Fayette County, West Virginia -   Biography: FRED IRWIN MARTINDALE

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WEST VIRGINIA In History, Life, Literature and Industry
The Lewis Publishing Company 1928 - Volume 5, page 125-126

FRED IRWIN MARTINDALE, Doctor of Pharmacy, is one of the leading druggists
of Fayette County, whose headquarters are at Ansted, and his handsomely
appointed store proves conclusively that gone is the day when a knowledge
of pharmacy was the sole requirement of a successful druggist. Today,
important though his training in that science may be, it is equally vital
for his material success that he be a good business man. The drug store of
our era dispenses so many things besides drugs that a man skilled only in
their compounding will never be his own master, but will always be working
on a salary for another. Yet the pharmacist must, by the law, have had
social training in the art of mixing medicines. Requirements vary in detail
in different states, but in general from three to four years of study
beyond the high school grade is demanded for certification. In addition,
some months of this preparatory period must be devoted to actual work in a
drug store under the supervision of an experienced pharmacist. The man who
is a pharmacist and a business man, thus combining scientific exactitude
and commercial ability, is certain to succeed, and Mr. Martindale is one of
them.
The birth of Fred I. Martindale occurred in Gallia County, Ohio, April 9,
1875, and he is a son of Hugh and Lucinda (Irwin) Martindale. The father
was born and reared in Gallia County, and for a number of years was a
school teacher there, and was also interested in farming. In 1890, he
retired and moved to Milton, West Virginia, but after some years' residence
there went to Huntington, West Virginia, and there he is still living, a
venerable gentleman of eighty years. The Martindale family is an old one in
this country, of English origin, the American founder having accompanied
William Penn in 1654 and settled in Pennsylvania. Later one branch of the
family went to South Carolina, this being, however, prior to the American
Revolution. Three brothers bearing the name of Martindale settled in Gallia
County, Ohio, one of them, James being the immediate ancestor of Doctor
Martindale of this review. Mrs. Martindale, the mother of Doctor
Martindale, was born and reared in Gallia County, and its public schools
educated her. From girlhood until her death in 1914 she was active in the
work of the Free Will Baptist Church, of which she was a zealous member.
Her remains lie in the cemetery at Huntington, West Virginia. Four children
were born to her and her husband, two of whom died in infancy, the other
survivor being Mary Agnes, wife of Clyde H. Snedegar, of Russell, Kentucky,
assistant superintendent of the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad Company's yards.
Doctor Martindale attended the public schools of Milton, West Virginia, and
when he completed his school work he studied pharmacy under the
preceptorship of Dr. C.H. Morris to such excellent effect that in 1893 he
was able to pass the state board examination as a registered pharmacist,
and he took his registered degree before the State Board of Pharmacy by
examination. For two years, 1893-95, he was with Doctor Morris of Milton,
and then for a time did relief work in Putnam County, at Sistersville, and
in Kanawha County, West Virginia, and in May, 1895, entered the employ of
the Mount Hope Drug Company, with which concern he continued until June,
1896. At that time he came to Ansted and went with the Gilham & Timberlake
Drug Company, acting as the company's pharmacist until Dr. J. E. Coleman
purchased the business, after which he continued with the new proprietor
until May, 1899, when he bought the drug store, and has continued to
conduct it ever since with gratifying success. During President Roosevelt's
administration he was appointed postmaster of Ansted, and held the office
for thirteen years. This, however, is not the full measure of his public
service, for he was recorder of Ansted for several years, and he was a
member of the City Council for one term. Since he cast his first vote he
has continued to be a strong Republican, and is active in party affairs. A
York Rite Mason, he has been advanced to the Chapter, and holds membership
with Thurmond Chapter No. 24, R.A.M., and he also belongs to Beni Kedem
Temple, A.A.O.N.M.S. He has served the Blue Lodge as master, and is its
present secretary, and is high priest of the Chapter. For years he has been
a member of the Episcopal Church.
On May 12, 1896, Doctor Martindale married, at Peterstown, Monroe County,
West Virginia, Miss Ida Lee Spangler, born and educated in that same
community. For a few years before her marriage she taught school in Monroe
County, and was one of its most popular educators. She was a Methodist, and
active in her church and in community life until her death August 17, 1912,
at Ansted. She was a daughter of Richard Spangler, of Peterstown, for many
years a blacksmith and mechanic. He is deceased, and lies buried at
Peterstown, where his widow is still living. Doctor and Mrs. Martindale had
three children born to them, namely: Irwin Lee, who is in the employ of the
Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad Company at Huntington, as a machinist; Cecil H.,
who is postmaster at Ansted; and John Alexander, who is attending the
University of Baltimore, Maryland, where he is taking a course in
dentistry.
On August 22, 1923, Doctor Martindale married Miss Ada Bell, of Victor,
West Virginia. She was educated at Victor and in Huntington General
Hospital, being graduated from the training school for nurses of the latter
institution. She is a registered nurse, and followed her profession for a
few years prior to her marriage. The Methodist Church and various civic
organizations of Ansted receive the benefit of her cooperation. Mrs.
Martindale is a daughter of D.P. and Emma (Rader) Bell, of Victor. During
the long period he has been in business Doctor Martindale has rendered a
valuable service to his community. As right-hand man to the physician, on
his accuracy, honesty and knowledge hangs much of the doctor's advice.
Unless a pharmacist is dependable, well-trained and incorruptible, danger
and unhappiness will result, and as he is all of these. Doctor Martindale
is held in high regard by all with whom he is brought into contact.


Transcribed by <AUPQ38A@prodigy.com> (MRS GINA M REASONER), 1999
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