The History of West Virginia, Old and New
Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc.,
Chicago and New York, Volume III,
pg. 565
Wyoming
DANIEL ROY MOSS. In 1913 there arrived at Mullens
a freight car, tucked in one end of which was a small
collection of miscellaneous articles destined to form the
nucleus for the stock of the first hardware store of this
city. The owner, Daniel Roy Moss, had his household
goods stored in the other end of the car. Since that time
he has experienced the ups and downs of business life,
but at all times has applied himself energetically and
assiduously to his task, even cheerfully in the face of mis-
fortune, and out of it all has built up a prosperous business,
established himself firmly in his own self-confidence and in
the esteem of others, and has come to the conclusion that
hard work has never injured anyone and that honest methods
eventually bring success when backed by good management
and industry.
Mr. Moss was born at Keyser, Mineral County, West Vir-
ginia, February 10, 1879, and is a son of Herbert and
Sallie (Taylor) Moss, the latter of whom died when her
son was still a boy. Herbert Moss was born in 1842, and
for many years was engaged in the drug business at Front
Royal, Virginia, Keyser, West Virginia, and Charleston,
but eventually disposed of his holdings and became a
"Knight of the grip." He is now one of the veteran
traveling salesmen for large dry goods houses, and has an
extensive acquaintance and many friendships all over this
part of West Virginia. Despite his advanced years he is
still hale and hearty and active in body and mind. He is
a Union veteran of the war between the states, and in his
political allegiance is a stanch democrat.
Daniel Roy Moss received only a public school education,
attending at Romney and Mechanicsburg, West Virginia,
but made the most of his opportunities, as he always had.
At the age of fifteen years he became a delivery boy for
the local butcher in the town in which he was living at the
time, and when he was only eighteen years old induced
the Charleston Street Railway Company to give him work
as a conductor on their line. His next experience was
with the Payne Shoe Company of Charleston, and when
he left that house he went to Beckley, where, with his
brother, he founded a modest hardware establishment,
known as the Randolph Hardware Company. Later Mr.
Moss decided that Mullens offered a better field for the
display of his business talents, and he accordingly shipped
all of his worldly goods, both mercantile and household,
to this city in a single freight car, in which there was also
a large wagon. Of this wagon, it may be said in passing,
that it was sold on credit shortly after Mr. Moss' arrival
in the city, and that a good part of its sale price is still
due the hardware merchant. His first sale was an axe,
purchased by "Peacheye" Davis, a local character, and
the dollar thus taken in was the only one that wandered
into the cash drawer all day. He did not allow himself
to become discouraged, however, nor did he when his
place was destroyed by fire in December, 1917, or when
again he was burned out in August, 1918. His faith and
labor have been vindicated and rewarded, and today he
has a fine store, conducted under the style of the Mullens
Hardware and Furniture Company, and a hillside residence
that is one of the best in the place. He carries a com-
plete stock of furniture and hardware and has extended his
patronage all over the surrounding countryside. Mr. Moss
is a democrat in politics, and has taken some active part
in public affairs, having served two years as a member of
the City Council, with an excellent record for able and
conscientious work. As a fraternalist he is a Master Mason
and a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
In 1907 Mr. Moss was united in marriage with Miss
Estella Hudnall, daughter of Samuel Hudnall, of Charleston.
She is a member of the Presbyterian Church at Mullens and
has been active in its work.
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Submitted by:
Valerie Crook
vfcrook@earthlink.net
July 22, 2000
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