Encyclopedia of Virginia biography, Volume V, Part 15

Author: Tyler, Lyon Gardiner, 1853-1935, ed. cn
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company
Number of Pages: 848

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poakes Creek, Surry county, Virginia. He built himself a brick house which, known as "Bacon's Castle," in still standing. He was born in 1602 and died in 1670, but as the first American ancestors of the families bearing the name of Allen or Allan number something very near a score, it is difficult to decide to which of them, or whether to any of them, he was related. In early times the name took the forms of Allin, Alline, Allyn, Allein, Allan and Allen. The deriva- tion often given is from the personal name Alan, common in Norman times. The name is often also from MacAlain, the ancestor of the Clan MacAlain, being Colla da Chrioch, a descendant of the monarch, Niall of the Nine Hostages, celebrated in Milesian song and story. Over fifty families of the name in Europe have the rights to coats armorial. Arthur Allen married Alice Tucker, and had a son and heir, subsequently known as Major Arthur Allen, who was burgess and speaker of the house of burgesses. His brick house was used by a part of Bacon's friends as a fort in 1676. He married Kath- erine, daughter and heiress of Captain Law- rence Baker, of Surry county. His will was proved in Surry county, September 5, 1710. His children were: Elizabeth, who married Colonel William Bridges ; John ; Katherine ; James; Arthur; Ann; Mary; Joseph. Of the above family, John Allen was a student af William and Mary College in 1600. His will was proved March 8, 1741. He married Elizabeth, who was born July 4, 1697, and died October 4, 1738, daughter of William Bassett, of the council of Virginia. She died before her husband, and she is called in his will "sister of Mrs. (Lucy) Roscow (wife of Colonel William Roscow) and of Mrs. (Mary) Daingerfield" { wife of Cap- tain Edwin Daingerfield, of New Kent). He had no surviving issue, but left the bulk of his estate to William Allen, son of his brother Joseph, whom he requested to be educated at William and Mary College till he was twenty-one years old. He gave his gold watch to Mary Roscow. daughter of Colonel William Roscow, and made Cap- tain John Ruffin executor of his will. There is an interesting paper, yellow from age, in the possession of the present William Allen, signed by A. Spotswood. It is in substance : That Her Majesty's Lieutenant Governor and Commander in chief of this Dominion, wishing to determine and settle the bound-

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ary line between North Carolina and Vir- ginia, orders John Allen, Surveyor of Surry, with the assistance of the company of Rangers appointed to attend him, to begin at the mouth of Nottoway River and to run a line 'till said line intersects at Roanoke River. "Ye" Rangers are to spread them- selves 20 feet from right to left and to mark all "thee" remarkable trees with three notches. Then Allen is ordered as speedily as possible to return home, dismiss Rangers and transmit plan of said work, containing the remarkable Rivers, Creeks, Swamps or Plantations (if any be) and such other ob- servations as he may judge proper. "Given under my hand and the Seal of the Colony at Williamsburg, this Sixteenth day of April, 1714." Notice to the president of the colony of North Carolina of the contem- plated survey was sent, to give him the op- portunity to be represented.

Arthur Allen (3), son of Major Arthur Allen, married Elizabeth Bray, who, in the records, calls Thomas Bray her brother. He died in 1725 after which she married Arthur Smith, of the Isle of Wight, and after his death one Stith. She established a free school in Smithfield, Isle of Wight county. She left by her marriage with Arthur Allen : James; Katherine, who married Benjamin Cocke. James Allen died without issue in 1714, leaving legacies to Thomas Bray, James Bray, William Allen, Arthur Smith, Frances Bray, Elizabeth Bray, James Bridges, Joseph Bridges, John, son of Jacob Cornwall, and sister Catherine Cocke. He made his brother-in-law, Benjamin Cocke, executor of his will.

Joseph Allen married Hannah, whose maiden surname remains unknown, and, dying in 1736, left only one son, William Allen, who was the sole heir of his uncle John. He was educated at William and Mary College, and married (first) Clara Walker, by whom he had John Allen, who died in May, 1793, without issue. He mar- ried (second) Mary, daughter of William Lightfoot, of Sandy Point, in Charles City county, and Mildred (Howell) Lightfoot, his wife, by whom he had Mary, who mar- ricd Carter Bennett Harrison, and had issue, Carter H., and William Allen; William ; Anne Armistead, born 1777, died April 27, 1833, who married John Edloe; Martha Bland, born June 30, 1780, died April 21, 1814, married Miles Selden. The issue of

Anne Armistead Allen and John Edloe were: Carter H., born 1798, died 1843; Mary Allen, September 9, 1800, died Sep- tember 16, 1855, married Dr. N. M. Os- borne; Martha Armistead, married Richard Griffin Orgain. William Allen's will was proved in Surry county, September 24, 1790. There were three other children, who died young : Joseph, Hannah, and Mildred.

William Allen, son of Colonel William Allen and Mary (Lightfoot) Allen, was born March 7. 1768, and died November 2, 1831. He resided at Claremont, Surry county, Vir- ginia, where his tombstone still lies. He never married, and left his large estates to William Griffin Orgain, son of Richard Griffin Orgain (by his niece, Martha Armi- stead Edloe, born March 31, 1803, died Feb- ruary 12, 1857, daughter of John Edloe), on his taking the name of William Allen, or to the son of William Griffin Orgain, on the like condition, but in case of William Grif- fin Orgain's death without issue in the male line, then the property was to go to his nephew, Carter H. Harrison. In his will, Colonel Allen mentions his great-nieces, Anne Carter Harrison and Mary Howell Harrison.

Richard Griffin Orgain, born September 25, 1787, died July 17, 1830, and had issue by Martha Armistead Edloe: Montgomery McKensie, born February 12, 1824, died July 15, 1824; Elizabeth C., who married Powhatan Starke; Mary M., who married Archibald Harrison; William Griffin, who took the name of William Allen, in accord- ance with the provisions of his great-uncle's will. He helped to organize Company D, of the Tenth Battalion of Artillery, Con- federate States army, and equipped and uni- formed his men. He was elected captain of his company and afterwards promoted major, when the battalion was organized. ("Battle Roll of Surry Co., Va., in the War between the States," by B. W. Hones). On his plantation at Curl's Neck was given an carly demonstration of the grain reaper by Cyrus H. McCormick, founder of the great McCormick Harvester Company. He mar- ried. December 22, 1852, at Brockville, Can- ada. Frances Augusta Jessup, born 1832, in Brockville, eldest child of James Jessup.

The Jessup family was founded in Amer- ica by Edward Jessup, who was at Stam- ford, Connecticut, before 1649, at which time he owned land in Fairfield, Connec-

Mary Houston anderson allen

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icut, where he had undoubtedly previously ived. He was a pioneer of Newtown on Long Island, New York, where he pur- chased eighty acres of land of the Indians, und was a magistrate in 1659-60-61-62. He subsequently had a grant of land at West Farms and Hunt's Point, in the present Westchester county, New York, signed by Governor Nicolls, April 5, 1666. He died before November 14 of that year. His son, Edward Jessup, born 1663, married Eliza- cth Hyde, and resided at Fairfield. Joseph essup, son of this couple, baptized July 4, 699, resided for some time at Stamford, and bout 1744 settled at Little Nine Partners, n what is now Dutchess county, New York. He was loyal to the British government, ind removed to Montreal on the outbreak ot the revolution, dying there in 1788. He married, August 14. 1734. Abigail Jarvis, who died in 1743. Their son, Edward Jes- up, born December 4, 1735, in Stamford, 'esided at Albany and other points in New York, and removed to Canada, suffering great loss through the confiscation of his property by the state of New York. He served as major in the English forces, and surveyed and laid out the city of Prescott. Canada, in 1810. He died there February 3, 1816. His son, Edward Jessup, born May 26, 1766, in Albany, served for many years is clerk of the peace, district of Johnstown. n Upper Canada, his commission dated January 1, 1800. He was long lieutenant- colonel of the First Regiment of militia for the county of Leeds. He resided in Pres- cott, where he died November 4, 1815. He married Susannah Covell, and they were the parents of James Jessup, born July 28, 1804. in what is now Prescott, died November 25, 1876. He was registrar of the surrogate court and county clerk of Leeds and Gren- ville, filling that office at the time of his leath. Although a Conservative in politics, he was admired by the Liberals, and his long continuation in office testifies to his standing in the community. For three years he was a law partner of Henry Sherwood. who afterward became premier of Canada. He married. August 24, 1831. in Brockville. Catherine Shriver, and their eldest child was Frances Augusta, above mentioned as the wife of William Allen. Children of Wil- liam and Frances Augusta (Jessup) Allen were: 1. Fanny, born in Petersburg, Vir- ginia, died in Prince George county, Vir-

ginia, December 15, 1853. 2. William, men- tioned below. 3. John, born September 17, 1857, at Claremont, Virginia, died June 16, 1004. in Florida, leaving a wife and children. Bertha, Potter and William. The latter is now living in Louisville, Kentucky. 4. Mary. born June 25, 1859, in Claremont, died there in 1861. 5. Frances Augusta, born July 8, 1861, in Petersburg, died in Newport, Ken- tucky, September 9, 1899. 6. Jessup Light- foot, born September 16, 1863, in Richmond. Virginia, died at Atlantic City, New Jersey. January 15, 1912. He married Ray Shelton, who is now living in Atlantic City.

William Allen, the modern representative of the family, son of William and Frances Augusta (Jessup) Allen, was educated in private schools in Richmond, and in 1865 entered the school of the Rev. Edmund Wood, in Montreal, Canada. He was grad- nated from Georgetown College in the Dis- tiict of Columbia, in 1875, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts, and in the same year entered the University of Virginia, where he studied law, and received the degree of LL. B. He entered upon practice in 1877 in Richmond, Virginia. In 1878 he travelled in Europe, and on his return formed a part- nership with Bernard Peyton. In 1892 he located in New York City, and entered the law office of Robert L. Harrison, where he remained until 1895, when he began practic- ing upon his own account. Mr. Allen has been in large practice ever since, with offices at 67 Wall street. In September, 1901, he was appointed a referee in bankruptcy for the southern district of New York. Ite is a member of the Bar Association of the City of New York: the University Club; the Southern Society of New York City ; the Virginians of New York City : the American Yacht Club ; Essex County Club, and other social organizations. In politics he is a Democrat. Mr. Allen married Mary Hous- toun Anderson, daughter of General Robert Houstoun Anderson, one of the youngest and bravest generals of the Confederacy. and the great-great-great-granddaughter of Sir Patrick Houstoun, who founded Savan- nah, Georgia. with General Oglethorpe. Mrs. Allen is an authoress of reputation. They have a beautiful home at No. 51 East Sixty-fifth street. New York City.

Charles Edward Conrad, M. D. A native of Virginia and there educated for the med-

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ical profession, Dr. Charles Edward Conrad has shared the time that he has devoted to the practice of his profession between the places of his birth and New York, proceed- ing to the latter place almost immediately after taking his degree and there remaining until 1910, since which year he has been a practitioner of Harrisonburg, Virginia. Dur- ing the short time that he has engaged in medical work in Harrisonburg he has at- tained a wide practice and professional prominence, having been elected to the presidency of the Rockingham County Med- ical Society.

Dr. Conrad's family is far from being un- known to the professions in Virginia, his father, Ed. Smith Conrad, a graduate of the University of Virginia, a well known attor- ney of Harrisonburg, Virginia. He married Virginia Smith, daughter of Andrew Irick, among their children being Charles Edward, of whom further.

Dr. Charles Edward Conrad was born in Harrisonburg, Rockingham county, Vir- ginia, July 20, 1879. Following a course in the public schools of the place of his birth, he became a student in the Randolph-Macon Academy, of Front Royal, Virginia, there receiving a diploma of graduation. He was for four years employed in druggists' estab- lishments in Lynchburg and Charlottesville, Virginia, becoming a druggist, duly regis- tered by the Virginia state board of exam- iners, and in 1901 entered the University of Virginia, graduating from the medical department of that institution Doctor of Medicine in 1905. He became an interne in the Manhattan and Kings County hospitals, New York City. He then formed an asso- ciation with the Eastern State Hospital, Williamsburg, Virginia, as first assistant physician, which continued for about two and a half years, and from November, 1909, until May, 1910, he was connected with the New York Nursery and Child's Hospital.

During his residence in Harrisonburg, Dr. Conrad has conducted a general prac- tice, in which he has been very successful, most conspicuously so in diseases peculiar to children. He is a member of the board of health of Harrisonburg, city physician of that place, local physician for the South- ern Railway Company, president of the Rockingham County Medical Society, mem- ber of the Shenandoah Valley Medical Soci- ety, and of the Pi Kappa Alpha and Nu

Sigma Nu medical fraternity. On numer- ous occasions he has reported cases of espe- cial interest from a professional point of view to the medical societies of which he is a member. He attends the Methodist Epis- copal church, and is a supporter of Demo- cratic principles. Dr. Conrad is held in uni- versal high esteem in the place of his birth, and has created a most favorable impression among his professional brethren. His career as a physician has become worthy of the designation without which no other words of approbation possess value and without which there is no true success, useful.

Dr. Conrad married, September 29, 1914, Annie Gilliam, of Lynchburg, Virginia, daughter of James R. and Jessie (Johnston) Gilliam.

Conrad Kownslar. Descended maternally from the old colonial and revolutionary families, Blackburn, St. Clair, and through intermarriage with the Washington family, Mr. Kownslar, as an attorney-at-the-bar of two states, Virginia and Texas, and by active public service, has lived up to the best traditions of his forbears, and gained distinction in his own right. Through his maternal line descent is traced to Elder Wil- liam Brewster and John Allerton, the Pil- grim Fathers of Plymouth colony. Thomas Blackburn, his great-grandfather was a colo- nel in the Continental army, and Elizabeth St. Clair (Blackburn) Kownslar, his mother, was a niece of Judge Washington by mar- riage, and a frequent visitor at Mount Ver- non.

Conrad Kownslar is a son of Dr. Ran- dolph Kownslar, and a grandson of Conrad Kownslar and his wife, Elizabeth (Bayard) Kownslar, the latter the parents of sons, Randolph, of further mention ; Remington, a farmer of Texas; and Franklin, an Ohio judge who died in Cincinnati. Dr. Randolph Kownslar was born in Berkeley county, Virginia, in 1812, and died in 1865. He was a graduate of Princeton, and also of the University of Virginia, a man of highest literary and professional attainment, rank- ing among the most advanced students and thinkers of his day. He was the master of several languages, and in mature years made it a daily practice to read something in the three languages, Greek, Latin and French. Bishop Whittle pronounced him "the best educated layman" he had ever met. He

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was an ardent believer in the justice of the Southern cause, and during the war, 1861- 05, was surgeon in the Confederate army, and in charge of a hospital at Berryville, where he had been previously for several years engaged in medical practice. He died at about the close of the war after render- ing arduous and valuable service to the cause he loved.

Dr. Kownslar married (first) Mary Mac- Leary ; children : 1. Ellen, who married S. J. C. Moore, adjutant-general of the Con- federate States army under General Early, and had children: Randolph K., Mary, Jane C., Dr. Lawson B., Annie C., Lillie K., Mary K., and Nora B. 2. Mary, who died unmarried. Dr. Kownslar married (second) Elizabeth St. Clair Blackburn, born at Springgrove, Jefferson county, Virginia, in 1813, who long survived him, dying in 1907, at the great age of ninety-six years. She was a granddaughter of Colonel Thomas Blackburn, an officer of the revolution. Chil- dren of second marriage: 1. Randolph, born in Berryville, Virginia; married Alice M. Stribling ; children: Conrad Randolph and Alice M. 2. Conrad (2), of further men- tion. 3. Jane Blackburn, married Rev. Wil- liam B. Lee, of Gloucester, Virginia, and has issue : i. Elizabeth St. Clair, married Marshall M. Milton, children : William Byrd Lee, Elizabeth Sinclair, Blackburn and Mar- shall Milton; ii. Evelyn Byrd, married H. T. Hutcheson, children: Henry Edmund, Jane Blackburn Lee and Thomas Barksdale Hutcheson ; iii. Mary Page; iv. Jennie K .; v. Eliza A. ; vi. William Byrd Lee. 4. Eliz- abeth St. Clair, married W. Ludwell Bald- win, and has issue: William L., married Mary Payne, of Norfolk, Virginia, and has William L. (2), and Portia Lee: Baldwin. 5. Lydia, married Edward M. Stribling, and has issue: Randolph K .; Edward M. (2), married Cornelia McBlair, of Norfolk, Vir- ginia : John W., married Louise K. Taylor, and has a daughter, Louise K.

Conrad (2) Kownslar, son of Dr. Ran- dolph and Elizabeth St. Clair ( Blackburn ) Kownslar, was born in Berryville, Virginia. September 28, 1851. He was educated at private schools in Alexandria, Virginia, and under special tutors, attaining proficiency in all that marks the modernly educated man. Ile began the study of law under the preceptorship of Major S. J. C. Moore, of

Berryville, his brother-in-law, and pursued a complete course, gaining admission to the Virginia bar in 1876.

lle began legal practice in Berryville, later moving to Houston, Texas, where he was admitted to the bar and practiced for several years. He then returned to Berry- ville, where he has since practiced continu- ously. He has been admitted to all state and Federal courts, his practice extending to all, being general in character. He has served as commonwealth attorney ; was for three years mayor of Berryville ; and by ap- pointment of the governor served as a mem- ber of the board of visitors to Mt. Vernon. He is learned in the law, skilled in its appli- cation, and ranks among the leaders of the Clarke county bar.

Mr. Kownslar is a member of the Masonic order and of the Sons of the Revolution. He is a communicant of the Protestant Epis- copal church in religion, and in political faith is a Democrat. He has ever taken active in- terest in public affairs, and has contributed his full share to party success. Mr. Kowns- lar has been delegate from Clarke county to many state conventions of his party, but has never sought preferment for himself be- yond the local office mentioned, mayor of his native town.

James Marion Broughton. The family name of James Marion Broughton, chief of police of the city of Portsmouth, Virginia. is derived from the Saxon, Broc, which means brook or brocken land, or Tun, a dwelling or town. In King Ethelred's char- ter to the monastery of Shaftesbury, Eng- land, A. D. 1001, Elfwig's boundaries as Broctun are mentioned. The Domesday Book of William the Conqueror. 1086, de- scribes thirty-four manors of Broctun vari- ously Latinized by the clerks of the records to Brochthon, Brocton. Brotton, Broton. Brogton, and Broughton, perhaps according to the pronunciation peculiar to the local- ities where the manors were situated. Later the orthography of Broughton seems to have been generally adopted. The name continued prominent among the knights and sheriffs of England for four centuries, until the titular male lines became extinct and their estates passed through female lines to other families.

Thomas Broughton, a passenger from

VIA-41

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Gravesend, below London, England, em- barked on the ship "America," June 23, 1635, for Virginia. Savage, in his "Notes," identifies this Thomas with Thomas Broughton, of Watertown, Massachusetts, who before 1643 married Mary, daughter of Nathaniel Brescoe. He owned large grants and made purchases at Berwick, Maine, and Dover, New Hampshire, where he erected mills. His descendants settled in Mame, New Hampshire, Vermont and Massachu- setts, the Virginia family descending from the Vermont branch, the great-great-grand- father of James Marion Broughton settling near Norfolk in the Back Bay district. One of the sons of the settler located in North Carolina, another settled far up the West Branch, the third choosing Norfolk as his residence and there becoming a wealthy planter.

William Edward Broughton, grandson of the settler and son of the Norfolk planter, was educated in the public schools, afterward learning the trades of blacksmith and ship- caulker, following both at different times. At the beginning of the war between the states he enlisted in the Confederate army, joining Paight's Rangers, and participated in the fighting about Petersburg. While in New York on business he was, in the par- lance of the sea, "shanghaied," placed on board the "Vermont," and was present at the battle of Mobile. William Edward Broughton was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, fraternized with the Ma- sonic order, and in political faith was a Democrat. He married Mary Pierce, and had six children, five of them sons, all of whom were at different times employed in the United States navy-yard at Norfolk. Children : Joseph, of whom further; Mis- souri, married John Tatum; George Wash- ington; Charles, deceased; Morse A .; James M.

Joseph Broughton, son of William Ed- ward and Mary (Pierce) Broughton, was born September 16, 1843. After attending the public schools he learned the trade of carpenter, an occupation in which he was engaged until he enlisted in the Confed- erate army, becoming a member of Marion's Rifles, afterward the Virginia Rifles. Not long after his enlistment he was raised to the rank of corporal, and so served for three years and three months, his service ending with the close of the war. Returning from

the front he again took up work at his trade, being so occupied for ten years, when he changed his calling to that of ship joiner, obtaining employment in the Norfolk navy- yard, where his skillful ability soon won him high favor. His years in the navy-yard now number twenty-six, a period that in- cludes nothing but the most faithful service, the most competent discharge of duty. Dur- ing the yellow fever plague of 1855 he was stricken with the dread disease, and is one of two who were the only ones to recover after arriving at what are usually the last stages of the sickness. He was at one time superintendent of the almshouse and was also department sergeant. Joseph Brough- ton is a communicant of the Methodist Epis- copal church, and is a sympathizer with Socialistic principles.

Joseph Broughton married, April 4, 1867, Sarah E. Brewer, born September 10, 1848, daughter of James and Elizabeth (Sparks) Brewer, of North Carolina, and has chil- dren: 1. Joseph Frank, born March 9, 1868; married, March 2, 1888, Annie M. Lawman, and has a daughter, Mary, born in March, 1889, married, in November, 1911, Clyde Miller. 2. Robert Edward Lee, born June 9, 1870, died January 9, 1872. 3. James Marion, of whom further. 4. Edward Powell, born June 17, 1878; married (first) August 20, 1900, Nellie King, born Novem- ber 29, 1882, died February 13, 1913, (sec- ond) February 25, 1914, Ruth McCoy, born September 7, 1896. 5. Liel Augustus, twin of Edward Powell, married, April 4, 1899, Mary S. Journee, and has : Charles Edward, born July 14, 1900, Liel Augustus Jr., born February 20, 1902, Joseph Nathaniel Epps, born October 14, 1906, William Henry, born February 2, 1908, and Dorothy Lewis, born November 26, 1911. 6. Rosa Mildred, born June 16, 1889; married, April 4, 1908, John Kiel, and has John Joseph, born July 4, 19II, and James Broughton, born April 10, 1914.

James Marion Broughton, third child and son of the six children of Joseph and Sarah E. (Brewer) Broughton, was born in Ports- mouth, Virginia, January 20, 1873. After a course in the academy taught by Profes- sor George Stokes, he attended the public schools, and as a youth of seventeen years apprenticed himself to the ship-joiner's trade in the United States navy-yard, which he mastered. The next few years he spent in

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Encyclopedia of Virginia biography, Volume V, Part 15

Author: Tyler, Lyon Gardiner, 1853-1935, ed. cn Publication date: 1915 Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company Number of Pages: 848

Author: Tyler, Lyon Gardiner, 1853-1935, ed. cn
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company
Number of Pages: 848