Lewis County, West Virginia Biography of Bernhard KAPLAN This biography was submitted by Valerie Crook, E-mail address: The submitter does not have a connection to the subject of this sketch. This file may be freely copied by individuals and non-profit organizations for their private use. All other rights reserved. Any other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval system, or transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other means requires the written approval of the file's author. This file is part of the WVGenWeb Archives. If you arrived here inside a frame or from a link from somewhere else, our front door is at http://www.usgwarchives.net/wv/wvfiles.htm The History of West Virginia, Old and New Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, Volume III, pg. 401-402 BERNHARD KAPLAN came to Weston about a quarter of a century ago, bringing here and opening a small stock of goods, and his enterprise as a merchant has enjoyed a con- tinual growth and prosperity until he is now proprietor of the B. Kaplan Store, a complete department store, one of the best patronized in Lewis County. Mr. Kaplan was born in Russia, November 1, 1870, son of Wolf and Leba (Sherer) Kaplan. His parents spent their lives in Russia, where his father was a business man. The mother died soon after the birth of her son Bernhard, and the latter was reared by his stepmother. He attended school in Russia, and at the age of eighteen, in 1888, came to the United States, landing at New York and going di- rect to Baltimore, where he found employment as a clerk. In 1896 he established a little business of his own as a dry goods merchant at Mount Jackson, Virginia, and the following year moved his stock of goods to Weston. He did business in men's furnishing goods for several years, but in 1911 organized a complete department store, with quarters in the Tierney Building. Later he bought and rebuilt the William L. Dunnington property, and now has a large building used for the various departments of his prosperous business. Mr. Kaplan is a citizen of much financial worth, thorough integrity and public spirit. He is a stockholder in the Bank of Weston, the Monongahela Power & Railroad Company, the Interstate Glass Factory and the Building & Loan Association. He takes part as a member in the Rotary Club and Chamber of Commerce, votes as a republican, and is affiliated with Weston Lodge No. 10, A. F. and A. M. Mr. Kaplan married Miss Celia Silverman of Baltimore. They have two daughters and one son. Leba is a high school graduate and a graduate of Goucher College of Baltimore. Leonard, the only son, graduated from high school and graduated with high honors as ensign being second man in a class of 541 from the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis in 1922. The youngest, Naomi, completed her college course in 1922.