Marion County Remembers

Remembering S1C William Emmett "Bill" Buckey, Jr. (Fairmont) September 15, 1923 - October 24, 1944 ---- Early Life: S1C William Emmett Buckey, Jr. (Service #7004347) was born in Fairmont, West Virginia on September 15, 1923, the son of Emmett (Sr.) and Ada (Talkington) Buckey. Willian Sr. and Ada met while they were both students at Fairmont State Normal School (now Fairmont State University) and married in 1915. The 1912 FSNS yearbook, The Mound, says of William: "His future--ask Ada." The 1920 census lists the duo as residing in Morgantown, with William's occupation as "student." In 1923, William became the principal of Fairmont Senior High School, after graduating from WVU with a Master's degree in 1922. Their family lived at 804 Locust Avenue when William Jr. was born and throughout his whole life (1923 City Directory-1945 City Directory). Education and Enlistment: William, Jr, known in his high school yearbooks as "Bill," graduated f...

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 2LT Louise Grumbach (Barrackville) July 7, 1917 - May 24, 1944 ---- Note: Louise is one of two WACs that I've found so far from Marion County who died during their time of service. It's also unclear whether her name was Ann(a) Louise or Louise Ann, it's printed either way in multiple locations.  ---- Anna Louise Cestaric was born July 7, 1917 in Grant Town, WV, the daughter of Joseph and Marie (Dreskovich) Cestaric. Her parents were both from Yugoslavia, but immigrated to the United States around 1909. When she was born, her family was living at the Jamison Coal Company Settlement and her father was a coal miner (1920 census).  Anna was the middle child of five siblings, with two older brothers-- Joe, Jr. and John-- and two younger sisters -- Julia and Elizabeth. Her family later moved to Green Township in Harrison County, Ohio (1930 census), where Joseph operated a grocery store. By 1935, they were back in Barrackville, with their address listed as "13 Bar...