WV-FOOTSTEPS-D Digest Volume 00 : Issue 123 Today's Topics: #1 BIO: WYLIE, Charles Bell, M.D. Mor [Vivian Brinker To: WV-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-Id: <000428150843.b883@RAVEN.CCC.CC.KS.US> Subject: BIO: WYLIE, Charles Bell, M.D. Morgantown The History of West Virginia, Old and New Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, Volume II. pg. 357. CHARLES BELL WYLIE, M.D. Morgantown is justly notable for the skill, learning and high character of the individuals who compose its medical fraternity, and the profession here numbers among its members those whose scientific attainments are beyond the ordinary. Among those well known for accomplishments along special lines is Dr. Charles Bell Wylie, whose career is typical of modern advancement, and whose reputation is based upon his achievements as a specialist in diseases of the eye, ear, nose, and throat. Doctor Wylie was born in Hancock County, and was a son of Andrew J. and Elizabeth C. (Atkinson) Wylie. His father was also a native of Hancock County, and was a son of David Wylie, of Scotch birth, an early settler of Hancock County, where he was the first man elected to the office of sheriff after the county was created. When he entered upon his career Andrew J. Wylie chose the vocation of farming, and this he followed for a number of years, but later in life owned and operated a machine shop at New Cumberland, West Virginia, where both he and his wife died. The boyhood days of Doctor Wylie were spent on the home farm and at New Cumberland, where he received his early education. As a youth he learned the machinist's trade, at which he worked for several years, and while not otherwise employed in the shop devoted his every spare minute to the study of medicine. Later he worked at his trade in the summer months and attended the medical department of the Western University of Pennsylvania in the winter seasons, and eventually entered Hering Medical College, Chicago, from which he was graduated in 1903, with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. He did not cease being a student with the securing of his diploma, for later he took post-graduate work at the Chicago Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat College, the Chicago Post-Graduate College, the Philadelphia Polyclinic, and the Wills Eye Hospital, Philadelphia. Dr. Wylie entered general practice at Chattanooga, Tennessee, in 1903, and two years later began specializing, limiting his practice to treatment of the diseases of the eye, ear, nose and throat. On June 1, 1913, he located at Morgantown, where he has since continued in practice as a specialist in treating the organs above named. In his practice he has shown his familiarity not only with the old methods but with the new that are constantly being discovered, and his service has ever been discharged with a conscientious sense of professional obligation, always remembering that he belongs to a body set apart, one that more than any other is helpful to humanity. Dr. Wylie is a member of the Monongalia County Medical Society, the West Virginia State Medical Society, the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Ophthalmology and Oto-Laryngology and the International Congress of Ophthalmology. He is a post president and past secretary of the county society. As a fraternalist he belongs to Keystone Lodge No. 35, K. P., of Chattanooga, Tennessee, of which he is a past commander, and also holds memgership in the Morgantown Rotary Club. The personal impression given by Doctor Wylie is quieting and satisfying, inspiring confidence and commanding respect. Doctor Wylie married Miss Cora Hopkins, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, who died leaving a son and a daughter: Adda May, who married Norbert Kramer, of Pittsburgh, where they reside; and Charles Raymer, now of St. Louis, Missouri, who married Clara Kester, formerly of Urbana, Missouri. The present Mrs. Wylie was formerly Miss Madie Elizabeth Allison, of Chatanooga, Tennessee. ______________________________X-Message: #2 Date: Fri, 28 Apr 2000 15:11:29 -0500 From: Vivian Brinker To: WV-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-Id: <000428151129.b883@RAVEN.CCC.CC.KS.US> Subject: BIO: KERR, Raymond Ear Morgantown From: RAVEN::VIVIANB "Vivian Brinker" 28-APR-2000 15:09:52.57 To: WV-FOOSTEPS-L@ROOTSWEB.COM CC: VIVIANB Subj: BIO: KERR, Raymond Earl Morgantown The History of West Virginia, Old and New Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, Volume II. pg. 358. RAYMOND EARL KERR The profession of civil engineering attracts to it only men of wide vision and serious and constructive mind, and what it has achieved in America alone, even within the lifetime of a middle-aged man of today, is stupendous to calculate. The pioneering civil engineer is one of the greatest of aids to civilization and world-wide commerce. West Virginia, with her noble mountains to be crossed and her beautiful streams to be bridged, has produced able men in this professioon, and one who has become far more than locally prominent is Raymond Earl Kerr, who has been concerned in many mportant construction projects at Morgantown and elsewhere. Mr. Kerr was born at Parkersburg, West Virginia, February 12, 1884, and is a son of Charles Hugh and Lillie (Atkinson) Kerr, a grandson of Samuel Kerr, who was born in Greene County, Pennsylvania, and was a son of Charles Kerr, who removed from Pennsylvania to Ohio in 1792. Charles Hugh Kerr was born in 1849 at Newport, Ohio, and died in 1911, at Parkersburg, West Virginia, having located in that city in 1883. He was one of the early oil men in West Virginia oil territory and became widely known. He married Miss Lillie Atkinson, who still survives and resides at Parkersburg. She was born at Comeron, Ohio, a daughter of Isaac Atkinson, a prominent business man for many years at Marietta, Ohio, and largely interested in the oil industry even before the war between the states. Raymond E. Kerr attended public schools of Parkersburg, and later attended West Virginia University, where he took a course in civil engineering. He has practically devoted himself to this profession ever since, and during the greater part of his professonal and business life has made his home at Morgantown. Mr. Kerr's professional work was in assocication with the Little Kanawha Syndicate at Parkersburg. When the syndicate built the Buckhannon & Northern Railroad, now the Monongahela, Mr. Kerr was secured as assistant chief engineer, and the contract was most satisfactorily completed. He later became identified with the Morgantown & Wheeling Railroad. This railway line, like manu others within the past few year, met with business difficulties and since 1918 Mr. Kerr has been receiver of this property. Aside form his profession he is interested in a number of important business enterprises at Morgantown. He is vice president and treasurer of the B. M. Chaplin Company, contractors and builders, which he organized in 1914. In 1913 he was one of the organizers of the Monongahela Supply Company of Morgantown, and is present secretary of this concern. In addition he is unofficially identified with a number of coal corporations and holds a large amount of valuable property in the West Virginia coal fields. He has a wide acquaintance and is held in high regard as a keen, able business man and thoroughly competent in his profession. He is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers. In 1910 Mr. Kerr married Miss Frances Tucker, who is a daughter of Robert C. and Mary Frances (Smith) Tucker, of Parkersburg, West Virginia, and they have one daughter, Alice, who was born March 21, 1921. Mrs. Kerr is a member of the Episcopal Church. The political field has never attracted Mr. Kerr, but his good citizenship is unmistakable, and he is a valued member of the Morgantown Chamber of Commerce. He belongs to the Rotary Club, to Morgantown Lodge No. 411, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and still maintains membership interest in his college fraternity, the Delta Tau Delta. ______________________________X-Message: #3 Date: Fri, 28 Apr 2000 15:12:14 -0500 From: Vivian Brinker To: WV-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-Id: <000428151214.b883@RAVEN.CCC.CC.KS.US> Subject: BIO: ARNETT, William E. Morgantown The History of West Virginia, Old and New Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, Volume II. pg. 358. WILLIAM E. ARNETT A resident of Morgantown for more than three decades and prominently identified with the period, William E. Arnett, a cashier of the Second National Bank, is accounted one of the builders of Morgantown's prosperity, a man whose ripened judgment and sterling traits of character have benefitted every enterprise with which he has been connected. Mr. Arnett is in the sixth generation of his family in Monongalia County, where his ancestor, James Arnett, settled soon after the close of the Revolutionary war. Of the five sons of this pioneer, Andrew, the eldest, the direct ancestor of William E., was born in New Jersey in 1760, and died in Monongalia County in 1820. He married Elizabeth Leggett, and their son James, great-grandfather of William E., was the first postmaster of Arnettsville, Monongalia County, which postoffice was named in his honor. His son, Eleazer Arnett, was the grandfather of William E. and his son, John B., who married Tabitha Bilingsby, was the father of William E. William E. Arnett was born at Maidville, Monongalia County, August 3, 1866, and received his education through attendance at the public schools. He commenced his independent career as a clerk in a general store at the age of nineteen years, but in 1889 turned his attention to banking in the capacity of teller. In 1901 he was elected cashier of that institution, and for twenty years has continued to discharge capably the duties of that post. Primarily a banker, and known as a careful, capable conservator of the interests of the depositors of the institution with which he is connected, Mr. Arnett also has been identified with numerous other interests, and at present is connected with a number of business and financial concerns which have benefited materially through his ability, experience and good judgment. He likewise has been active in civic, social and local public affairs. For a number of years he acted in the capacity of city recorder, an office in which he rendered the people of Morgantown sterling services. He is a member of the Official Board of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and has been a liberal supporter of religion and movements making for a higher order of morality. In fact, any enterprise that promises to be effective, constructive and progressive will find a supporter in Mr. Arnett. As a fraternalist he holds membership in the Masons, Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias. In 1888 Mr. Arnett married Miss Della Echart, who died in 1900, leaving two children: Grace, who married Charles T. Herd; and Roy. Mr. Arnett married Iva E. Lovett, and four children were born to this union: Mildred E., William E., Mary Louise and James L. ______________________________X-Message: #4 Date: Fri, 28 Apr 2000 20:37:01 EDT From: "Pam Honaker" To: WV-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-ID: <20000429003701.29240.qmail@hotmail.com> Subject: Bio-William H. Carfer-Wood County Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed The History of West Virginia, Old and New Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, Volume II, page 462 William H. Carfer, Wood County WILLIAM H. CARFER has been a resident of Wood County nearly all his life and his activities as a farmer, public official and business executive constitute an impressive total that justifies the widespread esteem in which he is held at Parkersburg and in other sections of the state. He represents the third generation of the Carfer family in America. His grandfather, Henry Carfer, was a native of Holland. Coming to the United States in 1797 as a young man, he settled on a farm near Moundsville, Marshall County, in what is now West Virginia, and lived out his industrious life there. Of his six children his second son was Stephen Carfer, who was born on the old farm near Moundsville and married in that county Sophia Roberts. He was a farmer there and in 1855 moved his family to Wood County. At the outbreak of the Civil war he exhibited a passionate devotion to the cause of the Union. He enlisted in Company K of the Fifteenth West Virginia Volunteer Infantry, though at that time he was past the age for conscription. He explained his enlistment on the ground that he would as soon be killed in the service of his country as killed by bushwhackers. He was a good and faithful soldier in several campaigns, and death overtook him in the battle of Snicker's Gap in the Shenandoah Valley in July, 1864. He was survived by his widow and six children. She died in Wood County, March 14, 1875. William H. Carfer was the ninth of the twelve children of his parents, only six of whom grew to mature years. He was born in Marshall County, March 8, 1854, was an infant when the family moved to Wood County, and as a boy of ten years was able to appreciate the tragedy of his soldier father's death. He had the advantages of the common schools in his neighborhood and when about seventeen years of age did grade work on the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad. For five years he also assisted in operating a portable saw mill. Otherwise his place and duties were on the home farm to the age of thirty-six. Mr. Carfer removed to Parkersburg in 1890, and for a time was a carpenter and employed in other capacities. He served four years on the Parkersburg police force, the last six months as a lieutenant of the plice. In 1896 he was elected constable, performing those duties four years. In 1900 he was elected and for four years was a justice of the peace, and in 1904 was chosen for a four year term as sheriff of Wood County. In 1910 he was a candidate for the State Legislature, but was defeated in the democratic landslide of that year. Since leaving politics and the public service Mr Carfer has been interested in oil production ans since 1915 has been treasurer of the Union Merchandise Company. He is also president of the Parkersburg Transfer & Storage Company and a director of the Central Bank & Trust Company. He is a member of the Official Board of the First Methodist Church and a teacher in the Sunday School. He has always been a staunch republican, and fraternally is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias. April 8, 1880 he married Violet, Adelaide Owings. She died November 20, 1898. She was the mother of four children: Mary Estella, who died at the age of four years; William Clayton, who died June 22, 1902, aged nineteen years; Archie Boyd, who is a graduate of West Virginia University; and John Franklin, who has found his work in the oil industry, both in Mexico and elsewhere. October 27, 1903, Mr Carfer married Mrs. Sarah Jane (Satterfield) Kiger. She had two children by her first husband, William H. Kiger. They are Martha Alta, now Mrs. Walter Koak, and Thomas E. Kiger. ________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com ______________________________X-Message: #5 Date: Fri, 28 Apr 2000 20:38:09 EDT From: "Pam Honaker" To: WV-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-ID: <20000429003810.61618.qmail@hotmail.com> Subject: Bio-Robert T. Stealy-Wood County Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed The History of West Virginia, Old and New Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, Volume II, page 462 Robert Stealey, Wood County ROBERT T. STEALY went to work in a useful occupation as soon as he left school, and by quiet and effecient performance in his line of duty has gained recognition as a good business man and is especially well known in hotel circles. Mr Stealy, who for a number of years has been connected with the Chancellor Hotel at Parkersburg, was born at Middleburn, West Virginia, March 20, 1874, son of Lloyd L. and Mary H. (Billingsley) Stealy. His father spent practically his entire life as a Middleburn merchant, was a man who enjoyed a widely extended friendship, and was active n the Methodist Church. One of eight children, all living but one, Robert T. Stealy grew up in the family home at Middleburn. He attended the common schools there and when about seventeen he started to learn the printer's trade in the office of a country newspaper. He had four years of this training and experience, but did not put his knowledge to use, since he left the printing office to become clerk in the Wells Hotel at Sisterville. His home has been at Parkersburg since 1898, and for several years he was clerk in the Blennerhasset Hotel, and in 1903 became clerk of the Chancellor Hotel. Later he acquired stock and is now treasurer of the Bank Block Investment Company, which is the operating corporation of the Chancellor Hotel. Mr Stealy is a member of the Parkersburg Country Club, and of the Rotary Club. In 1906 he married Miss Lillian Casto, of Parkersburg. Mrs. Stealy died January 22, 1913, leaving two children, Robert Evans and Julian Dorr. Mrs. Stealy's father was the late D.C. Casto, a well known Parkersburg lawyer. ________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com