Minerd.com Biography of David A. and Sarah Virginia (Freeburn) Fawcett of Grafton, WV

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David A. Fawcett
(1852-1925)

Bluemont Cemetery, Grafton, WV

David A. Fawcett was born on New Year's Eve 1852 in Preston County, WV, the son of William M. and Naomi (Fortney) Fawcett.

On March 16, 1879, when he was age 25, David was joined in the bonds of holy wedlock with 20-year-old Sarah Virginia "Jennie" Freeburn (1858-1942), also of Preston County and the daughter of Robert and Ellen (Hamilton) Freeburn. Rev. Spencer King, who officiated, marked in the official record that the event had taken place at the home of "Widow Freeburn."

The couple bore two children -- Carrie Fawcett and Guy Hamilton Fawcett.

The Fawcetts first resided in the Lyon District of Preston County, where daughter Carrie was born in 1879. Later, they moved to nearby Grafton, Taylor County, WV, where David worked "in the mercantile business," said the Grafton Sentinel.

The federal census of 1900 shows the family living in Grafton, with David and his brother William "Henry" Harrison Fawcett engaged as dry goods merchants. Among their neighbors were cousins John and Bertie Overfield.

Pruntytown industrial school, also known as the reform school for boys

Obituary, 1925

The federal census of 1910 shows David and Virginia residing in Ward 3 of Grafton. Under their roof that year were 29-year-old single daughter Carrie and six-year-old granddaughter Virginia Fawcett. David's occupation was listed as a merchant of a local retail grocery. Living next door was David's brother Henry and family.

In about 1914, the Fawcetts relocated to Pruntytown, near Grafton, where for 15 years he was "employed at the Industrial School for Boys..."

Virginia was "active in the Women's Christian Temperance Union," said the Sentinel.

David's brother Daniel F. Fawcett, a Civil War veteran who was receiving a pension for his wartime disabilities, died in Pennsylvania in 1920. At that time, David signed an affidavit so that Daniel's widow would begin receiving the pension payments. The original signed document is on file today at the National Archives in Washington, DC.

Obituary, 1942

David suffered from kidney problems, or "Bright's disease" as it was then known. At age 72, on Dec. 4, 1925, he died from its effects. He was buried at Bluemont Cemetery in the heights of Grafton, in lot 226 owned by his in-laws, the Freeburn family.

At the time of David's death, daughter Carrie resided at home, and son Guy was living in Florida.

Virginia outlived her husband by almost two decades. The federal census enumeration of 1940 shows her and her daughter Carrie in the home of her married granddaughter Virginia Mason in Taylor County.

After suffering from myocarditis for seven years, added to senility, she died at home at the age of 84 on Aug. 3, 1942. She was laid to rest beside her husband. They rest in the vicinity of Henry's parents, brother Henry, cousins Charles F.W. and Robert Moses Hanshaw, and also Anna Jarvis, the founder of Mother's Day.

At the time of Virginia's death, their grandchildren included Mrs. C. Burl Mason and David Fawcett, both of Pruntytown, and Mrs. Murl Morrison, of Clarksburg, Harrison County, WV.

Bird's eye view of Grafton, looking south and west

~ Daughter Carrie Fawcett ~

Daughter Carrie Fawcett (1879-1947) never married.

In 1910, when she was age 29 and lived with her parents in Grafton, she had no occupation.

She moved with her parents to Pruntytown, Taylor County. When the federal census enumeration was made in 1940, Carrie and her mother shared a home with her married niece Virginia Mason.

Later, she made her home at 301 McGraw Avenue in Grafton.

Carrie died of a cerebral hemorrhage at the age of 67 at Grafton Hospital on Feb. 20, 1947, and was buried at Bluemont.

~ Son Guy Hamilton Fawcett Sr. ~

Son Guy Hamilton Fawcett Sr. ( ? - ? ) was born in (?).

He married Lolita Huff (or "Hoff") (1884- ?), the daughter of Clifton M. and Hannah L. Hoff.

They had five known children -- David Allen Fawcett, Carolyn Morrison, Guy Hamilton Fawcett Jr., Virginia Mason and one unknown.

Sadly, Guy Sr. died sometime during the decade between 1900 and 1910, leaving his wife as a young-old widow with five children under the age of 10. The details of his untimely passing are not known. Daughter Virginia was taken in by her paternal grandparents, David and Virginia Fawcett.

When the federal census was taken in 1910, Lolita and children David, Guy Jr. and Caroline (aged three months) lived together on Harlop Street in Grafton, with Lolita having no occupation. Her cousin Bertha Turnley, age 21, resided in the home that year, presumably to help raise the fatherless children.

Lolita's fate is unknown.

When the census again was taken in 1920, daughter Caroline, aged nine, lived with her maternal grandparents, Clifton and Hannah Hoff. That same year, 13-year-old son David resided at the Methodist Childrens Home Farm in Wheeling, Ohio County, WV.

Son David Allen Fawcett (1907-1956) was born in 1907. He spent part of his childhood at the Methodist Childrens Home Farm in Wheeling, WV. David never married. In 1940, he lived under the roof of his married niece Virginia Mason in Taylor County. He earned income over the years as a school building foreman and as a professional painter. Tragically, he died of accidental monoxide gas poisoning in Grafton on Feb. 2, 1956. He was age 49 at the time of death.

Daughter Carolyn Fawcett ( ? - ? ) was born in (?). She may have entered into marriage with (?) Morrison ( ? - ? ). She was deceased by 1993. Nothing more is known.

Above: Anna Jarvis (left) and her mother, in whose honor Mother's Day was begun, and Andrew's Methodist Church, in Grafton. Below: sanctuary of the "Mother Church of Mother's Day."

Book in which Virginia
wrote about temperance

Daughter Virginia Fawcett (1904-1993) was born in 1904. She grew up in the home of her grandparents in Grafton after her own father's death. On Dec. 13, 1929, Virginia married C. Burl Mason (1903-1962) at the Pruntytown Methodist Episcopal Church. Together, the couple produced two sons -- Charles "Lowell" Mason and Thomas Noble Mason. The Masons provided a home in 1940 for Virginia's widowed grandmother and single aunt Carrie. At that time, Burl earned a living as a road contractor. Virginia "served as co-chair of the original drive to make Grafton Andrews Methodist Church the Mother's Day Church, an international shrine," said a Grafton newspaper. The church held the first Mother's Day service, in 1908, founded by local woman Anna Jarvis in memory of her own and all mothers. A graduate of Fairmont State Teachers College in 1923, she taught in Taylor County Schools, first as an elementary educator at Parkview (1923-1934) and later in adult education (1966-1971). Said a local newspaper, "She was associated with her husband in the Mason Coal Co. and the Mason Brothers Coal Co."

Obituary, 1993

A local newspaper once recounted her many other accomplishments -- serving on the administrative board of the Church of the Good Shepherd, United Methodist, in Grafton for 12 years; past state president of the Women's Christian Temperance Union; helping develop the Youth Temperance Council in Grafton and working with local youth for many years; past president of the Grafton Women's Club; past president of the Grafton BPW Club; serving as secretary-treasurer of the Taylor County Youth Planning Council for 18 years; serving on the Salvation Army Advisory Board; as a 4-H Club leader for 12 years; past president of the Grafton High School Band Boosters; and past president of the Grafton City Hospital Auxiliary. She is known to have authored a chapter on "The Women's Christian Temperance Union in Taylor County" in the 1986 book, A History of Taylor County, West Virginia, published by the Taylor County Historical and Genealogical Society, Inc. In 1967, she was listed in Who's Who of American Women.Virginia passed away at age 89 on April 25, 1993.

Grandson Charles "Lowell" Mason (1935-2005) was born on March 11, 1935. After high school, he attended West Virginia University before receiving his bachelor's degree from Florida State University. On Aug. 18, 1956, when both were 21 years of age. Lowell was united in matrimony with Nancy Gail Parkhill ( ? - ? ). They produced a family of three -- C. Adam Mason, Melissa Gordon and Patricia Drake. Lowell was employed for many years as a substance abuse counselor at the Pruntytown Correctional Center. In his free time he belonged to the Church of the Good Shepherd in Grafton and was very active in promoting Grafton as part of the Convention and Visitors Center. He died as a patient in Grafton City Hospital, at age 69, on Jan. 4, 2005. His pastor, Rev. Burt Coffman, led the funeral service.

Great-grandson C. Adam Mason wed Trudi. They relocated to Lafayette, LA and were there in 1993. They eventually moved to Alberta, Canada and were there in 2005.

Great-granddaughter Melissa Mason married Bruce Gordon. The pair migrated to New Orleans.

Great-granddaughter Patricia Mason was in Washington, DC in 1993. She entered into marriage with Brad Drake. They have dwelled in Canonsburg, Washington County, PA.
Grandson Thomas Noble Mason (1942-2018) was born on Oct. 7, 1942 in Grafton. He was a member of the 1950 graduating class of Grafton High School. He received a bachelor's degree from West Virginia University, where he played in the marching band. Thomas was married and the father of two -- Esther Wilson Ervin and Scott McGinnis. Relishing his college experience, he helped found the WVU Alumni Fraternity and held a membership in the WVU Alumni Association. He worked for his father in the operation of Mason Brothers Coal, but also derived pleasure as a people person and from selling Christmas trees and calculating income taxes. He belonged to the Fraternal Order of Police, the local Moose lodge and the Railroad Heritage Festival. At the age of 75, he died at home on Jan. 4, 2018, a baker's dozen years to the day after the death of his brother. The funeral service was officiated by Pastor Kelley Martin, with burial following in Woodsdale Memorial Park in Pruntytown.

Great-granddaughter Esther Wilson married David Ervin and has lived in Morgantown.

Great-grandson Scott McGinnis was joined in wedlock with Kelley. They too have dwelled in Morgantown.