Encyclopedia of Virginia biography, Volume V, Part 26

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

USA > Virginia > Encyclopedia of Virginia biography, Volume V > Part 26

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Richard P. Barton was born in Lancaster. Pennsylvania. died in Frederick county. Virginia, January, 1821, having settled in Frederick county sometime within the decade 1780-90. He was a farmer and land- owner, a man of education and high stand- ing. He married Martha Walker, of Peters- burg. Virginia.

David W. Barton, son of Richard P. Bar- ton, was born in Frederick county, Virginia. 1800, died in Winchester, Virginia, July 7. 1863. He was educated at Yale and was for many years one of the leading lawyers of the valley of Virginia, an accomplished scholar and writer of great ability, ease and felicity of expression. He was learned in the law. the trusted friend and adviser of the community, but his excessive diffidence

698

VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

prevented his success as a public advocate. He acquired a considerable fortune from the practice of his profession, but this was swept away by the losses of slaves and property during the war of 1861-65. He died July 7, 1863, and is buried in Mt. Hebron Ceme- tery, Winchester. He married Frances (Fanny) L. M. Jones, of Frederick county, born October 15, 1808, daughter of William Strother Jones, and granddaughter of Colo- nel Strother Jones, an officer of the Conti- mental army. She was the great-grand- daughter of Gabriel Jones, who is credited with being the first practicing lawyer in the valley of Virginia. His home was in Rock- ingham county, but he owned a farm and at one time maintained a law office in Fred- erick county and attended Frederick courts. Gabriel Jones, "the Valley lawyer," married, as her second husband, Margaret Strother, the eldest daughter and child of William and Margaret (Watts) Strother, of Stafford county. Their son, Colonel Strother Jones, was educated at William and Mary College, was commissioned captain in the Colonial army, resigned in 1774 to marry Mary Frances Thornton, of "Fall Hill," near Fred- ericksburg, daughter of Francis Thornton, who traced his pedigree to the duke of Or- mond. Captain Jones was commissioned colonel of the Virginia militia and at the age of thirty-two years died at the family home, "Vaucluse," in Frederick county. His son, William Strother Jones, was born October 7, 1783, died at "Vaucluse" in 1845. He was educated at Chapel Hill, North Carolina, was a gentleman of unbounded hospitality, strikingly handsome and a splendid horse- man. He was a member of the Episcopal church, a Federalist in politics, later a Whig. He cultivated the family estate and spent his life master of "Vaucluse." He married Anna Maria Marshall, a descendant of John Marshall, of the "Forest."

David W. Barton had six sons, all of whom served in the Confederate army. Two of his sons, Marshall and David, were killed in battle, and one, Strother, lost a leg at the battle of Mine Run, dying in 1868. Mar- shall was killed at Winchester at the rout of Banks, May 25, 1862; David at the second battle of Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862, his body never being recovered. Both were lieutenants in the Newtown artillery, one succeeding the other. Strother was first lieutenant of Company F, Second Regiment Virginia Infantry. Other sons were: Rob-

ert Thomas, of further mention; Randolph, a lawyer, and Bolling W., a physician of Baltimore. David W. Barton also had four daughters: Maria L., married Colonel Thomas Marshall, of Oak Hill; Jane Cary, married Rev. Charles H. Shield, of Nor- folk, Virginia; Martha W., married (first) Dr. John M. Baldwin, (second) Rev. Charles H. Shield; Fannie L., died unmarried.

Robert Thomas Barton, son of David W. and Frances (Fanny) L. M. (Jones) Barton, was born in Winchester, November 24, 1842. He was educated in private schools, Win- chester and Bloomfield academies. He pre- pared for the study of law and after the re- quired examination was admitted to the Virginia bar in 1865, after a service of sev- eral years in the Confederate army, one of six brothers to offer themselves for military service at the beginning of the war, two of these giving up their lives on the field of battle. Robert T. Barton enlisted in the First Virginia Brigade, commanded until his death by General Thomas J. Jackson ("Stonewall"). After the war he was ad- mitted to the bar, began practice in Win- chester, where he yet continues. He was senior member of the highly rated legal firm, Barton & Boyd, established in 1869 and con- tinuing until 1910. Mr. Barton is a mem- ber of the State Bar Association, of which he is an ex-president. He has been admitted to all state and Federal courts of the district, and for more than two-score years has been a familiar and prominent figure in the legal world, not only as a learned and successful practitioner but as the author of standard law works. In 1878 he published "Barton's Law Practice," and in 1909 "Virginia-Colo- nial Decisions." His practice, always a large one, has always been conducted on the highest plane of legal ethics, while his re- search and literary ability has enriched the legal literature of his profession. While the law has ever been to him a jealous mistress, he has given considerable of his time and a great deal of his interest to the public serv- ice and to public affairs. He served his dis- trict in the Virginia legislature from 1883 to 1885, and from 1899 to 1903 he was mayor of Winchester. In 1902 he was elected presi- dent of the Farmers' and Merchants' Na- tional Bank of Winchester, and still con- tinues the honored head of this solid and conservative financial institution. He is a Democrat in politics, but during the "free silver" heresy remained true to the Cleve-

699

VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

land wing of his party. He is an attendant of the Protestant Episcopal church, and of various professional, social and fraternal organizations of high standing.

Mr. Barton married (first) February 19, 1868, Catherine Knight, who died June II, 1887, daughter of William Knight, of Cecil county, Maryland. He married (second) June 10, 1890, Gertrude Williamson Baker, daughter of H. S. and Aletta ( Hunt) Baker. Children of second marriage: Robert Thomas, now a law partner of his father, graduate of the University of Virginia ; Ger- trude Williamson, residing at home.

Alexander Berkeley Carrington. A de- scendant of the old and prominent Virginia families. Carrington, Venable and Cabell, Alexander Berkeley Carrington has attained prominence in the commercial life of the South through his lifelong connection with the leaf tobacco industry. He is a son of Rev. Alexander Broadnax Carrington, and a grandson of Paul S. Carrington, a planter of Ridgeway, Charlotte county, Virginia, and his wife, Emma (Cabell) Carrington.

Rev. Alexander Broadnax Carrington, son of Paul S. and Emma (Cabell) Carrington, was born in Ridgeway, Virginia, in Septem- ber, 1833. died in March, 1911. He was an active, useful and honored minister of the Presbyterian church, and during the war be- tween the states served as chaplain under General "Stonewall" Jackson until the lat- ter's death. then under other commanders. His ministerial life was spent in the service of his church in Charlotte and Prince Wil- liam counties, Virginia. He married Fannie Venable. born at "Long Wood." Prince Edward county, Virginia. died in 1885, aged forty-five years. She was the daughter of Nathaniel Venable, a farmer and tobacco grower of Prince Edward county, born about 1800, and died aged fifty years. He married Mary Scott and had twelve chil- dren, one. Paul C. Venable, yet living, a resi- dent of Farmville, Virginia. Children of Rev. Alexander B. Carrington, all living : Charles V., Gratton C., Fannie V., Alex- ander Berkeley, of further mention.

Alexander Berkeley Carrington was born at Longwood, near Farmville, Prince Ed- ward county, Virginia. January 27, 1862. When he was three years of age his parents moved to Charlotte county, where he was educated, and remained until sixteen years of age. He then came to Danville, where

he was employed by his uncle, Paul C. Vena- ble, a leaf tobacco dealer and worker, with whom he was associated in business until 1891. In that year he became a member of the firm of Dibrell Brothers, leaf tobacco brokers of Danville, and is now vice-presi- dent of the corporation. This company transacts a very large business in leaf tobaccos, maintaining branches at Durham, Wilson and Kingston, North Carolina ; Hen- derson, Kentucky ; and South Boston, Vir- ginia. Mr. Carrington is a Democrat in politics, a member of the Masonic order, the Westmoreland Club of Richmond, and is president of the Commercial Association of Danville. In religious faith he is a Presby- terian.

Mr. Carrington married, November 11, 1891, Mary Taylor, born in Danville, daugh- ter of Albert G. and Eliza (Burch) Taylor, both born in Danville. the former deceased. Children: Alexander Berkeley, born Janu- ary 26, 1895, now a student at Hampden- Sidney College, class of 1915 ; Mary Taylor, born January 23, 1898, a student at Ran- dolph-Macon College: Charles Venable, born January 7. 1903. The family home is at Danville, Virginia.

Robert F. Leedy. The founder of this branch of the Leedy family was Baron Leedy, a German of noble family, who was known in the Shenandoah Valley as the "Dutch Lord." He founded an important family : one of his descendants, Lieutenant- Colonel Leedy, was a member of Washing- ton's staff, and they have ever been men of high standing in the professions, business and agriculture. Colonel Robert F. Leedy, of Luray, Page county, Virginia, is a great- grandson of Samuel Leedy, grandson of Daniel Leedy, and son of John Leedy, of Rockingham county, Virginia. Colonel Leedy has among his treasures the great Dutch clock, brought from Germany by the founder, which for generations stood in the old homestead and ticked the passing hours.

Daniel Leedy was a farmer of Rocking- ham county. Virginia : married Eve Brower, and had issue. Among his sons was John Leedy, born in Rockingham county, Vir- ginia, in 1826, died 1889. He was a sergeant in a Rockingham county militia company and served with them until Company C of the Tenth Regiment was organized, when he enlisted in that company, and when war broke out between the states he served one

700

VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

year. He was then detailed by the Confed- erate government to conduct farming opera- tions for the benefit of the army, serving in that manner until the war closed. He was a member of the local school board, and a man of high standing in his community. He married Sarah Ann Mauck, born in Rocking- ham county, Virginia, in 1830, died at Luray, Virginia, in 1896, daughter of John Mauck.

Colonel Robert Franklin Leedy, of Luray, Virginia, was born in Rockingham county, Virginia, July 28, 1863. His early and pre- paratory education was obtained in the pub- lic schools of his county and later he studied law and was admitted to the Virginia bar 1893. He began the study of law under the direction of Hon. D. S. Henkle and in the offices of F. W. Weaver and John B. Minor, and then entered the summer law school at the University of Virginia and was admitted to the bar of Augusta county in September, 1893. After admission he began practice in Basic City, Virginia, continuing there two years, in 1895 moved his practice to Luray, where he is yet located as one of the leading lawyers of the Page county bar, particularly well known for his connection with several of the celebrated criminal cases tried in the state courts. He practiced in Luray until 1899 as junior member of the firm of Weaver & Leedy and then continued along until 1908. when the partnership of Leedy & Berry was formed and so continues. Colonel Leedy has been retained in many celebrated cases, both criminal and civil, among the latter many important railroad suits. He bears a splendid reputation as a lawyer of learning, force and eloquence, his fame extending far beyond local limits. Judge Harrison was assailed in the celebrated Bywaters case (murder) by "Collier's Weekly" for opinions rendered and Colonel Leedy made a reply defending Judge Harrison which received mention in all the leading papers of Vir- ginia. Shortly after "Collier's Weekly" pub- lished these letters in their weekly periodical without comment.

Colonel Leedy is a member of various bar associations of his district, and is a popular member of the Masonic order, belonging to Lafayette Lodge, No. 137, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons: Luray Chapter. No. 19, Royal Arch Masons ; and Luray Command- cry, Knights Templar ; and Acca Temple. Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, of Richmond. In religious faith he is a Baptist, and in politics a Democrat.

While in Basic City he was elected mayor, resigning in 1895 during his second term, on account of his removing to Luray. In 1913 he was elected a member of the Vir- ginia house of assembly, representing Rap- pahannock and Page counties. His political record is an honorable one and further ser- vice will no doubt be exacted from him.

Colonel Leedy obtained his title through service in the National Guard of Virginia. He was a member and captain of the "Page Rifles," an unassigned militia of Luray, later mustered in as Company C of the Second Regiment Virginia National Guard. Cap- tain Leedy, in June, 1895, was elected lieu- tenant-colonel of the regiment, and in Au- gust following he was elected colonel, an office and rank he yet holds. Colonel Leedy has marked literary tastes and talent and is the author of several fugitive poems, one of rare and tender feeling. entitled "Stonewall Jackson," attracting wide and favorable comment.

Colonel Leedy married, March 27, 1890, Emma C. Kiester, a native of West Virginia. a daughter of Martin and Elizabeth Kiester. and they are the parents of seven children, as follows: Nina C., Thelma H., John R., Lillian D., Rolfe M., Beverley B., and Cecil V.

Charles A. Hammer. This branch of the Hammer family of Virginia springs from Henry Hammer, who came to the valley of Virginia prior to the revolutionary war and through intermarriage from the Keyser fam- ily of Pennsylvania founded by Dirck Key- ser, who settled at Germantown, in the lat- ter state. Elizabeth (Filerum) Hammer. the mother of Charles A. Hammer, was of Dutch and Irish descent.

Henry Hammer, when a mere lad, enlisted and served in the Indian campaigns. On the breaking out of the revolutionary war he became drummer boy in Captain Michael Cowger's company of Augusta militia. He was born in Germany, and came to Amer- ica with his father, who settled in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, and later moved to Frederick, now Shenandoah county, Vir- ginia. For months prior to the revolution- ary war he was engaged in campaigns against the Indians in what was known as Tygart's Vallev, Virginia, now West Vir- ginia. At the close of the revolutionary war he was honorably discharged and mustered out of service at Smithfield, near Ports-

701

VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

youth, Virginia. The greater part of his me during the war was spent in the Caro- nas and Virginia.

Isaac Hammer. son of Henry Hammer, ecame a farmer and resided in Rockingham ounty, where he married Elizabeth Keyser, nd was succeeded by his son, Joseph C. Jammer, who was born in Rockingham ounty in 1842, and died in 1909. Upon the utbreak of the war between the states he ecame a Union sympathizer and later with great many of his boyhood friends left Virginia and made his way to the Federal nes and enlisted with the Federal troops. fter the war he returned to Rockingham ounty and engaged in farming until the me of his death. He left eight children : Charles A., John N., Samuel P., Thomas J., Bernard J., Wilmer I., and Annie Mildred. Charles A. Hammer was born in Rock- igham county, Virginia, November 28, 1869. Ie attended public schools at Elkton, Vir- inia, and later a normal at McGaheysville, Virginia. He taught school one year, and en became a clerk in a general store. In 892 he entered the mercantile business for imself in Harrisonburg, the county seat of Rockingham county. In 1895 he entered the ffice of and studied law under General John : Roller, and later under the preceptorship f the late Colonel O. B. Roller. In the ummer of 1898 he went to the University f Virginia, and there took a special course law under Professors Lyle and Minor, nd that same year was admitted to the bar, ut did not begin the practice of law until 902, serving in the meantime as United tates deputy collector in districts within he bounds of Virginia and North Carolina. n 1902 he returned to Harrisonburg and be- an the practice of law at the Rockingham ar. Since 1905 he has served as referee in ankruptcy. He is a member of the fra- ernal orders of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, nd is a Republican in politics.

In 1894 he married Bertha E. Loewner, who was born in Harrisonburg, June 5, 1871, nd was a daughter of Samuel and Augusta Loewner. Of this marriage there are three hildren: Goldie Elizabeth, born June 30, 899: Le Warren, born February 14, 1910; Charles A., Jr., born March 3, 1912.

Algernon Sidney Buford. Colonel Al- ernon Sidney Buford. most prominently

and most honorably connected with the de- velopment of the Richmond & Danville rail- road, of which he was elected president in 1865. when the road had but one hundred and forty miles of trackage, and of which he continued president for twenty-two years, turning over to his successor in the presi- dency a line of more than three thousand miles ; representative first of Pittsylvania county and later of the city of Richmond in the Virginia legislature; one of the most active members and for four years presi- dent of the Virginia Agricultural and Me- chanical Society, and chief of the Virginia board of managers of the Columbian exposi- tion at Chicago in 1893; is of Virginia par- entage, and has been a Virginian through- out his life. although he was born (January 2. 1826) in Rowan county, North Carolina. His father was William Buford, of Lunen- lurg county, Virginia, a grandson of Henry Buford, of Culpeper county, Virginia, of revolutionary times, and his entire colonial ancestry were strong adherents to the inter- ests of the American colonists. His mother was Mrs. Susan Robertson (Shelton) Bu- ford, of Pittsylvania county, Virginia.

From earliest years, decided strength of character and indications of exceptional ability marked the boy. His primary edu- cation was given him in the school taught by his father, and under his father's care at home he acquired a thorough practical knowledge of agriculture. As a young man he "spent much time between the plow handles." and like other thoughtful young men whose early years are passed in the country, he pondered much upon the condi- tions of life in his state and the problem of how to meet those conditions for the welfare of his fellow citizens. Determining to be- come a teacher, he saved his earnings with the purpose of studying at a university, and for two years taught in preparation for a course in law at the University of Virginia. In 1848 he was graduated from a two years' course at that institution with the degree of Bachelor of Laws.

He began the practice of his profession in his mother's native county, Pittsylvania, but his professional circuit included the neigh- boring counties, and while he was still a very young lawyer, he was called to cross swords in legal combat with some of the leading men of the Virginia bar. Widen- ing acquaintance and broadening experience led him to the wish for better opportunities

702

VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

for winning fame and fortune in a more populous community, and he removed to Danville, Virginia. Here his facile pen and his fluent and thoughtful speech quickly brought him prominently into notice, and in addition to his professional work he became owner and editor of the "Danville Register." Editorial work led naturally to politics, and political preferment was thrust upon him. In 1853 he served a single term in the Vir- ginia legislature from Pittsylvania county, declining a reelection. Returning to his work at the bar and at the editorial desk, he steadily grew in strength and popularity throughout his section of the state.

After the passing of the ordinance of secession, in the spring of 1861, he aban- doned a lucrative law practice and enlisted in the Confederate States army as a private from Pittsylvania county. He served in the Army of Northern Virginia until the fall of 1861, when the people of Pittsylvania again elected him to the house of delegates, and in this official position he was continued until the end of the war. While a member of the house he was commissioned lieutenant-colo- nel by brevet in the Virginia militia by Gov- ernor John Letcher, and was assigned to special service in aid of the campaign in the field. While performing this duty he estab- lished what was affectionately known as "Buford's Home," and many were the sol- diers who enjoyed its comforts, while multi- tudes of Confederate soldiers profited by his watchful care of the supplies which were designed for those in the field and were by him forwarded to their destination.

At the close of the war he returned to Danville, and in October, 1865, he was elected president of the Richmond & Dan- ville railroad. When he assumed this office that railroad had but one hundred and forty miles of trackage. To its development he devoted that executive talent with which he was so largely endowed, and the untiring energy which always characterized his life work. In 1887, after he had carried the load for twenty-two years of masterful manage- ment through the depressing and continued difficulties which stood in the way of its de- velopment and laid heavy loads financially and personally upon his own shoulders, he turned it over to his successor in the presi- dency with a trackage of three thousand miles. The Southern railway is under very great obligations to him for the labors and hardships he underwent in building up this

very important part of the Southern rail- road.

Perhaps his crowning industrial achieve- ment was the building (with the most meagre resources at his disposal, and with- out available cash capital) of the Atlanta & Charlotte Railway. Of the thousands of passengers, pleasure-seekers from all parts of the country, as well as Virginians, who are now delightfully hurried over this fav- orite route of the country's pleasure-seekers, but few think of the miles of toilsome riding in the saddle in search of the most eco- nomical route which the zealous, industrious and self-sacrificing president of this line, Colonel Buford, put into the establishment of the railroad, or of the hours of anxious and courageous planning required in the building of the first great railroad built by any Southern man after the war.

İn 1866 he removed from Danville to Rich- mond, Virginia. He represented Richmond in the legislature of Virginia in 1877. When after twenty-two years of continuous reëlec- tion as president of the Richmond & Dan- ville railroad, interests adverse to his estab- lished policy of administration came into control of the property, his own high spirit and sense of loyalty to what he believed to be the best interests of the people of his state led him to tender promptly and posi- tively his resignation of the office of presi- dent. although earnest assurances were made to him that his continued cooperation was regarded as a factor of the greatest im- portance in the further development of the company.

Freed from the especial official responsi- bility which had rested upon him for twenty- two years, he turned his attention toward the reconstruction and enriching of Vir- ginia's great farm lands. For years he was an active member of the Virginia Agricul- tural and Mechanical Society, and he was president for four years, establishing it upon a safe and sound basis. In 1893 he was ap- pointed by the governor of the state at the head of the Virginia board of managers of the Columbian exposition at Chicago.

In May, 1893, a persistent and most com- plimentary call from many parts of the state demanded from him an announcement of his candidacy for the office of governor of Vir- ginia, and although the long existing organ- ization of the political powers of the state led to the choice for this office of Colonel Charles T. O'Ferrall, Colonel Buford in the

EtoHumman

703

VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

contest proved himself a most worthy foe- man.

Colonel Buford in 1854 married Emily W. Townes, of Pittsylvania county, Virginia, and their daughter Emily is now Mrs. Clement Manly, of Winston-Salem, North Carolina. In 1872 he married Kate A. Wortham, of Richmond, Virginia. They had one daughter, Katie T. Buford. Some years later Colonel Buford married his pres- ent wife, Mrs. Mary Cameron Strother (née Ross), by whom he has three children: Al- gernon Sidney, Jr., Mary Ross (now Mrs. Frederick E. Nolting, of Richmond, Vir- ginia, and William Erskine Buford.

In the successive official positions which he has filled, Colonel Buford has always been conspicuously considerate, courteous and kindly, alike to men of low or high de- gree. While he has held himself under the strictest obligations to render justice to all those with whom he has dealt, and has held his whole life subject to the fine old maxim, fiat justitia, ruat coelum, yet he has been liberal in his gifts, and his charities have been limited only by the length of his purse and by the opportunities presented him. His many friends feel that a life work like his, reaching to an old age which has already passed four-score, furnishes an example to young Virginians, and to all who know the facts of this life of active service.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Encyclopedia of Virginia biography, Volume V, Part 26

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