USA > Virginia > City of Norfolk > City of Norfolk > History of Norfolk County, Virginia and representative citizens, V.2 > Part 37
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Gurdon K. Baker was educated in Char- lotte, North Carolina. and Norfolk, Virginia. and after school days engaged in business with his father. He succeeded to the latter's busi- ness, which he conducted until his death. He died August 144, 1895. at the age of 45 years, and was the last of the seven children born to his parents.
Mr. Baker was married November 3, 1881. to Nannie Hodges, a native of Berkley and daughter of George T. and Herbert A. ( Live- ly) Hodges. Her father was a native of Nor- folk County, Virginia, and her mother, of Hampton, Virginia. Mr. Hodges was born in Norfolk, and became commissioner of rey- enue and looked after his father's business. He died at the age of 40 years, and his wife at the age of 34 years. Religiously, they were Episcopalians. Mr. and Mrs. Baker became the parents of four children, namely: Clar- ence H., who died at the age of two years ; Jo- seph P., who attends school; Gurdon K., who died at the age of one year ; and Gurdon K., the second son to bear that name. Mrs. Baker is a member of the Presbyterian Church.
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OSEPH A. BAKER, who was a ina- rine engineer and a wrecker through- out his entire business career, lost his life in the discharge of his duties. Hc was just entering his prime and was highly estcemed by his acquaintances, to whom his unfortunate end was a sad blow. He was born June 14. 1840, and was a son of Capt.
Joseph and Rachel ( Moody) Baker. His grandfather on the parental side was Barnabas Baker, who was a sea-captain, and he comes of Puritan stock.
Capt. Joseph Baker was born in West Den- nis. Massachusetts, and received his mental training in that State. His mother and sister, Nabby Taylor, were school teachers. He was master of a vessel when 14 years old, and took a vessel loaded with corn to Ireland, during the famine there in 186. In that year lie and his brother Barnabas came south and located first at Portsmouth, where they remained until : the winter of 1856-1857. when they removed to Berkley, Virginia. They were the first wreckers in the bay and became the most ex- tensive operators in that line in the United States. They were the most daring. as well as the most succesful, wreckers of their day. and were always on hand, day and night. when informed of the trouble. They sent a steamer named the "B. & J. Baker," on a wrecking cx- pedition to Africa, but this did not result suc- cessfully. At another time they went to Cape Horn for a similar purpose. They raised the "Merrimac" for the Confederates. They also raised the "Germantown," which was sunk in 1861. They worked on the government man- of-war which was lost off the coast of North Carolina, and assisted in carrying down crews, some of which were lost. In 1877. while serving a Norwegian bark, loaded with petro- leum in barrels. Barnabas Baker fell into the hold and his death resulted an hour later, at the age of 72 years. He was a brave and dar- ing man. and performed many heroic services during his life. At one time when their ves- sel was in a storm, he lashed those on board up in the rigging and then proceeded to do the same to himself. The vessel sunk to such a depth that only the mast was above water. They were rescued by a friendly vessel, and only two of the number died, their deaths re- sulting from the excessive cold and exposure. The company owned one of the first steamers of the harbor of Norfolk, the "Bladen," and
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also were possessed of steamers and sailing vessels of all kinds. In 1861, they sent down a tug called "Young America," after a vessel which had on board a cargo of sugar and mo- lasses. The tug went to Hampton Roads. and was taken by the Federals and confiscated. al- though she was going on a peaceful mission. before Norfolk harbor was blockaded. After the death of Barnabas Baker. Captain Joseph Baker assumed charge of the business and carried it on for a number of years, when the Baker Salvage Company was formed in Nor- folk and Berkley. He continued with the com- pany until it was sold out, when he undertook dredging and wharf building, which he fol- lowed until his death. He was born October 23. 1813. and died March 6, 1893. In 1835. he married Rachel Moody, who was born June 30. 1813. and died January 1. 1874. Both were devout members of the Presbyterian Church. Seven children blessed their union, of whom three died before coming to Vir- ginia, namely : Albert A. and Lydia, who died in the same week of scarlet fever; and Thank- ful. who died in 1846, aged one year. Those who grew to maturity were .- Joseph A. : Mercy B., wife of Capt. J. J. Cole, who was identified with the wrecking business; Gurdon K., whose biography is also in this work: and Ann L., wife of William H. Kirby.
Joseph A. Baker was educated in Norfolk. where he attended Professor Webster's school. and later Professor White's school. After school days, he went into business with his father, but not liking it did not work steadily at wrecking. He sought other employment. but always returned when his father needed his assistance in emergency cases. He and his brother-in-law, Captain Cole, took the first steamer to Richmond after the war. and later he was engineer on a steamer which conveyed troops all through the Gulf of Mexico. He started east, and was discharged from the ser- vice before reaching New York. He continued as a worker in the Navy Yard. and was engi- neer on different boats until his death. Upon
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the request of his father, he went to the as- sistance of a boat which was ashore on Smith's Island. In the discharge of his duty, he had all the pumps arranged and ready for operation as soon as the tide was suitable. At the in- stance of Capt. King, he lay down to rest. He had been asleep but a short time when it was discovered that something was wrong with the boiler. and he was awakened to right the matter. He knew at once that the boiler had on too much steam, and with lantern in hand and a monkey wrench to open the safety-valve. he approached it. The boiler blew up, instant- ly killing him and the two Cobb brothers, and wounding several others. This terrible acci- dent occurred on August 30, 1869, when he was 29 years of age.
Mr. Baker was married January 22, 1863. to Henrietta S. Long, a native of Maine, and a daughter of William and Nancy Long. Mrs. Baker is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Baker belonged to the Masonic fraternity.
b ARRISON S. ACKISS was formerly the assistant treasurer of the Bridge- port Silver Plate Company, and also for many years was the efficient clerk of the United States Court in Nor- folk. Norfolk County. Virginia. He was born in Princess Anne County, Virginia, July 31, 1868. and is a son of William H. and Mary Anne ( Seneca) Ackiss.
William II. Ackiss and his wife were both natives of Princess Anne County. William H. Ackiss has always given much attention to agricultural pursuits, and is still engaged in farming. Their son. Caleb L., was for several years stenographer to the naval constructor at the Navy Yard at Portsmouth, which position he lately resigned. and is now connected with the passenger department of the Boston & Al- bany Railroad. Boston, Massachusetts. A sister, younger than the subject hereof. died at the age of five years, and the remainder of the
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SAMUEL T. HAND.
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eight children born to Mr. and Mrs. Ackiss are living in Princess Anne County.
Ilarrison S. Ackiss, whose name heads these lines. attended the public schools of Prin- cess Anne County, after which he went to New . York, where he entered a business college. from which he was graduated. He then ac- cepted a position as bookkeeper. and worked at that several years. In ISS8 lie settled in . Norfolk, Virginia, where from 1890 until 1892 he was deputy clerk. In 1892 Mr. Ackiss was made clerk of the United States courts in Nor- folk, and filled that position with credit and honor to all until ISoS. His services in the capacity of clerk of the United States courts were excellently rendered and his resignation was received with much regret. He next en- tered mercantile business as assistant treasurer of the Bridgeport Silver Plate Company. an office which he held for two years, until No- vember, 1900.
Mr. Ackiss was married November 21, 1893. to Lizzie Anderson, a daughter of Will- iam A. and Ella Anderson. Mr. Anderson has an iron foundry in Norfolk, and is an in- fluential citizen of the city. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Ackiss .- Ella D. and Harrison S., Jr. The family attend the Baptist Church. Mr. Ackiss is well known in Norfolk. where he takes a deep interest in all public enterprises which are undertaken for the advancement of the community.
AMUEL T. HAND, a chief engineer in the merchant marine, lately retired from service at sea, is a gentleman of marked ability as a marine engineer, as his years of successful service tes- tify. He resides at No. Goo Chestnut street, Portsmouth, Virginia. Mr. Hand was born at Warren, Massachusetts, October 29, 18.45, and is the only son of Samuel T. and Lois C. ( Cur- tis) Hand, and grandson of James and Eliza- beth ( Pennington) Hand. The beloved pater-
nal grandparents passed their last days at the home of the father of the subject thereof. in Somerset County, New Jersey.
Samuel T. Hand, Sr., the father, was a na- tive of Somerset County, New Jersey, where he was born August 31, 1819. He was a man of splendid business sagacity, and for more than half a century served as superintendent of roads and bridges of the Seaboard & Roanoke Railroad, now a part of the Seaboard Air Line Railway. He left his native State, and located in Virginia about 1848. The following year. he entered the service of the aforesaid com- pany, as one of its officials. His superior ex- ecutive ability fitted him to a nicety for such a position and the success of that company is at- tributed largely to his efforts. Although it was his earnest desire to spend his closing years in retirement, through the earnest and com- bined efforts of the other officials. he was per- suaded to retain his position, and continued in the business for which he was so admirably adapted. up to his last illness. His death took place June IT. 1900. He was quite prominent in Masonic circles.
The mother of the subject of this sketch was a member of the Baptist Church. She was born in the State of Massachusetts, March IO, 1812, and passed to her final rest. January 19. IS99. She and her husband were the parents of three children, -- two daughters and one son. The son was the second child born to them, and is the only surviving member of the family. Sarah, the eldest. was born September 13. 1843, and died August 26. 1848. Mary J .. the youngest daughter, died in 1855. during the prevalence of yellow fever, being only one year old at the time of her death.
Samuel T. Hand attended Webster Collegi- ate Institute of Portsmouth. and after leaving school entered the machine shops in the same city, where he served a three years' apprentice- ship. He then went to Wilmington. Dela- ware, and worked one year in the marine ma- chine shops of that place. Later. he served for some time as 3rd assistant engineer in the
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United States Navy. When the Confederate War broke out. he enlisted in Company D, 9th Regiment, Virginia Infantry, but, in a short time, was discharged for disability. He returned to the service in the navy, from which he resigned in 1865, and spent some time in the shops of the Seaboard & Roanoke Railroad. He was soon promoted to be an engineer and was placed in charge of a locomotive. A little company's boats. where he also served as engi- neer. Severing his connection with that com- pany, he entered a similar service with the Pio- neer Line, and later with the Old Dominion Steamship Company, where he remained for a period of 27 years. He finally resigned his position with that company in May, 1900. Since 1866. he has been a chief engineer in the merchant marine, a position he is well qualified to fill in an able manner.
Mr. Hand has been twice married. His first wife was. before marriage, Margaret Vir- ginia Divine, a Pennsylvanian by birth. but reared principally in Virginia. She crossed the river of death, June 25, 1897, after. 31 years of happy wedded life ; she was a faithful member of the Roman Catholic Church.
On March 16, 1899. Mr. Hand was again married, Mary J. Pritchett being this time the lady of his choice. The ceremony took place in the city of Baltimore, of which the present Mrs. Hand was then a resident, al- though she is not a native of that place. She was born October 7. 1870, at Elizabeth City. North Carolina. Two children bless this un- ion, Samuel T .. Jr .. and Margaret Lois. Mrs. Hand is one of a family of seven children, and early embraced the faith of the Protestant Episcopal Church.
In his long and eventful service on ocean- going steamships. Mr. Hand had many inter- esting experiences. his duty calling him on Chesapeake Bay, the North Carolina sounds. the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea : lie fre- quently visited Cuba in charge of one of the largest steamships. Since 1900, when he re-
signed his position with the Old Dominion Steamship Compnay, he has been largely inter- ested in agricultural pursuits. He has a 1,400- acre farm in Southampton County, which he . personally oversees. Ilc raises cotton, peanuts. and corp,-the annual yield being about eight bales of cotton and 300 bags of peanuts, while the corn crop varies.
Mir. Hand takes little or no interest in poli- later he was transferred to one of the Seaboard . ties, having led too busy a lite to assume even
the duties of minor offices: But with social cir- cles, it is far different. Like his father, he is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and has advanced through the intermediate degrees to the rank of a noble of the Mystic Shrine. being a member of Acca Temple. of Richmond, Vir- ginia. He also affiliates with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Knights of Pythias.
AMES T. HOLLAND. proprietor of a dairy lunch in Norfolk. Virginia. and also justice of the peace of the Fourth Ward of that city, was born in Norfolk. Virginia. December 20, 1863. His parents were J. T. and Aurilla (Heath) Holland. both of whom were born in Isle of Wight County.
J. T. Holland was a house-joiner, and was employed in the Navy Yard for 18 years. He died in 1894, aged 67 years. Both he and his wife were devout members of the Baptist Church. His wife died January 10. 1884, aged 56 years. Of 13 children born to this ubion, four are now living, as follows: Ros- well S., a painter in the Navy Yard; Annie, who married Mr. Nugent, an oil merchant ; Julia : and James T .. the subject of this sketch.
James. T. Holland attended the public , schools of Norfolk and at an early age engaged in the grocery business, at which he worked for three years, and then bought out the dairy lunch business of Mr. Miller. This he has carried on very successfully, becoming well known in the city.
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Mr. Holland was married, September 12, 1894, to Mary Seares, a native of Norfolk, and a daughter of George and Anna Seares. Mr. Sears was an honored citizen of Norfolk for many years. Mr. Holland and his wife are adherents of the Catholic faith. Mr. Hol- land was elected a member of he City Council several years ago, and was also made chair- man of the cemetery committee, resigning that office because of his election in 1900 to the of- fice of. justice of the peace. As such he has served his ward in a most acceptable manner, winning much commendation. Mr. Holland is a member of the Knights of Columbus, and has also been an officer of the Elks lodge for the past two years.
R. GEORGE H. CARR. Conspicuous among the young men of sterling worth of Norfolk County, Virginia. whose professional work has given him a wide acquaintance in this local- ity, is Dr. George H. Carr of Portsmouth, a rising young physician and surgeon with a good practice and excellent prospects. who is located at No. 610 Court street. He is a na- tive of Portsmouth, and was born May 8, 1875, being a son of George T. and Laura A. (Williams) Carr, both Virginians by birth. The paternal grandfather came from England and was a man of keen business sagacity. For him the town of Carrsville, Virginia, was named.
. George T. Carr, the father, was a locomo- tive engineer by profession, and devoted his life to that vocation, in the employ of the Sea- board Air Line Railway. He was a native of Isle of Wight County, and moved to Ports- mouth in the "fifties." being well and favor- ably known in that city. He passed to the life beyond the grave in 1875. He was a prom- inent member of the I. O. O. F., and took an ac- tive part in its councils. He was united in marriage with Laura A. Williams, a native of
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Portsmouth. Her father died at the early age of 23 years, when she was a mere child. She is beloved by all who know her, and has been for many years an honored resident of Ports- mouth, having attained the age of 59 years. After the death of her father, her mother inar- ried again, being united with Henry Hopkins. This marriage was without issue.
Dr. Carr is one of a family of seven chi- dren, three of whom are deceased. Those liv- ing, besides the Doctor, are: Lollie: Jerome P .; and Hope M. Lollie married J. D. King, who is deceased. Jerome P. is a prosperous druggist of Portsmouth, where all the surviv- ing members of the family reside with their mother. One daughter, Clara, died at the age of 28 years.
Dr. Carr attended Portsmouth High School, and aferward spent some time in clerking in his brother's drug store, where he also read medicine. While thus employed, he conceived the idea of entering the medical pro- fession. He subsequently became a student in the College of Physicians & Surgeons, of Balti- more, Maryland. After one session he en- tered the medical department of the University of Maryland, and graduated from that insti- tution, April 15, 1896. He passed his exam- ination before the State Medical Board in that year, and began the practice of his chosen pro- fession, as a general practitioner, July 3rd of the same year, locating at once in his native city. Since that date, he has applied himself energetically and continuously to his profes- sional duties, and has succeeded in building up a very substantial practice.
Dr. Carr is a member of the Seaboard Med- ical Society of Virginia and North Carolina. the Virginia State Medical Society, and the Portsmouth Medical Society. He also affiliates with a number of fraternal organizations, and is medical examiner for some of them. Among these are the Woodmen of the World, the Heptasophs, Mystic Chain. Elks and Endow- ment Rank. Knights of Pythias. He is a valued member of the Portsmouth Business
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HISTORY, OF NORFOLK COUNTY
" Men's Association. From 1896 to 1900, he was city physician of Portsmouth. In politics, he is a Democrat, but takes little interest in political affairs. He has never fallen a vic- tim of Cupid's darts. He holds a membership in Monumental Methodist Episcopal Church. South, with which he united 13 years ago.
ILLIAM H. LAND, a member of the firm of Townsend. Joynes & Company, who conduct a rental agency at No. 227 Main street, Norfolk, Norfolk County. Vir- ginia, was born in Princess Anne County. Vir- ginia, August 30, 1866. He is a son of Ben- nett and Elizabeth F. (Rainey) Land.
Bennett Land, who was born in 1824, was a well-known merchant and farmer of Prin- cess Anne County. He saw much active ser- vice throughout the Confederate War. and was as well known as any man of his regiment .- the 15th Regiment, Virginia Cavalry,-in the Army of Northern Virginia. He was the last member of his company to return home. as he waited until all the generals had surrendered. He received a slight wound at the battle of Fredericksburg. After the war, he returned to the mercantile business at London Bridge. Virginia, and continued in that line of business until about four years before his death. when he retired from active duties. His death oc- curred in 1896. He was a member of the Episcopal Church. His wife. Elizabeth F. (Rainey) Land, was a daughter of John S. Rainey, an old and well-known citizen of Prin- cess Anne County. She was born in 1832, and died in 1897. She was a member of the Protestant Episcopal Church.
William H. Land, whose name heads this sketch was one of nine children, six of whom are living and reside in Norfolk. They are as follows: Bennett, who is in the real estate and auction business : John S., who was form- erly in the wholesale business: William H. : Mary E .: Alice R. and Marguerite.
William H. Land was educated in Prin- cess Anne County, and attended Randolph- Macon College. He engaged in the mercantile business until 1891, when he accepted a posi- tion as bookkeeper, which he retained until 1898, when he purchased an interest in the business, and the firm name is now known as Townsend, Joynes & Company. This is strictly a rental-business firm: they have met with marked success in all their undertakings. and rank as the largest business firm of the kind in Norfolk. They rent property in all the surrounding towns, with the exception of Portsmouth.
Mr. Land was married June 14. 1900. to . Fannie Patrick, a native of North Carolina. and a daughter of William H. Patrick, of Washington. in that State. The subject of this sketch and his wife have one child .- Mary Elizabeth. The parents are members of the Protestant Episcopal Church. Mr. Land is a Mason, and is a member of the Blue Lodge Chapter and Commandery, all of Norfolk, and also a member of the I. O. O. F. He is an excellent business man, and is in thorough sympathy with the progress of the community in every line of advancement.
R EV. Z. S. FARLAND is the esteemed rector of St. John's Protestant Epis- copal Church, Portsmouth, Norfolk County. Virginia. He was born in Essex County, Virginia. August 29. IS68, and is a son of Z. S. and Ellen D. (Gor- don) Farland. Z. S. Farland. Sr., was a na- tive of Washington. D. C., and his wife was a native of Essex County. Virginia.
Rev. Z. S. Farland. the subject of this sketch, was educated at William and Mary College. and also attended the theological sem- inary at Alexandria, Virginia. He became as- sistant rector at St. Paul's Protestant Epis- copal Church, in Richmond, after leaving col- lege and served in that capacity for 18 months.
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JOHN A. ANDERSON, JR.
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December 1. 1895. he became rector of St. John's Protestant Episcopal Church, in Ports- mouth, and has remained there since that time. A handsome new church was erceted on the corner of London and Washington streets, and Rev. Mr. Farland may well be proud of the fact that the membership has more than doubled since he first took charge of the church. He has done much noble work .. displaying un- tiring energy and zeal.
. He was married, April 27, 1898, Margaret Braidfoot Armistead, a native of Portsmouth, and a daughter of Beverly A. and Laura ( Collins) Armistead. She is a great-grand- daughter of Rev. John Braidfoot, the second rector of Trinity Church, Portsmouth Parish. Rev. Mr. Farland is a member of the Seaboard Lodge, No. 46. A. F. & A. M., of which he is chaplain : of Ocean Council, No. 1063. Royal Arcanum, of which he is also chaplain; and of Atlantic Lodge, No. 24, Knights of Pythias.
OHN A. ANDERSON, JR., a very successful dealer in wall paper, and a decorator and painter by trade, whose portrait accompanies this sketch, pur- sues his business at his store at No. 255 Church street, Norfolk, Virginia, and is known in that city as a progressive, public-spir- ited citizen, who does his part for the welfare of the city. He is a son of John A. and Sarah F. Anderson, both natives of Norfolk County. and was born in Norfolk, April 7, 1875.
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John A. Anderson, Sr., is now retired from active business life, enjoying the fruits of his earlier years of industry. He was a general broker for many years, besides being identified with the Norfolk Fire Department. He and his wife are living in Norfolk, where they are active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Mr. Anderson is an Elk and a Mason.
John A. Anderson. Jr., was the only child of his parents, and received the best kind of an education that the schools of his native city, Norfolk, afforded. His education having been completed, he embarked in business for himself, and bought out the stock of V. W. Coffee. thereby becoming a dealer in wall paper. etc .. in which line he has continued with marked success up to the present time, doing much work in Norfolk.
On March 13, 1892, Mr. Anderson was united in marriage with Lillian Midyett, a na- tive of Pasquotank, North Carolina, where she was reared. They have two children .- Thelma P. and Jennielle L. In religious views, Mr. Anderson is an Episcopalian, and his wife is a Methodist.
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