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GENEALOCY.COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
3 1833 02167 861 7
GENEALOGY 975.5 M52 v.3
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2016
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Men of Mark in Virginia“
Ideals of American Life
A Collection of Biographies of the Leading Men in the State
LYON G. TYLER, LL.D. President William and Mary College Editor-in-Chief
VOLUME III.
IC LIGHAR
Illustrated with many Full Page Photo-Steel Engravings
MEN OF MARK PUBLISHING COMPANY Washington, D. C. 1907
Copyright, 1907 by Men of Mark Publishing Company
Canner $ 75:00 (5vs) 12-6-65 # 67-108
1333084
Men of Mark. Publishing Co Washington, DC.
Very truly yours, William A. Anderson,
WILLIAM ALEXANDER ANDERSON
!
A NDERSON, WILLIAM ALEXANDER, soldier, law- yer, and legislator, was born in Botetourt county, Vir- ginia, in 1842. His parents were Francis T. Anderson and Mary Ann Anderson, daughter of Andrew Alexander.
On his father's side, he is descended from Robert Anderson, who came from County Donegal, Ireland, in 1756, settled first in Delaware (where he married), and afterwards in what is now Botetourt county, Virginia.
Archibald Alexander, his maternal ancestor, came from County Antrim, Ireland, and, in 1747, settled in what was then Augusta, now Rockbridge, county, Virginia.
His father was one of the most distinguished men of his day in Virginia, serving, during his long and useful life, as a member of the Virginia legislature, presidential elector, trustee and rector of Washington and Lee university, judge of the supreme court of appeals of Virginia, and in other positions of honor and trust.
Mr. Anderson passed much of his youth in the country, and obtained his primary education in the district schools. He was a student at Washington and Lee university at the begin- ning of the War between the States, and, in April, 1861, enlisted in the military service of the state as orderly sergeant of the Liberty Hall volunteers, which became Company I of the 4th regiment of infantry, Stonewall brigade. With this com- pany, he participated in the campaign in the lower valley of Virginia in June and July, and in the battle of July 21, 1861, at Manassas, where he received a wound in the knee, which permanently disabled him. Nevertheless, in 1864, while yet on crutches, he was a member of a temporary artillery company formed in Albemarle county, largely of disabled soldiers, and again saw service during the period of Hunter's invasion of the state.
After the war, he studied law at the University of Virginia, Vol. 3-Va .- 1
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WILLIAM ALEXANDER ANDERSON
and was graduated in 1866 with the degree of Bachelor of Law. He then commenced the practice of his profession at Lexington, Virginia, and his ability soon put him in the foremost rank of the lawyers of the state.
For eighteen years, Mr. Anderson was a member of the state central, and, for six years, the state executive, com- mittee of the Democratic party, and, during a long period of time, has had a large share in shaping its policies. Few men in Virginia have rendered that party more effective service than he. His character and his fearless spirit, combined with his masterful intellect and a rare gift of eloquence, make him, a " tower of strength " in political combat.
From 1869 to 1873, he was a member of the Virginia senate, and, from 1883 to 1885, and again from 1887 to 1889, a member of the house of delegates of Virginia. During the Paris International Exposition of 1878, he served as one of the United States commissioners, and prepared a report on "Means of Transportation by Railroads." Since 1885, he has been a member of the board of trustees of Washington and Lee uni- versity. In 1899, he was elected president of the Virginia Bar association. He was a member of the Virginia Constitutional convention of 1901; was elected temporary president of that body, and chairman of its committee on final revision of the Constitution. While the convention was in session, he was elected attorney-general of Virginia for a term of four years, and, in 1905, was again elected for a like term. Since his election as attorney-general, he has also rendered valuable services as a member of the State board of education and in other public capacities.
The Constitution of 1902, which made important and radical changes in the fundamental law and civil polity of the state, not only rendered it necessary for the attorney-general to pass upon a great number of novel and vital questions, but also devolved upon that officer many new and grave duties. General Anderson's service in this office has extended over an eventful period in the history of the commonwealth, a period remarkable for the importance and celebrity of her litigation in the highest state and federal courts. In all this litigation,
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WILLIAM ALEXANDER ANDERSON
involving interests most vital to the people of Virginia, he served with conspicuous ability as her counsel. Perhaps the most important of these cases are the suits in the United States courts involving the validity of the present state constitution and its suffrage article, and the suit of Virginia against West Virginia, which he instituted in the supreme court of the United States for the ascertainment of the proportion which West Virginia should pay of the indebtedness of the Old Domin- ion.
General Anderson is a fine example of the " Old Virginia gentleman"-courtly, cultured, courageous, and lovable. He is a member of the Protestant Episcopal church, and has for many years served as a vestryman, and in the councils of the church.
He has been twice married-first to Ellen G. Anderson, of Richmond, who died in January, 1872, and second to Mary Louisa Blair, of Lexington, Virginia. He has had five children, all of whom survive at the present writing.
His address is Attorney-General's Office, Richmond, Vir- ginia.
JOHN SAMUEL APPERSON
A PPERSON, JOHN SAMUEL, M. D., was born August 21, 1837, in Orange county, Virginia, and his parents were Alfred Apperson and Malinda Jones, his wife. The Apperson family came to Virginia at a very early period and dwelt for many years in New Kent county, from which it scat- tered its branches over Virginia and the South. Dr. Apperson's grandfather was Peter Apperson, who married Miss Lobb, of Caroline county, Virginia. His father, Alfred Apperson, was in the early part of his life an overseer on a plantation, and after- wards a small farmer on his own account. He was a man of industry and economy and very loyal to his convictions.
Dr. Apperson was in his childhood and youth of slender physique and attained his growth slowly. He was brought up in the country, however, and had plenty of exercise. His father was the owner of a small farm in the woods, and Dr. Apperson, as his oldest child, cut wood, made rails, and plowed with oxen. He had a fine example in his mother, who was industrious, devoted to her husband and threw a charm of love about the home. He attended an old field school until twelve years of age, after which he had no school opportunities except one month's stay at a grammar school. At his home books were few and he had little time to devote to them. Nevertheless, by application, chiefly at night, with the light of a tallow dip, and often with a pine torch burning on the hearth, he read " Peter Parley's Tales," Goldsmith's "History of Rome," and a few other books. The "Saturday Evening Post " was received weekly for a time, and the " Religious Herald," a religious paper of the Baptist denomi- nation, was now and then lent them by a neighbor.
At about the age of seventeen he was made a clerk in a store, but owing to his limited education he had great difficulty in filling the place, though he wrote a fairly good hand. While there he purchased a "Davies' Arithmetic and Key," and from this obtained most of what he acquired in mathematics. After two years he determined to try a new field of operations, and in
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1859 removed to Smyth county. He walked part of the way and when he reached his destination, being without money, he had to work at cutting railroad ties and wood at $8.00 per month.
Not long after, he met with Dr. Faris, of Tennessee, who, struck with his capabilities, advised him to take up the study of medicine. Dr. Apperson adopted this advice, and worked two days in the week to pay his board, while he studied the rest of the time. In the year 1860, he was employed by the census taker to prepare his books, and for this work he received $47.50, with which he supplied himself with clothes. By due application, he got along fairly well with his medical studies, but when the war broke out he enlisted in Company D, 4th Virginia infantry, and was attached to Stonewall Jackson's command at Harpers Ferry. Then his work in the past began to show its fruits; Private Apperson was detached for the surgeon's office, and was after- wards appointed hospital steward in the field infirmary, 2nd corps, Army of Northern Virginia, the first organized traveling infirmary of the War between the States. It was a thoroughly equipped field hospital, acting intermediary to the field and general hospitals. In the course of his valued and faithful service, Dr. Apperson was present at every engagement of the armies of Lee and Jackson, except the fight at Seven Pines. He was with Jackson at Kernstown, Bull Pasture Mountain and McDowell, Front Royal, Winchester, Cross Keys and Port Republic; then in all the battles of Jackson's corps through 1862, from the Chickahominy to Fredericksburg. He passed the winter at Guiney's Station, and in the following year served upon the battle fields of Chancellorsville, Winchester, Gettysburg, and Payne's Farm, and during the return from Pennsylvania was actively engaged in a skirmish at Williamsport, in command of a small body of Confederates, driving off a party of the enemy. After wintering at Orange court-house, he was present in all the battles from the Wilderness to Richmond, then in the Lynchburg campaign, the pursuit of the enemy down the valley, the expe- dition through Maryland, including the battle of Monocacy, and the skirmishes before Washington, closing this busy year with the campaign of Early against Sheridan. After wintering at Fishersville, and witnessing the disastrous fight at Waynesboro,
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JOHN SAMUEL APPERSON
he rejoined Lee at Richmond, March 25, 1865, and soon after- ward participated in the movement toward Lynchburg, which closed at Appomattox. He came home with a mule, the only pay received for his services, which he disposed of to obtain drugs, and he then began the practice of medicine. Afterward he contrived to attend the University of Virginia for a year. He was graduated as Doctor of Medicine in 1867, and soon afterward established himself for professional work at Chilhowie, Smyth county, where he remained for twenty years "astride' of his horse," practicing medicine among the hills of Southwest Vir- ginia. At this time he became a member of the building com- mittee of the Eastern asylum for the insane, at Marion, and upon the completion of this institution served two years as assistant physician. He settled in Marion, and in 1890 prac- tically gave up the practice of medicine, and organized the Staley's Creek Manganese and Iron company, of which he is still (1906) secretary and treasurer. In 1892, he was appointed business executive commissioner of Virginia to the World's Exposition, and spent one year in Chicago. From 1894 to 1904 he was connected, as vice-president, secretary and treasurer, with the Marion and Rye Valley railway, and had charge of its con- struction.
Dr. Apperson has served as a member of the board of trustees of Emory and Henry college, and he is a Democrat, though he did not support William J. Bryan when he was nominated by the party on a free silver platform. He is a Protestant, but not a member of any church. He finds his principal diversion in fishing, which he regards as entertaining, and restful, and gives him all the amusement he cares for or has time to enjoy. He is popular, has a handsome home, and enjoys the confidence of his friends and constituents. The details of Dr. Apperson's life are worthy of record, because they show what a young man of resolution and ambition may accomplish in the face of the most appalling difficulties. Such a man as Dr. Apperson cannot be said to have made a failure, but we wonder what he might have accomplished if he had had a better educa- tion and it had been possible for him to have concentrated his energies upon one line of thought. His wide range of effort and
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JOHN SAMUEL APPERSON
experience entitles his opinion as to the methods and principles of life to more than ordinary respect. He finds the open sesame to the treasures of this world in " persistent work, loyalty to duty, singleness of purpose, modest demeanor, economy in all things, and sobriety and honesty." "Look," he says, " to self- help and depend on no one but yourself."
He has been twice married; first, on February 20, 1868, to Ellen V. Hull, and second, on February 5, 1889, to Lizzie A. Black, and he has had eleven children, of whom ten are now, (1906) living.
His address is Marion, Smyth County, Virginia.
CHARLES HENRY ASHTON
A SHTON, CHARLES HENRY, legislator and judge, was born in King George county, Virginia, March 15, 1843, and he is the son of Charles Henry Ashton and Mary Smith White. The Ashton family to which he belongs had its beginning in Northumberland county, Virginia, with Captain Charles Ashton, who was one of the first justices of that county and was living in 1660. It has always been a leading family in the Northern Neck of Virginia and has intermarried with most of the other leading families of that section. Judge Ashton's great-grandfather, John Ashton, signed the famous protest of the Westmoreland gentlemen against the Stamp Act, February 27, 1765. His father, Charles Henry Ashton, Sr., was by pro- fession a farmer, distinguished for his industry, piety and patriotism.
Charles Henry Ashton, the subject of this sketch, was reared in the country and his physical condition in childhood and youth was excellent. The influence of his mother on his moral and spiritual life was strong, and while there was no special need of his resorting to manual labor, he worked at the age of fifteen on the farm for a year, and in that way strengthened and hardened his physical constitution.
He attended the country schools and was sent later to Hanover academy, one of the best private high schools in the state, and was a student there when the War between the States broke out. Accustomed like most of the youth of Virginia to horseback riding, he joined the cavalry and served for four years as a private in Company C, 9th Virginia regiment. He was in nearly all the engagements in which his company took part. After the close of the war, being, like most of the soldiers of the Confederacy, without money or means, he worked for three years as a common laborer on a farm. But he looked beyond and marked out for himself a more ambitious destiny. Both of his parents being dead, he followed his own inclinations to be a lawyer. He studied law for a year under John Randolph Tucker, at Middleburg, Virginia, and soon after entered upon
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the active practice of his profession at the bar of his native county. Law practice was brisk at that time, for the interrup- tion of the courts by the war for four years left many estates to be settled up, and there was much confusion and turmoil in the affairs of the state.
In 1877, Judge Ashton was elected a member of the house of delegates of Virginia and served for two years. In 1887, he was elected judge of the counties of King George and Stafford, and served for twelve years, acquiring a wide reputation for justice and impartiality. He was a member of the Democratic party, and in all the political campaigns, commencing with the great political contest in Virginia in 1869, he rendered able ser- vice as an organizer and stump speaker. The evils of the war were immense, but they were hardly greater than the evils inflicted by the domination of carpet-baggers and ignorant negroes upon the prostrate states of the South. Judge Ashton largely contributed to the splendid work of his party in rescuing Virginia from this dreadful thraldom and bringing about the era of peace and prosperity which now blesses the land. He was a fine speaker and an earnest worker.
Judge Ashton is very fond of study, and while his reading has not been systematic, it has pursued a general and diversified range, comprising the great body of classical history, fiction and poetry. He is essentially a man of education and culture. His experience being so diversified, it might be readily supposed that many things have influenced his character, but he ranks private study and contact with men in active life as most potent. His favorite forms of amusement have been fishing, fox hunting, and witnessing games of baseball and other outdoor sports. In religious preference he is an Episcopalian.
His advice to young men is "to take the tide at its flood." Embrace opportunities as presented, and be sure to select the right field of operation and let it be broad enough.
Sketches of the career of Judge Ashton have appeared in the " Washington Post " and the Alexandria papers.
On December 7, 1869, Judge Ashton married Ida B. Welch, and they have had eight children, of whom five are now (1906) living.
His address is Edgehill, King George County, Virginia.
WILLIAM MAYO ATKINSON
A TKINSON, WILLIAM MAYO, was born October 14, 1848, and is the son of William Mayo Atkinson and Bettie J. White, his wife. Among his earliest ancestors in Virginia may be mentioned Dr. Robert White, who settled in Frederick county in 1735; Roger Atkinson, who settled in Din- widdie county in 1750; and William Mayo, who came to Vir- ginia in 1723, and settled near Richmond, Virginia. The fol- lowing forbears were especially distinguished: Robert White, his great-grandfather, who was an officer in the Revolution, a member of the Society of the Cincinnati, and judge of the general court of Virginia; and Rev. William Mayo Atkinson, his father, who was a Presbyterian minister, a doctor of divinity, agent for the American Bible society, distinguished for his amiability of character, his Christian charity, and devoted attachment to his family and the human race.
William Mayo Atkinson was brought up in the town of Winchester, in Frederick county, and his physical condition in childhood and youth was strong and healthy. He had no regular tasks, involving manual labor, to perform and as the circumstances of his family were comfortable he had no special difficulties to overcome in acquiring an education. His character was greatly influenced by his mother, and general reading, which he found very helpful. He attended an academy in Winchester, and took the degree of Bachelor of Arts at Hamp- den-Sidney college, near Farmville, Virginia. Led to the study of law by a natural preference, he took the course at the Univer- sity of Virginia under John B. Minor, and was graduated in 1873.
He soon after began the practice of law in Winchester, Virginia, where he became one of the leading lawyers. He held successively the position of commonwealth's attorney of the city of Winchester, was recorder of said city, and judge of the county court of Frederick county, and of the city court of Win- chester. In addition he has been a member of the Winchester
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WILLIAM MAYO ATKINSON
council, mayor of the city, director of the Union bank of Win- chester, and secretary and treasurer of the Winchester and Potomac railroad and director of said company.
He was a member of the chapter of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity of Hampden-Sidney and the University of Virginia. He was also a member of the Union Literary society at Hampden-Sidney, and at the time of his graduation received the best speaker's medal from that society.
In politics Judge Atkinson has adhered strictly to the for- tunes of the Democratic party, and in religious conviction he is a Presbyterian. He declares that " contact with men in active life " has had more to do with his success in the world than any other influence.
On July 20, 1884, Judge Atkinson married Mrs. C. C. Trenholm, and they have had one child, W. M. Atkinson, who is now (1906) a student at Hampden-Sidney college.
The address of Judge Atkinson is Winchester, Virginia.
WILLIAM HENRY ATWILL
A TWILL, WILLIAM HENRY, minister of the Methodist church, was born in Westmoreland county, Virginia, March 2, 1848, and his parents were Samuel Bailey Atwill and Jane A. Brown Atwill. His family is connected with the families of those " twin stars of glory," George Wash- ington and Robert E. Lee. His father was a successful farmer and merchant, who was a pronounced disciplinarian and held the office of justice of the peace.
His health in youth was always good, and he was brought up in the country, where he was fond of outdoor life and delighted in the natural attractions of the scenery. He had no special manual labor to perform and no serious difficulties to overcome in obtaining an education. He was educated by tutors at home until prepared for Randolph-Macon college, from which he graduated in June, 1874. Immediately after graduation he commenced the work of life as junior preacher stationed in Mathews county, and, from that time to the present, his life has been spent entirely in the ministry. From January to April, 1865, he was in the War between the States, under Mosby. He is now residing in Danville and is filling the most prominent city station in the conference. He is regarded as an excellent preacher, and a pious, worthy, industrious clergyman. He says of his call to the ministry that "it was immediate and direct on the moment of his conversion," and that " the source of his impulse to achieve what has been done was from God through His Spirit."
He is sociable and agreeable in conversation, and is a Knight Templar. His favorite mode of relaxation is hunting, fishing, and such outdoor exercises, but he has never given special attention to athletics. In reply to the question whether there is any lesson from partial failures of which he would care to speak, he says: "Where I have failed in life to reach my ideals has been principally caused by neglect of opportunities." From his experience and observation in life he offers the following advice
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WILLIAM HENRY ATWILL
as to the principles, methods and habits calculated to strengthen sound ideals in American life, and to be most helpful to young people. "Know how to say no. Be firm in positions taken after mature thought. Be prompt to meet engagements. Be honest in all transactions. Acknowledge and obey God under all cir- cumstances of life."
A sketch of his life, written by Rev. J. J. Lafferty, has appeared in " Sketches of the Virginia Conference."
He has been married four times: (1) to Miss M. A. Guyon; (2) to Miss F. W. Cato; (3) to Miss M. M. Bowden; (4) to Miss M. C. Harris, and nine children have been born to them, of whom six are now (1906) living.
His address is 924 North Main Street, Danville, Virginia.
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JOHN RANDOLPH ATWOOD
A TWOOD, JOHN RANDOLPH, financier and merchant, was born February 25, 1846, on a farm in Prince Ed- ward county, Virginia. His father, Randolph Benjamin Atwood, merchant, farmer and railroad man, was noted for sterling integrity, industry, and strict attention to duty; his mother, Annie E. Atwood, a good conscientious woman, died when he was only eight years old. His family is of English descent; was founded in America by John and Josiah Atwood, brothers, who came from England and settled, John in New York state, and Josiah in Connecticut, near Berlin.
He was reared in the country; was healthy, strong and active and especially fond of horses; had no particular tasks in youth, but was taught to do willingly anything that came to hand on the farm, and had the importance of work and the evil of idle- ness thoroughly instilled into him, and to that early teaching, and the habits of industry then formed, he owes no little of his marked success in after life. He had no taste for a professional career, and his education was limited to private schools in the country, but they were good schools, and being a studious boy he obtained all they had to give.
His first work on his own account was in the telegraph service of a railroad, in Virginia and North Carolina, which he continued for several years, but his ambition was for a business career. Since 1871, he has been a merchant and a very successful one, in Appomattox, Virginia, his name being a synonym for honest goods and fair dealing in all that section of the state; he was also postmaster for seventeen years, thirteen of which were in the name of R. K. Purdum. Having established a reputation throughout his section as a shrewd and careful financier by years of able and successful management of his own monetary affairs, when the Bank of Appomattox was organized, largely through his personal efforts and influence, 1891, he was the unanimous choice of its stockholders for president, and has since given its affairs most of his personal attention, though still continuing his mercantile business. He has by his good judgment placed
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