Marion County Remembers

Remembering SSGT Kenneth L. Morgan (Fairmont) September 16, 1920 - April 26, 1945 ---- SSGT Kenneth L. Morgan (Service Number 20544885) was born in Fairmont, WV on September 16, 1920, the son of William and Lovie (McShaver) Morgan. MSGT William H. "Curley" Morgan was a veteran of more than 14 years of service, including in France during WWI. At the time of Kenneth's birth, William was working as a policeman, and the family lived at 617 Spring Street. They remained there for a least a decade, before moving slightly further up the mountain to 723 Spring Street, between 1930 and 1935. By 1930, William was working as a fireman for the Fairmont Fire Department, which was his career until he retired as Fire Chief. Education: Kenneth attended Fairmont Senior High School, from which he graduated in 1939. Kenneth was a student at Fairmont State when WWII began overseas. While at Fairmont State, he was a member of the Tau Beta Iota (TBI) fraternity Military Service: He enlisted on ...

Remembering MoMM3C William Wayne Wright (Mannington/Fairmont) July 8, 1924 - April 24, 1945 ---- Motor Mechanic's Mate 3rd Class William Wayne Wright (Service Number 7555081) was born on July 8, 1924 in Mannington, WV, the son of William "Willie" Russell Wright and Oma Mae (Long) Wright. Willie was a farm laborer (1930 Census), and their family lived near Laurel Run (Oma Wright Death Certificate).  In 1932, Oma died, leaving Willie with four living children- William (8), Robert (6), Russell (4), and Merle (2). By 1935, the children were living with Harry and Virginia Partridge in the Winfield District (1940 Census).  William attended East Fairmont High School, but left EFHS in 1942 to join the Navy. About 5 1/2 months into William's service in the Navy, he married Phyllis Alberta Huff. A Lisbon, Maine native, Phyllis and William were married in South Mills, North Carolina on April 15, 1943. Military Service: William entered the Navy on October 30, 1942 in Charleston, ...

From the 1946 Orion: "In grateful recognition of the valiant services of our returning veterans we dedicate to them this volume- the 1946 Orion. We would not forget to especially remember those who sacrificed most. In the honor to their memory we record here the names of those who gave their lives to allow us one more chance to preserve our American ideals for which so many of our forefathers have striven." Charles Adams: 1938 Ralph Bartholow Ray Boyers Howard Brown : 1930 Leonard "Leo" Brown: 1941 Fred Cannon: 1934 (also attended FSU) James Cervo Melvin Conner Frank Cosco Delmas C. Curry Robert Davis: 1931 (also attended FSU) Howard Dodd : 1941 Forrest F. Estel Samuel Fox, II Ralph Friscenda Glenn Nichols William Von Harris James H. Hayhurst Carl C. Heflin Tom Knox: 1941 William Layman : 1941 James Maddox: 1931 (also attended FSU) Payson McCray : 1930 J ohn McKinney, III : 1933 (also attended FSU) Theodore M. Mowery Harvey "Harry" Myers Clyde Pierce John ...

Remembering SSGT Elbert Eugene Holland (Fairmont) January 28, 1922 - April 6, 1944 ---- SSGT Elbert Eugene Holland (Service Number 35744730) was born in Fairmont, WV on January 28, 1922, the son of Elbert Ellsworth and Goldie (Moran) Holland.  It's unclear where precisely Elbert Ellsworth and Goldie lived when baby Elbert was born. In the 1920 census, they were boarders at the home of Clark and Alice Miller at 836 Fourth Street, and Clark was a book keeper for a machine foundry. The 1923 Fairmont City Directory found them living at 809 View Avenue, and Elbert Ellsworth a clerk for the Fairmont Mining Machinery Company .  Between 1925 and 1929, Elbert Ellsworth made a career change, beginning to work at Long Chevrolet in different capacities, from a salesman (1929 City Directory) to an assistant manager (1931 City Directory). By the 1940 Census, Elbert Ellsworth was working as an office clerk for a coal company. Their family lived a number of places during Elbert Eugene's lifet...

Remembering CPL James Harper Hibbs (Grant Town) October 3, 1923 - February 20, 1945 ---- CPL James Harper Hibbs (Service Number 444786) was born in Grant Town, West Virginia, on October 3, 1923, the son of John and Marie (Fusarini) Hibbs. In 1920, John and Marie were living with John's parents at their dairy farm, where John worked (1920 Census). John later worked as a trackman (1930 census) and tipple repair man (1940 Census) at the coal mine. John's 1942 WWII Draft Card lists his employer as Koppers Coal Company, which worked out of Grant Town. James was a 1942 graduate of Fairview High School, where he participated in the Science Club, Pep Club, Press Club, and was on the baseball team. It is note-able that at least 3 members of Fairview High School's 1941 Baseball team were killed in service during WWII- James Hibbs, Glen Cosner, and George Krevosky. 18 year-old James Harper Hibbs registered for the draft on June 30, 1942. At the time, he was an employee of Koppers Coal...

Remembering PVT William Clifton Travis (Fairmont) October 17, 1909 - February 9, 1945 ---- PVT William Clifton Travis (Service Number 35560215) was born in Fairmont, WV on October 17, 1909, the son of Clyde and Bertha Kimmel. When William was born, his family lived at 17 Bolton Street in Fairmont and Clyde worked as a brakeman for the B&O Railroad (1910 Census). In 1912, their family moved to Market Street ("Moving").  In 1917 tragedy struck Bertha's family. Her younger brother Thomas died of tuberculosis in December of 1917, her mother died of tuberculosis in January of 1918, and yet another brother, George, died of tuberculosis in July of 1918. Unfortunately, Bertha herself contracted tuberculosis, and in February of 1919, Clyde and Bertha sold their Market Street home ("Personals," 11 February 1919) and moved to Arcadia, Texas where Clyde's parents resided, in hopes of restoring Bertha's health. Bertha died April 19, 1919 in Texas, leaving Clyde w...