WV-FOOTSTEPS-D Digest Volume 00 : Issue 63 Today's Topics: #1 BIO: HUGH S. BYRER, Barbour Co. WV [Valerie & Tommy Crook To: WV-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-Id: <3.0.5.32.20000318215559.009433d0@trellis.net> Subject: BIO: HUGH S. BYRER, Barbour Co. WV Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" MIME-Version: 1.0 The History of West Virginia, Old and New Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, Volume III, pg. 352 HUGH S. BYRER is a member of the Philippi bar, an expert title lawyer, and has done a great deal of profes- sional business with the coal interests of the state. His grandfather and father were both men of prominence in Barbour County, and the name is therefore one of long and honorable standing here. His grandfather was David Frederick Byrer, who was born in Uniontown, Fayette County, Pennsylvania, and from there came to West Virginia. He was in the tan- ning business at Philippi, his old tanyard being located on Main Street. He built and operated it long before the Civil war, and he lived out his life in that city, where he died in 1899, at the age of seventy-four. David F. Byrer was a Union man in sentiment, and after the close of the war became interested in the success of the re- publican party. He was a Methodist, a pioneer in build- ing up the organization of that church at Philippi, and was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He married Mary Lewis, of Uniontown, Pennsylvania, who survived him for a number of years. Their children were: Frederick Samuel, Arabella, wife of John C. Mayer, of Terra Alta, West Virginia; John, who died unmarried; Emma, who died as the wife of Dr. R. B. Rhoderick; and Charles Marshall, who spent his life at Philippi, where he died in 1916. Frederick Samuel Byrer, father of the Philippi lawyer, was born in that city May 25, 1848. His early youth was spent in the vicinity of his father's tanyard, and he supplemented his public school education with a course in a commercial school at Pittsburgh. As a young man he was a merchant at Philippi, and he continued in that business uninterruptedly until his death on August 29, 1911. He was not a citizen who sought the honors of politics, was rather modest and retiring, but was active in the Methodist Church and its Sunday school. He was a republican and for many years affiliated with the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows. He was probably the first in Barbour County to engage in the business of leas- ing coal lands to prospective operators. Frederick S. Byrer married Isabella Woods. Her father was the late distinguished citizen and able jurist and lawyer, Judge Samuel Woods. Isabella was born at Phil- ippi, August 15, 1852, and survives her husband. Her oldest son, Harry Hopkins Byrer, is a lawyer at Martins- burg, West Virginia, is former assistant United States at- torney of the Northern District of West Virginia, and now a member of the law firm of Walker, Kilmer and Byrer. Joseph Woods, the second son, is secretary and treasurer of the Tri-State Surety Company at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The last son is Hugh S., and the only daughter is Margaret Collins, wife of Frank F. Collins, of Beaver, Pennsylvania. Hugh S. Byrer, who is a native of Philippi, attended the public schools there, graduated in 1903 from the West Virginia Conference Seminary at Buckhannon, and in 1906 was given his LL. B. degree by the University of West Virginia. In the same year he was admitted to the bar at Philippi, but he soon located at Huntington, where he practiced law until the early spring of 1917, when he re- turned to his old home. While in Huntington he was for two years in the coal fields of Northeastern Kentucky, abstracting titles to coal properties in behalf of the Beaver Creek Consolidated Coal Company. That service was a valuable schooling to him in the matter of real estate titles. Mr. Byrer in politics differs from his father and has always voted as a democrat. He was the democratic can- didate in the Thirteenth Senatorial District for the State Senate in 1920. He has been active in several campaigns. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and has done much work in the Sunday school. He is affiliated with Huntington Lodge of the Elks. At Harrisonburg, Virginia, February 16, 1921, Mr. Byrer married Miss Elizabeth Rothwell Ott, a native of that locality, where she finished her high school educa- tion. Her parents were Frank Campbell and Mary (Boyd) Ott, also natives of that section of Virginia, farming peo- ple. Mrs. Byrer, who is the oldest of a family of two sons and two daughters, is the mother of one son, Frederick Ott Byrer, born January 16, 1922. ______________________________X-Message: #2 Date: Sat, 18 Mar 2000 21:57:22 -0500 From: Valerie & Tommy Crook To: WV-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-Id: <3.0.5.32.20000318215722.00945690@trellis.net> Subject: BIO: ARTHUR F. BENNETT, Barbour Co. WV Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" MIME-Version: 1.0 The History of West Virginia, Old and New Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, Volume III, pg. 352-353 ARTHUR F. BENNETT, former sheriff of Barbour County and now deputy fish and game protector for the Second District, is one of the best known of the younger men of Philippi, where he has performed good and efficient serv- ice in several different capacities. He was born near Belington in Barker District of Bar- bour County, April 11, 1884. His grandparents were Laban and Sarah (Keller) Bennett. Laban Bennett was also a native of Barbour County and died during the Civil war when his sons were all too young for service in the Confederate Army, where their sympathies lay. Jacob J. Bennett, father of Arthur F., was nine years of age when his father died, and he spent his life as a farmer. He died in 1913, at the age of fifty-four. He married Mary Shingleton, daughter of Jonathan and Nancy (Yea- ger) Shingleton. Her father was a farmer and died while a Union soldier. Mary, his only child, was born after his death, and she grew up in the home of her stepfather, John Anderson, secured a free school education and was married to Jacob J. Bennett in 1881. She became the mother of five sons and six daughters: Ida, wife of M. L. Weese, of Meridan, Barbour County; Arthur F.; William Floyd, of Barbour County; James F., of Parkers- burg; Sarah Ellen, wife of Corder Weese, of Barbour County; Talbott P., of Augusta, Georgia; Susan, wife of Owen Day, of Barbour County; Viola, Mrs. William Stal- naker, of Barbour County; Porter L., of Elkins, West Virginia; Hazel and Masel, who still live with their mother on the farm. Arthur F. Bennett was reared in Glade District of Bar- bour County, acquired a public school education, and with this education he began teaching and taught six terms of country school. His first term was in Hunters Forks School and his last in Mud Run in Glade District. During vaca- tion he worked on the farm, and he has never entirely separated, himself from farming interests and owns a farm today. Mr. Bennett was strongly inclined to take up and fol- low the profession of law. A good opportunity to acquaint himself with the practical side of the legal profession and acquire knowledge at the same time came when he became employed in the Belington office of the well known law firm of Ware and Viquesney at Philippi. He acted in behalf of the firm, handling some of the work required by their clients in Belington, and turning over matters of more importance to the head office. He read law there, and afterward read with Mr. Ware at Philippi. While a law student he was agent for several fire insurance companies, but soon afterward accepted the invitation of his friends to make the race before the primaries for the nomination for sheriff. He was successful over three competitors, and in the following November he defeated his democratic op- ponent and succeeded William B. Corder in the office. At that time he was the youngest sheriff Barbour County had ever had. He proved himself an able officer, and his administration during four years was all that could be asked. After retiring from the office of sheriff Mr. Bennett en- gaged in the real estate and coal business at Philippi, but in September, 1921, accepted appointment under the Forest, Game and Fish Department of West Virginia as deputy protector of the Second District, comprising the counties of Barbour, Taylor, Preston, Marion, Monongalia, Harrison, Doddridge and Ritchie. In the neighborhood where he was reared Mr. Bennett married, April 15, 19U6, Miss Cleo Booth, who was born and reared in the same locality and was educated in the country schools. Her parents were Jeremiah and Rebecca (Poling) Booth and her maternal grandfather was Israel Poling, of Barker District. She was born March 2, 1886, and ia the youngest of three children, the other two being Lloyd J., a farmer and country merchant in Glade Dis- trict; and Ottis, who married Stephen Fitswater, of Bel- ington. Mr. and Mrs. Bennett had one child, a beautiful daugh- ter named Opal Lilie, who was born February 11, 1907, and died December 22, 1917. Her funeral was preached by Rev. G. S. Kanleiter on the day before Christmas. Fraternally Mr. Bennett is a past chancellor of the Knights of Pythias and a member of the D. O. K. K., is a mem- ber of the Pythian Sisters, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Rebekahs, the Junior Order United American Mechanics, Knights of the Macabees and Woodmen of the World. He is one of the trustees in the United Brethren Church, and in politics is a republican. During the war he was a member of the local Legal Advisory Board. ______________________________X-Message: #3 Date: Sat, 18 Mar 2000 21:58:18 -0500 From: Valerie & Tommy Crook To: WV-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-Id: <3.0.5.32.20000318215818.007d98d0@trellis.net> Subject: BIO: ALBERT GALLATIN CHRISLIP, Barbour Co. WV Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" MIME-Version: 1.0 X-MIME-Autoconverted: from 8bit to quoted-printable by bl-14.rootsweb.com id UAA28857 The History of West Virginia, Old and New Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, Volume III, pg. 353 ALBERT GALLATIN CHRISLIP. An ambition to be a mer- chant was the leading motive in the early career of Mr. Chrislip. Having no capital but what he could earn, he farmed, taught school and clerked until the day of realiza- tion came when he could get into business for himself. In point of years of service he is the oldest merchant of Philippi, and is one of the very successful and substan- tial citizens of that community. His family name involves an interesting story of his original German ancestor. At the close of the thirty years' war in Germany, known as the war of extinction, after which that country was left practically desolate, a lonely babe was found in an old oven and the king of the prov- ince was asked to name the child. He called it "Chris- lieb," meaning Christ love. After coming to manhood this youth came to America and settled in Pennsylvania, establishing his home near Carlisle in the Cumberland Valley. The family name has since undergone a change of form, and a number of branches of the descendants of the original settler have become scattered over the Allegheny region and further west. The grandfather of the Philippi merchant was Abram Chrislip, who, accompanied by two brothers, Isaac and Samuel, settled in Barbour County and were successful farmers near Elk City. Abram Chrislip married Amanda Britton, and they are buried in the grave-yard near the lit- tle Village of Elk City. Of their children Ervin was the oldest child; Elza lives at Elk City; Elmore Lee lives with his older brother; Elizabeth is the wife of Albert Reeder, of Carthage, Illinois; and Julia, married Alpheus Corder and died at Carthage, Illinois. Ervin Chrislip was born near Elk City and spent his life there on a farm. He was a Confederate soldier, going through the war without injury. He died in April, iyiğ, at the age of eighty-five. Mis wife, who died in March, 1874, when about fifty years of age, was Mary Darnels. Her father, Joseph Daniels, was a pioneer in this region of West Virginia, his home being near Elk City, and he died during tne Civil war. He came here from Augusta County, Virginia. At one time he was elected a member of the Legislature in old Virginia, and attended the legis- lative sessions, journeyed to and from Richmond on horse- back. Ervin Chrislip and wife had the following chil- dren: William L., a merchant of Philippi; Albert Gal- latin; Edmond H., who died, leaving a family, at Elk City; Emma, wife of Jacob Rogers, of Phillppi; Abram, a graduate of Columbia University, New York and an educator living at Berkeley, California; and Bessie, wife of Lawrence McGee, of Elk City. Albert Gallatin Chrislip was born near Elk City, one of the old villages of Barbour County, on August 26, 1859. During his youth he attended a brief term of instruction in the country school each winter, and the rest of the time he worked on the farm. At the age of twenty-two he began teaching, and taught in the country for two winters. In 1882 he came to Philippi, and after taking a course in the select school of Professor Cornwell, taught in the public schools at Philippi fur two years, For another year he was a deputy in the office of County Clerk Luther C. Elliott, one of the good old citizens of Barbour County, long since passed away. About that time came the op- portunity to get experience in the line which he had de- termined to follow permanently, and he became a clerk in the store of Job H. Glasscock, this being then the largest general siore at Philippi. Two years later he started in business for himself as an implement dealer, and he brought to Philippi the first improved farm machinery ordered for sale here. About the same time he became a representa- tive of a fertilizer manufacturing concern, and it is claimed that Mr. Chrislip sold the first stock of fertilizer in Bar- bour County. This business brought him in direct touch with farmers, and he was soon marketing for his customers large quantities of raw wool. But his business expanded step by step, and later he added a stock of groceries and finally merged all his departments into one large general mercnandise business on Main Street now known as the Farmers Supply Store, which runs an annual aggregate of sales totaling $30,000. He erected his business house on Main Street, one of the modern structures in the town, and also owns one of the beautiful and attractive resi- dences of the city. In the line of public duty Mr. Chrislip responded sev- eral times to election as a memuer of the City Council. At that time plans were being made for some of the public improvements which have since ueen completed. Mr. Chris- lip for many years was an active democrat, but with pass- ing years he hass cut away from partisan affiliations and regards himself as strictly independent. Since the age of fourteen he has been a member of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, and fraternally he is a past noble grand of the Lodge of Independent Order of Odd Fellows and one of the oldest members of that fraternity at Philippi, also belongs to the Encampment and is a member of the Ki- wanis Club. In Taylor County, October 28, 1898, he married Miss Ella Nuzum, daughter of Allen Nuzum, Boothsville, that county, where she was born and reared on a farm. Mrs. Chrislip was one of a family of two sons and four daugh- ters. Mr. and Mrs. Chrislip have four talented children. Lillian Nuzum Chrislip, the oldest, graduated from Broad- dus College of Philippi, and in 1922 graduated from tne Boston Conservatory of Music. John Howard, the second child, is a graduate of the Philippi High School and of Broaddus College, and is now taking a course in electrical engineering. The two younger children are Allen Rockwell, a high school boy, and Charles Woodrow. ______________________________X-Message: #4 Date: Sat, 18 Mar 2000 22:33:24 -0500 From: Valerie & Tommy Crook To: WV-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-Id: <3.0.5.32.20000318223324.0091c2d0@trellis.net> Subject: BIO: ROBERT WRISTON, M. D., Raleigh/Fayette Co. WV Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" MIME-Version: 1.0 The History of West Virginia, Old and New Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, Volume III, pg. 355 ROBERT WRISTON, M. D. The career of Doctor Wriston as a physician and surgeon began at Beckley in 1906. He is one of the very accomplished professional men of Raleigh County, and has been very active in all that concerns his profession and the general welfare and advancement of the community. Doctor Wriston was born August 23, 1879, at Kincaid, in Fayette County, West Virginia, son of I. G. and Alice (Stanley) Wriston, natives of this state. His grandfather, Caleb Wriston, served as a Confederate soldier in the Civil war, and his maternal grandfather lost his life in that struggle. The Wristons were of Scotch ancestry, and the family has been in Virginia for a number of generations. I. G. Wriston and wife are now living retired at Nesco. He has been a farmer and for two terms held the office of justice of the peace. He is an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Robert Wriston attended common schools in Raleigh County, his parents moving here when he was a child. Later he took the academic course in the Concord State Normal at Athens, taught for five years, and then went East and entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Baltimore, where he graduated M. D. in 1905. For a year he was resident physician in the City Hospital at Balti- more, and with that training he began his work at Beck- ley. Doctor Wriston handles a general medical and sur- gical practice, and every year or so he gets away from the routine of home duties to come into contact with the lead- ing men and schools of the country. He took postgraduate work in the New York Polyclinic in 1908 and again in 1911, pursued special studies in Tulane University at New Orleans in 1917, and in 1921 and 1922 pursued courses in the Augustana Hospital and under Doctor Printy at Chicago. In 1913 Doctor Wriston helped organize the Beckley Hospital, and he owned a half interest in that institution until January, 1922, and is still a member of the hospital staff. He belongs to the County, State and Southern Med- ical Associations, is a republican, is affiliated with the Masonic Lodge and the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. In 1910, at Beckley, he married Miss Minnie Davis, daugh- ter of John P. and Mary (McGinnis) Davis. Her father's career was distinguished by its long and active connec- tion with public service. He served as sheriff two terms, as county clerk mid clerk of court, and he died while still in public office. Doctor and Mrs. Wriston have four chil- dren, named Mary Alice, June, Marjorie and Mattie. ______________________________X-Message: #5 Date: Sat, 18 Mar 2000 22:32:44 -0500 From: Valerie & Tommy Crook To: WV-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-Id: <3.0.5.32.20000318223244.0091a440@trellis.net> Subject: BIO: CHARLES R. MITCHELL, Boone County WV Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" MIME-Version: 1.0 The History of West Virginia, Old and New Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, Volume III, pg. 354-355 CHARLES R. MITCHELL. In Charles R. Mitchell the people of Boone County have one of the most efficient and depend- able circuit clerks to hold this office, and because of his characteristics he is recognized as one of the leading men of this region. Nature has fitted him for leadership, for he is one ready and capable of taking the initiative in everything, and he is also able to carry out to a successful conclusion whatever he undertakes. Mr. Mitchell was born in Boone County, West Virginia, August 23, 1876, a son of Joseph S. and Roxey (Pauley) Mitchell, both natives of West Virginia and farming peo- ple. During the war between the two sections of the coun- try the father served as a member of the home guards. His father was a Virginian, of French descent. According to the family tradition Charles E. Mitchell's great-great- grandfather belonged to the French contingent which came to this country during the American Revolution under the leadership of Lafayette, and who, being impressed with the country, remained here after the close of the war, set- tling permanently in Virginia. Like so many of the prominent men of Boone County, Mr. Mitchell has devoted considerable time to educational work, for which he prepared himself at the normal school at Madison, after he had completed his common school training. Securing his teacher's certificate, he began teach- ing, and taught in the county for ten years. During that time he studied the jewelry business, and about 1906 em- barked in it at Danville, where he conducted the best and most complete jewelry establishment, outside of Huntington, in this part of the state. In 1914 he was elected to the office of clerk of the Circuit Court, sold his business, and assumed the duties of his office. At the expiration of his first term he succeeded himself, being re-elected in 1920. He has been a member of the Teachers' Examining Board of Boone County, and for some time has been a member of the Town Council of Danville, where he has long maintained his residence. He is one of the dominant republicans of the county, and has always run for office on the straight party ticket. In 1917 Mr. Mitchell married in Boone County Miss Martha Tawney, a daughter of James M. and Elizabeth (Chambers) Tawney, natives of West Virginia, and also farming people. Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell have three chil- dren: Theodore, Hattie and Eva Estell. The Missionary Baptist Church holds Mr. Mitchell's membership, and he is zealous in its behalf. Fraternally he belongs to the In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows. Mr. Mitchell's influence is felt in every line at Danville and all over the county, and it is always exerted for constructive purposes. A man of keen discernment and high ideals, he has long sought to advance his home community and county, and been willing to make personal sacrifices in order to accomplish his pur- pose. Such men as he are a valuable adjunct to any locality in which they labor, and Danville is proud of him and what he has been able to accomplish for his fellow citizens.