History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 2, Part 77

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HARRY STANLEY KEISTER, M. D. A talented young physician and surgeon, Doctor Keister enjoys a sueeessful praetiee at Fairmont, and was in service with the Medical Corps during the World war.

He was born at Upper Traet in Pendleton County, West Virginia, son of Engene and Christina (Smith) Keister. His parents were both born in Old Virginia, his father in Rock- ingham County in 1850 and his mother in Franklin, Pendle- ton County, in 1860. Both his grandfathers were soldiers in the Confederate army, his maternal grandfather losing his life in battle. The paternal grandfather, Henry Keister, was a native of Virginia and of German ancestry, and was a lieutenant in the Confederate army. Eugene Keister as a man removed to Pendleton County, and until he retired was active in business as a building contractor. He and his wife are still living.

Doctor Keister graduated from high school in 1902, and in 1905 received a degree in pharmacy from the Valparaiso University of Indiana. For two years he followed the pro- fession of pharmacist in Morgantown and Fairmont. He then entered the Chicago College of Medicine and Surgery at Chicago, where he graduated M. D. in 1912. He also had a year of special work as an interne in the American Hospital of Chicago, and began his active practice at Chiefton in

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Fion County, and three years later removed to Fairmont. 'ing the summer of 1916 Doctor Keister took post- duate work at the Johns Hopkins University Medical fool at Baltimore.

.a soon as America entered the war against Germany promptly volunteered und was commissioned a first lieu- unt in the Medical Corps, assigned to the Twentieth Di- ion. Ile was on duty at Camp Scvier, Greenville, South olina, and then at Camp Hancock, Augusta, Georgia, re he continued his duties until the armistice was signed. er leaving the army Doctor Keister resumod his profes- al work at Fairmont. Besides his growing practice he n the staff of the Cook Hospital as chief of the depart- it of genito-urinary surgery.

Doctor Keister is a member of the Marion County, West ginia State and American Medical Associations. lfo ia iated with Acacia Lodge, A. F. and A. M., at Fairmont, h West Virginia Consistory No. 1 of the Scottish Rite, Osiris Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Wheeling. He is member of the American Legion and the Presbyterian rch.

[ON. MATTHEW MANSFIELD NEELY, who represented the st Congressional Distriet in Congress from 1913 to 1921, i lawyer of Fairmont, where he has practiced his pro- sion with notable success for twenty years. He is also ormer mayor of his home city.

Ir. Neely was born on a farm near Grove, Doddridge nty, November 9, 1874. Hia first American ancestor was st. John Neely, who came with his parents from England en he was quite young. As a youth in the colonies he bed construct the forts Crown Point and Ticonderoga, sequently the scene of two of the most brilliant exploits the early part of the Revolutionary war. The son of Colonial settler, and grandfather of the ex-Congress- a, was Matthew Neely, who was born ia New York State, established his family in West Virginia, arriving in the er state more than a century ago.

'he father of Matthew Mansfield Neely was Dr. Alfred ly, a most generous, self-sacrificing and noble type of old pioneer country doctor. He was born at Morgans- e on the old Northwestern Turnpike in Doddridge County 1830, and died in 1906. For two years he attended Jef- son Medical College in Philadelphia, studied under a ed physician of that time in New York City, and then arned home and lived in Doddridge County the rest of life. From his home he practiced over at least half a en surrounding counties. His skill waa extraordinary, I he was credited with many remarkable cures. He was physician who was in every way a friend of humanity, I in the service be rendered attending the sick at any e, day or night, in winter or summer, the thought of was never an incentive. He carried his own medicines, ording to the custom of pioneer doctors, in his saddle (8. When his patients could remunerate him he accepted pensation, but there were countless cases in which his ·k was without material reward. He did more than render fessional aervice; instances are recalled when he fur- hed his patient a cow to supply milk for the underfed Idren. Notwithstanding the great extent and constant or of hia professional career, it is not atrange that he d a comparatively poor man. The nobility of Doctor ely's character and the striking example of his busy of service to humanity proved a great inspiration to son, who, nevertheless, had to learn self-reliance and gely make his own way in the world.

Doctor Neely married Mary Morria, who was born near ve in Doddridge County, and, now in her seventy-first r, is a woman of unusual intellectual vigor and ac- iplishments. Her memory is extraordinary. She can still eat without error entire chaptera of the New Testament ! countless poems, auch as "The Cotter's Saturday ght," and Gray's "Elegy in a Country Churchyard." der the influence of his mother's example Mr. Neely med the habit of committing to memory the gems of liter- re.

Ars. Neely'a father was an early settler of Doddridge ken Harrison) County, and at the beginning of the Civil

war he entered the Union Army, was captured in the second battle of Bull Run and Inter starvod to death in Anderson ville Prison. Doctor Neely and wife had three children: Dagmar, wife of J. H. Keyser, who is now at the head of the Kano & Keyser Hardware Company, wholesale hurd] waro merchants at Belington in Barbour County, and vicc president of the Belington National Bank; Mintthew Mans- field; and Delmond, wife of Charles H. Jones, secretary treasurer of the Kane & Keyser Hardware Company of Belington.

In 1879 the Neely family removed from Grovo to the nearby villago of Market, and on the family form in that locality Matthew Mansfield Neely spent the next thirteen years of his life. Soon after going there he was assigned a share of the form labors, of which he performed nn in erensing part with ench succeeding year. He attended the country school situated more than half a mile from his home. and seperated from it by the muddiest of roads, for a period of four winter months of ench year until he was seventeen. After ten weeks' training in a summer school he in the year 1893 successfully passed an examination and received a teacher's certificate, and in the fall of that year took charge of a short school term at Windom, n mining town in Mineral County, near the summit of the Allegheny Mountains. He remained there teaching two years. in his third year he became prineipnl of the school nt Nethken- ville near Elk Garden, where he taught during 1995 96. After his first term as teacher he attended the spring term of Salem College, West Virginia, and resumed his studies in that institution three successive springs terms, paying his way out of his meager savings from teaching nud by working Saturdays.

In the fall of Is97 Mr. Neely entered West Virginin University. Early in the following year the Spanish Amer- iean war began, und at the first call for volunteers he en- listed as a private in Company D of the First West Virginia Volunteer Infantry. Ile was with that command seven months and five days, when he was mustered out of the service by reason of the termination of the war. In the Spring of 1899 he resumed his work at West Virginia I'ni versity. While in the university he was obliged to earn a large part of the money with which to defrny his cx- penses, improving every opportunity that was offered to him to earn an honest dollar. In spite of the fnet that he was largely working hia way through school he was one of the most popular members of the student bedy, and when graduated with the degree of A. B. in 1901, he was president of his elass. In 1902 ho received the LL. B. degree from the University Law School. During his senior year in college he und a fellow student "split" the Wiles oratorieal prize of $100; while in the same year he nnd a fellow student won a debating prize of $50 for the Columbia Literary Society, of which they were members. During the year 1899 Mr. Neely was active in the Cadet Corps of the university, and won the gold medal for being the best drilled cadet in the Corps. The year he graduated in law he was chosen in a competitive contest to represent the West Virginia University in the Central Oratorical League, composed of Cornell, University of Pennsylvania, Ohio State, Ohio Wesleyan University, Indiana University and West Virginia University. In this contest he gained third honors for his alma mater.

Mr. Neely began the practice of law at Fairmont in 1902, and the following year formed a partnership with Henry Se Lively, a school and fraternity mate, under the firm name of Neely & Lively. This has been one of the prominent law firms of Fairmont and Marion County for nearly twenty years.

Mr. Neely did not enter politics aa a candidate until his prestige was securely established in his profession. In 190% he was elected mayor of Fairmont for a term of two years on a dry fieket. From 1911 to 1913 he served as clerk of the House of Delegates of West Virginia. When the HIon John W. Davis of West Virginia was appointed solicitor general of the United States and resigned his seat in Con- gress, Mr. Neely entered the race for his unexpired term, and was elected October 14, 1913, as a member of the Sixty- third Congress. He waa re-elected to the Sixty-fourth,

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Sixty-fifth and Sixty-sixth congresses, and served continu- ously as representative of his district, the First, composed of the counties of Brooke, Hancock, Marion, Marshall, Ohio, Taylor and Wetzel, until March, 1921. This distriet is normally republiean by from 2,500 to 5,000 votes, but Mr. Neely was repeatedly elected and served the district faith- fully until the republican landslide of 1920, in which he was defeated, despite the fact that he ran more than thirteen thousand votes ahead of his ticket.

Mr. Neely was one of West Virginia's congressmen dur- ing the critical period of the World war. One cause in which he was especially interested was proper provisions for the veterans of former wars, including members of the G. A. R. During the Sixty-fifth Congress he secured the passage of seventy-two private pension bills for veterans or their dependents of the Civil or Spanish-American wars. He secured by special enactment more pensions for old sol- diers than any other man who ever represented a West Vir- ginia district during the same length of time. In the World war Mr. Neely worked unceasingly for the soldiers, especially those of his district, and at the beginning of America's participation in the struggle he proffered his services to the President for active military duty in any capacity, with or without a commission, expressing his will- ingness to resign his seat in Congress. The President de- clined his offer, stating that he could Fest serve his country in Congress. Mr. Neely was one of the hardest working members of the national Legislature. He was very active in the study and disposition of labor problems, and had the complete confidence of organized labor all over the country. He is a finished orator and able debater, and whether in publie or private life he has a great following of enthusiastic admirers throughout his native state.

His success as a lawyer has been due to his indefatigable and earnest labors in any ease in which his talents have been engaged. He possesses great power as a pleader be- fore a jury. As a citizen he is brond-minded, progressive and liberal, with a genuine desire to fulfill to the utmost his obligations to his fellow men. Mr. Neely is a Knight Templar and Seottish Rite Mason and Shriner, an officer of the Grand Lodge of the Knights of Pythias, a life mem- ber of Fairmont Lodge of Elks, and a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Ile also belongs to the Phi Sigma Kappa, Delta Chi and Phi Beta Kappa college fraternities.

October 21, 1903, Mr. Neely married Miss Alberta Clare Ramage, of Fairmont, daughter of B. F. Ramage. Her father was for two terms elerk of the Circuit Court for Marion County. Mr. and Mrs. Neely have three children: Alfred, born Oetober 5, 1904; John Champ, born January 14, 1914; and Corinne, born December 18, 1915.

Mr. Neely was a member of the National Guard of West Virginia from 1900 to 1911, rising from corporal to the rank of major; and it is due to this fact that he is widely and commonly known as "Major Neely."

GEORGE MILTON ALEXANDER, president of the Mononga- liela Power & Railway Company, and one of the most prom- inent and influential citizens of Fairmont, judicial center of Marion County, was born on the old family homestead farm in Cass Distriet, Monongalia County, this state, No- vember 10, 1867, and is a son of the late John and Caroline (Conn) Alexander. John Alexander likewise was born in Cass District, Monongalia County, and was a son of George Alexander, who was a native of Pennsylvania and who became the pioneer representative of the family in West Virginia, as now constituted. He reclaimed and developed one of the productive farms of Monongalia County, and continued his residence in that county until his death. John Alexander became one of the substantial farmers of his native county, and long continued as one of the successful exponents of agricultural and live-stock industry in that section of the state. He finally removed from his farm to Morgantown, the county seat, and there his death occurred in 1914. His wife was born near Laurel Point, in Grant District, that county, and was a daughter of Rev. George F. C. Conn, who was born in Greene County, Pennsylvania, near the West Virginia line, and who became a prominent

elergyman of the Baptist Church, he having established } home at Laurel Point, Monongalia County, in an early da Mrs. Alexander passed to the life eternal in the year 19(

George M. Alexander passed the period of his ehildho and early youth upon the old home farm which was t place of his birth, and in the meanwhile profited by t advantages offered by the rural sehools, after which, 1886, he entered the University of West Virginia. In tl institution he was graduated in 1892, with the degree Bachelor of Seienee, and also that of Bachelor of Lav He was admitted to the bar in the same year, and in Oct ber, 1892, entered upon the practice of his profession ! opening an office at Fairmont. He soon proved his powe as a resourceful trial lawyer and well fortified counselor al in 1896 he was elected prosecuting attorney of Mari County. Upon completing his official term of four yea he resumed the private practice of his profession, and lat he became attorney for the Fairmont and Clarksburg Tra tion Company, which was the parent company of what now known as the Monongahela Power & Railway Col pany. He also became attorney for the Consolidation Co Company. Of the former corporation he is now the presiden He has high standing in his profession and has been sy cially well known as a successful corporation lawyer.

On the 11th of April, 1918, Mr. Alexander volunteer for service in the United States Army. He was commi sioned captain in the ordnance department and was on dul at Washington, D. C., until he resigned his commissio December 23, 1918, and returned to Fairmont. In tl following month he was chosen president of the Fairmor & Clarksburg Traetion Company, now the Monongahe, Power & Railway Company., and he has sinee given all ( his time to his exceutive duties as head of this importar corporation.

Mr. Alexander is a member of the Fairmont Country Clu and the Maryland Club in the City of Baltimore. He is a filiated with Fairmont Lodge No. 9. Ancient Free an Accepted Masons; Fairmont Lodge No. 2, Independer Order of Odd Fellows; Fairmont Lodge No. 294, Benevoler and Protective Order of Elks; and the Phi Sigma Kapp college fraternity. Ilis political allegiance is given to th democratie party, and he and his wife hold membership i the Christian Science Church. Mrs. Alexander, whose maide name was Gertrude Jamison, is a daughter of James M. an Elizabeth (Boyers) Jamison, of Monongalia County. Mi and Mrs. Alexander have two children: Virginia, who i the wife of Robert E. Barnes of Parkersburg, this state and Edward E., who is a student in a preparatory schoc at Lawrenceville, New Jersey.

CAPT. WARD LANHAM. Now a part in the growing re sponsibilities of his law practice at Fairmont, Captai Lanham is probably one of the best-known younger citizen of West Virginia. He has a great following among colleg and university men, has been a sueeessful athletie coach but his most distinguishing record so far was made as : gallant Ameriean officer during the World war.

Captain Lanham was born at Newburg in Preston County West Virginia, May 17, 1889. His grandparents were Jame and Malinda (Lowe) Lanham. The former was born 01 the east side of the mountains in Old Virginia, and when a boy his parents settled in the Bakers Creek neighbor hood, within the present limits of the City of Morgantown Captain Lanham is a son of Dr. Thomas Fleming and Alberta May (Shaffer) Lanham. Doetor Lanham was born on his father's farm about six miles from Fairmont, ir Marion County, in 1847, was graduated from the Fairmont Normal School, and received his M. D. degree from the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Baltimore. For many years he enjoyed a wide, extended and successful practice in Preston County, but for several years has made his home at Grafton in Taylor County. Doctor Lanham while in Preston County had a large practice as a mining physician, chiefly for the mines owned by Martin L. Shaffer. Doctor Lanham married the daughter of this prominent coal operator, Alberta May, who was born in Preston County in 1847.

Capt. Ward Lanham attended school at Newburg, grad-

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d from the Grafton High School in 1908, received his elor of Science degree from Wesleyan College at Buck- ion in 1912, and for about five years was successfully ged in educational work. He taught school at Grafton coached the athletic team two years, and was then in- stor and coach in the Fairmont Iligh School one year, wing which he was teacher and coach in the Buckhannon 1 School.

1916 Captain Lanham entered West Virginia Uni- ty, and had carried his studies about a year when rica declared war on Germany. Ile was one of the first ersity men to enter the active service of the Govern- t. Ile immediately sent his application to the War artment for appointment to the Officers Training School, on May 10, 1917, he entered the camp at Fort Benjamin rison, Indianapolis. He was commissioned first lieu- nt and on August 15, 1917, was ordered to Ilarvard versity to receive special instruction in trench warfare r French instructors sent over for that purpose by the ch Government. He was detailed for duty at Camp man, Ohio, where he was assigned to the Three Hundred nty-ninth Infantry in the Eighty.third Division, Head- ters Company. Lieutenant Lanham left Camp Sher- in April, 1918, sailed from New York City, landed at rpool, crossed England to Southhampton, thence over channel to LaHavre, and was immediately assigned to Twenty-eighth Infantry, First Division. He was with division in service until they crossed the River Rhine, he had the honor of being the first American officer ross the River Mozelle into German territory and also first to cross the River Rhine. Immediately following battle of St. Mihiel he was commissioned captain in ember, 1918.

le high lights in his service can best be described in ations and abstracts from the army records. He was for the Distinguished Service Cross by Brigadier Gen- G. C. Barnhart, and was awarded the Croix de Guerre he French Government.

S. Army citation: Capt. Martin W. Lanham, Regi- Intelligence Officer, Twenty-eighth Infantry, for dis- aished and exceptional gallantry at Meuse-Argonne Detober 6, 1918, in the operations of the American ditionary Forces. In testimony thereof and as an ession of his valor I award him this citation. Signed, J. Pershing, Commander in Chief. Awarded March 919.

hile on German territory the following citation was "December 4, 1918, in General Orders, Headquar- Germany. Capt. Martin Ward Lanham, Regiment ligence Officer, Twenty-eighth Infantry. Brave and us throughout the operations without thought of per- danger, furnished his regimental commander valuable necessary information by keeping constantly where the ments of the enemy might be observed; on the final although suffering greatly from gas, volunteered and ssfully accomplished an important and dangerous mis- upon his return waa evacuated, owing to gas burns exhaustion. By command of Major General McGlaehlin. ad, Stephen C. Fuqua, Chief of Staff."

anch Army, General Order, Extract D: With the ap- il of the General Commander in Chief A. E. F. in Ece, the Marshal of France, Commander in Chief of the Ech armies of the Government, cites in the orders of rmy Capt. Martin Ward Lanham of the Twenty-eighth gnent Infantry: "He gave on October 10, 1918, a example of courage and sang froid in volunteering averse a zone swept by the fire of the Infantry and tery, in order to maintain liaison between the first line the post of command of his support. Signed, The hal, Commander in Chief French Armies of the East, En."'

Eadquarters First Division. The Commander in Chief J'hoted in this division a special private service and ¿ state of morale never broken by hardship or battle. . No. 20, C. H. D., A. E. F., November 10, 1919. L'al Order No. I, January 11, 1920, cities the following tres and soldiers for gallantry in action and especially Morions service. First Lieut. Martin Ward Lanham, Vot. II-27

Twenty-eighth Infantry, who was wounded in action in the Meuse-Argonne offensive October 18-19, 1019, by command of Major General Summerall. Signed, Stephen C. Fuqua, Chief of Staff.

Second Infantry Brigade, Camp Zachary Taylor, Ken- tucky, December 20, 1910. General Order No. 11. 1. The Brigado Commander cites the following officers and en. listed men for gallantry in action and devotion to duty during the operations of the Second Infantry Brigade in the Meuse-Argonne offensive of October 6.8, 1914. Ex traet from General Order No. 11: Capt. Martin Ward Lanham, H. Q. R. S., Second Infantry Brigade, a staff of ficer of tireless energy and endurance, resourceful, loyal and highly courageous, hie contributed greatly to the com. plete success of the final operations of the Second Infantry Brigade, November 1-11, 1918. Signed, F. C. Marshall, Brig-General.

After leaving Germany and before his discharge Captain Lanham spent six months in the study of Inw in Inns of Court at London, during which time he also traveled in England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales. He sailed for the United States July 1, 1919, and when the vessel was midway home he was operated upon for appendicitis. lle was dis- charged while an inmate of Walter Reid Hospital at Wash- ington on September 10, 1919, and mustered out.

Following his discharge from the service Captain Lanham returned to West Virginia University, took up his studies in the law department, nnd graduated LL. B. with the elass of 1920. In the same year he began practice nt Fairmont, but he also coached the West Virginia University freshman football team for 1920-1921.

Captain Lanham is a member of the American Legion, West Virginia Department, and a Phi Kappa Psi. A bril- liant, resourceful young native son of the state, he pos- sesses all the qualities to insure leadership and usefulness in his chosen profession.

WELLSBURG BANK AND TRUST COMPANY. As one of the early points of commerce and trade in the l'pper Ohio Val. ley Wellsburg early became a banking town, and ninety years ago a branch of the Northwestern Bank of Virginia was established there. In 1871 there was organized the Wellsburg Bank, better known as the S. George Bank, a private institution and owned by him. S. George, Sr., was the first president of the institution. This was sue reeded in 1903 by the Wellsburg Bank & Trust Com pany for the purpose of providing an institution for strictly commercial banking and one more adapted to the methods and needs of modern times. The late S. George became the first president of the Wellsburg Bank & Trust Company, with F. A. Chapman, vice president; Charles R. Windsor, treasurer and sceretary. S. George died the same year the bank was organized and was succeeded by his son, S. George, Jr., as president. This company in twenty years has set a high standard of commercial bank ing. The bank has resources of $1,500,000, deposits of over a million, and the undivided surplus and profits ex ceed the capital stock. The company has never passed n dividend and for several years the dividends have been on a ten per cent basis. All the stockholders are local men. Since 1903 the bank has been housed in a building specially erected for the purpose.

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History of West Virginia old and new, Volume 2, Part 77

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