West Virginia Statewide Files WV-Footsteps Mailing List WV-FOOTSTEPS-D Digest Volume 99 : Issue 22 Today's Topics: #1 BIO: Edmund L. HENSLEY, Cabell Co. [Valerie & Tommy Crook To: WV-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-Id: <3.0.5.32.19990919131317.00e06050@trellis.net> Subject: BIO: Edmund L. HENSLEY, 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. 246-247 Cabell County EDMUND L. HENSLEY. Among the labors to which men devote their activities there are none which have a more important bearing upon the business and financial welfare of any community than those of the business educator. The community which may boast of able and energetic workers in this field seldom want for enterprise and civic zeal. In his connection mention is made of Edmund L. Hensley, pro- prietor of the West Virginia Business College of Hunting- ton, a man of broad, varied and thorough experience, who has developed an institution that is accounted one of the leaders of its kind in the state. Mr. Hensley was born in Bath County, Kentucky, July 31, 1881, a son of Edmund C. Hensley. His great-grandfather, Samuel, came from near Jamestown, Virginia, and took up a claim at or near the present site of Catlettsburg, Kentucky, prior to or about the time of the Revolutionary war, in which community was born the grandfather of Edmund L. Hensley, Richardson Hensley, in 1821. He became a pioneer near Holbrook, Kentucky, where he was engaged in farming all his life, and in his death, which occurred in 1888, his locality lost one of its enterprising agriculturists and de- pendable citizens. Edmund C. Hensley was born December 14, 1848, at Hol- brook, Kentucky, and was reared and educated in that community, but as a young man went to Bath County, where he was married and where he carried on agricultural pursuits for many years. In 1904 he retired from active pursuits and settled at the home of his son, with whom he now lives. He is a democrat in politics and a, member of the Christian Church, of which he is a strong supporter. Mr. Hensley married Miss Lydia Hall, who was born in Bath County, Kentucky, in 1853, and died in that county in 1893. Of their two children, Edmund L. and Elbert, the latter is a graduate of Bethany (West Virginia) College, and is now a minister of the Christian Church at Sparta, Kentucky. Edmund L. Hensley received his education in the public schools of Salt Lick, Bath County, Kentucky, where he was graduated from the high school with the class of 1899, and for a number of years taught in the rural districts of that county. In 1904 he left the educator's profession tempo- rarily, accepting employment with the Cherry River Boom and Lumber Company of Richwood, Nicholas County, West Virginia, but in 1909 again became an instructor, when he went to Clarksburg, West Virginia, and taught in the West Virginia Business College until 1911. In that year he removed to Waynesboro, Pennsylvania, and became prin- cipal of the commercial department of the high school, a position which he retained for one year, and January 1, 1913, came to Huntington as instructor in the West Virginia Business College. During the summer of the same. year he became proprietor of this institution by purchase, and since has built up this college to one of the leaders of its kind in the state. It has more than a state-wide reputation, as its pupils are attracted not only from all over West Vir- ginia, but from Ohio, Kentucky and other states as well. The college occupies the entire third floor of the Miller Building and is complete in every department. Mr. Hensley is independent in polities, and a member of the Christian Church, in which he officiates as a deacon. He holds mem- bership in the Huntington Chamber of Commerce and the Huntington Business Men's Association, and is active in civic affairs. His comfortable home is located at 1110 Eleventh Avenue, in a desirable residence district of the city. In 1911, in Braxton County, West Virginia, Mr. Hensley married Miss Bessie Riffle, who was born in Braxton County, and is a normal school graduate. She was a school teacher prior to her marriage to Mr. Hensley, and is now his assist- ant in the college. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Hensley: Edmund, born November 1, 1912; and Eluda, born May 13, 1914, both attending the Huntington schools. ______________________________X-Message: #2 Date: Sun, 19 Sep 1999 13:14:17 -0400 From: Valerie & Tommy Crook To: WV-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-Id: <3.0.5.32.19990919131417.00e00570@trellis.net> Subject: BIO: Absalom L. CARTER, Brooke 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. 247-248 Brooke County ABSALOM L. CARTER. Prominent among the representa- tives of the agricultural industry of Brooke County is Absalom L. Carter, a member of an old and honored family, who now resides two miles from Follansbee, on the Elders- ville Road. Mr. Carter has followed farming and stock breeding all his life, at various times has been identified with other lines of endeavor, and his career has been a successful and gratifying one, both from the viewpoint of material gain and from that of securing the good will and esteem of those with whom he has been associated. Mr. Carter was born on the old Carter homestead, the present home of his brother, E. C. Carter, about two miles east of his present home, November 8, 1857, a son of Samuel and Michal (Wells) Carter. Michal Wells was born June 1, 1816, and died in January, 1892. She was a daughter of Absalom Wells, a son of Charles Wells, who ia said to have had twenty children, the twentieth having been named Twenty. Twenty Wells died at the age of sixteen years and was buried at Sistersville, West Vir- ginia. The life of Absalom Wells was spent mainly in Brooke County. His wife was Helen Owings, of Ellicott's Mills, near Baltimore, Maryland, where she was born in 1771 and married in 1798. She was so delicate that her physician said she could not live to reach the "Far West," but she not only did that but lived to rear a large family and to attain the remarkable age of ninety-seven years. Samuel Carter was born August 8, 1817, in Brooke County, West Virginia. He died October 26, 1898, and was buried in St. Johns Cemetery. He was a son of Joseph Carter, who lived on Pot Rock Run, Brooke County, a native of Winchester, Shenandoah Valley, Virginia. He was a plasterer by vocation, reached old age, and was buried at Franklin, Brooke County. His father, also named Joseph, was buried at Cadich Chapel, while his mother was laid to rest at West Liberty. The children of the younger Joseph Carter were: Lewis, a farmer and plasterer and a great worker in the Baptist Church, in which he was a deacon, who lived on a nearby farm and reached the age of seventy-five years; Joseph, who went to Kansas City, Missouri, and there died; Samuel; John, who went to La- Orange, Indiana, and there spent the remainder of his life; and Hilary and Cephas, twins, the former of whom went to Montezuma, Iowa, and there died, while the latter lived on a farm near Fowlerstown, West Virginia. The Carter family was founded in America prior to the Revolutionary war by two English brothers of the name, who settled in the Colony of Virginia, where the old Carter house is still standing. Colonel Carter, an officer of Gen- eral Washington's army, was home on a furlough, so runs the story, when an English officer, with a detachment of men, learning of his presence, decided to capture him. In the meantime word had been taken to General Washington of his officer's predicament, and he hurriedly sent a squad of patriot soldiers. Colonel Carter, defending himself and his home from the enemy, fought a duel with the British officer on the stairway, on the bannisters of which can still be found the hacking of the swords. It is related that the timely arrival of the patriot troops turned the tables and that the English officer and his men had to submit to capture. After his marriage to Michal Wells, January 21, 1844, the most of Samuel Carter's life was spent on the old home farm, and he accumulated some 190 acres, including the present farm of E. C. Carter. He belonged at Cross Creek to the United Presbyterian Church, or "tent," the latter name being used because the early serv- ices were held under a canvas cover. Mrs. Carter, like all the members of her family, was a Primitive Baptist, and attended the old Cross Creek Baptist Church at Hunter's Mill. They were the parents of four children to grow to maturity: Pauline, who passed her life as a maiden with her parents and died August 18, 1872; Mary, who also remained unmarried and died at the home of her parents December 4, 1879; Eli C., who is carrying on operations on the old home farm; and Absalom L. Absalom L. Carter passed his boyhood amid agricultural surroundings on the old home place, obtaining his educa- tion in the common schools. On October 4, 1884, he was united in marriage with Miss Jane R. Walker, a sister of James M. Walker, mentioned elsewhere in this work. Mrs. Carter was born on the old Walker homestead, adjoining the old Carter place, October 26, 1859, and resided on that property until the time of her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Carter commenced housekeeping on their present property December 23, 1884. This is the old Elson farm, patented in 1785 by one Rich Elson, the grandfather of the last Elson owner, Mitchell Elson, who sold the place to Samuel Carter in 1877. Absalom L. Carter has since reduced the property, which now contains sixty-five acres, a large part of which was given over to the raising of sheep as long as that industry was profitable. His coal he sold some years ago, before the high prices had set in. Mr. Carter has modern improvements on his property, and his com- fortable home was erected in 1900. Mr. and Mrs. Carter are members of the First United Presbyterian Church at Steubenville, Ohio, located 4 1/2 miles distant from their home. Mr. Carter is a democrat, and the Carters .have always been a democratic family. He has not sought office, but has served as a member of the board of reviews since the organization of that body. He served as vice president of the Brooke County Farm Bu- reau, and was a charter member thereof, and has been a director in the Pan Handle Mutual Insurance Company, of which he is now vice president. He was a director and vice president of the Pan Handle Agricultural Club of Brooke and Ohio counties, one of the earliest clubs formed. Mrs. Carter's mother was Hannah R. McConnell, daugh- ter of Robert and Jane (Hawke) McConnell, natives of Ireland who on their arrival in the United States settled in Jefferson County, Ohio, just outside the City of Steu- benville. They were charter members of the First United Presbyterian Church at Steubenville. as were Mrs. Jane R. Carter and Mrs. Hannah Walker. The last-named was one of the first subscribers for the United Presbyterian paper published at Pittsburgh and continued as such throughout her life. On the occasion of her fiftieth anniversary her picture wag published in this publication. Mr. and Mrs. Carter have no children. ______________________________X-Message: #3 Date: Sun, 19 Sep 1999 13:13:48 -0400 From: Valerie & Tommy Crook To: WV-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-Id: <3.0.5.32.19990919131348.00e007d0@trellis.net> Subject: BIO: George CAMPBELL, Hancock 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. 247 Hancock County GEORGE CAMPBELL. During a long, useful and active career George Campbell has applied himself to the vocation of agriculture with such good results that he is now ac- counted one of the substantial men of the Holliday's Cove community of Hancock County. He has brought to his work industry, energy, careful application of modern methods and intelligent management of the various depart- ments of farm work, and has thus developed a property as attractive as it is valuable. Also, while so doing he has gained and held the well wishes, esteem and confidence of his fellow citizens. Mr. Campbell was born on the farm where he now lives, June 7, 1851, a son of Robert and Margaret (Purdy) Campbell, the latter a sister of James Purdy, the father of James A. Purdy, a sketch of whose career will be found elsewhere in this work. Robert Campbell was born Sep- tember 27, 1803, at Furnace Place on King's Creek, Han- cock County, a son of Alexander Campbell, who should not be confused with the old minister of that name, being not even of the same immediate family. Alexander Campbell was a son of James Campbell, a native of Scotland, who settled here about 1780, and it is thought that Alexander was born in this locality. James Campbell bought the old Tarr Furnace, which was the first west of the mountains, and at which much of the ammunition and cannons were manufactured for Commodore Perry on Fort Erie, as well as ammunition used by General Jackson at the memorable battle of New Orleans during the War of 1812. Alexander Campbell married Jane Bell, a neighbor girl, whose nephew, William Bell, still follows the vocation of collier in the same community. Following his marriage Mr. Campbell came to the "Hill," as a certain section is known, a part of which is included in the present farm of George Campbell and is located about one mile from Weirton. His father, James, then died, leaving him 500 acres of land in a tract that had been secured from the Government when Patrick Henry was governor of Virginia, and in addition to this Mr. Campbell also owned other lands, so that he was able to give farms to his five sons. Later he sold his remaining property and went to Illinois. His sons were: Alexander, who sold his farm, removed to Illinois, and died in the West; Archibald, who removed to Van Buren County, Iowa, where he died; David and Daniel, twins, the latter of whom also removed to the West and passed away there; and Robert. David and Robert, the only sons to remain, received the 500-acre farm with one sister, Elizabeth, who married a Mr. Casson and lived near Parkersburg, West Virginia. Polly, another sister, mar- ried Morris Baker and removed to Hardin County, Ohio, and a third sister. Patience, remained a maiden and died in old age at Steubenville, Ohio. David continued to live on his farm during the remainder of his life, and since his death the property has been sold. Robert Campbell, as before noted, secured a part of the 500-acre farm, on which he spent his entire married life, during which he added 165 acres to the property. This he gave to his eldest son, John P., who is now living in Arkansas at the advanced age of ninety-one years. Robert Campbell died at the age of seventy-eight years. His wife, Margaret, having died when she was sixty-three years of age, in his declining years he married Alice Linduff, who survived him some years, without issue. By his first mar- riage he had the following children: John P.; Jane, who married Daniel Stansbury and died in Hancock County; Cyrus, who became a physician and surgeon and went to Missouri, where he practiced until his death; William, who removed to Missouri and died there; Elizabeth, who mar- ried Ephraim Evans and died on a farm in Washington County, Pennsylvania; James, who went to New Mexico as a prospector and miner and died there; Robert A., who followed carpentry at Chester, West Virginia, until his death; Julia, of Wellsville, Ohio, the widow of James Wright; Susanna, who married Francis Ralston and still resides in the Holliday's Cove neighborhood; George, of this notice; and Hiram T., a retired agriculturist now liv- ing at Holliday's Cove. George Campbell was reared on the old home place, attending the public schools, and some time after attaining his majority, in company with his brother, Hiram, he purchased the old farm. They continued to operate the property as partners for twelve years and then divided the land, George securing 150 acres. He sold a part of his coal when it was worth only one-half or one-third what it is today, but for the past several years has mined quite successfully, has received a comfortable income from his extensive orchards and has been prosperous in his work as a breeder of Poland China hogs. He has kept his business on the farm and has found fortune and contentment in his work. Mr. Campbell is a democrat, as has been the family for generations with the exception of two brothers. With his family he belongs to the Presbyterian Church at Holli- day's Cove. At the age of twenty-four years Mr. Campbell was united in marriage with Miss Alice Hammond, daughter of Wil- liam Hammond, an old-time teacher now living at the Cove. Mrs. Campbell became her father's housekeeper when she was fourteen years of age, and continued to act as such until she was married. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Campbell: Charles L., a sketch of whose career will be found on another page of this work; Robert Elmer, of Holliday's Cove, formerly a teacher in the public schools but now a ear inspector on the Pennsyl- vania Railroad, married Bessie Brice and has three chil- dren, Robert Brice, Mary Brown and Kenneth; Walter Hammond, formerly a ear inspector on the Pennsylvania Railroad and now carrying on operations on a part of the home farm, married Ila Leonora Gilmore and has four children, Fred H., Walter B., Pauline Roberta and Vir- ginia Belle; and Jessie Agnes, the wife of David Dickie Mercer, of East Liverpool, Ohio, formerly a teacher, as was she, and later a machinist in the foundry, and now deceased, and they had two children, Alice M. and Walter. ______________________________X-Message: #4 Date: Sun, 19 Sep 1999 13:16:01 -0400 From: Valerie & Tommy Crook To: WV-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-Id: <3.0.5.32.19990919131601.00d78ec0@trellis.net> Subject: BIO: Walter Louis FERGUSON, 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. 249-250 Cabell County WALTER LOUIS FERGUSON has practiced law at Huntington for ten years, and in that time has widened his reputation throughout his district, both as an accomplished lawyer and as an earnest citizen with the abilities that count for leadership everywhere. Mr. Ferguson was born at Huntington September 18, 1879. The Ferguson family came out of Scotland and settled in Virginia in Colonial times. Mr. Ferguson's great- great-grandfather, Lewis S. Arthur, was a Revolutionary soldier. His grandfather, John Ferguson, was an early settler in West Virginia. He was born in Fluvanna County, old Virginia, in 1818, was reared in America, and subse- quently established his home in what is now Putnam County, on the Kanawha River in West Virginia. His wife, Lucy Arthur, came to what is now West Virginia in the early '60s. In addition to operating his farm he owned and con- ducted a blacksmith, wagon making and repair shop. A notable incident of his life is that he shoed the horses of the famous James Brothers just prior to the robbery of the Huntington Commercial Bank, now known as the Hunting- ton National Bank. John Ferguson died at Huntington in 1896. His son, John Henry Ferguson, was born at Red House, Putnam County, in 1850, but since 1862 has lived at Hunt- ington. For many years he has been a leading general contractor of that city. He is a stanch republican and a member of the Masonic fraternity. John Henry Ferguson, married Lucy Frances Roberts, a daughter of Absalom Roberts, an early family of Virginia. She was born in Cabell County in 1850. A brief record of their children is as follows: John A., a painting contractor at Huntington; Sallie Belle, wife of Charles W. McClure, Jr., who for the past thirty years has been a machinist in the Huntington Shops of the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad; Cola, wife of Charles Neutzling, connected with the Nicholson-Kendle Furniture Company of Huntington; Charles Henry, a general contractor of Huntington; Walter Louis; Emmett Blaine, a furniture dealer at Huntington; and Clarence McKinley, a general contractor. Walter Louis Ferguson as a youth attended the grammar and high schools of Huntington, and for five years he studied law in the office of Judge Lewis D. Isbell. Mr. Ferguson was admitted to the bar in 1911, and at once began his work as a general practitioner. In his practice he has handled many important cases in the local, state and federal courts, and has appeared a number of times in what is known as the Tri-State District. His offices are in the Prindle Building on Fourth Avenue. Mr. Ferguson is a republican, holds a commission as a notary public, is affiliated with the First Methodist Episco- pal Church, is a member of the Huntington Council, Junior Order United American Mechanics, and the Cabell County Bar Association. He was one of the county leaders in the various organizations and the patriotic program during the World war, serving as a member of the Legal Advisory Board of the county, and giving a large amount of his time to assisting the recruits in filling out their questionnaires. On January 1, 1914, at Parkersburg, he married Miss Ethel Josephine Coen, daughter of Henry C. and Margaret (Barkwill) Coen, residents of St. Marys, Pleasants County, where her father is a merchant. Mrs. Ferguson was well educated in music, being a skilled pianist. Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson have three children: Walter Louis, Jr., born November 11, 1914; Henry Coen, who died at the age of nine months; and Margaret Jane, born November 14, 1918. ______________________________X-Message: #5 Date: Sun, 19 Sep 1999 13:16:31 -0400 From: Valerie & Tommy Crook To: WV-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-Id: <3.0.5.32.19990919131631.00e08ec0@trellis.net> Subject: BIO: Charles B. YOUNG, Kanawha 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. 250 Kanawha County CHARLES B. YOUNG, a veteran in the laundry business, has been identified with laundry management and operation at Charleston for over twenty years, and is manager of the Superior Laundry, perhaps the last word in laundry con- struction, facilities and operation in the State of West Vir- ginia. Mr. Young was born at Charleston in 1886. His father, Peter Young, was a well-known business man in Charleston, where he entered the grocery business in 1867. Charles B. Young was reared and educated in Charleston, and for years he and his brothers owned and operated the American Laundry, a plant they sold in 1920. Charles B. Young, a member of the firm Young Broth- ers, utilized his long experience and study and his widely diversified knowledge of the laundry industry in construct- ing and planning the new Superior Laundry, at the corner of Kanawha and Truslow streets. He had personal charge of all the details of building this plant, which was com- pleted and opened for business July 12, 1921. Without exaggeration this is one of the finest and most modern laundries in the United States, and represents the ultimate ideal of laundry practice and operation. The build- ing is of brick, of good architectural style, and affords floor space of 14,000 square feet under one roof. A feature de- serving of special commendation is the lighting and venti- lation, there being 3,500 square feet of glass in the one room. All the flooring is concrete, and the interior finish is plain and sanitary, easily cleaned, and kept constantly and spotlessly clean. The atmosphere of the place is wholesome, an ideal place for those who spend their work- ing days there. The motto of the laundry is "Modern to the Minute," and Mr. Young is to be congratulated upon realizing in the construction and operating details this ideal. A few months after the plant was put in operation Mr. Young added $3,000 worth of the latest machinery. As to the capacity of the laundry its rating is 100 shirts per hour. All the washing, drying, ironing and other machines are of the latest models. One of the most noteworthy is a washer of solid brass for perfect sterilization. All the ma- chines are electrically controlled, the motor driven appara- tus being so constructed as to afford individual control to each machine, while all may be controlled together from one switchboard. The engine and boiler rooms are perfect in their equipment for the steam heating of water. ______________________________X-Message: #6 Date: Sun, 19 Sep 1999 13:17:33 -0400 From: Valerie & Tommy Crook To: WV-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-Id: <3.0.5.32.19990919131733.00e08940@trellis.net> Subject: BIO: Robert R. HOBBS, Hancock 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. 250 Hancock County ROBERT R. HOBBS. Included among the men who have the responsibility for good government in Hancock County on their shoulders is Robert R. Hobbs, occupying the posi- tion of clerk of the County Court. Mr. Hobbs is well known to the people of the county a.a an efficient, energetic and conscientious official, for he is. now serving his second six-year term in his present office, and prior to becoming the incumbent thereof had acted in other public capacities. He has spent his entire life in the county, where he has been the architect of his own fortunes. Mr. Hobbs was born at Fairview, Hancock County, September 5, 1875, a son of John Wesley and Elizabeth Jane (Brenneman) Hobbs. The mother of John Wesley Hobbs was Margaret Ray, a daughter of Joseph Ray, said to have been a Eevolutionary soldier, who settled on Brown's Island, six miles below New Cumberland in the Ohio River, and reached an advanced age, being buried at Pughtown. The father of John Wesley Hobbs was Leonard Hobbs, who died at the age of thirty-four years at Wellsburg. John W. Hobbs was sheriff of Hancock County during the Civil war period, following which he became a merchant at Pughtown. In 1881 he was elected to the State Legislature, when the capital was at Wheel- ing, and after completing his term of office returned to his store at Pughtown, in which community he died at the age of seventy years. Elizabeth Brenneman was a daughter of Jacob Brenneman, a descendant of the original settler of the county, Jacob Nessley, whose home was opposite the mouth of Yellow Creek, Ohio, but over the West Virginia line. There Elizabeth had been brought at two years of age and was reared on the farm in the Ohio Valley. She died at the advanced age of eighty-two years. Robert R. Hobbs secured his education at Pughtown, where he lived until reaching the age of sixteen years, at that time becoming an employe of a merchant at Hookstown, Pennsylvania. At the end of three years he went to Pittsburgh, where he became a clerk for Joseph Hern & Company, and then ran a store at Chester, West Virginia, until 1909, when he was elected sheriff of Hancock County. After spending four years in that capacity he returned to his mercantile operations at Chester, and applied himself thereto without interrup- tion until elected clerk of the County Court for a period of six years, on the republican ticket. When his term expired the citizens, in looking back over his record, found it so satisfactory that he was chosen to succeed himself for another six-year term, and is still the capable, conscientious incumbent of that position. Mr. Hobbs married Miss Effie K. Knowles, of East Liverpool, Ohio, and to this union there have been born four children: Robert Knowles, who graduated from the high school at Chester, West Virginia, in 1922; Ruth Louise, who is attending high school; and Mildred Elizabeth and Ralph Brenneman, who are attending the graded schools. Mr. Hobbs has a number of civic and social connections, and is accounted one of the progressive men of his com- munity, where he has numerous friends. ______________________________X-Message: #7 Date: Sun, 19 Sep 1999 13:17:02 -0400 From: Valerie & Tommy Crook To: WV-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-Id: <3.0.5.32.19990919131702.00e08c30@trellis.net> Subject: HIST: The Merchants and Miners Bank of Welch, McDowell 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. 250 McDowell County THE MERCHANTS AND MINERS BANK OF WELCH was or- ganized in 1920 by Bernard O. Swope, formerly cashier of the First National Bank. This institution has enjoyed phenomenal growth, and in spite of competition from two strong banks has accumulated deposits during the first year of more than half a million dollars. It has a capital of $100,000, its surplus is $20,000, and at the present time plans have been made for the erection of an office build- ing, the ground floor of which will be used as the bank- ing room and foreign exchange department of the bank. The officers are: Bernard O. Swope, president; A. F. Leckie, vice president; and B. W. Ellis, cashier. *********************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. ***********************************************************************