History of the American Negro: West Virginia Edition

Henry Clay Hargrove

78 history american negro and went from there to Huntington and while on that work assisted the presiding elder for some time. His next move was to Elkins, where he remained for five years and built the church and parsonage. From there he went to Weston and Sutton for five years, rebuilt the church at Weston and built a parsonage. His next appointment took him to Meriden for five years where he erected a new house of worship. After that he served Freeman and Good Will for three years, Roseville for one year, and Bluefield for two years. He was then given the College Hill Station, Cincinnati, Ohio, and during a pastorate there of five years finished the church and built a parsonage. He came to Williamson in 1917 and the work there has had splendid growth under his ministry. The membership has grown from 30 to 200 and the parsonage has been repaired. Dr. Griffith has had a fruitful ministry and has brought a great number of new members into the church. The reader will not be surprised to know that he puts the Bible first in his reading. After that he is fond of history. In politics Dr. Griffith is a Republican and among the secret orders has long been identified with the Masons, Odd Fellows and Pythians. He believes the progress of the race may be promoted by a spirit of mutual helpfulness and a practical spirit of cooperation. Henry Clay Hargrove Dr. Henry Clay Hargrove, one of the leading of the younger professional men of the race in the prosperous little mountain city of Beckley, the county seat of Raleigh County, W.Va., is a native of Virginia. He was born in the county of Nelson on July 3, 1882. His father, Caleb Hargrove, was a farmer, and his mother’s name was Betty Hargrove. Of course, no written records could be kept before Emancipation, and so little is known of Dr. Hargrove’s earlier ancestors. henry clay hargrove 80 history american negro It may be said that he laid the foundation of his education in the public schools of the Old Dominion as he went through the first and second grades before the family moved to West Virginia. His further studies were pursued at the West Virginia Collegiate Institute at Institute , W. Va. He was there till 1904. He was under the necessity of making his own way in school and earned the money for tuition and other expenses by work in the mines. While at Institute he decided upon medicine as a career, and when ready for his course, matriculated at the School of Medicine of Howard University from which he was graduated with the M.D. degree in 1908. As a student he was active in college athletics and made the varsity team. He was already familiar with the conditions and opportunities of the West Virginia coal fields, and in 1909 began the regular practice of his profession. After a short stop in Fayette County, he located at Beckley where he has since resided and prospered. He does a general practice and is a member of the state Medical and Dental Association. On August 20, 1909, Dr. Hargrove married Miss Maud Carrington of Huntington. Mrs. Hargrove was educated at Hartshorn Memorial College. There were three children by this marriage, Henry C., Jr., Thelma and Lloyd. In 1918 Mrs. Hargrove passed to her reward. On August 1, 1919, the doctor was married to Miss Mary Morgan of Beckley. Dr. Hargrove is a Republican in politics and in religion a Baptist. He is trustee and chairman of the building committee of his local church. His secret order affiliations are with the Pythians and the Red Men. He is grand Medical Director for the latter. Few men have the opportunity to study conditions more intimately than the physician, and Dr. Hargrove has concluded from his observations that the great need of the race is practical cooperation and a spirit of unity. cornelius nathaniel harris ...