Oxford County Maine Biographies

OXFORD COUNTY MAINE BIOGRAPHIES

Walter W. Rangeley, M. D.

A native of Stuart, the capital of Patrick County, Virginia, Dr. Rangeley has, since 1895, been a practicing physician of Christiansburg, the capital of Montgomery county, Virginia, that town noted as the seat of Montgomery Female College and for its iron and other industries. Dr. Rangeley is a son of James Henry Rangeley, born in Stuart, Virginia, in 1844, who is now the owner and manager of a large fruit farm, his orchard said to be the largest in Patrick County, a noted fruit growing section. Mr. Rangeley is a Confederate veteran, having served four years in the War Between the States. He was at one time captured by the Union forces and confined in Fort Delaware. After the war he returned to Patrick County, where he has taken front rank among the fruit farmers of that county. He is a member of the Patrick Camp, United Veterans, and is highly regarded as a citizen. He married Alice Vie, born at Stuart, Virginia, in 1849, daughter of James Vie, of Henry County, Virginia.

James Henry Rangeley is a son of James Henry Rangeley, who came to Virginia from the State of Maine, settling in Patrick County. The Rangeley Lakes, a chain of lakes lying in the western part of Maine, in Franklin and Oxford counties, covering an area of eighty square miles and lying at an altitude of twelve to fifteen hundred feet, are named in honor of a Rangeley, who settled early in that section, coming from Liverpool, England. Another son of James Henry is Joseph Rangeley, who served in the Confederate army.

Dr. Walter W. Rangeley, of Christiansburg, son of James Henry and Alice (Vie) Rangeley, of Stuart, Virginia, was born in Stuart, Patrick County, Virginia, July 8, 1868. He obtained his earlier education in the public schools of Stuart, then entered Shenandoah Academy, at Winchester, Virginia, where he was a student for three years. He then was a cadet at Oxford Military and Naval Aacdemy for one year, entering in 1885. He spent the next five years variously employed, finally having decided upon medicine as his profession, he entered, in 1891, the College of Physicians and Surgeons, at Baltimore, continuing and completing a thorough course and receiving the degree of M. D., class of 1895. In the same year he located in Christiansburg, Montgomery County, Virginia, where he has since been continuously engaged in the general practice of his profession. Dr. Rangeley was selected by the Governor of Virginia to serve upon the Montgomery county board of health, and after serving for ten years, was reappointed and is yet a member of the board, rendering efficient service in that important department of county government. He was chosen by the people as coroner of Montgomery County, an office he yet holds.

Dr. Rangeley is a member of the Virginia Medical Society and the Montgomery County Medical Society, and has prepared and read papers of medical value before both societies. He has kept pace with modern medical discovery and occupies a high position in the regard of his professional brethren. His practice is large and among the many families he visits he is the welcome friend as well as medical adviser. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, is a Democrat in politics and a communicant of the Presbyterian church.

Dr. Rangeley married, in 1896, Mamie Jane Childress, born in Montgomery County, Virginia, in 1878, daughter of James S. and Virginia (Smith) Childress. Children, all born in Christiansburg: Walter W., born in 1898; James Smith, born in 1900; Virginia, born in 1902.

[Source:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography, Under The Editorial Supervision of Lyon Gardiner Tyler, 1915 â€“ Transcribed by AFOFG]

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