University of Virginia Library

WILLIAM E. POFF, V. S.

Dr. William E. Poff, a leading veterinarian of Roanoke,
Virginia, was born in Floyd County, May 17th,
1879, his parents being Ira W. and Callie (Huff) Poff.
Dr. Poff sprang from
one of the most prominent
as well as one of
the wealthiest families
of his native county.
As a boy he attended the
public schools of Floyd,
and during vacation
periods worked on his
father's farm. His
natural instincts made
him a lover of dumb
brutes, and even as a
boy his inclinations
tended to the alleviation
of the suffering of
the dumb animals in the
neighborhood, and long
before he had reached
manhood his advice was
sought by neighbors and friends in cases of illness of
their farm stock. When quite young he went to Ohio
where he spent a year, and afterwards located in Roanoke.

He had decided to become a Veterinary Surgeon, and
his first scientific knowledge of the profession was
gained in a course at the Grand Rapids Veterinary
College, Grand Rapids, Michigan. He afterwards attended
the United States College of Veterinary Surgeons
at Washington, D. C. He successfully passed
the State Examining Board in January, 1909, and in
the following year built the first Veterinary Hospital in
this section of the country at No. 22 Luck Avenue,
Southwest, Roanoke, Virginia, where he has since
practiced his profession. He has met with uniform
success and has built up a large patronage, not only in
the city, but in all the adjoining counties.

On September 2d, 1907, he married Minnie Burnett,
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Burnett, of Floyd
County, and to this union, one child, a little son, Alton,
has been born.