Arthur M. Hess

ARTHUR M. HESS. One of the energetic and able young business men of Clinchburg, Virginia, is Arthur M. Hess, office manager at this point for the Holston River Lumber Company, a prosperous industry of this section. Mr. Hess accepted this responsible position in 1916, and his understanding and devotion to his duties have resulted in added efficiency and business expansion.

Mr. Hess was born at Red Creek in Tucker County, West Virginia, June 13, 1889, only son of Bazzle and Sarah (Wolford) Hess. His father was born July 12, 1858, in Upshur County, West Virginia, a son of Newton Hess, and his mother was born in Grant County in 1866, and died at Piedmont, West Virginia, on May 28, 1898. Their family consisted of two children, Texie A. and Arthur M. Texie A. (Hess) Wolf, who lives at Elkins, West Virginia, is the widow of Luther C. Wolf, who formerly was a plaster contractor at Elkins.

Bazzle Hess, father of Arthur M., has been a farmer all his life. He remained in Upshur County until about the time of his marriage which took place at Harman in Randolph County, and since then has always lived in Randolph County. He is well known and highly respected, is a member of the Dunkard Church at Elkins, and in politics is a republican.

During boyhood Arthur M. Hess attended the public schools, and later took a course in the Mountain State Business College at Parkersburg, West Virginia, and was graduated from the commercial department in 1910, subsequently returning to take the prescribed course in stenography, which he completed in 1914.

Prior to this last college sojourn however, when twenty-one years old, he had become bookkeeper for the Tygart River Lumber Company at Mill Creek, West Virginia, and continued as such until 1913, when the company’s operations were completed in that locality. His next business position was bookkeeper for the Pugh & Beavers Wholesale Grocery Company at Elkins, and he remained identified with this business house until 1916, when he came to Clinchburg to become office manager for the Holston River Lumber Company. Mr. Hess’s efficiency and trustworthiness have brought him the confidence and respect of his employers aiad the esteem of his business associates.

Mr. Hess married at Elkins, West Virginia, on June 13, 1911, Miss Nina Gilmore, who is a graduate of the Elkins High Shool. She is a daughter of Nesbit A. and Juetha (Bartlett) Gilmore, the later of whom is deceased. The father of Mrs. Hess is a carpenter and builder at Elkins, West Virginia. Mr. and Mrs. Hess have one daughter, Margaret Virginia. They are members of Mahanain Methodist Episcopal Church, South, at Clinchburg, and Mr. Hess is chairman of the Board of Church Stewards, is charge lay reader of the church, is teacher of the adult Bible Class, and additionally is president of the Epworth League.

In political life Mr. Hess is a republican, and at Elkins, where he owns property, including a fine modern residence, he has been somewhat active in local politics at times. During the World war he served as an associate member of the local war board of Washington County, and was chairman of the first, second and third Liberty Loan drives of the Clinchburg, Plasterco and vicinity districts. He is a member of Elkins Lodge No. 108, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; Marion Lodge No. 54, Royal Arch Masons; and Elkins Chapter, order of the Eastern Star. He is prominent also in the order of Odd Fellows, a member of Randolph Lodge No. 116, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and he is a past grand of Sincerity Lodge No. 353 of Mill Creek, Virginia, and at Parkersburg, West Virginia, in September, 1913, he became a member of the Grand Lodge of Odd Fellows of West Virginia.

Source:Virginia and Virginians, Vol. VI, pp. 278-279.