"Prominent Men of West Virginia"
George Wesley Atkinson, Alvaro Franklin Gibbens
Published by W. L. Callin, 1890 - West Virginia

OLIVER GORRELL. 

HAPPY and contented, upon a blue-grass stock farm of eleven
hundred acres, with innumerable sheep, horses and cattle to
dot it over, this former Sheriff of Pleasants county, with
postoffice at Twiggs, lives. Within two and a half miles of
his present home in Tyler county, he was born September 25,
1839. His early educational advantages were few, but well 
improved and utilized. After traveling two or three miles to
a subscription school, he would frequently take his books to
the field and diligently study awhile and work awhile. In
this way he learned enough to teach school. For eighteen years
he was engaged in the lumber and timber business. Was Sheriff
from 1877 to 1879, and a member of the House of Delegates 1883,
and again in 1887. In the latter session serving upon the Commit- 
tees of Military Affairs, Roads and Internal Improvements, 
Executive Offices and Library, and chairman of the Committee 
on Immigration and Agriculture. 

Submitted by Linda Fluharty.