William Brent MAXWELL
1850 - 1930 (80 years)-
Name William Brent MAXWELL Census 1900, 10, 20, 30 Clarksburg, Harrison Co, WV 
- 529 W. Pike Street
Birth 27 Apr 1850 Doddridge Co, (W)VA [1] Gender Male Census 1860 Doddridge Co, (W)VA Census 1870 Southwest District, Doddridge Co, WV Occupation farmer, stockman, banker [2, 3, 4, 5] Residence 1884 Harrison Co, WV [1] Death 10 Jun 1930 Clarksburg, Harrison Co, WV [6] Burial Elkview Masonic Cemetery, Clarksburg, Harrison Co, WV [6] Notes - 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.
Person ID I34257 Doddridge County Roots Last Modified 25 Jan 2018
Father Franklin MAXWELL, b. 16 Jun 1814, Harrison Co, (W)VA d. 4 Jul 1892, West Union, Doddridge Co, WV (Age 78 years)Mother Frances Jane REYNOLDS, b. 12 Jan 1819, Harrison Co, (W)VA d. 21 Aug 1897, Clarksburg, Harrison Co, WV (Age 78 years)Family ID F13448 Group Sheet | Family Chart
Family 1 
Emma Belle WILLIAMS, b. CA 1865, Harrison Co, WV d. 17 Apr 1891, Mt. Clare, Harrison Co, WV (Age ~ 26 years)Marriage 8 Oct 1884 West Milford, Harrison Co, WV [1] Children + 1. Susan Alice MAXWELL, b. 5 Aug 1885, Harrison Co, WV d. 19 Nov 1970, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara Co, CA (Age 85 years)+ 2. Claud Brent MAXWELL, b. 15 Mar 1891, Mt. Clare, Harrison Co, WV d. 14 Nov 1949, Clarksburg, Harrison Co, WV (Age 58 years)Documents 
34257_WilliamBrentMaxwell_EmmaBelleWilliams_MarriageRecord_8Oct1884.jpg Family ID F13719 Group Sheet | Family Chart
Family 2 Lillie Belle JARVIS, b. 5 May 1863, Harrison Co, WV d. 4 May 1953, Clarksburg, Harrison Co, WV (Age 89 years) [7]Marriage 10 Jul 1895 Clarksburg, Harrison Co, WV [1] Notes - 1900 Census, Harrison Co, WV (City of Clarksburg), enumerated on Jun 14 1900 at 529 Pike Street:
Brent Maxwell, 50, b. Apr 1850, farmer, married 5 yrs (corrected from 16 yrs); wife Lillie, 36, b. May 1864, married 5 yrs, mother of 3 children (all still living); dau Susie, 14, b. Aug 1885; son Claude, 9, b. Mar 1891; dau Ruth, 4, b. May 1896; son Frank, 1, b. Nov 1898; son W. Brent, 8 months, b. Sep 1899; servant Ella Taylor, black female, b. Jan 1876, single; servant Vadis Vanort, white female, 22, b. Dec 1877, single; servant Margaret Tricket, white female, 40, b. Jan 1860, single, dressmaker.
1910 Census, Harrison Co, WV (City of Clarksburg), enumerated on May 2/3 1910 at 529 W. Pike Street:
William B. Maxwell, 60, farmer, married 15 yrs (2nd marriage); wife Lillie J, 46, married 15 yrs (1st marriage), mother of 4 children (all still living); dau Ruth, 13; son Franklin J, 12; son William B, 10; dau Martha L, 6; dau Susie A, 24; son Claud B, 19; servant Nan Russell, black female, age unk, married, mother of 1 child (still living); servant Birdie Maupin, black female, 22, married, no children.
1920 Census, Harrison Co, WV (City of Clarksburg), enumerated on Jan 15 1920 at 529 W. Pike Street:
W. Brent Maxwell, 69, operator/farmer/oil & gas, wife Lillie J, 54; son Franklin J, 22; son William B Jr, 20; dau Martha L, 15; dau Ruth Frances, 23.
NOTE: Two days later, at the same address, Susan Maxwell Abel, W. Brent Maxwell's married daughter by his first wife, was enumerated with her two children.
1930 Census, Harrison Co, WV (City of Clarksburg), enumerated on Apr 2 1930 at 529 W. Pike Street:
W. Brent Maxwell, 79, stockman/farm, home value $70,000; wife Lilly, 64; son William B, 30, private secretary; servant Edna Triplett, negro female, 42, b. Va, single, cook for private family.
1940 Census, Harrison Co, WV (City of Clarksburg), enumerated on Apr 23 1940 at 529 W. Pike Street:
Lillie J. Maxwell, 75, widowed, 2 yrs college, resided 1935 in same house; son Wm. Brent Jr, 40, 5 yrs college, no occupation, resided 1935 in same house; dau-in-law Margaret W, 35, 4 yrs college, no occupation, resided 1935 in Webster Springs WVa.
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Regarding the Maxwell home at 529 W. Pike Street, the following article was submitted by descendant Stephen H. Maxwell to the online Washington Irving High School newsletter in August 2014:
529 WEST PIKE STREET
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHO:
W. Brent Maxwell and his second wife, Lillie Jarvis Maxwell built the house as a replacement for their home that was located on Sixth Street where the Post Office now stands. They likely could have watched progress from their windows. The design is by Edward J. Wood. Interior decoration was by H. B. Fairfield of the Sterling & Welch Company, Cleveland. Brent Maxwell was the father of six children being Susan Maxwell Abel Tutenberg and Claude Brent Maxwell by his first wife Emma Williams (who died of tuberculosis a month after Claude's birth) . "Uncle Bill" W. B. Maxwell Jr., Frank Jarvis Maxwell, Martha Maxwell Davis and Ruth Maxwell Johnson were by his second wife, Lillie Jarvis. During the design each bedroom was assigned to one of the six children with the three "boys" on the third floor and the three "girls" on the second floor. Eleven grandchildren grew up in and around the home being J. B. Maxwell, Winifred Maxwell Sawyer, Jean Maxwell Fowler Jones (Claude), Emily Abel Newton, Brent M. Abel (Susan), Frank J Maxwell Jr., W. B. Maxwell III (Frank Sr.),Lillian Johnson, Katherine Johnson Hill (Ruth), James H. Davis III and William M. Davis (Martha).
On Brent Maxwell's death in 1930 the home passed to his wife Lillie, then to her son Bill upon her death in 1953. Bill and his wife Marguerite Woodell lived here throughout their marriage, both before and after Lillie's passing. Upon "Uncle Bill's" death in 1980, the home was purchased by J. B. and Martha Maxwell and thereafter was purchased by Steve and Donna in 1995.
WHAT:
"529" is considered a Georgian/Federal/Adams style architecture most notably distinguished by its symmetrical appearance, fanlight entry with sidelights, cornice of "dentils", decorative balustrade (now gone) and semi-circular decorative windows in the roof gables. The home is nearly 10,000 square feet on three floors plus a partial basement.
The first floor has three "public" rooms, being the Library with a large Cuban Mahogany bookcase, Music Room and Dining Room in addition to the grand entrance hall. The "private" rooms on the first floor include a Bathroom, Pantry with built in ice cooled refrigerator, Kitchen, rear stairs, Breakfast Room and Office.
The second floor contains five bedrooms, three bathrooms and a sun or sleeping porch. One bedroom has a small private bath (which was originally to have been a closet). The other two bathrooms form a suite arrangement with two bedrooms. The third floor contains three bedrooms and a large Reading or Billiard Room, as well as a trunk storage room.
The floors are connected via a notable Colonial Revival style dividing staircase that extends fully to the third floor with approximately fifty-five feet of continuous railing over forty-four steps. The stair treads are an extra wide thirteen inches, which makes for an easy to ascend angle.
At the head of the first flight of stairs is a large, colored window. Since the house is oriented roughly North to South, that window allows sunlight to enter the house during winter nearly two-thirds the distance of the Main Hall. However, because the window is located on the interior wall of the sun porch, in summer, when the sun is high in the sky, the sun's rays are stopped within the porch and the Main Hall is dark and cooler. Architect Wood utilized his knowledge of the Sun's angles in different seasons to create this effect.
The fully restored roof system is composed of Ludowici-Celadon clay tile manufactured in New Lexington, Ohio. The home features ten fireplaces with gas fueled artificial log sets, of which four have been replaced by modern, vent-free log sets. The fireplaces were never designed to burn wood. The home was "state-of-the-art" for the time with 14 gauge wire in metal conduits throughout and a central vacuum system (now lost). The original coal-fired steam boiler was replaced by a gas boiler and in recent years this was replaced by six HVAC units that provide both heat and air-conditioning in a zone system. The greatest care was taken to install HVAC without altering the interior features.
Throughout the various ownership changes, the original contents have mostly remained and today you see much of the furnishings as they were originally installed. The original furniture in the Library and bedrooms was purchased "en-suite" in that it has classical decorative details that coordinate with the interior decoration. The quilt that is displayed in the Library was made about 1895 by Lillie's mother Martha McCann Jarvis. The portraits on the first floor are: Library over mantle: Benjamin Franklin Maxwell (1814-1892), father of WBM; Library to right of doorway- Lewis Maxwell (1790-1862), uncle of Franklin Maxwell; Main Hall-William Brent Maxwell (1850- 1930); Dining Room-Ruth Maxwell Johnson (1896-1983) (this portrait is by Howard Chandler Christie).
WHEN:
Construction started in late 1912 and we believe the project was complete by Summer, 1914. No major interior or exterior modifications have been made other than the loss of the decorative balustrade system over the front and side porch roofs and a lowering of the chimney heights.
WHERE:
The original property, approximately 180 feet square, was the combination of three parcels including the site of the original First Baptist Church, which was replaced by the "new" church now standing next door. In recent years two adjoining properties have been acquired; 539 West Pike and 540 Traders Alley. Two structures predate the home. The current Garage was a carriage house that was enlarged to accommodate automobiles and still contains the stable floor, trough and manure pit. The white Storage House in the rear yard was a store building that was relocated from the street and turned sideways. You can still see the original store facade including four "L" shaped bolts that held the store sign. It is believed this store building dates to 1880 or prior. This structure served as a housekeeper's quarters until 1980.
http://wihs59.tripod.com/news/news1408/news1408.html
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The local Veterans Hospital [in Clarksburg] is situated on 75 acres of land which was formerly owned by W. Brent Maxwell. The cost to build said hospital was approx. $6,500.500.00. The State Road Commission had to build two bridges to connect the hospital land. One bridge was built connecting Rt. 25 (Mt. Clare Road) and the other bridge connecting Rt. 19 (Milford Street Extension).On April 1, 1948 the ground breaking ceremonies were held for the new hospital. Twenty nine housing units were constructed on the hospital grounds mostly to be used for resident doctors. It was designated to be a 200 bed surgical and general medical hospital serving veterans in 35 WV counties. Veterans were also accepted from parts of PA, OH and MD.The dedication ceremonies were held on Dec. 17, 1950. On Oct. 13, 2003 ground breaking ceremonies were held to construct a veterans nursing facility.
http://wihs59.tripod.com/news/news0311/news0311.html
submitted by: Freddie Layman (VHS '46)
Fgl46vhs@aol.com
Children + 1. Ruth Frances MAXWELL, b. 10 May 1896, Harrison Co, WV d. 28 Apr 1983 (Age 86 years)+ 2. Frank Jarvis MAXWELL, b. 11 Nov 1897, Clarksburg, Harrison Co, WV d. 22 Dec 1964, Clarksburg, Harrison Co, WV (Age 67 years)> 3. William Brent MAXWELL, Jr., b. 7 Sep 1899, Clarksburg, Harrison Co, WV d. 10 Apr 1980 (Age 80 years)+ 4. Martha Lillian MAXWELL, b. 11 Feb 1904, Harrison Co, WV d. 18 Feb 1939, Stockbridge, Berkshire Co, MA (Age 35 years)Documents 34257_WilliamBrentMaxwell_LillieJarvis_MarriageRecord_10Jul1895.jpg Family ID F13717 Group Sheet | Family Chart
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Documents 999999_WestUnionBankBuilding_Sold-to-Town.jpg
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Sources - [S1654] Harrison County Marriage Records, Clarksburg, WV.
- [S2113] 1910 Census, Harrison County, WV.
- [S1980] 1900 Census, Harrison County, WV.
- [S2039] 1930 Census, Harrison County, WV.
- [S14] Obituary.
- [S2269] Cemeteries of Clark District, Harrison County, WV, (Harrison County Genealogical Society, Clarksburg, WV).
- [S1583] Marriage record of daughter.
- [S1654] Harrison County Marriage Records, Clarksburg, WV.
