U.S. Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ -- USGenNet Inc. -- Please read the U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on the following page: --------------------------------------------------------------------- Lavelle, William J. (1858-1927) --------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 (This sketch contributed by W. Scott Garner.) Pages 791-794, COLONEL WILLIAM J. LAVELLE. No history of Preston county would be complete without a biographical sketch of Colonel William John Lavelle, the grand old man of Tunnelton. For forty years his home has been in the town now known as the coal center, though much of the time away attending to his duties as a trusted employee of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company. Colonel Lavelle is a native of Marion county, this state, having been born at Benton's Ferry, January 15, 1858. He is one of the three children and the only son of Owen and Catharine (Monahan) Lavelle. Like many of the successful men of this country, the Colonel secured his education mainly in the university of observation, experience and hard knocks. This instruction, combined with personal application and an insatiable thirst for knowledge, has given him an intellectual equipment that no university or college could supply. In fact, so diversified is his acquaintance with the real thinkers and recognized authorities in the realms of economics, sociology and philosophy, that many of his most intimate friends will be surprised to learn that the only actual instruction he ever received in the class-room was the rudimentary knowledge gleaned in the free schools of his immediate neighborhood. While yet a mere lad, Colonel Lavelle became a mule driver in the once famous Americon mines owned and operated by James Otis Watson, of Fairmont, and later secured the position as messenger boy in the office of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company at Fairmont. While engaged in this service he mastered the art of telegraphy, and after an examination was sent to Tunnelton, April 15, 1876, at the age of eighteen, to establish a telegraph office for the B. & O. Company at that point. In this position he remained until 1885, when he was advanced to the responsible position of train dispatcher, a place he held without interruption for twenty-eight years. Considering the duration and responsibility of this work on a great trunk line, his record is possibly unexcelled in the history of railroading. His first service as dispatcher was at Grafton from 1885 to 1896, when he was transferred to Cumberland, Md., where he remained until 1899, and was again stationed at Grafton until 1901, being then returned to Cumberland, where he remained until 1912. In that year the company moved the division head-quarters to Keyser, W. Va., where the Colonel continued to serve as dispatcher until promoted to be division examiner, April, 1913, with headquarters at Cumberland. He is one of the best-posted and clearest- headed men in the railway service, and has been most relied on by the chief officials in times of great difficulty and trouble. On May 25, 1881, Colonel Lavelle was united in marriage to Miss Susan Allie Griffith, a daughter of Hiram W. and Susan (Pierce) Griffith, of Grafton. To them three children were born: William Griffith; Ada Louise, who is now a second year student at the Peabody Conservatory of Music, in Baltimore, Md., where she is cultivating her wonderful talent for music, both vocal and instrumental; and one who died in infancy. The same year he was married Colonel Lavelle purchased a lot on what is now Boswell street and erected a house, which was destroyed by fire in June, 1905. In 1906 he built his present handsome and well- appointed home. From the time he established a home his family has been a fixture in Tunnelton and has served as the pole-star of his existence, no matter where life's duties have called him. If Nature ever created a politician, Colonel Lavelle is the man. He can follow the winding path of the average politician as easily and as surely as the American Indian can track his foe through the pathless forest. From the taxpayer's point of view, probably no man understood Governor Dawson's tax measures better than did Colonel Lavelle. As a writer under the pseudonym of "Rambler," he slashed at the vitals of that measure in a manner that made him greatly feared by his political opponents, yet no one could take umbrage at the lamb-like attitude of the pretended innocent and guileless writer. Having served with distinction as chairman of the Democratic Executive Committee of this county, he was urged to accept the chairmanship of the State Committee; and again, in 1893, he was offered and urged to accept an appointment as United States marshal for the district of West Virginia — places which other men have tried to move Heaven and earth to obtain. The Colonel actually laughed at both propositions, declaring that he was "not an office-seeker — wanted nothing — would accept nothing — was in politics only for the fun there was in it!" To the officials at Washington this presented an unique specimen of the "genus homo." It served, how- ever to convince all parties of his political sincerity and greatly augmented his influence in state politics besides widely extending his acquaintance with men of national reputation. However, in 1885, Governor E. W. Wilson appointed him, without knowledge on his part, a member of the Governor's staff, with the rank of colonel. This is how he acquired the popular rank of "Colonel," and is the only office ever accepted or held by Mr. Lavelle. In 1908 he was urged to become a candidate for Governor of the State, and the mention of his name inspired a hearty response from both the toilers, of whom he was one, and the leaders of his party in many parts of the state. The boom assumed such proportions that the Colonel thought it necessary to apply the "extinguisher," and he therefore quietly eliminated himself. He has always been a sufferer from the malady of modesty. While yet a young man Colonel Lavelle recognized in the press one of the greatest educational factors in America, and early began contributing to the local newspapers. These letters at first consisted mainly of news items and observations on local politics, but it was not long until editors began to recognize the political insight displayed in these articles and in some cases used them as editorials. This, of course, pleased the author and encouraged him to broaden his field of endeavor and widen his acquaintance with local, state and national (politics. Finally, when J. Ed. Kildow purchased the "West Virginia Argus" at Kingwood, he made the Colonel political editor of that paper, and while occupying that position Colonel Lavelle gave the "Argus" such prestige as is seldom enjoyed by a county newspaper, making it in fact as well as in name a state newspaper of the first class. When Kildow disposed of the "Argus" Colonel Lavelle ostensibly severed his connection with the paper, but for twenty years continued to contribute to its columns. In the meantime he contributed largely to the state press on political and general subjects, with a vigor which won him the reputation among politicians and people as a writer of unusual skill and unquestioned ability. Colonel Lavelle is distinguished for his affability and kindly manner. He is a perfect type of the true gentleman and extremely popular wherever known. Yet deep down in his nature there is a tint of the Red Indian. He never forgets a favor nor an injury. He is tolerant and broad-minded, and would far sooner suffer an injury than inflict one. While he has a fine sense of humor and a large share of the proverbial Irish wit, he likewise possesses a keen appreciation of the pathos of life and a quick sympathy with suffering of every kind. But to see the Colonel at his best you must see him in his home, in the bosom of his devoted family, and this will complete the impression you have already formed, that Colonel W. J. Lavelle is one of Nature's noblemen. --------------------------------------------------------------------- From Death Certificate, Preston County, WV #5314 FULL-NAME: William John Lavelle BIRTH-DATE: January 15, 1856 BIRTH-PLACE: Marion Co. DEATH-DATE: April 8, 1927 DEATH-PLACE: Tunnellton, Kingwood District, Preston County, WV MARITAL-STATUS: Married (Mrs. Allie Griffith Lavelle) OCCUPATION: Rule Examiner, for B & O R. R. Co. FATHER: Owen Levelle (born in Ireland) MOTHER: Catherine Monohan (born in Ireland) CAUSE-OF-DEATH: arterio sclerosis / Senility INFORMANT: William G. Lavelle BURIAL: Fairmont The tombstones for William Lavelle, his wife, and his parents are in the Holy Cross Cemetery, Fairmont, Marion County, WV LAVELLE - - - - - - - - - - - - - William J. (1859-1927) Mary A. (1857-1922) Owen (1822-1892) Catharine E. (1821-1886) --------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 ---------------------------------------------------------------------