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 5
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He is of English-Scotch ancestry, but no records of the founders of the family in America have been preserved. His early life was divided between the city and the country, and when very young he decided that, like his father, he would be a physician. His preparatory education was obtained at Cald- well institute, Greensboro, North Carolina; he then attended Emory and Henry college, but took no degree; in 1851-52, he was a student at the Medical college of South Carolina, whence he went to Jefferson Medical college, Philadelphia, Pennsyl- vania, which graduated him M. D., in 1854. He began to practice in 1856, in Greensboro, North Carolina, but the loca- tion not altogether suiting him he moved, in 1858, to Danville, Virginia, where he soon made many friends and built up a large and profitable practice.
At the beginning of the Civil war he volunteered as a private in the Danville Blues, one of the first companies that started for the seat of war, but was at once detailed for medical service. His health, never robust, then broke down, and much to his chagrin, he was discharged on account of physical dis- abilities. He then volunteered as a surgeon, without rank or pay, and, until the close of the war, served in the field and in hospitals, as occasion required and health permitted. Shortly after the war, his health continuing bad, he was compelled to give up his large and growing practice. He then went into the drug business, which he at once placed upon a higher plane and more scientific basis than any predecessor had done, and it was
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not long before " Cole's drug store," besides making money for its owner, became one of the landmarks of Danville. In 1870, he was forced by a sense of public duty, much against his inclina- tion, to become the Democratic, or " conservative," candidate for mayor, at the first municipal election after the war, having been selected by the best citizens as the only man with sufficient personal popularity to defeat the candidate of the combined negroes, carpet-baggers and scalawags. He was elected, and was reelected in 1872, and in 1874, without opposition. During this period of Danville's history, the negroes were very disorderly and insubordinate. Shortly after Dr. Cole's election as chief magistrate of the city, a negro boy was arrested and confined in jail. A large mob of negroes gathered about the jail for the purpose of delivering the prisoner. It was a threatening situa- tion. Dr. Cole read the riot act and ordered the mob to disperse, but as it held its ground, he summoned the local military com- pany and ordered them to charge bayonets, which was done and the mob dispersed without much bloodshed and with no loss of life. Dr. Cole's firmness and impartiality in his conduct of the office strengthened him more and more in popular favor, but in 1876, believing that some other Democrat could be elected, and thoroughly tired of the position, he positively refused to be again a candidate for the mayoralty, though he was promised an increased salary if he would remain in office. After leaving the mayoralty he accepted the position of coroner, with its light duties, but after eight or ten years service he resigned and refused to hold any office thereafter. Meanwhile his business had been so profitable that it was not necessary for him to be longer burdened with its cares and he retired to the life of quiet leisure which his tastes craved. But he has never lost interest in the welfare of his city, and he is sure to be found at any public meeting held to enhance it. He is a type of citizen of which any town may be proud. He thinks home and early com- panionship were the most potent influences in his life, and advises the young to cultivate character-building, paying partic- ular attention to honesty, truthfulness, industry, economy, politeness, readiness to lend a helping hand, and promptness in paying honest debts.
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Mr. Cole was one of the pioneers in the establishment of the Danville Military institute, which owes no little of its success to his energetic and intelligent work in its behalf. He attends the Presbyterian church; is a Mason; also a member of the Medical society of Virginia. In his youth hunting was his favorite recreation, but during the later years of his life he has become an earnest devotee of chess.
On January 13, 1875, he married Lavelette Dupuy, of Prince Edward county, Virginia. They have had two sons, Dr. H. W. Cole, Jr., now assistant-surgeon in the United States navy, and Lavillon Dupuy Cole, both of whom are (1906) living.
Dr. Cole's address is Danville, Virginia.
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yours truly, Aylet B. laoleman.
AYLETT BRECKINRIDGE COLEMAN
C OLEMAN, AYLETT BRECKINRIDGE, attorney-at- law, was born in Nelson county, Virginia, September 29, 1870, and his parents were Hawes Nicholas Coleman and Nannie E. Watson his wife. The Colemans are closely related to a number of prominent families in Virginia and his ancestors, therefore, came to this country in very early days. His father who was a physician, was a graduate of the Uni- versity of Virginia and the University of Pennsylvania and was at one time a member of the general assembly of Virginia.
Mr. Coleman was brought up in the country and had the usual experience of a country boy. He was healthy and vigorous and loved all outdoor sports. He acquired his ele- mentary education in the schools of his county and afterwards attended the University of Virginia and Washington and Lee university, from which last institution he obtained the degree of Bachelor of Law in 1894.
In 1895 he began the practice of the law in Roanoke, Vir- ginia, and has continued there ever since in the enjoyment of an ever increasing practice and reputation. For three years he was a school trustee, for four years a member of the city council, and for two terms he has been a member of the house of dele- gates for Roanoke city and Roanoke county. So well has Mr. Coleman acquitted himself in the public estimation that his name has been lately connected with a nomination for the state senate. The next legislature will have important measures to consider, and the state needs men with both heart and intellect in places of trust-such a man as Aylett B. Coleman.
Mr. Coleman is a man of fine sense and splendid social character. He is a member of the Shenandoah club and of the ancient order of Free Masons. In party affiliations he is a Democrat who has proved loyal and constant to the party plat- form, and in religious profession he is a member of the Presby- terian church.
In 1895 he married Norma Randolph Caskie and they have had two children who are now (1906) living.
His address is Roanoke, Roanoke County, Virginia.
JOHN TINSLEY COLEMAN
C OLEMAN, JOHN TINSLEY, lawyer, was born in Nelson county, Virginia, August 29, 1857. His father was Dr. Hawes N. Coleman, who practiced his profession of medicine successfully in Nelson county, and was for one term a member of the house of delegates of Virginia from that county. Mr. Coleman's mother was Sallie A. E. Tinsley.
The Coleman family has long been a prominent one in Vir- ginia; and it has flourished especially in Caroline, Essex, Spottsylvania, and the Piedmont Virginia counties. The family tradition is that the first Coleman in the colony of Virginia came from England about 1640, and probably settled in the Rappahannock valley. Mr. Coleman is a grandson of Richard Hawes, governor of Kentucky during the War between the States, who was born in Caroline county, Virginia, February 6, 1797, and died in Bourbon county, Kentucky, May 25, 1877. Governor Hawes emigrated to Kentucky when a youth of thir- teen, and was educated at Transylvania university. He prac- ticed law at Winchester in that state, and was a member of the legislature from 1828 to 1836, when he was elected to the United States congress, and served until 1841. He advocated the cause of the South during the War between the States, and was elected governor of Kentucky by those who adhered to the Confederacy.
Governor Hawes was inaugurated at Frankfort, Kentucky, October 4, 1862, surrounded by the bayonets of General Bragg's army; but was compelled to leave the capital and the state before the advance of the Union army under Buell. He returned to Paris, Kentucky, after the war, where he became county judge, a position which he held until his death.
Mr. Coleman's early life was spent in the country. He does not recall that he developed any special tastes or interests as a youth. While no regular tasks were set for him to do, he was not permitted to be idle; and he did such work on the farm as had to be done. He attended Norwood high school in Nelson county, then well known throughout the state as a classical and
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mathematical academy of high grade, under the principalship of Mr. William D. Cabell. Later he entered the Virginia Poly- technic institute at Blacksburg; and during the session of 1880- 1881, he studied law at the University of Virginia under Pro- fessors John B. Minor and Stephen O. Southall, graduating from the law department of the University in June 1881, with the degree of Bachelor of Law.
Mr. Coleman began the active work of life in 1878 as a clerk in a country store in Nelson county; and it was after his marriage that he entered the law school of the University of Virginia. He had, however, before that time conceived the purpose of becoming a lawyer-an ambition which was kindled in him through having, when about seventeen or eighteen years of age, attended and listened to the proceedings in a notable local court trial. After leaving the University of Virginia, Mr. Coleman practiced law for a number of years in Nelson county, removing to Lynchburg in 1894, where he has since resided and continued in the active conduct of his profession, in which he has achieved signal distinction for learning and ability. He is a director in the Peoples National bank of Lynchburg, for which he is also counsel.
Mr. Coleman is a Democrat in politics, and has consistently maintained at all times his party allegiance. From 1889 to 1891, during his residence in Nelson county, he served as a member of the house of delegates from Nelson in the general assembly of Virginia.
In 1904, Mr. Coleman was counsel for the defence in the celebrated case of the Commonwealth vs. McCue, at Charlottes- ville; and during the progress of this trial, the papers of the state, notably the Richmond " Times Dispatch " and the Char- lottesville " Progress," contained accounts of his argument, and sketches of his life.
Mr. Coleman married, March 26, 1879, Miss Laura J. Hill; and there are ten children of their marriage living in 1906.
His address is No. 1610 Grace Street, Lynchburg, Virginia.
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POWHATAN FITZHUGH CONWAY
O ONWAY, POWHATAN FITZHUGH, manufacturer, was born in Danville, Virginia, November 11, 1867. His father, L. B. Conway, who followed the profession of an accountant, was from 1861 to 1865 cashier of the Bank of Pittsylvania. During the Civil war he was appointed by the secretary of the treasury a Confederate States depositary, and was for nine years president of the school board of Danville. His mother's maiden name was B. J. Gouldin.
Mr. Conway comes of a family which has been prominent from the earliest times of the colony in the social and business life of Virginia, and the interesting details of whose history have been given at length by the Reverend Horace E. Hayden, in his well-known work, " Virginia Genealogies." The founder of the Conway family in Virginia was Edwin Conway, who came to the colony from the county of Worcester, England, in 1640, and whose name appears on the Northampton county records as early as 1642. The great-grandfather of Powhatan Fitzhugh Conway, was James Conway, lieutenant in the Continental army during the Revolutionary war, who died in service at Norfolk, Virginia, during the progress of the war.
Mr. Conway's health in childhood was not robust, and on this account he was forced to discontinue his studies at school. He had been accustomed to work during his summer vacations in the tobacco factories of Danville; and this experience gave his mind a bend in the direction of business. Upon completing his course in the Danville graded schools, he entered upon the active work of life in 1886 as a solicitor and collector for Messrs. Bass, Brown and Lee, a firm which at that time did the largest coal, wood, and lumber-manufacturing business in Danville.
Mr. Conway is a director of the Perpetual Building and Loan association of Danville, and is a trustee of Roanoke Female college. He is a Blue Lodge and Royal Arch Mason, and a Knight Templar. He has been exalted ruler of the Danville lodge of Elks, and is a member of the Grand lodge of that order.
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Yours truly P. F. Conway
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He is a member of the Danville country club, known as " The House Rock club," and finds his chief relaxation from the cares of business in horseback riding.
Mr. Conway is a member of the Missionary Baptist church, in which he is a deacon. In politics he is a Democrat, and has never changed his party affiliation.
February 14, 1894, Mr. Conway married Maggie Bradford Brown. They have had one child, a daughter, who is now (1906) living.
Mr. Conway's address is 172 Sutherlin Avenue, Danville, Virginia.
WRIGHT S. COX
C OX, WRIGHT S., lawyer, was born January 25, 1872, at Fort Blakemore, Scott county, Virginia. His father, Emory M. Cox, farmer, county surveyor, supervisor, and district school trustee, was noted for firmness, energy and physi- cal prowess. His mother, Nancy Elizabeth Cox, a cultured woman, of strong intellect and exalted character and ideals, wielded a powerful and lasting influence on his life.
His ancestry is English. The founder of the American branch of the family was his paternal double great-grandfather, who came from England about 1710 and settled in the Yadkin valley, North Carolina. His great-grandfather, Daniel Cox, came from North Carolina to what is now Scott county, Virginia, in 1769-70, with Daniel Boone, and, a little later, in company with Colonel Blakemore, established the settlement which has since borne the name of Fort Blakemore. His grandfather, James S. Cox, M. D., was an eminent surgeon and physician.
Wright S. Cox was reared in the country and was healthy, strong and active, and fond of all outdoor life, games being especially fascinating to him. When ten years old, he lost his left eye through an accident. Very early, probably from seeing his father work and helping him, he developed a taste for mathe- matics and for using the compass, and decided to become a civil engineer. When not at school, he worked on the farm, doing anything that came to hand, even "logging " and rail-splitting.
He received his primary education at the country public schools, and was prepared for college at Riverview seminary. Before entering Roanoke college, where he was graduated A. B. in 1894, he had to earn the money to pay his way, and worked as a school teacher and as a surveyor; but, in his last year at Roanoke, his eye was so seriously injured in a game of tennis that it was not afterward strong enough for him to do surveying. Then he turned to the law, but more money had to be earned before he could enter Washington and Lee university, Lexington, for the law course.
yours Truly
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He left the university in 1898, and was shortly afterwards admitted to the bar, and began the practice of law. He soon began to take an active part in politics, as a Democrat. In 1899, he was elected commonwealth's attorney for Scott county, and served until January 1, 1904, making a most creditable record, especially in breaking up the illicit liquor traffic. He was Demo- cratic county chairman from 1898 to 1903, and is entitled to much credit for his work in helping to free the county from debt, placing it in a sound financial condition and getting the rate of taxation reduced. He is a member of the board of trustees of Shoemaker college, and local attorney for the Virginia and Southwestern Railway company, and the Virginia Iron, Coal and Coke company, and has a fine general practice.
His early reading was confined to the Bible and histories of the United States, England and Rome; but, later, he found | works on political economy and moral philosophy very helpful in fitting him for his career.
He thinks the only failures he has made were caused by permitting matters having no connection with his profession to absorb his attention, and offers this suggestion to aspiring youth : " Choose some honorable vocation and follow it honorably and strenuously ; ascertain the right and do it, and be firm and inflex- ible in character."
He is a Mason, and a member of the Presbyterian church. He finds enjoyable recreation in horseback riding and in walking, and healthful exercise in regular indoor athletics.
His address is Gate City, Scott County, Virginia.
THOMAS CLAIBORNE CREASY
C REASY, THOMAS CLAIBORNE, was born near Eving- ton on Buffalo Creek, in Campbell county, Virginia, October 6, 1839. His parents were George Creasy and Malinda Arthur, daughter of Thomas Arthur. His ancestors were among the first settlers in Bedford county, Virginia; and two of his great-grandfathers served in the Revolutionary war. His father's father was Claiborne Creasy. George Creasy, the father of the subject of this sketch, was by profession a farmer, and was noted for his industry and his fine crops.
Thomas Claiborne Creasy passed his childhood and youth on his father's farm, where he had no time to idle or play. Fortunately his physical condition was fair, and hard work strengthened his health and taught him the value of continuous effort. What education he received in these early days was obtained from an old field school, and in after years he had no opportunity for technical or collegiate work.
In 1858 he began to work for himself, and thinking that he could do better at selling goods than at farming, he went to Lynchburg and was a salesman in a store in a merchandizing establishment. When the War between the States broke out, he joined the Confederate army March 12, 1862, as private in the 11th Virginia infantry and served in all the battles in which the regiment had a part, till the fateful day of the surrender, April 9, 1865. He was twice wounded, and was once a prisoner.
After the war he began merchandizing on his own account at Hill Grove in Pittsylvania county, Virginia, and remained at that place till 1884. Then he removed to Elba, in the same county, where he continued in the merchandizing business till 1900, when he retired from merchandizing, and now confines himself to his duties as postmaster.
He has served the public in various offices: Justice of the peace from 1872 to 1884, mayor of Elba from January 12, 1903, and postmaster at Elba, from March 5, 1898 to the present time.
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yours Very Truly, Il Greasy
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THOMAS CLAIBORNE CREASY
Mr. Creasy is secretary and treasurer of the Elba Telephone company. He is a member of Anderson Lodge of Masons No. 258, and has been its treasurer for the past ten years. In politics he was a Democrat up to Cleveland's first administration, after which hard times came, and Mr. Creasy left the Democratic party for this reason. He is at present an independent in local politics and a Republican in national.
In religion Mr. Creasy inclines to the Methodist church, but he helps and encourages all religious denominations about him. He finds his recreation in his work, and cares little for the pursuits ordinarily called amusements. From his own expe- rience and observation in life he believes that the true way for a young man to attain success is to get an education, and be sober, industrious, kind, polite and economical. His advice to such is not to engage without knowledge in any business, and to seek advice from all who have experience in important undertakings.
On May 26, 1880, he married Eliza Lavalette Elliott, daughter of Allen W. and Susan Elliott, of Charlotte county, Virginia, and two children have blessed the marriage, both of whom still survive (1907).
His postoffice address is Elba, Pittsylvania County, Virginia.
JOHN CUSSONS
C USSONS, JOHN, soldier, historical writer, land owner, was born at Horncastle, Lincolnshire, England, in 1838, son of John and Elizabeth (Jackson) Cussons. In his youth he manifested an adventurous spirit which led him to take up his abode in America, in 1855, where, in the wilds of the Northwest, he spent the succeeding four years enlivened by hunting, adventure, and experiences among the Sioux Indians.
In 1859, he drifted to Selma, Alabama, where he engaged in newspaper work, and became half owner of the Selma " Re- porter." While connected with this journal, he gave vigorous support to the Bell and Everett presidential ticket of 1860; but, when the conflict between the states became inevitable, he quickly gave up his civic pursuits and prepared to join the Confederate army.
As soon as the state of Alabama had decided to secede from the Union, Mr. Cussons, who was a member of the governor's guard, joined the Confederate forces and took part in the occu- pation of Fort Morgan. This guard afterwards became a part of the 4th Alabama infantry, and, with the rank of lieutenant, he accompanied the command to Virginia, in April, 1861, where he found genial companionship amongst the braves of the Army of Northern Virginia. The regiment was placed in the brigade commanded by Gen. Barnard E. Bee, with whom Lieutenant Cussons served as a scout until the death of that lamented officer at Manassas on July 21, 1861. ยท
General Whiting, who succeeded General Bee, retained him as a scout until, at the Battle of Seven Pines, he was promoted captain and appointed to the staff of General E. M. Law, who succeeded to the command of the brigade. Thereafter, he was frequently assigned to outpost, flank, rearguard, and detached service.
During General Longstreet's Suffolk campaign, Captain Cussons surprised and captured Fort Stribling by a night attack, with a handful of picked men, and with but slight loss. In the
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campaign against General Pope, at the crisis when Longstreet must join Jackson through Thoroughfare Gap to effect a defeat of the enemy, the Gap being held by the Federals under General Ricketts, Cussons, with a hundred riflemen, climbed over the mountain and attacked Ricketts' outposts. This impetuous charge at nightfall, in that broken country, had instant results. The outposts and skirmishers were driven in on the flank, which in turn was stampeded, communicating disorder to the main body, and General Ricketts started forthwith on his wild night march-away from that mountain fastness, and from beleaguered Stonewall-through Haymarket and Gainesville, and out toward the entrenchments of Manassas, fifteen miles from Thoroughfare Gap. At nine o'clock the next morning, August 29, 1862, Captain Cussons found General Jackson, and delivered the welcome intel- ligence that Longstreet was through the Gap and that the head of his column was fast approaching on the Warrenton pike.
At dawn on the third day of the struggle at Gettysburg, Captain Cussons was captured on the slope of Round Top, and from the crest of the hill, as a prisoner of war, he witnesed the splendid attack of Pickett's corps that afternoon. He was con- fined at Fort McHenry, Fort Delaware, Johnson's Island, and Point Lookout. After eight months' prison experience, he was exchanged and returned to the army. At that time he found his old division in the West, where he served until the close of the war, being, at the end, with Forrest's cavalry.
Just after the capture of Fort Stribling, by the Federal troops, in 1862, Captain Cussons was a principal in a duelling episode with Colonel Belo, which illustrates one phase of his character, as well as the Southern vendetta spirit of the time. Neither Colonel Belo nor Captain Cussons had anything to do with the action during which the fort was captured, but half a mile further up the Nansemond river, the latter had some rifle pits where his sharpshooters were doing good work. If the enemy should secure a footing on that side of the river, the effect would be to force Cussons to retire. That was his interest in the matter. A swift counterstroke might recover the fort, he reasoned, and he hastened to the nearest troops and gave orders without authority. There was some delay and some confusion,
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and not much concert of action. Night came on, the opportune moment passed, and Cussons abandoned the undertaking.
Colonel Belo was not present; but, when he learned what had occurred with his command, he sent Cussons a polite note inviting explanations and suggesting the logical alternative, pistols or rifles. Cussons, conceiving that explanations would be tedious and apologetic, and perhaps mutually unsatisfactory, asked Colonel Goldsby to take the matter up and assent to any arrange- ment that might be agreeable. The preliminaries were quickly arranged for a duel with " Mississippi rifles."
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