Biography of Joseph Marcellus McWhorter
Joseph Marcellus McWhorter, the first member of this family of whom we have any definite information, was born April 30, 1828, at McWhorter’s Mills, Lewis county, West Virginia, and is now [1913] living in Lewisburg, Greenbrier county, West Virginia. He is a prominent lawyer, and from 1865 to 1869 was auditor of the state of West Virginia. In 1870 he was appointed judge of the circuit court of Greenbrier county for one term, and in 1896 he was again elected to the same office, which he held until 1904.
Joseph Marcellus McWhorter married (first) Julia E. Stalnaker, who died August 26, 1869. He married (second) Julia E. Kinsley, daughter of the Rev. Hiram Kinsley, late of Geneva, Ohio. Children (seven by first marriage): Al. G., now living in Charleston, West Virginia; Artemus W., now living in Norfolk, Virginia; Louis Emory, referred to below; Maggie E., married D. W. Lewis, of Charleston, West Virginia; William B., now living in Hinton, West Virginia; Joseph C., now living in St. Louis, Missouri; Deccie L., married C. L. Carr, of Lewisburg, West Virginia; Jennie, deceased, married J. S. McWhorter, of Greenbrier county, West Virginia; Emma, married Byrne Holt, of Lewisburg, West Virginia; Charles N., of Charleston.
(II) Louis Emory McWhorter, son of Joseph Marcellus McWhorter and Julia E. (Stalnaker) McWhorter, was born in Spencer, Roane county, West Virginia, March 30, 1856. He received his early education in the public schools in Wheeling, West Virginia, and at the academy in Lewisburg, West Virginia, and later entered the law school of the University of Virginia. He continued his professional studies under Judge H. C. McWhorter and was admitted to the bar in 1886. He settled in Charleston, West Virginia, where he is now living and actively practicing his profession. He was president of the Charleston board of education from 1897 to 1903, and was a member of the lower house of the West Virginia state legislature from 1905 to 1907. He is a member of the A.U.O.W. and is also a member of the Knights of Pythias. He is a Republican in politics, and a Methodist in religion.
Louis Emory McWhorter married, June 27, 1883, Emma M. Champe, born in Charleston, West Virginia. Children: Julia, died April 17, 1904; Almeda, Lou Emma, L. Edwin, Ruth Annette.