Encyclopedia of Virginia biography, Volume V, Part 76

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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LL. B. before he was twenty-one years of age.

After graduation, Mr. Christian at once began practice in Richmond, his first law partner being C. C. McRae, a successful chancery practitioner. This association was terminated by the death of Mr. McRea, and after Judge George L. Christian retired from the bench, he formed a partnership with his relative, which continued most pleasantly and successfully until terminated a quarter of a century later by death.

Mr. Christian early displayed the char- acteristics which marked his professional career and made him a leader of the city and state bar. In presenting his cases he hewed close to the line. grasping the main point of his case and holding to it with tenacity. His statement of his case was so clear and convincing that it really amounted to an argument. In his arguments his clear- ness of statement was only surpassed by the depth and extent of his legal knowledge. He presented in a most forceful manner the particular points involved in each case, then traced from their foundation the principles upon which the decision must rest and loved to point out the reasons on which those principles were based. When from a mass of precedent and evidence he had evoked the basic principle on which he thought the case would turn, he, with splendid effect, showed step by step the facts which brought the particular cause within the principles. Thus elucidated, creating from the case one of those valuable precedents that make the law the hand maiden of right and justice. With an almost perfect knowledge of legal principles, he tested each case by the founda- mentals of legal science, and if it stood the test he threw himself into its conduct and argument with all his powers. No labor was too great, no preparation too arduous for the proper vindication of his client's right and the enlightenment of the courts before which he practiced. Mr. Christian assumed and bore his professional obliga- tions with the devotion of a disciple to his religion, of the soldier to his cause. When he was entrusted with a case, it mattered not to him how small the amount involved 01 how trifling the reward, if he won. He thought only of the duty he had assumed and in its performance no trouble was too great, no sacrifice too large. This intensity of application to his professional work tend-

ed to shorten his days but his reward is written in the many cases decided in his favor and contained in the reports and de- cisions of Federal and state courts of Vir- ginia and the United States.

More than one judgeship was tendered Mr. Christian, only to be refused, and more than one offer of professorships in legal colleges were declined by him. In later life he was heard to regret that he had not ac- cepted a professorship of law, as the quiet of college life might have prolonged his life. Had he listened to these offers we now know that another name would have been added to Virginia's great teachers of the law, a name to be classed with Tucker and Minor.

But his decision was wise, as in earlier years he needed the stimulus and excite- ment of legal battles to bring out his strongest and best qualities. But in later years he lived only for his family and for his profession. His only recreation was a love of horses and the sport of the chase. He gave to the delights and dangers of the hunting field the same intensity of interest that marked everything he did. But the sport of the chase, fond as he was of it, did not give him half the pleasure he derived from a well fought close legal contest, as the exercise of his faculties gave him all the pleasures of sport, the harder the case, the greater the pleasure of calling up all his reserves and exhibiting all his re- sources. Exemplifying Schiller's remark : "That the last perfection of our faculties is that their activity, without ceasing to be sure and earnest, becomes sport."

This remarkable professional career cut off in its prime. yet. which won for Mr. Christian undying reputation as a lawyer. must not be divorced from his beauty of character. He will not be longer remem- bered for his legal learning, forensic tri- umphs or victories won than for his high sense of professional honor, his hatred for anything underhanded or tricky, the purity of his life and his humble devout acceptance of the precious tenets of the Christian re- ligion and of the particular church with which he was connected, Grace Protestant Episcopal, of which he was a pillar.

To this eminent lawyer, this high-minded gentleman, this incorruptible counsellor and student of legal principles that he strove to make synonomous with the principles of jus-

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tice, his brethren of the bench and bar of Richmond paid their last tribute at a special meeting held January 16, 1908, called to take action upon the death of their brother. At that meeting it was resolved, "That in the death of Frank Wood Christian a great legal luminary and an admirable exemplar of professional character and attainments has been lost to our profession. That we tender to his family the sincere sympathy of each individual member of this bar at the great and sudden loss they have sustained." That we will attend the last sad rites to be paid our deceased brother. That the chair appoint one member of this body for each state and federal court in this city to present these resolutions to each court and to re- quest that they be spread upon their rec- ords." Eulogies were pronounced by many of Mr. Christian's most learned contempo- raries from which the present sketch has been largely compiled. All regretted his passing away in the zenith of his powers to the other shore, and all proclaimed his great- ness as a lawyer, his loyalty as a friend and his uprightness as a man.

Mr. Christian married Bessie Enders Pal- mer, daughter of Colonel William H. Pal- mer, of the National State and City Bank of Richmond, also connected with the Virginia Fire and Marine Insurance Company, of which he is president, and with the Mutual Fire Insurance Company. One son was born to Mr. and Mrs. Christian, Frank Pal- mer, now associated with the Reserve Bank in Richmond; he married Charlotte Wil- liams Bemis, daughter of E. L. Bemis.

Alfred Burwell Claytor, M. D. A native son of Virginia, Dr. Claytor has sought pro- fessional fame beyond the borders of his own state and is an honored, successful med- ical practitioner of the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The name is an ancient one in Virginia, and through the collateral lines, Bell and Graham, is connected with many of the leading early families. The Bell fam- ily is peculiarly a military one, settled in Augusta county, Virginia, in 1740, there pat- enting land, and sending five brothers to fight with the Colonial army in the war for Independence. One of these brothers was Colonel Thomas Bell, another Major Samuel Bell, and another Captain James Bell, all surviving the war and all present at the final success at Yorktown. Bells fought in

the War of 1812, the Mexican War, and the war between the states, 1861-65, Major T. W. Bell serving as an officer of the famous Black Horse Cavalry of Virginia in the Con- federate army. From this same ancestry came Mary Clarinda Bell, wife of Robert Burwell Claytor and mother of Dr. Alfred Burwell Claytor, of Philadelphia.

The first person of the Claytor name to appear in Virginia history is Rev. John Clay- tor, a former rector of Crofton, in York- shire, England. In 1683 he addressed the Royal Society of England, at their request, letters giving an account of what he called "Several Observables in Virginia." These letters discuss the soil, climate, natural features, and agriculture of the colony, and show close observation, learning, and prac- tical, sound wisdom. He pointed out the value of marl and muck as fertilizers and advised the planters to drain their swamps. When they laughed at or ridiculed his plans he proved their feasibility by draining a pond and bringing to view an inexhaustible soil. Another early Claytor, also a clergyman, was Rev. David Claytor, minister of Bliss- land parish, New Kent county, 1704 to 1724. In his report to the Bishop of London in 1724 he stated that his parish was sixty miles long and that he had under his care one hundred and thirty-six families and sev- enty communicants. John Claytor was attorney-general of Virginia and a friend of Governor Spottswood. Major Philip Claytor, of "Katalpa," was vestryman of St. Mark's parish in 1741. He was the deputy surveyor of Culpeper county. He married Ann Coleman, a sister of Robert Coleman, on whose land Culpeper Court House was built. He had a son, Samuel Claytor, a ves- tryman of St. Mark's, who married his cousin, Ann Coleman. Among their chil- dren was Major Philip Claytor, the second, an officer of the Revolution. Susan, a daugh- ter of Philip Claytor, of "Katalpa," married Colonel James Slaughter, of Culpeper, and reared a distinguished family. Anne, an- other daughter, married Nathaniel Pendle- ton, a grandson of Philip Pendleton, founder of the Pendleton family in Virginia. This Nathaniel Pendleton was an aide to General Greene in the Revolution, and seconded Alexander Hamilton in his duel with Aaron Burr.

Captain Samuel Claytor, great-grand- father of Dr. Alfred Burwell Claytor, was

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a son of Alvin Claytor. He was a captain in Colonel Febriger's regiment in the War of 1776, and his son, Robert Mitchell Clay- tor, served in the War of 1812 with the Vir- ginia forces. Robert Mitchell Claytor mar- ried Julia Graham, a member of the famous Graham family of Rockbridge county, Vir- ginia, a line prominent in church and state, active in peace and in war, and especially helpful to the cause of education. William Graham was the first president and recog- nized founder of Washington College, Lex- ington, Virginia, (now Washington and Lee University), standing as a monument to the generosity and patriotism of a Graham. His remains were first interred in St. John's churchyard, Richmond, Virginia, 'but re- cently were removed to Lexington, Virginia. Michael Graham was a soldier of the Revo- lution, serving with troops from Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. His son, Michael Graham, Jr., great-grandfather of Dr. Alfred Burwell Claytor, was born in the fort at Harris Ferry, now Harrisburg, his parents having taken refuge there to insure safety from Indian attack.

Robert Burwell Claytor, son of Robert Mitchell and Julia (Graham) Claytor, was born in Bedford county, Virginia, in Octo- ber, 1830, died November 15, 1913. He was a merchant of Bedford City, Virginia, and during the war between the states, 1861-65, served in the Confederate army, holding the rank of Captain of Artillery, Tenth Virginia Battalion, General G. W. Custis Lee's Divi- sion. He was a man of ability, serving worthily his day and generation. He mar- ried Mary Clarinda Bell, born in Liberty, Virginia, in 1845, daughter of Alfred and Mary (Lowry) Bell, and a descendant of James Bell, who came to Augusta county, Virginia, from city of Philadelphia, Pennsyl- vania, in 1740, his father coming from the north of Ireland. There was a large family of Bell Brothers, James being the original settler in Augusta. The other brothers later settled in Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee, one of the Tennessee Bells, John, running for the Presidency of the United States in 1860 on the Whig ticket, "Bell and Everett." Both the Bells and the Grahams trace to ancient Scotch lineage. Mary Clarinda Bell descended through Captain James Bell, an officer of the Revolution under Lafayette at Yorktown. His son, James Bell, of Pros- pect Hill, Virginia, was a magistrate of

Augusta county from 1796 to a short period before his death in 1856, and as such suc- ceeded to the office of high sheriff as the oldest magistrate shortly after the adoption of the state constitution in 1850. He was president of the county court for many years, served in the legislature, was a long time influential member of the church, a man of vigor and enterprise and highly en- dowed intellectually.

Alfred Burwell Claytor, M. D., son of Robert Burwell and Mary Clarinda (Bell) Claytor, was born in Bedford City, Virginia, December 16, 1869. He obtained his pre- paratory education in the public schools of Bedford City, and for two years was a stu- dent at Bellevue High School of Bellevue Heights. From 1888 to 1890 he was a stu- dent in Washington and Lee University, but in the latter year entered the medical de- partment of the University of Pennsylvania, whence he was graduated M. D., class of 1894. After receiving his degree Dr. Clay- tor served as interne and assistant surgeon at St. Luke's Hospital, South Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, then for eighteen months was in surgical practice at Bethlehem, Pennsyl- vania. After two years as physician and surgeon with the Longdale Iron Company he settled permanently in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the year 1900. He has established a successful practice in that city and is held in high esteem by his profes- sional brethren. He is a member of the Philadelphia and State Medical Associa- tions, and at various times has contributed articles to the medical journals. He is a member of St. John's Lodge, No. 115, Free and Accepted Masons, Philadelphia, Rich- mond (Virginia) Chapter, Sons of the Revo- lution, and is a communicant of the Protes- tant Episcopal church. Dr. Claytor is un- married.

Thomas Burton Snead. Thomas Burton Snead, a leading attorney of Richmond, was born March 10, 1878, at Etna Mills, King William county,. Virginia, a descendant of one of the oldest Virginia families. There were several early immigrants bearing this name among whom was Charles Snead, who brought seven persons into the colony, and received a grant of 1933 acres of land, Octo- ber 20, 1666. A Charles Snead received a grant of 833 acres between the Rivanna and James rivers, near the Forks, in 1755. Sam-

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uel Snead arrived with his wife Alice, son William and a servant in 1635, and had a grant of land from Charles I. of 250 acres in James City county. The son, William, had four sons, Charles, Zachariah, William and Robert, and one of these is supposed to have been the William Snead who was living in Henrico in 1740. Archibald Snead, sup- posed to have been a son-of the Charles Snead who had a grant in what is now Fluvanna, was living there in 1777, at which time he purchased 127 acres of land. He had many descendants named William. A recent rambling work devoted to the Sneads of Fluvanna has so few dates as to be of no value to the genealogist. There can be little doubt that the Snead family of Albemarle and Nelson counties is an offshoot of that in Fluvanna. The Revolutionary Rolls of Vir- ginia show that several of the name of Snead were soldiers in that struggle, including Major Smith Snead, who served seven years. The name is very ancient in Eng- land and signifies the handle of a scythe blade. It has many forms, such as Sned, Sneed, Sneyd, Sneyde, but the most usual form in modern times is Snead, as adopted by this family.

William Snead, who was born in 1811 in Nelson county, Virginia, afterwards moved to Albemarle county, and there married Sarah Elizabeth Clark. They were the par- ents of Chapman Price Snead, born July 25, 1850, in Albemarle, died October 7, 1907. His wife, Frances Elizabeth (Hutchinson) Snead, was a daughter of Warner Winston and Mary Ella (Harris) Hutchinson. Chap- man Price Snead was a farmer in King Wil- liam county, a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and in political alliance a Republican.

Thomas Burton Snead, son of Chapman Price Snead, born in 1878 in King William county, Virginia, attended private schools and William and Mary College. He subse- quently attended the law department of the University of Virginia, from which he re- ceived the degree of Bachelor of Laws in 1902. He was immediately admitted to the bar and engaged in the practice of law at Richmond. Gifted with a keen and analytic mind, Mr. Snead has made rapid progress, and is now in the enjoyment of a large prac- tice, to which he gives his entire attention. Of modest and retiring nature, he has never sought to mingle in the conduct of public

affairs, and gives most of his spare time to his family and home. He is a member of the Protestant Episcopal church, and, like his father, a Republican in political principle. He served his enlistment as a member of the Richmond Blues, one of the finest mili- tia organizations of the state or United States. In this, as in political affairs, he was contented to remain a private, and found satisfaction in the fulfilment of his duty. He is a friend of education, and is ever ready to lend his time, influence and support to those higher social movements which are calculated to develop the best in man and promote the progress and welfare of the community, the state and nation. He resides in a beautiful home at No. 3 East Franklin street, Richmond, which is the abode of hos- pitality, refinement and peaceful enjoyment of the best in life.

He married, April 19, 1911, Mary Cooke Branch, a daughter of James Ransom and Lillian (Hubball) Branch. The Branch family is descended from Christian Branch, who came from England to Virginia in the ship "London Merchant," in 1619 or 1620, known as Christian Branch of "Arrowhat- tocks" and "Kingsland." He was descended from Richard Branch, of Abingdon, in Berk- shire, England, born prior to 1500, a son of Lionel Branch, who was born in England in 1602. The history of the Branch family is given elsewhere in this work in the sketch of the late John Patterson Branch, of Rich- mond. His brother, Colonel James Read Branch, who served with distinction throughout the Civil war, was the father of James Ransom Branch. Christian Branch, the immigrant, was the father of Christian Branch, born 1627, whose son, Benjamin Branch, resided in Henrico, and had a son, Benjamin Branch, who lived in Chesterfield. His eldest son, Benjamin (3) Branch, of Chesterfield, was a captain of the Revolu- tion, justice of the peace and sheriff. His youngest son, Thomas Branch, born April 4, 1767, married Mary, daughter of Colonel David Patterson, of Chesterfield. Their son, Thomas (2) Branch, resided in Petersburg and Richmond, and was the father of James Read and John Patterson Branch.

Robert Powell Page, M. D. While he was a descendant of the Revolutionary officer, Colonel William McGuire, and was himself a Confederate veteran, Dr. Page spent the

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greater part of his long and useful life in the blessed art of healing rather than creat- ing pain or suffering. He threw himself into the ranks of the Confederacy with all the ardor of his youthful nature and served valiantly until the last shot was fired, then with empty pockets but with a full stock of hope, courage and determination, took up the battle of life anew. He was for half a century engaged in battling with disease in Berryville and vicinity, and. during that period gained a place in the hearts of thou- sands, which is only gained by the kindly sympathetic family doctor, who from child- hood is their friend, confidant and adviser. More than that of physician, more than that of friend, and more than that of adviser is this sacred relationship, and nowhere is it found save in the peculiar bond that unites the old doctor with the families whose mem- bers he ministers to from their first to their latest breath.

The Pages of Clarke county, Virginia, are descended from John Page, who came from England to Virginia about 1642, settling at Williamsburg. He left a son, Colonel Mal- colm Page, who died in Rosewell, Gloucester county, Virginia. Mann Page, son of Colo- nel Malcolm Page and grandson of John Page, died January 24, 1730, leaving three sons from whom all bearing the name Page and dating from Colonial days, are de- scended. The eldest son, Mann (2) Page, is credited with having spent his entire for- tune in aiding the cause of independence. John Page, of North End, Harrison county, had a son, Mann (3) Page, who was prob- ably the first of the name to settle in the Valley of Virginia. The third son of Mann (1) Page, Robert Page, of Broadneck, Han- over county, is the ancestor of the late Dr. Robert Powell Page, of Berryville, Clarke county, Virginia. Two of the sons of Rob- ert Page, of Broadneck, John Page, of Page- brooke. Clarke county, and Matthew Page, of Annfield, in the same county, came to the Valley of Virginia about 1784.

At Pagebrooke, the family homestead, was born Judge John E. Page, third son of John Page, of Pagebrooke, and father of Dr. Robert Powell Page, of Berryville. The Pages intermarried with the Byrds, Bur- wells, Nelsons, Harrisons, Lees, Carters and McGuires, all families of Colonial and Revo- lutionary importance in Virginia. John E. Page was born in 1796, died March II, 1881.

He was an eminent lawyer, commonwealth's attorney and jurist, serving as attorney of Clarke county, and as judge of the state courts sitting at Richmond. He was a law student of William Wirt, the eminent jurist and statesman. He married Margaret Emily McGuire, who died in November, 1858, daughter of Colonel William McGuire, an officer of the Revolution. Children: John Yates, born in Clarke county, June 24, 1827, graduate of the law department of Univer- sity of Virginia, class of 1847, LL. B., prac- ticed at St. Louis, Missouri, and St. Paul Minnesota, married Elizabeth -; Robert Powell, mentioned below; William B., born in Clark county, died in 1864, a member of Colonel Carter's regiment of artillery, Con- federate States army ; Thomas H., Mary, Emma, Ann W., Jane M., and Evelyn Byrd.

Dr. Robert Powell Page was born in Clarke county, Virginia, March 12, 1838, died in August, 1914. He was educated at Oak Grove Academy, later spent three years at the Episcopal High School, entered Wil- liam and Mary College in 1855, winning dis- tinction in French and Latin, and being awarded two diplomas. In 1859 he entered the Medical College of the University of Virginia, obtaining the degree of M. D., class of 1860. He spent the next year in advanced medical study at the University of Pennsylvania, receiving the degree of M. D. in June, 1861.

Returning home after. his graduation from the University of Pennsylvania, Dr. Page took sides with the state and enlisted in the Second Regiment Virginia Infantry, Confederate States Army, joining the army at Harper's Ferry, in September, 1861. He was attached to "Stonewall" Jackson's com- mand as asssitant surgeon, serving with that division of the army until the final surrender at Appomattox. After the war he returned to Berryville, entirely without capital, and began the more peaceful practice of his profession, but which was for some time scarcely less arduous than when practicing his healing art in hospital or on battlefield. The Valley of the Shenandoah had been devastated as few other sections had by the movements of both armies, and all were so broken in fortune that the rebuilding of the beautiful valley seemed a hopeless task. But out of it all prosperity came, American pluck and progress asserted itself and the valley, in a few years, had recovered from

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its spoliation. In this work of rebuilding and readjusting Dr. Page bore his part. He tended the sick, taught school, held the office of justice of the peace, cheered and encour- aged his neighbors by example and word, filling his part well and prospering as others prospered. He grew in strength and med- ical skill as the years progressed and took leading rank with the physicians of his time. His wartime experience had developed his surgical skill and combined with his medical learning gave him a rich equipment. He continued in practice until his death, although years compelled him to relinquish the more arduous professional work.

He was for many years a member of the American Medical Association and was at his death a member of the Virginia State Medical Society. He was a member of the Masonic Order, having been made a Mason in Blanford Lodge, No. 3, at Petersburg, Virginia, but later belonged to Treadwell Lodge, No. 213, of which he was a past master. He was also a Royal Arch Mason and a Knight Templar, belonging to Chapter and Commandery, in Petersburg. In polit- ical faith he was a Democrat, in religious be- lief an Episcopalian.

Dr. Page married Martha Turner, a daugh- ter of W. H. and Maria (Powton) Hardee, her father losing his life before Petersburg, in 1864, while serving in the Confederate army. Children: William Hardee, born June 8, 1864, drowned at Atlanta, Georgia, June II, 1884; Evelyn Byrd, born in Albe- marle county, Virginia, married John S. Goldsmith, of Georgia; John E., born in Petersburg, Virginia, May 9, 1867, graduate M. D., University of Maryland, became a surgeon in the United States navy and now living retired at Santa Barbara, California, married Mary Burling; Elizabeth R., born at Berryville, married Charles M. Brown and has a son, Charles C .; Helen M., born in Berryville, married Dr. C. L. McGill, and has E. Page McGill; Edward Douglass, born at Berryville, August 14, 1875 ; unmarried ; Mary Powell, born at Berryville, married W. H. Patterson, of Petersburg, Virginia.

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Encyclopedia of Virginia biography, Volume V, Part 76

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