi, West Virginia. Judge Woods was a democrat in politics, and was one of the most forceful and effective political platform speakers of his day within the State of West Virginia. He was a great orator, a just judge, a fine lawyer, a model citizen, loved and respected by all who knew him, and in the later years of his life, about the year 1888, Allegheny College conferred upon him the degree of LL.D. Mr. Woods was a Mason, and he died' in his home at Philippi on the 17th of February, 1897, in the seventy- fifth year of his age. ______________________________X-Message: #4 Date: Fri, 26 Nov 1999 00:47:42 -0500 From: Valerie & Tommy Crook To: WV-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-Id: <3.0.5.32.19991126004742.00f8fde0@trellis.net> Subject: BIO: Frank WOODS, Barbour Co. WV Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" The History of West Virginia, Old and New Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, Volume III, pg. 319 FRANK WOODS was born at Philippi, West Virginia, July 20, 1850, and was the oldest son of Judge Samuel Woods. He graduated from the West Virginia University in 1874. He was a member of the faculty and tutor in that institution until his admission to the bar in 1877, when he formed a partnership and practiced law at Graf- ton, West Virginia, with the late Benjamin F. Martin, under the firm name of Martin and Woods. He was a remarkably successful and clear headed lawyer, with a style and diction which were unusnally scholarly, lucid and forceful, and his pleadings were models, and will be found models to this day. In 1887, after having prac- ticed law in the courts of West Virginia for about ten years with unusual success, he moved to the City of Balti- more, and practiced his profession there in the courts of Maryland until his death in the year 1900. Mr. Woods attained a remarkably high standing in the able bar of Baltimore City, and was held in the highest respect by all who knew him. He was a devoutly religious man and a consistent member of the Monumental Metho- dist Episcopal Church in Baltimore, and was for a long time the superintendent of the Sunday School of that church. While he lived in Baltimore his services were in great demand. He had a large practice in questions of title and property relating to interests of clients in the state of West Virginia, and he frequently appeared and prac- ticed in the Federal courts in West Virginia and for a long time in the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Vir- ginia after his removal to the City of Baltimore. Mr. Woods took great interest in educational and re- ligious affairs, and was very active and generous in char- itable activities in and about the City of Baltimore. He was for many years a member of the Board of Trustees of the Chelteham School for colored boys near the City of Baltimore. Mr. Woods was a democrat of the most independent character, but took no active personal participating in- terest in political affairs. He was six feet high, wore a dark beard, was as straight as an Indian, was always a deeply and devoutly studious and religious man, and was held in the highest esteem by all who knew him. He married Miss Harriet L. Deering, of Morgantown, West Virginia, in June 1879. They had no children. Mr. Woods died suddenly in Atlantic City, New Jersey, on the 21st day of August, 1900. ______________________________X-Message: #5 Date: Fri, 26 Nov 1999 00:48:43 -0500 From: Valerie & Tommy Crook To: WV-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-Id: <3.0.5.32.19991126004843.00f8f920@trellis.net> Subject: BIO: Van B. HALL, Braxton Co. WV Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" The History of West Virginia, Old and New Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, Volume III, pg. 319-320 Braxton VAN B. HALL. The profession of the law offers unex- ampled opportunities for advancement, not only along pro- fessional lines, but in politics as well, and it is a notable fact that many of the distinguished men of this country today, as they were in the past, are recruited from the ranks of this learned calling. One of the leading men of Brax- ton County, who has won laurels both as an attorney and in the office of prosecuting attorney, is Van B. Hall, engaged in practicing at the Sutton bar. Van B. Hall was born in Meigs County, Ohio, March 30, 1870, a son of R. M. and Sarah A. (Duvaull) Hall, the former born in Marion County in 1828 and the latter born in Harrison County in 1830. R. M. Hall was a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church. They moved to Braxton County when their son Van B. Hall was six years old. Mr. Hall was a Mason and a most exemplary man in every re- spect. The democratic ticket received his hearty support. Four of his eight children survive, namely: Homer C., who is a railroad engineer residing at San Francisco, California; Burke P., who is an attorney of Sutton; S. L., who is a resident of Frametown, West Virginia, and Van B., whose name heads this review. >From childhood, determined upon a professional career, Van B. Hall worked steadily with that end in view, and after attending the public schools of Braxton County, where he was reared, he took a course at the Glenville State Nor- mal School, and then engaged in teaching in the free schools of Braxton County. While thus engaged he read law, and was admitted to practice in the courts of West Virginia in 1896. A few years thereafter he formed a partnership with his brother, Burke P. Hall, in the practice of law, under the firm name of Hall Brothers, at Sutton. In November, 1920, he was elected prosecuting attorney of Braxton County, being the only candidate on the democratic county ticket, having opposition to win in that election. His success came to him because of his personal popularity, and the realiza- tion of the people of his special fitness for this important office. On September 24, 1901, Mr. Hall married Sarah Anne Boggs, who was educated in the public schools. Mr. and Mrs. Hall became the parents of four sons, namely: Byron W., who graduated from the Sutton High School, and is now attending the West Virginia State University; Robert M., attending the Sutton High School; Boggs C. and Harold Lee, both of whom are attending the grade schools. Mr. Hall belongs to the Baptist Church, and is an active worker in the Sunday School, which he is now serving as superin- tendent, and is president of the Braxton County Sunday School Association and one of the trustees of Broaddus College at Philippi, West Virginia. A Mason, he belongs to Sutton Lodge No. 21, A. F. and A. M., of which he is a past master; Sutton Chapter No. 29, R. A. M., of which he is a past high priest; and Sutton Commandery, 16, K. T., of which he is generalissimo. He is a member of Sutton Lodge No. 73, K. of P., of which he is past chancellor, and he also belongs to the Beni-Kedem Temple at Charleston, A. A. O. N. M. S. Some years ago he served as moderator of the Elk Valley Baptist Association, and is one of the leading Baptists in this part of the state. It is needless to say that he has faithfully and capably discharged every responsibility reposed in him, and that he holds in high degree the confi- dence and full respect of his fellow citizens. ______________________________X-Message: #6 Date: Fri, 26 Nov 1999 00:48:13 -0500 From: Valerie & Tommy Crook To: WV-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-Id: <3.0.5.32.19991126004813.00f8fb80@trellis.net> Subject: BIO: J. Hop WOODS, Barbour co. WV Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" The History of West Virginia, Old and New Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, Volume III, pg. 319 J. HOP. WOODS was the second son of Judge Samuel Woods. He was born at Philippi, West Virginia, on the 23rd of November, 1853, and died at Philippi on the 25th day of October, 1921. He was educated by private tutors, in the public schools, at the West Point Military Academy and at the West Virginia University. He came to the bar in 1879, and for a long time prac- ticed his profession in Barbour County with his father, the late Samuel Woods, under the firm name of Samuel Woods & Son, and until his father went on the bench as judge of the Supreme Court of Appeals. In Barbour County, where he resided and was respected and loved by everybody, he had a large and lucrative practice and he was an unusually diligent, studious and faithful lawyer in respect to every matter which was com- mitted to his care. He was remarkably studious and industrious to a de- gree, and never failed to make every effort and apply every energy to the successful performance of the many duties which were entrusted to his supervision, at a bar which during his time was composed of able, eloquent, successful and commanding lawyers, among whom he at- tained and always maintained the highest rank. At the time of his death he was the oldest and perhaps most honored member of the Barbour County bar. He was the president of the Barbour County Bar Association. He had been president of the West Virginia Bar Asso- ciation, and for the year 1921 he was a delegate to the National Bar Association from West Virginia, and at tended its meeting in Cincinnati. Mr. Woods was a deeply religious man of sincere and devout religious conviction. He was a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and one of the finest Bible teachers the local church at Philippi ever had. He was happily married, had a beautiful home and enjoyed the companionship and society of his fellowmen. He lived with his head among the clouds, and he was a master of high thinking and had a deep and profound respect of all right living people. In 1898 he married Miss Jennie Canter, and they have one son, Neeson Canter Woods, who is in his twentieth year and is preparing himself for the legal profession. He has recently graduated from the Staunton Military Academy, and is now a student in college, and the hope of his father was that his son might become a lawyer and keep up the high standard of learning, capacity, and efficiency at the bar which has so long distinguished the talented family of lawyers through which he is descended. Mr. Woods was a consistent and out-spoken democrat, unusually proud and assertive of the political view which he entertained. He was an interesting, clear headed and convincing public speaker, and when at his best was a powerful and formidable adversary before the bar and before a jury. He was the kind of a man who did not ask nor expect any quarter at the bar from judge, jury or advocate, and was quick and ready to have them all understand that that was his attitude in every legal and forensic contest in which he was engaged as a lawyer or practitioner. Mr. Woods was dearly loved and his death was deeply deplored by all who knew him, and in the community where he lived he is greatly missed. His noble life and humble Christian fortitude stand as monuments among his neighbors which neither time nor tide can efface.