DULING: Of Spencer, 1891 to the year 1905.
Charles Franklin Duling, subject of this sketch, was born at Malden On the KanawhaMarch 25, 18-10, son of Albert an(l Catherine (Wilson) Duling united in marriage March 2, 1839. Catherine was born on the Great Kanawha near Buffalo, year 1941. or next year or two following, a daughter of Peter Wilson, well known family of pioneers of the Kanawha Valley.
These Dulings were from eastern Virginia. but at what date they settled there we have not searched out. Descendants of the first settler Duling on the Eastern Shores are not to say numerouS but most all vigorous and active individuals. They have a family reunion each autumn at Fowlerton, in the State of Indiana, where several of the name who venerate their ancestry reside, highly respected as successful farmers.
The ending, i-n-g, tokens the name as Saxon, yet it may once have been du Ling, or had a Celto-Scotch prefix, Dhu. There has been a Scotch influence in the family, shown in the fact that one branch spells the name Dulin, and at the same time asserts they are cousins to the family of Albert Duling, of the Great Kanawha.
Charles Franklin Duling, first mentioned, married Miss Sarah Jane Atkinson, born on Elk River near Charleston, a daughter of James Atkinson and Miriam (Rader) Atkinson, his wife and a sister of their son, George Wesley Atkinson, one term governor of West Virginia, later a judge of the United States Court of Claims.
Charles F. and Sarah J., his wife, made their first home on Elk, near the Atkinson farm, where were born to them three sons and five daughters. In order of respective births: John W., Annie A., James A,. Sallie J., Minette, Nell, Gertrude M., Emma and Howard. And on May 26, 1878, Sarah Jane--wife and mother--died.
Eight years after death of the first wife, Charles F. Duling married Annie Conner, widow with one child, Ethel Conner; he soon sold the Elk River farm and moved to Spencer, 1891, all his family except James A. and the four eldest daughters, with him. Here he engaged in the mercantile business with real estate and general trading mixed. John W., the son, a partner with him for a while.
The block of lots fronting on Market Street and Bowman Street, "Duling Addition," is of their doings. Charles Franklin Duling ended his days here, dying of a sudden illness, December 24, 1905, leaving four sons born of the marriage with Annie Conner, the eldest near twenty-four years of age. Their names, Walter, Everett, In, Hugh and Milton. Of these, Walter and In are merchants at Huntington. Hugh, a professor in the University at Atlanta, Georgia, and Milton, a physician resident now--1927--at Charleston, W. Va.
Of the family of Charles F. and Sarah J. (Atkinson) Duling, John W. married a Miss Mattie Smith, of Virginia. They now reside at Clifton Forge, he a retired employee of the Standard Oil Company. James A. married Talitha Dorsey, and is a farmer in Nicholas County. Howard married Miss Blanche Levitt, of Parkersburg; they made their home in Charleston, W. Va., where he was a wholesale merchant. He died there, in the year 1925. Left the widow and two daughters.
Sallie J., daughter of Charles E. and Sarah J. (Atkinson) his wife, married Nathaniel Cavender, son of an old family of Cavenders, of Elk River. He was one term County Superintendent of Schools of Kanawha County. He died several years ago leaving one son and several daughters.
Minnette Duling married a Dr. Elliott B. Palmer, of Cincinnati. He died soon, she yet lives in Cincinnati.
Nellie M. is yet a spinster. Emma F. married Charles Garret, of Roane County. She died childless in Pittsburgh, Pa. Gertrude Miriam married, in Spencer, William H. Pishop, author of this book. See name "Bishop."
Source: History of Roane County, West Virginia, 1774-1927 William H. Bishop, Esq. p 513-514
Submitter: Sandy Spradling, November 28, 1999
