USA > Virginia > Encyclopedia of Virginia biography, Volume V > Part 22
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Lee Ashby Gay, youngest son of Little- ton Allen and Rosa Mary (Bryant) Gay,
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was born at the Southampton county farm, June 2, 1884. He obtained a good education in the public schools and Franklin Academy, attending the latter institution five years. He became an expert clerk and sten- ographer and began business life in the lat- ter capacity in a real estate office in Nor- folk, Virginia. His next position was in the office of the Homestead Fire Insurance Company of Franklin, Virginia, where he remained five years. He became well ac- quainted and popular in the county, where his father had been an efficient clerk of courts for so long, and in April, 1912, he was elected recorder of town of Franklin for a term of two years. His administra- tion was a most satisfactory one and on April 16, 1914, he was re-elected for a fur- ther term of two years. Eminently quali- fied for the trust by education, ability and experience, Mr. Gay will undoubtedly be chosen to succeed himself so long as he de- clares a willingness to serve. Mr. Gay is a member of the Baptist church, Jefferson Davis Camp, Sons of Confederate Veterans, and in politics is a Democrat, influential and active in party campaigns. He is unmar- ried.
William Meade Stith, D. D. S. Dr. Wil- liam Meade Stith is a representative of an early Virginia family, which was long es- tablished in Brunswick county, and from a long line of worthy ancestors he has in- herited and carries easily those qualities of urbane courtesy and generous chivalry which ever distinguish the true Southern gentleman. He traces his descent to the same ancestor as General George Washing- ton, namely, John Washington, of whom further.
(I) John Washington, who emigrated to this country about 1657, married Jane Flem- ing, and had issue: John, of whom fur- ther.
(II) John Washington married Mary Townsherd, and had issue: John, of whom further.
(III) John Washington, of "Chotank," married a Miss Murry, and had issue: Law- rence, of whom further.
(IV) Lawrence Washington, of "Cho- tank." married and had issue: Mary F., who married Colonel Robert Stith; Ann, of whom further ; and others.
(V) Ann Washington married Colonel
John Stith, who had a grant on the north side of the James river, in Charles City county, in partnership with another, Feb- ruary 15, 1663, and received a further grant of 550 acres also on the north side of the James river, on the west side of a run which formed its boundary, July 29, 1664. He was a practicing lawyer in 1680, a mem- ber of the house of burgesses in 1685-92-93, and sheriff of Charles City county in 1691. Colonel and Mrs. Stith had issue: 1. Put- nam, of whom further. 2. Ann, who mar- ried Colonel Robert Bolling, of Prince George county, Virginia. 3. Colonel Drury, who was the owner of land in Charles City county, Virginia, in 1703; served as sheriff from 1719 to 1720, and in 1724-25; removed to Brunswick county, and was the first clerk of that county in 1732; married Susanna, daughter of Launcelot Bathhurst, the sec- ond son of Sir Edward Bathhurst, who was knighted in 1643. They were the parents of Drury Stith, of Brunswick county, who served as a member of the house of bur- gesses from 1744 to 1753, and was vestry- man of St. Andrew's Church in 1755; he married, about 1718, Elizabeth, daughter of William Buckner, and granddaughter of John Buckner, the patriarch of that family in Virginia. Their son, Captain Buckner Stith, resided at Rock Spring, Brunswick county, Virginia, where he died in 1791 ; he was the author of a treatise on the culture of tobacco; his wife Ann bore him several children among whom was Richard Stith, born perhaps about 1770, and resided in Brunswick. 4. Captain John, married Mary, daughter of William Randolph, of Turkey Island, and they were the parents of the Rev. William Stith, born 1689, who was the author of the first comprehensive history of Virginia.
(VI) Putnam Stith married and among his children was Richard P., of whom fur- ther.
(VII) Richard P. Stith lived and died in Brunswick county, Virginia, where he en- gaged in the practice of law. He married and among his children was David Meade, of whom further.
(VIII) David Meade Stith, born in Brunswick county, Virginia, in 1844, now resides in Blackington, Virginia, at the age of seventy years, and has long conducted a general store there. He served as a soldier of the Confederate army, and during the last
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two years of the war between the states was a courier for Major-General Lee. He mar- ried Annie E. Doyle, born in Brunswick county, Virginia. 1854, and they were the parents of four children: Walter Lee, died at the age of five years; William Meade, of whom further, Richard Irwin, a dentist of Blackstone, Virginia ; Marie Plummer, wife of Emmett Magee, of Danville, Virginia.
(IX) William Meade Stith. D. D. S., was born November 16, 1874, on his father's farm in Brunswick county, Virginia, lived in the county some twelve years, then went with his parents to Memphis, Tennessee, where they resided some five or six years. When they returned to Virginia and settled at Clarksville, and in these places he attended public school until twenty years of age. He subsequently entered the Medical College of Virginia, from which he received the degree of D. D. S., in 1900. In the same year he located in Petersburg. Virginia, where he engaged in the practice of his profession, and has merited and won an excellent standing in the community, both as a prac- titioner and as a man. His present offices are located in the Petersburg Savings & In- surance Company's Building. For fourteen years he was professor of operative dentis- try in the Medical College of Virginia, and this fact alone testifies to his mastery of his profession, and his standing with his con- temporaries. Dr. Stith is a communicant of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, of Petersburg, in which his family also worships. He mar- ried. at Petersburg, October 22, 1908, Emily Virginia Townes, a native of that city, daughter of Waverly W. Townes, who died in 1907, and his wife, Dena Lee (Griffin) Townes, now residing in Petersburg. Dr. and Mrs. Stith are the parents of two chil- dren : Dena Lee, born August 27, 1909, and William Meade, February 14, 1912.
Thomas Hume. Grandson of a Baptist minister of Portsmouth, son of a merchant of this city and a veteran of the civil war, Thomas Hume continues the connection of his line with the city of Portsmouth. Vir- ginia, through his business interests here and his association with the civil adminis- tration in the capacity of city auditor. Elected to this office in 1898, Mr. Hume has served under the mayors of Portsmouth who have held office since that time, and
there is now no department of his admin- istration concerning which Mayor Hope has less care, for Mr. Hume's length of service and his proven ability assure an efficient discharge of his important duties.
Thomas Hume is a grandson of Thomas Hume, long a minister of the Baptist church in Portsmouth, who was the father of three sons, Thomas, John H. and Richard Greg- ory. of whom further. Richard Gregory Hume was educated in the public schools, and after finishing his studies became a mercantile clerk, being so engaged when war broke out between the North and South. He at once enlisted in the Confed- erate States army, serving throughout the four years of the war without sustaining in- jury of any kind or suffering imprisonment. At the close of the struggle he returned to Portsmouth, and successfully maintained a book and stationery store during his active years. He was a Democrat politically, and a member of the Baptist church, his quietly ordered. useful life gaining the approbation of all who knew him. He married Sarah, daughter of John Nash, and had issue : John N., Thomas, of whom further; Richard Gregory, Jr. : Sarah, married F. L. Thread- craft. and has children: Lucretia and Georgie.
Thomas Hume, son of Richard Gregory and Sarah ( Nash) Hume, was born in Portsmouth, Virginia, in 1874. After at- tending private schools and Norfolk Acad- emy, he completed his studies in Pantop Academy, near Charlottesville, Virginia. He began business life in the city of liis birth as clerk in the Bank of Portsmouth. This position he resigned after a short time, subsequently establishing in independent mercantile dealing in the city, a line in which he continued until 1898, when he was elected city auditor of Portsmouth. The sixteen years that he has administered the duties of this office have taught him all that can be learned regarding its administration, and in addition to his high qualifications for performing the difficult work in connection therewith, he is honorable, dependable and upright in all his dealings with his fellows, virtues that make him the ideal public ser- vant. He is a Democratic sympathizer, and fraternizes with the Benevolent and Protec- tive Order of Elks. His church is the Pro- testant Episcopal.
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Calder H. Herbert. Through the career of Captain Richard Leander Herbert, of whom further, this line of the family of Herbert is well and favorably known in the city of Portsmouth, Virginia, and in the person of Calder H. Herbert, son of Cap- tain Richard L. Herbert, the family is worthily represented in the business world of the city. The ancestors of the family came from England and were among the early settlers of Portsmouth, Virginia.
Francis C. Herbert, grandfather of Calder H. Herbert, was born in Norfolk county, Virginia, in 1808, died in 1876. He married Mary E. Consolvo, daughter of William and Mary Consolvo, of Norfolk, Virginia, who were of Spanish descent. Mrs. Consolvo died of yellow fever in 1855, during the epi- demic of that dreaded disease. Mr. Herbert was a prominent business man of his town.
Captain Richard Leander Herbert, father of Calder H. Herbert, was born July 12, 1846, died November 20, 1909. He was edu- cated at the Webster Institute until he was fifteen years of age, in which year, 1861, he assisted in organizing the Junior Guards, an organization of boys about his own age, who armed themselves as best they could with a view toward entering the Confeder- ate army, but were not accepted by the Confederate government on account of their tender age. They afterwards acted as car- riers for General Beauchard who was in command of the department until after the evacuation of Portsmouth. After this young Herbert, who was determined to enter ac- tive service, ran the blockade through the Federal lines and made his way to Rich- mond for the purpose of joining Grimes bat- tery. When he reached there he met Cap- tain John H. Thompson, who was acting provost marshal, and was by him detailed for service in the ordnance department and became a private in Company A, Fourth Naval Battalion, under command of Major Miner, who was afterwards succeeded by Major Curling. Richard Ammon was cap- tain of the company. Young Herbert per- formed service in defense of Richmond against the raids of Dahlgren, Stoneman and Kilpatrick around the Chickahominy swamp. He continued in active service around Richmond until its evacuation, and was among the last troops to leave that city to join that part of General Lee's army on the south side of the James river, and was
captured en route and paroled. He re- turned home, April 18, 1865, and readily found employment. He was connected with the Seaboard & Roanoke Railroad until 1868, as machinist, and then until 1870 as locomotive engineer. In the latter year he became an engineer in the Portsmouth Vol- unteer Fire Department. from which posi- tion he resigned in 1883 to accept that of general superintendent of the Electric Light & Gas Company. This position he held for eleven years, during which period the first electric light plant in the Tidewater section was installed and other improvements made. During all this time he had taken an active part in political affairs and did yeoman service for his party, serving as chairman of the Democratic executive com- mittee from 1873 to 1893, holding a seat in the city council two terms and was a mem- ber of the house of delegates of Virginia from Portsmouth City during the session of 1887-88. On March 1, 1894, having retired from the position of superintendent of the Electric Light & Gas Company, on account of failing eyesight, he received from Presi- dent Cleveland the appointment of post- master for the city of Portsmouth. In this important station he was zealous as usual in the interests of the public and succeeded in putting the office in the front rank of its class in character of administration and im- proved conveniences. In November, 1898, he was appointed by Judge A. S. Watts of the Hastings court, commissioner of the revenues for the city of Portsmouth to fill out the unexpired term of Virginius Rutt, deceased. In May, 1900, he was elected by the people to this same office, which posi- tion he held until his death. Captain Her- bert was made a Mason in 1868, was past master and was a Knights Templar. He was also a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Royal Arcanum and Heptasophs. He was connected with the Portsmouth Volunteer Fire Department since 1866, and held the position of first and chief engineer for over twenty years. He was a devoted member of the Chambers Steam Fire Engine Company, No. 2, one of the oldest organizations of the state.
Captain Herbert married, May 25, 1869, Mary E. Brown, daughter of Benjamin W. and Sarah (Wilson) Brown, of Portsmouth, the Wilsons a prominent family of Norfolk county, Virginia, and a granddaughter of
J. ERoul ML.
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Rev. Benjamin Brown, a noted divine of the Protestant Episcopal church. Children of Captain and Mrs. Herbert: 1. Calder H., of whom further. 2. Jerome Pendleton, born April 12, 1872, died in October, 1906; was educated in the public schools and in Blacksburg College, from which latter in- stitution he was graduated, having com- pleted a course in draughting ; prior to leav- ing college he was instructor of a class of thirty in work that he had previously covered, and he passed his active years in the United States navy yard at Portsmouth. 3 Richard Ainsworth, born November 29, 1875; a graduate of Blacksburg College, now a machinist; he is past chancellor of the Knights of Pythias. 4. Ethel, born De- cember 24, 1880; married, February 10, 1905, James Todd, and has a son James Jr., born January 26, 1912.
Calder H. Herbert, son of Captain Rich- ard Leander and Mary E. (Brown) Herbert, was born in Portsmouth, Virginia, May 10, 1870. Beginning business life immediately after finishing his studies in the public schools, he was first employed in the Ports- mouth navy yard, where he mastered the trade of machinist. At this trade he was employed until his father's appointment to the office of postmaster of Portsmouth, when he became assistant, serving in that capacity from 1894 to 1898, and upon his re- tirement from office began business as an ice cream manufacturer. In this business he has prospered, his products widely fav- ored and highly popular, and has built up a trade of pleasing and profitable dimensions, the purity of his manufactures and the ex- cellent sanitary conditions under which they are made being strong arguments to discriminating dealers.
A Democrat in political action, Mr. Her- bert was elected to common council as the candidate of his party, and for two years held the office of vice-president of that body. Fraternally he is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, is past chancellor of the Knights of Pythias, and is past consul commander of the Woodmen of the World. For twenty-five years Mr. Her- bert was a member of the Owens Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church, but was elected to the official board of the Wright Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church and administered its material affairs as treasurer when he united with the church. A man of
deep religious convictions and ever ready for service along this line, Mr. Herbert con- tents himself with deeds and actions rather than rehearsal of intentions, and supports all of the church organizations with all the means at his disposal. He has selected his interests with fine regard for their worth, and carries into all departments of his ac- tivity the inspiration and strength derived from his close relations with church work, living the creed he thus endorses.
Mr. Herbert married (first) October 30, 1894, Rosa Lee Smith, born in March, 1872, died in October, 1910, and had children: Vernon Dabney, born May 29, 1897 ; Calder Smith, born October 29, 1899; Lucille S., born June 22, 1903. He married (second) January 3, 1912, Annie Clay Bates, and has one daughter, Ethel Gurney, born Decem- ber 12, 1912.
Japheth Edward Rawls, M. D. Suffolk, the capital of Nansemond county, Virginia, with its railroads, peanut factories, saw mills, car shops, iron and brass works, knitting mills, etc., is a point demanding the ablest surgical skill to cope with the many mechanical appliances that constantly men- ace the persons of those employed in their operation. Since the year 1900 Dr. Rawls has been specializing in surgery at Suffolk, and during the fifteen years that have since elapsed, has ministered with firm touch and unfailing skill to many of these accidental cases, in addition to a large practice in gen- eral surgery and medicine. His reputation has spread far beyond local confines and his name is a familiar one in the medical world, through high official position in medical so- cieties and frequent articles in medical jour- nals.
Dr. Rawls is a grandson of Elisha and Margarett ("Peggy") (Jones) Rawls, of Holy Neck, Virginia, whose sons, Japheth and Luther, served in the Confederate army and both received wounds in battle. Luther Rawls, father of Dr. Rawls, was born at Holy Neck, Virginia, June 2, 1835. He spent his active life there, engaged in farming, and yet sojourns on the old farm, rounding out a long, eventful and useful life. He was a private and flag bearer in Company K, Forty-first Regiment Virginia Infantry, was severely wounded in the shoulder, but after recovery returned to the army, serv- ing until the close of the war. He married,
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May 30, 1867, Mary Elizabeth Darden, born at Holy Neck, Virginia, November 16, 1839, daughter of William and Nancy (Langston) Darden. Her brother, Dempsey Darden, was also a Confederate soldier, serving in the Forty-first Regiment Virginia Infantry. Children of Luther and Mary E. RawIs: 1. Jesse P., born June 28, 1868; a cotton broker of Enterprise, Alabama; married Maggie Jones ; five children. 2. Rosa M., born June 19, 1870; married E. S. Norfleet, farmer, of Holland, Virginia. 3. Willie Nancy Darden, born September 8, 1872; married J. Vivian Gathing, farmer, of Gates county, North Carolina; two children. 4. Japheth Edward, of whom further. 5. Mary Sue, born March II, 1877; married Ernest H. Williams. of Smithfield, Virginia : an at- torney ; two children. 6. David Luther, born July 5, 1879; physician, associated with his brother, Japheth E Rawls; a graduate of the University Medical College of Rich- mond, 1908.
Dr. Japheth Edward Rawls was born at Holy Neck, Nansemond county, Virginia, February 15, 1875. After preparatory courses in the public schools, he entered Elon College, at Elon, North Carolina, in the fall of 1889, and was graduated there- from with the degree of A. B., with high honor in the class of 1896. He then took thorough courses in medicine and surgery in the best colleges in the country, receiv- ing his degree of M. D. from Bellevue Hos- pital Medical College, New York City, in 1899. He began practice in Suffolk, Vir- ginia, January 15, 1900, and has been in continuous practice there until the present date (1915). His post-graduate study in- cluded a special course at the Lying-in- Hospital of New York, the Polyclinic Medi- cal College of New York City, the Post- Graduate Medical School of Chicago, and the Illinois School of Electro Therapeutics. Thus thoroughly equipped, Dr. Rawls min- isters to a large clientele, specializing in surgery, a branch of his profession in which he is most skillful.
Dr. Rawls was one of the founders of Lake View Hospital Sanitarium (Inc.) at Suffolk, 1905, and has been surgeon to that institution since its foundation. He was city physician of Suffolk for six years, and is physician and surgeon to the Nansemond County Alms House. He is the assistant local surgeon of the Seaboard Railway at
Suffolk. Notwithstanding the heavy de- mands of his private and public practice, Dr. Rawls devotes a share of his time to the general interests of his profession, hold- ing membership in the Seaboard Air Line Railway Surgical, Virginia Medical, South- ern Medical, American Medical, Seaboard Medical, and Virginia South Side Medical societies ; has been president of the two lat- ter named and interested in the work of all. His contributions to the literature of his profession are highly valuable articles that from time to time appear in the leading medical journals, attracting widespread attention. He is a member of the Christian church (O'Kelly) and serves on the music committee of the church. In political faith he is a Democrat, but the constant demands of his profession preclude all active political interest.
Dr. Rawls married, November 24, 1908, Emma Copeland Holland, born at Holy Neck, Virginia, September 3, 1882, daughter of Charles E. and Sue (Jones) Holland, and niece of Congressman E. E. Holland. Chil- dren, all born in Suffolk, Virginia: Ann Pretlow, born November 9, 1909; Mary Sue. born September 19, 1911 ; Japheth Edward Jr., born April 13, 1914.
William R. Walker. After eight years of service in the fire department of the city of his birth, Portsmouth, Virginia, William R. Walker, in 1909, became chief of the city's fire fighting forces, in which high office, through re-election in 1913, he continues to the present time. The history of this de- partment of Portmouth's municipal organ- ization contains the records of its leaders who have served valiantly, faithfully and long, and to measure up to the standards established by them is indeed a worthy goal. To this aim Mr. Walker has addressed him- self, prepared by long experience in the ranks and an honorable record of subordi- hate service, and the five years that he has passed in the leadership of the fire depart- ment show that to the history of the depart- ment another chapter, in excellence supple- menting well those preceding it, is to be added.
The family line of which Mr. Walker is a member is one of North Carolina, his father, Lewis Wilson Walker, coming to Portsmouth, Virginia, from Tarboro, Edge- combe county. Lewis Wilson Walker was
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born July 17, 1845, and died March 10, 1910. He was a shoemaker and worker in leather, his activities in this line interrupted by the outbreak of the civil war, when he enlisted in the Confederate States army, remaining in the service until peace was gained. In the Confederate service he rendered devoted service, each engagement of his company finding him at the front, and when his pres- ence was no longer needed in the line of battle he located in Portsmouth, there con- tinuing in his former business until his re- tirement. Lewis Wilson Walker was a man known by his fellows for his kindly nature. the strict rectitude of his life, and, by those best acquainted with him, his loyalty to his family and the rich happiness of his home life. He was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Improved Order of Heptasophs. His father was one of the organizers of the Court Street Bap- tist congregation, a charter member there- of, and instrumental in the building of the house of worship. Mr. Walker married, September 22, 1875, Mary Eliza Robertson, born July 12. 1851. died November 1, 19II, daughter of William David, born in 1827, died April 15, 1897, and Eliza Ann (Davis) Robertson, born in 1838. died December 23, 1899. Issue: 1. Grace E., born March 16, 1877; married, May 1, 1905. William J. Cobb. 2. William R., of whom further. 3. Robert Davis, born February 12, 1883; he is in the service of the United States navy ; married, May 9. 1904, Bessie Ellis, and has a daughter, Jane Ellis, born January 4. 1908. 4. Mittie S., born January 16, 1886; mar- ried, September 2, 1903, Harry Curling, and has Marion, born April 4, 1905. 5. Eliza Naomi, born November 10, 1889; married, October 19. 1910, Leonard F. Savage, and has a danghter, Mittie, born April 2, 1912. 6. John, died in infancy.
William R. Walker, son of Lewis Wil- son Walker and his wife, Mary Eliza ( Rob- ertson) Walker, was born in Portsmouth. Virginia, July 6, 1879. He was reared in the city of his birth, was there educated and trained in the baker's trade. After a sixteen months apprenticeship in this line he estab- lished, in 1896, in independent business dealings, continuing for five years, when he became identified with the Portsmouth Fire Department. It is not difficult to follow the course by which he was attracted to this calling, beginning with boyish enthusiasm
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