USA > Virginia > City of Norfolk > City of Norfolk > History of Norfolk County, Virginia : and representative citizens, 1637-1900 > Part 76
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Captain Barker received his educational training in the schools of Wellfleet, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and at the age of II years took to a seafaring life. He rose from the lowest ranks to be a captain, and as such continued for a period of 17 years.
The business of R. R. Higgins & Company
C
HON. LEGH RICHMOND WATTS.
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was established in 1828 in the city of Boston. Maupin, a daughter of Dr. George W. Mau- where the members of the firm now reside. The pin, who was a surgeon in the United States Army. Dr. Watts died in 1849, leaving three children, namely: Mrs. G. M. Holladay, re- liet of the late James G. Holladay; Dr. Edward M., who died in June, 1890; and Legh K. The paternal ancestors were English and the maternal were French Huguenots. main business is at Boston, with branches at Drownville, Rhode Island; Wellfleet, Massa- chusetts; and Norfolk, Virginia. The Nor- folk branch was established in 1879, and in that year Captain Barker became manager of it. Under capable management this branch has met with remarkable success. They raise a fine quality of oysters and have 12 regular oyster boats for carrying on operations. They employ from 100 to 125 men and their busi- ness is done at the wharf of Nottingham & Wrenn. The product of this company is first sent to Boston, Massachusetts, and thence dis- tributed to different cities throughout the United States and Canada. The oysters are in good demand because of their excellent qual- ity and flavor. Captain Barker is a man of recognized ability and is esteemed as one of the mnost substantial business men and most worthy citizens of Norfolk.
December 15, 1863, Captain Barker was joined in matrimony with Lizzie D. Atwood, a native of Wellfleet, Massachusetts, and a daughter of Daniel Atwood, of Wellfleet. Fra- ternally Captain Barker is a member of Adams Lodge. A. F. & A. M., which is next to the old- est lodge in Massachusetts; and of Joseph Warren Chapter. R. A. M., of Provincetown. Cape Cod. Religiously he is a member of the Freemason Street Baptist Church, of Norfolk.
ON. LEGH RICHMOND WATTS. prominent as lawyer, banker and man of business, a portrait of whom ac- companies this sketch, was born in Portsmouth, Virginia. December 12. 1843, and is a son of Dr. Edward and Ann (Maupin) Watts, and grandson of Col. Demp- sey Watts.
Legh R. Watts attended the schools of Portsmouth and Norfolk, including the Vir- ginia Collegiate Institute, which was under the preceptorship of Prof. N. B. Webster, and the Norfolk Academy, under Professor William R. Galt. Near the beginning of the Confed- erate War he enlisted as a private in the Sig- nal Corps, but was discharged from military service in 1862, because of physical disability. After the evacuation of Portsmouth he ran the blockade and escaped from the city. He re-entered the Confederate Army and was as- signed to duty as assistant to Major George W. Grice, chief of the Forage Department of South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. with head- quarters in Columbia. South Carolina. The responsibility of this department is apparent. for upon it depended the subsistence of Gen- eral Lee's Army. He continued at Columbia until the capture of the city by General Sher- man and then removed to Chester, South Car- olina. Mr. Watts surrendered with General Johnston's army and received his parole at Greensboro. In the fall of 1865. he entered the law department of the University of Vir- ginia, and at the same pursued a number of academic studies. He graduated in the acade- mic school in 1865. and from the department of law in 1867. with the degree of B. L. Immedi- ately thereafter he returned home and entered upon the practice of his profession. becoming identified with the firm of Holladay & Gayle. with which he continued until his election as judge of the County Court by the General As- sembly of Virgania. He was re-elected for a second term of six years, receiving no opposi- tion. He continued in that capacity until Feb-
Dr. Edward Watts was born in Portsmouth in 1807. and was a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania. In 1837 he married Ann |ruary. 18So, when he resumed his practice,
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much to the regret of the bar of Norfolk County. He was reversed by the Appellate Court on appeal in only two cases. The dig- nity maintained in his court, his careful and impartial adjudication of all matters brought before him, and his profound knowledge of the law all combined to make him one of the most popular of judges. In 1884 he formed a partnership, which still continues, with G. Hat- ton, the firm name becoming Watts & Hatton. In 1883 he was elected president of the Bank of Portsmouth, one of the oldest and most prosperous institutions in Virginia, and he has since served as such. He has been vice-presi- dent, from Virginia, of the American Bankers' Association, vice-president of the Virginia State Bar Association, and president of the Norfolk and Portsmouth Bar Association. He has given much attention in recent years to the practice of corporation law and is counsel for many of the corporations and large busi- ness firms of Portsmouth and vicinity. In 1884 he was made counsel of the Seaboard & Roanoke Railroad Company, the parent com- pany of the Seaboard System. Subsequently. in 1890, he was made general counsel of the Seaboard Air Line System, extending from Portsmouth, Virginia, to Atlanta, Georgia, and in this position he had charge of the fa- mous litigation instituted by Thomas F. Ryan, the New York millionaire, to secure control of its properties. This litigation continued, under his direction from 1896 to 1901. In Jan- uary. 1899. John Skelton Williams, of Rich- mond, Virginia, and his associates, purchased a controlling interest in the Seaboard Air Line System, which was subsequently consolidated with the Georgia & Alabama Railway and the Florida Central & Peninsular Railroad and other roads, forming what is known as the Sea- board Air Line Railway, a road with a mileage of about 2,600 miles. In December, 1900, he was appointed general counsel of this system, which extends from Portsmouth and Rich- mond, Virginia. to Tampa, Florida.
Although he has never accepted any office
that was not interwoven with his profession, he has taken an active part in the political af- fairs of the State. During 1880 he was an elector on the Democratic ticket and partici- pated actively in the campaign against Ma- hone, and although the latter had an independ- ent electoral ticket in the field, supposed to be in favor of the election of General Hancock, the regular ticket was elected by a large ma- jority, Judge Watts receiving the highest vote cast. In 1883 he was selected by Hon. John S. Barbour, chairman of the Democratic State Committee, as one of the executive committee, and continued in service during all the me- morable campaigns of that great leader. He was president of the Democratic State Con- vention in 1884, which elected delegates to the Democratic National Convention of that year. He was for some years a member of the Coun- cil of Portsmouth, and was president of that body for eight years. He was appointed a member of the State Board of Visitors of the University of Virginia, by Governor Fitzhugh Lee, and was reappointed by Governor Charles T. O'Ferrall. He has also served on the board of directors of the Eastern Lunatic Asylum. In 1889 he was elected supreme regent of the Royal Arcanum, and was elected for a second term in 1890.
Judge Watts was joined in marriage No- vember 26, 1868, with Mattie Peters, a daugh- ter of William H. Peters, Esq., of Portsmouth, and they are the parents of six children.
D R. H. ROLFE DUPUY, a physician and surgeon of unusual ability and skill, located at No. 42 Olney Road, has been a general practitioner in Norfolk, Virginia, since 1887, and has received a fair share of patronage during his many years of practice. He was born No- vember 21, 1845, in Prince Edward County, Virginia, being a son of the late Dr. J. W. and Paulina Pocahontas (Eldridge) Dupuy,
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and boasts of being a direct descendant of Po- cahontas, on the maternal side, the Eldridge family being an old and prominent one in Vir- ginia.
Dr. J. W. Dupuy was a native of Prince Edward County, Virginia, and was quite a prominent man of his day. He was a physi- cian in whom the public had unbounded con- fidence and he enjoyed an extensive and well- paying practice for many years, giving his un- divided attention to his profession. He was greatly beloved as a citizen as well, and for years was associated in his profession with Dr. J. P. Mettaur, of the same county. He was not only well-read and abreast of the times, but was a frequent contributor to medical journals. He and his wife were member of the Presby- terian Church. His death occurred in 1854 and he was 54 years old at the time of his de- mise. His companion survived until she at- tained the age of 84 years, when she, too, crossed to the other shore. This esteemed cou- ple reared a family of nine children, six of whom are living.
Dr. H. Rolfe Dupuy attended the public schools during his youth and afterward took a more comprehensive course in the academies of his native county. When but 18 years old he went to war and served in the medical depart- ment of the Confederate Army, mainly in hos- pital work. One year later the war closed and the subject of this sketch was present at the surrender at Appomattox.
Returning from the war he engaged in the drug business at Farmville. Virginia, where he continued in that line for two or three years. He subsequently followed the same business in Arkansas and Mississippi for several years. and succeeded in finishing his medical course in 1874.
Dr. Dupuy immediately commenced the practice of his chosen profession, having lc- cated at Cumberland, where he remained for 12 years and built up quite a large practice. He served three years as surgeon for the Buck- ingham Slate Quarries, and in 1887 removed
to Norfolk, Virginia. He now ranks among the most successful physicians and surgeons of his vicinity. He is a valued member of the State Medical Society and the Norfolk Medi- cal Society. Like his father, he is an occa- sional contributor to medical journals and is medical examiner for several life insurance companies in Norfolk, among them the North- western Mutual.
May 21, 1867. Dr. Dupuy was joined in matrimony with Nannie Walton, a daughter of the late Dr. Richard P. Walton, of Norfolk. Four children were born to the Doctor and his worthy wife, namely: Minnie: Cortlandt; Rolfe W. : and Howell Eldridge. Minnie mar- ried Charles T. Ironmonger, of Boston, and they have three children-Mary, Cortlandt and Thomas Dupuy. Cortlandt married Edmund Foster, also of Boston, and they have one child. Lavinia. Rolfe W. is a successful business man of Norfolk : he married a Miss Walker, of Danville, Kentucky, and one child, Elizabeth, Caldwell, brightens their home. Howell Eld- ridge, the youngest son, is a resident of New York City.
Both the Doctor and his wife are devout members of the Second Presbyterian Church, the former having been an elder of that church for years. He affiliates with the A. F. & A. M., of Norfolk.
Dr. Dupuy is one of Norfolk County's most highly esteemed and valuable citizens, and at one time was health officer of Norfolk. Dur- ing that period he did his full share in bring- ing about many needed reforms, insisting on more cleanliness in streets and a better sewer- age system.
A
M. AGELASTO. a well-known citi- zen of Norfolk. Virginia, is a prosper- Ous cotton merchant, a line of busi- ness with which he has been identified since his early manhood.
Mr. Agelasto was born in Greece in 1833. and received his education in Smyrna, Turkey.
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and in Athens, Greece. He was then engaged in the cotton business in Greece until 1859, in which year he came to this country and located in New Orleans, Louisiana. He embarked in the cotton business in that city, and later be- came agent for Ralli Brothers. He came to Norfolk, Virginia, in 1880, and has since been engaged as cotton merchant liere. He is pos- sessed of more than ordinary ability as a busi- ness man, and well merits the success which has attended his efforts.
A. M. Agelasto was married in 1867, at Syra, Greece, to Polyxene A. Mavrogardato, and they became the parents of three children, namely: Peter, Michael, and Alexander. Re- ligiously, they are members of the Greek Church. Mr. Agelasto has been engaged in his present business for more than half a cen- tury, and understands it in all its details. He is well known in Norfolk County, where he has many warm friends.
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AMES HUME is a prominent insur- ance dealer of Portsmouth, Norfolk County, Virginia, and was born in Portsmouth, in 1879. He is a son of J. H. Hume, and a grandson of Rev. Thomas Hume.
Rev. Thomas Hume, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was the first president of the Portsmouth Insurance Company, which was established in 1852, and which liquidated in July, 1898. He was a minister, and at his death, in 1872, his son, J. H. Hume, took charge of his insurance business. J. H. Hume was then carrying on a wholesale booksellers' and stationers' store, under the firm name of R. G. Hume & Brother. J. H. Hume carried on an extensive insurance business, and among the companies he represented was the Virginia Fire & Marine Insurance Company. Mr. Hume was president of the People's Bank of Portsmouth during the later years of his life.
He married a Miss Peebles of Petersburg, who is now a resident of Portsmouth.
James Hume was partially educated in Portsmouth, and also attended the University of North Carolina. He returned to his native town, where he has since been engaged in the insurance business. It is a notable fact that he is of the third generation of the Hume fam- ily to handle insurance for the Virginia Fire Insurance Company. He assumed his father's business in 1898, and represents the following companies, namely : North British & Mercan- tile Insurance Company of New York; Sun Insurance Office of London; Imperial Insur- ance Company, Limited, of London; Tide- water Insurance Company, a local company ; Greenwich Insurance Company of New York; and other minor companies.
John H. Hume, a brother of James, is an attorney, although not in practice at the pres- ent time. Charles G. Hume is city attorney of Portsmouth.
. James Hume is one of the most influential young business men in Portsmouth, and has done much to assist in the progress of that city. He is progressive and enterprising, and is possessed of excellent business ability. He is a member of Portsmouth Lodge, No. 82, B. P. O. E. He also belongs to the Business Men's Association. Religiously, he is a mem- ber of the Protestant Episcopal Church. His office is located at No. 226 High street.
ARRY A. BRINKLEY, a prominent young attorney of Portsmouth, Nor- folk County, Virginia, has been a member of the bar in that city since 1900. He is a native of Portsmouth, and is a son of A. Brinkley, who is a wholesale grocery dealer at No. 157 Water street, Nor- folk. A. Brinkley is a native of Nansemond County, he married Laura Warren, a native of Norfolk, who is a descendant of Gen. Joseph Warren, who was killed at Bunker Hill.
WALTER H. DOYLE.
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Harry A. Brinkley attended the Norfolk Academy, and completed the course there. He then attended the Virginia Military Institute, and finished the academic course there in 1896. He then went to the University of Virginia, where he took up the study of law, and re- sketch. ceived the degree of B. L. in 1899. After graduating from that institution, he went west, and was located at Spokane, Washington, for about three months. He returned to Ports- mouth. Virginia, in the spring of 1900, and opened an office at No. 408 Court street. He had been admitted to the bar in July, 1898, having taken the second examination under the new regime, before the Supreme Court of Vir- ginia. He is engaged in the general practice of his profession, and has met with much suc- cess. His ability as a lawyer is undisputed ; he is a man of learning, and is progressive and modern in all his ideas.
Mr. Brinkley married Mary Thompson of Baltimore, who is a descendant of ex-Governor Chew of Maryland. Mr. Brinkley resides with his parents. He is one of the best known citi- zens of Portsmouth.
ALTER H. DOYLE, who has been closely identified with the financial interests of this community for many years, needs no introduction to the residents of Norfolk County. He is president of the Citizens' Bank, of Nor- folk. an office for which he is well qualified by long experience in connection with bank- ing institutions. As a young man he became bookkeeper for the Citizens' Bank, in 1868 and . upon giving evidence of his true worth, was advanced successively to the positions of teller, assistant cashier, cashier and president.
Mr. Doyle was born in Norfolk. Virginia, in 1845, and is a son of John E. Doyle. He received his educational training in the schools of this city and pursued a collegiate course at Calvert College, in Maryland. Mr. Doyle was
joined in marriage with Virginia Camp, a daughter of George W. Camp, and they are the parents of four children, Bessie A .; Ed- ward Fitzgerald; Walter H., Jr .; and John E. Mr. Doyle's portrait accompanies this
J. ROBINSON, a successful business man, although not an old resident, of Portsmouth. Norfolk County, Vir- ginia, is vice-president of the Virginia Sash & Door Company. He has con- ducted a sawmill for the past 15 years, and has a thorough understanding of every detail of the business.
Mr. Robinson was born and reared in Greenesville County, Virginia, and at an early age engaged in the lumber business. For three years, he conducted a sawmill in Southampton County and in the early " 'nineties" moved to Portsmouth. He came to the city a stranger and possessed of no capital, and is now in com- fortable circumstances, owning about $7.000 worth of real estate. in addition to his business. He was instrumental in organizing the Phil- lips-Mahoney & Company, lumber and mill business, to which firm he sold his interests in 1899. The Virginia Sash & Door Company was organized and incorporated on March I. 1901, with J. N. Hart as president ; J. J. Rob- inson, vice-president ; and H. L. Watts, secre- tary and treasurer. Mr. Robinson is also serv- ing as general manager. and to his efficiency in that capacity is due much of the success of the company. They carry a complete line of sash, doors and blinds, and have offices and warerooms on Queen street, adjoining the lum- ber yard and planing mill of Hart & Watts. The building occupied is 50 by 70 feet. in di- mensions, and the goods manufactured are shipped extensively to points in Virginia, Geor- gia. Florida, and North Carolina, and up the Chesapeake Bay.
Mr. Robinson was united in marriage with .Annie R. Weaver, who comes of a substantial,
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old Virginia family, and is a daughter of Win- field Weaver of Greenesville county, Virginia. The father was a Democrat and a member of the legislature, and was also at one time sheriff of the county. This union resulted in four children, namely: Annie James, aged 14 years ; Lucille Manning, aged II years; Mal- colm Graime, aged five years; and Carl Ran- dolph, aged two years. Mr. Robinson erected a comfortable home at the corner of B and Pearl streets, and was one of the pioneer build- ers in the Fifth Ward. He is a member of the Royal Arcanum. Religiously, he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.
ORMAN CASSELL, a prominent at- torney of Portsmouth, Norfolk County, Virginia, whose office is lo- cated in the Merchants' & Farmers' Bank building, has been practicing law in Portsmouth since 1882. He was born in that city, and is a son of Virginius O. Cassell.
Charles Cassell, the grandfather of Nor- man, located in Norfolk County, in 1826, com- ing from Washington, D. C. His son, Vir- ginius O. Cassell, was born in the town of Portsmouth, Norfolk County. His death oc- curred there in 1891 at the age of 64 years. He was a lawyer, and at one time served as Commonwealth's attorney of Norfolk County. During the Confederate War, he was captain of a Virginia company and rendered valuable service in the Confederate cause. He mar- ried Jane Manning, who was born in Norfolk County, and is now residing in Portsmouth. They reared several children, who are engaged in various lines of business.
Norman Cassell attended the University of Virginia, took the degree of B. L. in June, 1882, and was admitted to the bar. He first began the practice of his profession in partner- ship with his father, under the firm name of V. O. Cassell & Son. Mr. Cassell possesses
much ability as a lawyer and has won distinc- tion as such in the city in which he resides. He has a large clientage, which increases each year, and he is well known in Norfolk County. In political belief, he is a Democrat, but takes no active interest in politics. Mr. Cassell lives with his family in Portsmouth. He attends the Protestant Episcopal Church.
E LLIS A. BUTT, chief clerk, Depart- ment of Yards and Docks, United States Navy Yard, Portsmouth, Vir- ginia, was born in Portsmouth, Nor- folk County, Virginia, November 23, 1846, the eldest son of George W. and Eliza- beth A. ( Wood) Butt. His father, George W. Butt, died December 7, 1853; his mother, Elizabeth A. Butt, is still living and resides in her native city, Portsmouth, Virginia. George W. Butt at the time of his death was in busi- ness as a contractor and builder.
Ellis A. Butt, the subject of this sketch, was educated in the public schools of Ports- mouth, and at an early age learned the trade of printer, under the late D. D. Fiske, who owned and edited the Portsmouth Transcript. He worked at that trade on the different news- papers published in Norfolk and Portsmouth some five years or more; was connected with the Portsmouth Gas Company for a number of years; and engaged in the cigar and tobacco business for a short time. On April 18, 1885, he was appointed store clerk in the Department of Yards and Docks, United States Navy Yard, Portsmouth, Virginia, promoted to the position of chief clerk, October 1, 1886, hold- ing said position at this time.
Mr. Butt was married November 11, 1885, to Annie Warren Ives, only daughter of the late William and Rachel E. Ives. Mr. Ives was engaged in the mercantile business for 50 years or more, having retired from the same just prior to his death. Mrs. Ives died Febru- ary 6, 1902. Two children have been born to
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Mr. and Mrs. Butt-Ellis Warren, born janu- ary 9, 1888; and Fairlie Marshall, born June 18, 1897.
Mr. Butt is a Democrat, having represented his native city of Portsmouth in the Virginia Legislature, 1881 and 1882 (in what was known as the Readjuster Legislature ), being the only Democrat elected during that period from the Second Congressional District of Vir- ginia. He is a member of Portsmouth Lodge, No. 24, Knights of Pythias; Portsmouth Council, No. 227, Royal Arcanum: ex-captain and honorary member of the Chambers Steam Fire Company (volunteer ) ; a member of and past exalted ruler, Portsmouth Lodge, No. 82, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
R ICHARD B. TUNSTALL, a member of the firm of White, Tunstall & Thom, attorneys-at-law in the city of Norfolk, Virginia, is one of the most prominent lawyers in the Old Domin- ion. He was born in Norfolk, July 1, 1848, a son of Dr. Robert B. Tunstall, who was for a period of 40 years one of the leading physicians of Norfolk. Dr. Tunstall married Elizabeth (Williamson) Walke.
Richard B. Tunstall received his early edu- cation in private schools in Norfolk, and in 1864 entered the Virginia Military Institute, where he remained until the close of the Con- federate War. It was his privilege, although under the age of 16 years, to participate in the famous battle of Newmarket. It was in this battle, that the Virginia Military Cadets showed of what nerve and daring they were possessed. In the fall of 1865, Mr. Tunstall entered the University of Virginia, where he remained three years, and graduated in June, 1868, with the degree of Master of Arts.
After leaving college, Mr. Tunstall spent the ensuing year in teaching school, and also in preparing to enter the university law school. He was graduated from the university law de-
partment in 1870, and opened practice in Nor- folk the same year. He continued to practice alone until October, 1871, when he went to New York City, and became associated with the firm known as Kaufmann, Tunstall & Wagoner. This firm made a specialty of real estate. He subsequently entered into partner- ship with John Grimball, the firm name being Grimball & Tunstall. This partnership contin- ued until June, 1883, when Mr. Tunstall re- turned to Norfolk and entered the firm. In January, 1900, the present firm of White, Tun- stall & Thom was formed. This firm has one of the largest law practices in the State of Virginia, each member being a lawyer of more than ordinary ability. It was the firm of Tun- stall & Thom which organized and promoted the Norfolk Land Company, and that company has developed one of the best resident suburbs of Norfolk, known as the Ghent Addition.
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