USA > Virginia > Men of mark in Virginia, ideals of American life; a collection of biographies of the leading men in the state, Volume III > Part 16
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Doctor Paxton's address is 707 Clay Street, Lynchburg, Virginia.
GEORGE LAURENS PETRIE
P ETRIE, GEORGE LAURENS, D. D., clergyman, was born in Cheraw, South Carolina, February 25, 1840, and is the son of George H. W. and Mary J. Prince Petrie. George H. W. Petrie was a minister of the Presbyterian church, and was paster of churches in Washington, Georgia ; in Marietta, Georgia; and in Montgomery, Alabama. He was a man of learn- ing, urbanity, conversational powers, social gifts, mental acumen, and great force of character. His wife, the mother of the Rev. George L. Petrie, was intellectual and pious, and exerted a par- ticularly strong influence over her son. From both parents, then, Dr. Petrie inherited qualities that have contributed greatly to his success in the Christian ministry.
The Petries are a fine old Scotch family. The first American ancestor, Alexander, came from Elgin, Scotland, in the eighteenth century, and settled in Charleston, South Carolina. When the colony of South Carolina rose against England, George Petrie, grandfather of Rev. Doctor George L. Petrie, served gallantly as lieutenant in the patriot or Whig forces at a time when many of the best people of South Carolina were fighting on the side of British oppression.
George L. Petrie had superior preparatory schooling, and made excellent use of his opportunities. He attended good classical schools in Charleston, South Carolina, and Marietta, Georgia; thence advanced to Davidson college, North Carolina, and Oglethorpe university, Georgia, receiving from the last named institution the A. B. and A. M. degrees. During his youth, he was a great reader and a faithful student, and, at the same time, took such invigorating exercise as served to make him physically so vigorous, that now, at the age of sixty-five, his step is as quick as a boy's and his eye bright with health and buoyancy.
After leaving college, Mr. Petrie entered the Columbia Theological seminary. It was from personal preference and a desire to make the most of his life and to use his gifts to the best advantage, that he entered the ministry. He felt called to the 1
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Gospel ministry; and we shall see later on that he not only felt called, but that he was called by the only voice that can promise a useful and successful career in that holy office.
At twenty-two years of age, Mr. Petrie began his life-work in the state of Alabama. What was the outlook for this young graduate in theology? His educational advantages we have seen already. His home surroundings we have clearly intimated in sketching the character of his parents. The home influence was most potent in the formation of his character. Next came the influence of teachers and professors. Add to these, the pious companions whose society he sought by the law of affinity or social gravitation. Supplement all these by years of contact with men in daily life; and we can clearly see that most of the elements of success are present. One thing, however, must be added, and that is purpose, and a high purpose, or to quote his own phrase, " the desire to make the most of his life "-this is the secret of his success in the noblest of all human occupations.
In 1863, the Reverend Mr. Petrie entered the Confederate army as chaplain. For two years, he ministered to the spirit- ual needs of the 22nd Alabama regiment, preaching, visiting the sick, closing the eyes of the dying soldier, and pointing him to the land where he might "rest under the shade of the trees" with Jackson, Stuart, and other great commanders.
After the war was over, Mr. Petrie taught a classical school in Montgomery, Alabama. From 1866 to 1869, he was professor of Latin at Oakland college, Mississippi. In 1870, he accepted the pastorship of the Presbyterian church at Greenville, Ala- bama. In 1872, he was called to the Washington Street Presby- terian church, Petersburg, Virginia, where he served faithfully and acceptably until 1878. In the little city of Petersburg, he is held in high esteem by all classes. There are few persons of middle age or older who do not remember the Reverend Mr. Petrie, though his ministry in Petersburg was rather brief.
In 1878, Mr. Petrie was called to the Presbyterian church in Charlottesville, Virginia. There he has served with great fidelity and ability to the present time (1906). As to his work there, we shall let his own associates and members testify. At the cele- bration of Dr. Petrie's twenty-fifth anniversary, Mr. John R.
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Sampson, founder of the Pantops academy, said: "It is not often found that in this world of continual changes the relations between a church and a pastor last for a quarter of a century. We gather here to-night to rejoice on this twenty-fifth anni- versary of the pastorate of the Reverend Doctor George Laurens Petrie and to pay a richly deserved tribute to our present pastor, this man of God who has gone in and out among us all these years, full of faith, of wisdom and of good works, making full proof of his ministry, and we do well to celebrate this occasion."
Mr. Daniel Harmon, the distinguished lawyer, spoke as fol- lows: " By a pure life, by his labors and his love, our pastor and our friend has built for himself a monument in the hearts of an affectionate people."
Judge R. T. W. Duke said: " Looking back over the times gone by, we can see how that mental adjustment, that thoughtful forbearance, that jealous and zealous care for each other's wel- fare which should characterize this relation, has ever grown and increased. To us you have been the cartographer of a better country, whose map no human hand has ever traced, but of the sunlight of whose mountain peaks you have spoken; whose green pastures and still waters you have taught us to love and long for; and with winged words we have felt that each Sabbath you have " allured to brighter worlds and led the way."
In 1887, the Reverend George Laurens Petrie received the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity from Hampden-Sidney college, Virginia.
On November 29, 1864, Doctor Petrie married Mary Cooper. They have had one child, George Petrie, A. M., Ph. D., now pro- fessor of history in the Alabama Polytechnic institute, Auburn, Alabama.
Rev. Dr. Petrie's address is Charlottesville, Virginia.
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PEMBROKE PETTIT
P ETTIT, PEMBROKE, attorney-at-law and legislator, was born at Harmony Castle, Cumberland county, Virginia, June 13, 1852, the son of William Beverley and Arabella Emeline Pettit. His father, who was a lawyer of prominence, held for many years the office of commonwealth's attorney of Fluvanna county, and was also president of the Virginia State Bar association, and a member of the last Constitutional conven- tion. The marked characteristics of the elder Pettit were candor, earnestness, and a severe and unremitting application to duty. He was descended from William Pettit, who is believed to have emigrated from Ireland about 1750, settling in Louisa county, Virginia.
In childhood, Pembroke Pettit was of delicate constitution, yet he possessed the usual boyish fondness for hunting, fishing and other sports, united to a strong love of nature and an appre- ciation of the beautiful.
His boyhood was passed, partly in the village of Columbia, Fluvanna county, and partly on the farm of his grandfather, known as Harmony Castle, situated in Cumberland county. There, as his grandfather owned a large number of slaves, he had no manual tasks to perform; but later, after the war, when his father removed to Fluvanna court-house, the son, from time to time, assisted in the farm work.
The influence of his mother was particularly strong on his moral and intellectual life. "To her influence," says he, "I believe I owe all my aspirations." He had every opportunity given him for acquiring an education, and he remarks " I could generally learn whatever I chose, but I did not always choose."
Mr. Pettit lays great stress upon the help derived by him in his life-work from early reading. He primed himself with knowledge gained from histories, biographies and the standard poets. "Upon leaving Randolph-Macon college," he writes, "I requested and secured from Professor T. R. Price a course of reading recommended by him. I believe that whatever of
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facility and expression I may have is due largely to that course of reading."
His preliminary education was derived from the ordinary country schools, which he rapidly outgrew, to enter Randolph- Macon college. He remained for two years at that institution, and then spent a third year at the University of Virginia, engaged in the study of the law.
In the fall of 1876, at the age of twenty-four years, he began the practice of his profession at Palmyra, Virginia. This career was not forced upon him by the wishes of his parents, but was his own personal choice. Asked as to the source of his first strong impulse to strive for such prizes as have been bestowed upon him in the race of life, Senator Pettit replied: "I owe to the influence of my mother, father and grandfather, all of whom were ardent believers in the theory of our government-that of the greatest good to the greatest number-my first strong impulse to be something in the world. I was taught that to be a statesman who ably and eloquently lived up to this standard was to be the greatest specimen of his kind."
Mr. Pettit was elected to the state senate of Virginia in the fall of 1883, at the early age of thirty-one years; there he served with conspicuous ability. In the spring of 1887 he was elected commonwealth's attorney of Fluvanna county, a position once held by his father; but he resigned the office in 1892 to accept that of reading clerk of the house of representatives in the national congress. This latter position he held throughout two sessions, and, upon returning from Washington, was reëlected to his former office of commonwealth's attorney, which he has since held.
He was also a member of the house of delegates during the sessions of 1899-1900, and 1905-1906, and in January of the former year was made elector for his congressional district, the tenth Virginia, known as the " Fighting Tenth." Mr. Pettit was affectionately hailed as "The Democratic idol of his county," and " the tall sycamore of old Fluvanna," and the nomination for elector was given him by acclamation at the Norfolk convention. Still another office filled by him was that of member of the state board of fisheries.
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Mr. Pettit bears a justly deserved reputation as an orator of uncommon ability, and is recognized as a dangerous opponent on the political platform and in courts of law.
Senator Pettit was married March 1, 1877, to Virginia Bernard Wills. Of their six children all are living in 1906.
His address is Palmyra, Fluvanna County, Virginia.
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JOHN PATTESON PETTYJOHN
P ETTYJOHN, JOHN PATTESON, contractor and builder, was born in Amherst county, Virginia, February 8, 1846, son of George W. and Ann T. Pettyjohn. His father was a farmer, a man of great business ability and philanthropic spirit. His mother was a woman of fine qualities of mind and of sincere piety.
As a boy John Pettyjohn was strong and well. He lived in the country and with the exception of a strong desire to be " tinkering with farm tools" his tastes and interests were the same as those of the average country boy of his place and time. He attended the neighboring schools, but did not enter any of the higher institutions of learning. As a courier in the Civil war he served for one year. He commenced the active work of life as a building contractor in Lynchburg, Virginia, in 1870, and has been very successful. Perhaps his most important work was in connection with the Randolph-Macon Woman's college, which W. W. Smith, D. D., who had the matter in charge, said could not have been built without the aid of Mr. Pettyjohn. His business ability in another direction was recognized by his elec- tion as president of the Lynchburg and Rivermont Street rail- way.
In politics, Mr. Pettyjohn is a Democrat, but because he could not agree with his party on the silver question he twice voted for Mr. Mckinley for president. He is an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, is deeply interested in the Young Men's Christian association, and has been president of its Lynchburg organization. His first strong impulse to strive for the prizes of life he traces to a desire to please his parents. The influences of home, school, early companionship, and con- tact with men in active life, have all been helpful, but he has al- ways been careful to choose good company. For reading he has found the Bible the most helpful of all books. In the choice of his life-work he was left free to follow his own inclination.
From his own experience and observation Mr. Pettyjohn
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advises young people to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and then claim the promise that He will supply all their needs. In reply to a request for suggestions regarding the methods and habits that will help young people to win success he says: "First, a clean character, strictly honest and truthful; avoid the use of tobacco in any form; use no intoxicants of any kind, in any way; keep good company; always be employed in helpful work; retire and rise early."
Mr. Pettyjohn was married, first, to Nannie R. Old, January 5, 1870; and second, to Alice Belle Watts, August 24, 1884. Of their nine children eight are now (1906) living.
The address of Mr. Pettyjohn is 609 Federal Street, Lynch- burg, Virginia.
HARRY NEWTON PHILLIPS
P HILLIPS, HARRY NEWTON, was born June 15, 1864, and his parents were Henry T. Phillips and Musa D. Harper. He is descended on both his father's and mother's side from families long resident in Virginia. His father was a planter, a man of deep piety, firmness of character and reputed " the best farmer in the county."
Harry Newton Phillips was a sturdy boy, who lived in the country, where he passed his early years like most country boys, going to school and playing and doing light work at other hours. He had regular tasks before and after school and during vaca- tion, such as are incident to farm life. This experience was of permanent value to him, for it helped to make him more systema- tic and gave him a due sense of responsibility. His mother's influence was very strong upon his moral and spiritual life, though she died when Mr. Phillips was very young. The books that he found most helpful in those early years were biographies of noted men, and especially a little book called "Line upon Line; Precept upon Precept."
He acquired his elementary education in the private and public schools of his county and afterwards spent five years in the academic department of Richmond college.
He began the active work of life in 1886 as principal of a graded school at Matoaca, Virginia, and after serving in this capacity for one year, taught a school at Chase City for two years. From 1889 to 1892 he was instructor in Latin and mathematics at Southside academy.
In teaching, Mr. Phillips had yielded to the force of circum- stances, but his heart was set on another line of work. From childhood he longed to be a banker, and it was with no little pleasure that he at length saw an opportunity to gratify his wish. In 1889 he became assistant cashier in the Mecklenburg Bank at Boydton, Virginia, in which position he continued a year. He then became cashier of the Bank of Mecklenburg, in Chase City, where he continued for three years. He next came
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to Williamsburg and organized the Peninsula Bank of Williams- burg, in 1897. It was the first bank ever established in that ancient city, and it entered, under Mr. Phillips' management, on a remarkable career of prosperity. As evidence of this, and the appreciation of Mr. Phillips' services felt by its directors, his salary has been largely raised two or three times. He has also served on various committees of the State Banking association, and has been one of its representatives at the National conven- tion.
Besides his position as bank cashier, Mr. Phillips has served as superintendent of schools for Williamsburg, being twice appointed to that office by the state board of education.
He is a Mason, an Odd Fellow, a member of the Junior Order of American Mechanics, and when he was at college he joined the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. He has filled most of the chairs in the local organizations, and several times repre- sented them in higher bodies.
In politics he is a Democrat who has never changed his party allegiance; in religion he is a member of the Baptist church.
The forms of exercise in which he takes the most interest, are baseball, lawn tennis and hunting. His advice to young men is interesting and instructive. He says: "To the old adage, 'Know thyself,' I would add and have faith in thyself; aim high, but not without your range, and keep on shooting; read carefully, well selected books; read them again, but do not read too many; study human nature; know men; when married, leave the club and stay at home."
On February 2, 1892, he married E. Annie Maddux, and they have had four children, of whom two are now (1906) living.
His address is Williamsburg, Virginia.
ARCHER ALLEN PHELEGAR
P HLEGAR, ARCHER ALLEN, was born at Christians- burg, February 22, 1846, and his parents were Eli and Anne Phlegar. His earliest known ancestor on his father's side was his great-grandfather, George Phlegar, who came from Saxony, Germany; and on his mother's side James Craig, who came from Scotland. The subject of this sketch thus united two of the great strains of blood that filled the Valley of Virginia with heroic men and women who have lent so much honor and glory to Virginia. Eli Phlegar was a well-known lawyer, and held the office of commonwealth's attorney at one time. In his early years his son, or as he is usually called at the present time Judge Phlegar, was a delicate boy who some- times did work on the farm more on account of his health than otherwise. His special tastes and interests in childhood were his books and gun, with which he was won't to take long tramps after game. In these early days he did not lack a mother's influence, which was always for good, though it appeared more gentle than strong. He attended first in Montgomery county a school called " The Montgomery Male academy," and afterwards went to Washington college, subsequently known as " Washington and Lee university;" but the war breaking out Judge Phlegar joined the Confederate army and served first as a private and then as a lieutenant. After the war Judge Phlegar engaged in farming; and, during the two years that he was thus employed, he studied law and prepared himself for the practice of that profession. In regard to this selection of an occupation in life, Judge Phlegar says that it was his father's desire that he should practice law, but his own choice or preference decided him. His success in his profession was assured at the start; for to unusual mental power Judge Phlegar added an ambition which was never satisfied with less than premiership in whatever he
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undertook. In 1870 he was appointed commonwealth's attorney for Montgomery county, and by several elections held that office for seven years. His practice grew and he became the legal representative of several railroads, and mining and manufactur- ing companies, and from April, 1901, to April, 1903, he was the active managing receiver of the Virginia Iron and Coal and Coke company, and the vice-president of the Virginia and Southwestern Railroad company.
. In October, 1900, Judge Phlegar was appointed, by Gov- ernor J. Hoge Tyler, a member of the supreme court of Virginia, and held the office till February 22, 1901, when he failed of an election by the legislature. He has been twice elected a state senator-first, in 1877, and served two years, and again in 1903 for the term of four years. Both as judge and legislator, he has held first rank; and, while not an orator, he is a close thinker and reasoner, and his opinions on the bench, and his speeches in the general assembly, are marked by a logical force and clearness and directness of expression which marks him as a man of the first order of ability and genius. Judge Phlegar has held many posi- tions of local importance, but of these he is silent; for he writes in very beautiful terms that "the love and respect of his neighbors is a delight, but not a thing that can be written of."
In religious preference he is a Presbyterian, and in party affiliations he is a true and tried member of the Democratic party.
When asked if he had anything to suggest to young men from his experience in life, which might prove helpful to them in their future work, Judge Phlegar writes: "I have always endeavored to do the best I could with present duties, have never planned for future preferment, and what has come has come unsolicited." The principles, methods and habits likely to con- tribute most to the strengthening of the sound ideals in American life are, according to him: " Thorough preparation for whatever is undertaken, strict adherence to truth, firmness with modesty, performance of small duties as faithfully as large ones, first doing what is necessary, then what is most useful, and then, but not till then, that which is only pleasant." "Above all," he writes: " Avoid undue self-seeking."
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On June 5, 1872, Judge Phlegar married Sue Shanks. They have had six children, of whom five are now (1906) living. His address is Christiansburg, Montgomery County, Vir- ginia.
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WILLIAM THOMAS POAGUE
P OAGUE, WILLIAM THOMAS, soldier and treasurer of the Virginia Military institute, was born in Rock- bridge county, Virginia, December 20, 1835. His father was John Barclay Poague, a farmer of Rockbridge county, of great energy and resource, who, at the age of sixteen, took charge of his father's farm, paid off a large indebtedness, and left a competency to his family; but who missed thereby the oppor- tunities of a collegiate education,-a fact which he always there- after regretted. Colonel Poague's mother was Elizabeth Stuart Paxton.
Colonel Poague is of Scotch-Irish ancestry. His first an- cestor in America on the paternal side was Robert Poague, who came to Virginia from the North of Ireland, with a wife and nine children, and buying land near Staunton, Virginia, settled there about 1738.
Colonel Poague's boyhood was spent on his father's farm in the country, where like most of the boys and girls of Scotch- Irish descent and tradition in the Valley of Virginia, he was trained to do manual labor, in the performance of which most of his school vacations were spent. It was here that he acquired a knowledge of horses and of their care and management; a knowledge which he found extremely useful in his subsequent career as a soldier in the Confederate army in the War between the States, and to which he attributes in a large measure his suc- cessive promotions from private to lieutenant-colonel.
Colonel Poague was educated in the Presbyterian high school at Brownsburg, in Rockbridge county, and at Washington col- lege, at Lexington, Virginia, now the Washington and Lee uni- versity. He was graduated from Washington college in June, 1857; and after teaching school in the State of Georgia during the session of 1858-1859, he returned to Lexington and studied law in Judge Brockenbrough's law school there in 1859-1860.
In June 1860, he went to St. Joseph, Missouri, where he opened a law office and practiced law; but when the news of the
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secession of South Carolina from the Union reached him, like the war-horse, scenting the battle from afar, he returned once more to Virginia. He entered the army of the Confederate States in May 1861, and served with gallantry and distinction until the sun set on the "Lost Cause " at Appomattox. His first service was as a private in the ranks, from which he rose to be consecutively second lieutenant, first lieutenant, captain, major, and lieutenant-colonel; and he participated in all of the battles fought by Stonewall Jackson, and in all of those in which Gen- eral Robert E. Lee was in command in West Virginia.
After the war, his father having in the meantime died, in 1864, Colonel Poague returned to his home in Rockbridge. The practice of his chosen profession of the law had been his desire; but his father's death, and the impairment of his own health by his military experiences in the field, concurred to fix his life once more on the old homestead. Here he resided and farmed from 1866 to 1885, when he was, without his solicitation, elected treasurer of the Virginia Military institute and secretary of its board of visitors, which positions he has continued to hold up to the present time (1907).
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