WV-FOOTSTEPS-D Digest Volume 00 : Issue 66 Today's Topics: #1 BIO: IRA HARRIS, Barbour County WV [Valerie & Tommy Crook To: WV-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-Id: <3.0.5.32.20000319085836.0086ad30@trellis.net> Subject: BIO: IRA HARRIS, Barbour 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. 357-358 IRA HARRIS has had an exceptionally busy and useful career extending over a period of thirty years. The founda- tion of his success was laid at farming. He was responsible for the development of and still owns one of the best farms in Barbour County. Upon removing to Philippi he engaged in business as a merchant. His people were pioneers in Barbour County. His great- grandfather was Simeon Harris, who first established a home in Glade District of Barbour County. The land he acquired remained as a farm in the hands of his sons. He built a generous chimney, marking the site of his home, and it is still standing on the farm. Simeon Harris was a Baptist preacher and did much to spread the gospel and religious work in the community. Besides preaching he married the young and buried the old. His own grave is near Meadowville. George Harris, grandfather of the Philippi merchant, was born in Glade District and devoted his life to farming in that locality. His enterprise and vigor enabled him to accumulate a large amount of real estate, and he was one of the real men of influence in his community. He was a Baptist and democrat, and he died about forty years ago, when seventy-five years of age. He married Christina Cross, who survived him many years. Their children were: William, who died in Roane County, leaving a large family, Henry, who is still living, at the age of ninety-two, at the old home farm; Barton, who spent his life near Spencer; John; Abraham, a farmer who died near Spencer; Draper, who was a farmer in Glade District, but died in Randolph County; Ingaby, who died at Philippi, wife of Solomon Smith; Minerva, who married Frank Gainer, of Glade Dis- trict; and another daughter went to Illinois, married and died in that state. John Harris, father of Ira Harris, was born in Glade District in June, 1833, and as a boy had only the advan- tages of the old-fashioned subscription school. Farming became his permanent vocation after he attained manhood, and his activities were in the vicinity of Meadowville. He was physically unable for service in the Civil war, was a democrat, was a member of the Missionary Baptist Church, but for some years before his death had been affiliated with the Methodist Protestant Church. John Harris, who died May 19, 1917, married Elizabeth Martini, who was born in Randolph County in 1835, daughter of Simeon Martini. She died December 24, 1910, the mother of the following children: Elias J., of Spencer; George W., of Belington; Euphrates, a farmer near Meadowville; Page B., of Elkins; Ira; Dee, of Belington; and Olive, wife of Hoy Harsh, of Elkins. Ira Harris was born March 30, 1872, and spent his early life on the farm in Glade District, acquiring a district school education. He has been one of the prominent men in that locality, and his splendid farm at Kalamazoo is rated as one of the best equipped and most profitably managed country places in the county. His home was on this farm until he removed his family to Philippi to secure better school advantages for his children. In Tucker County he owned 300 acres of grazing land, with build- ings and other improvements. For twenty years while on the farm Mr. Harris conducted a country store, and on removing to Philippi he utilized this experience by engag- ing in the grocery business. He is now a member of the firm Hauser and Harris, with a store devoted to ready-to- wear clothing for women and men. In politics Mr. Harris is one of the old campaigners of Barbour County, and for many years has carried the ban- ner of the democratic party. He first voted for Mr. Bryan in 1896, and at different times was a committeeman of Glade District, helped as a delegate in several state con- ventions, helped name Junior Brown for Congress and has frequently accepted a place on the party ticket for office. He was several times elected constable of Glade District and a member of the Board of Education, and at one time was president of the board. His son Grover was party candidate for county clerk in 1920. Mr. Harris is a Metho- dist and for sixteen years was steward of his church in Glade District. He is affiliated with Kassan Lodge, Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows. Mr. Harris married Priscilla Holsberry, who was born in Glade District, daughter of Martin and Abigail (Stal- naker) Holsberry. Both the Holsberry and Stalnaker fam- ilies were old settlers at Glade District. Mrs. Harris has a brother, Henry, and a sister, Margaret, wife of Mella Stalnaker. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Harris are: Grover C., to whom a special paragraph is devoted; Virgil, associated with the Davis Drug Store at Philippi, married Lottie Boyles and has a daughter, Evelyn Gail; Bretts, a farmer; Martin, with the firm of Hauser and Harris in Philippi. Grover C. Harris is one of the very prominent and popu- lar young men of Barbour County. He carries a distin- guished service medal and for two years was with the army in the Telephone Engineering Department. On one particular occasion, when his comrades were being shelled heavily to destroy telephone connection, he and two others stuck to their posts and kept the wires open to the rear, and for this work he was cited for bravery and distinguished service and a Government medal conferred upon him. Since the war he has been engaged in educational work and is principal of the high school at Junior. He married Bertha Ritenour, and they have a son, Ira Odell. ______________________________X-Message: #2 Date: Sun, 19 Mar 2000 00:35:18 -0500 From: Valerie & Tommy Crook To: WV-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-Id: <3.0.5.32.20000319003518.00877180@trellis.net> Subject: BIO: N. W. BALLANTYNE, Hancock 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. 360-361 N. W. BALLANTYNE. Of the citizens of known business ability who have been called to public office in Hancock County, one of the best known is N. W. Ballantyne, a member of the Board of County Commissioners, and one of the proprietors of the West Virginia Fire Clay Company of New Cumberland. Connected with this line of enter- prise practically since youth, he has made a success of his operations therein, in view of which fact it was thought that he would be equally successful as a county official. His record in office shows this faith to have been fully vindicated. Mr. Ballantyne was born at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and is a son of Alexander Ballantyne, a glass manufac- turer, who died when his son N. W. was but fifteen years of age. The latter then went to live with his maternal grandfather, James L. Freeman, a son of Thomas Free- man. Thomas Freeman was the original operator of a plant taking out fire clay, which was under his own farm, one mile south of New Cumberland, and James Freeman was also engaged in the fire brick and sewer pipe business, his plant being on the site of the present Freeman plant, one-half mile below the above plant. James Freeman died when past eighty years of age. His daughter, Irene (Free- man) Ballantyne, who was the mother of N. W. and C. A. Ballantyne, died at the age of sixty-eight years. N. W. Ballantyne secured a good, practical educational training, and with his brother, C. A., came into the owner- ship of the old Freeman home place. In 1896 they started a small plant of their own in partnership, and have con- tinued to be associated together in their business ventures ever since. In 1903 they founded the West Virginia Fire Clay Company at New Cumberland, and in 1906 the busi- ness was incorporated by them, with a capital of $50,000. This plant manufactures fire clay, which is sold to the manufacturers of fire brick and similar products, and has a capacity of 300 tons daily, this coming from a vein of clay of from eight to twelve feet thick under the hill on the edge of the works. Something unusual and most opportune connected with this plant is that immediately above the vein of clay lies a three-foot vein of excellent steam coal, the mining of which involves but slight expense, and which supplies the fuel for the plant. Above this is the solid rock forming a natural permanent roof. The average out- put for one entire year was 6,000 tons per month, and the securing and preparation of the product, done by elec- trical machinery, necessitates the employment of from twelve to eighteen miners, and from about thirty to forty men in all. This clay goes into grinders to make it uni- form, and is then shipped to the southern states, New England and Canada, from 120 to 175 cars monthly being utilized. The pay-roll approximates $2,500 monthly. The selling office of the concern is at Pittsburgh. N. W. Ballantyne is also interested in other plants, manufacturers of fire clay products in Beaver Valley, Pennsylvania, and in Ohio, with offices at Pittsburgh. He has several civic and fraternal connections, and is actively interested in all good movements for the community wel- fare. In 1920 he was elected a county commissioner, hav- ing been nominated by the republicans and receiving the endorsement of the democratic party. The county is now engaged in building good roads, keeping pace with other sections, and in 1921 a new Court House was built, cost- ing approximately $100,000, to replace the old building, destroyed by fire, which was erected in 1884 and donated to the county by the citizens in order to secure the county seat from Pughtown, four miles distant. The sheriff's residence and jail are in a separate building, but in close proximity to the Court House. Mr. Ballantyne married Miss Lucie Brown, daughter of the late Adrian W. Brown, for many years publisher of the New Cumberland Independent and a leading and in- fluential citizen. She was reared at New Cumberland, graduated from the West Virginia University as a mem- ber of the class of 1900, and for a time taught English at the West Liberty Normal School and later at Marshall College, Huntington, West Virginia. Mr. and Mrs. Bal- lantyne have two children: Robert and Irene Virginia. ______________________________X-Message: #3 Date: Sun, 19 Mar 2000 00:34:39 -0500 From: Valerie & Tommy Crook To: WV-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-Id: <3.0.5.32.20000319003439.00877180@trellis.net> Subject: BIO: JOSEPH HOWARD McBRIDE, Pleasants Co. 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. 360 JOSEPH HOWARD McBRIDE. The first, regular employ- ment of Joseph Howard McBride was with an oil and gas company, and he has been successfully identified with oil and gas production in Western Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia ever since. He is one of the well known producers, drilling contractors and business men who have their home at St. Marys, though his interests are widespread over this part of West Virginia. Mr. McBride was born at Oakdale, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, August 21, 1878. His father, George A. McBride, was born near Oakdale in 1845, and spent all his life in Allegheny County. He was a broom maker, owning and operating a broom factory near Oakdale, and was also a skilled violinist, for a number of years being member of a Pittsburgh orchestra. He was a republican and an active worker in the Presbyterian Church. His death occurred in 1888, near Cliff Vine in Allegheny County. His widow now lives at Coraopolis in Allegheny County. Her maiden name was Emma Pierce, and she wag born at Webster, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, in 1856. A brief record of her children is as follows: Clarence, an oil refinery employe living at Coraopolis; Joseph Howard; Archie, who has charge of an electric light plant at Beaver Falls, Brighton, Beaver County; Arthur, an executive official in an oil refinery at Muskogee, Oklahoma; Essie J., a teacher in the public schools of Coraopolis; Miss Clara, a stenographer and typewriter with the Crucible Steel Company at Aliquippa, Beaver County. Joseph Howard McBride acquired his early education in the public schools of Allegheny County. His school days were ended at the age of fourteen, and then after two years of work on the farm he began his career as an oil man at the age of sixteen. For seven years he was on lease work with the Bellevue and Glenfield Gas Com- pany, beginning in the Oakdale Oil Field, and in 1899 was sent to West Virginia by the company, with head- quarters at St. Marys. For a year following he was in the water and gas department of the South Penn Oil Company at Wallace, West Virginia, and for a number of years was foreman for the Three Joes Oil Company at Hebron. In 1908 Mr. McBride bought the oil holdings of the last named corporation near Hebron, and since then has been an active producer, operating in Pleasants, Tyler and Wood counties, West Virginia, and Washington County, Ohio. His production at the present time is con- fined to Pleasants, Tyler and Wood counties. Since 1912 he has also been active in the business of oil well drilling. Mr. McBride is a man of prominence in the civic affairs of St. Marys. He served one year as recorder and one year as mayor. He is a republican, is affiliated with St. Marys Lodge No. 41, A. F. and A. M., Pennsboro Chapter No. 25, R. A. M., at Pennsboro in Ritchie County; Penns- boro Commandery No. 20, K. T., West Virginia Consistory No. 1, of the Scottish Rite at Wheeling, Nemesis Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Parkersburg, and is also affiliated with St. Marys Lodge No. 22, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and Marietta Lodge No. 477, B. P. O. E., at. Marietta, Ohio. Mr. McBride owns a fine, comfortable home at George and Third streets in St. Marys and is owner of another dwelling on George Street. He married at St. Marys October 15, 1901, Miss Myrtle Sooke, daughter of John and Ella (Ruttencutter) Sooke, the latter still living in St. Marys. Her father, now deceased, was a flour miller and lumber dealer. Mrs. McBride finished her education in the Fairmont State Normal School. Five children were born to their marriage: Geraldine, born September 28, 1902, a student in the Pennsylvania College for Women at Pittsburgh; Josephine, born May 12, 1905, a student in St. Marys High School; George, who was born December 12, 1910, and died at the age of three days; Elizabeth, born December 3, 1912; and Richard, born January 13, 1915. ______________________________X-Message: #4 Date: Sun, 19 Mar 2000 00:33:57 -0500 From: Valerie & Tommy Crook To: WV-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-Id: <3.0.5.32.20000319003357.0083b9f0@trellis.net> Subject: BIO: JOE NELSON CRADDOCK, Gilmer 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. 359-360 JOE NELSON CRADDOCK. On his record as mayor of Greater Clarksburg and the growing appreciation of his abilities that has been manifested for a number of years, his friends and admirers look upon Joe Nelson Craddock - "Uncle Joe," they call him - as one of the real men of power and action in the public affairs of his district. The following given him is by no means strictly partisan. His courage, independence, faculty for getting things done to the benefit of the public, have gained him friendship from all classes and all parties. By profession Mr. Craddock is a newspaper man. He was born at Glenville, Gilmer County. February 22, 1864, son of Hugh Nelson and Sarah P. (Brannon) Craddock. His father was born at Charlottesville, Virginia, in 1826, and died at Glenville in 1904. As a West Virginian he was a Union soldier in the Civil war. While the war was still in progress he married, in 1862, and after his army career he lived at Glenville, devoting his time to farming and also to steamboating on the Ohio River. He was a republican, but never sought any political honors. His widow is still living at Glenville, where she was born in 1846. They reared the following children: Joe N.; Clara B.; Herbert; Harvey L. (deceased); and Frankie. Joe Nelson Craddock had his early friends and other associations in the Town of Glenville, where he supple- mented his common school education by a course in the State Normal School. He was only ten years old when he was given his first lesson in the printer's trade. He served an apprenticeship lasting several years. At the age of sixteen he left home and took up the battle of life for himself. His first independent venture in journalism came at the age of eighteen, in the spring of 1882, when he established the Mountain Echo at Webster Springs. He was an editor and publisher for five years. With his brother Herbert he started the publication of the Grantsville News. At Glenville he founded and conducted two papers, the Stranger and the Imprint, and for two years he managed the paper at Sutton. Mr. Craddock came to Clarksburg in the fall of 1914 to accept the post of city editor of the Clarksburg Exponent. He remained with that paper one year. His home in the meantime he had established at Broad Oaks, then a sub- urban incorporated town. In April, 1915, he was ap- pointed mayor of Broad Oaks, and in the spring of 1916 was elected for a year to the same office. In the mean- time he conducted a job printing business. In April, 1917, Mr. Craddock was elected mayor of Greater Clarksburg for a term of three years. The opin- ion of the best citizens as well as his friends is that his administration was efficient, progressive and businesslike, that he always stood for those measures which mean the most good for the greatest number, and his record whether as mayor or in all the other relations of a busy life has been honest and straightforward. As mayor he could not be controlled by any clique or interest to the injury of another, and he treated rich and poor alike. One of the stories in local politics is that certain selfish interests of Clarksburg realizing their inability to defeat him for re- election as mayor, schemed to bring about legislation changing the form of city charter, so as to "legislate him out" of office. Mr. Craddock is a democrat in national politics, and has been prominently mentioned as demo- cratic candidate for Congress. He and his wife are active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. He is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias. In 1884 he married Virgie B. Wooddell, of Green Bank, Pocahontas County, West Virginia. Mr. and Mrs. Craddock are proud of their six children, all mar- ried, and are doubly proud of their twelve grandchildren. Their only son, B. W. Craddock, is prosecuting attorney of Gilmer County.