WV-FOOTSTEPS-D Digest Volume 00 : Issue 60 Today's Topics: #1 BIO: HARMAN FRANK GROVES, Grant Co [Valerie & Tommy Crook To: WV-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-Id: <3.0.5.32.20000318192640.00934d20@trellis.net> Subject: BIO: HARMAN FRANK GROVES, Grant County WV Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" The History of West Virginia, Old and New Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, Volume III, pg. 346-347 HARMAN FRANK GROVES. The superintendent of schools of Grant County, Harman Frank Groves, represents one of the old and honored families of this region of West Vir- ginia, his remote ancestor and the family founder here being his great-grandfather, Noah Groves. Noah Groves traced his genealogy back to the Saxons, where the name seems to have started with the Groffs, then was corrupted or changed to Graves, again changed to Grove, and finally to its present spelling, Groves. They have been strictly farm- ers and rural people through the generations to the present, and have invariably followed rural pursuits until the present generation of John Groves, some of whose children have departed from family traditions and customs and allied themselves with professional vocations. Harman Frank Groves of this review was born in the "Ridge country," six miles northwest of Petersburg, Grant County, and there resided until nearly reaching his major- ity. His grandfather, Alex Groves, was born in 1814, in Grant County, West Virginia, and followed farming throughout his career in Grant County, where he was a pioneer. His industry gained him independent means, and in his daily life he so comported himself as to gain the confidence and esteem of his associates. He died suddenly when sixty-five years of age. Politically he was a repub- lican. He and his worthy wife were the parents of the following children: Ellen, who died of diphtheria when six years of age; Ashford, a farmer in the "Ridge" section of Grant County; George, who spent his life in the locality of his birth and died there; Joseph, who spent his life as a stockman and shipper, and died from an injury received while following his daily occupations; Abel, who was a farmer in the "Ridge" locality and there died; John, the father of Harman F. Groves, and Annie, who married C. H. Feaster and died in Grant County. John Groves was born near the foothills of the Alle- ghany Mountains in Grant County, March 4, 1865, and has spent his entire life within a few miles of his birth- place. He is a product of the country school, and during his active years he applied himself industriously to the cultivation of his acres, but is now in retirement and a resident of Petersburg. He has demonstrated his good citizenship in a number of ways and has acquired local influence which he exerts in behalf of those he deems worthy of support, and in politics is a stanch republican. He has made no public avowal of membership in any re- ligious body and has no fraternal affiliations. Mr. Groves married Miss Mahala Jane Phares, who was born near Spruce Mountain in Pendleton County, West Virginia, a daughter of William Phares and his wife, who had been a Miss Mallow. The Mallows were an old-time pioneer family of Pendleton County, where members of the family had resided since the days of Indian warfare. To Mr. and Mrs. Groves there were born the following children: Myrtle Alice, who is the wife of C. O. Turner, of Forman, Grant County; Harman Prank, of this review; Bertha Susan, the wife of Earl Trenton, of Keyser, West Virginia; Nellie, who married H. C. Trenton, of Cumberland, Maryland; Clarence B., who is identified with the "Ridge" community as a farmer; Gracie, who was the wife of Jesse Idleman, of Scherr, West Virginia; Thomas, who is engaged in agri- cultural operations on the old home place; Edith, wife of Olin Weese, now a resident farmer of Monticello, Indiana, and Johnnie, who died in infancy. Harman Frank Groves was born August 4, 1888, and secured his education in the country schools and a normal school in Grant County. He was only seventeen years of age when he was given his first charge as a teacher, the Burgess School, and for five years thereafter he continued in rural school work. He then entered the Shepherdstown State Normal School, where he took one year's work, but the constant confinement and too close application to his studies caused his health to fail, and he was forced to spend two years in recuperating his strength. At this time Mr. Groves was elected county superintendent of schools, and while engaged in the duties of the office, traveling about the county and being in the open air, where he encountered new scenes and had new experiences, he recovered normal health, and still continues his supervision work over Grant County. He has not given up the idea of the completion of a college course for himself, as he is carrying on a corre- spondence course, is a student at St. John's Academy, and is a teacher in its normal training course. He will have attained his ambition and hold a diploma of the Shep- herdstown Normal School by 1924. Mr. Groves was elected county superintendent to com- plete the unexpired term of Superintendent Slusher in 1912. He was elected to the office in 1914, and again in 1918, his present term expiring in July, 1923. His administration has been characterized by an intense interest in the prog- ress and effectiveness of the public schools, in the training of teachers for better service and creating a higher spirit of citizenship for the county than it has shown heretofore. While he was filling the unexpired term of his predecessor he carried through the latter's plans and policies, which included the building of country school libraries and the improvement of teachers' institutes. His own plans include increasing the efficiency of the teaching force through such means of professional growth as organized reading circle work, and the reading of professional magazines and books and papers on educational subjects. Also to change the character of the local teachers' institute work in order to provide for the presentation of some of the most vital local phases of the educational question, such as improving school property with regard to the character and type of buildings, better school attendance, increased efficiency on the part of teachers and a closer intimacy and more vital relationship between the public school and the home. As proof of the practicability of his plans the results worked out show the organizations are formed and doing systematic reading circle work; that a large number of up- to-date and approved school buildings have been erected; that the character of institute work is attracting a wide interest among the teachers; that educational meetings, with special speakers, are arranged and carried out from year to year; that unified action on the part of the school boards has been brought about through county board con- ferences, and that many teachers have been encouraged to enroll in accredited schools and colleges. At this time the main objective of Mr. Groves as county superintendent of schools is the establishment of a perma- nent teachers' training school at the county seat, one within easy reach of the teachers of Grant, Pendleton, Hardy and Hampshire counties. A temporary school of this nature is already in operation and is accomplishing gratifying re- sults. Also, it is his ambition to equip teachers, first, pro- fessionally for their work as such; second, to enable them to meet the legal requirements of school legislation; and, last but not least, to increase the efficiency of citizenship as a means of the solution of the problems of our complex rural social life. All of this tends to prepare the county for rural school consolidation, the realization of which is in the not far distant future. In the matter of interesting pupils of the county in farm club work Mr. Groves has not failed to give encouragement and support to the establishment of many girls' and boys' clubs, and, likewise, community clubs for parents. While this work is directed by the county agricultural agent, it could not have accomplished the results shown to date without the cooperation of the school superintendent. Grant County has already sent prize-winning pupils to the prize- winners' course at West Virginia University, Morgantown, and the interest in scientific farming and in the raising of blooded live stock has been wonderfully stimulated thereby. Mr. Groves was the prime mover in the establishment of the farm bureau in Grant County. In company with the state organizer of this movement he drove all over the county, encouraging the farmers everywhere to subscribe to the movement. Mr. Groves' active work as a citizen and community man has not stopped with his labors in behalf of the schools. He is identified with church and Sabbath school work, for five years has been president of the Grant County Sunday School Association, and has assisted actively in building up the work of the Sunday school here to the point where it is about to be a "front line" county, lacking only, at this time, eight organized classes in as many additional schools. In politics Mr. Groves is a republican by birth, training and conviction, but has not engaged in professional polities. He has been elected superintendent of schools three times on his personal merits, and supports every good measure and movement for the upbuilding of civic, moral and educational life. On December 25, 1916, Mr. Groves married at Riverton, West Virginia, Miss Catherine Harman, who was born February 21, 1891, a daughter of John A. and Izurna (Dove) Harman, natives of Pendleton County. Mr. Harman is a merchant and farmer of Riverton, and represents a pioneer family of Pendleton County. His children are: Bessie, the wife of Curtis Hammer, of Cumberland, Mary- land; Fred D., of Elkins, West Virginia; Catherine, who is now Mrs. Groves; Dr. Robert, who graduated from Mary- land University in 1922 and is now engaged in the prac- tice of medicine, and Curtis, who is interested in the mer- cantile business with his father. Mr. and Mrs. Groves are the parents of one son, John Harman, born April 13, 1918. ______________________________X-Message: #2 Date: Sat, 18 Mar 2000 19:27:27 -0500 From: Valerie & Tommy Crook To: WV-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-Id: <3.0.5.32.20000318192727.0081a520@trellis.net> Subject: BIO: DR. BENJAMIN HARRISON SWINT, Randolph County WV Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" The History of West Virginia, Old and New Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, Volume III, pg. 347 DR. BENJAMIN HARRISON SWINT is primarily a surgeon, a young man with unusual abilities and talents in that field, Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and is surgeon- in-chief at St. Francis Hospital. A native of West Virginia, he was born in Randolph County in 1888, son of Peter and Caroline (Winkler) Swint. His grandfather and earlier ancestors were natives of the Grand Duchy of Luxemburg. Peter Swint was an early set- tler in Randolph County, and is now living at Weston. A brother of Doctor Swint is C. P. Swint, a leading law- yer in Weston and a man of considerable prominence in public and political affairs. Another brother is a distin- guished Catholic prelate, the Rt. Rev. J. J. Swint, of Wes- ton, who formerly conducted missions in various section of the state and who is now Bishop of Wheeling. Benjamin Harrison Swint had his common school educa- tion, attended Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, and ac- quired his medical training in the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Baltimore, where he graduated in 1911. He did three years' of post-graduate work in St. Joseph's Hospital, Baltimore, and in the meantime, in 1913, established him- self in practice at Charleston. It can hardly be said that he has been in the general practice of medicine at all, since practically from the first his abilities have been widely rec- ognized as a surgeon. His membership in the American College of Surgeons is a token of distinctive work in sur- gery, since fellowship in this organization is a very high professional distinction. His fellowship was conferred upon him at Montreal in October, 1920. Doctor Swint was absent from Charleston for a period of service during the World war. He took training in the Medical Corps Training Camp at Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia, during 1918, and for eight months was on duty in France, going overseas with Surgical Group No. 3, and later was with the surgical staff at base hospital No. 119. He held rank of first lieutenant, and received his honorable dis- charge in July, 1919. The St. Francis Hospital at Charleston, of which Doctor Swint is chief of the surgical service, was founded by the Sisters of St. Francis, but is now operated under the aus- pices of the Sisters of St. Joseph. It was opened January 1, 1914, with a capacity of twenty beds. In 1916 a mod- ern addition was built at a cost of about $80,000, increas- ing the capacity to about sixty-five beds. A further addi- tion soon to be completed will give the hospital a capacity of 110 beds. Ever since this hospital was opened in the old Laidley residence on Laidley Street it has been taxed to full capacity, with more applications than could be accom- modated. Doctor Swint is a member of the Phi Chi fraternity, member of the County, State and American Medical Asso- ciations, and is a prominent member of the Knights of Co- lumbus, at the present time being head of the local assem- bly of the Fourth Degree. He is also district chairman for Southern West Virginia of the National Catholic Welfare Council. He married Miss Marcellene Smith, of Charleston. Their three children are Benjamin H., Jr., Caroline Marie and Bernice. ______________________________X-Message: #3 Date: Sat, 18 Mar 2000 19:57:58 -0500 From: Valerie & Tommy Crook To: WV-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-Id: <3.0.5.32.20000318195758.00934760@trellis.net> Subject: BIO: VICTOR N. GRIFFITH, Boone county WV Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" The History of West Virginia, Old and New Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, Volume III, pg. 347-348 VICTOR N. GRIFFITH. This country is entering upon one of the most wonderful periods of its existence, and during the next quarter of a century history is going to be made of a surprising character by the young men who during the titanic war that convulsed the world were developed in every way and prepared for the years of civic useful- ness to come. Some of them have not yet found their right place in life since their return home, but a few have, and are already showing of what they are capable. One of these young Americans of the finest type of citizenship is Victor N. Griffith, sheriff of Boone County, and a forceful factor in the life of Madison. Victor N. Griffith was born at Griffithville, Lincoln County, West Virginia, October 28, 1893, a son of T. A. and Martha A. (Midkit) Griffith, both of whom were born in West Virginia. The father is a farmer, and very active in public matters, having served for some time as a justice of the peace, and otherwise rendered good service to his community. He maintains membership with the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, and belongs to the Baptist Church, in the good work of which he is very active. The Griffith family is one of the old ones of the South, and Griffithville was named in its honor. Sheriff Griffith's paternal grandfather was born in Virginia, and came of English and Scotch ancestry. The maternal grandfather was killed while serving as a soldier during the war between the two sections of the country. Growing up at Griffithville, Sheriff Griffith attended its common schools, and subsequently took a course in the Mad- ison Normal School and one in the Broaddus School at Bar- boursville. When he was twenty-two years old he took a position as bookkeeper in a general store, and held it until he was appointed deputy sheriff of Boone County in 1917, which office he resigned in July, 1918, to go into the army under the selective draft. After receiving his honorable discharge, following the signing of the armistice, he went with the Crane Company as bookkeeper at Van, West Vir- ginia, leaving that concern in 1919 to become assistant cashier of the Boone County Bank at Madison. In the fall of 1920 he was elected sheriff of the county, and assumed the duties of his office January 1, 1921. He is making a splendid record as sheriff, and both as an official and per- sonally he stands well with everybody. In 1915 Sheriff Griffith married at Charleston, West Vir- ginia, Miss Jeane Workman, a daughter of John L. and Harriet (White) Workman, both natives of West Virginia. There are no children. Fraternally Sheriff Griffith is a Scottish Rite and Shriner Mason, an Odd Fellow and Knight of Pythias. He maintains membership with the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Sheriff Griffith is an earnest young man who fears nothing when in the pursuit of his duty, and yet is so square that he insists on each man in his charge receiving fair treatment no matter what his crime may be. He is a young man who knows how to secure from others a whole-hearted cooperation, and he and his depu- ties are proving to the people of Boone County that they are perfectly capable of maintaining order, and determined to faithfully enforce the law. Such a man as Sheriff Griffith will go far, and it is safe to predict that his prog- ress will be attended with a loyal public service. ______________________________X-Message: #4 Date: Sat, 18 Mar 2000 19:57:58 -0500 From: Valerie & Tommy Crook To: WV-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-Id: <3.0.5.32.20000318195758.0094fb40@trellis.net> Subject: BIO: EVERETT E. WHITE, Boone County WV Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" The History of West Virginia, Old and New Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, Volume III, pg. 348 EVERETT E. WHITE, cashier of the Madison National Bank and one of the most substantial men of Boone County, is recognized as a leading factor in the business life of Madi- son. He is a man whose sound good sense and excellent judgment are at the service of his fellow citizens, and who, notwithstanding the fact that his time is much occupied with business cares, is never too busy to give heed to civic mat- ters, in which he has always been interested. The birth of Everett E. White took place at Gordon, Boone County, West Virginia, September 28, 1881, and he is a son of Asa and Amanda (Brown) White, natives of West Virginia. For the past thirty-five years Asa White has been postmaster of Gordon, where he is conducting a mercantile business, and he has always taken an active part in local affairs, being particularly zealous in behalf of the public schools. After completing his studies in the Gordon common schools Everett E. White attended Marshall College, Hunt- ington, West Virginia, for twelve weeks. After attaining his majority he secured an appointment as bookkeeper for White Brothers, in which his father was interested. This concern handled lumber at Pond, West Virginia, and Mr. Everett E. White remained with it for about a year, and then became manager and part owner of Sidney White & Company, proprietors of a general store at Van, West Vir- ginia, and discharged his duties there for five years. His ambition, however, had been to enter the banking business, and in 1907, when he was offered a position as bookkeeper in the Madison National Bank, he accepted it and moved to Madison, which has since continued to be his place of residence. Within a year he was made assistant cashier, and in 1916 was elected cashier, and is still holding that office. This is one of the sound banking institutions of the state, with a capital of $50,000 and a surplus of $75,000. During the late war Mr. White practically carried on the business, as his younger associates were all in the service, but in spite of the added burdens he was glad to be able to release the men to the country. Like his father, he is a firm friend of the public school system, and has long been a member of the School Board and served as its presi- dent for four years. Another movement which has his hearty and effective support is that looking toward the building and improvement of the roads, not only of his immediate community but all over the country, and hia work in this connection received proper recognition in his appointment by the governor as a delegate to the National Good Eoads Convention held at Phoenix, Arizona, in 1922. In 1912 Mr. White married at Madison, West Virginia, Lula Burdette, a daughter of William and Virginia (Chit- turn) Burdette, born in Putnam County, West Virginia. For a number of years Mr. Burdette was a farmer. During the war between the North and the South he served in the Confederate Army. Mr. and Mrs. White have two chil- dren, Everett E., Junior, and Helen. Mr. White maintains membership in the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. He is a Scottish Rite and Shriner Mason, and also belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Both in his busi- ness affairs and personal character Mr. White measures up to the highest ideals of American citizenship, and his community has benefited greatly through his constructive ideas with reference to its public affairs.