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 7
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23
In politics he is a Democrat, who has never wavered in the support of his party, and in religious preference he is a member of the Episcopal Church, having been for several years senior warden of Christ church parish, Lancaster county. Judge Ewell has never outgrown the delicate constitution of his youth, but he has accomplished much, and no other person in Virginia stands higher in the affection and esteem of his countrymen.
How may young men attain success in life and how may the ideals of American manhood be elevated and strengthened ? Judge Ewell gives the answer in the following words: "Let the youth of the land cultivate the sensibilities, the intellect, and, above all, the will power, and they will become reliable. With a reputation for reliability and with average health, success in life is assured."
Judge Ewell has never married.
His address is Bertrand, Lancaster County, Virginia.
Wishington, DIE
your truly
CHARLES JAMES FAULKNER
F AULKNER, CHARLES JAMES, was born at Halifax court-house, now Houston, July 18, 1848. He was the son of Leander Faulkner and Sarah Elizabeth Green, his wife. On both his father's and his mother's side, he comes from representative Virginia parentage.
The Faulkners were originally from Scotland, and emigrated to Elizabeth City county, Virginia, about 1676. Among his ancestors more than ordinarily distinguished were his maternal great great-grandfather, Nathaniel Terry, member of the house of burgesses; his great-grandfather, Berryman Green, an officer in the Revolutionary war and a close friend of General Wash- ington ; and his grandfather, Thomas J. Green, a distinguished lawyer of Halifax county, who was for thirty-five years common- wealth's attorney. Charles James Faulkner's father was a doc- tor of medicine, and was characterized by firmness, evenness of temper, and probity.
Charles James Faulkner was a strong and healthy boy, who, while he liked to play and pursue outdoor sports, was fond of reading and studying. He passed his early life in a village, where he spent most of the time at school, though he had to help with the daily manual tasks. He was very fond of books, and the influence upon him of his mother, which was intellectual and spiritual, was very great. He attended Mount Laurel academy, of which Pike Powers was principal, and, in 1868, went to the University of Virginia, where he stayed two years. After returning home, he taught four years and, while thus engaged, he studied law in private, and in 1874 began to practice in Mecklenburg county. He has pursued the law profession ever since, meeting with great success and winning the confidence of his fellow citizens. He has held no political or civic office, but since 1898 has been president of the Bank of Mecklenburg.
Mr. Faulkner is popular with his friends, and is sociable and agreeable in conversation. While at the University of Virginia, he was a member of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity. Later in
132
CHARLES JAMES FAULKNER
life, he was master of Fitzwilson lodge of "The Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons," which met at Boydton, Virginia, and he is now master of Boydton lodge.
In religious affiliation, he is an Episcopalian, and has always taken an active part in church affairs. He has often represented his parish in the councils of the church, and he served as one of the deputies from the diocese of Southern Virginia to the general convention of the Protestant Episcopal church in the United States which met in Washington, District of Columbia, in 1898. In politics he is a Democrat, and he has never deviated from the principles of his party.
In 1873, Mr. Faulkner was married to Lucy A. Harrison, daughter of William H. Harrison, of The Wigwam, Amelia county, Virginia. They have had seven children, six of whom are now (1906) living. Three of the sons have taken the M. A. degree at the University of Virginia. The younger children reside with their parents in their beautiful home, " The Maples," Boydton, Mecklenburg County, Virginia.
1, 9%
Mon S Mark Publishing Washington, DC
Cordially yours Robert H, Fleming.
ROBERT HANSON FLEMING
F LEMING, ROBERT HANSON, D. D., Presbyterian minister, was born in Highland county, Virginia, October 12, 1846. His father, Wiliam Wier Fleming was a merchant and grazier, and his integrity and honesty won for him the confidence of the community. He was presiding justice of his county as well as a member of the house of dele- gates of Virginia. The mother, Margaret L. Fleming, died while Mr. Fleming was still a youth, but left an abiding influence on her son's life.
Fleming is a surname derived from Flandrensis, a native of Flanders. In the Chartularies of Paisley and Kelso, it is written Flandrensis, Flaming and Flammaticus, originally borne by one who came from Flanders. Among those who accompanied Wil- liam the Conqueror to England was Sir Michael le Fleming, a relative of Baldwin earl of Flanders, whose descendants still exist, and enjoy a baronetcy in the county of Westmoreland. The Scots Flemings descended from natives of Flanders, the most enterprising merchants of their time, who in the twelfth century emigrated first to England, whence being banished, they removed to Scotland. Sir Robert Fleming was one of the chief men of Scotland who proposed the marriage of the Princess Margaret of Scotland to Prince Edward at Brigham, 12th March, 1289-90. He was the first to join Robert the Bruce in his attempt to obtain the crown, and recover the independence of Scotland, and assisted at the slaughter of Comyn at Dumfries in 1305. The barony of Cumbernauld in Lanarkshire, which had belonged to the Comyns, was bestowed upon him by King Robert. His grandson, Governor of Dumbarton Castle, followed the fortunes of King David Bruce whom he accompanied to France. He was the first earl of Wigton. Under Mary Stuart many of the family were driven out of Scotland, most of them finding refuge in Londonderry, Ireland, from which place James Fleming ancestor of William Wier emigrated to Nova Scotia, in 1760. A little earlier, John Lewis, his materal ancestor, and
136
ROBERT HANSON FLEMING
father of General Andrew Lewis, the " Hero of Point Pleasant," also came from Ireland, settling in Augusta county, Virginia.
Mr. Fleming's early youth was spent in the village of Monterey, where he took an active part in all the manly sports and enjoyed most robust health. During the war he served as a midshipman in the Confederate navy, from September, 1864, until he was paroled under the Sherman-Johnston agreement of May 11, 1865. He was one of the company of midshipmen selected by President Jefferson Davis to act as a convoy for the records of the government on the evacuation of Richmond, and as an escort for Mrs. Davis and her little children in their journey through North and South Carolina into Georgia.
His education was begun at the Highland academy, Monterey, and, after the interruption caused by the war, he entered Washington college, Washington and Lee university, where his industry and improvement won him the special com- mendation of the president, Robert E. Lee. He won the medal of the Washington Literary society, given to the best debater, and was graduated with honor in 1871.
Very early in life Mr. Fleming felt that he was called to the ministry, and, to prepare himself for this work he attended lectures at the Union Theological seminary, then at Hampden- Sidney, now at Richmond, Virginia, where he was graduated in 1874. In 1892, Washington and Lee university conferred upon him the honorary degree of D. D., and in 1898 he began service as trustee of this institution.
Dr. Fleming's first pastorates were in Lexington and Winchester presbyteries; his first charge was in Franklin, West Virginia, and his present church is one of the strongest in Lynchburg. He is a man of eloquent and persuasive power in his pulpit ministrations and in the councils of his denomination; he places duty before self-interest or the interests even of his friends, and has earned the confidence and affection not only of the membership of his own communion but that of the entire society in which he labors. He has been moderator of the synod of Virginia, chairman of the committee of Evangelization and chairman of Home Missions in Montgomery presbytery. In the western section of the "Presbyterian Alliance," which
137
ROBERT HANSON FLEMING
includes all the Presbyterian bodies of the world, he has been, for many years, one of the official representatives of the South- ern Presbyterian church. He is also a member of the Victoria Institute, a philosophical society of London, England.
Among the formative influences of life Dr. Fleming places a taste for books. The reading of newspapers, to keep in touch with the events of the present, and of history and biography, to gain inspiration from the deeds of the past, he considers as second only to the careful study of the Holy Scriptures. He believes that a young man should have a purpose early in life, find something to do, and do it honestly and well, keeping watchful care to be prepared in advance for the duties that may devolve upon him.
Dr. Fleming is a Democrat in politics. He finds most of his recreation in change of work, although he allows himself every year a vacation in the country; he is also a member of a boating club.
On June 24, 1875 Dr. Fleming married Lucy Ward Randolph, a descendant of Richard Randolph of Curles, through Brett and Henry Ward Randolph. Mrs. Fleming died in 1900. She was a woman of rare gifts. Prof. G. Brown Goode, in " Virginia Cousins " writes of her: "From a very early age she manifested a love for belles letters. Her endowments of mind and heart are of a very superior order, and have been developed by a unique educational process, in which theory and experience have been wisely blended." Her poems, essays and sketches have been read and admired by the readers of a large number of the prominent religious journals of the country, as well as by many of the literary periodicals also. Her "Little Talks to Little Missionaries " have been translated into the Portuguese language. One daughter was born to them, Mary Randolph. who is an A. M. of Randolph-Macon Woman's Col- lege, Lynchburg, Virginia, in which institution she is assistant professor of history.
Dr. Fleming's address is Lynchburg, Virginia.
WILLIAM WORTH GEORGE
G EORGE, WILLIAM WORTH, grazier and stock-farmer, was born in Giles county, Virginia, November 7, 1839. His father was Thomas Jefferson George, also a farmer and stock-raiser, who, for several terms, represented the county of Tazewell in the general assembly of Virginia in the earlier half of the nineteenth century, and was at one time high sheriff of Tazewell.
Mr. George's paternal grandfather was a native of Ireland, who settled when quite a youth in that part of Tazewell county in which the town of Tazewell is now situated. His maternal great-grandfather was Mitchell Clay, of English descent, who in 1775 came from Franklin county to the Clover Bottoms on the Bluestone creek. He was first cousin of Henry Clay of Ken- tucky. As assignee of Lieutenant Draper, he was granted 800 acres of land on Bluestone creek. He was obliged to take possession of this land within three years, clear a certain area each year, and pay a ground rent to the British government. In 1760 he married Phoebe Belcher, of Franklin county, by whom he had fourteen children. Colonel George Pearis, the maternal grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was a colonel in the Revolutionary war, and was severely wounded in the battle with the Tories at the Shallow ford of the Yadkin river in North Carolina. He was twice married: First, to Eleanor Howe, who died in 1780 without issue, and second, on October 5, 1784, to Rebecca, daughter of Mitchell Clay. Of this marriage there were nine children, of whom the youngest, Eleanor Howe Pearis, married Thomas J. George, and became the mother of the subject of this sketch.
The county seat of Giles county, " Pearisburg," Virginia, was named in honor of Colonel George Pearis, and he donated fifty-three acres of land to said county upon which the court- house and other public buildings were erected. The first court held in this county was in his house, May 12, 1806.
Of the near relatives of Mr. W. W. George, each of whom served for several terms in the state legislature, were his uncles,
Men of Mark Publishing Co Washington,DC
yours July w.w. George
141
WILLIAM WORTH GEORGE
Harvey George; and John B. George, in whose house the first court in Tazewell county was held.
Mr. George was reared in the country. From boyhood he had a natural fondness for stock and for all outdoor occupations. As soon as he was old enough to work, he performed all kinds of manual labor about the farm, in which he has always taken a deep interest; and to his youthful training in this direction, he attributes whatever of success he has attained in life.
Mr. George received his education in the " old field schools " which flourished in that day; and after completing their courses, he began the active work of life at an early age as a farmer and stock-raiser at Broadford, Smyth county, Virginia. From that time Mr. George's business has been along the same lines of farming, grazing, and buying and selling cattle. For a number of years he held the position of purchasing agent for the Stuart Land and Cattle company, a large agricultural and stock-dealing corporation of Southwest Virginia ; and he is now the president of the Saltville bank, at Saltville, Virginia.
Mr. George's career as a soldier in the War between the States was a gallant and devoted one. He enlisted in May, 1861, as a private in Company H, 59th Virginia regiment, Wise's legion, which was reorganized in April, 1862. Then he became an orderly sergeant of Company H, 26th Virginia battalion, Echols' brigade, Breckenridge's division, and was elected second lieutenant of the same company in August, 1862. He served in this capacity until he was captured at Cold Harbor, June 3, 1864, and taken North, where he was confined in Federal prisons, including Point Lookout, Maryland; and Fort Delaware. Later, he was one of the six hundred commissioned officers who were taken to Morris Island, South Carolina, where they were placed under the fire of their own guns, and where he remained a prisoner until June 17, 1865. An interesting account of Lieu- tenant George's prison experience was contributed by his former companion in arms, W. T. Baldwin, to the Confederate column of the "Richmond Dispatch " of April 8, 1901. His brother, Captain A. G. P. George, of Company I, 60th Virginia regiment, received special commendation for his services in the Seven Days' fight around Richmond, Virginia, in 1862, and was in command Vol. 3-Va .- 7
142
WILLIAM WORTH GEORGE
of his regiment, acting as colonel, at the surrender at Appo- mattox.
Mr. George is a Democrat in his political beliefs and associa- tions, and has been honored by his fellow-citizens with prominent and responsible public positions. He has served for two terms as supervisor of Smyth county; and during the session of 1902- 1903 he represented the counties of Smyth and Bland in the house of delegates of Virginia. In religious preference he is a Methodist.
On September 27, 1866, Mr. George married Mary E. Roberts. They have had five children, of whom three are (1907) living.
Biographical sketches of Mr. George have been published in various newspapers.
His address is Broadford, Smyth County, Virginia.
1
JOHN GOODE
OODE, JOHN, solicitor-general, publicist, was born May 27, 1829, in the county of Bedford, in full view of the Peaks of Otter. His father, John Goode, was a farmer, a man of remarkable intelligence and of high integrity, a typical Virginian of the old school. His mother was Ann M. Leftwich, the granddaughter of Joel Leftwich, a gallant soldier in the War of the Revolution, and major-general in the War of 1812. To her influence and training Mr. Goode " owes all he is;" and few Virginians will need to be told what kind of a woman she must have been.
Mr. Goode received his early training at the New London academy, Bedford county, Virginia; then, entered Emory and Henry college, Virginia, from which he was graduated in 1848. After that, he attended the Lexington Law school, from which he was graduated in 1850. In April, 1851, Mr. Goode began the practice of law at Liberty, Virginia, and in the same year was elected to the legislature of Virginia. In 1861 Mr. Goode was a member of the now famous secession convention which took Vir- ginia out of the Union. He threw himself with all his enthu- siasm and his great ability, into the Southern cause, regarding the struggle of the South as a struggle for constitutional liberty and the rights of freemen. He was twice elected to the Confederate congress, serving from February 22, 1862, to the end of the war. During the recesses of congress he served as aide-de-camp on the staff of Gen. Jubal A. Early. After the war he settled in Norfolk to practice his profession. While living there he was again elected to the legislature; served in Democratic national conventions; and represented his district in congress for three terms. As a political speaker he thrust with a keen, but an un- poisoned rapier, and made many friends and some political enemies. In May, 1885, he was appointed solicitor-general of the United States, and retained the office until August, 1886. As solicitor-general, as a member of the Chilean Claims com- mission, as congressman, member of various conventions, Mr.
144
JOHN GOODE
Goode has earned a wide reputation as a publicist. In addition to this, and as possibly the crowning honor of his life, he was, without opposition, elected president of the Virginia Constitu- tional convention of 1901-1902, a position which he filled with honor and distinction.
Besides these political honors and preferments, Mr. Goode has been honored on another side. His chaste and polished style in public discourse and his eloquence in the forum, have made him one of the most prominent speakers in Virginia. His tributes to the past glories of his state, his great enthusiasm for her heroes, especially those of the war between the sections, have stirred the hearts of thousands whose names are unknown to him. In recognition of these abilities, both Emory and Henry college and the College of William and Mary have conferred upon him the degree of LL. D., and in so doing honored them- selves as much as they did him. To show his interest in keeping up the great memories of the past, Mr. Goode has joined the Sons of the American Revolution, and the United Confederate veterans. His interest in literary matters was clearly proved when he traveled from Washington to Richmond to join the William and Mary chapter of the old Phi Beta Kappa society, which met in Richmond on Jefferson's birthday, 1903-the first meeting of that famous society ever known to have been held in Richmond.
·The Goodes are descended from John Goode, who emigrated from England prior to 1660, and settled at Whitby, near Rich- mond, Virginia.
As sources of inspiration and culture, Mr. Goode believes in the Bible and in Shakespeare. In this matter he is in touch with the best critical acumen of the age; for eminent literary men advise us to draw our English from these two noble foun- tains. In religious preference, Mr. Goode is a liberal Episcopa- lian, which means that he has been for nearly seventy-five years hearing large parts of the Bible read publicly, Sunday after Sunday, a fact which helps to account for his use of "English undefiled."
As already said, Mr. Goode was president of the Virginia Constitutional convention of 1901-1902. This honor came to
145
JOHN GOODE
him as the spontaneous expression of admiration for him on the part of two generations of younger Virginians. When the venerable delegate from Bedford county appeared, the whole convention seemed to feel that he was the most suitable man to preside over their deliberations. His election was unanimous.
Mr. Goode has recently published a book entitled " Recollec- tions of a Life Time " which has been well received by the reading public not only in Virginia but in the country at large.
On July 10, 1853, Mr. Goode was married to Sallie Urquhart; they have had five children, of whom three are now living.
His address is Number 1425 New York Avenue, N. W., Washington, District of Columbia.
SAMUEL GRIFFIN
G T RIFFIN, SAMUEL, soldier, teacher, lawyer, was born in Salem, Roanoke county, Virginia, June 25, 1840; and his parents were John H. Griffin and Sarah J. McClanahan. His ancestors on his father's side came from Scotland and on his mother's side from Ireland. His father was a physician of standing and repute who served as presiding justice of the county court of Roanoke and by virtue of that office was sheriff of the county. He was a zealous practitioner of medicine and a citizen who did not hesitate to expose and condemn all wrong-doing in his community. His son, the subjcet of this sketch, was a healthy country lad who loved sport more than books and was free to go and come as he pleased. He attended Kenyon college, Ohio, and graduated in 1860 with the degree of Master of Arts. He then secured a position at Shelby college, Kentucky, and taught a few months, till the War between the States broke out. As his sympathies were entirely with the South, he resigned in May, 1861, and returned home with a view to entering the Confederate army. Mr. Badger, the president of Shelby college, wrote to his father that he expected never to be better pleased with any other one occupying the same position and relations.' Soon after reaching Salem Mr. Griffin entered as a private in the Salem light artillery. With this command he was on duty at Craney Island, until the evacuation of Norfolk, when he was transferred as a private to the 2nd Virginia cavalry regiment commanded by Colonel Thomas T. Munford, afterwards brigadier-general.
Of this gallant regiment he was soon promoted sergeant- major, and subsequently acted as adjutant, a capacity in which he served, except as hereinafter related, until the close of the war. His record of service, honorably performed, includes the operations of the Craney Island battery, the cavalry skirmish in which Ashby fell, Sharpsburg, and the fights in the Valley, the Seven Days' fighting before Richmond, Brandy Station, Second Manassas, Gettysburg, the Wilderness, Trevilians, Yellow
. Men of Mark Publishing Co Washington, D C.
Very Dance
149
SAMUEL GRIFFIN
Tavern, the fight with Sheridan at Winchester, and many minor engagements. In 1864 he was recommended for promotion to captain by Colonel Munford, General Wickham, and General Fitzhugh Lee, with the approval of General R. E. Lee, on account of conspicuous gallantry. In this connection Colonel Munford wrote: "At Gooch's farm I saw him ride out alone and discharge his pistol six times into the Yankee column at a distance of sixty yards. The same day he led an attack with two men, supported by a detachment from my regiment, and by his dash and gallantry made some thirty men of Battery M, 2nd United States artillery, surrender to him, with their arms and four caissons, before the support arrived. In the attack on Wilson's raiders, near Reams Station, on June 28th, he led two others in a charge on a party of eleven of the enemy, headed by Lieutenant-Colonel Lewis, of the 3rd New Jersey cavalry, and two other officers, pressing them so hotly as to cause them to abandon their horses and equipment and seek safety in the bushes. The horses, equip- ment, etc., of the party were secured by him and brought safely off. During the battles around Richmond in 1862, he captured the colonel of the 4th New York infantry and three other officers, all armed cap-a-pie. He was wounded at Shepherdstown and was particularly distinguished at Todd's Tavern, Trevilians and Nance's Shop."
In another and more recent letter General Munford declares: " In my four years of experience as Colonel of a regiment, com- manding first one and then another brigade and division, I never saw his superior in all the qualifications in any position he was called upon to fill. In the absence of the adjutant by sickness or wounds, he filled temporarily, but most acceptably, the vacancy, and in the absence of the adjutant-general of the 2nd brigade of cavalry, I often detailed him to act as my aide-de-camp, and he filled the post as assistant adjutant-general with a zeal and energy never surpassed." This gallant trooper was also wounded at Warrenton and at Todd's Tavern, and while at home on a brief furlough in 1863, was captured near Salem by General Averell, but, fortunately, made his escape the same night. After Appo- mattox he was paroled at Lynchburg, where his regiment was disbanded. He then took up the study of law at Salem, was
150
SAMUEL GRIFFIN
admitted to the bar in 1867, and since then has held a prominent place in the legal profession. He maintains his office at Roanoke and also an office and his residence at Bedford City. In 1880-81, he served in the legislature as a representative of Bedford county, and in 1886 was nominated by the Democratic party to succeed John W. Daniel as representative in congress after the latter had been elected to the United States senate, but failed of election because of the over-confidence of his friends. Since this unex- pected result he has persistently declined to be a candidate for office. For twenty years he has served as local counsel of the Norfolk and Western railroad and is still in active practice, being regarded as one of the leading lawyers of Southwest Virginia.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.