Histories

My (Phil Oneacre) father talked just a little about his childhood so I don't have a lot of detail here.

In early childhood Herbert contract whooping cough that left him somewhat sickly for the rest of his life.  He said that people could hear his wheezing on the side walk under his second story bedroom over a store on Main Street, New Martinsville, WV.  As a youngster he helped his father (Louis) in the drug store by making deliveries to shut ins.  He also assisted his father in preparing some medicines like filling blank capsules with custom made drugs which in that day in time was a regular activity of the store.

Herbert graduated salutatorian from Magnolia High School, New Martinsville, WV in 1921, a about a month after his 17th birthday.  He was advanced by 2 grades earlier because of his scholarship.  The caption under his senior class picture "Learning by study must be won.  As the student Herbert has surely done." alludes to that.  While he was not an athlete he is mentioned several times in the Magnolia High's year book.  Ethel Willey, who's picture shares the same page as Herbert's in the year book, seems to be the center of it all.  In Lost and Found the comment "By Herb Oneacre ..... Ethel again." and in bequeaths "Herbert Oneacre to George McIntire, high knowledge of the fair sex." suggest a relationship.  Then in "Horoscope" "Ethel (Et) Likes best Herbert with the ambition 'to get her man." and a destiny to be a housewife.  Moving on to Herbert's entry we find his favorite expression is Ethel, likes best Ethel, ambition to be Ethel's husband but destiny to be a bachelor.  In the class Prophesy there is the following reference:  ""The Latest Romance," in which the star performers were Ethel Willey and Herbert Oneacre."  Finally in the Joke section is the following lines

   Herbert O. "Why is Ethel W. like a lemon."
   Mulligan R. "I don't know. Why?"
   Herbert O. "Because she likes to be squeezed."
   According to Science "If the freezing point is 32 degrees above zero the squeezing point is two in the shade."

Upon graduating high school Herbert worked for a year with the Oneacre Brothers Construction Co, his Oneacre uncles.  Besides working he continued his violin lessons resulting a certificate of competency from D J Winton in August 1922.  During high school Herb was in the school orchestra and in the Methodist Church orchestra. 

After learning the carpenter trade he went off to college at West Virginia Wesleyan in Buckhannon, WV.  He did not return for year two (final year in those days)  of school.  After working a year with adults he became socialized in adult ideas, humor, discussion, and entertainment.  The college students were just too immature for his liking and decided not to return.

After his college year he returned to New Martinsville and worked but we are not entirely sure at what.  Part time, we know, he taught violin and piano for that is how he met his wife Bea Carpenter.   Bea lived in Wheeling and from time to time she returned to New Martinsville to visit family and friends.  He was so smitten with Bea that he traveled to Wheeling where she worked as a nurse at Ohio Valley General Hospital.  After a few visits back and forth a proposal was offered and accepted.  The wedding took place in Wheeling at a Lutheran Church where 35 years later their daughter would be married by the same minister. Other activities before marriage included going to horse races at Wheeling Island, live performances, and salon activities which he was never specific about but too many people he knew or stories he told seemed to have that connection.

In the late 20's Herb bought some land on North Avenue next to the High School (later Central Grade School and now demolished) and built a building to house two small stores and a second floor with an apartment where they lived until they moved in with his father after his mother died.  Herb opened a sundry shop and rented the other half.  At some point he closed that store and went to work with his father in the drug store on Main Street.  In the early 50's the store was moved to 3rd Street (State Route 7) as Oneacre Drug.  About 1956, a year after the death of Louis, the store was sold to Ben Mitchell and a few years later changed the name to Mitchell Drug.  At point he helped out at the drug store while taking an online course in bookkeeping.  He acquired a number of clients and was reasonably successful.  At the same time he took a part time job of inspector of the State of West Virginia.  Mainly he inspected materials in road construction and maintenance but his most enjoyable job was inspecting the paint used in making license plates the state penitentiary in Moundsville.  He had a wonderful time talking to the inmates and listening to their stories often insisting they were innocent of crimes they were convicted of.

Abot 1970 Herb and Bea moved to Thomson, Georgia to be closer to their daughter (Patricia) and grandchildren Jamie and Bob Lemley.  There Herb worked part time at several local businesses enabling him to make new friends and acquaintances.  He took special interest om local history and particularly the 19th century Wrightsboro settlement.  Herb and Bea spend many holiday and weekends with there grandsons Jamie and Bob.  While not being with family and friends he worked on making wine in the South to be as good or better that he made in the upper Ohio Valley.  His grand sons and others were witness to many attempts but alas success was not to  be.  But making wine in the South was successful to a certain extent.  His wines generally just lacked good taste.  While a few did taste OK, all would mentally grimace when he ask us to try his latest effort.  The wines never lacked for alcohol for he added vodka to still the wine (we think jut to fortify) and so after a few sips we would often not be able to taste anything.  A blessing.