WV-FOOTSTEPS-D Digest Volume 00 : Issue 89 Today's Topics: #1 BIOS: MERENDINO, Biagio, Clarksbur [Vivian Brinker To: WV-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-Id: <000331140117.5a1a@RAVEN.CCC.CC.KS.US> Subject: BIOS: MERENDINO, Biagio, Clarksburg The History of West Virginia, Old and New Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, Volume II. pg. 351 BIAGIO MERENDINO. Deservedly prominent among the representative citizens of Clarksburg, is Biagio Berendino, a leading member of the Harrison County bar, and Spanish Consul for West Virginia, as well as Royal Consular Agent of Italy, for this state. For sixteen years Mr. Merendino has been a citizen of the United States, but he is a native of Italy, a country that has long been associated with America in the bonds of friendly appreciation. Biagio Merendino was born at Corleon, Italy, May 5, 1877, the second of three sons born to Vincent and Frances (Colletti) Merendino. His older brother, Anthony, is an architect residing at Mount Vernon, New York, and his younger brother, Joseph, is a practicing physician in New York City. The late Vincent Merendino, in the boyhood of his son Biagio, was an extensive grower of oranges and lemons, owning vast plantations in Italy and doing an extensive exporting business. He was a man of wealth and influence second to none in his province and had every reason to believe that his loyalty and good intentions were understood by those in authority. But political changes came about in Italy as elsewhere, and Mr. Merendino found himself ruined in business and despoiled of his honestly earned wealth, and these unhappy conditions made it easier for him to seek a home with his family in another country, and in 1898 they came to the United States. During the latter part of his life he resided at Mount Vernon, New York, and there his death occurred in 1917, at the age of seventy-two years. His widow survives and resides at Clarksburg, West Virginia. Biagio Merendino enjoyed both educational and social advantages in his youth in his native land. He had private tutors in boyhood and under their instructon was prepared for his seminary course at Montereale, following which he entered upon the study of medicine at Palermo, but when his family came to the United States he accompanied them, and shortly afterward was graduated at the New York Institute of Pharmacy, and then entered into the business world as a drug clerk, not having given up at that time, however, his hope of becoming a physician. Some time later Mr. Merendino became adjuster of claims, in New York City, for the Union Casualty Company, a business connection that involved many legal issues and led to his taking up the study of law, in which he became so interested that he finally put aside his medical hopes and decided to prepare himself for the practice of law, discovering latent talents in this direction. He completed his law course in Cumberland University at Lebanon, Tennessee, in 1912 receiving his degree of LL. B. Mr. Merendino returned then to New York City, where he occupied himself for a time in clerical work in an abstract department and other minor law business, it not being very easy then, as now, to secure a firm footing without capital and influence. Such being the case he worked too hard, even to the point of a breakdown in his health, but he was preserved from that calamity by one of those fortunate incidental occurrences that have changed many a man's whole career. In the course of his legal effors, Mr. Merendino had become chief conselor for the Richland Improvement Company which had interests to be financed at Clarksburg, West Virginia, and in 1913, mainly as a matter of relaxation, he consented to accompany the company's representative to Clarksburg to look the field over. It was just at this time that an Italian was being held in that city on a charge of murder, and on account of his nationality, Mr. Merendino was employed to defend the unfortunate man. To this accidental incident the good people of Clarksburg owe the locating here of one of their ablest lawyers and most highly esteemed citizens. From the first he has enjoyed a large practice and for several years past has been associated with W. Frank Stout, under the firm name of Merendino & Stout. In 1904 Mr. Merendino was married to Miss Cira Bivona, a native of Italy, and they have five children. Mr. Merendino is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Politically he is a republican and fraternally an Elk. Since 1916 he has filled his consular offices with thorough efficiency. ______________________________X-Message: #2 Date: Fri, 31 Mar 2000 14:05:19 -0600 From: Vivian Brinker To: WV-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-Id: <000331140519.5a1a@RAVEN.CCC.CC.KS.US> Subject: BIOS: STROSNIDER, Homer, Clarksburg The History of West Virginia, Old and New Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, Volume II. pg. 352 HOMER STROSNIDER. That what is worth doing at all is worth doing well, may be one of the old but timely axioms that occur to Homer Strosnider, as he quietly and successfully performs his manifold duties as a prominent lawyer, public official and trustworthy private citizen of Clarksburg, in which city his thorough efficiency and public usefullness have long been recognized. Mr. Strosnider was born at Waynesburg, in Green County, Pennsylvania, January 28, 1875, and is a son of Rezin and Sarah (Lemley) Strosnider, both of whom were born in Pennsylvania, the father being of German and the mother of English ancestry. When Mr. Strosnider was three years old his parents removed from Pennsylvania to West Virginia, settling first in Ritchie County but moving later into Doddridge County. There he spent his boyhood, attending the public schools at Center Point and assisting his father until he was ready to enter the State Normal School at Fairmont. Subsequently he entered the University of West Virginia at Morgantown. He then took a two-year course in law in the university, when he took his diploma without a degree, aiming to continue his law studies in Yale University. Very often in life a chance incident changes its course, and this change in Mr. Strosnider's plans for the future, came about through his coming to Clarksburg about this time, to make a short visit. It was while here that Hon. Millard F. Snider became interested in him and offered to take him into his law office, at Clarksburg, Mr. Strosnider eagerly accepting this unlooked for professional opportunity. He was admitted to the bar in 1907 and for two years was associated with Mr. Snider, since which time he has carried on an individual general practice. He was admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court December 7, 1914. He has made an honorable record and is a member of the Harrison County as well as the West Virginia State Bar associations. In 1900 Mr. Strosnider was married to Miss Della Kile, who was born in Doddridge County, West Virginia, and they have two daughters and one son: Mable, Luther and Marjorie Jean. In political life Mr. Strosnider is a democrat and quite active in the councils of his party, his sound judgement and thorough understanding of the complex public problems of the day rendering his advice of the utmost importance. For three years Mr. Strosnider has been city solicitor of Clarksburg and as a city law officer has performed his duties in a manner that has brought forth the highest praise.