USA > Virginia > Encyclopedia of Virginia biography, Volume V > Part 67
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cient Accepted Scottish Rite. His religious affiliation is with the Second Presbyterian Church of Richmond.
Fred Leslie Chapman. In the paternal line, Mr. Chapman traces to the colonial Chapman family of Massachusetts, and through his grandmother, Rachel (Wins- low) Chapman, to Governor Winslow, the Puritan, a passenger on the "Mayflower" and first governor of the colony. The fam- ily intermarriages connect with many of the early Puritan families, and branches are found in every state in the Union. The branch from which Mr. Chapman springs settled in the state of Maine, his father later settling in New Hampshire.
Fred Leslie Chapman is a grandson of Hartley and Rachel (Winslow) Chapman, and a son of Hartley Sewall Chapman, who was born in Maine in 1828, died in 1909, aged eighty-one years. Hartley S. Chap- man, a cotton manufacturer of Somers- worth, New Hampshire, was also promi- nent in political life, held many local offices, and was a member of the New Hampshire legislature. His brother, Clarence Chap- man, was a leader of the Republican party in his district, both he and his brother Hart- ley wielding a strong influence in the state councils of their party. Hartley S. Chap- man married Hannah Maxwell, who died when her son Fred Leslie was an infant, leaving three children, two daughters, El- veretto and Emma, both now deceased, dying in youthful womanhood.
Fred Leslie Chapman, only son of Hart- ley S. and Hannah (Maxwell) Chapman, was born in Somersworth, New Hampshire, December 25, 1854. He obtained a good education in the Somersworth schools, and was early admitted to a business association with his father, a manufacturer of cotton goods. He was employed in the cotton mills of Somersworth until he was thirty-four years of age, becoming thoroughly familiar with every detail of cotton manufacture and mill management. In 1889 he came to Dan- ville, entering the employ of the Riverside Mills, engaged in cotton manufacture. He passed through several grades of promotion, and in 1905 became superintendent of the mills. He is thorough master of his posi- tion, and has brought the plant to a high state of efficiency. He is a Republican on national issues, but in local and state politics
acts with the Democratic party. In 1905 he was elected a member of the city council, serving one term. He is a member of the Baptist church, the Masonic order, the In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows, and the newly formed Tuscarora Club.
Mr. Chapman married, in Danville, De- cember 7, 1910, Lulu Hubbard, born in Campbell county, Virginia, daughter of Thomas Hubbard, a farmer and veteran, Confederate soldier, and Mary Catherine (Payne) Hubbard, his wife, both born in Campbell county. Child, Mary Leslie, born February 16, 1913.
Peter Stumpf. From Offenbach came Peter Stumpf, born in that city of Germany, May 10, 1841, died in Richmond, Virginia, in 1903. He immigrated to the United States when eighteen years of age, and after making his home in New York City, there became connected with a brewing concern. After moving to Richmond, Virginia, he was for many years proprietor and operator of the Home Brewery, withdrawing from this line to open a cold storage plant, of which he was owner at the time of his death. He was a Democrat in politics, affiliated with the Improved Order of Heptasophs, and held membership in the Roman Catholic church, to which his children belong, al- though his widow is a communicant of St. John's Lutheran Church.
Peter Stumpf married, in Richmond, Vir- ginia, December 12, 1896, Hermine, born in Richmond, Virginia, March 4, 1866, daugh- ter of Otto and Marie (Meeke) Morgen- stern. Otto Morgenstern was born in the Duchy of Brunswick, Germany, his father, Henry, having been at one time secretary to the ruler of the Duchy, and a prominent personage in that locality. Henry Morgen- stern had seven children, three of whom are now living in Germany. Otto Morgenstern was born December 22, 1828, died July 14, 1899; when a young man he came to Vir- ginia, settling in Richmond, where he was for forty-five years proprietor of a cafe at Broad and Fourth streets, and where his death occurred. His wife, Marie (Meeke) Morgenstern, was a native of Hanover, Ger- many, and of their six children three sur- vive: Rosalie, married a Mr. Krause ; Emily, married a Mr. Seelinger ; Hermine, of previ- ous mention, married Peter Stumpf. Mrs. Stumpf resides at No. 2336 West Grace
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street, Richmond, with her three children, one, Marie, having died July 14, 1903. The others: Otto, born January 27, 1897; Peter, born February 18, 1898; Dorothy, born April 9, 1903.
Robert Johnson Marks. Mr. Marks came to the Virginia Railway and Power Com- pany in 1904 as an expert on gas production after an experience in this line of about fif- teen years, all of which were passed in the South. With this company in Norfolk he now is associated in responsible capacity, his decade of service in its employ a record of able and faithful performance of duty. The years of Mr. Marks' life prior to his en- trance of the field in which he is now an authority, gas production, were passed as a merchant in the East and as a rancher and cattle raiser in the West. For ten years he has been a resident of Norfolk, Virginia, affiliated with her fraternal, religious, busi- ness and social interests.
Robert Johnson Marks is a native of Bal- timore county, Maryland, where his father, James Kelso Marks, born in 1828, died in 1902, made his home. James Kelso Marks became the owner of fertile and valuable farm land in Baltimore county, Maryland, and there passed his life in successful agri- cultural pursuits. He was a Democrat in politics, and a member of the Presbyterian church. At his death his farm property fell to his eldest son, James Kelso Marks, Jr., who continued its management. Children of James Kelso Marks and his wife, Matilda (Johnson) Marks ; James Kelso, Jr., married Elvina Schurtzer ; Robert Johnson, of whom further; Eliza, married Fred Smith; Ma- tilda.
Robert Johnson Marks, son of James Kelso and Matilda (Johnson) Marks, was born in 1860. After a public school educa- tion he finished his preparation for the work of life by a course in Saddlers' Business Col- lege, of Baltimore, whence he was graduated in 1881. For a few years he was associated in mercantile dealings, in 1885 going west to Montana, remainding for five years, from 1885 to 1890, engaging in ranching and cat- tle raising in that state and in Idaho. Dur- ing this period he began exhaustive study of the subject of the production of gas, re- turning East in 1890 and assuming charge of a gas manufacturing plant at Annapolis, Maryland. From this place he went to
Greensboro, North Carolina, then to Lex- ington, Kentucky, during all of this period continuing his study of the most modern methods and conducting experiments along lines of original thought. In 1904 Mr. Marks accepted his present position, superintend- ent of the gas plant of the Virginia Railway and Power Company, and has since been a resident of Norfolk. His value to this com- pany has not been measured alone by his all inclusive knowledge of his profession, but by the diligence he has shown in its service, his loyalty to its interests, and his faithfulness to the trust reposed in him.
Mr. Marks became a member of Merrick Lodge, No. 31, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, while in Lexington, Kentucky, and is a member of the Benevolent and Protec- tive Order of Elks in Norfolk. Like his father, he is a Democratic sympathizer, and a member of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Marks is a man of quiet life and habits, in many ways a close student, and the deep scientific knowledge upon which is based his professional usefulness and prestige is real- ized and appreciated by those with whom he is associated. He is a director of the Ocean Park Realty Corporation, and direc- tor of the Larchmont Realty Corporation. Robert Johnson Marks married, in 1891, Effie Flanagan, of North Carolina, and has one son, Robert Johnson, Jr., born May 6, 1894. Robert Johnson Marks, Jr., was edu- cated in the public schools of Norfolk, for two years attended Norfolk high school, subsequently took a course in Saddler's Business College, and is now associated with his father in business.
Herbert Jones. Restonica, eldest daughter of James (2) and Maria P. (Hansle) Wood- ward, was born August 10, 1859, and died November 17, 1892. She married, February 27. 1884, Herbert Jones, born August 22, 1859, who survives her, a resident of Nor- folk, and head salesman for the Wasseo Flour Company.
Herbert Jones is a son of Rev. Richard H. Jones and a grandson of Abraham Jones, the latter a large contractor for his early day. He erected many buildings, and among his numerous contracts was placing the turf on the grounds of the fort at Old Point. He was a devout churchman, very charitable. and aided in all good works. He married a Miss Hoffman, of Suffolk county, Virginia.
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Rev. Richard H. Jones was born in Nanse- mond county, Virginia, in 1826, and died in 1902. He was educated in the public schools and took a course in divinity at the Epis- copal College. He was ordained a minister at the age of nineteen years, and from that time until his death was an ardent soldier of the Cross, having his first parish in North Carolina. He was also militant in his nature, and during the entire period of war between the states served as chaplain of a North Carolina regiment. He scorned dan- ger, and wherever there was a suffering sol- dier who desired the consolation of the church, there Chaplain Jones would be found. He was greatly beloved by his regi- ment, and his after life was often gladdened by letters and visits from his old comrades. He saw war in all its horrors, and fervently besought the God of battles that peace might come to his beloved land. He was mustered out at the close of the war at Drury's Bluff, and at once resumed peaceful, ministerial work. He was first located at Wilmington, North Carolina, and then came to Virginia. locating in Norfolk, where he was assistant to Dr. Barton Christ. He was a leader in all forms of charitable work, belonged to all the organizations of a philanthropic nature in the city, and accomplished a great deal of good among the poor. He never questioned a man's creed, his nationality or his color ; if he needed assistance, that was sufficient to commend him to this unselfish, wholly devoted clergyman and Christian gentle- man. He was a prominent Odd Fellow, and used that grand order in his charitable work. He ceased from his labors in 1902 and left a city mourning. He married Harriet Ann, daughter of Rev. Benjamin L. Hoskins and his wife, Marian (Miot) Hoskins, of South Carolina.
Herbert Jones, son of Rev. Richard H. Jones, was born in Oxford, North Carolina, and attended public schools until he com- pleted his preparatory education. He then attended Eastman's Business College at Poughkeepsie, New York, one year, return- ing after completing the course to his home in North Carolina. At the age of nineteen years he became clerk in a general store. From 1881 to 1882 he was employed in a responsible capacity in a general commercial business at Rocky Mount, Oxford county, North Carolina, coming to Virginia in the latter year and locating in Norfolk. He was
there associated with the house of Miller & Rhoads, later was with the Burt Shoe Com- pany, entering the employ of his present house, the Warren Flour Company, in 1910. He is a thorough business man, a strong salesman, and highly regarded as a man. He is a member of the Mt. Moriah Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, a Dem- cerat in politics, and in religion a member of St. Luke's Episcopal Church.
Children of Herbert and Restonica (Woodward) Jones: 1. James Woodward, born April 5, 1885; was educated in Nor- folk public schools; he was variously em- ployed until 1908, when he entered the em- ploy of the Wasseo Flour Company, and is now in charge of their extensive shipping department ; he is a member of lodge, chap- ter, council and commandery of the Masonic order; in religious faith he is an Episco- palian, being a member of St. Luke's Epis- copal Church ; he married, April 8, 1909, India Truesdale, of North Carolina, and has children, James Woodward (2), and Re- stonica Woodward. 2. Herbert Hoskins, of whom further.
Herbert Hoskins Jones, second son of Herbert and Restonica (Woodward) Jones, was born August 26, 1890, and died July 26, 1906. At the time of his death he was a student at Mount Saint Joseph's College, and by his college friends the following beautiful testimonial was prepared and pub- lished :
He pleased God and was beloved; he was taken away lest wickedness should alter his understand- ing, or deceit beguile his soul, being made perfect in short space, he fulfilled a long time: for his soul was pleasing to God, therefore He hastened to bring him out of the midst of iniquities. (Book of Wisdom 4-9-13). No more appropriate words can be found, none eulogize more truly the person of our lamented scholar, fellow student and friend, Herbert Joseph Jones, than the above quotation from the Book of Wisdom. It is sad, very sad to think that such a young, promising life has sud- denly closed, that his day should not even have reached its meridian, and yet it is not altogether sad, as those who witnessed his edifying life during the last two months of his college career, can attest. Although brought up in the Episcopal faith, moved not by words, but by the sacrificing lives of the good Brothers, as he himself acknowledged to his instructor, became a member of the Catholic Church, after a thorough course of instruction, during which he evinced a wonderful knowledge of even the deepest questions, he was baptized (con- ditionally) April 20 of this year. He was a noble character, endowed with most beautiful traits, though his retiring, apparently gloomy disposition
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caused him at times to be misunderstood by others. Fire is always in the flint, but does not appear until drawn forth by a gentle stroke; the harp is mute until the skilled hand elicits harmony that lies in the strings. So his soul, though it contained the fire of affectionate love and the harmony of beau- tiful Virtues, required the corresponding love to produce a lifelong affection and friendship. He is gone, our dear companion and friend, but the re- membrance of his virtues will ever live within the walls of his "Kind Mother." Farewell, dear friend, thou shalt never be forgotten; they body sleepeth in the dust, but thy spirit lives with God, neither do thou forget thy many loyal friends of Mount Saint Joseph's College.
Oscar E. Edwards. Captain Oscar E. Ed- wards came to Norfolk from Boston, Massa- chusetts, and was one of the greatest and most skillful of that noble band of hardy men who in storm and sunshine guard the Virginia coast, the pilots. A follower of the sea from his sixteenth year, he was a thor- cugh master of seamanship, while in judg- ment, courage and devotion he was unsur- passed by any of those, "Who go down to the sea in ships." There is little in the mere mention of the word "pilot" to excite the interest or imagination of those unfamiliar with the sea, but to those who have tra- versed deep water and felt the anxiety that pervades an incoming ship until the pilot comes on board, there is no calling invested with greater interest. Cruising for perhaps one hundred miles off shore and up and down the coast, on the constant watch for incoming vessels, putting out one after an- other of the men on board, until the crew of the pilot boat is often reduced to one man who must return her to the home port and gather again the pilots as they arrive. This handling of the pilot boat in no matter what the weather, for she must remain out to meet any incoming vessel, is but one of the trying items in the pilot's life. Often he must board in a gale, a feat attended with greatest danger, and then when on board is responsible for the safety of the ship he pilots and the lives on board. He cannot choose his ship, but be it steamer or sailer, good or bad, he must understand the man- agement of such a vessel, and bring her safely to port. It is the one business that defies nature, and must be followed with devotion and courage required of no other calling. In all the elements that go to make a great pilot, Captain Edwards excelled, and in his long career gained the admiration and respect of those engaged in his calling and
the confidence of ship owners and captains who committed their property and lives to his care. He led a wonderful life, and by his organization and management of the Pilots' Association, of which he was founder and president, he secured many reforms that benefited both the pilots of the Virginia coast and ship owners as well. He accumu- lated a fortune through his perilous calling by investing his earnings, and he was one of the most prosperous men of his calling. His adventures by sea were most thrilling, yet this modest and intrepid man only con- sidered the risking of his life for others as a part of a pilot's duty and expected no praise. He died in 1906, aged seventy years, having retired from active life some years prior to his death.
Captain Edwards descended from Wil- liam Edwards, born in 1616, died in 1697, at Jamestown, a clerk of council. His wife, Dorothy, bore him male issue.
William (2) Edwards, son of William (1) Edwards, married, in 1678, Elizabeth Harri- son, of Berkeley, and died in 1721.
Micajah Edwards, son of William (2) Ed- wards, married Elizabeth Bloud, of Sussex county, Virginia, and died in 1770.
William (3) Edwards, son of Micajah Ed- wards, married, May 30, 1774, Susannah Ed- wards, of Sussex.
William (4) Edwards, son of William (3) Edwards, was born in 1780, and died Janu- ary 22, 1827. He married, August 17, 1804, Frances Green Seawell, of Gloucester coun- ty, Virginia.
Oscar E. (1) Edwards, son of William (4) Edwards, was born May 4, 1809, and died December 13, 1880. He married, August 23, 1832, Mary Ann Jones, of Boston, Mas- sachusetts.
Oscar E. (2) Edwards, son of Oscar E. (1) and Mary Ann (Jones) Edwards, was born September 16, 1836, and died Novem- ber 20, 1906, at Norfolk, Virginia. He ob- tained a good public school education, and at the age of sixteen years began his long and adventurous career as seaman and pilot. He came to Norfolk from Boston early in life, and resided there the remainder of his life, as before stated. Captain Edwards married, September 8. 1868, Sarah Ann Baker, of Norfolk, born September 16, 1836, daughter of John and Anne (Greene) Baker, the latter daughter of Captain James Greene, an English sea captain, the former a de-
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scendant of the early Baker family of Vir- ginia. Children of Captain Oscar E. and Sarah Ann (Baker) Edwards: I. Baker E., born in Norfolk in 1869, educated in the public schools, and is now secretary to John S. Wise, in New York; he is a member of the Masonic order, is a Knight of Pythias and an Elk; he married Sophia Harrison, a sister of Carter Harrison, mayor of Chicago. 2. Mary A., married J. W. Hunt. 3. Oscar T., born 1874, educated at William and Mary College and University of Pennsylvania, now connected with the auditing depart- ment of the Southern Railway Company ; he married --- Elliott and has children, Oscar (3) and Elliott D. 4. William Howard, born 1879, educated in private schools; he is a member of the Masonic order, Knights of Pythias, being a past chancellor, and a mem- ber of the Grand Lodge, Knights of the Golden Eagle; he married, February 15, 1903, Margaret Topping and has a daugh- ter, Sarah Baker, born in 1904. Mrs. Sarah Ann (Baker) Edwards survives her hus- band, and continues her residence in Nor- folk, her lifelong home.
Frank Eugene Skinner. Major Frank Eu- gene Skinner, treasurer of the Soldiers' Home at Hampton, Virginia, is a descend- ant of old New England ancestors, and comes of a pioneer family of Jefferson coun- ty, New York. The family of Skinner came from Westmoreland, New Hampshire, to Brownville, New York, about the close of the eighteenth century, and was conspicu- ously identified with that town. Another honorable representative of the family was located in the town of Adams, same county.
William E. Skinner, father of Major Skin- ner, was born June 14, 1840, in Jefferson county, New York, son of Amasa Skinner. He received a high school education at Ant- werp, New York, and in young manhood removed to the state of Wisconsin, locating in Calumet county, where he engaged in farming, but being of an energetic and am- bitious nature, he soon engaged in business as a contractor and builder, many buildings in Calumet county being erected by him. Sub- sequently he removed to Washington, D. C., where he continued in the same line of busi- ness, with gratifying success, principally at Takoma Park, a suburb of Washington. He was honest and straightforward in business methods, industrious and capable, and was
highly esteemed by all who knew him. He was a faithful member of the Presbyterian church. He married, September 9, 1869, Mary A. Knickerbocker, born September 25, 1848, daughter of Adam and Catherine (Blakeman) Knickerbocker, of Dutchess county, New York, and of Calumet county, Wisconsin. Children: I. Frank Eugene, born July 5, 1870, of whom further. 2. Cora Lovina, born February 24, 1873, married Hildreth Taltamus, and has children : Mary, Naomi, Paul. 3. Laura Amanda, born Feb- ruary 22, 1877. 4. Arthur William, born April 8, 1883, now a student at George Washington University, and at the same time the proprietor of a prosperous printing establishment. Mr. Skinner died Septem- ber 28, 1898, mourned by family and friends.
The Knickerbocker family, of which Mrs. Skinner is a scion, is a very old one in New York, descended from Godfrey Van Gun- baghen, of Holland, whose third son, Jan Van Beighen Knickerbocker, was a captain in the Dutch navy. He saw service in Bra- zil and in the army of the Netherlands, and in 1650 fought at Antwerp, under Count William Frederick. After the death of Wil- liam II., Prince of Orange, he removed to America, where he died. He married, in Holland, Julianna, daughter of Rutger Van Marmier, Lord of Bostelaer. They had two sons, Garrit Jansen Knickerbocker, who died in Antwerp in 1655, and Hermon Jan- sen, mentioned below.
Hermon Jansen Knickerbocker was born March 18, 1648, at Vielen, was an officer in the Dutch navy, and at the battle of Sole- by, fought with the English and French fleets in 1672, receiving a wound in the knee which incapacitated him. He came to America shortly after his father came, and died at Albany, New York, April 2, 1721. He purchased land in Albany and also at Half Moon, in Dutchess county. He mar- ried, January 3, 1675, at Albany, Elizabeth, daughter of Mynbert Van de Bogaart. Chil- dren: John, born March 16, 1679; Law- rence, mentioned below: Cornelius, born about 1683; Evert, 1687; Peter ; Joanna and Cornelia.
Lawrence Knickerbocker was born in 1681, and lived at Red Hook, Dutchess county, New York, where he died in 1766. He married Catherine Van Horn, and they were the parents of Peter, mentioned be- low.
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Peter Knickerbocker was born in 1711. He married Margaret Bane, and settled near Mount Ross, Dutchess county, New York. Children : Philip, Lawrence, Peter, Benja- min. James, mentioned below, John, Hugh, Elizabeth, Margaret.
James Knickerbocker married Maria Den- nis, and among their children were two sons: 1. Jonas, born 1814, was for many years a partner of Colonel Silas Harris in the manufacture of scythes at Pine Plains, New York. He continued the business for two years after the death of Colonel Harris, and in 1864 built a store at Pine Plains, which he conducted until 1886, when he retired with a competence. 2. Adam, of whom further.
Adam Knickerbocker was born in 1823 at Pine Plains, Dutchess county, New York. In 1852 he removed, with his family, to Calumet county, Wisconsin, where he was among the first settlers in that section of the state. He protected his household from the Indians, cleared the original forest, and through the pursuit of agriculture won from the fertile native soil a good living for his family during the remaining forty-one years of his life. Of sturdy character and un- wavering integrity, he was loved and re- spected far and wide, to a degree beyond that which falls to the lot of most men. He died in 1893. He married Catherine Blake- man, in 1847, and their children were: Mary Amanda, born September 25, 1848; Frederick, August, 1850; Cornelius, April, 1853, died January 10, 1877; Laura Eliza- beth, January 5, 1856; Edward Elbridge, August 19, 1864. All are living at the pres- ent time but Cornelius.
Major Frank Eugene Skinner, son of Wil- liam E. and Mary A. (Knickerbocker) Skin- ner, was born July 5, 1870, in Calumet county, Wisconsin. He was fourteen years of age when his parents removed to Wash- ington, D. C., in 1885. He attended the public schools of the District of Columbia; for four years was a member of the Wash- ington High School Cadets, and retired as colonel ; subsequently took a course in me- chanical engineering at George Washington University, from which he received the de- gree of B. S. in 1899. He also completed a special course in engineering at Cornell Uni- versity. Under his father's instruction he received a full course of training in archi- tecture and practical construction. From
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