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KANAWHA COUNTY WEST VIRGINIA - BIOS: PRICHARD, Lewis
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Submitted to the West Virginia Biographies Project by:
Sandy Spradling
SSpradling@AOL.com
September 26, 1999
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History of Charleston and Kanawha County, West Virginia and Representative
Citizens
W.S. Laidley
Richmond Arnold Publishing Co., Chicago, ILL.
1911
p. 441-443
LEWIS PRICHARD, M. D., president of the Charleston National Bank, at
Charleston, W. Va., belongs to an old and prominent family that has been
established in America since before the War of the Revolution.
>From that acknowledged authority, "Burke's Landed Gentry of Wales," it is
learned that the Prichard family can be traced many hundred years back in
that land before any of its venturesome members crossed the Atlantic ocean to
the American colonies. Prior to this disexception, to the age of maturity,
setting an example of womanly virtue, courage and resourcefulness. Of this
family four yet survive.
Lewis Prichard, Jr., son of Lewis and Lucy Prichard, was the eighth in order
of birth in the family of twelve children. He was horn near Big Sandy River,
in Boyd county, Ky., near Buchanan postoffice, twelve miles above
Cattlesburg, Ky., January 19, 1839, and grew up on the homestead. His
educational opportunities were but meager but the devotion of his mother
supplied what was lacking and he became an acceptable school teacher before
he was twenty-one years old. Later he was able to complete his education,
being under the instruction of the well known educator, Prof. Holbrook, at
Lebanon, 0. He pursued his medical studies in the University of Michigan, at
Ann Arbor, where he was graduated with his medical degree in the class of
1867. Subsequently he became a physician and surgeon of eminence in
Northeastern Kentucky, where he first became interested in banking, having
there organized the Grayson Banking Company of which he was president.
In 1884 the present The Charleston National Bank was organized and Dr.
Prichard was one of the original stockholders, becanie prominent in its
affairs, and has continued his connection since its incorporation. Its first
president was hisbrother-in-law, Charles P. Mead, and when Mr. Mead died, in
July, 1888, Dr. Prichard became president and has been at the head of this
institution ever since. The original capitalization of this bank was
$50,000, hot from time to time it has been increased as business has
warranted, and at present the bank is capitalized at $500,000, with an equal
surplus.
Dr. Prichard was married near Ironton, 0., on the Kentucky side of 'the Ohio
river, Jan. 7, 1868, to Miss Sarah Belle Mead, a daughter of Henry Armstead
and Elizabeth (Powell) Mead. The Mead family has been one of prominence in
Greenup county, Ky., for years and is especially noted for its beautiful
women. The father of Mrs. Prichard died in that county at the age of
ninety-four years, his wife having passed away aged seventy years. They had
eight children, four of whom survive, Mrs. Prichard having been the fourth in
order of birth.
To Dr. and Mrs. Prichard three children were horn: Henry Lewis, Frederick C.
and Arm-tead Mead.
Henry Lewis Prichard was born December 25, 1868. He is a graduate of Notre
Dame University, md., where he was a member of the class of 1890, and there
received his de-gree of B. C. His entire business life has been connected
with banking and he has been continuously identified with the Charleston
Na-tional Bank since 1890 and is its cashier. It is not too much to say that
undoubtedly much of the success that attends this institution is due to his
watchfulness, together with his courteous treatment of customers. He has
long been regarded as one of the city's safe hosiness men. In i895 he was
married to Miss Emma E. Walker, a daughter of Henry S. Walker, who was
distinguished all over West Vir-ginia as an orator. To Mr. and Mrs. Prichard
two children have been horn, Henry Lewis, Jr., born September 9, 1903; and
Frederick Walker, born December 26, 1906.
Frederick C. Prichard was born March 1, 1871, and was educated at Notre Dame
University. After completing his education he entered into business as a
coal operator and at present is one of the owners of much property, including
one-half interest in the Robson-Prichard Concrete Building, at Huntington,
where he lives, and is vice president of the Huntington Banking & Trust
Company. He married Miss Alice Clare Wilson, of Laporte, md.
Armstead Mead Prichard was born September 9, 1875, at Grayton, Ky. Like his
elder brothers he entered Notre Dame University, becoming a student there in
1889, but before completing his course entered the law department of the
University of West Virginia, where he was graduated in June, 1897, with his
de-gree of A. B. L., and was immediately admitted to the bar and engaged in
law practice until 1910, since when he has been associated with his father in
the banking business. He was married at Charleston, January 7, 1902, to Miss
Lydia B. Robson, who was born November 1, 1880, in Fayette county, W. Va., a
daughter of James S and Laura B. (Nugent) Robson. Mrs. Prichard died June
19, 1910. She was a member of the Baptist church. Two little daughters
survive her: Belle Mead, who was born August 15, 1905; and Lydia Robson who
was born January 4, 1908.
Dr. Prichard brought his family to Charleston in October, 1889. He is one of
the men of independent fortune in Kanawha county. In addition to his
financial interests already men-tioned, he is a stockholder in fifteen other
banks and a director in three, and he owns a large part of 20,000 acres of
rich coal and timber lands in this state. Dr. Prichard has been an admirable
citizen. He has helped to promote almost every important interest in the
city and lends of his ability and means to foster all enterprises of
substantial worth. In politics he is a Democrat but has never sought nor
held a public office. Many years ago he united with the Masonic fraternity.
He is also a member of the First Presbyterian church of Charleston, W. Va.
Sandy Spradling
SSpradling@AOL.com
State Contact for WV GenExchange
http://www.genexchange.com/wv/index.cfm
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