Encyclopedia of Virginia biography, Volume V, Part 35

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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Central Business College. He is a member of the Baptist church.

Dr. Huff married, November 15, 1893, Flora McIver Francis, a daughter of the late Captain William H. and Eliza E. (Shelor) Francis, of Franklin, Virginia. To Dr. and Mrs. Huff have been born three children, two boys and a girl, as follows: William Banks, born December 6, 1894, now a stu- dent in his second year at Roanoke College ; Dorris D., born September 27, 1896, gradu- ated with the class of 1914 from the Roanoke high school; Francis Eldridge, born April 4. 1899, now a student in the city grammar school. Mrs. Huff is a member of the Wil- liam Watts Chapter of the United Daugh- ters of the Confederacy. She is a member of, and very active, in the First Presby- terian Church of Roanoke.

Archibald Murphy Aiken. A descendant of an old Southern family of eminence and son of Judge Archibald M. Aiken, who for thirty years was judge of the corporation court at Danville, Virginia, Archibald M. Aiken, one of the younger members of the Virginia bar, comes rightfully by the qual- ities that have made him one of the fore- most among the men of his age and experi- ence. He is a grandson of Benjamin Wilson Aiken, born in Cumberland county, Virginia, in 1827, died in 1851. He resided in Virginia and North Carolina, married Jane Carter, of Madison, North Carolina, who bore him three children, now all deceased: Patty, married and died at age of thirty-five years ; Archibald M., of whom further; Benjamin Wilson (2), died in Texas, aged fifty years, a railroad superintendent.

(II) Archibald Murphy Aiken, son of Benjamin Wilson and Jane (Carter) Aiken, was born in Madison, North Carolina, in 1849, died in Danville, Virginia, May 5, 1913. He located in Danville in 1869, rose to eminence in the law and in public esteem, presiding for thirty years over the corpora- tion court. He was a man of wide and deep learning, judicially exact, just and honor- able. He married, December 14, 1881, Mary Ella Yates, born in Danville, of a well known Virginia family.

(III) Archibald Murphy (2) Aiken, only child of Judge Archibald Murphy (1) and Etta (Yates) Aiken, was born in Danville, Virginia, February 12, 1888. He obtained his preparatory education in the Danville schools, then entered the University of Vir-

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ginia, whence he was graduated Bachelor of Arts, class of 1910. He then entered the law department of the University of Vir- ginia, receiving his degree, Bachelor of Laws, 1913. the year of his father's death. He began practice in Danville in June, 1913, and is well established in public esteem, wise in counsel, and skillful in the manage- ment of his cases. He has business inter- ests of importance, being financially inter- ested in the Riverside and Dan River Mills, the Danville Knitting Mills, the Virginia National Bank, and the Danville Coopera- tive Warehouses. He is a member of the Protestant Episcopal church, the societies, Theta Delta Chi and Sigma Delta Chi (Uni- versity of Virginia) and of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. In political faith he is a Democrat. Mr. Aiken is unniar- ried.

Colonel Robert Kent Spiller. As a mem- ber of the legal profession Robert Kent Spiller, of Roanoke, Virginia, has achieved distinction and won success. He is a man of strong intellectuality, with a comprehen- sive knowledge of the law, and in the hand- ling of the cases entrusted to his care has shown a masterful ability which has gained him a foremost place. He is the grandson of William Hickman and Julia (Crockett) Spiller, and the son of William Hickman and Cynthia (McComas) Spiller, both born in Wytheville. Virginia, where the former is now a merchant and banker, the latter a daughter of Thomas Jefferson Boyd.

Robert Kent Spiller was born in Elk Gar- den, Russell county, Virginia, June 30, 1881. His education was a liberal one, and was acquired at first under private tuition, then at the Wytheville Military Academy, and finally at the Blacksburg Agricultural In- stitute (now the Virginia Polytechnic In- stitute), in the electrical engineering depart- ment. Later he purchased the Wytheville electrical lighting plant, which he conducted personally until the outbreak of the Spanish- American war. when he was commissioned a first lieutenant in the Second Regiment Vir- ginia Volunteer Infantry. This was at- tached to the Seventh United States Army Corps, and Colonel Spiller became first lieu- tenant in the Forty-second United States Volunteers, and was sent to the Philippine Islands, where he spent two years in active service. His next service was in Cuba and the Hawaiian Islands. May 28, 1902, he re-

ceived his commission as first lieutenant in the United States regular army, which he held until December, 1908, when he was placed on the retired list on account of phy- sical disability. He then became a student at the New York University Law School, from which he was graduated in the class of 1910, and then took a further course in law for one year at the University of Virginia. At the end of this year he established him- self in the practice of his profession at Nos. 515 and 516 First National Bank Building, Roanoke, Virginia, and now has a lucrative and extended practice. He was appointed colonel on Governor Stuart's staff in Febru- ary, 1914.

Mr. Spiller married, December 28, 1909, Kathleen, a daughter of James S. and Lillian (Wise) Sexton, of Hazelhurst, Mississippi, the former a prominent attorney in his state. Mrs. Spiller is a member of St. John's Epis- copal Church, and they have one child : Kathleen Sexton. Mr. Spiller is a member of the Masonic fraternity; the Army and Navy Club of New York City; Southern Society of New York City ; Virginia Society of New York City; Army and Navy Club of Manila. Philippine Islands ; Shenandoah Club, of Roanoke.

Henry William Harrison, M. D. Dr. Henry William Harrison, of Roanoke, Vir- ginia, is a man of splendid intellectual en- dowment, cultivated by liberal educational advantages, and he has won a standing in the medical profession of Virginia which is second to none in his part of the state. His life has been an eventful one, comprising several years of active service during the civil war, in which he served with gallantry and bravery. He is a son of Gasner and Elizabeth Louise Carter (Tucker) Harrison, and a grandson of the Hon. George Tucker, who once served as a congressman, and was a member of the faculty of the University of Virginia. His brother is Dr. George Tucker Harrison, of New York City.

Dr. Henry William Harrison was born in Charlottesville. Virginia, September 15, 1850, and obtained his elementary education in the schools of his birthplace. After pass- ing with credit through the academic depart- ment of the University of Virginia, he ma- triculated at the College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City, and was grad- uated from this institution in the class of 1882, the degree of Doctor of Medicine being

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conferred upon him. Until the year 1886 he was connected with Bellevue Hospital in New York City, and the municipal hospitals of the same city on Blackwell's Island, then went to Roanoke, Virginia, and established himself in private practice in that city. In this he has been eminently successful, and his professional skill has been recognized by the tender of public offices. He was elected president of the Roanoke board of health in 1891 and served continuously for a period of eighteen years. During this time he had charge of a number of epidemics, handling them in a masterly manner, to the entire satisfaction of the citizens and the state health authorities. He was one of the organ- izers of the Roanoke Medical Society, and has served as president of this body; is a member of the Roanoke Academy of Medi- cine, of the West Virginia Medical Asso- ciation, the Virginia State Medical Associa- tion and the American Medical Association. As visiting physician of the Roanoke City Hospital he has rendered excellent service.

Dr. Harrison was unusually young when he volunteered his services at the time of the civil war. January 1, 1863, he enlisted as a private in Nelson's Light Artillery, was advanced to the rank of sergeant, and was mustered out at the close of the war as lieu- tenant of artillery under Captain J. Henry Reeber. Dr. Harrison is constantly broad- ening his sphere of usefulness and demon- strating his superior ability and deep inter- est in his calling from the humanitarian as well as the scientific standpoint.

Warren Rice. The second of his line to adopt the legal profession as his own, War- ren Rice, of Winchester, Virginia, has for fifteen years been identified therewith, and has practiced law in Virginia and Colorado, attaining in that time a reputation as a law- yer of honor and reliability. His line has ever favored the professions, his great- grandfather, John W. Rice, having been a physician of note, his grandfather, Lewis Gillman Rice, an attorney; while in his father the line of professional succession was broken to admit a business man and finan- cier of tried judgment and proven ability. Lewis Gillman Rice was the first president of the Valley Turnpike Company of Vir- ginia, and married Margaret Shannon Con- way, a descendant of the old Shannon fam- ily of New York.

John Warren Rice, father of Warren Rice,

was born in Newmarket, Virginia, July I, 1848, and after scholastic training in the schools of Winchester became a runner for the Shenandoah Valley Bank, in 1871. Seven years later he was raised to the position of assistant cashier and in 1883 became cashier, which office he filled until his elevation to the vice-presidency in 1910. Mr. Rice is connected with many of the institutions of Winchester, and has been secretary of the Handley Public Library of that place since its founding. He married Mary Catherine Pifer. born in Shenandoah county, Virginia, in 1856, daughter of Colonel Jacob Pifer. The part played in the Confederate army by the family of Pifer was an honorable one, many of the name serving therein during the four years of battle and some gaining im- portant rank. Colonel A. P. Pifer having been a member of the staff of General Rob- ert E. Lee.

Warren Rice, son of John Warren and Mary Catherine (Pifer) Rice. was born in Winchester, Frederick county, Virginia, April 2. 1876, and obtained his early edu- cation in the public and private schools of his birthplace. In 1895 and 1896 he was a student in Washington and Lee College, and was then for one year a student in Harvard University, beginning the study of law under the preceptorship of Judge Harrison, an official of the circuit court. His admis- sion to the Virginia bar came in September, 1900, and until January, 1907, he was engaged in the independent general practice of his profession in his native state, then journeyed to Denver. Colorado, and there became a member of the law firm of Bicksler, Ben- nett & Nye, one of the most important legal associations in that city. The desires of his relatives caused his return to Winchester in 1909, since which year he has been success- fully engaged as a legal practitioner in that place. Mr. Rice is a Democrat in political action, and holds membership in the Prot- estant Episcopal church. He is a citizen of substantial qualities, highly regarded by his professional brethren, and possesses a legal record of creditable accomplishment.

Warren Rice married, October 24, 1907, Grace Ethel Enos, of Denver; Colorado, born in Indiana. in 1885, daughter of Dr. Charles Wolcott Enos and Sara Elizabeth (Cory) Enos, and has children : John Warren (2), born in Winchester, Virginia, October 4, 1909: Elizabeth Shannon, born in Winches- ter, Virginia, August 28, 1911. Dr. Charles

Hamen Rice

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Wolcott Enos was born in Marine, Illinois. Began the practice of medicine in Jersey- ville, Illinois, moved to Denver, Colorado, in 1889, where he has continued to practice until the present time. His father, Dr. Charles Rawly Enos, was a farmer in Illi- nois, but in middle life took up the study and practice of medicine and continued in active practice until eighty-four years of age. His mother, Elizabeth (Thorp) Enos, was born in Boston, England, and came to America when thirteen years old.

Sara Elizabeth (Cory) Enos was a de- scendant from the Shellman family of New York state and a lineal descendant of the famous old Dutch family-Anna Kagari- whose farm is now the site of Wall street and Trinity Church (leased by her for one hundred years and the lessees held posses- sion. See famous old suit over title, still in New York courts). Grace Ethel Enos (Mrs. Rice) is a lineal descendant of Eph- raim Patterson, who was born in Stratford, Connecticut, March 22, 1739, and died in New Lebanon, New York, May 3, 1809. He assisted in establishing American Independ- ence. He was sergeant in Captain Strong's company in Hoisington's Rangers, "New Hampshire Scouts," Brigadier-General John Stark's brigade militia, lieutenant in Captain Jabez Vaughan's company in Colonel David Hobart's regiment. See Vermont Revolu- tionary Rolls, page 802; Archives of State of New York, page 130; State Papers, New Hampshire, Revolutionary Rolls, vol. 2, page 152, and vol. 4, page 253.

Mrs. Rice is a great-great-granddaughter of Joseph Enos and Thankful Coon. Joseph Enos served in the capacity of ensign in the American revolution. See records in Pen- sion Office, Washington, D. C., and Civil and Military List of Rhode Island, vol. I, page 404. Thankful Coon is a descendant from Scotch nobility. The spelling of the name was changed after coming to America.

William A. Harris, M. D. A little less than two centuries ago James Harris, the progenitor of the New Jersey branch of the Harris family, from whom springs Dr. Wil- liam A. Harris, of Spottsylvania, Virginia, born in Bristol. Somersetshire, England, near the Welsh border, came to the Ameri- can colonies, settling in Essex county, New Jersey. He was born early in the eighteenth century and came to America about 1725. He married a Miss Boleyn, and had a fam-

ily of six sons and one daughter. Their de- scendants are now found in every state and territory, and their names adorn the pages of American history as soldiers in every war the United States has waged ; as ministers, one becoming a bishop of the Methodist Episcopal church ; as professional men of eminence, as farmers and business men. James Harris, the founder, was a man of considerable force of character, a merchant tailor by occupation, in religion an Episco- palian, dying in that faith just prior to the revolution. His son, Thomas, was a soldier in the revolution, as were two other sons, George and John. From such stock came Robert M. C. Harris, who leaving his New Jersey home, settled in Spottsylvania county, Virginia, his farm lying about eight miles above the Court House.

Thomas Addison Harris, son of Robert M. C. Harris, was born in Spottsylvania county, Virginia, August 23, 1846, and died at Spottsylvania Court House, January 25, 1912. His life was devoted to the service of the state and county, first as soldier of the Confederacy, and later as an officer of the courts of Spottsylvania. Although barely nineteen years of age when the war between the states ended, he had served for the greater part of the four years warfare in the One Hundred and Eighteenth Regiment Virginia Infantry, First Brigade, had been wounded and lain two months in a hospital, then returned to his regiment, serving as a non-commissioned officer until the sur- render. He then returned to Spottsylvania county, where in 1866 he was appointed United States commissioner of internal reve- nue, holding that position for fifteen years. In 1881 he was elected high sheriff of the county and through successive reelections held that office for twenty-two years. In 1903 he was elected clerk of the courts of the county and held that office continuously until his death, January 25, 1912. He was an honorable, upright and conscientious public official, his private life being beyond reproach and meriting the confidence dis- played by his fellowmen in continuing him so long in positions of trust. He married Mary Elizabeth Poole, born in Tennessee in 1848, and died in 1889, daughter of Alfred and Mary (King) Poole.

There were five Harris brothers serving in the Confederate army at the same time, all sons of Robert M. C. Harris, Thomas Addison and his four brothers. One of

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these, much older than Thomas A., served in the Mexican war, and from 1861 to 1865 was a soldier in the Union army. The wound received by Thomas A. Harris, here- tofore mentioned, was caused by a rifle ball which struck his foot, breaking every bone in that member. The wound was received while on scouting duty for General Robert E. Lee. His brother, John Harris, was badly wounded in the neck in battle, while Charles, a member of the Ninth Virginia Cavalry, and the other brothers escaped serious in- jury. King Poole, a brother of Mary E. (Poole) Harris, a cavalryman of the Ninth Virginia Regiment, was killed in battle. W. B. Poole, of the Scranton ( Pennsylvania) International Correspondence Schools, and W. M. Poole, also relatives, served in the same cavalry regiment.

Dr. William A. Harris, of Spottsylvania, was born at the home farm eight miles from Spottsylvania Court House, December 28, 1877, son of Thomas Addison and Mary Elizabeth (Poole) Harris. He attended public school until he was fifteen years of age, then was a student for two years, from 1892 to 1894, under Professor George Jenks, an Englishman, and from 1892 to 1898 stud- ied under Professor George Rayland, M. D., of Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore. In the fall of 1898 he entered the Medical Col- lege of Virginia, whence he was graduated Doctor of Medicine, class of May, 1901. He was president of his class. After obtaining his degree Dr. Harris located in Spottsyl- vania, where he has since been in continu- ous general practice. Learned and skilled in his profession, and held in highest regard as a physician, he is no less highly regarded for his public record as an advocate of clean, honest political methods and for his interest in road and highway improvement. Good reads is a gospel he ever preaches, and his agitation of this too often neglected depart- ment of local government has brought excel- lent results. He is chairman of the ways and means commission of Spottsylvania county, secretary of the board of public roads for the county, chairman of the dis- trict school board, and in July, 1912, was appointed by Governor Mann, member of the board of visitors of the Virginia Poly- technic Institute. For three years he was coroner of the county, and is its present health officer. This record of public service marks Dr. Harris as one of the progressive

men of his community, and one whose leadership it is wise to follow.

He is associated with his brethren of the profession in the Rappahannock Valley Med- ical Society, and is not an infrequent con- tributor of valuable articles to the medical journals and papers. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and for ten years has been a member of the Benevo- lent and Protective Order of Elks, and the Woodmen of the World, also holding active membership in the Automobile Association of Virginia, Fredericksburg (Virginia) Motor Club, and Fredericksburg Camp, Sons of Confederate Veterans.

Dr. Harris married, June 3, 1901, Dora Crismond, born in Spottsylvania county, Virginia, April 8, 1875, daughter of J. P. H. Crismond, who for twenty-five years was county clerk, and his wife, Sarah J. (King) Crismond. Children: Joseph Addison, born January 22, 1903; Virginia B., February I, 1906; Dorothy Crismond, May 30, 1908; all born at Spottsylvania.

Edmund Waddill, Jr. An able, impartial jurist, Judge Waddill, in the fifteen years he has sat on the bench of the United States court, eastern district of Virginia, has gained the respect and confidence of the Virginia bar. Prior to his elevation to his present high office, he had been a member of the Henrico county bar, county judge, and United States district attorney, and in these positions had proved the quality of his at- tainments and his fearless devotion to his duty. Moreover, he had by the suffrage of the voters of the third congressional dis- trict of Virginia, occupied a seat in the national congress, and here proved his value as a maker of laws as hitherto, and after- ward he was their administrator.

Judge Edmund Waddill was born in Charles City county, Virginia, May 22, 1855, son of Edmund and Mary Louisa (Red- wood) Waddill. He was educated in the public schools, obtaining a good education, to which later he added a course of legal instruction. Meeting all the requirements, he was admitted to the Virginia bar in 1877 and began the practice of law in Richmond, Virginia. Three years later, in 1880, he was elected judge of Henrico county, serving as such three years. In 1883 he was appointed United States district attorney for the east- ern district of Virginia, serving two years.

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A Republican in politics, he entered the political field in 1885 as a candidate for the state legislature, was elected and served in the house of delegates, 1885-89. In 1886 he was the nominee of his party for congress from the third Virginia district, but was de- feated. In 1888 he was again a candidate for the same office from the same district and was elected. He served in the fifty-first congress, 1889-91, then returned to the prac- tice of his profession. In March, 1898, he was appointed United States judge for the eastern Virginia district, and still holds that important judicial office, having been re- appointed.

Judge Waddill married, December 19, 1878, Alma C. Mitchell, of Hanover county, Virginia. His residence is Richmond, Vir- ginia.

Thomas Edgar Frank. All of his life con- nected with printing and journalistic work of some nature, Thomas Edgar Frank has attained worthy success in that line, the "Fauquier Democrat," published weekly at Warrenton, Virginia, being an institution of his founding. He is a descendant of a Virginia family of Essex county, his grand- father having served in the commissary de- partment of the Confederate army during the war of 1861-65, and many others of the name performing service in the ranks of the Confederacy. He is a son of James Edgar and Georgia (French) Frank, his father born in Essex county, Virginia, in 1851, died in 1881, his mother surviving her husband, her death occurring January 5,1915. Georgia was a daughter of Daniel I. French, that being a name that appears frequently in designation of soldiers of the Confederate army.

Thomas Edgar Frank, son of James Ed- gar and Georgia (French) Frank, was born in Essex county, Virginia, March 18, 1875. In his youth he attended the public schools of Manassas and Warrenton, having come from Essex to Prince William county with his parents in 1880 and thence to Fauquier county four years later. Becoming an ap- prentice in the printing office of the "Manas- sas Gazette," he was so employed for four years, and from 1888 until 1907 was a printer on the "True Index," published in Warrenton, Virginia, having in 1905 been employed in the department of printing of the United States government at Washington, District of Columbia. In 1911 Mr. Frank was ap-

pointed to the position of clerk in the house of representatives at Washington, in the fall of 1913 becoming assistant to the chief clerk of that body, an office he holds to the present time. Despite his duties at the capitol he finds time to edit the "Fauquier Democrat," a weekly journal that he established in War- renton, Virginia, in 1905, of which he is sole owner and proprietor.

Compelled by the early death of his father to assume weighty responsibilities at a youthful age, Mr. Frank has overcome the handicap with which he started life, and has achieved substantial ends from his tireless and energetic labors, being held in high and universal regard by a wide circle of friends. He is a member of the Press Club, of Wash- ington, fraternizes with the Knights of the Maccabees, is of Democratic political con- victions, and holds membership in the Prot- estant Episcopal church. He married Sarah Mattie, born in Fauquier county, Virginia, in 1875, daughter of Charles R. and Sarah (Sallie) (Bartlett) McIntosh. One child, Thomas McIntosh, who died in infancy.

Joseph Hartwell Cabell. Joseph Hartwell Cabell bears in his veins the blood of many of the pioneer families of Virginia, and is descended from a very conspicuous early resident of that state, Dr. William Cabell, born March 9, 1699, in Warminster, near Bristol, England, son of Nicholas and Rachel Cabell. He graduated from the Royal Col- lege of Medicine and Surgery in London, and engaged in practice there. Entering the British navy as a surgeon, the vessel on which he sailed landed at Norfolk, Virginia. and was detained there some days, during which time he made an excursion into the interior of the state. Being very much pleased with the country, he decided to set- tle there, returned to England, resigned his position in the navy, and came to Virginia about 1723. For some time he resided in St. James' Parish, of Henrico county, where he is found of record as early as 1726, and where he served as deputy sheriff. He re- moved to Licking Hole Creek in the upper part of the present Goochland county, and in 1728-29 was justice of the county court, member of the grand jury in 1728, and coro- ner in 1729. It is interesting to note that nearly all financial transactions in that day were reckoned in pounds of tobacco. He was the first Englishman to remove west of the mouth of Rockfish river, where he

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Encyclopedia of Virginia biography, Volume V, Part 35

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