Biography of George O. VIA, D. D. S. - 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. 58-59

GEORGE O. VIA, D. D. S., is numbered among the able and representative dental
practitioners of the younger generation in McDowell County, where he is
established in successful practice at Maybeury.  He was born at Indian Mills,
Summers County, this state, on the 19th of June, 1894, and is a son of
Anderson Henry Via and Narcissus (Clark) Via, both likewise natives of this
state and both representatives of families early founded in the old mother
state of Virginia.  Anderson H. Via is a stonemason by trade but has long
been actively and successfully identified with farm enterprise in Summers
County, where he is serving, in 1922, as president of the County Court and
where he is otherwise influential in public affairs, he having been a member
of the School Board many years and both he and his wife being zealous members
of the Baptist Church at Summers, of which he is a deacon and also secretary
and treasurer.

To the public schools of his native county Doctor Via is indebted for his
preliminary education, which included the curriculum of the high school, and
in the meanwhile he assisted in the work and management of his father's farm.
 He remained at the parental home until 1912, when he began the study of
dentistry.  In the autumn of 1913 he entered the Ohio College of Dental
Surgery in the City of Cincinnati, where he continued his studies two years.
He then transferred to the dental department of the University of Maryland,
in the City of Baltimore, and in this institution he was graduated as a
member of the class of 1916 and with the degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery.
For seven months thereafter he was engaged in practice at Peterstown, West
Virginia, he next passed five months in practice at Princeton, and September,
1917, he established his professional headquarters at Maybeury, where in
addition to his general private practice he is retained as official dentist
for the Pocahontas Fuel Company.  In his large and important practice he
finds it expedient to maintain branch offices at Keystone and Northfork, at
which latter place he has charge of the McDowell County Dental Clinic, with
three dentists and three nurses under his supervision.

When the nation became involved in the World war Doctor Via subordinated all
personal interests to the call of patriotism.  He enlisted May 25, 1917, was
examined at Charleston and there received his commission as first lieutenant,
on the 23rd of September.  Upon his return to Maybeury he suffered an attack
of measles, which was followed by symptoms of tubercular affliction, which
resulted in his exemption from military service and caused his isolation for
a period of six months, at the expiration of which he had sufficiently
recuperated to resume the practice of his profession.  The doctor is a valued
member of the Dental Society of the three counties with which McCowell County
is included, and is a member also of the West Virginia State Dental Society
and the National Dental Association.  He is affiliated with the Knights of
Pythias, is a member of the Baptist church, and his wife holds membership in
the Presbyterian Church.

At Peterstown, this state, in 1917, Doctor Via wedded Miss Edith May
Callaway, daughter of John and Sallie (Spriegel) Callaway.  Mr. Callaway had
entire charge of the general store maintained by the Pocahontas Fuel Company
at Maybeury at the time of his death, several years ago, and his daughter
Edith M. (Mrs. Via), was born at this place.  Doctor and Mrs. Via have three
children:  Mildred Merrrill, Martha Hunter and Wilda Katherine.

Submitted by Cheryl McCollum <CHERMC@aol.com>

***The submitter does not have a connection to the subject of this sketch.***

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