The HONAKER Family, by Sandra Reuther 536 Birch St. Boulder City NV 89005-2414Charles Morgan HONAKER b. 11-Apr-1836, Union, Monroe Co., VA (now WV), m. 23-May-1866, in Pomeroy, Meigs County, Ohio, Sylvesta M. WOLFE, b. 14-Oct-1849, Racine, Meigs Co., OH, (daughter of George Peter WOLFE and Martha Malinda VARIAN) d. 24-Feb-1945, Red House, Putnam Co., WV. Charles died 6-Aug-1931, Red House, Putnam Co., WV. Charles spent his first 23 years on his father's farm. At the out break of the Civil War he was teaching his second term of school and he gave up his work to enlist with the "Greenbrier Rifles" under Capt. R.F. DENNIS. He served in this company for about a year, being transferred to the Chapmans Battery where he served until the spring of 1863. This Battery, at that time, was located in Charleston, West Virginia. When the Civil War ended he spent some time in the coal mines near Cannelton, West Virginia before going from there to Pomeroy, Ohio.
Charles was about 5' 10" in his prime. Sylvesta was about 5' 5". Charles Morgan and Sylvesta WOLFE HONAKER lived on the farm of her parents near the Ohio River. While there, there was some trouble about the farm so Charles took his family on a boat up the river to a mining town at Coalburg, West Virginia. He and his sons worked in the coal mines, saved enough money to buy their own farm on Popular Fork in Scott Depot, West Virginia. Sylvesta didn't get any part of her father's farm on the Ohio River. She was a worker and they made their own farm. She loved to fish and caught them and fried them for her husband, Charles. While they were in Coalburg and Scott Depot the seven oldest children married. Bertha and Edith, the two youngest children, were the only ones not yet married when they were still in Scott Depot. Both taught school there.
When their daughter-in-law, Mary Francis ARMSTRONG HONAKER, died in 1907, Charles and Sylvesta took their two grandchildren, Bessie and William Harvey (ages 4 and 6), to live with them. Their father, William Elson, couldn't work and take care of them by himself.
Bessie went to school at Seldom Seen School that winter in 1906. The next Spring Charles and Sylvesta sold their farm and moved to Winfield, W.VA.
In 1908 they bought their little home and a store in Red House. Charles kept store and in a room joining the store Sylvesta had a new loom and she wove carpets and rugs and sold them. They were happy doing what they enjoyed, and had a nice garden and all kinds of fruit. Charles retired from his mercantile business in 1924 at the age of 88.
He celebrated his 94th birthday on 4/11/1930 with members of his family who held a reunion at their home in Red House, W.VA. Among the guests were: Mrs. Mary Lora JONES HONAKER of Middleport, Ohio; Mr. and Mrs. William E. HONAKER; Mrs. Alice HONAKER WOODRUM; Mr. and Mrs. W. L. CHITTUM of St. Albans, W.VA.; Mr. and Mrs. Stephen (Bessie HONAKER) HARMON of Red House; and Mr. and Mrs. Robert WHITE of Smithers.
Charles and Sylvesta celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary on 5/23/1931. Charles was able to read without the aid of glasses until he was 91. He was interested in community affairs and both lead active lives for their ages.
I. George Arthur HONAKER b. 14-Jan-1867, Racine or Antiquity, Meigs Co., OH, m. 23-May-1886, Mary Lora JONES, b. 1870, Kanawha Co., WV, d. 1956. George died 6-Feb-1950, Plants, Ohio. II. Annie Mary HONAKER b. 21-Apr-1868, Antiquity, Meigs County, Ohio, m. 20-Nov-1888, Charles ANDERSON, b. 17-Aug-1868, Malden, W.VA. Charleston Count, d. 1-Jan-1945. Annie died 24-Jan-1936, Montgomery, WV. III. Charles Oscar HONAKER b. 16-Dec-1869, Antiquity, Meigs County, Ohio, m. 21-Dec-1892, in Russell, KY, Clarinda FIELDS, b. 16-Jul-1874, Flatwoods, Greenup Co., KY, d. 3-Jan-1974, Huntington, Cabell Co., WV. Charles died 12-Feb-1949, Huntington, Cabell Co., WV. He was a conductor on the railroad. IV. John Irvin HONAKER b. 2-May-1872, Plants, Meigs Co., OH, m. 24-Dec-1891, Mary Sails TITLOW, b. 1875, Peytona, Boone Co., W.VA., d. 1955, Charleston, Kanawha Co., WV. John died 1-Dec-1900, in a Glen Jean, W.VA. coal mine. V. William Elson HONAKER b. 2-Apr-1874, Antiquity, Meigs County, Ohio, m. (1) 25-Dec-1899, Mary Frances ARMSTRONG, b. 16-Jun-1874, Scott Depot, Putnam Co., WV, (daughter of William Thomas ARMSTRONG and Nancy J. Bailey) d. 28-Apr-1907, Standard, Kanawha Co., WV, m. (2) 1927, Mollie NOFFSINGER. William died 23-Apr-1963, Scott Depot, Putnam Co., WV. Conductor on Railroad. VI. Alice Jane HONAKER b. 6-Sep-1876, Antiquity, Meigs County, Ohio, m. (1) 29-Sep-1898, Charles Sheldon SAUNDERS, m. (2) Christopher WOODRUM. Alice died 2-Jan-1964, Huntington, Cabell Co., WV. VII. Matilda Mildred HONAKER b. 27-Sep-1881, Red House, Putnam Co., WV, m. 27-Sep-1900, Charles STUART Sr. Matilda died -May-1962, Red House, Putnam Co., WV. VIII Bertha May HONAKER b. 25-Jul-1883, North Coalburg, Kanawha Co., WV, m. (1) 7-Jun-1911, in Red House, Putnam Co., WV, Divorced: 25-Feb-1944, Pasco, Franklin Co., WA, Thomas Robert "Rob" GREEN, b. 10-Feb-1875, Flat Fork, Roane Co., WV, (son of Clark W. GREEN and Mary Elizabeth HARPER) d. 10-Jun-1957, Pasco, Franklin Co., WA, m. (2) 17-Mar-1947, in Pasco, Washington Court House, Sanford S. KEMPTON, b. 16-Sep-1875, d. 7-Dec-1954, Pasco, Franklin Co., WA. Bertha died 27-May-1964, Ronan, Lake Co., MT. IX. Edith Clara HONAKER b. 11-Nov-1885, West Virginia, m. 8-Mar-1911, William Lewis CHITTUM, b. 9-Feb-1882, St. Albans, Kanawha Co., WV, (son of Joseph CHITTUM and Rebecca HUDSON) d. 1-Nov-1961, Red House, Putnam Co., WV. Edith died 24-Dec-1965, Teays Valley, WV. Edith and William are buried at Mt. Vernon Cemetery at Scott Depot, W.VA.