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HARRISON COUNTY WEST VIRGINIA
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Submitted to the West Virginia Biographies Project by:
Valerie & Tommy Crook
vfcrook@trellis.net
April 13, 2000
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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. 410
CLARENCE WHEELER LEGGETT, prominent Clarksburg
financier and business man, moved to that city more than
a quarter of a century ago, reaching here with a very
limited capital, and the large and important concerns
now associated with him and in which he is a vital and
responsible factor are a measure of his growing abilities
and personal achievements.
Mr. Leggett was born on a farm near Waterford, Wash-
ington County, Ohio, May 12, 1856, son of Samuel and
Rebecca (Cooksey) Leggett. The Leggett family was
among the first to enter the Northwest Territory beyond the
Ohio River. His great-grandfather moved from Baltimore,
Maryland, over the Alleghenies, for a time lived in an
Indian blockhouse on the site of the modern Waterford and
not far from the historic City of Marietta. Robert Leggett,
grandfather of the Clarksburg business man, was born in
this block house in 1796. The Leggetts are descended from
three brothers who came from England to the American
Colonies. Samuel Leggett and Rebecca Cooksey both
claimed a village named Waterford as their birthplace,
though the Waterford of Samuel Leggett was in Ohio, while
his wife's birthplace was Waterford, Virginia. They had
two children, the only daughter Janie C. being deceased.
The parents spent their lives in Washington County, Ohio,
where the father was a farmer. He was an elder in the
Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
Clarence Wheeler Leggett grew up on his father's farm,
attended rural schools, and completed his education in the
Cumberland Presbyterian College at Beverly, Ohio. He
graduated in 1876 at the age of twenty from Duff's Busi-
ness College at Pittsburgh. Then followed an experience
as a drug clerk in Ohio and subsequently in West Virginia
and from clerking he was made salesman and later manager
of the drug department of the J. N. Murdoch & Company,
wholesalers at Parkersburg. Still later he was city salesman
and finally assistant buyer for the wholesale grocery house
of C. C. Martin & Company of Parkersburg.
Mr. Leggett removed from Parkersburg to Clarksburg
in 1895, and here established a merchandise brokerage busi-
ness. This original line is still retained by him, though his
interests are now broadly divided. The merchandise broker-
age business is continued under the firm name of C. W.
Leggett & Company. Mr. Leggett in 1908 bought the
building occupied by the General Distributing Company,
and the business of the Central Storage Company, and he
still owns and operates this. He is chairman of the board
of directors of the Clarksburg Trust Company, a director
of the Empire National Bank of Clarksburg, president of
the Community Savings & Loan Company, is treasurer of
the Eagle Convex Glass Specialty Company.
Mr. Leggett arrived at Clarksburg, November 7, 1895.
The capital he brought for the purpose of establishing him-
self in business was less than $500. More important was
his determination to succeed, a diligent application of
subsequent years, and the energy and ability that have paved
the way to substantial success. Open and frank in his
business dealings, always maintaining strictest regard for
integrity of character and honesty, he has long enjoyed
the confidence of all with whom his varied and extended
affairs bring him in contact.
Mr. Leggett is a democrat, and that was the political
faith of his ancestry. He is a Knight Templar and thirty-
second degree Scottish Rite Mason, a Shriner, life member
of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, a Knight
of Pythias and a member of the United Commercial
Travelers. As a citizen of Clarksburg he has rendered a
constant public spirit and influence in behalf of sound
progress, though he has not been active in city politics.
He was one of the organizers of the Clarksburg Board of
Trade, now the Clarksburg Chamber of Commerce, and is
active in its membership.
Mr. Leggett in 1895 married Miss Mary G. Coleman
They have one child, Frances H.
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