WV-FOOTSTEPS-D Digest				Volume 00 : Issue 107

Today's Topics:
  #1 BIO: WILLIAM STANTON BERT, Berkele   [Valerie & Tommy Crook <vfcrook@tre]
  #2 BIO: BYRON W. STEELE, M. D., Wyomi   [Valerie & Tommy Crook <vfcrook@tre]
  #3 BIO: THOMAS D. CAMPBELL, Mineral C   [Valerie & Tommy Crook <vfcrook@tre]
  #4 BIO: KELLEY E. REED, Kanawha Count   [Valerie & Tommy Crook <vfcrook@tre]



______________________________X-Message: #1
Date: Wed, 12 Apr 2000 22:34:07 -0400
From: Valerie & Tommy Crook <vfcrook@trellis.net>
To: WV-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com
Message-Id: <3.0.5.32.20000412223407.00843c80@trellis.net>
Subject: BIO: WILLIAM STANTON BERT, Berkeley County WV
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

The History of West Virginia, Old and New
Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc.,
Chicago and New York, Volume III,
pg. 397

WILLIAM STANTON BERT, president of the Board of Edu-
cation of the City of Martinsburg, Berkeley County, was
horn at Greencastle, Franklin County, Pennsylvania, on the
3rd of March, 1862, and at the same place his father, John
Bert, was born in the year 1835, a son of Peter Bert. Peter
Bert was born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, and in con-
nection with a revolution in his native land his property
was confiscated. He then came to the United States, ac-
companied by his wife and by two of his brothers, Peter
and John, the former of whom settled at Strassburg, Penn-
sylvania, and the latter at New Brighton, that state. The
sailing vessel on which they crossed the Atlantic did not
reach its destination until the lapse of fourteen weeks.
The family name in Germany was spelled Bertt. Nephews
of Peter Bert came to this country and settled in Balti-
more, Maryland, and they changed the spelling of the name
to Burt. From New York City Peter Bert proceeded to
Greeneastle, Pennsylvania, where he followed the work of
his trade, that of tailor, but his death occurred within a
few years, his widow, a native of France, having survived
him by a number of years. They reared five children:
Louisa, George, Benjamin, John and Adam. Adam Bert
was killed in the battle of Fredericksburg while serving
as a Union soldier in the Civil war.

John Bert learned the shoemaker's trade, and became
skilled in the making of boots and shoes by hand. He be-
came a successful manufacturer of boots and shoes, and
continued his residence at Greencastle until his death, at
the age of seventy-six years. He married Rebecca Houser,
who was born at Greencastle, a daughter of George and
Elizabeth (Cantner) Houser. Mrs. Bert died at the age
of twenty-six years, leaving three children: Mary Eliza-
beth, Julia Prances and William Stanton. The father later
married Kate Good, and four children were born of this
second marriage: Charles Wesley, Arthur A., John W. and
Elizabeth R.

William S. Bert attended school until he was eleven
years old, and then devoted six years to clerking in a gro-
cery store. He next entered upon an apprenticeship to the
tailor's trade with the firm of L. Cantner & Son, and after
his three years' apprenticeship he worked a similar period
as a journeyman at his trade. He next went to Mercers-
burg, where he served two years in the merchant tailoring
establishment of J. W. Rearick, and became an expert cut-
ter. He then returned to Greeneastle and formed a part-
nership with T. W. Brendle in the merchant tailoring busi-
ness. Six years later he engaged in the manufacture of
trousers and overalls, in which he continued operations at
Greencastle until 1898, when he became associated with his
brother Charles in operating the Shenandoah Pants Fac-
tory at Martinsburg, West Virginia. Later he withdrew
from the firm and organized the Southern Merchant Tailor-
ing Company, with which he continued his connection un-
til 1906. From that year until 1910 he conducted a men's
clothing and furnishing-goods store, from 1910 to 1913 he
was engaged in business as a merchant tailor, and in the
latter year became associated with the Royal Woolen Mills
Company of Hagerstown, Maryland, and later with the Na-
tional Woolen Mills of Parkersbnrg, West Virginia, of
whose business at Martinsburg he has since been in charge.

Mr. Bert is a loyal and public-spirited citizen and has
been influential in community affairs at Martinsburg. In
1910 he was elected a member of the city council, on which
he served two years. He was again elected to the council
in 1916, and he served two years as city treasurer. In
1920 he was elected president of the board of education.
He and his wife are members of the First Methodist Epis-
copal Church, and Mr. Bert is president of the Sunday
school class of 200 members. He is affiliated with Mount
Pisgah Lodge No. 443, F. and A. M.; Lebanon Chapter
No. 2, R. A. M.; Palestine Commandery No. 2, Knights
Templars; the Scottish Rite Lodge of Perfection at Mar-
tinsburg; and Osiris Temple of the Mystic Shrine in the
City of Wheeling.

In 1899 Mr. Bert married Miss Minnie M. Diffenderfer,
who was born at Martinsbnrg, a daughter of Charles and
Ann Maria (Poisal) Diffenderfer. Mr. and Mrs. Bert have
no children.

______________________________X-Message: #2
Date: Wed, 12 Apr 2000 22:54:56 -0400
From: Valerie & Tommy Crook <vfcrook@trellis.net>
To: WV-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com
Message-Id: <3.0.5.32.20000412225456.008887a0@trellis.net>
Subject: BIO: BYRON W. STEELE, M. D., Wyoming County WV
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

The History of West Virginia, Old and New
Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc.,
Chicago and New York, Volume III,
pg. 397-398
 
BYRON W. STEELE, M. D. For the past several years
Dr. Byron W. Steele has been engaged in the general prac-
tice of medicine at Mullens, and by his devotion to the
duties of his profession, his close study and his pronounced
skill has won a liberal and representative practice. His
talents and sympathy have gained him recognition as a
leader, and he has maintained throughout his career a high
standard of professional ethics and honorable principles.

Doctor Steele was born at Moundsville, West Virginia,
July 14, 1889, and is a son of Dr. S. M. and Florence N.
(Cheadle) Steele. Dr. S. M. Steele was born September
14, 1860, in Tyler County, Virginia (now West Virginia),
and after completing his normal school education at West
Liberty engaged in school teaching for two years, in the
meantime pursuing his medical studies. He then entered
the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Baltimore, from
which institution he was graduated with his degree with
the class of 1886, and commenced practice at Moundsville,
West Virginia, where he remained until becoming superin-
tendent of the West Virginia Hospital for the Insane. He
remained in this capacity from 1906 until 1914, and his tal-
ents as an authority on nervous diseases made his work of
particular value. He returned from the hospital to Mounds-
ville, where he now has a large practice and is numbered
among the foremost members of his profession. He is a
republican in politics and an Elk fraternally, and belongs
to the Methodist Church, as does Mrs. Steele, who is a native
of McConnellsvilIe, Ohio. Four sons were born to them,
all of whom served during the World war, three seeing
overseas service. Dr. Byron W. Steele is the eldest of the
sons. Leonard C. Steele was a sergeant in the Medical
Corps of the Eighty-seventh Division and was overseas one
year. He is now associated with the Wyoming Ice and Bot-
tling Company at Mullens as bookkeeper.  Rodney D.
Steele was on the battle line with the Seventeenth Ambu-
lance Company, Fifth Division, a noted company with
splendid service to its credit. Marion Steele, the youngest
son, was at the Students' Training Camp at Washington
and Lee University when the armistice was signed.

Byron W. Steele attended the public schools of Mounds-
ville, and was graduated from the high school there, fol-
lowing which he entered Marshall College and was gradu-
ated in 1910. He then enrolled as a student in the College
of Physicians and Surgeons at Baltimore, his father's alma
mater, and was graduated as a member of the class of
1914, receiving the degree of Doctor of Medicine, and for
one year thereafter served as instructor. For the following
year he served as obstetrician at Mercy Hospital, Balti-
more. and during the next year held the same position at
the Women's Hospital in that city. In 1916 he came to
Mullens to take charge of Robertson's General Hospital as
surgeon, and remained in that capacity until March 10,
1918, when he enrolled as a student in the Army Medical
School at Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia. He received his com-
mission as first lieutenant, was made an instructor, and in
June, 1918, went overseas, where he was promoted cap-
tain and made orthopedic surgeon at Base Hospital No.
63. He remained in that capacity until March 11, 1919,
when he was transferred to Base Hospital No. 91 as chief
orthopedie surgeon. He returned to the United States in
August, 1919, and again settled at Mullens, where he is
in the enjoyment of a very heavy practice. Doctor Steele's
physique and general bearing are such as to inspire confi-
dence, and his real courtesy and sympathy likewise gain
him the faith of his patients. Ho holds to the highest ideals
in his professional service, and his work is characterized by
a conscientious devotion to duty and a display of knowl-
edge that demonstrates him a master of his vocation. His
work has brought him before the people of Mullens and the
surrounding community in a way that will not be easily for-
gotten, and he has never been found lacking in any of the
essentials that are necessary for the making of a truly great
physician. He keeps fully abreast of the numerous advance-
ments being constantly made in his calling, and is an ac-
tive and interested member of the Mercer County Medical
Society, the West Virginia State Medical Society and the
American Medical Association. He is a member of the
Phi Beta Pi medical fraternity. In politics he adheres to
the principles of the republican party, but his profession
has kept him too busily occupied for him to engage in pub-
lic life, although he displays a good citizen's interest in
civic matters and gives his support to worthy movements
and enterprises. Fraternally he is affiliated with Mullens
Lodge No. 151, A. F. and A. M., and Princeton Chapter,
R. A. M., in both of which he has numerous friends.

On July 14, 1920, at Mullens. Doctor Steele was united
in marriage with Miss Frances P. Ould, daughter of W. T.
Ould, of Glenlyn, Virginia. To this union there has been
born one son, Byron W., Jr. Mrs. Steele, a woman of nu-
merous graces and accomplishments, is a graduate of Con-
cord Normal School at Athens, West Virginia, and also did
special work at the University of Virginia. Prior to her
marriage she was a teacher in the public schools. She and
Doctor Steele are members of the Methodist Church. Doc-
tor Steele is a member of the American Legion.

______________________________X-Message: #3
Date: Wed, 12 Apr 2000 22:54:58 -0400
From: Valerie & Tommy Crook <vfcrook@trellis.net>
To: WV-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com
Message-Id: <3.0.5.32.20000412225458.00887e20@trellis.net>
Subject: BIO: THOMAS D. CAMPBELL, Mineral County WV
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

The History of West Virginia, Old and New
Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc.,
Chicago and New York, Volume III,
pg. 398-399

THOMAS D. CAMPBELL, of Piedmont, Mineral County, is
prominently identified with the coal industry in this sec-
tion of the state, as president of Hoff Brothers Coal Com-
pany and the Freeport Coal Company.

The birthplace of Mr. Campbell is not far distant from
the vigorous little industrial city in which he now maintains
his home and business headquarters. He was born at Bar-
ton, Allegany County, Maryland, lying on the opposite side
of the Potomac River from Mineral County, West Virginia,
in September, 1877, and there he was reared to adult age,
his educational advantages having been those of the pub-
lic schools. His father, James Campbell, was born in Glas-
gow, Scotland, in July, 1842, and was a child when the
family came to the United States and established residence
at Vale Summit, Maryland, whence removal was later made
to Bloomington, that state, where he was reared to man-
hood. For many years he was engaged in the mercantile
business at Barton, Maryland, and after his retirement from
this enterprise he served several years as assistant appraiser
and later as assistant surveyor of the port of Baltimore.
He has been influential in politics and general civic affairs
in Maryland, where he still maintains his home. He served
three years as a soldier of the Union in the Civil war, and
in later years has maintained affiliation with the Grand
Army of the Republic. As a republican he has represented
Allegany County five terms in the Maryland Legislature,
including the session of 1920, in which he was chairman of
the delegation from his county. In the session of 1922 he
was clerk of the minority party in the House of Representa-
tives. Though he is nearing the age of four score years,
he is still vigorous and vitally interested in public affairs.
He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows
and the Knights of Pythias. As a young man James Camp-
bell married Miss Emily Fromhart, who was born in one
of the Rhine districts of Germany, and who waa reared
near Newburg, West Virginia, where her parents established
their home upon coming to the United States. Of the chil-
dren of Mr. and Mrs. James Campbell the following brief
data are available: Katie, the wife of John Patton, died
at Barton, Maryland, a short time ago; Joseph and John
are twins, the former being a resident of Akron, Ohio and
the latter of Washington, D. C.; James lives at Frostburg,
Maryland; Dr. William B. is a physician and surgeon at
Haserstown. that state; Thomas Dowery is the immediate
subject of this sketch; George D. is a druggist at Lona-
coning, Maryland; and Emma is the wife of John F. Shaw,
of Newark, Delaware.

At the age of eighteen years Thomas D. Campbell became
associated with mercantile business in his native place, and
he continued his active association with the enterprise until
1917. There also he organized, in that year, the Barton
Supply Company, which there conducts a large general
merchandise business, in which he is still interested. At
Piedmont, West Virginia, Mr. Campbell is the owner of two
well equipped meat markets.

In 1915 Mr. Campbell became associated with Hoff
Brothers in coal-mining enterprise, and he is now president
of the Hoff Brothers Coal Company, the mines of which, at
Barton. Maryland, and Cutlips. West Virginia, have given
a yield of 125,000 tons in a single year. In 1916 Mr. Camp-
bell became a principal also in the Hampshire Big Vein
Coal Company, whose mine, at Barton, gives a normal out
put of 400 tons a day. He organized the Freeport Coal
Company, which is operating on a vein of Kittanning
coal near Oakland, Maryland, with a normal output of 450
tons daily, he being president of this corporation. The
property of this company was developed in the midst of
the forest, the company constructing a standard-gauge
railroad of one and one-half miles, besides having estab-
lished a water system, erected a school house and a church
and also forty houses for the use of employes in the mines.
The Campbell Coal Company, a partnership organization,
was established about 1917, and conducts a substantial
brokerage business in the buying and selling of coal, with
offices at Piedmont, West Virginia, and Philadelphia, Penn-
sylvania. Mr. Campbell is a director of the First National
Bank of Barton, Maryland, and of the Liberty Trust Com-
pany at Cumberland, that state. He has been a resident
and vitally progressive and public-spirited citizen of Pied-
mont since 1919, his political allegiance being given to the
republican party. He is affiliated with the Masonic frater-
nity and the Knights of Pythias, and he and his wife hold
membership in the Presbyterian Church. In the World war
period he was active in the furtherance of the various pa-
triotic causes, including the sale of the Government war
bonds, and he was registered for military service, but not
called.

At Barton, Maryland, on the 1st of September, 1909,
Mr. Campbell wedded Miss Nannie T. McDonald, who was
there born and reared, a daughter of William McDonald
and a representative of the staunchest of Scottish ancestry.
The Campbell residence at Piedmont is one of the finest in
the city, and he is the owner also of the Campbell Build-
ing, in which his business offices are established.

______________________________X-Message: #4
Date: Wed, 12 Apr 2000 23:02:00 -0400
From: Valerie & Tommy Crook <vfcrook@trellis.net>
To: WV-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com
Message-Id: <3.0.5.32.20000412230200.0088d320@trellis.net>
Subject: BIO: KELLEY E. REED, Kanawha County WV
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

The History of West Virginia, Old and New
Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc.,
Chicago and New York, Volume III,
pg. 399

KELLEY E. REED is senior partner in the firm of Reed &
Lapsley, general contractors, with headquarters in South
Charleston but with a business that reaches to all parts of
the state and to outside states. Mr. Reed is an experienced
and successful builder of railroads, sewers, tunnels and other
heavy forms of construction, and it is said by his associates
that he has never undertaken a contract without carrying it
through with credit to himself.

The firm of Reed & Lapsley began operations in 1914.
They handle railroad, street paving, general road work and
also structural steel work. They did a great deal of busi-
ness for the United States Housing Corporation during the
war. This firm built a part of the interurban line between
Charleston and Cabin Creek Junction. They have all the
facilities for standard gauge railroad construction, and
excavation machines for sewer and similar work. Many of
their contracts with railroads are outside the state, but
chiefly with the Chesapeake & Ohio.

Mr. Kelley E. Seed was born at Clay Court House in
Clay County, West Virginia, in 1881, and as a lad took up
railroad work. In 1907 he organized the firm of Board &
Reed, contractors, and they built twelve miles of railroad
in Tyler County. This piece of construction included two
tunnels. They also handled a heavy job of construction for
the Calina & Clinchfield Railroad through the breaks of the
Cumberland Mountains, on Big Sandy River. There was
one mile they built through the mountains which cost $360,-
000, and was a twenty-four months' job. Mr. Eeed con-
tinued handling railroad work for six years, finally selling
his interest to Board & Duffield, and then did some indi-
vidual contracting until he joined A. J. Lapsley, former-
ly of the firm Patton & Lapsley, general contractors.
This firm was dissolved with the death of Mr. Patton, and
since then Mr. Reed and Mr. Lapsley have been associated.
Each is a practical contractor and superintendent of con-
struction, and they give the closest personal attention to all
their work.

Mr. Reed is interested in real estate in South Charleston
and Charleston, and also coal production. He is vice presi-
dent of the First National Bank of South Charleston.

He married Miss Rosa L. Layden. They have two chil-
dren: Virginia Lee and Kelley E., Jr. Mr. Reed lives in
South Charleston, and has taken an active part in the
upbuilding of that industrial community.  In fraternal
circles he is a Mason and an Odd Fellow.