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 53
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 53
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DR. DANIEL W. LASSITER,
of Petersburg, Va., was born in North- ampton county, N. C., May 24, 1827. He is the son of William Lassiter, also a native of Northampton county, a planter by occupation who died when his son Daniel was but one year old. William Lassiter was the son of William Lassiter, Sr., a North Carolinian by birth. Dr. Lassiter is descended on his father's side from a French Huguenot who came to America in 1720. His mother was Mar- garet Parker, a native of Northampton
county, the daughter of an English Qua- ker, who, however, was a North Carolin- ian by birth. She died about the year 1870. Dr. Lassiter received a classical education and also one course of medical lectures in the university of Virginia. He entered the medical department of the university of Pennsylvania at Philadelphia in 1850, from which he graduated in 1851. He then became resident physician in the Eastern peni- tentiary hospital, of which he had ful charge for nearly five years. In 1856 he went to Europe, where he spent a year in some of the leading universities, in further pursuance of his medical studies. Upon his return to America, in 1857, he located in Petersburg, Va., where he has ever since practiced his profession. He is a general practitioner, is a member of the Virginia State Medical society, of which he is one of the founders; he is president of the Petersburg Medical society and a trustee of the Medical col- lege of Virginia. Dr. Lassiter is a director of the Richmond & Petersburg railway, of the Petersburg & Weldon rail- way and of the Petersburg Savings & Insurance company, He is also a stock- holder in a cotton factory at Petersburg. In the past he has served in the city council and on the city school board. Dr. Lassiter was married February 8, 1865, to Miss Anna Rives Heath, by whom he has had three sons and two daughters. His eldest son, Francis Rives Lassiter, is a lawyer of Petersburg. His second son is in the United States army, having graduated from West Point Mili- tary academy in 1889. He is Lieut. Will- iam Lassiter, of the First United States artillery. The youngest son, Charles Trotter, is a student of law in the univer- sity of Virginia.
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PERSONAL SKETCHES - STATE OF VIRGINIA.
WILLIAM JOSIAH LEAKE,
the judge of the chancery court of the city of Richmond, was born in Goochland county, Va., on September 30, 1843. His early scholastic training was received in his native county and the school of St. George Tucker, at Ashland, Va. He was interrupted in the pursuit of his studies with the coming on of the Civil war, and, enlisting in July of 1861, he became a non- commissioned officer in a company of artillery under Captain Walter D. Leake. The company was of Goochland county, appreciated; as a member of the Masonic and after serving in Virginia and South Carolina until 1862, Mr. Leake was transferred to another company, and in March, 1863, he was again transferred, being changed to the " Goochland artil- lery" under Col. J. H. Guye. With this company he continued to serve until the close of the war, participating, among others, in the second battle of Manassas, the battle of Fredericksburg, attack on Fort Harrison, and the battles around Richmond. That of the law was the profession of his ambitious youth, and, the close of the war coming, the opportunity and time were afforded him to prosecute its study, and doing so he was admitted to the bar in 1867, and at once began the practice of law in the city of Richmond and Hanover county. Continuing with success and winning distinction in his professional work, as well as securing popular favor and respect of the people. he justly and fittingly was appointed (July, 1890,) to fill an unexpired term as judge of the chancery court of Richmond. Previously Judge Leake had resided in Ashland, but upon being appointed judge he removed to Richmond, where he has since resided, continuing to preside over
sioner in chancery with fidelity, and was frequently made special master by other courts, state and Federal. Judge Leake has never been an office seeker, and to politics, as such, he has aversion, yet he is a man of decision and is ardent in the advocacy if the political principles of the party to which he belongs. Imbued with the spirit of progress, he has always taken manifest interest in the public wel- fare. As director of the asylum for the insane, the value of his services was order, he is active and prominent. His domestic relations are of the most happy. In 1866 he was united in marriage with Miss Sarah R. Jordan, of his own state, and to the union were born two sons and one daughter. With grace and fidelity Mrs. Leake gave happiness to their home for over twenty-three years, and on May 23, 1890, passed away in death.
Judge Leake is a descendant of an old Virginian family, as a paternal ancestor, William Leake by name and an English- man by nativity, settled in Goochland county as early as 1685. He was a farmer by occupation, as was also his son, Walter Leake. Walter Leake, was the father of Josiah Leake, Sr., a soldier in the Revolutionary war and a farmer by vocation. He had a son, Josiah Leake, Jr., known as Captain Leake. He was a graduate of Dickerson college, Pa. He studied law and practiced for a time in South Carolina; subsequently returned to his native state and for several years represented Goochland county in the house of delegates. He had two sons who survived to maturity, namely, Sam- uel D. and Walter D. Leake. The former was the father of the judge and the chancery court of that city. For a was a farmer. He was educated at number of years he served as commis-
Hampden-Sidney college and was a re-
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spected citizen of Goochland county, and born February 16, 1844, a commission though he served as magistrate he never merchant of Columbus, Miss. On the aspired to any political office nor took paternal side he is of English descent. active part in politics. He married Fan- The earlier members of the family located nie M. Kean, who also was a native of in eastern Virginia, whence they removed Goochland county, Va. The marriage to North Carolina. The descent upon was consummated September 16, 1833, the maternal side is also English. Dr. and among the children is William Josiah Leigh's father was held to be one of the Leake, of whose career the foregoing is finest pulpit orators in the Methodist a brief outline.
DR. HEZEKIAH GILBERT LEIGH,
persuasion. He was a man of fine physique and of high scholarly attain- ments. Dr. H. G. Leigh graduated as a master of arts at Randolph-Macon college. For the two years following his gradua- tion he was assistant professor of lan- guages at his alma mater. He was a professor in a female college at Aberdeen, Miss., during one term. In 1855 he entered the medical department of the
a distinguished physician of Petersburg, Va., was born in Mecklenburgh county, March 12, 1833. He is a son of Rev. H. G. Leigh, D. D., an eminent Methodist Episcopal divine, the founder of Ran- dolph-Macon college, who died Septem- ber 18, 1853. Dr. Leigh's mother was Mary Jane Crump, daughter of Col. university of Virginia and began to pre- Richard Crump of Northampton, N. C. pare himself for the profession which he She died April 14, 1881. The paternal has so long and so creditably followed. grandfather of Dr. Leigh was Richard He graduated from the New York Medi- Leigh, born in Perquimans county, N. C., October 14, 1773, and died March 1, 1833. He was the son of Gilbert and Elizabeth Leigh, who were also North Carolinians
cal college in March, 1856. For about one year following he was assistant phy- sician at Randall's Island hospital, near New York city. In 1857 he located in by birth. Richard Leigh married Char- Petersburg and has been a practicing lotte Spruill, December 18, 1794. Heze- physician there ever since, with the kiah G, Leigh, D. D., father of Dr. exception of about three years, during Leigh, was born November 23, 1795. Six which he was a surgeon in the Confeder- children were born to him and his wife as ate army. He was appointed surgeon to follows: Richard W., born March 7, 1831, the Sixth Louisiana regiment, Hay's served as lieutenant-colonel of the Forty- brigade, Jackson's corps, in June, 1862. third Mississippi regiment, and was killed In January, 1864, he was attacked with at the battle of Corinth, October 22, 1862; fever and was placed in charge of a H. G., born March 12, 1833; Louisa C., hospital at Raleigh, N. C., where he re- born May 31, 1835, married Judge J. B. mained until the close of the war. Then Sale of Mississippi, in 1859. She died in he resumed his practice at Petersburg, 1864; Joseph E., born March 31, 1838, a and has pursued it without interruption prominent attorney of Columbus, Miss., ever since. He is a member of the died November 7, 1891; Mary Alice, Petersburg Medical society, of the Vir- born August 6, 1841, wife of Capt. James ginia State Medical society and of the Craddock of Columbus, Miss .; Frank M., American Medical association. In 1870
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he was appointed coroner of the city of of colonial times, and who was a son of Petersburg by Gov. Walker, and he has John Lewis, being a brother of General Andrew Lewis, the hero of the battle of Point Pleasant, which was fought in 1774. Samuel H. Lewis was a farmer by occu- pation, and long served as presiding justice of the county court of his county. He was of recognized ability, and pos- sessed great influence and popularity in his county. He was captain of artillery in the war of 1812, and several years thereafter he represented Rockingham county in the state legislature. His life was useful, exemplary and long, and, death coming to him in 1869, he passed away beloved and lamented by all who knew him. He was three times married. To his marriage with Miss Anna Maria Lomax, daughter of Judge John Tayloe Lomax, an eminent jurist, was born Luns- ford L. Lewis, whose name stands at the head of this sketch. served in that capacity ever since, a period of twenty-two years. Dr. Leigh is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, south. In politics he is a democrat. His medical practice is general, but he is engaged extensively in surgical opera- tions. He was married to Martha Alice Moody of Northampton, N. C., June 30, 1859. Col. Moody, her father, long served in the legislature of North Carolina, and was a member of the secession convention of that state. He belonged to one of the oldest and most prominent families in the state, his daughter, Mrs. Leigh, now having in her possession land grants given to the family by George II, king of England. Dr. and Mrs. Leigh have four children living, whose names are Mary E., now the wife of John Willis Hays of the United States geological survey; John H .. a commercial salesman of Weldon, N. C., who married Senora Lockhart of that place, a great-granddaughter of the Hon. Nathaniel Macon, ex-United States sena- tor from North Carolina; Martha W., who resides with her parents. The youngest, Hezekiah G., Jr., studied medi- cine at the university of Virginia and graduated from the Bellvue Medical college of New York, March 25, 1891. He is just entering upon his medical career.
HON. LUNSFORD L. LEWIS,
the president of the court of appeals of Virginia, was born in Rockingham county, Va., March 17, 1846. His father, Samuel H. Lewis, was a son of Charles Lewis, a Virginian by birth and at one time a member of the state legislature from Rockingham, his native county. Charles Lewis was a son of Thomas Lewis, who was a member of the house of burgesses court of appeals, January 1, 1883, he was
Judge Lewis was prepared for college in the schools of Albemarle county. In 1865, he entered the university of Vir- ginia, where he studied law and was graduated in 1867. Locating in Culpeper county, Va., he began the practice of the legal profession. He was soon afterward elected commonwealth's attorney for Cul- peper county, and though re-elected, did not enter upon the duties of a second term, in consequence of being appointed, in 1874, by President Grant, as United States district attorney for the eastern district of Virginia, which office he held for eight years, relinquishing it in 1882, upon being appointed by Governor Cameron as the successor of Judge Mon- cure, of the court of appeals. By the legislature he was subsequently appointed his own successor for a term of twelve years, and upon the organization of the
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elected its presiding officer, which dis- tinction came to him at the early age of thirty-six years. Perhaps, no younger man has ever been called to preside over the highest tribunal of a state. Never- theless, Judge Lewis has continued to preside over the court of appeals in a manner that has won for himself a most enviable reputation, and while on the bench his decisions have characterized him the able jurist he is. His unpretend- ing manner, courtesy, and dignity have rendered him a popular man, and few men of Virginia to-day, if any, are more honored than he. His domestic rela- tions are of the most happy, and his home is the scene of culture, grace, and learn- ing. He has been twice married. His first wife was Miss Rosalie Botts, a daugh- ter of the late Hon. John Minor Botts, who bore him two sons and one daughter. His second wife was Miss Janie Looney, of Memphis, Tenn., who now graces his happy home.
REV. ARTHUR SELDEN LLOYD,
rector of St. Luke's church, Norfolk, was born at "Mount Ida," in Alexandria county, Va., May 3, 1857, and educated in the schools of Alexandria and at the university of Virginia. He left the latter institution in 1877 and entered the Alex- andria Theological seminary, from which he graduated in 1880, and in 1881 he was ordained priest and sent as a missionary to Prince Edward county, where he re- mained until February, 1885. In the latter year he located in Norfolk, taking charge of St. Luke's church, of which he still continues rector. He was married June 30, 1880, to Lizzie Robertson, daughter of Col. William W. Blackford, of Lynchburg, Va., to which union five DAVID LOWENBURG, children have been born, namely: Mary a merchant of Norfolk, Va., was born in Robertson, Arthur Selden (deceased in Wurtemburg. Germany, October 25, 1839.
infancy), Lizzie Blackford, Gay Blackford and John. Mr. Lloyd's father, John J. Lloyd, was born in Alexandria, January 3, 1800. He graduated from Harvard university in 1819 and was admitted to the bar in 1820, locating in Baltimore, Md., where he practiced his profession until 1850, at which period he retired from the legal business. He was an old line whig, but never held public office, nor desired political preferment. He was married in 1845 to Eliza Armistead Selden, daughter of Dr. Wilson Cary Selden of Loudoun county Va., and had a family of six children, four of whom still survive, their respective names being Rev. John J., a clergyman at Abingdon, Va .; Nellie S., wife of George Uhler of Alexandria; Eliza F., wife of Clarence A. Woolfolk, of San Jose, Cal., and Rev. Arthur S. Lloyd of Norfolk. The father of this family died in 1872, and the mother in May, 1871. Mr. Lloyd'sgrandfather was John Lloyd, born in Philadelphia. His parents dying young, he moved while a boy to Alexandria, where he spent the re- mainder of his life, dying in 1860. He spent a few years when a young man in Baltimore, Md., where he was engaged in the mercantile trade and afterward re- sumed the same business in Alexandria, which he carried on very extensively and successfully until his death. He was married twice, first to Miss Rebecca Janney of Maryland, and after her death to Miss Harriet Lee, a sister of Cassius F. Lee of Alexandria, who survived him about three years. The Lloyds originally came from Wales to Pennsylvania, with the William Penn colony. The maternal ancestors were English.
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PERSONAL SKETCHES - STATE OF VIRGINIA.
He was educated in his native city and 1886 and devoted himself for the next came to America in 1855, landing at New year to erecting a large block of business houses and starting the D. Lowenburg Boot & Shoe company. Mr. Lowenburg is president of the Tidewater Investment & Trust company and of the Norfolk Knit- ting & Cotton manufacturing company, is treasurer of the Chesapeake Knitting mills, of the Glasgow Knitting mills, of the Glasgow Development company, of the South Border Installment company, and of the Southwest Virginia Mineral Land company; is president of the Atlan- tic Improvement company, treasurer of the South Norfolk Development company, of the Virginia Railroad company, treas- urer of the Montefiore Real Estate association, treasurer of the Norfolk In- vestment company, director in the Nor- folk National bank and treasurer of the Norfolk Rolleston company. Mr. Lowen- burg was married March 5, 1865, to Miss Cecelia Hecht, daughter of Rev. Jonas Hecht, who was pastor of the Norfolk Street Congregational church in New York for twenty-two years and is now living in Norfolk. They have four chil- dren, whose respective names are Minnie D., wife of A. E. Camp of Norfolk; Ben- jamin of Norfolk; Jacob of Norfolk, and Harry Lee Lowenburg of Norfolk, now at the university of Virginia. Mr. Lowen- burg has been twice elected to the city council of Norfolk, but has resigned. He devotes himself to the best interest of Norfolk, is one of its most public-spirited citizens and is always ready to lead off in
York, where he remained but a few days and then went to Asheville, N. C., where he engaged in the upholstering trade with Hildebrand Bros. He remained in Asheville until 1857, going thence to Baltimore, Md., where for a short time he was employed as clerk in a wholesale dry- goods house, after which he went to Golds- boro, N. C., where he tarried three years, engaged in general merchandise trade. In 1860 he went to Greenville, S. C., where he carried on the goods business until the breaking out of the war, when he volunteered as a private in the Six- teenth South Carolina regiment of in- fantry, commanded by Col. Eliott, with which he served until the fall of 1864, severing his connection with the army and locating in Norfolk at that time. He participated in the following battles: John's Island, Jackson, Miss., and in the retreat from Vicksburg, being in the army sent there to reinforce Gen. Pem- berton. When Grant's army captured Vicksburg, Mr. Lowenburg and his com- pany retreated to Jackson, Miss., where they fought for a week. He was also at Chickamauga, and many minor engage- ments and skirmishes, and at the time of his discharge, in 1864, he held the rank of orderly sergeant. On reaching Nor- folk, he went into business with his brother J. B. Lowenburg, the partnership continuing from 1864 until 1872. Then Mr. Jacob Heck, a relative of the broth- ers, and A. E. Jacobs, were taken into the any works of public improvement. His firm and a wholesale business established father's name was Bernard Lowenburg, under the firm name of Lowenburg, Jacobs born in Wurtemberg in 1800, and died in & Co. This company existed until 1879, that city in 1870. David Lowenburg be- longs to that class of Germans whose presence in this country tends largely when Mr.Jacobs withdrew and Lowenburg Bros. & Co. continued the business. Mr. Lowenburg withdrew from the firm in toward its development.
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PERSONAL SKETCHES -STATE OF VIRGINIA.
HUNTER HOLMES McGUIRE, M. D., LL. D.
In every generation and vocation there arise men who tower above their fellows in force of character, intellectual compe- tency, in gifts of genius and talent, who draw to them that deference which man- kind yields to superior endowment, and who take appropriate rank among the truly eminent-of such is Hunter McGuire, M. D., a surgeon distinguished in war and in peace, a teacher of surgery, and among the first surgeons of the south -nay, it is not invidious to say the first of the south, and the equal of any other of our country.
Hunter Holmes McGuire, M. D., whose name forms the heading of this biograph- ical sketch outline, was born at Win- chester, Va., October 11, 1835. His father was the late Hugh H. McGuire, M. D., an eminent surgeon and physician, whose name was a household word, especially throughout northern Virginia. He was endowed with superior gifts of mind, and it would not be overdrawing to say that he was the equal of any surgeon of the south, and was no less skillful and learned as a physician. He directed his son in his early studies, and to him is largely due the development of his since eminent son's mind and skill as a surgeon. Young McGuire received his early education in medicine at Winchester Medical college, from which institution he was graduated in 1855. Soon thereafter he entered the university of Pennsylvania and Jefferson Medical college, Philadelphia, matricu- lating at both institutions in 1856, but not graduating, in consequence of being seized with a violent attack of rheumatism and compelled to return to his home in Winchester.
He became professor of anatomy at Winchester Medical college in 1856, re-
maining as such till the fall of 1858, when he returned to Philadelphia, where, being assisted by doctors Luckett and Pancoast, he had a very large quiz class and a private class in operative surgery. And now we make mention of one of the many important events connected with his life. Upon the taking of John Brown (of Harper's Ferry notoriety) through the city of Philadelphia, indignation ran riot, and a great outcry was raised against all southern people, and popular animosity prevailed against them; so much so that many of the southern students of medi- cine, then in Philadelphia, proposed re- turning south, and Dr. McGuire tele- graphed to Richmond to ascertain upon what terms they would be received by the Medical college of Virginia. The reply was, that no fees would be asked and all expenses would be paid. Agreeing, Dr. McGuire, in December of 1859, with over three hundred students left Philadelphia. and they were received in Richmond with great demonstration, Governor H.A. Wise welcoming them in a stirring speech, and the city of Richmond paying the railroad fare of all the students, who filled the college to overflowing. Dr. Luckett also came along, and both he and Dr. McGuire, with the students, completed the course at the Medical college of Virginia, in March of 1860; and receiving his diploma, Dr. McGuire returned to Win- chester and became associated with his father in the practice of their profession. However, another turn in the course of his life was soon to take place. With the coming of the war between the states, he volunteered as a private in company F, Second Virginia regiment, and in April, 1861, marched in rank to Harper's Ferry. May 4, 1861, he was commissioned surgeon in the provisional
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army of the Confederate states and as- signed to duty as Medical director of the department at Harper's Ferry, known as the army of the Shenandoah, then under the command of Gen. T. J. Jackson (Stonewall) ; and this was the beginning of a most brilliant career as surgeon and medical director of the battle-field; and during the course of the war his surgical and medical skill not only foretold his future eminence, but gave relief to many a wounded and suffering soldier, in whose affectionate remembrance he will long continue.
General Joseph E. Johnston taking command of the army of the Shenandoah, Dr. McGuire served under him until July I, 1861, when General Jackson, having organized the First Virginia brigade (the future Stonewall brigade), requested that Surgeon McGuire might be assigned to him as brigade surgeon. And being thus assigned, Dr. McGuire's subsequent association with General Jackson became most intimate. Surgeon McGuire re- mained as brigade surgeon from July to October, when General Jackson assumed command of the army of the valley dis- trict, of which Surgeon McGuire became medical director. The valley campaign commenced January 1, 1862, and included the battles of McDowell, Winchester, Cross Keys and Port Republic, after which the army joined General Lee dur- ing the celebrated seven days' fight with General McClellan. Then followed the campaign in Maryland, the battle of Sharpsburg (Antietam) and the battle of Fredericksburg closing that campaign. In all these engagements Surgeon Mc- Guire was present, never missing a battle where his command was fighting. Neither After the death of General Jackson, Surgeon McGuire served as chief sur- was he absent at the battle of Chancel- lorsville, May, 1863, when Gen. Jackson geon of the second corps of the army of
received his death wound, and in the last hours of that hero's life, and until death relieved the noble leader and brave sol- dier, Dr. McGuire administered and rendered his surgical and medical service, witnessing his beloved leader's death. Although sometimes high positions may have been occupied in the Confederate service by incapable persons, yet this could never be said truly of those serving under the scrutinizing eye of Stonewall Jackson, who possessed not only the talent to contrive and capacity to per- form great deeds, but also the equally important attribute of true genius, namely, the judgment to select those competent to assist him in their execu- tion. It was, therefore, a great honor in itself to have served satisfactorily on the staff of such a commander; but a higher tribute of praise than this may be paid Dr. McGuire, who possessed the great general's entire confidence, his warm friendship, and received his highest com- mendation. The sword presented by Jackson to his surgeon at the battle of Winchester, 1862, could only have been bestowed upon one possessed of indom- itable energy, transcended skill and unflinching fidelity, Associated as closely and conspicuously as it was possible for a surgeon to be with the greatest war ever waged in America, following the standard of the most brilliant genius developed in the struggle, and aiding with all the re- sources of his art that intrepid brigade whose name has become immortal - the fame of its surgeon is inseparably united to that of the heroic band that stood " like a stone wall" in the face of assailing hosts.
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