Biography of James B. Belcher - Mercer Co. WV

The History of West Virginia, Old and New
Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc.,
Chicago and New York, Volume II,
Pg. 401 

JAMES B. BELCHER.  While one of the youngest business executives at
Bluefield, James B. Belcher has had a long experience, beginning in
boyhood, in connection with the lumber industry and is familiar with every
phase of lumber production from the mills to the marketing of the finished
product.  With headquarters at Bluefield, he is a wholesale dealer,
handling a large volume of the hardwood products of this section.

Mr. Belcher was born on the Stewart farm in Russell County, Virginia, April
4, 1890, son of George C. and Maggie (Nuckles) Belcher.  His mother is now
living at Swords Creek, Virginia, at the age of sixty.  His father, who was
a farmer, died in 1901.  He was a republican and a member of the Methodist
Church.  George Belcher and wife had six sons and three daughters.  Two
other sons are now in West Virginia, Silas H., associated with the
Ritter-Burns Lumber Company at Huntington, and H. T., who has charge of the
railroad yards at Gary.

James B. Belcher had only the advantages of the country schools in Russell
County.  He was eleven years of age when his father died, and in order to
help educate his younger sisters and support his mother he went to work in
the lumber business, and at the age of fourteen was doing duty as an
instructor.  He was with the Boice Lumber Company of Abbington, Virginia,
and as an inspector traveled over a large area in Kentucky, West Virginia,
Virginia, North Carolina and Tennessee.  Mr. Belcher became an expert in
estimating and grading lumber, and was a valuable employe of this
corporation for a number of years.  In 1917, with his earnings, he located
at Bluefield and has since been doing business on his own account as a
wholesaler and jobber in hardwood lumber.  He handles the products of mills
at Bluefield, Glenalum, West Virginia, and Falls Mill, Virginia.

April 22, 1914, Mr. Blecher married Vinnie N. Cole, daughter of M. W. Cole
of Abbington, Virginia.  Three children were born to their marriage.  The
two living daughters are Helen and Betty Wade.  The only son, James B.,
Jr., died in infancy.  Mr. and Mrs. Belcher are members of the Methodist
Episcopal Church at Bluefield, and he is much interested in the Sunday
school.  He is a member of the Masonic Order, Honaker Lodge, No. 219,
Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and in business organizations is a
member of the Chamber of Commerce, the Kiwanis Club, the National Hardwood
Association, and the West Virginia Builders Association.


Submitted by Linda Katalenich <KatalenL@stratcom.mil>

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