The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1897-04-17
LOYAL WEST VIRGINIANS.
The Flourishing Organization
Maintained by Former Citi-
zens of the State in
Chicago.
Who They Are, Where They Came From
and What They Have Done.-Mor-
landowners Lead the Society.

gant0WnerS Lead the society.
West Virginia Society, of Chicago,
now includes four hundred former resi-
dents of this State, and is in most
fourishing condition. The organiza-
tion meets from time to time to dis
cuss the days when contending armies
marched and countermarched through
the State, or to talk of the wonderful
strides it has made and its remarka-
bic industrial progress during the past
decade.
To James E. Brown is due the
credit of the organization of the
Society. The idea suggested itself to
him in the winter of 1S94-95, and
after discussion with r. ii. Dolliver,
Edward S. Elliott, Rev. DIR. Thomas,
J. Ewing Davis, DIR. Belle G. Esk-
ridge and the Misses Byrne, it was
decided that the West Virginians in
Chicago should be bound to each other
by closer ties. Accordingly meet
ing was held in February, 1895. This
meeting, which was held at the old
Pacific Hotel, was but poorly attended
and did not give any indication of the
bright future which lay before the
society. But they were among the
most energetic and most prominent OF
chicago citizens, ana they nave not
since then ceased to work, until now
it is believed that most of those West
Virginians in the city who would be
regarded as desirable members have
been enrolled in the organization.
Inc occasional reunions which are
held are largely OF social nature. At
the one held Thursday of last week
Tor instance, not only the members
but their families were present at The
nall, NO. e0l Forty-fop1th street.
Virginia refreshments were served.
Dishes that served TO remind those
present of their younger days, and
cards, music and dancing were pro-
yided for the entertainment OF the
members and their relatives.
Rev. DR.. Thomas was the first Presl-
dent OF the society and James IL.
Brown was chosen secretary. Or.
Thomas was reelected for a second
term, and j. Ewing Davis served one
year as president.
At the last annual meeting of the
society j. A. Means was elected presi-
dent, James E. Brown secretary, and
5. 2. Wells, Jr., DR.. Clarke Gapen,
Prof. Geo. B. Foster, DR.. II. M
Thomas, George Il. Wissler, Dr. Belle
c. Eskridge and DIR. j. L. Pifer men,
beers of the executive committee.
President Means came to Chicago in
1858. when West Virginia was yet a
part of the Old Dominion. He was
born May 2S, 1910, at Knotsville.
During the war he served four years
in the Union army, and he took part
in all the principal battles of the
armies of the Tennessee and the Cum
berland. Mr.. Means is engaged in the
live stock business.
Secretary James E. Brown is an at
torney. In his veins course the blood
of long line of Virginia revolution
airy ancestors. At the age OF 20. after
having taught in the public schools of
his native State for three years, he
entered the State University. from
which he graduated five years later
with high honors. In 1891 he gradual
ted from the University law school,
and five years ago he went to Chicago,
where he has since been engaged in
the practice of his profession.
DR.. j. Lincoln Pifer, a member of
the executive committee, was born in
Buckhannon, W. Va. He attended
ha A6 nf a ~
natl, graduating in 1883. He then
practiced medicine in his native town,
afterwards moving to Newton, Iowa.
In 1889 he went to Chicago, where he
has since been engaged in his profess
sion.
George Everhart Wissler, who takes
an active interest in the affairs Of the
West Virginia Society, was born in
Shepherdstown, w. Va, just before
the close of the civil war. He is the
son of Rev. Henry Wissler, then pas
tor of the Reformed Church in
Shepherdstown. His youth was spent
in Maryland, where his father removed
in 1875. In 1892 he went to Chicago,
where he has since followed the
practice of law.
George Burman Foster, member
of the executive committee, was born
in Monroe county in April of 1857.
Through his own exertions young
Foster secured an academic, collegiate,
university and full theological educa-
ton. He got his diploma from Shell
ton College in 1879, and in the same
year he was ordained to the Baptist
ministry, when he entered the Uni
versity of West Virginia, and in four
years was graduated with the honors
of his class. In 1882 he entered upon
course of theological study in the
Rochester Theological Seminary.
After his graduation he served as pas
tor of the First Baptist church at
Saratoga, N. Y. After years study
in Germany, Rev. Mr.. Foster was ap-
pointed professor of philosophy in Nc
Masters University. Remaining there
for three years, he received a call to
the theological chair in the University
of Chicago early in 1895. and he ac-
cepted.
DR.. Clarke Gapen, another member
of the executive committee of the
West Virginia Society, is the superin-
tendent of the Illinois eastern hospi-
tai for the insane. He was born near
Morgantown, w. Va, ID 1850. He
attended the old Monongalia Academy
of Morgantown and commenced teach
ing in the public schools Of his native
State at the age of 10. Subsequently