USA > Virginia > City of Norfolk > City of Norfolk > History of Norfolk County, Virginia and representative citizens, V.2 > Part 18
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W. MCCULLOUGH is one of the largest wholesale and retail lumber dealers in the city of Norfolk, Vir- ginia, his business being located at the corner of Brooke avenue and Boush street. He succeeded to the business established by his father, who died April 9, 1896.
Allen Anderson Mccullough, father of F. W., came to Norfolk, Virginia, just after the Confederate War, in 1865, and located on the waterfront, on the property which is now a part of the piers and wharves of the Old Do- ininion Steamship Company. He engaged ex- tensively in the coal and lumber trade. About 1875, he concluded the work of filling in the marsh land which extended from the old wall at Granby street out to the port-warden's line, a distance of over one-third of a mile, and run- ning along the port warden's line, nearly 1,000 feet. This vast tract of waste land, over which the tide ebbed and flowed, was converted, at an enormous outlay of money and work, and in the face of much opposition from various sources, into what is now the splendid ter- minals of the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway, and the New York, Philadelphia & Norfolk Rail- road on the west, and the site of a number of fine building's, erected and in course of erec-
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tion, on Granby street, opposite the Monticello Hotel. on the east. This vast property, only partially improved and developed, has been a great factor in the growth of Norfolk, and es- pecially has this been the case in its immediate neighborhood, where values have increased to figures only dreamed possible by Mr. McCul- lough himself. . As an instance of this, the Cheasapeake & Ohio Railway purchased, in 1893, property for which they paid over half a million dollars, said purchase being a part of this tract and the property adjoining it. This property will always stand as a monument to the perseverance and energy of its originator and maker, who had the courage to undertake the task in the face of almost insurmountable difficulties. Allen Anderson Mccullough was born in Cecil County, Maryland, where he was reared on a farm. He was engaged in the lum- ber business at Marlboro until he came to Nor- folk. . He married Miss Wheatley, who sur- vives him. They had two sons, one of whom died.
F. W. Mccullough was born and reared in the city of Norfolk, and early in life became identified with his father's business. He began at the foot of the ladder and learned the busi- ness in all its details and, when he assumed the management of it in 1896, was well quali- fied for the work. He has many friends and acquaintances in the city, and has always evinced a deep interest in all that pertains to the welfare of Norfolk.
AMES F. DUNCAN. This gentleman occupies a prominent place in legal circles in Norfolk, Virginia, having been engaged in the practice of law in Norfolk since 1882. Mr. Duncan was born in St. Louis, Missouri, May 6. 1855, and is a son of James Duncan, who spent his last days in Gloucester County, Virginia, where he died in 1895.
James F. Duncan was educated at the Ver-
mont Episcopal Institute, at Burlington, Ver- mont, and at Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri, later took a law course at the University of Virginia. He was admitted to the bar in St. Louis in 1876, and practiced there with much success for some time. In 1882, Mr. Duncan removed to Norfolk, Vir- ginia, where he has a large and lucrative prac-
tice. He is a man of scholarly attainments, and his knowledge of his chosen profession is thor- ough. Mr. Duncan held the position of city at- torney of Norfolk from 1891 until 1894, and prosecuting attorney for the city from 1896 until 1899. He is much interested in the wel- fare and prosperity of Norfolk, and gives his assistance readily when any public enterprise is undertaken. He is a member of the Demo- cratic party, and an active worker in that or- ganization.
Mr. Duncan married Lucy Dabney, of Gloucester County. Virginia, and they are the parents of two children,-Emery D. and Mary F. Mr. Duncan has erected a beautiful home in Norfolk. He is a member and past exalted ruler of Norfolk Lodge. No. 38. B. P. O. E., and is also a member of various other orders.
ILLIAM LAURENCE BAKER, who is now serving his second term in the office of city collector of Norfolk. Virginia, was born in Norfolk, in 1857. He is a de- scendant of one of the many well-known famil- ies of Virginia, and has just cause to be proud of his ancestry.
Mr. Baker was reared and partially edu- cated in his native city. and after attending Prof. N. B. Webster's private school in Nor- folk, he pursued a supplementary course at Bingham's Military Academy in North Caro- lina. At the close of his school days. Mr. Baker went into the transportation business, becoming purser on the old Washington Line of steamers, in which service he remained four
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years. He then secured a position as cotton : weigher for the Norfolk Cotton Exchange, which he filled for a period of 15 years. In ; 1896, he was chosen as the Democratic nomi- nee for the office of city collector, and was elected by a large vote, and sworn into office in July of that year. He served to the entire sat- isfaction of his fellow citizens, and won much praise for his faithfulness.
Mr. Baker was defeated in his effort to secure a renomination for that office, but has since been nominated and elected to a second term as collector. Mr. Baker has always been a stanchi member of the Democratic party, and for some years has taken an active interest in the affairs of that party. By his faithfulness in the discharge of his duties, he has won the approval of the entire public, as is shown by his election to a second term as city collector. Mr. Baker is a member of several fraternal organizations, among them being : the A. F. & A. M .: B. P. O. E .; K. of P .; I. O. R. M .: and Royal Arcanum.
Mr. Baker's home is on Boush street, in the Second Ward. He has a host of friends in Norfolk and in that vicinity. and is looked upon as one of the most public spirited men of the city.
WESLEY FENTRESS is one of the directors of the City National Bank of Norfolk, Norfolk County, Virginia, and a member of the firm of C. W. Fentress & Company. wholesale dealers in butter, eggs and cheese. Mr. Fentress was born in Princess Anne Coun- ty, Virginia, in 1856, a son of James Fentress.
James Fentress, father of the subject of this sketch, was also a native of Princess Anne County. He was a farmer by occupation, and also dealt in lumber extensively. furnishing much of the lumber for the United States Navy Yard. He died at the age of 75 years. His wife, Annie ( Dawley) Fentress, died at the age of 65 years.
them, the subject hereof is the only one who survives.
C. Wesley Fentress attended the public schools of his native county, and at the age of 16 years began his business career. In 1876, he opened a retail grocery store on the corner of Church and Freemason streets, in Norfolk, Virginia, where he remained until 1889. Sub- sequently, he engaged in the commission and wholesale business, although on a very small scale; in 1889, he organized the business house of C. W. Fentress & Company, whole- sale dealers in butter. cheese and eggs. This business grew so rapidly that the Norfolk Re- frigating & Cold Storage Company was or- ganized. Mr. Fentress being one of the original members. C. W. Fentress & Company have three floors of the building at No. 82 Roanoke street, devoted to refrigerating and storing, but this is not sufficient room, and a great portion of the Norfolk Refrigerating & Cold Storage Company's space is utilized. C. W. Fentress & Company do an immense business, export- ing a fine quality of butter, cheese and eggs to Germany. They handle butter and cheese from the North and West. especially the noted Herkimer County cheese. The company has its own code of advertising, and has established a reputation which is well known in this coun- . try and abroad.
Mr. Fentress is identified with various en- terprises in Norfolk, and is keenly alive to any undertaking which is for the advancement of the community in which he lives. He has built and enlarged several business blocks and resi- dences in Norfolk, and is an extensive real-es- tate owner. He is a director in the City Na- tional Bank of Norfolk, vice-president of the Norfolk Refrigerating & Cold Storage Com- pany. one of the organizers of the Board of Trade and Business Men's Association of Nor- folk, of which he is now a vice-president, and a member of the Seaboard Fire Insurance Com- pany.
Mr. Fentress was married to Sue Bayton,
Of four children born to daughter of Rev. T. J. Bayton of Portsmouth.
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ALVAH H. MARTIN.
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She died at the age of 24 years, leaving an in- | but the company purchased some property and fant child, which died soon afterward. Mr. ; erected a large plant at South Portsmouth, Fentress married, secondly. Effie Eley, a daughter of Capt. Hubert Eley. of Berkley. . Virginia, and they are the parents of four chil- ; dren, namely : J. Hubert : Ethel Ann : Charles W. ; and Thomas J., all attending school. equipped with new and modern improvements ; it is 304 by 200 feet, in dimensions, with 304 feet of wharf. The pay-roll of this company has reached SI.ooo per week. When the Amer- ican Fertilizing Company began to produce
Mr. Fentress is a Mason and has taken the ; goods for the market, the old Peruvian guano was then used in this locality. This company
degree of Knight Templar. He is one of the most progressive business men of Norfolk, now manufactures the "Red Brand," "Straw- where he is highly esteemed for his upright : berry Guano," "Blue Brand," and "Peruvian character and fair methods in dealing with all. 1
RANK E. WILCOX. Among the well- known business men of Norfolk, Virginia, is the gentleman whose name heads this sketch. He is secre- tary and general manager of the American Fertilizing Company, which is one of the largest establishments of the kind in the United States.
Mr. Wilcox attended the high school of his 'native town, and after finishing school removed to Norfolk, where he became clerk for C. L. Upshur, a manufacturer of fertilizers, who was then president of the Upshur Guano Company. Subsequently. Mr. Upshur withdrew from the old contpany and organized the American Fer- tilizing Company. At his death, in 1886, Mr. Wilcox became general manager of this latter company and has remained so ever since.
The American Fertilizing Company was organized in 1883. and Mr. Upshur acted as president of the company. with W. F. Wise as vice-president. The company was reorgan- ized in 1886 under the present officers, namely : C. A. Nash, president : W. F. Wise, vice-presi- dent; F. E. Wilcox. secretary and general manager; and Henry Kirn. treasurer. The directors of the company are as follows: C. I A. Nash, Henry Duke. W. F. Wise. J. F. Wright. J. T. Griffin, J. E. Peake, Heury Kirn. W. B. Carney, and M. W. Armstead. The The earliest representative of the Martin business was first established on Water street, "family in this country was Gen. Joseph Martin.
Mixture," for sweet potatoes, and also for to- bacco and cotton. Many others of their brands have found ready markets in the South and West. as well as in the Eastern states. This company keeps thoroughly abreast with the times, using any new material which proves beneficial to different plants.
Mr. Wilcox has been secretary and general manager of this business ever since he became a member of the company, and has devoted all of his time to the building up of this business. and has introduced the goods in North and ! South Carolina, where an immense amount is sold each year. In 1900. the American Fertiliz- ing Company manufactured 21,000 tons of the fertilizer.
Mr. Wilcox is well known in Norfolk. where he is always interested in any public un- dertaking which is for the advancement of the city.
EORGE ALEXANDER MARTIN, a respected citizen of Berkley, Norfolk County. Virginia, a recent portrait of whom accompanies this sketch, has attained a high degree of success as a practitioner of law. He has ever evinced a deep interest in all that pertains to the wel- fare of Norfolk County, in whose growth and development he has taken no small part. Mr. Martin was born in Norfolk County and is a son of Col. James Green Martin, Sr.
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who was a son of Thomas Martin. The mother of Thomas Martin was a sister of Lord Fair- fax, of England, who was descended from the Duke of Kent, who sailed with William the Conqueror, and participated in the battle of Hastings. The history of the Fairfax family includes that of Lord Fairfax, who was gen- eral of the Parliamentary army opposing that of Charles I, of England.
Gen. Joseph Martin attained prominence as a general during the Revolutionary War, and rendered invaluable assistance to the Cause of Independence. He was the father of five sons, namely: Henry; James G. ; George; Joseph; and the youngest, of whose name the record is missing, and who remained in Ken- tucky with his father and his brother, Joseph. George was the grandfather of the subject of this sketch. Henry settled in Henry County. Virginia, and it was after him that the town of Martinsville was named. James G. settled with his brother, George, in Norfolk County. Vir- ginia, where they owned adjoining farms. He was an Episcopalian minister and later re- moved to Elizabeth City, North Carolina. He had one son, William, a celebrated doctor of Elizabeth City, North Carolina. Dr. William Martin had three sons, viz .: Gen. James G .; William F .; and Dr. Charles. Gen. James G. Martin was a major in the Mexican War, and a major-general in the Confederate Army, being a graduate at West Point. Among his de- scendants is Judge W. B. Martin, of Norfolk. William F. Martin was a colonel in the Con- federate Army. Dr. Charles Martin was a distinguished dentist of Norfolk ; he died with- out issue.
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George Martin, the grandfather of our sub- ject, served as aide-de-camp to his father, Gen. Joseph Martin, during the Revolutionary War, and was cotemporary with Daniel Boone in settling Kentucky. He came to Norfolk Count- ty from Kentucky, immediately after the Rev- olutionary War. He married Ann Old, and they reared two sons, Col. James Green, Sr .; and George Thomas, who died about 1837.
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The latter married Olive Gresham, a sister of Thomas B. Gresham, and they had two chil- dren, Joseph, who died very young; and Mi- nerva, who married Robert Miller, from whom are descended Dr. Miller and others prominent in Norfolk County.
Col. James Green Martin, Sr., was born in Norfolk County, Virginia, March II, 1797. He married a sister of General Foreman, who was a captain of cavalry, and later a general during the War of 1812. General Foreman was descended from Alexander Foreman, one of the first settlers of Norfolk, who owned large possessions about Great Bridge, where the famous battle was fought. James Green Martin was rcared in Norfolk County, and be- came a merchant in partnership with General Foreman. continuing as such until after his marriage with the latter's sister. He then re- moved to his farm in the country. He served in the War of 1812, having entered the ser- vice at the age of 16 years. under Captain Poll- ard. He was later made a colonel in the mi- litia. He also became presiding magistrate of Norfolk County, and served as such until he resigned in 1849. He was also a local Meth- odist Episcopal preacher. Five children were born to Colonel Martin and his wife, namely : James Green, Jr .; George Alexander; Fran- ces Ann ; Marina Martha : and Mary E. James Green, Jr., was the father of Alvah H. and George G., the latter an attorney of Berkley, and Maude, wife of F. W. Lyons, who is treas- urer of Norfolk County. George Alexander is the subject of this sketch. Frances Ann was the wife of George T. Old. both of whom are deceased. Their union was blessed by two children. James Y. and Mrs. Alonzo Ives. Ma- rina Martha married N. B. Foreman, a son of General Foreman; both are deceased, leaving the following children: Ionia, wife of J. F. Cooper, who was captain of Company F, 15th Regiment, Virginia Cavalry, C. S. Army, and after the war went to Texas, where he became a judge; Eugenia, who married Jerome Ethe- ridge, of Princess Anne County, Virginia :
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Frances, who married a legislator of Florida ;. Florence, widow of Gideon Hearing, a Confed- erate soldier; and Mary, who married a men- ber of the legislature of Florida. Mary E., the youngest child born to James Green Martin and his wife, married William H. Barnes, recently deceased who was deputy clerk of the Nor- folk County Court. Mrs. Barnes also died, leaving the following children: Maacah, who died recently, unmarried; Mary (Wicks), of Berkley; and Marina (Sykes), of Mount Pleasant, Norfolk County.
Alvah H. Martin, a son of Col. James Green Martin, Jr., and Bettie L. Gresham, liis wife, and nephew of the subject of this biog- raphy was born in Norfolk County, Septem- ber 20, 1858. He first entered the office of the clerk of Norfolk County in 1874. He was soon after appointed deputy clerk, and later, clerk, to fill a vacancy. He was then elected county clerk and is now serving his fourth consecu-
- tive term of six years each, the last term hay- ing begun July 1, 1899. He has discharged the duties of his office in an irreproachable manner. and although the office is an attractive one and there are many candidates for it, the people have always rallied to his support. He is prom- inently identified with many land and improve- ment companies and manufacturing concerns. He is president of the Merchants' & Planters' Bank, of Berkley, and a director in the Na- tional Bank of Commerce. of Norfolk, Vir- ginia. He is also the owner of large landed. interests, which he manages profitably. The Improvement Board of Berkley was established by Act of the General _ Assembly in 1896, and of this Mr. Martin was elected chairman. This body has been of great benefit to Berkley, and evidences of its work may be seen on every street. In politics Mr. Martin is a Republican, having allied himself with that party at the same time as did General Mahone. He was a trusted friend and supporter of the latter, with whom he served on the Republican State Ex- ecutive Committee. Socially, as well as in business, Mr. Martin moves in the best circles,
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and is highly esteemed by all with whom he is acquainted. Mr. Martin married, January 6. 1881, Mary E. Tilley, a daugliter of Edward M. Tilley of Berkley, Virginia, who for more than 25 years has represented that section on the Board of Supervisors. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Martin have been born the following children : Fay; Mabel; James Green ; Alvah H., Jr. : and Howard Gresham. Mr. and Mrs. Martin are members of Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church, South.
A portrait of Alvah H. Martin, engraved from a recent photograph, accompanies this sketch.
OHN S. ETHEREDGE, a prominent liveryman of Berkley, was born in Berkley, Norfolk County, Virginia, April 16, 1865, and is a son of John Etheredge, and grandson of Samuel Etheredge.
John Etheredge was born five miles south of Berkley, in Norfolk County, and was a civil engineer by occupation. He was also engaged in the livery business in Berkley, where he spent 40 years of his life, and died there in 1888. He married Inda Hodges, who was born in Norfolk County, and is a daughter of J. H. Hodges. They reared seven children. as follows: John S .: Lala; Percy; Rosa; Colon and Mary, deceased : and Inda.
Jolin S. Etheredge attended the public and private schools of Berkley, and later engaged in the livery business in partnership with his fa- ther. Upon the death of his father, in 1888, he continued the business alone. He enjoys his full share of patronage and has the largest busi- ness in Berkley, the stable being 98 by 165 feet, in dimensions. He is widely known in Nor- folk County, and numbers his friends almost by his acquaintances.
In March, 1900, Mr. Etheredge was joined in matrimony with Miss L. Rogerson, who was born in Petersburg, Virginia. He is a Demo- crat in politics, and is a member of the Benevo-
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lent and Protective Order of Elks; Knights of Pythias ; and Junior Order of United American Mechanics. Religiously, he is a member of the Protestant Episcopal Church.
ON. TAZEWELL TAYLOR. judge of the Police Court of Norfolk, is one of the most brilliant of the younger members of the bar of this county. He was elected to his present office in 1900. He had previously been for several years a member of the City Council, in which body he was one of the most energetic and tire- less workers in behalf of the city's progress.
Judge Taylor was born in Norfolk, Vir- ginia. August 19. 1874, and comes of an old and distinguished Virginia family. He is a son of Frederick S. and Bessie ( Brooke) Tay- lor, the latter of Fauquier County. His grand- father was Tazewell Taylor, who attained dis- tinction as a lawyer, and was a well-known citizen of Norfolk. On his father's side, his ancestry in America can be traced back about 200 years.
Tazewell Taylor was reared in Norfolk and here received his preliminary education. H entered William and Mary College at Will- ยท iamsburg. Virginia, and was graduated from that institution in 1892, with the degree of A. B. During the following year he took a post-graduate course in that institution. In the fall of 1893. he entered the law department of the University of Virginia, and was grad- uated with the degree of B. L. in 1895. Not having reached his majority, he spent a brief period in the office of the clerk of the Corpora- tion Court. and in September, 1895, was ad- mitted to the bar. He at once entered into active practice, and in 1897 formed a partner- ! ship with James U. Goode, the firm name be- ing Goode & Taylor. It was a strong legal combination, and they quietly worked their way to the front, acquiring a good clientage. which was constantly becoming larger. This
firm was dissolved in the spring of 1900, when Mr. Taylor was elected judge of the Police Court. He is a student, by nature, and is en- dowed with the qualifications which go to make a good lawyer. During the year, 1898, he was elected a member of the Common Council of Norfolk from the Third Ward, and imme- diately because one of the hardest working members of that body. He secured the passage of good legislation, and actively supported all measures which he deemed for the good of the city. He was placed upon a number of com- mittees, among them the finance committee, and attended as many as 100 committee meet- ings in one year. He is an unswerving sup- porter of the Democratic party, but has always refused political office unless it was associated with his profession. Aside from the profes- sion of law. he is a director in the National Bank of Commerce, and in the Seaboard Fire Insurance Company. two strong local organ- izations.
In 1897, Judge Taylor was united in mar- riage with Miss McCaw, of Richmond, Vir- ginia, a lady of many excellent traits of char- acter, who has proved a true helpmeet to him. They have one son, and reside on West Fair- fax avenue, Ghent.
C HARLES W. ROCKAFELLER. superintendent of the Tunis Lumber Company of Berkley, Norfolk Coun- ty, Virginia, was born in Stafford County, Virginia, and is a son of J. F. M. and F. M. (Whaling) Rockafeller. J. F. M. Rockafeller was a native of New York, and his wife was a native of Virginia.
J. F. M. Rockafeller was a farmer of . Northern Virginia at one time, and later spent many years in prospecting in the West. notably in California, Nevada and Utah. He went to California during the gold fever in 1849, making the journey by the overland route, and suffered many hardships on the way. ITe mined in California, and made considerable
MRS. MARGARET CROMWELL.
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money, which he afterward lost through some misfortune. He died in Utah. in 1887, aged 74 years. He married Miss F. M. Whaling. whose father was a member of one of the early families of Maryland. Mrs. Rockafeller was a very devout member of the Baptist Church, and a most worthy woman. Charles W. Rockafeller is the youngest of seven children. but three of whom are now surviving. Of these. Mrs. T. W. Williams is living in Wash- ington, D. C .; and Mrs. A. P. Crane, resides in Baltimore.
Mr. Rockafeller was educated in New York and in Virginia, in the latter State, attending Oak Seminary. After leaving school, he em- barked in the drug business, but. after six : months in that line abandoned it, and served as a machinist. At this he continued for six years, when he entered the building and real estate business in Baltimore, where he lived for seven years. He subsequently entered the
General E. Cromwell was a native of Mary- lumber business in Norfolk, and has been en- , land, and was born in the year 1813. being a gaged in that business for the past 13 years. son of George Cromwell, also born in Mary- He spent seven months in North Carolina, and land, who was of English descent, and six months in South Carolina, in the employ . traced his ancestors in a direct line to Oliver of the Atlantic Coast Lumber Company. With : Cromwell, so well known in English history. the exception of the 13 months spent in the . George E. Cromwell was a farmer and fruit service of that company, he has been with the , grower, and a great lover of fine stock, es- Tunis Lumber Company, and is at present superintendent of its mills. He stands high in the esteem of his employers and subordinates. and is a man worthy of the confidence reposed in him.
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