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Tyler
County
West Virginia Genealogy
Trails
A part of the
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Tyler County Biographies
"M"
Surnames
MARTIN, CAPTAIN
ABNER - an old and well-known river man of
Eastern Ohio, was born in Tyler county, Va., in 1820, the son of
Alexander and Jane Martin. Alexander Martin was the son of R.
Martin, a native of Wales, who came to the United States previous to
the war of the revolution and settled in Virginia, and afterward
moved to West Virginia, and started the first blacksmith shop ever
operated in the present city of Wheeling. He afterward moved near
Mansfield Ohio, where his death occurred at the advanced age of one
hundred and four years. He bora a distinguished part in the war of
American Independence, and figured prominently in the early history
of the Virginia counties, where he settled. Alexander Martin, the
father of the subject, was born in the year 1796, and spent his
early life in the vicinity of Wheeling, W. Va. He served in the war
of 1812, and at the close of that struggle moved to Tyler county,
Va., where his death occurred about the year 1866. He was married
abou the year 1819, to Jane Dixon, by whom he had eight children,
four living at this time. Absalom Martin, uncle of our subject,
established and operated the first ferry, at Wheeling, W. Va.
Captain Martin spent his early life at the home of his parents, in
Tyler county, Va., and at the age of thirteen began clerking on a
steamboat which plied the Ohio and other rivers. He worked his way
upward from a clerk until he became captain of a boat one of the
first that engaged in the Mississippi river traffic, and he followed
boating principally between Pittsburg and New Orleans, with
occasional trips on the Alabama, Red and Yazoo rivers for a number
of years. He took charge of a boat as captain in 1852, and ran as
such until 1865, during which time he commanded several boats which
did an extensive trade. During his career on steamboats, Captain
Martin met with many thrilling adventures and accidents, some of the
latter of which were of national interest. A brief outline of his
adventures will prove of general interest and it is given as
follows. He was on the steamer "Roanoke" when it sank at the mouth
of the Big Hocking river, in 1836. He was on the steamer "Brooklyn"
when she collapsed her flues in 1846 twenty-five miles below
Vicksburg, Miss., and he was also on the steamer "National" when a
similar accident happened to her fifteen miles below Paducah, Ky.
Captain Martin was associated with the famous "Mark Twain," when
that erratic humorist was learning to pilot on the Mississippi
reiver, a period which he afterward described so amusingly in his
many stories. He and Captain Martin were together for eleven months,
on the fated steamer "Pennsylvania," which exploded her boilers on
June 13, 1858, seventy-five miles below Memphis, Tenn. At the time
of this terrible accident there were on board 500 passengers, of
whom 260 were lost, a brother of "Mark Twain" being one of the
number. After the breaking out of the civil war, Captain Martin was
engaged in transporting troops and stores for the United States
government, and during this period he frequently passed through
dangerous adventures and hair-breadth escapes. He was usually very
lucky with the boats he commanded during these stirring times, his
only loss occurring at Johnsonville, Tenn. While lying at that point
in 1864, on the steamer "Mountaineer," the rebel generals, Forest
and Hood, bombarded the fort and burned the transports that were
there. Captain Martin and his associates were transferred by rail to
Nashville, Tenn., through a country thickly infested with
guerrillas, which made the trip one of thrilling interest and
danger. In 1861, Captain Martin moved his family to Columbiana
county, and located on a small farm which he still owns and upon
which he has since resided, in the pursuit of agriculture. He
married Rebecca Jolly, who bore him eight children, three now
living, viz.: Madison B., William I., and Eleanor V. His wife died
in 1855, and he afterward married Lucinda Calhoun, a union which
resulted in the birth of two children: James H. and Ida I., who with
their mother are still living. Captain and Mrs. Martin are members
of the Methodist Episcopal church and he belongs to the Masonic
fraternity. The captain has now reached his seventieth year, having
lived a life filled with many stirring adventures, and not entirely
devoid of hardships. He has many friends in Columbiana county, and
along the river, and is well respected by all who know him.
[History of Upper Ohio Valley, 1891-Transcribed by C.
Anthony]
JOHN M. MCCOACH, president of
the firm of John M. McCoach & Company, the largest dealers in
produce in this part of the country, was born in Sistersville, West
Virginia, on December 28, 1866. He received his education in the
town of his birth, after which he clerked for a while in one of the
local stores, and then in 1889 came to Huntington, accepting a
position with Harvey Hazen & Company, and remaining with them
until when he engaged in the wholesale fruit business, in which
line he was the pioneer in this place, and has made a specialty of
handling apples.
The firm of J. M. McCoach & Company, which he
founded, has grown to large proportions, and now does an extensive
foreign and domestic trade in this fruit. They purchased the land
and built the plant, now occupied by the Ranks Supply Company, at
Eleventh street and Second avenue, and established there the first
cold storage business in Huntington. Later the firm purchased the
Huntington Cold Storage & Commission Plant. They have increased
the capacity of the plant for the manufacture of ice until today its
capacity is one hundred and twenty tons of ice per day. The water is
obtained from four artesian wells, which furnish an exceptionally
pure supply. This is the present establishment, one of the most
extensive in the country, and includes a cold storage capacity of
thirty-five thousand barrels of apples. The apples are not only
exported, but are shipped in large quantities all over the South,
furnishing one of the chief sources of the supply of that region. From fifty to seventy-five men are employed in
the handling and shipping of the various articles of produce, and
the firm is rapidly enlarging and extending its immense business.
The vice-president of the company is L. D. Eaton, and the secretary
and treasurer is S. P. Hager.
The president, Mr. McCoach, who has
shown so much business sagacity in the foundation and development of
this concern, is a most progressive and public-spirited citizen, and
is associated in various ways with the welfare of Huntington, his
activities having assisted to make her one of the leading commercial
centres in this region. Mr. McCoach is a member of Huntington Lodge,
No. 128, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, of Huntington, and of
Huntington Lodge, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. In
politics he is a Democrat. He is greatly interested in oil and gas
operations, and has invested some capital with others in valuable
fruit orchards in the western states.
Mr. McCoach married, October 10,
1897. Lucy S. Sehon, daughter of Edmund Sehon. They have two
children: Agnes Elizabeth and Lucy Sehon.
Source: West Virginia & Its
People, by Thomas Condit Miller & Hu Maxwell, 1913, Transcribed
by C. Anthony
MEREDITH, JAMES A.
- a descendant of
a sturdy and thrifty ancestry, and a highly reputable citien, an
attorney-at-law by profession, residing in Fairmont, was born at
Centreville, now Alma, Tyler county, West Virginia, January 27,
1875.
(I) The first of the line here under consideration was
Davis Meredith, a Welshman, who came to this country and located in
what is now Marion, formerly Monongalia county, about 1796, building
his home just above Hoodsville on Little Paw Paw creek. He was a
prominent factor in the upbuilding and improvement of the section
wherein he resided. He was a soldier in the war of 1812. He died in
1825. He married (first) ______ ________, and his children were: 1.
Thomas, married Millie, daughter of Richard and Susanna (Stull)
Morris; they settled in Marietta, Ohio, where many descendants
reside. 2. Job, removed to Ritchie county, West Virginia. 3. Davis,
see forward. 4. William, settled in Ritchie county, West Virginia.
Davis Meredith married (second) Nancy __________, and their children
were: 5. Millie, married James Arnett. 6. Nellie, married William
Arnett.
(II) Davis (2), son of Davis (1) Meredith, was born
on the old home farm near Hoodsville, now Marion county, West
Virginia. He was reared on a farm, and in early manhood settled at
Hoodsville, where he cleared and improved a farm adjoining the old
Morris farm. Subsequently he became a minister of the old Methodist
Episcopal church. He removed to Noble county, Ohio, and about 1857
to Tyler County, now West Virginia, where he spent the last years of
his life. His career was an active and useful one, and he strove
most earnestly to fulfill every duty and responsibility. He was
formerly an old line Whig in politics, joining the Republican party
upon its organization. He married, near Rivesville, Marion county,
West Virginia, Naomi Snodgrass. Children: William N; John W; Absalom
P., see forward; James Alva; Thomas P.; Alexander; Nancy, married
_____ Beatty; Luverna, married William Gleen; Martha. The father of
these children died in 1895, surviving his wife several years, her
death occurring in 1885
(III) Absalom P., son of Davis (2)
Meredith, was born in Noble county, Ohio, in 1843. He was reared to
agricultural pursuits, educated in the common schools, and at the
age of fourteen years accompanied his parents to Tyler county, now
West Virginia. Upon attaining young manhood he settled ona farm in
his native county, which he cultivated and improved, and this
occupation claimed his attention throughout his active career. At
the breaking out of the civil war he enlisted in Company C, Seventh
West Virginia Volunteer Infantry, with which he saw considerable
severe service; he served for three years, at the expiration of
which time he was honorably discharged. After his marriage he
removed to the state of Illinois, where he remained one yera, and
then returned to West Virginia, settling on a farm in Tyler county,
from which he derived a lucrative livelihood. His church membership
was with the Methodist Episcopal demoniation, and his political
allegiance was given to the Republican party. He was a member of the
Grand Army of the Republic, and the Independent Order of Odd
Fellows. He married, in 1864, Catherine Riley, of Sistersville, West
Virginia, born in Tyler county, Virginia, 1837, daughter of Turner
Riley, a pioneer settler of that region. She was a school teacher
prior to her marriage. Children: 1. Charles S., born in 1869; a
merchant of Spencer, West Virginia. 2. Laura, twin of Charles S.;
married John Kelley, of Ritchie county, West Virginia. 3. Gilbert
B., born in 1873; foreman for Hope Natural Gas Company, at
Smithfield, West Virginia. 4. Jennie A., married John W. Horner, of
Ritchie county, West Virginia. 5. Rufus, twin of James A., connected
with the oil business in Oklahoma. 6. James A., see forward. 7.
William H., engaged in real estate business at Middlebourne, West
Virginia. 8. Emma, married Campbell Martin of Ritchie county, West
Virginia. 9. Emery D., connected with the South Penn Oil Company, at
Lynch, Harrison county, West Virginia. Absalom Meredith died in
1904, survived by his wife, who is living at the present time
(1911).
(IV) James A., son of Absalom P. and Catherine
(Riley) Meredith, was educated in the common schools of Tyler
county, taught school at sixteen, graduated from the Normal and
Classical Academy of Buckhannon in 1895, and from the West Virginia
University in 1900, receiving his B. A. and L. L. B. degrees at the
same time. He was immediately admitted to the bar at Middlebourne,
West Virginia, and entered active practice of the law. In January,
1903, he located in Fairmont, where he acted as cashier of Fairmont
Trust Company for about a year, resigning to resume the practice of
his profession, and has built up a successful and lucrative
practice. He is in every way thoroughly equipped for his work, and
his reputation is fully established in the community in which he
resides. He holds membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, and
is an active member of the Republican party. He is a member of the
Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, Independent Order of Odd Fellows,
and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He married,
September 17, 1902, Gillian, born May 25, 1877, daughter of James M.
and Elizabeth (Boyers) Jamison, who resided in Morgantown, West
Virginia, both of whom are now deceased. They are the parents of one
child, Jamison, born August 5, 1903.
[Genealogical and Personal
History of the Upper Monongahela Valley, Volume III,
1912-Transcribed by C. Anthony]
DESCENDANTS OF JAMES
MORRIS
About 1724 James Morris sailed from
England for America, landing at Philadelphia a few months afterward.
He settled in or near the town, and engaged in farming. A son of
his, James Morris Jr., was a member of the Royal Americans under Sir
Jeffrey Amherst, and was present at the surrender and evacuation of
Fort William Henry by the troops of the English Crown. History
records that John and Peter Morris were among the guards appointed
by the provincial government of Pennsylvania to keep a watch on the
Indians, who harried and murdered the scattered settlers of the
outlying districts. The were many of the name on the roster of the
continental army from Pennsylvania.
(II) John, son of James Morris, the
emigrant was born in Pennsylvania about 1735. He was a farmer by
occupation. Among his children was Amos, of whom further.
(III) Amos, son of John Morris, was born
in Pennsylvania about 1773, and was one of a large number of
children. He was only a small child when the revolutionary war was
in progress, but that did not prevent his mother from giving all the
aid, even to moulding bullets, that she could to the continental
troops. Among his children was James, of whom further.
(IV) James (2), son of Amos Morris, was
born in Pennsylvania, about 1800. In 1830, accompanied by his
brother, John, he moved from Philadelphia, to Virginia, now West
Virginia, and settled at the Jug, Tyler county, where they farmed
for the remainder of their lives. Among his children was William, of
whom further.
(V) William, son of James (2) Morris, was
born May 12, 1842, in Tyler county, now West Virginia. His principle
business was farming, but he also engaged successfully in the
mercantile business, and later in oil. He served as state senator
from 1889 to 1891. He was a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted
Masons, at Middlebourne, and also of the Baptist Church. He was one
of the influential men of his community and stood high in the esteem
of his fellow citizens. He died April 13, 1912. He married Mary,
daughter of Eli and Rachel Flecher. Children: 1. Dora, born October
24, 1868; married Marshall Pierpoint. 2. Creed L., born October 8,
1870; married Maude Carraway. 3. Lloyd H., of whom further. 4.,
Charlie E., born March 10, 1874; married Mary Keller. 5., Ora, born
February 16, 1877. 6. William. 7. Clarence.
(VI) Lloyd H., son of William and Mary
(Flecher) Morris, was born October 14, 1872 in Wick, Tyler county,
West Virginia. He was educated in the public schools and took a
course at the West Virginia Business College, after which he taught
school five terms. Leaving his occupation he engaged in the
mercantile business at Wick with the firm of William Morris &
Sons. He was with them two years and then moved to Middlebourne,
West Virginia, and became a bookkeeper for the Bank of Middlebourne
when it was established, remaining seven months. This position he
resigned to re-enter commercial life at Friendly, West Virginia. He
disposed of his mercantile interests at the expiration of a year,
accepting a position as salesman for a grocery house for the ensuing
two years. He then accepted a position as traveling salesman for
John S. Naylor and Company of Wheeling, West Virginia, remaining
with the firm over ten years. In July, 1912, he resigned to accept
the nomination of Sheriff of Tyler county, and was elected in
November, 1912, being the first Democratic sheriff elected in the
county since before the civil war. He had four hundred and
sixty-three plurality, thus attesting to his popularity as a man and
the confidence of his constituancy in his integrety and high sense
of duty. He is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons,
Sistersville Chapter, Trinity Commandery and Consistory at Wheeling,
and a charter member of the Ne,isis Temple, Ancient Arabic Order of
Nobles of the Mystic Shrine; of the Independant Order of Oddfellows;
the Commercdial Travelers Association, and of the Methodist
Episcopel Church. He is one of the leading men of his town and
county, progressive, up-to-date and far seeing. With him the good of
his county, its interests and upbuilding take precedence over his
own.
On October 14, 1896, he married Annie,
daughter of J. C. and Elizabeth Parker, well known citizens of that
section of the state. Children: 1. Mary E., deceased 2. William,
deceased. 3. Ruth, born July 31, 1908. 4. Martha, born September 6,
1910.
Submitted by Rodney
Henthorn
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