West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1896-12-24

Dies SuddeEty or Heart Disease at
His Home at Morxantoun.


His Home az Morgantoun.
Judge john A. Ollie, one Of the
oldest members Of the West vir-
ginia bar, as he was one of the
most prominent and wealthy citi-
zens Of Monongslia county, dropped
dead at his residence in Morgan
town last Friday evening". Dec. IS.
1896, Of heart disease. The Judge
had been in his usual health. and
during the evening was sitting IN a
room talking TO his niece, IA daugh
ter Of Judge Hagans. She left him
and went TO another part of the
house, and tho Judge arose to enter
another room, when he sank to the
floor and expired almost immedi-
stely.
Judge Ollie was a native of Wash.
ington county. Pa, where he was
born July 10, 1921. lie boy hood
tuitIon was OH the farm and in the
ordinary country school of that
period; his academic education was
at Greene Academy. aud his classic
education was Vt Washington Col
lege, which he entered in 1889, and
where he took high rank as an es-
sayist. In 1843 he removed to
KIngweod, Preston county, where
he studied law with Congressman
William q. Brown, and founded a
high school, which later developed
into Preston Academy. III 1914
he was admitted to the bar, and
the following year formed law
partnership with his legal instructor.
In 1849 he married the eldest daugh
ter Of Elisha NJ. Hagans. In that
year the partnership Of Brown &
Ollie was dissolved, and Mr.. Ollie
formed a partnership with Marcel
lus b. Hagans. who removed to
| Cincinnati in 1850, where he distin
gushed himself at the bar and as
Judge of the Superior Court. His
first wife dying in 1858, Mr.. Ollie
married the eldest daughter of
Thomas Brown, of Kingwood, by
whom he had two children, Clarence
B., a member of the Monongalis
county bar, and May, now the wife
of Prof. Emory, formerly OF the
State University. His wife and
children survive him.
Judge Ollie was prominent in pol
itics from his first residence in
West Virginia. In 1860 he was a
Douglas Democrat, favoring the
preservation Of the Union and the
formation of the new State, and
was one of the Preston county del
egates to the Wheeling Convention
of November, 1861. In this body
he was member Of the Committee
on County Organization. He was
also a member Of the judiciary
Committee. Later he warmly
urged the adoption Of tho Constit-
ution thus formulated, both within
the limits of the proposed State
and at Washington. In 1861 be
was chosen circuit Judge for the
circuit composed Of MonongalIa,
Preston, Tucker and Taylor count
les, and was reelected, serving
until January 1, 1878. In 1864 he
removed to Morgantown to secure
better educational advantages for
his children, and has since resided
there. He was distinguished for
his deep interest in church and
educational matters. and Was rul
ing elder in the Presby terian church
of that place. He was fond Of ag-
ricultural pursuits, and maintained
two large farms, one in Monongalia
aud the other in Preston county.
His estate is estimated NC $4,000
His home was the most beautiful
in the town, and there the Judge
resided, surrounded by every COM
fort.
The Morgantown Bar met Satur-
day and passed suitable resolutions
on his death. The funeral took
place Monday morning at ten
o'clock and the burial in the Morgan
town Cemetery. Hon. w. G..
Brown. j. IL. BrowR Esq, and Hon.
ON. Bishop of Kingwood drove over
Sunday to attend the funeral, re-
turning Monday evening.