Newton H. Plaster

NEWTON H. PLASTER, who at the present time is cashier and chief executive of the Farmers and Miners Bank of Honaker, Virginia, is the son of Harvey L. Plaster, and was born at Blackford, Russell County, on December 8,1,884. The father’s home is at Swords Creek, this county. He was born at Blackford in September, 1854, grew up on the farm, received a fair education and followed the occupation of farming. He made both farming and useful living a success, and is still engaged in agricultural pursuits at Sword’ s Creek, where he moved in 1911. He is a democrat, and has ever been interested in the progress and success of his political policies and ideals.

Upon reaching maturity Harvey L. Plaster was united in marriage with Miss Mary Elizabeth Ray, whose birth occurred at Blackford, Virginia, in March, 1853. To Harvey and Mary Plaster the following named children have been born: Cosby, who married Johnson Ray and lives at Blackford, where he is an enterprising farmer with a good acreage; Rosa Virginia, who wedded Albert Ray, and she died at Swords Creek at the age of forty years, and he is a farmer at Swords Creek,-where he has lived for some time; Anna T., who married King F. Ray, an active farmer, and they reside at Drill, Virginia King M., who is occupied with farming at Swords Creek; Flora E., who married Jonah Ray , now deceased, who was accidentally killed in the mines where he was working, and she lives at Swords Creek: Mabel, who married Green P. Ball, a farmer at Swords Creek; Newton H., subject; John M., who now lives upon a farm at Swords Creek; Samuel G., now a prosperous merchant at Swords Creek, and he is a veteran of the World war and spent one whole momentous year in battle-scarred France, a corporal in the 318th Regiment of Infantry of the American Expeditionary Forces; Ida, who became the wife of Walter Sargent, a farmer who lives at Tazewell, Virginia; Jerome B., who is also a merchant at Swords Creek, and he, too is a veteran of the World War, having spent a year with the American Expeditionary Forces in France and was a member of the 317th Regiment of Infantry, and he reached the grade of corporal; Clara J., who wedded Robert P. Slate, and they occupy a farm at Tazewell; Clarence D. (twin) who follows the occupation of farming at Swords Creek; and Lucy (twin), who died at the age of one year.

Newton H. Plaster received his education in early years at the public schools of Russell County, but later was forced to continue his studies at home and by reading the newspapers. Thus experience and education went with him hand in hand greatly to his practical advantage. He remained on Governor Stuart’s farm until he reached the age of twenty-three years, during which time he earned his own living by hard work. Upon reaching the age of twenty-three years he entered the National Business College at Roanoke and took a short yet thorough business course-1907-8. He at once secured a position as stenographer and bookkeeper and pursued the same until 1911, when he entered the Virginian Bank of Commerce at Princeton, West Virginia and served there with high credit as cashier for three years. He then went to Erwin, Tennessee, and was given the position of cashier of the Erwin National Bank, continuing as such until 1921. Again he changed his location and became cashier of the St. Paul National Bank of Virginia, where he remained until March, 1922. He then removed to Honaker, Virginia, and accepted the position of cashier of the Farmers and Miners Bank, and is thus engaged at the present time. He is a sincere democrat in politics, taking a keen interest in the welfare of the old party he knows is right and reliable. He is a member of the Honaker Missionary Baptist Church, of Pruner Lodge No. 254, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and of Russell Lodge No. 209, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Swords Creek. He owns a farm of 118 acres of valuable land near the town and is the possessor of other properties. During the second Liberty Loan drive for the World war he was chairman for Unicoi County, Tennessee, and while the struggle continued was unusually active to aid all proper movements.

On January 17, 1920, he was united in marriage at Elizabethton, Tennessee, to Miss Marie L. Perry, daughter of Henderson P. and Eva (Custer) Perry. Her father is now a retired railway superintendent. Mrs. Plaster is a graduate of the Elizabethton High School. Newton and Marie Plaster have no children. Mark Plaster, grandfather of Newton H . Plaster, was born in Patrick County, Virginia, and died at Swords Creek at the age of eighty years. He spent the greater part of his life farming in the vicinity of Swords Creek. The Plasters came from Wales to Virginia at an early date in the history of this Republic.

The bank of which Mr. Plaster is cashier was opened in May, 1920. Its officers are: C. W. Fuller, president; S. J. Rector, vice president; Newton H. Plaster, cashier; capital stock, $50,000; deposits, $175,000.

Source: Virginia and Virginians, Vol, VI, pp. 283-284.