Biography of Leslie C. Fowlkes

LESLIE C. FOWLKES has been a progressive factor in the
business affairs of Keystone, McDowell County, for the
past ten years, and the greater part of that time has been
an executive officer in the First National Bank of Keystone.

Mr. Fowlkes was born September 1, 1888, on a farm near
Chatham, Virginia, son of W. A. and Nannie (Yates)
Fowlkes, also native Virginians. His father was a success-
ful farmer in that locality, and for two years he had charge
of all construction and maintenance work on roads and
highways in his district. He was an active member of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Leslie C. Fowlkes grew
up in the country, attended common schools there and in
Chatham, and completed a regular business course, includ-
ing stenography and bookkeeping, in the Piedmont Busi-
ness College of Lynchburg, Virginia.

Soon after completing his business college education, in
1912, Mr. Fowlkes came to Keystone, West Virginia, and
for the first eighteen months divided his time between book-
keeping and stenographic work for Attorney Partlow and
the bank. Since then all his time has been taken up by
his duties in the bank, where for one year he was book-
keeper and in 1915 appointed assistant cashier. In July,
1917, he was made cashier, and during the period of the
World war he had to perform all the detail as well as gen-
eral business management in the absence of the employes
who went into the service. The First National Bank of
Keystone is one of the most prosperous institutions in
McDowell County, has a capital of $50,000, surplus and
undivided profits of $70,000, and deposits of over $500,000.
The president of the bank is D. E. French, of Bluefield. 

In 1915, at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Mr. Fowlkes mar-
ried Miss Catherine Rish, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John
Rish, natives of Pennsylvania. They have two children,
Leslie C., Jr., and John William. Mr. Fowlkes is a mem-
ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. In Masonry
he is affiliated with Algoma Lodge at North Fork, Howard
Chapter at North Fork, the Knights Templar Commandery
at Bramwell and Beni-Kedem Temple of the Mystic Shrine
at Charleston. He is also affiliated with the Knights of
Pythias and in politics is rather independent, though nor-
mally he votes the democratic ticket.


The History of West Virginia, Old and New
Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc., 
Chicago and New York, Volume III, pg. 21

Submitted by Valerie F. Crook <vfcrook@trellis.net>

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