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WYOMING COUNTY WEST VIRGINIA - BIOS: EARLY, Robert Lester (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. 242
Wyoming County
ROBERT LESTER EARLY. Although still included among
the younger generation, the large and varied interests which
have engrossed the time and attention of Robert Lester
Early have brought him to the very forefront among the
progressive business men of Mullens, where he is a member
of the well-known contracting firm of Early Brothers. Es-
sentially a business man, he has not been content to play
only a passive part in municipal affairs, but has brought
his keen abilities to bear in the position of mayor, an office
which he now occupies, thus contributing in no small de-
gree to the general welfare.
Mr. Early was born at Rocky Mount, Virginia, Septem-
ber 2, 1890, and is a son of Jubal A. and Minnie Lee
(Lynch) Early, natives of Franklin County, Virginia. Ju-
bal A. Early was born in 1866, and as a young man learned
the trade of carpenter, which he followed for some years
before developing into a contractor. For some years he
lived at Rocky Mount, and moved from there to Elkhorn,
McDowell County, West Virginia, where, after a short stay,
he moved to Beckley, Raleigh County, and in 1914 came to
Mullens, where he now resides as a member of the firm of
Early Brothers. From the outset of his career Mr. Early
displayed his thorough mastery of every detail of his trade,
and when he became a contractor it was found that he was
never at a loss to know at once the thing to be done, no
matter what the problem or difficulty. Probably no man
in the coal regions of this section did more or better work
in the erection of tipples, miners' houses, etc., and his con-
tracts were not only extensive, but his work would always
stand the severest tests. Mr. Early is a man who is liberal
in his views, and who has the friendship and esteem of
many. A republican in politics, he has always been active
in committee and convention work and wields not a little
influence in the ranks of his party. He is a Mason, and
while not a professed church member supports the move-
ments of the Baptist Church, to which Mrs. Early, who is
one year his junior, belongs. They have three children:
Anderson Cabell, a member of the firm of Early Brothers;
Robert Lester, of this record; and Lotta B., who resides
with her parents.
Robert Lester Early received his primary education in
the public schools and supplemented this by attendance at
Beckley Institute. When he was still a lad, with his brother
he assisted their father in his various contracts, and thus
received an early introduction to the business, although his
first regular position was with the Link Belt Construc-
tion Company of Philadelphia. From that city he went to
Pittsburgh, where during 1913 and 1914 he was with the
Nacola Construction Company, in the latter year returning
to Mullens, where he joined his brother in the formation of
the firm of Early Brothers. Later their father was admit-
ted as the third member of the concern. The firm of Early
Brothers has practically built Mullens. It has not only
erected many of the business blocks and residences at this
place, but its contracts have extended to various other
communities of Southern West Virginia. Among their con-
tracts at Mullens may be mentioned the Wallingford Hos-
pital, the J. C. Sullivan office building, the Wyoming Ice
and Bottling Company's plant, the Emmons-Hawkins Whole-
sale Hardware Company Building and the Santon Building.
The firm and its members enjoy the best of reputation in
business circles. A republican in politics, Robert L. Early
was elected mayor of Mullens in 1921 and re-elected to that
office in 1922. He has given the city an admirable admin-
istration, displaying much executive ability and bringing
to bear his abilities as a business man. As a fraternalist
he is a past master of Mullens Lodge, A. F. and A. M., and
a member of Princeton Chapter, R. A. M., in addition to
which he holds membership in the Independent Order of
Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias. With his fam-
ily he belongs to the First Baptist Church, in which he is
serving as a member of the board of trustees.
In 1914 Mr. Early was united in marriage with Miss
Lillian E. Moseley, daughter of J. P. Moseley, of Rich-
mond, Virginia, and they are the parents of three children:
Pauline, Marguerite and Jo Edith.
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