It may be said that he laid the foundation of his education in the public schools of the Old Dominion as he went through the first and second grades before the family moved to West Virginia. His further studies were pursued at the West Virginia Collegiate Institute at Institute, W. Va. He was there till 1904. He was under the necessity of making his own way in school and earned the money for tuition and other expenses by work in the mines.
While at Institute he decided upon medicine as a career, and when ready for his course matriculated at the School of Medicine of Howard University from which he was graduated with the M.D. degree in 1908. As a student he was active in college athletics and made the varsity team.
He was already familiar with the conditions and opportunities of the West Virginia coal fields, and in 1909 began the regular practice of his profession. After a short stop in Fayette County, he located at Beckley where he has since resided and prospered. He does a general practice and is a member of the State Medical and Dental Association.
On August 20, 1909, Dr. Hargrove married Miss Maud Carrington of Huntington. Mrs. Hargrove was educated at Hartshorn Memorial College. There were three children by this marriage, Henry C., Jr., Thelma and Lloyd. In 1918 Mrs. Hargrove passed to her reward. On August 1, 1919, the doctor was married to Miss Mary Morgan of Beckley. Dr. Hargrove is a Republican in politics and in religion a Baptist. He is trustee and chairman of the building committee of his local church. His secret order affiliations are with the Pythians and the Red Men. He is Grand Medical Director for the latter.
Few men have the opportunity to study conditions more intimately than the physician, and Dr. Hargrove has concluded from his observations that the great need of the race is practical cooperation and a spirit of unity.