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- 20250712GHLn- http://files.usgwarchives.net/wv/mingo/bios/chafin.txt
Mingo County, West Virginia
Biography of LAFE CHAFIN
This biography was submitted by Valerie Crook,
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The History of West Virginia, Old and New
Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc.,
Chicago and New York, Volume II, pg. 594
Mingo
LAFE CHAFIN, one of the representative attorneys of the
younger generation in Mingo County, is engaged in the
practice of his profession at Williamson, the county seat, in
which city he was born February 1, 1896. He is a son of
Rev. James M. and Elizabeth Susan (Bevins) Chafin, the
former a native of West Virginia and the latter of Ken-
tucky. The father, a clergyman of the Christian Church,
was actively interested in public affairs and was specially
influential in the movement which led to the creation of
Mingo County, after the organization of which he was
appointed the first clerk of the County Court.
In 1913 Lafe Chafin graduated from the Williamson
High School, and he then entered Washington and Lee
University, where he carried forward his studies in both the
literary and law departments, in the latter of which he was
graduated in 1917, with the degree of Bachelor of Laws.
Almost immediately after his graduation he found the call
of patriotism greater than immediate professional ambition,
for in July, 1917, he enlisted for service in the World war.
He passed three months at Fort Benjamin Harrison, In-
diana, where he received commission as second lieutenant
and was assigned to the Forty-fifth United States Infantry.
With his command he was transferred to Camp Taylor,
Kentucky, later to Camp Gordon, Georgia, and thence to
Camp Sheridan, Montgomery, Alabama, where his regiment
received orders for overseas service. The command pro-
ceeded to Camp Mills, New York, and soon afterward sailed
from the port of the national metropolis. When the trans-
port was two days out it received orders to return, owing
to the signing of the historic armistice. Mr. Chafin and his
comrades landed at Hoboken, New Jersey, November 14,
1918, and then returned to Camp Mills. After a brief stop
at Camp Sheridan, Alabama, Mr. Chafin's regiment returned
to Camp Gordon, Georgia, where it was assigned service in
connection with demobilization. He there received his
honorable discharge in September, 1919, and upon his return
to Williamson he entered the law office of B. Randolph Bias.
In March, 1920, he was admitted to the bar of his native
state, at Charleston, and then became associated with Mr.
Bias in practice. On the 1st of January, 1922, Mr. Bias,
one of the leading members of the bar of the state, admitted
him to professional partnership, under the firm name of
Bias & Chafin, and thus he initiates the practice of his
profession under most favorable auspices, while his admis-
sion to this partnership betokens alike his sterling character
and professional ability. The firm is retained as counsel
for the Coal Operators Association, and its practice is thus
largely of corporation order. Mr. Chafin is a member of the
Mingo County Bar Association and the West Virginia Bar
Association, is affiliated with the American Legion, the
Alpha Chi Rho college fraternity and the Masonic frater-
nity, and in the Masonic fraternity he has membership in
the local Blue Lodge, Chapter and Commandery of the
York Rite and the Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Wheeling.
He is a democrat is political allegiance, and he and his
wife hold membership in the Presbyterian Church.
In New York City, in 1918, Mr. Chafin wedded Miss
Gladys Claire Pierce, daughter of W. Frank and Clara
(Miller) Pierce, of Buckhannon, West Virginia, where Mr.
Pierce is engaged in the timber and lumber business. . Mr.
and Mrs. Chafin are popular figures in the representative
social activities of their home city.
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