History of the American Negro: West Virginia Edition

George N. Marshall

152 history american negro way was by no means easy, but he refused to be discouraged and won by close application and hard work. In 1914 he was admitted to the bar and began the practice of law at Williamson, where he remained for two years. He then moved to Montgomery, where he has since resided and where he is steadily building up an excellent practice. On November 9, 1918, he was married to Miss Marion Higgs, of Raleigh, N. C. Mrs. Love was educated at St. Augustine, Raleigh and at Howard University and was before her marriage an accomplished teacher. Mrs. Love holds the A.B. degree with cum laude from Howard University. She is active in the colored women’s work of West Virginia and is at present corresponding secretary of the Colored Women’s State Federation. Mr. Love gives her due credit for being a help and inspiration to him in his work and together they share the honors which come from work well done. In politics Mr. Love is a Republican and has been more or less active in the councils of his party. In August, 1922, he was nominated by his party as a candidate for the state legislature. In religion he is a Methodist. He belongs to the Masons and is a member of the Negro Bar Association of West Virginia. He also belongs to the Omega Psi Phi Greek Letter Fraternity. He believes the next important forward step for the race should be along the line of commercial and industrial development so as to bring those departments of life upon a level with the professional development of the race. Strong in body, keen intellectually , well equipped for his life work, a splendid practice already built up, Mr. Love faces the future with confidence. George N. Marshall Many of the most successful business and professional men of both races in West Virginia were born and reared in the Old Dominion. One of these is Dr. George Nelson Marshall, a prominent physician and a george nelson marshall 154 history american negro surgeon of Keystone. Dr. Marshall is a native of Henry County, Va., having been born on the outskirts of Martinsville,Va., on February 12, 1865, which was only about 60 days before the close of the war, which meant so much to the race. His father was the late John Marshall, a farmer, the son of Peter and Lizzie Marshall. Dr. Marshall’s mother, before her marriage, was America Preston, daughter of Geo. Nelson and Lucy Preston. Growing up on the farm, young Marshall went to the local public schools. He went into the local tobacco factories at an early age, and it was by this means and by hotel work during vacations that he made his way in college. When ready for college he matriculated at Lincoln University, where he spent five years, and was graduated with the A.B. degree in 1894. On completion of his literary course he took up the study of medicine at Leonard Medical College and won his M.D. degree in 1898. In the spring of 1899 he began the practice at Keystone, where he has since resided and where he has prospered. He is a member of the various medical organizations including the Flat Top, the state and national societies. In politics Dr. Marshall is a Republican and has served on both the county and state committees. He is an active member of the Presbyterian church in which he is an elder. Among the secret and benevolent orders he is identified with the Masons, Odd Fellows, Pythians and Court of Calanthe. He is especially prominent in the work of the Pythians, having been Grand Master of Exchequer, and has also served as grand medical director. On November 2, 1899, Dr. Marshall was united in matrimony to Miss Lizzie Bridgeford, a daughter of Benjamin and Phyllis Bridgeford, of Raleigh, N. C. They have two children, Madeline E. and Annie May Marshall. While Dr. Marshall has gone quietly about his work he has been a close observer of conditions and believes that the greatest need of the race is the right sort of education. His property interests and investments are all in West Virginia. robert daniel witty meadows ...