U.S. Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ -- USGenNet Inc. -- Please read the U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on the following page: --------------------------------------------------------------------- Furbee, James Hilary (1827-1899) --------------------------------------------------------------------- Source: Genealogical and Personal History of the Upper Monongahela Valley West Virginia Author: James Morton Callahan New York, Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1912 Volume III, Pages 1242-1243, James Hilary Furbee Hon. James Hilary Furbee, second son of James and Mary A. L. (Boggess) Furbee, was born October 18, 1827, at Basnettsville, now Marion county, but removed with his father to Mannington in the "forties." He obtained his education in such schools as the country afforded. As president of the board of education for twenty years he was largely instrumental in establishing the free school system and bringing it to a high state of efficiency in Mannington district, which comprises one-third of Marion county. While serving in the state legislature and state senate as chairman of the committee on education, his constant promotion of the best interests of the public school system of the state was notable. It may be well said he gave our schools the best thought and work of his life. Soon after the completion of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad in 1852 he was appointed agent, holding this position until he was appointed United States internal revenue collector in 1862. Soon after the war of the rebellion broke out he raised a company of soldiers under the state government to repel the invasion of the southern army, and served as its captain throughout the war. In 1878 he was elected to a seat in the West Virginia legislature, and in 1880 was made state senator from the second district, comprising Marion, Marshall and Wetzel counties, but owing to a contest over a technical point he was never seated, the place going to Fountaine Smith, but in 1886 he ran again and was elected by a large majority. He was re-elected in 1892. He was a prominent factor in the Methodist Episcopal church all his life, and the largest contributor to the splendid church built in 1898. The state conference in 1899 chose him as a delegate to the general conference of 1900. On October 17, 1855, he married Sarah J. McCoy, near Middlebourne, Tyler county, Virginia, where the family was considered prominent. Her grandparents, John and Esther (McCarty) McCoy, came from the north of Ireland in 1801, and settled in the Shenandoah Valley, Virginia. Some years later they removed to Middlebourne, Tyler county, where her father, James McCoy, and Jane Martin were married. They had three sons, James, Judge, John W. and Robert, and four daughters, Nancy (Erwin), Margaret (Laidley), Mattie (Correl), and Sarah J., born August 31, 1832. After the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Furbee they settled in Mannington, where they reared a large family, namely: 1. Mattie L., married J. T. Koen. 2. Walter S., was for a number of years engaged in the lumber business, but became deputy sheriff of Marion county in 1905, which position he still holds. 3. Leslie C., operated a large woolen mill for several years, and then engaged in the furniture business until his death in April, 1903. 4. Mary J., married James A. Coleman. 5. James S., of whom further. 6. Howard R., of whom further. 7. Frank E. 8. Charles S. 9. Guy S. 10. Pearl, deceased. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Additional Information: --------------------------------------------------------------------- Death Register, Marion County WV 1899, Page 61, No. 43 J. H. Furbee died 9-Nov-1899 at age 72y-0m-13d marital-status: Married occupation: Merchant cause: Obstruction of the Bowles --------------------------------------------------------------------- 1880 Census, Marion County WV ED:90, Page No. 54-55, Lines 49-50 and 1-8 FURBEE, James H (51) Lumber Dealer, Va-Va-Va ", Sarah J (47) Keeping House, Va-Ire-Va ", Walter S (22) son, Farmer, Va-Va-Va ", Mary (18) dau, At-Home, Va-Va-Va ", James S (16) son, Farm Hand, WV-Va-Va ", Howard R (14) son, At Home, WV-Va-Va ", Franklin E (12) son, At Home, WV-Va-Va ", Charles W (10) son, At Home, WV-Va-Va ", Guy S (7) son, At Home, WV-Va-Va MADDEN, Sarah (22) Domestic, Va-Ire-Va --------------------------------------------------------------------- 1870 Census, Marion County WV Town of Mannington, Page No. 10, Lines 27-36 FURBEE, James H (42) Lumber Merchant, $5600/$5000, WV ", Sarah Jane (38) Keeping house, WV children: Mattie L (14), Walter S (12), Leslie C (10), Mary Jane (8) James S (6), Howard R (4), Frank (2), not-named (6/12) --------------------------------------------------------------------- 1860 Census, Marion County WV PO: Mannington, Page No. 264 Lines 10-15, Dwelling 1945, Family 1875 FURBEE, James H (32) R.Road Agent, $0/$1500, Va ", Sarah J (28) Va children: Martha L (3), Walter S (2), Infant (2/12) BELL, Mary (18) Domestic, Va ---------------------------------------------------------------------