|
MONONGALIA COUNTY WEST VIRGINIA
******************************************************************
Submitted to the West Virginia Biographies Project by:
Tina Hursh
frog158@juno.com
January 3, 2000
******************************************************************
The History of West Virginia, Old and New
Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc.
Chicago and New York, Volume II
pg. 74
Nat T. Frame, A.B. Among the modern leaders of achievement in the field of
agriculture in west Virginia perhaps none are more widely known than Nat Terry
Frame, of Morgantown, who fills the important position of director of
Agricultural Extension of the West Virginia University. He is a man of college
training and versatile gifts, one to whom opportunity offers many paths in
which these gifts would crown him with success, but for a number of years he has
devoted himself closely to the study of scientific agriculture.
Professor Frame was born at Depauville, Jefferson County, New York, February 25,
1877. He is a son of the lateDr. S. W. and Harriet Antoinette (Terry) Frame, a
grandson of Doctor Luke and a great-grandson of Dr. WilliamFrame, his paternal
ancestry for generations back being continuously professional. The Frames were
known in the Colonial history of New England. Dr. William Frame was a native of
Vermont and removed from there about 1810 to Northern New York, settling in
Jefferson County, where he spent the rest of his existence pursuing the arduous
life of a country doctor.
Dr. Luke Frame, a grandfather of Professor Frame, had somewhat better advantages
than had his father, whom he succeeeded in practice, being a graduate of the
Geneva (New York) Medical College, and in turn was succeeded by his son, Dr.
S.W. Frame, a graduate of Bellevue Medical College, New York City. He is well
remembered in Jefferson County as a farmer and horse breeder, where he became
eminent, and practically spent his entire life. He married Harriet Antoinette
Terry, who was born in Jefferson county, New York, a daughter of Richard
Terry, a country merchant. Her maternal grandfather, John Little, was a native
of Glasgow, Scotland, where he received university training and from there
came to Jefferson County at an early date, settling there about the same time
as did the Frames and Terrys. The early annals of that county mention their
importance in its development.
Nat Terry Frame obtained early educational training in village public schools,
but in 1890 he entered Union Academy at Bellville, New York, where he
completed the entire course in two years, and when he was graduated in 1892 had
the distinction of being the youngest graduate who had ever received a diploma
from that institution. After teaching school for one year at Rual Hill,
Jefferson County, he entered Colgate University, New York, from which he was
graduated A.B. with the class of 1899.
After completing his univerity course Professor Frame became principal of the
high school at Black river, New York, where he continued for two years, retiring
in order to accept the position of superintendent in chare of vocational
training at the George Junior Republic, New York, in which work he remained
greatly interested for two years. He then turned his attention to other
interests for a time, in 1905 becoming identified with the Mutual Reserve Life
Insurance Company in New York, Indiana and Maryland, and during the latter part
of 1907 had his headquarters in New York City, where his executive ablity was
manifested at the head of the company's school for the training of agents.
It is some fifteen years ago since Professor Frame came first to West Virginia.
He joined with John W. Stewart in the business of manufacturing and
distributing horticultural supplies at Martinsburg, under the style of the
American Horticultural Dustributing Company. In 1910 he became further
interested in association with Alexander Colhan, Gray Silver and C.B. Hart in the
development of orchards and farms. This association continued for three years,
during which time Professor Frame, in addition to his other duties, served
as secretary of the Eastern Fruitgrowers Association and also of the Berkley
Horticultural Society, being also actively concerned with the affairs of the
West Virginia State Horticultural Society and additionally with civic and
community movement in Martinsburg.
On June 19, 1900, professor Frame was united in marriage with Miss Grace Boomer,
who was born at Bellville, New York, a daughter of Edward and Mary (Overton)
Boomer, who belonged to old pioneer families of Jefferson County. Four children
have been born to Professor and Mrs. Frame: Luke W., born April, 1901;
Richard N., born in 1902, died in 1907; Robert, born in March, 1911; and
William, born in May, 1912.
In 1913 professor Frame went fo Louisville, Kentucky, in answer to a call to
become agent in agricultural extension for Jefferson County, but on January 1,
1914, he retuned to West Virginia to become state agent in charge of county
agents in the extention service, and on January 1, 1919, he was made director
ofAgricultural Extension in the West Virginia University. He has many
associated interests and is one of the busy men of the university and city,
enthusiastic on the subject of his specialty, but not unmindful of the claims of
other important world-wide interests to the attention of scholarly men, and to
the real need taht may arise for the help of their trained understandings in
solving many public problems. He is field secretary of the American Country
Life Association; is a chairman on Co-relations of the State Social Workers
Conference; and is a member of the Morgantown Kiwanis Club and of other
organizations, including his old college Greek letter fraternity, the Phi
Kappa Psi. he has never been a politician but always a sincere citizen, and
naturally is proud of his true American ancestry.
|
