Encyclopedia of Virginia biography, Volume V, Part 46

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 46

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).

Charles B. C. Rust, son of John and Eliz- abeth (Marshall) Rust, was born Decem- ber 26, 1816, and died December 17, 1904. He married, September 12, 1839, Mary Ann Ashby, whose family line traces from royal English blood, born October 19, 1817, died April 18, 1883, daughter of Robert B. Ashby, born April 17, 1788, died August 29, 1838,

and granddaughter of Benjamin Ashby. Benjamin Ashby was born in 1745, and was a noted Indian fighter. One of the greatest chiefs of the Indian tribes of that region was buried on his farm in Frederick county, now Warren, on a high peak of the Blue Ridge chain, Mount Venus. Robert B. Ashby married Elizabeth Ash, and at his request he was buried on the highest point of his farm, so that, as he expressed it, he could see over it when he desired. Ashby's Gap, of the Blue Ridge, takes its name from a daring exploit in driving of Captain "Jack" Ashby, of this line, and General Turner Ashby, the dashing, gallant officer of the Confederacy, is of the same branch. Chil- dren of Charles B. C. and Mary Ann (Ashby) Rust: John Robert, of whom fur- ther; Dr. Charles; Ashby; Elton, married Dr. Thaddeus Haynie; Sallie, married Ed- ward Massie; Ida, married Charles Leach ; Attie, also married Charles Leach, and Lou, married Preston Marshall.

John Robert Rust, son of Charles B. C. and Mary Ann (Ashby) Rust, was born June 14, 1840. At the outbreak of the civil war he was a student in Piedmont College, and belonged to the Virginia militia, leaving school to go to the front with the first Southern troops. He joined Company I, Twelfth Regiment of Virginia Cavalry, under the command of his cousin, General Turner Ashby, Captain Charles O'Farrell, afterward Governor O'Farrell, in command of Company I. He served as lieutenant under Captain O'Farrell until that officer was wounded, and from that time until his capture, about sixty days before the final surrender, led the company. With the ex- ception of Gettysburg, when he was left to guard Harper's Ferry, he fought in every important battle engaging the Army of Vir- ginia, serving under General "Stonewall" Jackson, and at Kelley's Island, one of the first engagements of the war, opposed the Union troops commanded by General Lew Wallace. About sixty days before the close of the war he was captured at his home, taken to Fort McHenry, and was there locked in a dark cell because of his refusal to take the oath of allegiance. His war record is a wonderful one, and during the four years of conflict he endured all that comes within a soldier's experience. Six horses were shot from under him and twice he went down with his horse, once wounded in the knee, once in the ankle. After the

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war he returned to his native county of Warren and until 1901 resided at Nineveh, then moved to Haymarket, Prince William county, where he now resides. He is six feet four inches in height, proud of bearing, handsome of face and form, a Virginian of the old type. His services and those of his cousin, General Albert B. Rust, form a chap- ter of loyal service to the cause of the Con- federacy that is as well one of the brightest pages in the family history. He had six first cousins in the army and four were killed.

He married, December 22, 1873, Nannie Antrim Mckay, born October 25, 1848, daughter of Joshua and Esther Ann (Hay- cock) Mckay, and a descendant of the An- trim family of Ireland, representatives of which came to Pennsylvania with William Penn in 1682. The Mckays settled in the valley of Virginia, Warren county, in 1732, among the earliest settlers of that region, and much of the land now owned by mem- bers of the family has been held in the Mc- Kay name since that time. Two of the sons of Joshua and Esther Ann (Haycock) Mc- Kay, Frank H. and Antrim, reside in the valley of Virginia. Children of John Rob- ert and Nannie Antrim (McKay) Rust, all of whom, with the exception of John W., re- side in Haymarket, Prince William county, Virginia: Esther May, born November 18, 1875, married Charles J. Gillis ; Robert An- trim, born September 4, 1877, a farmer, mar- ried Elizabeth Jones and has a daughter, Elizabeth Antrim: Albert Breckenridge, born October 12, 1879, a farmer ; John War- wick, of whom further.

John Warwick Rust, youngest son of John Robert and Nannie Antrim (McKay) Rust, was born in Warren county, Virginia, No- vember 8, 1881. His youth was spent in his native county, where he attended the public schools, and for two years he was a student at Eastern College, Front Royal, Virginia. He prepared for the legal profession in a Fairfax law office, and after thorough prepa- ration took his bar examination in Rich- mond, in June, 1907. Since that time he has been located at Fairfax Court House, and conducts a generous practice in the state and federal courts of his district, the six- teenth judicial district of Virginia. His early success and high standing in the law is a favorable augury for a brilliant future. He is a member of the numerous bar asso- ciations, is a Democrat in political prefer-

ence, and in religious faith is a Presby- terian.

Mr. Rust married, September 27, 19II, Anne Hooe, daughter of Howson (2) Hooe, granddaughter of Howson (I) Hooe, and his wife, Katherine ( McLean) Hooe. How- son (2) Hooe was born August 2, 1845, mar- ried, March 18, 1880, Henrietta Daniell, born December 13, 1850, daughter of Captain Ralph A. C. Daniell, of the English army, who came to Fauquier county, Virginia, in 1873. Anne Hooe was the only child of Howson and Henrietta (Daniell) Hooe. John W. and Anne (Hooe) Rust have two daughters, Katharine Warwick and Elea- nor McLean Rust.

(The Hooe Family).

Arms: "Azure, a fret argent, and chief sable." "The absence of a crest denotes its antiquity, as crests were not generally used in English heraldry prior to 1300." "Hooe is a corruption of the Saxon Hough, and sig- nifies high noble."

The Hooe family of Virginia traces de- scent from Robert Hooe, of Hoo county, Kentshire, England, who died about the year 1000. His son, Sir Thomas Hooe, died in October, 1018, leaving Sir Robert Hooe, Knt., who died in 1129, and was succeeded by his son, Robert Hoo, Knt. The line con- tinues unbroken down to Sir Thomas Hoo, 1410, whose son, Sir Thomas Hoo, married and died, leaving Sir Thomas Hoo, who married Elizabeth, daughter of William de Echingham, and their son, Thomas, was the last of the lords of the manor of Hoo. He was created a baron with the title of Lord Hoo and Hasting in the reign of Henry VI. and was also made a knight of the Garter.

A young brother of Thomas, Lord Hoo and baron of Hastings, settled in Wales, and from him descended Rhuys ( Rice) Hoo, or Hooe, born in Wales in 1599, died in Virginia in 1654. In Hotten we find the following entry. "Rice Hooe, aged 36, em- barqued in the America, from the Town of Gravesend June 23, 1635." In 1637 Rice Hooe received a grant of seven hundred acres of land in James City county ; on May 9, 1638, a grant of twelve hundred acres : and in 1649 a grant for nineteen hundred and sixty-nine acres, all given, as was the custom of the day, as rewards for his activ- ity in bringing colonists from England. Rice Hooe was in the colony at a very early date, as he was a member of the house of

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burgesses in 1632-33, and afterward went back to England, returning to Virginia in 1635. In the colony he married Sarah -, who qualified on his estate, Decem- ber 3, 1655. Rice Hooe left an only child, Rice (2) Hooe (?).

Rice (2) Hooe (?) married Jane Seymour St. Mars, of Norman descent, whose for- bears settled in Wales after the conquest. Rice Hooe (?) died in 1748, father of an only child, Rice.

Rice Hooe patented one thousand acres of land in King George county, at Hooe's Ferry, on the Potomac river, and in 1715 erected a fine old colonial residence known as "Barnesfield." This old house was in a perfect state of preservation until June 25, 1861, when it was set on fire by Federal gun- boats. Seven generations of the Hooe fam- ily lie buried at "Barnesfield," where a large marble shaft tells the story of their births and deaths. Rice Hooe was a member of the house of burgesses and was vestryman for Overwharton parish from 1700 to 1703, and was promoted from the rank of captain to that of lieutenant-colonel in the colonial militia. Rice Hooe married (first) Anne, daughter of Robert Howson and widow of Captain Robert Massie, and was afterward married twice. Robert Howson patented, in 1669, six thousand acres that are now a part of the site of the city of Alexandria, Virginia. Rice Hooe died in 1758.

Howson Hooe, fourth son of Rice Hooe and his first wife, Anne (Howson-Massie) Hooe, married Frances Bernard, who bore him a son Howson (2), of whom further.

Howson (2) Hooe, son of Howson (I) and Frances (Bernard) Hooe, was sheriff and justice for Prince William county, 1761 to 1769, and in 1791 was vestryman for Det- tingen parish. He married Mary, daughter of Robert Dade, and granddaughter of Fran- cis Dade and Lady Frances (Townshend) Dade, the second wife of his grandfather (lieutenant-colonel). Rice Hooe. Lady Frances was a sister of Lady Mary Town- shend, who married John Washington. The Townshends nobly descended from Ludovic, a Norman knight who assumed his wife's name. Lady Frances was a cousin of Vis- count Townshend, of the ministry of George 1., was the daughter of Colonel Robert and Mary (Langhorne) Townshend, sister of Sir William Langhorne, of Newton, Brown- shall, Northamptonshire, and granddaugh- ter of Captain Richard and Frances ( Bald-

win) Townshend. Captain Townshend sailed from England on the "Abigail" and landed at Jamestown in 1620. He studied medicine with Dr. John Pott, the first physi- cian-general to the colony of Virginia, and was a member of the house of burgesses and of the governor's council, 1636-1645. How- son (2) and Mary (Dade) Hooe had chil- dren : Henry Dade, married Jane Fitzhugh, of King George county, and died in 1806, leaving issue, Henry Dade (2), Howson, and Daniel Fitzhugh. Howson, son of Henry Dade Hooe, was thrice married, the children of his third wife, Nancy Reed, being John; Daniel Bernhard, who went to Cali- fornia in 1849; Harmon ; Eyrich Richard, of the Confederate States army, who was killed in battle; Sallie, and John, who married Mary Farr and had a son, James Cecil, LL. B., colonel on the staff of Governor J. Hogg Tyler, of Virginia. Colonel James Cecil Hooe married Edith, daughter of Nelson A. Dingley, governor of Maine, and long a member of congress, and has a son, Ding- ley ; Robert Howson, of whom further ; and Daniel Fitzhugh.

Robert Howson Hooe, son of Howson (2) and Mary (Dade) Hooe, was born at Buck Hall, the home of his father in Prince William county, Virginia, and died in Fau- quier county, Virginia, at the age of eighty- six years. He was sheriff and justice of Stafford county from 1796 to 1798. Rob- ert Howson Hooe married Mary, daugh- ter of Major Richard and Matilda Waugh, her mother a sister of the celebrated Dr. Charles Stewart Waugh, whose professional skill gained him wide fame in the Northern Neck of Virginia. Matilda Waugh was a granddaughter of the militant parson, Rev. John Waugh, who, after the death of Crom- well, favored the organization of a militia to oppose Charles II. if he should attempt to compel the colony of Virginia to abjure Protestantism. Robert Howson and Mary (Waugh) Hooe had issue: Anne; Rice; Howson, married Katherine McLean, and was the grandfather of Anne Hooe, wife of John Warwick Rust ; Matthias, Mary, John, Robert, and Sallie, who died at the great age of one hundred years and six months.

Edward Wilkerson Krouse. John Krouse, a drummer boy in the Confederate army, serving throughout the entire war period, was born in Richmond, Virginia, and there died at the age of forty-nine years. After

Edw. W. Krause

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the war he located in Baltimore, Maryland, remaining four years, then returned to Rich- mond, where for twenty-one years he was engaged in the grocery business. He mar- ried and left male issue.

Edward Wilkerson Krouse, son of John Krouse, was born in Baltimore, Maryland, September 5, 1870, and was brought to Richmond by his parents when he was an infant. He there grew to manhood, was educated in the public schools and began business life in his father's grocery store, at the corner of Brook avenue and Broad street. He was associated with his father for two years then spent two years on the road in theatrical work. Subsequently he located in Newport News, Virginia, where in 1890 he opened the first steam laundry in that city. After four years in Newport News he returned to Richmond, and in 1899 established his present wholesale bottle business. He is a Democrat in politics, a member of the Order of Heptasophs, the Eagles, Lodge No. 338, and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and of St. John's German Lutheran Church.

He married, April 20, 1892, at St. John's Church, Rev. Paul Manzel officiating, Au- gusta H. Wagner, born in Richmond, Vir- ginia, daughter of William and Emma (Senf) Wagner, both of her parents being born in Bremen, Germany. Children of Mr. and Mrs. Krouse: Emily, born February 15, 1895; Ethel, born October 26, 1897; Venus, born January 9, 1899; Edward, born October 24, 1901.

Holt Fairfield Butt. When the entire world was saddened by the loss of the great steamship "Titanic," a feeling of pride filled every American's heart as he read of his brave countrymen who with persistence stood back and insisted, "Women and chil- dren first," at opportunity of escape. Among these was Major Archibald Willingham Butt, military aide to President Taft, re- turning from leave of absence. He was an officer of the regular army, and was a rela- tive and friend of Holt F. Butt, of Ports- mouth, Virginia, who preserves much cor- respondence exchanged in the course of their friendship.

The Butt family came to Virginia from the island of Barbadoes, West Indies, be- tween 1640 and 1650, the original settlers, Robert and James Butt, patenting land in lower Norfolk county that remained in the

possession of the family for many years. The prominence that the members of the family attained in the lines of endeavor that claim men of talent, mental capacity and ability is well illustrated by the worthy posi- tion held in the medical profession by Dr. Robert Bruce Butt, father of Dr. Holt Fair- field Butt, who succeeded the elder Butt in the practice of medicine. Dr. Robert Bruce Butt was for many years one of the leading physicians of Portsmouth, and during the civil war served in the state militia. Dr. Holt Fairfield Butt, son of Dr. Robert Bruce Butt, was educated in the University of Vir- ginia and the University of Pennsylvania, receiving his M. D. from the latter institu- tion, and passed a life of useful professional activity. He married Emily Susan, daugh- ter of Dr. William Sumner Riddick, and had issue.

Holt Fairfield Butt, Jr., son of Dr. Holt Fairfield and Emily Susan ( Riddick) Butt, was born in 1861. Public and private schools were the sources of his early edu- cation, and he completed his studies in the Portsmouth Military Academy, then enter- ing mercantile life. Leaving this activity for railroad associations, he was thus em- ployed until 1902, in which year he was appointed postmaster of Portsmouth, Vir- ginia, by President Roosevelt, reappointed in 1906. He was confirmed in office by President Taft in 1910, retiring from service in 1914, after twelve years passed in an office whose important duties he competently discharged. He holds membership in lodge and chapter of the Masonic order, and is a life member of the Benevolent and Protec- tive Order of Elks. His church is the Trin- ity Protestant Episcopal, and he has been a life-long member of the Republican party. Mr. Butt is well-known and highly regarded in Portsmouth, where he has passed his active life, and is associated with all that stands for the best in civil life. He married, November 2, 1905, Leonora Wilcox, and has children : Holt Fairfield (3), born January 16, 1907; Bruce Wilcox, born October 16, 1909.

Benjamin S. Motley. Pittsylvania county, Virginia, has been the birthplace of many generations of the line of Motley. David Motley, the grandfather of Benjamin S. Motley. was born near Chatham, in that county. in 1797. Throughout all of the active period of his eighty-two years of life

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he was a farmer, conducting operations of an agricultural nature with excellent suc- cess. He married Elizabeth Nichols, a native of Pittsylvania county, one of their eight children, Washington, attaining an age of more than eighty years, following the occupation of his father. Of another of their sons, David Samuel, further mention is made.

David Samuel Motley, son of David and Elizabeth (Nichols) Motley, was born near Chatham, Pittsylvania county, Virginia, January 3, 1831, died April 5, 1862. His occupation was farming, but at the Southern call to arms he left his home and farm, and enlisted in the Confederate army, being im- mediately sent to the front. He was the possessor of an extraordinarily strong phy- sique, but the abuses of exposure and in- sufficient nourishment completely broke his health and he fell victim to a fever that caused his death, adding another name to the long list that during those four years died neither from sabre-thrust nor bullet- wound. He married, in 1850, Elizabeth Watson, born near Chatham. Pittsylvania county, October 7, 1829, died January 31, 1905, daughter of Shimei and Mary (Far- thing) Watson. Her father was a native of Pittsylvania county, a farmer, and died about forty years of age, the father of nine children, one of whom, Shimei H., died in 1914, and William R. is living in Charlotte county at the present time, 1915. Both were soldiers in the Confederate army during the war with the states, Shimei H. serving through the entire conflict, being taken pris- oner at the battle of Gettysburg, and was a successful farmer of Pittsylvania county up to the time of his death in 1914. Children of David Samuel and Elizabeth (Watson) Motley : 1. James Abel, born September 27, 1851, manager and one of the principal stock- holders of the firm of Benefield, Motley & Company. 2. Mary Frances, married Wil- liam H. Moore, a farmer of Surry county, Virginia, a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. 3. David Pendleton, born December 10, 1854, died April 18, 1873. 4. Phoebe Ann, born February 6, 1857, mar- ried A. M. Jeffries, of Culpeper county, Vir- ginia, and at her death was survived by three children, two daughters and one son. 5. Benjamin Shimei, of whom further men- tion is made. 6. Elizabeth, born August 2, 1861, married John W. Owens, who died in 1886, survived by his wife and two sons,

Mrs. Owens making her home in Danville, Virginia.

Benjamin Shimei Motley, son of David Samuel and Elizabeth (Watson) Motley, was born near Callands, Pittsylvania county, Virginia, March 13, 1859, and was reared on the home farm at Weal, in that county. His father's death occurred when he was three years of age and he aided his mother on the farm until he was sixteen years old, during that time obtaining an education in the pub- lic schools. At that age he went to Dan- ville and was there first employed as office boy by Estes & Wooding, remaining in that service in different capacities for nine years. At the end of that time he associated in general merchandising with his brother, J. Abel Motley, under the firm name of J. A. Motley & Brother. This firm transacted business for one year, when it became Mot- ley & Taylor, so continuing for five years to be succeeded by Motley & Mitchell; a house that traded until 1895. In that year Mr. Motley purchased the hardware depart- ment and formed the firm of B. S. Motley & Company, which was successively changed to Motley & Ley, and Traylor, Peterson & Motley. In 1900 the business became the Piedmont Hardware Company, and four years later Mr. Motley bought the retail branch, and in November of 1904 incor- porated the B. S. Motley & Company, of which organization he is president, treas- urer and general manager. This firm occu- pies two buildings on different blocks on Main street, Danville, its line being hard- ware, machinery, mill supplies, cutlery, roof- ing, paints, etc., all lines being complete, only the goods of the most reputable manu- facturers being handled. The trade mark of the firm is "Everwear" and with this they stamp goods bearing their personal guaran- tee; and have a special line of paints and varnishes bearing this as its sole designa- tion. The business is an important one and representative among many institutions, sturdy, strong and successful. Mr. Motley is a director of Benefield, Motley & Com- pany, Inc., and the Phoenix Loan and Sav- ings Company. His church is the Mount Vernon Methodist Episcopal Church, hold- ing a position upon the board of stewards; his political creed is summed up in "good citizenship, applied to every need of munici- pal life," a belief in which one cannot go far astray. For six years he was a member of the school board, and because of his high

Yours truly. Anne ReefMillan

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standing in the community and the influ- ence he would give to a party ticket, has frequently been urged to accept a nomina- tion for public office, never yielding to the importunities of his friends in this respect.

Mr. Motley married, in Danville, Virginia, Sallie P. Farley, born in Danville, January 21, 1863, daughter of Kerr and Susan (Cous- ins) Farley. Her father was a native of North Carolina, served in the Confederate army in the war between the states, losing one finger in battle, and died in 1891, aged fifty-five years. His wife now (1915) lives in Danville, aged seventy-five years. Chil- dren of Mr. and Mrs. Motley: 1. David Orion, born November 1, 1885, died aged nineteen months. 2. Pearl Cousins, born October 1, 1887, teacher, and lives at home, unmarried. 3. Ocris Benjamin, born De- cember 12, 1889, a clerk in the employ of his father, married Eva Osborne, of Danville, July 24, 1914. 4. Butra Lee, born August 18, 1892, a graduate of the Edith Coburn Noyes School of Expression and Culture, of Boston, Massachusetts, an ex- pressionist teacher ; lives at home. 5. Avon Kerr. 6. Aubrey Abel. Both of the two previously mentioned died aged twenty months. 7. Watson Farley, born November 3, 1898, a student in Danville. 8. Sara Hope, born November 28, 1901. 9. Albert Edward, born January 16, 1906. 10. Harold Chapell, born March 16, 1908. II. Abel Irwin, born February 7, 1910.

Samuel Rolfe Millar. The Millar family is an old one in Virginia, and has given members to answer every call of patriotism or duty, Mr. Millar owning revolutionary descent through the service of his ancestors in that conflict. The Millar family settled near Front Royal in 1740, on land which Colonel Millar now owns. He is a grand- son of Isaac Millar and a son of Samuel Richardson Millar, his father born at Front Royal, Warren county, Virginia, May 31, 1817, died October 31, 1861. Samuel R. Millar was an attorney ; married Susan Ran- dolph, born in Cumberland county, Vir- ginia, September 2, 1821, died March 9, 1882, daughter of General Thomas Beverly Ran- dolph. Among the children of Samuel R. and Susan (Randolph) Millar was Samuel Rolfe, of whom further.

Samuel Rolfe Millar was born in Front Royal, Warren county, Virginia, May 21, 1857, and there attended the public schools.

He afterward matriculated at Griswold Col- lege, Davenport, Iowa, and was there gradu- ated. Journeying abroad, he there pursued advanced studies and in 1880 received a Ph. D. from the University of Heidelberg. His German residence and knowledge of the tongue and customs of that country were invaluable to him in his later incumbency of the consulship to Leipsic, Germany, an office to which he was appointed in 1886 by President Grover Cleveland, serving so until 1890. In the latter year he returned to the United States.

In his early life Mr. Millar became familiar with farm life, and at that time formed a liking for such pursuits that has never de- serted him, although for long extended periods he has found it impossible to gratify his desires in that direction. He is now the owner of much land in the vicinity of his home, and as far as his journalistic duties will permit, gives his farms his personal attention. It is in every way probable that the method Mr. Millar would prefer would be to don overalls and to follow the season through, from plowing time to harvest, fill- ing an active part in the cultivation of his lands, but duty decrees otherwise. He is lieutenant-colonel of the Second Virginia Regiment, National Guards, and is aide-de- camp of Governor Stuart ; is president of the Front Royal Horse Show Association, and of the Front Royal Board of Trade, and president of the Warren Sentinel Publish- ing Company. He is a member of the Ma- sonic order, belonging to lodge, chapter. commandery and shrine, his lodge being Unity, No. 147, Free and Accepted Masons. His political allegiance is Democratic, and he is a vestryman of the Protestant Epis- copal church.

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Encyclopedia of Virginia biography, Volume V, Part 46

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