WV-FOOTSTEPS-D Digest Volume 00 : Issue 142 Today's Topics: #1 BIO: ROBERT A. DARNALL, Upshur Cou [Valerie & Tommy Crook To: WV-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-Id: <4.3.1.0.20000704134423.00cd9640@trellis.net> Subject: BIO: ROBERT A. DARNALL, Upshur County WV Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed The History of West Virginia, Old and New Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, Volume III, pg. 412-413 ROBERT A. DARNALL is one of the prosperous citizens of Upshur County. He is a farmer and farm owner near French Creek, but his career has been one of varied service and activity, and he is one of the best known men of the entire county. He was born in Upshur County June 20, 1850, son of Morgan A. and Jane (McDowell) Darnall. His father was a native of Greenbrier County and his mother of Monroe County, and they grew up in the same vicinity. Both were well educated, though they had only the subscription schools during their youth. After their marriage they settled on a farm in Upshur County, living near French Creek, and in 1859 moved to the farm now owned by Robert A. Dar- nall. Here the father died in 1883 and the mother in 1911. They were active members of the Baptist Church, of which Morgan Darnall was a deacon. He was affiliated with the Masonic Order and was a republican. During the Civil war he became captain and later was colonel of the Tenth West Virginia Infantry, Union Army. For a number of years he held the office of justice of the peace. Of his sixteen children, nine are still living. Robert A. Darnall grew up on a farm in Upshur County and his advantages in the common schools were supple- mented by two terms in the French Creek Academy. As a young man he taught school eight years. He was in the lumber business fourteen years, and since then has been quite steadily identified with the management of his farm of 325 acres in the French Creek neighborhood. Mr. Darnall was for six years a member of the County Court of Upshur County, is now one of the overseers of the poor, and is a fire insurance agent for the Grange Mutual Insurance Company. He is a republican, a mem- ber of the County Grange, and is a Baptist. June 20, 1880, he married Malinda C. Rexroad, who was born in the south end of Upshur County. They have five children: Thomas A., a mechanic at Buckhannon; Roscoe A., a merchant of Gilmer County; Porter A. who is in the wholesale and retail feed business with his brother, Roscoe A.; Nellie, wife of Fay Hammer, of Upshur County; and Nora E., wife of Philip Phillips, of Upshur County. ______________________________ X-Message: #2 Date: Tue, 04 Jul 2000 13:50:20 -0400 From: Valerie & Tommy Crook To: WV-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-Id: <4.3.1.0.20000704134945.00c2f2e0@trellis.net> Subject: BIO: VERNON LEE BENNETT, Upshur County WV Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed The History of West Virginia, Old and New Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, Volume III, pg. 413 Upshur VERNON LEE BENNETT is a veteran business man of Rock Cave, Upshur County, where for nearly forty years he has conducted a jewelry store. Mr. Bennett was born in Lewis County, West Virginia, May 6, 1861, son of James M. and Jemima S. (Wilson) Bennett. His father, a native of Lewis County and a tanner by trade, was a first cousin to Judge George Ben- nett and Lewis Bennett. Vernon Lee Bennett grew up on a farm at Glady Fork, received a common school educa- tion, and found his interests and activities centered in the home farm until he was twenty-two years of age. On April 15, 1884, Mr. Bennett began business at Rock Cave by opening a small stock of jewelry merchandise. He has been in business ever since, making his store respon- sive to the new ideas and developments of the community, is owner of a prosperous business, also has 100 acres of land in Lewis County, and derives a valuable income from a seven-acre peach orchard. His material prosperity is only a merited reward of so many years of work and management, and at the same time he enjoys the complete respect and confidence of his old friends and associates here. December 11, 1890, Mr. Bennett married Delia V. Boggs, a sister of Robert C. Boggs, the hotel proprietor at Rock Cave. Mr. and Mrs. Bennett are members of the Metho- dist Episcopal Church, South, in which Mr. Bennett is a trustee, steward and a member of the Official Board. He is affiliated with the Masonic Order and the Junior Order United American Mechanics, and votes as a democrat, but has had no desire at any time to hold office. ______________________________ X-Message: #3 Date: Tue, 04 Jul 2000 13:56:24 -0400 From: Valerie & Tommy Crook To: WV-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-Id: <4.3.1.0.20000704135547.00c2fec0@trellis.net> Subject: BIO: ASA D. PAGE, Upshur County WV Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed The History of West Virginia, Old and New Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, Volume III, pg. 413 ASA D. PAGE is one of the substantial men in the French Creek community of Upshur County, has lived there nearly all his life, has followed farming, still owns a good farm, and is interested in many matters of community welfare, including good roads, good churches and schools. Mr. Page was born on Mulberry Ridge in Upshur County, November 22, 1863, son of Frank and Martha (Young) Page. His mother was born on a farm near French Creek, a daughter of Gilbert and Amarillys (Barrett) Young. Gilbert Young was a son of Robert Young, who came to French Creek from Massachusetts. Franklin W. Page was born in Virginia and came to the French Creek community during the Civil war, was married and settled on a farm, where he continued farming until his death in July, 1872. His wife died in November, 1888. They were active church members and he was a republican. Their four children were: Asa D.; Charles, who died at the age of forty; Festus Y., who is interested in the copper industry in Arkansas; and L. W. Page, of Buckhannon. Asa D. Page grew up on the home farm and acquired a common school education. He farmed for several years, also spent a few years in the West, and since his return and his marriage he has been settled down to the vocation of a farmer and stockman on his hundred acre place. He is also a stockholder in the Bank of Adrian. Mr. Page is a trustee of the French Creek Presbyterian Church, is affiliated with Columbia Lodge No. 81, F. and A. M., and he and his wife are members of the Eastern Star. He also belongs to Adrian Lodge of Odd Fellows and to the Junior Order United American Mechanics. In politics he casts his vote as a republican. October 9, 1907, Mr. Page married Elsie Bunten. They have three children: French, born in 1909; Martha H., born in 1911; and Ruth, born in 1914. ______________________________ X-Message: #4 Date: Tue, 04 Jul 2000 15:19:03 -0400 From: Valerie & Tommy Crook To: WV-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-Id: <4.3.1.0.20000704151815.00c5a5c0@trellis.net> Subject: BIO: PARLEY E. CUTRIGHT, Upshur Co. WV Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed The History of West Virginia, Old and New Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, Volume III, pg. 413 Upshur PARLEY E. CUTRIGHT. It has been the destiny of Par- ley E. Cutright to set in motion those enterprises and influences that in an important degree represent the busi- ness and community activities of the Upshur Village of Frenchton, a thriving and progressive center of trade, church, school and social advantages. Mr. Cutright was born near Rock Cave in Upshur County August 27, 1882, son of Alonzo and Catherine D. (Strader) Cutright. His parents were also natives of Upshur County, his father born near Hampton and his mother near Tall- mansville. They grew up here, acquiring common school educations, and after their marriage settled on a farm and spent the rest of their lives in that industrious voca- tion. The father died in 1908 and the mother in June, 1921. Alonzo Cutright was also a house carpenter. He was a member of the Methodist Church, a republican, and was affiliated with the Junior Order United American Mechanics. There were three children: Parley E.; Loyd F., a farmer and trader in Upshur County, who married Florence Neely; and Isea, wife of James V. Armstrong, of Clarksburg. Parley E. Cutright grew up on the home farm, and at- tended the public schools and summer normals until quali- fied for teaching, a vocation he followed five years. He also learned telegraphy, and for fourteen years was in railroad service as an agent and operator. When he re- signed from the railroad company Mr. Cutright engaged in the feed business at Frenchton, and three years later, in May, 1921, he expanded the scope of his enterprise to general merchandising. He is now senior member of the firm Cutright & Neely, general merchants. Mr. Cut- right also owns a farm of eighty acres. He has been the leading spirit in the growth and devel- opment of Frenchton in every direction. He was the first agent for the Coal & Coke Railroad Company here. His enterprise and capital have been responsible for the chief building development in the town. He was instrumental in organizing the United Brethren Church of Frenchton, and also secured the institution of Lodges of the Knights of Pythias and Modern Woodmen of America, and served as the first officer in both these lodges. On August 31, 1903, Mr. Cutright married Miss Maude Neely, daughter of Alva and Christianna (Hinkle) Neely. They have one child, Lola A., born November 4, 1904, now the wife of Monter Harper. Mr. and Mrs. Harper live at Frenchton and have one child. Mr. Cutright and family are active in the United Brethren Church, in which he is a trustee, and he is now superintendent of the Sunday School. He is prominent in fraternal affairs, affiliated with Rock Cave Lodge No. 81, A. F. and A. M., Up- shur Chapter R. A. M., and the Buckhannon Command- ery; is a past noble grand of Lodge No. 375 of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows; past councillor of the Junior Order United American Mechanics No. 77; past chancellor and former district deputy chancellor of the Knights of Pythias in Frenchton Lodge No. 59, and is affiliated with Camp No. 14680, Modern Wood- men of America. He and Mrs. Cutright are members of the Eastern Star, and he is past worthy patron of the Chapter. In politics Mr. Cutright is a republican. ______________________________ X-Message: #5 Date: Tue, 04 Jul 2000 15:20:14 -0400 From: Valerie & Tommy Crook To: WV-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-Id: <4.3.1.0.20000704151907.00cc9920@trellis.net> Subject: BIO: JOSEPH P. MINEAR, Tucker Co. WV Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed The History of West Virginia, Old and New Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, Volume III, pg. 413-414 Tucker JOSEPH P. MINEAR has devoted the greater part of his active life to the coal mining industry in West Virginia. He is now superintendent of the Minear Coal & Mining Company at Adrian, this being a family corporation. The Minear family goes back into the pioneer history of Tucker County, West Virginia. The great-grandfather of Joseph Minear was David Minear, who came from old Virginia in 1789 and entered about five hundred acres of land in the vicinity of St. George in Tucker County. That land is still in the family name. David Minear is said to have built the first sawmill in this part of the state, and in the early days that mill cut great logs of walnut timber into common lumber. The grandfather of Joseph P. Minear was Enoch Minear. David Minear was founder of the Methodist Church in his community, building a church edifice, and his own children followed him in that religious faith. However, his grandson, David S. Minear, became a Presbyterian and was an elder in that church for many years. David S. was affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and voted as a democrat. He married Mary J. Parsons, who was also born in the St. George community. They have six children: Crede W., who grad- uated from the Smith Commercial College at Lexington, Kentucky, and is cashier of the First National Bank of Hendricks, West Virginia; Joseph P.; John W., of Parsons; Crawford W., of Tacoma, Washington; Mary C., wife of Lomax Wamsley, of Herndon, Virginia; and W. S., who lives on the old homestead farm. Joseph P. Minear was born at St. George February 1, 1870, grew up on the home farm, and supplemented his public school education in the Fairmont State Normal. He has had a busy career and for several years was in newspaper work at St. George and Davis. For six years he was railroad agent at Hendricks, and then became store manager for the Wildell Lumber Company, remaining in the service of that corporation six years. He then went to Harding, West Virginia, as store manager for the Davis Colliery Company, remaining there six years, and in 1917 took the responsibility of superintendent of the Minear Coal & Mining Company at Adrian. Mr. Minear is also one of the directors of the Bank of Adrian. He is a democrat, is affiliated with Hendricks Lodge of Knights of Pythias, a member of Beverly Lodge of Masons, and has attained the thirty-second degree in the Scottish Rite. Mrs. Minear is a member of the Eastern Star. They are active in the Presbyterian Church. In June, 1895, Mr. Minear married Anna T. Adams, daughter of John J. Adams. She graduated from the St. George Academy and was a teacher before her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Minear lost their only child, a daughter. ______________________________ X-Message: #6 Date: Tue, 04 Jul 2000 15:32:24 -0400 From: Valerie & Tommy Crook To: WV-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-Id: <4.3.1.0.20000704153111.00c5b740@trellis.net> Subject: BIO: HOMER O. VAN TROMP, M. D., Upshur Co. WV Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed The History of West Virginia, Old and New Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, Volume III, pg. 414 HOMER O. VAN TROMP, M. D. The medical and surgical practice of the French Creek community in Upshur County is ably looked after by Doctor Van Tromp, who was born and grew up in this community and has made a splendid record in his chosen profession. He has practiced here for nearly ten years. Doctor Van Tromp was born at French Creek Septem- ber 26, 1877, son of John A. and Margaret (Ward) Van Tromp. His father was born in Rockingham County, Vir- ginia, in March, 1840, and at the age of eighteen came to this section of West Virginia. He had acquired his early education in his native state, and he also attended sub- scription school in West Virginia. He was a student, and for many years was a successful teacher. He served nine months in the Twenty-fourth West Virginia Cavalry, and was discharged at the close of war. After his marriage he taught school in Upshur and Harrison counties, and finally moved to French Creek to educate his children at the old academy, and is still living at French Creek. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and a prohibitionist. John A. Van Tromp and wife had seven children, one of whom died at the age of nineteen. Those living are: John M., a teacher and surveyor in Upshur County; Lulu, wife of Jerome Fultz, of Jane Lew, West Virginia; Dr. Homer O.; Miss Iva L., who has been a teacher; Miss Mary E.; and Aleta, who is a graduate of the Fairmont State Normal and has been a teacher. Dr. Homer O. Van Tromp was reared at French Creek, attended the free schools there and took the work of the summer normal schools. As a young man he studied elec- tricity and steam engineering, and for a time was electri- cian at the West Virginia State Reform School and was also in Washington, District of Columbia, employed as chief engineer at the National Training School for Boys. For several years he had set his mind on a medical career, and in preparation therefor he entered the Eclectic School of Medicine at Cincinnati, where he was graduated in 1913, and in the same year returned to French Creek to begin practice. Doctor Van Tromp is a member of the County, State and American Medical Associations. He is a busy man in his profession, and at the same time takes a deep interest in everything connected with the general welfare and progress of the community. He is a stockholder in the Bank of Adrian, in the Upshur County Fair Associa- tion and the Buckhannon Chamber of Commerce. He is a republican, a Presbyterian, and is affiliated with Rock Cave Lodge No. 81, A. F. and A. M., and he and his wife are members of Aletha Chapter of the Eastern Star. In 1907 Doctor Van Tromp married Blanch E. Brooks, a daughter of Adolphus Brooks and member of a prom- inent family of educators and horticulturists in Upshur County. ______________________________ X-Message: #7 Date: Tue, 04 Jul 2000 16:03:53 -0400 From: Valerie & Tommy Crook To: WV-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-Id: <4.3.1.0.20000704160322.00c177b0@trellis.net> Subject: BIO: HOMER O. VAN TROMP, M. D. , Upshur Co. WV Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed The History of West Virginia, Old and New Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, Volume III, pg. 414 Upshur HOMER O. VAN TROMP, M. D. The medical and surgical practice of the French Creek community in Upshur County is ably looked after by Doctor Van Tromp, who was born and grew up in this community and has made a splendid record in his chosen profession. He has practiced here for nearly ten years. Doctor Van Tromp was born at French Creek Septem- ber 26, 1877, son of John A. and Margaret (Ward) Van Tromp. His father was born in Rockingham County, Vir- ginia, in March, 1840, and at the age of eighteen came to this section of West Virginia. He had acquired his early education in his native state, and he also attended sub- scription school in West Virginia. He was a student, and for many years was a successful teacher. He served nine months in the Twenty-fourth West Virginia Cavalry, and was discharged at the close of war. After his marriage he taught school in Upshur and Harrison counties, and finally moved to French Creek to educate his children at the old academy, and is still living at French Creek. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and a prohibitionist. John A. Van Tromp and wife had seven children, one of whom died at the age of nineteen. Those living are: John M., a teacher and surveyor in Upshur County; Lulu, wife of Jerome Fultz, of Jane Lew, West Virginia; Dr. Homer O.; Miss Iva L., who has been a teacher; Miss Mary E.; and Aleta, who is a graduate of the Fairmont State Normal and has been a teacher. Dr. Homer O. Van Tromp was reared at French Creek, attended the free schools there and took the work of the summer normal schools. As a young man he studied elec- tricity and steam engineering, and for a time was electri- cian at the West Virginia State Reform School and was also in Washington, District of Columbia, employed as chief engineer at the National Training School for Boys. For several years he had set his mind on a medical career, and in preparation therefor he entered the Eclectic School of Medicine at Cincinnati, where he was graduated in 1913, and in the same year returned to French Creek to begin practice. Doctor Van Tromp is a member of the County, State and American Medical Associations. He is a busy man in his profession, and at the same time takes a deep interest in everything connected with the general welfare and progress of the community. He is a stockholder in the Bank of Adrian, in the Upshur County Fair Associa- tion and the Buckhannon Chamber of Commerce. He is a republican, a Presbyterian, and is affiliated with Rock Cave Lodge No. 81, A. F. and A. M., and he and his wife are members of Aletha Chapter of the Eastern Star. In 1907 Doctor Van Tromp married Blanch E. Brooks, a daughter of Adolphus Brooks and member of a prom- inent family of educators and horticulturists in Upshur County.