ROBERT WRISTON, M. D.

The History of West Virginia, Old and New
Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc.,
Chicago and New York, Volume III,
pg. 355

ROBERT WRISTON, M. D. The career of Doctor Wriston
as a physician and surgeon began at Beckley in 1906. He
is one of the very accomplished professional men of Raleigh
County, and has been very active in all that concerns his
profession and the general welfare and advancement of the
community.

Doctor Wriston was born August 23, 1879, at Kincaid, in
Fayette County, West Virginia, son of I. G. and Alice
(Stanley) Wriston, natives of this state. His grandfather,
Caleb Wriston, served as a Confederate soldier in the Civil
war, and his maternal grandfather lost his life in that
struggle. The Wristons were of Scotch ancestry, and the
family has been in Virginia for a number of generations.
I. G. Wriston and wife are now living retired at Nesco.
He has been a farmer and for two terms held the office
of justice of the peace. He is an active member of the
Methodist Episcopal Church.

Robert Wriston attended common schools in Raleigh
County, his parents moving here when he was a child.
Later he took the academic course in the Concord State
Normal at Athens, taught for five years, and then went
East and entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons
at Baltimore, where he graduated M. D. in 1905. For a year
he was resident physician in the City Hospital at Balti-
more, and with that training he began his work at Beck-
ley. Doctor Wriston handles a general medical and sur-
gical practice, and every year or so he gets away from the
routine of home duties to come into contact with the lead-
ing men and schools of the country. He took postgraduate
work in the New York Polyclinic in 1908 and again in
1911, pursued special studies in Tulane University at New
Orleans in 1917, and in 1921 and 1922 pursued courses
in the Augustana Hospital and under Doctor Printy at
Chicago.

In 1913 Doctor Wriston helped organize the Beckley
Hospital, and he owned a half interest in that institution
until January, 1922, and is still a member of the hospital
staff. He belongs to the County, State and Southern Med-
ical Associations, is a republican, is affiliated with the
Masonic Lodge and the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.

In 1910, at Beckley, he married Miss Minnie Davis, daugh-
ter of John P. and Mary (McGinnis) Davis. Her father's
career was distinguished by its long and active connec-
tion with public service. He served as sheriff two terms,
as county clerk mid clerk of court, and he died while still
in public office. Doctor and Mrs. Wriston have four chil-
dren, named Mary Alice, June, Marjorie and Mattie.