Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-03-31


native town. afterwards moving TO New
ton. Iowa. In 1889 he went to Chicago,
where he has since been engaged in his
profession.
George Everhart Wissler, who takes an
active interest in the affairs Of the west
Virginia. Society. was born in Shepherds
town. W. Va. Just before the close OF the
civil war He is the son of Rev. Henry
Wissler, then pastor of the Reformed
Church in Shepherdstown. His youth
was spent in Maryland, where his father
removed in 1915. In 1892 he went to Chica-
go. where he has since followed the prac-
tice of law.
George Burman Foster. a member of the
executive committee. was born in Monroe
county in April of 1857. Through his own
exertions young Foster secured an acade-
mic. collegiate university and full theo-
logical education He got his diploma
from Shelton College in 1879, and in the
same year he was ordained to the Baptist
ministry. when he entered the University
of West Virginia, and in four years was
graduated with the honors of his class.
In 1883 he entered upon course Of theo-
logical study in the Rochester Theolog-
zeal Seminary. After his graduation he
served as pastor OF the First Baptist
church at Saratoga, n. Y. After years
study in Germany. Rev. Mr.. Foster was
appointed professor of philosophy in Nc
Masters University. Remaining there for
three years. he received a call 10 the theo-
logical chair in the University Of Chicago
early in 1895. and he accepted.
DR.. Clarke Gapen, another member Of
the executive committee Of the West Vir-
ginia Society. is the superintendent of the
Illinois eastern hospital for the insane
He was born near Morgantown, w. Va.
in 1880. He attended the old Monongalia
Academy Of Morgantown and commenced
teaching in the public schools of his ma
tive State at the age Of 10. Subsequently
he removed to Chicago. and graduated
from the Chicago Medical College in 1915
DR. Gapen entered the Cook County Hos
pital the same year, but later resigned his
position to go to the State hospital for the
insane at Madison. Wis In 1902 he re-
turned to Chicago and was appointed su-
perintendent Of the Illinois eastern hospi-
tai at Kankakee.
S. p. Wells, Jr.. chairman Of the execu-
tive committee, was born IN Rhode Island,
but as he removed to West Virginia at the
age of four years he is admitted to be one
of the elect. He graduated from the
scientific course of the West Virginia Uni
versity in 1888. He spent most of the next
five years in mechanical engineering. In
1891 he went to St. Paul with the Thomp-
son-Houston Company, and in 1893 was
made district manager of the General
Electric Company. He went 10 Chicago
in 1894. having been appointed western
manager of the Babcock & Wilcox Com
pany of New York with headquarters at
Chicago.
DR. II. NJ. Thomas also had the misfor-
tune to be born in another State. Iowa be-
ing his birthplace in 1855. As his father,
Rev. w. II. Thomas Virginian by birth
and the first president Of the West Nir-
ginia Society. was then a Methodist pas
tor and subject to the itinerant mode Of
life prescribed by that church for its
preachers. young Thomas had varied
residence. and lived in Fort Madison,
Washington. Mount Pleasant and Bur-
lington. Iowa. and in Aurora, Ills. He
removed to Chicago in 1869. and has re-
sided there ever since. with the exception
of two years. during which his father was
relocated to Aurora as a result of his
growing liberalism. In 1886 the young
physician received the degree Of A. NJ.
from Lombard University at Galesburg.
Ills. His graduation from Rush Medical
College took place four years previous to
that date.
DIR. Belle Constant Eskrdge. the wo-
mons representative on the committee.
vos horn IN Mason county. Virginia-now
west Virginia-November 3. 1853. She re-
ceived her early education from her
fatber who was a naturalist Of note. and
Later attended the University OF West
Virginia. Removing to Chicago. she en-
tered the homeopathic college from which
institution she was graduated with nigh
honors. She has taken postgraduate
courses at the New York medical coll