History of the American Negro: West Virginia Edition

William C. Lawrence

west virginia edition 147 William C. Lawrence The writer knows thousands of individual Negroes, representing all the professions and every honorable line of work. He knows no profes­ sional or business group which averages higher in race loyalty, intelli­ gence, business integrity and those qualities which go to make good citizens than the colored physicians. One of these, who has worked out a large measure of success is Dr. William Collins Lawrence, of Montgomery, W. Va. Dr. Lawrence is a native of the sister state of Alabama, where he was born on July 2, 1873. His father, the late Thomas Lawrence, was a farmer, and the boy grew up on the farm and divided his time between work in the field and the short term public school, where he pursued his elementary studies. His mother’s name was Elizabeth. Dr. Lawrence married on September 14, 1907, Miss Mattie Price, an accomplished teacher. They have one child, Paul Dunbar Lawrence. Our subject passed from the public school to Atlanta Baptist, now Morehouse College, where he spent four years. When ready for his medical course, he matriculated at Leonard Medical College, Raleigh, N. C., where he won his M.D. degree in 1901. After passing the public schools it was necessary for young Lawrence to make his own way. He taught school for five years. Rather early in life there developed in him a desire to be and do something more than the average fellow, and later, when he determined to take up medicine, he had his profession before him as a constant incentive. After his graduation he continued to work for awhile, in order that he might establish himself without embarrass­ ment, and before entering upon the practice did special post graduate work at Long Island College. In 1906 he located at Charleston, where he practiced for one year. The following year he went to Montgomery, where he has since resided and built up an extensive general practice. He has also run a drug store at Montgomery. In politics he is a Republican and has more than once been made huling henry lewis west virginia edition 149 the standard bearer as nominee of his party in local elections. He belongs to the Baptist Church, in which he is a trustee. He is a member of the Masons, Elks, Pythians, Red Men and Gallilean Fishermen, being examiner for the latter and for the Masons. He is also medical examiner for the National Benefit Insurance Company. He belongs to both the state and national Medical Societies, and has been president of the state organization. His favorite reading is history. During the war he was a member of the local committee, Council of Defense. His property interests are in New York and West Virginia. He believes the next forward step of the race is to be along industrial lines. Huling Henry Lewis A generation ago, the ministry and the teaching profession claimed a large majority of those colored young men whose ambition and intelligence drove them away from the farm or from day labor. With the rising tide of intelligence and better equipment, came a widening of those professions which the colored man might enter with profit. Among these was dentistry. It is gratifying to observe and to note the success of those young men of the profession who have taken time to equip themselves at the best schools. Such a man is Dr. Huling Henry Lewis, of Charleston. Another interesting thing about Dr. Lewis is the fact that he did not find it necessary to leave home in order to succeed. He was born at Charleston on January 7, 1895, so it will be seen he entered upon his practice young. His father, Cary Lewis, better known as Lewis Strother, is the son of Cain Lewis. His mother, before her marriage , was Mary Dandridge. Dr. Lewis laid the foundation of his education in the public schools of Charleston, from which he passed to West Virginia C. I. at Institute for his literary work, finishing them in 1916. From there he went to the Howard University School of Dentistry, where he won his D.D.S. in 1920. He made his own way in College by means of hotel work and the ammunition plant during the war. ...