Pfost, Henry Floyd

Passed: 1936-05-02

Age: 74

Source: Jackson Herald

Death Notice:

Obituary Date: 1936-05-08

Information: H.F. PFOST, WELL KNOWN BANKER, TAKEN BY DEATH - H. F. Pfost, widely known banker and business man of Ripley, died at his home here last Saturday morning at seven o'clock after an illness of several weeks.  He was 74 years old.  Mr. Pfost was the cashier of the Bank of Ripley and the last of the charter stockholders of the institution.  Because of his failing health he had not been active in the business for several months.     The funeral services were held at the Epworth Methodist Episcopal church, South, Monday afternoon at two-thirty o'clock with Rev. J. R. Withrow in charge and he was assisted by Rev. J. L. West, a former pastor of the church, Rev. E. B. Pennybacker, a former district superintendent and Rev. Fred Slaughter.  The members of the Ripley Masonic Lodge conducted the rituatlistic service at the grave.  Burial was in Pine Hill cemetery.      The active pallbearers were Dr. Ray Kessel, Dr. Russel Kessel, Dr. Royal Kessel, R. G. Lilly, Judge Lewis H. Miller, Ben W. Miller, Earl W. McGraw and Park Pfost.  The honorary pallbearers were O. J. Morrison, O. P. Oldham, O. J. Stout, George B. Crow, Dr. J. Howard Smith, J. B. Elliott, George E. Straley, W. E. Walker, A. J. Humphreys, A. A. Lilly, George B. Keeney, Dr. George W. Simmons, C. R. Kessel, W. F. Boggess, Dr. T. E. Rymer, Homer H. Parsons, W. H. Waybright, Enoch Staats, Sattis Simmons, Mayor H. R. DeBussey, T. Clayton Parsons, W. H. Waybright and P. M. Munday.      The following eulogy was written and read by T. Clayton Parsons, who for more than twenty years had been associated in business with Mr. Pfost and sets out many of the highlights of his career:      Henry Floyd Pfost passed peacefully from among the living at his home on Church street at Ripley, on Saturday, May 2, 1936.  He was born December 21, 1861 near Fairplain, and was the son of Francis Marion and Cloah Koontz Pfost who were pioneer residents of Jackson county.  He was united in marriage to Flora Lorena Crow, April 17, 1895.  She died October 21, 1915.  One son, William Marion Pfost, survives him from this marriage.  He was united in marriage to Blanche Miller on November 27, 1919, and Mrs. Pfost and three sons, Joseph Fielding, John Justus and Francis Miller Pfost, survive him from this marriage.  Other near relatives surviving him are one brother, George W. Pfost of Fairplain; two sisters, Mrs. Maggie Winters of Fairplain; Miss Alice Pfost of Ripley; and two granddaughters, Elizabeth Ann Pfost and Flora Jean Pfost, both of Ripley.      Mr. Pfost's life was a busy and useful one from his boyhood days.  His father died while he was yet a boy and he with the other children helped the mother carry on successfully the work of the farm and providing for needs of the family.  He received a teacher's certificate at a youthful age but did not enter this profession, preferring to accept a clerkship in the drug store of Dr. Kidd in Ripley which business he later purchased and conducted perhaps, for a quarter of a century until he sold it to J. R. and H. R. Lester.  He was a registered pharmacist and during the latter part of the last century he served one term on the West Virginia State Board of Pharmacy with credit to himself and honor to the state.      On June 20, 1891, Mr. Pfost, Enoch Staats, Warren Miller, A. F. Parsons, W. M. Staats, J. M. Greer, D. K. Hood, M. S. Waybright, J. L. Starcher and S. H. Maguire organized the Bank of Ripley and opened it for business on August 10, 1891.  They selected Mr. Pfost as the bank's first cashier. During there years he has served as cashier, president, vice president and for a short time as both cashier and president.  He devoted the major portion of his life's work to this institution.  He with this original board of directors and later boards have rendered this section a distinct service and been successful in this field of endeavor.  He is the last of their number to pass on.      Mr. Pfost helped organize and was a director in several of the O. J. Morrison Department Stores in conjunction with a number of other business men.  He was much interested in them and always attended their meetings.  As a churchman, Mr. Pfost was one of the leading members of the Epworth Episcopal Church, South, of Ripley.  It may be said also that he was vitally interested not only in the work of the local church but the denomination in general.  He was a worker for his church and its services and one of its most faithful attendants.  He gave liberally of his means to the support of the local church and likewise to the interests of the denomination.  It must also be said here that he was a friend to the minister no matter what church he represented as we who knew him most intimately know of his broadmindedness and liberality towards other ministers and their churches whether in Ripley or elsewhere.  He was a man of broad sympathy and was kind and considerate to the unfortunate.  The number of people he has personally assisted or the amount he has given them would be difficult to estimate.  He took much interest in helping boys and girls without funds to obtain their education.  This feature of service rendered by this man is known to but few of us who have been associated with him and it would be impossible to estimate the amount of good it has accomplished for those effected or the community in general.  He was vitally interested in and supported the Boy Scout Organization.      Mr. Pfost was a charter member of Ripley Chapter No. 17, Order of the Eastern Stars.  He was also a member of Ripley Lodge No. 16 A. F. & A. M., the Spencer Chapter of Masons Franklin Commandry No. 17 of Point Pleasant and Nemesis Temple of Parkersburg.  He was a charter member of the Ripley Rotary Club and throughout his life was always found helping to promote movements whose ends meant better civic conditions in the county..............permanent road improvements in the county, in bringing gas for fuel, electricity for light and power to the town and was one of the staunchest supporters in the establishment and erection of our present high school.  He was appointed and served through out the World War as the Chairman of the Liberty Loan Drives in Jackson county and here he and his fellow committee members and citizens of the county accompanied what was likely the largest financial undertaking ever consumated in the county although it seemed impossible at the beginning of the war.      One of his most outstanding characteristics was his devotion to and love for members of his family.  Their welfare always was uppermost in his mind and during his long span of life when he was not at his place of business he was always found at his home with his family.  His home was a happy one and no man enjoyed his home more than he did.