History of Norfolk County, Virginia : and representative citizens, 1637-1900, Part 86

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 86

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Richard Taylor. The bank started with a paid-up capital of $50,000 and. having the con- fidence of the community, at once commanded a full share of public patronage. In 1872 Pres- ident Taylor resigned, and was succeeded by Richard H. Chamberlaine, who died in office. in July, 1879. William H. Peters succeeded Mr. Chamberlaine as president of the bank, and continued as such until July, 1900. In Jan- uary, 1877, Walter H. Doyle was elected assist- ant cashier, and in 1879 as made cashier, W.

W. Chamberlaine having resigned. Mr. Doyle was chosen president in 1900 as the successor of Mr. Peters. In July, 1885, the capital was increased to $100,000. $40,- 000 of which was capitalized from the sur- plus fund, and the remaining $10,000 was paid in by the stockholders. In July, 1889, the capital was further increased to $200,- 000, $50,000 coming out of the surplus fund, and $50,000 being allotted to desirable de- positors, not stockholders. In October, 1891, the capital of the bank was again increased to the present amount. $300,000. The increase was allotted to and taken by the stockholders. The dividends declared since the organization of the bank, in May, 1867, aggregate $462,- 185.50, being 454 per cent. The surplus fund and undivided profits have steadily accumu- lated and now aggregate $240,000.

The Citizens' Bank was started where the Savings Bank of Norfolk is now located, and in 1885 was removed to the Dodson Building. January 19, 1899, it was moved to its present location, the old St. James Hotel site. The bank building consists of seven stories; it is of the skeleton-steel-construction type of arch- itecture. is absolutely fireproof and has a front- age on Main street of 54 feet and a depth of 137 feet. A glance at the handsome structure shows it to be of the Italian Renaissance style, the walls being of hard-burned brick through-

out, faced with pressed brick of old gold tint on all four sides, and trimmed with Worcester stone and terra cotta. The entire first floor, with the exception of a handsome entrance, is devoted to the bank. The upper floors are di- vided into offices of various sizes, of which 115 are used for renting purposes. Every facility known has been placed at the disposal of the tenants of the building. Two hydraulic pas- senger elevators and a large steel staircase, with marble steps, permit access to all the floors, while in the rear there is a special freight elevator. A mail chute is placed in the hallway, extending from the mail box in the first story to the top of the building. Each floor is furnished with toilet rooms, while in the basement a room has been provided for bi- cycles. A complete electric light plant, owned and operated by the bank, furnishes light for the entire building. The Warren-Webster sys- tem of steam heating on the indirect plan is used, while the sanitary plumbing is perfect. The banking room proper, on the first floor, is. a scene of beauty, never to be forgotten by the visitor. The desks, handsome, substantial af- fairs, are arranged in the center, surrounded by cages of marble and wrought metal, with aisles next to the wall, giving access to the president's and cashier's private rooms, coupon rooms for ladies and gentlemen, a handsomely furnished directors' room, an employes' room and a toilet room. The banking room and entrance hall are handsomely wainscoated with marble and floored with marble-lithic tiling. The officers' and directors' rooms are wainscoated with quar- tered oak. In the latter is a massive mantlepiece of the same wood, artistically carved. A mez- zanine story in the rear of the banking room contains storerooms for the bank books, em- ployes' dining rooms, kitchen and pantry. A cistern, having a capacity of 10,000 gallons, furnishes excellent drinking water for each floor. The main feature, however, of the bank- ing room is the magnificent vault, absolutely fire and burglar-proof, and one of the finest in the country. This vault is built free from

EDWARD W. FACE.

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contact with the walls of the building, and is only connected with the floor of the bank at the entrance of it, leaving a space open down to the basement floor, the space between the vault and the walls being about two and one-half feet. This vault is about 14 feet wide by 18 feet long, and is divided into two floors. The lower department is devoted to the storage of silverware. The upper portion is divided into two departments, separated by iron grills. The first department is devoted to the safety deposit department, wherein are 370 boxes, which are rented to the public at from $5 to $40 per an- num, according to size. The entrance to the vault is guarded by a massive door, weighing just seven tons, which moves on ball-bearing hinges. and can be moved by a child. The door is operated by an automatic time-lock. Behind a vestibule of several feet are double massive doors, opened by a combination lock. These are four and a half inches thick and are made of the best and hardest steel. The vault, which is of steel throughout, is perfectly air-tight and water-tight. The facing is of Italian mar- ble from the old Convent Quarries at Siena. as is also the wainscoating and counters in the banking room, the same as used in the Con- gressional Library at Washington. This pre- sents a beautiful view. In order to guard against any and all contingencies, the vault is supplied with an electrical device for the pur- . pose of winding the clock and thereby prolong- ing the opening period, in case of a fire or riot. This device is new and is a patent of Mr. Hol- lar of the Hollar Lock Inspection and Guaran- tee Company, the designers of the vault. Thus it may be seen that the Citizens Bank is as absolutely safe against fire and burglary as human ingenuity can make it.

The bank transacts a very large legitimate banking business, such as receiving deposits. negotiating loans, buying and selling stocks and bonds, exchange, etc. As the thermometer indicates the rise and fall of the temperature of the day and season. so the bank indicates the depression or buoyancy of the business of the

city. The bank may be likened unto the heart, the cash which continually flows back and forth between the bank and the people, correspond- ing with the blood that circulates through every artery, at each pulsation, and thus keeps alive the human body, which would otherwise become inanimate. There is a continual cur- rent of cash flowing from the banks through all the arteries of trade, day in and day out, which is their sustenance and support, just as the blood from the heart constitutes the vitality of the human frame. The presence. therefore. of a live, substantial bank in a city is an in- dication of a powerful pulsation. plenty of cash permeating the entire commercial system, and a healthy condition of every branch of busi- ness. The Citizens' Bank is one of the great hearts of the commercial, manufacturing and agricultural bodies of this city and State. What a history of success is connected with the institution, which has been fostered with con- servatism and built up by the acumen and abil- ity of a management that deserves to rank with the leading financial enterprises of the South.

Tench F. Tilghman, cashier of the insti- tution, above described, was born in Norfolk in 1868. and is a son of Tench F. Tilghman, Sr. The father was born in Talbot County, Mary- land. and came of a prominent old family of that State. He was an engineer by profes- sion. but died at an early day. He was joined in marriage with Elizabeth Barron, a daughter of George W. Camp, of Norfolk, for many years cashier of the Exchange Bank of Vir-' ginia.

E DWARD W. FACE, a highly respected and valued citizen of Norfolk, Vir- ginia, whose portrait accompanies this sketch, is a prominent manufac- turer of brick, a line of business he has followed here for almost half a century. He was born at Fortress Monroe. Virginia, May 14. 1829, and is a son of Edward and Catherine ( Heffley) Face.

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HISTORY OF NORFOLK COUNTY

Edward Face was born in 1808. He was a carpenter by occupation and sent by the government, under Captain Hill, commander of the fort at that time, to Chattahoochee, Florida, to build an arsenal for the protection of the ammunition there. While on this duty he was drafted by the State to take part in the war with the Seminole Indians. As the arsenal was then being built he put in a substitute, pay- ing $100 and a horse, but the substitute got only a short distance away when he was killed by the Indians. Mr. Face and his family were frequently obliged to seek refuge in the arsenal during the war, Edward W. being then about five years old. After the completion of the arsenal and the conclusion of the war, Ed- ward Face was very successfully engaged in mercantile pursuits. After President Jackson vetoed the National Bank Bill, State banks sprang up and the money became almost worth- less. For this reason, combined with the ill health of Mrs. Face, Mr. Face moved his fam- ily to Philadelphia. He subsequently took his family to Hampton, Virginia, and upon return- in gto his business in Philadelphia found that his partner had sold out and pocketed much of the money. His death occurred soon after, leaving a widow and five small children. Mrs. Face was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and came of a sturdy Dutch family of that State. She possessed all the energy and thrift of her race, and imparted these qualities to her children, whom she brought up and edu- cated in admirable fashion. All of her children grew to maturity, and of their number, E. W. Face is the sole survivor. She died in 1876, at the age of 71 years, and is buried at Elm- wood Cemetery, Norfolk City. She always regretted the fact that her husband was buried in Florida, so far from home, and the subject of this sketch promised her that when he was able he would bring the remains to the family lot for reburial. Accordingly, some years ago. he went to Florida and was conducted to the spot at the old Spanish fort. Finding the re-

mains almost intact, they were removed to Norfolk and placed by the side of the departed wife. Five children were born to Edward and Catherine (Heffley) Face, namely: William H .; Edward W .; Vandalia E., wife of Jesse Ewell ; Virginia, wife of Larkin Davis, of Nor- folk; and Samuel A.

Edward W. Face attended the school con- ducted by John B. Carey at Hampton, Vir- ginia, and after his school days was apprenticed to the trade of a carpenter. He remained at that but a short time, when he became appren- ticed to Henry W. Herbert, and served thus five and a half years. He then went to Wash- ington, D. C., and after working there three years removed to Norfolk, Virginia, where, in 1855, he began to work at his trade as a brick- layer. It was just prior to this date that the yellow fever was raging and wiped out many entire families in a short period, hardly enough surviving at times to bury the dead. Graves could not be dug fast enough and coffins had to be brought from Baltimore, and as a result the dead were buried in trenches. Mr. Face con- tinued at his trade until 1888, when he began the manufacture of brick, having bought out the establishment of William H. Turner, who was his ardent friend, and contributed much to his early success, for which Mr. Face will always feel grateful. He began on a small scale and each year the business was increased. An output of 5,000 bricks per day was then considered very large, but at the present time he turns out about 30,000 daily. He employs about 40 men and has four barges and a tug to bring clay from the Nansemond River. He has one shed with a capacity of 500,000 bricks and two with a capacity of 300,000 each. There is a demand for all he can manufacture, and during the year 1901 he had but few brick left in the yards. When Mr. Face first came to Norfolk, there were no houses in the beautiful part of the city in which he is now located. It was called "Gun Point,". because, the cannons were fired here to avoid breaking

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windows in the residences. He has taken an active part in the development of the city and has held various offices of public trust. He served two terms as councilman and refused to serve longer: During his second term he offered the resolution disbanding the volunteer fire department and establishing a paid depart- ment. In consideration of that action he was made fire commissioner for the city and served in that capacity seven or eight years. He was then appointed fire marshal by Judge Bur- roughs. He was appointed harbor master by Gov. William E. Cameron, and served 26 months. Upon the death of Captain Kennedy he was appointed to succeed that gentleman as powder officer and was afterward appointed by Governor Cameron for a full term of four years.

Mr. Face was joined in marriage March 27, 1851, with Elizabeth W. Dunbar, a native of Norfolk, and a daughter of James and Ann Dunbar, old and highly esteemed residents of Norfolk, who are deceased. Mrs. Face is a great-granddaughter of Capt. Jonathan Bar- ret, of the Continental Army. Six children were born to bless this union, namely: Sarah C., widow of William K. Furguson ; Walter E., who first married Annie E. Powell, and after her death, was united to Egmont S. Shine; Florence B., wife of Almore Reed, of Baltimore, Maryland; Louise D., wife of W. A. Minter ; George S., who married Edmonia V. Powell ; and Lillie, who lives at home with her parents. March 27, 1901, Mr. and Mrs. Face celebrated their golden wedding anniver- sary. A large number were present, but none who attended the marriage ceremony 50 years before, they having passed away or moved to distant homes. It was an event of rejoicing and congratulation. Mrs. Face and all the children are members of the Presbyterian Church. The subject of this sketch is very fond of travel, and in 1900 visited the Paris Exposition. He has been to Cuba and Mexico,

and in 1901 attended the Pan-American Ex- position. He is one of Norfolk's most highly esteemed citizens.

CLAY KILBY, one of the most pro- gressive business men of Norfolk, Virginia, was born in Suffolk, Vir- ginia, in 1852, and is a son of Hon. James R. Kilby. His great-great- grandfather fought in the Revolutionary War, under John Paul Jones, and was in the cele- brated fight between the "Serapis" and "Bon- homme Richard."

Hon. James R. Kilby was born in Hanover County, Virginia, December 31, 1819. His father died and the widowed mother, having sole charge of a number of small children, was unable to give him the education he otherwise would have had. Although his attendance at school amounted to little, he became a very learned man through individual study and re- search. At the age of 14 years he became as- sistant to the clerk of the court of Nansemond County, and a few years later accepted a po- sition as deputy sheriff of that county. In the meantime he had determined to prepare himself for the practice of law, and qualified himself for that profession during his incum- bency of the above named positions. He was licensed to practice, and in time became a well- known public figure in Virginia, both as law- yer and in connection with the affairs of his State. He was a State elector and sérved in State and National conventions. He repre- sented Nansemond County in the General As- sembly of Virginia in 1851, 1852 and 1853. and was a member of the convention held at Richmond in April, 1861, which passed the ordinance of secession. He was sheriff of Nor- folk County one term. and after his removal from Portsmouth to Suffolk practiced his pro- fession for a period of 30 years. He was a

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devout Christian and joined the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1843. Three of his chil- dren are living, namely: Mrs. Dr. W. W. Murray, who resides in Suffolk, Virginia ; Judge Wilbur J., also of Suffolk ; and L. Clay.

L. Clay Kilby received a good educational training at Randolph-Macon College in the sessions of 1869-1870. He then took a course of study in Bryant & Stratton's Business Col- lege, during the fall of 1870. He came to Norfolk as a clerk for the Kilby & Ashburn Lumber Company, and was afterward in the employ of the John L. Roper Lumber Company for a period of nine years, having full charge of its immense shipping department. He then formed a copartnership with Robert Johnson, under the firm name of Johnson & Kilby, as general merchandise brokers, manufacturers' and packers' agents. In January, 1898, this firm was dissolved and Mr. Kilby has since continued in the business alone. He has at- tained a high degree of success and represents some fifty houses of manufacturers and pack- ers, among which is the American Sugar Re- fining Company. Mr. Kilby has taken an en- thusiastic interest in all that pertains to the welfare of Norfolk and the county in general, and has identified himself with all organiza- tions tending to the betterment of the public conditions. He served as a member of the Board of Health in 1894, having been elected on the Prohibition Reform ticket. He was one of the organizers of the Norfolk Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, in 1891, of which Mr. Irving was president two years. Mr. Kilby then succeeded as president, and has since continued in that capacity. His work as such has been in the nature of a blessing to the horses ; through his society and other simi- lar bodies, the passage of splendid state laws was secured for the prevention of cruelty to animals. His efforts as president of this body have been attended by success, and he has gained the hearty approval and co-operation of the best citizens of Norfolk.

Mr. Kilby was joined in marriage with

Susie Borum, a daughter of the late Samuel R. Borum, and they have two children living, Annette and Elizabeth. The subject of this sketch has been an active member of the Y. M. C. A. for some years, and has taken an ac- tive interest in all worthy enterprises of a like character. He is a member of the Epworth Methodist Episcopal Church, South, of which he has been treasurer for the past 15 years. He was assistant superintendent of the Sun- day-school for 17 years.

COLLINS ARMISTEAD, a member of the firm of Armistead & Myers, en- gaged in the real-estate and insurance business in the city of Portsmouth, Norfolk County, Virginia, is a mem- ber of one of the prominent families of Nor- folk County. His seventh maternal ancestor was one of the earliest landowners of Virginia and possessed property granted by Queen Anne in 1719. Mr. Armistead was born in Norfolk County and is a son of Beverly A. Armistead and grandson of Francis N. Armistead. Francis N. Armistead came to Norfolk County from Maryland. Beverly A. Armistead was born three miles from Portsmouth, where he lived all his life. He was at one time president of the Bank of Portsmouth, succeeding Mayor Grice, after that gentleman's death. Beverly A. Armistead died in 1886, aged 52 years. He had been retired from active business duties for several years prior to his death. He married Laura Collins, who was born in Portsmouth, and was a daughter of John Collins. She died in 1895. . Her great- grandfather was the second rector of Trin- ity Protestant Episcopal Church, at Ports- mouth. Besides the subject of this sketch, Mr. Armistead and his wife reared five chil- dren, as follows: Mrs. William Hart: Mrs. E. Alexander Hatton ; Francis Noble, who died aged 21 years; and Margaret B., the wife of Rev. Z. S. Farland, the rector of St. John's

CAPT. IRA W. TAPLEY.

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Protestant Episcopal Church, of Portsmouth. Rev. Mr. Farland is a Virginian by birth ; he attended William and Mary College, and the Theological Seminary of Virginia. He took up the ministry at Richmond, where he was rector of St. Paul's Church for a number of years. In 1896 he removed to Portsmouth to accept the rectorship of St. John's Protestant Episcopal Church.

J. Collins Armistead, whose name heads these lines. attended the high school at Ports- mouth, Virginia, and also the Episcopal High School at Alexandria, after which he went to McCabe's school at Petersburg. A year after his return to Portsmouth he engaged in busi- ness. He is interested in various enterprises and is president of the E. D. Clements Dry Goods Company. The real-estate and insur- ance firm of Armistead & Myers is one of the best known in Portsmouth, and conducts a large business, which increases annually. Mr. Armistead is notable for keen business per- ception, sound judgment and reliable business methods, and is considered one of the most trustworthy men of the city.

The subject of this sketch is a member of the Masonic order. Religiously he is an Epis- copalian.

ILLIAM F. SMITH, who is master shipwright of the Norfolk Navy Yard, Norfolk, Virginia, was born in Baltimore, Maryland, and is a son of William F. Smith. His father conducted a shipvard in Baltimore for many years.

William F. Smith, the subject of this sketch, learned the trade of a ship-builder with his father, and in 1856, at the age of 19 years removed to Norfolk, Virginia. He entered the Navy Yard as a journeyman, and was soon after made quarterman and later foreman. His marked ability was again recognized by pro- motion and he was made master shipwright, a position he has since retained with great cred-

it to himself. His first work in ship-building was on the "Colorado" and "Roanoke." The mast-house, block-makers' department and cooper shop of the Navy Yard are all in one building. From 75 to 80 shipwrights are em- ployed, together with about 12 spar-makers, 6 coopers and from 20 to 30 calkers, all of whom are under Mr. Smith's supervision.

Mr. Smith married Martha B. Nottingham, whose father was formerly employed at the Navy Yard. They have two children, Mrs. Aurelia G. Alexander, and Robert Irvin, both of Portsmouth. Mr. Smith was reared in the Episcopal faith, while his wife is a Methodist. He did not serve in the army during the war but was for many years a member of a rifle company before the war. He performs his du- ties in a faithful, conscientious manner, hav- ing a thorough knowledge of his trade, and is one of the oldest employes of the Norfolk Navy Yard.

APT. IRA W. TAPLEY. Among the many well-known sea captains in the employ of the Old Dominion: Steamship Company, is the gentle- man whose name heads these lines, who has his home in Brooklyn, New York. He was born at West Brooksville, Maine, Sep- tember 12, 1855, and is a son of Thomas and Lucy H. (Wasson) Tapley.

Capt. Thomas Tapley was a master mariner for 40 years and sailed in many parts of the world. He followed the life of a seaman from the time he was 10 years old until his retire- ment some years ago. He is now enjoying the pleasures of home life at West Brooksville, where he has lived for many years. Of seven children born to Captain Tapley and his wife, all are living, and their names are as follows : O. L., a merchant : Ira W .; O. W., a dealer in insurance ; T. S., a physician : Eugene, also a physician ; Lucy H .; and Mrs. Eliza C. Smith. Capt. Thomas Tapley and his wife celebrated their golden wedding August 26, 1901, and at

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their table 20 children and grandchildren sat down to dinner.

Ira W. Tapley, whose name heads this sketch, grew to manhood in West Brooksville, where he was taught in public and private schools. At the age of 15 years he began his sea-faring life as deck-boy on his father's ves- sel, and was in the Mediterranean and South American trade. He has filled all the positions from deck-hand to master, becoming a cap- tain at the age of 30 years. His first vessel was the "Hessian Republic," a steamer of about 1,100 tons, and he sailed between Bos- ton and Hayti. He has been in the employ of several steamship companies. His duties with the Old Dominion Steamship Company began in 1880, when he was master of the "City of Columbia." With the exception of a short time he has been in the service of that company ever since. The three vessels which he has commanded since entering the company's employ are the "City of Columbia:" the side- wheeler, "Old Dominion;" and his present command, "Jamestown." The "Jamestown" is a vessel of 3.000 tons, and is one of the finest ships owned by the Old Dominion Steamship Company.

Captain Tapley was wedded to Carrie A. Stover, of Brooklyn, New York, and they have two daughters, Mildred W. and Carrie E. He is a member of the Royal Arcanum. He has always been very fortunate in his sea career, and is an excellent commander, highly es- teemed by his employers and by those whom he has in charge. His portrait accompanies this sketch.

R ICHARD B. FENTRESS, a gentleman whose career in the business world has been marked by the greatest activity, is identified with numerous enterprises which have been a credit to the city of Norfolk, as well as to their promoters. He is president of the Norfolk Refrigerating & Stor-

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History of Norfolk County, Virginia : and representative citizens, 1637-1900, Part 86

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