WV-FOOTSTEPS-D Digest Volume 00 : Issue 30 Today's Topics: #1 Bio- George E. Kesterson, Huntingt [Joan Wyatt ] #2 Bio- Gibbon M. Slaughter, Mingo Co [Joan Wyatt ] ______________________________X-Message: #1 Date: Thu, 27 Jan 2000 04:10:58 -0500 From: Joan Wyatt To: WV-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-ID: <38900BA0.838FA2E3@uakron.edu> Subject: Bio- George E. Kesterson, Huntington, WV Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; x-mac-type="54455854"; x-mac-creator="4D4F5353" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit The History of West Virginia, Old and New Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc. Chicago and New York, Volume 11, Page 249 Bio- George E. Kesterson, Huntington, WV Among those prominently known in the profession of law at Huntington and equally recognized as leaders in the coal industry is George E. Kesterson. During the twenty-seven years that he had been identified with affairs in this state he has made numerous important connections and entrenched himself firmly in the confidence of his associates. He was born at Belpre, Washington County, Ohio, October 7,1867, and is a son of William Franklin and Melissa (Treadway) Kesterson. The Kesterson family originated in Germany, whence came the great-grandfather of George E. Kesterson, who first located in Baltimore, Maryland, where upon the advent of the War of the Revolution, he joined General Washington's army and fought bravely during the winning of American independence. His son, Willis Kesterson, the grandfather of George E. Kesterson, was born at Waynesboro, Virginia, where he lived practically his whole life, being a well-known and prosperous planter of his community. He maintained the family's military record by fighting with the American troops during the Mexican war. Late in life he was sent to Lubeck, West Virginia, where he died prior to the death of his grandson. William Franklin Kesterson was born in June,1825, at Waynesboro, Augusta County, Virginia, where he was reared and educated and where he early adopted the vocation of planter. Later he located at Parkersburg, this state, where he secured employment at the trade of copper.In 1866 he removed to Belpre, Ohio, where he also followed the same trade, and through industry and good management increased his capital until he was able to purchase land. Eventually he became a successful agriculturist and owned considerable property atBelpre at the time of his death, January 4, 1916, when he had reached the great age of ninety-one years, eight months, twenty-one days. He was a democrat in his political convictions, and a member and liberal supporter of the Methodist Episcopal Church, North. Mr. Kesterson married Miss Melissa Treadway, who was born in Wood County, Virginia (now West Virginia), and died at Belpre, Ohio. They became the parents of seven children: Willis H., who resides at Newark, Ohio, and is an agriculturist; Hester, who died at Somerset, Kentucky, as the wife of Hosea Johnson, also deceased, who was a farmer of Washington County, Ohio, and at Somerset; Hellena, who died at Rockland, Ohio, as the wife of John Waterman, township clerk at Rockland; Sylvester V., who is engaged in farming in Washington County, Ohio; Jeanetta, who died at Rockland County, Ohio, as the wife of Edward Ames, an agriculturist, who died later in Iowa; William Franklin, who is engaged in farming at Rockland, Ohio; George E. of this record. George E. Kesterson attended and graded and high schools of Belpre, Ohio, and after graduating from the latter entered upon study of law. He was admitted to the bar at Sistersville, West Virginia, in 1896, and practiced there until 1906, then spending two years at Parkersburg and a like period at Columbus, Ohio. During a part of his time, however, he was handling coal lands in Kentucky. Coming to Huntington in 1910, he opened a law office and has since engaged in the practice of his profession at this place, where he has gained a large and representative clientele and established an excellent reputation for sound ability and thorough professional knowledge. He is operating a coal mine at Hawk's Nest, West Virginia, and is a stockholder in the United Pocahontas Coal Corporation. His offices are situated at 1220 First National Bank Building. Mr. Kesterson is a democrat in politics, but not a seeker after political preferment. Fraternally he is affiliated with Huntington Lodge No. 347,L.O.O.M., and Huntington Lodge No.33, K.of P. On February 5,1912, Mr. Kesterson was united in marriage with Miss Maude Mayfield, at Catlettsburg, Kentucky. Her parents , Mr. and Mrs. Wood Mayfield, reside at Ashland, Kentucky, Mr. Mayfield being retired agriculturist. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Kesterson; Josephine Virginia, born May 5, 1915, who is attending school, and William Woodrow, born November 22, 1921. ______________________________X-Message: #2 Date: Thu, 27 Jan 2000 07:05:43 -0500 From: Joan Wyatt To: WV-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-ID: <38903495.8E084534@uakron.edu> Subject: Bio- Gibbon M. Slaughter, Mingo Co.,WV Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; x-mac-type="54455854"; x-mac-creator="4D4F5353" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit The History of West Virginia, Old and New Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc. Chicago and New York, Volume 11 , Page 250 Bio-Gibbon M. Slaughter, Mingo Co., WV Gibbon M. Slaughter, superintendent for the Thacker Coal Mining Company, with executive headquarters at Rose Siding, Mingo County, has been identified with mining activities in the coal fields of this section of the state since December 23,1913, and has won advancement through effective service. Mr. Slaughter was born at Washington, Virginia, March 28,1876, a son of Francis L. and Sue F. (Motley) Slaughter. The father likewise was born at Washington, in 1834, and there his death occurred February 16, 1902. The mother was born in Caroline County, Virginia, December 11,1841, and since the death of her husband she has continued to maintain her home at Washington, that state. Francis L. Slaughter gave his active life to farm enterprise in his native county, was influential in community affairs and served as magistrate and school trustee. He was a zealous member of the Baptist Church, as is also his widow. Mr. Slaughter was a gallant soldier of the Confederacy during the entire period of the Civil war, he having been a member of Company B (Captain Duncan), of the Sixth Virginia Calvary, in the command of Major Grimsby and Col. John S. Green. He was made a non-commissioned officer and he took part in many important engagements, including the battles of the Wilderness, Winchester, Manassas and Front Royal, of Cedarville, besides the many engagements in which his command was involved in the Valley of Virginia. He had two horses killed under him, and the skin on one of his wrists was grazed by a bullet, but he was never captured or severely wounded. He was a descendant of one of two brothers of the Slaughter family who came from England in the earlier part of the eighteenth century and settled in Kentucky and West Virginia, respectively, the first governor of Kentucky having been a Slaughter, and a representative of the name in Virginia having been a member of the American navy in the War of the Revolution. Gibbon M. Slaughter, one of a family of four sons, all of whom are living, attended the public schools of his native town until he was eighteen years old, and thereafter he continued his association with farm enterprise in Virginia until ha had attained to the age of twenty-five years. When the Spanish- American war was initiated he enlisted and was trained for service, but the war came to a close without his being called to the stage of conflict. On October 28,1901, he went to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he found employment in connection with the wholesale and retail coal business in selling the output of the Glenalum and Thacker mines in West Virginia. He was six years in office and two years on the road as a salesman, his territory extending from Michigan to South Carolina. In November, 1909, he came to the West Virginia coal fields in the capacity of shipping agent for the Glenalum mine. Two years later he was made assistant superintendent, and after holding this position two years he became assistant to S.G. McNulty, general manager of the Thacker Coal Mining Company, at Rose Siding. Two years later he was promoted to his present office at this place, that of superintendent. In politics Mr. Slaughter is inclined to consider men and measures rather than to be constrained by strict partisan lines. He registered for service in the World war but was instructed to continue the production of coal, the fuel industry being one of vital importance during the war period. He is affiliated with the Masonic LodgeatWashington, Virginia; with Rappahannock Chapter No.33, Royal Arch Masons, at the same place; with Ivanhoe Commandery No. 19, Knights Templars, at Bluefield, West Virginia; and with the Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Charleston, this state. Mr. Slaughter's name is still enrolled on the roster of eligible bachelors in Mingo County.