WV-FOOTSTEPS-D Digest Volume 00 : Issue 202 Today's Topics: #1 BIO: THOMAS H. DENNIS, Monroe Co. [Valerie & Tommy Crook To: WV-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-Id: <4.3.1.0.20000801195318.00c5da10@mail.earthlink.net> Subject: BIO: THOMAS H. DENNIS, Monroe Co. 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. 622 Monroe THOMAS H. DENNIS, for a half a century an active member of the Greenbrier County bar and one of the Con- federate veterans in the state, was born in Charlotte County, Virginia, February 20, 1846, representing a family that has been in Charlotte County for many generations. He is a son of William H. and Ann (Morton) Dennis, and grand- son of John and Margaret (Elliott) Dennis. Col. William Dennis owned and operated a large plantation on the Staanton River in Charlotte County, and lived in the same neighborhood that had been the home of John Randolph of Roanoke and Patrick Henry. He served many years in the Virginia State Legislature and in the Senate, and at one time was president of the Senate. Six of his sons took up arms in behalf of the Confederate cause. One of them was Robert F. Dennis, who for a long period of years practiced law in Greenbrier and surrounding counties. He located in Greenbrier County in 1848, and was one of the leaders in the democratic party. He raised the first com- pany of men from Greenbrier County for the Confederate army, known as the Greenbrier Rifles, became its captain, and later was captured and spent the last months of the war as prisoner at Camp Chase. He served as prosecuting attorney of Greenbrier, Pocahontas and Fayette counties, for eight years was state senator, and was chairman of the Judiciary Committee of the Senate. His name was fre- quently mentioned in connection with nominations for gov- ernor, Congress and the United States Senate. Thomas H. Dennis spent his early life on the home plantation in Charlotte County. In January, 1864, when he was not quite eighteen years of age, he entered the Con- federate Army, and saw service in several Virginia battles before the close of the war. He was a member of the Light Squadron of the Fourteenth Virginia Cavalry, Com- pany B, made up mostly of Charlotte County men. Mr. Dennis is now brigadier general of the First Brigade of the United Confederate Veterans, West Virginia Division, and for many years has been active in the organizations of old soldiers. After the war he graduated, in 1868, from Washington College, now Washington and Lee University, graduated from the law school in the University of Virginia in 1873, and since then has had his home at Lewisburg, where for many years he was associated with his brother Robert in law practice. For thirty-five years he was editor of the Greenbrier Independent, and made that paper a source of power in the community, and his editorials were widely copied. In 1884 he was elected to the West Virginia House of Delegates, and in 1885 was chosen speaker of the House. He served again in the House in 1909, and in the early years of his law practice he was for six years super- intendent of schools of Greenbrier County. He served a term as mayor of Lewisburg some years ago, and in January, 1922, was again honored for election to that office. He is a director of the Bank of Lewisburg and is a Presbyterian. Colonel Dennis married, December 24, 1884, Miss Jennie Johnston, daughter of Andrew H. Johnston, of Union, Monroe County. ______________________________ X-Message: #2 Date: Tue, 01 Aug 2000 21:08:49 -0400 From: Valerie & Tommy Crook To: WV-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-Id: <4.3.1.0.20000801210739.00c45290@mail.earthlink.net> Subject: BIO: E. G. PIERSON, Clay 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. 639-640 Clay E. G. PIERSON is one of the leading members of the bar of Clay County, where he is engaged in the practice of his profession at Clay, the county seat, and aside from his pro- fessional activities, which have included service in public office, he has given effective service as a member of the State Senate. Mr. Pierson was born on a farm near Elkhurst, Clay County, and is a son of William D. and Nancy (Hall) Pier- son, the former of whom was born in Nicholas County and the latter in Roane County, Virginia, now West Virginia, both having been children at the time of the removal of the respective families to Clay County. The venerable parents still reside in Clay County, they having there estab- lished themselves shortly after their marriage, and both being honored citizens who have contributed their part to civic and industrial prosperity in Clay County. They are zealous members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in politics, with well fortified views, the father is a stal- wart republican. Of their eight children all except one are living at the time of this writing, in 1922: D. D. is a prosperous farmer in Clay County; E. G., of this sketch, was next in order of birth; Samantha J. is the wife of J. J. Dangherty; Webster H. is associated with productive activi- ties in the oil fields of the state; Alice B. is the wife of P. S. Hart; Anna V. is the wife of John Grass; and Russell remains in the parental home. Mr. Pierson passed his childhood and earlier youth on the home farm, and after profiting by the advantages of the public schools he pursued higher studies in Marshall Col- lege and in the West Virginia Wesleyan College. While successfully engaged in teaching in the schools of his native state he began the study of law, and in 1896 was admitted to the bar and established himself in practice at Clay, judicial center of his native county. In 1896 he was elected representative of the Ninth District in the State Senate, where he made an excellent record during his term of four years. When war was declared against Spain he en- listed as a private in Company H, Second West Virginia U. S. Volunteer Infantry, in which he was promoted to the rank of second lieutenant, the regiment having been held in reserve and not having been called to the stage of active conflict. After the close of the war Mr. Pierson engaged in the practice of law at Fayetteville, Fayette County, where he remained until 1910 and where he served out an unexpired term on the bench of the Criminal Court of the county, besides having been prosecuting attorney of the county for one term. In 1910 he was appointed state pardon attorney by Governor William E. Glasscock, was reappointed by Governor Henry D. Hatfield, and held this position until the election of Governor Jno. J. Cornwell in 1916. After retiring from the office of pardon attorney he opened a law office in the City of Charleston, and maintained the same until he was elected prosecuting attorney of Clay County in 1920. He is known as a versatile and resourceful trial lawyer and well fortified counselor, and his practice is of broad scope and representative order. He is a stal- wart republican and is influential in the local councils and campaign activities of his party. Mr. Pierson was united in marriage to Miss Nannie P. Johnson, who graduated from Baldwin University, at Berea, Ohio, and who is supervisor of music and art in the Clay County High School, she being an exceptionally talented musician and being a valued factor in the cultural life of her home community, as well as in its social affairs. Mr. and Mrs. Pierson have two daughters: Margaret E. and Dorothy A. ______________________________ X-Message: #3 Date: Tue, 01 Aug 2000 21:09:06 -0400 From: Valerie & Tommy Crook To: WV-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-Id: <4.3.1.0.20000801210906.00c38100@mail.earthlink.net> Subject: BIO: WALTER M. FERGUSON , Mercer Co. 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 II, pg. 524-525 Mercer WALTER M. FERGUSON started out in life with a strong ambition to be a merchant, and merchandising has con- stituted his active career so far. He is still a comparatively young man, and is one of the highly respected business men of Bluefield, owning a high class grocery establish- ment at 406 Bland Street. He was born on a farm near New Hope in Mercer County, May 25, 1884, son of William Riley and Mary Jane (Carr) Ferguson. His father was born in Franklin County and his mother in Montgomery County, Virginia. William Riley Ferguson was a child when his mother brought him to Mercer County, and they located on the farm where Walter Ferguson was born and where William Riley spent his active career as a substantial farmer. He died in September, 1918, at the age of seventy-three. He was a youthful Confederate soldier and was on guard duty at Richmond at the close of the war. He was affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, having been about sixty years of age when he joined this order, and on account of his popularity and his influence, was accepted at that age. Mrs. Ferguson died December 4, 1918, at the age of sixty-eight. Her family consisted of three sons and three daughters, all living, Walter being the fourth in age. Walter Ferguson attended school at New Hope, and was on the farm until he was twenty years of age. The first accumulation of capital he was able to make came from his work as a teamster. After getting about $100 he started a little store on Peck Street in Bluefleld in 1905. He was in business there about two years, and after that had charge of the grocery department of H. A. Lilly & Company until 1915. In that year he again entered business for himself as a grocery merchant, at Jones and Bland streets, buying his store on credit from Mr. Lilly, the arrangement being that he was to pay $50 a month on the stock and equipment. He had a successful trade there, but sold out after five years, and then for a few months conducted a business at Mulling. In October, 1920, Mr. Ferguson resumed his business rela- tions with Bluefleld and at his present location. Owing to his many friends and wide acquaintance he was successful with the business from the very beginning. He has always insisted on a square deal, and his integrity as a merchant has brought him an honored place both in business and in civic circles. In 1908 he married Miss Ocie Perdue, daughter of J. O. Perdue, of Brush Fork. Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson have a son, Walter M., Jr., and their only daughter, Marie, died at the age of five years. They are members of the Grace Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and Mr. Fergu- son is on its board of stewards. He is affiliated with the Improved Order of Red Men, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, is a democrat and a member of the Chamber of Commerce. ______________________________ X-Message: #4 Date: Tue, 01 Aug 2000 21:08:32 -0400 From: Valerie & Tommy Crook To: WV-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-Id: <4.3.1.0.20000801210750.00c4c5e0@mail.earthlink.net> Subject: BIO: DANIEL D. RILEY, Clay 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. 640 Clay DANIEL D. RILEY as superintendent is directing the educa- tional program of St. Albans, where good schools and high- minded educators have been the rule for more than half a century. In a brief sketch it would not be possible to do justice to the history of the schools and their teachers, but some of them should be recalled. Private schools have been maintained at St. Albans from early in the last century. One of the best remembered was that conducted by an Episcopal clergyman, whose academy is still standing on an elevation overlooking the village. As early as 1832 a school was conducted in what is now called Fairview. C. V. Hansford was teaching there as early as 1868, and continued at his post until his death. The first free school was opened in 1868, Arthur Fox teaching that school. Another early teacher was Dr. George P. Thompson, and still another was Mrs. M. M. Thompson, who was killed in an elevator accident in the Capitol Build- ing at Charleston. Doctor Thompson had taught fourteen years, beginning in 1877. Miss Sallie Hansford was a teacher in 1878, while former United States Senator W. E. Chilton was principal. Mrs. S. L. Cato excelled as a, primary teacher, and was with the school for thirty years. High school work was begun under W. W. Trent as principal, he being followed by L. A. Edwards and the latter by C. P. Guice. Miss Bashaba White, principal of the Central graded school has taught in the grades for ten years. Miss Laura Wood began teaching in 1877, and after a service in the Kanawha Valley of more than forty years is still active and has been connected with the schools at St. Albans for a quarter of a century. Her present pupils comprise sons whose parents and grandparents received their early in- structions from her. Daniel D. Riley has been in school work since early man- hood. He was born in Jackson County, and several other members of the family were teachers, including his mother. His grandfather. Elder Robert Hughes, was at one time county superintendent of schools, and was widely known as a Methodist minister. P. M. Riley, father of D. D. Riley, is now retired and has been a figure in public affairs, serving as surveyor and justice of the peace. D. D. Riley began teaching at the age of eighteen. In 1916 he took charge of the grade work in the St. Albans school, and his connection with the schools has been continuous except for nearly a year while he was absent on military duty. In 1921 he be- came superintendent of the St. Albans schools. The present enrollment is 810, including forty in the colored school and 130 in high school. There are twenty-seven teachers, six of them being high school instructors. Athletics has been much encouraged by Mr. Riley, and the St. Albans High School foot ball team has won an enviable record, being de- feated only once, during the season of 1921. Mr. Riley is a lieutenant in Company B of the One Hun- dred Fiftieth Infantry, National Guard. During the World war he was in Coast Artillery and Ammunition Train. He is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias and Junior Order United American Mechanics and is a charter member of the Rotary Club of St. Albans. Mr. Riley married Miss Essie Hollandsworth, a former music teacher at St. Albans. Their two children are D. D., Jr., and John Matson. ______________________________ X-Message: #5 Date: Tue, 01 Aug 2000 21:09:06 -0400 From: Valerie & Tommy Crook To: WV-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-Id: <4.3.1.0.20000801210906.00c3a8b0@mail.earthlink.net> Subject: BIO: REV. H. INGRAM COOK, Mercer Co. 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 II, pg. 527 Mercer REV. H. INGRAM COOK is not only a clergyman of the Missionary Baptist Church but is also serving as justice of the peace and as mayor of the thriving little City of Matoaka, Mercer County. His high ideals are expressed in his general social, official and religious relations, and he commands high place in public estimation in his native county. Mr. Cook was born on a farm on Widemouth Creek, Mercer County, February 10, 1875, and is a son of John N. and Margaret (Stewart) Cook, both of whom were born in Wyoming County, this state, in the year 1845. The death of the father occurred January 8, 1898, and that of the mother in 1911. The family home was established on the Widemouth farm in Mercer County in the year 1874. John N. Cook served as a Union soldier in the Civil war, and hardships which he endured in this connection per- manently impaired his health. He gave his active career to farm enterprise, served as a member of the school board, was influential in community affairs, and both he and his wife were devout members of the Missionary Baptist Church, in which he served twenty years as a deacon. Of the nine children the subject of this sketch was the fourth, and the following are living: R. Scott Cook is a timber contractor at the Ennis coal mines; Rev. E. Hamil- ton Cook is in the employ of the American Coal Company at Widemouth and is a clergyman of the Missionary Baptist Church; Rev. H. Ingram Cook, of this sketch, is the next younger; Laura B. is the wife of R. W. Laxton, of Widemouth; Ora Dell is the wife of Barnett Laxton, of Matoaka; and Cozella is the wife of Riley Akers, of Arista, Mercer County. Sherman, another of the sons, was forty-two years old when he met his death in a coal mine accident. Harrison, another son, likewise met a tragic death, he having been assassinated while in performance of his official duty as justice of the peace at Matoaka in 1918. Rev. H. Ingram Cook received his early education in the schools of Rock District, Mercer County, and at the age of twenty years he became a teacher in the rural schools, his service in this capacity continuing two years. For eight years thereafter he was actively engaged in farm enterprise, and for the ensuing seven years he was called away from the farm by his zealous services as a minister of the Missionary Baptist Church, he having joined the church September 6, 1892, and having been ordained a minister when he was twenty-one years of age. At varying intervals he has had pastoral) charge of all Missionary Baptist churches in a goodly part of Mercer County, and he continues active in church work, especially the Sunday School, he being at the time of this writing the teacher of a class of young women in the Sunday school at Giatto, Mercer County. After resuming his active association with farm industry Mr. Cook continued his residence on the farm until 1918, when he removed to Matoaka, where in November of that year he was elected justice of the peace, an office to which he was re-elected in November, 1920. In 1921 he was elected mayor of. Matoaka, and he is serving effectively in both of these official positions. On the 5th of July, 1921, Mayor Cook was attacked by a man whom he had fined in his capacity of justice of the peace, the man having shot Mr. Cook four times and another bullet having made a hole through the latter's coat-a truly remarkable escape from death. On the 6th of November, 1895, was solemnized the mar- riage of Mr. Cook and Miss Amanda Meadows, who was born in Wyoming County, this state, February 3, 1876, a daughter of William T. Meadows. Of the four children of Mr. and Mrs. Cook two are living: Roy L. is a student in Staunton Military Academy, Staunton, Virginia; and Neva is attending the public schools of Matoaka. Walter, who was born September 6, 1896, died February 22, 1901, and D. West Cook died in infancy. ______________________________ X-Message: #6 Date: Tue, 01 Aug 2000 21:25:31 -0400 From: Valerie & Tommy Crook To: WV-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-Id: <4.3.1.0.20000801212531.00c456b0@mail.earthlink.net> Subject: BIO: HARRY D. KARNES Mercer Co. 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 II, pg. 523-524 Mercer HARRY D. KARNES has served efficiently as Mercer County clerk of the Circuit Court since 1914, he having been re- elected to this office by a gratifying majority, in November, 1920. He was born near Spanishburg, this county, Febru- ary 25, 1875, and is a son of Russell Floyd Karnes and Sarah Elizabeth (Thompson) Karnes, the former of whom was born in Summers County, this state, and the latter in Tazewell County; Virginia. Russell P. Karnes was born February 25, 1845, and his death occurred on the 6th of July, 1921, his wife having passed away February 14, 1812, at the age of sixty-two years. All of the married life of the parents was passed on their homestead farm. on Blue- stone River, Mercer County. Russell F. Karnes was one of the first republicans in Mercer County, and though he had no ambition for public office, he served one term as deputy sheriff of the county. He was a member of the Baptist Church and his wife held membership in the Methodist .Episcopal Church, South. The Karnes family was early settled at Salem, Virginia, whence the original representa- tives in the present State of West Virginia came and settled in Summers County, removal to Mercer County having been made about the year 1845. Russell F. Karnes was a loyal soldier of the Confederacy in the Civil war. He became the father of three children, of whom the eldest, Opie O., is serving as justice of the peace at Princeton; Harry D. of this sketch is the second of the number; and William A. is a farmer near Spanishburg, this county. After having attended Princeton Academy, in his present home city Harry D. Karnes entered Emory & Henry College, Virginia, in which he was graduated in 1900, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. He had taught two schools in Mercer County to aid in defraying the expenses of his college course, and between college semesters he likewise taught school two terms. After his graduation he became in- structor in mathematics and science at the Concord Normal School, Athens, West Virginia, and among those who at- tended his classes are many who are now prominent busi- ness and professional men. In 1904 Mr. Karnes established his residence at Prince- ton, where he purchased an insurance agency and developed a large business as a life, fire and accident underwriter. This enterprise, conducted under the title of the People's Insurance Agency, is now one of the foremost in the city. Mr. Karnes in his early youth was determined to obtain a liberal education, and he is equally insistent at the present time in giving to his children the best possible educational advantages. He and his wife are active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and he is affiliated with the Masonic fraternity, including the Commandery of Knights Templars at Bramwell and the Temple of the Mystic Shrine in the City of Charleston. He is a member also of the Knights of Pythias and of the Mercer County Country Club. On the 18th of June, 1902, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Karnes and Miss Sallie E. Dangerfield, who was born and reared in Mercer County, a daughter of R. C. Danger- field. Mr. and Mrs. Karnes have five children: Elizabeth, Virginia, Margaret, Richard and Francis.