LOVELL'S "SWEAT OF THY BROW" FARMING
Lovell Otis Sampson, 95, of Grantsville, West Virginia, went home to be with the Lord September 5, 2008.
Lovell was born March 6, 1913 to William and Eva Craddock Sampson. He attended Walnut Grove Church and was an avid fisherman and hunter. Pappaw Lovell will be greatly missed.
Surviving are his children, June Godfrey, Don Sampson and his wife Margarit, Charlie Sampson and his wife Linda all of Grantsville; a brother, Roscoe Sampson of Columbia, SC; three half-brothers, Gerald, Doyle and Darryal Sampson of Grantsville; ten grandchildren, eighteen great grandchildren and ten great-great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 70 years Maude Kerby Sampson; three brothers, Bernard, Orval and William Sampson; and one sister, Gladys Wagoner.
Funeral services will be held 1 p.m. Monday, September 8 at Stump Funeral Home, Grantsville. Rev. Carl Marks will officiate. Interment will be in the Gibson Cemetery at Arnoldsburg.
Friends may call at the funeral home one hour prior to the services.
MORE ABOUT LOVELL
Lovell was a walking encyclopedia about farm life in Calhoun, working for many years for the Hardman family, one of the county's best known livestock and farm producers for nearly 100 years.
He recalled tales about George Washington Hardman, Jr., who operated his farm and political life from a manor house on Barnes Run, not far from Hur. Old George's son, Allie took over the farm in 1929, and operated it until his death in the early 1950's.
For the most part, Lovell was there through all the transitions, as a farm worker, livestock manager and straw boss.
He recalled herding cattle, pigs and turkeys across the West Fork and out Egypt Ridge to market in Spencer.
Mostly he recalled the Hardman's giant dinner table, often feeding fifteen to twenty-five family members and workers every day.
A list of those workers during the farm's hey-day is on the Hur Herald.
Our memories of Lovell will certainly recall a life and time about work and tenant farming that is long gone, his ability to survice by the sweat of his brow.- Bob Weaver
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