Boone County, West Virginia Biography of William F. HARLESS, M. D. ************************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: Material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material, AND permission is obtained from the contributor of the file. These pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written consent of the contributor. Submitted by Valerie Crook, , April 1999 ************************************************************************** The History of West Virginia, Old and New Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, Volume III, pg. 126-127 WILLIAM F. HARLESS, M. D. Skilled physician, efficient business man and good citizen. Dr. William F. Harless, of Clothier, is one of the representative men of Boone County, and no one stands any higher in public opinion than he. He was born near Spencer, Roane County, West Virginia, October 4, 1881, a son of William H. and Frances (Keifer) Harless. The Harless family was established in this coun- try by Doctor Harless' great-grandfather, a native of Ger- many, who settled in Virginia, and it was in that state that the grandfather was born. The Keifers were also of Ger- man extraction. Both William H. Harless and his wife were born in West Virginia, and he is a farmer of Roane County, and a man of some importance in his home community, hav- ing served on the school board, as a county commissioner, as a deacon of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in other capacities, and he is a prominent member of the In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows. After completing his studies in the common schools of his native county Doctor Harless went through the Spencer High School. His professional training was taken at the University of Louisville, Kentucky, and he was gradu- ated therefrom in 1908, with the degree of Doctor of Medi- cine. Immediately thereafter he established himself in a general practice at Clothier, where he still remains. Doctor Harless established the drug store at Clothier and one at Madison, both of which he still owns and keeps under his personal supervision, although he has a registered pharma- cist at each one. He took up post-graduate work in 1913 at the Post-Graduate School of New York City, and keeps abreast of the progress made in his profession by reading and study. For some time he has served as physician and surgeon of the Buffalo-Thacker Coal Company at Ottawa, West Virginia, and is also a C. & O. Railway surgeon. In 1914 Doctor Harless married in Mason County Miss Lucetta Kay, a daughter of John and Elsie Kay. Mr. Kay is a native of Scotland, and his wife was born in Pennsyl- vania. In early life he was engaged in the coal business, but is now a farmer. Doctor and Mrs. Harless have one daughter, Eleanor. They belong to the Methodist Episco- pal Church, South, and take an active part in the work of the various church organizations. Fraternally Doctor Harless maintains membership with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He is a strong republican, but has not cared to come before the people as an office seeker. Ever since he located at Clothier Doctor Harless has played an important part in its life. His drug store is one of the best-conducted in this part of the county, and he takes pride in it and the one at Madison. As a physician and surgeon he has won the approval of his professional associates as well as the affection and gratitude of his pa- tients, and his practice shows a large increase annually. While he has not been an official, he has not spared himself in working for the good of the city, but cheerfully ren- dered a valuable service whenever it was needed, and is especially zealous in forwarding those measures designed to improve the sanitation of the city and county. Person- ally he is very popular, and has friends all over this part of the state.