U.S. Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ -- USGenNet Inc. -- Please read the U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on the following page: ------------------------------------------------------------------- Hewitt, John D. (1847-1903) ------------------------------------------------------------------- Men of West Virginia, Volume II Biographical Publishing Company George Richmond, Pres.: C. R. Arnold, Sec'y and Treas. Chicago, Illinois, 1903 Pages 566-567 COL. JOHN D. HEWITT, a prominent coal operator of the Flat-Top field, residing at Bramwell, Mercer County, is a gentleman widely known throughout West Virginia, and at the present time is on the staff of Governor A. B. White. Colonel Hewitt was born in Lancastershire, England, but was a child when his parents moved to this country, and located in Pennsylvania, where his father engaged in coal mining. Our subject was reared in Pennsylvania and commenced work in the mines at the early age of 10 years. He continued to follow that occupation there until 1885, in December of which year he came to West Virginia. For six years prior to his removal he had conducted a wholesale and retail lumber and coal business, and in this state he started the Buckeye Coal & Coke Company, of which he is the president and general manager. The business of the company has steadily and rapidly increased until it is one of the most important operating in the Flat-Top field. Mr. Stephenson of Roanoke, Virginia, is vice-president of the company, and his son, W. C. Stephenson, is secretary and treasurer. The general offices of the concern are at Freeman, Mercer County, where is located the store conducted by the company. The Buckeye Coal & Coke Company has 1,000 acres of leased land near Freeman, operates 180 ovens, and employs some 250 men. In 1892, they commenced operating the Keystone, a more extensive plant, of 1600 acres and 300 ovens, where 400 men are employed. The equipment at both places is of the best, four engines being used at Keystone and three at Freeman. The total output of both colleries per annum approximates 250,000 tons of coal and 100,000 tons of coke. The Buckeye Coal & Coke Company is a pioneer in the coke business in West Virginia, having built the first coke ovens in the State. Colonel Hewitt has always been a very active Republican, and since 1888 has been a member of the Republican State Committee. He served four years on Governor George W. Atkinson's staff, and is now a member of the staff of Governor A. B. White. He was a delegate-at- large to the National Republican Convention at Minneapolis in 1892, and served as the first mayor of Bramwell, where his fine home is located. Fraternally he has been equally prominent. He was the first commander of Ivanhoe Commandry, No. 10, K. T., at Bramwell; and is a member of Osiris Shrine Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of Wheeling; and West Virginia Consistory, No. 1, of Wheeling. Colonel and Mrs. Hewitt are parents of the following children: Maud, a graduate of the Woman's College, Frederick, Maryland; Florence, attends Bryn Mawr Woman's College, Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania; F. R., a practical and thorough engineer in charge of the Buckeye plant, is a graduate of the University of Morgantown and is 22 years of age; J. D., Jr., is taking an engineering course in the Virginia Military Institute; Richard is attending Concord Normal School; and J. S. is attending the Bramwell schools. Religiously, the family is of the Episcopal faith. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Bluefield Daily Telegraph October 10, 1903 Obituary: Colonel John D. Hewitt Col. John D. Hewitt, whose death was noted in yesterday's Daily Telegraph, will be buried at Bramwell. The funeral will take place tomorrow at 2 o'clock. The body will arrive from Philadelphia this afternoon on No. 1. Mrs. Hewitt arrived in Philadelphia before the Colonel's death. Messers. Harry Bowen, John J. Tierney and J. C. Pack were with him during his illness. It seems that he was in Philadelphia on a business visit to Castner, Caran & Bulitt and was taken ill at the hotel. Colonel Hewitt had been ill but a short time and had gone to a sanitorium in Philadelphia to be treated for appendicitis. Pneumonia set in and his condition became alarming. His family were notified by Mr. Pack, who had accompanied Hewitt to Philadelphia. Mrs. Hewitt left for her husband's bedside Thursday afternoon on No. 2. Shortly after she had gone, a message was received that the end had come 11 o'clock yesterday morning. Col. Hewitt was prominent in the social and business life of this section and state. He took an active interest in politics and for fifteen years has been a member of the Republican State Committee. He was on Governor' Atkinson's staff and on the staff of Governor White. He was the party's nominee for state senate in 1898 and has always been high in the councils of the party. Col. Hewitt was born in Lancaster, England, in 1847, and came with his parents to the United States, locating in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, where he found employment in the anthracite coal mines. Afterward he went to Blossburg, Tioga County, PA, and at the time the Civil War was breaking out, he enlisted into the 13th Pennsylvania Cavalry and served nearly two years. At the expirement of his enlistment, he went into the PIttsburgh coal field, where he remained until 1886, when he came to the Flat Top Field. He was among the first to appreciate the great future in store for the Flat Top Field, identified himself with it, and became one foremost of the energetic men who developed this great region. He was president of the Buckeye Corporation and an officer in the Keystone Corporation and was interested in several other operations. He was a member of the Ivanhoe Commandry, Knights Templar, and of Beni-Kedetu Temple of Shriners. He was a member of the Episcopal Church. Col. Hewitt leaves a wife and five children, several of them grown. To those who knew Col. Hewitt, there was no better man. He was a steadfast friend, a good citizen, an indulgent father and husband. His life should be an incentive to every boy who aspires to be successful. By energy and honesty he made his way as a miner to mine owner, and to affluence, wealth, and sincere esteem of a community and state. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Tombstone in Oak Hill Cemetery, Mercer County, WV John D. Hewitt (June 21, 1847 -- Oct. 9, 1903) Kate Reedy Hewitt (Jan. 9, 1859 -- July 12, 1938) ------------------------------------------------------------------- If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access other biographies for Mercer County, WV by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/wv/mercer/bios.html -------------------------------------------------------------------