WV-FOOTSTEPS-D Digest Volume 00 : Issue 97 Today's Topics: #1 The conservative Life Insurance Co [Tina Hursh To: WV-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-Id: <1.5.4.32.20000409223531.006dc4f4@clubnet.isl.net> Subject: The conservative Life Insurance Co.- Ohio county 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 111 Pg. 362 The Conservative Life Insurance Company. With full measure of consistency may this publication offer brief review of the Conservative Life Insurance Company of Wheeling, West Virginia, for the institution is one that is gaining high rank and unequivocal success, and had proved a source of just pride, as well as value, to the city and state in which if figures as a "home corporation." This company was organized and incorporated, under the laws of West Virginia, in the year 1906, with an authorized capital of $500,000. When its first policy was issued, in April, 1907, the assets of the company were about $14,000. Of all that has since been achieved an idea is conveyed by the brief notation that at the close of the year 1920 the assets of the company aggregated $1,575,344.56, an increase of nearly $400,000 over the preceding year. From an appreciative article that appeared in the publication entitled "Money and Commerce," are taken the following pertinent quotations. After noting that annual statement of the company for the year 1920 the article continues as follows: "Thus it will be seen that from a very meager beginning it has progressed and advanced each year until it now stands among the leading financial institutions in the country. It has always been the aim and policy of the management to build up the institution on a solid and safe foundation, and to that end great care has been exercised in the selection of insurance risks, investment of the funds, and the systematic conducting of its affairs in such a way as to give to the public every attractive and up-to-the-minute form of policy, together with the creation of a permanent agency organization, which now numbers approximately two hundred fifty men and women, representing it in the states of West Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia and Florida. With the constant opening of new state, with the agency force increasing in numbers, and with the volume of business constantly expanding, and naturally the resources of this institution cannot help but swell in proportion, and its future growth and stability can be measured only on the basis of the amazing financial growth of some of the institutions of this kind in the East. Since its organization the company has paid out over $600,000 in death claims, and has withstood not only the great World war but also the greatest epidemic the world has ever known, Spanish influenza. This alone increased the expected mortality by over one-half, yet each and every claim was paid the same day that proofs of death were filed and approved at the home office. This alone demonstrates to the public at large the financial strenght of the company, and is positive evidence and proof of the soundness and stability as well as of the just and equitable treatment received by the policy-holders and their beneficiaries." The home offices of the Conservative Life Insurance Company are established in a fine building that bears the company's name and that is owned by the company. This is an enlarged and remodeled structure, the base of which was the old post office or Federal Building at Wheeling, and with the purchase more recently of adjoining property on which was situated the Colonial Theater the company now owns a block 132 feet square-one of the most valuable properties in the city. In conclusion may be given extracts from a New York financial periodical, the New York Commercial, whose representative found fully justified the "claim that Wheeling has one of the most successful and best managed life-insurance companies in cities of this class in America." The article further states that the ultimate test of a company's financial solidity is the relation of liabilities to assets, and that, gauged by this test, some of the smaller insurance companies hold the commanding position, "and this is true of the Conservative Life of Wheeling." In Commenting on the specially liberal policies marking the conduct of the business and the company's adoption of "multiform" insurance, the article continues thus: "This contract has been the means of the company writing as much or more business in its home state as any other company operating in the State of West Virginia, and the contract has proved so popular that it is now being copied by some of the older and larger companies. The wonderful success and progress of this enterprising concern is due to the competent staff of officers and agents. Clem E. Peters, the efficient secretary and treasurer of the company, who is recognized as one of the leading insurance men of this district, has perhaps been more of a factor in bringing the company through to its present high standing than any other individual connected therwith, because it has been through his untiring efforts that the company has attained its present high rank in financial circles. Of the secretary and treasurer of the company more specific mention is made in preceding biography. ______________________________X-Message: #2 Date: Sun, 09 Apr 2000 17:35:40 -0500 From: Tina Hursh To: WV-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-Id: <1.5.4.32.20000409223540.006ee7f0@clubnet.isl.net> Subject: Bio: Young, Laco Loy - Harrison County 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 111 Pg. 364 Laco Loy Young, sheriff of Harrison County, is a brother to the secretary of state of West Virginia, and both have been men of power in county politics and local affairs for a great many years. Sheriff Young was born on a farm in Barbour County, West Virginia, December 7, 1869, son of David Sylvester and Sarah Ann (Pickens) Young. His father, a native of Old Virginia, was a child when his parents, William W. and Hettie (Griffith) Young, moved to Harrison County, West Virginia, where they lived out their lives. They were Scotch Presbyterians. William W. Young became a farmer, also learned the blacksmith's trade, and was one of the pioneers of that occupation in Harrison County. The mother of Sheriff Young was born in West Virginia, daughter of John and Hannah (Corder) Pickens, who came from Old Virginia. She died at the age of fifty-five, leaving four children: Laco L.; Addie V., deceased; Edna M., wife of A.G. Whitesell, of Weston; and Houston Goff, who is now in his second term as secretary of state of West Virginia and is still a resident of Harrison County. The father of these children is still living on the old homestead not far from where the grandfather settled in Harrison County. David S. Young was a teamster in the Union Army during the Civil War. Laco L. Young grew up on the homestead in Harrison County, made good use of his advantages in the rural schools, and finally attended the Holbrook Normal University. When only sixteen he was given his first school to teach, and for six years he played an effective part in the educational program of his community. His chief occupation throughout his career, however, has been farming, and he is one of the men who have achieved something more than an ordinary success in agriculture. From the farm his interested have taken on a broadening scope and he is interested in the wholesale meat business at Clarksburg. Mr. Young for a number of years has been actively interested in the success of the republican party in Harrison County, but not until 1920 did he come forward as an active candidate for himself. In that year he won the republican nomination for sheriff, and at the November election received the largest vote given to any man on the county ticket. Sheriff Young is a Methodist and a member of the Knight of Pythias. In 1891 he married Miss Byrdie Stout, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Abner S. Stout, of Harrison County. To their marriage were born ten children: Their son Clayton G. Young in now deputy sheriff under his father, is an ex-service man, and for thirteen months was overseas with the Third Army Division. He is an active member of the American Legion Post of Clarksburg. ______________________________X-Message: #3 Date: Sun, 09 Apr 2000 17:35:38 -0500 From: Tina Hursh To: WV-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-Id: <1.5.4.32.20000409223538.006eb5a4@clubnet.isl.net> Subject: Bio: Forman, Lewis J. - Grant county 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 111 Pg. 363 & 364 Hon. Lewis J. Forman. Recognized generally as one of the leading attorneys of Grant County, Lewis J. Forman, of Petersburg, is also a descendant of the old and prominent family of Formans which settled in Preston County more than a century and a half ago. He was born on the old family farm near Bruceton Mills, January 7, 1855, and is a son of Richard and Nancy (Fike) Forman, and a brother of Allen Forman, of Preston County, a sketch of whose career preceeds this. Lewis J. Forman lived in the vicinity of Brandonville during the first seventeen years of his life, and in 1872 accompanied his parents to Amboy, near Aurora, where he came to man's estate. He attended the country schools until he was eighteen years of age, at which time he commenced teaching school in Preston County, although he had endeavored to enter this profession one year sooner in Maryland, but the authorities had refused to examine him for a license to teach because of his youth. He continued teaching school in Preston, Doddridge and Wirt counties, West Virginia, for six years, following which he entered Professor Holbrook's National Normal University, from which he was duly graduated after four years in both the scientific and business or commercial courses. He resumed teaching at that time, first being principal of schools at Fairmont and subsequently at Beavertown, Ohio, and then returned to West Virginia and settle permanently at Petersburg. Upon assuming his residence at the county seat of Grant County Mr. Forman began the study of law with the firm of Dyer & Pugh. Such phenomenally rapid advancement did he make that he was admitted tot he bar of West Virginia eight months later. During this period he went into the country, near town, and taught a short term of school, and in addition to this labor served for a while as a deputy in the county clerk's office, which would make it appear that his time was fully occupied. After his admission to the bar Mr. Forman began the practice of his profession at Petersburg, where he tried his first case in the court. His admission to practice occurred in October, 1883, and in the following year he was elected prosecuting attorney of the county, an office to which he was re-elected for four consecutive terms, serving sixteen years therein. In this office he succeeded the Hon. F.M. Reynolds, who later occupied the bench of this judicial district. In this time Mr. Forman also acted as principal of the Petersburg school for more than two terms, and was also associated as a partner in the law with Judge F.M. Reynolds until the latter was elevated tot he bench. He retired from the office of prosecuting attorney in 1900, and since then has applied himself to his private practice, which has advanced greatly in size and importance. In the matter of politics Mr. Forman grew up in a home where republicansism was strong, and cast his maiden presidential vote for Rutherford B. Hayes. He has cast eleven ballots for presidents, never having missed a national election since casting his initial vote. His convention work as a delegate show him to have been present at nearly all of the republican state conventions for thirty years. He was formerly a member of the Republican State Committee, and helped engineer the first primary election as a member of the executive committee appointed for that purpose. He was likewise a member of the Congressional Committee for many years, during the incumbency of Judge Dayton in Congress, and was a delegate to the National Republican Committee convention on 1900, assisting in the nomination of President McKinley. Mr. Forman's first election to office was when he was made prosecuting attorney. He made the race as the republican candidate for state senator in 1900, but political conditions were against him and he was defeated, but by only eight-one vote. Two years later he was again a candidate, in a new senatorial district, and this time won by 3,500 votes. He represented the Fifteenth Senatorial District for eight years, going into the Senate under the presidency of Hon. Clark May, and when his term expired he was re-elected to succeed himself. During this last term he was a member of the judiciary committee of the body, and held this post all through his service save for the last year, when he was elected president of the Senate. He was instrumental as a legislator this term in securing the passage of a bill establishing the bureau of archives and history, and in addition to introducing and putting through the bill placing county officers on salary, joined in the tax reform legislation which resulted in the passage of the bill which governs today. He has since been a candidate for Congress before the primaries, but lost the nomination. Senator Forman as a citizen and business man of Petersburg served the town as its mayor five years, and during his administration the municipality was cleared of indebtedness. He was one of the organizers of the Grant County Bank, and which time he was elected president, and is still its chief executive. As a churchman he began his church life as a boy of thirteen years. His parents were Methodists, and he has been a factor in the work of that denomination in each community in which he has resided. He was elected superintendent of the Sunday School of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Petersburg at the time he joined the congregation, and has served the school since 1902. He has the record of fourteen years of attendance upon the school without missing a Sunday, and the school records show others who have an equally remarkable record of attendance. He has been a member of the State Sunday School Executive Committee and is especially interested and concerned with Sunday School work. He is one of the Board of Stewards of the church, and has occasionally attended annual church conferences of the district. On August 23, 1886, at Petersburg, Senator Forman married Miss Virginia Baker, a daughter of Eli and Frances (Shobe) Baker. Mr. Baker was of an old family of West Virginia and was a hatter by trade and an agriculturist by occupation. Mrs. Baker was a native of Grant County, and Mrs. Forman is one of eight children to reach maturity. She was educated in the common schools, and had an experience of one year as a teacher. She is an active member of the Presbyterian Church, and gave her support to the movement to promote the auxiliary work of the World war. Senator and Mrs. Forman have had no children to grow up. A little girl, Esther Whisler, came into their home by adoption and grew up and was educated as their own child. She passed through the schools of Petersburg, graduated from Randolph Macon Institute at Danville, Virginia, and then took a year's work at Wesleyan College, Buckhannon, coming to womanhood with every preparation for a useful and happy life. She married Bryan F. Mitchell, of Danville, Virginia, and their home is at Petersburg, where Mr. Mitchell is reading law under the partnership of Senator Forman. ______________________________X-Message: #4 Date: Sun, 09 Apr 2000 17:35:34 -0500 From: Tina Hursh To: WV-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-Id: <1.5.4.32.20000409223534.006e6268@clubnet.isl.net> Subject: Bio: Forman, Allen - Preston County 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 111 Pg. 363 Allen Forman. The activities and service by which he has become so well known and esteemed in the Amboy community of Preston County have been extended over the nearly half a century Allen Forman has lived there. He has passed the age of three score and ten, but is still attending to his interests as a farmer and lumberman. Mr. Forman, who is widely known over Preston County on account of his long service on the County Court, was born near Brandonville May 30, 1845. His grandfather, Samuel Forman, came to Preston County, Pennsylvania and settled in the woods at Brandonville, transforming by his labors an unproductive tract into a fruitful farm. He was a member of the Quaker Church and was probably buried in the Quaker Cemetery at Brandonville. By his marriage to Miss Willett he had the following children: Jesse, Ellis, James, Abner, Richard, Hannah, who married John Spurgeon, Anna, who married Alexander Harvey, and Deborah, who married James Harvey, brother of Alexander. It was perhaps due to their Quaker connections that none of these sons became soldiers in the Civil war. Richard Forman, father of Allen Forman, was born in the Brandonville community and though reared a Quaker he united with the Methodist denomination after his marriage. He had only the advantages of the country schools, and his active years were spent in farming. He died in 1892, at the age of seventy-three. He was a democrat, though he voted for Abraham Lincoln in 1860. About 1875 he moved to the Amboy locality, and is buried at Carmel Church, near there. His wife, Nancy Fike, was a daughter of Jacob Fike, and she reached the age of eighty-one. Their children were: Allen; Elma, who married Rev. Henry J. Boatman and died in California; James, of Terra Alta; Lewis J., a lawyer at Petersburg, West Virginia; and Lloyd, proprietor of the Forman Surgical Hospital at Buckhannon. Allen Forman attended the common schools, the Brandonville Academy, and his labors were given to the home farm until after his marriage. In 1875 he located on the farm he now owns and occupies at Amboy. He arrived there with $500 which his father had paid him in wages, and he used this capital in making his first payment on the land, and finished paying for his farm on the installment plan. Fifty acres have been cleared, and since he took possession a similar area has been made ready for crops. On this farm he has grown both grain and stock, and for the past thirty years has also supplemented his business as a manufacturer of lumber on a small scale. He and his sons now operate their mill in partnership, and their product made from local timber supply is largely used by the local trade, though to some extent shipments have been made outside the county. Mr. Forman became a member of the County Court as successor of Julius Scheer, representing Union District. Among other colleagues during his long service there were Jehu Jenkins and A. Staley Shaw. He served four straight terms of two years each, and then, after an intermission, was again elected, and had ten years of service to his credit when he retired. The principal work during his term was building roads and bridges, and providing for the poor, but he county had not entered upon the program of permanent highway construction until the last term he was on the board. Mr. Forman cast his first presidential ballot for General Grant in 1888, and has been aligned with that party ever since. In former years he was frequently a delegate to county, senatorial and congressional conventions. He has served as a trustee of the Aurora Methodist Church. Mr. Forman has practically all his business interests concentrated on his farm and in his lumber mill, but is also one of the stockholders and a director of the First National Bank of Terra Alta. In Preston County May 30, 1873, he married Miss Carrie Forquer. She was born at Brandonville January 22, 1848, daughter of Samuel and Isabel (McGrew) Forquer. Her mother was a daughter of Colonel James McGrew, representing one of the pioneer families of this section of the state. The original McGrew came from New Jersey to Comberland, Maryland, in pioneer time. Samuel Forquer and wife had four children: Leroy, who served as a Union soldier and is now living in Pennsylvania; Mattie, who married Harry Smith and lives in Morgantown; Mrs. Forman; and Dayton M., a farmer near Brandonville. Of the children of Mr. and Mrs. Forman the oldest is Alletta, of Terra Alta, widow of John C. Mayer; Charles H., the oldest son, is associated with his father in the lumber industry at Amboy; Arthur Dayton, a farmer near Amboy, married Myrtle Mason, and their children are Eleanor, Erma and Nancy; Miss Mary is still at home with her parents. The two youngest children were Harry Allen and Nancy, twins. The son died on his graduation day, at the age of twenty-one. Nancy is the deceased wife of E.R. Jones, of Oakland Maryland.