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BRAXTON COUNTY WEST VIRGINIA
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Submitted to the West Virginia Biographies Project by:
Valerie & Tommy Crook
vfcrook@trellis.net
November 8, 1999
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The History of West Virginia, Old and New
Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc.,
Chicago and New York, Volume III,
pg. 289
Braxton
CLINTON W. FLESHER. In the profession of law in Brax-
ton County a name that has become well known and that
ia invariably identified with legal ability and personal
probity is that of Clinton W. Flesher, a successful practi-
tioner of Gassaway. During his career Mr. Flesher has
been a teacher and has had experience in the field of insur-
ance writing, and while his prosperity has been gained in his
present calling, a part of that prosperity is probably due
to the experience gained through his connection with the
other vocations mentioned.
Mr. Flesher was born in Pleasants County, West Virginia,
September 10. 1870, and is a son of Crayton and Harriet
R. (Taylor) Flesher. His father was born in Lewis County,
West Virginia, in 1841, a son of Isaac Flesher, the latter
also born in Lewis County, in 1810. Adam Flesher, the
father of Isaac, was born in Lewis County, in 1754, at
Weston (then called Fleshersville in honor of the family),
he being the son of Henry Flesher, who was born in Eng-
land and immigrated to America when a boy, settling at
Weston. Henry Flesher settled as a pioneer in Lewis
County, where he built a fort on the site of Weston as a
protection against the savages in 1730, but in spite of this
precaution he and his family were surprised and all slaugh-
tered later by the hostiles with the exception of the mother
and one son, Adam, who managed to make their escape to
the distant fort at the point now known as Janelew.
Crayton Flesher grew to maturity in his home community,
where he received his education in the public schools, and as
a youth learned the trade of carpenter, which he was fol-
lowing at Parkersburg as an apprentice at the time of the
outbreak of the war between the North and the South. He
enlisted in the Union army and served bravely with an
infantry regiment of volunteers until the close of the war,
at which time he returned to Pleasants County and resumed
his trade, which he followed with success until his death,
October 1, 1879, when his son was ouly nine years of age.
His widow still survives him at an advanced age, being a
resident of Williamstown, West Virginia. They became
the parents of six sons, as follows: Clinton W., of this
notice; Harry E., a graduate of the State Normal School
at Fairmont, and now superintendent of the Industrial
School for Boys at Pruntytown; T. Earl, who is engaged in
agricultural operations in the vicinity of Fleming, Ohio;
Forest P., who is engaged in the contracting business in
Oklahoma; Okey J., who is following the machinist's trade
at Jackson, Michigan; and Crayton, Jr., who is deceased.
Clinton W. Flesher was reared on a farm in Pleasants
County, West Virginia, and received his early education in
the graded schools. Later he pursued a course at the normal
school at Fairmont, West Virginia, from which he was
graduated in 1894, and for ten years thereafter taught
school, his last work as an educator being in the office of
superintendent of the city schools of Elkins, this state.
During this time Mr. Flesher studied law, and, having been
admitted to the bar, applied himself to the practice of his
calling and the writing of insurance at Knoxville, Tennessee.
In 1905 he came to Gassaway, where he has since been en-
gaged in the practice of his vocation, with a constantly
increasing practice. In September, 1916, Mr. Flesher was
appointed referee in bankruptcy by Judge Benjamin F.
Keller, and has served in that capacity to the present time.
In the ranks of his profession he is held in high esteem, and
his official record has always been an excellent one.
On September 1, 1896, Mr. Flesher was united in mar-
riage with Miss Mary E. Powell, who was educated in the
public schools of Elkins, West Virginia, where prior to her
marriage she was engaged in teaching. To this union there
have come two children. Lucille, born July 1, 1899, is a
graduate of the high school at Buckhannon, and at present
is a. senior at Goucher College at Baltimore, Maryland.
Clinton Wellrose, Jr., born December 16, 1905, is a fresh-
man at the West Virginia University. Mr. and Mrs.
Flesher are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church,
and Mr. Flesher was president of the Conference Laymen's
Association from 1907 to 1919. He was a delegate to the
general conference in 1912, 1916 and 1920. He has also
served as a member of the Board of Sunday Schools and is
a member of the executive committee of the International
Sunday School Association. Mr. Flesher is a member of
Bright Hope Lodge No. 557, F. and A. M., at Knoxville,
of which he ia a past master, is a thirty-second degree
Mason, and belongs to Osiris Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., at
Wheeling, West Virginia, in all of which he has numerous
friends. His business interests are numerous and important,
and he is nearly as well known as a capable business man
as he is as a skilled and industrious attorney. He is a
stockholder in the Gassaway Development Company and the
Gassaway Pharmacy, and is owner of the Flesher Building,
in which the postoffice is situated. He is counsel for the
Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, the Gassaway Development
Company, Standard & Company and the J. C. Penoyer
Company, and represents R. G. Dun and other agencies.
He and Mrs. Flesher belong to the Order of the Eastern
Star, and Mr. Flesher is also a member of the Knights of
Pythias.
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