The Prillerman Family
Franklin Prillerman was born about 1790 in Virginia. He is listed in the 1870 Kanawha County Census as a farmer living in Poca District. He married Charlotte (Unknown) Prillerman. They were the parents of seventeen children, some of whom are as follows: John F., Wyatt, James Harvey, Adeline, Harden, Byrd, Eliza Harriet, Emily, and Charlotte.
John F. Prillerman was born in May 1847. He married Sarah (Unknown) Prillerman about 1872. No race was given in the 1870 Kanawha Co, WV census however, the family is listed in both the 1880 and 1900 Census as black or mulatto. John, a farmer, and Sarah resided in Poca District, Kanawha County, West Virginia.
Wyatt Prillerman (b. 1849) married Milly (Unknown) Prillerman. They are listed in the 1880 Census of Kanawha Co, WV. Wyatt is listed as a laborer. He and Milly were both residents of Poca District.
James Harvey Prillerman was born in Jun 1850 in Shady Grove, Franklin County, Virginia. As an enslaved child he learned to farm and blacksmith. Both his parents and slave owner were of the liberal vintage and he was taught the fundamentals of reading and writing. In 1868, at the age of 17, he and his parents came to West Virginia. During this journey, Harvey shod horses and worked on farms as a blacksmith to finance their passage over Gauley Mountain through what is now Beckley, WV. Arriving in Charleston, he then immediately went to Tupper’s Creek where he was able to purchase land. He worked for $25 per year on farms, in blacksmith shops and related jobs in order to secure his small holding on Tupper’s Creek. He married, firstly, Nancy Prillerman. They were the parents of Ida L. (b. May 1878), and Cora (b. Apr 1880). On 2 Feb 1893, Harvey married Mary E. Brown, the daughter of Taylor Brown of Institute, in Kanawha County, West Virginia. They were the parents of Lottie, Geneva, Wyatt, Flavilla, Herbert, Ruth, Titus, Eunice, and Diana. Opening his own blacksmith shop on Tuppers Creek, he continued to purchase additional land. He was also considered the regional dentist, pulling teeth with hand forged tools. He also helped develop the first oil and gas wells in Kanawha County. During his middle years, Mr. Prillerman developed the first coal mine by a black owner in West Virginia. On his farm and in the mines, Harvey hired both black and white employees. He supported his brother, Byrd, to attend Knoxville College in Knoxville, Tennessee. In the absence of banks and loan companies in the area, Mr. Prillerman was considered the benefactor of blacks and whites who needed funds to purchase farm stock and supplies, as well as to start other businesses. Harvey assisted D. Boone Dawson to get his start in law school. Mr. Prillerman retired as both a farmer and blacksmith and died in March 1941.
Byrd Prillerman was born on 19 Oct 1859 in Shady Grove, Franklin County, Virginia. After attending Knoxville College in Tennesse, Byrd became president of the West Virginia Collegiate Institute, now known as West Virginia State University. He married Mattie E. Brown on 24 Jul 1893 in Kanawha County, West Virginia. Byrd died on 25 April 1929 at the age of 69. Inscribed on his tombstone in the Prillerman Cemetery in Institute is “B. S. Litt. D. Pioneer teacher and First Negro college President in West Virginia "In Loving Memory" Christian leader.” His tombstone was erected by the State Baptist Sunday School South.
Franklin Prillerman was born about 1790 in Virginia. He is listed in the 1870 Kanawha County Census as a farmer living in Poca District. He married Charlotte (Unknown) Prillerman. They were the parents of seventeen children, some of whom are as follows: John F., Wyatt, James Harvey, Adeline, Harden, Byrd, Eliza Harriet, Emily, and Charlotte.
John F. Prillerman was born in May 1847. He married Sarah (Unknown) Prillerman about 1872. No race was given in the 1870 Kanawha Co, WV census however, the family is listed in both the 1880 and 1900 Census as black or mulatto. John, a farmer, and Sarah resided in Poca District, Kanawha County, West Virginia.
Wyatt Prillerman (b. 1849) married Milly (Unknown) Prillerman. They are listed in the 1880 Census of Kanawha Co, WV. Wyatt is listed as a laborer. He and Milly were both residents of Poca District.
James Harvey Prillerman was born in Jun 1850 in Shady Grove, Franklin County, Virginia. As an enslaved child he learned to farm and blacksmith. Both his parents and slave owner were of the liberal vintage and he was taught the fundamentals of reading and writing. In 1868, at the age of 17, he and his parents came to West Virginia. During this journey, Harvey shod horses and worked on farms as a blacksmith to finance their passage over Gauley Mountain through what is now Beckley, WV. Arriving in Charleston, he then immediately went to Tupper’s Creek where he was able to purchase land. He worked for $25 per year on farms, in blacksmith shops and related jobs in order to secure his small holding on Tupper’s Creek. He married, firstly, Nancy Prillerman. They were the parents of Ida L. (b. May 1878), and Cora (b. Apr 1880). On 2 Feb 1893, Harvey married Mary E. Brown, the daughter of Taylor Brown of Institute, in Kanawha County, West Virginia. They were the parents of Lottie, Geneva, Wyatt, Flavilla, Herbert, Ruth, Titus, Eunice, and Diana. Opening his own blacksmith shop on Tuppers Creek, he continued to purchase additional land. He was also considered the regional dentist, pulling teeth with hand forged tools. He also helped develop the first oil and gas wells in Kanawha County. During his middle years, Mr. Prillerman developed the first coal mine by a black owner in West Virginia. On his farm and in the mines, Harvey hired both black and white employees. He supported his brother, Byrd, to attend Knoxville College in Knoxville, Tennessee. In the absence of banks and loan companies in the area, Mr. Prillerman was considered the benefactor of blacks and whites who needed funds to purchase farm stock and supplies, as well as to start other businesses. Harvey assisted D. Boone Dawson to get his start in law school. Mr. Prillerman retired as both a farmer and blacksmith and died in March 1941.
Byrd Prillerman was born on 19 Oct 1859 in Shady Grove, Franklin County, Virginia. After attending Knoxville College in Tennesse, Byrd became president of the West Virginia Collegiate Institute, now known as West Virginia State University. He married Mattie E. Brown on 24 Jul 1893 in Kanawha County, West Virginia. Byrd died on 25 April 1929 at the age of 69. Inscribed on his tombstone in the Prillerman Cemetery in Institute is “B. S. Litt. D. Pioneer teacher and First Negro college President in West Virginia "In Loving Memory" Christian leader.” His tombstone was erected by the State Baptist Sunday School South.
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