WV-FOOTSTEPS-D Digest Volume 00 : Issue 107 Today's Topics: #1 BIO: WILLIAM STANTON BERT, Berkele [Valerie & Tommy Crook To: WV-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-Id: <3.0.5.32.20000412223407.00843c80@trellis.net> Subject: BIO: WILLIAM STANTON BERT, Berkeley 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. 397 WILLIAM STANTON BERT, president of the Board of Edu- cation of the City of Martinsburg, Berkeley County, was horn at Greencastle, Franklin County, Pennsylvania, on the 3rd of March, 1862, and at the same place his father, John Bert, was born in the year 1835, a son of Peter Bert. Peter Bert was born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, and in con- nection with a revolution in his native land his property was confiscated. He then came to the United States, ac- companied by his wife and by two of his brothers, Peter and John, the former of whom settled at Strassburg, Penn- sylvania, and the latter at New Brighton, that state. The sailing vessel on which they crossed the Atlantic did not reach its destination until the lapse of fourteen weeks. The family name in Germany was spelled Bertt. Nephews of Peter Bert came to this country and settled in Balti- more, Maryland, and they changed the spelling of the name to Burt. From New York City Peter Bert proceeded to Greeneastle, Pennsylvania, where he followed the work of his trade, that of tailor, but his death occurred within a few years, his widow, a native of France, having survived him by a number of years. They reared five children: Louisa, George, Benjamin, John and Adam. Adam Bert was killed in the battle of Fredericksburg while serving as a Union soldier in the Civil war. John Bert learned the shoemaker's trade, and became skilled in the making of boots and shoes by hand. He be- came a successful manufacturer of boots and shoes, and continued his residence at Greencastle until his death, at the age of seventy-six years. He married Rebecca Houser, who was born at Greencastle, a daughter of George and Elizabeth (Cantner) Houser. Mrs. Bert died at the age of twenty-six years, leaving three children: Mary Eliza- beth, Julia Prances and William Stanton. The father later married Kate Good, and four children were born of this second marriage: Charles Wesley, Arthur A., John W. and Elizabeth R. William S. Bert attended school until he was eleven years old, and then devoted six years to clerking in a gro- cery store. He next entered upon an apprenticeship to the tailor's trade with the firm of L. Cantner & Son, and after his three years' apprenticeship he worked a similar period as a journeyman at his trade. He next went to Mercers- burg, where he served two years in the merchant tailoring establishment of J. W. Rearick, and became an expert cut- ter. He then returned to Greeneastle and formed a part- nership with T. W. Brendle in the merchant tailoring busi- ness. Six years later he engaged in the manufacture of trousers and overalls, in which he continued operations at Greencastle until 1898, when he became associated with his brother Charles in operating the Shenandoah Pants Fac- tory at Martinsburg, West Virginia. Later he withdrew from the firm and organized the Southern Merchant Tailor- ing Company, with which he continued his connection un- til 1906. From that year until 1910 he conducted a men's clothing and furnishing-goods store, from 1910 to 1913 he was engaged in business as a merchant tailor, and in the latter year became associated with the Royal Woolen Mills Company of Hagerstown, Maryland, and later with the Na- tional Woolen Mills of Parkersbnrg, West Virginia, of whose business at Martinsburg he has since been in charge. Mr. Bert is a loyal and public-spirited citizen and has been influential in community affairs at Martinsburg. In 1910 he was elected a member of the city council, on which he served two years. He was again elected to the council in 1916, and he served two years as city treasurer. In 1920 he was elected president of the board of education. He and his wife are members of the First Methodist Epis- copal Church, and Mr. Bert is president of the Sunday school class of 200 members. He is affiliated with Mount Pisgah Lodge No. 443, F. and A. M.; Lebanon Chapter No. 2, R. A. M.; Palestine Commandery No. 2, Knights Templars; the Scottish Rite Lodge of Perfection at Mar- tinsburg; and Osiris Temple of the Mystic Shrine in the City of Wheeling. In 1899 Mr. Bert married Miss Minnie M. Diffenderfer, who was born at Martinsbnrg, a daughter of Charles and Ann Maria (Poisal) Diffenderfer. Mr. and Mrs. Bert have no children. ______________________________X-Message: #2 Date: Wed, 12 Apr 2000 22:54:56 -0400 From: Valerie & Tommy Crook To: WV-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-Id: <3.0.5.32.20000412225456.008887a0@trellis.net> Subject: BIO: BYRON W. STEELE, M. D., Wyoming 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. 397-398 BYRON W. STEELE, M. D. For the past several years Dr. Byron W. Steele has been engaged in the general prac- tice of medicine at Mullens, and by his devotion to the duties of his profession, his close study and his pronounced skill has won a liberal and representative practice. His talents and sympathy have gained him recognition as a leader, and he has maintained throughout his career a high standard of professional ethics and honorable principles. Doctor Steele was born at Moundsville, West Virginia, July 14, 1889, and is a son of Dr. S. M. and Florence N. (Cheadle) Steele. Dr. S. M. Steele was born September 14, 1860, in Tyler County, Virginia (now West Virginia), and after completing his normal school education at West Liberty engaged in school teaching for two years, in the meantime pursuing his medical studies. He then entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Baltimore, from which institution he was graduated with his degree with the class of 1886, and commenced practice at Moundsville, West Virginia, where he remained until becoming superin- tendent of the West Virginia Hospital for the Insane. He remained in this capacity from 1906 until 1914, and his tal- ents as an authority on nervous diseases made his work of particular value. He returned from the hospital to Mounds- ville, where he now has a large practice and is numbered among the foremost members of his profession. He is a republican in politics and an Elk fraternally, and belongs to the Methodist Church, as does Mrs. Steele, who is a native of McConnellsvilIe, Ohio. Four sons were born to them, all of whom served during the World war, three seeing overseas service. Dr. Byron W. Steele is the eldest of the sons. Leonard C. Steele was a sergeant in the Medical Corps of the Eighty-seventh Division and was overseas one year. He is now associated with the Wyoming Ice and Bot- tling Company at Mullens as bookkeeper. Rodney D. Steele was on the battle line with the Seventeenth Ambu- lance Company, Fifth Division, a noted company with splendid service to its credit. Marion Steele, the youngest son, was at the Students' Training Camp at Washington and Lee University when the armistice was signed. Byron W. Steele attended the public schools of Mounds- ville, and was graduated from the high school there, fol- lowing which he entered Marshall College and was gradu- ated in 1910. He then enrolled as a student in the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Baltimore, his father's alma mater, and was graduated as a member of the class of 1914, receiving the degree of Doctor of Medicine, and for one year thereafter served as instructor. For the following year he served as obstetrician at Mercy Hospital, Balti- more. and during the next year held the same position at the Women's Hospital in that city. In 1916 he came to Mullens to take charge of Robertson's General Hospital as surgeon, and remained in that capacity until March 10, 1918, when he enrolled as a student in the Army Medical School at Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia. He received his com- mission as first lieutenant, was made an instructor, and in June, 1918, went overseas, where he was promoted cap- tain and made orthopedic surgeon at Base Hospital No. 63. He remained in that capacity until March 11, 1919, when he was transferred to Base Hospital No. 91 as chief orthopedie surgeon. He returned to the United States in August, 1919, and again settled at Mullens, where he is in the enjoyment of a very heavy practice. Doctor Steele's physique and general bearing are such as to inspire confi- dence, and his real courtesy and sympathy likewise gain him the faith of his patients. Ho holds to the highest ideals in his professional service, and his work is characterized by a conscientious devotion to duty and a display of knowl- edge that demonstrates him a master of his vocation. His work has brought him before the people of Mullens and the surrounding community in a way that will not be easily for- gotten, and he has never been found lacking in any of the essentials that are necessary for the making of a truly great physician. He keeps fully abreast of the numerous advance- ments being constantly made in his calling, and is an ac- tive and interested member of the Mercer County Medical Society, the West Virginia State Medical Society and the American Medical Association. He is a member of the Phi Beta Pi medical fraternity. In politics he adheres to the principles of the republican party, but his profession has kept him too busily occupied for him to engage in pub- lic life, although he displays a good citizen's interest in civic matters and gives his support to worthy movements and enterprises. Fraternally he is affiliated with Mullens Lodge No. 151, A. F. and A. M., and Princeton Chapter, R. A. M., in both of which he has numerous friends. On July 14, 1920, at Mullens. Doctor Steele was united in marriage with Miss Frances P. Ould, daughter of W. T. Ould, of Glenlyn, Virginia. To this union there has been born one son, Byron W., Jr. Mrs. Steele, a woman of nu- merous graces and accomplishments, is a graduate of Con- cord Normal School at Athens, West Virginia, and also did special work at the University of Virginia. Prior to her marriage she was a teacher in the public schools. She and Doctor Steele are members of the Methodist Church. Doc- tor Steele is a member of the American Legion. ______________________________X-Message: #3 Date: Wed, 12 Apr 2000 22:54:58 -0400 From: Valerie & Tommy Crook To: WV-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-Id: <3.0.5.32.20000412225458.00887e20@trellis.net> Subject: BIO: THOMAS D. CAMPBELL, 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. 398-399 THOMAS D. CAMPBELL, of Piedmont, Mineral County, is prominently identified with the coal industry in this sec- tion of the state, as president of Hoff Brothers Coal Com- pany and the Freeport Coal Company. The birthplace of Mr. Campbell is not far distant from the vigorous little industrial city in which he now maintains his home and business headquarters. He was born at Bar- ton, Allegany County, Maryland, lying on the opposite side of the Potomac River from Mineral County, West Virginia, in September, 1877, and there he was reared to adult age, his educational advantages having been those of the pub- lic schools. His father, James Campbell, was born in Glas- gow, Scotland, in July, 1842, and was a child when the family came to the United States and established residence at Vale Summit, Maryland, whence removal was later made to Bloomington, that state, where he was reared to man- hood. For many years he was engaged in the mercantile business at Barton, Maryland, and after his retirement from this enterprise he served several years as assistant appraiser and later as assistant surveyor of the port of Baltimore. He has been influential in politics and general civic affairs in Maryland, where he still maintains his home. He served three years as a soldier of the Union in the Civil war, and in later years has maintained affiliation with the Grand Army of the Republic. As a republican he has represented Allegany County five terms in the Maryland Legislature, including the session of 1920, in which he was chairman of the delegation from his county. In the session of 1922 he was clerk of the minority party in the House of Representa- tives. Though he is nearing the age of four score years, he is still vigorous and vitally interested in public affairs. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias. As a young man James Camp- bell married Miss Emily Fromhart, who was born in one of the Rhine districts of Germany, and who waa reared near Newburg, West Virginia, where her parents established their home upon coming to the United States. Of the chil- dren of Mr. and Mrs. James Campbell the following brief data are available: Katie, the wife of John Patton, died at Barton, Maryland, a short time ago; Joseph and John are twins, the former being a resident of Akron, Ohio and the latter of Washington, D. C.; James lives at Frostburg, Maryland; Dr. William B. is a physician and surgeon at Haserstown. that state; Thomas Dowery is the immediate subject of this sketch; George D. is a druggist at Lona- coning, Maryland; and Emma is the wife of John F. Shaw, of Newark, Delaware. At the age of eighteen years Thomas D. Campbell became associated with mercantile business in his native place, and he continued his active association with the enterprise until 1917. There also he organized, in that year, the Barton Supply Company, which there conducts a large general merchandise business, in which he is still interested. At Piedmont, West Virginia, Mr. Campbell is the owner of two well equipped meat markets. In 1915 Mr. Campbell became associated with Hoff Brothers in coal-mining enterprise, and he is now president of the Hoff Brothers Coal Company, the mines of which, at Barton. Maryland, and Cutlips. West Virginia, have given a yield of 125,000 tons in a single year. In 1916 Mr. Camp- bell became a principal also in the Hampshire Big Vein Coal Company, whose mine, at Barton, gives a normal out put of 400 tons a day. He organized the Freeport Coal Company, which is operating on a vein of Kittanning coal near Oakland, Maryland, with a normal output of 450 tons daily, he being president of this corporation. The property of this company was developed in the midst of the forest, the company constructing a standard-gauge railroad of one and one-half miles, besides having estab- lished a water system, erected a school house and a church and also forty houses for the use of employes in the mines. The Campbell Coal Company, a partnership organization, was established about 1917, and conducts a substantial brokerage business in the buying and selling of coal, with offices at Piedmont, West Virginia, and Philadelphia, Penn- sylvania. Mr. Campbell is a director of the First National Bank of Barton, Maryland, and of the Liberty Trust Com- pany at Cumberland, that state. He has been a resident and vitally progressive and public-spirited citizen of Pied- mont since 1919, his political allegiance being given to the republican party. He is affiliated with the Masonic frater- nity and the Knights of Pythias, and he and his wife hold membership in the Presbyterian Church. In the World war period he was active in the furtherance of the various pa- triotic causes, including the sale of the Government war bonds, and he was registered for military service, but not called. At Barton, Maryland, on the 1st of September, 1909, Mr. Campbell wedded Miss Nannie T. McDonald, who was there born and reared, a daughter of William McDonald and a representative of the staunchest of Scottish ancestry. The Campbell residence at Piedmont is one of the finest in the city, and he is the owner also of the Campbell Build- ing, in which his business offices are established. ______________________________X-Message: #4 Date: Wed, 12 Apr 2000 23:02:00 -0400 From: Valerie & Tommy Crook To: WV-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-Id: <3.0.5.32.20000412230200.0088d320@trellis.net> Subject: BIO: KELLEY E. REED, Kanawha 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. 399 KELLEY E. REED is senior partner in the firm of Reed & Lapsley, general contractors, with headquarters in South Charleston but with a business that reaches to all parts of the state and to outside states. Mr. Reed is an experienced and successful builder of railroads, sewers, tunnels and other heavy forms of construction, and it is said by his associates that he has never undertaken a contract without carrying it through with credit to himself. The firm of Reed & Lapsley began operations in 1914. They handle railroad, street paving, general road work and also structural steel work. They did a great deal of busi- ness for the United States Housing Corporation during the war. This firm built a part of the interurban line between Charleston and Cabin Creek Junction. They have all the facilities for standard gauge railroad construction, and excavation machines for sewer and similar work. Many of their contracts with railroads are outside the state, but chiefly with the Chesapeake & Ohio. Mr. Kelley E. Seed was born at Clay Court House in Clay County, West Virginia, in 1881, and as a lad took up railroad work. In 1907 he organized the firm of Board & Reed, contractors, and they built twelve miles of railroad in Tyler County. This piece of construction included two tunnels. They also handled a heavy job of construction for the Calina & Clinchfield Railroad through the breaks of the Cumberland Mountains, on Big Sandy River. There was one mile they built through the mountains which cost $360,- 000, and was a twenty-four months' job. Mr. Eeed con- tinued handling railroad work for six years, finally selling his interest to Board & Duffield, and then did some indi- vidual contracting until he joined A. J. Lapsley, former- ly of the firm Patton & Lapsley, general contractors. This firm was dissolved with the death of Mr. Patton, and since then Mr. Reed and Mr. Lapsley have been associated. Each is a practical contractor and superintendent of con- struction, and they give the closest personal attention to all their work. Mr. Reed is interested in real estate in South Charleston and Charleston, and also coal production. He is vice presi- dent of the First National Bank of South Charleston. He married Miss Rosa L. Layden. They have two chil- dren: Virginia Lee and Kelley E., Jr. Mr. Reed lives in South Charleston, and has taken an active part in the upbuilding of that industrial community. In fraternal circles he is a Mason and an Odd Fellow.