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CABELL COUNTY WEST VIRGINIA
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Submitted to the West Virginia Biographies Project by:
"John \"Bill\" Wheeler"
wheeler@gru.net
December 10, 1999
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The History of West Virginia, Old and New
Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc.
Chicago and New York, Volume ll.
pg. 115-116
William H.F. Dement. During the ten years required to advance himself from
the rank of messenger to cashier of the Huntington National Bank, Mr. Dement
manifested an unflagging devotion to his work and the ideals of service
exemplified by that institution. His influential and useful place in the
business community is a reward of merit, a distinction well worth the effort
required to achieve it.
Mr. Dement was born in Proctorville, Ohio, June 4, 1889. His paternal
ancestry came originally from France and Germany. His grandfather, William
Dement, was born in Noble County, Ohio, following the trade of blacksmith in
Lawrence County, and died near Wilgus in that state. His great-great-grandfather
carried the first mail in a canoe, from Mariette to Cincinnati, Ohio. Henry E.
Dement, father of the Huntington banker, was born near Wilgus, in Lawrence
County in 1853, grew up there on a farm. became a blacksmith at Bradrick, Ohio,
where he married, and since about 1880 has lived at Proctorville. With the
development of the automobile he adapted his trade to the requirements of that
industry, and for a number of years he has owned and operated a public garage.
Since 1919 he has owned a farm and large apple orchard in that section of Ohio.
He is a republican. His wife, Cors J. Forgey, is a daughter of James Gorey, a
captain on the Mississippi River during the Civil War. She is a granddaughter
of Gen. A.F. Fuller of the war of 1812. Mrs. Dement was born at Bradrick, Ohio,
in 1860. Of their children, Ruby D., a resident of Huntington is a widow of
Charles Heinz, who was a blacksmith; Carl is manager of the home farm at
Proctorville; Orla E. is associated in business with his father; Roma is the
wife of Charles E. Rose, a millwright at Guyandotte, West Virginia; William H.F.
is the fifth child; Velmer is also associated with his father in business; and
Valgene is connected with the home farm.
William H.F. Dement graduated from the Proctorville High School in 1907,
and soon afterward came to Huntington, graduating from Booth Business College
of that city in 1910. Mr. Dement on October 29, 1911, began his service with
the Huntington National Bank as a messenger boy. His increasing experience and
ability brought him successive promotions, and he did the work of individual
bookkeeper, discount bookkeeper and general bookkeeper, was promoted to
assistant cashier and on August 1, 1921, was elected cashier, Besides his
executive duties with this large and important bank he is interested in the
home farm and orchard.
Mr. Dement is a republican, is affiliated with the Proctorville Lodge No.
550, A.F. and A.M., Huntington Lodge No.313, Benevolent and Protective Order of
Elks, and is a member of the Chamber of Commerce and the Tri-State Credit and
Adjustment Bureau. Recently, in 1922, he completed one of the excellent homes
in a restricted residential section at 51 Ninth Avenue.
The only important interruption to his service with the Huntington National
Bank came in the World War. June 14, 1918, he enlisted, was sent to the
Training Detachment Public Schools at Hughes High School in Cincinnati, was
there two months and was then transferred to the one hundred and fifty-fourth
Depot Brigade at Camp Meade, Maryland. On August 14, 1918, he was assigned to
Company H of the Seventy-first Infantry in the Lafayette or Eleventh Division
and later was transferred and assigned to the personnel office. He received his
honorable discharge January 31, 1919, with the rank of Corporal. Mr. Dement is
unmarried.
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