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WYOMING COUNTY WEST VIRGINIA - BIOS: TOLER, J. Albert (published 1923)
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Submitted by
Valerie Crook
vfcrook@trellis.net
September 16, 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. 239
Wyoming County
J. ALBERT TOLER. From the elevated plane of public
service down through the fields of its usefulness to the com-
munity and its honorable connection with a leading profes-
sion and into the privacy of his family circle the career of
J. Albert Toler has been characterized by a constant and
consistent integrity born of high principles. His profes-
sional life has been marked by constant action, and as an
official and citizen he has displayed public spirit exemplified
in a willingness to stand by his convictions and support
worthy movements.
Mr. Toler was born in a little log cabin near Oceana,
on Big Huff Creek, Wyoming County, West Virginia, No-
vember 28, 1883, and is a son of Henry Paris and Darthula
(Brown) Toler. Henry Paris Toler was born at Sun Hill,
Wyoming County, in 1857, and died November 18, 1918.
He was a son of John and Elizabeth "Polly" (Cline)
Toler, and a grandson of Zachariah Toler, who was born in
Ireland and as a young man immigrated to America, settling
in what is now West Virginia, where his son John was born.
When John was still a child the family returned to Ireland,
but again came to America when he was nineteen or twenty
years of age and located below the mouth of Big Cub Creek,
where Zachariah Toler died at the remarkable age of 102
years, after a career spent in farming. A number of
interesting anecdotes are related of the prowess, strength
and endurance of this sturdy old immigrant, as well as of
his son John, also a farmer, who lived to be ninety-four
years of age, and of the latter's wife, Elizabeth, or
"Polly," who was nearly 100 years of age at the time of
her demise. Henry Paris Toler passed his life in farming,
in addition to which he dealt in the timber which he cut
from his land and which he contracted to deliver at the river
bank. He was a leader in the Missionary Baptist Church,
and, like the other members of the Toler family, as well as
the Browns (who lived on Big Huff) was a stanch adherent
of the democratic party until 1892, when all became re-
publicans. Aside from Henry P. the members of the family
belonged to the Primitive Baptist faith. At Oceana, West
Virginia, Henry P. Toler was united in marriage with Miss
Darthula Brown, who was born on Big Huff Creek, Wyom-
ing County, a daughter of Jack Brown. She survives her
husband and for the most part makes her home with her
son, J. Albert. Of the eleven children of Henry P. and
Darthula Toler nine are living, four of these being sons, all
self-educated: W. R., who is a justice of the peace at
Mullens; J. Albert, of this notice; John H., a graduate of
Concord Normal School and West Virginia University, who
is now principal of the Mullens District High School; and
Buren H., a graduate of Concord Normal School, who also
attended the State University, served in the World war,
and is now superintendent of schools of the Slab Fork
District.
In his youth J. Albert Toler attended the schools of the
community in which he lived, including the Laurel Branch
school house, a log structure of one room, and when still
little more than a lad entered upon his career as an edu-
cator, a vocation to which he devoted, in all, four years.
His first trip outside of the county occurred when he was
twenty years of age, when he went to the Concord Normal
School at Athens, attending that institution for a part of
two years. He then resumed his teaching activities, and
while thus engaged borrowed law books and began to pre-
pare himself for his chosen profession. Eventually he at-
tended Kentucky University, now Transylvania, and in June,
1907, was admitted to the bar and located at Pineville, the
county seat. There he was in partnership with R. D. Bailey,
now occupying the bench as circuit judge, until 1912, when
he was elected prosecuting attorney and served in that posi-
tion until December 31, 1916. In July, 1917, he was ap-
pointed a member of the County Court of Wyoming County
to fill out the unexpired term of H. M. Cline, resigned.
Later Mr. Toler was in partnership with D. D. Moran, of
Mullens, for two years, but is now engaged in practice alone.
He stands among the leaders of his calling in Wyoming
County, and in his profession is known as a man of sound
ability, a valuable associate and a dangerous competitor.
Mr. Toler has always proven himself a good citizen, sup-
porting worthy movements and contributing to worthy
causes. During the World war he volunteered his services
as a "Four-Minute Man," and made numerous speeches in
this connection, as he did also in behalf of the Red Cross
and in the loan and other drives, at the same time con-
tributing generously of his private means. He is a stanch
republican in his political allegiance, but has never allowed
party loyalty to blind him to justice. Fraternally he holds
membership in the local lodges of the Independent Order of
Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias, in both of which
he has numerous friends.
On October 28, 1907, Mr. Toler was united in marriage
with Miss Victoria Trent, a daughter of Humphrey and
Arminda Trent, formerly of Rhoderfield, McDowell County,
West Virginia, where Mrs. Toler was born. Five children
have come to this union: Lyman, Raymond, Beatrice, Ruth
and Kate, of whom the last-named died at the age of five
years, October 28, 1930.
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