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 4
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His son, the subject of this sketch, had, in early life, trouble with his eyes, and on this account never attended school, except for a few months at a time, until he was over twelve. He then entered the public schools of Louisville and made good progress until about sixteen, when his trouble returned. He
Men of Mark. Publicly C: "Washington, DC
yours truly J. F. Bullitt.
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JOSHUA FRY BULLITT
again quit school and spent the year in farming. In 1874, believing that he would never be able to obtain such an educa- tion as would enable him to practice law, he conceived the idea of learning truck gardening. He went to the suburbs of Newark, a fine truck section, and applied for work as a common hand. He obtained a place at sixteen dollars per month and board. Here he remained six months, learned to work, and along with it he obtained an insight into life from a laborer's point of view.
His year in Jersey, he believes to have been the best spent of his life. At the end, however, he was not enamored of gardening. His general health had been built up, his eye trouble gone, and his early ambition to become a lawyer again asserted itself. He went back to. his books, attended the Rugby gram- mar school for a year, and won a scholarship in Washington and Lee university, which he entered in the fall of 1876. Here he remained two years. He took high rank in his classes and a leading part in college life, and especially in the literary societies and athletics. He next taught at Rugby for a year, and then studied law with a private class under his father and ex-attorney-general, James Speed. He also attended the sum- mer lectures of Professor Minor in 1879 and 1883. He com- menced the practice of law in 1880 in Louisville, with his father. In 1887, he and Henry C. McDowell, of Lexington, Kentucky, (now judge of the United States circuit court for the western district of Virginia), went to Mineral City, (now Big Stone Gap), formed a partnership, obtained work from the start and soon enjoyed a lucrative practice. In 1894, the firm of Bullitt and McDowell was dissolved, and in 1895, Mr. Bullitt formed a partnership with Mr. J. L. Kelly, with offices at Big Stone Gap and Bristol, Virginia. The firm of Bullitt and Kelly is one of the best known in Southwest Virginia. Their business is chiefly for corporations, but they do, also, a general practice, and are regarded as strong men in all lines of their profession. Mr. Bullitt is, also, active in the business affairs of his section, and is president of the Big Stone Gap Land company, the Century Land company, and the Virginia-Kentucky Coal cor- poration.
In politics he is a Cleveland Democrat, and before coming
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to Virginia, and afterwards, until 1896, took an active part on the stump in every campaign. He did not, however, believe in several of the planks of the Chicago platform, and since then has not been active in party politics. He was a member of the Kentucky legislature in 1885-6, and a candidate for congress in Virginia, in 1896, but withdrew from the race after the adoption of the Chicago platform. He was first lieutenant and then captain of the Crescent Hill guards, (cavalry), which after- wards became Company E, of the Louisville legion. His mili- tary training stood him well in hand when he moved to Big Stone Gap. He and his partner, Mr. McDowell, organized the " Police Guard " of Big Stone Gap, a law-and-order organization established under authority of the town council. About forty of the best men of the town joined. Bullitt was elected captain. From one of the most disorderly of Southwest Virginia towns, Big Stone Gap soon became the most orderly. The "Guard " is still kept up. "Blue-Grass and Rhododendron," by John Fox, Jr., contains this dedication: "To Joshua Bullitt, Henry Clay McDowell, Horace Fox, the first three captains of the Guard." One of the stories of this book, "Civilizing the Cum- berland," contains a very interesting account of the "Police Guard " and its captain.
In religion, he is a Unitarian in belief, though he does not belong to the Unitarian church. In philosophy, he is an evolutionist, and while not agreeing in all things with Herbert Spencer, he regards him as the greatest man who ever lived.
He is fond of amateur sports and athletics of all kinds. In 1897, he organized the Athletic association of Big Stone Gap, of which he was president until he resigned in 1906.
His favorite diversions are riding, shooting, tennis, pool, bass fishing, whist and chess.
He is the author of "Panics and Their Causes," which appeared in the "Southern Magazine " in 1894; of the "New Woman," an address delivered before the Alumni association of the Washington and Lee university in 1898, and afterwards published in the "Southern Collegian;" of "Trusts and Labor Unions,"a paper read at the Virginia State Bar association meeting in 1903, and published in the " Reports " of the meeting;
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JOSHUA FRY BULLITT
and of " Objections to the Torrens System," a pamphlet which is given the credit of having defeated the Torrens bill in the Virginia legislature in 1905-6.
He is now engaged, at spare moments, on several essays, which he hopes some day to publish, the chief object of which is to show the bearing which the doctrines of evolution have on divers questions, little and large, old and new.
He was married in 1885 to Mrs. Maggie Talbott Churchill, only daughter of Jeremiah J. Talbott, of Jefferson county, Ken- tucky, a man of marked ability as scholar, poet, preacher, and orator-whose sermon on the assassination of Lincoln, delivered in the Calvary Episcopal church, in Louisville, Kentucky, April 18, 1864, made him famous all over the land. They have seven children : Mary Cummins, Mattie Bell, Virginia Howard, Margaret, Joshua Fry, Henry McDowell, and Julia Cooper.
His address is Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Virginia.
PRESTON WHITE CAMPBELL
C AMPBELL, PRESTON WHITE, lawyer, was born in Abingdon, Washington county, Virginia, January 4, 1874. His father was Edward McDonald Campbell; his mother, Ellen Sheffey White. Mr. Campbell's father Las practiced medicine in Abingdon for many years, and is a man of great stability, honesty, and indomitable energy. All these characteristics, he has transmitted to his son.
Preston W. Campbell received his preliminary education in the public schools of Abingdon and the Abingdon Male academy. He afterwards entered the University of Virginia, where he spent the session of 1896-1897. Very soon after leaving the University, he began the practice of law in Abingdon, Virginia. The period between his leaving school and his entering the University was not lost; he worked in a tobacco factory and on an engineering corps, and thus learned self-reliance and economy. The influence of his mother on both his intellectual and moral life has been great, and the example of his father in the honest and strenuous life has been most potential. With such home influences, with the vigorous Scotch blood coursing through his veins, with the family pride to which he is richly entitled, to spur his ambition, a young man of his ability must almost of necessity achieve success in life, and make his way to the front. We are therefore not at all surprised when we find Mr. Campbell at twenty-five taking an honorable position at the bar of Abingdon, and attracting the attention of his fellow-citizens. If, however, he had been without ambition, even his home train- ing, his family pride, and his Campbell blood would hardly have made him successful. Conjoined with the elements of success already mentioned, Mr. Campell has great ambition, the desire to do something, to be something, in life. Thus equipped, he, at twenty-five years of age, entered life as a lawyer, and as already said, soon began to rise. In 1901, when the people of Virginia were looking for their best men to draw up a new constitution, the people of Washington county and the city of
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Bristol elected Mr. Campbell to this high honor. He was one of the youngest men of the Constitutional convention of 1901- 1902, but not insignificant, not despised for his youth. He well represented the young manhood of his State, the new hope pul- sating through the veins of his people. The part that he took in giving Virginia a new organic law suited to her present needs will be ever a pleasant remembrance to him, and, when age comes, will cheer and sustain him. To sign one's name to that new charter lifting some of the heaviest burdens from the necks of his fellow-citizens and making life brighter for unborn mil- lions will be a priceless honor to him and his fellows of that valuable convention. In politics, he is a life-long Democrat; in church preference, a Presbyterian.
Mr. Campbell, as his name would indicate, is of Scotch descent. His first American ancestor was John Campbell, who came from Inverary, Scotland, 1726; settled near Lancaster, Pennsylvania; moved, in 1738, to Orange county, Virginia. John's son David, moved to Southwest Virginia, and became the founder of a large and distinguished family. Mr. Camp- bell's most distinguished ancestor was General William Camp- bell, the hero of King's Mountain. He was one of the brave colonels that overtook Ferguson, the Tory chief, at King's Mountain, and was chosen by his colleagues to take the lead. " Washington, Gates, and Greene, together with the Virginia legislature and the Continental congress, expressed their high sense of his merits and services." Lafayette and Jefferson ranked him among the greatest defenders of the American cause, and predicted great fame for him as hero of the Revolution. Another eminent ancestor of P. W. Campbell, was David Campbell, governor of Virginia. Hardly less distin- guished were Colonel Arthur Campbell, a pioneer of Southwest Virginia, and John Campbell, treasurer of the United States in Jackson's administration. Other members of this family . have distinguished themselves in war and peace, and their bio- graphies are to be found in every library.
Mr. Preston W. Campbell's success has been achieved in the face of many difficulties. The lack of full collegiate training he has tried to remedy by private reading and study, his favorite Vol. 3-Va .- 4
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books being histories and biographies. With grit, energy, ambi- tion, and ability, we may well predict for him a great and bril- liant future. Of his family, we have said far more than he would say in many a long day's talk by the fire. He stands on his own merit. He will become the architect of his own future. The success that he longs for is not to be based upon pedigree, but upon energy, earnestness and character.
His address is Abingdon, Virginia.
1
Men af Mark Publishing Ca Washington, D.C.
you resincerely,
JAMES CANNON, JR.
C ANNON, JAMES, JR., was born at Salisbury, Wicomico county, Maryland, November 13, 1864, and his parents were James Cannon and Lydia Primrose. The Cannon family came from England and the Primrose from Scotland. They were people of respectable standing, and did their part industriously in reclaiming the waste places. James Cannon, Sr., was a successful merchant, and was distinguished for his sound judgment and high Christian character. For many years, he was interested in the education of the people, and was chair- man of the county school board.
James Cannon, Jr. was physically a delicate boy though he was never sickly. Like most boys of his age he liked outdoor sports, but was always ready to lend a helping hand in the family when desired. He sawed wood, attended to his own riding horse, and was usually paid by his father for his work. His mother's influence was especially helpful on his moral and spiritual being. Salisbury was a town of about 2500 people, and had a good high school, which young Cannon attended. At the proper age he went to Randolph-Macon college, where he was graduated, in 1884, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts, after which he took one year's post-graduate work at this excellent institution.
From 1885 to 1888 he attended Princeton Theological semi- nary, where he took the degree of Bachelor of Divinity. He also took post-graduate courses in ethics, philosophy, history and Assyriology at Princeton and received the degree of Master of Arts. In 1903, the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity was conferred upon him by his alma mater, Randolph-Macon college.
He began the active work of life November 13, 1888, in the capacity of a minister in the Charlotte circuit of the Virginia conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, being deter- mined to the choice of his profession by the conviction that God wanted him to preach the Gospel. After a year spent in the circuit he was sent to Newport News, where he had charge of a
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church for two years from 1889 to 1891. Then he went to Farm- ville, where he preached from 1891 to 1894. From 1894 to 1903 he was editor of the " Methodist Recorder," and he is at present (1906) principal of Blackstone Female institute (since 1894) ; secretary of education of the Virginia conference of the Methodist church (since 1896) ; editor of the "Baltimore and Richmond Christian Advocate " (since 1904) ; and president of the Vir- ginia State Anti-Saloon league (since 1904). In all these various offices Mr. Cannon has shown ability, industry and sagacity. His work at the Blackstone Female institute has served to make that one of the finest schools in the South. He is a fluent and polished writer on religious and moral questions, and he has done as much as any other man in the state to promote the cause of temperance and to bring about the present excellent system of legislation regarding the saloons.
Mr. Cannon is a member of the Sigma Chi Greek letter fraternity, and he is also a Mason and an Odd Fellow.
In politics he is an Independent, but generally votes the Democratic ticket. In religion he is, as already stated, a Methodist, and as such has done much good in the world.
His favorite form of amusement is playing tennis and other innocent games with his children.
In estimating the relative strength of the influences which have given direction to his life, he ranks father, mother and wife first, college and seminary second, private study third, contact with men fourth, and early companionship fifth. In speaking of his failures in life he says, " I had hoped to be more prominent in purely secular matters, but became conscious that nothing of a purely secular nature was worthy of the effort." Requested to give some advice to young men, he writes: "The secret of true success in life lies in a proper sense of our responsibility to God. This may not always bring great results in purely secular affairs but will be sure to lead us into paths of virtue and usefulness to our fellow-beings."
Mr. Cannon is a man of decided literary ability, and while he has written no books, he has published many tracts on educa- tion, religion and temperance, and made many valuable and thoughtful addresses.
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JAMES CANNON, JR.
On August 1, 1888, he married Lura Virginia Bennett, and they have had nine children, of whom seven are now (1906) living.
Mr. Cannon's address is Blackstone, Nottoway County, Virginia.
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JOHN HENRY CARLISLE
C ARLISLE, JOHN HENRY, railroad superintendent, was born at Lexington, McLean county, Illinois, October 23, 1860. His father was Thomas Calvin Carlisle, a lawyer, and for a period mayor of the town of Chenoa, Illinois. His mother was Rebecca Jane Carlisle.
His first ancestor in America was Henry Carlisle, who came to the colonies from the north of England early in the seven- teenth century, and settled in Pennsylvania.
Mr. Carlisle grew up in a village and later in a city; and attended the Chenoa high school, in which he received his educa- tion. He began the active work of life in 1877, as a clerk for the Chicago, Alton and St. Louis railroad; and has remained in the railway service continuously up to the present (1906) time. He has occupied the following positions: 1877 to 1878, clerk for the Chicago and Alton railway; 1878 to 1880, clerk, operator and train dispatcher, T. P. and W. railway; 1881 to 1882 operator and dispatcher, Chicago and Alton railway; part of 1882, agent P. and P. U. railroad; 1882 to 1884, train dispatcher, Wabash railroad; 1884 to 1889, train dispatcher, Chesapeake and Ohio railway; 1889 to 1891, chief train dispatcher, Chesa- peake and Ohio railway; 1891 to 1893, train-master, Chesapeake and Ohio railway; 1893 to 1897, assistant superintendent, Chesa- peake and Ohio railway; 1897 to the present (1906) time, super- intendent, Chesapeake and Ohio railway.
Mr. Carlisle is a Mason, and has held the office of com- mander of Alleghany commandery Number 23, Knights Templar. He is a member of the Piedmont club of Lynchburg, Virginia, of the Commonwealth club, of Richmond, Virginia, and of the Railroad club of Richmond.
He is a Presbyterian. In politics he is a Democrat; but changed to the Republican party on the free silver issue.
He married Ida Rosalie Frierson.
His address is Clifton Forge, Virginia.
Man of Mark Publishing Co. Washington, D. C.
Mauro truly
JAMES CALDER CASSELL
ASSELL, JAMES CALDER, railroad official, assistant to the president of the Norfolk and Western railway, and contractor, was born at Mount Joy, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, March 16, 1856, son of Jacob E. and Mary Cassell. He is of German extraction, his forbears on his father's side having originally come from Hesse-Cassel, in Germany; while the founder of the American branch of the family in the maternal line was Rev. John Winebrenner, founder of the Church of God (sometimes called the Bethel church), and author of " The Life of Christ."
His father, a man of domestic habits and good intellectual attainments, passed his life in Pennsylvania, where he led a very active career, and attained to considerable prominence. He was in turn farmer, merchant, politician, member of the Pennsylvania state legislature, and agent for the Pennsylvania railroad.
Mr. Cassell was brought up in the village of Mount Joy, where he received a fair common school education. He was a robust lad, fond of outdoor sports, and at the age of twelve he was appointed page in the Pennsylvania legislature, at Harris- burg, Pennsylvania. When he left home he received a dictionary from his father and a Bible from his mother, which subsequently became the basis of a broader education, acquired largely by studying at night. A few years later, he studied telegraphy, and accepted a post as operator at the west end of the Susquehanna bridge, five miles west of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, on the Pennsylvania railroad. In 1879, he was made train-master on the Shenandoah Valley railroad; in 1884, he was transferred from the Shenandoah Valley railroad to the Norfolk and Western railway, as train-master at Lynchburg; and, in 1889, he was promoted to superintendent of the Lynchburg division. From this time up to July, 1899, he served as superintendent at Roanoke, Radford, and Crewe, Virginia, when he was promoted, at the age of forty-three, to general superintendent of the road. In 1902, he was compelled to relinquish the position on account of
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failing health, and took an extensive trip through Europe and the West India islands. After an extended rest, he was appointed assistant to the general manager on January 1, 1903, and held that office until his appointment to the position of assistant to the president of the Norfolk and Western railroad on February 1, 1905, which post he held until November, 1905, when, owing to continued impaired health, he resigned to engage in other business.
Since his initial connection with the railroad business, Mr. Cassell spent six years with the Pennsylvania railroad, and twenty-six years with the Norfolk and Western. He has also been a member of the car service committee of the American Railway association. His rise in the service has been due to unusual abilities, close application to his work, and his skill as an operating officer. His policy has been one of open and fair dealing without the slightest tinge of favoritism. During the past decade the growth in wealth and usefulness of the Norfolk and Western has been phenomenal and this has been due largely to its able management. In this, Mr. Cassell has been one of the leading factors, and his promotion to a place of responsibility next in dignity to the president was a merited recognition of his work. He is now engaged in a large contracting business. The firm name is Cassell and Elliott, and their principal offices are at Roanoke, Virginia.
He has from the outset been a warm friend and supporter of the railroad department of the Young Men's Christian associa- tion in Roanoke, and was for several years vice-chairman of the committee on management. He is likewise an enthusiastic sup- porter of the work of the association generally, and is a steadfast friend of the city, state and international movements as well. His strong character and attractive manners have made him an unusual force in all kinds of Christian work, both in the Pres- byterian church, of which he is a member, and in allied bodies.
In politics, he supports the Democratic party in state and local issues, and the Republican party in national issues. He defends this course on the ground that differing conditions demand separate issues. He enjoys all outdoor sports, and in recent years has been an ardent enthusiast of golf. During his
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tour abroad he contributed to the Roanoke " Times " a series of travel letters of unusual interest, portraying the characteristics of foreign peoples and giving intelligent insight into their social and economic conditions.
On November 13, 1883, Mr. Cassell married Emma Boyer. They have had two children, one of whom is now (1906) living.
His address is Roanoke, Roanoke County, Virginia.
WILLIAM BRIGGS COCKE
C OCKE, WILLIAM BRIGGS, was born November 21, 1868, at Smithville Farm, Sussex county, Virginia, and his parents are Charles Leonard Cocke and Laura Julia Briggs, his wife. His father was descended from Richard Cocke, of Malvern Hill in Henrico county, who emigrated to this country in 1636 from Leeds in England, and founded a numerous and distinguished family in Virginia. Charles Leonard Cocke was a lawyer, who practiced his profession with great success, and was noted for his truthfulness and regard for the rights of others. For many years, he served as judge of the county court of Sussex and Greensville, and was commonwealth's attorney of Sussex.
William B. Cocke's physical condition in childhood was excellent, and the pecuniary circumstances of his family saved him from manual labor. The influence of his mother for good was particularly strong upon him. He attended Davis Military school at La Grange, North Carolina, and afterwards studied law under his father and at the University of Virginia. As a boy, he took interest in his father's practice, and the pro- fession of the law was the dream of his early boyhood. Thus the relative strength of the influences determining his life was as follows: First home influence, second private study, and third study of human nature. He was admitted to the bar in November, 1890, and May 28, 1891, was elected commonwealth's attorney of Sussex county, which position he has, by reëlections, continued to hold to the present time. He is a lawyer of marked ability and is the counsel for various corporations in Sussex county, such as the Surry Lumber company; the Surry, Sussex and Southampton Railroad company; the Camp Manufacturing company; the Brunswick Lumber company; the Gray Lumber company; the Bank of Stony Creek, Incorporated; and other important clients.
The books which he has found most helpful have been Blackstone's Commentaries, containing as they do so much of history and other information besides law.
Men of Mark Publishing Co Washington, DC
yours truly WmBlocke
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WILLIAM BRIGGS COCKE
In politics Mr. Cocke is a Democrat and in religion he is an Episcopalian. Asked to offer some suggestions for the benefit of young Americans, he writes that in his opinion the best way to ensure success is to cultivate a love of home, reverence for parents, and respect for morality; to be scrupulous about the truth; to form high ideals as early as possible in life; to be careful in the selection of friends; to make an early choice of life's work; to cherish implicit confidence in one's success in the work chosen, and to put forward all the elements of energy, push and perseverance toward the desired end.
On June 9, 1903, he married Miss Jessie Garland Adams, of Blackstone, Virginia.
His address is Sussex Court-House, Virginia.
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HOWSON WHITE COLE
C OLE, HOWSON WHITE, M. D., physician and drug- gist; was born on a farm in Pittsylvania county, near Danville, Virginia, December 11, 1830. His father, John Lipscomb Cole, M. D., a successful physician, was a fine old Virginia gentleman, who was never so happy as when enter- taining friends in his hospitable home. His mother, Cassandra Caroline (White) Cole, was the type of woman that everybody loves.
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