Henry Frank Peery

HENRY FRANK PEERY. Recognized as one of the capable financiers of Smyth County, Henry Frank Peery has risen to his present position as cashier of the Peoples National Bank of Marion through his own unaided efforts, aiacl deserves the prosperity which he enjoys, for he has honorably earned it. He was born on a farm at Ceres, Bland County, Virginia, April 3, 1892, a son of Henry Edward Peery. The birth of Henry Edward Peery took place in Tazewell County, Virginia, September 21, 1867, and he was reared in his native county, but removed to Ceres when a young man, and for a number of years was successfully engaged in farming and merchandising. In 1913 he went to Amarillo, Texas, where he is engaged in conducting a general store and a drug store, and, as a member of the firm of Wilburn Bros. Company, in manufacturing galvanized water tanks, silos, culverts and similar articles. He is a democrat, but not a politician. The Presbyterian Church has in him a sincere member and strong supporter, and be had been advanced through all of the bodies of the Scottish and York Rites, and is a Knight-Templar and Shriner Mason and has received the thirty-second degree. He first married Jennie Groseclose, who was born at Ceres, Virginia, and died there in 1899. Their children were: Henry Frank, who was the elder; and Mary Ruth, who lives with her father. As his second wife he married Kate Buchanan, who was born in Rich Valley, Virginia, and died at Ceres in 1907. There were no children of this marriage. As the third wife he married Mrs. A. Lillian (Chapell) Howe, who was born in Kentucky. By her first marriage she had two children: Ellen Howe, who is married and lives at Topeka, Kansas, where her husband is serving as secretary to the passenger agent for the Santa Fe Railroad Company and Clarence Howe, who resides it Amarillo, in the employ of the Wilburn Bros. Company.

Henry Frank Peery attended the grade and high schools of Bland County, and then took a commercial course at the National Business College, Roanoke, Virginia, from which he was graduated in 1914, specializing in bookkeeping and banking. For the next four years he was bookkkeeper for the Roanoke Railway and Electric Company, and then, in 1918, entered the Bank of Buchanan as bookkeeper. After six months with that institution he went with the First National Bank of Christiansburg, Virginia, as assistant cashier, and remained there until 1921, and on March 11, 1921, accepted the position of cashier of the Peoples National Bank of Marion, which was opened for business May 20, 1920. It is capitalized it $70,000; has a surplus of $7,000, and deposits of $160,000. The officers of the bank are: R. T. Greer, president; R. B. Peery, vice president; H. Frank Peery, cashier; and A. D. Scott, assistant cashier. In his political beliefs Mr. Peery is a democrat. The Royal Oak Presbyterian Church holds his membership. A Mason, he belongs to Marion Lodge No. 31, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, of which he is secretary; Marion Chapter No. 54, Royal Arch Masons; Lynn Commandery No. 9, Knights Templar, of which he is recorder, and he is enthusiastic with reference to his order.

On June 15, 1916, Mr. Peery married, at Roanoke, Virginia, Miss Minnie Buster, a daughter of Samuel and Minnie Buster, both of whom are deceased. Mr. Buster was a passenger conductor on the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad. Mr. and Mrs. Peery have no children. He is one of the solid and reliable citizens of Marion, and is held in the highest confidence by his associates in business, as well as by the public generally.

Source: Virginia and Virginians, Vol VI, p. 281.