Ohio County, West Virginia    Biography of Edward J. MCDERMOTT

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Submitted by Suzie Crump <suzie@goodnet.com> , April 2000
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The History of West Virginia, Old and New
Published 1923, The AMerican Historical Society, Inc.,
Chicago and New York, Volume II,
pg.28



EDWARD J. MCDERMOTT is proprietor and owner of the business conducted under
the title of the Woodsdale Motor Car Company, with headquarters at
Woodsdale, situated on the National Road and constituting a suburb of the
City of Wheeling.  In 1913 Mr. McDermott began business on the sire of his
present modern and well equipped building, the original structure, 50 by 150
feet in dimensions, having since been greatly enlarged to meet the demands
and requirements of the constantly expanding business.  Mr. McDermott is a
distributor of the Peerless and Scripps-Booth cars for the Panhandle
District of West Virginia and for several counties in Eastern Ohio.  He
began operation on a modest scale, and the enterprise now involves the
enlistment of a working capital of approximately $75,000.  An efficient
corps of employes is retained and branch establishments are operated at
Moundsville and Wellsburg, this state, and at Steubenville and Barnesville,
Ohio.


Mr. McDermott was born at Buckhannon, Upshur County, West Virginia,
September 5, 1884, and is a son of James and Catherine (Maloy) McDermott.;
Mr. McDermott was born in County Roscommon, Ireland, and was six years old
at the time the family home was established in what is now West Virginia, in
1852.  He was reared in Upshur County, and was there successfully engaged in
farm enterprise for many years.  His death occurred in 1919, and his widow
is still living and resides at the old homestead in Upshur County, West
Virginia.


Edward J. McDermott attended the public schools and remained on the home
farm until he was eighteen years old, when, in 1902, he found employment as
a telephone lineman, his efficiency gaining him promotion to the position of
foreman within two weeks after he initiated his service.  Later he became
master carpenter in connection with construction of railroad shops and
stations on the Coal and Coke Railway, and his next advancement was to the
position of chief clerk and purchasing agent for the Davis Colliery Company,
then a subsidiary of the former company at Elkins.  Later he served as head
bookkeeper for a tannery at Hamilton, until the plant was destroyed by fire.
Prior to initiating his independent career he had attended the Mountain
State Business College at Parkersburg, West Virginia, graduating with high
honors in 1907.  He made a splendid record as traveling salesman for a
leading firm. The Kelly & Jones Company, engaged in the mill, mine and
plumbing supply business at Pittsburgh, and for four years he sold to
dealers and factories through West Virginia and in assigned districts in
Ohio Pennsylvania and Maryland.  Incidentally he visited all parts of West
Virginia, and established an excellent business reputation, while he had the
distinction of making the largest single sale of valves ever turned in to
his company.  This sale was for 144 dozens, which were sold in the Uniontown
coal district.  Official appreciation of his work was shown in the tendering
him of a more responsible position, in charge of a branch establishment in
California.  He did not accept this flattering offer, as he had decided to
engage in independent business, and the unqualified success of his present
enterprise has fully justified his decision.  What he lacked in initial
capital he made up in energy and progressiveness, and his vigorous and
straightforward policies have been potent in the developing of his large and
substantial business.  Mr. McDermott is s staunch and active member of the
Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Knights of Columbus, and he
and his wife are communicants of the Catholic Church.


At Kingsville, this state, Mr. McDermott wedded Miss Winifred King, and they
have three daughters, Frances Angela, Marcella and Phyllis Marie.