West Virginia Statewide Files WV-Footsteps Mailing List WV-FOOTSTEPS-D Digest Volume 99 : Issue 48 Today's Topics: #1 Will James Campbell Brooke Co. [Norton750@aol.com] #2 Lucy L. (Duckworth) Moats-obit [Bridgette Osz ] #3 BIO: Robert G. LINN, Kanawha Count [SSpradling@aol.com] #4 BIO: W. E. MERRICK, Kanawha County [SSpradling@aol.com] #5 BIO: Hon. William Gustavos CONLEY, [SSpradling@aol.com] #6 BIO: Alexander RUFFNER, Kanawha Co [SSpradling@aol.com] Administrivia: To unsubscribe from WV-FOOTSTEPS-D, send a message to WV-FOOTSTEPS-D-request@rootsweb.com that contains in the body of the message the command unsubscribe and no other text. No subject line is necessary, but if your software requires one, just use unsubscribe in the subject, too. To contact the WV-FOOTSTEPS-D list administrator, send mail to WV-FOOTSTEPS-admin@rootsweb.com. ______________________________X-Message: #1 Date: Sat, 25 Sep 1999 22:13:13 EDT From: Norton750@aol.com To: WV-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-ID: <73ca49c4.251edb39@aol.com> Subject: Will James Campbell Brooke Co. Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Last Will and Testament of James Campbell: In the name of God Amen. Whereas I, James Campble, of Brooke County in the State of Virginia, being aged and weak in body but of sound mind and perfect memory (Blessed be God), yet calling to mind the mortality of my body, and that it is appointed for all men once to die, do this Sixth day of February in the year of our Lord Eighteen Hundred and four, make and publish this my last will and Testament. That is to say, first, after first recommending my soul into the hands of God who gave it, I order and direct my Executors hereinafter named to bury my remains in a decent and Christian-like manner, to pay my funeral expenses and just debts, and collect all the money that is due to me from others. And, of touching such worldly estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this life, I do give, devise, bequeath and dispose of the same in the following manner and form: First, I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Patience, the house with the present bedding and furniture belonging to it during her natural life, with one cow to be which she may make choice of, with one hundred dollars per year to be advanced yearly by my Executors, from the estate to make her comfortable, which if found not sufficient my design and will is that she may have a comfortable support and attendance during her lifetime from the estate, after which time the household furniture to be equal property of my three sons, and at their disposal of. Also, I give, devise and bequeath to my son James Campble and to his heirs and assigns forever, four hundred acres of land with the appurtenances lying and being in Brooke County, which was deeded at my request to James Campble, Jr. bound by land of my own and others. Also, I give, devise and bequeath to my same son James Campble and to his heirs and assigns forever, one hundred and eighty-eight acres of land with the appurtenances adjoining the above tract conveyed to me by Alexander Eddie, the conveyance dated July 27th, 1786 but nevertheless reserving five acres laid off at the Three Springs Meeting House which I now devise and bequeath to Three Springs Congregation for their use and uses forever. Also, I give and bequeath to my son Alexander and to his heirs and assigns forever, five hundred and eight acres of land with the appurtenances laying and being in Brooke County aforesaid, situate and being on Harmon's Creek conveyed to me by Alexander Eddie dated March 2nd, 1789 and enrolled in Ohio County in Book No. 1st, Page 228. Also, I give, devise and bequeath to my son Robert Campble and his heirs and assigns forever, four hundred acres of land with appurtenances lying and being in Brooke County granted to me by the Governer of Virginia, dated at Richmond March the 8th, 1785, bounded by the lands of Col. Armstrong and Alex. Morrow on which I now live. Also, I give, devise and bequeath to my son Archibald Campble, if he is alive, the sum of one hundred and fifty pounds Pennsy money to be paid to him by my Executors hereinafter named, so being the said Archibald in person demands it, within ten years after my decease, but if not demanded in said time mentioned, this sum to be divided equally betwixt my three sons James, Alexander, and Robert, and if any of them should be dead their part to be equally divided amongst his heirs. Also, I give and bequeath to my daughter Ann Capes the sum of three hundred dollars, which sum I bind my Executors to lay out in land as they may judge best for the use of said Ann and her husband William Capes, and the Executors to deed said land to William Capes and his heirs, but not to his assigns. Also, I give, and bequeath to my daughter Margaret Langfitt or her husband William Langfitt, the sum of three hundred dollars to be paid to them or either of them immediately after my decease for the use of them and their heirs forever. Also, I give and bequeath the furnis place (which is again become part of my estate) to my three sons James, Alex and Robert, each of them to have equal shares with a share of the meadows belonging to the place upon which I now live, all that part of the meadow that the furnis place lines cuts off is still to belong to the place bequeathed to my son Robert and his heirs forever. Also, I will that the hundred acres of land in Washington County in Pennsylvania, adjoining Samuel Nankings and others be sold by my Executors and made into money as soon as it can be done to advantage. This money with what may remain after the debts and legatees is paid off is to be divided in this manner, my son James to have five hundred pounds, Alexander to have two hundred pounds, Robert two hundred pounds, and what may yet remain of money is to be divided into three equal shares and each of my three sons James, Alexander and Robert an equal part. Also, I will that Tibitha Burnet, daughter of George Campble shall have paid to her out of my estate as soon as may be possible after my death the sum of twenty five pounds Pennsy money, and lastly, I make, ordain, constitute and appoint my three sons James, Alexander and Robert Campble my Executors of this my last will and Testament in trust, for the intent and purposes in this my will contained, in witness thereof, I the said James Campble have to this my last will and Testament (hereby making null and void all other wills and Testaments heretofore by me made) set my hand and affixed my seal the day and date first above written. signed: James Campble Signed, sealed, published, pronounced and declared by the said James Campble to be his last will and Testament in presence of us, who, in presence of each other as witnesses have hereto subscribed our names. signed: Robert McCready; William Beall; Jane Beall: submitted by; Dale Patterson Hancock Co. WV - http://www.rootsweb.com/~wvhancoc/ Brooke Co. WV - http://www.rootsweb.com/~wvbrooke/brooke.htm Census Lookups - http://www.rootsweb.com/~uslookup/wv.html ______________________________X-Message: #2 Date: Sun, 26 Sep 1999 00:43:37 -0400 From: Bridgette Osz To: WV-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-ID: <37EDA479.C6878E7E@eohio.net> Subject: Lucy L. (Duckworth) Moats-obit Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Oct. 27, 1927 page 5 Philippi Republican Mrs. Lucy L. Moats died at her home last Sunday morning, October 16, 1927, at 7:30 o'clock, at the age of 78y, 9m and 8 days. She was a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Duckworth. She leaves behind to mourn her loss a mother, nine children and two stepchildren, (her husband having died 12 years previous) The children are: Harper and Stevens of Akron; Warner, Mrs. Otto Weaver, Mrs. Chloe Duckworth, of Moatsville, Rt #2, Mrs. Myrtle Bennett, of Philippi,R.F.D.; Mrs. Naomi Moore and Lucy of Grafton, and Beecher at home. Two stepchildren, Mary Nestor and Isaac; twenty six grandchildren and five great grandchildren. She was a devoted mother and loved by all that knew her. We shall miss her greatly but the father of all surely knows best and we must bear our sorrow the best we can. *Note* A poem follows ______________________________X-Message: #3 Date: Sun, 26 Sep 1999 01:34:22 EDT From: SSpradling@aol.com To: WV-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-ID: Subject: BIO: Robert G. LINN, Kanawha County Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit History of Charleston and Kanawha County, West Virginia and Representative Citizens W.S. Laidley Richmond Arnold Publishing Co., Chicago, ILL. 1911 p. 414-417 ROBERT G. LINN, one of the leading attorneys of Kanawha county, W. Va., residing in Charleston, was born at Glenville, Va., (now W. Va.), April 6, 1849, son of Robert and Sophronia (Newcomb) Linn. The following facts in regard to the genealogy of the Liun family have been ascertained and may prove of interest to members of the family. The Linns are of Scotch-Irish origin. Joseph Linn was born in 1725 and died April 8, i800. He married Martha Kirkpatrick, who was born at Belfast, Ireland, in 1728, and died March 7, 1791. She was the daughter of Andrew Kirkpatrick. Joseph was adjutant in the 2d regiment of Sussex militia during the Revolutionary war, Aaron Hankison being colonel. Joseph and Mary Linn had four sons and four daughters, namely: Alexander (born Dec. 6, 1753), David, Andrew, Margaret, Mary, Ann, Martha and John. David, Margaret and Andrew are buried at the Yellow Frame. (1). Andrew married Hannah, daughter of Nathan and Uphamy (Wright) Armstrong. (2). David married Sarah, daughter of Brig. Gen. Aaron Hankison, and they had eight children: Alexander married and went to Ohio. Mattie married Jacob Shephard. Polly never married. Margaret mar-ried a Mr. Shephard. The Shepards settled in Ohio. Aaron married Eliza Hankison, and settled in Finleyville, Pa. (3). Andrew was born in 1759, and died April 9, 1799. He studied medicine under Dr. Samuel Kennedy at Log Goal. He married Ann Carnes of Blandensburg, Md., and had five children, namely: Robert married Elizabeth Ryerson, and settled at Hamburg, N. J. Margaret became the wife or Major William T. Anderson of Newton. Mary married David Ryerson. Martha married, first, Hugh Taylor, and second, Richard R. Morris, of New York. Alexander settled at Easton, Pa. (4). Margaret married Hon. Joseph Gaston, who was paymaster of Sussex militia during the Revolutionary war. (5). Mary (6). Ann married Jacob Hull. (7). Martha married, first, Isaac Schaeffer; second, Joseph Desmond. Martha died In 1830 and was buried at Sandusky, Ohio. The Rev. Isaac Desmond was her son. (8). John married, May 19, 1791, Martha Hunt, a daughter of Lieut. Richard Hunt. They had a large family of children, namely: Elizabeth married Rev. Edward Allen. Sarah married Nathan Armstrong Shafer. Andrew married Isabella Beardslee. Mary Ann married Rev. Benj. I. Lowe. Caroline married Dr. Roderick Byington. Alexan-der was a physician at Deckertown; he mar-ried Julia Vibbert. William H. was also a physician. John Linn was appointed to the Court of Common Pleas of Sussex in i8o5, and served until his death in 1823. He was twice elected to Congress, and died of typhoid fever at Washington, D. C., during his second term. He was an elder in the Presby-terian church of Hardyston. The following facts have also been gathered in regard to other branches of the family. Joseph came into the Hardwick Patent from Lamington, Somerset county, N. J. In the churchyard at Lamington there is a tombstone with this inscription: "Alexander Linn Esq., who departed this life in the 64th year of his age, A. D. 1776." This Alexander, it is said, was for many years in the commission of the peace; he was an elder in the church, and for some time before his death, one of the judges of the Court of Common Pleas. Another head-stone marks the grave of Sarah Linn, daughter of Alexander and Sarah Linn, who departed this life Sept. 12, 1755, aged twd years, three months and 15 days. A third stone is in memory of Sarah Linn, daughter of James Linn, who departed this life Oct., 1773, one year and six months of age. Mr. Mellick, in his "Story of an Old Farm," says that Judge James Linn was one of Somerset's aristocrats, and a citizen highly esteemed throughout the cotintry; that he lived on a well improved plantation of 600 acres, which he had inherited from his father; that he kept a retinue of servants and 20 slaves, and that he was elected in May, 1776, a deputy from Somerset to the Provincial Congress of New Jersey. >From another source it is learned that James Linn was a nephew of Joseph Linn and that James was a representative in Congress, 1799-1801, from New Jersey. When the Jefferson-Burr contest for President was thrown into the House and the balloting had been so prolonged without result, James Linn broke the deadlock in the New Jersey delegation, thereby throwing the vote of the delegation for Jefferson and electing him President. John Linn of Knowlton township, Warren county, N. J., came from Virginia, fought in the Sussex militia during the Revolution, and was an elder in the Presbyterian church, and died at the age of 102 years. His will is recorded in the Sussex office, and is dated June 2, 1817. It names as his children, James, John, Elizabeth, Jean, David, Joseph, Robert, Margaret and Cathering. Among other property the will disposes of land in Greene county, Ky. The birth dates of the three earliest Linns herein named are as follows: Alexander Linn of Lamington, 1712; John Linn of Knowlton, 1715; Joseph Linn of Hardwick, 1725. Tradition says that the Linns of New Jersey and the Linns of Missouri were related, and that their common home was in Virginia and West Virginia. To return to our subject's direct line, Robert Linn (grandfather of Robert G. Linn), born April 20, 1781, came to Virginia probably from Pennsylvania about 100 years ago, settling at Linn's Mills, in what is now Marion county, W. Va., where he died Sept. 9, 1834. He was a farmer and miller. He married Catherine Lyon, who was born in Pennsylvania Oct. i8, 1788. Robert Linn, Jr., son of the aforementioned, was born in Marion county (now in W. Va., but then in Ha rnson county, Va.), Dec.27, 1813, and died Dec. 7, 1860. He studied law in the office of Hon. Edgar C. Wilson, of Morgantown, and was later admitted to the bar at Pruntytown, Taylor county, W. Va., in 1846. He subsequently practiced his profession in Gilmer county, W. Va. He was elected for four successive terms to the office of prosecuting attorney, by the Whig party, and was serving as sucb at the time of his death. At different times he held other responsible offices, in which he served with marked capacity, and was one of the best known and most popular citizens in Gilmer county. He was an elder in the Presbyterian church. He was married in Fairmont, W. Va, to Miss Sophronia S. Newcomb, who was born at Greenfield, Mass., in 1816, a daughter of Ebenezer, Jr., and Sophronia (Smith) Newcomb. She came of the old New England family of that name, a brief sketch of which will be found subjoined to the present article. She was a lady of refinement and culture, and was all her life a strong working member of the Presbyterian church. Almost her entire life was spent in West Virginia, her parents settling in Fairmont when she was but two years old. She died August 31, 1890. The children of Robert Linn, Jr., and his wife Sophronia, were as follows: Mary S., born Sept. 21, 1841, married Newton B. Bland, who died in March, 1896. She died January 28, 1910, leaving a son, Robert Linn Bland, now a lawyer at Weston, W. Va., who is married and has three children. Nancy Catherine Lyon, born May 3, 1849, married Marion T. Brannon, of Glenville, W. Va., and has three children, namely: Hon. Linn Brannon, ex-judge of the Circuit court of Gilmer, Calhoun, Jackson, Lewis and Clay counties; Alice, who is married and lives at Fairmont, W. Va.; and Howard R. Brannon, who is cashier of a bank at Glenville. Robert G., whose nativity has been already given, is the direct subject of this sketch. Sarah L., born July 26, 1853, is unmarried, and resides at Glenville. Robert G. Linn, in October, 1866, while in his eighteenth year, became assistant clerk in the circuit clerk's office at Clarksburg, where he remained three years. In 1869 he entered the Cincinnati (0.) Law School, from which he was graduated in the Class of 1870, with the degree of B.L. While in college he had for instructors Ex-Governor Hoadley and Bellamy Storer. After his graduation he practiced his profession in Glenville, W. Va., where he became prosecuting attorney, later holding that office for three successive terms-four years in Gil-mer county and eight years in Calhoun county, W. Va. Returned to Glenville, Gil-mer county, in March, 1884, he remained there until 1890, being associated with Hon. John S. Withers, and in 1900 he caine to Charleston, having been associated in partnership here with George Byrne, now of the Baltimore "Sun," and with William E. R. Byrne, with whom he is still thus connected, as also is his son, Robert Linn. He has also a law office at Sutton, Braxton county, W. Va., with Cary C. Hines and W. F. Morrison, Jr., as partners; another at Weston, Lewis county, the firm name being Linn, Brannan & Lively; and a third, or rather fourth, at Glenville, the firm being Linn, Brannon & Hamilton. From 1873 until 1907, also he had as partner, Hon. John M. Hamilton, present Congressman from the Fourth district, with their office at Grantsville, Calhoun county. Mr. Linn stands high in his profession and much of the important litigation in the county passes through his hands and those of his partners. He is a Democrat in politics, and is fraternally connected with the Odd Fellows lodge at Glenville. In religion he is a Presbyterian Robert G. Linn was married at Weson, W.Va., to Mary Hamilton, who was born, reared and educated in that place. Her parents.were Dr. J. M. and Mary M. (Lorentz) Hamilton, her mother being a daughter of John and a granddaughter of Jacon Lor-entz. The latter, an early settler in this section, was a farmer and merchant. He married a Miss Stalnaker, who died at an advanced age. John Lorentz married Mary Regerboth, and both died when well along in years. Mr. and Mrs. Robert G. Linti have been the parents of eight children, of whom the following is a brief record: Ernest died young. George died June 22, 1908, while a law student at the Uni-versity of Virginia. Edna, born June 25, 1878, was educated at Wilson college, Pa., and was for some time a teacher in the nor-mal school. She resides at home. Mary, born April 25, i88o, was educated in the normal school at Glenville and at Hollins, Va., and is also at home. Harriet, born March 30, 1884, graduated from the Glenville Normal school, and as a trained nurse from Washington, D. C. Robert, born July 25, 1882, graduated in law at Morgantown, W. Va. University in the Class of 1906, with the degree of B.L., was admitted to the bar in the same year and has since been a member of the firm with his father. He is unmarried. Ruth, born Oct.25, i886, is now taking a course in nursing at Washington, D. C. John Hamilton, born Dec. 6, 1892, 15 now attending the city high school. The family attends the Presbyterian church. The Newcomb Genealogy -Francis Newcomb, born in England in 1605, came to the American colonies in 1635, with his wife Rachel. Their son Peter, born in -Braintree, Mass., March 16, 1648, married in April, 1672, Susanna Cutting, daughter of Richard Cutting, of Watertown. Jonathan, of the third generation, born in Braintree, Mass., March 1, 1685, had wife D*borah, whose family name has not been ascertained. Their children included Benjamin, born in Braintree, Mass., April 9, 1719, who on coming of age removed to Norton, Mass., and died in 1801. He mar-ried, Nov.24, 1743, Mary, daughter of John and Mercy Everett, of Dedham. She was born March 8, 1720-21. Rev. Ebenezer Newcomb, fifth in line of descent, and maternal great grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born at Norton, Mass., in November, 1754. He followed the various occupations of carpenter, joiner, and farmer, and was also a Baptist minister. He fought for American independence in the Revolutionary war, being a member of Capt. A. Clapp' 5 company. His death occurred Feb.13, 1829. He married Wealthy Willis, Feb.23, 1779, who died May 11, 1818. Ebenezer Newcomb, Jr., son of the fore-going, and grandfather of Robert G. Linn, was born Oct.22, 1785. He was a carpen-ter, joiner and cabinet maker. He moved from Greenfield, Mass., to Fairmont, Va., where he died in 1859. He married Sophronia Smith, who was born April 24, 1792. Their daughter Sophronia, born Dec 6, 1816, died Aug. 30, 1890. A native of Deerfield, Mass., she came with her parents to Fairmont, Va., when two years old, and as before stated, she became the wife of Robert Linn, and the mother of Robert G. Linn, the direct subject of this sketch. Sandy Spradling SSpradling@AOL.com State Contact for WV GenExchange http://www.genexchange.com/wv/index.cfm ______________________________X-Message: #4 Date: Sun, 26 Sep 1999 01:51:25 EDT From: SSpradling@aol.com To: WV-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-ID: <8b04440c.251f0e5d@aol.com> Subject: BIO: W. E. MERRICK, Kanawha County Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit History of Charleston and Kanawha County, West Virginia and Representative Citizens W.S. Laidley Richmond Arnold Publishing Co., Chicago, ILL. 1911 p. 417-418 W. E. MERRICK, whose farm of forty acres lies two and a half miles from Charleston, W. Va., was born September 14, 1857, in Patrick County, Va., and is a son of Edward and Mary (Dodson) Merrick. Edward Merrick was born in Virginia and came to Kanawba County in 1875, living here for thirty-seven years. He was a mason by trade and was also a farmer. His death oc-curred on the present farm when he was eighty-three years of age. He married Mary Dodson, who was born in Virginia, and outlived him, she being eighty-eight years old at the time of her death. Of their children,.eight in number, those living are: Elisha, Martha, Berry, Affie, W. E., and Jennie. W. E. Merrick accompanied the family when removal was made from Patrick to Kanawba County, and has been engaged in general farming during the greater part of his life. His land is well managed and is very productive. He married Miss Nancy Edwards and they have six children living, two-Lonie and Ozella, the second and eighth born-having died. The others are: Walter Bowen, who has a family of four children; Harry and Lizzie, both of whom live in Iowa; and Lena, Ida and Lottie, all of whom live at home. In politics Mr. Merrick is a Democrat. Sandy Spradling SSpradling@AOL.com State Contact for WV GenExchange http://www.genexchange.com/wv/index.cfm ______________________________X-Message: #5 Date: Sun, 26 Sep 1999 01:56:33 EDT From: SSpradling@aol.com To: WV-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-ID: Subject: BIO: Hon. William Gustavos CONLEY, Kanawha County Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit History of Charleston and Kanawha County, West Virginia and Representative Citizens W.S. Laidley Richmond Arnold Publishing Co., Chicago, ILL. 1911 p. 418-419 HON. WILLIAM GUSTAVUS CONLEY, attorney general of West Virginia, and a citizen of that state who has been prominent both in professional and public life for many years, was born in Preston County, W. Va.. January 8, 1866, and is a son of Major Will-iam and Mary (Freeburn) Conley. Major William Conley, who was an officer in the state militia, was born also in Preston County, but the mother was a native of Scotland. She came to America with her parents at the age of eight years, resided with them in Philadelphia, and later accompanied them to West Virginia, where her death occurred in 1896, her husband having passed away when their son, William G., was quite young. Maior William Conley was a man of local prominence, and at one time was deputy sheriff. He was a school teacher and was also engaged in business as a contractor. William Gustavus Conley was educated in the public schools of Preston County, and the West Virginia University at Morgantown, and was graduated there from the department of law, in 1803, and in the same year was admitted to the bar. On April 2, 1903, Mr. Conley had conferred on him the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws, by the Nashville College of Law, at Nashville, Teun. From 1893 until 1903, he was engaged in the practice of law at Parsons, W. Va., during the closing six months of this period being in partnership with Charles D. Smith, under the firm name of Conley & Smith. He was in active and useful citizen there, serving in the city council and also as mayor. From Parsons he came to Kingwood, W. Va., where he is a member of the law firm of Hughes & Conley, and where he has his residence. Mr. Conley has filled many important political positions. In 1896 he was chosen assistant secretary of the Republican National Convention that nominated the late President McKinley. Subsequently he was twice sent to the convention of the National Republican League Club; for six years was chairman of the Republican Executive Committee, and for several years was a member as well as assistant secretary of the Republican Congressional Committee. On May 9, 1908, Mr. Conley was appointed attorney general, by Gov. William M. 0. Dawson, to serve until his successor was elected and qualified, and was elected for both short and long term, expiration being March 4, 1913. This position is one befitting one of his talents, connections and achievements. Attorney Ceneral Conley maintains his office on the first floor of the Capitol Building, Charleston. Mr. Conley was married in 1892, to Miss Bertie I. Martin, who was born in 1873, near Kingwood, W. Va., and they have three children living. Mrs. Conley is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, while he was reared a Presbyterian. He is identified with the Masons, the Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias. Sandy Spradling SSpradling@AOL.com State Contact for WV GenExchange http://www.genexchange.com/wv/index.cfm ______________________________X-Message: #6 Date: Sun, 26 Sep 1999 02:00:49 EDT From: SSpradling@aol.com To: WV-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-ID: Subject: BIO: Alexander RUFFNER, Kanawha County Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit History of Charleston and Kanawha County, West Virginia and Representative Citizens W.S. Laidley Richmond Arnold Publishing Co., Chicago, ILL. 1911 p. 418-419 ALEXANDER RUFFNER, a representative member of the old Ruffner family of West Virginia, which has been prominently identified with Kanawba County since the days of Joseph Ruffner, eldest son of Peter, the emigrant settler who came here in 1794, taking up vast tracts of land. Jn the same year he made some improvements and in the following year brought his family from Virginia and ever since the name has been one of high standing in this section. Col. Joel Ruffner, father of Alexander Ruff-ner, was born in Kanawba County near the present city of Charleston, December II, 1802, and died here September 8, 1882. He was a well known man both in private and military life and when only eighteen years of age became a colonel in the state militia. He married Diana Marye, who was born October 21, 1800, in the Shenandoah Valley and was of French ancestry on the paternal side. Her death cccurred October 23, 1881. They were parents of sixteen children, thirteen of whom grew to maturity, and seven daughters and three sons yet survive, of this family, Alexander being the sixth in order of birth. Alexander Ruffner was horn April 4, 1837, at Charleston, He attended the early schools which were meager in their advantages as compared to the present day, and has devoted the greater part of his life to farm pursuits hut in earlier years also followed surveying and helped to make the survey for the old C. & 0. Railroad in i868. During the Civil War he remained at home to look after the affairs, but two of his brothers, Daniel and Joel, lost their lives while serving in the Confederate Army. Since October, 1858, he has been a voter and his ballot has always been cast in support of Democratic principles and candidates. No citizen of Charleston is better known than Mr. Ruffner, although he has never been willing to accept any public office. Mr. Ruffner was married October 30, 1883, in Poca District, Kanawha County, to Miss Mary V. Wallace, who was born in Poca District, October 29, 1857, a daughter of an early settler, Peter Wallace. The latter lost his life from the foul gas generated in an oil well that he was assisting a companion to dig. His wife, Rachel (Aults) Wallace, also met death through accident, being fatally burned, with one of her sons, Simon, in a fire that swept what is now the south side of this city. Mrs. Ruffner has never been able to get over this great bereavement, having been much attached to her mother and brother. Mr. and Mrs. Ruffner have no children. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, while Mr. Ruffner comes of a long line of Presbyterians. Sandy Spradling SSpradling@AOL.com State Contact for WV GenExchange http://www.genexchange.com/wv/index.cfm