Henry Bell Gilkeson

Honorable Henry Bell Gilkeson
Member of the West Virginia Senate from the 12th district
In office 1890–93 Serving with Solomon Cunningham
Preceded by	Samuel Lightfoot Flournoy
Succeeded by	John B. Finley
Member of the West Virginia House of Delegates from the Hampshire County district
In office 1883–85
Preceded by	Alexander W. Monroe
Succeeded by	Amos L. Pugh
In office 1909–11
Preceded by	James Sloan Kuykendall
Succeeded by	Robert Pugh Monroe
Principal of the West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and Blind
In office 1887–88
Preceded by	John Collins Covell
Succeeded by	C. H. Hill
Superintendent of Hampshire County Schools
In office 1877–79
Preceded by	A. M. Alverson
Succeeded by	Charles N. Hiett
President of the Bank of Romney
In office 1888–1913
Preceded by	None
Succeeded by	John J. Cornwell
Personal details
Born	(1850-06-06)June 6, 1850 Moorefield, Virginia (now West Virginia), United States
Died	September 29, 1921(1921-09-29) (aged 71) Mountain Lake Park, Maryland, United States
Resting place	Indian Mound Cemetery, Romney, West Virginia, United States
Political party	Democratic Party
Spouse	Mary Katherine Paxton
Relations	Robert B. Gilkeson (father) Sarah E. Gilkeson (mother) Edward M. Gilkeson (brother)
Children	Laura Paxton Gilkeson Arnold Robert William Gilkeson Henry Bell Gilkeson, Jr.
Residence(s)	Romney, West Virginia, United States
Alma mater	Hampden–Sydney College
Profession	lawyer, politician, school administrator, and banker

Henry Bell Gilkeson (June 6, 1850 – September 29, 1921) was an American lawyer, politician, school administrator, and banker in West Virginia.

Gilkeson was born in Moorefield, Virginia (now West Virginia), the eldest child of a dry goods merchant, and was raised in Romney. Following his graduation from Hampden–Sydney College, Gilkeson became a schoolteacher and served as superintendent of the Hampshire County Schools district from 1877 to 1879. Gilkeson later studied law and started a law practice in Romney. Following the death of John Collins Covell in 1887, Gilkeson served as the principal of the West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and Blind until 1888.

Gilkeson served in the West Virginia Legislature as a state senator representing the 12th District in the West Virginia Senate (1890–93) and as a member of the West Virginia House of Delegates (1883–85 and 1909–11). Gilkeson served as the mayor of Romney beginning in 1885, and the first president of the Bank of Romney (1888–1913).