USA > Virginia > City of Norfolk > City of Norfolk > History of Norfolk County, Virginia and representative citizens, V.1 > Part 74
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farm is in the center of the greatest garden area in the world, the soil being a sandy loam: es- pecially adapted to gardening. and the climate being such that some kind of truck may be raised and marketed at every season of the year. The 132 acres is nearly all one large garden-spot. taking not a few laborers to care for it properly. Last year S16,000 worth of truck was sold off of the place, the expense of preparing the ground the raising and market- ing the products amounted to about half that sum. Most of the produce raised is put on the boats at Norfolk on one day and the following day it reaches New York City in time for the morning market, which begins there about 12 o'clock at night. In all probability it is eaten by the residents of that city at their noon meal of the day after it is sent from Norfolk. In December the cabbage is transplanted : in Jan- uary radishes and lettuce and other spring veg- etables are sown, and when these are ready for the market they are shipped to Boston and Philadelphia, as well as to New York City. In extreme cases strawberries have been in the
LIEUT .- COL. WILLIAM H. STEWART, 1862.
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market in April. but May usually sees hundreds of acres of this fruit ready for use.
The subject of this sketch keeps a kennel of fine dogs, and when he can take his recreation enjoys the hunting of rabbits and partridges. which abound on and around his farm. He is the embodiment of activity, energy and per- severance, and may well be proud of his well- regulated farm and the successful business he carries on. He and his brother take an active part in political affairs and are thorough Dem- ocrats.
OL. WILLIAM HENRY STEW- ART is well known to the residents of Norfolk County, Virginia, the scene of his entire business career. He attained prominence in the prac- tice of law and through his connection with many quasi-public enterprises. He is a son of William Charles and Catharine Matilda ( Garrett ) Stewart. and comes of a family long established on Virginia soil. On his mother's side he is directly descended from William Moseley, who came to Norfolk County in 1649 and was a member of the County Court from 1650 until his death.
Charles Stewart, great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch born about 1730, mar- ried Martha Foreman, daughter of Alexan- der Foreman. He was a soldier of the Ameri- can Revolution. and the records in the War Department. at Washington. D. C., show that Charles Stewart was commissioned as ensign in Captain William Grimes' Company of the 15th Virginia Regiment of Foot, commanded by Lieut .- Col. James Innes. His name first appears on the roll of that organization for July 1, 1777, with remark, "Commissioned April, 1777." He is reported on the roll for August. 1777. as "Looking after the sick in Philadelphia:" on the roll for September and October. 1777, without remark : on the roll for November. 1777, as "Turned over to Captain Gregory's Company:" December, 1777, he is
reported with rank as 2nd lieutenant, and oli rolls for January, February, March and April, 1778, his name is borne without remark. His name next appears on the roll for December, 1778, of the field and staff of the 11th Virginia Regiment, commanded by Colonel Buford. with remarks. "Appointed June 24th, 1777, rank 2nd Lieutenant. 5th Company:" and on the muster rolls of Capt. David Mason's Com- pany of the 11th Virginia Regiment in General Woodford's Brigade, commanded by Colonel Buford, from December. 1778, to November. 1779. without additional in- formation. The roll of November. 1777, shows the designation of the organization to be "the 5th and 11th Virginia Regi- ment of Foot." commanded by Col. Will- . iam Russell. The records of the Bureau of Pensions in Washington show that Charles Stewart was granted 2,666 2-3 acres of land on April 10, 1819, by the State of Virginia, for three years service as an ensign in the Vir- : ginia Continental line, -- Virginia Military Warrant No. 6.308. In minute book No. 12. page 49. of the Norfolk County Clerk's office. appears the following order: "At court held for Norfolk County the 15th day of February. 1813, Jesse Nicholson came into court and made oath that Charles Stewart, formerly of this county, was an ensign in the 15th Virginia ¡ Regiment in the Revolutionary War; that he served for upwards of three years, and how much longer he does not know, and he thinks. was afterward advanced to a lieutenant, which is ordered to be certified, and it is also certi- fied by the court, William Stewart. Charles Stewart and Alexander Stewart, are the only children and heirs at law of the said Charles Stewart, who is dead."
On the 19th day of July. 1790, Charles Stewart was recommended to the Lieutenant- Governor by the Court of Justice of Norfolk County as a proper person to be captain in the militia of this county ; was duly appointed and qualified by taking oath of fidelity to the Com- monwealth of Virginia. Prior to the Revolu-
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tion, under the colonial government, he held an office in the militia of Norfolk County. The court records show a number of real-estate transactions in St. Bride's Parish of Norfolk County ; also the land office in Richmond shows : land patents issued by Lieut .- Gov. Beverly Randolph to William Wilson. Jr .. and Charles Stewart: and the land tax book for St. Bride's Parish for 1797 in the Circuit Court Clerk's office of Norfolk County, shows Charles Stew- art assessed with seven parcels of real estate, amounting to 542 acres. valued at $273, 16s., 8d. Charles Stewart died in February. 1801. His children were: William, born August II, 17So; Charles, born August 30, 1782: Joseph, born May 20, 1784: Anu, born July 12, 1786; Alexander, born March 8, 1788; and John born December 9, 1791 Joseph Ann and John died in infancy.
Alexander Stewart. son of Charles Stew- art, married Lauretta Wallace. in 1807, and died in 1813 as a result of a cold contracted while serving in the War of 1812. His widow was afterward twice married. She was born March 3, 1786, and died June 6. 1857. They had three children: Joseph, born in 1808: William Charles, born September 21, 1810; and Caroline Frances, born October 17, 1812.
William Charles Stewart, son of Alexander Stewart and father of the subject of this sketch, was a lieutenant of State Volunteers during the Mexican War, but his command was not called into service. He was imprisoned during the Confederate War at Old Point by Gen. B. F. Butler, for his loyalty to the South. On September 13, 1837, he married Catharine Ma- tilda Garrett, and they had three sons and two daughters. as follows : William Henry ; Charles Alexander: Robert Edward Bruce; Nannie Garrett, deceased; and Sarah Catlı- arine ( Etheridge), deceased. William Charles Stewart died June 29, 1865.
Col. William H. Stewart was educated at common and private schools of Norfolk Coun- ty, at the Union Male Academy of Hertford County. North Carolina. and at the Univer-
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sity of Virginia. He was an ardent secession- ist and promptly responded to the call of his native State for troops to repel the Northern Army of Invasion. He was 2nd lieutenant of the Wise Light Dragoons, State Volunteers, called out April 22, 1861, and encamped at Denby's Church in Norfolk County, to picket the beach with Doyle's cavalry from Ocean View to Sewell's Point. After a few weeks of active service, the organization, having in- sufficient numbers to be mustered into the Con- federate service, was disbanded, and the Jack- son Greys were recruited and mustered into the Confederate Army July 12. 1861. His first service was at Fort Nelson, heavy artillery, Portsmouth, Virginia; from thence to rifle- gun battery at Sewell's Point. Norfolk, Coun- ty, Virginia. Captain William H. Stewart, Jackson Greys, commanding this battery, was engaged March 8, 1862, with the U. S. frigate "Minnesota;" and with the United States fleet bombarding Sewell's Point, May 8, 1862. On the evacuation of Norfolk, he was ordered to Petersburg, his company being assigned to the 6Ist Regiment, Virginia Infantry, as Company A, and was elected major of his regiment. He was in the engagement at Rappahannock R. R. 1 Bridge. November 7, 1862; at Fredericksburg, December II, 12 and 13, 1862: at McCarty's Farm or Chancellorsville, May 2, and 3, 1863; at Gettysburg, July 2 and 3, 1863 ; at Hagers- town, commanding brigade picket line, July 6 to IT, 1863; at Culpeper or Brandy Station, August 1, 1863; at Mine Run, December 2, 1863; at the Wilderness, May 6, 1864; at Shady Grove, May 8, 1864: at Spottsylvania Court House, wounded slightly, May 12. 1864, promoted to lieutenant-colonel. Here thie col- onel of the regiment was also severely wounded so that the command of the regiment devolved upon Lieutenant-Colonel Stewart, who com- manded the regiment in the following engage- ments : At North Anna River. May 21 to 23. I864; at Hanover Court House. May 28 and 29. 1864; at Lee's Station, June 1, 1864; at Cold Harbor June 1, 2 and 3. 1864; at Turkey 1
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Ridge (skirmishing) June 4 to 13, 1864; at Frazier's Farm, skirmish, June 13. 1864; at Wilcox Farm ( Petersburg). June 22, 1864; at Gurley House, June 23. 1864: at Ream's Station, June 27. 1864: at the Crater, July 30, 1864; at Ream's Station, August 25. 1864: at Burgess' Mill. October 29. 1861; at Hicksford, December 9 and 10, 1864. On the return of Colonel Groner. after recovering from his wound, Lieutenant-Colonel Stewart issued the following congratulatory order :
HEADQUARTERS, 61ST VA. INFT., Dec 14, 1864. GENERAL ORDER NO. 14.
As the Lieutenant-Colonel is about to relinquish command, he desires to express to the officers and men his heartful thanks for uniform courtesy and prompt observ- ance of all orders. He congratulates you upon the noble part you have taken in the brilliant success of the cam- paign. Besides participating in the capture of artillery, small arms and prisoners, eight battle-flags are trophies of your 'prowess. Soldiers! These achivements have only been attained by sad depletion in your ranks. Let the noble deeds of your fallen comrades and the oppres- sive slavery of your kinsmen stimulate you to renewed efforts in behalf of your afflicted country. Stand steady and firm by your tattered battle-fiag of the future as you have in the past and soon an honorable peace with the independence of your country will be a glorious reward. WILLIAM H. STEWART, Lieut .- Col. Commanding. W. A. S. TAYLOR, Adit.
The regiment was in the battle of the 19th of August, 1864, under Colonel Groner, but his old wound forced him to relinquish the field. The regiment was engaged in the battle of 1 Hatchier's Run, February 6. 1865. under Lieu- tenant-Colonel Stewart ; at Petersburg the reg- iment evacuated the Bermuda Hundred line, April 1. 1865: was engaged with cavalry at 1 1
Amelia Court House, April 5, 1865; at the battle of Cumberland Church, Lieutenant-Col- onel Stewart commanded the division picket line. April 7, 1865: and the command sur- rendered at Appomattox Court House April 9. 1865. Lieutenant-Colonel Stewart was pa- roled and returned to his father's home.
. After the war Colonel Stewart engaged in farming on his father's farm, the latter dying soon after the former's return from the Con-
federate service, and continued until 1870, when he removed to Portsmouth, studied law and was licensed to practice on October 3, I8;1; there he has since resided and practiced law. He was Commonwealth"s attorney of Norfolk County from July 1. 1875, to July I, 1893, an eventful period of public litigation. The finances of the county were in such con- dition in 1873 as to require a special levy of 15 cents on Sioo to meet the increasing de- mands upon the county ; but in 1876 the regu- lar levy was reduced five cents and in 1880 no tax was levied. At a meeting of the Board of Supervisors held on October 21. 1879, the following was offered and passed: "In view of the fact that there is a large balance in the hands of the county treasurer, sufficient to meet the expenses for the year 1880, it is so recommended that we levy no county tax for next year." Book No. 1. Page 337. This was owing to the fact that several suits had been pushed to a successful termination by the at- torney for the Commonwealth, which brought large sums into the treasury of the county, thie most important of which was the judgment against the city of Portsmouth for a sum over $12,000, obtained from a settlement growing out of the separation of the city and county in 1858. On December 4, 1877. the Board of Health of the city of Norfolk voted Common- wealth's Attorney William H. Stewart a reso- lution of thanks for prosecuting the slaughter- : house nuisance in the suburbs of the city in "an able and direct manner." The Public Led- ger in 1877 said: "In Col. William H. Stew- art, the Commonwealth's Attorney for the --. county of Norfolk, the people have a faithful and fearless representative --- a man who neither fears nor courts the action of the rings that have controlled and prevented the prosperity of that county. In these times of degeneracy and sycophancy a faithful officer is a jewel of priceless value to a tax-burdened and ring- 1 ruled people."
Colonel Stewart was Portsmouth city edi- tor of the Norfolk Landmark from its estab-
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lishment by Capt. James Barron Hope, until April 1, 1876. He was the editor of the Daily Times of Portsmouth for two years, resigning March 6, 1880. He has been closely identi- fied with the street railways, having been vice- president and director of the Portsmouth Street Railway, and president and director of the Port Norfolk Electric Railway from its organi- zation until he resigned in April, 1897. The location of a town on the old Glebe farm, Port Norfolk, was his conception.
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Colonel Stewart was married October 30. 1873, to Annie Wright Stubbs, of Portsmouth, a daughter of John S. and Stella L. H. (Armi- stead ) Stubbs. She was born July 30. 18448. and died November 28, 1883. They had one child, Robert Armistead, born on Friday. March 9. 18-7. William H. Stewart again intermarried with Sallie Watson Magruder, of Albemarle County. Virginia. September 20, 1888. Her father was Col. Benjamin H. Ma- gruder and her mother Maria Louisa Minor, a daughter of Dr. James Minor ( and Polly Wat- son), who was a son of Garrett Minor. of Sunning Hill. Louisa County. Virginia. and Mary Overton. nec Terrill. Garrett Minor was a member of the Committee of Safety for that county in 1775.
William H. Stewart is a member of Vir- ginia Society, Sons of the American Revolu- tion: past commander of Stonewall Camp. Confederate Veterans: and vice-president of the Norfolk and Portsmouth Bar Asso- ciation. He is a vestryman of Trinity Protestant Episcopal Church, Portsmouth Parish, and a member of the board of trustees of Portsmouth Orphan Asylum. He was a member of the State Board of Vis- itors to Mount Vernon in 1898. His ora- tion on Matthew Fontaine Maury excited great interest. In commenting upon it the Norfolk Landmark editorial said : "Some of us had the pleasure of listening to this ora- tion on a former occasion, but the remem- brance of the beauty and fervor of its style and the lofty patriotism which pervaded it from
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beginning to end will cause us to feel thankful for the chance of once more enjoying it; Col- one! Stewart is a speaker of rare gifts and can command respect and admiration upon any subject that he touches: but this is one dear to his heart." And Prof. Willis A. Jenkins wrote: "Colonel Stewart is an orator of un- usual ability and among the many excellent et- forts I have heard from him, none compare with the picturesque, complete, impassioned. magnificent oration on the great Virginian. Among the hundreds of lectures and orations to which I have listened, I recall no one that I enjoyed more, nor one that has made a deeper impression upon me."'
A portrait of Colonel Stewart appears on Page 12. In connection with this sketch a war-time picture is shown. engraved from a photograph taken in 1862.
h JENRY L. GUY. postmaster and mer- chant at Tanner's Creek. Norfolk County. Virginia, is a man of rare business ability. and by the pleasant and courteous manner which he manifests toward every one has become very popular and has made many friends through- out his section of the country.
Mr. Guy was born January 25, 1864. and is a son of Joseph L. and Mary F. ( Braugh- ton) Guy, grandson of John Guy, and great- grandson of George Guy. George Guy was one of four brothers who were born and reared in Norfolk County, and lived here during the eighteenth century, mainly following both farming and fishing. Of these, Harry died in early life; Nelson lived to a ripe old age: Bailey attained the age of 60 years; and George, great-grandfather of Henry L. Guy. died of old age. His son, John, the grand- father of Henry L., was a farmer and fisher- man in Norfolk County and passed to his final rest in 1858 when 72 years old. His son. Jo- seph L., was born January 31, 1825, about four
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COL. WILLIAM LAMB.
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miles from Norfolk. Until a short time ago he led an active life as a farmer and fisherman, and disposed of the fruits of his skill in the Norfolk market with great success : he is now retired from business. In 1852 he was united in marriage with Mary F. Braughton, a daugh- ter of Henry A. Braughton. a successful mer- chant. J. D., Anna B. and Henry L. are his children.
Mr. Guy's education was limited to the knowledge obtained from a common school, and much of his early life was spent on a farin. In 1889, however, he started out for himself, rented a storeroom in Tanner's Creek, pur- chased a stock of inerchandise and did a suc- cessful business for five years. He sold his business at that time and removed to Norfolk, where he was in business two years, and then sold out again and returned to Tanner's Creek. There he built a storeroom, directly opposite to the one he had previously occupied, and pur- chased another stock of merchandise. He has been in the same line ever since and enjoys the best of trade.
During Cleveland's administration Mr. Guy was appointed postmaster and has held the same position ever since. the postoffice now being located in his store. In politics Mr. Guy is an ardent Democrat. In religious attach- ment he is a member of the Baptist Church.
Mr. Guy is industrious and energetic, and discharges his duties in a manner above criti- cism, thus acquiring the good will and con- mendation of all who have dealings with him. His unqualified success in business is as grati- fying to his friends as it is to himself.
OL. WILLIAM LAMB, editor, sol- dier, statesman, orator and man of business, whose portrait is shown on the opposite page, was born at Nor- folk, Virginia. September 7. 1835. and was graduated from William and Mary College in 1855. after which he took the law 30
course. He then became editor of the Daily Southern Argus, and continued as such until the outbreak of the Confederate War. He was a delegate to the Democratic National Conven- tion in 1856. In 1857 he secured the election of a City Council at Norfolk, pledged to es- tablish a system of public school education, modeled upon that of New England, and they put it in operation in advance of any Southern community. He has been the champion of popular education since that time. He warmly advocated the education of the colored race, after his state was re-admitted to the Union. He was a visitor to the University of Virginia, and acting rector during one session, and has long been a visitor of William and Mary Col- lege, and a trustee of the Norfolk Academy. He was placed at the head of the State Dem- ocratic electoral ticket in 1860, sided with Breckenridge when the party was divided, and was the one elector on that ticket that was chosen.
When the war between the States broke out he tendered his services and that of his volun- teer company, "The Woodis Rifles," to the Governor of Virginia for active duty, and served till the fall of Fort Fisher, North Caro- lina, January 15, 1865, of which he was com- mander. Captured there, he was so desperately wounded that his life was saved with difficulty.
Previously, on the 25th of December. 1864, he had repulsed a combined attack of Gen. Benjamin F. Butler and Admiral Porter with the famous powder-ship. The heroism dis- played in the defense of Fort Fisher, before it fell under the combined attack of General Terry. and Admiral Porter, earned for Colonel Lamb the title of "Hero of Fort Fisher". among the people of the Southern States. He was stimu- lated to this brilliant defense by a message from General Lee, the head of the Confederate forces, to the effect that if Fort Fisher was taken by the enemy, he ( Lee) could not feed his army. The engineering feat of Colonel Lamb is best described in the words of his friend. Col. J. R. Waddy, of Norfolk :
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"Although Colonel Lamb entered the Con- federate service as captain of a rifle company, two Parrott guns were assigned him and he was sent to Sewell's Point, situated on Hamp- ton Roads, below Norfolk, to help protect the batteries which were being constructed there. The afternoon he arrived at Sewell's Point his company, with details from other companies, had an engagement with the gunboat 'Mon- ticello,' which had been sent there to interrupt the work on the batteries. After an hour's fighting his Parrott guns drove the 'Monticello' away. It was here that Colonel Lamb con- ceived the idea of commencing the study of military engineering, and from that time until the end of the war he was an indefatigable stu- dent, getting all the text-books available, es- pecially through the blockade after he took command of Fort Fisher. He found in Charleston, while on the staff of General An- derson at Wilmington, a complete history of the Crimean War, with a full plans of the works and defense of Sebastopol. He took the fortifications around Sebastopol as his model and adapted them to the defense of New In- let. with many modifications and improve- ments, and when the fort was captured, al- though far from being finished, it was the larg- est fortification in the Confederacy and was called the 'Malakoff of the South.' The land- face extended from the Cape Fear River to the ocean, and the sea-face protecting the Inlet was a series of batteries connected by a heavy curtain. ending with a mound 60 feet high, which had a plunging fire on the channel. These two sides of the works, which were all that had been completed, were nearly a mile and three-quarters in length, but had only 44 guns, two mortars and four pieces of light ar- tillery to defend them, an armament smaller than several of the frigates in the attacking fleet. Although 40,000 shot and shell were ex- pended against these works, not a magazine of bomb-proof was injured, and not a gun on the sea-face dismounted by the Federals. On the land-face in the first bombardment when
Butler and Porter were defeated, only one gun was injured. It was in the first fight that an unsuccessful attempt was made to destroy the works by an explosion of a powder-ship with 250 tons of powder. In the second bombard- ment the land-face guns, 20 in number, were taken in detail and after a terrific, direct and enfilading fire for three days and two nights, 19 of these guns were rendered unserviceable, although the works proper was only slightly injured. The work, which was built of timber, sand and turf, was constructed for sea-coast defense only against ships, the shifting sands rendering a moat impossible without masonry. which was not obtainable, and the palisade-line in front of the land-face was thrown up mere- ly to prevent surprise from a sudden landing from a fleet when the garrison was reduced to less than 600. Colonel Lamb had no engi- neer detailed to assist him in the work, but his plans were approved by Beauregard, Long- street, French, Whiting and Raines.
"After the Confederate War, this fort was adopted as the model at West Point for in- structing the cadets in sea-coast fortifications. the plan of Sebastopol having previously been used, and was continued until the modern plan of a fort constructed of sand, concrete and turf was adopted and which plan carries out many of the improvements of the previous plan which had been made by Colonel Lamb in the construction of Fort Fisher. Had the work been completed as designed by Colonel Lamb, it is believed by most eminent engineers that a small force could have held the works against all comers, notwithstanding the co-operation of the fleet. The capture of Fort Fisher was a new departure in the reduction of forts. The immense fleet did the work in a few days, that a regular land siege would have taken months to do in the way of disarming the fort, and while the garrison was under a terrific fire for three days and two nights, rendering repairs impossible, besiegers were resting quietly and were able to approach within 100 yards of the works in comparative safety. The garrison
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numbered not over 1.500 men, while the troops that landed from the transports were 8,500 and were re-enforced by 2,000 sailors and marines. After the fort was entered the strug- gle lasted from 3:30 until 9 p. m. Most of the time the fleet co-operated with the army after they entered the works, by means of sig- naling, and while necessarily some few of the Federals were killed by this fire from the fleet. it was more destructive to the Confederates than the fire of the assailants in the fort and prevented the garrison from dislodging the army after the sailors and marines had been re- pulsed. At the capture of Fort Fisher, the bombardment was not only the greatest that ever occurred in history in weight of metal, but it was the longest hand to hand fight dur- ing the Confederate War. , The Federal loss in killed and wounded was nearly as many as there were soldiers in the garrison.
"Since the war Colonel Lamb has given the harbor of Norfolk the benefit of the knowledge he acquired as an engineer in tidal currents, having had one island in his command with two guns swept away and his mound threat- ened, requiring him to use every expedient for the protection of his works against the shift- ing currents of the river and sea. He has, also, in the work of Whiting upon the Cape Fear River, an object lesson in the value of jetties in preserving channel-ways, which he prac- tically applied to the Elizabeth River, with the advice and approval of Gen. John Newton, Chief of Engineers, when the coal trestle of the Norfolk & Western Railway was run out to Lambert's Point Light House on a solid bulkhead, the channel, both north and south of the river, having been greatly improved by the structure."
Avoiding public life when he returned to Norfolk, Colonel Lamb devoted himself to de- veloping the natural resources of the city and State. He manages the large shipments of coal, fostered by the Norfolk & Western Rail- way, which have made Norfolk the principal coaling station of the Atlantic Coast. He was
the first to formulate and use a through bill of lading from interior cities to Europe via Norfolk. He has been repeatedly elected pres- ident of the different boards of trade in Nor- folk, and is now president of its Chamber of Commerce. In 1876 he was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention which nom- inated Samuel J. Tilden for the United States presidency, and he has had a more or less ac- tive part in State politics since that date, hav- ing presided at four State conventions, and been twice on the presidential electoral ticket. He was mayor of Norfolk for six years. For more than 20 years Colonel Lamb has been president of the Norfolk Seamen's Friend So- ciety, and he is now a manager of the Jackson Orphan Asylum. Since the war he has con- tributed at least $50,000 to the comfort and maintenance of the unfortunate companions of his soldier days.
Colonel Lamb has addressed various soci- eties upon agricultural, commercial, biographi- cal and social subjects. In 1899 St. Lawrence University in Canton, New York. conferred upon him the degree of LL. D. He married in Providence, Rhode Island, in 1857, Saralı A. Chaffee, a lady distinguished for her beauty and accomplishments.
ILLIAM F. SHUMADINE, a well- known truck farmer, is a promi- nent citizen of Lambert's Point. Virginia, and his occupation is that of many of his neighbors and friends. He was born in Norfolk County, in the vicinity of his present home, which was also the birthplace of his father. He is a son of F. B. and Elizabeth (Wood ) Shumadine. His father was successfully engaged in farming for many years. About six years ago he retired from active ser- vice to live upon the competency gained in many years of toil. He was born in 1827, and his wife, who is also a Virginian by
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birth, was born in 1830. They reared eight children, among them the following: John E., a carpenter at Lambert's Point; William F .; James Henry and Walter Lee, both grocers in Norfolk; and Charles Thomas and Albert Jackson, who are market gardeners.
William F. Shumadine was educated in the public schools of his native place and from the first years of his manhood devoted the most of his attention to agricultural pursuits. He now has a well-improved farin which is in a state of high cultivation, and upon this pro- ductive place, market gardening is carried on extensively, many of the products being sent north to New York City, where they are dis- posed of quickly and profitably.
Mr. Shumadine was joined in the bonds of matrimony with Mabel Elizabeth Thear, a daughter of James Thear, a respected resident of Norfolk County. Virginia, of which Mrs. Shumadine is a native. her birth having taken place in 1874. She is one of a family of three children, the others being. Blanche, the wife of Cliff Stanley, who is employed in the clerical department of the Norfolk & Western Rail- way: and Eulia, who is deceased.
The subject of this sketch and his esti- mable wife have no children. They enjoy to a large degree the confidence and respect of their neighbors, and dispense hospitality with a free and generous hand. They are active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. South. Socially Mr. Shumadine affiliates with the I. O. O. F., and in his political views is a Dem- ocrat and consistently upholds his chosen party.
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D R. W. J. GRIMES has a large and lv- crative practice in and about the beautiful city of Norfolk, Virgina. where he located in 1886, and where he has followed his profession con- tinuously since that tune. He is located at No. 215 West Brambleton avenue. He was born on the Western Branch of the Elizabeth
River March 5, 1854. He is a son of William Staughton and Elizabeth F. (Taylor) Grimes.
The Grimes family is of English extraction and the ancestors of the Doctor fought under Oliver Cromwell. William Staughton Grimes, the father. is still living and reached his 75th mile-stone October 28, 1901. He followed farming nearly all of his active days, but is now spending the sunset of life with his eldest . daughter and her family. He was twice mar- ried and- each of his wives was a devout mem- ber of the Baptist Church, in which he has filled the office of deacon for many years. His first marriage was contracted with Elizabeth F. Taylor. the mother of Dr. Grimes, who was a daughter of James Taylor. Her father was an own cousin of Rev. James B. Taylor. one of the first Baptist missionaries to Rome. Six children were born of this union. W. J .. the subject of this narrative, being the eldest. Two died in infancy, and the others are as follows : Mary F .. wife of W. B. Carney, who resides on a farm on the Western Branch of the Elizabeth River; Lucy A., wife of John S. Wise, a son of John S. Wise, Sr .. who is a cousin of Gov- ernor Wise and John Beauregard, whose birth took place in 1861, and who is now residing in Isle of Wight County. Dr. Grime's mother died in 1865. in the 30th year of her life. Some time later his father married again, being united with Martha A. Carney. Again he was called upon to mourn the loss of his companion. for in November, 1898, his second wife died, aged 76 years.
Dr. Grimes attended public school in . his boyhood. meanwhile assisting his father on the farm. Later he attended Church- land Academy. and read medicine under the preceptorship of Dr. Edwin Phillips. of Suffolk. He subsequently attended the University of Virginia, taking a medical course and afterward entered Jefferson Med- ical College, at . Philadelphia, from which he was graduated in the class of 1881. Re- turning to his native State he began practice at Smithfield, where he remained for seven years,
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