Marion County, West Virginia          Biography of Phoebia G. MOORE M. D.

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The History of West Virginia, Old and New
Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc.,
Chicago and New York, Volume II,
page 229

PHOEBIA G. MOORE M. D., of Mannington, is the only woman graduate physician
practicing in Marion County, and one of a comparatively small group in the
entire state. While a pioneer of her sex in this profession, her work
represents a finished standard fully in keeping with the best standards
of the profession.

Doctor Moore was born on a farm near Mannington, daughter of Theophilus
and Prudence (Varney) Moore. Her father was born at Mineral Wells, near
Parkersburg, in 1843, son of Joseph and Nancy (Tennent) Moore, and he
served in the Civil war as a member of the Seventh West Virginia Infantry.
After the war he located in Monongalia County, where he met and married
Prudence Varney, who was born at McCurdysville in that county in 1851,
daughter of William and Eleanor (Wilson) Varney. After their marriage
Mr. and Mrs. Moore settled in what is known as the Flat Run district
of Marion County, and were among the first to improve the land and build
a home in that section. They introduced the first cooking stove to their
community, and this utensil was an object of great curiosity to their
neighbors. They are still living on the old homestead and are active
members of the United Brethren Church.

Phoebia G. Moore grew up on this farm, attended the common schools,
also the Fairmont State Normal School, and having determined to make
her talents available for the medical profession she registered for
the course in the medical department of West Virginia University. She
was the first woman to register there and remain, all others becoming
discouraged by the obstacles arising from the general prejudice
existing against women medical students and a more or less active
persecution on the part of the male students, who resented the presence
of a woman in that department. Doctor Moore received her credits for a
year's work in West Virginia University, and to finish her course she
then entered the Bennett Medical College of Chicago, where she was
graduated with the class of 1903. Since then Doctor Moore has taken
special laboratory work in Baltimore and Chicago. She began practice
at Mannington in 1903, and has specialized in obstetrics and gynecology.
A large practice has come to her in successive years, in appreciation
of her marked ability and skill. Her practice is not only localized in
Marion County, but extends to the cities of Fairmont, Clarksburg and
Morgantown as well.

Doctor Moore is a member of the Marion County Medical Society, West
Virginia State Medical Society and American Medical Association, and
is chairman of the committee on social hygiene of the West Virginia
State League of Women Voters and is the Red Cross physician of
Mannington Chapter. She is also a member of the Women's Club and the
Methodist Episcopal Church of Mannington.