Notes for: William Brent Maxwell
Newspaper article, "Denver Rocky Mountain News," Sunday, July 16, 1905, in its entirety:
CAPTAIN OF INDUSTRY IN THE SOUTH IS IN DENVER AND WILL LOOK OVER THE MINERAL FIELDS OF THE STATE
W. Brent Maxwell, one of the richest and best known men in West Virginia and the south and president of the Clarksburg National Bank of that state, is stopping at the Savoy with his daughter, Susie, and his niece, Emily.
Many times a millionaire, and one of the foremost captains of Industry in the country, Mr. Maxwell, even though taking a rest from his enormous business cares, is nevertheless interesting himself in the mineral condition of the state and of his properties here. His interests are many and varied and industries that are the most prominent in the commercial world know this man well. Oil, coal, timber, mining and cattle raising all have made millions for the wealthy Southerner. His stock farm at his home is reported to be one of the finest in his section of the country.
Mr. Maxwell may ultimately acquire valuable properties in the mining sections of this state.
Newspaper article, "Denver Rocky Mount News," Tuesday, July 18 1905, in its entirety:
WEST VIRGINIA MILLIONAIRE HAS HIS FIRST NEWSPAPER INTERVIEW
Is it better form to deny the soft impeachment of being a millionaire, or is it just a matter of discretion that rich men always smile when they are classed among this species of American business men?
W. Brent Maxwell, president of the Clarksburg National Bank of West Virginia, is said to be a millionaire by his friends, but at the Savoy yesterday Mr. Maxwell looked embarrassed and only admitted to owning a thoroughbred stock farm, timber lands, oil wells and coal lands, and that West Virginia was just as fine a state as Colorado, barring the gold and silver which are found here and not there.
Mr. Maxwell is a banker and does not like being interviewed, and his first experience in it came yesterday. He has come to Colorado on a "little vacation, just for a rest, and to take back my daughter, who has been here since last February."
"I like the climate here very much," said Mr. Maxwell, reluctantly. "I have been visiting some of the points of interest near Denver and looking over some mining property, but shall not invest very much, if anything. I think we have a very fine state; in fact, I guess it is just as good as Colorado. Where I live it rains almost every week in the year. It is what we call our bluegrass country, and the soil is similar to that region in Kentucky."
"You would not think of coming here to live, Mr. Maxwell?"
"Oh, no; I like my own hills, and am satisfied to go back and stay there. But I am very sure no one feels interested in me out here," and Mr. Maxwell shut up like a clam when asked the extent of his cattle interests and the number that roamed over the foothills of the Alleghenies, in one of the rich valleys of which he makes his home.
Local news item, "Doddridge County Republican," Thursday, June 29 1916, in its entirety:
"W. Brent Maxwell of Clarksburg was among last week's distinguished visitors here. While Mr. Maxwell is a native of this county and now owns within her borders one of the best tracts of grazing land in the United States, there are many people in Doddridge who have but a very vague idea of what his splendid South West property is really like, or of its relative value as compared with the best grazing lands in other sections of this state and of the country at large."
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Obituary, "Clarksburg Daily Telegram," Tuesday Evening, June 10, 1930:
HEART ATTACK PROVES FATAL EARLY TODAY
W. BRENT MAXWELL, PRESIDENT OF CLARKSBURG AND WEST UNION BANKS, DIES
Banking and business circles in Harrison and Doddridge counties, in particular, mourn the death of W. Brent Maxwell, Sr., 80, of this city, president of the Union National Bank here and the West Union Bank at West Union, and other groups of citizenry in not only the two counties, but elsewhere in the state, where he was identified with its development, share in the sadness caused by his passing.
The death of Mr. Maxwell occurred shortly after 1 o'clock this morning in his home, 529 West Pike Street, following an illness of two weeks. While his condition had been critical at times since he was stricken, yesterday afternoon he showed improvement and there were hopes for his recovery, but a short time before the end came, he grew gravely worse and the members of his family were summoned to his bedside. An ailment of the heart was the cause of death.
RUGGED HEALTH
Mr. Maxwell enjoyed rugged health until his fatal illness and attended to business as usual despite his advanced age. He was about to start on a business trip to West Union when he became suddenly ill, as he had ordered his automobile to be placed in readiness and was on the point of leaving the house when he complained of illness and remarked that he would lie down a short time, hoping the pain about his heart would soon pass. The trip had to be abandoned, and he continued bedfast.
A specialist from an eastern city was summoned a few days ago, and every possible step waken to assist the venerable banker in battling the malady which had seized him, without avail. The end came as if he were passing into peaceful slumber.
William Brent Maxwell was born in Doddridge County April 27, 1850. He was a son of Franklin and Frances Jane Reynolds Maxwell. He was reared on his father's farms and attended school at West Union and Pruntytown. Some of his mother's people lived at the latter place. She was a member of the John Reynolds family which settled at Hepzibah at an early date.
WEALTHIEST CITIZEN
The earlier years of his life were spent by Mr. Maxwell as a farmer and stock raiser, and even to the end of it he devoted considerable time and attention to his vast acreages in Harrison and Doddridge, owning much of the best farm lands in the two counties. In addition to extensive grazing, fortune favored him with large oil and gas development on his properties, particularly in Doddridge County, until he became one of Harrison County's most affluent citizens. He was reported to be worth $10,000,000. He was a heavy investor in stocks and bonds.
He was Harrison County's wealthiest citizen.
Mr. Maxwell organized the Trader's National Bank in Buckhannon in 1892, but withdrew from it the following year and organized the West Union Bank at West Union, Doddridge County, and served it as president from its formation to the time of his death. He was one of the organizers of the old Traders National Bank here and became president of the Union National Bank which took over the affairs of the Traders National. He served continuously as president of the Union National from the time of its organization in April, 1905, until he died.
Also identified with other banks, Mr. Maxwell was a stockholder in the American National Bank at Richmond, Va., as well as in the Exchange Bank of Weston and the Parkersburg National Bank. Before moving to Harrison County, he served as a justice of the peace in Doddridge County.
TWICE MARRIED
Mr. Maxwell first married Miss Emma Belle Williams, daughter of the Rev. and Mrs. John A. Williams, of Sycamore Dale, this county, October 8, 1884. They were the parents of two children, Susan Alice and Claude Maxwell. After the death of his wife, Mr. Maxwell married Miss Lillie Jarvis, a daughter of Lemuel D. and Martha Jarvis, of Clarksburg, July 10, 1895. She survives. Her father, who served once as sheriff of Harrison County, died a number of years ago. Her mother is still living here at the age of more than 97 years. The second set of children consists of Ruth Frances, Franklin J., William B., Jr., and Martha L. Maxwell.
Susan Alice Maxwell, the oldest daughter, married Charles Tutenberg, and lives at Scarsdale, N.Y. Claude Maxwell lives here. Ruth Frances, the second daughter, is the wife of Louis A. Johnson, prominent Clarksburg lawyer; Franklin J. and William B., Jr., live at home; and Martha L., the youngest daughter and child, is the wife of J. Hornor Davis, the second, of Charleston.
EARLIEST ANCESTOR
The earliest direct ancestor known was Thomas Maxwell, of Pennsylvania, who married, about 1785, Jane Lewis, a daughter of Alexander and Mary Smith Lewis. She was a second cousin of Robert Fulton, steamship inventor. He is thought to have been a son of William and Elizabeth Maxwell, of Chester County, who died about 1792. Thomas Maxwell died in 1796 while on a trip to West Virginia preparatory to removing his family to this state. Three years later his widow and her six children moved to this county and later to Lewis County, where she died October 20, 1835. Their children were Abner, Levi, Lewis, Robert, Amy, and Mary Maxwell.
Abner Maxwell first married Susan Davisson, and they were the parents of Franklin Maxwell and the grandparents of William Brent Maxwell. Abner Maxwell was captain of a Harrison County company in the War of 1812. He resided for a time in Clarksburg, but his last years were spent near West Union, where he died in 1864.
INHERITS ESTATE
Franklin Maxwell, the second son of Abner and the father of William Brent Maxwell, was born in 1813. He spent his life in Doddridge County, where much of the landed estate of his uncle, Lewis Maxwell, fell to his share. He married Frances Reynolds in 1840 and died July 4, 1894. Their ten children were: Leman, Lewis, Porter, Rector, William Brent, Harriet P. who married G.W. Brown, Mary Martha who died in 1860 at the age of five years, Franklin Post who died in 1880 at the age of 23, Frances Jane who married B.C. Bland, and Susan Alice who died in 1883, aged 22 years. They are all dead now except Lewis Maxwell, who lives in West Union.
W. Brent Maxwell was a Democrat in politics but independent in his voting. He was affiliated with the First Methodist Episcopal church. He contributed liberally to the charities of the church and community.
The body lies in state at the family residence, where it is being looked after by the Davis Undertaking Company. No funeral plans have been made.
Funeral notice, "Clarksburg Daily Telegram," Wednesday Evening, June 11, 1930:
MAXWELL FUNERAL
Funeral services will be held at 3 o'clock tomorrow afternoon at the family residence, 529 West Pike Street, for W. Brent Maxwell, Sr., 80, president of the Union National Bank, who died there at 1:15 o'clock yesterday morning following a two weeks' illness of heart disease. The Rev. Dr. William E. Craig, pastor of the First Methodist Episcopal church, and the Rev. D. J.T. Carter, rector of Christ Episcopal church, will officiate. Interment will be made privately in the Elkview Masonic cemetery.
The active pallbearers will be J. Hornor Davis, W.M.B. Sine, James M. White, Carl L. Hornor, George M. Moore, T. Blair Willison, S. Austin Smith and Arthur Parsons, directors of the bank.
Honorary pallbearers have been chosen as follows: Lee Boggess, of Shinnston; W. Scott Stuart, Jackson V. Blair, A.A. Bee, B.W. Foley and Charles Langfitt, all of West Union; L.L. Loar, E.S. Ice, Will H. Davisson and Robert Morris, representing the banks here and at West Union, with which Mr. Maxwell was identified as president.
The body will lie in state at the family residence until after the services. Omission of floral token is requested by the family.