Biography of Daniel Roy Moss - Wyoming Co. WV


The History of West Virginia, Old and New 
Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc., 
Chicago and New York, Volume III, 
pg. 565 


DANIEL ROY MOSS. In 1913 there arrived at Mullens 
a freight car, tucked in one end of which was a small 
collection of miscellaneous articles destined to form the 
nucleus for the stock of the first hardware store of this 
city. The owner, Daniel Roy Moss, had his household 
goods stored in the other end of the car. Since that time 
he has experienced the ups and downs of business life, 
but at all times has applied himself energetically and 
assiduously to his task, even cheerfully in the face of mis- 
fortune, and out of it all has built up a prosperous business, 
established himself firmly in his own self-confidence and in 
the esteem of others, and has come to the conclusion that 
hard work has never injured anyone and that honest methods 
eventually bring success when backed by good management 
and industry.
Mr. Moss was born at Keyser, Mineral County, West Vir- 
ginia, February 10, 1879, and is a son of Herbert and 
Sallie (Taylor) Moss, the latter of whom died when her 
son was still a boy. Herbert Moss was born in 1842, and 
for many years was engaged in the drug business at Front 
Royal, Virginia, Keyser, West Virginia, and Charleston, 
but eventually disposed of his holdings and became a 
"Knight of the grip." He is now one of the veteran 
traveling salesmen for large dry goods houses, and has an 
extensive acquaintance and many friendships all over this 
part of West Virginia. Despite his advanced years he is 
still hale and hearty and active in body and mind. He is 
a Union veteran of the war between the states, and in his 
political allegiance is a stanch democrat.
Daniel Roy Moss received only a public school education, 
attending at Romney and Mechanicsburg, West Virginia, 
but made the most of his opportunities, as he always had. 
At the age of fifteen years he became a delivery boy for 
the local butcher in the town in which he was living at the 
time, and when he was only eighteen years old induced 
the Charleston Street Railway Company to give him work 
as a conductor on their line. His next experience was 
with the Payne Shoe Company of Charleston, and when 
he left that house he went to Beckley, where, with his 
brother, he founded a modest hardware establishment, 
known as the Randolph Hardware Company. Later Mr. 
Moss decided that Mullens offered a better field for the 
display of his business talents, and he accordingly shipped 
all of his worldly goods, both mercantile and household, 
to this city in a single freight car, in which there was also 
a large wagon. Of this wagon, it may be said in passing, 
that it was sold on credit shortly after Mr. Moss' arrival 
in the city, and that a good part of its sale price is still 
due the hardware merchant. His first sale was an axe, 
purchased by "Peacheye" Davis, a local character, and 
the dollar thus taken in was the only one that wandered 
into the cash drawer all day. He did not allow himself 
to become discouraged, however, nor did he when his 
place was destroyed by fire in December, 1917, or when 
again he was burned out in August, 1918. His faith and 
labor have been vindicated and rewarded, and today he 
has a fine store, conducted under the style of the Mullens 
Hardware and Furniture Company, and a hillside residence 
that is one of the best in the place. He carries a com- 
plete stock of furniture and hardware and has extended his 
patronage all over the surrounding countryside. Mr. Moss 
is a democrat in politics, and has taken some active part 
in public affairs, having served two years as a member of 
the City Council, with an excellent record for able and 
conscientious work. As a fraternalist he is a Master Mason 
and a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
In 1907 Mr. Moss was united in marriage with Miss 
Estella Hudnall, daughter of Samuel Hudnall, of Charleston. 
She is a member of the Presbyterian Church at Mullens and 
has been active in its work.


Submitted by Valerie F. Crook <vfcrook@earthlink.net> 

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