Encyclopedia of Virginia biography, Volume V, Part 2

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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Benjamin Wilson Smith. Of English de- scent, this branch of the Smith family carly settled in Mecklenburg county, Virginia. A distinguished member of the family, John Pascall Smith, served his district in the national Congress, and was a man of mark in his community. John Smith, grandfather of Benjamin Wilson Smith, was a farmer of Mecklenburg county, as was his son. An- thony Wilson Smith, whose farm was near Smith Cross Roads. Anthony Wilson Smith married Nannie Gidd and among their chil- dren was Benjamin Wilson, of whom fur- ther.

Benjamin Wilson Smith was born on the home farm near Smith Cross Roads, Meck- lenburg county, Virginia. Ile attended the public schools, and remained at home as his father's assistant at farm labor until his six- teenth year. Ile then moved to Willis,

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Texas, with Sutter Bros., of Chicago, and Mr. Oppenheimer, of New York, where he was engaged in the raising of tobacco, and the manufacture of cigars, this proving a profitable line of work. Mr. Smith also spent some time in Cuba, and Vera Cruz, Mexico. Later he returned to Mecklenburg county, Virginia, but at the present time (1914) resides at Murphy's Hotel, Rich- mond, Virginia. He has been engaged in various occupations, being connected with a number of important business enterprises, among which was the American Seeding Machine Company, the International Har- vester Company, the John Deere Plow Com- pany, and the Richmond Stove Company, and is now engaged in the manufacture and sale of stoves, ranges and hotel equipment, with headquarters in Richmond. They man- ufacture the Smith's Ideal, and Model Range, which is one of the inventions of Mr. Smith, of this review, who is an in- ventor of note in this particular line, hold- ing many patents upon ranges, kitchen equipment and tillage goods, all of which have proven to be of merit and worth, add- ing considerably to the value, durability, practicability and sale of the articles speci- fied. He possesses a large amount of genius, both natural and acquired, and coupled with this is ability of a high order and a mind well stored with useful ideas which he car- ries out to a great extent, thus adding to the comfort and enjoyment of many people. Mr. Smith is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Benevolent and Pro- tective Order of Elks, Improved Order of Red Men, Woodmen of the World, Illinois Commercial Men's Association and the Traveler's Protective Association. In poli- tics he is a Progressive Republican. To a natural dignity of manner and a personality most pleasing Mr. Smith adds a geniality that has won for him hosts of friends, and whether considered as employee, employer, business man, or in a fraternal sense, he is ever found to be a man true to himself and true to his fellows. A keynote to his suc- cess in his business career is his executive force and mastery of detail in whatever en- gages his attention.

Mr. Smith married, November 2, 1897, Etta Mabel Sandell, daughter of Walker S. and Mattie E. (George) Sandell, and grand- daughter of John E. and Martha M. George

and of Darius Sandell. Children: Lenora B., Frances Ruth, Nannie Lois, George Wil- son, Robert Bryan.

Louis Werner. The safeguarding of a city, the protection of its inhabitants, and the preservation of law and order in the community is no easy task, nor one to be approached without due regard for its ser- iousness and responsibility. In Richmond, Virginia, such a task falls to Louis Werner, chief of police of the city, and that he has ably executed this great commission for the past ten years is a lofty tribute to the power and competence of the man. When Mr. Werner assumed the office of chief of police i1: 1905, it was with the training of seven- teen years in the department as patrolman and sergeant, and since that time he has given to the citizens of Richmond an admin- istration of his important department, equally efficient, able and reliable, and has made the police standard of Richmond one that is a credit to the city.

Mr. Werner is a son of Philip and Philip- pina (Siegel) Werner, his parents both natives of Bavaria, Germany, and grandson of Philip Werner, of France. His father left his Bavarian home in 1848 and came to New York City, where he followed his trade, that of painter, until his death. His wife, Philippina (Siegel) Werner, was a daughter of Louis Siegel, and they were the parents of three children, Kate and Henry, both de- ceased, and Louis, of whom further.

Louis Werner was born in New York City, July 11, 1856, the death of his father when he was but an infant making him de- pendent upon his own resources for a living. When he was a lad of fourteen years of age he came to Richmond, Virginia, pursuing studies as opportunity offered, and learned the painter's trade, at which he was long employed. In 1888 he was appointed to the Richmond police force in the capacity of patrolman, and for sixteen years gave satis- factory service in this position, at the end of that time gaining a promotion to the rank of sergeant, and nine months later, in April, 1905, becoming chief of police of Richmond. In the ten years of Chief Werner's incum- bency of his office he has instituted numer- ous reforms for the correction of faults in the system which he observed while serving in lower rank, and has manifested his many qualifications for his place. The spirit that

VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

exists throughout the department is of healthy, active co-operation, and so popular s Chief Werner with all of his men that heir service centers about him, leaving little room for cliques and feuds that disrupt and minder. Under his direction the highest deals of the police department have been calized, and Richmond's citizens rest se- cure in the confidence they repose in him, knowing full well that they are protected From the outcast enemies of society as far is lies within human power. Chief Werner for the past forty years has been identified with and active in the Deutscher Gesang- verein of Virginia, and in fraternal affiliation is a member of the Modern Woodmen of the World and the Masonic order. He is a communicant of St. James' Methodist Epis- copal Church.

He married, in Richmond, 1876, Mary Hassel, a native of Richmond, daughter of Burghardt Hassel, deceased, for many years editor of the "German Daily Anzeiger," whose wife survives him. Louis and Mary (Hassel) Werner have had fourteen chil- dren, nine of whom are living at this time: Helen Virginia, married B. M. Harnes; Louisa, unmarried ; Burghardt ; Katie, mar- ried Thomas Charles ; Holga, married Rich- ard Venable ; Louis, Jr. ; Ruth, married Wil- liam Enders ; Clotha W .; Doris, unmarried.

John Morgan Johnson. The Johnson fam- ily of Virginia dates from colonial ancestors, early settlers in the colony. They are found in Prince William, Culpeper and Orange counties early in the eighteenth century and through intermarriages are connected with many of the early families of Virginia. Through his grandmother, Elizabeth (Fish- back) Johnson, John M. Johnson, of Alex- andria, Virginia, traces to John and Herman Fishback, who formed a part of the colony of twelve families who came from near Sei- gen, Germany, in April, 1714, at the instance of Governor Spottswood, of Virginia, set- tiing at Germanna, a town now extinct. then in Spottsylvania county in what is now a part of Orange county. This was the first German settlement in Virginia. the first county town of Spottsylvania county, there the first iron furnace in Virginia was built and the first pig iron made. Governor Spottswood had a large tract of land there and brought the Germans over to work the iron ore that he had discovered. The Fish-

backs intermarried with the Kempers, and in a later generation Elizabeth Fishback married Nathaniel Johnson, grandfather of John M. Johnson. The line of descent is from John Fishback, who married Agnes, daughter of "Parson" Hoeger. a Lutheran minister from Germany; John Frederick Fishback, who died September 29, 1782; Squire John Fishback, of Culpeper county, a magistrate for forty years; and Elizabeth Fishback, who in 1797 married Nathaniel Johnson, who died in 1812.

The Johnson line is from Peter Johnson, of Orange county, Virginia, (1730) who mar- ried a Miss Morgan, a sister of William Morgan. His will is found in Book A, page 139, Culpeper county, Virginia.

John Johnson, son of Peter Johnson. mar- ried Peggy Strother, born in Culpeper county. Virginia. He died in 1835.

Nathaniel Johnson, son of John and Peggy (Strother ) Johnson, married, in 1797. Elizabeth Fishback, and died in 1812.

John Morgan Johnson, son of Nathaniel and Elizabeth (Fishback) Johnson, was born in Culpeper county, Virginia, February 25. 1799. He was a merchant, and for two terms postmaster of the house of represen- tatives, Washington, D. C. He married Re- becca J. Moss, daughter of William and Gertrude ( Holmes) Moss. William Moss. son of John and Ann ( Minor) Moss, was born in 1778, died January 21, 1835, being at the time of his death clerk of Fairfax county courts, an office he had held for thirty-five years. lle married Gertrude, youngest daughter of Colonel Joseph Holmes. of Frederick county, son of Hugh Holmes, of Ireland. Colonel Joseph Holmes married Rebecca, daughter of David Hunter, a cap- tain under General Braddock. John Moss was a descendant of Edward Moss, the founder of the family in Virginia, who came from Staffordshire, England, between the years 1630-1640. His grandson, Thomas Moss, died in Fairfax county, Virginia, in 1775. his will being recorded in Book D. No. 1. page 65. His son. John Moss, was a promi- nent man in Fairfax county, a justice of the peace. King's commission, and by virtue of being the oldest commissioned justice in the county became high sheriff in 1700, holding that office until his death. He married (first) Louisa Minor, (second her sister. Ann Minor. Of this same family was Colo- nel John Minor, founder of the town of

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Leesburg, Virginia. John and Ann (Minor) Moss were the parents of William Moss, father of Rebecca who married John Mor- gan Johnson.

John Morgan (2) Johnson, son of John Morgan (1) and Rebecca (Moss) Johnson, was born November 21, 1847. He prepared for the profession of law and in 1873 was admitted to practice at the Virginia bar. He located in Alexandria, Virginia, where for many years he has been prominent in his profession. He is a veteran of the Con- federacy, leaving school when but sixteen years of age to enter the army. He was a private of Company D, Sixth Regiment Vir- ginia Cavalry, and served until he lost his horse just before the surrender at Appomat- tox. His brother, Major A. Hunter John- son, served in the Thirty-third Virginia In- fantry, and his brother, Robert Conrad John- son, was killed at the engagement at "Fra- zer's Farm," serving in Company A, Seven- teenth Regiment Virginia Infantry. Mr. Johnson is a Democrat in politics, and affi- liates with the Protestant Episcopal church. He married, in September, 1887, Constance Cardigan, daughter of S. Ferguson and Elizabeth (Morgan) Beach, born in Alex- andria. Children: Conrad, married Agatha Gay Allen, child, Agatha Gay ; Emily Haw- ley Johnson.

Henry Evans Litchford. An officer of financial institutions in two states, Henry Evans Litchford came to the dual office of vice-president and treasurer of the Old Do- minion Trust Company, of Richmond, after a successful career as cashier of the Citi- zens' National Bank, of Raleigh, North Carolina, in the service of which institu- tion he filled all the grades from that of office boy to cashier. Although a native of North Carolina, he is a member of a Vir- ginia family, a grandson of James Litchford, a native of Jamestown, Virginia. He was a tailor by trade, and at one time employed as apprentice Andrew Johnson, afterward president of the United States. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and in politics a Whig. He married Mary Gill, of Peters- burg. Virginia, and their son, James, was a merchant during his entire business life, and served in the Confederate army during the war between the states. His political party was the Democratic. He married

Ancella Bogue Westrey, one of his sons be- ing Henry Evans, of whom further.

Henry Evans Litchford was born in Ra- leigh, North Carolina, February 4, 1866. He was there educated in the public schools and in the Raleigh Male Academy. In August, 1882, after leaving school, he became em- ployed as office boy in the Citizens' National Bank, of Raleigh, North Carolina, and re- mained with that institution until July I, 1912. During these thirty years he filled all the positions in the bank's employ from that in which he entered to the office of cashier, his capacity and diligent application winning him successive promotions, and in his highest position, that of cashier, he made efficient and highly satisfactory administra- tion of the bank's finances. On July 1, 1912, Mr. Litchford accepted his present place as vice-president and treasurer of the Old Do- minion Trust Company, in which service his talents have found a wider field and op- portunity for greater endeavor. That he would be an officer of value to the Richmond institution was confidently predicted by his business associates of former years, and the two years that he has passed in his present position have fulfilled this promise and have added to it further expectations. Mr. Litch- ford retains his interest in business affairs of the city of his birth in his membership of the board of directors of the Raleigh Sav- ings Bank and Trust Company. He is a Democrat in politics, on many issues cast- ing his vote independent of party dictates, and holds membership in the Westmoreland and Country clubs of Richmond, and in the Business Men's Club.

Mr. Litchford married, at Tarboro, North Carolina, November 9, 1899, Martha Porter Dancy, born in that place February 4, 1876, and has children : Ann, born in 1901 ; Mar- tha, born in 1906; James Ousby, born in I9II.

George Gilbert Crawford, M. D. In the long ago there came to York county, Penn- sylvania, as its first physician, a young Scotchman, Dr. James Crawford, a graduate in medicine of the University of Edinburgh. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Dr. David Jamison, and founded a family of which Dr. George Gilbert Crawford, of Strasburg, Virginia, is a twentieth century representative. Dr. Jamison was a lieuten-

Story Evans Lete Lifort,

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ant-colonel in a Virginia regiment that fought the French and Indians and later was colonel in the revolutionary army. Through another line of descent Dr. George G. Crawford traces to Jacob Rinker (a great-grandfather ) who was a captain in the revolutionary army. The sword he carried was preserved in the possession of his de- scendants until 1840, when the burning of the family mansion destroyed the valued heirloom.

James Crawford moved late in life to the state of Ohio with his family, his son, a lad of seventeen years, not accompanying the family further than Shenandoah county. Virginia. He located in Strasburg in that county on the north fork of the Shenandoah river at the base of Massanutton mountain, near where, in later years, the battle of Cedar Creek was fought between the Union force under Sheridan and the Confederates under Early, and later moved to Woodstock. There he married, reared a family and died. One of his sons, Robert W. Crawford, was first lieutenant under Fitzhugh Lee, of the Confederate army. Another son, Rev. Wil- liam A. Crawford, was a professor in Dela- ware College and pastor of the churches at Fairfax Court House and Kernstown, dying at the latter town.

Dr. James Jamison Crawford, son of David Jamison Crawford, was born at Woodstock, Virginia, October 19, 1835. He was a highly educated man, holding the de- gree of M. A. from Delaware College, the degree of M. D. from Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, and was also a stti- dent at the University of Virginia and at the University of Maryland. Ile practiced his profession nearly his entire life in Stras- burg, Shenandoah county, Virginia, where he was greatly beloved as a man and most implicitly trusted as a physician. He served in the Confederate army from first Manas- sas to Appomattox, attaining the rank of captain, and was wounded in battle. His first service was in Company A, Tenth Re- giment Virginia Infantry, of which he be- came captain. Later he served as assistant surgeon of the Thirteenth Virginia Regi- ment, was engaged in many of the hardest battles of the war and at its close only seven men were left of the original com- pany. Dr. and Captain Crawford died in 1895, his wife, Emma Gertrude (Setszer) Crawford, yet survives him. She was born

February 14, 1851, daughter of Henry and Mary Rebecca ( Borum) Setszer. After the war Dr. Crawford resumed medical prac- tice at Strasburg, was an eldler of the Pres- byterian church, and one of the most in- Quential men of the town.

Dr. George Gilbert Crawford, son of Dr. James Jamison and Emma Gertrude (Sets- zer ) Crawford, was born in Strasburg, Vir- ginia. March 27, 1876. His early education was obtained in public and private schools in Strasburg and "Greenwood School," Al- bemarle county, Virginia, two years being devoted to study in that institution. He then pursued the academic course at the University of Virginia for three years, then began professional study in the medical de- partment of the university. lle was gradu- ated M. D., class of 1901, and for the next three and one-half years practiced in Faulk- land, Delaware, and was assistant physician and surgeon at Delaware Hospital, Wil- mington. In 1905 he established in private practice in Wilmington, Delaware, continu- ing there three years. In 1908 he returned to his native town, Strasburg, and began practice there among the people by whom the name "Doctor Crawford" is yet held in loving remembrance. Between the passing ot the "old doctor" and the coming of the "young doctor" there was a lapse of thir- teen years but among the warmest friends of the "young Doctor Crawford" are the families in which "old Doctor Crawford' was for a quarter of a century the honored friend and trusted medical adviser.

Dr. Crawford is a member of the Shenan- dloah Valley and Shenandoah County Medi- cal societies, and the Virginia State Medical Society, and American Medical Association, interested in their work and aiding to ex- tend their usefulness. He is decidedly liter- ary in his tastes and a lover of out-of-door sports. For his own entertainment and that ot his friends, he often indulges his talents for political composition and one of his poems "\ Rub of the Green" published in "Life" was much appreciated by the golf- ing readers of that periodical. lle preserves and honors his father's military service by availing himself of the right it gives him to affil'ate with the order of Sons of Con- federate Veterans and is a member of Stover Camp.

Dr. Crawford married. June to. 1903. Anne Preston White, born at Seguin, Texas.

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daughter of James and Ellen Douglas (.Clarke) White. Children : Ellen Clarke, born at Faulkland, Delaware; Anne Pres- ton, born in Wilmington, Delaware; James Jamison (2), born in Hanover county, Vir- ginia ; Jean Maxwell, born in Strasburg, Virginia.

Ernest Brown Crawford. The ancestry of the family of which Ernest Brown Craw- ford, an attorney of Harrisonburg, Virginia, is a member, is Scotch-Trish, and mater- nallv and paternally his forbears have been men of distinction and prominence in their American homes. The name is most com- mon in Rockingham and Augusta counties. Virginia, from which localities both the houses of Crawford and McChesney sent members to join in the struggle for inde- pendence. Nor in the later generations has the patriotic ardor of the ancestors been lost. for in the great civil war that rent the United States half a century ago, there came from that blood men whose names will en- dure as long as the records of the war be- tween the states last, and as long as proud posterity speaks their name. In this list of heroes may be here named Colonel John H. Crawford. Tames A. Crawford. Captain Tames McChesney, and Lieutenant Robert McChesney : while. among those whose work was the alleviation of the suffering of those who received flving shot and shell were Dr. William McClung Crawford, father of Ernest Brown Crawford, and Dr. Alexander McChesney, both surgeons in the Confederate States army.

Dr. William McClung Crawford, son of James and Cynthia (McClung) Crawford. was born near Staunton. Angusta countv, Virginia. December 18, 1837, died June II, 1804. He was for one year a student in the University of Virginia, which he entered after a thorough preparatory course, and then became a student in Jefferson Medical College, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. whence he was graduated M. D. in 1858. He enjoyed a large practice at Mount Sid- nev, Virginia, and during the civil war was a surgeon in the Confederate States army. serving at Port Republic. Waynesboro, and in other places in the Shenandoah valley. The other sons of James and Cynthia (Mc- Clung) Crawford are: Edward, deceased, was a resident of Augusta countv. Virginia : Colonel John H., an officer of the Confed-

crate army, afterward a member of the Vir- ginia assembly from Augusta county ; James A .. a soldier of the Confederate army, lives in Dallas, Texas; G. Marsh, of Staun- ton, Virginia.

Dr. William McClung Crawford married Rachel Grigsby, daughter of Captain James and Frances (McNutt) McChesney, born near Brownsburg, Virginia, in 1839, died January 15, 1901. Children of Captain James and Frances (McNutt) McChesney: Cap- tain James Z., an officer of General "Stone- wall" Jackson's command, sustained a face wound in battle that caused the loss of all of his teeth, now resides at Charleston, West Virginia ; Lieutenant Robert, enlisted in the Confederate army from Rockbridge county, Virginia, killed when shot from ambush in West Virginia ; Dr. Alexander, a surgeon of the Confederate army, practiced in Warm Springs, Virginia, after the close of the war. Children of Dr. William McClung and Rachel Grigsby (McChesney) Crawford: I. James A., a real estate dealer of Staunton, Virginia ; married Janie Jennings, of Au- gusta county, Virginia, and is the father of McChesney, Katherine and Filmore. 2. Dr. Frank H., a graduate of high school, the Angusta Military Academy, and the College of Physicians and Surgeons, of Baltimore, Maryland; married Ada Summerson. 3. Edgar A., assistant manager of the West Virginia Paper and Pulp Company ; married Lillian Carpenter, of Covington, Virginia. and has Mary and Dorothy. 4. Sally, mar- ried Ernest L. Griggs, of Athens, Georgia, and has Rachel and Ernest L., Jr. 5. Ro- berta M .. resides in Norfolk, Virginia. 6. Wilbur L., a graduate of the Augusta Mili- tary Academy, a resident of Dallas, Texas, died in June, 1902. 7. Frances McNutt, married J. Samuel McCue. 8. Ernest Brown, of whom further.

Ernest Brown Crawford, son of Dr. Wil- liam McClung and Rachel Grigsby (Mc- Chesney) Crawford, was born at Mount Sidney, Augusta county, Virginia, August 15, 1876. After a course in the public and high schools of Mount Sidney, he entered the Augusta Military Academy, graduating from the academic department in 1894. After completing his studies in the University of Virginia, he received from that institution in 1901 the degree LL. B., and in October of the year of his graduation was admitted to the bar of Virginia. He was for three terms

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principal of high schools in Rockingham county, Virginia, prior to his entrance in the University of Virginia, and since 1901 has ben engaged in legal practice in Harrison- burg, Virginia. Mr. Crawford is learned in the law, and in the thirteen years that have passed since his activities along that line began he has derived from his deep study and determined mastery of the law the profit and satisfaction of numerous favor- able verdicts. He is a forceful and con- vincing speaker, and is at his best when pleading the case of a client, presenting his facts and arguments in perfect array, his presentation of his case showing, to the keen observer, the presence of a brief strongly and logically arranged. System and method are the qualities upon which he has reared a successful legal career, two virtues whose value is inestimable. While a student at college Mr. Crawford became a member of the "Ravens Society," and belongs to the University of Virginia Alumni Association, of Harrisonburg, Virginia. His church is the Presbyterian, and he is identified with the Democratic party.

Mr. Crawford married, at Richmond, Vir- ginia, November 8, 1906, Bessie, born in Richmond, Virginia, April 3, 1887, daugh- ter of Henry W. and Elizabeth (Werst) Rountree, and has one son, Henry Roun- tree, born at Harrisonburg, Virginia, May 17, 1908.

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Encyclopedia of Virginia biography, Volume V, Part 2

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