U.S. Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ -- USGenNet Inc. -- Please read the U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on the following page: --------------------------------------------------------------------- Flynn, James W. (1861-1926) --------------------------------------------------------------------- A History of Preston County West Virginia Biographical Department, Supplied by J. R. Cole Kingwood, W. Va., The Journal Publishing Company, 1914 by H. S. Whetsell Pages 614-615 The Flynns are of Irish descent. James W. Flynn is a grandson of James Flynn, who came with his family from Fauquier county, Virginia, and settled on a farm in Preston county, that was later developed into a part of the plant of the Austen Coal Company. James Flynn, Sr., was born in 1810, and died in 1858. His son Benjamin W. Flynn, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born near Warrenton, Fauquier county, Virginia, and his mother at Winchester, Frederick county, Virginia, and both came with their parents to Preston county in 1848. Her name before marriage was Lydia Bunculler. Their son, James W. Flynn, of whom we now speak, was born in Lyon District, Preston county, March 13, 1861. He was educated in the public schools of the county, and in Fraser's Business College of Wheeling, West Virginia. In early life, Mr. Flynn was employed at the iron furnaces then operating in the county, and later was manager of Irondale furnace in Lyon district. In 1889, he moved to Kingwood and engaged in the mercantile business with the late Charles M. Bishop, under the firm name of Bishop & Flynn. In 1886, Mr. Flynn was married to Annie V. Klauser, daughter of Levi Klauser of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, who in the year of 1866, had moved with his family from Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, to Kingwood and established the Preston County Journal, at that time the only newspaper in the county. The children born to this union were two sons: Benjamin L. Flynn, now a Civil and Mining engineer; Charles W. Flynn, an Electrical Engineer, and a daughter, Nellie M. Flynn, still in school. James W. Flynn was Mayor of Kingwood at one time, a Justice of the Peace at another time and recently held a membership in the West Virginia State Senate. During the last sixteen years he has been Chairman of the Republican County Committee, having always been a staunch Republican in politics. He is a member of Preston Lodge No. 90, A. F. & A. M., and of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Flynn has been of eminent usefulness in his business relations with the people of his native county. As one of the organizers of the Kingwood National Bank, he aided in founding an institution which has kept financial interests of Preston county at home, whenever it could be done by accommodating and extending favors to Prestonians instead of parties abroad. The people have not been slow to appreciate these favors and support the enterprise, while the stockholders have, been much pleased to have the bank pass its capitalization in surplus and undivided profits in less than ten years. Mr. Flynn was not only one of the organizers of this bank, but he has been its Vice President and a member of the Board of Directors, since its organization. --------------------------------------------------------------------- (wife of James W. Flynn) From Death Certificate, Preston County, WV #6441 FULL-NAME: Annie Virginia Flynn BIRTH-DATE: August 1, 1861 BIRTH-PLACE: Allegheny Co., Pa DEATH-DATE: February 9, 1920 DEATH-PLACE: Kingwood, Preston County, WV MARITAL-STATUS: Married OCCUPATION: Housekeeper FATHER: Levi Klauser (born in Lancaster Co., Pa.) MOTHER: Caroline Silknitter (born in Lancaster Co., Pa.) CAUSE-OF-DEATH: Pneumonia INFORMANT: James W. Flynn (of Kingwood, W.Va.) BURIAL: Kingwood Cemetery There are tombstones in the Maplewood Cemetery (aka Kingwood Cemetery) James W. Flynn (1861-1926) Annis Virginia Flynn (1861-1920) --------------------------------------------------------------------- If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access other biographies for Preston County, WV by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/wv/preston/bios.html ---------------------------------------------------------------------