West Virginia Statewide Files WV-Footsteps Mailing List WV-FOOTSTEPS-D Digest Volume 99 : Issue 41 Today's Topics: #1 BIO: Homer Thomas LAMBERT, Wayne C [Valerie & Tommy Crook To: WV-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-Id: <3.0.5.32.19990924064401.007f1910@trellis.net> Subject: BIO: Homer Thomas LAMBERT, Wayne County, 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. 268 Wayne County HOMER THOMAS LAMBERT. Success in life along any path of endeavor demands energy, aggressiveness, proper preparation and self-reliance. Genius and talent may also be present, but for permanency, practicality and the homely virtues are necessary. To the undoubted possession of these may be attributed in part at least the success that has crowned the efforts of Homer Thomas Lambert, of Hunting- ton, a jobber for mine, mill and general contractors' equip- ments, a manufacturer and a man variously connected with leading business enterprises. Mr. Lambert was born at Kilgore, Boyd County, Ken- tucky, September 12, 1884, a son of Samuel T. and Maggie (Simpson) Lambert, and belongs to a family which orig- inated in France and was founded in Virginia during Colonial times. His grandfather, William Lambert, was born in 1824, in Wayne County, Virginia (now West Vir- ginia), where he was reared and educated, and as a young man removed to Boyd County, Kentucky, where he was married. He was a carpenter by trade, and followed that vocation until enlisting in the Union army for service dur- ing the war between the states, in which he saw much active service. At the close of the struggle he returned to his trade, and lived in Boyd and Greenup counties, Ken- tucky, but finally went to Blue Springs, Gage County, Nebraska, where he died in 1906. He was a republican in politics. Mr. Lambert married Elizabeth Ferguson, who was born in Wayne County, and died in Greenup County, Ken- tucky, in 1864. Samuel T. Lambert, who is now a resident of Matewan, Mingo County, West Virginia, was born March 7, 1861, in Greenup County, Kentucky, where he was reared and educated, and as a young man became identified with coal operations, in which he has been interested throughout his career. In 1893 he removed to Thacker, Mingo County, this state, and five years later to Matewan, where he has been superintendent and general manager of the Red Jacket Consolidated Coal and Coke Company and of several other companies. In 1912 he engaged in mine operations on his own account, and in 1916 embarked in the general mer- cantile business, in which he is still interested, having the leading general store at Matewan. One of his community's most prominent and influential citizens, he is serving in the capacity of mayor, and for the past sixteen years has been president of the Board of Education. He is a stanch repub- lican in his political sympathies, belongs to the Masonic fraternity, and holds membership in Bluefield Lodge No. 269, B. P. O. E.; Thacker Lodge, I. O. O. F., of Thacker; and Red Jacket Lodge, K. of P., of Matewan. In 1882 Mr. Lambert married at Geigerville, Boyd County, Ken- tucky, Miss Maggie Simpson, of Kilgore, Kentucky, who died at Thacker, West Virginia, in 1895. They were the parents of five children, as follows: Marvin, a bookkeeper for the Borderland Coal Company at Borderland, West Vir- ginia; Homer Thomas, of this review; Maggie, who died unmarried in 1916, aged twenty-four years; Ethel, the wife of Luther Hill, train dispatcher for the Norfolk & Western Railroad at Williamson, West Virginia; and Haven, an employe of a United States Government stamping mill at Thane, Alaska, who met his death in a fall from a building in 1915, when twenty-two years of age. In 1897, at Thacker, West Virginia, Samuel T. Lambert married Miss Dora Christian, who was born at Matewan, West Virginia, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Christian, the latter de- ceased and the former an agriculturist of Okeeffe, West Virginia. To this union there have been born two children: Willie, who left home and has not been heard from; and Frank, who resides with his parents. The public schools of Red Jacket, West Virginia, fur- nished Homer Thomas Lambert with his primary educational training, following which he pursued a course at the Na- tional Business College of Roanoke, Virginia, from which institution he was graduated as a member of the class of 1904. His first employment was as chief electrician of the Eed Jacket mines of Mingo, where he remained two years, and was next with the Jeffrey Manufacturing Company of Columbus, Ohio, for one year. He left this position to be- come master mechanic and electrician with the Pike Col- lieries at Matewan, but after six months joined the Glen Allum Coal Company, Glen Allum, West Virginia, as elec- trician, remaining six months. Mr. Lambert erected the plant of the McDowell Coal and Coke Company at Mc- Dowell, West Virginia, in 1907, and was then with the Goodwill Coal and Coke Company of Goodwill, this state, as chief electrician, for ten months. His next experience was as a traveling salesman for the Emmons-Hawkins Hardware Company of Huntington, for three months, fol- lowing which he joined the Superior Supply Company of Bluefield, West Virginia, as a traveling salesman, with head quarters at Graham, Virginia. In 1911 he left this coin pany and accepted a position with the Queen City Supply Company of Cincinnati, handling mining, mill and con- tractors' supplies, and while engaged with this concern came to Huntington in 1913. In January, 1915, he resigned his position and embarked in business on his own account as a jobber for mine, mill and general contractors' supplies and equipment, and is so engaged at the present time, hav- ing built up the leading business at Huntington. He is likewise engaged in the manufacture of frogs, switches and light track material for the mines, of which there are 2,200 coal mines within a radius of 150 miles of Huntington. His offices are situated at No. 1017-18 First National Bank Building, and the plant is at Fifteenth Street and Jackson Avenue, West Huntington, on the B. & O. and C. & O. railroads. Mr. Lambert is president and general manager of the H. T. Lambert Company, and president of the Linville Oil and Gas Company. He is a democrat in his political allegiance, and his religious connection is with the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Fraternally he belongs to Huntington Lodge No. 53, A. F. and A. M.; Huntington Chapter No. 6, R. A. M.; Huntington Commandery No. 9, K. T.; Lodge of Perfection No. 4, and Knights of the Rose Croix No. 4, Huntington, West Virginia; West Vir- ginia Consistory No. 1, Wheeling, thirty-second degree; Beni-Kedem Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., Charleston; and Huntington Lodge No. 313, B. P. O. E. He holds member- ship also in the Huntington Chamber of Commerce and the Jobbers and Manufacturers Bureau of Huntington, and is a member and director of the Lions Club. Mr. Lambert owns a modern residence at 614 First Street, one of the attractive homes of Huntington. On July 5, 1908, at Ironton, Ohio, Mr. Lambert was united in marriage with Miss Vernon Webb, daughter of James and Elizabeth (Brewster) Webb, the latter of whom resides with Mr. and Mrs. Lambert, while the former died at Hanging Rock, Ohio, where he was a cupola tender. Four children have come to Mr. and Mrs. Lambert: Cecil, born April 9, 1909; Howard A., born June 25, 1911; Eleanor Margaret; and Frances Louise. ______________________________X-Message: #2 Date: Fri, 24 Sep 1999 07:35:33 -0400 From: Valerie & Tommy Crook To: WV-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-Id: <3.0.5.32.19990924073533.007f38e0@trellis.net> Subject: BIO: David FOX, Cabell County, 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. 263-264 Cabell County DAVID FOX. The entire absence of competition in his special line of business endeavor at Huntington cannot account for the worthwhile success that has attended the career of David Fox, proprietor of the Branchland Supply Company, jobbers in oil and gas well supplies. This enter- prise is entirely of Mr. Fox's own development, and in its building up he has displayed all the characteristics included in the make-up of a successful business man, including perseverance, aggressiveness tempered by practical con- servatism, and an integrity that has become proverbial. Mr. Fox was born at Cincinnati, Ohio, September 27, 1888, a son of Sam and Henrietta (Adler) Fox. Sam Fox, now a resident of Huntington, was born February 26, 1863, in Bavaria, and was a youth of seventeen years when he immi- grated to the United States. In his native land he had received a common school education and learned the trade of tailoring, and on his arrival at Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1880, applied himself to his trade and subsequently established himself in business as a merchant tailor. He was married in that city, where he continued to make his home until 1899, in that year removing to Huntington, West Virginia, where he opened a tailoring establishment. He has enjoyed constantly increasing success, and is now one of the leaders of the city in his line of business. Mr. Fox is a republican in his political sympathies, and belongs to Oheb-Sholom Temple, Huntington. He is fraternally affiliated with the Masons and with Huntington Lodge No. 313, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Mr. Fox married Miss Henrietta Adler, who was born in 1863, in Baden, Germany, and died at Huntington in 1911, a woman of many excellencies of heart and mind. Mr. and Mrs. Fox became the parents of the following children: David, of this review; Hilda, a graduate nurse of New York City, who saw much active service as a nurse in France during the World war; Leo, who is engaged in the insurance business at Huntington; Erwin, proprietor of the Fox Dry Cleaning Company of Huntington; and James, who is attending the Huntington High School. David Fox attended the graded schools of Huntington and the high school through the sophomore year, and, leav- ing school in 1904, joined his father in the merchant tailor- ing business. He remained with the elder man for four years, and in 1908 joined the Guyan Oil Company, as chief clerk at Huntington, continuing with that concern until 1913. At that time he became the founder of the Branch- land Supply Company, jobbers in oil and gas well supplies, and has built up a prosperous and flourishing business, the only one of its kind at Huntington, where he maintains well-appointed offices at 201-2 Day and Night Building. Mr. Fox has won success entirely through his own ability and progressiveness, and at the same time has maintained a high standing in the esteem and confidence of those with whom he has been associated. He is a stockholder in the Huntington National Bank and the Ohio Valley Bank of Huntington. His political views make him a republican, and he is a member of Oheb-Sholom Temple of Huntington. As a fraternalist he holds membership in Huntington Lodge No. 313, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and the B'nai B'rith. He is likewise a member of the Guyan Country Club of Huntington and the Huntington Rotary Club. He owns a comfortable, modern residence at No. 1115 Tenth Avenue. In 1915, at Cincinnati, Ohio, Mr. Fox was united in mar- riage with Miss Blanche Goodman, daughter of Abram and Nessie (VanCleef) Goodman, the latter of whom is de- ceased, while the former still resides at Cincinnati, where he is the proprietor of a sales stable. Two children have come to Mr. and Mrs. Fox: Betty Jane, born August 19, 1916; and David, Jr., born February 19, 1921. ______________________________X-Message: #3 Date: Fri, 24 Sep 1999 07:35:33 -0400 From: Valerie & Tommy Crook To: WV-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-Id: <3.0.5.32.19990924073533.007f4250@trellis.net> Subject: BIO: George William PARR, Doddridge County, 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. 263 Doddridge County GEORGE WILLIAM PARR, who began the practice of law in West Union more than forty years ago, has served the profession with all his abilities and character, has earned those things that constitute success, and among other honors was for some time judge of the circuit including Doddridge County. Judge Parr was born on a farm in Fayette County, West Virginia, December 18, 1857; son of Wesley J. and Elizabeth (McCue) Parr. His father was born February 6, 1824, in Vermont, son of Artemus and Chloe Farr. Artemus Farr was born and reared on the south coast of Wales, and on coming to America settled in Vermont. He was accompanied by three brothers to this country. Wesley J. Farr was thirteen years of age when his father died in 1837, and he was soon bound out to a New York man, but on account of cruel treatment ran away and walked to New York City and from there traveled by steamboat to Richmond, Virginia. In Virginia he sought work, and was variously employed for several years and in the meantime added to his education by private study. He finally moved to what is now Pocahontas County, West Virginia, and a few years later to Nicholas County, where he met and married Elizabeth McCue. She was born in Nicholas County, daughter of John and Malinda (Mc- Clung) McCue, natives of Nicholas County, where they spent their lives. After his marriage Wesley Farr re- mained in Nicholas County farming until 1856, and then established his home on another farm in Fayette County, where he lived until his death, on May 29, 1900. His wife, Elizabeth, died in 1866, the mother of five children, two of whom died in infancy. The other three were: Chloe M., Mrs. Charles Judy, of Lansing, West Virginia; George W.; and James C., of Fayetteville. For his second wife Wesley Farr married Mary E. Legg, who was born and reared in Fayette County, and is still living. She became the mother of nine children, named Ellen, Leonard, Grant, Rosa, Walter, Arthur, Susan, John and Lud. Wesley Farr was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, was a man of intellectual power and force of character, and in spite of the fact that he was largely self educated he was regarded as one of the best informed men in his county. He held several positions of honor and trust, being a member of the County Court and justice of the peace. He was a strong Union man in the Civil war. In politics he was a democrat up to the war, but ever after was a republican. Judge George W. Parr attended rural schools, and after exhausting these advantages he became in turn a teacher and taught for six terms. In the meantime he was study- ing law, and in April, 1881, he wag admitted to the bar and on the twenty-fifth of the same month he established his office at West Union. During all the busy years of a professional career he has looked after an extensive private practice, has served as county prosecuting attorney, as mayor of West Union, for eight years was a state senator, and resigned that office to become judge of the Circuit Court by appointment from Governor Atkinson to fill a vacancy. He was on the bench for twenty months, and then resumed private practice. Judge Farr has farm in- terests and has prospered in his business affairs as well as in his profession. He is a republican and a member of the Methodist Church. On April 15, 1886, Judge Farr married Miss Agnes V. Stuart. Her father, Chapman J. Stuart, one of the able lawyers and prominent citizens of West Virginia, was born in Highland County, Virginia, January 8, 1820, and died at West Union, April 20, 1888, a son of Edward and Margaret A. Stuart, who removed to Harrison County, West Virginia, in 1822. The first wife of Chapman 3. Stuart was Elizabeth E. Little, a native of Bedford County, Pennsylvania, who died in 1855. In 1858 he married Mary A. Stuart, who was born in Bath County, Virginia. Chapman J. Stuart served as county prosecutor from 1852 to 1861. He was an opponent of secession, and sat as a member of the First Wheeling Convention of 1861, was a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1862, and in 1863 was elected judge of the Circuit Court and was on the bench for ten years, until 1873. His public service to the state continued after leaving the bench, and in 1874-75 and again in 1878-79 he represented Doddridge County in the Legislature. During the Civil war he did some valuable work as a lieutenant of the Fourteenth West Virginia Infantry in recruiting Union soldiers, raising Company A of that regiment. He was a democrat and a member of the Methodist Church. Judge and Mrs. Farr have two children: Mary and Ruby T. Mary is the deceased wife of Ed. Maxwell, and her only child, Mary Agnes, is now being reared in the home of her grandparents, Judge and Mrs. Farr. Ruby is the wife of Everet W. Maxwell. ______________________________X-Message: #4 Date: Fri, 24 Sep 1999 07:35:33 -0400 From: Valerie & Tommy Crook To: WV-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-Id: <3.0.5.32.19990924073533.007f3360@trellis.net> Subject: BIO: J. Frank JUNKINS, Mineral County, 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. 262-263 Mineral County J. FRANK JUNKINS, chairman of the Board of County Commissioners of Mineral County, is one of the most pro- gressive of the agriculturalists of this region. His finely- improved farm in the Elk District being one of the most valuable rural properties in this part of West Virginia. He was born in New Creek District, Mineral County, January 31, 1872,. a son of Ephraim Junkins and grandson of John Junkins, of Irish descent, who established his home in Mary- land at an early date, but came to Mineral County in his latter years, and here died. During many years of his life he was a school-teacher, and he was a well-educated man. Twice married, his son Ephraim was born of his second union. Ephraim Junkins, it is believed, was born in Maryland, and following the close of the war of the '60s he came to Mineral County. Securing land in Elk District, he de- voted himself to farming, but was a man of moderate cir- cumstances, and worked hard to support his family. His education was a limited one, and he never formed any fra- ternal connections. During all of his mature years he was a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and died firm in its faith when fifty-five years of age. In politics he was a republican, but he did not enter the contests for public honor. The mother of J. Frank Junkins was Sarah (Harrison) Junking, and she was a daughter of Nathan Harrison, and was born in Mineral County, in 1841. Although now an aged lady, she survives and is enjoying excellent health. Her father left Virginia for West Virginia, and he was a farmer all his life. Two of the brothers of Mrs. Junkins, Reynolds and William Harrison, served in the Union army, and received pensions from the Federal Government. They were farmers of Mineral County, and died without issue. Mrs. Junkins' educational advantages were those afforded the country girl of her generation and locality. She and her husband became the parents of the following children: Charles C., who is a farmer of New Creek District; Oliver R., who is a farmer of Elk District; James Franklin, whose name heads this review; John, who died when seventeen years old; and Lucy Virginia, who married Henry Roberts, a farmer of Welton District. J. Frank Junkins was reared on his father's farm and attended the district schools. After attaining his majority he began working for neighboring farmers, and continued in this line until he was thirty. During these nine years he had but two employers, and his wages ranged from $15 to $20 per month. In spite of the small amount he received he was thrifty and saved a considerable amount, having in mind all the while the purchase of a home of his own. This he was able to do when he ceased working for others, acquiring ownership of the farm in Elk District which has continued to be his home ever since. He has 628 acres of very productive land, all paid for, on which he is carrying on grain and stock raising. The original purchase was of 410 acres, but he and his wife have since added 218 acres to their farm. The improvements made by Mr. Junkins are many and include the remodeling of the house and the erection of a barn 30 by 40 feet, with a mowroom for forty tons or more of hay. His buildings are kept in fine repair, his fences are good, and he has improved machinery and appliances for doing his farm work. His stock shows the effects of breeding up to a high standard of grades, of which the Durham strain is his preference because of the milk-producing qualities. Mr. Junkins has gone into sheep- raising quite extensively, keeping to the Shropshire strain, and he has found this the most profitable of his industries, for sheep require less for upkeep and make two cash returns each year. His profits from his sheep have played an important part in his success as an agriculturalist. In addition to his farm and stock interests Mr. Junkins was a stockholder in the Siever Hardware Company of Keyser, which business was wiped out in the disastrous fire in that city in February, 1922. Mr. Junkins is one of the most prominent republicans in this part of the state, and cast his maiden presidential vote for Major McKinley in 1896, since which time he has remained faithful to his party's candidates. Hia personal success commended him for public service, and he was strongly urged for some time to become a candidate for county commissioner. Responding to these appeals, he entered the race in 1916, defeated his five competitors for the nomination, and won the election over the democratic candidate by the normal republican majority. Sworn in as commissioner in January, 1917, as the successor of J. R. Bane, for the first two years he served on the board with Alfred Ridgely and George Klenke. During the next two years George T. Carskadon took Mr. Klenke's place, and the last two years Aaron Thrush took Mr. Ridgely's place. The most important work accomplished by the board during Mr. Junkins' term of office have been the building of the New Creek "drive," the Keyser-Piedmont Road, eight miles of road grade from Blaine to the Northwestern Turn- pike, and nearly six miles of grade from Ridgely toward Patterson's Creek. Mr. Junkins married Miss Eliza Virginia Dixon, a daugh- ter of Joseph and Amy (Bragg) Dixon. Joseph Dixon was born in Pennsylvania, but following the close of the war of the '60s he came to West Virginia as a school-teacher, and here met and married Amy Bragg. They spent the remainder of their lives on their farm in Mineral County. Mrs. Dixon was noted for her good spelling, and was a school-teacher prior to her marriage. Spelling was one of the branches in which she specialized, and was not satisfied until she thoroughly grounded her pupils in it. Mr. Dixon died in 1901, but she is still living, although over eighty years of age. She and her husband had three children who reached maturity, two of whom are now living, namely: Albert C. Dixon, who lives in the Elk District; and Mrs. Junkins, who was born April 7, 1875. Mr. and Mrs. Junkins have a son, Albert Dixon, who was born April 7, 1901. He graduated from the Elk District High School, and is now a farmer. There are two children, Bessie and G. Richard, born of his marriage with Myrtle Dixon. While J. Frank Junkins is not identified with any re- ligious organization, he is a believer in the effectiveness of the work of the Protestant churches, and is a liberal sup- porter of all the denominations in his neighborhood, espe- cially of the Methodist Episcopal, as Mrs. Junkins was reared in its faith and is now a member of the local church. Mr. Junkins's success is but the natural outcome of his industry, thrift and good management. He early learned the value of money and how to invest it so as to yield a profit. While he has been steadily adding to his material prosperity, however, as the years have passed he has not failed to also win the approval and gain the respect of his neighbors, and is today recognized as one of the most repre- sentative men of the county. ***************