Marion County Remembers

Remembering SGT Bernard Emery Toothman (Fairview) May 9, 1916 - December 14, 1944 ---- SGT Bernard Emery Toothman (Service number 15015784) was born in Fairview, WV on May 9, 1916, the son of Sterling and Augusta (Fletcher) Toothman. For a time, their small family lived in Akron, Ohio, where Sterling was a rubberworker at a factory (1920 Census). On August 18, 1925, Sterling, now a gas worker died at Cooks Hospital in Fairmont, WV at age 31. His cause of death was peritonitis and a perforated ulcer (WV Death Certificate). Augusta was left to raise Bernard and his younger brother, Elmer, by herself in Fairview. In 1935, she married A.V. Owens at the Church of Christ in Fairview. Bernard attended Fairview High School, graduating in the mid-1930s. Military Service: On October 16, 1940, Bernard registered for the draft in Morgantown, WV. At the time, he was working for Montgomery Ward and living at 407 Stewart Street. He was 5'7" and 160 lbs with gray eyes, black hair, and ruddy s...

Remembering Tec5 William Columbus "Singing Willie" Jones, Jr. (Fairmont) December 3, 1913 - May 26, 1945 ---- Tec5 William Columbus Jones (service number 35742122) was born on December 3, 1913 in Tuggles, Virginia, the son of  Willie Columbus Jones and Sadie Everett (Taylor). At the time of William's birth, Willie was a farmer and Sadie, a college graduate, was a teacher. Between William's birth and 1920, their family moved to the coal mining town of Wilcoe, McDowell County (now part of Gary), where Willie worked as a miner (1920 Census). By 1927, they had moved to  Fairmont, WV, where they would spend the rest of their lives. They lived several places in Fairmont- 632 Spring Street (1927- 1939 City Directories), 108 Baltimore Street (1940 Census), and 724 1/2 Walnut Avenue (Draft Card). Willie supported their family by working as a janitor in office buildings and schools, while Sadie worked as a teacher (1930 Census) and later a housekeeper (1940 Census). William gra...

Remembering PVT Glenn Grenville Wadsworth (Boothsville) October 10, 1923 - January 20, 1945 ---- PVT Glenn Grenville Wadsworth (Service Number 35752793) was born in Smithfield, West Virginia on October 10, 1923, the son of Reverend Golden Gordon and Velma May (Starkey) Wadsworth. During the 1920 Census, Golden (often written as G.G. Wadsworth) was working on his family's farm on Broad Run Road near Ashley in Doddridge County. He still lived in Ashley when he and Velma married on January 2, 1921 (WV Marriage License), and in Doddridge County when Glenn was born in 1923, but by 1930 their family was living in Harrisville (Ritchie County) while G.G. worked as a Methodist Pastor (1930 Census), the career and calling he'd have for the rest of his life.  The 1940 Census found their family, including 16-year-old Glenn and his five siblings, living in Ft. Spring, WV, near Ronceverte in Greenbrier County. The 1940 census also notes that in April of 1935, their family was living in...

Remembering PVT Jennings Bryan Vincent (Fairmont) November 7, 1914 - October 17, 1944 ---- PVT Jennings Bryan Vincent (Service #35077862) was born in Fairmont, WV on November 7, 1914, the son of Anthony and Zillah (Griffith) Vincent. Anthony, a farmer, and his family lived on Goose Creek (1910 Census) before settling down on Vincent Road off Rt 310 (1920 census). By 1930, Anthony, now 63, was working as a laborer at the Aluminum Plant and living at 510 East Ferry Street (1930 census).  Jennings attended East Fairmont High School and graduated in the class of 1932. Anthony went on to work as the deputy assessor for the City of Fairmont (1938 City Directory, 1940 Census). Jennings, now 25, worked as a truck driver for the road construction company (1940 Census). Marriage and Enlistment: Jennings married Wanda Rife (unofficially by his 1940 draft card, officially in 1944), and their son Jennings Anthony Vincent was born September 16, 1940. Jennings entered the draft on October 16...

Remembering PFC Jennings Owen Chriswell (Fairmont) January 12, 1921 - October 8, 1944 ---- PFC Jennings Owen Chriswell  (Service #35386762) was born in Fairmont, WV on January 12, 1921, the son of Jennings (William) and Katherine (Amama) Chriswell.  Jennings W. was an engineer for the Traction Company in Monongah (1920 census). In August of 1920, Jennings W. and Katherine announced that they had married secretly the previous October, before welcoming baby Jennings in January of 1921.  By 1930, their family had moved to Mill Fall, and Jennings W. was serving as a Power Plant Superintendent. Katherine died August 31, 1931 at age 32 of eclampsia, seven months into her last pregnancy. She was preceded in death by one child, one-year-old Paul, and survived by her husband and three kids under the age of 13. Jennings William remarried, adding two more half-siblings to their blended family. Education and Marriage: Jennings Owen graduated from Fairmont Senior High School in 1940. ...

PVT Woods Elbert Hayes (Mannington) August 6, 1911 - October 1, 1944 ---- Early Years and Marriage: PVT Woods Elbert Hayes (Service #35761762) was born in Mannington, WV on August 6, 1911, the son of  Henry and Nancy (Gump) Hayes. Henry was a farmer (1900, 1920 Census) and their family lived in the Broom Field area of Marion County, near Rachel (Lincoln District, 1920 Census). By 1930 their family, including 17-year-old Woods, was living on Dickson Street in Mannington. Henry (58) was no longer a former, with Nancy (54) instead doing "general housework" for a local family. On May 12, 1932, 20-year-old Woods Elbert Hayes married 22-year-old Opal Marie Staggers in Fairmont, WV. Their wedding was officiated by Rev A.H. Elsey, the first pastor of what is now the Fairmont First Church of the Nazarene (at the time housed in the old Dunbar School). Woods and Opal had two children: Marjorie (1936) and Elaine (1941). Military Service: PVT Woods Elbert Hayes entered the draft on Octobe...

Remembering PFC James Edward Monroe (Worthington/Fairmont) July 7, 1922 - September 8, 1944 ---- PFC James Edward Monroe (Service #33554254) was born in Chiefton, WV (near Worthington) on July 7, 1922, the son of Arch and Lura (Post) Monroe. Their family spent most of James' life in the Grant District of Marion County, where Arch worked as a "mining machine" operator (1920 Census) and farmer (1930 census). The 1935 Fairmont City Directory shows a brief detour to the Westchester area of Fairmont, but by 1940 they were back in the Grant District, this time specifically on a side road near Boothes Creek/ (Old) Monongah Road (1940 Census). At that time Arch was working as a "coal loader" (1940 census).  Military Service: James entered the draft on Jume 30, 1942 in Calvert County, Maryland. At that time he was living in North Beach, Maryland and working at "Uncle Billy's Amusement Park." James was 6'1 1/4" and 191 lbs, with gray eyes, brown hai...

Remembering Tec5 Olen Jay Canfield (Levels Road) January 10, 1919 - September 6, 1944 ---- Tec5 Olen Jay "Skeeter" Canfield (Service #35275107) was born January 10, 1919 in Norton, WV, the son of John and Sarah (Fansler) Canfield. Norton is about six and a half miles from Elkins, in Randolph County. Their family spent the next few decades in Marion County (1920-1940 Census) with John working as a general laborer (1920), lumber cutter at the sawmill (1930), and WPA Road Laborer (1940). The 1940 Census specifies their location as Levels Road, and gives Olen's occupation as "new laborer."  Military Service: Olen entered the draft in Colfax on October 16, 1940. At the time, he was unemployed. Olen was 6'3 1/2" and 165 lbs with brown hair, brown eyes, and light brown skin. "Skeeter" enlisted on February 10, 1942 at Fort Hayes in Columbus, Ohio. His occupation was listed as "metal rolling." In the service, Olen was part of the ...

  Remembering PFC Harry Millard Kuhn, Jr (Metz/Mannington)  August 25, 1917 - July 6, 1944 ---- PFC Harry Millard Kuhn, Jr (service # 15072213) was born on August 25, 1917 in the Lincoln District of Marion County, the son of Harry Sr. and Lucy (Davis) Kuhn.  Harry Sr. was a laborer in the gas field industry (1920 census), an occupation he continued through the rest of his life. The 1930 census shows the family living in the "Farmington Suburbs," but by 1940 they were living near Flat Run Road in Mannington (closer to Metz) on a farm, working as farmers. By then Harry, Jr. had dropped out of school and was also working on the farm. The 1940 census lists his highest level of education as 7th grade. (Note: Harry, Sr.'s 1967 obituary lists him as a "retired oil driller.") ---- Military Service: Harry registered for the draft on October 16, 1940. He was 5'8" and 140 lbs, with brown hair, brown eyes, and light skin. At the time of registration, he was working...

Remembering PVT Arthur Hudson Gault (Mannington) June 27, 1910 - July 3, 1944 ---- PVT Arthur Hudson Gault (service # 35761754 )  was born in Sutton, WV on June 27, 1910, the son of John and Neoma "Susie" (Rose) Gault. In 1910, John was a foreman at a cooperage company in Otter, WV (Braxton County). By 1920, their family had moved to Plum Run in Marion County, where John worked as a laborer at the gasoline plant. The Gaults later moved to Hope Hill in Rachel (1930 census), and though the 1940 census vaguely describes their 1935-1940 address as "Rt 250," Arthur's 1940 draft card indicates that their family remained in Rachel. Arthur graduated from Mannington High School, likely around 1937 or 1938. Arthur entered the draft on October 16, 1940. At that time, he was working as a laborer for Jones Collieries, Inc. He is listed as being 5'8" and 150 lbs with blue eyes, brown hair, and ruddy skin. Military Service On September 30, 1943, Arthur enlisted in the...

Remembering SGT James Lionel Myers (Fairmont) March 29, 1919 - June 8, 1944 ---- "I do not know where he died, but one this is positive, he died a hero's death, because there isn't a man in France who doesn't respect the Paratroopers for their great achievements."   -Marion County resident PFC Thomas Blazek, who happened across his buddy "Jimmie's" grave in France (see bottom for full text) ---- SGT James Lionel "Jimmie" Myers was born March 29, 1919 in Fairmont, WV, the son of William and Grace (Shaferman) Myers.  William worked in the coal industry, as a foreman (1910 Census) and miner (1920 census). Unfortunately, William and James' brother, Herbert, died in the Jamison #8 mine disaster on January 14, 1926. The family moved to Fairmont by the time of the 1930 census, where James completed one year of high school at East Fairmont. James also entered into the coal industry, working as a trackman in the mines (1940 census). At that time...

Remembering SFC John Henry Shreves (Fairmont) February 29, 1911 - June 6, 1944 ---- Seaman First Class John Henry Shreves was born February 29, 1911 in Pine Grove, WV (Wetzel County), the son of John M. and Rosie (Lovell) Shreves. For the first portion of John H.'s life, his father was a farmer in Wetzel County (1920 census). By 1930, their family had moved to Owens Avenue in Fairmont, where John M. worked as a laborer at the coke factory. In 1932, John Henry Shreves married Ardeth Phoebe Vanata in Fairmont. In 1933 they were living at 113 Walnut Avenue with Ardeth's parents, before moving by 1935 to 815 Ridgely Avenue. Ardeth's father (who died in 1937) and her twin brother, Benjamin, were both painters. John worked as a laborer at the Works Progress Administration. On October 16, 1940, John entered the draft. He recorded himself as 5'10" and 174 lbs, with blue eyes and brown hair. D-DAY: On June 6, 1944, SFC John Henry Shreves was on board the USS LCI(L)-232, an ...

  Remembering 2LT John Clark McKinney III (Fairmont) April 12, 1916 - May 9, 1944 --- 2LT John Clark McKinney III  (Service #O-701449) was born April 12, 1916 to John Clark (II) and Eleanor Helena (Rogers) McKinney, in Fairmont. John II was a newspaper reporter with The Fairmont Times.  The family moved fairly often, finally settling on Diamond Street: 1910 Census: 318 Merchant Street 1920 Census: Ferry Street/Columbia Street 1930-1940 Census: 507 Diamond Street In addition to being a newspaper reporter, John II was a Deputy U.S. Marshall. The West Virginian newspaper announced his appointment on May 22, 1918. Education, Draft, and Marriage John III attended East Fairmont High School and graduated in 1933, before moving on to attend Fairmont State Teachers College. He graduated in 1937 with a bachelor's degree in English. While at Fairmont State, he participated in the band, orchestra, and choral club, as well as in the fraternity Omicron Pi. John was the band's stu...

Of all the names I have researched in regards to Marion County and the World Wars, Henry Anglin has been one of the most perplexing, all due to an article in The West Virginian that states "Henry Anglin Not Known Here." Here's what we DO know.  CPL Henry P. Anglin was born August 31, 1894 in Mt. Clare, West Virginia (Harrison County) to Octavius and Catherine (Shockey) Anglin. Henry was born fifth in a family of eight children, with his oldest brother, Grover, being 11 years older than him. The 1900 census for Harrison County listed Octavius as a coal miner, Grover (15) as a mule driver, and another brother, William (10), as a day laborer 2 .  In 1910, Catherine, 47 and by now widowed, was living in Monongalia County with Henry's younger brother, Emmett. No Mention is made of Henry, who would have only been 16 at the time. While he could have been living with an older sibling, I have yet to find 1910 census information for any of the others. Three of Henry's broth...