Encyclopedia of Virginia biography, Volume V, Part 70

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 70

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John Willett, son of Cornelius and Nancy (Whalen) Willett, was born January 10, 1790, and settled not far from the paternal homestead, in Tinmouth, Rutland county, Vermont. Thence he returned to his native county, settled in North Granville, New . York. He entered the war of 1812 as a drummer boy, but never reached the front. He was a successful farmer, and active in the interests of the Presbyterian church. He married Salinda Allen, a descendant of Ethan Allen, the revolutionary hero of Ver- inont. Their son. Addison Willett, born 1820, in Tinmouth, was eight years old when his parents removed to North Granville. His

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J.a. mitchell

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primary education was supplied by public schools, and he subsequently graduated from Union College at Schenectady, New York. He inherited the paternal homestead, and after farming for some years, became teller in the North Granville National Bank, which position he held until the time of his death in 1886. He was a member of the Presbyterian church, in which he was an elder, and was active in public affairs, join- ing his political fortune with the Republi- can party upon its organization. He mar- ried, 1853, Rhoda Barrett, born 1826, died 1872. Children: I. John Addison, of fur- ther mention below. 2. Mary A. W., born 1856, married, in 1881, Lemma Bishop Man- ville, of New York, and was the mother of William Willett, born 1882; Anna Barrett, 1890, married George Alexander Parker, and had Mary Annett Parker, born 1913. 3. William W., born 1858; married, 1882, Mary Ella Leveridge, and had: Seymour, born 1885, and Eloise, 1888. Seymour Wil- lett married, 1909, Grace Morrell, and had : Elizabeth, born 1911, William Ward, 1913. Eloise Willett married, 1911, Henry Byrd Prout. and is the mother of William Willett Prout, born 1913. 4. Anna B., born 1860; married, 1885, Frank B. Mason, and is the mother of: Marion, born 1890, and Gladys, 1893. Marion Mason married, 1913, Hugh Robinson, and is the mother of Frank M. Robinson, born 1914.

John Addison Willett was born April 26, 1854, in North Granville, New York, and was educated in the academy there. At a very early age he was accustomed to assist his father in the labors of the farm, and he assumed its management when the father engaged in the banking business. Subse- quently the son was also employed in the bank, and after the death of his father suc. ceeded the latter as teller. He continued as teller of the North Granville National Bank until 1891, when he removed to New- port News, Virginia, to take the position of cashier in the Bank of Newport News, which became later the First National Bank of Newport News. In this he is a director, and is also a director and president of the Mutual Home Savings Association. Like his forbears he is actively identified with the Presbyterian church, and now holds the position of elder in that body. He married, December 20, 1876, Frances Allene Wiley, born 1853, and they are the parents of two

children: 1. John Addison Willett (2), educated at the Newport News Military Academy, was employed for a time in the shipyard of that city, and is now paying teller of the First National Bank of Newport News; married Ida Crossley and has one child living, John Addison Willett (3). 2. Allene Wiley Willett, a graduate of Miss Fuller's school. Ossining, New York ; mar- ried Leroy Summerfield Edwards, and they have one child, Frances Willett Summer- field.

Marinus Willett, to whose memory was erected a bronze tablet at the corner of Beaver and Broad streets, New York City, was also a descendant of Colonel Thomas Willett, above mentioned. He was born in Jamaica. Long Island, New York, July 31. 1740, died in New York City, August 22, 1830. He was a lieutenant under General James Abercrombie in the expedition against Fort Ticonderoga and took part in the cap- ture of Fort Frontenac. He was one of the foremost agitators of the cause of American independence, and a member of the Sons of Liberty, that on June 6, 1775, prevented the sending of arms from the arsenal to the British troops in Boston harbor. He was commissioned captain in the patriot army ; served under Richard Montgomery in the invasion of Canada, and was given com- mand of the post at St. Johns, after the cap- ture. He was appointed lieutenant-colonel of the Third New York Regiment ; was sec- ond in command at Fort Stanwix, and gain- ed a victory over Colonel St. Leger. He served under General Washington in New Jersey, 1778-79; took part in Sullivan's ex- pedition against the Six Nations, and com- manded the American forces in the Mohawk Valley, 1780-83. He was a member of the state assembly, 1783-84; sheriff of New York. 1784-92, and a commissioner to treat with the Creek Indians in 1794 ; he succeed- ed DeWitt Clinton as mayor of New York, 1807, served until 1808, and was the unsuc- cessful Tammany nominee for lieutenant- governor in 1817, the ticket headed by De- Witt Clinton succeeding in defeating the Tammany forces.

Timothy Ayer Mitchell. Timothy Ayer Mitchell, chief of police of Newport News, belongs to a Virginia family of Prince George county, and exemplifies the sterling qualities which have ever distinguished the

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Southern gentleman. The name of Mitchell appears frequently in the early colonial rec- ords of Virginia, and is found in Prince George county as early as 1717, when Henry Mitchell, Jr., received a grant of three hun- dred and twenty-seven acres, and Thomas Mitchell two hundred and fifteen acres. The records show that there were thirteen of this name in the revolution from Virginia. As early as 1682 Thomas Mitchell received sixteen hundred and eighty acres in New Kent county. He was a church warden of St. Peter's parish in New Kent in 1687, and soon after the records of that parish show that Stephen and Stephen Mitchell, Jr., were residents there. The name appears in Acco- mac county in 1662, and in Rappahannock county in 1676. George Mitchell was a prominent merchant in Fredericksburg in 1771, and he appears in the records there for some years succeeding.

George Russell Mitchell, a native of Prince George county, Virginia, was a planter there, and gave much attention to bee culture, maintaining many colonies of this busy little insect. He was a soldier of the war of 1812, and for this service his widow received a pension. A member of the Baptist church, politically a Democrat, he was a very generous man and yery highly esteemed in the community where he lived. He married a widow who had children, and his own children were: Elly, Edmona and Andrew Russell.

Andrew Russell Mitchell was born 1837, and died 1906. He attended the common schools for a brief period, was busily occu- pied upon the paternal farm until the be- ginning of the war between the states, when he enlisted at the first call for troops. He became a member of the Twenty-second Virginia Battalion, which served in Hook- er's brigade, and was promoted successively from private to corporal and sergeant. He seemed to be absolutely devoid of fear, and was frequently called upon for most danger- ous undertakings. Whenever a volunteer was called for in this connection he was always the first to offer his services. Most of his time in the army was spent as a scout, because of his ability to think quickly and work his way out of difficulties. He par- ticipated in the battles of the Wilderness, Seven Pines, Manassas, Fredericksburg, Spottsylvania Court House, Antietam and Gettysburg. Shortly previous to Lee's sur-

1 ender he was wounded and captured. When peace came he returned to his native county and resumed farming. He attained a high position in the regard of his fellow citizens, served many years as justice of the peace, and in other public capacities. He was a Bap- tist in religion, and adhered to the prevailing political opinion of his time. He married, Au- gust 16, 1865, Mary Jane Goodrich, born 1837, daughter of George W. and Deniza (White) Goodrich, of Surry county, Virginia, granddaughter of William Goodrich, who came from England, settled in Surry county, and married Avery Holloway. Both he and his son, George W., were American soldiers in the war of 1812. Children of Andrew R. Mitchell: 1. Lelia Wilson, born April 9, 1868; married, September 24, 1890, Ollie G. Derring, born 1860, died 1911. 2. Timothy Ayer, of further mention. 3. Macklin S., born 1872; married Carrie Magee, and has children : Coney W., born July, 1894, died 1908; Alma, born July, 1896; Louise, born October, 1899.

Timothy Ayer Mitchell was born January 18, 1870, in Prince George county, Virginia. He attended the common schools there, and assisted in the labors of the paternal farm, whose outdoor life gave him a strong physi- cal make-up. As soon as he attained his majority he became deputy treasurer and collector of his native county. In the fol- lowing year he settled at Newport News as deputy sheriff, under Sheriff E. W. Milstead, and for two years served as jailer. In June. 1894, he was made a patrolman on the police force of Newport News, and in this depart- ment worked his way upward through the various branches, until July 1, 1910, when he became chief of the department. Under his jurisdiction the police force of the city has made steady advancement, and is now one of the most efficient and well disciplined in the state. Under the modern system a motorcycle traffic officer is kept busily occu- pied, and a motor patrol wagon is kept in operation. Mr. Mitchell was the organizer of the Police Relief Association, and also of a detective department, and the system has been entirely reorganized after a study and observation of other systems in vogue in modern cities. Mr. Mitchell finds his recre- ation chiefly in the care of his farm in War- wick county, Virginia, where he produces various kinds of grain and live stock, and maintains several colonies of bees. He is

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past master of Bremond Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and a past chan- cellor of Warwick Lodge, No. 72, Knights of Pythias. He is also a member of the Heptasophs, and the Junior Order of United American Mechanics. He is a member of the Orcott Avenue Baptist Church, a Demo- crat politically, and a man of fine character, with genial and affable manners, respected and esteemed by the entire community. He married, October 11, 1898, Mattie T. Daniel, daughter of Dr. William B. and Martha (Tucker) Daniel, of Prince George county, Virginia. Children: Ashton Daniel, born July 9, 1899; Timothy Russell, May 29, 1908; Dorothy, December 9, 1914.

Christopher Columbus Curtis. One of the best safeguards which a community can have against corruption in politics is for its best citizens to mingle freely in the local party organizations and take an active part in the conduct of public affairs. There is a surprising reluctance on the part of the upper strata of society to do this in many parts of the country with a result that the most important of public functions is left in the hands of those the least capable of properly performing it. Such is not the case in Virginia, however, where the traditions of a splendid past possess a vitality suffi- cient to urge all men to do their duty by their fellows in this respect, and from a spur to the ambitions of youth in a direction so well worth while. The distinguished gentle- man whose name heads this sketch is not therefore an exception to the rule, but merely serves to typify the happy custom of his native region in a political career already most honorable and which seems to promise a still more successful future. He is a scion of a family that has lived uninterruptedly in the "Old Dominion" from the time that its founder in this country came from Eng- land and settled in York county in the years just preceding the revolutionary war. Ed- mund Curtis, the immigrant ancestor, made his first home on a large tract of land grant- ed him by the King bounded by Cheese- man's creek, the coast and York river, at Fishneck, York county, Virginia. He was married to Ann Carey and by her had five children, two sons, Edmund and Miles, and three daughters, Patsy, Diana and Nancy. Edmund Curtis, the eldest son, took part in the war of 1812, serving under General

Howe, and to him descended, on his father's death, all the latter's valuable estate. Miles Curtis, the second son and the grandfather of the present Mr. Curtis, born February 9, 1791, also served in the war of 1812. He made his home in Warwick county, near the site of the present reservoir at Lee's Mills. He married, December 25, 1816, Sarah Har- wood, born November 29, 1800, near Lee- Hall, Virginia, and by her had children, as follows: Martha K. ; Edmond ; Robert, de- ceased ; Nancy : Humphrey H., deceased ; Miles Carey; Thomas, of whom further ; Humphrey H .; Christopher; Sarah; John, died in infancy ; Mary H. ; Frances C .; Rob- ert : William H .; John L.

Thomas Curtis, the father of Christopher Columbus Curtis, was born in 1826, at the Lee's Mills Homestead. He received his education at the local public schools. After completing his schooling he entered busi- ness on his own account and built up a large trade in fish and oysters in his native region. He also engaged in farming and was suc- cessful in this as well. He was a man of the greatest energy who never seemed to tire of work. He was a Democrat and took an active part in the politics of his neighbor- hood and altogether made himself promi- nent place in the community. He was twice married, the first time to Frances Randall, and by her had twenty-one chil- dren, the second time to Sarah Moss, and had by her nine children. The youngest of these now makes his home at the Clements farm, near Halstead's Point, where he is familiarly known as "Number Thirty." Of all the twenty-one children born to him by his first wife, only four reached the age of maturity. The eldest of these was his daughter Cora, who married (first) Wil- liam T. Simmons, of Maryland, to whom she bore three children, as follows: William A. ; Natalie, now Mrs. W. H. Daughtrey ; and Mary F., married (first) M. F. Dial, and (second) W. W. Bland, of Crewa, Virginia. After the death of her first husband Mrs. Simmons married (second) George W. Ged- dy, and they are the parents of two children, Mattie Louise, and Maud E., now Mrs. Thomas Lee, of Newport News. The sec- ond of the children of Thomas and Frances (Randall) Curtis to grow to maturity was Christopher Columbus Curtis, of whom fur- ther. The third was Irene Powers, now Mrs. William Kirby, and the mother of four

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children, as follows: Fannie, now Mrs. Thomas Fleming; Lucy ; Mary and Harry. Alvin Curtis, now a resident of Old Point Comfort, was the fourth of the children of Thomas Curtis to survive childhood.

Christopher Columbus Curtis was born October 27, 1867, on Mulberry Island, War- wick county, Virginia, and there passed his childhood and early youth, receiving his education in the excellent public schools of that locality. He was an excellent scholar and even in school displayed those abilities that have since distinguished him. Imme- diately after the completion of his studies he secured a clerical position in the local general store with the purpose of learning the business and familiarizing himself with commercial methods generally. He inherit- ed much of the great energy of his father, and not confining himself to the perform- ance of his clerical duties, started out as a farmer on a small scale as well. He pros- pered in both his tasks, but his enterprising nature made him desire a larger field for his efforts and activities and led him, in the year 1900, to come to Newport News, where he secured a position as deputy city ser- geant, in which capacity he served faithfully and efficiently for a term of nine years. At the close of this period he re-entered the mercantile business, this time in Newport News, and continued this enterprise with success until November, 1913, when he was elected city sergeant for a term of four years. On January 1, 1914, Mr. Curtis took office and is at present occupied in the dis- charge of the duties involved therein. In this he has given eminent satisfaction to the whole community, and thus confirmed a popularity which already existed as a result of his attractive personality and democratic attitude towards all men. Mr. Curtis has not by any means confined his participation in the life of the community to those two aspects of it concerned with business and politics, but has mingled in many depart- ments of activity, and with conspicuous suc- cess in each. He is a prominent figure in the social circles of the city and takes an active part in the Junior Order of United American Mechanics, of which he is a trus- tee. In religion Mr. Curtis is affiliated with the Baptist church and is earnest in his work to advance its interests.

Mr. Curtis was united in marriage, March 21, 1901, with Mamie Boutchard, a native of

Fredericksburg, Virginia, and a daughter of John W. and Fannie (Brown) Boutchard, old and honored residents of that city. To them has been born one daughter, January 27, 1903, Cora Randall Curtis. Success in any vocation is attributable first of all to fundamental virtues of character which win the confidence and esteem of men. A fictitious success sometimes, indeed, results from showy surface brilliancies which dazzle our senses, but in this sophisticated age peo- ple have grown too well acquainted with the truth of the old adage that all is not gold that glitters, not to quickly penetrate to the true nature of the metal beneath the surface glow. Stability of achievement therefore must be built upon some more secure foun- dation, and it is on a base of real worth that Mr. Curtis is founding his. He has brought to the discharge of his public duties the same enthusiasm, the same vigor and energy that have characterized him in the pursuit of his private ends. This springs primarily from the attitude of mind which recognizes in the affairs of others rights similar to those which are seen in one's own, and it is equiva- lent to saying that Mr. Curtis possesses this attitude to say that he is essentially a Dem- ocrat. It is this quality which, in his per- sonal relations with his fellows, gives Mr. Curtis his popularity. To him men are men, without regard to the external circum- stances of wealth and position, and he treats them accordingly. There are none too hum- ble to find an easy access to him, and none too proud for him to shrink from approach- ing. It is such characters that are potent in influencing their environment for good, and as Mr. Curtis is just in the prime of life, and his powers are in their very zenith, there is every reason to believe that he will continue to exert his beneficent influence for many years to come.

James Early McMurran. James Early McMurran, of Newport News, Virginia, is descended from Scotch-Irish ancestors, who came to America about 1775 and settled in Jefferson county, Virginia. To this element in its population the Old Dominion owes much of its development and high moral worth. These people were enterprising, in- dustrious and pious, and have preserved in an eminent degree the characteristics of those who went before. They belong to the same class as those who settled New England, for

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it was to avoid religious persecution that the early ancestors left their native Scotland to settle in Northern Ireland, where they were permitted largely to direct their own local concerns, and to pursue their own methods of worship. Thus they gathered in com- munities, keeping aloof largely from those about them, and preserved in consentrated form the idioms, usages and faith of their forbears. On their arrival in Virginia they became at once Americans, fighting for civil and religious liberty, and developing the re- sources of the country through their indus- try and enterprise. The ancestors of the McMurran family became prosperous, were prominent in local affairs, representing their community in the legislature, and setting forth by moral example and generous hos- pitality the highest and purest of domestic virtues. Of this family Joseph McMurran, born 1794, in Jefferson county, died August, 1854. He married, in December, 1822, Eliz- abeth Snodgrass, also of Scotch ancestry, who died in February, 1870. They had chil- dren: Margaret, Ann, Joseph (died in in- fancy), Elizabeth, Joseph, William Snod- grass, Maria, Mary Susan, James, and Lulu Peyson.

James McMurran was born May 29, 1840, in Shepherdstown, Virginia, and was edu- cated under the care of private tutors and at Delaware College. He started out in life in the mercantile business, and in July, 1861, having just passed his twenty-first birthday anniversary, he enlisted in Company G, of the Fourth Virginia Infantry, under Captain R. F. Trigg and Colonel James F. Preston, which became a part of Stonewall Jackson's brigade, of the Confederate army. In this service Mr. McMurran received a wound which caused his discharge from the army, and during the last year of the war he served as collector of taxes in the counties of Montgomery and Floyd. After this he went to Hillsville, Carroll county, Virginia. where he conducted a store, and at the same time edited a newspaper called the Carroll "Weekly News." He married, February 26, 1868, Sallie E. Early, born August 13, 1844, and their children were: James Early, men - tioned below; Josephine, who became the wife of D. Kemper Kellogg, now treasurer of the Richmond, Fredericksburg & Poto- mac railroad, and they are the parents of five children.

James Early McMurran was born Decem-

ber 17, 1869, in Hillsville, where he attend- ed the public schools, and was subsequently a student at the Wytheville Military Acad- emy. Following this he studied at the Vir- ginia Military Institute, where he pursued a course in civil engineering. On leaving school he entered the service of the Norfolk & Western railroad, where he continued until 1893. In the following year he was em- ployed in railroad construction work, and before its close settled at Newport News, where he was engaged by the Newport News Ship Building and Drydock Company, as a clerk. Here he won rapid promotion, and was made chief clerk of the coast de- partment, and also assistant auditor. Mr. McMurran is a man of very quiet taste, and does not seek to mingle in public affairs. His chief diversion is shooting in the game sea- sons, and at other times he is very closely devoted to his work and his family. He has a very handsome home, where harmony rules and hospitality lends aid in promoting the joys of life. Mr. McMurran takes no part in politics, and does not hold member- ship in any clubs or societies other than the Presbyterian church, in which he is a faith- ful and devoted member. He has now spent twenty-one years in the service of the ship building company, and is appreciated as one of its most faithful, capable and trustworthy employees. He married, December 20, 1911, Katie Pitman, daughter of Dr. William E. and Martha (Bell) Pitman, of Lynchburg, Virginia. They have two sons: James Ed- ward, born January 28, 1913, and Joseph Pitman, born November 17, 1914.

Richard Leonard Henderson. Richard Leonard Henderson, cashier of the Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company. springs from ancient Virginia families, and embodies many of the characteristics and virtues which distinguished the pioneers of the Old Dominion. The name of Hender- son appears in Virginia as early as 1664, when Gilbert Henderson had a grant of five hundred acres in Accomac county, and James Henderson one of four hundred acres. In 1701 a James Henderson had a grant of one hundred and fifty-five acres in King and Queen county. The name appears to have been brought into Scotland in the Danish invasion of that country, and is of great an- tiquity. For four centuries the family has flourished in the county of Fyfe, Scotland,

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where James Henderson, a knight of For- dell, was born about 1450. He was killed in 1513 in the battle of Flodden. In 1494 he was King's advocate, and later lord justice clerk. John Henderson, born about 1650, probably a grandson of James, the knight, is described as a gentleman, and his son, Wil- liam Henderson, born April 30, 1676, died August 1, 1737, married, February 7, 1705, Margaret Bruce, born March 1, 1681, died December 15, 1739. Their sons, John, James and Samuel Henderson, came to Virginia and settled in Augusta county. None of these were identical with the first member of the family herein described, but there can be little doubt that this family comes from the same ancestry.

Samuel Henderson, of Scotch lineage, was a resident of Hanover county, Virginia, and married a Miss Williams, of Welsh extrac- tion. About 1745 he removed to Granville county, North Carolina, and was subse- quently sheriff of that county. In that state are a county, town and village named in honor of this family, which has been dis- tinguished at the bar, in the pulpit, upon the bench and in the halls of congress.

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Encyclopedia of Virginia biography, Volume V, Part 70

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