USA > Washington DC > Eminent and representative men of Virginia and the District of Columbia in the nineteenth century. With a concise historical sketch of Virginia > Part 47
USA > Virginia > Eminent and representative men of Virginia and the District of Columbia in the nineteenth century. With a concise historical sketch of Virginia > Part 47
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. and gallant on the field of action till
The conformation of arms of Fauntle- 1863, when, in consequence of ill health, roy family of Virginia is a Fleur de Lis his resignation was tendered and accepted. (crest) and the head and shoulders of a He participated, among others, in the handsome boy with a countenance beto- kening strong mental endowments, and noble countenance and character.
valley of Virginia and Atlanta campaigns, and in all the operations of the army of northern Virginia, up to the date of his resignation. After the close of the war
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he became interested in the Norfolk & practice till 1889, when he was elected Western railroad, of which he was for a secretary of the commonwealth, which office by re-elections he has since held. As a man of public life, he is trusted and esteemed, and being of a genial spirit and courteous bearing, and of an irreproacha- ble character, he is extremely popular, and the course of few others, if any, of the public men of the state, is watched with more interest and more anticipation. Being of a progressive spirit and business turn of mind and ability, he has become interested in the industrial development as well as social and political advance- ment of his state. He is vice-president of the Virginia Steel, Iron & Slate com- pany, and he is also supreme governor of the Beneficial Endowment guild. In June of 1871, Mr. Flournoy married Miss Rosa B. Wood, daughter of Hon. Henry Wood, a prominent attorney of Mecklen- burg county; and in social circles Judge Flournoy and family enjoy high standing. time president. However, he contin- ued in the practice of law until his death, which occurred in 1883. He was a lawyer of no mean ability, and the profession was peculiarly suited to his taste, character of mind and ardor of temperament, and at the law he was unquestionably a success. In 1835, he chose a companion in mar- riage, being fortunate in securing the faithful and devoted hand of Susan A., daughter of Allen Love, a lawyer of ability and promise, but who died com- paratively early in life. Of the issue of the above marriage, we have introduced Henry W., as the immediate subject of this biographical mention. He was a youth and in attendance at school, when the war between the states came on, and in January of 1862, when not yet sixteen years of age, he enlisted in company G, of the Sixth Virginia cavalry, with which he served till the surrender of Gen. Lee, Such is a brief outline of the career of Mr. Flournoy and his father, and of each much more of interest could be said, but it is not in the domain of this paper to give much of detail. in 1865. Hardly did he serve continu- ously with this company for the whole time, for during the last three months of his servitude he was a member of an artillery battalion of Richmond. He took active part as a field courier, and was in all the engagements of his com- mand, and to his military service can be paid high tribute.
It may not be out of place here to state that Cabell C. Flournoy, a brother of the judge, and the eldest of the nine children born to Thomas S. Flournoy, entered the Pittsylvania cavalry, C. S. A., in April, 1861, as sergeant. rose to the rank of colonel of the Sixth Virginia cavalry, and was killed June 3, 1864, while leading his regiment at Cold Harbor.
On the close of the war, Mr. Flournoy began the study of law under the direc- tion of his father, and in 1867 was ad- mitted to the bar, and, locating at Dan- ville, began the practice of the profession. In 1870 he was elected judge of corpora- REV. WILLIAM LOYALL GRAVATT, tion court, and in 1877 was re-elected, but the popular rector of St. Luke's church, the following year resigned, and, resuming Norfolk, was born in Caroline county, Va., the practice of law, and removing to December 15, 1858, and is the son of Dr. southwestern Virginia in the fall of 1881, James and Mary Gravatt, natives respect- continued in an active and successful ively of Port Royal and Richmond, Va.
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PERSONAL SKETCHES -STATE OF VIRGINIA.
Dr. James Gravatt was born in the year burg college, Montgomery county, Va., 1817, received his literary education in William and Mary college, and afterward completed a medical course in the Penn- sylvania college of Medicine. He prac-
and completed a divinity course in the Episcopal Theological seminary at Alex- andria, from which he graduated in the year 1884. He was then ordained deacon ticed the healing art quite successfully in and the following year admitted to the priesthood of St. Paul's church, Richmond, Va., and assigned as curate for three years. At the end of that time he became rector of St. Luke's church, Norfolk, of which he has since had charge and which under his able ministrations has enjoyed an era of great prosperity. Mr. Gravatt was married, October 13, 1888, to Miss Sidney S. Payton, daughter of Thomas Payton, of Richmond. Two children have been born to this marriage, of whom
Port Royal until the breaking out of the Civil war, when he received the appoint- ment of surgeon in charge of the hospital at Richmond, the duties of which respon- sible position he discharged in a highly creditable manner until the cessation of hostilities, when he returned to his home and resumed the practice of his profes- sion. He married, in 1849, Mary Eliza Smith, daughter of Col. J. H. Smith, of Richmond, to which union were born five children, namely: Mary C. A., Lucy J., William L. is living.
wife of Gen. R. E. Bowen, of Tazewell county; Charles W., a surgeon in the
United States navy; John J., pastor of St. of Richmond, a native of Fluvanna county,
John's Episcopal church, Hampton; and William L. Dr. Gravatt was a delegate to the reconstruction convention, served as mayor of Port Royal for a number of years, and departed this life on the 23rd day of September, 1868. The doctor's father was Robert Gravatt, a native of Port Royal and for many years a promi- nent merchant of that place. His wife, a Miss Timberlake, of Caroline county, was a woman of many excellent endowments of mind and heart. The founders of the Gravatt house in America were French Huguenots, who came to the United States after the revocation of the edict of Nantes, and settled in Caroline county, with the early history and development of which they were prominently identified. On the maternal side Rev. W. Loyall Gravatt is descended from distinguished English an- cestry.
DR. WILLIAM B. GRAY,
was born February 20, 1833, and is the son of Dr. William A. Gray, of Gooch- land county, a physician of prominence, who died December 25, 1888, aged eighty- two years. He was the son of Col. William Gray, a Virginian also, who commanded a regiment in the war of 1812. Col. Gray's wife was Jane, sister of Gen. John Guer- rant, a French Huguenot. The father of Col. Gray was John Gray. The mother of Dr. William B. Gray was Mary Ann Brooks, a native of Fluvanna county and daughter of William and Isabella K. (Perkins) Brooks. Dr. Gray is of En- glish and French descent. He was brought up in his native county, where he received a classical education; in early life he took up the study of medicine under the direc- tion of his father, and in 1850 entered the medical department of the university of Virginia and took a full course in medi-
Rev. William Loyall Gravatt received cine. He then entered the Jefferson a thorough literary education at Blacks- | Medical college at Philadelphia and grad-
44
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PERSONAL SKETCHES-STATE OF VIRGINIA.
uated in 1852, for twenty years being the | lege, Pennsylvania. At the age of eighteen he began the business of life as a bookkeeper for Mr. George Reid, Nor- folk, in whose employ he remained for several years. He then accepted a more lucrative position with Leigh Phelps & Bro., with whom he remained several years, when he was made treasurer of the Union car works, and later on treasurer of the Pioneer steamboat company. He | was at one time an alderman of the city Portsmouth. The last ten years of his life he engaged in the milling business. At the time of his death he was a director of the bank of Portsmouth, a harbor com- missioner, treasurer of the Lewis Spring Manufacturing company, and in the real estate and insurance business. Prior to the evacuation of Portsmouth he raised a company of volunteers, but gave up the command to fill another position. He was then appointed quartermaster, with the rank of captain, and was stationed at Florence, S. C., most of the war, having at one time the care of thirteen thousand prisoners. At the time of his demise he was a member of the Stonewall camp, Confederate veterans.
partner of his father in the practice of medicine in Fluvanna county. During the war, Dr. Gray did service as a volun- teer surgeon on the staff of Dr. J. B. McCaw in Chimborazo hospital at Rich- mond. In 1872 he located in Richmond, where he has practiced his profession very successfully ever since. He is at present a member of the Virginia Medical society of the Richmond academy of Medicine and Surgery, ex-vice-president of the Richmond Medical and Surgical society and the Virginia Medical society. He is a member of the board of education of Richmond college, the duty of which is to examine young men contemplating the Baptist ministry. In 1890, Dr. Gray, in honor to the memory of his father, estab- lished a scholarship in Richmond college, known as the Gray memorial scholarship, providing for one male student in the col- lege in each year. He is an official mem- ber of the Baptist church. Dr. Gray was married November 13, 1872, to Lucy Susan Bowles (widow of C. C. Ellets), and daughter of Judge D. W. K. Bowles, late of Fluvanna county. Dr. Gray is well known to the profession as the discoverer of oxygen gas as an anesthetic. He has, through a number of liberal contributions, suggested many original ideas in medical science which have given him a wide and very enviable reputation, among them being a paper, "Indigestion a Cause of Bright's Disease," and one entitled, "Diagnostic Value of the Phosphates in Pregnancy." He is a member of the board of directors of the Columbia Gold Mining company of Fluvanna county.
ALEXANDER PINKHAM GRICE
was born in Portsmouth, Va., May 9, 1835, and died January 1, 1891. He was edu- cated in Portsmouth, and at Littel's col-
October 27, 1881, Mr. Grice married Miss Susan Thorowgood Brooks, daugh- ter of Thomas and Julia Brooks. They had three children: Susan Brooks, Charles Alexander, and Alexander Pink- ham. Mr. Grice's father was Charles Alexander Grice; he was born in Burling- ton, N. J., October 26, 1792, and died in Portsmouth, Va., July 21, 1870. His mother, Eliza Taylor Davis, was born in Portsmouth, September 10, 1803, and died February 2, 1843. They were married November 23, 1820, and had seven chil- dren; Mary Eliza, Henrietta M., Samuel Davis, Maria, Caroline Pinkham, and Charles Carroll and Alexander Pinkham.
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PERSONAL SKETCHES -STATE OF VIRGINIA.
He was a soldier in the war of 1812. Dur- | cester county, and Diana McCoy, his ing his life he held several offices of trust. wife), was born in Norfolk county, No- vember 17, 1768, and died March 2, 1857. He married three times, was a farmer and a soldier in the war of 1812. Her grand- mother, Frances Butt, wife of Thomas Brooks, was born in Norfolk county Octo- ber 3, 1773, and died in December, 1829. At one time was city treasurer and presi- dent of the gas company. He was a devoted Freemason for fifty-three years. Fifteen years he was grand commander of the grand commandry of the state of Vir- ginia; for thirty-eight years eminent commander of commandry No. 5; for two years grand high priest; for twenty-five MAJOR GEORGE W. GRICE. years, high priest of Mt. Horeb royal arch chapter; for six years district grand master, district No. 1, and master of Naval lodge for twenty years, discharg- ing the duties of the high and responsible positions with honor to himself, and fidel- ity to the order. Mr. Grice's grandfather, Francis Grice, was a quartermaster in the Revolutionary war ( see sketch of Major Geo. W. Grice ). Thomas Brooks, the father of Mrs. Grice, was born in Norfolk county, April 19, 1818. He was a mer- chant in Portsmouth, at one time a director of the Portsmouth Savings bank, and an active business man. Prior to attention to business, and a conscientious the Civil war he was colonel of the militia and at the beginning of the war was appointed lieutenant-colonel; but ill- health prevented his serving in that capacity, and he died October 21, 1862. December 2, 1840, he married Julia Ann Frith, daughter of Captain Tudor, a na- tive of Bermuda, and Mary Frith. She fidence of his fellow townsmen and was born in Princess Anne county, Va., March 17, 1820, and died October 14, 1890. They had nine children, all but one of whom grew to maturity: Tudor Frith, Susan Thorowgood, widow of the subject of this sketch, Henry Watson, deceased in 1888, Julia Frith, Thomas, deceased in July, 1861, aged ten years, Arthur Watts, James Madison, Charles Lee, and Edward Frith. Mrs. Grice's grandfather, Thomas
George Washington Grice, son of Joseph Grice and Abby Cox, his wife, was born in Portsmouth, Virginia, May 16, 1824. He was one of the best known, highly esteemed and useful citizens of eastern Virginia. From his boyhood to his death he left the impress of his char- acter upon all with whom he came in con- tact. When seven years old he lost his father; at fourteen he had to leave school, and begin the battle of life, assist to in the support of his widowed mother and orphaned sis- ters. By honesty of purpose, unfailing devotion to duty, he won the esteem of the whole community. When most men were just about to begin life, he had al- ready reached an enviable position, and soon became one of the most successful business men of Virginia. While yet a young man be was honored by the con- elected to many important public as well as municipal positions, filling all offices with honor to himself and to the satisfac- tion of his constituents. A devoted lover of his native state, when Old Virginia bared her bosom to the storm in 1861, he was among the first to come forward in her defense. Occupying the position of chief magistrate of the city at the time of the secession of Virginia, it was on his Brooks (son of George Brooks, of Glou- cool, clear wisdom that all relied in those
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days of unprecedented events. By his | I must say of him that truly he was one well concerted and skillfully executed plans, he materially assisted in causing the panic among the Federals which led to the burning and evacuation of the Gos- port navy yard in April, 1861. From that time until the end of the war he was dis- tinguished for the zeal and ability with which he served the Confederate cause. He was appointed, by the Confederate government, captain and acting quarter- master, and assigned to duty as post quartermaster at Portsmouth, Va.
The first organized regiment of Georgia soldiers to reach the soil of Virginia, in 1861, was the well known Third Georgia regiment, and their organization was completed amid the smoldering ruins of the navy yard. Mr. Grice, as the repre- rentative of the city, was appointed to meet these gallant men, and assign them quarters; thus began his services with Wright's brigade. When the brigade was ordered to evacuate Portsmouth, in 1862, he marched with them as brigade quar- termaster, and served with the brigade in all the circles of battles around Rich- mond, ending with the bloody heights of Malvern Hill. Of his efficiency in this capacity, the testimony of one of his officers is as follows: "The people of Portsmouth were acquainted with him in the civil walks of life, as a Christian and a gentleman always ready to do good and alive to every public interest. The Third Georgia regiment knew him as a soldier and a patriot. With Major Grice as our brigade quartermaster, our supplies were always complete. In short, he was the best officer in that position we ever had. I was his sergeant most of the time after he received a very profane reply from we left Portsmouth. I have often been the owner of the goods. Major Grice with him on the march, tented with him, gave notice that unless the cars were un- traveled with him through Virginia, and loaded by a certain time, he would tumble
of the best men I ever knew-ever hope- ful. To him there was no such word as fail." He was elected a member of the senate of Virginia, and served ·several terms in this body. He severed his con- nection with Wright's brigade at Falling Creek. His abilities were speedily recog- nized by promotion. After his promo- tion on the staff of the army, General Dick Taylor, in 1862 or 1863, specially asked for his transfer to the trans-Missis- sippi department, with plenary powers as assistant quartermaster-general, but Major Grice declined the service. In 1863 Mr. James Seddon, secretary of war, and Quartermaster general Myers sum- moned Major Grice to a consultation, and the secretary exhibited to him a formal communication from Gen. Lee, announcing that unless supplies were furnished to his army, he would be com- pelled to evacuate Virginia in three days. Major Grice had been sent for to know if he would accept the responsibility to collect and forward these supplies and avert the threatened disaster. Nor did he hesitate to assume it. Major Grice was then at once detailed by Secretary Seddon on "special service, which no military officer was to deny or refuse to respect." Thus armed, he proceeded to Petersburg, Weldon, Wilmington, Char- lotte, Danville and Columbia, cleaned out the store-houses, and rushed on the supplies. Gen. Lee did not evacuate Vir- ginia in three days. At Augusta, Major Grice found thirteen cars loaded with blockade goods, and upon his request for them to be unloaded for government use,
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PERSONAL SKETCHES - STATE OF VIRGINIA.
the goods from them upon the ground. shattered fortunes. He founded the The owner complained to the post com- bank of Portsmouth in 1867, and mander, Gen. Fry, who arrested the was elected its first president, which major and threatened him with a court position he held until a short time martial. After seeing the major's written before his death. He took an active part in all benevolent and public enterprises of the goods that he could do nothing in of the town and state. There was no
authority, he confessed to the irate owner this matter, as " Major Grice was clothed organization of any prominence of which with more power than any single man he he was not either president or active had ever seen."
director. He gave liberally of his time,
Major Grice, as chief of subsistence and his counsel and his means to further all transportation for the three states of efforts made to benefit the people of his South Carolina, Georgia and Florida, community. Truly has it been said of him fixed his headquarters at Columbia, S. C. by one who knew him well:
With the large force of subordinates under his command, by almost super- human efforts he promptly collected and rapidly forwarded to Virginia the sup- plies so sorely needed by Gen. Lee, to enable him to continue the unequal con- test. In this position he continued until the end of the war. In the chaos follow- ing the surrender, and amid the general anarchy prevailing, he showed the wis- " He shrunk from no responsibilities of life. He was fully abreast with the spirit of the age, wise in the wisdom of the world, and yet with all he was a Christian. He had his foibles, as other men, but he had few. I hazard nothing in saying that he had as few faults and as many noble qualities as fall to the lot of most men. There was an honesty and straightfor- wardness about him which struck every one with whom hecame in contact. Truth was stamped upon his brow; this it was that drew so many to repose in him their dom and cool-headed determination confidence. Who can tell the number of which was such a marked trait of his those who sought him, not alone for
character, vindicating the majesty of law and order while facing a mob of frenzied men crazed by defeat and hardship, quelling their turbulance by the mere power of his presence. Loving the south with heroic devotion, he was among the last to believe that the cause was indeed lost, but when there was no longer room for hope he accepted the result in good faith. Upon receiving his parole, he used all his influence to heal the sore hearts, and imbue others with his own determination to "go forth to meet the shadowy future without fear, and with a manly heart." He returned to Virginia in the fall of 1865. Giving up public life and eschew- ing politics in all its forms, he set him- self resolutely to work to repair his
material aid but for counsel, and to un- bosom themselves for advice? Fidelity to duty was a marked feature in his char- acter. One of the cardinal principles of his life was, that every thing that he as- sumed, whether public or private, was to be discharged to the best of his ability."
His benevolence and philanthropy were so well known that even to this day his name is a synonym for all that is meant of a large-hearted liberality or christian charity. No wonder that the death of such a man was recognized as a public calamity, or that one said of him, " Prince among men, when shall we see his like again?"
September, 1875, he was elected pres- ident of the Raleigh & Gaston and Raleigh & Augusta Air Line rail- roads. He filled this position only one
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month, but in that time his wonderful in the spring of 1776 at the age of seven- executive ability was abundantly proven. teen and served in many varied capaci- ties. His Revolutionary annals are also in- teresting reading. The greater part of his
His death occurred from an attack of apoplexy November 12, 1875.
The great-great-grandfather of George life after the war was spent at the WV. Grice immigrated from Wales, business of building vessels for the and settled in the province of Delaware. government at his private ship-yard His wife was a daughter of Walter Martin, in Philadelphia. Joseph Grice, Sr., who immigrated from England and pur- married Mary Smith, December 12, 1780. chased a farm in the province of Penn- sylvania. Francis Grice; their son, was born March 29, 1732. He married Mary Brockenbury, whose parents immigrated from England. Their children of whom there is any record were, Francis, settled in North Carolina; Charles, settled in North Carolina; Joseph, grandfather of Geo. W. Grice, in Philadelphia, Penn. Francis Grice, Sr., served in the war of the Revolution. The following interesting facts, are related in the diary of his son Joseph:
" My father carried on the business of his shipbuilding until the fall of 1775, when he took a very active part in the war, and commenced with his apprentices building ships for the government de- fense, at which he continued as long as they were building ships in Philadelphia. After which he took a situation in the quartermaster's department of the army under Gen. Mifflin, in which capacity he acted and ranked as major until he was taken prisoner by the British, September 26, 1777, near the city of Philadelphia, as he was making his way out of it, where he had been ordered to destroy whatever public property that was left in the city, and his over-conscientiousness to complete his orders was the cause of his capture, as he was leaving the city the day before it was taken."
Their children were Susan, Francis, Sam- uel, Charles, George, Joseph, and others who died young. Joseph Grice, Sr., moved to Virginia some time between 1812 and 1818. He with several of his sons was engaged with furnishing large sup- plies of timber to the government. It was while attending to his duties in this re- spect that his son Joseph contracted a cold that resulted in his death, leaving a widow with three small children, of whom George W. was the eldest. Joseph Grice was married to Abby Cox, July 26, 1823. Abby Cox was a descendant of some of the early settlers of New Jersey. Her father was also a Revolutionary soldier and served his country well. Abby Grice was a woman worthy to be the mother of such a son, and from her he inherited a vast amount of energy and disinterested phi- lanthrophy. She occupied a position of distinction in the community and was much admired for her courtly manners and beauty of person, as well as for her large-hearted hospitality, sterling sense and christian character.
Major Grice was twice married. His first wife was Miss Margaret Nash Ed- wards, who died in 1864, leaving no chil-
Francis Grice, while a prisoner in the dren. November 29, 1866, Major Grice hands of the British, suffered many hard- married Miss Henrietta Harding, of Nor- ships. He was exchanged in January, folk, Va., by whom he had three children. 1780. His Revolutionary record is noble Nenie died in infancy; George W., Jr., and pathetic. a child of brilliant promise, died in child-
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