Biography of Humphrey G. O'Neil - Mercer Co. WV

The History of West Virginia, Old and New
Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc.,
Chicago and New York, Volume II,
Page 317

   HUMPHREY G. O"NEIL   established his residence in the City of
Bluefield, Mercer County, on the 10th of February, 1914, and here he
conducts on Bland Street and undertaking establishment with the best of
modern equipment and service. He was born on the parental homestead farm
in Owen County, Kentucky, August 2, 1879, and is a son of George W. and
Susie P. O'Neil, the former a native of Carroll County, Kentucky, and
the latter of Owen County.  Her father was a fine marksman and gained
special local reputation as such.  The original American representative
of the O'Neil family came from Cork, Ireland.  George W. O'Neil has long
been a successful farmer and tobacco broker in the Old Blue Grass State,
and he now resides (1921) at Worthville, Carroll County, Kentucky, at
the age of sixty-five years, his wife having died October 20, 1913, at
the age of fifty-six years.  George W. O'Neil is the owner of a large
and valuable landed estate in Owen County, has served twenty-five years
as a member of the City Council of Worthville, and is one of the honored
and influential citizens of his community.  He is a democrat in politics
and is an active member of the Methodist Church, with which the family
has maintained affiliation in previous generations.
   Humphrey G. O'Neil an only child, gained his early education under
the direction of private instructors and by attending the public
schools.  He early became deeply interested in the study of anatomy, and
this interest has never waned, while his studies have been carried to
the point that gives him an authoritative knowledge of the subject, this
knowledge being of special value to him in his service as a licensed
embalmer.  He took a higher course of study by attending Cincinnati
University, in 1899 he took a special course in the Cincinnati College
of Embalming.  Subsequently he did post-graduate work in the clinics of
the celebrated Rush Medical College in the City of Chicago, besides
attending the clinics of Cook County and the University of Chicago.
Thereafter he held for eleven years the position of demonstrator for the
Embalmers Supply Company, with headquarters in the City of Louisville,
Kentucky.  In this connection he lectured and gave demonstrations in
many different sates of the Union, and after serving his connection with
the company mentioned he came to Bluefield West Virginia, and
established his present undertaking business, he having been the first
funeral director in this part of the state to place in commission a
motor hearse and motor ambulance.  So accurate is his knowledge of
anatomy that Mr. O'Neil is frequently called into court as an expert
witness in this line.  He is affiliated with the local Blue Lodge
Chapter and Commandery of the Masonic fraternity and with the temple of
the Mystic Shrine in the City of Charleston.  He served in 1921 and 1922
as deputy supreme dictator of the Loyal Order of Moose in West
Virginia.  He and his wife are active members of Grace Church, Methodist
Episcopal, South, and he is a member of the Men's Club of this church.
   On May 29, 1914, Mr. O'Neil wedded Miss Clara Hurst, of Harrodsville,
Kentucky, and they have one daughter, Vivan.  Mr. O'Neil has two
daughters by a former marriage:  Irene Beckham is the wife of Alfred C.
Wilder, of Wilmore, Kentucky; and Mary Golden remains at the parental
home.


Submitted by Susie Lloyd <eslloyd@impop.bellatlantic.net>

****************************************************************

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.

****************************************************************