Encyclopedia of Virginia biography, Volume V, Part 16

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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Chicago, Illinois, subsequently returning to the place of his birth, in January, 1897. entering the police department of this city as a patrolman. He was afterward ad- vanced to the plain clothes service, then to the sergeant's rank, in 1909 becoming cap- tain. From this date until December I. 1914. he performed the duties of a captain of police, on the latter date receiving his commission as chief of the department.

Chief Broughton's qualifications for his high position, one of the most important in the municipal government, are many, and general satisfaction is felt throughout the city at his choice. The seventeen years he has passed in the different grades of service in the department will enable him to admin- ister the affairs of his office practically, thor- oughly and efficiently, all of his action being based upon knowledge and experience, with- out dependence upon the recommendations of subordinates. That Portsmouth will be accorded the best of police protection under his rule is the consensus of opinion in the city, and all who know Mr. Broughton, his courageous, fearless attitude and his high conception of the duties of his office, feel that a more able leader could not have been chosen. Among the members of the depart- ment there is likewise unanimous approval of his promotion, and internal harmony and cooperation will increase the value of his leadership, for as a patrolman he made many friends in the force, retained them in his rise to his present position, and is assured of their loyal and steadfast support.

Like his father, Mr. Broughton is a com- municant of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is a Democrat in political faith, and is prominent in fraternal orders in the city, belonging to the Junior Order of United American Mechanics, the Benevo- lent and Protective Order of Elks, the Fra- ternal Order of Eagles, Tidewater Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Ports- mouth Lodge, Knight of Pythias, and Mon- tauk Tribe, Improved Order of Red Men.

James Marion Broughton married, April 18, 1894. Josie E. Heath, born May 9, 1876. daughter of Robert T. and Sarah ( Rosen- thal) Heath, and has children: Estelle B., born May 16, 1895: Lillian M., born Janu- ary 19, 1807; Josie M., born December 24. 1899; Robert H., born February 2. 1902 ; Alma W., born February 24, 1904; Alice L.,

born April 6, 1906: Sallie I., born October 5. 1907.

Rev. William Jackson Morton. The name Morton, Moreton and Mortaigne, is earliest found in old Dauphine and is still existent ir France, where the family has occupied many important positions. In the annals of the family there is a statement repeatedly made that as the result of a quarrel one of the name migrated from Dauphine. first to Brittainy, thence to Normandy, where alli- ance was made with William the Conqueror. Certain it is that among the names of the followers of William painted on the chancel ceiling in the ancient church of Dives in old Normandy is that of Robert Comte de Mor- tain. This name is also found on Battle Abbey Roll, in the Domesday Book and on Norman Rolls. It is conjectured that this Count Robert was the founder of the Eng- lish family of Morton. In the Bayeux tap- estry he is represented as of the council of William, the result of which was the Con- quest of England. Count Robert held manors in nearly every county in England. in all about eight hundred, among them Pevensea, where the Conqueror landed and where in 1087 Robert and his brother Odo. bishop of Bayeau, were besieged six weeks by William Rufus. Here Camden ( 1551. 1(28) found "the most entire remains of a Roman building to be seen in Britain." The family was prominent in England all down the centuries and gave to early America some of its best blood. Prominent among these early comers were Thomas Morton. esquire, one of the most interesting his- torical characters of New England. Rev. Charles Morton Landgrave. Joseph Morton. proprietary governor of South Carolina, and George Morton.

The progenitors of Rev. William Jackson Morton, rector of historic Christ Church. Alexandria; were eminent in Virginia on both maternal and paternal sides, his ma- ternal line. Buckner, tracing to Philip and Jane (Aylett) Buckner, of Louisa county. through his son Thomas (1), his son Thomas (2), born July 20, 1771. mar- ried. September 2, 1800, Lucy Fitzhugh. daughter of Henry Fitzhugh, of Bellair. Their daughter. Jane Richard Buckner, born November 12, 1808, married William I. Dickenson, of "Chestnut Valley." Caroline

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county, Virginia, and had nine children ; Caroline May Dickenson, the sixth child, married Dr. Charles Bruce Morton, of Sol- diers' Rest, Orange county, Virginia, and they are the parents of Rev. William Jack- son Morton.

Philip Buckner, of Louisa county, was the second son of Richard Buckner, clerk of Essex county, Virginia, and grandson of John Buckner, the emigrant. His wife, Jane ( Aylett-Robison) Buckner, was a sister of John Aylett, of King William county, and widow of Christopher Robison at the time of her marriage. Philip and Jane Buckner had seven children, one of them, Thomas (I), the eldest son, the ancestor of Rev. Wil- liam Jackson Morton, Aylett, the youngest son, was the ancestor of General Simon Boli- var Buckner, soldier and statesman, gradu- ate of West Point, Mexican war hero, in- spector general of Kentucky in 1860, cast his fortunes with the Confederacy, surren- dered Fort Donelson to Grant after a gallant defence, was governor of Kentucky, 1887- 1891 and 1896, vice-president candidate on the ticket of the gold Democracy, nominated at Indianapolis. John Buckner, of Gloucester county, is the earliest mentioned of that name in Virginia annals. He was granted land in 1667, was a member of Petsworth parish, Gloucester, was member of the house of burgesses in 1683, and clerk of Glouces- ter county. He died in 1695, leaving sons, William, John (2), Richard, and Thomas. Richard Buckner owned five hundred acres of land in Rappahannock county, part of a tract called "Golden Vale." Essex county was formed from Rappahannock in 1692, and Richard Buckner was appointed the first clerk of the county. He was also clerk of the house of burgesses in 1714. He left sons: Richard Philip, John and William. These sons and their descendants were con- spicuous in the affairs of the colony and state and the founders of the Caroline county branch, and are now found in nearly every southern and western state.

George Morton was a brother of Hon. William Morton and of Hon. Jackson Mor- ton and Hon. Jeremiah Morton, four boys, who, orphaned early, were reared by their grandmother. At her death, Jeremiah, who loved her dearly, insisted upon placing under her head, in her coffin, the old family Bible, which in life had been her constant companion. Thus was lost the family rec-

ord. The boys were then adopted by their great-uncle, William Morton, who reared and educated them and at his death left them his property, the largest share going to the elder brother, William, who died without issue, and his large fortune went to the next brother, Jackson.

Hon. William Morton, the eldest of the four brothers, was educated at William and Mary College, and served for thirty years as an honored member of the Virginia legis- lature, representing his native county, Orange, in that body.

Jackson Morton was a graduate of Wil- liam and Mary College, Bachelor of Arts, 1815, moved to Florida; was president of territorial council of Florida many years ; member of constitutional convention and Florida legislature; general of Florida vol- unteers in Indian wars; United States navy agent at Pensacola; presidential elector, 1849; United States senator, 1849-1855; member Florida convention, 1861; repre- sented Florida in the provisional congress of the Confederate States ; an extensive lum- ber dealer.

His youngest brother, Hon. Jeremiah Morton, was a student at Washington Col- lege, now Washington and Lee University, 1814-1815, graduate of William and Mary, 1819; studied law, practiced with success, but physical infirmities compelled him to retire. He then became a farmer, accumu- lating a large estate. He was elected to the United States house of representatives on the Whig ticket, serving from 1849 to 1851, contemporary with his brother Jackson. In 1861 he was a member of the Virginia con- vention which decreed that Virginia was no longer a member of Union of States. Mr. Morton followed the Confederate cause with all his soul, sold his lands, but retained his slaves, putting all his means in Confederate States bonds. Ruined by the failure of the Confederacy he was cared for in his old age by a daughter at whose home "Lessland," Orange county, he died, November 28, 1878, in his eightieth year. He was a prominent member of the Episcopal church, and a trus- tee of the Theological Seminary of Virginia, at Alexandria.

Dr. George Morton, third of the four brothers, was educated in early years at the school of Rev. Charles O'Neill, who was the preacher at Pine Stake Church, Orange county, Virginia, and taught school near

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there. He then entered William and Mary College, whence he was graduated, Bachelor of Arts, 1818, after which he entered the medical school of the University of Penn- sylvania, Philadelphia, obtaining there his degree of Doctor of Medicine on April 4. 1823. He then began the practice of medi- cine in Orange county, Virginia, continuing until his death, most eminent in his profes- sion. He married Elizabeth Williams and had issue: Charles Bruce, of further men- tion ; Jeremiah, a veteran of the Confed- eracy ; Judge James W., a law partner of General Kemper, of Pickett's division, Con- federate States Army ; William Jackson, M. D., a graduate of Jefferson Medical Col- lege, Philadelphia : John Pendleton ; George Philip: Lucy Pendleton, married John Cooke Green.

Dr. Charles Bruce Morton, son of Dr. George Morton, was born at "Soldiers' Rest." Orange county, Virginia, September 3. 1835. He was educated at the University of Virginia and Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, and graduated from the latter institution Doctor of Medicine, March 20, 1860. He at once entered the Confederate army as a surgeon, serving as senior sur- geon of General Kemper's brigade, in Pick- ett's division. After the war he practiced his profession in Orange county, a physi- cian of high standing and professional abil- ity. He now resides at "Nottingham Farm," Spottsylvania county, Virginia. Dr. Mor- ton married, May 24, 1866, at "Chestnut Valley," Caroline county, Virginia, Caro- 'line May Dickenson, born May 19, 1840, who is yet his loving companion at "Nottingham Farm." She is a daughter of William I. Dickenson, of "Chestnut Valley," born Feb- ruary 9, 1801, died March 25, 1874, son of James and Sally Dickenson. William 1. Dickenson married, April 16, 1829, Jane Richard Buckner, born November 12, 1808, died January 4, 1883, a descendant of John Buckner, the emigrant, of previous mention. Child of Dr. Charles Bruce Morton : William Jackson, of whom further.

Rev. William Jackson Morton, only son of Dr. Charles Bruce and Caroline May (Dickenson) Morton, was born May 8, 1867, at "Soldiers' Rest." Orange county, Virginia, the ancestral home of his progenitors, the Bruces and Williamses. He prepared for college under private tutors, entered Rich- mond College in 1882, remaining two years,

then returned home and for the next two years assisted his father in farm manage- ment. He then entered the Theological Seminary of Virginia, near Alexandria, Vir- ginia, whence he was graduated class of 1891. On June 26, 1891, in the seminary chapel, he was ordained to the diaconate by the Rt. Rev. Francis M. Whittle. D. D., bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Diocese of Vir- ginia, and one year later, in the same chapel, on the 24th of June, 1892, he was ordained to the priesthood by the Rt. Rev. Alfred M. Randolph, D. D., then assistant bishop of Virginia. After his ordination he was sent by the bishop of Virginia to serve his dia- conate under Rev. George W. Dame, rector of St. George's Chapel, North Danville, Vir- ginia, remaining nine months. In June, 1902, he accepted a call to be assistant rec- tor of St. James, Richmond, remaining in that parish until February, 1894. He then became rector of Epiphany Church, Knox- ville, Tennessee, remaining until October 1, 1896; then rector of South Farnham Parish, Tappahannock, Essex county, Virginia, until 1900 ; rector of "Emmanuel" Church, Harri- sonburg, Virginia, until 1902, then was called tc Christ Church, Alexandria, as rector, fol- lowing a long line of distinguished minis- ters who have been in charge of that his- toric church. He is a pulpit orator of force and eloquence.

Rev. William J. Morton is a member of the board of trustees of the Diocesan Mis- sionary Society of the Diocese of Virginia ; a trustee of "Stuart Hall." Staunton, Vir- ginia ; trustee of the Protestant Episcopal Educational Society of Virginia ; chaplain of the National George Washington Memorial Association. He is a member and chaplain of Alexandria-Washington Lodge. No. 22. Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and of the Mt. Vernon Chapter, Royal Arch Ma- sons, of Alexandria, Virginia. Through his patriotic ancestry he gained admission to the Sons of the Revolution and during his residence in Tennessee was a member of the board of state managers of that society. Ilis college fraternity is Phi Delta Theta. In political faith he is a Democrat.

He married, at St. George's Church, Fred- ericksburg, Virginia. April 11. 1803, Doro- thea Ashby Moncure, daughter of Powhatan and Dorothea (Ashby) Moncure, of "Oaken- wold." Stafford county, Virginia. She is a niece of Turner Ashby, brigadier-general of

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the Confederate States army, in command of the cavalry under Stonewall Jackson in the Valley campaign, killed instantly while leading the Fifty-eighth Virginia Regiment into battle on the afternoon of June 6, 1862, near Harrisonburg, Virginia. His brother, Richard Ashby, captain of the Seventh Vir- ginia Cavalry, was killed in battle near Romney, West Virginia. The brothers are buried in the Confederate Cemetery at Win- chester, Virginia, side by side. Dorothea Ashby was a granddaughter of Turner Ash- by, Sr., and Dorothea (Green) Ashby, of Culpeper, Virginia, who were married in 1820, he is a descendant of Captain Thomas Ashby, who located in what is now Fau- quier county, Virginia, died in 1752, found- ing a most distinguished family, famous in every war ever waged in this country. Chil- dren of Rev. William J. and Dorothea (Ash- by) Morton are as follows: Charles Bruce, born in St. John's Church rectory, in Tappa- hannock, Essex county, Virginia, January 10, 1900; William Jackson, born in Em- manuel Church rectory, Harrisonburg, Vir- ginia. September 2, 1902; Powhatan Mon- cure, born December 10, 1903; Dorothy Ashby, born November 22, 1905; Caroline Fitzhugh, born April 11, 1910. The last three children were born in the rectory of Old Christ Church, Alexandria, Virginia.

Otis Marshall, M. D. A descendant of the illustrious Virginia Marshall family that includes among its members Chief Justice Marshall of the United States supreme court, Dr. Otis Marshall, of Culpeper, Vir- ginia, a modern representative of the family, has attained a standing in. his profession commensurate with the Marshall fame.

Dr. Marshall is a son of Robert F. Mar- shall, and a grandson of Zenas Marshall, of Albemarle, Virginia, a quartermaster in the Confederate army during the war, 1861-65. Robert F. Marshall was born in Albemarle county, Virginia, in 1854, and after a suc- cessful business life as a merchant is now retired in Barboursville, Virginia. He mar- ried Leila C. Shotwell, whose brother, Elias, was a soldier of the Confederacy. Chil- dren : Otis, of further mention ; Randolph F., a student at Randolph-Macon College ; Maude Ellis, married William B. Gillun, of Barboursville, Virginia ; Gertrude F .; Irene Harrison.

Dr. Otis Marshall, son of Robert F. and

Leila C. (Shotwell) Marshall, was born in Barboursville, Orange county, Virginia, August 4, 1884. He obtained his primary and preparatory education in public and private schools of Orange and Madison counties ; then entered Richmond College, which he attended for two years, then spent one year, 1901-02, in the University of Vir- ginia, then entered the medical department of Richmond College, from which he re- ceived his degree of M. D . class of 1907, and later pursued a course of professional study at the New York Post-Graduate School and Hospital. He served there as interne for fifteen months, and then spent a year in pro- fessional service at the Charlottesville (Vir- ginia) Hospital. He was in practice one year at Paint Creek, a West Virginia min- ing town, spent a year in practice at Brandy, Virginia, and finally located permanently in Culpeper in 1910, where he conducts a successful general practice in medicine and surgery. Dr. Marshall, though young in years, has had a wide experience in hospital and general experience, and has developed an unusual skill in surgery as well as diag- nosis and treatment of disease. He is a member of the State Medical and Piedmont Medical societies, the Southern Railroad Surgeons Association, Virginia Public Health Association, and keeps in close touch with the work of each. He has con- tributed numerous articles to the medical journals, and is rated as one of the rising young men of the medical profession. In religious belief Dr. Marshall is a Baptist, and in political faith an Independent. He is also a member of the Greek letter society Sigma Phi Epsilon and the Catalpa Club.

Dr. Marshall married, November 7, 1912, Josephine Marie Riton, born in Monroe, Wisconsin. Child, Victor F., born in Cul- peper, September 1, 1913.

Governor Philip T. Woodfin. Philip T. Woodfin, Jr., eldest son of Philip T. and Jane R. Woodfin, was born in Marblehead, Massachusetts, April 26, 1840. As a boy, he yearned for a military life, and was natu- rally adapted for it. He was a member of the Sutton Light Infantry of Marblehead, Massachusetts, and at the call for troops by President Lincoln on April 15, 1861, conse- quently was one of the first to enlist, and on the morning of April 16, was in Boston. with his company as color bearer, on his

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way to the seat of war. He served three months and was honorably discharged. Hle then enlisted as sergeant in Sleeper's Tenth Massachusetts Battery, and was severely wounded in the mouth by a minie ball at Auburn, Virginia, October 13, 1863. While on furlough with his wound, he was pro- moted to second lieutenant, Sixteenth Mas- sachusetts Battery, later on to first lieuten- ant, in which he served until the close of the war. He then had command of Marble- head Light Infantry, in which he served as captain. On July 6, 1869, he was ap- pointed by General Butler as secretary, Eastern Branch National Soldiers' Home, at Togus, Maine. He remained three and a half years, and was then transferred to the Southern Branch at Hampton, Virginia, as governor, which position he held until his death on August 24, 1901, having served in this capacity twenty-eight years. He is buried at Arlington, Virginia.

His wife, Abbie P., daughter, Harriet L., and son, Herbert B., survive him. After his death, the officers and members of the home and other organizations erected a bronze monument on the home grounds, on the four sides of which are the following in- scriptions :

First: Philip Trasker Woodfin, governor from 1873 to 1901, Southern Branch Na- tional Home for Disabled Volunteer Sol- diers, born April 26, 1840; appointed gov- ernor January 16, 1873; died August 24, 1901.

Second: Military Order Loyal Legion, United States Commander, District of Co- lumbia, 1888 to 1901 ; corporal Eighth Mas- sachusetts Infantry Militia in service of the United States, April 30, 1861 ; honorably mustered out August 1, 1861, re-enlisted August 1, 1861 ; sergeant Tenth Battalion, Massachusetts Light Artillery, September 9, 1862 ; honorably discharged for promotion March 19, 1864; first lieutenant Sixth Bat- talion, Massachusetts Light Artillery, March 24, 1864; honorably mustered out June 27, 1865.

Third: Past Right Eminent Grand Com- mander, Grand Commandery, Knights Templar, of Virginia, 1898; Master Mason St. Tammany Lodge, No. 5. Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, of Hampton, V'ir- ginia ; Companion St. John's Chapter, No. 57. Royal Arch Masons, Newport News. Virginia ; past eminent commander llamp-

ton Commandery, No. 17. Knights Templar, 1891 to 1899.

Fourth: Deputy Commander G. A. R .. Department of Virginia and North Carolina, 1881-1883; worthy beloved and steadfast comrade, our tribute in fraternity, charity and loyalty; Encampment No. 91, 1861- 1865; colonel commanding Encampment No. 91, 1891-1892-1894, ably serving its highest interest with fraternal devotion. with broad charity, and steadfast patrio- tism.

Thomas Jordan Coles. The Coles family has been prominent in England for many generations, one branch of the name taking up Irish residence. The crest of the Coles family is a serpent entwined about a pil- lar.

The great-great-grandfather of Thomas J. Coles, John (1) Coles, was born in Enniscor- thy, Ireland, in 1706, and immigrated to Vir- ginia about 1730. His mother was a Miss Philpot, a relative of Sir Philpot Curran, the noted Irish wit and barrister. John Coles married, in 1733, Mary, of Ilanover county, Virginia, daughter of Isaac and Mary ( Dab- ney) Winston. Isaac Winston, a member of an ancient English family, came from Winston Hall in England. A few years after the departure of John Coles for Amer- ica, his younger brother, William Coles. came to Virginia, married Lucy Winston, a younger daughter of Isaac Winston, and settled at Coles Hill in Hanover county. Virginia. Sarah, another daughter of Isaac Winston, married Colonel John Henry, and was the mother of the great patriot. Patrick Henry. William Coles, mentioned above, brother of John Coles, was the grandfather of Dolly Madison, wife of the fourth presi- dent of the United States. her mother's maiden name being Mary Coles.

John (1) Coles was one of the first set- thers of Richmond, Virginia, assisting Colo- nel William Byrd in surveying and laying out the town. On Colonel Byrd's original survey of Richmond many of the most valuable lots bear the name of John Coles, land which today is valued at many thou- sands of dollars. In his will he bequeathed a large share of these lots to his youngest son, Isaac, then a baby, who afterward sold them for a piece of fine linen and a race horse. John Coles became a wealthy and influential man in the colony, although he

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died comparatively young. In addition to his Richmond property he owned vast landed estates in different parts of the colony, granted him by the King in con- sideration of services rendered the Crown. He was a colonel of militia and in some old records is also spoken of as major. He was a devoted adherent to the Church of England, and was one of the founders of the famous old St. John's Church, of Richmond, being buried under the chancel of that church. Not many years ago, in the course of some repairs that were being made in the church, there was found under the chancel, among other remains, a brass coffin-plate bearing the name of John Coles. He was church warden from the founding of the church until the day of his death, which occurred in 1747. At that time, the church and state being closely allied, the church wardens controlled civil and mili- tary as well as church affairs, and in con- sulting old records it is found that John Coles wielded considerable influence in both church and secular affairs. His death in October, 1747. followed the birth of his son. Isaac, by a few months, and in his will he left an immense tract of land in Albemarle county, Virginia, to his son, John (2), will- ing to his sons, Walter and Isaac, vast estates on the Staunton, Dan, and Bannister rivers in that portion of Brunswick county, Virginia, which was afterward set off as Halifax county, also bequeathing to them other property. His daughters received good estates, Mary, married Henry Tucker, and has many descendants, and Sarah, who married General George Muter, having no children. John (2) Coles married Rebecca Tucker, and built and resided at "Enniscor- thy," Albemarle county, Virginia, named after the old home in Ireland whence his father had come. John (2) Coles was the father of Governor Edward Coles, and his descendants have been prominent in many states of the Union, high office and honor coming to many. Mary (Winston) Coles, born in 1721, died in 1758, married (second) a Mr. Donald.

Colonel Isaac Coles, son of John (I) and Mary (Winston) Coles, was born in Rich- mond, Virginia, March 2, 1747, died on his plantation in Pittsylvania county, Virginia, June 3. 1813, and is there buried. He was educated at William and Mary College, Williamsburg, Virginia, was a colonel of

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Encyclopedia of Virginia biography, Volume V, Part 16

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