DOUGLASS: Of Spencer and Upper Big Sandy.

Reuben A. Dougles and Emma (Douglass) Woodyard, brother and sister, young school teachers; he came about the year 1876. Emma came about the year 1893.

Ancestry, marriages and posterity:

Andrew Douglass, born on the waters of the River Clyde, Scotland, about the year 1822. With a brother (of the same father and mother) arrived in Virginia, 1844, or thereabouts. The brothers name and in what direction he went has been lost to recollection of Andrews family. A. and Emma J. liked to say, we are of the Clan of Douglass the Black, though neither was at all of complexion so dark as to pay attract attention. My recollections arc that Ruben had blue or gray eyes, Emma of a clean white complexion with black wavey hair and black eyes. They claim kin with that branch of Douglasses who have their annual family reunions in Philadelphia.

Andrew Douglass, first mentioned, made his way over into Harrison County, and there, in the year 1845, married Miss Ruhama Dilworth, daughter of a family of pioneers, of the Monongahela Valley. They acuurrcd lands on Elk Creek, near Romines Mills, there made of the lands a good farm and brought up their family of four sons and five daughters. They were devout Presbyterians in their religious coon etlons, and Andrew served as a volunteer in the Union army of the Civil War.

The pames of the sons and daughters of Andrew and Ruhama, his wife, arc: Ruben A., first mentioned above; Columbia, Andrew, Jr., Moretta, Edward, Jennie, Sis, Jefferson and Emma J., mentioned above.

Marriages of this family of Andrew and Ruhama:

Ruben A. Douglass was born on the farm near Romines Mills, year 1847, grew up there and became a teacher in the public schools; came to Roane in the year 1876, here, on October 13, 1877, united in marriage with Miss Mary J. Lewellen, daughter of Jeremiah Lewellen and wife, of Vandal Fork, of Spring Creek; acquired a tract of land near the home of the Lewellens, called the place Pretty Farm Run and on this made their life-time home.

From here he went out teaching, was principal of Spencer Independent District Schools in town, one or more terms; affiliated with the lodges, was a Mason, an I. 0. 0. F. and a Knights of Pythias; elected and served one term as County
Superintendent of Schools, years 1893 to 1895.

Ruben A. and Mary J. (Lewellen) Douglass brought up two sons and four daughters; their names: Lewellen Aubra, Rector R., Ethel, Ufa, Vera, Hallie. Of these:

Lewellen A. married Margaret Norris in Parkersburg, year 1914. She was a descendent of the old family Norris of Little Kanawha.

Rector R. married Miss Ruby Mace, July 13, 1923; he 33, she 21 years of age.

Vera, at 20, married Onel McKown, 23, on November 21, 1915.

Hallie, 24, married Harry R. Adams, 34, March 28, 1923. See name "Adams."

We do not have the marriage of Ethel or Ufa.

Columbia Douglass, daughter of Andrew and wife, of Romines Mills, first married Granville Row. To them was born and brought up one son and one daughter, Charles and Jennie. Granville having died, Columbia united in marriage with John Tawney, of upper Big Sandy, on November 27, 1901, he a widower, then 53, and she a widow, age 47.

Andrew Douglass, son of Andrew, Sr., and Ruhama, third child, went to Montana, there taught school, married there, returned here and died. The wife returned to Montana. Of this marriage one daughter was born, she is at this time a teacher in Broaddus College.

Marietta, daughter of Andrew Douglass and wife, married Judson Ward, at Mannington, W. Va.; they resided for a time in Spencer.

Edward Douglass, sbn of Andrew and Ruhania, married Miss Etta Boyles in Upshur County, W. Va. They brought up three daughters and nine Sons; lived many years in Roane and died here. This family scatterd far and near, only one is now in Roane. Cecil, who married Miss Ingaby Post, April 10, 1910, he then 34, she 24 years of age. She is a daughter of Edward Post and wife, of Spencer.

Jennie Douglass, daughter of Andrew and Ruhama, married in Lewis County, Mr. Price Sidebottom.

Sis, daughter of Andrew and Ruhama, married in Harrison County, a Mr. _____ Hall, by profession an architect. He died within a few years. They had one son and one daughter, whose names are, Arthur and Mary Hall.

Jefferson Douglass, son of Andrew and Ruhama, married in Harrison County, Miss Ann Harrison. He is the member of this family who yet lives on the old home place near Romines Mills. They have brought up three sons and three daughters, we are told.

Emma J. Douglass, daughter of Andrew and Ruhama, while in her teens, married a Mr. Kelley, who died within the year. Later she taught school and came to Roane County as mentioned above, and taught in the Town School, * * * soon married Harry Chapman Woodyard, son of William and Isabelle Woodyard. He was the B. & 0. station agent for Spencer at the time of this marriage. Her life from time of marriage is part of that of Harry C., her husband. He was elected and served many terms in the House of Delegates of the United States Congress. She served as his secretary each term, or thereabout. She was diplomatic and was deemed a good better half. She liked her home in Spencer and the Presbyterian church, in warm loyalty to which she brought up her children. See family name, Woodyard.


Source: History of Roane County, West Virginia, 1774-1927 William H. Bishop, Esq. p 507-509
Submittedr: Sandy Spradling, November 28, 1999