USA > Virginia > City of Norfolk > City of Norfolk > History of Norfolk County, Virginia and representative citizens, V.2 > Part 25
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Mr. Miller. bears a national reputation as an orator since his celebrated tour of the Northern and Eastern cities for Mckinley and Roosevelt in 1900. Ile was recognized as one of the national stars in that campaign, and. be- sides filling a great many of the most important assignments made by the Republican National Committee spoke jointly on various occasions with Secretary of the Treasury Lymin J. Gage :
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Hon. Jacob Gould Schurinan of the first Phil- ippine Commission and president of Cornell University : Hon. James M. Beck. Ist assistant attorney general of the United States; Hon. John K. Richards, solicitor general: Hon. Chauncey M. Depew, Hon. Murat Halstead. Mr. Fairchild. and others of national reputa- tion. This extract from the report of Mr. Mil- ler's first appearance in the metropolis of the United States, is taken from the New York Sun of October 16, 1900:
"Senator Depew was to have been the chief speaker of the Republican mass meeting at Camp Mc Kinley, 125th street and Seventh ave- nue, last night. The Senator was called to New Haven at noon, however, and in his place the National Committee sent a young lawyer from Norfolk. Virginia, named Hugh Gordon Miller. It was said the young man was a dis- covery of United States Senator Scott. No matter who discovered him, he is the real thing in the way of an orator. He stirred up the audience of 8,000 or 10,000 men and women to a pitch of enthusiasm not often seen in political meetings. It remind- eil one of the reception given to Bourke Cochran's speech when he demolished Bryan in Madison Square Garden four years ago. When the speech was concluded the audi- ence, led by a man with an American flag. surged forward to shake hands with the beard- less youth from Virginia. This interfered with the rest of the speaking. and General Greene. who presided, cut it short. The crowd waited' until the orator left the tent by the stage en- trance in 125th street. There he was almost mobbed. They cheered him and followed him all the way to the elevated station." (Then followed a report of the speech. )
Mr. Miller made 12 speeches in New York City alone, had great audiences always, and was everywhere received with the greatest en- thusiasm. The Speakers' Bureau of the Na- tional Executive Committee gave Mr. Miller great credit for arousing the overconfident voters in that memorable campaign, especially | Whitelaw Reid and others, and was the princi-
in the pivotal States of New York and New Jersey. In this, as in the other four campaigns in which Mr. Miller had stumped his native State, he gave his services to his party without charge.
On the 20th of October. 1900, Mr. Miller after a noted speech was carried out of the building down Broadway at Worth street in New York on the shoulders of many of the audience and such Associated Press dispatches as the following have naturally made him cele- brated as an orator :
NEW BRUNSWICK, NEW JERSEY, Oct. 23, 1900.
The Republicans of this city are still talking of a remarkable tribute spontaneously paid to an orator who came to this city as an entire stranger last week. He was Hugh Gordon Miller, of Virginia, who is on the staff of speakers of the national committee. Mr. Miller came here to speak at a rally of the Young Men's Republican Club. He is only 25 years old, and many of the spectators stared in surprise when they saw what a stripling he was. The young man's eloquence, however, kept his audience on their feet, and once, after a particu- larly effective burst, they rushed forward and swarmed over the platform, cheering. At the close of the meeting the members of the Young Men's Club carried the speaker from the hall on their shoulders. The crowd followed his carriage to the hotel and would not be satis- fied until he had addressed them again.
Not content with this, the Club lined up several hundred strong in front of the hotel at noon, when Mr. Miller took his departure, unhitched the horses from the barouche and dragged the vehicle to the depot, and was hailed by the throng as the next Governor of Virginia and the future President of the United States.
Mr. Miller was the civil aide from Virginia on the grand marshal's staff at the Mckinley Inauguration aud enjoyed the friendship of that great statesman. He was one of the repre- sentatives of the city of Norfolk at the Nash- ville Centennial and made a speech for the dele- gation. Through the appointment of Gov. J. Hoge Tyler, he was a delegate to the great industrial convention at Philadelphia in 1901. He was guest of honor and one of the principal speakers at the great Lincoln Dinner at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York in February. 1901. the speech on that notable occasion being : afterward published in book form along with those of Senator Hanna, Senator Depew,
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pal speaker of the Middlesex Club in Boston at the Grant Dinner in April, 1901. He was one of the principal speakers at the Editors' & Au- thors' Convention in Cincinnati, Ohio, in the summer of 1901 ; was one of the speakers with Governor Show and others at the great ban- quet in Philadelphia in 1901. and also with General Wheeler at the sanie place in January, 1902; and has been entertained at banquets in most of the large cities of this country. Mr. Miller's latest speech was in reply to the toast of "Lincoln and Lee" a short while ago, with Governor Murphy and General Grosvenor and others as speakers, at the annual banquet of the original Lincoln Association in New Jer- sey. Mr. Miller's tribute to Lee was eloquent and enthusiastically received everywhere in the North. Mr. Miller has accepted an invitation from the famous Grant Club of Des Moines, Iowa, the most powerful political organization in the West. to be their speaker at the Grant Dinner in April.
Mr. Miller enjoys the confidence of the men who control the affairs of the Nation. It is well known that President Mckinley thought very highly of him personally as well as polit- ically, and it is believed he occupies the same relation with President Roosevelt. He has the warm and unqualified endorsement of the na- tional as well as State organization of his party, and has been frequently suggested of late for United States district attorney, and at Washington for assistant attorney general of the United States. Mr. Miller has never been a candidate for any position outside of his pro- fession, in which he stands high in his State.
HURMER HOGGARD, who still maintains the homestead in Princess Anne County, Virginia, established by his great-grandfather in 1670, in which numerous of his ancestors were born, is a true representative of the type of Southern gentleman which predominated in ante-bellum days, famed for courtesy of man-
ner and hospitality in entertainment. He is a gentleman of wide acquaintance and his life has been one of great activity.
The Hoggard family is of English extrac- tion, a Thurmer Hoggard having come from that country to Princess Anne County, Vir- ginia, where he purchased several hundred acres of land about 1670. There he built a large and very substantial house of brick, thought to have been brought from England. The house has since stood and is in an excel- lent state of preservation; the mortar is yet like stone and there is not a crack in the thick walls. The old fireplace and mantels have since been used and remain in their original state. A large, spacious hall runs through the center of the house, and the ceilings are un- usually high. Paintings of the family from an early period down to the present time adorn the walls. Gigantic oaks ornament the yard surrounding this grand old home, and also in- numerable pecan trees. Here Thurmer Hog- gard lived in a stirring period of colonial days. He purchased more land and engaged in the culture of tobacco, a product which in those days was used as a medium of exchange. The minister was paid in tobacco. and the necessaries of life were purchased with it. Ships came over from England with brick aboard for ballast, and returned laden with to- bacco. Thurmer Hoggard lived and died on this old estate. They had the following children : Thurmer, Joseph and Susan, all of whom died young: and Nathaniel, Mary. Susan (2). Diana and Elizabeth, all of whom grew to inn- turity. Each of the children was left an estate, and Nathaniel, the only living son, in- herited the homestead and 500 acres of land. To this he later added, by purchase, about 300 acres on either side, making. all tokl. 1.000 acres in one body, besides other property owned by him in the county.
Nathaniel Hoggard was a ship-builder and a farmer. He served as an officer in the Revo- lutionary War, and the sword he carried now adorns the wall of the home in which he was
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born and lived. During the war he built two merchant brigs and when the British came they burned them while on the ways and the keels still lie there. The channel of Broad Creek was then about 15 feet deep, while at the pres- ent time it is not more than five feet. Mr. Hoggard owned many slaves and engaged in cotton raising on an extensive scale, giving attention also to other produce. He died a middle-aged man. He married Mary Gard- ner, and their children were as follows: Mar- garet : Susan : Joseph: Thurmer: John; and Nathaniel.
Thurmer Hoggard, son of Nathaniel and Mary ( Gardner) Hoggard, inherited the old homestead, on which he was born about 1785. He assisted his father for a time and was county clerk when the Court House was at Kempsville, and also after its removal to its present situation. He was a vestryman of the Protestant Episcopal Church at the time of his death. He furnished lumber for the Gosport Navy Yard from the forests of Virginia and North Carolina, most of it being hand-hewed. He died in 1835. He married Harriet Hard- inig. by whom he had the following children : Nathaniel: Mary: Harriet: Margaret: and Thurmer, the subject of this biography.
Thurmer Hoggard, son of Thurmer and Harriet (Harding ) Hoggard, was born Jan- vary 14. 1814. in the old home which he in- herited upon the death of his father, and in which he has always lived. He owns and con- ducts a farm of 270 acres of choice land, and has been prominent in the affairs of his com- munity. He served as a magistrate before and after the Confederate War, and was county treasurer one term. He has been a vestryman of the Protestant Episcopal Church since he was 24 years of age, and has in his charge the communion service of solid silver which was used in the first Episcopal service in this vicin- ity. He uses on his table the silver spoons and plates brought from England by his great- grandfather, and also uses the table, chairs and other furniture, which have been well kept.
He has the Episcopal records of the parish, be- ginning with November 20, 1723. He is pos- sessed of many excellent traits of character and a pleasing personality, and to his many friends his home is always a place of welcome. He married Elizabeth F. Cornick, and they had the following children: Thurmer II. : Horatio .C .; Margaret, deceased: Mary; Thomas J .; and Fanny. His wife and help- meet, who shared the joys and sorrows of his life for so many years, died about 1889. The two daughters and one son, Thurmer H., ; make their home with their father.
HORATIO C. HOGGARD was born in 1846 on his father's plantation, and there grew to ma- turity. He erected a residence adjoining the home of his father, in which he has since lived and carried on agricultural pursuits. At the age of 16 years, with the permission of his father, he enlisted in Company I, 15th Vir- ginia Battalion. and served throughout the war. In 1886 he opened a real-estate office in Norfolk, and later admitted his brother. Thomas J., into partnership, and they dealt extensively in city, suburban and State prop- erty until 1901. Then they dissolved partner- ship, and Mr. Hoggard admitted two of his sons, H. C., Jr .. and H. P., the firm name re- maining as before. He has also been associ- ated with building and loan associations.
THOMAS J. HOGGARD, who is engaged in the real estate business in Norfolk, was born on the family homestead in Princess Anne County, Virginia, in 1852. He was reared on the plantation and attended the Norfolk Acad- emy. He then became general yardmaster of the Norfolk & Western Railway, and contin- ted as such for nine years. In 1886 he re- signed the position and engaged in the real estate business with Horatio C. Hoggard, a partnership which was dissolved in July, 1901. since which time Thomas J. Hoggard has con- tinued alone. He makes large sales. princi- pally to parties residing outside of the city of Norfolk, although he handles considerable city property.
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D R. JAMES TERRELL REDD, whose portrait accompanies this sketch, was born at the old family seat. "Buena Vista." in Henrico County, Virginia. December 31, 1863. Even as a child, he was noted for his intense devotion to study. his power of mental concentration, and his genius for mathematics.
He took his degree of Master of Arts at Richmond College. where he was afterward professor of mathematics for awhile. Feeling that medicine, and more especially surgery, was his vocation, he entered the Medical College of Virginia, where he graduated in 1895 with the Samuel Redd, father of Edmund Redd. highest lionors, winning the alumni medal. He . above mentioned, married Elizabeth Taylor. also won the prize on surgery and two others out of a possible six. tying on the fifth. He was also offered a professorship in the college. Dr. Upshur, in delivering the medals. said: "In the 59 years this college has been running, it has never before turned out such a man." whose father. Edmund Taylor, although a mere boy, was a captain in the Revolutionary Army, Edmund Taylor's mother. Anne Lewis. was a daughter of Colonel Charles Lewis, who was mortally wounded while leading the charge at the battle of Point Pleasant. This noted bat- Dr. Redd practiced his profession for a short time in Richmond, and then, having a strong predilection for country life. removed to Churchland. Norfolk County, where he has built up a large practice and won the confidence and affection of the community. He is assisted in his work by his brother and partner, Dr. Paul E. Redd, who graduated at the same time ! from the same medical college, and who mar- ried, in 1897. Mattie Livesay of Richmond. tle, although belonging to "Dunmore's War." was practically the beginning of the Revolu- tion, and the first blow struck for American liberty. Col. Charles Lewis was a younger brother of the famous and stanch old Indian fighter. Gen. Andrew Lewis. Through the female branches, this line is traced unbroken. by the College of Heraldry, through many noble and several roval personages, to King Alfred the Great of England in 849.
Dr. Redd's father was James Taylor Redd. a civil engineer, and for 35 years county sur- veyor of Henrico County. He died April 3. 1898, leaving to his children a heritage of honor, integrity and virtue more precious than gold.
The Redds trace their ancestry. in un- broken line to Sir Rufus de Redde, who came to America with Alexander Spottswood, in 1710. In 1741. he discarded his title and was thereafter known as Rufus Redd. He married Governor Spottswood's niece. Caroline Mcore. and founded the Redd family in Virginia. Ed- mund Redd, the grandfather of the subject of
this sketch, married Sophia Burton, whose fa- ther. Thomas Burton, married Clementina Pleasants. The Pleasants line, a fine old Quaker stock, goes back through five genera- tions to John Pleasants, who came from Nor- wich, England, in 1668, and took up enormous grants of land at Curl's Neck, on the James River. . James Pleasants, an early governor of Virginia, was of this line. Through the female i branches, this line also descends from Sir Tarleton Fleming. second son of the Earl of Wigton, who came to Virginia in 1616. land- ing at Jamestown and settling in New Kent.
Samuel Redd, father of Samuel Redd. be- fore-mentioned, married Lucy Rogers, a granddaughter of Col. William Byrd of West- over. Lucy Rogers' father, Col. John Rogers. was an officer in the Continental Army, and with his nephew, John Rogers Clarke, on the famous Lewis and Clarke expedition. This Col. John Rogers, when a youth. was captured by the Indians, who tortured him, partially scalp- ing him and tearing out his finger nails. He finally escaped, and after marvelous feats of bravery and endurance succeeded in making his way through the wilderness to the white settlements. Colonel Rogers' father was Giles
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Rogers, a grandson of the martyr, Rogers, who met death unflinchingly at the stake for his faith's sake, and his mother was Rachel Eastman.
Dr. Redd's mother was Sally A. Johnson. an only child of Achilles Douglas Johnson and Lucy Terrell, his wife. Achilles Douglas Johnson was a wealthy tobacconist of Lunch- burg. Virginia, and Cincinnati, Ohio. His parents were Newby Johnson and Sally Doug- las, a direct descendant of the Scottish "Black Douglas," Earl of Angus. Sally Douglas' fa- ther was William Douglas, and her mother was a Miss Lynch, of the celebrated Irish family.
Lucy Terrell was the daughter of Joseph Terrell. born in 1777; son of Thomas Terrell. born in 1727 ; son of Henry, born in 1700; son of David, born in 1670; son of William, born in England, in 1635. David Terrell received immense grants of land in Caroline County, Virginia, from King George I. It is worthy of note that these lands, as also the old parch- ment charter for them, signed with the royal seal and the King's signature, remain in the possession of the descendants of David Terrell to this day.
Dr. James Terrell Redd has five brothers. viz. : Edmund Douglas, a civil engineer, of Richmond, Virginia: Thomas Crawford, also a civil engineer, of Richmond, Virginia: Will- iam Pleasants, a real estate dealer, of Rich- mond, Virginia; Paul Eustace, who is associ- ated with the subject hereof in the practice of medicine at Churchland. Norfolk County; and Junius Adolph, draughtsman in the construc- tion department of the Newport News ship- yard. Dr. Redd has also one sister, Lucy. who married William L. Wise, son of Will- iam F. Wise, residing at Poplar Hill. Church- land, Norfolk County.
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The ancient heraldic coat of arms of the Redd, or de Reddes, is a shield, argent, within a bordure engrailed. gules; two chevrons, azure; supported by two leopards, regardant. The crest is a wild boar's head, couped, erect ;
and the motto, "Sans Peur" (without fear ). The subject of this sketch is a member of the Masonic and Knights of Pythias fraternities.
BAPT. WILLIAM S. FITCHETT, . who has commanded various tugs of the Chesapeake & Ohio line, at the present time on the "Helen," plying in and around Newport News, Norfolk and Cape Henry, has followed the life of a sailor for a period of 20 years, and is an able seaman. Like his parents. he is a native of Mathews County, Virginia, where his birth occurred November 15, 1864. He is a son of Herod and Nancy ( Callis) Fitchett. His father was a carpenter by trade, and died in June, 1891, being 68 years old at the time of his demise. He was an ardent Democrat. His wife died in November, 1864, when Will- iam S. was but three days old, he being the youngest of 10 children, namely: Mary; Kit- tie: Susan: Lizzie; Chastina; John: George; Thomas: Eliza; and William S. Kittie and Susan are still residents of Mathews County. the former being Mrs. Andrew Armistead and the latter Mrs. George Hudgins. Chastina and Eliza are residents of Baltimore, Mary- land .- the former being Mrs. John Adams, -- and John is a tinner of the same city. George and Thomas are prosperous farmers of Mathews County, Virginia.
On May 20, 1891, Captain Fitchett was joined in matrimony with Maggie Hundley, a daughter of William J. and Ann Hundley, and a native of Norfolk. Virginia, where her birth took place in May. 1870. The Captain and his estimable wife have a family of five children, viz .: William H., born December 21. 1892; Irene, born June 29. 1894: Mar- garet, born September 29, 1896: Annie. born April 11, 1898: and Sadie, born August 10, 1900. The family attend the Memorial Meth- odist Episcopal Church, South, of. Atlantic City Ward, Norfolk.
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FRANCIS M. MORGAN, M. D.
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Captain Fitchett had the advantages of a public school training, and immediately after leaving school became a sailor, making all ports from Norfolk to Baltimore. He was subsequently employed on fishing steamers for the following five years, and touched all points from Baltimore to Cape Lookout and along the coast of North Carolina. He next worked in the capacity of deck-hand, between Norfolk and Cape Charles, on the New York. Philadelphia & Norfolk line. for two years, and afterward served as mate on the same line. In 1893 he was promoted to be captain on the tug "Philadelphia," -- and served thus for two years. He was captain of the "Norfolk" for three years, and of the "Portsmouth" for two and a half years. He then severed his con- nection with that line and entered the employ of the Chesapeake & Ohio line, on which he has served three years, as captain of various tug- boats. Captain Fitchett is a faithful officer.
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In politics he is a Democrat, and socially he is a member of Brambleton Lodge, No. 56. K. of P .; and Norfolk Lodge, No. I, A. F. & A. M.
OHN T. STEELE, the efficient gen- eral manager of, and correspondent for, the l'irginian-Pilot,-Berkley Bu- reau .- is a popular young man of Berkley. Virginia, and works with un- tiring energy and zeal in furthering the inter- ests of the bright. newsy paper, whose interests are so closely identified with his own. Mr. Steele was born in Gatesville, North Carolina, in August, 1873, and is a son of Edward and Elizabeth Steele, both natives of North Caro- lina, and still living in Berkley, Virginia. They had 10 children, as follows: John T., the sub- ject of this biography: James: Martha; Will- iam: Charles: Milton, who is deceased; Lu- ther; Henry; Eugene; and Harry.
tered the Suffolk Collegiate Military Institute, and afterward attended Berkley Military In- stitute. He then commenced life's struggle by beginning newspaper work. His talent in that direction was soon recognized, and he was given the position of general manager of. and correspondent for, the Virginian-Pilot of Nor- folk at Berkley, which place he still retains.
In fraternal circles MIr. Steele is a member of the Knights of the Maccabees, Chesapeake Tent, No. II, and of Berkley Lodge No. 48, K. of P. His political opinions are in favor of the Democratic party. He belongs to the Main Street Christian Church. He is a mem- ber of the Board of Trade and Business Men's Association of Norfolk.
Mr. Steele is looked upon as a rising young man. being ever ready to support all measures that tend toward the advancement and pros- perity of Berkley.
RANCIS M. MORGAN, M. D., a well- known physician of Berkley, who com- mands a large practice in the city and the immediate vicinity, was born in Currituck County, North Carolina, in 1846.
Dr. Morgan received his preliminary edu- cation in some of the best schools of the State of North Carolina, after which he took a course of study in the medical department of the Uni- versity of Virginia, from which he was grad- uated in 1869 with the degree of M. D. He returned to his native county and began the active practice of medicine. From the first he achieved success as a physician, and his reputa- tion spread beyond the limits of Currituck County. In 1888 he removed to Berkley and in a short time established a large practice, which he has continued to enjoy. During his residence in Virginia, he has been coroner and county and city health officer. During the epidemic of smallpox in Berkley, in 1899. he labored
John T. Steele attended the public schools of his native place and acquired what educa- tion was there possible. He subsequently en- incessantly for the suppression of this terrible
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disease, and much is due him for his suc -; cess along this line. Dr. Morgan is a member of the Seaboard Medical Association of North Carolina and Virginia. He is medical exam- iner for the Hartford Life Insurance Company. Fraternally he takes great interest in the Benev- olent and Protective Order of Elks. of which he is a prominent member. He is also a mem- ber of the Knights of Pythias. Dr. Morgan is a Democrat of the old school, and takes great interest in the affairs of State and county. He stands well in the medical profession of Nor- folk County, and is one of the most progres- sive citizens of Berkley. Dr. Morgan's por- . trait accompanies this sketch.
OSIAH McCOY WILLIAMSON, an influential farmer living one and a half miles north of Great Bridge, Norfolk County, Virginia, was born in Portsmouth, December 20, 1836. He is a son of Caleb Williamson, and grand- son of Henry Williamson. The Williamson family is of Scotch and English descent. Hen- ry Williamson was born in Norfolk County. and his son, Caleb, was also a native of that county. Caleb Williamson married Martha McCoy, who was born in Norfolk County, and to them were born 10 sons and two daughters. namely: Elton, who served in the war be- tween the States: Henry, who also served in that war; Josiah McC. ; William and Thomas, twins, of whom the former was in the signal service, and the latter in Company E. 6ist Regiment, Virginia Infantry: Rufus; Isaac : Austin; and two sons who died in infancy, as did the two daughters.
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