Encyclopedia of Virginia biography, Volume V, Part 92

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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in King William county. It is held by some authorities that the name Aylett and Ellett are of common origin. The name appears frequently in the early records of the Old Dominion. A certain Ellett, whose baptis- mal name has not been preserved, was a resident of King William county, and had two sons. One of these, Dabney Ellett, married Anne Pleasants, and they had sons, John P. and Dabney. Dabney (2), junior son of Dabney (I) and Anne (Pleas- ants) Ellett, married Susan B. Neale, daugh- ter of William and Judith (Hill) Neale, and had children: Charles C., James, Sarah, William, Alfred and Mary Eliza.

Charles C. Ellett, son of Dabney (2) and Susan B. (Neale) Ellett, married (first) Susan E. Bowles, and (second) Lucy S. Bowles. His children were: Lemuel, killed in battle in the Civil war; Mamie, married Dr. Thomas Michaels; Charles, married Addie C. Carpenter; Ida, married Isaac Newton Jones; Blanche, married A. O. Bell; Horace W., mentioned below.

Horace W. Ellett, youngest child of Charles C. Ellett, was born February 20, 1838, and was state representative of the McClure Company of Saginaw, Michigan. He married Emma L. Bell, daughter of Ash- ley J. and Hardenia Price (Lasley) Bell, and they were the parents of Charles Ashley Ellett, the subject of this sketch.

Dr. Charles Ashley Ellett was born No- vember 20, 1880, in Wilmington, Fluvanna county, Virginia. He received a liberal edu- cation, attending McCabe's University School, Virginia Military Institute, and the University of Maryland, from which he graduated with the degree of D. D. S. in 1903. Having thoroughly prepared himself he entered upon the practice of his pro- fession in Laurens, South Carolina, where he continued until 1907, when he removed to Richmond, Virginia. Dr. Ellett is a man of fine sensibilities, and excellent traits, and has rapidly gained position in his profes- sion as well as in the social circles of his home city. He is a member of the Psi Omega fraternity and the T. N. E. frater- nity, of the Masonic order and of the Her- mitage Golf Club, Virginia State Dental So- ciety, and Richmond Dental Society. He seeks no part in the conduct of public af- fairs, but is a consistent Democrat and ever ready to do his duty as a citizen in sup-

porting his principles. Dr. Ellett is unmar- ried.

Luther Addison Robertson, M. D. A na- tive born Virginian, son of an eminent Vir- ginia physician, descendant of an ancient and honorable Virginia family, a product of her classical and professional colleges, Dr. Luther A. Robertson, of Danville, Virginia, is also entitled by his own achievements in medicine to rank with leading Virginians.

His father, Dr. William Shelton Robert- son, died in 1904, aged seventy-three years, a native of, Pittsylvania county, born at the old Robertson homestead about ten miles from Danville. He was an eminent physi- cian of the county and also managed the old homestead farm, now under the manage- ment of one of his sons. He married Ann Gillie Law, born in Patrick county, Vir- ginia, who survives him, a resident of Dan- ville, aged eighty-three years. Children: Charles, died aged thirty-three years ; Emma B., married Robert H. Herndon, and resides in Danville; Christopher, a farmer of Pitt- sylvania county ; Dr. William W., a gradu- ate of the College of Physicians and Sur- geons at Baltimore, resides near the old homestead; Thomas G., farms the home- stead; James A., a tobacconist of Danville ; Luther Addison, of whom further; Samuel, a clerk in the employ of James I. Prichett & Son, Danville.

Dr. Luther Addison Robertson, son of Dr. William Shelton and Ann Gillie '(Law) Robertson, was born at the homestead in Pittsylvania county, Virginia, ten miles north of Danville, December 21, 1874. He attended local schools and helped on the farm until fifteen years of age, then spent three years as a student at Danville Mili- tary Institute. He then entered Wake For- est College, whence he was graduated A. B., class of 1897. He then prepared for the practice of medicine at the University Col- lege of Medicine, Richmond; received his degree of M. D., class of 1900. He for four years was associated in practice with Dr. J. A. White, one of the leading specialists of Virginia, after which he attended clinics in New York City, preparing himself for spe- cial practice in diseases of the eye, ear, nose and throat. In 1905 he located in Danville as a specialist in those diseases, and so con- tinues, well established and the leading prac-

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titioner in these special diseases in all southern Virginia. His offices are at No. 563 Main street, where his large clientele are treated with all the skill and aids of the modern specialist. Dr. Robertson is a Democrat in politics, a member of the Bap- tist church, of the leading medical societies and of various clubs. He is unmarried.

Schuyler Otis Bland. Formerly a member of the legal firm of Henley & Bland, Schuy- ler Otis Bland, of Newport News, Virginia, has since 1908 been engaged in the practice of his profession independent of such con- nections, and at this time is the occupant of high place in the legal fraternity, in addi- tion to a large private practice, filling the office of assistant local counsel of the Chesa- peake & Ohio Railroad Company. Mr. Bland is a member of the old Virginia line of this family, son of Schuyler Bland and grandson of Rev. Archer Bland. Rev Archer Bland was a planter of King and Queen county, Virginia, and was also a local preacher of the Methodist Episcopal church. He married Polly Chapman, two of his children, sons, R. Tyler, deceased, who was a farmer and lived in Middlesex county, and Schuyler, of whom further.

Schuyler Bland, son of Rev. Archer and Polly (Chapman) Bland, passed his entire life in agricultural and mercantile pursuits. He was active in local affairs, and like his father, was a man of standing and import- ance. He married Olivia J. Anderson. daughter of Thomas Anderson, of Clarks- ville, Mecklenburg county, Virginia, and had issue: Schuyler Otis, of whom further ; Lola, born in 1874; Edna O., married J. H. Martin, and has one son, James Bland.

Schuyler Otis Bland, son of Schuyler and Olivia J. (Anderson) Bland, was born in Gloucester county, Virginia, May 4. 1872. After studying in public and private school he prepared for college in the Gloucester Academy. He then entered William and Mary College, leaving this institution after two years, subsequently, in 1896, returning and completing his course, receiving the de- gree of L. I. Mr. Bland was admitted to the bar in 1900, and soon afterward formed an association with N. L. Henley under the firm name of Henley & Bland, a connection that endured for one year. Mr. Bland was then for two years identified with the legal firm, Bickford & Stuart, at the end of which

time he became associated with Mr. Bick- ford, and this connection continued for three years. In 1908 Mr. Bland established alone in practice, and has so since continued. He is assistant local counsel for the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad Company, was vice-presi- dent of Virginia State Bar Association for 1914 and 1915, and member of American Bar Association. He is a Democrat in poli- tical faith, and in religious affiliation is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, South. He was elected to membership in the Phi Beta Kappa fraternity, and is now a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. For one year he was president of the New- port News Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Bland married Mary Putzel, the family home being in Newport News, Virginia.

Otis Taylor Amory, M. D. Otis Taylor Armory, M. D., a specialist in Surgery and Seerology. of Newport News, Virginia, is a descendant of Nathaniel Amory, who was the father of two sons, J. L., and Thomas C., the latter named born in England, in 1818, a member of the English army, who came to this country, locating at Back River, Virginia. He was a prosperous farmer, fish- erman and oysterman. He was a member of the United States army in the Mexican war. He married Jane Martin, who bore him eight children : Thomas, John Franklin, of whom further ; Elizabeth, Ellen V., Mary J., George Washington, Emma, Ruth.

John Franklin Amory, second son of Thomas C. and Jane ( Martin) Amory, was born at Back River, York county, Virginia, in 1846. He was a farmer, also engaged in freighting by water, operating steam vessels from Old Point up and down the James river. He was the owner of several vessels and conducted a large business. He received a high school education, was a thoroughly informed, capable and energetic business man. He was a steward of the Methodist church, and superintendent of a Sunday school. Politically he sympathized with the majority of his compeers and sustained the Democratic party. He was a member of the Improved Order of Red Men and the Heptasophs. He married Mary Elizabeth Messick, daughter of William Messick, of York county. Virginia. Children: 1. John Thomas, merchant at Back River ; married Mary Hunt, and has children: Gertrude,

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Marshall and John Thomas, Jr. 2. Annie V., married Healy Topping, a merchant at Back River ; children: lola, Lillian, Frank, Gertrude, Rosalie. 3. George Washington, associated with his father in steamboating; married Burnie Lawson ; children: Loraine, Pauline, George Washington, Jr., Nonie, Hunter. 4. Alphonso F., associated with the steamboating business; married Annie Bishop, and is the father of sons: Bishop and Harold. 5. Lorenzo D., is now in the commission business at Roanoke, Virginia; he married Winnie Lawson, and has chil- dren: Marvin, Lorenzo, Caroline, Charles and Edgar. 6. William Herbert, a manu- facturer of barrels in York county, Virginia ; married Minnie Forest, and has daughters: Helen, Evelyn and Jarline. 7. Gertrude B., married Henry B. Buchanan, who is asso- ciated with William H. Amory in the manu- facture of barrels; they have daughters: Elizabeth, Caroline and Edna. 8. Otis Tay- lor, of further mention. 9. Capros Potts, professor of history in the Newport News high school. 10. Lloyd R., a student. II. Maria Jane, died in infancy.

Dr. Otis Taylor Amory, sixth son of John Franklin (2) and Mary Elizabeth (Messick) Amory, was born in Messick, Virginia, Jan- uary 13, 1888. He attended the public schools in early boyhood, was subsequently instructed by private tutors, and a student at high school. After a course at Randolph- Macon College he entered the University College of Medicine, from which he received the degree of Doctor of Medicine, 1913. Fol- lowing this he took a post-graduate course in New York City, and received practical experience in the Norfolk Protestant Hos- pital and the Kings County Hospital of Brooklyn, New York. He located in New- port News, where he conducted a general practice, and is now associated with Dr. J. T. Buxton in the Elizabeth Buxton Hospital of Newport News, which is doing an ex- tensive business. At the present time the proprietors are engaged in the construction of an addition to this hospital, which will double its capacity. Dr. Amory is special- izing in Surgery and Seerology, and though a young man has already demonstrated great ability. He is a member of the Nor- folk County Medical Association, Virginia Medical Association, Warwick County Med- ical Association, of the college fraternity, Alpha Kappa Kappa. He is an active mem-

ber of the Methodist church, and acts politi- cally with the Democratic party. He mar- ried, April 21, 1915, Marcie Hewell Tuck, daughter of David and Rosa (Crowder) Tuck.

William Dickinson Buckner. Among the oldest of Virginia families, that of Buckner is well represented in Greater New York by William Dickinson Buckner, president of the Bank of Flatbush, whose ability and efficiency are demonstrated by his continued success in various lines of endeavor. The financial and commercial growth and de- velopment of a city are so closely inter- woven with the history of the individuals who further these interests that a history of one is almost practically a history of the other. Many men owe their success to in- tense concentration upon one line of effort, while others are so endowed by nature that they are able to achieve success in a variety of directions. The name appears at an early date in England. The will of Robert Buck- nore, who died in 1365, is recorded in Lon- don. The line of descent of the Virginia branch is continuously traced to Richard Buckner, of Cumor, England, a village in the southwestern part of Berkshire, Eng- land, three and one-half miles from the city of Oxford. Little can now be learned about him, but his will on record shows him to have been a man of means. He was born about 1500, as he was a grandfather at the time of his death in 1548. His son William died ten years later. His wife's name was Martha, and they were the parents of Hugh Buckner, who lived in the city of Oxford, and took the oath as bailiff in 1592. St. Aldate's parish register shows the baptisms of two of his sons and the burial of a daugh- ter, and the St. Mary's parish register shows the burial of a son and the birth of another of the same name. Thomas, son of Hugh Buckner, was baptized February 20, 1590, at St. Aldate's, and the St. Mary's parish register shows the baptism of six of his chil- dren and the burial of another. Among these were John and Philip Buckner, pio- neers.of Virginia,

John Buckner, son of Thomas Buckner, was baptized February 2, 1631, in St. Mary's parish, Oxford, and appears in Virginia in 1667, when he received a patent of one hun- dred and ninety-four acres in Gloucester county. He was granted additional land in

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the following year, and from then until his death, about the beginning of the year 1695, he continued adding to his estate. In 1671 he was a member of the vestry of Pets- worth's parish, Gloucester county, Virginia. He was also prominent in the civil affairs of the colony, acting as clerk of the county, and a member of the house of burgesses of the Virginia colony in 1683. He was instru- mental in bringing the first printing press to Virginia. Beside his extensive holdings in Gloucester county, he was also a large landowner in Rappahannock county. He was the agent of various London merchants in Virginia, and probably. lived in London in early life. The records of St. Sepulchre's parish in that city show the marriage of John Buckner, bachelor, citizen and salter of London, July 10, 1661, to Debora Ferrers, of West Wickham, Bucks, a village not far from Cumor, England. Her age was given as about nineteen years. John Buckner's chil- dren were: William, John, Richard, Thomas and Elizabeth. There is reason to suppose that Richard was the eldest son. He was the owner of five hundred acres in Rappa- hannock county in 1682, in a tract called "Golden Vale." Ten years following this date, Essex county was formed from Rappa- hannock, and Richard Buckner was clerk of the new county in 1703 and in 1712, presum- ably throughout the years between. In 1714 he was clerk of the house of burgesses. Tra- dition says he married Elizabeth Cooke, and his will shows her baptismal name to have been Elizabeth. They had children: Rich- and, Philip, John, William, Elizabeth, and perhaps others. These were founders in the Caroline county branch of the family. Philip Buckner was the ancestor of General Samuel Boliver Buckner, of Kentucky, who achieved distinction in the Civil war. Wil- liam Buckner, son of Richard Buckner. re- sided at "The Neck" in Caroline county, and is probably the William who was justice of that county in June, 1768. His wife, Judith (Hawes) Buckner, believed to have been a widow at the time of marriage, was noted for her temper and family pride. Their known sons were: William, Francis, Rich- ard, George and Thomas. Of these George, probably born between 1725 and 1730, at one time owned land in Fredericksburg, Vir- ginia. It is not certain whether his wife was a Hawes or an Aylett. He had sons: Richard Henry and George, and a daugh-

ter Elizabeth. Richard Henry Buckner was born before 1760, in Caroline county, and married Charlotte, daughter of Samuel and Ann Hawes, of King William county, born October 1, 1766. He died before 1797, and she married (second) William Aylett Buck- ner, a cousin of her first husband. Rich- ard H. Buckner's children were: Washing- ton, Catherine, Charlotte, Elizabeth, Bailey, Ann Hawes and Mary Hawes. The second son, Bailey Buckner, was born October 11, 1789, at "The Neck," and settled in Culpeper county, where he was one of the most popu- lar and prominent men of his time, an ideal Southern gentleman, of handsome face and graceful figure. Liberal and hospitable, a fluent and ready speaker, he was ably sec- onded in entertaining his friends at his home, "Wadefield," by his wife, noted as an excel- lent housekeeper. He became sheriff of Rap- pahannock county, and was a soldier in the Fifth Virginia Militia of Culpeper, in the war of 1812, and was successively sergeant ensign and lieutenant. After the war he held a position of trust in the treasury department at Washington. He died at "Wadefield," at the age of forty-three years. He married, in 1814. Mildred, daughter of John and Helen (Piper) Strother, of "Wadefield." She died there in 1875, in her eightieth year. They had children : Elizabeth, Aylett Hawes, John Strother, Sarah Catherine, Richard Henry, George Walker, Samuel Wilson, Lucy Pen- dleton, and Caldwell Calhoun.

Major Caldwell Calhoun Buckner, young- est child of Bailey Buckner, was born Feb- ruary 9, 1829, at "Wadefield," and died May 22, 1898. He was educated at Rappahan- nock Academy, and engaged in mercantile business in Baltimore, Maryland. Later he became a partner with Charles Bayne, the father of Senator Howard R. Bayne, of New York, and soon after moved to Spottsylvania county, Virginia, residing at "Marengo." In 1858 he purchased "Island View," in Orange county, Virginia, and engaged in raising thoroughbred stock, of which he was an ex- cellent judge. Although a most loyal South- erner, he did all in his power to prevent the secession of his native state, but when war was declared, he decided to stand by his state, and became a member of the Seventh Virginia Cavalry, in General Rosser's bri- gade. He was a brave and efficient sol- dier, with the rank of lieutenant, and was in command of his company at Camp De-

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fiance. Here the Union forces were repulsed and driven back by the McCulloch Rangers under Lieutenant Buckner's command. After the close of hostilities, he accepted the re- sult, and sometimes entertained his friends who had formerly been his enemies on the field of battle. His homestead at "Island View" had been the scene of a serious en- gagement in February, 1864, and when he returned to it after the war, he found it swept of everything, only the house remain- ing. With his war horse and a yoke of oxen, he began plowing, and soon had crops growing. From the multitude of bullets with which his fields had been peppered, he moulded gunshot, and was able to sup- ply his table from the plentiful game of the vicinity, no other meats being obtain- able. He did not repine over the devasta- tion wrought by the war, but set indus- triously to work to repair his fortunes, and by advice and example. brought up his sons to be energetic and efficient. His plantation was rapidly restored to its condition as the home of plenty and hospitality. A well read, polished and refined gentleman, he was a hospitable entertainer and instructive con- versationalist. Here he continued to reside until his death. He married, at Chestnut Valley, Caroline county, Virginia, November 22, 1853, Louisa Fitzhugh Dickinson, daugh- ter of William I. and Jane Richard (Buck- ner), the last named a daughter of Thomas Buckner, of "Lake Farm," Caroline county, Virginia. Children: Bailey, William Dickin- son, Louisa C., John Strother, Aylett Hawes, Marshall Dulany and Lucy.

William Dickinson Buckner, second son of Major Caldwell Calhoun and Louisa Fitz- hugh (Dickinson) Buckner, was born Au- gust 4, 1856, at "Marengo," near Fredericks- burg, and received his elementary and pri- mary education at the Rappahannock Acad- emy. He pursued the scientific course at Ran- dolph-Macon College, graduating in 1879. This included a special course in engineer- ing, and he also took a three years' course in English, Latin and German. Two years were devoted to teaching, and his spare time was occupied in practical surveying. In 1881 he became assistant engineer on the exten- sion of the Chesapeake & Ohio railroad through eastern Kentucky, and in January of the following year was transit man in charge of a locating party, and made the first survey of the Kentucky Central rail-

road between Paris and Winchester, Ken- tucky. Later he became assistant engineer of construction on a division of the Ken- tucky Central railroad. In the fall of 1883, Mr. Buckner went to Mexico as transit man on the Mexican & Western railroad, and was advanced to engineer in charge of loca- tion in the following year, and a year later to chief engineer of construction. While in Mexico he made a study of the Spanish lan- guage, in which he became fluent. In 1886 he resigned his position in Mexico in order to take up the study of irrigation in Cali- fornia, and became assistant to the city engi- neer of Los Angeles, where he staked out the first electric railroad built in that city. This is now the model trolley system of the United States. In 1888 Mr. Buckner was chief engineer of the Santa Anna & Pacific railroad, and had charge of the construction of the Southern Riverside Irrigation canal and various other large enterprises, while conducting a general engineering office in Los Angeles. He became assistant to the vice-president of the Chino Land and Water Company, and in 1890 went to Europe to establish a plant and railroad .connections for the Chino Sugar Beet Factory, which received the first bounty paid by the United States on beet sugar. While abroad he made a study of the French language. Returning to America, he was appointed chief engineer and superintendent of construction on the Cartagena-Magdalena railroad, of Columbia, South America. The tropical fevers to which he was subject enfeebled his health and he went to the City of New York, where he occupied himself from 1894 to 1897 with real estate investments. In the latter year he accepted the appointment of assistant chief engineer of the Guayaquil & Quito railroad, in the Republic of Ecuador. On account of the poor health of the chief engineer, the responsibilities of the latter's position prac- tically devolved upon Mr. Buckner. He had charge of the engineering parties seeking a way to mount the precipitous Andes, and was also made general manager of the por- tion of the road operated by the government of Ecuador. During his stay in that coun- try he witnessed a South American revolu- tion. On his arrival there, the terminus of the railroad was at Chimbo, a small village in the foothills, which had no importance until it became the railroad terminal. Here pack trains of horses, mules, donkeys and

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llamas brought freight from the mountains to be shipped by rail to the coast, and car- ried back freight arriving at Chimbo. The work undertaken by the party was to con- tinue this railroad, then only fifty-five miles long, on to Quito, a distance of two hun- dred and thirty-one miles. Many trouble- some engineering difficulties were overcome in reaching the plateau on which Quito is situated. Beside having charge of one of the three sections of this work, Mr. Buck- ner was manager of the fifty-five miles of railroad already in operation. This railroad is advantageously situated for electrification, as the adjacent waters will supply ample power for generating the current. The ad- ventures encountered by the engineers in pursuing their work read like a romance. After the completion of this work, Mr. Buck- ner abandoned engineering to take up com- mercial life.

In 1901 he became office manager of the New York Title Insurance Company. In 1904 he engaged in business on his own account, organizing the Prospect Park Bank of Brooklyn, New York, of which he be- came first vice-president and executive offi- cer. This venture has been attended by suc- cess, and has steadily grown and prospered, taking rank among the sound financial insti- tutions of Greater New York. In 1909 Mr. Buckner was elected president of the insti- tution, which position he still holds. The name of the bank was changed to the Bank of Flatbush in December, 1911. He has been a leading factor in many New York real estate operations, which have proven successful, and he also finds time to conduct a large stock farm and shooting lodge at "Island View." the family seat in Orange county, Virginia, of which he is the owner. He is treasurer of the New York Southern Society, and of the Society of Virginians of New York, and has been a member of the Hamilton, Midwood. Crescent and Civic clubs. Upon his estate in central Virginia still stands his old home, and it is one of the chief pleasures of Mr. Buckner to take house parties there for two or three weeks each year for shooting, as the surrounding coun- try is well stocked with wild turkey, quail and a variety of other game. He is interested in literary matters, and spent his leisure time during a period of many years in ac- cumulating material concerning the Buck- ner family of Virginia, which was ultimately

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Encyclopedia of Virginia biography, Volume V, Part 92

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