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UPSHUR COUNTY WEST VIRGINIA
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Submitted to the West Virginia Biographies Project by:
Valerie & Tommy Crook
vfcrook@earthlink.net
July 4, 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. 413
Upshur
PARLEY E. CUTRIGHT. It has been the destiny of Par-
ley E. Cutright to set in motion those enterprises and
influences that in an important degree represent the busi-
ness and community activities of the Upshur Village of
Frenchton, a thriving and progressive center of trade,
church, school and social advantages.
Mr. Cutright was born near Rock Cave in Upshur County
August 27, 1882, son of Alonzo and Catherine D. (Strader)
Cutright. His parents were also natives of Upshur County,
his father born near Hampton and his mother near Tall-
mansville. They grew up here, acquiring common school
educations, and after their marriage settled on a farm
and spent the rest of their lives in that industrious voca-
tion. The father died in 1908 and the mother in June,
1921. Alonzo Cutright was also a house carpenter. He
was a member of the Methodist Church, a republican, and
was affiliated with the Junior Order United American
Mechanics. There were three children: Parley E.; Loyd
F., a farmer and trader in Upshur County, who married
Florence Neely; and Isea, wife of James V. Armstrong,
of Clarksburg.
Parley E. Cutright grew up on the home farm, and at-
tended the public schools and summer normals until quali-
fied for teaching, a vocation he followed five years. He
also learned telegraphy, and for fourteen years was in
railroad service as an agent and operator. When he re-
signed from the railroad company Mr. Cutright engaged
in the feed business at Frenchton, and three years later,
in May, 1921, he expanded the scope of his enterprise
to general merchandising. He is now senior member of
the firm Cutright & Neely, general merchants. Mr. Cut-
right also owns a farm of eighty acres.
He has been the leading spirit in the growth and devel-
opment of Frenchton in every direction. He was the first
agent for the Coal & Coke Railroad Company here. His
enterprise and capital have been responsible for the chief
building development in the town. He was instrumental
in organizing the United Brethren Church of Frenchton,
and also secured the institution of Lodges of the Knights
of Pythias and Modern Woodmen of America, and served
as the first officer in both these lodges.
On August 31, 1903, Mr. Cutright married Miss Maude
Neely, daughter of Alva and Christianna (Hinkle) Neely.
They have one child, Lola A., born November 4, 1904, now
the wife of Monter Harper. Mr. and Mrs. Harper live
at Frenchton and have one child. Mr. Cutright and family
are active in the United Brethren Church, in which he is
a trustee, and he is now superintendent of the Sunday
School. He is prominent in fraternal affairs, affiliated
with Rock Cave Lodge No. 81, A. F. and A. M., Up-
shur Chapter R. A. M., and the Buckhannon Command-
ery; is a past noble grand of Lodge No. 375 of the
Independent Order of Odd Fellows; past councillor of
the Junior Order United American Mechanics No. 77;
past chancellor and former district deputy chancellor of
the Knights of Pythias in Frenchton Lodge No. 59,
and is affiliated with Camp No. 14680, Modern Wood-
men of America. He and Mrs. Cutright are members of
the Eastern Star, and he is past worthy patron of the
Chapter. In politics Mr. Cutright is a republican.
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