JOHN S. DARST
TAKEN BY DEATH
Former State Auditor,
Legislator, Dies At
Charleston Home
After Illness
Wrote Blue Sky Law
CHARLESTON, Aug. 27 - (AP) - John S. Darst, 77, who served as a state official for more than 30 years either as auditor, member of the Board of Control or legislator, died today.
The funeral will be here Sunday. Darst, one of the state's best known political leader s for three decades, numbered among his achievements revision of the state insurance laws, creation of the fire marshall's division.
He wrote the "Blue Sky" securities statute which requires companies placing securities on the market to obtain state registration. While a legislator, he was one of the committed which advocated a constitutional amendment placing the state auditor and secretary of state on a salary rather than a fee basis. The suggestion received approval.
He served one term as president of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.
Darst was born at Cheshire, O., in 1860. His parents wanted him to become a minister but because of straightened circumstances he became a miller in a plant at Pomeroy, O. Later he organized a mill in Jackson County, W.Va.
In 1897, when he was 37, Darst was elected from Jackson County to the House of Delegates, and after seceral terms in the lower branch, he became a state senator.
In 1907 he was appointed an assistant state tax commissioner, and the next year was elected auditor.
In 1920 Major General Leonard Wood chose Darst to manage his West Virginia campaign for the Republican presidential nomination. In that year Darst also was chairman of the West Virginia delegation to the Republican National Convention.
Governor E.F. Morgan appointed Darst a member of the Board of Control in 1921 to fill an unexpired term, and then named him for a full term, but Governor Howard M. Gore appointed another to the full term.
For years Darst resided each winter in Florida.
He is survived by his widow, Mrs. Blanche McKay Darst; a daughter, Mrs. Frank P. Corbin of Morgantown; a brother, Mose W. Darst of Pickerington, O.; a sister, Mrs. William Hetzel, and several grandchildren.
Beckley Post-Herald
August 28, 1936.
State Auditor.
JOHN SHERMAN DARST (Republican), was born in Cheshire, Gallia county, Ohio, October 3, 1860. He attended the public schools, where he acquired his education, and later learned the miller's trade, which he followed for a number of years both in Ohio and West Virginia. When he came to West Virginia he located in Jackson county, with his home and business at Cottageville.
The first public office held by Mr. Darst was member of the House of Delegates from Jackson county. He was elected in 1896 and took an active part in framing the laws of the State. He was twice re-elected as a member of the House of Delegates and in 1902 was elected to the State Senate, where he served four years. During his term in the Senate, Mr. Darst became a potent factor in the creation of the new tax system and was also the patron of the constitutional amendment, later ratified by the voters of the State, which placed the office of State Auditor on a salary basis, made the Secretary of State an elective officer and eliminated the fee system in both offices.
Mr. Darst was appointed Assistant State Tax Commissioner following his term in the State Senate and served until 1908 when he was made the Republican nominee for State Auditor. With his associates on the Republican State ticket he was elected in 1908 and re-elected in 1912.
Mr. Darst now lives at Charleston and is a citizen of Kanawha county. He married Miss Blanch McKay, of Meigs county, Ohio, and they have three children — Lieutenant Gilford Darst, of the United States Navy, assigned to special duty at Baltimore; Mrs. Helen Corbin, of Morgantown; and Moses Darst, First Lieutenant United States Regulars, at this date (October 25, 1917) stationed
at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma.
Mr. Darst as Auditor of West Virginia is also ex-officio Insurance Commissioner of the State and was honored in 1915 with election to the Presidency of the International Convention of Insurance Commissioners. He is also a successful business man, heavily interested in Charleston real estate and a stockholder in banks and mercantile establishments.
At the primary election held June 6, 1916, Mr. Darst was nominated for State Auditor on the Republican ticket, and was re-elected at the general election November 7th, following.
JOHN S. DARST
TAKEN BY DEATH
Former State Auditor,
Legislator, Dies At
Charleston Home
After Illness
Wrote Blue Sky Law
CHARLESTON, Aug. 27 - (AP) - John S. Darst, 77, who served as a state official for more than 30 years either as auditor, member of the Board of Control or legislator, died today.
The funeral will be here Sunday. Darst, one of the state's best known political leader s for three decades, numbered among his achievements revision of the state insurance laws, creation of the fire marshall's division.
He wrote the "Blue Sky" securities statute which requires companies placing securities on the market to obtain state registration. While a legislator, he was one of the committed which advocated a constitutional amendment placing the state auditor and secretary of state on a salary rather than a fee basis. The suggestion received approval.
He served one term as president of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.
Darst was born at Cheshire, O., in 1860. His parents wanted him to become a minister but because of straightened circumstances he became a miller in a plant at Pomeroy, O. Later he organized a mill in Jackson County, W.Va.
In 1897, when he was 37, Darst was elected from Jackson County to the House of Delegates, and after seceral terms in the lower branch, he became a state senator.
In 1907 he was appointed an assistant state tax commissioner, and the next year was elected auditor.
In 1920 Major General Leonard Wood chose Darst to manage his West Virginia campaign for the Republican presidential nomination. In that year Darst also was chairman of the West Virginia delegation to the Republican National Convention.
Governor E.F. Morgan appointed Darst a member of the Board of Control in 1921 to fill an unexpired term, and then named him for a full term, but Governor Howard M. Gore appointed another to the full term.
For years Darst resided each winter in Florida.
He is survived by his widow, Mrs. Blanche McKay Darst; a daughter, Mrs. Frank P. Corbin of Morgantown; a brother, Mose W. Darst of Pickerington, O.; a sister, Mrs. William Hetzel, and several grandchildren.
Beckley Post-Herald
August 28, 1936.
State Auditor.
JOHN SHERMAN DARST (Republican), was born in Cheshire, Gallia county, Ohio, October 3, 1860. He attended the public schools, where he acquired his education, and later learned the miller's trade, which he followed for a number of years both in Ohio and West Virginia. When he came to West Virginia he located in Jackson county, with his home and business at Cottageville.
The first public office held by Mr. Darst was member of the House of Delegates from Jackson county. He was elected in 1896 and took an active part in framing the laws of the State. He was twice re-elected as a member of the House of Delegates and in 1902 was elected to the State Senate, where he served four years. During his term in the Senate, Mr. Darst became a potent factor in the creation of the new tax system and was also the patron of the constitutional amendment, later ratified by the voters of the State, which placed the office of State Auditor on a salary basis, made the Secretary of State an elective officer and eliminated the fee system in both offices.
Mr. Darst was appointed Assistant State Tax Commissioner following his term in the State Senate and served until 1908 when he was made the Republican nominee for State Auditor. With his associates on the Republican State ticket he was elected in 1908 and re-elected in 1912.
Mr. Darst now lives at Charleston and is a citizen of Kanawha county. He married Miss Blanch McKay, of Meigs county, Ohio, and they have three children — Lieutenant Gilford Darst, of the United States Navy, assigned to special duty at Baltimore; Mrs. Helen Corbin, of Morgantown; and Moses Darst, First Lieutenant United States Regulars, at this date (October 25, 1917) stationed
at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma.
Mr. Darst as Auditor of West Virginia is also ex-officio Insurance Commissioner of the State and was honored in 1915 with election to the Presidency of the International Convention of Insurance Commissioners. He is also a successful business man, heavily interested in Charleston real estate and a stockholder in banks and mercantile establishments.
At the primary election held June 6, 1916, Mr. Darst was nominated for State Auditor on the Republican ticket, and was re-elected at the general election November 7th, following.
Inscription
JOHN SHERMAN DARST
1860 - 1936
AGED 75Y. 10M. 24D.
Gravesite Details
3C2R
