USA > Virginia > Encyclopedia of Virginia biography, Volume V > Part 96
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Edgar, March 16, 1864 ; Clement Coote, May 24, 1866; Henry Waugh, March 18, 1868; Mary Douglass, March 19, 1870; Ernest Kinzer, mentioned below; Marion, Septem- ber 28, 1874; Alpheus, March 4, 1877 ; Edna, November 6, 1879; Eben Childs, September II, 1882. Ellen Douglass Norris was a daughter of George W. and Mary D. (Wright) Norris, a descendant of William Norris, whose son, Samuel Norris, married Kitty, daughter of George Carter, and they were the parents of George W. Norris. Mary D. Wright was a daughter of Dr. Wil- liam B. Wright and Penelope Manley, granddaughter of John and Sarah Manley, daughter of Harrison Manley and his wife, Margaret Barry, who was a daughter of Ed- ward and Mary (Stone) Barry.
Ernest Kinzer Speiden was born April 13, 1872, in Marshall, Virginia, and attended the public schools of that place in early life. After leaving school he was employed for two years in a general store at Marshall, and in 1889 he went to New York City, where he obtained a position with the Inter- national Mercantile Marine Company, with which he continued for twenty-six years. From an humble position, Mr. Speiden rapidly rose to places of importance, and was some sixteen years in charge of the freight department of this great shipping establishment. He resigned this position. July 31, 1915, and is now assistant treasurer of Innis, Speiden & Company, importers and manufacturers of chemicals and dye stuffs, of New York. Mr. Speiden is a a member of the New York Traffic Club, the Merchants' Association, and the South- ern Society of New York City. In matters of national policy he acts with the Demo- cratic party, and is independent of organized influence in local concerns. He is a man of sound judgment, prompt action and settled conviction, and is amply qualified to fulfill the responsibilities that rest upon him. He married, in New York City, December 26, 1898, Annie E. Summers, born in Montgom- ery county, Pennsylvania, daughter of John and Cecilia (Bilheimer) Summers.
John George Fleck. This branch of the Fleck family in Virginia was founded by George Michael Fleck, who died in Rich- mond in 1913. He was born in Witten- berg. Germany, in 1835, and when a bov of seventeen years of age came to the United
States, remaining for a time in Philadelphia. Later he came to Virginia, locating in Rich- mond, where he engaged in manufacturing. He was also interested in agricultural oper- ations and was for several years United States collector of internal revenue. He was a supporter of the Confederate cause and during the war was one of the contrac- tors employed by the Confederate govern- ment, and also served as private in a Vir- ginia regiment. He married Sophia Chris- tina, daughter of Stephen Holtz, of Dats- bruck, Germany. From Virginia the sons of this marriage located in Philadelphia, where as Fleck Brothers they occupy a prominent position in the business world, a branch of their business being located in their native state.
John George Fleck, son of George Michael and Sophia Christina (Hotz) Fleck, was born in Richmond, Virginia, January 26, 1868. His early education was obtained in private schools in Richmond and Philadel- phia, his preparation having in view a col- lege course. He choose engineering as his profession and later entered Lehigh Univer- sity, whence he was graduated civil engi- neer, class of 1890. He devoted himself to his profession until 1895, then, in associa- tion with his brother, founded the firm of Fleck Brothers, wholesale dealers in plum- bers' materials. This business has been a most successful one and has spread far be- yond the original conception of its found- ers. Manufacturing has been added to their activities and large concerns in Reading, Baltimore and Norfolk are the outgrowth of the original Philadelphia house. J. G. Fleck is president of the Reading Foundry Company, a prosperous manufacturing cor- poration of Reading, Pennsylvania, vice- president of the Southern Supply Company, of Baltimore, Maryland, and director of the Seaboard Company, of Norfolk, Virginia. He is thoroughly equipped technically for the position he fills, also possessing business and executive ability of high order. He is also a director of the Girard Avenue Title and Trust Company, of Philadelphia. and head of Fleck Brothers, No. 44-50 North Fifth street, Philadelphia. He is a member of several manufacturers' and business mens' associations, and is highly regarded by his associates. His clubs are the Lehigh and Cynwyd. In political thought he is strictly independent.
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Mr. Fleck married, in June, 1892, Martha Josephine, daughter of Joseph and Martha (Ashton) Smith, of Philadephia. Children : John George (2), born in Philadelphia in December, 1894; Dorothy Ashton, born in Philadelphia in June. 1896.
Junius Pendleton Wilson. Junius Pendle- ton Wilson, an attorney of New York City, is descended from several early families of Virginia. One of his ancestors, Edmund Pendleton, drafted the Virginia Bill of Rights, and was associated with President Jefferson in the promotion of early educa- tion in Virginia and in furthering the move- ment for the benefit of William and Mary College, and co-operating with Mr. Jefferson in establishing the University of Virginia.
Thinking men of Virginia were not satis- fied with the facilities for education exist- ing at the beginning of the revolutionary war, and the first general assembly of the independent commonwealth which met un- der the new constitution in October, 1776, appointed a committee to revise the colonial laws-those relating to education included Edmund Pendleton, George Wythe, Thomas Jefferson, George Mason and Thomas Lud- well Lee. George Mason resigned, and Thomas Ludwell Lee died soon after ap- pointment, so that the revision was effected by the three first named revisors. Mr. Jef- ferson says in his autobiography, under Feb- ruary 7, 1821, "Writings of Jefferson, Fords Edition, Volume 1, Page 47. S. E. Q. the Acts of Assembly, concerning the College of William and Mary were properly within Mr. Pendleton portion of our work, etc., etc., "See also History of the University of Virginia. Volume 1, Page 11 Seq. Lewis Publishing Company, 1904."
At a court of Isle of Wight county, held on April 5, 1781, it was ordered that Good- rich Wilson be made captain of a Virginia company, in the revolutionary army. By like order of said court, he was succeeded May 1, 1783, by Sampton Wilson, who was the then second lieutenant of said com- pany, and was made captain thereof. Good- rich Wilson was the father of George Wil- son, George Wilson was the father of Solo- mon Wilson, and Solomon Wilson was the father of James Riddick Wilson, Emily Wilson and George Wilson. The said James Riddick Wilson married Margaret Wright. daughter of Stephen and Abbie Connor Wright, Stephen Wright being a son of
Stephen and Ann (Fripp) Wright, the last named a daughter of John Fripp. Stephen Wright (2) was born December 24. 1763, near Craney Island, Norfolk county, Vir- ginia, descended from one of the oldest families of that section, and died in Norfolk, December 25, 1851. At the age of seventeen years he entered the revolutionary army, becoming an ensign, and was made prisoner four months before the close of the revolu- tion and carried to Bermuda, whence being exchanged he returned to be present at the siege of Yorktown. For many years he was the colonel of one of the finest regiments of Norfolk county, and also served his county in the legislature more than fifty years be- fore he died. He was also for some time presiding justice of the county, was a man of remarkable personality and great purity of character. (See Norfolk Beacon of issue December 27, 1851) James Riddick Wilson was also a soldier of the revolution. His children were Emily Byrd, Solomon Junius, and Mary F.
Solomon Junius had large plantations in Isle of Wight, was a man noted for his piety and learning, and was the major of the bat- talion in Isle of Wight. He was the father of Octavia, George W. and Junius Watson Wilson.
Junius Watson Wilson was born August 24, 1845, in Smithfield, is now living and for many years was claim agent of the Seaboard Air Line Railroad. He volunteered his serv- ices to the state, at the early age of fifteen, during the Civil war, and served as an officer of the Confederate army from the beginning of the unpleasantness to the end thereof. surrendering at Suffolk, Virginia, two months after the surrender of General Lee and General Johnston. He married Virginia Elizabeth Dozier, born 1844, in Princess Ann county, Virginia, daughter of Samuel and Levey (Etheridge) Dozier, and great- granddaughter of Peter Dozier, whose father, Peter Dozier, was a general of the French army. and settled in North Carolina. near the Virginia line, where he engaged in lumbering and had large plantations. Chil- dren of Junius Watson and Virginia E. Dozier Wilson, besides the son whose name heads this article, are: Raymond, George Mallory, and Virginia Elizabeth, all born in Fortsmouth.
Junius Pendleton Wilson, son of Junius W. and Virginia Elizabeth (Dozier) Wilson.
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was born June 15, 1875, in Norfolk, and in early life attended the public schools of Portsmouth, Virginia, graduating from its high school in 1893. He prepared for col- lege under private tutors at Portsmouth, and thereafter entered the University of Virginia, from which he graduated in 1898. Shortly thereafter he settled in New York City, and entered the law offices of Weeks, Battle & Marshall, where he remained for a period of about two years; he was admitted to the bar in New York City, in 1900, and immediately began the practice of his pro- fession in which he has since continued with considerable success, making a specialty of the trial of causes and surrogates practice. He is a member of the New York County Lawyers Association, The Society of Medi- cal Jurisprudence, The Southern Society of New York, The Virginians of New York, The Alumni Association of the University of Virginia in New York, of which he is vice-president, the Beta Phata Phi, Greek letter fraternity ; the Heta Phata Phi Club of New York City, and the Andrew Jack- son Club of Brooklyn. As a young man he was captain of the Portsmouth Grays, an independent military company of that city. He entertains liberal views of theology, and is a firm supporter of Democratic principles in politics.
He married, June 3, 1903, in New York City, Winifred Elizabeth Smith, the only child of Thomas Smith, and they have two children, Junius Pendleton Wilson, Jr., and Winifred Virginia Wilson, both born in Brooklyn, New York, where the family now rcsides.
Elliott Franklin Story. Now common- wealth attorney of Southampton county, Virginia, an office to which he was elected in 19II, Elliott Franklin Story, of Franklin, Virginia, a legal practitioner of that place and Courtland, Virginia, is one of the suc- cessful lawyers of the locality and occupies a prominent position in the councils of the Democratic party in the county and state. For more than a quarter of a century iden- tified with the legal profession in Southamp- ton county, Virginia, his present office is the first place of public trust that he has ac- cepted, his professional associations having previously received his entire attention.
Mr. Story is a son of Elliott Lemuel Story, born in Southampton county, Virginia, in
1823, died in 1888, and Margaret Ellen (Wil- liams) Story, born in Southampton county, Virginia, in 1847, now residing in Franklin, Virginia. His grandfather was Benjamin Story, born in 1816, and Southampton county has long been the family home. Elliott Lemuel Story was an agriculturist and teacher, being prominent in educational work in his native county, Southampton, and was likewise noted for his successful efforts in procuring pensions for the widows of soldiers who had fought in organizations recruited in that county.
Elliott Franklin Story, son of Elliott Le- muel and Margaret Ellen (Williams) Story, obtained his early education under the tutel- age of his father, and after a one year course in the law department of the Richmond Col- lege was graduated LL. B. in 1898. He was admitted to the bar in the year of his gradu- ation, and has since continuously followed his profession, being at the present time located in Courtland, Virginia, with a branch office at Franklin, his home. In Franklin Mr. Story is vice-president of the Merchants' and Farmers' Bank, and is also chairman of the board of trustees. He is a member of the Southampton county and the Virginia State Bar associations, and belongs to the Virginia Club, of Norfolk, Virginia.
Mr. Story took up the reins of responsi- bility in the office of commonwealth attor- ney of Southampton county, Virginia, on January 1, 19II, and has since adminstered the duties of the office with easy ability and forceful thoroughiness. He has ever been a stout champion of Democratic principles, and on this ticket was elected to his present office. He was for four years chairman of the Democratic executive committee of Vir- ginia, and was alternate Democratic dele- gate from Virginia to the Democratic Na- tional convention held at St. Louis, Mis- souri. He was also a member of the Vir- ginia delegation to the National Democratic convention in Baltimore, Maryland, that nominated Woodrow Wilson for the presi- dency of the United States, and in that con- vention was chosen a member from Virginia of the committee on credentials. During the memorable deadlock that marked that con- vention, Mr. Story remained firmly for Mr. Wilson, casting his vote for the successful candidate on each of the forty-six ballots required to bring forth a victor. He is a
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member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and holds position on the official board. He was a delegate from the Virginia Metho- dist Episcopal conference to the general con- ference of the church held in Oklahoma in May, 1914, and has played an important part in many forms of church service, ac- cepting and faithfully administering his charges.
Captain Nathaniel Burruss. The first an- cestor of Captain Nathaniel Burruss was Jacob Burruss, of England, who came to America in 1717 with his two sons, William and John, and located in Caroline county, Virginia.
William Burruss married Susanna Ter- rell, in 1770, daughter of David Terell, Sr., and Agatha Chiles, his wife. William Bur- russ and Susanna Terrell had issue: Pleas- ant, of Caroline county, Virginia; William, Harris, Jacob, Patsy, and Susan. Pleasant Burruss married (first) Nancy Cheadle, (second) Elizabeth Wright, daughter of William Wright and Frances Riddle, his wife, and they had issue: Cicero, father of Nathaniel Burruss ; Pleasant, Edroin Nancy, and Susan. William Burruss mar- ried Nancy Redd; Jacob, married Mary Redd; Patsy, married Jacob Reynolds ; Susan, married William Campbell.
William Burruss, father of Pleasant and great-grandfather of Nathaniel Burruss, was a banker of Caroline county, Virginia.
Cicero Burruss, eldest son of Pleasant Burruss and Elizabeth Wright, was born in Caroline county, Virginia, in 1819; married, June 6, 1843, Adelaide Octavia Charter, of Richmond, Virginia. Adelaide Octavia Char- ter was a daughter of Lieutenant Nathaniel Charter, of Richmond, Virginia, and Wini- fred Lacy Johnston, of Fredericksburg, Vir- ginia. Cicero and Adelaide Burruss had issue : Nathaniel Burruss, born in Richmond, Virginia, December, 1841 ; married Margaret Walters Dey, daughter of William Dey, of Norfolk, and Margaret Catherine Walters, of Maryland. They had issue: Adelita Chartel Burruss, who married Captain Harry B. Jordan, United States army, com- manding officer of San Antonio (Texas) arsenal ; William Cicero Burruss, married Nell Orr, of Greenville, South Carolina, he died June 6, 1902; Edwin Elovin Burruss, died aged six months; Nathaniel Charter Burruss, of Norfolk, Virginia, married
Eleanor Rellis, of Saginaw, Michigan; Al- bert Edward Burruss, of Norfolk, married Harriet Gaughn, of St. Louis, Missouri; Margaret Walters Burruss, married (first) Lieutenant John Henry Read, United States army, aide-de-camp for General James Par- ker, Fort San Houston, Texas ; Eugene Lan- sing Burruss, of Norfolk, married Nell Old- field, of Edgewater, Norfolk, Virginia.
Nathaniel Burruss was only three years old when he came with his parents from Richmond to live in Norfolk, Virginia. He was educated at the Norfolk Military Acad- emy and Virginia Military Institute, Lex- ington, Virginia. At the commencement of the Civil war, in 1861, he was a cadet at the Virginia Military Institute, and after the oc- cupation of Harper's Ferry by the Confed- erate troops under Colonel Jackson, after- wards the celebrated "Stonewall" Jackson, he was ordered to General Jackson from the institute, for duty on his staff, as instructor of tactics. He continued to perform this service up to the battle of Manassas, in which he took part with the "Stonewall Brigade." He was shortly afterwards or- dered back to the Virginia Military Institute to resume his studies, but that institution soon closed. In 1862 he entered the service again at Brownsville, Texas, being stationed at Fort Brown, as lieutenant in Captain Cumming's company of infantry, in which position and capacity he remained until transferred to Ringgold Barracks on the Rio Grande river. He continued in active service as captain, serving respectively as ordnance officer, quarter-master and com- missary to the close of the war, being at- tached to the cavalry corps of Colonel Ben- avide's, who guarded that line of the frontier bordering on the Rio Grande river. At the close of the war, having returned to Nor- folk, Virginia, he was elected captain of a volunteer company, the Norfolk City Guard, which he commanded (and uniformed the entire company) several years. He was next commissioned as quarter-master with the rank of captain, on the staff of Colonel C. H. Nash, Fourth Virginia Volunteers. He occupied this position until 1897, when he voluntarily resigned, having served his state in a military capacity during a period of ten years of active service. He died at Nor- folk, October 9, 1905.
Cicero Burruss, father of Nathaniel was a successful banker of Norfolk, Virginia,
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and the banking house was founded in 1864 by C. Burruss and William T. Har- rison, under the firm name Burruss, Har- rison & Company. Later, on the retirement of Mr. Harrison from the firm, its name was changed to Burruss, Son & Company, the members being Cicero Burruss and Nathan- iel Burruss, who was admitted as partner in 1866. At that time Nathaniel was vice- consul of Portugal. After the death of Cicero Burruss, his son Nathaniel continued the business under the old firm name, and later, admitted Mr. George H. Newton as partner, the name still remaining the same. At the death of Mr. Newton he became sole proprietor and continued the business until 1897. His mind, trained and experi- enced in banking, held solutions of count- less financial problems, and the excellence of his reputation lent strength, stability and confidence during his business life. He was a member of the Sons of the American Revo- lution, of the Virginia Club of Norfolk, and several clubs of New York City.
Ernest Christian Klipstein. Ernest Chris- tian Klipstein, is a typical American. On his father's side he is descended from Dr. Philip Klipstein, who came to America as surgeon of the Hessian division of the Brit- ish army, and at the close of the war of the revolution, settled in Winchester, Virginia, where he practiced his profession.
Philip Engel Klipstein, one of the five sons of Dr. Philip Klipstein, also became a physician, and pursued his medical practice in Fauquier county, Virginia. He married Sarah Ball, of the well known Ball family of Virginia.
Philip Augustus Klipstein, third son of Dr. Philip Engel and Sarah (Ball) Klipstein, was a merchant farmer at Marshall, Vir- ginia, and served in the Confederate army as a member of the Eighth Regiment, Vir- ginia Infantry, attached to Pickett's divis- ion, and died in 1905. He married Amanda Louisa Hixon, daughter of James and Mary (Hampton) Hixon, of whom the former was of New Jersey Quaker stock, and settled in Loudoun county, Virginia, in the latter part of the eighteenth century ; he served in the continental army throughout the war of the revolution. Mr. and Mrs. Klipstein had children: Ernest Christian, whose name heads this sketch ; James Hampton, still re- siding on the old homestead in Fauquier
county, Virginia ; and William Augustus, a manufacturing chemist of New York City.
Ernest Christian Klipstein was born in Fauquier county, Virginia, December 24, 1851. He received such a primary educa- tion as was possible in a country overrun alternately by both armies during the Civil war, and this was supplemented by two years at Roanoke College, Virginia, 1867- 68. His career after this limited education was also typically American. After teach- ing school for three years in Virginia and one year in Arkansas, he entered the retail drug business in preparation for his intend- ed course as a physician, and supplemented the same by attendance at the College of Physicians and Surgeons in Baltimore, Mary- land. In further pursuance of the same ob- ject he removed to New York in 1875, but finally connected himself with the house since known as A. Klipstein & Company, pioneer importers of German chemicals and coal tar dyes. This business, originally be- gun with France, Germany and England, gradually extended to the whole world and necessitated extensive travel, in the course of which Mr. Klipstein became a fluent lin- quist, learning to speak and write German, French, Spanish and Italian, besides ac- quiring a working knowledge of Dutch, Swedish and Portugese. During his com- mercial career Mr. Klipstein introduced many new chemical products and processes, the most notable of which was the use of foreign materials for tanning leather. such as Quebracho extract from Argentine, My- rabolams from India, Mangrove bark from Africa, thereby revolutionizing the tanning industry of the United States. More re- cently Mr. Klipstein has devoted his ener- gies to the development of the coal tar in- dustry in this country. He is the author of numerous technical articles which have appeared in chemical and other scientific publications, one of especial note appear- ing in 1908 in the "Journal of the Society of Chemical Industry." His efforts in the cause of education have borne good fruit, and he is one of the trustees of the Free Public Library of East Orange, New Jer- sey. He is a member of numerous organi- zations, among them being: Essex County Country Club, Orange, New Jersey ; Ham- ilton Club of Paterson, New Jersey ; Re- form Club of New York; Chemists Club of New York; Drug and Chemical Club of
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New York; Merchants Association of New York: Chamber of Commerce of the United States ; Society of Chemical Industry, Lon- don. England: Electro-Chemical Society, New York; Verein Deutscher Chemiker. In political matters he prefers to be inde- pendent, and will not allow himself to be bound by party ties. His church affiliations are with the Presbyterian denomination.
Mr. Klipstein married, in December, 1888, Grace Lillian Mills, born July 27, 1867, in Hamilton, Ontario, a granddaughter of Sam- uel Mills, one of the original senators ap- pointed by the English Crown at the forma- tion of the Dominion of Canada. Children : Ernest Holton. Gerald Philip and Kenneth Hampton. The business office of Mr. Klip- stein is at No. 644 Greenwich street, New York, and his residence at No. 93 Prospect street. East Orange, New Jersey. Mr. Klip- stein is greatly interested in scientific stud- ies, and he finds his chief recreation in his experimental and constructive work in his laboratory, and the game known as golf.
Lewis Tilghman Stoneburner, M. D. From 1907 until 1910, Dr. Lewis Tilghman Stoneburner, one of the younger generation of medical practitioners in the city of Rich- mond, followed a profession other than that in which he is now engaged, namely, peda- gogy, teaching in the high schools of New- port News and Richmond subsequent to his graduation from Washington and Lee Col- lege prior to his beginning of medical stud- ies. Dr. Stoneburner became identified with the medical profession in Richmond in the spring of 1914 and there continues practice with pleasing results.
Dr. Stoneburner is a grandson of John J. Stoneburner, a native of Loudoun county, Virginia, who died at a greatly advanced age. He was for a long time a merchant of Shenandoah county, Virginia, and during the war was the proprietor of a foundry whose product was cannon balls for the use of the Confederate army. He was the father of seven children, of whom four are living at this time ( 1914) : Lewis Tilghman, of whom further; John W., a resident of Chicago, Illinois; Robert Edward, resides in New York City; Francis Richard, a resident of Shenandoah county, Virginia.
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