Historic Town Of Bramwell's First Doctor
Dr. Richard M. McGuffin, MD
Dr. Richard M. McGuffin was born Sept. 24, 1847 in Ripley, Jackson County WV. He married Lucy A. Elliott of Kentucky and had one daughter, Alma Margaret. She married Dr. E. T. Cecil of Gatlettsburg, KY. Dr. McGuffin's death notice showed his daughter living in Bramwell, WV at the time of his death. Dr. McGuffin brought his family to Bramwell in 1885. He became Town of Bramwell's first doctor and was a prominent physician throughout the southern West Virginia and Virginia coal fields. He also had interests in the coal mining operations in southern West Virginia. In the 1880's John Cooper and his sons, Thomas and Edward, began coal mining operations in an area of Mercer County, WV that would become known as Coopers after it was developed. The Cooper's family mining operation was the Mill Creek Coal & Coke Company. Robert McGuffin was Dr. McGuffin's father. Robert McGuffin was a son of James McGuffin and his wife, Elizabeth Irwin, who was a daughter of Robert Irwin, a Revolutionary soldier. Dr. McGuffin served as president of the Pike Collories Co. It was one of the largest operations on the N&W Railroad lines. When he resigned Dr. McGuffin was followed as president by his brother, Col. J.A. McGuffin. During the late 1800s he was a surgeon for the N & W Railroad. Dr. McGuffin died Sept. 7, 1910 in Bramwell, WV. A newspaper Article: April 17, 1908 - Dr. R.M. McGuffin, a prominent physician of Bramwell, and the coal fields, was seriously injured last Sunday by Dudley WILLIAMS, at Glen Alum, in West Virginia. WILLIAMS struck Dr. McGuffin on the head with a pistol, inflicting a wound which was thought to be fatal. He is now in Welch hospital. The trouble is said to have occurred on account of a letter written to some young ladies of Mr. Williams household. Williams was fined and released by the magistrate. The below text is from the book "Men of West Virginia":
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