Source: History of Johnson County IA 1836-1882, pub. 1883 in Iowa City, p. 607 part of Chapter X - Part 3. Chronicles of Clear Creek. By Mrs. Mary A. Hamilton.
History of Johnson County IA 1836-1882, pub. 1883 in Iowa City, p. 868.
David Wesley Freemyer born 28 Feb 1761 Albany County New York. Served in the Revolution from Cobleskill, New York. Removed to Washigton County Ohio in 1810. When Monroe County was formed he found himself over the line and in Monroe County, he later moved back over into Washington County. He probably died in Grandview township, Washington County Ohio in the 1830's. He was married to Catherine (surname unknown), she was born 1773 New York. Children: 1. George Freemyer born 23 Feb 1795 Albany Co NY married Martha Shreeves on 25 Mar 1819, he died 7 April 1870 Worth County Missouri. 2. Hannah Freemyer born ca 1794 Albany NY married Samuel Bayard 31 July 1817 Washington Co Ohio. 3. Margaret Freemyer born 1797 Albany Ny married John Johnson 10 Feb 1815 Washington Co Ohio. 4. David Wesley Freemyer Jr. born 1809 Albany Co NY married Dorothy Sill 13 Sept 1829 , he lived in Knox Co Missouri, joined the Confederate forces and was never heard from again. I think he died in the Battle of Jenkins Ferry in Arkansas.
Submitted by: WGreath760@aol.com February 17, 2000
Eli C. Morris. In the old Keystone State Eli C. Morris was born March 14, 1845, in Washington County. He was a son of Samuel Morris, a representative of one of the sterling old Pennsylvania families long identified with that gracious and noble religious organization, the Society of Friends, more commonly known as Quakers. In Pennsylvania Eli C. Morris was reared to manhood, received such educational advantages as were offerred in the schools of the period, and in his youth learned the trade of millwright, in connection with which he assisted in the erection of many flour mills, besides eventually becoming a successful mill operator. In connection with his vocation he came to West Virginia, where for a time he operated a mill at Elizabeth. Thereafter he built and equipped a mill at Morristown, which was named in his honor, and after operating this mill for a time he removed with his family to Washington County, Ohio, where he passed the remainder of his life and where he died at Lower Salem in 1914. He was a birthright member of the Society of Friends, and in his unostentatious career he examplified the sterling characteristics ever associated with the name of Quaker. His father was implacable in his opposition to the institution of slavery, and the Morris home in Pennsylvania was made a station on the historic underground railway which enabled many slaves to escape bondagein the period leading up to the Civil war. Though the customs and teachings of the Society of Friends deprecate war in all forms, the youthful patriotism of Eli C. Morris was such that he transceded these teachings when the Civil war was precipitated on the nation. He believed the preservation of the Union was of greater importance than his observance of the tenets of the faith in which he had been reared, and accordingly he enlisted in Troop B, Sixth Pennslyvania Cavalry, with which he saw active service under command of General Sheridan in the historic Shenadoah campaign. His first wife, whose maiden name was Elizabeth McDonald, is survived by one son. His second wife, Eliza J. (Winland) Morris, still resides in Washington County, Ohio. Of this union there are two sons and two daughters, and of the number James G. is the only representative in West Virginia. James G. Morris is a native of West Virginia, his birth having occured at Morristown, Wirt County, but he was reared and educated in Washington County, Ohio. He is now president of the Arrow Lumber Company, one of the important industrial and comercial concerns of Parkersburg. Mr. Morris has completed the circle of Scottish Rite Masonry, in which he has received the thirty-second degree, besides being affiliated with the Mystic Shrine. He takes deep interest in all that concerns the welfare and advancement of his home city and is essentially progressive and public spirited. Mr. Morris wedded Miss Jennie E. Watson, and they have one son, Harold W.
Submitted by: Tina Hursh December 9, 1999
The History of West Virginia, Old and New Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, Volume II Pg. 70-71
FRANK BUTLER TROTTER, A. M. LL. D. The University of West Virginia is an institution in which the state takes major pride, and its high standard of service makes its value felt throughout the length and breadth of this commonwealth. In maintaining and advancing its service and its prestige a splendid work has been accomplished by Frank Butler Trotter, who has been its president since 1916, and who had previously served about two years as its acting president - 1914-16. His executive and scholastic policies have inured greatly to the advantage of the university and its work and to giving it its present high rank among similar state institutions throughout the nation.
President Trotter was born in Washington County, Ohio, February 27, 1863, a son of James and Elizabeth (Stock) Trotter and a grandson of Robert Trotter, who came from his native Ireland to the United States in 1821 and who first resided in the State of New York, next in Crawford County, Pennsylvania, and finally in Washington County, Ohio, where the closing years of his life were passed. James Trotter was born in Crawford County, Pennsylvania, March 14, 1827, and was a boy when his parents gained pioneer precedence in Ohio, where he was reared and educated, where his marriage was solemnized and where he continued to reside until 1876, when he came with his family to West Virginia and established the home in Preston County, his death having there occurred at Aurora, May 26, 1914. His wife, now deceased, was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, a daughter of Henry and Minerva Stock, both of whom were of German lineage.
Frank Butler Trotter was a lad of thirteen years at the time of the family removal to West Virginia, where he continued his studies in public and private schools in Preston County until he was fortified for pedagogic service, he having been nineteen years of age when he initiated his activities as a teacher in the public schools of that county. In 1890 he was graduated from Roanoke College, Virginia, with the degree Bachelor of Arts, and in 1895 he received from his alma mater the degree master of Arts. Thereafter he did post-graduate work in historic old Harvard University. After six years of effective service as a teacher in the public schools the future president of the University of West Virginia became professor of Latin and modern languages in West Virginia Wesleyan College until he became professor of Latin in the university of which he is now the president, he having been advanced the position of dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, and having been called upon in 1914 to serve as acting president of the university, in which capacity he made so excellent a record that in 1916 he was elected the president, the office of which he has since continued the loyal and resourceful incumbent. It is gratifying to record that the university has been favored in receiving constantly expanding income through liberal appropriations made by the State Legislature, that its faculty has been increased in numbers, that the facilities of the various departments have been augmented and otherwise improved, and that popular appreciation has been manifested in the increased enrollment of students from year to year. Concerning the administration of President Trotter the following estimate has been written:
"President Trotter has succeeded in connecting the university with the state as a whole and has extended the advantages of education to every citizen in even the most remote communities. This has been accomplished mainly through the high school, extension departments, teacher's institutes and the students themselves. President Trotter has an extensive acquaintance throughout the state and a broad and accurate knowledge of its schools and school conditions. This knowledge was acquired partly through his service as a member of the faculty of Wesleyan College at Buckhannon and partly through his former connection with the university as a member of the committee on classification and grades. As one of the guardians of the people's treasury he has shown remarkable ability to economize judiciously and to gain full and faithful service from his staff, the while he has assumed the responsibility of safeguarding the character and interests of each and every student enrolled at the university. He has insisted on the highest standards of scholarship and has demanded the best conditions of morality."
President Trotter is a man of engaging personality, broad in his sympathies and human tolerance, and he is looked upon as guide, counselor and friend to all students of the great institution over which he presides. He is an effective public speaker, and as such his services are much in demand aside from the work that he has done for the university through this medium. He and his wife are zealous members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and he has thrice been a delegate to its General Conference. His political allegiance is given to the Republican party, he is a member of the Rotary club at Morgantown, the seat of the university, and he is affiliated with the Phi Beta Kappa and the Phi Gamma Delta college fraternities, as is he also with the Knights of Pythias.
On the 22d of August, 1895, was solemnized the marriage of
President Trotter and Miss Lillian List Steele, and both are popular
factors in the general social and cultural circles of their community. They have one son. Lorentz Steele Trotter, born at Buckhannon, in 1896, and at present a senior in the College of Law at Harvard University.
File contributed by Maggie Stewart-Zimmerman
and Gina M. Reasoner January 20, 1999
WEST VIRGINIA In History, Life, Literature and Industry
The Lewis Publishing Company 1928, Volume 5, page 198-199
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