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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 10, 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. 312
Braxton
CHARLES A. DUFFIELD. Three occupations, agriculture,
merchandising and contracting, have occupied the activities
of Charles A. Duffield, of Sutton, during a career that has
been prolific in achievement. In each of these fields of en-
deavor he has won his way to the forefront through the
exercise of close application, capacity for management and
native ability, and also in each field he has maintained a
well-earned reputation for high business principles and
sound integrity. He also may lay claim to belonging to the
self-made class, having worked his own way, unaided, to
his present position.
Mr. Duffield is a product of the agricultural community
of the section in which he now lives, having been born on a
farm in Braxton County, June 15, 1873, a son of E. D.
and Araminta (Keener) Duffield. His father was born in
Clay County, West Virginia, in 1845, and as a youth came
to Braxton County, where he married Miss Keener, who had
been born in this county in 1850, and who, like himself, had
received a country school education. After their marriage
they settled down to farming, in addition to which Mr.
Duffield also engaged in lumbering to some extent. Al-
though he has reached his seventy-seventh year, he continues
to be interested in agricultural matters and carries on opera-
tions in Braxton County on quite an extensive scale. He is
a democrat in his political allegiance, but has never taken
other than a good citizen's interest in public affairs, having
never been an office seeker. He and his worthy wife are
faithful members of the Baptist Church. They have been
the parents of ten children, of whom nine are living:
Sarah J., the wife of James Smith; Charles A., of this
review; Emma, the wife of Wilbur Eckle; John, a resident
of Sutton; Clarence, a resident of Charleston; James A.,
engaged in merchandising at Sutton; Will; Robert, a rail-
road man of Sutton; and Mollie, the wife of U. R. Duffield.
The childhood and youth of Charles A. Duffield were
passed in the midst of an agricultural atmosphere, and his
early education was acquired in the country schools. This
was supplemented by a course at the Mountain State Busi-
ness College of Parkersburg, West Virginia, and when he
graduated therefrom he adopted the vocation of teaching
school in the country districts of Braxton County. The
country at large is beginning to recognize more fully than
formerly that no better preparation can be given a man
for his life work, no matter in what arena, than that
afforded in the labors of an educator. Learning to dis-
cipline others, to impart to expanding minds many and
varied facts, seem to give a man an insight into human
nature and a knowledge of the motives which govern the
masses. Mr. Duffield's experience in this line proved of
great value to him when he later entered the business of
lumber merchandising and water well contracting, fields in
which he has risen to well-merited success. He has also
found prosperity in his ventures as an agriculturist, and in
each line his success has been all his own and by no means
due to the assistance of others.
In October, 1902, Mr. Duffield was united in marriage
with Miss Bessie Carper, who was born and reared in
Braxton County, where she received her education in the
common schools. To them have been born five children:
Gertrude, who attended the State University and is a
graduate of the Sutton High School, where she is now
teaching a class; Genevieve, also a high school graduate,
who is attending the State University; Joseph, who is at-
tending high school; and Charles A., Jr., and Paul, who are
attending the graded schools. Mrs. Duffield is a member of
the Baptist Church, and the children are being reared in
that faith. Mr. Duffield in politics is a democrat, but has
not been a seeker for public office.
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