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KANAWHA COUNTY WEST VIRGINIA - BIOS: FLOURNOY, Patrick W. (published 1923)
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Submitted by
Valerie Crook
vfcrook@trellis.net
September 12, 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 III,
pg. 235
Kanawha County
PATRICK W. FLOURNOY. The character of the men of a
community may be correctly gauged by the standing of its
business houses, whose growth has been stimulated by
progressive and intelligent methods, or held back through
lack of proper development. No town or city can reach its
highest standard of development unless its men in all
lines co-operate to give an honest service for value received.
Such men can be counted upon to promulgate and support
worthy measures looking toward securing for their com-
munity solid improvements and the bringing into it of solid
business houses that will add to its prosperity. They give
solidity to commercial organizations and contribute liberally
toward worthy movements of an educational and religious
character. Judged by these standards, one of Charleston's
useful citizens is Patrick W. Flournoy, whose long associa-
tion with the Charleston Hardware Company, of which he is
the president, has brought him into close connections with
the mercantile trade of Charleston and Southern West Vir-
ginia.
Mr. Flournoy was born in Charlotte County, Virginia, in
1873, and is the son of a druggist whose father was a
physician. He received a public school education and at
the age of Sixteen years joined an engineering party en-
gaged in work on the Norfolk & Western Railroad, with
which he came to Charleston, arriving in this city on election
day, November, 1892. Here he secured employment with
the Goshorn Hardware Company, the oldest concern of its
kind at Charleston, by which company he continued to be
employed until the organization in 1901 of the wholesale
firm of the Charleston Hardware Company, founded by
F. H. Markell, manager. The business was capitalized at
$50,000, and there were about forty stockholders, among
them Mr. Flournoy, who straightway began to secure addi-
tional stock. T. E. Embleton was the first president. After
two years Mr. Markell resigned and was succeeded by Mr.
Flournoy, who later became president. He continued to
buy more stock until finally he became principal owner of
the business, of which he is now president, although it
continues to be conducted under the original name. The
capital stock is now $100,000 and the capital and surplus,
$400,000, all of which has been built up from the original
capital of $50,000. The company owns its own warehouses
on the railroad, as well as its other property, and deals in
general hardware and mine supplies, catering to the needs
of the mines of Southern West Virginia, mainly, although
its territory is not entirely restricted to this area. The
plant consists of five stories and a basement, in which there
are thirty employes, in addition to which there are seven
traveling salesmen. The first year's sales of the business
amounted to $100,000, while at the present time the annual
sales approximate $1,000,000, and the business is being con-
stantly developed and enlarged. Mr. Flournoy gives his
entire attention to this business, which has reached its pres-
ent large proportions principally because of his business
ability, foresight, acumen and clear-headed judgment, to-
gether with his industry and well-known business integrity.
Mr. Flournoy has always been a supporter of worthy move-
ments tending to advance the best interests of the com-
munity. He is a Knight Templar and also a Scottish Rite
Mason, a Noble of the Mystic Shrine, and a member of the
Edgewood Country Club.
Mr. Flournoy married Miss Grace Hathaway, a resident
of Cincinnati at the time of their marriage, but a native
of England, and to this union there has been born one son,
Patrick W., Jr.
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