WV-FOOTSTEPS-D Digest Volume 00 : Issue 161 Today's Topics: #1 BIO: EMMIT O. BOYLEN, Barbour Co. [Valerie & Tommy Crook To: WV-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-Id: <4.3.1.0.20000709131933.00c30100@mail.earthlink.net> Subject: BIO: EMMIT O. BOYLEN, Barbour 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. 465-466 Barbour EMMIT O. BOYLEN. On land and in the same community where the Pioneer Boylen settled and began his activities as a home-maker a hundred years ago Emmit O. Boylen has found his work, congenial duties, and the relationships that give life value. His home is on rural route No. 2 out of Philippi, but the locality is better known as Taylor's Drain. A prosperous farmer, Mr. Boylen has accepted op- portunities for usefulness outside his private affairs, and has exemplified the same high standard of good citizenship that has always characterized the name in this section of West Virginia. His pioneer ancestor was his grandfather, Abner Boylen, who on coming to West Virginia settled in the woods and on land now owned by Emmit Boylen. He put up a log cabin and that rude house, with its simple comforts, sufficed him during his life time and continued to be the home of his widow for several years. The old house stood until recently. The oldest son of Abner Boylen was John Boylen, who was born at Taylor's Drain in Barbour County July 16, 1834. For his education he attended the old field subscrip- tion school, and farming was his regular occupation. His first farming experience on his own account was south of Philippi, but he soon returned to the Taylor's Drain local- ity and finally bought the Heck farm, on which he spent the rest of his life. Mr. Heck was one of the earliest settlers in that region, taking up land on Hacker's Creek and built a log house, in which he lived out his life. His wife and two children are buried at Taylor's Drain Church. John Boylen was a Union man, but his effort to get into the army was rejected. He began voting as a democrat, but the issues of the war made him a republican. He was a leader in the Methodist Church and helped build the church now standing on Taylor's Drain, and his home was the place of entertainment for the minister who Served that community. John Boylen was a fine example of physical, mental and moral manhood, stood six feet tall, like men of his day wore a chin beard, and was kindly and helpful in his relations with his friends and natives. He was well informed by reading and observation and an interesting conversationalist. John Boylen, who died April 13, 1908, at the age of seventy-four, married on September 23, 1862, Elizabeth Ann Read, who represented one of the prominent families in this section. She was born September 15, 1834, and died September 11, 1891. Her father, William Read, was born on Pleasant Creek in Taylor County, and married a Miss Sayre. William Read had a brother, Rev. Frank Read. Their mother was one of the finest types of pioneer women and one of the first settlers in this section of Bar- bour County. She possessed a great deal of courage and resourcefulness. When her husband, who was a great hunter and trapper and supplied most of the meat for the family in that way, was absent from home on his expeditions his wife -would prop the cabin door to prevent wolves or bear or other wild animals from molesting her. Her husband was of German ancestry, and he used the language largely in conversation and also read and wrote it. The children of John Boylen and wife were: Francis A.; Celia A., wife of Absolom Poling, of Upshur County; John Calvin, a farmer near Berryberg; Matilda Jane, who married Lewis Poling, of Bedford County, Pennsylvania; William Irvin, who died in infancy; James Lloyd, who was a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church and died in Lewis County, leaving two daughters; Emmit O.; Ellis, who died in childhood. Emmit O. Boylen was born October 24, 1869, on the old Heck farm and in a log house which stood there. His birthplace was within a mile of the site where his grand- father settled, and for more than fifty years he has remained in this locality and on his present farm. He secured his education in the public school on Taylor's Drain. The day of the log cabin school had passed when he became a scholar. He came under the influence of some very able teachers in that school. One of them was Judge Ira E. Robinson, who was not only a good schoolmaster, but later distinguished himself as an able lawyer and judge. An- other figure in the Taylor's Drain community was Scott White, now a Clarksburg banker, and still another who made a favorable impression was Jimmie Scott. Emmit O. Boylen remained at home with his parents and eared for them in their declining years. When he married he brought his bride to the old home. He learned farming under his father, and has never departed to a great extent from the lessons he thus learned. He not only owns the homestead where he was born, but the place where his grandfather settled. He has grown beef cattle, has kept his stock at a good grade, and has bred some pedigreed Poland China hogs. In the line of community service Mr. Boylen was post- master at Boylen, being appointed during the adminis- tration of Colonel Roosevelt. He has also been a member of the School Board and supervisor of roads. He and Mrs. Boylen are active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and for many years he was a trustee and steward, and has been one of the leaders in keeping up Sunday School work. He was superintendent of the Taylor's Drain Sunday School, and maintained that institution when his and one other family were the only ones interested. At Grafton, October 23, 1895, Mr. Boylen married Miss Maude B. Slane, daughter of John and Annie (Finley) Slane, the former a native of Hampshire County, West Virginia, and the latter of Barbour County, born on Buckhannon River, where her father conducted a mill. John Slane was a Government teamster in the Civil war, being a boy at the time, after the war was a carpenter in Grafton, and finally entered a pump factory as a turner and was in the service of that institution forty years. In 1914 he and his wife removed to Statesville, North Carolina, and they celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in that Southern city on April 7, 1922. The members of the Slane family are: Grace, wife of George Stephens, of Statesville; Oscar, of Statesville, who is active head of several mirror factories in North. Carolina, Kentucky and Tennessee and a man of wealth and influence; Mrs. Boylen, who was born September 1, 1877; Effie G., wife of Frank Winneskie, of High Point, North Carolina; Fred, of Statesville; Willis, of High Point; Lloyd, who died in childhood; Mabel, wife of Fred Whitescarver, of Prunty- town, West Vrginia. At their delightful home in the country Mr. and Mrs. Boylen have provided for the material comforts and edu- cation of a happy family of children growing up about them. These children are: Elbert D., Carl L., Walter Fred, Clarence, Freda Belle, Neva Clare and Wilford B. The son Elbert is a merchant in the mining town of Midland. Carl is a student in an automobile school in Chicago. Walter Fred is now finishing his education in Broaddus College at Philippi. ______________________________ X-Message: #2 Date: Sun, 09 Jul 2000 15:39:48 -0400 From: Valerie & Tommy Crook To: WV-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-Id: <4.3.1.0.20000709131936.00cdc3f0@mail.earthlink.net> Subject: BIO: JOHN E. WRIGHT, Ohio 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. 465 Ohio JOHN E. WRIGHT was born at Wheeling, December 19, 1862, his father, the late John Wright, having been one of the twenty-three men who in 1852 organized the LaBelle Iron Works, long one of the leading industrial concerns of the Wheeling District, he having been a practical man in the business and having had charge of motive power, as superintendent, from the time of the erecting and equipping of the original plant. He retired from active service in 1876, but retained his financial interests in the business until his death in 1907, at the venerable age of eighty-five years. John Wright was born at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and came to Wheeling in 1852, at the time of the organiza- tion of the LaBelle Iron Works. He was an expert iron man, he having learned his trade in one of the largest of the old-time iron mills in Pittsburgh. He was also a director of the Jefferson Iron Works at Steubenville, Ohio, and was active in political affairs, first as a whig and later as a republican, though he had no ambition for public office. His wife, whose maiden name was Eleanor Madden, was born at Cincinnati, Ohio, and their companionship of more than fifty years was severed by her death in 1903. They became the parents of seven children: Anna Virginia, widow of F. J. Hugens, resides at Wheeling; Miss Eliza- beth died in 1921; Eleanor G. is the wife of C. A. Robinson. of Wheeling; William F. died at the age of twenty-three years; John E., of this review, was the next in order of birth; Margaret is the wife of C. L. Taylor, of Los Angeles, California; and Carie M. is the wife of Thomas Stewart, of Wheeling. John E. Wright gained his early education in the public schools and as a youth he became a skilled operator of a nail machine in the plant of the LaBelle Iron Works. Later he was made paymaster in the office of the concern, and he continued his advancement through various grades until ho became president of the company in 1898. He thus con- tinued until 1903, when he sold his interest in the business. In the following year he engaged in independent business as a broker and contractor, devoting five years to the iron and steel brokerage business and to contracting in public work. While president of the LaBelle Iron Works he pur- chased the Jefferson Iron Works at Steubenville, Ohio, re- built the plant and made the business a success, the same being still a subsidiary of the LaBelle Iron Works. Mr. Wright wedded Miss Bessie Baron, daughter of Abraham Baron, and her death occurred nineteen years later, in 1914. She is survived by two children: Mary Eleanor is the wife of David W. Sloan, of Baltimore, Mary- land; and John E., Jr., is superintendent of a plant at Elm Grove, a suburb of Wheeling. ______________________________ X-Message: #3 Date: Sun, 09 Jul 2000 15:39:48 -0400 From: Valerie & Tommy Crook To: WV-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-Id: <4.3.1.0.20000709114426.00cc5a20@mail.earthlink.net> Subject: BIO: ROSCOE C. SMITH, Lewis 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. 462-463 Lewis ROSCOE C. SMITH, former superintendent of the Lewis County Infirmary, had a thoroughly successful record as a practical farmer as a chief qualification for that post. He is a good business man, capable in handling affairs of public trust, and was a decided success in his responsi- bility. Mr. Smith was born near Homer in Lewis County, June 14, 1872, son of Ellis L. and Matilda F. (Hudson) Smith. His father was born near Horner, September 25, 1843, and his mother was born on Shin Creek, near Georgetown, August 6, 1843, and died in 1910. Ellis Smith was a son of Martin J. and Margaret (Talbert) Smith, the former a native of Lewis County, who died when past seventy- eight years of age, and the latter a native of Upshur Coun- ty. Matilda F. Hudson was a daughter of Jacob W. Hud- son, who lived to the advanced age of ninety-one. Ellis L. Smith, after his marriage, settled on a farm near Hor- ner and devoted his years to farming, except for the four years he was a soldier ,in the Union Army. He was wounded July 4, 1862, but after recuperating joined his command and served until the close of the war. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Horner. His eleven children were named Clarence L., Flavilla F., Maggie, Jacob M., R. C., Washington H., Ellis L., Myrtle, Grace, Hugh and Esta. Roscoe C. Smith grew up on the home farm and had a public school education. After he was twenty-one he continued working on the farm and later he and his brother Jacob M. bought 107 acres, which they farmed in partner- ship. When he sold his interest in that he bought land in Upshur County, at the headwaters of Stone Coal Creek. This property he sold in 1903, and then bought a farm in his native community, near Horner. Mr. Smith owns 100 acres in his own name, while Mrs. Smith has thirty- six acres. While still continuing the ownership of the farm Mr. Smith accepted appointment as superintendent of the Lewis County Infirmary, in March, 1917, and devoted five years to the official administration of that important county institution. In 1896 he married Mary E. Clark, who was born in Lewis County, May 1, 1878, and was educated in the com- mon schools. Eleven children were born to their marriage, and the ten now living are Virgil N., who was with the colors at a training camp during the World war; Lura M.; Leia; Commodore R.; Ercell; Madge; Milo M.; Gladys; Lutie; and John R. The family are members of the Metho- dist Episcopal Church at Horner. Mr. Smith is a past noble grand of Golden Lodge No. 139, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, is a member of the Encampment, the Modern Woodmen of America, and in politics is a re- publican. ______________________________ X-Message: #4 Date: Sun, 09 Jul 2000 16:16:28 -0400 From: Valerie & Tommy Crook To: WV-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-Id: <4.3.1.0.20000709161450.00c354b0@mail.earthlink.net> Subject: DEED: Summers Co WV - FORREN/Glenray Lumber Co. 1913 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed DEED THIS INDENTURE, made this 31 day of January, A. D. 1913, by and between C. H. Forren and A. C. Forren, his wife, of Summers County, state of West Virginia, parties of the first part, and Glenray Lumber company, a corporation, whose principal place of business is at Glenray, W. Va., party of the second part, - Witnesseth, - That for and in consideration of the sum of TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS ($200.00), in hand paid to the parties of the first part, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, and the further consideration of One Thousand Feet of #3 Com. Hardwood Lumber, delivered at the Walton Flat Switch on second partyes [sic] railroad, the said parties of the first part do bargain and sell and by these presents convey all the merchantable timber on a certain lot or tract of land bounded and described as follows; - Beginning on the south bounded by Joseph Stevens and G. H. Fink, thence running down the hill to the road near G. H. Fink's, thence with the road to a school house near C. H. Forren's, thence with the fence to a Red Oak corner to line of Joseph Stevens, thence back to the point of beginning; - containing thirty Acres more or less. Said tract is situated in Summers County, West Va. Parties of the first part reserve out of above grant six small Chestnut trees, as agreed upon by the parties. Party of the second part agrees to keep the fences cleared of brush and the road open. Parties of the first part further grant unto the party of the second part a period of six months time for the removal of said timber, together with rights of ingress and egress, rights of way for a railroad, other roads and tramways, needed by party of the second part in removing said timber and other timber owned by said second party. To have and to hold said tract of timber hereby granted with appurtenances thereto, unto the said Glenray Lumber Company, its successors and assigns, to the only proper use and behoof of said Glenray Lumber Company, it successors and assigns. And the said grantors do hereby warrant generally the property hereby conveyed. In witness whereof, the said grantors have hereunto set their hands and seals the day and year first above written. C. H. Forren [seal] A. C. Forren [seal] State of West Virginia County of Greenbrier SS. On this 31 day of January A. D. 1913, before me, a Notary Public in and for said county, came the above named C. H. Forren and A. C. Forren his wife, and acknowledged the foregoing deed to be their act and deed, and desired the same to be recorded as such. Witness my hand and seal the day and year aforesaid. My commission expires Oct 12th 1922 C. H. Harrah N.P. ______________________________ X-Message: #5 Date: Sun, 09 Jul 2000 16:15:00 -0400 From: Valerie & Tommy Crook To: WV-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-Id: <4.3.1.0.20000709133828.00ce8d40@mail.earthlink.net> Subject: BIO: FRED D. WOLFE, Jackson 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. 469-470 FRED D. WOLFE spent many years as a farmer and teacher in West Virginia, but in recent years has found pleasant and congenial responsibilities as editor and publisher of The Mountaineer at Ripley, one of the three newspapers of Jackson County and the official organ of the demo- cratic party for the county. Mr. Wolfe was born at Given in Jackson County, De- cember 14, 1879. The Wolfe family is of English an- cestry. His grandfather, Abraham Wolfe, was born in Lewis County, West Virginia, in 1806, and as a young man removed to the Given community of Jackson County, where he spent his active life as a farmer and where he died in 1899. At Given he married Miss Mary Boswell. They were the parents of ten children, and those now living are: Nehemiah S.; Margaret, wife of Levi Moore, a farmer at Given; and Abraham, a farmer at Given. Nehemiah S. Wolfe has spent all his active life as a successful farmer at Given, where he was born February 14, 1838, but since 1919 has lived retired at Ripley with his son Fred. He is a democrat, and is affiliated with R. S. Brown Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, at Rock Castle. Nehemiah Wolfe married Victoria C. Smith, who was born at Letart, Ohio, in 1841 and died at Given in 1913. She represented a very historical family, being a great- granddaughter of Gen. Andrew Lewis. Gen. Andrew Lewis was one of the sons of John A. Lewis, a Scotch-Irishman who came from Ireland to America in Colonial times. John A Lewis married Lady Lynn. They lived on the frontier in the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia. It was Lady Lynn Lewis who was the distinguished heroine of the frontier who dismissed her four sons with the words "Go, keep back the foot of the invader or see my face no more," and these sons all bore an honorable share in the struggle for inde- pendence. The sons Gen. Andrew Lewis and Charles Lewis were officers in the battle of Point Pleasant on October 10, 1774, a battle that many historians claim marked the begin- ning of the Revolutionary war. Nehemiah Wolfe and wife had the following children: Cora, who died at Fairplain, wife of Benjamin F. Crites, now a merchant at Ripley; Austin Monroe, a farmer at Given; Edward L., a merchant at Dunbar in Kanawha County; Clinton, who was an at- torney and died at Ripley in 1900; Lewis V., a merchant at Dunbar; Fred D.; Helen, wife of Luther A. Parsons, a farmer at Alice, Ohio; and Mary Augusta, wife of Alva Moore, a boiler maker living at Macon, Georgia. Fred D. Wolfe attended the rural schools of Jackson County and the Ohio Valley College at Ravenswood to the age of nineteen. For the first thirty-four years of his life he made his home on his father's farm. His work as a teacher was begun in the Given school when he was eighteen. He taught in that school four years, and his record as an educator is spread over a period of nineteen years, during which time he taught in Jackson, Tyler, Logan, Mingo, Kanawha and Putnam counties. In 1917 Mr. Wolfe went on the road as traveling representative for the Dana Grocery Company of Ripley and for two years sold goods in portions of Mason, Jackson and Roane counties. November 17, 1919, he accepted the post of editor and manager of The Mountaineer at Ripley. This paper was established in 1892, and is a well edited journal, circulated in most of the homes of Jackson and surrounding counties, and is owned by The Mountaineer Company, the plant and offices being on Front Street in Ripley. W. L. Y. Currey, of Sandyville, is president; Kenna K. Hyre, of Ripley, is secretary; while the editor and publisher is Fred D. Wolfe. Mr. Wolfe is a democrat, a member of Ripley Lodge No. 16, A. F. and A. M., and a past chancellor of Walker Wright Lodge No. 95, Knights of Pythias. During the war he sustained his share of activities in behalf of the various drives, and personally he tried to enlist at Parkers- burg, but was rejected partly on account of his age and partly because of his dependents. September 22, 1915, in Jackson County, he married Miss Cleo Rawling, daughter of Luke A. and Ella (Winter) Rawling, farmers in the Fairplain community of Jackson County. Mr. and Mrs. Wolfe have two children: Dana, born October 16, 1916, and Dona, born December 20, 1920.