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- 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: ]
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