Biography of Dr. Luther H. Clark - McDowell Co. WV The History of West Virginia, Old and New Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, Volume II, pg. 634-635 DR. LUTHER H. CLARK, came to McDowell County as a young physician and surgeon in the service of the eon- tractor who was building a branch of the Norfolk & Western which opened up one of the largest coal districts in the county. This work finished he remained as physi- cian and surgeon to a number of coal mining companies and also in general practice at Northfork and Kyle. Doctor Clark has been busied with many affairs outside his profession, and among others is president of the dark National Bank of Northfork. He was born January 19, 1868, at Peterstown, Monroe County, West Virginia, and represents the old and prom- inent Clark family of Augusta County, Virginia. One member of this family was the Clark of the Lewis and Clark expedition. His great-grandfather Capt. Jack Peters was a prominent character in Monroe County, West Virginia, and Peterstown was named for him and also Peters Mountain. The parents of Doctor Clark, Lewis Floyd and Cynthia Annie (Byrnside) Clark were both born in Virginia. His father was a merchant at Peterstown and during the Civil war was in the service of the Confederate Government and toward the close of the war into the field with a Virginia regiment. Luther H. Clark acquired a common school education at Peterstown, and spent four years in the Academy at Pearisburg, Virginia. Following this he worked for an older brother and also for his father in the store, and from his earnings he accumulated the money needed for his medical education. In 1889 he entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Baltimore, where he was graduated M. D. in 1892. Since then he has attended post-graduate courses in New York City and elsewhere as often as his business permitted. Almost immediately after his graduation he returned to West Virginia in association with Dr. C. A. Johnson engaged to handle the medical and surgical work for Samuel Walton, contractor for the construction of the Norfolk & Western Railroad in McDowell and other counties. This contract was finished in September, 1892, and at the opening of the railroad through the coal field Mr. dark determined to remain and established his home at Kyle. For nearly thirty years he has been physician for the Lynch- burg Coal & Coke Company, Powhatan Coal & Coke Com- pany, Elkridge Coal & Coke Company, and Algona Coal & Coke Company, in addition to looking after an extensive general practice with office at Northfork, though his home is still at Kyle. As a pioneer in this section Doctor Clark availed himself of some opportunities that were presented at the time. He and some others discovered that a tract of forty-three acres across the Creek from the railroad station had been over- looked in entering the lands, and they secured possession of this tract, platted it and leased it for a long period, and Doctor Clark was at the head of the Development Company that handled the land. The locality was long known as Clark's. The Clark National Bank of North- fork was organized in 1912 and in 1913 Doctor Clark bought the controlling interest and became president, with Mr. John Bane cashier. In 1894 at Baltimore, Maryland, Doctor Clark married Miss Minnia Pinkerton. They have four children, Helen, Mildred, Lewis H. and Wyndham Stokes. Lewis graduated with the class of 1922 from the University of Pennsylvania. The son Wyndham graduated in 1922 from the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis. Doctor Clark is a member of the Episcopal Church. He is one of the very prominent Masons of West Virginia, active in both the York and Scottish Rite and the Shrine. He was Grand Master of the West Virginia Grand Lodge of Masons in 1904, was High Priest of the Grand Chapter of the Royal Arch in 1918, Grand Commander of the State Knights Templar in 1916, Illustrious Potentate of Beni-Kedem Temple A. A. O. N. M. S. of Charleston in 1921, and is a member of the Board of Governors of the Masonic Home at Parkersburg. He is a member of the County, State and American Medical Associations, and belongs to the Bluefield Country Club and the Guyandotte Hunting Club of Huntington. Submitted by Valerie Crook **************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. Files may be printed or copied for personal use only. ****************************************************************