The History of West Virginia, Old and New
Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc.,
Chicago and New York, Volume III,
pg. 567
Wyoming

BUREN HARRISON TOLER. No calling brings into play a
more diversified exhibition of capability than that of teach-
ing. In order to rise to any degree of distinction in that
profession it is necessary first to possess the natural
inclination toward the work, without which it is almost
impossible to render efficient service, and superimposed
upon this must be an extensive training, coupled with varied
and extensive experience. The life of a conscientious
teacher is one of self abnegation and sacrifice that finds its
chief reward in the realization that young minds are de-
veloped properly and characters trained so that in the
future, when the stress of life is brought to bear upon them,
they are able to meet its demands. Wyoming County has
produced some able educators, and prominent among them
is Buren Harrison Toler, supervisor of schools of the Slab
Fork District, who, while still a young man, has already
made rapid strides in his calling.

Mr. Toler was born at Clear Fork (formerly Sun Hill),
Wyoming County, West Virginia, February 1, 1895, and is
a son of Henry P. and Darthula (Brown) Toler. His
grandparents were John and Polly Toler, of old pioneer
stock, who came from Mingo County to the wide bottoms
of Clear Fork of the Guyandotte in about 1857. Numerous
anecdotes have come down regarding this rugged and
stout-hearted couple. It is related of Polly Toler, who was
related to the famous Hatfleld family of feudists, that on
one occasion during young wifehood, when she was doing
the family washing at the riverside, a deer, pursued by
the hunting hounds, managed to find refuge in a narrow
foothold on a ledge of rocks under an overhanging cliff on
the opposite side of the river. It had been some time since
the Toler family had enjoyed venison, and the intrepid
Polly, leaping into the water, swam the stream, dragged
the deer from the ledge into the water, where she held his
head under until he was drowned, and then reswam the
stream, towing with her the means of supplying the family
larder with fresh meat. The next day she gave birth to
a child. She lived to reach the remarkable age of 100
years, passing away in 1918, while her husband, who reached
the age of ninety-five years, died in 1902. They were mem-
bers of the Methodist Church. Of their large family of
children three sons survive: Ellis, a resident of Mingo
County, and W. S. and Peter, who live at Sun Hill.

Henry P. Toler was born in 1856, at Sun Hill, Wyoming
County, and passed his life in agricultural pursuits, in addi-
tion to which he dealt in the timber cut from his land,
which he contracted to deliver at the river bank. He was a
leader in the Baptist Church, and, like the other Tolers,
as well as the Browns, was a stanch republican in politics.
He died November 30, 1915. At Oceana, West Virginia,
Mr. Toler married Darthula Brown, who was born on Big
Huff Creek, Wyoming County, a daughter of Jack Brown,
and was the same age and weight as her husband at the
time of their marriage. She survives him and lives at the
old home on Clear Fork. Of their eleven children seven
are still living. W. R., is justice of the peace at Mullens;
Lilly died in 1915, as the wife of the late Buoy Goodman;
J. Albert, formerly a member of the County Court, later
prosecuting attorney, is now engaged in general practice
at Mullens; Roxie is the wife of Floyd Graham, living on
the old home place at Clear Fork; Cleveland, died as a
boy; John H., who went to the Concord Normal School at
Athens and the State University, is now principal of the
Mullens High School; Eva is the wife of Alfred Moore,
of Clear Fork; Buren Harrison; and Cora is the wife of
B. Aliff, of Clear Fork.

Buren Harrison Toler secured his early education in a
one-room schoolhouse and when he was only thirteen years
of age began teaching school at Mill Creek schoolhouse.
He subsequently taught two other schools, and then went
to Concord Normal School, where his brother John H. was
working his way through school by operating the pumping
system. Buren H. Toler secured the position of caring
for the ladies' dormitory, and by doing this work paid
his way through the course and was graduated in 1914.
In 1914, 1915 and 1916 he was principal of the Pineville
schools, and then entered the State University, but in
1917 resumed teaching at Pineville. In the fall of 1917
he thought that by going to Washington he could be
assigned to duty in the aviation service of the United
States army, but he was disappointed in this ambition.
Accordingly, he volunteered for duty and was assigned
to the bacteriological department in the Medical Corps, and
after six weeks of training in the Army Medical School
at Washington was sent to duty at Fort Leavenworth,
where he remained three months. His overseas service began
at this time, for he went from Hoboken to St. Nazaire,
France, and was then sent to Tours as accountant in the
chief surgeon's office. After his return from France he
received his honorable discharge at Mitchell's Field, Long
Island, May 13, 1919, and his first position after his
discharge was as store manager in a road construction
camp at Bud, Wyoming County. One month later he was
made school supervisor of the Slab Fork school district,
a position which he has since retained. He has had charge
of the erection of seven schools in his district, including
the district high schools at Mullens and Milam Fork, and
in various ways has aided the cause of education in this
locality, where he is held in high esteem as a progressive
and constructive educator and as a citizen who is con-
tributing to the advancement of his native locality.

On June 30, 1919, Mr. Toler was united in marriage with
Miss Hazel Dunn, daughter of W. W. Dunn, of Peterstown,
West Virginia, and a graduate of Concord Normal School.
Mrs. Toler is an active worker in the Methodist Church,
while her husband is no less helpful in the Baptist Church.
He is a member of Mullens Lodge, A. F. and A. M., and
Princeton Chapter, R. A. M., and has served as commander
of the local post of the American Legion. In politics he
is a republican.

Submitted by:
Valerie Crook
vfcrook@earthlink.net
July 23, 2000