Encyclopedia of Virginia biography, Volume V, Part 32

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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Dr. King married. June 27, 1900, in Fred- ericksburg. Nannie Rose Stone, born in that city, daughter of John A. Stone, a hardware merchant, prominent in Fredericksburg until his death, and his wife. Laura (How- ard) King. Children: William Marshall, born September 4. 1902; James Garnett (2), September 13. 1904; Nancy Stone, January 4. 1910.

Colonel Grenville Gaines. As lawyer and banker, Colonel Gaines has long enjoyed the confidence and esteem of his neighbors of Warrenton, Virginia. Colonel Gaines is a grandson of Cornelius Gaines, and son of Judge William Henry Gaines, the latter a most remarkable man. He began his busi- ness career when eleven years of age, be- came a wealthy merchant and landowner, owning also one hundred slaves, and retired from business life in 1857. Although un- educated in the law, he was the choice of the voters for judge of the county courts, his business sagacity and experience in their opinion outweighing legal education. He was noted for his generosity and hospitality, and was one of the most highly respected men of his day.

William Henry Gaines, son of Cornelius Gaines, was born in Prince William county, Virginia. in 1809. died in 1885. He was a merchant and judge. as previously stated, his career as judge not beginning until after the war between the states was ended. He

married Mary Mildred Foster, born 1830, died 1895, daughter of Henry Foster, whose wife, Miss Fairfax, was a daughter of a half- brother of Colonel John Fairtax. Children : I. Thomas Foster, died aged two years. 2. Mary Lena, died aged about four years. 3. Elizabeth Fairfax, married Thomas Smith, an officer of the Confederacy and later United States judge and district attorney, son of ex-Governor Smith, of Virginia. 4. Grenville, of further mention. 5. William Henry, died in 1909. 6. Thomas Foster, of New York. 7. John S., a farmer of Warren- ton, Virginia. 8. Mary Lena, single. 9. Cornelius Fairfax. 10. and 11. Children died in infancy.

Colonel Grenville Gaines, son of Judge William Henry Gaines, was born in War- renton, Virginia, September 26, 1854, and has since lived all of his life there. He ob- tained his early and preparatory education in private schools in Warrenton and in Bethel Academy, finishing in 1869. In 1870 he entered Virginia Military Institute, Lex- ington, Virginia, graduating eleventh in his class, with the degree of Civil Engineer. He prepared for the practice of law at the University of Virginia, entering in Septem- ber, 1874, and receiving his degree of Bach- elor of Laws in July, 1876. He located in Warrenton the same year and has continu- ously practiced his profession until the pres- ent date, having been admitted to and en- gaged in all Federal and state courts of the district. For several years he was asso- ciated with his brother in private banking as "Gaines Brothers," but he continued the practice of law during that period. Colo- nel Gaines gained his military title in the militia service of his state, serving as captain of the "Warrenton Rifles," later as major, lieutenant-colonel and colonel of the Third Regiment, National Guard of Virginia. He was the first man, one of the first officers. to volunteer his services to the government at the outbreak of the Spanish war, which he did on the morning of April 20, 1898, at Rich- mond, Virginia. Colonel Gaines is a member of the American Bar Association, the Virginia Bar Association, formerly of the board of vis- itors of Virginia Military Institute, and has been connected officially and professionally with several important corporations for sev- eral years. He has been closely connected with political affairs in his city and state, serving four terms as mayor of Warrenton, later on as chairman of the Democratic com-

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mittee of Fauquier county ; member of the state Democratic committee, and in 1892 as a member of the Virginia World's Fair com- mission. Colonel Gaines is one of the strong men of his party, and in every public trust has proved his usefulness and integrity. He was a vestryman of the Protestant Epis- copal church, and junior warden of the par- ish. He belongs to many organizations, social, political, professional and fraternal, occupying official position in many of them.

Colonel Gaines married, November 15, 1882, Lizzie Taylor, daughter of Dr. Wil- liam Harris, of Pennsylvania, son of Dr. Harris, who was first surgeon-general United States navy. Children: Mary Foster, mar- ried Joseph A. Bell. of Charleston, South Carolina ; William Harris, born in Warren- ton, Virginia, educated in public schools and the University of Virginia, was deputy clerk of United States courts at Alexandria, Virginia, now a practicing attorney in that city ; Elizabeth Taylor, a graduate of War- renton Seminary.

James Garratt Jeter. In 1891 Professor Jeter was elected principal of Covington's schools, at that time employing two teachers instructing sixty-three pupils. In 1906 he was elected superintendent of public instruc- tion for Alleghany county, and as such now has general supervision over the Covington schools that now employ twenty-two teach- ers instructing eleven hundred pupils in all grades, including a high school that ranks with the best in Virginia. During all this development from an ungraded school to the present modern system, Professor Jeter has been the ruling, guiding spirit and to his untiring efforts, wisdom and progressive- ness, the great advance in educational ad- vantages for the youth of Covington is due. The population of Covington increased as extensive pulp and paper mills, iron works, etc., were established in the town, but the schools have kept pace with the increase in population and there is no child in the town but can be provided with a seat and instruc- tion in any of the grades. Too much praise cannot be given Professor Jeter for his great work for the cause of public education and there is no one in all Covington that would deny the value of his service.

James Garratt Jeter was born in Franklin county, Virginia, August, 1862, son of Wil- liam P. Jeter, and grandson of Henry G. Jeter, of Bedford county, Virginia. Wil-

liam P. Jeter was born in Bedford county in 1844. and after a full and useful life as sol- dier, sheriff and farmer, yet resides in his native county. He was a soldier of the Con- federacy and after the war ended located in Franklin county, where he became a pros- perous farmer and served the county for twenty years as high sheriff. He married Sally A. Meadows, born in Franklin county, Virginia, in 1846, daughter of Rev. Benja- min Meadows, a clergyman of the Baptist church. Her brothers, John Quincy and William Meadows, were soldiers under "Stonewall" Jackson, and Peter Jeter, a brother of William P., was killed in battle while serving in the Confederate army.

James Garratt Jeter began his education in the public schools of Franklin county, and after exhausting their advantages attended Captain William E. Duncan's Mathematical and Classical School at Halford, finishing a three year course. He then entered the "National Normal University" at Lebanon, Ohio, whence he was graduated Bachelor of Science, class of 1888. At the "Normal" he developed the teacher's instinct and when released from preparatory training of that valuable institution, at once began teaching in Franklin county. In 1891 he began his work in the Covington schools. as heretofore noted, and from that date until the present has been at the head of the educational sys- tem of that town as principal and since 1906 as superintendent of schools for Alleghany county. He has attained high reputation as an educator, has written, lectured and in every way promoted the cause of public edu- cation. For the last eight years he has con- ducted a summer normal school at Cov- ington, is a member of the Virginia Teach- er's Association and is a frequent contrib- uter to the educational journals. For many years he has been a member of the official board of the Methodist Episcopal church in Covington, is an Odd Fellow, and politic- ally a Democrat.

Professor Jeter married, in June, 1896, Anne Maria Smith, born in Franklin county, Virginia, in 1865, daughter of Rev. Horace P. Smith. a minister of the Presbyterian church. Children: James Garratt, born in 1898 : William Horace, born in 1900; Neville Camlin, died age four years; Anne Maria, born in 1906. All born in Covington.

David Stone Hicks. As mayor of Law- renceville, the capital of Brunswick county,

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Virginia, Mr. Hicks has in that position de- veloped executive ability and qualities of leadership, that while fully appreciated by his townsmen, lead one to wish that more pretentious cities could have the benefit of such intelligent, public-spirited leadership. This leads to the thought that never in the history of our country has there been such opportunities for men of the right mettle to rise to high positions in municipalities. The demands of modern scientific, sanitary regulations, pure water supply, properly constructed and cared for streets, electrical light and heating plants, all call for men of the highest quality. That Lawrenceville possesses such a man is a matter of con- gratulation ; that all cities do not elevate such men to official position is their shame.

David Stone (2) Hicks was born in Law- renceville, Virginia, March 7, 1869, son of David Stone (1) and grandson of Edward B. and Elizabeth (Stone) Hicks. David Stone (1) Hicks was born in Lawrenceville in 1826, is a graduate of the law school of the University of Virginia and after an hon- ored career at the Brunswick county bar, retired and yet survives, a highly esteemed gentleman of eighty-eight years. He mar- ried Eleanor Lewis, born in 1833, died in 1913. She was the daughter of Herbert and Rowena (Robinson) Lewis, of Brunswick county, Virginia. Her brother, Norborne C. Lewis, was one of a company of cadets called into the Confederate service during the latter part of the war 1861-65. David Stone Hicks had three sisters, Betty, Patty and Ann. Betty Hicks married Ashton Lewis; Patty Hicks married Emmett Beau- ford (deceased) ; Ann Hicks married Dr. Price, of Brunswick county.

David Stone (2) Hicks, after attending field and private schools, became connected with the engineering department of the At- lantic & Danville railroad and perfected him- self in the profession he had chosen and prepared for civil engineering. After two years in railroad service he opened an office in Lawrenceville and there still continues, actively engaged as a civil engineer, well known and highly regarded in his profes- sion. To the citizens of Lawrenceville at large, he is best known as the public-spirited citizen and town official who has given them a pure water supply, adequate sewers and abundant light for street and home, and effi- cient municipal government during the four

years that he has been chief executive of their town.

Mr. Hicks was first elected mayor in June, 1910, and during his first term of office was instrumental in having the citizens vote a bond issue of $50,000 for the installation of a water system, which was completed in 1911, the supply being brought from Great creek and after filtration, is delivered to the distributing mains. In his arguments to in- duce a favorable vote on the proposition, he said that for a period of five years the taxes would be increased but fifty cents on the one hundred dollars to support the system, after which it would be self-supporting. This prophecy has come true two years earlier than he anticipated, the water rates covering the expense at the end of three years. Mayor Hicks was elected to succeed himself in 1912, and as head of the water, light and sewer department, has brought all to a high degree of efficiency. He is devoted to the interests of Lawrenceville and takes an hon- est pride in making his administration of public affairs, a period of intelligent progress, toward a town, clean, healthful and beauti- ful. That he has been able to secure hearty cooperation and loyal support from the citi- zens of the town is also a matter of con- gratulation and proves again the willingness of the people to follow a leader in whose integrity they can with safety confide. Mayor Hicks is a member of the Protestant Episcopal church, past noble grand of Law- rence Lodge, No. 294, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, member of Lawrenceville Lodge, No. 133, Knights of Pythias, and in political faith is a Democrat.

He married, in 1894. Ella Lee Jones, born in Brunswick county, Virginia, in Decem- ber, 1869, daughter of William F. and Ella (Morrison) Jones. Children : Mary Morri- son, Emma F., Bess Fersbee, all born in Lawrenceville.

Howard Fletcher, M. D. Dr. Fletcher, now of Fairfax Court House, Virginia, de- scends from Virginia forbears, whose con- nection with the colony began at an early period. Collateral branches are the Henry family, from Rev. William Henry, a Meth- odist preacher, who was the brother of Pat- rick Henry, the fiery eloquent Virginia statesman : Withers and other familiar Vir- ginia names. Dr. Fletcher's wife, through her mother, Mary Leigh (Morris) Parrish,

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whose mother was Mary Abia Claiborne, descends from William Claiborne, the founder of the Claiborne family of Virginia, who came with Governor Wyatt in 1621. The Claibornes are traced through the cen- turies in England to the manor of Cleburne or Cliborne, lying in Westmoreland near the river Eden. The manor is named in Domesday Book (1086) and the family pedi- gree is definitely traced to Henrey, to whom Henry II. granted a moiety of the manor of Cliborne. In the old Cleburne church in Westmoreland are memorial tablets to Wil- liam Claiborne, the founder, and of Gen- eral Patrick R. Cleborne, Confederate States army, who was of the Irish branch.

William Claiborne, born about 1587, is first mentioned in connection with Virginia history in June, 1621, when the Virginia company engaged him to go to Virginia as surveyor with a salary of thirty pounds yearly and house rent. That same year he came to Virginia with Colonial Governor Francis Wyatt. In 1625 Governor Yeard- ley appointed him secretary of state for the colony and member of the council, an office he was holding in 1660, although he was out of the office from 1637 until 1652, when he was reappointed. On April 6, 1642, he was appointed treasurer of Virginia for life. He figured prominently in boundary line dis- putes with Maryland, and was a most able and influential public character of his day. He married Elizabeth Butler; had sons: William, Thomas, Leonard; daughters : Jane, Mary, who died in 1676. His sons, Lieutenant-Colonel William and Lieutenant- Colonel Thomas Claiborne, were distin- guished in the early Virginia wars, the for- mer was the first governor of Mississippi, the latter being killed by an Indian arrow while in the service, October 7, 1683. Both married and each left a son, William (3) and Thomas (2) Claiborne. Leonard, the third son, settled in Jamaica. West Indies. He left two daughters, Jane Claiborne, mar- ried Colonel Thomas Brereton, of North- umberland county, Virginia; Mary Clai- borne, married (first) a Rice. (second) Rob- ert Harris, in 1660.

Dr. Howard Fletcher was born in War- renton, Virginia. September 18, 1875, son of Albert and Sarah (Withers) Fletcher, the latter a daughter of Howard Withers. Al- bert Fletcher was a merchant and banker, a member of the Virginia constitutional con- vention, and a private of the Confederacy,

serving in the Warrenton Rifles, under Cap- tain J. S. Marr, who was the first Con- federate officer killed in the war, 1861-65.

After preparatory courses finished at Mt. Welcome high school in Culpeper county, Virginia, Dr. Howard Fletcher entered Ran- dolph-Macon Academy at Bedford, Vir- ginia, and two years later, in the fall of 1891, entered Randolph-Macon College at Ash- land, Virginia. He spent the three suc- ceeding years at the latter institution, win- ning honors and graduating Bachelor of Arts, class of 1894. The following year he took a post-graduate course in the gradu- ates' school, and in September, 1895, entered the medical department of Johns Hopkins University at Baltimore, and received his degree of Doctor of Medicine, with the class of 1900. The following year Dr. Fletcher spent in New York City, as interne at the New York Hospital, then located in Rich- mond, Virginia, practicing his profession there for two years, and lecturing in the medical college. In September, 1904, he located at Fairfax Court House, where he is well established and popular. He is a member of the Southern Medical, the Vir- ginia State Medical and Fairfax County Medical societies, and keeps fully informed with all medical and surgical modern thought, discovery or theory. He is a past master of Henry Lodge, No. 57, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and is inter- ested in the social and public life of his town.

Dr. Fletcher married, October 8, 1902, Mattie Leigh (Parrish) Powell, born in Fluvanna county, Virginia, daughter of J. Samuel and Mary Leigh (Morris) Parrish, and granddaughter of Frank M. and Martha Swan (Hancock) Parrish, the latter a direct descendant of John Hancock, patriot, states- man and signer of the Declaration of Inde- pendence. Mary Leigh Morris was a direct descendant of Secretary William Claiborne. Children of Dr. Howard and Mattie Leigh (Parrish) Fletcher: Sally Withers, born at Richmond, Virginia, July 12, 1903; Hugh, July 28, 1905; Laura Leigh, February 12, 1907; Howard (2), January 21, 1908; the latter three born at Fairfax Court House. Mrs. Fletcher married (first) September 6. 1893, Chapmon Powell, by whom two children were born: Chapmon, born June 16, 1895, and Travis Leigh, born April 23, 1900.

Albert (2) Fletcher, brother of Dr. How-

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ard Fletcher, was born at Warrenton, Vir- ginia, December 24, 1873; is now a pros- perous merchant, engaging in the insurance business at Warrenton. He married Emily N. Forbes, and has: Albert (3), Murray Forbes and North Fletcher.

William Samuel Goodwyn. Judge Good- wyn, of the Greenville county courts, de- scends from professional forbears, his father having been an honored judge of the county court and his grandfather a physician of Southampton county, Virginia. In each gen- eration the Goodwyn men have been men of unusual prominence in their professions, and in their private lives have held the entire confidence of their communities.

William Boswell Goodwyn, of Southamp- ton, was a graduate of the medical depart- ment of the University of Virginia, class of 1809. He practiced his profession in South- ampton county and was highly regarded as an honorable and skillful physician. He married Elizabeth Norfleet Blunt.

Judge William Stephen Goodwyn, son of Dr. William Boswell and Elizabeth Nor- fleet (Blunt) Goodwyn, was born in South- ampton county, Virginia, in 1819, died in 1883. He was a graduate of the law school of the University of Virginia and rose to prominence in his profession. He was for twelve years judge of the county court of Sussex and Greenville counties and for many years commonwealth attorney of Green- ville county. He married Mary Ann Drury. Her brother was a private of the fourth Vir- ginia Cavalry of the Confederate army. Chil- dren: Watkins Blunt, Stephen Douglass, Joseph Norfleet, William Samuel, of fur- ther mention ; Betty, married J. W. Riddle.

Judge William Samuel Goodwyn, son of Judge William Stephen and Mary Ann (Drury) Goodwyn, was born in Greenville, a southeastern county of Virginia border- ing on North Carolina, November 16, 1854. He prepared in Captain W. H. Bishop's school and that kept by Dr. Worshanis in Dinwiddie county, Virginia, being a contem- porary of Dr. Lyon Gardiner Tyler, now president of William and Mary College. He was graduated Bachelor of Laws, class of 1876. was admitted to the bar and at once began practice with his honored father at Hicks Ford, now Emporia, the capital of Greenville county. Father and son con- tinued to practice as W. S. and W. S. Good-

wyn, until the son was elected common- wealth attorney of Greenville county, an office held for many years by William S., the father; the son served in that position until 1892, then was elevated to the bench by vote of the Virginia legislature, continu- ing judge of Greenville county ten years, until 1902. He then returned to private practice and in all Virginia there is no mem- ber of the bar more strongly intrenched in public confidence than he. In fact for half a century the Goodwyns, father and son, as lawyers and journalists have been at the head of the local bar and honored wherever known. Judge Goodwyn has been admitted tc all state and Federal courts of the district and has a large practice in all. He is learned in the law, held the unusual respect of the bar as a jurist and dispersed justice with an impartial hand. His decisions were care- fully considered in the light of the law and were rarely reversed through improper pro- cedure or faulty rulings on his part. As a lawyer, his cases are carefully prepared, sub- mitted with vigor and fairness, never rely- ing on trickery or deception to help secure a favorable verdict. He is a member of various bar associations of the district and many societies and associations, profes- sional, social and fraternal, among them, the Greenville County Agricultural Society.

In 1897 Judge Goodwyn assisted in organ- izing the Greenville Bank of Emporia, was chosen the first president and in that office, and as director and attorney, yet serves that excellent institution. In political faith he is a Democrat, and in religious belief is an Episcopalian, his wife a Presbyterian.

Judge Goodwyn married. December 10, 1884. Dora Lee Hedges, born in Berkeley county, West Virginia, September 5, 1863, daughter of De Costa and Mary Hugh (Bell) Hedges, granddaughter of Dr. John Rollings and Elizabeth (Turner) Hedges, and great-granddaughter of John Turner, a lieutenant in the revolutionary war, a stu- dent and later surveyor of William and Mary College, an office he resigned in 1790, was treasurer and sheriff of his county, where he was a large landowner, having ob- tained a grant from Lord Fairfax in 1753. He died in 1811. Mrs. Goodwyn traces her ancestry to Isaac Chapline, an ensign in the English navy, a member of the King's coun- cil, 1610, and member of the Virginia house of burgesses in 1621. Her colonial and rev-

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olutionary sires gain her admission to all patriotic societies, while her own desires and inclination lead her to deep and perma- nent interest in the preservation of genea- logical and historical records and facts. She was the founder and is present regent of Joseph Hedges Chapter of the Daughters of the Revolution of Emporia, Virginia, found- er and regent of the first Virginia Chapter of the United States Daughters of 1812, and first vice-president of the state society. She is also a member of the National Genealog- ical Society, the Virginia Society for the Preservation of Antiquities, Mary Baldwin Alumna Association, Jefferson-Monticello Association, Colonial Dames of Virginia in America, First Families of Virginia, United Daughters of the Confederacy, American Clan Gregor, Daughters of Founders and Patriots of America, Colonial Daughters of the Seventeenth Century, Americans of Armorial Ancestry, Americans of Royal De- scent, Colonial Lords of Manors in Amer- ica. Her membership in the Daughters of the Revolution is remarkable that her in- signia contains ten bars, each one denoting a different ancestor, to whom she can trace with certainty. She possesses a rare fund of old and historical documents, commis- sions, etc., many of them dating to early colonial days.

B. Roscoe Caldwell, M. D. Caldwells emigrated from England. Scotland and Ire- land to America and established early homes in New England, New Jersey and the South. The name has been common in the coun- tries named and in France for centuries, the name in England appearing on Domesday Book as Caldennuelle. In Scotland the Caldwells of Ayrshire, were prominent as early as 1349, a chancellor of Scotland bear- ing that name. In Scotch the name signi- fies Coldwold, the Hazelwood or divining rod, in English Coldwell.

John Caldwell, of Scotch ancestry, but Irish birth, came from Antrim, Ireland, set- tling first at Chestnut Level, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, soon afterward re- moving to Charlotte county, Virginia, the family home there being known as the Cald- well settlement. He had seven children, the youngest being Rev. James Caldwell, born in Charlotte county, Virginia, in April. 1734, whose wife, Hannah (Ogden) Caldwell, was killed by the British at the battle of Spring- field, New Jersey.

Nothing more did I say Wait one moment you've heard

Of Caldwell the parson, who once preached the word Down at Springfield? What, no? Come-that's bad; why he had

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Encyclopedia of Virginia biography, Volume V, Part 32

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