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 55
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 55
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65
Great and numerous reforms ensued in Virginia in consequence of the readjuster success. The funding bill of 1871 and the McCulloch bill of 1879, with their devour- ing coupons, were stayed by the passage and enforcement of the Riddleburger readjustment bill; the arrears to the school provided for and paid, as well as their current dues; all deficits for public institutions made good; all accruing obli- gations met, revenues promptly collected and duly applied, a full treasury in place of an empty one, and yet taxes were re- duced one-fifth. Besides, free suffrage was restored, at least temporarily; the whipping-post and lash were abolished, colored persons were admitted to the witness stand and jury-box, excessive as- sessments of property for taxes were cut down; a fine asylum for colored insane was provided, lunatics of both colors and sexes were taken from the common jail and properly cared for, and in a multitude of ways that cannot be enumerated here Virginia had the condition of all her people ameliorated, inasmuch that new life and vigor took the place of general apathy and despondency, and a grand era of development was entered upon.
In 1881, under the leadership of Gen. Mahone, a republican governor, lieuten- ant-governor, and attorney -general were elected, together with another legislature, republican in both branches. In 1883, however, a democratic campaign of vio- lence and terror resulted in restoring the democrats to control-a control which has since been maintained by an election- law so officered and manipulated as to assure democratic ascendancy in the state until another popular revolt, like those of 1869 and 1879, shall come.
In 1884, Gen. Mahone headed a delega- tion to the national republican convention at Chicago, where he and his fellow-dele- gates were received and seated amidst great enthusiasm and applause. Although opposed to the nomination of Mr. Blaine at that time, he gracefully acquiesced in it and made a good fight for him in Vir- ginia - actually carrying the state for the republican ticket, as could have been demonstrated on a judicial or congres- sional investigation. In 1888, Gen. Ma- hone was again at Chicago, where he and only half of his delegates were seated - contestants being admitted to the remain- ing seats. Mahone was for John Sher- man; but, as in the case of Mr. Blaine, he fought strenuously in the campaign for Harrison, and again carried the state in fact, although the democratic counties re- turned the democrat electoral ticket by about 1,500 majority only.
In 1889, Gen. Mahone was nominated for governor of the state by a very large and enthusiastic republican state con- vention held at Norfolk. The vote in the convention was unanimous. He was defeated in the election, however, by McKinney, democrat, who received a very large majority in the count: How this count was made may be estimated
513
PERSONAL SKETCHES -STATE OF VIRGINIA.
from one example-that of Norfolk | through the right lung and disabled until county: In this county, where the repub- lican majority, in a fair vote, averages fully 2,000 republican, ticket-holders and counters were stationed at every voting place, and these reported about 2,200 majority for Mahone in the county. Nevertheless, the democratic machine gave a majority for McKinney of about 500!
Of late years Gen. Mahone has chiefly concerned himself in various large busi- ness enterprises in which he is interested; but, as state chairman of his party, he still keeps a vigilant eye and a firm hand on state and national politics-with no little influence, by reason of his sagacity, skill and experience, in all public affairs. Although sixty-six years of age (1892), he is still as vigorous, active and courageous as in his younger days, and has a devoted following in and out of the state of Vir- ginia that has been rarely paralleled for fidelity. One of the " best abused " men living, history, if not written by his enemies, will recognize his conspicuous practical abilities, and the large part he has had in most beneficial measures and reforms in Virginia and in the country at large.
RICHARD COKE MARSHALL,
lawyer of Portsmouth, was born at Oak Hill, Fauquier county, Va., July 5, 1844, and was educated in the Clifton prepara- tory school in Fauquier county, leaving that institution in March, 1861. He served the first year of the war in com- pany H, of the Sixth Virginia cavalry, of which company his father was orderly sergeant. In the summer of 1862 he en- listed in company A, Seventh Virginia cavalry, as a private, serving as such un- til the battle of Trevilian Station in June, 1864, in which engagement he was shot
January, 1865, when he rejoined his regi- ment. He was then appointed a cadet in the regular army and placed on the staff of Gen. Thomas L. Rosser. He remained in this position but a few weeks when the board of surgeons pronounced him unfit for duty, his arm being paralyzed. He then joined his father's family in Amelia county, whither they had gone as refugees, and remained with them until, learning of the evacuation of Petersburg, he again started to rejoin the army. He met the Confederate forces just before the fight at Amelia Court House on the second day of the retreat, and rejoining his com- mand continued in the service until the surrender at Appomattox, when he joined in the final retreat. He bore himself bravely in many of the important battles and in numberless skirmishes, and par- ticipated in all the engagements of the cavalry, from the skirmishes on the Potomac, before the battle of Manassas, and cavalry fights in which Johnston and Beauregard's forces were engaged. up to 1862. After that year he was attached to Gen. Jackson's corps, and in the cam- paign of 1863, was in Gen. Lee's army. Mr. Marshall returned to Fauquier county after the surrender, and opened a school with only five pupils; he taught eight years, in 1867 taking charge of the Upperville academy in Fauquier county. In 1868 he took charge of the academy at Brooksville, Montgomery county, where he taught four years, and at the end of that time, in 1873, located in Portsmouth. During his engagement as a teacher he turned his attention to the study of the law, and after spending a year at farming was admitted to the bar in the latter part of 1874 and began the practice in Portsmouth, where he has ever since
514
PERSONAL SKETCHES -STATE OF VIRGINIA.
carried on an extensive legal business. In |husband being Count Mectonitz, of Wash- 1880 he was elected commonwealth's attorney and was three times re-elected, serving eight years, a practical proof that his services in this capacity were highly satisfactory to the people of the county. He has been three times the democratic candidate for congress from his district, but was each time defeated by the repub- lican majority. In 1888 he was a delegate national convention at Chicago. Mr. Marshall is president of the Portsmouth Merchants and Farmers' bank of Ports- mouth. November 21, 1865, he was married to Miss Mary Catharine, daughter of Col. Samuel Wilson of Portsmouth. They have had nine children, seven of whom survive, their names being Rebecca C., Susan L., Samuel W., Fielding L., Richard C., St. Julien R. and Myron B. Marshall.
ington, D. C .; Rebecca Frances, wife of Charles R. Nash, of Portsmouth; Thomas of New York city; Fielding Lewis, of Washington, D. C .; and Agnes Harwood, wife of William Helm of Warrenton, Va., and Richard Marshall, whose name heads this sketch. The first wife died April 20, 1862, and later Mr. Marshall married again, his second wife being Miss Mary at large to the democratic national con- N. Thomas of Alexandria, who bore vention at St. Louis, and four years before him nine children, whose names are he had been alternate to the democratic as follows: Maria, George, Eleanor, Nancy, John N. Wallin, Alice, Evelyn, and Randolph Marshall. Mr. Marshall's Gas company and a director of the grandfather, Thomas Marshall, was born in Fauquier county in 1798. He studied law but did not enter into practice, pre- ferring the more quiet occupation of a farmer. He served several terms in the Virginia legislature. He married Mar- garet, daughter of Fielding Lewis, by whom he had seven children. He was accidently killed in Baltimore. Md., in 1835, by being struck upon the head by a Fielding Lewis Marshall is the name of Mr. Marshall's father. He was born in Wyanoke, Charles City county, and was educated at a private school in Fauquier county and at the university of Virginia, where he took an academic course of two years, and a law course of the same dura- tion, but never put his legal training into general practice. He settled in Fauquier county, where he followed farming all his life. In 1868 he was elected to the legis- lature and served one term. He was twice married; first, to Miss. Rebecca Frances, daughter of Richard Coke of Gloucester county, and by her he had ten children, seven of whom survive, namely: Margaret Lewis, wife of Cornelius B. Hite, of Fauquier county; Mary Willing, who has been twice married, her second brick falling from an unfinished building. His children were: John, deceased; Agnes H., widow of Col. A. G. Taliaferro of Rapidan, Va .; Mary, deceased wife of W. B. Archer of Richmond; Fielding L .; of Orange C. H .; Ann L., deceased wife of J. F. Jones of Woodside, Va .; Margaret L., widow of John T. Smith of Fauquier county, and Col. Thomas Marshall, who was killed in the valley of Virginia in November, 1864. Mr. Marshall's great- grandfather was the highly distinguished Chief-justiee John Marshall, who was born in Germantown, Fauquier county, September 24, 1755. Chief-justice Mar- shall never attended college, but was well educated by his father. In 1776,he en- listed in the army, became a captain in 1777, and was in the battles of Brandy-
515
PERSONAL SKETCHES- STATE OF VIRGINIA.
wine, Germantown and Monmouth. He his son, was a Revolutionary soldier. His resigned his commission in 1781 and be- father came from England to America in gan the practice of law, and in 1782 was the early settlement of the country.
chosen a member of the Virginia house of delegates. He was married, in 1783, to Mary Willis Ambler, of York, and they
JOHN GERROD MASON.
The family of Mason in Virginia trace took up their permanent residence in Rich- their settlement in the state back to Gen. mond. In 1788 he was a member of the John Mason, a distinguished English sol- convention of Virginia assembled to con- dier, who came to this country in 1651, sider the Federal constitution, and made settling in Stafford county. He was an ardent supporter of King Charles I, and when that ill-fated monarch was beheaded, he sought an asylum amid the free insti- tutions of the occidental world. John Ger- rod Mason was born at Stafford Court House, November 16, 1838, and was edu- cated in the common schools of that place and at Fredericksburg, afterward taking the law course at the university of Virginia, graduating from that institution with the degree of L. B. in 1860, and being admitted to the bar in the same year; he located first at Bowling Green and re- mained there till May, 1861, when he en- tered the Confederate service, in the Carolina light dragoons, which, was a volunteer company before the war, and
several powerful speeches in favor of its adoption. He was identified with the federal party, was a cordial supporter of Washington's administration, and was associated in 1797 with Gen. Pinckney and Mr. Gerry in a special mission to the French directory. He declined many offers of political preferment, but was persuaded by Gen. Washington to become a candidate for congress and was elected to that body in 1799, where his great ability soon won him recognition. In May, 1800, he was appointed secretary of state by President John Adams, in which office he displayed distinguished diplomatic ability. He was appointed chief-justice of the United States supreme court, January 31, 1801, and performed the was assigned to the Ninth Virginia cav- functions of that high office for thirty-four alry, known as company B. He entered as a private and served as such until after the battle of Chancellorsville, when he was appointed on the staff of Gen. D. H. Maury and served in that position until May 12, 1865, when he was paroled at Meridian, Miss. He was in the following battles: First Manassas, Big Sewall, Yorktown, Williamsburg, Brick House Landing, Seven Pines, raid around Mc- Clellan's army just before the seven days' fight around Richmond; seven days' fight around Richmond; Sugar Loaf Moun- tains, Sharpsburg, Carneysville, Aldee, Union, Upperville, Barbees Cross Roads, Fredericksburg, Trevilian, and many years, during which time he performed a great service to his country in construing the constitution, and as an expounder of that instrument he gained an exalted reputation. His profound learning and high-toned virtue secured for him univer- sal confidence and respect. He was dis- tinguished for nis benevolence, modesty, urbanity and simplicity; was a devout believer in christianity and was happy in his domestic relations. He died in Phila- delphia in July, 1835. He was the eldest son of Col. Thomas and Mary Keith Marshall, who reared a family of fifteen children. Thomas Marshall, as well as
516
PERSONAL SKETCIIES- STATE OF VIRGINIA.
minor engagements. After the war Mr. father of J. G. Mason died in 1857 and his Mason went to King George county and practiced law until 1869, and then moved to Fredericksburg, where he has prac- ticed his profession ever since. He served as commonwealth attorney from 1880 to 1888 and has been a delegate to many state conventions and has served as coun- cilman in Fredericksburg. He married twice: first, March 16, 1870, when Mary M., daughter of Henry Boteler of Shep- ardstown, Jefferson county, Va., became his wife. She died February 9, 1884, deceased; Gerrod F. of Charleston; John,
mother in 1848. His grandfather's name was Enoch Mason, who was born at Clover Hill, Stafford county. He was a large planter, a magistrate for many years and a colonel in the state militia. He married Lucy Roy and to them were born these children: John S., deceased; Alex- ander H., deceased; Mary, deceased wife of William Payton, deceased; Sallie, de- ceased wife of William Barber, deceased; Charles Mason, deceased; Beverley W., deceased; Enoch, deceased, and Wiley Roy, deceased.
and he married on April 25, 1888, Roberta, daughter of Rev. Dr. Mur- daugh, of Fredericksburg. She died without issue June 17, 1890. Mr. Mason's GEORGE WASHINGTON OPIE MAUPIN, M. D., from a long line of Virginia ancestors who were patriotic, virtuous, and of noble impulses, and whose escutcheon stands without a stain until the present hour. The great-grandfather of the gentleman whose name heads this sketch was a native of Virginia and had born to him in the city of Portsmouth, Va., in 1781, a son whom he christened George Washington, thus carrying out his patriotic impulse by perpetuating the name of the father of his country. George Washington Maupin received a liberal education, studied medi- cine, and in course of time acquired a national reputation. He was appointed surgeon in the regular army of the United father was Alexander Mason, born in is of French Huguenot descent, but comes Stafford county, July 15, 1807. He was a physician and a graduate of the Balti- more Medical college and practiced all his life in Falmouth and Stafford counties. He was a member of the old county court, and high sheriff of Stafford county. He married, in 1832, Jane Allen Smith, daugh- ter of Dr. John A. Smith, of West Grove, Va., and to them were born eight chil- dren, as follows: Lucy R., widow of Lewis M. Webb, of Richmond, Va .; Dr. Augustine S. Mason, a surgeon in the Confederate army and now a resident of Hagerstown, Md .; Bettie J., wife of Gen. E. P. Alexander, of Savannah, Ga .; Alex- ander H. Mason, deceased, a major on
the staff of Gen. Walker in the Confed- States at Portsmouth, and subsequently erate army; John G. Mason, of Fred- was for many years surgeon in charge at Fortress Monroe, and there ended his useful life June 18, 1825. George Wash- ington Maupin had been twice married, but by his first marriage to Miss Leigh, ericksburg; Jane Allen, deceased in 1888, wife of Maj. W. H. Gibbs, of Columbia, S. C .; William Taylor Mason, deceased in 1867 (he was in the Confederate army, having run away from college and entered of Norfolk, there were no children born the service; he was aid de camp on the that lived to maturity. By his second staff of Gen. Alexander) ; Ellen McGhee wife, however, Ann Moffitt, of Portsmouth, Mason, deceased August 10, 1884. The daughter of Robert Moffitt, he had born
517
PERSONAL SKETCHES - STATE OF VIRGINIA.
to him three children who attained | educated at the university of Virginia and maturity, viz: Ann Eliza, now the widow acquired his medical education at Bellevue Hospital Medical college, graduating from the latter in March, 1869. But to record events in chronological order, it must be stated that he enlisted in the Confederate army in 1864, running the blockade at Portsmouth, Va., and joined the Norfolk Light Artillery Blues, which were in Richardson's battalion, and served the last year of the war. He entered the army as a private, and was at Appomatox when Lee surrendered, having satisfied his patriotic yearning to protect his country. He is now a member of Stone- wall camp, of Portsmouth, Va. After his return from the war he went to the university of Virginia, and then to New York, and then returned home to Ports- mouth, and has practiced medicine there ever since. Dr. Maupin was the first health officer ever elected by the people of Portsmouth and served two years. He is now coroner of Portsmouth, Va., having been appointed by Governor Lee for life or good behavior. He is a member also of the State Medical and Norfolk Medical societies, and board of trade, in which associations he is held in the highest esteem. He was married, in the fall of 1870, to Mary A. Wilson, daughter of William H. Wilson, and to them was born one child, Margaret Murdaugh Maupin, whose smiles still shed sunshine upon the domestic hearth of the happy parents. of Dr. E. M. Watts, of Portsmouth; Will- iam Gabriel and G. W. Opie, now deceased, but of whom the following facts must be recorded. He was born in Portsmouth, Va., February 26, 1822, received his literary education in Portsmouth and Norfolk, took his preparatory lessons at Hampden-Sidney college, and graduated with his diploma as doctor of medicine from the medical department of the university of Pennsylvania at Philadel- phia. In the meantime, however, he had had a year's experience as a cadet at West Point United States Military academy, but military science had less attraction for him than medical science, and he therefore relinquished that which was invented to destroy human life, to engage in that which is intended to con- serve human life. After graduating from Philadelphia he began practice at Ports- mouth, Va., gaining a fine reputation as a scientist, and, before his death, on June 28, 1888, acquiring a comfortable competency. He was married in October, 1844, to Ann Augusta Cocke, a daughter of John Cocke and Ann B. (Webb) Cocke of Portsmouth, Va., and to this marriage were born seven children, of whom one, Eveline, died in infancy. Six grew to maturity as follows: Dr. G. W. O. Maupin of Portsmouth, Va .; Edward Watts Maupin of Portsmouth, Va .; John Cocke Maupin, who died in 1889; Ann Winnifred, wife of J. V. Bid- good, of Richmond, Va .; William Henry CHARLES JAMES STOVIN MAYO. Ashton Maupin, of Roanoke, Va .; Ida
This reverend gentleman was born in Augusta Maupin, who is now deceased. Fauquier county, Va., March 13, 1858, The mother of these children died in was educated at the Virginia Theological April, 1889. To turn, now, to the career seminary, and was ordained deacon in of Dr. George Washington Opie Maupin. 1880, and priest in 1882. His first charge it is necessary to state that he was born in was as curate of Elizabeth City parish, Portsmouth, Va., September 14, 1845, was Hampden, where he remained until 1881,
518
PERSONAL SKETCHES - STATE OF VIRGINIA.
and then went as rector to Hanover par- veyor who laid out Richmond city. He ish, King George county. In August, married Miss Paytress and died in 1813. 1884, he went to Warwick county as a missionary for a year. He then had two DR. WILLIAM BANKHEAD MEREDITH, charges in Ohio, covering a period of two one of the most popular young physicians of Norfolk, Va., was born in Orange county, Va., March 29, 1862, but received his early education in Stafford county, whither his parents had removed while he was still young. His medical studies were pursued at the medical college of Virginia at Richmond, from which he graduated in 1883, and for the two years immediately following practiced in Rich- mond and Hanover counties, and then took up his permanent residence in Nor- folk. The doctor, although yet young, has attained prominence in his profession and has a lucrative practice. He is a member of the State Medical society, and the Norfolk Medical society, and is other- wise recognized as a skillful physician by his fellow-practitioners. In June, 1890, the doctor was married to Miss Minnie Mullins, daughter of Maj. John Mullins, years, and in the fall of 1887 he moved to Newport News, where he is now rector of Warwick parish. Mr. Mayo was mar- ried October 3, 1882, to Mary Reynolds Webber, daughter of Col. J. H. Webber, of New York, and to this union three children, Robert William Bainbridge, Edmund Cooper and Lucy Storm Mayo, were born. The father of Mr. Mayo was John Campbell Mayo, born in Westmore- land county in 1822, and a graduate of the Virginia Military institute; he also graduated in medicine at the university of Virginia. He was through the war as a surgeon at Gordonsville and Richmond. He was married in 1857 to Mary Lewis Stovin, daughter of C. J. Stovin, of Fau- quier county, and to them were born three children: C. J. S., Robert and Lan- don Carter, deceased in 1865. Robert Mayo, father of John Campbell Mayo, a resident of Norfolk county, Va., but a was born in Powhatan county, on the native of Mississippi and of a highly es- James river, in 1805. He was a graduate teemed family.
of the law and was a leading lawyer of Westmoreland, being circuit judge for
Rev. Jaquelin Marshall Meredith, the father of Dr. W. B. Meredith, was born
many years. He married Emily Campbell, in Hanover county, in 1835; heis an alum- daughter of Rev. Alexander Campbell, a nus of the Theological seminary at Alex- andria, Va., being ordained a deacon in 1860, in the Protestant Episcopal church, and priest in 1864. On the breaking out of hostilities he at once entered the Con- federate army, in Gen. A. P. Hill's divis- ion of Gen. Jackson's corps, as chaplain of the Forty-seventh Virginia infantry, and served with zeal throughout the late Civil war. At its close he was appointed rector of Overwharton parish, and is now recognized as a minister of great elo- native of Scotland and a rector in the Hanover parish for many years. These parents had eight children, of whom six grew to maturity as follows: John C., deceased; Joseph, of Lancaster county, Va., Robert Murphy, of Westmoreland county; Philip Henry, of Westmoreland county; Agnes, deceased 1871, and Will- iam of Westmoreland county. The great- grandfather of Mr. Mayo was William Mayo, a native of the Bardadoes, who came to Virginia in 1768, and was the sur- quence and power. The marriage of this
519
PERSONAL SKETCHES-STATE OF VIRGINIA.
reverend gentleman took place, in 1858, Huguenot, who made her escape from with Miss Ellen Bankhead, daughter of France to Holland at the age of twelve Dr. William Bankhead, of Orange county, years, concealed in a cask on board ship Va., and to this felicitous union have been born twelve children, of whom ten still survive, viz .: Dora B., wife of Capt. James W. Gerrow, of Norfolk; William B., M. D., of Norfolk, Va .; Jaquelin M., of Glasgow, Va .; Samuel, of Norfolk, Va .; John S., of Stafford county, Va .; Reuben, of Stafford county, Va .; George M., of Norfolk, Va .; Elliott B., of Stafford county, Va .; Ellen, and Mary Meredith. Dr. Reuben Meredith, grandfather of Dr. William B., was born in Hanover county,
and was known as "The Little Night- cap," and emigrated to America in the latter part of the seventeenth century in consequence of the revocation of the edict of Nantes by Louis XIV, of France. The mother of Dr. Michaux was Virginia A. Bernard, a descendant of the Hugue- nots, and a native of Chesterfield county, Va., born in 1820, the daughter of Will- iam Bernard. She is still living. Dr. Jacob Michaux was reared on a farm in his native county. He received his aca- Va., in 1792. He was a graduate of the demic and one session of his medical edu- old Pennsylvania Medical school in Phil-
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.