WV-FOOTSTEPS-D Digest				Volume 00 : Issue 28

Today's Topics:
  #1 Bio- Linville Christopher Massey,    [Joan Wyatt <mewyatt@uakron.edu>]


______________________________X-Message: #1
Date: Tue, 25 Jan 2000 06:40:33 -0500
From: Joan Wyatt <mewyatt@uakron.edu>
To: WV-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com
Message-ID: <388D8BAF.705A9999@uakron.edu>
Subject: Bio- Linville Christopher Massey, Kanawha, WV
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The History of West Virginia, Old and New
Published 1923, The American Historical Society Inc.
Chicago and New York, Volume 11
Page 247
Bio- Linville Christopher Massey, Kanawha, WV


   Linville Christopher Massey, president of the Kanawha County Bank,
has for many years been active in Charleston in behalf of its material
and civic development and also in public affairs, especially through his
service for two terms as county clerk.
   The Massey family has been in old Virginia and West Virginia since
Colonial times. His great-grandfather, William Massey, was a native of
old Virginia, was a farmer and planter, and died in Raleigh Co., West
Virginia, in 1885. His children were Steel, Jackson, Henry, Floyd,
William, Clark, Ruhama, Martha and Mrs. Larkin F. Allen.
   Steel Massey, grandfather of the Charleston banker, was born in
Raleigh Co., where he spent most of his life as a farmer. He married
Caroline Cantley and their three children were George W., Henry and
Mary. George W. Massey, who was born in Raleigh Co. in 1851, owned one
of the substantial farms in that locality, and was widely known over
that region for his hospitality and his influence for good. He died of
typhoid fever in November, 1895. His wife was Lydia Rosabelle Acord, who
was born near Charleston, daughter of William C. Acord. The children of
their marriage were; Romanza, L. Christopher, Robert L. and Mary J.,
twins, Lura B., Arizona, Calvin W., Virginia A. and Ettie.
   Linville Christopher Massey was born on his father's farm in Raleigh
Co., April 26,1878. He was educated in the public schools and the
Concord Normal, and for thirteen years his chief work was in the
educational field. Mr. Massey as a young man had the unusual distinction
of having a town named in his honor,  Masseyville, and his brother, C.W.
Massey, became the first postmaster. Mr. Massey himself was active in
business as manager of the Black Band & Coke Company. While so much of
his life had been devoted to public service represented in teaching and
other public offices, Mr. Massey is a thoroughly able business man and
has been identified with the coal business, real estate and banking. A
number of years ago he became interested in Charleston real estate
development. One of his most notable successes was the promotion of the
L.C. Massey subdivision of Montrose, a beautiful residential area of the
south bank of the Kanawha River, directly across from the main lower
section of Charleston. His own beautiful home and grounds are there, and
many other fine homes distinguish it as one of the best residential
sections of Charleston.
  Mr. Massey's public career began with an appointment as justice of the
peace, to fill out an unexpired term, in 1903. In 1905 he was elected on
the republican ticket to the State Legislature, serving two years. He
was appointed a member of the Board of Education in 1907. In the same
year he served as chairman of the Republican Senatorial Committee, and
also served as chairman of the Third Congressional Committee. He was
elected and in 1908 entered upon his duties as county clerk of Kanawha
County, and six years later was re-elected, but at the close of his
second term, having given twelve years to the duties of the office, he
refused longer to be a candidate, and had the satisfaction of leaving
the office in a condition of systematic good order and with the general
financial credit of the county higher than ever before.
   His term as county clerk ended January 1, 1920, and since then Mr.
Massey has devoted his entire time to real estate and the active
direction of the Kanawha County Bank, of which he is president. The bank
opened for business March 5, 1919, and has a most advantageous location
on the corner of Virginia and Court streets, diagonally across from the
magnificent new City Hall and just half a block from the Kanawha County
courthouse. The bank is, therefore, in the commercial and civic center
of Charleston. Under Mr. Massey;s skillful management the Kanawha County
Bank has enjoyed a highly satisfactory growth and development, and is
one of the substantial financial institutions of the state. He is also
president of the Community Savings & Loan Company.
   Mr. Massey is a thirty-second degree Scottish Rite Mason, a Knight
Templar, and a Noble of the Mystic Shrine. He is also an Odd Fellow, a
member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and a Knight of
Pythias.
   He and Mrs. Massey are members of the Presbyterian Church. March 1,
1904, he married Miss Mary J. Mathews, who was born near Charleston and
was educated in the public schools of that city. She is a granddaughter
of Guy P. Mathews, and a daughter of Capt. J.W. and Josephine (Walker)
Mathews. Both her father and grandfather were Confederate soldiers, her
father being captain in the Southern army. Mr. and Mrs. Massey have
three sons, Guy Mathews, Eustace Lee and Linville C., Jr.