The Foland Family of Scottsville: Part VI

Methodist Episcopal Church. Bluefield, West Virginia.

Need to catch up? Click here: The Foland Family of Scottsville: Part I

The life story of Clarke Valentine Foland, written by James Morton Callahan, concludes:

Soon after he came to Bluefield Mr. Foland was a clerk in the post office in 1901, under Dr. J. B. Martin, then Postmaster, and again in 1904 he served for a time in the local office. Mr. Foland has a gift of music, has developed much skill with the violin, and for several years was choir director of the Grace Methodist Episcopal Church, South. The church organist at that time was Miss Ethel Irene Stovall. This common interest in music culminated in their marriage on December 4, 1912. Mrs. Foland is a daughter of William A. and Hattie Stovall. Her father was formally a schoolteacher, was a conductor on the Norfolk & Western Railroad, and still later in business in Bluefield. Mrs. Foland is a graduate of the Concorde State Normal of Athens, West Virginia, graduated in music at Centenary College in Cleveland, Tennessee, and finished her musical studies in the school of music and arts in New York City. Her special field of proficiency is the piano, and since her marriage she has also continued teaching and musical interests in general. They are now members of the Bland St., Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and Mr. Foland is a steward in the church and a member of the choir. Fraternally he is a senior counselor of the United Commercial Travelers of America, is a past sachem of the Improved Order of Red Men, is a Royal Arch and Knight Templar Mason, being generalissimo of the latter, and is a member of the Shrine at Charleston. He belongs to the Bluefield Chamber of Commerce and Rotary Club.

Clarke Valentine Foland was certainly a joiner! His gift of music and his marriage to the very accomplished Ethel Irene Stovall is a revelation. Musical talent ran in the Foland family. His ancestor, Randolph Jefferson, played the violin, as did Randolph’s brother, Thomas.

Learn more about the Foland family in my book, Peter Field Jefferson: Dark Prince of Scottsville & Lost Jeffersons.

~

Many thanks to Kelcey Bill for sharing information about the Foland family of Scottsville. His ancestors include: Randolph Jefferson, Peter Field Jefferson, and Peter Valentine Foland’s son, James Gates Foland. Mr. Kelcey also shared that James Gates Foland’s son, Calvin Foland, was particularly interested in the family history and, over the years, made visits home to Mount Walla.