USA > Virginia > Men of mark in Virginia, ideals of American life; a collection of biographies of the leading men in the state, Volume V > Part 16
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James Margits
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JAMES MACGILL
Dr. C. G. W. Macgill, surgeon of the 2nd Virginia infantry, went at once to the defence of Virginia; while the other two brothers, William D. and Davidge, enlisted in the 1st Maryland cavalry. All four rendered effective service.
Their father, Dr. Charles Macgill, at the time major-general of the Maryland militia, was arrested by the United States authorities, and was imprisoned at Fort Warren, Boston harbor, until 1863. When released, he at once went South and served as a surgeon in the Confederate army until the surrender of Lee.
In April, 1861, James Macgill became identified with the secret service of the Confederacy. In June (15th to 18th) 1863, he acted as guide to General A. G. Jenkins in his advance into Pennsylvania. He served for the next two years with Company C, 1st Maryland cavalry; he was with Stonewall Jackson in the Valley campaign, and he shared in the Gettysburg campaign, riding under the leadership of General J. E. B. Stuart and Gen- eral Early. He was with Hampton at Trevillian's. In the latter part of 1864 he was detailed for duty with topographical engineers, serving until Appomattox, in locating the breast-works and field defences of the last Virginia campaign. He was cap- tain of engineers, under General A. P. Hill, at Petersburg.
Paroled at Appomattox, he returned to Maryland, and at Baltimore he was arrested during the excitement that followed the assassination of President Lincoln, and was in prison from April 18th until May 1st. Since May, 1865, he has been a citizen of Virginia.
At the close of the war, convinced that the study of his chosen profession, medicine, would take more of time and money than the war had left at his ready command, he established him- self in Pulaski county in the summer of 1865, and began life as a farmer. While he has been actively interested in the public welfare and the politics of his chosen state, he has held no civil office, except that of county magistrate from 1875 until 1879.
He was active in organizing the James Breathead camp of United Confederate volunteers, of Pulaski county, and he was commander of the same for seven years. He has been third lieutenant commander, second lieutenant commander, in 1901 first lieutenant commander, and in 1902-1903, grand commander
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JAMES MACGILL
of the grand camp of Virginia. He was elected (October 10, 1900) and commissioned brigadier-general of the second brigade, Virginia division, United Confederate veterans, and has been re- elected to this command for eight consecutive years.
On the 12th of February, 1868, he married Miss Mary Belle Pierce, a niece of General J. E. B. Stuart. Of their four chil- dren, two are living in 1908. Their mother died in February, 1879. On November 16, 1904, General Macgill married Miss Lucy Lee Hill, daughter of Lieutenant-General A. P. Hill and niece of Major-General John K. Morgan.
In politics, General Macgill has always been a Democrat. For years he has been a vestryman of the Protestant Episcopal church at Pulaski. To young Virginians who would succeed in life, he offers this striking advice :
"Never be afraid to refuse drink of all kinds except water. Never play cards for money. Never use tobacco in any form." And he adds, "I have always 'run with the boys' and enjoyed life more than any of those I associated with; and I never have been sick in my life; and I have followed the advice given above."
yours truly Ja. W. Marshall 1
JAMES WILLIAM MARSHALL
M ARSHALL, JAMES WILLIAM, was born in Augusta county, March 31, 1844, and his parents were Mansfield Marshall and Sarah A. Parsons. His paternal grand- father, William Marshall, was of Scotch-Irish lineage and came to Virginia from the north of Ireland. The subject of this sketch grew up in the country, and when not at school performed the work incident to a farm life, which was beneficial to his rather delicate constitution. He attended the ordinary county schools and Mossy Creek academy, but when the War between the States broke out he joined the army of Northern Virginia, commanded by General Lee, July 16, 1861, at Staunton, Virginia, and for four years shared in the exposures of the camp and dangers of battle. He was wounded in the leg at the " Bloody Angle," Spottsylvania court-house, May 12, 1864, and when the war closed retired to his home with the character of a brave soldier and true patriot.
After the war he attended Roanoke college, and in 1870, received the medal for oratory and the degree of Bachelor of Arts. He next read law in a lawyer's office as well as at home, and in 1872, began the practice of the profession. In spite of very limited means, a wounded limb which has occasioned much pain, and the rugged climate of Southwest Virginia, Mr. Marshall has accomplished many successes. For thirty years he has carried on a successful practice in the courts, and since 1893 he has been local counsel for the Chesapeake and Ohio rail- road, and since 1901 has been one of the attorneys for the Low Moor Iron company. His free and open manners and fervid declamation have secured for him among his friends the soubriquet of "The Cyclone of the Southwest," and he has received many political honors in a county where the opposing party in politics is very strong. For twelve years he served his county as commonwealth's attorney; for eight years as state senator; for two terms as member of the lower house of the Virginia legislature; for two years as member of congress; and
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JAMES WILLIAM MARSHALL
in 1902, he was a member of the Constitutional convention. In the various conventions of his party he has always held a promi- nent position, and he has been both a district elector and an elector at large; and by appointment of the governor has served on the boards of several of the charitable institutions and state institutions.
Mr. Marshall states the relative strength of influence upon his life in the following order; home, school, private study, con- tact with men in active life, early companionship. He is not the author of any literary work, though he contemplates a series of articles upon his recollections of the eminent statesmen, soldiers and divines whom he has known in public life.
In politics he has given thirty-four years of active and untiring work to the service of the Democratic party and has never changed. In religion he is affiliated with the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.
In early life he was fond of quiet home games with his friends. Since the war, he has found relaxation in long outdoor walks, and has relieved nervousness, induced by work and the wound in battle, by pursuing this form of exercise, even at night.
By rights of both education and personal inclination, both Mr. Marshall and his wife have enjoyed excellent social position, accepting and offering hospitalities in the old Virginia style.
On February 29, 1872, Mr. Marshall married Virginia, a daughter of Dr. H. M. Grant, and four children were born of this union, of whom two sons survive at this writing.
Mr. Marshall's address is New Castle, Craig County, Vir- ginia.
EDWARD CAMPBELL MEAD
M EAD, EDWARD CAMPBELL, was born in the town of Newton, Middlesex county, Massachusetts, Jan- uary 12, 1837. His father was the Reverend Zechariah Mead, who was a prominent minister of the Protestant Epis- copal church, and who was graduated from Yale college in 1825, and from the Episcopal Theological seminary of Virginia in 1830. The Reverend Zechariah Mead was born at Greenwich, Connecticut, in 1801, and died in Richmond, Virginia, in 1840, having been at one time editor of " The Southern Churchman." Mr. Edward C. Mead's mother was Anna Maria Hickman.
The earliest emigrant to America in the Mead family was Gabriel Mead, who was called "Goodman Mead." He was born in 1587 and died in 1666, having landed in the colony of Massa- chusetts Bay in 1635. Mr. Edward C. Mead's line is directly sprung from the celebrated Doctor Richard Mead, of Stepney, England; and among his other ancestors was General John Mead.
On his mother's side he is the only living great-grandson of General William Hull, who was with General Washington in the War of the American Revolution, and who later became governor of the Northwest Territory. In the War of 1812, with Great Britain, General Hull was commander-in-chief of the forces sent against the British in Canada, but owing to the failure of the government to send him support, he was com- pelled to surrender Detroit. Commodore Isaac Hull was a nephew of General William Hull. Mr. Mead's maternal grand- father was Captain C. C. Hickman, who was aide to General Hull. He afterwards enlisted in the United States navy and died in the West Indies.
Mr. Mead's childhood and youth were characterized by a delicate condition of health, which persisted until after he was grown. He spent the first twelve years of his life in the country; and from that time until he was twenty-five years of age he lived in a city. He was never compelled to perform
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EDWARD CAMPBELL MEAD
manual labor in youth; and the work which he did with his hands on the farm was for pleasure, though he found it bene- ficial to his health and strength.
His father died when he was four years old; and although his means were ample for the acquisition of a collegiate or university education, yet his health was such as to preclude per- sistent study, and he did not take a college course. The last school which he attended was the Ridgeway academy, conducted by the late Franklin Minor, of Albemarle county, Virginia, which he left in 1856.
In 1858 Mr. Mead made a voyage from New York to Mel- bourne, Australia, and thence to Java, Batavia, Singapore, and the East, returning to Boston around the Cape of Good Hope, late in the fall of 1859. This voyage was undertaken by him for the benefit of his health which was thereby restored. From 1859 to 1861 he attempted a mercantile life in Richmond, Vir- ginia, which he was compelled to give up; and in 1862 he left Richmond, and moved to Albemarle county, where he has since resided, engaged in farming and in literary pursuits.
Mr. Mead had from boyhood a taste for writing, and in 1853 he began to furnish correspondence from Philadelphia to some of the Richmond newspapers. His physical condition did not admit of his performance of military service during the War between the States; and in the years 1862 and 1863 he was a contributor to the "Southern Literary Messenger," then under the editorship of the late Doctor George W. Bagby.
He has written the following works :- "Genealogical History of the Lee Family of Virginia and Maryland " (University Publishing Company, New York, 1866) ; "A Biographical Sketch of Anna Maria Mead Chalmers (Everett Waddey Company, Richmond, Virginia, 1893) ; "Historic Homes of the South- west Mountains of Virginia " (J. B. Lippincott, Philadelphia, 1899). He is now (1908) at work on a book to be called " The Historic Homes of Virginia," which will contain accounts of the most famous seats in the state, with colored book-plates, and genealogical and biographical sketches of the families that have occupied them. In addition to his other literary work, Mr. Mead was editor of the genealogical department of the " Balti-
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EDWARD CAMPBELL MEAD
more Sun " during 1904 and 1905, since which time he has con- ducted the genealogical department of the Richmond " Times- Dispatch."
His biography has appeared in "Herringshaw's Encyclo- pedia of American Biography," and in "Who's Who in America."
Mr. Mead is a member of the Protestant Episcopal church ; and is a Democrat in politics. He has held no public office save the postmastership at Keswick, Virginia, during the first admin- istration of President Cleveland.
On November 21, 1861, he married Emily Augusta Bur- goyne; who died on July 12, 1905. They have had eight chil- dren, of whom seven are now (1908) living.
The address of Mr. Mead is Keswick, Albemarle County, Virginia.
ELLISON COOKE MEANS
M EANS, ELLISON COOKE, chemist and iron-master, was born in Ashland, Boyd county, Kentucy, December 16, 1864. His father was John Means, an iron manu- facturer and banker, who moved from Ohio to Kentucky in 1853, and settled in Ashland. His mother was Harriet E. Hildreth, daughter of Doctor Samuel P. Hildreth of Marietta, Ohio.
On his father's side Mr. Means is of Scotch-Irish descent. His colonial ancestor in the Means line came at an early date from Ireland, and settled in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, whence the family later moved south to Spartansburg, South Carolina. His great-grandfather, John Means, who was a slave-holder in South Carolina, went from that state to West Union, Ohio, in 1820, and emancipated his slaves. His grandfather, Thomas W. Means, was one of the leading iron-masters in Hanging Rock district of Ohio. On his mother's side, he comes of the Puritan stock of New England. His maternal grandfather was Doctor Samuel Prescott Hildreth, distinguished not only in the medical profession but also for his scientific investigations and writings. Doctor Hildreth, who was born in Methuen, Massachusetts, obtained a medical degree, settled in New Hampshire, whence in a few years he moved to Ohio, locating at Marietta in 1808. He served in the Ohio legislature, and was a member of the state geological survey. He was a prolific writer on geology, meteoro- logy and paleontology. He published a " History of the Diseases and Climate of Southeastern Ohio," "Results of Meteoro- logical Observations made at Marietta in 1826-59," and other works, including " Lives of the Early Settlers of Ohio."
The subject of this sketch grew up in the town of Ashland, Kentucky, where he attended the local schools, and later went for three years to Marietta college, Ohio. His father's business as an iron manufacturer turned his thoughts in the direction of acquiring a scientific education; and he became a student in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, at Boston. Here, from 1884 to 1887, he pursued courses in mining engineering and metallurgy; and in 1887 he began the active work of life in the
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ELLISON COOKE MEANS
capacity of chemist to the Low Moor Iron company of Virginia, at Low Moor, Alleghany county, Virginia.
In 1889 he became secretary to the general manager at Low Moor; and in 1890 he returned to Kentucky to take the position of secretary of the Kentucky Iron, Coal and Manufacturing com- pany. In 1891 he was made superintendent of the Ashland Coal and Iron Railway company of Kentucky, and in 1900 he became vice-president of the Yellow Poplar Lumber company of Coal Grove, Ohio. In 1901 he returned to Low Moor as general manager of the Low Moor Iron company of Virginia. Since 1892 he has been its president. In 1907 he was elected president of the Yellow Poplar Lumber company which has extensive timber lands in Buchanan and Dickinson counties, Virginia.
During his stay in Kentucky, from 1890 to 1900, he held posi- tions in a number of other companies. From 1890 to 1891 he was first treasurer of the Ashland Steel company, and from 1895 to 1900 its vice-president; from 1890 to 1892 he was vice-president of the Norton Iron Works of Ashland, and president of the Clin- ton Fire Brick Works of the same place from 1891 to 1900, serv- ing in the meantime on the directorate of several other important corporations.
Mr. Means is a member of the American Institute of Mining Engineers and of the American Society for Testing Materials. He holds a non-resident membership in the Westmoreland club of Richmond, Virginia.
He is a Presbyterian; and is indentified in politics with the Republican party ; but has changed his party allegiance when in his judgment, conditions demanded a change in local and state elections and upon local issues.
He married on October 5, 1892, Ruby Ringo, who is a de- scendant of the Cresap family of Maryland and Kentucky, and a daughter of Willis L. Ringo, a lieutenant in the Confederate army, assistant secretary of state, and secretary of state, under Governor S. B. Buckner. They have had two children, Harriet Evelyn Means and John Ringo Means, both of whom are (1907) living.
The address of Mr. Means is Low Moor, Alleghany County, Virginia.
Vol. 5-Va .- 15
JOHN LEYBURN MERCER
M ERCER, JOHN LEYBURN, was born August 2, 1849, and his parents were John Cyrus Mercer and Mary Catherine Waller. On both sides Mr. Mercer is de- scended from families distinguished in the history of Virginia. His paternal ancestor was the gallant General Hugh Mercer, who was killed in the battle of Princeton, and to whose memory con- gress has, after long years of waiting, erected a monument. General Mercer left a son, Colonel Hugh Mercer, who was born in Fredericksburg, August 4, 1776, and died there December 1, 1853. By his wife, Louisa Griffin, daughter of Judge Cyrus Griffin and Lady Christiana Stuart, daughter of the sixth earl of Traquair, he had John Cyrus Mercer, father of the subject of this sketch. On the other hand the Wallers descend from Colonel John Waller, who is believed to have been a grandson of Edmund Waller, the poet. He had a son Benjamin Waller, who was clerk of the council, judge of the state admiralty court, married Martha Hall, and died in 1781. They had a son, Benjamin Carter Waller, born December 24, 1575, member of the house of dele- gates and clerk of James City county, who married Catherine Page, daughter of Robert Page, of Broad Neck, Hanover county. They had a son, Doctor Robert Page Waller, who married Eliz- abeth Corbin Griffin, daughter of Major Thomas Griffin (son of Doctor Corbin Griffin, brother of Judge Cyrus Griffin) by his first cousin, Mary, daughter of Judge Cyrus Griffin. They had Mary Catherine Waller, who married Doctor John Cyrus Mercer, father of the subject of this sketch.
Doctor John Cyrus Mercer was a physician of marked ability in his profession; he also served as surgeon in the United States navy and in the Army of Northern Virginia. He was noted for his Christian character, and amiable disposition.
His son, John L. Mercer, was brought up in the city of Wil- liamsburg, and, as his father was in good circumstances, had no manual labor to perform. This was compensated for by the tender care of his mother who exerted great influence upon his
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JOHN LEYBURN MERCER
character, and the traditions of the place which were calculated to stimulate the most latent ambition. He was educated in the schools of Williamsburg and afterward at the College of William and Mary. During the War between the States, while the family was refugeeing in Lynchburg, he was, from April, 1863, to the close of the war, a member of the home guards of the city, com- manded by Major Winfree, and marched out to help repel Gen- eral Hunter in his raid upon the city. He was a mere boy at this time.
For many years he has been secretary and disbursing agent at the Eastern State hospital for the insane, and when the affairs of the hospital in 1906 were investigated by a committee of the legislature, he was complimented by the expert accountants for the accuracy of his books. Mr. Mercer served the city of Wil- liamsburg as mayor from 1896 to 1904, and was also member of the council for many years. He is a Mason and a member of the Magruder-Ewell camp of Confederate veterans.
In religious preference he is an Episcopalian and has been for many years a member of the vestry of Bruton Parish church in Williamsburg. In politics he is a Democrat and has always adhered to the party ticket.
He is a man of dignified manners, pleasant and sociable dis- position, and is courteous and conservative.
On March 31, 1875, he married Jean Sinclair Bright, daugh- ter of Samuel Bright. Four children were born to them, of whom three are now (1908) living.
His address is Williamsburg, Virginia.
WILLIAM WALTER MOFFETT
M OFFETT, WILLIAM WALTER, was born July 19, 1854. His parents were John Moffett and Sarah W. Moffett. His earliest known ancestor was Henry Moffet, who was born in 1705, came from Great Britain, and set- tled in Virginia. His father was a teacher and farmer, whose marked characteristics were firmness, kindness, and dignity.
The subject of this sketch passed his childhood and early life in the country where he grew up a strong, healthy boy. As his father had plenty of slaves he had no regular tasks involving manual labor, and missed, therefore, the advantage supposed to spring from an experience of this kind. But character after all is the supreme possession, and Mr. Moffett was naturally indus- trious and ambitious. He attended an "old field" school and finished his scholastic education at Rappahannock academy, after which he read law with his uncle, Horatio G. Moffet, one of the great lawyers of Northern Virginia.
In 1877, he located in Rappahannock county, and began the practice of the profession. The next year, with his cousin, Horatio G. Moffett, Jr., he established the " Blue Ridge Echo," with which paper he was editorially connected until 1885.
In 1883, when John S. Barbour was made chairman of the state central committee of the Democratic party, Mr. Moffett was appointed on the committee and remained a member for a num- ber of years. The same year (1883) he was nominated by the Democrats of his county for the house of delegates and after a very hot canvass was triumphantly elected over his opponent, one of the most popular men in the neighborhood.
After a successful career in Rappahannock, Mr. Moffett moved, in 1891, to Roanoke county and located at Salem. He formed a partnership with Hon. A. B. Pugh and this firm en- tered at once upon a lucrative practice. In June, 1893, he was made judge of Roanoke county court, without opposition, and served in this office for nearly eleven years. His ability as a judge is fully attested by the fact that he was never reversed by
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WILLIAM WALTER MOFFETT
the circuit court, and was reversed only once by the supreme court of appeals. The Constitution of 1904 abolished the county courts, and in January, 1906, Judge Moffett was elected circuit judge-an office which he still (1908) holds with general approval.
Judge Moffett is a member of the Elks and of the ancient order of Masons, and is president and trustee of several educa- tional and charitable institutions. In religious preference he is a Baptist; for a number of years he has been moderator of the Valley association, and from 1903-1905 was president of the Bap- tist General association of Virginia. He is a Democrat who be- lieves in all that the name professes-the equality and inde- pendence of the states, and the rights of the people. His advice to young people is to select life work with caution and delibera- tion and in accordance with well defined predilection, and then stick to it without becoming impatient.
On February 22, 1883, he married Jessie Mary Dudley. They have had six children, four of whom are (1908) living.
His address is Salem, Roanoke County, Virginia.
JOSEPH HALL MOORE
M OORE, JOSEPH HALL, dentist, was born in Washing- ton, District of Columbia, January 11, 1832, and his parents were James and Mary M. Moore. His father came to America in 1800 from County Tyrone, Ireland, and set- tled in Washington, District of Columbia. In his youth he was a printer and afterwards clerk in the office of the Treasurer of the United States, where for twenty-five years he had the custody of the keys to the public money vaults. His wife's parents came from England and settled about 1800 on the Eastern Shore of Virginia, from which place they removed to Alexandria, Vir- ginia.
As a boy Joseph Hall Moore was rather delicate, but very active, fond of all outdoor sports, and noted for mischief and youthful pranks. His mother was a godly woman, and her strong influence upon his intellectual, moral and physical being followed him throughout his career. In his early life his principal task, involving manual labor, was sawing wood, which took the place of the modern gymnastic exercises, serving to develop the chest, lungs and muscles. He had many advantages, and attended good schools, among them being the Rittenhouse academy, Wash- ington.
By the death of his father he was thrown on his own re- sources and at the age of fourteen became clerk in a trimming store in Washington, District of Columbia. His heart was, however, set upon a profession, and for five years he studied dentistry under Doctors Luther Parmele and William Malster. In 1851 he entered the medical department of Georgetown uni- versity, and was graduated in 1854 with the degree of M. D. From 1854 to 1861 he was a clerk in the United States Treasury department, and practiced dentistry in the afternoon, being the first "sundown dentist" in Washington. In 1861 the War be- tween the States broke out, and Dr. Moore left Washington in April, and obtained a position in the Virginia quartermaster- general's office, in which place he served for four months. In
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July, 1861, he was made head of a division in the Treasury de- partment of the Confederate States, where he continued during the remainder of the war. While holding this position he was a private in Company A, 3rd regiment of Virginia, local troops, Confederate States of America.
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