U.S. Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ -- USGenNet Inc. -- Please read the U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on the following page: ------------------------------------------------------------------- Stump, John L. (1852-1916) ------------------------------------------------------------------- Men of West Virginia, Volume II Biographical Publishing Company George Richmond, Pres.: C. R. Arnold, Sec'y and Treas. Chicago, Illinois, 1903 Pages 498-500 J. L. STUMP, M. D. — Charleston, West Virginia, is notable in many directions and one of these is that it is the home of a number of medical practitioners of skill and experience. A prominent physician and surgeon of that city is Dr. J. L. Stump, a native of the State, born at Steer Creek, Gilmer County, May 19, 1852. He is a son of Rev. John and Mahala (Huffman) Stump. The Stump family is of German origin. Dr. Stump's great-grand- father, Michael Stump, came to America and took part in the Revolutionary War, after its close settling in Gilmer County, Virginia, about 1799. Michael Stump and his father — the great- great-grandfather of our subject, were with Washington on the memorable occasion of the crossing of the Delaware when the Hessian troops were surprised and captured and indications are that both were trusted and loyal soldiers. Records show that Michael Stump's son Michael — our subject's grandfather, — was a guest of General Washington, at Mount Vernon, in 1798 and took part in a fox hunt there. The elder Michael Stump entered thousands of acres of land in Virginia. Both he and his son Michael were surveyors and many of the old surveys made by them can be found among the records of that time. Michael Stump was accompanied across the mountains from the East to what is now West Virginia by two brothers, — George who settled in Marshall County, Virginia, now West Virginia, and John, who settled in Kentucky. The grandmother of Dr. Stump was a member of the old German Busch family and she became the mother of these children: George W., Jacob, Absalom, Eli, Henry, John, Martin, Alfred, Elliot, Archibald, Cynthia, Simon, Matilda and Margaret. The family all belonged to the Baptist Church. The grandmother died at the age of 43 years and the grandfather married a second time. His death took place in 1884, at the age of 96 years. Rev. John Stump, father of Dr. Stump, was born in Gilmer County, Virginia, now West Virginia. Although a man of meager book education, he became a power in the Baptist Church and through natural ability and extensive reading rose to a position as one of the most intellectual men of his locality. Early in life he turned his attention to theology and as he was a gifted orator he was called upon during a long life to fill many of the leading pulpits in the Baptist Church. For a long period he taught private schools and after the adoption of the public school system taught one term, but the greater part of his life was devoted to his ministerial and pastoral duties. His last days were spent in Kanawha County as pastor of the Virginia Avenue Baptist Church of West Charleston. His death took place in 1898, when he was 20 days over his 75th year. His wife, Mahala Huffman, the mother of Dr. Stump, was born in Barbour County, Virginia, now West Virginia, and died in 1889, aged 69 years. His second wife, Mrs. Hawthorne, died in 1901. His children were all the fruits of the first marriage, as follows: Albert H.; Susanna, deceased, who was the wife of E. J. James; M. J.; Mandeville B., a Baptist minister of Normantown, Gilmer County, West Virginia; Dr. J. L., of this sketch; Florinda W., wife of Rev. William Burns; Anna H., wife of Dr. W. W. Chenewith; Dr. L. J. of Pocahontas, Virginia; and Belinda R. (Fetty). Dr. J. L. Stump was primarily educated in schools over which his father had charge up to 1867. He attended the public schools of the newly adopted system during the winters of 1868 and 1869. He then engaged in teaching but in 1873 entered into a mercantile business, which he conducted until 1880. He began the study of medicine in 1876 under Drs. W. P. Ewing and Comstock, of Charleston, West Virginia, and in 1878 and 1879 he attended lectures at the Virginia Medical College. He engaged in practice after this course of lectures and in 1887 returned to the same institution, at Richmond, Virginia, and there his degree of M. D. was conferred upon him in 1888. Dr. Stump then settled at Charleston where he has ever since been successfully practicing medicine and surgery and also building up a reputation as a public spirited and progressive citizen. Although Dr. Stump takes only a good citizen's interest in politics, he was elected mayor of Elk City, when that part of Charleston was under its own charter and municipal government. His support is given the Republican party. Under President Harrison, he was appointed a member of the board of United States pension examiners, and at present is the very efficient member of the City Council from the Sixth Ward. He has long been prominent in Masonry and belongs to Kanawha Lodge, No. 20, A. F. & A. M. Tyrean Chapter, No. 13, R. A. M. Kanawha Commandery, No. 4, K. T. and Beni-Kedem Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., — all of Charleston. He belongs also to Glen Elk Lodge, No. 95, I. O. 0. F. In 1875 Dr. Stump was united in marriage with Margaret E. Copenhaver, who is a daughter of J. T. Copenhaver, of Kanawha County. Two children were born to Dr. and Mrs. Stump, namely: Charles W., an attorney-at-law, of Charleston, West Virginia; and Erra D. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Tombstones in Spring Hill Cemetery, Charleston, Kanawha County, WV John L. Stump, M.D. (May 19, 1852 -- March 11, 1916) M. Ellen Stump (Dec. 29, 1858 -- Sept. 26, 1949) ------------------------------------------------------------------- If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access other biographies for Kanawha County, WV by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/wv/kanawha/bios.html -------------------------------------------------------------------