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Herman Bernhard Agsten, Sr.
Submitted by Lorenzo L. Allen (larrylallen@netzero.net) on Wed Feb 9 18:08:51 2000

Herman Bernhardt Agsten came to the United States in 1882. He was born 31 Dec 1869 in Frankenberg, Saxony, Germany. He and his family settled in Bethlehem Pennsylvania. At age 13 Herman went to work for the Bethlehem Steel Works as a water boy. He worked 60 hours a week and was paid $1.95.. The owners said since he was such a good worker they would make his pay $2.00 a week. He never attended school in the United States. At first he learned to develop patterns for the steel company. We moved to Pittsburg and worked there until 1913. In 1913 he moved to Charleston, West Virginia. At this time he started his own construction company which became known as "Agsten and Sons Construction Company". This company built the major portion of Downtown Charleston, West Virginia. Herman became a millionaire. He served at least two terms as the Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce for Charleston. Not bad for a young lad who was able to speak no English and had no more than a 7th grade education. He was my great uncle and the true incarnation of the American dream.
John Anderson
Submitted by Rose Peterson (RPeter15Ba@aol.com) on Mon Mar 23 06:31:53 1998

John Anderson, for a number of years one of the most prosperous of business men and a most respected citizen of Charles, W. VA., was born August 4, 1836, in County Antrim, Ireland, and died at Charleston, November 13, 1897. His parents were John and Mary (Kennan) Anderson. John Anderson's father was also born in county Antrim, and was of Scotch- Irish ancestry. He grew up in his native parish and became a farmer not far from the city of Belfast. He was married to Mary Kennan, a native of Scotland. All their children were born in Ireland. After William, the eldest son, married, he sailed for America, accompanied by his brother Samuel, and his sister Ann, and they settled at Wheeling, W. VA. In 1848 John Anderson, Sr., and the rest of his family embarked on a sailing vessel, arrived at New York in safety and joined the other members of the family in Wheeling. Almost immediately John Anderson, Sr., secured the position of manager of the toll bridge and in this office he served continuously for twenty-six years without missing a day. He was a man of exemplary life and temperate in all things, never indulging in liquor or tobacco. He lived to be eighty-seven years of age, his death occurring in 1874. He was respected and esteemed by all and was noted for his honesty and uprightness in every business transaction. His widow survived him for about six years, dying at the same age as her husband. They both were strong Presbyterians. In addition to the three children mentioned, there was of this marriage Eliza, Jane, Matilda, John, James and Maggie, all of whom grew to maturity and married. John Anderson (2) was twelve years old when he accompanied his parents to Wheeling. He there found a position in the McClelland shoe house, manufacturers and dealers. He continued with this firm until of age, when he went into partnership with Samuel McClelland, son of his employer, and embarked in the same business, taking over the interests of the old house. Some years later John Anderson, Jr., became sole proprietor. In 8170 he left Wheeling and came to Charleston and started the first exclusive shoe store and was also enterprising in other ways, being the first business man to put a traveling representative on the road. In 1872-73 he disposed of his branch store at Wheeling, which he had continued until that time, and then gave his entire attention to his Charleston business. He carried only first class, high grade goods, handling the finest he could secure from Boston, Philadelphia and New York. He did a large wholesale as well as retail business. He had marvelous energy, but his health failed him, and for seventeen years before his death, he was more or less and invalid. No man in Charleston stood higher in business circles. He was a loyal Democrat, but never sought office although the excellence of his judgment and his uprightness of character would have been admirable qualifications for the same. He possessed a wonderfully cultivated bass voice and for twenty years was a member of the choir of the First Presbyterian. In 1871 Mr. Anderson was married to Miss Ella C. McConihay, who was born in Kanawha County, W. VA., April 3, 184. She was carefully educated in private schools and is a broad-minded, intelligent and capable woman. Her grandparents were Scotch-Irish people and probably married before they came to the United Stares, settling in Bedford County, VA., where (sic) they died. They were the parents of three children, Samuel, Martha and John, the last named being the father of Mrs. Anderson. John McConihay was born near Liberty, in Bedford County, VA., in 1793. In the spring of 1828 he came to Kanawha (sic) County and settled thirteen miles above Charleston on Kanawha River. He died July 3, 1880, at his homestead. He owned a large plantation and many slave, was a tobacco grower and was well known both in Bedford and Kanawha Counties. During the Civil War he lost heavily. John McConihay was a leading member of the Missionary Baptist church. He was married in Bedford County to Mary Hurt, who was born near the Peaks of Otter, August 11, 1804. Mrs. McConihay died in Kanawha County, in February, 1863. She was a woman of wonderful energy and had the care of a large home, many slaves and a family of fourteen children. Twelve of these grew to maturity and all but one had children. Three survive: Felix, Daniel and Mrs. Anderson. To Mr. and Mrs. Anderson one son, Harry McClelland, was born January 29, 1872. He was graduated from high School at Charleston, and then entered Princeton College, and later took a commercial course in Eastman's Business College at Poughkeepsie, N. Y. He subsequently completed his law studies in Old Center College, at Danville, Ky., where he was graduated in the class of 1898. Later he was admitted to the bar and is an active and successful practitioner in Charleston. He is a prominent Freemason and a Shriner, and has held numerous offices in the different branches of Masonry. He is also past exalted ruler in the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He is fond of athletics and made a considerable reputation in that line as a member of the Princeton football team while at the university. Taken from History of Charleston and Kanawha County West Virginia and Representative Citizens, W.S. Laidley, Richmond Arnold Publishing Co., Chicago, 1911.
Walter Lewis Ashby
Taken from History of Charleston and Kanawha County West Virginia and Representative Citizens, W.S. Laidley, Richmond Arnold Publishing Co., Chicago, 1911.

Hon. Walter Lewis Ashby, a member of the Charleston bar, is senior of the well known law firm of Ashby & Woodroe, and is associated in business with E.T. Crawford, the firm name being Crawford & Ashby. He is prominent in poltics, and in 1898 was elected a member of the state senate of West Virginia. He was born November 3, 1862, in Norborn County, Mo., and accompanied his parents to Boone County, W.Va., in 1865, and four years later to Kanawha County.Walter L. Ashby attended the public schools at Charleston and subsequently Rock Hill College, Maryland. After deciding upon the study of law, he entered the office of his half-brother, the late Senator John E. Kenna, and was admitted to the bar, January 30, 1885. A short time afterward Mr. Ashby entered into partnership with Hon. C.C. Watts, who was later attorney-general of West Virginia, with whom he was associated until 1900. Since then Mr. Ashby has practiced alone and also with partners, his present firm having been established in 1905. Public matters have interested Mr. Ashby ever since he attained manhood, when he identified himself with the Democratic party, and through that medium has been tendered public positions. While serving as state senator he was a member of committees that had much to do with important legislation, and on account of his legal ability he was extremely valuable in that position. He is one of the representative citizens of Charleston, where he has invested in property and for the past twenty-five years has identified himself with the leading interests of the city.
James Atkinson
Taken from Prominent Men of West Virginia, Geo. W Atkinson and Alvaro F Gibbens, W.L. Callin Publishing, Wheeling, WV, 1890.

May 27, 1811, Colonel James Atkinson, the subject of this sketch, was born in the county of Kanawha, Virginia. He was reared on a farm, and because of the lack of educational advantages at that time, it was under many embarassments that he secured an ordinary English education, and thereby qualified for business. In early manhood he was elected a constable, next a Justice of the Peace, next Deputy Sheriff, and finally Sheriff of the county. He was a superior business man, and always commanded a large following of friends. He was many times urged to become a candidate for the Legislature, but always refused, on the ground that his tastes ran entirely in the line of business and not politics. Although an ardent Whig, and subsequently a Republican, he was in no sense a politician. His square methods in business and his sturdy common sense gave him a wide influence among his associates. Politicians early found that he was a valuable man to have on their side in a campaign. For many years he was a merchant in the city of Charleston, and was among the best known men in the county. Years before the war, he was elected Colonel of a militia regiment, and for over a quarter of a century was addressed by the title of "Colonel." In 1842 he married Mariam Rader, of Nicholas county. Eight children were the result of this wedlock - six daughtes and two sons. Two of the daughters are dead. One of the sons (George W.) is a lawyer in Wheeling, the other (James S.) resides in Charleston, where he was born thirty-one years ago. The living daughters are all residents of Charleston.Colonel Atkinson died September 11, 1866, from the effects of a sip of caustic soda taken through mistake for cider. He was an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and died the triumphant death of a faithful Christian. His untimely death was mourned by a large circle of admiring friends. His wife, now seventy-six years of age, still resides in Charleston.
Solomon Aultz 1822-1869
Submitted by Marieda DERRICK Edens (MDEROOTS@aol.com) on Wed Dec 408:00:01 1996

Solomon Aultz was born in Rockingham County VA. hemarried Mary DERRICK in Kanawha Co. April 19, 1822.Solomon was the son of Adam Sr. and Elizabeth ( ?) Mary DERRICK was the daughter of Jonathan andMary HAYNES Derrick.Solomon's father was deceased by 1833 and his motherlived to be ninety years, surviving Adam twenty years.They were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.Solomon and Mary lived on Martin's Branch in the UnionDist. Deed H-351 Kan.Co. was property passed onto Solomonand brother Adam Jr. from father Adam Sr. There wereappraisement sales for each of them after their deathsbut no wills.

Solomon died Oct. 27, 1869 and May by Aug.25,1876. I have six children listed for them, all marriages were of Kanawha County.

John H. P. m-1853 to Frances Amelia OLDER, Mary m-1849 to Albert McCormick, Rachel m-1851 to Peter Wallace, Martha Susanna Catherine m-1853 to Edward Older III, Francis Marion m-1863 to Sarah Agness YOUNG, and Amanda A. B. m-1875 to John W. Carpenter. 


Castillo Baber
Submitted by LINDA SECCO (lsecco@bignet.net) on Wed Mar 4 11:35:27 1998

Taken from SISSONVILLE A TIME TO REMEMBER pg53-54Castillo Hill Baber was born in Buckinham County Virginia on March 15, 1804. He was the son of Isaac and Sarah Tapscott Baber. He married Martha Brooks, daughter of Reed and Susan Agee Brooks in the same county. They had three sons while living in eastern Virginia. In 1832 Baber came to settle on Rocky Fork of Pocatalico. While they were here they had three more children. In February 1862 his wife Martha died, but he married four months later to Nancy C. Figgat who was the daughter of Henry and Susan Figgat. She was born 1823 in Botetourt County. Baber built a mill on Rocky Fork that gave such satisfaction that people came from ten miles around for milling. Children of Castillo and Martha Brooks Baber: George H. b.1827 William b.1831 m. Caroline James Reed b. 1832 Mary Susan b. 1834 Martha C. b. 1836 Isaac K. b. 1842 Margaret E. Patterson was adopted b.1849
Bill Bailey
Taken from SISSONVILLE A TIME TO REMEMBER, pg.54 by Nora Lovejoy
Submitted by LINDA SECCO (lsecco@bignet.net) on Wed Mar 4 11:35:27 1998

William "Bill" Bailey, born December 6,1853, married to Ladena Burford, born January 27,1860. They had 11 children: Stephen Brown, Adam, Elbon, Susan, Ivan "Joe", Carrie, Maysel and Hazel twins died at age 2, Idella died at age 2, and Ella. All in the family are deceased now. They all were born and raised on a farm on Poca River near Utah Hollow, near Sissonville, owned by their parents. Later, the farm was bought by heirs of the family. The upper part of the farm near Utah Hollow, was owned by Edward and Edna Bailey, which is now owned by the Carpenter Heirs. The other part of the farm on Poca River was owned by I. M. "Joe" Bailey and his wife Anna Tate Bailey. Mr. Joe Bailey was also a minister. Due to bad health they sold the farm in 1960.
Bailey Family
Submitted by LINDA SECCO (lsecco@bignet.net) on Wed Mar 4 11:35:27 1998P.

Taken from SISSONVILLE A TIME TO REMEMBER PG 54The Bailey family purchased land originally owned by the Williams family on Tuppers Creek. John Bailey was a farmer, but he used his team of horses to work on the road. He eventually began to operate a small dairy with twenty head of cattle. In 1930 Irene Bailey entered Marshall College and got a teaching certificate. She taught at Buena Vista with Principal Richard Glass. In 1933 she was named principal in Union School. At recess and at noon they played in the snow and skated on the frozen creek. From 1935-45 she taught at Sissonville.
W. Ballard & Family
Submitted by J. Versiackas (WrldTrlvr2@classic.msn.com) on 6:52 AM 3/9/99

William” Poletus Washington Ballard was born April 30, 1854, in Mercer Co., (W)V, the son of William and Elizabeth Jane Lavender Ballard. As a child, Ballard had to endure a lot of moving around. The William and Elizabeth Ballard family lived in Mercer County, (W)V, from 1852 to about 1857, in Cabell County, (W)V, from about 1858 to about 1860, and in Monroe County, (W)V, in 1861. Ballard’s siblings were Wilson L. Ballard, James P. Ballard, John W. Ballard (died young), Margaret A. Ballard, and William G. Ballard. The William and Elizabeth Ballard family moved to Kanawha County, (W)V, in about 1862. Poletus went through a great loss in 1865. His father, William Ballard, was murdered in the Co. G, 7th WV Cavalry camp at Coalsmouth on March 18, 1865. William was shot by John Wesley Adkins, a private in the same company. Poletus Ballard remained with his mother and siblings for many years after that. He, along with his brothers Wilson and James, were coal miners in the London area by the year 1869. Wash Ballard, as he was called, married Lucy Johnson June 22, 1876, at Kanawha Co., WV. The marriage produced one child who was named Leola (aka Ola). Sadly, Lucy died some time before 1880. Wash remarried Mary Ann Coiner August 25, 1880, at Kanawha Co., WV. The marriage produced the following children: William H., Lillian M., George W. (died young), Bertha, James W., Forest L., Hattie (aka Gracie), E. Russell, and Ella F. Wash and Mary Ann ran a boarding house at Eskdale from about 1905 to about 1913. They bought property at Fosterville in Boone Co., WV, in 1914. There, Wash ran a general store out of a barn near the house. His establishment was one of the first to have a power box (generator) in it’s basement for power. “William” Poletus Washington Ballard died between 1914 and 1920 most likely at Fosterville, Boone, WV. His burial place is believed to be Red Warrior Cemetery, Cabin Creek, WV, but no tombstone has been found. Mary Ann Coiner Ballard died December 25, 1938, at Fosterville, Boone, WV. She is buried at Montgomery Memorial Park, London, WV. NOTES: Pronunciation of POLETUS: (PLEE-tus) If you are a descendant of Poletus W. Ballard or one of his siblings, please contact me for instructions on how to join the "W-EBallard" mailing list through OneList.
William and Lizzie Ballard
Submitted by J. Versiackas (WrldTrvlr2@msn.com) on Tue Aug 26 15:23:30 1997

William Henry Ballard was born September 28, 1882 at Cabin Creek, WV, the son of Wash (William Pletus or Poletus) and Mary Ann Coiner Ballard. His siblings were: Forest Luther, Bertha, James William, Hattie, Lillie, Elmer Russell, and Ella. On May 20, 1901, he was united in marriage with Elizabeth Batton. Elizabeth had a troubled childhood. Her mother, Caroline Keeney Batton, died when Lizzie was at a young age. Her father, James Overton Batton, remarried a woman by the name of Ethel who had two daughters and possibly a son. Lizzie and her sister Anna were most of the time ordered around or tormented by Ethel's demanding children. To break away from her despair, Lizzie married William Ballard. Together, they had 11 children together. Living in Cabin Creek, William was a coal miner and Lizzie ran the boarding house they had at Wevaco until she got ill in approx. 1939. From the boarding house, which the Ballards had from about 1927 to 1940, they moved to a small house at Wevaco where Lizzie could rest. On January 3, 1942, Elizabeth Ballard died at Kanawha Valley Hospital of an ovary carcinoma. William, in terrible grief, remained at Wevaco until he got ill also over the period of many years. He lived with a few of his children until he was hospitalized. Before his death, he went in and out of a coma. William Henry Ballard died February 4, 1955 at Charleston Memorial Hospital of pulmonary lung cancer. Their tombstones read: WILLIAM BALLARD 1882 - 1955 ELIZABETH BATTEN Wife of W.H. BALLARD 1884 - 1942
Rev. John C. Barr
Taken from History of Charleston and Kanawha County West Virginia and Representative Citizens, W.S. Laidley, Richmond Arnold Publishing Co., Chicago, 1911.

Rev. John C. Barr, DD., for more than fifty years a minister in the Southern Presbyterian church, and for many years a highly esteemed resident of Charleston, W.Va., was born November 11, 1824, in Washington county, Pa., son of John and Mary (Cannon) Barr. His parents were member of the church of Dr. McMillen, the well known pioneer of education and Presbyterianism in western Pennsylvania. When Centre church was built in later years they became members of that church, John Barr being made a ruling elder. They were intelligent, godly people, kept the Sabbath according to the scriptures, and trained up their children in the standards of the church. Of their five children two became Presbyterian ministers, one of them an intelligent ruling elder, and two daughters devoted members of the church.John Calvin Barr was reared on his father's farm and followed agriculture until reached his twenty-fourth year, attending the local schools as opportunity was afforded him. He then entered Jefferson College at Canonsburg, where he was graduated B.A. in the class of 1855. In September of that year he began his preparation for the ministry in the Western Theological Seminary at Allegheny, where he confined his studies until 1858, although had been licensed to preach in January of the previous year.

In the spring of 1857 he went to Pocahontas county, Virginia (now West Virginia), and commenced his labors there as a home missionary. In his Sabbath school work and in building up the churches of Liberty and Baxter, he had much encouragement. In April, 1858, he was ordained to the full work of the ministry, and now added to his field the beautiful Pisgah valley in Highland county, Va., making frequent journeys over Cheat Mountain to preach at Huttonsville and Beverly. In all these mountain regions his labors were so much appreciated that he would gladly have spent his days preaching to the pure minded people there.

In the spring of 1859 Rev. John C. Barr was married to Miss Maria Smith, the daughter of Joseph Smith, D.D. This change of relations required a more settled life than that which he had been leading over a wide evangelistic field. At the same time a pressing call came to him from the church at Lewisburg, Va (now West Virginia), to become the assistant pastor with Dr. McElheney. After due deliberation, he accepted the call and entered upon his labors in May, 1859. He found Dr. McElheney a very delightful and profitable colleague. The two men labored together like father and son without a discordant note for nearly ten years. The junior pastor took the responsibility of preaching in the town church and the senior pastor preached at two points in the country. During this period of collegiate labor, there were two precious revivals of religion, one just before the war in which thirty were added to the church and another just after the war in which ninety were added to the church.

Dr. Barr's labors were much blessed while he was at Lewisburg assisting his brethren in holding evangelistic meetings at their respective churches. In 1866 and 1867 he was troubled so much with his throat that he was compelled to resign his pastorage in 1868, and take charge of the school which had recently been established in Charleston, W.Va., namely the Charleston Institute, of which he had the control for several years, became a feeder of the church. He afterwards taught in a house that stood on part of the grounds now occupied by the Charleston Hardware Company, and later in the old lecture room.

Dr. Barr was a ripe scholar and a most successful teacher, in which capacity he did a work for a great good at a time prior to the development of our excellent public school system. Those who are not conversant with the facts can hardly appreciate the benefit derived by the church from Dr. Barr's connection with the old Charleston Institute. It is to be hoped that Christians will never forget that the school should be the handmaiden of the church, and that there must be something wrong about the school that does not, at least indirectly, achieve this relation.

After a few months' rest from preaching, his throat recovered, and he felt ready to supply the pulpit as well as manage the school. The church was divided between the two sections North and South, and as a compromise measure it was agreed that they would not recognize presbyterian control on either side. The church became vacant, and Dr. Barr took charge first of the Sabbath school, which was large and flourishing, and during the year took charge of the pulpit. After a few months a gracious revival of religion followed, in which thirty of the older scholars of the school united with the church. The gospel was faithfully preached, with no allusion to any differences existing between the people. In three years a majority of the congregation longed to return to their old presbyterian relations. They made a friendly separation from those who desired to go to the northern branch of the church. Dr. Barr was regularly installed pastor of the First Presbyterian church, Dr. Stewart Robinson and Rev. John Brown conducting the installation service. From that time the church with its surrounding missions has grown until it is taking its place with the largest and most powerful churches in the synod in Virginia.

Dr. Barr tried to exemplify in his life the scriptural lessons of Faith, Hope and Charity, and to advance his Master's kingdom in so far as it lay in his power. His efforts were largely blessed and on his way through life he made many warm friends who are bound to him in ties of love. Despite his advanced years he still possessed to the end a fairly good share of his old time vigor and never felt so contented as when in the harness doing his Master's work. He had a comfortable residence at No. 809 Quarrier street, Charleston.

On Friday night, September 8, 1911, he quietly breathed his last and entered upon the life eternal. He had lived a long life of faith and untiring fidelity, winning the esteem and love of a host of friends, and the confidence and honor of the whole city. The Southern Presbyterian Church of Charleston, W.Va., has set a fine example to the whole southern church in the splendid way in which they have taken care of the aged pastor and his wife since 1908, when he became disabled. He is survived by his wife and one son, a niece and two nephews.
William Beane
Taken from SISSONVILLE A TIME TO REMEMBER, pg. 56-59
Submitted by Linda Secco (lsecco@bignet.net) on Fri Mar 13 19:10:23 1998

William Beane married November 20,1813 to Rachel Wiseman. They lived in Monroe County. Their children that came to Sissonville area are as follows: Emily b.1814, married Sept.3,1833 to Thomas J. Long, Emily died in 1889. Their children were: John Wesley b.1836, married April 4, 1861 to Emiline Fisher, John died 1864. Their children were: William F. b.1862 married to Fannie E. Johnson daughter of William and Louisa Samuels Johnson. John and Emiline's children: Mary married Leon Silman; Florence married William Casto; Louvina married Laurian Haggerty; Dorothy; Flota married Emmons Johnson and Noble. Overton Bergis born 1841, married May 1, 1864 to Ada Louise Haynes. Their children were: Bergis, Gloe and Herman. Lucinda born July 3,1817, married Oct.17,1836 to Samuel Sams Honaker. Lucinda died Aug.28,1869.Their son Edwin Sampson married March 1866 to Mary Elizabeth Coffman. Honaker Hollow was named Edwin. Elizabeth "Betty" born December 22, 1818 died July 14,1886. She married late in life to Charles Carney. John Jackson b. March 24, 1821, married October 23,1849 to Mary Summers. John married second to Mrs. Eliza J Holmes October 5,1873. John died June 26,1890. John and Mary's children: Servites Summer "Bub" b. October 25,1850,married September 1,1874 to Lucinda R. Mathews. Bub died May 29,1925. Their children were: William Forrest "Will" born June 15,1875, married May 12,1897 to Mary M. Carney, daughter of Frank Carney. Will died September 1948. Will and Mary's children were: Goldie Beatrice b. October 14,1897,married November 1916 to Cecil Pritt, son of James Franklin and Minne Bell Fisher Pritt. Goldie died in 1981. Golden S. "Bus"b.1899, married in 1919 to Corda Thomas. Bus died September 20,1963.Ruby born May 18,1903, married 1922 to Howard Martin. Ruby died October 16,1975. Kyle "Soup" b. March 17, 1905. married 1934 to Clemmie Gibson. Soup died Sept.8,1986. Irene b. May 21,1910, married 1927 to Robert F. Buckalaw. Mildred b. June 24,1912, married 1930 to John Lacy. Effie Beatrice b. May 6,1877,married 1901 to Spice Fisher. Effie died April 18,1908. John J. Beane II born Feb.14,1878,married first 1899 to Ora Woodall, daughter of Erastus and Rebecca Jane Hager Woodall. They had four sons. Charles b.1900,d.1907. Senate b. June 8,1901, married 1924 to Helen Carter. Senate died April 21, 1973. Paul Blackburn b. October 21,1903, married 1928 to Margaret Rassie. Kenneth b.July 29,1905,married to Inez Conley Pierce. Kenneth died May 1,1975. John J. Beane married second Dec.5,1910 to Lillian Christine Humphreys, daughter of Jacob Jr., and Josephine Woodall Humphreys. John died July 29,1963. John and Christine’s children were: Kathryn, Fred, "Fiz" Frank, John Jr., "Tee" Jim, Jean, Joe, and Jack. Second son John J. and Mary Summers were William Samuel "Sam" b. May 29, 1852, married Aug.20, 1877 to Mary Galina Johnson, daughter of William H. and Lovina Samuels Johnson, Their children were: Mary Eliza b. 1878, married J. L. Barrett. Mary d.Sept.21,1929. Wilhelmina "Aunt Wee" b. May 15,1880, never married. She was a school teacher. She died July 9, 1975. Edgar Arnold b. April 28,182,married 1906 to Myra C. Melton. Edgar died October 2, 1958. Their children were: Esther b. May 21, 1906, married Jan.25,1925 to Francis Dawson. Edythe b. February 20,1908, married Aug.8,1941 to Joe Sawyers. Edythe died Jan, 12, 1980. Beatrice Genieve b. Jan7, 1910, married first to Robert Hutchinson, second to Shirley Edens. Mary Sidney b. Dec. 12, 1912, married Sept. 10,1938 to Burl Sawyers. Warren Webster b. Nov.10,1914, married June 13,1936 to Dorothy Carney. Warren died Sept.7,1974. Gertrude Elizabeth b. April 15, 1917,married July 28,1938 to Richard F. White. Phyllis Jeane b. Aug.15,1924, married Dec. 4,1943 to Jesse Gandee. Doris Leah b. January 11, 1929, married Sept. 8,1950 to Paul Otis Bailey. Dorothy Lee twin of Doris stillborn. Albert Allen b. Dec.13,1884, died June 28, 1947. Lawrence Summers b. Jan. 29,1887, married in 1922 to Lola Lowe. Lawrence died June14,1973. Lula Louvina b. Aug.18,1890. married to Bert Jones. Lula died March 6,1949. Their children were: Lillian b.Jan.5,1915, married Nov.27,1934 to Dennis Kelly. Bert Jr. b. March 29,1917, married 1937 to Mildred Sisson. Helen Gail b. Feb.21,1918, died July 1920. Mary Louise married Brady Johnson. John b. Nov. 30,1929, died Aug. 30, 1933, Samuel Clarence b. may 2,1889, married 1924 to Wavey Drake. Samuel died April 10,1940.

Katherine Belle b. June 10,1893, married April 17,1923 to William Jarrett. Katherine died June 24, 1967. Carl Henry b. 1896, married 1924 to Lucille Minor. Carl died March 4, 1951. The third child of John J. and Mary Summers Beane was Arabella Wilmira "Willie Belle" b. March 12, 1855, graduated from Marshall College, died July 24,1872. Fourth child of John J. was James "Jim" b. June 7, 1855, married April 21, 1875 to Sarah Frances Goff, daughter of William and Emily Fisher Goff. Jim died Sept. 21, 1923. Their children were: Cora Bell b. July 23, 1876, married John B. Bailey. Cora died Dec. 12, 1950. Mary A. b. Nov.21,1877, married Ira J. Mason. Sarah E. b.1879, married John W. Hamilton. Sarah died 1837. James b. 1884. Della b. March 19, 1886, married first April 10,1904 to Charles Harmon, second to Roy Merical. Nancy b. 1887. Albert "Abb" b. Aug.8,1888. married 1907 to Flossie Sisson daughter of Benjamin and Lizzie Johnson Sisson. Their children were: Noble, James, Ronald, Frances, Colloett and Ruth. Archibald b. Oct.6,1826,married first January1,1849 to Amanda Shires, second Dec,8,1853 to Margaret Ann Dunbar.
Samuel Beaumont -- 1758-1837
Submitted by Frances Wentz Taber (taber@net-magic.net) on Sat Apr 12 01:26:34 1997

From: Kanawha Banner, Charleston, Kanawha County, December 2, 1837: At his residence near this place on the morning of 27th Samuel Beaumont in the 80th year of his age. Mr. Beaumont was a native of Saybrook, Conn., and removed to this state in 1790. In the war of the revolution he served in the American Army five years and six months, and was in some hard fought battles. For about forty years he had been a consistant professor of the Christian Relegion. He was one of the elders ordained when the Presbyterian Church was first organized in Kanawha. During his long and painful illness his hope in Christ was as it had been for years, clear and satisfactory. He died in full confidence of acceptence with God through the merits of a crusified redeemer.From: Miss Virginia A. Rugg of Newport, Kentucky
Granddaughter of Samuel Beaumont: (Note: probaby written circa 1880)
...Shortly after the close of the war of 1776, four of the families left their New England home, in the town of Saybrook, Connecticut, and emigrated to what was then the township of Marietta, and there took up government land, I believe it is called a section. They were all revolutionary soldiers under General Washington.

The first was Samuel Beaumont, my Mother's (note: probaby Amelia Beaumont Rugg) father and family, his son in law, William Zebulon Griffin and family(note: wife was Virginia Frances Beaumont Griffin)... As I understand this section embraced the township of Marietta, in Vienna County.... It was six miles from Parkersburg and four miles from Blannahasset Island..

When little Amelia was still a very young child a party came on from the east and entered a prior claim to the aforesaid land, and offered to pay for the improvements put upon it...but Samuel Beaumont and son in law accepted and removed with their families to Kanawha, W.Va., where they opened the first salt works that were ever opened in the Kanawha Valley...

...Samuel Beaumont's grounds were noted for their thrift and beauty of cultivation.

As I pen these lines, a vision of the long, long ago, comes floating before me. It was night, the boat had landed and the captain bearing a sleeping child, my baby brother and I, a little girl clinging to the hand of her Mother (note: probably the same, Amelia Beaumont Rugg), and one of the boat crew, bearing a lantern, went up the cedar lined avenue to the old home, now occupied by the eldest daughter of Samuel Beaumont, Mrs. Griffin(note: Virginia Frances Beaumont Griffin), now a widow. I thought even as a child, how strange it was that after the silent embrace of the two sisters, they both wept. They had not met in years. So many loved ones had passed away in that time. Then again, there comes other memories of that visit. Going up the beautiful mountain, facing the old home following the old man, my Mother's only brother (note: probably John Towner Beaumont), gathering the wintergreen berries, and wandering about the beautiful woods and grounds. Samuel Beaumont in after years regretted very much that he had ever accepted the proposition that was made to him to leave Ohio, for he was anti-slavery man, and while he employed a number of colored people on his premises, he would not, he said "traffic in human blood."

The old home was, during the Civil War, occupied by both the Confederate and the Federal troops at different times as Headquarters and was finally burned as a signal light, but the guilty party was never known. The beautiful cedar trees lines the avenue that lead to the river and still live in my memory of the sweet long ago.

The grounds where the old home stood is now occupied by the Freight depot.

Samuel Beaumont always dressed in the colonial fashion wearing the silver buckels on his shoes, and his hair in a que down his back. He passed away at the age of eighty in 1837. He, together with his wife Thankful Towner Beaumont, sleep in the old cemetary on the banks of the Kanawha.. Revolutionary War Records can be obtained from the submitter of this biographical information.
William Bonham
Taken from SISSONVILLE A TIME TO REMEMBER, page 59
Submitted by Linda Secco (lsecco@bignet.net) on Fri Mar 6 10:13:09 1998

William Bonham was born in 1822 in Ohio. He married Adlaine Tulley also of Ohio. The Bonhams came to Kanawha County and settled in Union District. They owned a large farm and spent all their lives basically to agriculture. The Bonhams family made many contributions to the Union District. They opened Bonham Dairy in this area. Their son, Tandy, who was also a minister sold the land where the first Bonham school was built. It was known as the first consolidated school of Kanawha Co. Children of William and Adlaine Tully Bonham, Powhattan, b. 1842 married Sarah E. Taylor, William H.H.Jr.b.1843, married Cecilia Weese, Jasper b.1847, married Emily Catherine Young, Fielding b.1849, Nancy b.1855, and Christopher b.1859.
Harvey Bostic
Taken from SISSONVILLE A TIME TO REMEMBER, pg. 59
Submitted by Linda Secco (lsecco@bignet.net) on Sat Feb 6 16:52:32 1999

Originally submitted by Sharon Oldaker Harvey L. Bostic born June 1855,son of James Etley Bostic and Eliza Susan Foster, came from Monroe CO,West Virginia to Kanawha Co, between 1857 and 1870. He married Lucinda C. Jordan born Feb. 14, 1862, daughter of Joseph B. and and Mary Statens Jordan. Harvey and Lucinda were married in Kanawha Co, April 29, 1877. They were parents of five children: Eliza Ann b. 1878 married William J. Smith 1898 James Monroe b. 1883 #1 married Mary Vance #2 Amanda Mae Oliver Mattox Molley Susan b. 1887 married Emro Jones 1901 John H. b. 1891 married Molly Cart 1912 Benson b. 1893 never married John H. ND Mollie had one son, Clinton.
Thomas Lee Broun
Taken from Prominent Men of West Virginia, Geo. W Atkinson and Alvaro F Gibbens, W.L. Callin Publishing, Wheeling, WV, 1890.

Among the foremost of West Virginia's land lawyers has been classed the subject of this sketch, he having made that his principal, but not exclusive line of study and investigation, from choice as well as interest, being a large owner of mining and timber lands on Coal river, in company with a syndicate of non-resident capitalists.Thomas L. Broun was born in Loudon county, Virginia, and has been a resident of what became West Virginia since September 15, 1850, except his time served in the rebellion war, and four years after its close spent in study and practice of law in New York City - when the test oath prevented him from practicing in this State. He was educated in the University of Virginia, of which he is a graduate. He studied law in Charleston under Hon. George W. Summers and with Albert G Jenkins, 1850-51; was admitted to the Kanawha Bar, January, 1852, and has since practiced there and in Boone county; also in the State Supreme Court of Appeals and in the United States Court at Charleston. He practiced with George S. Patton under the firm name of Broun & Patton. In 1857 he was appointed attorney for and elected President of the Coal River Navigation Company, to succeed General W.S. Rosecrans. He was an active Democrat and one of the editors of the Kanawha Valley Star, a red-hot Democratic journal at Charleston prior to the war.

In April, 1861, he entered the Confederate States army as a private in the Kanawha Riflemen - Captain George S. Patton's company. He was afterwards Major of the Third Regiment Infantry in Wise's Legion. In 1862 was transferred to Dublin depot as Quartermaster and commandant of that post; was badly wounded at the battle of Cloyd Mountain, May 9th, 1864, but continued in service throughout the war. Ever since the termination of that struggle he has kept himself identified with his surviving comrades, although as a good citizen accepting the arbitrament of the sword. Accepting the invitation of Camp Patton, No. 1, Confederate Veterans, he delivered a patriotic address to them and a large concourse at Charleston on their Memorial Day, June 6, 1888.

In June, 1866, Major Broun was married in Richmond, Virginia, to Miss Mary M., daughter of Col. Edmund Fontaine, first President of Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad Company, and immediately moved to New York City, remaining four years for the cause above specified. He resumed his practice in Charleston in November, 1870, where he still has his office. He devotes much of his time to lands and land titles of West Virginia, especially those in the Coal river section, where his interests lie.
James Henry Brown
Taken from Prominent Men of West Virginia, Geo. W Atkinson and Alvaro F Gibbens, W.L. Callin Publishing, Wheeling, WV, 1890.

For nearly half a century, the subject of this sketch has been a well-known character in the Great Kanawha valley. He was born in Cabell county, Virginia, December 25, 1818, and, was educated at Marietta College, Ohio, and at Augusta College, Kentucky, from the latter of which he was graduated in 1840. He studied law in the office of John Laidley, of Cabell county, and in 1842 was licensed an attorney. His practice covers a period of nearly fifty years in the Circuit Courts of Cabell, Lincoln and Kanawha counties, and in the United States District Court, the Court of Appeals of Virginia and West Virginia, and in the Supreme Court of the United States.In 1848, he located at Charleston, Kanawha county, where he has since resided. In the winter of 1854-5, he was a delegate to the Democratic State Convention, at Staunton, that nominated Henry A. Wise for Governor; and in 1855, he was a candidate for the State Senate, but was defeated. In 1856, he was a delegate from Kanawha county to the Democratic Convention at Parkersburg which nominated Albert G. Jenkins, of Cabell county, for Congress.

Schooled in the doctrines of the fathers of the Constitution, he repudiated the modern heresy of secession. While he maintained the just rights and reserved powers of the States and people, on one hand, he defended with equal firmness the constitutional powers of the national Government on the other. He, therefore, denounced secession as tending inevitably to disintegration and the ultimate destruction of all government. In the spring of 1861, while the Convention at Richmond was passing the ordinance of secession, he was a delegate to the Union Convention, at Parkersburg, that nominated Hon. John S. Carlile for Congress. No man in the southern section of the State took a more determined stand for the Union than did James H. Brown. He was a delegate to the Wheeling Convention in 1861 that rescued the western portion of Virginia from the vortex of secession and rebellion, and was also a member of the Legislature of the Restored Government of Virginia. He was a leading spirit in both these bodies, which were practically in session at one and the same time.

He was elected Judge of the 18th Judicial Circuit of Virginia in the winter of 1861-2, and it is a remarkable fact that not one of his decisions was ever appealed to a higher court. In 1863, he was elected to the Convention that framed a Constitution for the new State of West Virginia. May 28, 1863, he was elected a Judge of the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia, which office he filled with conspicuous ability for the full term of eight years. After the expiration of his term as a Supreme Judge, he resumed the practice of his profession at Charleston. He was again twice renominated by his party (he became a Republican in 1861) for the office of a Supreme Judge, and was defeated along with the rest of the ticket. In 1882, he was nominated and elected by the Republicans a member of the House of Delegates of West Virginia from Kanawha county, and was the acknowledged leader of his party in that assembly. Judge Brown was twice his party's candidate for Congress in the 3d West Virginia district, first in 1883, at a special election to fill a vacancy occasioned by the resignation of John E. Kenna, and again in 1886. He was both times defeated, but reduced the majority from several thousand to a mere nominal figure.

Judge Brown is a man of marked ability. He is fluent in speech, logical in thought, pleasant in manner. In matters of religion, he favors the largest libert of conscience. He is a member of the Presbyterian church, and for many years has been a Ruling Elder.
Burdette Family
Taken from SISSONVILLE A TIME TO REMEMBER, pg. 61-62
Submitted by Linda Secco (lsecco@bignet.net) on Sun Mar 8 10:01:45 1998

Archibald Burdette was born 1807 in Virginia. He came to Kanawha County from Monroe Co. around 1830, with Fortunatis Legg, they purchased 300 acres of land on Samuels Creek, now named Legg Fork of Tuppers Creek in Poca District. He made this his family home. He married in 1830 in Kanawha County to Ruth Miller. They had a son and daughter before she passed away. Archibald remarried in 1838 to Elizabeth Spencer, who lived in the same vicinity. They reared together seven more children. Archibald was a farmer and lived off his land for his family support. Burdette's is now a large family of Union and Poca Districts. Children of Archibald and Ruth Miller Burdette: Andrew, b.1832, married Annie Holley, Malinda, b.1834, married William Sigmon. Children of Archibald and Elizabeth Spencer Burdette: Washington, b.1839,married Isabella C. Milam, Eli, b.1841, married Drusilla Elizabeth Fisher, Mary J. b.1842, Charles b.1843, James H.,b.1845, married Lucinda Fisher, Sarah,b.1847 and Delilah, b. 1849 married Levi Gibson.
Noyes S. Burlew
Taken from History of Charleston and Kanawha County West Virginia and Representative Citizens, W.S. Laidley, Richmond Arnold Publishing Co., Chicago, 1911.

Noyes S. Burlew, a leading businessman at Charleston, W.Va., conducting a general hardware store, was born at Sheldrake, Seneca County, N.Y., and is a son of James A. and Sophia (Wood) Burlew. The parents of Mr. Burlew were natives of New Jersey and came of French stock. They moved to Seneca County, N.Y., and there the father died at the age of seventy-five years. They were active members of the Methodist Episcopal church and liberal supporters of the same. The father even went to the extent of erecting a church edifice in his own neighborhood at his own expense. Ten children were born to James A. Burlew and wife, six of whom survive and two sons are residents of Charleston, Noyes S. and Abraham, the latter of whom is a well known attorney here.Noyes S. Burlew remained on the home farm until he was twenty-one years of age. He was educated in the local schools and at Cazenovia College and afterwards practiced dentistry for seven years at Ovid and other points in New York state. In 1872 he came to Charleston and engaged in the lumber business for two years and then was appointed a revenue collector, an office he resigned in 1876 in order to engage in business. He established himself in the hardware line, first on Capitol Street, and in 1877 came to his present location, No. 712 Kanawha Street. He has made many property investments since he became a resident of Charleston and some twenty-one years since erected the Burlew Opera House, of which he has been owner and manager ever since. In politics he has been quite active, early identifying himself with the Republican party. In his first administration, former Governor Dawson appointed Mr. Burlew adjutant-general of the state, and he was reappointed later by Governor Glasscock, and continued in office until 1910, when he resigned and has accepted no public office since.
Mr. Burlew was married at Charleston to Miss Lizzie Rand, who was born and reared here, and is a daughter of William J. and Ella (Noyes) Rand, who spent their long lives at Charleston. They were members of the Presbyterian church, to which religious body Mr. and Mrs. Burlew also belong. Mr. Burlew is very prominent in Masonry and for the past ten years has been high priest and prophet of Beni-Kedem Shrine at Charleston, of which he is also Past Potentate.