Senator Robert Franklin Kidd (1853-1930) — also known as Robert F. Kidd — of Buckhannon, Upshur County, W.Va.; Glenville, Gilmer County, W.Va. Born in Upshur County, Va. (now W.Va.), February 11, 1853. Democrat. Lawyer; member of West Virginia state house of delegates from Gilmer County, 1887-88, 1929-30; died in office 1930; member of West Virginia state senate, 1899-1914, 1923-28 (4th District 1899-1902, 10th District 1903-14, 1923-28); chair of Gilmer County Democratic Party, 1917; candidate for U.S. Representative from West Virginia 3rd District, 1920. Died in Gilmer County, W.Va., June 8, 1930 (age 77 years, 117 days). Burial location unknown.
Relatives: Son of Thomas Kidd (1804-1888) and Margaret Kidd (1812-1879); married, November 12, 1884, to Leila Rosalie Johnson; father of Paul H. Kidd; uncle of John Wesley Kidd and Frank H. Kidd; granduncle of Robert Henry Kidd (1888-1982); great-granduncle of William Matthew Kidd.
Robert Franklin Kidd, a teacher, editor, lawyer, legislator, orator, and humorist was born February 11, 1853. in Upshur County, one of 13 children of Thomas and Margaret Kidd. Educated in the public and private schools of that county, he became editor of the Buckhannon Banner while reading law with C.C. Higginbotham of Buckhannon and John Bassel of Clarksburg.
He was admitted to the bar in 1882 and at the same time accepted the principalship of Glenville Normal School. He served in this capacity for two terms.
He began practicing law in Glenville and in 1886 was first elected to the House of Delegates from Gilmer County. He declined a second term. In 1898, he was elected to the State Senate, serving until 1914, and again from 1922 until 1928. He was serving as a member of the House of Delegates at the time of his death, June 8, 1930. His grave site is located just off the campus of Glenville State College, near Clark Hall, the original Robert F. Kidd Memorial Library.
The naming of the library for him was a tribute in an act of the 1929 Legislature in recognition of his long service in that body and to the College. Senator Kidd was a Mason, a member of the Knights of Pythias and Modern Woodmen.
In 1884. Kidd married Lelia Rosalie Johnson. This union produced six children: Lenore Lucille (Mrs. W. Lee Jack); Edith (Mrs. Charles C. Morris); Johnson Camden: Robert F. Jr.; Drusilla Virginia, who taught more than a thousand Glenville fourth graders during her tenure in the public school; and Paul Hays who followed his father into the legal profession and also represented Gilmer County on the house of Delegates. continuing to work for the upgrading of Glenville State College.
[1911, WV Senate President]
WV and Its People (1913), Vol. 2, p. 407:
[KIDD
Of the existing generation of public men, there is none more thoroughly identified with the public affairs of West Virginia and has its welfare more at heart than the Hon. Robert F. Kidd, who has ably filled many responsible public offices. As a politician he has been remarkably successful, and the secret of his success and influence may be stated in a few words. Utterly fearless in the expression of his views, his friends know him as one on whom they can depend, while his enemies find in him a man who can be neither frightened nor cajoled.
(I) Thomas Kidd was born in Virginia in the rear 1801, and during all the active years of his life was engaged in farming and tobacco growing. His death occurred in 1889. He married Margaret Johnson, who died in 1878. They had children: Matthew, Luraine, Andrew Jackson. Wilson, John, Elias C., William, Thomas, Simpson, Bethelam, Margaret, Robert F., Phoebe, Nancy.
(II) Hon. Robert F. Kidd, son of Thomas Kidd, was born in Upshur county, Virginia, February 11, 1853. Having received an excellent practical and thorough training in the public schools of his section of the country, upon the completion of his education, which he had supplemented by diligent study at home, he commenced his business career with newspaper work, for which his readiness with the pen eminently fitted him. He edited the Buckhannon Banner until 1882, at which time he removed to Glenville, Gilmer county, West Virginia, and accepted the principalship of the Glenville Normal School. In 188o he had commenced reading law with C. C. Higgenbottam, and continued his professional studies with John Bassell, of Clarksburg. He was admitted to the bar of the state in 1882, but continued in the position of principal for two years. He then engaged in the practice of his profession in Glenville, and it was but a short time when his natural and acquired ability asserted itself and he had obtained a rank among the leading lawyers of the state. In 1886 he was elected to the house of delegates, but declined the honor of a second term. The Democratic nomination for congress was tendered him in 1888, but Mr. Kidd declined to serve. In 1898 he was elected to the state senate from the old third senatorial district, and in 1902 he was elected from the tenth senatorial district, and re-elected in 1906 and in 1910. He has been a member of the committees on rules, election, judiciary and education. He has earned and deserves the confidence of the community to an unusual degree, has been honored with membership in the council, and by the office of mayor of Glenville. Mr. Kidd is not only one of the leaders of the Democratic party, but he is one of the substantial men of the city, and has its welfare intensely at heart. Any project which is proposed. whose purport is the improvement or development of Glenville in any direction, is sure to have his hearty approval and all the assistance he is able to give. He is sympathetic and charitable in his disposition, and is the center of a large circle of friends. In financial matters he is also a man of sound judgment and has been in office as vice-president of the First National Bank of Glenville.
Mr. Kidd married, in November, 1884, Lelia Johnson, and they have had children: Lenora L., married W. L. Jacks; Edith, married C. C. Morris; Johnson C., died March 25, 1913; Robert F. Jr.; Paul H.]
Men of WV (1903), Vol. 1, pp. 249 and 250:
[HON. R. F. KIDD, a prominent member of the State Senate of West Virginia and a well known citizen of Glenville, Gilmer County, was born in Upshur County, Virginia, now West Virginia, February 11, 1853, and is a son of Thomas and Margaret (Johnson) Kidd, both natives of Virginia. Thomas Kidd was engaged in agricultural pursuits throughout his active life, dying in 1889. His wife died in 1878, having given birth to 13 children, of which number eight are living at the present time.
R. F. Kidd received his educational training in the private and public schools of his native county, after which he went into the newspaper business. He edited the Buckhannon Banner until 1882, then moved to Glenville where he accepted the position of principal of the Glenville Normal School. Two years later he read law with C. C. Higginbotham of Buckhannon, and then with John Bassell, of Clarksburg, West Virginia. He was admitted to the bar in 1882, but for two years thereafter engaged in teaching school. He then entered upon the practice of his profession at Glenville, soon attaining rank among the leading lawyers of the State. In 1886 he was elected to the House of Delegates and served his constituency well, but declined to be a candidate for a second term. In 1888, he was tendered the nomination for Congress by the Democratic convention but declined. In 1898 he was elected to the State Senate from the old Third Senatorial District, and in 1902 was elected from the Tenth Senatorial District. He is a member of the committees on rules, election, judiciary and education. He has the confidence of the community in which he lives to a marked degree, and has been honored with the office of mayor of Glenville and a member of the Council. He is not only one of the leaders in the Democratic party, but one of the substantial men of the city, always taking a deep interest in the promotion of Glenville's welfare. He is a director of the First National Bank of Glenville, and has been identified with numerous other important interests[sic]. He is interested in buying and selling coal lands, in which enterprise he has been very successful.
In 1884, Mr. Kidd was united in marriage with Lelia Johnson, by whom he has five children, all of whom are attending school. Religiously, Mrs. Kidd is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.]
Relatives: Son of Thomas Kidd (1804-1888) and Margaret Kidd (1812-1879); married, November 12, 1884, to Leila Rosalie Johnson; father of Paul H. Kidd; uncle of John Wesley Kidd and Frank H. Kidd; granduncle of Robert Henry Kidd (1888-1982); great-granduncle of William Matthew Kidd.
Robert Franklin Kidd, a teacher, editor, lawyer, legislator, orator, and humorist was born February 11, 1853. in Upshur County, one of 13 children of Thomas and Margaret Kidd. Educated in the public and private schools of that county, he became editor of the Buckhannon Banner while reading law with C.C. Higginbotham of Buckhannon and John Bassel of Clarksburg.
He was admitted to the bar in 1882 and at the same time accepted the principalship of Glenville Normal School. He served in this capacity for two terms.
He began practicing law in Glenville and in 1886 was first elected to the House of Delegates from Gilmer County. He declined a second term. In 1898, he was elected to the State Senate, serving until 1914, and again from 1922 until 1928. He was serving as a member of the House of Delegates at the time of his death, June 8, 1930. His grave site is located just off the campus of Glenville State College, near Clark Hall, the original Robert F. Kidd Memorial Library.
The naming of the library for him was a tribute in an act of the 1929 Legislature in recognition of his long service in that body and to the College. Senator Kidd was a Mason, a member of the Knights of Pythias and Modern Woodmen.
In 1884. Kidd married Lelia Rosalie Johnson. This union produced six children: Lenore Lucille (Mrs. W. Lee Jack); Edith (Mrs. Charles C. Morris); Johnson Camden: Robert F. Jr.; Drusilla Virginia, who taught more than a thousand Glenville fourth graders during her tenure in the public school; and Paul Hays who followed his father into the legal profession and also represented Gilmer County on the house of Delegates. continuing to work for the upgrading of Glenville State College.
[1911, WV Senate President]
WV and Its People (1913), Vol. 2, p. 407:
[KIDD
Of the existing generation of public men, there is none more thoroughly identified with the public affairs of West Virginia and has its welfare more at heart than the Hon. Robert F. Kidd, who has ably filled many responsible public offices. As a politician he has been remarkably successful, and the secret of his success and influence may be stated in a few words. Utterly fearless in the expression of his views, his friends know him as one on whom they can depend, while his enemies find in him a man who can be neither frightened nor cajoled.
(I) Thomas Kidd was born in Virginia in the rear 1801, and during all the active years of his life was engaged in farming and tobacco growing. His death occurred in 1889. He married Margaret Johnson, who died in 1878. They had children: Matthew, Luraine, Andrew Jackson. Wilson, John, Elias C., William, Thomas, Simpson, Bethelam, Margaret, Robert F., Phoebe, Nancy.
(II) Hon. Robert F. Kidd, son of Thomas Kidd, was born in Upshur county, Virginia, February 11, 1853. Having received an excellent practical and thorough training in the public schools of his section of the country, upon the completion of his education, which he had supplemented by diligent study at home, he commenced his business career with newspaper work, for which his readiness with the pen eminently fitted him. He edited the Buckhannon Banner until 1882, at which time he removed to Glenville, Gilmer county, West Virginia, and accepted the principalship of the Glenville Normal School. In 188o he had commenced reading law with C. C. Higgenbottam, and continued his professional studies with John Bassell, of Clarksburg. He was admitted to the bar of the state in 1882, but continued in the position of principal for two years. He then engaged in the practice of his profession in Glenville, and it was but a short time when his natural and acquired ability asserted itself and he had obtained a rank among the leading lawyers of the state. In 1886 he was elected to the house of delegates, but declined the honor of a second term. The Democratic nomination for congress was tendered him in 1888, but Mr. Kidd declined to serve. In 1898 he was elected to the state senate from the old third senatorial district, and in 1902 he was elected from the tenth senatorial district, and re-elected in 1906 and in 1910. He has been a member of the committees on rules, election, judiciary and education. He has earned and deserves the confidence of the community to an unusual degree, has been honored with membership in the council, and by the office of mayor of Glenville. Mr. Kidd is not only one of the leaders of the Democratic party, but he is one of the substantial men of the city, and has its welfare intensely at heart. Any project which is proposed. whose purport is the improvement or development of Glenville in any direction, is sure to have his hearty approval and all the assistance he is able to give. He is sympathetic and charitable in his disposition, and is the center of a large circle of friends. In financial matters he is also a man of sound judgment and has been in office as vice-president of the First National Bank of Glenville.
Mr. Kidd married, in November, 1884, Lelia Johnson, and they have had children: Lenora L., married W. L. Jacks; Edith, married C. C. Morris; Johnson C., died March 25, 1913; Robert F. Jr.; Paul H.]
Men of WV (1903), Vol. 1, pp. 249 and 250:
[HON. R. F. KIDD, a prominent member of the State Senate of West Virginia and a well known citizen of Glenville, Gilmer County, was born in Upshur County, Virginia, now West Virginia, February 11, 1853, and is a son of Thomas and Margaret (Johnson) Kidd, both natives of Virginia. Thomas Kidd was engaged in agricultural pursuits throughout his active life, dying in 1889. His wife died in 1878, having given birth to 13 children, of which number eight are living at the present time.
R. F. Kidd received his educational training in the private and public schools of his native county, after which he went into the newspaper business. He edited the Buckhannon Banner until 1882, then moved to Glenville where he accepted the position of principal of the Glenville Normal School. Two years later he read law with C. C. Higginbotham of Buckhannon, and then with John Bassell, of Clarksburg, West Virginia. He was admitted to the bar in 1882, but for two years thereafter engaged in teaching school. He then entered upon the practice of his profession at Glenville, soon attaining rank among the leading lawyers of the State. In 1886 he was elected to the House of Delegates and served his constituency well, but declined to be a candidate for a second term. In 1888, he was tendered the nomination for Congress by the Democratic convention but declined. In 1898 he was elected to the State Senate from the old Third Senatorial District, and in 1902 was elected from the Tenth Senatorial District. He is a member of the committees on rules, election, judiciary and education. He has the confidence of the community in which he lives to a marked degree, and has been honored with the office of mayor of Glenville and a member of the Council. He is not only one of the leaders in the Democratic party, but one of the substantial men of the city, always taking a deep interest in the promotion of Glenville's welfare. He is a director of the First National Bank of Glenville, and has been identified with numerous other important interests[sic]. He is interested in buying and selling coal lands, in which enterprise he has been very successful.
In 1884, Mr. Kidd was united in marriage with Lelia Johnson, by whom he has five children, all of whom are attending school. Religiously, Mrs. Kidd is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.]
Senator Robert Franklin Kidd (1853-1930) — also known as Robert F. Kidd — of Buckhannon, Upshur County, W.Va.; Glenville, Gilmer County, W.Va. Born in Upshur County, Va. (now W.Va.), February 11, 1853. Democrat. Lawyer; member of West Virginia state house of delegates from Gilmer County, 1887-88, 1929-30; died in office 1930; member of West Virginia state senate, 1899-1914, 1923-28 (4th District 1899-1902, 10th District 1903-14, 1923-28); chair of Gilmer County Democratic Party, 1917; candidate for U.S. Representative from West Virginia 3rd District, 1920. Died in Gilmer County, W.Va., June 8, 1930 (age 77 years, 117 days). Burial location unknown.
Relatives: Son of Thomas Kidd (1804-1888) and Margaret Kidd (1812-1879); married, November 12, 1884, to Leila Rosalie Johnson; father of Paul H. Kidd; uncle of John Wesley Kidd and Frank H. Kidd; granduncle of Robert Henry Kidd (1888-1982); great-granduncle of William Matthew Kidd.
Robert Franklin Kidd, a teacher, editor, lawyer, legislator, orator, and humorist was born February 11, 1853. in Upshur County, one of 13 children of Thomas and Margaret Kidd. Educated in the public and private schools of that county, he became editor of the Buckhannon Banner while reading law with C.C. Higginbotham of Buckhannon and John Bassel of Clarksburg.
He was admitted to the bar in 1882 and at the same time accepted the principalship of Glenville Normal School. He served in this capacity for two terms.
He began practicing law in Glenville and in 1886 was first elected to the House of Delegates from Gilmer County. He declined a second term. In 1898, he was elected to the State Senate, serving until 1914, and again from 1922 until 1928. He was serving as a member of the House of Delegates at the time of his death, June 8, 1930. His grave site is located just off the campus of Glenville State College, near Clark Hall, the original Robert F. Kidd Memorial Library.
The naming of the library for him was a tribute in an act of the 1929 Legislature in recognition of his long service in that body and to the College. Senator Kidd was a Mason, a member of the Knights of Pythias and Modern Woodmen.
In 1884. Kidd married Lelia Rosalie Johnson. This union produced six children: Lenore Lucille (Mrs. W. Lee Jack); Edith (Mrs. Charles C. Morris); Johnson Camden: Robert F. Jr.; Drusilla Virginia, who taught more than a thousand Glenville fourth graders during her tenure in the public school; and Paul Hays who followed his father into the legal profession and also represented Gilmer County on the house of Delegates. continuing to work for the upgrading of Glenville State College.
[1911, WV Senate President]
WV and Its People (1913), Vol. 2, p. 407:
[KIDD
Of the existing generation of public men, there is none more thoroughly identified with the public affairs of West Virginia and has its welfare more at heart than the Hon. Robert F. Kidd, who has ably filled many responsible public offices. As a politician he has been remarkably successful, and the secret of his success and influence may be stated in a few words. Utterly fearless in the expression of his views, his friends know him as one on whom they can depend, while his enemies find in him a man who can be neither frightened nor cajoled.
(I) Thomas Kidd was born in Virginia in the rear 1801, and during all the active years of his life was engaged in farming and tobacco growing. His death occurred in 1889. He married Margaret Johnson, who died in 1878. They had children: Matthew, Luraine, Andrew Jackson. Wilson, John, Elias C., William, Thomas, Simpson, Bethelam, Margaret, Robert F., Phoebe, Nancy.
(II) Hon. Robert F. Kidd, son of Thomas Kidd, was born in Upshur county, Virginia, February 11, 1853. Having received an excellent practical and thorough training in the public schools of his section of the country, upon the completion of his education, which he had supplemented by diligent study at home, he commenced his business career with newspaper work, for which his readiness with the pen eminently fitted him. He edited the Buckhannon Banner until 1882, at which time he removed to Glenville, Gilmer county, West Virginia, and accepted the principalship of the Glenville Normal School. In 188o he had commenced reading law with C. C. Higgenbottam, and continued his professional studies with John Bassell, of Clarksburg. He was admitted to the bar of the state in 1882, but continued in the position of principal for two years. He then engaged in the practice of his profession in Glenville, and it was but a short time when his natural and acquired ability asserted itself and he had obtained a rank among the leading lawyers of the state. In 1886 he was elected to the house of delegates, but declined the honor of a second term. The Democratic nomination for congress was tendered him in 1888, but Mr. Kidd declined to serve. In 1898 he was elected to the state senate from the old third senatorial district, and in 1902 he was elected from the tenth senatorial district, and re-elected in 1906 and in 1910. He has been a member of the committees on rules, election, judiciary and education. He has earned and deserves the confidence of the community to an unusual degree, has been honored with membership in the council, and by the office of mayor of Glenville. Mr. Kidd is not only one of the leaders of the Democratic party, but he is one of the substantial men of the city, and has its welfare intensely at heart. Any project which is proposed. whose purport is the improvement or development of Glenville in any direction, is sure to have his hearty approval and all the assistance he is able to give. He is sympathetic and charitable in his disposition, and is the center of a large circle of friends. In financial matters he is also a man of sound judgment and has been in office as vice-president of the First National Bank of Glenville.
Mr. Kidd married, in November, 1884, Lelia Johnson, and they have had children: Lenora L., married W. L. Jacks; Edith, married C. C. Morris; Johnson C., died March 25, 1913; Robert F. Jr.; Paul H.]
Men of WV (1903), Vol. 1, pp. 249 and 250:
[HON. R. F. KIDD, a prominent member of the State Senate of West Virginia and a well known citizen of Glenville, Gilmer County, was born in Upshur County, Virginia, now West Virginia, February 11, 1853, and is a son of Thomas and Margaret (Johnson) Kidd, both natives of Virginia. Thomas Kidd was engaged in agricultural pursuits throughout his active life, dying in 1889. His wife died in 1878, having given birth to 13 children, of which number eight are living at the present time.
R. F. Kidd received his educational training in the private and public schools of his native county, after which he went into the newspaper business. He edited the Buckhannon Banner until 1882, then moved to Glenville where he accepted the position of principal of the Glenville Normal School. Two years later he read law with C. C. Higginbotham of Buckhannon, and then with John Bassell, of Clarksburg, West Virginia. He was admitted to the bar in 1882, but for two years thereafter engaged in teaching school. He then entered upon the practice of his profession at Glenville, soon attaining rank among the leading lawyers of the State. In 1886 he was elected to the House of Delegates and served his constituency well, but declined to be a candidate for a second term. In 1888, he was tendered the nomination for Congress by the Democratic convention but declined. In 1898 he was elected to the State Senate from the old Third Senatorial District, and in 1902 was elected from the Tenth Senatorial District. He is a member of the committees on rules, election, judiciary and education. He has the confidence of the community in which he lives to a marked degree, and has been honored with the office of mayor of Glenville and a member of the Council. He is not only one of the leaders in the Democratic party, but one of the substantial men of the city, always taking a deep interest in the promotion of Glenville's welfare. He is a director of the First National Bank of Glenville, and has been identified with numerous other important interests[sic]. He is interested in buying and selling coal lands, in which enterprise he has been very successful.
In 1884, Mr. Kidd was united in marriage with Lelia Johnson, by whom he has five children, all of whom are attending school. Religiously, Mrs. Kidd is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.]
Relatives: Son of Thomas Kidd (1804-1888) and Margaret Kidd (1812-1879); married, November 12, 1884, to Leila Rosalie Johnson; father of Paul H. Kidd; uncle of John Wesley Kidd and Frank H. Kidd; granduncle of Robert Henry Kidd (1888-1982); great-granduncle of William Matthew Kidd.
Robert Franklin Kidd, a teacher, editor, lawyer, legislator, orator, and humorist was born February 11, 1853. in Upshur County, one of 13 children of Thomas and Margaret Kidd. Educated in the public and private schools of that county, he became editor of the Buckhannon Banner while reading law with C.C. Higginbotham of Buckhannon and John Bassel of Clarksburg.
He was admitted to the bar in 1882 and at the same time accepted the principalship of Glenville Normal School. He served in this capacity for two terms.
He began practicing law in Glenville and in 1886 was first elected to the House of Delegates from Gilmer County. He declined a second term. In 1898, he was elected to the State Senate, serving until 1914, and again from 1922 until 1928. He was serving as a member of the House of Delegates at the time of his death, June 8, 1930. His grave site is located just off the campus of Glenville State College, near Clark Hall, the original Robert F. Kidd Memorial Library.
The naming of the library for him was a tribute in an act of the 1929 Legislature in recognition of his long service in that body and to the College. Senator Kidd was a Mason, a member of the Knights of Pythias and Modern Woodmen.
In 1884. Kidd married Lelia Rosalie Johnson. This union produced six children: Lenore Lucille (Mrs. W. Lee Jack); Edith (Mrs. Charles C. Morris); Johnson Camden: Robert F. Jr.; Drusilla Virginia, who taught more than a thousand Glenville fourth graders during her tenure in the public school; and Paul Hays who followed his father into the legal profession and also represented Gilmer County on the house of Delegates. continuing to work for the upgrading of Glenville State College.
[1911, WV Senate President]
WV and Its People (1913), Vol. 2, p. 407:
[KIDD
Of the existing generation of public men, there is none more thoroughly identified with the public affairs of West Virginia and has its welfare more at heart than the Hon. Robert F. Kidd, who has ably filled many responsible public offices. As a politician he has been remarkably successful, and the secret of his success and influence may be stated in a few words. Utterly fearless in the expression of his views, his friends know him as one on whom they can depend, while his enemies find in him a man who can be neither frightened nor cajoled.
(I) Thomas Kidd was born in Virginia in the rear 1801, and during all the active years of his life was engaged in farming and tobacco growing. His death occurred in 1889. He married Margaret Johnson, who died in 1878. They had children: Matthew, Luraine, Andrew Jackson. Wilson, John, Elias C., William, Thomas, Simpson, Bethelam, Margaret, Robert F., Phoebe, Nancy.
(II) Hon. Robert F. Kidd, son of Thomas Kidd, was born in Upshur county, Virginia, February 11, 1853. Having received an excellent practical and thorough training in the public schools of his section of the country, upon the completion of his education, which he had supplemented by diligent study at home, he commenced his business career with newspaper work, for which his readiness with the pen eminently fitted him. He edited the Buckhannon Banner until 1882, at which time he removed to Glenville, Gilmer county, West Virginia, and accepted the principalship of the Glenville Normal School. In 188o he had commenced reading law with C. C. Higgenbottam, and continued his professional studies with John Bassell, of Clarksburg. He was admitted to the bar of the state in 1882, but continued in the position of principal for two years. He then engaged in the practice of his profession in Glenville, and it was but a short time when his natural and acquired ability asserted itself and he had obtained a rank among the leading lawyers of the state. In 1886 he was elected to the house of delegates, but declined the honor of a second term. The Democratic nomination for congress was tendered him in 1888, but Mr. Kidd declined to serve. In 1898 he was elected to the state senate from the old third senatorial district, and in 1902 he was elected from the tenth senatorial district, and re-elected in 1906 and in 1910. He has been a member of the committees on rules, election, judiciary and education. He has earned and deserves the confidence of the community to an unusual degree, has been honored with membership in the council, and by the office of mayor of Glenville. Mr. Kidd is not only one of the leaders of the Democratic party, but he is one of the substantial men of the city, and has its welfare intensely at heart. Any project which is proposed. whose purport is the improvement or development of Glenville in any direction, is sure to have his hearty approval and all the assistance he is able to give. He is sympathetic and charitable in his disposition, and is the center of a large circle of friends. In financial matters he is also a man of sound judgment and has been in office as vice-president of the First National Bank of Glenville.
Mr. Kidd married, in November, 1884, Lelia Johnson, and they have had children: Lenora L., married W. L. Jacks; Edith, married C. C. Morris; Johnson C., died March 25, 1913; Robert F. Jr.; Paul H.]
Men of WV (1903), Vol. 1, pp. 249 and 250:
[HON. R. F. KIDD, a prominent member of the State Senate of West Virginia and a well known citizen of Glenville, Gilmer County, was born in Upshur County, Virginia, now West Virginia, February 11, 1853, and is a son of Thomas and Margaret (Johnson) Kidd, both natives of Virginia. Thomas Kidd was engaged in agricultural pursuits throughout his active life, dying in 1889. His wife died in 1878, having given birth to 13 children, of which number eight are living at the present time.
R. F. Kidd received his educational training in the private and public schools of his native county, after which he went into the newspaper business. He edited the Buckhannon Banner until 1882, then moved to Glenville where he accepted the position of principal of the Glenville Normal School. Two years later he read law with C. C. Higginbotham of Buckhannon, and then with John Bassell, of Clarksburg, West Virginia. He was admitted to the bar in 1882, but for two years thereafter engaged in teaching school. He then entered upon the practice of his profession at Glenville, soon attaining rank among the leading lawyers of the State. In 1886 he was elected to the House of Delegates and served his constituency well, but declined to be a candidate for a second term. In 1888, he was tendered the nomination for Congress by the Democratic convention but declined. In 1898 he was elected to the State Senate from the old Third Senatorial District, and in 1902 was elected from the Tenth Senatorial District. He is a member of the committees on rules, election, judiciary and education. He has the confidence of the community in which he lives to a marked degree, and has been honored with the office of mayor of Glenville and a member of the Council. He is not only one of the leaders in the Democratic party, but one of the substantial men of the city, always taking a deep interest in the promotion of Glenville's welfare. He is a director of the First National Bank of Glenville, and has been identified with numerous other important interests[sic]. He is interested in buying and selling coal lands, in which enterprise he has been very successful.
In 1884, Mr. Kidd was united in marriage with Lelia Johnson, by whom he has five children, all of whom are attending school. Religiously, Mrs. Kidd is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.]
Inscription
1854-1930
Family Members
Siblings
