326. FRANKLIN EMORY10 FURBEE (JAMESHILARY9, JAMES8, GEORGE7, CALEB6, BOWERS5, BENJIMAN4, BENJAMINFURBEE3[FURBY], BENJAMINFURBEE2, FELIX1FURBEE) was born October 11, 1867 in Mannington, Marion Co., WV, and died November 25, 1955 in Mannington, Marion Co., WV. He married VIRGINIA M. HAGADORN October 01, 1899, daughter of CHARLES HAGADORN and CHARLOT PUFFER. She was born January 18, 1876 in Troy, New York, and died November 12, 1958 in Fairmont, Marion Co., WV.
Notes for FRANKLIN EMORY FURBEE:
The History of West Virginia, Old and New
Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc.,
Chicago and New York, Volume II, page 124
Frank Emory Furbee has been actively associated with the business life of
Mannington for over three decades, is head of the very prosperous
establishment known as the H. R. & F. E. Furbee, extensive dealers in Men's
and women's apparel and is also president of the Furbee Furniture Company,
and through his substantial resources and influence he has contributed to the
upbuilding of the little city, especially in its educational institutions.
This is one of the oldest American families in West Virginia, and in all
the generations the name has stood for progress and advancement. The Furbees
are of English descent. Benjamin Furbee was born in 1693, on the Delaware -
Maryland Peninsula. His son was named Bowers. Caleb, a son of Bowers, and the
ancestor of the West Virginia branch of the family, was born at Kent,
Delaware, November 22, 1752. As a young man he enlisted with the Delaware
troops to serve the cause of independence in May 1775. He was promoted to
lieutenant in 1776, and in May 1777, was in command of a detachment of troops
in Captain Caldwell's company under Colonel Pope. Among other battles he was
at Brandywine in 1777, and continued with the patriot armies until
independence was achieved.
Caleb Furbee about 1790, with his wife, Sarah and four sons, Waitman,
John, George, and Caleb, came to what is now West Virginia, settled near
Morgantown, made large purchases of land on Paw Paw Creek, now in Marion
County, and lived in the midst of and participated in the development of that
section for years, but spent his last days in Tyler County, where the life of
this Revolutionary patriot came to its close on April 16, 1837.
Three generations intervene between him and the Mannington merchant first
named above. George Furbee, son of Caleb, was born in Delaware, spent his
active life as a farmer and stock-raiser on Paw Paw Creek, and died in 1844.
In 1796 he married Elizabeth Prichard. Their children were James and
Elizabeth, the latter marrying Jeremiah Beatty.
James Furbee is the most prominent name associated with the early history
of Mannington. He was born in the Paw Paw Creek district, and after some
years as a farmer there he bought 800 acres, including the site of the City
of Mannington. He founded the town, opened its first store, and guided his
personal interests to the welfare of the community ever afterward. For many
years he was a leading stock dealer. James Furbee in 1823 married Mary Ann
Lindsay, daughter of Lindsay and Nellie (Janes) Boggess.
Their son was the late Hon. James Hilary Furbee, who was born at
Basnettsville, Marion County, October 18, 1827. He found his interesting
duties in connection with his father's early enterprises at Mannington, and
upon completion of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad through that town in 1852 he
was appointed station agent. These were his official duties until 1862, when
he was appointed United States revenue collector. Soon after the outbreak of
the Civil war he had raised a company for state service, became its captain,
and was with the command in repelling threatened invasions from the South.
James H. Furbee in 1878 was elected a member of the West Virginia
Legislature, and in 1880 was chosen to a seat in the State Senate. However,
on account of a technicality, he was not seated. In 1886 he was again elected
by a large majority, and was also elected in 1892. Perhaps his most useful
service in the Senate was rendered the cause of state education. That was his
dominating public motive. He was chairman of the committee on education in
the Senate. hardly less important was the twenty years he served as president
of the Board of Education of Mannington District. During this period his work
contributed largely to the establishment of the free school system, and
introduced something more than nominal standards for the management and
conduct of the local schools. His long devotion to church culminated in his
election as a lay delegate to the General Conference of 1900.
James H. Furbee, whose life of usefulness closed on November 9, 1899,
married on October 7, 1855, Sarah J. McCoy, of Tyler County. Her
grandparents, john and Esther (McCarty) McCoy, came from North of Ireland in
1801, settling first in the Shenandoah Valley and subsequently removing to
Middlebourne, Tyler County. Their son, James McCoy, married in Tyler County,
Jane Martin, and they were the parents of Sarah J. Furbee, who survived her
husband, passing away July 12, 1921.
This brings this interesting family narrative down to Frank Emory Furbee,
who was born at Mannington, October 11, 1867. Both at home and in school he
was well trained for the responsibilities that awaited him. After the public
schools he attended the Fairmont State Normal School, and in 1890 graduated
from Duff's Business College of Pittsburgh. he forthwith entered his father's
business, known as J. H. Furbee & Sons, dealers in clothing, shoes, and
furnishings at Mannington. Since 1896 this prosperous business has continued
under the title of H. R. & F. E. Furbee. Mr. F. E. Furbee in 1910 became
associated with the organization of the Furbee Furniture Company.
Mr. Furbee succeeds to the responsibilities so long held by his father as
a guiding hand in the educational affairs of Mannington. He was chosen
president of the Board of Education in July, 1919. He is a Knight Templar,
thirty-second degree Scottish Rite Mason and a Shriner,an Elk, and Modern
Woodman, and is a charter member of the Kiwanis Club.
October 1, 1899, Mr. Furbee married Virginia H. Hagadorn. She is of New
England ancestry, and was born at Troy, New York, daughter of Charles H. and
Charlotte Hagadorn, of Bennington, Vermont. Mr. and Mrs. Furbee have two
children: Robert Dater, born November 10, 1906, and Martha Virginia, born
March 11, 1912. [This biography was submitted by Patty Tyler,E-mail address: <PTyler107@aol.com>]
More About FRANKLIN EMORY FURBEE:
Burial: November 28, 1955, Mannington, Marion Co., WV
Clubs 1: a Knight Templar, thirty-second degree Scottish Rite Mason and a Shriner,an Elk, and Modern Woodman, and is a charter member of the Kiwanis Club
Education 1: Public Schools
Education 2: Fairmont State Normal School
Education 3: 1890, graduated from Duff's Business College of Pittsburgh
Elected: July 1919, president of the Board of Education
Occupation: merchant
More About VIRGINIA M. HAGADORN:
Burial: November 15, 1958, Mannington Cemetery, Mannington, Marion Co., WV
More About FRANKLIN FURBEE and VIRGINIA HAGADORN:
Marriage: October 01, 1899
Children of FRANKLIN FURBEE and VIRGINIA HAGADORN are: