Encyclopedia of Virginia biography, Volume V, Part 23

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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and the lure of the thrilling, eventful life, through youthful respect and admiration for those who so gallantly braved injury and death to save life and property, to the mature realization of the nobility and use- fulness of such service that caused him to enter it. From the day of his entrance into the service he made duty his guiding star and by his strict observance of every re- quirement made upon him and his willing- less to assume additional burdens, he gained recognition and rapid promotion, be- ing. at the time of his appointment as chief of the Portsmouth Fire Department, the youngest incumbent of this position in any city of the United States. Under his rule the fire-fighting force of the city has at- tained a degree of efficiency never before reached and is an instrument for the pro- tection of the citizens of Portsmouth whose value cannot be overestimated. The best and most modern of equipment is manned by a force of firemen uniformly brave, dar- ing and bold, and nothing can bring to Chief Walker greater satisfaction than the praise of the efforts of his men. In critical sitnations, when the prize at stake is rich in life or money, he has risen to every emer- gency, leading his men in person, disdain- ing to order action where he would not serve. His daily work is that of the general on the field of battle, with the exception that the foe he fights is unseen and unknown, most often masquerading as a friend. His years of service have proven to the citizens of Portsmouth that constant vigilance and watchful care gnard them from the ravages of fire, and for faithfulness ever and the performance of duty to the utmost degree, he is accorded their lasting regard. Poli- tically a Democrat, Mr. Walker's fraternal connections are with Lodge No. 82, Benevo- lent and Protective Order of Elks; Mon- tauk Tribe, No. 55, Improved Order of Red Men, and the Fraternal Order of Eagles, of which he is a charter member and grand worthy vice-president.

He married, June 14, 1905. Beulah Vir- ginia, daughter of George W. and May Elizabeth (Bunting) Broughton, and has children: Lewis Broughton, born March 12, 1906; George Robert, born May 21, 1909; May Ethelyn, born May 17, 1912.

Charles H. Callahan, an official of the highest worth and principles, who has

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served as deputy commissioner and commis- sioner of revenue at Alexandria, Virginia, has not only been a trusted government official for many years, but has won a secure and desirable position in the life of the city. Mr. Callahan is of Scotch-Irish descent, son of Allan Tupper and Sarah Mildred (Ennis) Callahan, his father born in Nova Scotia, Canada, in 1812, died in 1884.

Charles H. Callahan was born at Aquia Mills, Stafford county, Virginia, August 22, 1858. After attending the public schools he finished his studies under private instruc- tion in Fairfax county, Virginia. For a time he worked on his father's farm, after- ward being employed as clerk and book- keeper in a general store, forsaking this em- ployment to learn the carpenter's trade. This he followed for a number of years, in January, 1905, being elected deputy com- inissioner of revenue at Alexandria, Vir- ginia, Major George Duffy being commis- sioner, and two years later succeeded Major Duffy in office. Since that time he has been continuously in the service of the state in that capacity, his constant application to duty, the strict honor that actuates his every action, the thoroughness with which he completes a task once undertaken, render- ing him a public servant of rare value. Mr. Callahan is prominent in Masonic circles, belonging to Alexandria-Washington Lodge, No. 22, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, of Alexandria, of which he was for two years worshipful master, and for one year district deputy grand master, of District No. I, Mount Vernon Chapter, No. 14, Royal Arch Masons, and has taken fourteen de- grees in the Scottish Rite. He is the author of a work entitled "Washington, the Mason," the first copy of the first edition of which was presented to President Taft just before that official left office, on the anniversary of General Washington's birth, 1913. The first copy of the second edition was presented to Vice-President Marshall at the celebration of General Washington's birthday in Alexandria in 1914, when Mr. Marshall delivered the chief address at a Masonic banquet. New lights upon great national and world famous characters are ever full of interest. and the intimate in- sight gained from the reading of Mr. Cal- lahan's book give to that admirable patriot, general and statesman an aspect that, when approached from a different angle, is entire-

ly lost. Mr. Callahan shares with all other true Americans deep love and reverence for George Washington, and it was this that induced him to write the above-mentioned work, dealing with the one phase of his per- sonality that had never been thoroughly treated. It is this same devotion that has inspired his efforts as secretary of "The George Washington Masonic National Memorial Association," the object of which is to build a National Memorial Masonic Temple in Alexandria in honor of Wash- ington, a purpose fine in conception and worthy of fulfillment. Mr. Callahan affiliates with the Protestant Episcopal church.

He married, in October, 1891, Mary Elizabeth, daughter of James and Alice Ap- pich, and has children: Jessica, Charles Aubrey, Mary Louise, Mildred Ruberta, Cora Virginia, all born in Alexandria, Vir- ginia.

William Fewell Merchant, M. D. The Merchants of Virginia date from Colonial days. George Merchant was a soldier of Captain Daniel Morgan's company of rifle- men that fought in the expedition against Quebec, 1775-1776, when the gallant Mont- gomery fell. Aquilla Norvell, maternal great-grandfather of Dr. Merchant, of Man- assas, was also a soldier of the revolution. Dr. Merchant's paternal grandfather was William Charles Merchant, born at Dum- frees, Virginia, in 1803, married Ann Har- rison Speake.

Benjamin Dyer Merchant, son of Wil- liam Charles and Ann Harrison (Speake) Merchant, was born at Dumfries, Virginia, June 3, 1839, died March 13, 1913. He was for many years a prosperous merchant of Dumfries and a man held in the very high- est esteem, serving for twenty-five years as chairman of the board of supervisors of Prince William county. At the outbreak of the war between the states he enlisted in Company A, Fourth Virginia Cavalry, in 1861, but was a member of a volunteer cav- alry company in 1858. At the reorganization of the army he was elected second lieutenant and in 1863 was promoted first lieutenant. He had narrow escapes from death on more than one occasion, bullets passing through his clothing and once being struck by a piece of bursting shell. He was taken pris- oner in battle and for eighteen months con- fined in a Federal prison on Morris Island,

WI Merchant MA

James Bahan Jr.

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Charleston Harbor, South Carolina. He is credited with taking the first Union prisoner in Northern Virginia, making the capture at Fairfax Court House, June 1, 1861, the victim being a member of Company D, New York Dragoons. After the war he located in Manassas, Virginia, where he conducted a mercantile business until a few years previous to his death. He married, Mary Elizabeth Fewell, born May 23, 1842, on the old Ludley Farm in Fairfax county, Virginia, died in 1900, daughter of William Sanford Fewell.

Dr. William Fewell Merchant, son of Benjamin Dyer and Mary Elizabeth (Few- ell) Merchant, was born at Manassas, Vir- ginia, March 10, 1868. He was early edu- cated in public and private schools, then taught school about two years, beginning business life with the Richmond & Danville Railroad, later was with Jacksonville, Tampa & Key West Railroad, then again with the Richmond & Danville until it went into the receiver's hands and became a part of the Southern Railroad system. During these years of railroad service he was also a medical student, matriculating at the Uni- versity College of Medicine, Richmond, in 1893, attending lectures while still holding his position with the railroad, and he com- pleted all the required courses, receiving his degree of M. D., in 1897. He did a great deal of hospital and dispensary work in and around Richmond while pursuing his medi- cal study, gaining considerable practical ex- perience even before obtaining his degree. He first located in Dumfries, Virginia, re- maining eighteen months, then in the fall of 1898 moved to Manchester, Virginia, where he established and conducted a suc- cessful practice until 1910, when he located in Manassas, his present home. His prac- tice is general in character. He was elected health officer of Manassas.

Dr. Merchant is a member of the Prince William County Medical Society, the So- ciety of Surgeons of the Southern and Chesapeake & Ohio Railroads, is an ex- president and honorary member of the Chesterfield County Medical Society and keeps in closest touch with all modern med- ical and surgical discovery. He is a mem- ber of lodge and chapter of the Masonic order. is a past high priest of Royal Arch Chapter, No. 48, and the present secretary of Manassas Chapter, No. 59. He is a ves-

tryman of Trinity Protestant Episcopal Church of Manassas, and in political faith a Democrat.

Dr. Merchant married at Manchester, Virginia, January 25, 1900, Eulalia Holt, born in Burlington, North Carolina, Octo- ber 15, 1871, daughter of John M. and Vir- ginia (Dare) Holt. Children: William Fewell (2), born November 2, 1900, died June 20, 1902 ; John Holt, born October 16, 1903, at Manchester.

James Bahen, Jr., was a member of an old Irish family, related to many of the most aristocratic houses of county Clare, Ireland, where his people had their origin. County Clare is one of the most romantic and beautiful spots of all that romantic and beautiful country. Situated on the west coast of Ireland, just north of the great landlocked bay, which forms the mouth of the river Shannon, it is bounded on the east by a very considerable range of hills, and on the west by the wild and storm-ridden Atlantic. It is full of remains and curious antiquities, the monuments of Ireland's mighty past, many of them dating back be- fore the dawn of history, such as the huge fortifications, ruined but still imposing, which stand today on the Aran Islands, just off the Clare coast, a puzzle for the his- torians and antiquarians of the present. From county Clare, as already stated, came the Bahens, representative of all that is fine in the Irish race, which has contributed so large and valuable an element to the com- posite citizenship of the United States, and grafted upon it its own virtues of enter- prise and indomitable courage.

The first member of the Bahen family to come to the United States was James Bahen, the elder, father of the subject of this sketch. He was born in county Clare, Ireland, in the year 1844, and came to this country as a mere boy, making his way at once to Richmond, Virginia, where he opened a grocery and liquor store. He was a man of great enterprise, and one who naturally took the initiative, and the same qualities which urged him to leave his old home when still so young soon made him prominent in his adopted city. His store was on First street, Richmond, in the old Jackson ward, and he there entered the local politics, and soon became a recognized leader in the party thereabouts. He was an exemplary citizen, and one who possessed both the affection

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and confidence of all who knew him. It was not surprising, therefore, under the circum- stances, that he should have been called to serve his fellow citizens in some public ca- pacity, and accordingly he was elected on the Republican ticket to the Richmond board of aldermen from the Jackson ward, an office which he continued to hold for a period of twenty-four years. He was still an alderman when death overtook him, Feb- ruary 3, 1907, in his sixty-fourth year, and he departed this life, a man of large wealth and property, with the respect and regard of his whole community. He was married in Richmond to Margaret Hogan, also a native of county Clare, Ireland, who sur- vived him until February 21, 1914. Besides James Bahen, Jr., of this sketch, they were the parents of ten children, seven of whom are now living, as follows: Sister Cecelia, of the Benedictine Order of Nuns, who is now located at St. Gertrude's Academy in Richmond ; Margaret, now Mrs. A. G. Roon- ey; William H .; Joseph B .; Rosa G .; Ed- ward and Charles, all residents of Rich- mond. One of the deceased, George D. Bahen, was a student at Georgetown Uni- versity, and met his death when taking part in a football game between that institution and Columbia University, being one of the first to fall a victim to the dangers of that sport.

James Bahen, Jr., the third child of James and Margaret (Hogan) Bahen, was born July 6, 1875, in Richmond, Virginia. He received his education in the Xavierian School, of that city, attending its courses until he had reached his eighteenth year, when, having completed his studies, he took a position as clerk in his father's store on First street, Richmond. Here he remained for three years, and then decided to embark on a similar enterprise for himself. This project he carried out with great success, establishing a grocery and liquor store on Second street, which rapidly grew to large proportions. Besides this lucrative business, Mr. Bahen also engaged in the business of building contractor, and in this also was soon operating on a very extensive scale. Following in the footsteps of his father, he entered politics in Richmond, and soon be- came a conspicuous figure in the conduct and management not only of party matters, but of public affairs generally. He was a staunch member of the Democratic party, and took a keen and intelligent interest in all

political questions, whether of local or na- tional significance. His opinions soon came to be valued highly for one of his youth, and this added to his obvious ability and integrity in business, and a rapidly growing popularity induced his party to bring him forward as a candidate for a number of im- portant offices at a very early age. He was uniformly successful in his campaigns, and held many positions of trust and respon- sibility within the gift of his constituency. He was finally, in the year 1899, elected a member of the City Democratic Commit- tee, holding this honorable office until his untimely death negatived the promise of a brilliant career. This sad event occurred on March 3, 1906, when he was but thirty years of age, and cast a gloom, not only over the immediate circle of his family and friends, which had lost so dear a member, but over that larger circle of those who, marking the brilliancy and promise of his first steps up the ladder of life, had looked forward confidently to a splendid future. Mr. Bahen's life was a remarkably well rounded one for one brought to so early a termination, and his activities were in many departments. He was prominent in the social life of the city and a member of the Eagles and the Magill Capital Union. He was a devoted member of the Roman Catholic church, to which his family had always belonged, and his charities were of that spontaneous kind which is a stranger to unbecoming patronage. He was active in the work of St. Peter's Cathedral, Rich- mond, which he and his wife attended, and was a material support to the many benevo- lences, connected with the parish and dio- cese.

Mr. Bahen married, May 18, 1899, in St. Peter's Cathedral, Richmond, Kate Hughes, a native of that city and a member of a very distinguished Irish family. The Rt. Rev. Bishop Van de Vyver performed the wedding ceremony. Mrs. Bahen was a daughter of John and Ellen (Mehegan) Hughes, and was a descendant on both sides of the house from prominent Irish families. Her paternal grandfather was Edward Hughes, a native of county Armagh, Ire- land, and a relation of Archbishop Hughes of New York. He migrated from Ireland to the United States, and settled in the city of Paterson, New Jersey, and there became a wealthy merchant. He was a wealthy shoe merchant and among the pioneers of

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hat busy place, and did valuable work in he building up and development of its in- lustries. He sent all his sons to Fordham College for their education, where they re- eived the training, religious and secular, or which that institution is so justly fam- us. Edward Hughes was a man of great nfluence in his adopted city. He was there married and had a family of children, one of whom, John Hughes, was the father of Mrs. Bahen. John Hughes was born in Paterson, New Jersey, November 1, 1844, where his father had made his fortune. About 1875 he removed from the northern ity and made his home in Richmond, Vir- rinia, where he engaged in the shoe busi- ess, prospering greatly therein, and finally etiring, a man of large wealth. His death occurred March 31, 1913. He married Ellen Iehegan, a descendant of Commodore Barry, of the British navy. She was born n county Cork, Ireland, and passed her girl- iood there, teaching for a time in a convent f county Cork, Ireland. To her and Mr. Hughes were born nine children, six of whom are now living. They are : Kate, now Mrs. James Bahen; Mary, Edward, Harry, Margaret, John and Joseph, all of whom re residents of Richmond. To Mr. and Irs. James Bahen were born two children, s follows: George Edward, born August 7, 1903; James, the third of that name, August 3, 1905.

Mrs. James Bahen is very prominent in he social life of the Virginian capital, and he plays a conspicuous part in many im- portant functions. She has twice been ap- pointed sponsor to the Confederate reunion, he first time when it was held in Mobile, Alabama, in 1910, when she led the grand narch at the opening ball. The second ap- ointment was the following year, when the eunion was at Little Rock, Arkansas, and here her sister Margaret acted as maid of honor. Another important function at which Mrs. Bahen figured was the opening ball of he Benedictine Military College of Rich- mond, at which she led the german. Mrs. Bahen attends St. Peter's Cathedral, as she always had, and fittingly carries on her hus- band's benefactions and charities, and is 'earing her two children in the faith of her orbears.

Harry Lee Denoon. The Denoons trace their ancestry along both paternal and ma- ernal lines to the early days in Virginia.

Through intermarriage the present family is in direct descent from the Quarles, Pem- bertons and Kings, early families, the line tracing to Roger Quarles, of England and Virginia; Wilson Pemberton, of England and Virginia, and Miles King, first mayor of Norfolk, whose wife, Lady Mary, was a daughter of Lord Bailey, of England.

Roger Quarles, an English gentleman, came first to Virginia on a mission for the English government, accompanied by his brother, James Quarles, an officer of the English army. Both later returned to Eng- land, but Roger Quarles was so pleased with Virginia that he came again, bringing bricks and fine timber for the erection of a house. He purchased four hundred acres of land from the Indians and erected the mansion "Woodbury," in which Bettie Carver (King) Denoon, mother of Harry Lee Denoon, was born. Roger Quarles mar- ried Elizabeth Sutherland, and had issue: Isaac, of whom further ; Elizabeth, married Armistead Coleman ; Sally, married Thomas Littlepage and lived to be ninety years of age; Lizzie, married Harden Littlepage; Mary, married (first) Miles King, son of the first Miles King, her second husband be- ing James Turner, of King William county, Virginia. Two of these daughters married into the Littlepage family, the brothers of John Littlepage, high in official rank in the English government and governor of Trini- dad.

Isaac Quarles, son of Roger and Eliza- beth (Sutherland) Quarles, married Dicey Pemberton, daughter of Major Thomas and Dicey (King) Pemberton, and granddaugh- ter of Wilson Pemberton, of England. Major Thomas Pemberton was a brave pa- triot in the revolution, and during the war raised and equipped a company at his own expense. He married Dicey King, daugh- ter of Miles King, first mayor of Norfolk, and his wife, Lady Mary Bailey, daughter of Lord Bailey, of England.

Isetta Dicey Quarles, daughter of Isaac and Dicey (Pemberton) Quarles, married John King. Their daughter, Bettie Carver King, married Daniel Denoon, an official of the state treasury department at Rich- mond, Virginia, most of his business life, son of Samuel D. Denoon, and grandson of Lieutenant James J. Denoon, a gallant offi- cer of the war of 1812, who led his men at Lundy's Lane, Chippewa and Fort Erie.

Bettie Carver (King) Denoon was born

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in the old Quarles family mansion, "Wood- bury," built by Roger Quarles in King Wil- liam county, Virginia. She died March 7, 19II. Daniel Denoon died at Richmond, Vir- ginia, in 1904. Children : Charles L., Harry Lee, Frank C., Hugh, Albert S., Arthur C., Alice Lee, Dicey, Mary, Lilly. A brother of Daniel Denoon, Lieutenant Charles Ed- win Denoon, of the Confederate States army, was killed at the battle of "The Crater," Petersburg.

Harry Lee Denoon, second son of Daniel and Bettie Carver (King) Denoon, was born in Richmond, Virginia, September 7, 1867. He was educated in the best schools of his city, and in 1889 began business life as a member of the firm of Denoon, Tupper & Company, real estate brokers. This firm after a successful life of seven years was dissolved by the death of Mr. Tupper in 1896. The firm of C. L. & H. L. Denoon succeeded and so continues, one of the potent factors in the real estate develop- nient of Richmond. Mr. Denoon is a mem- ber of the Masonic order, the Improved Order of Heptasophs, the Royal Arcanum, the Country Club of Virginia, and the Sec- ond Presbyterian Church of Richmond, his wife being a worshipper at the Church of the Covenant. He married, at Richmond, Virginia, October 23, 1893, Jean Gibson, of an old Scotch Presbyterian family. Child, Harry Lee, Jr.

Rev. Hervin Ulysses Roop, LL. D. Edu- cated in the leading institutions of this country, his vision broadened and ideas in- creased by a tour of the most renowned universities and colleges of England and Continental Europe, and with nine years experience in the presidency of Lebanon Valley College, of Pennsylvania, Rev. Her- vin Ulysses Roop, LL. D., came to his posi- tion as the head of Eastern College, Vir- ginia, trained not only as an instructor but admirably fitted to direct the work of such an institution because of his previous ac- tivity in educational affairs, in which calling he has achieved an enviable reputation. Dr. Roop is a descendant of an old Pennsylvania family, settled in Dauphin county, Pennsyl- vania, by Rev. Jacob Roop, who came thither from Germany, his birthplace. When he was forty years of age he became a preacher of the United Brethren church, at- taining an influential position in the com- munity. Among his children was Christian,

who was for many years an elder of the United Brethren church, built at Highspire, where the family homestead was located, largely through his efforts. He married Bar- bara Good, among their children being Henry J., of whom further.

Henry J. Roop, son of Christian and Bar- bara (Good) Roop, was born on the home- stead in Swatara township, Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, April 13, 1845. As a youth he was for ten months a soldier in the Union army in the war between the states, at its termination returning to Highspire, his birthplace, and at the death of his father engaging in agriculture, dairying and real estate dealings. Mr. Roop has been directly responsible for the development of much of that locality, and besides attaining im- portant place among his neighbors, amassed a considerable fortune. Among the many improvements the installation of which he has promoted is the Steelton, Highspire & Middletown Street Railway, his part in its organization being a leading one. For six years he was treasurer of the local school board, a member of the United Brethren church, for forty-four years has been a deacon, serving for a large part of that time as superintendent of the Sunday school. Church activity has always played a promi- nent part in his life, and upon the erection of the new church building for the congre- gation of which he is a member, in 1899, he was president of the building committee, while in 1904 he was a delegate to the gen- eral conference of his church, held at To- peka, Kansas. He married (first) Justina M. Backenstoe, born April 28, 1847, died Au- gust 14, 1883, youngest daughter of Henry and Rebecca Backenstoe; (second) Marga- ret Shoop, born January 19, 1842, daughter of Samuel and Anna (Roop) Shoop, of Cum- berland county, Pennsylvania. By his first marriage he was the father of: Hervin Ulysses, of whom further; Henry Backen- stoe, born February 24, 1870, a graduate of Lebanon Valley College and the University of Pennsylvania, a practicing physician of Columbia, Pennsylvania; Jacob Franklin, born October 31, 1871, died August 1, 1872 ; Adela F., born May 15, 1873, a graduate of the Lebanon Valley College, married Pro- fessor Benjamin F. Dougherty, for eight years an instructor in Lebanon Valley Col- lege, now president of Westfield College, Westfield, Illinois; Sadie Alverda, born March 15, 1875, a graduate of Lebanon Val-

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Encyclopedia of Virginia biography, Volume V, Part 23

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