WV-FOOTSTEPS-D Digest Volume 00 : Issue 195 Today's Topics: #1 BIO: JOSEPH H. HOGE, Mercer Co. WV [Valerie & Tommy Crook To: WV-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-Id: <4.3.1.0.20000724185513.00c14600@mail.earthlink.net> Subject: BIO: JOSEPH H. HOGE, Mercer 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. 591 Mercer JOSEPH H. HOGE is founder and president of the Blue- field Produce & Provision Company, Incorporated, a com- pany with established connections radiating all over the southern counties and one of the leading concerns of its kind in the state. Mr. Hoge enjoys an exceptionally high standing in financial and business circles at Bluefield, where, though one of the younger business men in years, he has been identified with commercial affairs throughout the period marking the great forward progress of this city. Mr. Hoge was born in Hoge Store, Giles County, Vir- ginia, February 27,1884, son of Samuel S. and Mary (Price) Hoge, natives of Virginia. His father was a farmer and a man of intellectual interests, performing his duty as a good citizen but not mixing in partisan polities. He was a member of the Masonic order. Joseph H. Hoge acquired a common school education at Hoge Store and spent two years in Roanoke College. He left school at the age of eighteen and soon afterward came to Bluefield and engaged in the produce business, starting with limited capital and gradually extending his trade until in 1904 he incorporated the Bluefield Produce & Provision Company, and has been steadily extending its plant and facilities until the company now does an annual business valued at more than $1,500,000. The company operates on a capital of $160,000. In December, 1905, in Rappahannock County, Virginia, Mr. Hoge married Miss Eliza Strother. She was a daughter of Judge James and Mary (Botts) Strother. Mrs. Hoge died February 25, 1911, leaving two sons, Strother and Joseph H., Jr. On June 24, 1914, Mr. Hoge married Miss Bessie Ellett, daughter of Dr. R. T. and Sue (French) Ellett. To this marriage have been born two children: William Ellett and Robert Sayers. Mr. Hoge is a member of the Episcopal Church, is a Royal Arch and Knight Templar Mason and Shriner, and is an active and influential member of the Chamber of Commerce and Rotary Club. He plays golf as a member of the Bluefield Country Club. ______________________________ X-Message: #2 Date: Mon, 24 Jul 2000 18:55:13 -0400 From: Valerie & Tommy Crook To: WV-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-Id: <4.3.1.0.20000724185513.00c28560@mail.earthlink.net> Subject: BIO: W. B. HAUGHT , Monongalia 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. 605 Monongalia W. B. HAUGHT is cashier of the Dunkard Valley Bank at Blacksville, West Virginia. This is one of the prosperous financial institutions of Monongalia County, serving par- ticularly the community of Dunkard Creek and its tribu- taries, about twenty-two miles west of Morgantown. The bank was organized in 1902, and still retains its capitaliza- tion of $25,000. It now has a surplus of $12,500 and has paid regular six per cent dividends. The deposits on June 30, 1921, aggregated approximately $250,000. John W. Scott is president, W. I. Booth, of Clarksburg, vice presi- dent, W. B. Haught, cashier. The first cashier of the bank was T. J. Collins, who served four or five years. Mr. Haught was born in Battelle District of Monongalia County, a few miles west of Blacksville, November 14, 1885, son of J. N. and Nancy C. (Barr) Haught. His parents were also born in this community, and are still living at their old home. The grandfather, Henry Haught, was a native of Germany and was a lad when he came with his parents to America and settled in Battelle District. W. B. Haught is well educated, attending college at Bridgewater, Virginia, and the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware. He studied law with James A. Meredith at Fairmont, but soon gave up his professional preparation and entered the Peoples Bank at Fairmont. He Was promoted to assistant cashier, and remained there until May, 1914 when he was chosen cashier of the Dunkard Valley Bank, and is also one of its directors. Mr. Haught is a republican, and is serving his fourth term as town recorder of Blacks- ville. He has filled the chairs of the local lodge of Knights of Pythias and is the present keeper of records and seal. Mr. Haught takes an intelligent and active interest in all matters connected with the welfare of the community, and is particularly interested in education. He was a member of the Christian Church of Fairmont, and now works with the local Baptist and Methodist churches. At Fairmont he married Miss Beryl Crim, of that city. Mrs. Haught assists Mr. Haught in his duties at the bank. ______________________________ X-Message: #3 Date: Mon, 24 Jul 2000 18:55:13 -0400 From: Valerie & Tommy Crook To: WV-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-Id: <4.3.1.0.20000724185513.00c186d0@mail.earthlink.net> Subject: BIO: WILLIAM GRAY BARNHART, Kanawha 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. 592-593 Kanawha WILLIAM GRAY BARNHART, by reason of his four years' service as United States district attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia and as head of one of the busiest law firms at Charleston, achieved a really state wide repu- tation at the bar of West Virginia. These achievements were the result of a comparatively brief lifetime. He was born near Buffalo in Putnam County April 15, 1880, and died on Christmas Eve, December 24, 1921. He was a son of Lewis and Isabel (Hartley) Barn- hart. His father, also deceased, was a native of Pennsyl- vania and of Holland ancestry, and for years enjoyed a high place at the bar of Winfield, county seat of Putnam County. A surviving brother of William G. Barnhart is A. J. Barn- hart, manager of the Charleston Association of Credit Men. The late Mr. Barnhart was a popular member of the Elks and Knights of Pythias. He married Miss Nettie E. Gillespie, of Braxton County. He was the father of two children, Ruth Frances, by a former marriage, and William Gray, Jr. Mr. Barnhart well earned the tribute paid him by the Kanawha County Bar Association, whose memorial, now included in the records of the State and Federal Courts of West Virginia, is a concise review of his life and is pre- sented herewith: "The death of William Gray Barnhart was the fifth among the Kanawha bar in the year 1921, a mortality that is remarkable. Our deceased brother was born April 15, 1880, at Buffalo in Putnam County, and was educated in the local schools of that county and in the University of West Virginia, from which he graduated in 1902. He was admitted to the bar of Putnam County immediately after his graduation, and in the same year was elected to the Legislature from that county, and served in the regular session of 1903 and the extra session of 1904. In 1907 he removed to Charleston, and practiced law in this city, and in 1913 was appointed United States district attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia, which position he held until 1917, when he resigned to take up private prac- tice. His official record as district attorney was very high. He was prompt, active, energetic, and very able in the prose- cution of the pleas of the government. In June, 1920, he entered the law firm of Barnhart, Horan and Pettigrew. He was a hard working, energetic, strong and successful lawyer, and an advocate of very marked powers. He was noted for his fidelity to his clients and the painstaking way in which he prepared and tried his cases. His practice extended throughout Southern West Virginia, and this made his acquaintance with the people very wide. Such a man could not keep out of politics, but his participation in politics was not selfish, and he was more often looking after the political party of which he was a member than his own personal interest. There were few men in the state with greater powers upon the 'stump' and he found it difficult to resist the demands of his friends throughout Southern West Virginia whenever a campaign was on, and often he would yield to these demands to the sacrifice of his own personal interest. Few men had more devoted per- sonal friends. Just before he died he had settled himself down to the practice of law to the exclusion of everything else, and that success was attendant which always comes to a lawyer from application and ability. His death, from our narrow viewpoint, seems untimely. Barely in the prime of life, thoroughly equipped for a professional career, it seemed that he was just fairly beginning as a successful lawyer. His fellow members,of the bar deeply regret his untimely death, and feel that this bar has lost a strong arm, and a member who would have added still further luster and honor to our profession." ______________________________ X-Message: #4 Date: Mon, 24 Jul 2000 19:47:26 -0400 From: Valerie & Tommy Crook To: WV-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-Id: <4.3.1.0.20000724194709.00ba8380@mail.earthlink.net> Subject: BIO: THE WELLSBURG NATIONAL BANK, Brooke 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. 601 Brooke THE WELLSBURG NATIONAL BANK is one of the most sub- stantial and important financial institutions of Brooke County and its judicial center, the City of Wellsburg. This historic old institution dates its foundation back to the year 1832, when it instituted operations under the cor- porate title of Northwestern Bank of Virginia, or as the Wellsburg branch of that pioneer banking corporation, the parent institution being the National Bank of Virginia at Wheeling. John C. Campbell, an attorney, became the first president of the Wellsburg bank, and of him mention is made in the general historical department of this publica- tion. In 1863 a reorganization took place, and the institu- tion acquired charter as the First National Bank of Wells- burg. Another reorganization, in 1871, resulted in the adoption of the present corporate title, the Wellsburg Na- tional Bank. Mr. Campbell, the first president, eventually removed from Wellsburg to Wheeling and became one of the leading members of the bar of that city. Samuel Jacob, whose son Frank still resides at the old family home- stead, was a director of the bank until his death. W. K. Pendleton, president of Bethany College, became president of the bank, and thus served until about 1882, when he be- came president of the college mentioned. John C. Palmer, who received his personal names in honor of John C. Campbell, the first president of the institution, became pres- ident of the bank, and continued its executive head until his death in 1905, when he was succeeded by his son John C., Jr., the present incumbent. J. S. Beall, father of Colo- nel Beall, was active in the affairs of the bank for many years, as were also his brother, Wilson Beall, and Adam Kuhn. Since 1871 the Wellsburg National Bank has based its operations on a capital stock of $100,000. In 1905 its resources were about $300,000, and to-day the resources are in excess of $1,000,000. The bank still occupies the substantial building that was erected for its use in 1836 and which is now one of the venerable landmarks of Brooke County. ______________________________ X-Message: #5 Date: Mon, 24 Jul 2000 19:47:26 -0400 From: Valerie & Tommy Crook To: WV-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-Id: <4.3.1.0.20000724194716.00c18cb0@mail.earthlink.net> Subject: BIO: JAMES STANLEY CORDER, 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. 594 Barbour JAMES STANLEY CORDER, son of William Alonzo Corder, is a prominent young banker of Philippi. He was born at the home of his parents in Barbour County, October 11, 1887, and was liberally educated, graduating from the public schools and from Broaddus College of Philippi, and attended the preparatory school of "West Virginia "University at Keyser, and West Virginia Wesleyan College at Buck- hannon. He taught school in Barbour County for two years. His early ambition was for a medical career, and he had attended college with that in view. However, upon the organization of the People's Bank of Philippi on September 15, 1908, he entered that institution as teller, and served in that capacity until 1914, when he became cashier. He was the youngest teller and also the youngest cashier in the city and the county when he entered upon the respective duties of those positions. The active officers of the bank are Lee J. Sandridge, president; William A. Corder, first vice president; B. E. Snyder, second vice president; J. Stanley Corder, cashier; and Sherman Lindsey, assistant cashier. J. Stanley Corder married Miss Audrey Dyer, and they have one daughter, Ruth Reynolds Corder. J. Stanley Corder is high in Masonry being a Knight Templar and Shriner. ______________________________ X-Message: #6 Date: Mon, 24 Jul 2000 19:47:26 -0400 From: Valerie & Tommy Crook To: WV-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-Id: <4.3.1.0.20000724194716.00c39e50@mail.earthlink.net> Subject: BIO: WILLIAM ALONZO CORDER, 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. 593-594 Barbour WILLIAM ALONZO CORDER. In Barbour County the name Corder has come to stand for all those qualities and deeds that are significant of integrity in business and social rela- tionship. William Alonzo Corder, popularly known among his friends as "Lonnie," has steadfastly emulated the virtues of his father and grandfather in this respect, and as stockman, banker and man of affairs his personal judg- ment is as nearly standardized in current acceptation among his friends and associates as any coin of character can possibly be. Members of the Corder family have lived plain and modest lives, have done well for themselves and have assisted others to the extent of their power-have been useful, honorable and responsible at all times. The name Corder is of English and Irish ancestry. The founder of the American family was Joseph Corder, who came from England and settled in Virginia about the close of the Revolutionary war. His children consisted of four daughters and four sons, the sons being James, Joseph, William and John. James moved to Ohio and settled at Circleville, John located near Logansport, Indiana, and Joseph crossed the Blue Ridge Mountains in 1838 into Western Virginia. The other son, William, grandfather of William A. Cor- der, was born March 29, 1785, in that portion of Frederick County now Fauquier County, Virginia. On September 14, 1811, he married Sarah Cole, of German ancestry and a native of Loudoun County, Virginia. In 1814, with two young children, they crossed the Alleghany Mountains, pass- ing through the wilderness until in December they reached what is now Barbour, then a part of Harrison County. Here William Corder bought fifty acres of land for $450. He bought this from Peter Robinson, and it was located on Hacker, near Philippi. On the land he put up a small cabin of hewn logs, and within its walls started the simple life of the pioneer. From an humble beginning his indus- try carried him into the ranks of the well-to-do, and eventu- ally he became owner of 1,200 acres. He and his wife had eleven children, named Joseph, William, Joshua, James, John, Edward, Elizabeth, Martha Ann, Mary, Ingaby and Hannah. Edward was a captain in the Confederate army during the Civil war, dying from wounds received while leading his men in action. His last words as he was bleed- ing to death were: "Go on men, push forward and save the day. I am a dead man." Of this family James Corder was born on Hacker, near Philippi, January 15, 1824. Pioneer days had not altogether disappeared while he was a boy, and in a new country he had only an education supplied by subscription schools a few weeks each year. He was well prepared for a life of toil and activity when he reached manhood. Remaining under the parental roof until he was thirty-five years of age, he was then given about 200 acres of land by his father. At that time land was cheap and this inheritance represented only an opportunity for hard work and long persevering toil. He paid the price of success on these terms, and at one time his estate was represented by 1 500 acres and much real estate and personal property besides. At his death on March 16, 1905, he was regarded as one of the wealthiest men in the county, and the wealth of esteem paid his character was even greater. He was a conservative and careful business man, and an example of his conserva- tism is found in the fact that he took nearly ten years to perfect and arrange his will. His old friends still say of him that while he was slow in arriving at a definite con- clusion he was always right and he never broke his word. He made money as a farmer and through cattle, and he had few equals as a judge of live stock. He had made con- siderable progress toward accumulating a moderate portion when the Civil war came on, and before it was over he was down at the bottom of the ladder and had to begin over again. A Southern sympathizer, he suffered the inevitable hostility paid a Southern man, and when the Jones raiders came through Philippi they ran off his cattle and horses and took away much other personal property. He met the men on the road driving off his live stock, and stopping them, he pleaded that they return him the oxen, which were his sole dependents for hauling wood. One of the raiders threatened to shoot him if he did not get out of the way, but he refused to yield and in the end he secured his yoke of oxen. However, the loss of the cattle left him heavily in debt. In that crisis he went to his father for assistance. His father was regarded as a wealthy man, but, without directly refusing the aid asked, felt that it would be a good test of character for a young man still with his best years before him if permitted to depend upon his own resources in this emergency. The young man then borrowed money at 10 per cent interest in order to restock his farm, and he proved equal to the test and before long had recouped his losses and was once more rated as a man of wealth. James Corder married Mary C. Bond, daughter of Reuben Bond. She was born in Harrison County, August 10, 1830, and died November 27, 1904. The children of this good old couple were: William Alonzo; A. B. Corder, of Taylor County; Icy, who is Mrs. L. D. Woodford, of Philippi; Sarah, who married W. F. Cole, of Barbour County; and Stella, who died when in her 'teens. James Corder was not a man to regard his responsibilities ended with looking after his own interests. He was one of the leading members of the Primitive Baptist Church in his community. He and his brother Joshua built what is known as the Mount Olive Church on Hacker, and that house of worship is still standing. He was not a seeker of public office, though asked many times to serve. He gave liberally to church and charitable causes, and was more than willing to come to the assistance of his friends and neighbors in time of need, and he served them in the true spirit of Christian fellowship. A son of James W. and Mary C. (Bond) Corder, William Alonzo Corder was born on Hacker in Barbour County, October 20, 1862. While he has no recollection of the war itself, his early youth was spent in the period immediately following the war, when the country in general was recover- ing and while his father was making valiant efforts to re- establish himself as a stock man. He made the best pos- sible use of such educational opportunities as were at hand, and while he realizes now that conditions were rather hard and that he was deprived of many of the advantages given to youth of more modern times, he also feels that his character was really strengthened In this school of bard knocks, and the lessons of thrift he thus gained have been of inestimable value to him in later years. Farming and stock raising have constituted his primary activities, and like his father, he is a judge of good live stock and has set a high standard in his home county as a business-like farmer. His homestead is frequently pointed out as one of the best examples of progressive agriculture and stock husbandry in that part of the state. His farm, which is known as Meadow Brook Farm, comprises 700 acres, beau- tifully located about three miles north of Philippi, on the Beverly and Fairmont Pike, and at all seasons of the year it is a model of systematic arrangement and efficient man- agement. Much of the land of the farm is underlaid with coal. Supplementing his farming activities, William A. Corder has had other business concerns. He was at one time in the mercantile business and was postmaster at Switzers. He became one of the organizers and a director of the People's Bank of Philippi on September 15, 1908, and later was made first vice president of that institution and is also one of the Discount Committee. His talent for business, his wide experience and knowledge of men and conditions made him especially valuable in handling the resources of the bank. For fifteen years he has been one of the men largely responsible for the growth and prosperity of this institution, and gives much of his personal time to the bank. He is also a director of the Laurel Hill Orchard Company. Mr. Corder is not a member of any secret or fraternal order, is a democrat in politics, and is an active member and attends worship at the Mount Olive Primitive Baptist Church, where his father and grandfather worshipped before him. On June 19, 1884, Mr. Corder married Nannie R. Rey- nolds, who was born October 28, 1863, daughter of Ben- jamin S. and Lucy (Pell) Reynolds. Mrs. Corder graduated from the Fairmont State Normal School in 1881. The only child of Mr. and Mrs. Corder is a son, James S. Corder, a brief sketch of whom follows: