USA > Virginia > Encyclopedia of Virginia biography, Volume V > Part 81
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Walter Lippincott, second son of Joshua Ballinger and Josephine (Craige) Lippin- cott, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsyl- vania, March 21, 1849. He was educated at the University of Pennsylvania, and after leaving college became a member of J. B. Lippincott & Company. He married, Octo- ber 21, 1879, Elizabeth Trotter, daughter of Sigmund Hoeckley Horstmann, of Philadel- phia. Their only child was Bertha Horst- mann Lippincott, who married Dr. Stricker Coles, of Philadelphia.
Rorer A. James. Rorer A. James, born at Axton, the home and plantation of his father and of his maternal grandfather, in Pittsyl- vania county, Virginia, March 1, 1859, was the third son of the marriage of Dr. John Craghead James and Angeline Rorer, his wife. His father was a prominent surgeon and physician and commanded an exception- ally large practice in the counties of Pitt-
sylvania and Henry, and, though a large land owner, gave little attention to demands other than those of his profession.
John Craghead James, M. D., was a pro- found and original thinker, and a great stu- dent of science and history, besides keeping thoroughly informed on current issues. An omniverous reader, his brilliant mind would rapidly and thoroughly digest, and his won- derful memory retain, ready for application, the store of information acquired by his fondness for reading. He possessed that remarkable faculty of concentration that when he set himself to a page, little dis- turbance short of personal contact could distract his attention. In a great measure self-taught, he was a profound and far-see- ing student. It is believed he was the first surgeon in the state to use chloroform as an anaesthetic ; when it was obtainable only in the crude or commercial form he recog- nized its possibilities and persistently ex- perimented on dogs and cats, with a view of purifying it for use in human surgery. He was the son of Captain (Virginia militia) John James and Katherine Craghead, his wife, and grandson of John James, a well- to-do immigrant, who soon after arriving in America from Cornwall, England, bought land and settled in the northern part of now Pittsylvania ; and later married Dinah Eas- ley. His mother was the daughter of John Craghead and Sallie Powell, his wife, whose old homestead, with its substantial brick residence, still in striking repair, and owned and occupied by a sturdy great-grandson of the founder, crowning an eminence in Franklin county and over-looking Staunton river and the hills of Bedford, give mute testimony of the means and taste of this leng-lived couple.
Sallie Powell, the wife of John Craghead, was a great-granddaughter of Ambrose Powell, the eminent surveyor and commis- sioner, who settled and ran the line between Virginia and Kentucky, and after whom the beautiful Powell valley, river and mountains on the border of the two states take their name.
On the maternal side Rorer A. James is the grandson of Captain (Virginia militia) Abram Rorer and Mary Wright, his wife. of Pittsylvania. The immigrant Rorer, or "Rohrer" as has been adopted by some branches of the family, was a native of Switzerland, and settled near Philadelphia.
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One of his sons, Abram Rorer, removed to Virginia under the colony-head of Harmon Cook; later merchant and extensive land- owner on the waters of Tomahawk, Pittsyl- vania county. and whose daughter Abram married. It is related that it was the early infatuation of young Abram for the lovely daughter that induced him to join the col- ony and follow the venturesome fortunes of his future father-in-law. Of this union there were born four sons: Rudolph, Charles, David and Abram. The last was the grand- father of Rorer A. James. David Rorer studied law and early in life located in Iowa, where he achieved eminent success and rep- utation as a lawyer, jurist and author. He became a distinguished member of the su- preme court of that state, and a national authority, with the publication of "Rorer on Judicial Sales" and other standard law works of his pen. The other sons were substantial and prosperous farmers of their native county, Pittsylvania.
Angeline Rorer, daughter of Abram Rorer the second, and the devoted mother of Rorer A. James, was remarkable for her strong and practical mind and well-nigh un- erring judgment and clear and accurate memory, even to her last moments at the ripe age of ninety-two years. With the husband and father absent from home so much, attending to his widely scattered pro- fessional calls, it was mainly to her lot that fell the responsible duties of bringing up seven sons and daughters, who lovingly call her memory blessed, and nobly did she at all times discharge her sacred obligation.
Rorer James received his primary educa- tion under private tutors until he reached the age of fourteen years; then two years in a local public school, after which he served one year as clerk in a general mer- chandise store, and was a student of Roa- noke College for one session. The next ses- sion he taught a public school, following which he entered the Virginia Military In- stitute, where four years later, in the class of 1882, he was graduated as a "star" or "distinguished" graduate. Upon graduation lie was offered an assistant professorship in his alma mater, a year later the offer was renewed: but each time he declined the honor, preferring a more active career.
Soon after leaving the Virginia Military Institute, he formed and became a member of the firm of James & Terry, tobacco manu-
facturers at Brosville, Virginia, which busi- ness he followed with varying financial suc- cess until the fall of 1886, when he entered the University of Virginia, and took the Bachelor of Law degree in June, 1887. He at once began the practice of his profession in the city of Danville, and in 1889 was elected a member of the house of delegates from the city of Danville and the county of Pittsylvania. Two years later he was re- elected and served as chairman of the com- mittee on schools and colleges of that body. He declined to stand for the house again ; but two years later was elected to the senate from the district composed of the counties of Henry and Pittsylvania and of the city of Danville by the largest majority ever given a candidate for any office in that dis- trict.
It was during his term as senator in 1898 that at the request of the leading citizens of Danville he purchased. at public auction, the "Danville Register," and two years later acquired the "Evening Bee." He had a keen fondness and aptitude for politics ; but believing that the newspaper field without office would afford ample room for the satis- fying of this taste, and especially that he could better serve his party and constitu- ents as a fearless and impersonal journalist, free from the swerving temptations of the office holder, he declined, in convention as- sembled, the unanimous re-nomination of his party to the senate, which was easily equivalent to election. Since then he has asked for no public office.
Soon after graduation from the University of Virginia he was appointed a member of the board of visitors to the Virginia Military Institute by Governor Fitzhugh Lee, which position he resigned when he became a can- didate for the legislature; and because he was still a member of that body declined a reappointment to the same board tendered him by Governor Charles T. O'Ferrell. He served two years of a four-year term on the board of fisheries, and resigned when Gov- ernor Swanson offered him choice of ap- pointment on the board of visitors to the University of Virginia or the Virginia Mili- tary Institute. Following the dictates of his heart he accepted the latter, and was soon elected president of the board, which high position he still holds, and which honor it is known he values more highly than any 1'I the gift of his congressional district. He
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was re-appointed to this board by Governor Man.
He was elected member of the Electoral College of Virginia that cast the vote of the state for William J. Bryan in 1908; delegate to the Democratic National Convention held in St. Louis, which nominated Judge Alton B. Parker for president; also to the Balti- more National Democratic Convention that nominated Woodrow Wilson, and where he was selected as the Virginia representative on the National Notification Committee to convey to Mr. Wilson, at Sea Girt, official notice of his nomination.
Under his control as owner and editor, the editorial policy of the "Register" and the "Bee" has been unfalteringly fearless and independent, yet conservative and al- wavs reflecting his personal views, regard- less of consequences. At first the people of Danville tound it had to adjust themselves to such independent course, but soon learn- ed to respect and to admire the high stand- ard of the editorial columns, and the "Regis- ter" and the "Bee" enjoy in the community an influence and prestige seldom vouch- safed to local journals. The owner's chief aim through his newspapers has been to en- courage and cultivate sincere, cordial rela- tions, based on community of interests and fair dealings, between the people of the city and the surrounding country, and especially between the city and his native county of Pittsylvania, and the success attending his efforts has been deep and abiding. Mr. James is regarded by many as "the most in- fluential layman in Virginia," as it is prob- able that he is more intimately in touch with the leading public men of the common- wealth than any other non-official, and his advice and influence in local matters, party councils and state affairs, are of unusual weight and effectiveness.
Mr. James was married in Pittsylvania county, October 12, 1892, to Annie Marshall, daughter of Colonel Robert A. Wilson and Ruth Hairston, his wife. Their children are: Robert Wilson, Rorer A., Jr., Annie Marshall, John Bruce.
Wyatt Sanford Beazley, M. D. Dr. Beaz- ley descends from the Beazleys of Greene county, Virginia, and through the marriage of his grandfather, Captain James Beazley, with Elizabeth (Betsey) Mills, from John Starke the elder, emigrant from Scotland,
who on May 25, 1735, married Ann Wyatt. The line of descent is through John (2) Starke, born in Hanover county, Virginia, April 27, 1742, who married Elizabeth Shep- herd, of the same county. Twelve children were born to John (2) and Elizabeth Starke, the eighth being a daughter, Sarah, who married Wyatt Mills, of Albemarle county, Virginia. By this marriage there were sons and daughters, the second daughter being Elizabeth (Betsey) who married Captain James Beazley. These intermarriages con- nected many of the early Virginia families with the Beazleys, the Wyatts, Heads, San- fords, Wallers, Carters, Allens, Spotswoods and others. The Wyatts of Virginia came from an English ancestor, who traced de- scent to a Norman knight who came to Eng- land with the "Conqueror."
Captain James Beazley, a wealthy farmer and man of high literary attainment, whose grandfather immigrated to this country from England, supposedly from the Isle of Wight, married, as stated above, Elizabeth Mills, and had issue: Judge Wyatt Starke, of whom further; Edward, who married Emma Vaughan; Dr. Robert Sanford, of whom further; James, who married Eliza- beth Sheppard Head, of Randolph county, Missouri; Elizabeth, who married James Stephens, of Greene county, Virginia.
Judge Wyatt Starke Beazley, son of Cap- tain James and Elizabeth (Mills) Beazley, was born in the beautiful Swift Run valley, near the Blue Ridge mountains, Greene county, Virginia, February 1, 1819, and died in the same county, November 2, 1881. His father, a wealthy planter, gave him all the advantages of a classical education, send- ing him last to the University of Virginia, where he became a scholar of high attain- ment, graduating in Greek, Latin, French and German, with many other subjects, and later in law, afterwards becoming a lawyer of great force and ability. The results of these advantages placed him professionally and socially among the leading men of his district, and he was held in the highest es- teem by his fellow citizens who elevated him to prominent official positions in the county, first clerk, then commonwealth's at- torney, and for a period of thirteen years, until his death, he was judge of the judicial district, composed of the counties of Madi- son and Greene. He was a learned, just judge, dignified and courteous, chivalrous
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and knightly, and the soul of generosity and hospitality. He married Elizabeth Colum- bia Miller, born in Greene county, Virginia, in 1824, died in 1892. They were the par- ents of four children, all living: Adelaide Starke, Carrie Lee, Mary James, Wyatt Sanford, of whom further.
Dr. Wyatt Sanford Beazley, only son and youngest child of Judge Wyatt Starke and Elizabeth Columbia (Miller) Beazley, was born near Stanardsville, Greene county, Vir- ginia, July II, 1868. He was educated in private schools in his native county, and after deciding upon a profession entered the Medical College of Virginia in Richmond, whence he was graduated M. D., class of 1893. He began practice in East Richmond and later located in the western part of the city, at his present residence, No. 412 North Lombardy street. He soon became affiliated with his alma mater, as instructor in medi- cal jurisprudence, but at the end of two years he resigned this position to devote himself wholly to the practice of his pro- fession. Later he was chosen medical ex- aminer for the Union Central Life Insurance Company, the Royal Arcanum, the Ladies et the Maccabees of the World, which posi- tions he still holds. In the same capacity he has served several of the insurance com- panies of his city. He is a member of var- ions professional societies including the American Medical Association, the State Medical Society, and Richmond Academy of Medicine and Surgery. In political faith he is a Democrat. A friend to all reformation, particularly for the advancement of woman- hood, he became a member of the Woman's Suffrage League as soon as it was organized in Virginia. When eight years of age he joined the Good Templars, a temperance so- ciety at Stanardsville, and has since done ell in his power to help the cause on to victory. His labors in this direction have been with the Anti-Saloon League from its beginning in his native state. In short. all worthy, needy objects, and every good cause finds him ready to lend a helping hand. He is a skillful, honorable general practitioner, with the distinction of an unusual power to hold his patients, many of the present ones having employed him at the beginning of his medical career, eighteen years ago Tender and sympathetic, kind and court- eous, cheerful and optimistic, he never fails to win the love and confidence of those un-
der his care. Many of them have been heard to say that his presence alone had been an inspiration and help to them. Both he and his wife are communicants of the Grave Avenue Baptist Church.
Dr. Beazley married, in Huntsville, Mis- souri. October 9, 1897, Alma Elizabeth Sel- lers, born at Roanoke, Randolph county, Missouri, August 28, 1872, at her father's farm, the homestead of her mother. She is the daughter of William B. Sellers, born in Rockingham county, Virginia, February 28, 1841, died in July, 1909, judge of the probate court of Randolph county, Missouri. He married Virginia A. Head, born in Ran- dolph county, Missouri, May 31, 1837, and now residing with her daughter, Alma E., in Richmond. She is a descendant of Ben- jamin Head, of revolutionary fame. through John Head, who settled in Missouri. The Heads settled in Virginia at an early date and are prominent in several southern states. Children of Dr. Wyatt S. and Alma E. (Sellers) Beazley: Wyatt Sanford, Jr., born July 25, 1898, who when but a lad of eight showed decided talent as writer of fiction, is now making a fine record both as to conduct and as a student in high school ; Virginia Lee, born May 1, 1902; Elizabeth Idress, born November 12, 1904; Charlotte Starke, born March 20, 1907.
Benjamin Head, ancestor of Mrs. Alma Elizabeth (Sellers) Beazley, was a citizen of Orange county, Virginia, as early as 1771; joined the continental army as a private in Colonel Bland's regiment of horse ; was sent on several important expeditions that re- quired the utmost trust and confidence, and in consequence of meritorious and patriotic service was recommended for promotion by Colonel Bland. He was commissioned a captain in Colonel Bland's regiment in 1780, serving until the end of the war. He fought at Brandywine, Trenton, Princeton, Mon- mouth, Germantown and White Plains ; was transferred to the southern army, and after his promotion was captured at Laniers Ferry, South Carolina, and exchanged on May 14, 1781. After his release he con- tinued in the service; was at the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown. and held the rank of captain at the end of the war. John Head, one of his sons, emigrated to Mis- souri, and another son, Henry, to Sumner county, Tennessee.
Mrs. Alma Elizabeth (Sellers) Beazley
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is descended also through her mother from John Starke, the emigrant, who came from Scotland, married Ann Wyatt, settled in Hanover county, Virginia, and rendered patriotic service during the Revolutionary war as a member of the committee of safety. Mrs. Beazley is a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, United Dangh- ters of the Confederacy, Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities, and through Benjamin Head is entitled to mem- bership in the Daughters of 1812. Dr. W. S. Beazley, also her husband, as stated be- fore, is descended from this same John Starke, is related also to Benjamin Head.
Adelaide Starke, eldest child of Judge Wyatt Starke and Elizabeth Columbia (Mil- ler) Beazley, and sister of Dr. Wyatt San- ford Beazley, was born May 27, 1862. She graduated from Albemarle Female Institute in June, 1879, and for five years, until her marriage to Elijah D. Durrette, of Greene county, Virginia, performed faithfully the beautiful service of assisting her mother in the home. Children of Mr. and Mrs. Dur- rette : 1. Mary Lee, born in 1886; graduated from the Rawlings Institute, Charlottesville, Virginia, and later, in trained nursing from the Memorial Hospital in Richmond, Vir- ginia. For two years she filled this posi- tion with delight to her patients and great credit and honor to herself and her school. She then became the wife of Robert Brax- ton Allport, of Richmond, and they are the parents of two children: Robert Braxton, Jr., born September 1, 1912, and Marion Beazley, born March 28, 1915. 2. Dollie Elizabeth, born in 1888, also graduated from the Rawlings Institute, and for four years filled most acceptably positions as teacher ini her native county of Greene. She became the wife of Miller Jarman, of Rockingham county, Virginia, and they are the parents of one child, Miletus, born September 27, 1913. 3. Elijah Davis, born in 1890; was for some time student at Fork Union Mili- tary Academy, Virginia. 4. Frank Starke, born in 1899. 5. Wyatt Beazley, born in 1901.
Carrie Lee, second child of Judge Wyatt Starke and Elizabeth Columbia (Miller) Beazley, the sister most closely associated with Dr. Wyatt Sanford Beazley, having taught him and otherwise assisted him in his education, was born February 7, 1864. She was a graduate of the Albemarle Female
Institute at the age of sixteen. According to the purpose of her childhood, she began at once to teach, which vocation she fol- lowed faithfully and conscientiously for ten years. Her first experience was in a private school in her own home, then in the public schools of her county, next in the alma mater, and finally in Broaddus College, Clarksburg, West Virginia, from which school she mar- ried James Durrette Carneal, one of the most prominent and highly esteemed business men of Richmond, Virginia. Children: I. Mattie Nell, born May 31, 1892; attended the best schools in Richmond, her birth- place, was two sessions and a half a student at Hollins Institute, Virginia, and in one year won, with many honors, her full grad- uating diploma from Lasell Seminary at Auburndale, a beautiful suburb of Boston, Massachusetts. Later she had three months of travel abroad, followed by a year of voice culture, the study of French, history of art, etc., in Paris. She was beginning her sec- ond year there when forced by the present war to return home. 2. Wyatt Beazley, born September 18, 1893; attended the best pri- vate schools of Richmond, Virginia; Glou- cester Academy, Virginia ; Richmond Acad- emy, and Fork Union Military Academy, Virginia. 3. Charles Wendell, born Febru- ary 12, 1895 ; cadet at Virginia Military In- stitute, Lexington, Virginia, having attend- cc the several schools with his brother, Wyatt B., with the addition of Richmond College. 4. George Upshur, born August 29, 1897 ; just graduated with unusual honor from the John Marshall High School, Rich- mond, Virginia, winning unsought scholar- ship for Hampden-Sidney College, Virginia. 5. James Durrette, Jr., born July 13, 1899; an "honor roll" pupil of the Richmond High School, with the distinction of never hav- ing received a demerit during his entire school experience, and also of having won the medal for best lessons and conduct for four consecutive years, beginning at the very outset of his school life. One of his high school teachers said that he is such a gentleman she had been made more of a lady for having taught him. The entire Carneal family are communicants of the Baptist church.
Mary James, third child of Judge Wyatt Starke and Elizabeth Columbia (Miller) Beazley, was born in Greene county, Vir- ginia, August 5, 1866. She, too, attended
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the Albemarle Female Institute, and at an early age became the wife of Thomas Davis Durrette, also of Greene county, Virginia. ' a grip that seemed to challenge death, mak- ing his success in healing almost phenom- enal. After sixty-four years of active prac- tice, done almost wholly on horseback, he continued frequent visits to the sick until his death in his eighty-ninth year.
Children: 1. Atwood Beazley, born in 1885, at his father's death assisted his mother with the home and farm. 2. Lizzie Lucretia, born in 1887; became the wife of Frank Kirtly, of Madison county, Virginia, and they are the parents of three children: Mary Kyle, Sinclair David, and Keyser. 3. Mamie James, born December 2, 1888; was graduated in trained nursing from The Retreat for the Sick, Richmond, Virginia, and by the display of executive ability and talent in the management of affairs was chosen, after six months of the most satis- factory service as nurse, for the position of superintendent of The Home for Incurables of Richmond; much to the regret of both inmates and board of managers, a year later she became the wife of Starkey Hare, of North Carolina. 4. Carrie Epps, born in November 1891 ; has been making a fine record as trained nurse since her graduation from the Johnston-Willis Hospital in 1914; one of her teachers testified that she had everything necessary to the perfect nurse, a high recommendation. 5. Thomas Davis, born in October, 1895 ; has just received his graduating diploma from the high school in Greene county, Virginia. 6. Robert San- ford, born September 19, 1897, is a student in the same school as his brother, Thomas Davis.
Dr. Robert Sanford Beazley, third son of Captain James and Elizabeth (Mills) Beaz- ley, and uncle of Dr. Wyatt Sanford Beaz- ley, whom in early childhood he nursed through two severe spells of illness, was born in Greene county. Virginia, October 14, 1821, and died January 18, 1910. He was a student at the University of Virginia, and received his diploma in medicine from the Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. When but a lad, his father, while trying to determine which of his two boys, Wyatt S. and Robert S., should be educated in medicine and which in law, was brought to the decision by an accident in which a negro boy on the farm had a toe almost severed from the foot. The boys in question chanced to be present-Wyatt S., the embryo lawyer, fainting, while Robert S., the born physician, sewed it back and nursed it until well again. With this be- ginning, and taking later as his motto,
"While there is life, there is hope," it is no wonder that he held on to his patients with
There was an intermission of nine years ir. the sixty-four, during which, at the earn- est solicitation of the people of Albemarle and Greene counties, he reluctantly gave up his chosen work to serve as their represen- tative in the state senate. While there it was said of him as of Henry Clay, "He never said a word too much, never said a word too little, and always said the right word in the right place." One of his colleagues said that before voting on any important matter he desired no better information than that as to how Dr. Beazley would vote. His life there was not all sunshine, for while seated in a window in the house of delegates, when the latter was crowded to its utmost capacity, the galleries fell, killing many, and crushed through the floor beneath. He re- ceived a bad cut on the head by the falling plastering, but being forced to view so long the heartrending scene below while help- less to aid was by far, he said, the most try- ing part of his experience. His unexpired term in the senate was because of his re- signation on account of the long illness and death of his wife. For this reason he also declined his election to the famous Under- wood Constitutional Convention.
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