U.S. Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ -- USGenNet Inc. -- Please read the U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on the following page: --------------------------------------------------------------------- Whetsell, Elias W. (1859-1931) --------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 711-712, ELIAS W. WHETSELL. The subject of this sketch belongs to one of the oldest families in Preston county. Elias W. Whetsell is the grandson of Peter Whetsell, who was the son of John, the pioneer. Isaac C. Whetsell, father of Elias, was born in September, 1830, and died September 29, 1864. He settled on the farm now owned by Elias, which he bought of Jonathan Bucklew in 1856. It was then all woodland, the timber of which would at this present time be worth probably $50,000. Many were the weeks of hard work spent in clearing off this land, but a fine grazing farm has been made of it. Isaac Whetsell was one of the citizens of Preston county, who was greatly beloved for the many good qualities of mind and heart he possessed. He was a beautiful penman, and his fine penmanship, and his beautiful character made for him a reputation of enviable notoriety. His work in the church brought him renown, he being a member of the M. E. Church. He was a teacher in the day school and in the Sunday School both; and was eminently fitted for the work of imparting instruction to others. He was a teacher of the day school in the county two or three years, and a teacher of a Bible class about ten years. He enlisted two or three times in the army, and was in the commissary department of Company "O", of the Sixth Virginia, when he died. Isaac Whetsell married Eleanor Felton, who was a daughter of Henry and Katie (Wotring) Felton, the nuptial feast taking place in January, 1859, on the old Felton farm. His wife, Eleanor, was born May 30, 1840, and died July 2, 1882. The young couple moved into an old round log house standing on the place where all the family were raised. The children of this union were Elias, born October 10, 1859; Nancy E., January 5, 1861, and Isaac C. who was born February 2, 1865, and never married. Nancy Married William Schaeffer, now of Kingwood. Elias W. Whetsell, late candidate for County Assessor, received his education in the common schools, and subsequently became one of the ablest educators in Preston county. Like his father before him, he possessed natural talents as a teacher and his work of four years in the schoolroom has matured to his credit. His knowledge of land values, and his good judgment, which has come through years of hard work and valuable experience, brought him into favorable notice with the voters of the county in his candidacy for the important office he ran for, and was testified to in the' excellent poll he got on election day. As a farmer he has become one of the foremost in the' county, and now owns valuable tracts consisting of some 642 acres in all. August 17, 1882, Mr. Whetsell was married to Ida L. Miller, a daughter of E. J. Miller of Terra Alta. She died October 10, 1912. The children born to this union are as follows: Claude E., May 20, 1883; Grover C, August 1, 1884, died November 28, 1912; Elizabeth E., March 18, 1886; Carl S., August 31, 1887, died March 14, 1898; Ray E., March 7, 1889; Pearl, March 5, 1891, died March 13, 1891; Samuel P., February 10, 1892, died April 21, 1895; Grace E., January 2, 1894; Joseph N., November 21, 1895; Mary E., August 27, 1897; Isaac C., November 25, 1899; Vivian P., February 25, 1902; Custer L., February 26, 1904; an infant born and died February 26, 1907. Horatio S. Whetsell, of Kingwood, West Virginia, was born June 6, 1868, in Preston county, West Virginia. He obtained his primary education in the public schools of his native county. Later he took a course in the State Normal at Fairmont, and taught ten terms of school in Preston county. He was elected superintendent of schools in his county, serving four years. Subsequently he engaged in the newspaper business, purchasing the Preston County Journal, of which he is still editor and publisher. In 1902 he was appointed postmaster of Kingwood, and served till 1914. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Kingwood, and belongs to the Masonic and Knights of Pythias fraternities. He was secretary of the Republican executive committee for twelve years, he being a member of that political party. He married, June 12, 1900, Mittie Viola, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John A. Lantz, of Aurora. The children born of this union are: Seymour Lantz, born May 25, 1903, died April 18, 1904; John Richard, born June 26, 1905; Virginia Elliott, born September 5, 1907. --------------------------------------------------------------------- From Death Certificate, Preston County, WV #17132 FULL-NAME: Elias Wesley Whetsell BIRTH-DATE: October 10, 1859 BIRTH-PLACE: Whetsell Settlement, W.Va. DEATH-DATE: December 27, 1931 DEATH-PLACE: Kingwood, Kingwood District, Preston County, WV MARITAL-STATUS: Married OCCUPATION: Farmer FATHER: Issac C. Whetsell (born at Whetsell Settlement, W.Va.) MOTHER: Elnor Felton (born at Whetsell Settlement, W.Va.) CAUSE-OF-DEATH: Spinal injury / Paraplegia INFORMANT: Elizabeth Whetsell BURIAL: Felton Cemetery --------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 ---------------------------------------------------------------------