Encyclopedia of Virginia biography, Volume V, Part 80

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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Orlando Wemple. For half a century Orlando Wemple was identified with the tobacco interests of Danville, beginning in 1869 by founding the firm Wemple & Com- pany, of which, for twenty years, he was sole owner. He was then twenty-one years of age and four years prior to that date had located in Danville, working for others un- til establishing his own business. Although invalided in a railroad accident he never ceased his activities until his death, but held a prominent place in many Danville inter- ests as well as in Washington, D. C .; was active in church, club and fraternal work, particularly interested in church music as choir master for twenty-five years ; a foreign traveler, he crossed the Atlantic eight times, touring Continental Europe frequently, and traveling his own land from ocean to ocean many times both for recreation and on busi- ness intent.

The American families, Wemple and Wemp, descend from Jan Barentse Wemp, who was born in Dort, Holland, in 1620, came to America in 1640 and appeared in Beverwyck (Albany, New York) in 1643. He appears in several land transfers there including a "bouwery" on the Poestenkill and in 1662 received a patent for the Great Island lying in the Mohawk, west of Schen- ectady, and a house lot in the village. He married Maritje Wyndertse, who survived him, and married a second husband, Sweer Turnise Van Valsen, the village miller, with whom she perished in the massacre and burning of Schenectady by the Indians, February 9, 1690. Jan Barentse Wemp was a captain of foot, appointed in 1690. From Wemp the name soon became Wemple and from the Dutch founder, Jan Barentse Wemp, sprang all the Wemple families of the Mohawk Valley (New York) and from there scattered to all parts of the United States. The branch from which Orlando Wemple, of Danville, descended followed the emigration westward as far as Syracuse, New York, where Dr. John De Graffe Wemple, father of Orlando Wemple, was born. son of John De Graffe Wemple, a farmer and merchant of that city. The Wemples intermarried with many of the best families of the Mohawk Valley and collaterally Orlando Wemple traced to the names that have made that section famous.

Dr. John De Graffe Wemple was born in Syracuse, New York, died in Caswell VIR-63

county, North Carolina, in 1899. He was educated in Syracuse, then spent five years in New York City, becoming a graduate M. D. Later he located in Caswell county, North Carolina, where he married and con- tinned in the practice of his profession until his death. His wife, Dorothy (Guwynn) Wemple, was born in Caswell county, North Carolina, resided there all her life and there died. Orlando is the only living child of Dr. John D. Wemple. He had two daugh- ters, Maria T., who married James W. Nun- nally and died at age of sixty-six years, childless, and Laura W., married H. O. Howard, bore him five children, and died aged sixty-three years.

Orlando Wemple, only son of Dr. John De Graffe and Dorothy (Guwynn) Wemple, was born in Caswell county, North Caro- lina, September 23, 1848. He attended the public schools, but by self study, travel, reading and observation, has acquired a uni- versity education in the great school of ex- perience. At age of seventeen years he came tc Danville and worked in the tobacco fac- tories of that city until 1869 when he began business for himself as Wemple & Com- pany, dealing in and manufacturing tobacco, the latter department, however, not being added until 1876, when he started a factory for the manufacture of plug and smoking tobacco on a large scale. This branch of the business was carried on under the firm name of Wemple, Ellerson & Company, James R. Ellerson acquiring an interest in Wemple & Company. In 1907, Mr. Wemple being seriously injured in a railroad acci- dent on the Southern Railway, decided to withdraw from manufacturing and he con- fined the business of the firm entirely to the handling and sale of leaf tobacco. Mr. Wemple was also a partner in the real estate firm of Ellerson & Wemple, of Washington, D. C., his partner, James R. Ellerson, being a resident of that city. The firm Wemple & Company handled from three to five mil- lion pounds of leaf annually, shipping to manufacturers throughout the United States and in foreign countries. One of the pioneer firms in the business in Danville, Wemple & Company, were identified with every step of the progress and advancement in the tobacco business during the past half cen- tury, and ranked, not only with the oldest but most reliable and prosperous firms of the city. In 1907 their business was greatly

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retarded by a destructive fire, but all dam- age was quickly repaired.

Mr. Wemple was a director of the Vir- ginia Hardware and Manufacturing Com- pany, director of the Citizens' Bank, recent- ly consolidated, director of the Danville Co- operative Warehouse Company, a success- ful enterprise he assisted in organizing, and was director of the Danville Fair Associa- tion from its organization, until his death. He was also interested as a stockholder in the Riverside and Dan River Cotton Mills and had other investments of importance.

Fond of travel, Mr. Wemple toured Eu- rope and the United States extensively, as recreation, which with compulsory business trips gave him unlimited opportunity to see the wonders of many lands. He was a well-read, cultured gentleman, keen and forceful in business, courteous, genial, and companionable in his hours "off duty." He was a member of the Masonic order, belong- ing to lodge, chapter, commandery and shrine, and enjoyed the pleasures of club life at the Danville Country and Tuscarora clubs. He was a charter member of the Commercial Association and as a Democrat was often solicited to represent his party in various ways. He was a member of the Main Street Methodist Episcopal Church, for twenty years served on the official board, and for twenty-five years was in charge of the church choir, music being one of his greatest delights and passions.

Mr. Wemple married in Yanceyville, North Carolina, April 15, 1874, Elizabeth Frances Pinnix, born in Caswell county, North Carolina, daughter of Colonel James C. Pinnix, and his wife, Betty F., both de- ceased. Children of Orlando and Elizabeth F. Wemple: John D., born March 26, 1875, now his father's assistant in business ; Mary W., married Fred W. Hagedorn, of New York City, whom she survives; Blanche, residing at home; Alice Dorothy, married D. E. Guerrant, resides in Spartanburg, South Carolina, with sons, Orlando Wemple and Daniel E .; Lily, married John T. Lyle, Jr., of Meridian, Mississippi, with son, Orlando Wemple Lyle; Orlando Ray, now engaged in tobacco manufacture at Rocky Mount, North Carolina; Joseph C., died in infancy.

Mr. Wemple died in September, 1914, and the funeral services were held from the Main Street Methodist Episcopal Church,

conducted by the Rev. W. B. Beauchamp, D. D., pastor of the church. Interment was made in Green Hill Cemetery.

The following tributes show the apprecia- tion in which Mr. Wemple was held :

Whereas, Mr. O. Wemple, for a number of years actively identified with the Virginia Hardware & Manufacturing Company as one of its directors and its treasurer, has been called to answer the last summons,

Therefore, Be it resolved by the directors of the company at a meeting held on September 26, 1914:

First, That we contemplate with profound sor- row the removal from an active interest in our concern of one whose counsel we so highly valued and with whom we have maintained such pleasant relations.

Second, That we wish to express our sincere admiration of the character and business ability of our former associate. He was a successful man of affairs, a valuable citizen, and a consistent Christian, and we deplore the loss to our community of a man of such sterling worth.

Third, That we assure the bereaved family of our deep sympathy and trust that they may have in this great sorrow the consolation of Christian faith and hope.

Fourth, That a copy of these resolutions be pre- sented to the family of the deceased and that they be spread upon the minutes of the Virginia Hard- ware & Manufacturing Company.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF VIRGINIA HDW. & MFG. CO., INC.

At a call meeting of the Danville Tobacco Association, held yesterday morning, the president, W. A. Willingham announced the death of Mr. O. Wemple, a member of the association. A committee of three members was appointed to draw up suitable resolu- tions expressive of the loss of this valued member. The committee wrote the follow- ing tribute :

Again the hand of death has invaded our ranks and removed from our midst one of our most use- ful and honored members, Mr. O. Wemple, whose death occurred at his home early Friday morning, September 25, after an illness of several months, and deserving to pay memory of our much beloved and esteemed associate who by his wise council and interesting effort, proved a dominant factor in the development and expansion of the business interest of our city, particularly the tobacco inter- est, with which he was connected since his removal to Danville in early manhood.

Therefore, be it Resolved, First-That in the death of Mr. Orlando Wemple our city has lost one of her most useful and valued citizens and the tobacco association of the city of Danville one of its oldest and most influential members, whose death will be most keenly felt. Magnetic in person and wise in counsel, strong in character, were ele- ments which entered into his life and made for him a host of true and loyal friends.

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Second-That we tender to the bereaved family our heartfelt sympathy and in the dark hour of sorrow, command them to the tender care of our heavenly Father.

Third-That a copy of these resolutions be spread upon the minutes, published in the Register, and a copy be sent to the bereaved family.

E. G. MOSELY, W. T. COUSINS, J. N. WYLLIE, Committee.

Whereas, Our faithful friend and fellow-member, Orlando Wemple, has answered the final roll call of earth, and

Whereas, He was our active colleague and busi- ness associate for many years; now, therefore, be it resolved;

That we mourn his loss as a member of our body, who gave his time and efficient services thereto, so willingly. Also as a man of high ideals, lofty char- acter, unquestioned integrity and splendid example. We shall miss his genial presence and gentle man- ner, his wise counsel and advice, and his faithful and loyal service.

That we tender is bereaved family our heartfelt sympathy in their great loss and affliction; and the comfort that may be derived from a knowledge of his good name, his broad charity, his upright life, and "the love he bore his fellow man." With such a name and such a man, "all is well."

That these Resolutions be spread upon our min- utes, that a copy of same be sent to the family of the deceased, and that they be published in the Danville newspapers and "The Southern Tobacco Journal." The Board of Directors of

Danville Co-operative Warehouse Co. Danville, Va., September 25, 1914.

Stricker Coles, M. D. The original estate of the Coles in Albemarle county, Virginia, consisted of three thousand acres, half of the tract granted to Francis Eppes in 1730, for which he received a patent. Francis Eppes devised the land to his sons, Richard and William, who sold one-half of the grant to John Coles, but their deed was never ad- mitted to record because proved by only two witnesses. In 1777 Francis Eppes, son of Richard and grandson of Francis Eppes, the patentee. made a conveyance of the tract to John Coles and acknowledged it before two magistrates. The conveyance is as follows :

George the Third by the Grace of God of Great Britain, France and Ireland, King Defender of the Faith, etc., to John Coles.

Dated August 3, 1771. The Eleventh Year of Our Reign. Grants: Consideration Thirty Shillings.

Tract of Land containing 270 acres in the County of Albemarle on the south side of Hardware River

on the branches of Beverdam and Eppes Creek and on the north side of Green Mountain.

Paying for every fifty acres of land and so pro- portionately for a less or greater quantity the rent of one shilling yearly to be paid on the Feast of St. Michael the Archangel.

In Witness Whereof, we have caused these our Letter Patent to be made. Witness our trusty and well beloved William Nelson, Esq., President of our Council and Commander in Chief of our said Colony and Dominion at Williamsburgh, under the Seal of our said Colony. * * *

Seal annexed is a crown.

There were also three other grants to same party on same date, namely: One for 200 acres on Eppes and Totem Creeks; 225 acres on Totem Creek; 150 acres on the branches of Battengers and Totem Creeks.

This John Coles was a son of John Coles, who came from Enniscorthy, Ireland, in 1710, to Hanover county, Virginia, where he married Mary Winston. He later lived in Richmond, Virginia, where being then a widower, he married a second wife, Silvano Skipwith. His children were: Walter. Sarah, Mary, married John Payne and was the mother of Dorothy, wife of President James Madison, John (2), Isaac, a member of congress from the Halifax county dis- trict.

John (2) Coles, son of John (1) and Mary (Winston) Coles, was born in Hanover county, Virginia, died in Albemarle county, Virginia, in 1808. He bought the three thousand acre tract in Albemarle previously mentioned and there resided until death, a prosperous planter. He married Rebecca Elizabeth Tucker, born in Jamestown, Vir- ginia, died in 1826. Children: 1. Walter, a magistrate of Albemarle county, residing at "Woodville," where he died in 1854, aged eighty-two years; he married (first) Eliza, daughter of Bowler Cocke, of Turkey Island, (second) Sarah, daughter of John Swan, of Powhatan. 2. John (3), of further mention. 3. Isaac A., a member of the Albe- marle bar, private secretary for a time to Fresident Jefferson, and a member of the Virginia house of delegates; he married Mrs. Julia Stricker Rankin, widow of Chris- topher Rankin. and lived at his country es- tate, "Enniscorthy," named in honor of the home in Ireland; he died in 1841 ; his wife died in 1876, leaving two children. Julia Isaetta, married Peyton S. Coles, of further mention. and Stricker. 4. Tucker, a member of the Virginia house of delegates; married Helen Skipwith and died without issue in 1861 at "Tallwood." 5. Edward, private

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secretary to President Madison, sold the Rockfish river plantation inherited from his father and in 1818 moved to the state of Illinois, taking with him all of his slaves, but gave them their freedom and settled them with their families on farms near Ed- wardsville; he was appointed by President Monroe first governor of the territory of Illinois and was elected its second governor after the territory became a state; in 1832 he moved to Philadelphia, and there married Sarah L. Roberts ; died in 1868; he had three children, one of them, Robert S., returning to Virginia, became a captain in the Con- federate army and fell at Roanoke Island in 1862. 6. Rebecca, married Richard Single- ton, of South Carolina. 7. Sarah, married Andrew Stevenson. 8. Mary Eliza, married Robert Carter. 9. Elizabeth. 10. Emily, married John Rutherford, of Richmond.

John (3) Coles, second son of John (2) and Rebecca Elizabeth (Tucker) Coles, died at "Estoutville," his country estate, in 1848. He married Selina Skipwith, of Mecklen- burg, and left three sons: John (4), who lived near Warren, Virginia; Peyton Skip- with, of further mention; Tucker, who re- sided at "Viewmont."

Peyton Skipwith Coles, second son of John (3) and Selina (Skipwith) Coles, was born at the old Coles plantation, "Estout- ville," Albemarle county, Virginia, April I, 1826, died there in June, 1887. He inher- ited "Estoutville" from his father and there resided all his life. He married Julia Isa- etta Coles, his first cousin, daughter of Isaac A. and Julia Stricker (Rankin) Coles. They were the parents of the following children: Peyton Skipwith; Selina Skip- with, deceased; Isaac A .; Julia Stricker, who married E. L. Mackenzie; John E .; Roberts ; Edward ; William Bedford ; Strick- er, of whom further ; Henry Aylett; Arthur Newbold. Julia Isaetta Coles was a mater- nal granddaughter of General John C. Stricker, of Maryland, a distinguished offi- cer of the revolution, who also in 1814 suc- cessfully defended Baltimore from attack by the British.

From these distinguished Virginia and Maryland families, Coles, Tuckers, Skip- with and Stricker, springs Dr. Stricker Coles, of the staff of Jefferson College. Phil- adelphia. He was born at "Estoutville," Albemarle county, Virginia, March 13, 1867, son of Peyton Skipwith and Julia Isaetta

(Coles) Coles, and is a descendant in the fifth American generation of John Coles, of Enniscorthy, Ireland, and Hanover county, Virginia, the founder of the American branch of the family. He acquired his early education under home tutors and in a pri- vate school in Fauquier county, specializing in the studies bearing upon engineering, his choice being for that profession. But after a severe illness that caused the abandonment of his plans he entered Roanoke College, there spending two years. He then ma- triculated at the University of Virginia, but after one year abandoned classical study and began a course in the medical depart- inent of the university. In 1891 he located in Philadelphia, entering Jefferson Medical College in the fall of that year. He was graduated M. D. with the class of 1892 and during the following year served as resident physician at Jefferson Hospital. He was then appointed an assistant in the obstetrical department of the hospital, assistant in the same department of the Polyclinic Hospital, and chief assistant in the out-door depart- ment for the diseases of children at the Howard Hospital. In 1898 he was ap- pointed demonstrator of obstetrics and in 1902 clinical lecturer. During the period from graduation until 1902, as assistant ob- stetrician at Jefferson Maternity Hospital, Dr. Coles assisted in the delivery of nearly every case brought to the hospital, and ex- perience that gained him recognized pro- ficiency and that thoroughly fitted him for his life work. During this same period he also acted as assistant to Professor Edward P. Davis in his private practice. Appointed assistant professor of Obstetrics at Jefferson College in 1898, Dr. Coles is assistant ob- stetrician of the Philadelphia Hospital, is one of the lecturers of the Training School for Nurses connected with the latter insti- tution, visiting physician for Philadelphia Lying-In-Charity Hospital, and also con- ducts an extensive private and consultation practice. In addition to his professional duties, Dr. Coles has added largely to the literature of medicine, publishing many valuable articles in leading medical journals. These include: "Tubercular Bacilli in Hu- man Milk," "Posterior Rotation of the Oc- ciput in Vertex Presentation," "Transverse Position of the Child, with Prolapse of the Arm and Impaction," "Report of Three Cases of Cesarean Section-One Compli-

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cated by Pyosalpinx," "The Immediate Re- pair of Lacerations After Labor," "Lacera- tions of the Cervix Uteri," "The Care of the Fregnant Patient," "The Frequency and Prevention of Puerperal Sepsis," "Calomel to Increase Elimination in Pregnancy," and the article on "Galactagogues" in the "Re- ference Handbook of the Medical Sciences."

He is a fellow of the College of Physi- cians, a member of the American Medical Association, the Pennsylvania State Medi- cal Association, the Philadelphia County Medical Society, and the Obstetrical So- ciety of Philadelphia, and is an honorary member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha frater- nity. He also belongs to the Historical Society of Pennsylvania and the Southern and Merion Cricket clubs.

Dr. Coles married, September 16, 1908, Bertha Horstmann, born in Philadelphia, daughter of Walter and Elizabeth (Horst- mann) Lippincott. Children: Elizabeth, Lippincott, born October 11, 1909, and Walter Lippincott, born September 11, 19II.

Bertha Horstmann (Lippincott) Coles descends from Richard Lippincott, founder of the noted Lippincott family of New Jer- sey and Philadelphia. She is a daughter of Walter Lippincott, a member of the Phila- delphia publishing house, J. B. Lippincott & Company, and granddaughter of Joshua Ballinger Lippincott, who in 1836 estab- lished J. B. Lippincott & Company, pub- lishers and booksellers, a house that within twenty-five years became one of the prin- cipal publishing concerns of the United States. Richard Lippincott was one of the early settlers of New England, becoming a town officer of Dorchester, Massachusetts, April 1, 1640. Shortly after 1651 he re- turned to England, where he joined the Society of Friends and suffered persecu- tion. After several years he again came to America, settling is Rhode Island, but later made his home at Shrewsbury, Monmouth county, New Jersey, and thereafter was prominent in the Shrewsbury Meeting of Friends and in public life. He was a mem- ber of the first provincial assembly, elected from Shrewsbury in 1668, again in 1677, and in 1682-83 was coroner of Monmouth county. He was also one of the "Associates of the Patentees," the first local court, ap- pointed in 1670. On August 9, 1676, he obtained a patent for one thousand acres

from John Fenwick in his South Jersey Col- ony, but never settled thereon, nor did his sons. He died at Shrewsbury, November 26, 1683. His wife, Abigail, survived him fourteen years. They were the parents of eight children.

Restore Lippincott, third son of Richard Lippincott, was born at Plymouth, England, May, 1653, and when a lad was brought by his parents to Shrewsbury, New Jersey. In 1688 he bought land near Mount Holly, New Jersey, but did not move there until 1692. He was a member of the West Jer- sey assembly from Burlington county in 1701 and was one of the members of the first assembly that met in Perth Amboy in 1703, after East and West Jersey had united as one colony. He was re-elected in 1704 and served until the assembly was dis- solved in 1706. He was a prominent member of the Mount Holly Meeting, Society of Friends, and prior to the erection of the Meeting House in 1716, meetings were held at his home. He married (first) Hannah Shattuck, (second) Martha, widow of Joseph Owen. By his first wife he had nine children.

James Lippincott, second son of Restore Lippincott and his first wife, was born at Shrewsbury, New Jersey, 1687, and when a child was brought to Northampton town- ship, Burlington county, New Jersey, by his parents. He was a landowner of Bur- lington county and a member of the So- ciety of Friends. His wife, Anna Eves, was a daughter of Thomas Eves, one of the proprietors of West Jersey, who came from England, purchased a one thirty-second share of West Jersey lands, and settled on Mell creek, in what became Evesham town- ship, Burlington county. James and Anna Lippincott were members of the Evesham Meeting, but resided in Northampton town- ship. They had nine children.

Jonathan Lippincott, fourth son of James Lippincott, died in 1759. He married his cousin, Anna Eves, and resided in both Evesham and Northampton townships. They were disowned by Friends for their marriage on account of their relationship. They had four children.

Levi Lippincott, second son of Jonathan Lippincott, was a farmer of Evesham town- ship, Burlington county, New Jersey, all his life, and there died in 1818. He married,

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April 22, 1773, Lettice, daughter of Micajah and Rebecca Wills, of a prominent Burling- ton county family. They had ten children.

Jacob Wills Lippincott, third son of Levi Lippincott, was born in Evesham town- ship, September 10, 1783, and resided in Evesham and Springfield townships until his death, about 1834. He married, Febru- ary 6, 1812, Sarah, daughter of Joshua Bal- linger, of Burlington county, a lineal de- scendant of Henry Ballinger, one of the pro- prietors of West Jersey in 1684.

Joshua Ballinger Lippincott, only child of Jacob Wills and Sarah (Ballinger) Lippin- cott, was born at Juliustown, Burlington county, New Jersey, March 18, 1813, died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, January 5, 1886. He became the founder of the great publishing house of J. B. Lippincott & Com- pany, a house that "aided in making Phil- adelphia known and respected not only in this country but also over the whole civil- ized world." He was also one of Philadel- phia's foremost business men, a member of the board of trustees of the University of Pennsylvania, president of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, was cne of the founders of the Union Club (which later became the Union League), the Social Art Club, and a number of other societies. He married, October 16, 1845, Josephine, daughter of Seth Craig, a leading manufacturer of Philadelphia. They were the parents of four children.

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Encyclopedia of Virginia biography, Volume V, Part 80

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