History of Norfolk County, Virginia : and representative citizens, 1637-1900, Part 80

Author: Stewart, William H. (William Henry), 1838-1912
Publication date: 1902
Publisher: Chicago : Biographical Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1054

USA > Virginia > City of Norfolk > City of Norfolk > History of Norfolk County, Virginia : and representative citizens, 1637-1900 > Part 80

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May 10, 1877, Mr. Howell was united in marriage with Ida C. Ames, who was born in May, 1859, and received her education in her native city, Portsmouth, and in college at Murfreesboro, North Carolina. Her father, S. S. Ames, came from Accomac County, Vir- ginia, and was in business at the City Market in Portsmouth until his retirement in 1887. They have adopted a daughter, Nellie, who is now attending school. Politically, Mr. How- ell has been a lifelong Democrat. He is past chancellor of Atlantic Lodge, No. 24, K. of P .; and for 15 years has been a member of Ports- mouth Company. No. 15, Uniform Rank, and is a lieutenant on the major's staff. Relig- iously, he is a member of the Monumental Methodist Episcopal Church, South, of which he is a steward.

HARLES G. HUME is city attorney of Portsmouth, Virginia, and has achieved a high degree of success in the practice of the legal profession. He was born in Portsmouth, Vir- ginia, and is a son of John H. Hume, and grandson of Rev. Thomas Hume, for many years pastor of the Court Street Baptist Church.

John H. Ilume was born in Portsmouth, Virginia, and for many years was identified with the banking and industrial interests of the city. He died in 1899, at the age of 55 years. He was joined in marriage with Anna Peebles, who was born in Petersburg, Vir- ginia, and now resides in Portsmouth. Her father was president of the South Side Rail- road before and during the early years of the Confederate War. Mr. and Mrs. Hume be- came the parents of eight sons and two daugh- ters, as follows: Anna H., wife of Walter H. Taylor of Norfolk; John MI., Jr., of Ports-

mouth; Charles G., the subject of this bi- ography ; James, an insurance agent and mem- ber of the firm of Hume & Brother of Ports- mouth ; Marian ; Thomas, who is in the employ of the Seaboard Air Line: Hartwell Heath ;. Joseph Stewart ; Julian Robert; and Frank Wynne. The family residence is at the corner of Court and North streets.

Charles G. Hume studied law at the Uni- versity of Virginia, and was admitted to the bar by the Supreme Court of Virginia. July 7. 1899. He has always taken an active interest in politics, and served as a member of the City Council until he resigned to accept the office of city attorney, July 1, 1901, succeeding John W. Happer. He has maintained his office in the new Commercial Building since 1899. He stands well at the bar, and has many friends throughout the county. He is a member of Trinity Chapter, No. 346, Brotherhood of St. Andrew, and is a director in the Business Men's Association of Portsmouth. Religi- ously, the Hume family favor the Episcopal Church, of which the subject of this sketch is a vestryman.

OSTER BLACK, one of the foremost business men of Norfolk County. Virginia, has attained a high degree of success in the business world. As president of the People's Bank of Berkley, he has displayed unusual ability as a financier, as is evidenced by the stable condi- tion of the bank and the position it occupies in comparison with the leading institutions of the kind in this section of the country.

Mr. Black is of Scotch-Irish parentage, and came to the United States in 1871. He lo- cated in Norfolk County in 1889, and entered the field of business with an energy which has since characterized his career, making a success ! of every undertaking. In that year he began operating the Atlantic City Mills of Norfolk, and in 1890 started the Chesapeake Knitting Mills. In 1893 he established the Elizabeth

COL. J. R. WADDY.

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Cotton Mills, of which he is now secretary and treasurer, a concern which has front 250 to 300 emplayees. Both mills have been successfully operated since their inception, and their prod- ucts are sold direct to the trade in every State in the Union. He was also the founder of the Merchants' & Planters' Bank of Berkley. . \ man of intellectual attainments, honesty and strict integrity, Mr. Black represents the high- est type of citizenship.

OL. J. R. WADDY, who served with high honor throughout the Confed- erate War, is well known as the post- master of Norfolk. He was born in Northampton County. Virginia, December 24. 1839. and comes of a family which has long been located on Virginian soil.

Colonel Waddy received his educational training in the Virginia Military Institute and. was graduated in 1853. He was engaged in teaching school for two years, when on the recommendation of Gov. H. A. Wise and Gen. T. J. Jackson, under whom he was instructed at Lexington, he was appointed 2nd lieutenant in the 4th Regiment, U. S. Artillery. He was promoted to be Ist lieutenant and served in that capacity until the secession of Virginia in 1861, when he resigned his position in the Federal Army. He tendered his services to John Letcher, Governor of Virginia, and Jeff- erson Davis, president of the Confederate States. He was given the rank of Ist lieuten- ant in the Confederate Army, and was then assigned to duty as captain in the Adjutant- General's Department ; he was ordered to duty under General Pemberton, on the south side of the James River, for the purpose of organiz- ing the Ist Brigade, serving around Smith- field. Virginia. He remained there until No- vember. 1861, when he was ordered to the Pocotaligo River, South Carolina, as adjutant- general of the Ist District in a department com- manded by Gen. Robert E. Lee. Shortly after-

ward, when General Lee was ordered to Vir- ginia to assume command of the Army of Northern Virginia, the subject of this sketch was ordered to Charleston, South Carolina, as adjutant-general of the department of South Carolina, Georgia and Florida, and remained there until the defeat of General Van Dorn, in Mississippi, when he was ordered to report at Richmond for assignment to duty. He was made adjutant-general of the Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana, in which sta- tion he continued until the early part of 1864. He was again ordered to report at Richmond for duty under General Beauregard. at Charles- ton, in ordnance and artillery service. During the latter part of May, 1864, when General Beauregard was ordered to Petersburg for command. Colonel Waddy was directed to ac- company him, upon the General's request. He remained with that officer until 1864, when he was ordered to Charleston with General Harris, the latter being in the Engineering Corps. While there he was appointed special commis- sioner for the exchange of 10,000 prisoners, a duty he discharged to the satisfaction of both governments, for which he was promoted to the full rank of colonel of artillery. The Fed- eral commissioner in the exchange of prisoners was Colonel Bennett, of Connecticut. Colonel Waddy remained in Savannah until the night of December 22. 1864, when the Confederate troops evacuated the city and crossed the Sa- vannah River. Gen. W. T. Sherman occupying the city. The Confederate Army was over- taken by Sherman at Durham Station and then marched to Goldsboro, North Carolina. where it was surrendered by Joseph E. Johnston to General Sherman. Colonel Waddy returned to his natal county, where he followed farming a few years, and then went to New York and was engaged in business for himself until 1877. He returned to Virginia and again followed farming for a period of five years. after which he made his advent in Norfolk, where he has since been a prominent figure. He served as inspector-in-chief of export grain for the Nor-

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folk & Western Railway grain elevators until 1898, when he was appointed postmaster of Norfolk.

There is no data within reach relating to the establishment of the Norfolk Post Office. In 1800 Edward Archer was postmaster. His successors were Andrew M. McConnice, Wal- ter R. Jones, Alexander Galt, Philip I. Cohen, John P. Leigh, Alexander Galt and A. M. Vaughan. The last named was in office at, the commencement of the Intersectional War, and held it under the Confederate gov- ernment until the evacuation of Norfolk by the Confederates, May 10, 1862. Then Trott was put in charge of the office and was succeeded by Warren W. Wing, who was suc- ceeded by E. Whipple. Then again followed Warren W. Wing, who was succeeded in turn by H. B. Nichols, M. P. Rue, J. W. Long and Michael Glennan, who was followed by Capt. F. L. Slade. Captain Slade was followed by W. W. Degge, who was succeeded by W. H. H. Trice. Mr. Trice was succeeded by W. T. Anderson, and Mr. Anderson, on Novem- ber 27. 1898, by Colonel J. R. Waddy whose appointment was confirmed by the Senate Jan- uary 17 1899.

In 1806 the Post Office was located at No. 31 West Main street. It was afterward located on the south side of Main street, near Church street, where the Saulisbury Building now stands. It was then moved to West Main street, in a building occupying the site of the present Citizens' Bank Building, the Post Office adjoining the Custom House lot. It was afterward removed to the Dodd Building on. Main 'street, opposite Commerce street, then back to its previous quarters, and afterward to the site of the present Ferebee, Jones & Com- pany Building, corner of Main and Commerce streets, and from there to its present location in the Custom House Building.

Colonel Waddy, during his official career, has displayed intelligence, zeal and fidelity to trust in the discharge of his duties, and has

gained the highest esteem and respect of the community. Naturally of a courteous and pro- gressive disposition, he has had constantly as his aim the pleasure and accommodation of the patrons of the office. Fraternally he is prom- inent in the affairs of Pocahontas Council, No. 493, Royal Arcanum, in which he has filled all the chairs and is at the present time past regent. In politics he is a stanch Republican. His por- trait is presented on a preceding page.

B ASCOM SYKES, who is a native of Norfolk County, Virginia, was born in 1857. He comes from one of the old families of Norfolk County, whose members have been identified with the growth and development of this com- munity for more than a century.

Mr. Sykes is, at present, acting in the ca- pacity of city engineer of Portsmouth, and was formerly resident engineer of the Norfolk & Carolina Railroad Company. He is a gentle- man of recognized ability in his profession, and is one of the substantial citizens of Ports- mouth.

SAAC T. VAN PATTEN, who is sec- retary of the Business Men's Associ- ation of Portsmouth, Norfolk County, Virginia, was born in Washington, D. C. He received his scholastic train- ing in that city and in Gettysburg, Pennsyl- vania, where his family resided some years.

Mr. Van Patten was 26 years old when he removed to Portsmouth. He entered the government service at Portsmouth, in Janu- ary, 1876, accepting a position in the pay de- partment of the Norfolk Navy Yard. He con- tinued working in that department for 22 years. He spent one year at the naval station at Key West. He resigned his position in the pay department of the Navy Yard to accept

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the secretaryship of the Business Men's Asso- ciation of Portsmouth. He has full charge of the correspondence of that organization, and reports to the board of directors regularly.

The Business Men's Association was in- corporated in 1901, with T. J. Wool as presi- dent ; John H. Downing, treasurer, and Isaac T. Van Patten, secretary. The vice-presidents are: Alexander B. Butt, E. L. Dashiell, A. H. Lindsay, Jr., G. Hatton and John L. Watson. The board of directors is composed of the fol- lowing: Franklin D. Gill, Willis A. Jenkins, Charles G. Hume, Frank Lindsay, John C. Emmerson, E. L. Lash. P. C. Trugien, O. L. Williams, B. F. Hofheimer. M. P. Cland and R. S. Mackan. Mr. Van Patten is a man of splendid business ability, possessing sound judgment and keen perception. He is one of the most influential citizens of Portsmouth, is highly respected for his good qualities, and stands high in the community.

Mr. Van Patten married a daughter of W. A. Smith, who was a merchandise broker for many years. He was also a member of the City Council of Norfolk; he is now deceased. Four children have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Van Patten, namely: Ellsworth P .. who was appointed by the Secretary of the Navy when but 17 years old. to the drafting room at the Navy Yard, and placed under Mr. Hart ; Margaret H .; Isaac T., Jr .; and Alfred F. The Van Pattens reside at Cottage Place.

Mr. Van Patten is a member of the Royal Arcanum, Heptasophs, and National Union. He attends the Presbyterian Church.

HARLES C. COBB, of the firm of Cobb Brothers & Company, cotton brokers, at No. 245 Main street, Norfolk. Norfolk County, Virginia, was born in North Carolina, Decem- ber 16, 1864. He is a son of James C. and Mary (Bell) Cobb, both of whom were na- tives of North Carolina. James C. Cobb is a

farmer and merchant of North Carolina; he is 77 years old. His wife died at the age of 54 years. Of II children born to this union, seven reached maturity.

Charles C. Cobb, whose name heads this sketch, attended school at La Grange and Kings Mountain, North Carolina. After fin- ishing school he kept books for a firm for two years, after which he removed to Norfolk, in 1888. He engaged in the cotton business as clerk for Lewis, Hilliard & Company, and re- mained in their employ one year. He then went into business under the firm name of Cobb Brothers & Gillum. This partnership existed for three years, when Mr. Gillum with- drew. Since that time the firm name has read Cobb Brothers & Company. They buy and sell cotton, grain, provisions, bonds and stocks, either for cash or on a margin. They conduct a very large business, which is constantly on the increase.

Mr. Cobb married Maud Fulcher, a na- tive of Wilson, North Carolina, and a daugh- ter of L. H. Fulcher, also a native of that state. This marriage occurred in July. 1898, and one child,-Mareu,-has blessed their union. The family are members of the Ep- worth Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Cobb is a Mason and a member of the Royal Ar- canım. He is a man of splendid business abil- ity and high character, and is well known and greatly respected in Norfolk.

OHN W. HAPPER. The city of Portsmouth claims many able lawyers among her citizens, but none more able than Jolin W". Happer, of the law firm of Edwards & Happer. He was born in Norfolk County, Virginia, and was between one and two years of age when his parents moved to the city of Norfolk. His father, George D. Happer, was engaged in farming, and later was interested in the tim- ber business in this county. He represented

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Norfolk County in the State Legislature for a number of terms. His wife, whose maiden name was Eliza A. White, was a native of Nor- folk County. Her father, John White, was one of Virginia's sons. He was also born in Norfolk County. Unto this worthy couple were born nine children. Of these three are now living, namely: Mrs. Fannie H., widow of John F. Stewart, of Suffolk, Virginia; Mrs. A. O. Leigh, of Portsmouth, widow of Dr. James W. Leigh, of Norfolk, Virginia; and John W., who was the youngest of the family. Mrs. Happer was a devout member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. When Norfolk was evacuated, during the war, John W. Happer, with his mother and sister, ran the blockade and went to North Carolina, the father being already within the Confederate lines. They located at Weldon, North Caro- lina.

John W. Happer attended the public schools of Weldon, North Carolina, then went to Halifax, and next, to Columbia, both in Tyrrell County, North Carolina, where he at- tended the common schools until 1870. He then returned to Norfolk and attended the school of Prof. N. B. Webster, where at the same time he served as instructor in mathe- matics. In September, 1872, he attended the University of Virginia, studied Latin, law and medical jurisprudence, and completed the course in the two last named branches. He was admitted to the bar at Norfolk, but soon removed to Portsmouth, which city has since been his home. For the past 20 years he has been engaged in the practice of law, in part- nership with Mr. Edwards, and for a period of from 12 to 15 years was city attorney of Ports- mouth, being succeeded by Charles G. Hume, the present incumbent.

Fraternally Mr. Happer is a member of Portsmouth Lodge, No. 82, Benevolent & Pro- tective Order of Elks; Atlantic Lodge, No. 24. Knights of Pythias ; Royal Arcanum ; and Na- tional Union. He has been chancellor in the lodge of the Knights of Pythias, and as an Elk

has passed through the four chairs,-he rep- resented the lodge at the annual reunion held at New Orleans, Louisiana. December 6, 1883. he was united in marriage with Rosa Lee Edwards, and they have three children,- John W., Jr., G. Douglas and Rosa Lee.

APT. LLOYD WASHINGTON LAMBERT is a sailing-master and ship-owner, trading between Norfolk and New York and other ports. He was born at Lambert's Point, Nor- folk County, Virginia, and is a son of John Holt Lambert, Jr.

John Holt Lambert. Sr., the grandfather of our subject, came to this country from Eng- land, and settled at "Hornet's Point," which place was afterward given the name of Lam- bert's Point. He owned a large number of slaves, as did his son, the father of the gentle- man whose name opens these lines. John Holt Lambert, Jr., was born in I810, and was en- gaged in oyster planting and farming until 1882. He then retired from active business duties, and his death occurred 10 years later, at the age of 82 years. He married Ann Eliza Cooper, who was born at Lambert's Point, Oc- tober 17, 1827. Her father was William Cooper, a circuit preacher of the Christian Church. John Holt Lambert, Jr., and his wife had eight children, namely: William John, Edward James and Mary Elizabeth, deceased ; Eleazer Orwell, who is engaged in the whole- sale liquor business in Norfolk; Lula M., who married Charles' A. Morris, a merchant of Norfolk; Lloyd Washington, the subject of this sketch : and Archie Stephens and Tiberius Darling, both merchants.

Captain Lambert holds the championship medal of the world for quail shooting. A $1,000 challenge is now offered by his friends in Norfolk to all competitors. Captain Lam- bert now has a record of killing 184 quail, from sunrise to sunset.

THOMAS R. BALLENTINE.

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Captain Lambert married Rhoda Bell Dun- Franklin, aged four years. Mr. Robinson is a ston, a daughter of Augustin Dunston. She Democrat in politics. Religiously, he belongs is one of three children, the others being Le. . . to the Methodist Church.

ard James ; and Lula Virginia, who makes her home with her sister. The Captain and his wife are blessed with the following children : Essie Viola: Lottie Washington : Blanche Louise ; Ruby Holt : Gladys Rose : Lloyd Wash- ington ; and Elizabeth Warren.

Captain Lambert is a Democrat in politics. He is an attendant of the Methodist Church. Hle is well and favorably known to every citi- zen of Lambert's Point, who respect and ad- mire him for his many admirable traits of char- acter. Captain Lambert has many friends throughout Norfolk County.

ORNELIUS F. ROBINSON, a suc- cessful truck-farmer of Norfolk County, Virginia, was born and reared on his present farm. The date of his birth was October 29. 1866. His father, William Robinson, son of Henry Robinson, was also a farmer by occu- pation, and lived to be 47 years old. William Robinson married Sarah Cooper, who was born in 1832. She had five children, namely : Martha J .. of Lambert's Point; Amanda S., deceased : W. J. and H. J., both truck-farmers ; and Cornelius F., the subject of this sketch.

Cornelius F. Robinson received his scho- lastic training at Lambert's Point, where he spent all of his life. He began farming at a very early age, and has met with much success in that vocation. He is well known as one of the best truckers in that vicinity, and finds a ready market for all the products of his land. Possessed of much energy and thrift, he has worked unceasingly, and has just cause to feel proud of his success.

Cornelius F. Robinson was married in 1891 to Nettie F. Vanderberry, a daughter of Thomas Vanderberry, and has two children,- Flossie Estelle. aged eight years; and Hunter

HOMAS R. BALLENTINE, who is well known to the citizens of Norfolk Virginia, by reason of his connection with various public enterprises and charitable institutions, owns and con- chuicts the largest truck farm in Norfolk Coun- ty. He was born in Currituck County, North Carolina, in 1820.

Mr. Ballentine first came to Norfolk Coun- ty, Virginia, in 1849, locating on a farm about 18 miles from the city of Norfolk on what is known as Butt's Road. There he remained for seven years and then. in 1855. sold his farm. During 1856 and 1857 he was agent for the Norfolk County Ferries, after which he again moved to the country and purchased a farm at Hickory Ground. Three years later he dis- posed of this property and bought another farm near by, where he resided from January, 1861. until November. 1867. He then rented the last named place and moved to the city of Norfolk where he has since made his home. He purchased a large truck farm one and a half miles east of the city, which he has since con- ducted, giving it a personal supervision. He devotes his entire time to this business, mak- ing two trips daily to the farm. The import- ance of the Norfolk section as a trucking field is amply evidenced by the statistics of the Ag- ricultural Department and the figures of ship- ments on railroads and steamships, which clas- sify it as one of the greatest fields in this in- dustry in the United States. The land is a rich sandy loam, quickly responsive to fertil- ization and cultivation, and yields abundantly. Mr. Ballentine has engaged in trucking on an extensive scale and has been eminently success- ful, marketing his products in New York, Bos- ton, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington.

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His farm is the largest in the county under one management. In the city he has built the Ballentine Building, the Arcade Market, and numerous other structures. He is a director in the Norfolk National Bank and the Norfolk Bank for Savings and Trusts, and has held stock in the old Exchange Bank.

Mr. Ballentine was first joined in marriage with Mary F. Hughes, who was born in Curri- tuck County, North Carolina, and died in Jan- uary, 1883. He formed a marital union in 1885, with Annie E. Baxter, of Currituck County, North Carolina. In 1894 he built the Mary F. Ballentine Home for the Aged, which has since been maintained at his expense. This work of charity was done in accordance with the idea and wishes of his deceased wife. The building was dedicated and deeded to a board of trustees, in 1894. It is located on Park ave- nue in Brambleton Ward, Norfolk, and is fur- ther mentioned in Chapter XIV. A view of the home is shown on Page 254. Mr. Ballen- tine's early days were spent in learning the trade of a mechanic, which he followed but a short time, as he decided to take up a work in which he could manifest more independence. He is a man of admirable character, charitable in disposition and ever ready to lend a helping hand to one who has not been so successful as himself. A portrait of Mr. Ballentine accom- panies this sketch, being presented on a pre- ceding page.

R EV. AUSTIN EVERETT OWEN, a distinguished citizen of Berkley, Vir- ginia, is too well known to need an introduction to the citizens of Norfolk County. His record as pastor of the Court Street Baptist Church of Portsmouth, and Grace Baptist Church of Berkley, extend- ing over a period of more than 30 years, is re- plete with good deeds and honest endeavors to raise the moral standard of his charges. He is also president of Ryland Institute, a school

for young ladies, and in this capacity has also been successful. He has not only succeeded in imparting knowledge to them from books, but by the strength of his personality and the example of a well-spent life, has influenced them to lives of good purpose.

Rev. Mr. Owen was born in Powhatan County, Virginia, September 27, 1837, and is a son of Richard Johnson Owen, and grandson of Elisha Owen, who was a son of William Owen. Elisha Owen participated in the battle of Yorktown during the Revolutionary War. Richard Johnson Owen was born in 1797, in Prince Edward (now Appomattox) County, Virginia, and died in 1892, at the remarkable age of 95 years. He was a carpenter by trade, and also followed farming on a small scale. He was. a member of the Baptist Church, and was baptized in his 80th year by the subject of this sketch. He was always a Democrat, al- though he was a Union man at the outbreak of the Intersectional War. He was exempt from military service on account of his age. He was' joined in marriage with Narcissa Langsdon, a daughter of Benjamin and Nancy ( McGruder) Langsdon, natives of Powhatan County, Vir- ginia.

The Langsdons, who were Huguenots, came to the United States from France, as ear- ly as 1685. They became extensive land- owners, and had many slaves, but under the influence of the Wesley Revivals they freed all their slaves. The Huguenot Springs are lo- cated on the former holdings of the family. Narcissa (Langsdon) Owen died in 1887. She was a member of the M. E. Church. As a re- sult of her union with Mr. Owen she gave birth to four children, as follows: William Thomas, born in 1829, who served in Wise's Brigade and was killed at Drewry's Bluff ; Julia Ann Johnson, born in 1833, who married Richard F. Vest, a trader, and is now living at Powhatan, Virginia; Virginia E., born in 1835, who married John R. Toney, a carpenter and contractor, and died in 1875: and Austin Everett, the subject of this sketch.

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History of Norfolk County, Virginia : and representative citizens, 1637-1900, Part 80

Author: Stewart, William H. (William Henry), 1838-1912 Publication date: 1902 Publisher: Chicago : Biographical Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 1054

Author: Stewart, William H. (William Henry), 1838-1912
Publication date: 1902
Publisher: Chicago : Biographical Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1054