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 17
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 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27
After the collapse of the Confederacy he resumed the prac- tice of dentistry in Richmond, Virginia, and has continued in the practice ever since. In this long interval of time he has re- ceived at the hands of his fellow practitioners many honors and evidences of esteem. From 1868 to 1878 he was a member and corresponding secretary of the Virginia State Dental associa- tion; from 1878 to 1880 he was president of same; from 1881 to 1906 he was corresponding secretary; from 1877 to 1906 he was a member of the Southern Dental association; in 1886-1887 he was chairman of its executive committee; in 1887 he was a mem- ber of the committee of arrangements of the World's Medical congress; from 1887 to 1897 he was president of the Virginia State Board of Dental examiners, and from 1887 to 1906 he was a member of the Virginia State Medical society. He has also been a member of the National Association of Dental examiners.
Dr. Moore states that circumstances largely determined his fate in life; but that from childhood he was inspired with the determination to succeed if possible in every undertaking. Home influences have been more potent in the formation of his character than all else, and he was happy in the possession of a good mother and excellent social surroundings.
In politics he is a Democrat who has never swerved from his allegiance to his party. In his religious preference a Pres- byterian, he is steadfast in his devotion to the church. In 1854 he was elected a deacon and at this writing he holds the office of elder, to which he was elected many years ago. His affable deportment, his thorough knowledge of his profession, and his genial culture have won him hosts of friends, and no other man stands higher in the esteem of the citizens of Rich- mond. Now when the shadows of old age are falling upon his long and useful life Dr. Moore has the supreme happiness of knowing that he has performed well his part in life.
He has been twice married; first to Clara Gennet on Decem-
306
JOSEPH HALL MOORE
ber 16, 1869, and second to Alice Gennet, on June 8, 1875; and three children have been born to him of whom only one sur- vived him.
On December 28, 1906, Dr. Moore died at his home in Richmond, Virginia.
ROBERT WALTON MOORE
M OORE, ROBERT WALTON, was born at Fairfax in Fairfax county, Virginia, February 26, 1859, and his parents were Thomas Moore, of Virginia, and Hannah Morris, of New York. The Moores were among the early set- tlers of Virginia and were connected with the Lindsays and other old Virginia families. Thomas Moore, father of the sub- ject of this sketch, was a man of excellent talent, was a practi- tioner of law, and served as a soldier in the Mexican war and in the War between the States. Afterwards he was deputy clerk of the courts and superintendent of schools for Fairfax county. On the other hand his mother's family, the Morrises, were distin- guished all along the line for three hundred years. Captain Richard Morris, of Cromwell's army, who settled in New York, was proprietor of Morrisania in 1686. Richard Morris' son, Lewis, was chief justice and governor of New Jersey, and his son Lewis was an eminent New York statesman, lawyer and judge. This Lewis Morris, third of the name, was a signer of the Decla- ration of Independence, and his son, Jacob Walton Morris, was a general in the Revolutionary army. The latter's son was Jacob Walton Morris, father of Hannah Morris, Mr. Moore's mother, and he was a prominent physician. Finally it is to be noticed that the brother of Lewis Morris, signer of the Declaration of Independence, was Gouverneur Morris, who wrote the final draft of the constitution of the United States, was minister to France, member of the United States senate, and a great friend of Alex- ander Hamilton, over whose body he pronounced the funeral oration.
No wonder that with such distinguished forbears Robert Walton Moore has proved himself a man of character and ability. He was born with a strong and excellent physical constitution and his health in childhood was always good. His early life was passed in the country and village; and though he had no regular tasks, he was always fond of work and was ready for it. The influence of his mother, who is a lady of marked characteristics
308
ROBERT WALTON MOORE
and impressive appearance, was particularly strong upon his in- tellectual and moral development; and Mr. Moore loves to say that what success he has obtained is in large measure due to her. Mr. Moore attended successively the village schools in Fairfax, the Episcopal high school near Alexandria, and finally the Uni- versity of Virginia; after which he taught school and studied law privately. He then practiced law with his father; and when his father retired, he formed the law firm of Moore and Keith. It was soon seen that he was no ordinary man, his practice assumed large proportions in a very short time, and the public attention was attracted toward him. His reputation as a man of ability resulted in 1887 in his unanimous nomination by the Democrats as state senator from the fourteenth senatorial dis- trict, consisting of the counties of Fairfax, Prince William and Alexandria, and the city of Alexandria. Mr. Moore accepted the honor tendered to him and served one term of four years in the legislature at Richmond. He connected his name with a great deal of valuable work, and in the last session of his term was made a member of the important committee of finance. In this position he started an agitation to reduce criminal expenses, and was instrumental in having a dozen bills reported from that committee designed to effect reductions. Though they did not pass both houses at this time some of them, or bills almost iden- tical, have been since enacted into law. He was the author of the important statute which requires any person applying for a charter to pay a tax for the privilege; which was a great innova- tion, as previous to that time charters could be obtained for any kind of enterprise inside or outside of the state, without any payment whatever. Then to Mr. Moore is largely due the credit for the enactment of a bill that changed the penitentiary deficit into a surplus by a more careful provision than theretofore ex- isted to secure to the state the proceeds of the labor of convicts. He had also a great share in bringing about a final settlement of the state debt. After his term expired Mr. Moore declined to re- ceive a second nomination and retired to private life, as his pro- fession made demands upon all his time. He continued, however, to manifest a lively interest in the success of the Democratic party to which he belongs, and in 1892, was a presidential elector
309
ROBERT WALTON MOORE
in the Cleveland-Harrison campaign, and did much effective work. In 1896 his name was urged on the Democratic con- vention at Alexandria for nomination to the United States house of representatives, and in 1898 he was urged to be- come a candidate against Thomas S. Martin for a seat in the United States senate. But Mr. Moore, though his friends were prepared to make a big fight for him, would not permit his name to be used in these connections. When, however, the great Con- stitutional convention of the state for changing the constitution was called to meet in Richmond, in 1901, Mr. Moore found him- self unable to resist the demand made upon his services. He was unanimously nominated by the Democratic convention and took his seat in that body when it convened. He was recognized as one of the leading members and took active part in its work, being chairman of the committee in the legislative department, member of the finance committee, and member of the revision committee.
On the adjournment of the convention he left Richmond with a reputation greater than ever for ability and resourceful- ness. He has been a member of the board of visitors of the college of William and Mary. He has a large law practice and represents several important railroad and steamship lines before the Interstate Commerce commission and the Federal courts. For this purpose he maintains an office in Washington, District of Columbia, in addition to his office in Fairfax, Virginia, where business is conducted by the firm of Moore, Barbour and Keith, of which firm Mr. Moore is the senior member.
His mind is always alive to movements for the pub- lic good and he is at present greatly interested in the efforts to secure better highways for Virginia, to bring in a good class of white labor, and to extend the operations of the common schools. Mr. Moore is a man of splendid physique, dignified, but kind, generous and an agreeable companion. He has been a great reader of history and literature, has contributed to magazines and has delivered addresses, all of which are characterized by excel- lent sense and literary finish. His general culture has been recognized by an election to membership in the Phi Beta Kappa society, which was established at William and Mary college in
310
ROBERT WALTON MOORE
1775, and admits only men of literary merit and social promi- nence.
In religious preference Mr. Moore is an Episcopalian, broad and charitable in his views. He believes in outdoor exercise and takes as much as time allows.
In reply to the question whether he has any suggestions to make for the benefit of young Americans which will tend to strengthen the sound ideals of American life, Mr. Moore writes: " Every ambitious Southern man of my generation has had to carry burdens growing out of the Civil war, and has suffered from the restrictions entailed by that struggle and its conse- quences, but perhaps the lesson of perseverance that may be drawn from our experience is of more value than any lesson that great success would have furnished. The South is now starting on a most splendid course of development, and the men of our generation, while they will not enjoy all of its results, will have the satisfaction of knowing that they have enabled others to reap a harvest that was denied to them. For generations the South is going to be a great field. Given a fairly sound mind and body, any industrious young man ought to do well in that field. But the material achievement will in the end be worse than useless, unless the old fashioned ideals be cherished which with our fathers were of supreme importance. God, country and truth (that is the Shakespearian summary) place obligations upon us that cannot be disregarded without weakening the restraints of religion and morality, impairing civic decency, tainting the life of every individual and finally bringing ruin to society. This in the South is a new day with new opportunities making new victories possible, but it is not worth while unless we insist on the old and homely virtues."
The addresses of Mr. Moore are Fairfax, Virginia, and Metro- politan Bank Building, Washington, District of Columbia.
-
0
Truly yours host Moore
THOMAS LEE MOORE
M OORE, THOMAS LEE, one of the ablest lawyers of Southwest Virginia, was born February 10, 1865, in Floyd county, Virginia. There he was reared, and was educated in the public schools and by private instruction. He did not have the advantages of a college course, but by hard study and close application acquired an excellent education.
He is the son of Jackson Moore and Sarah Elizabeth (Walton) Moore. His father was a prominent merchant, and as a soldier in the Confederate army rose to the rank of captain.
T. L. Moore first began the active work of life as a public school teacher, a profession from which many young men have risen to distinction. The influence of his mother was particularly strong on his moral and spiritual life. His aspirations were always for a professional career. His own wishes principally, but to some extent circumstances over which he had no control, decided the choice of his profession. He studied law while he was engaged in school work, and began active practice a short time before he gave up teaching. His faithful and active work in the line of his profession soon brought him a large clientage, and his fellow citizens, recognizing his legal ability, elected him, in 1895, commonwealth's attorney for the county of Montgomery, in which position he served a full term of four years with entire satisfaction to his constituents. He has succeeded in all his undertakings, never having been defeated for any position to which he aspired.
When the people of Montgomery county were called upon to elect a representative in the Constitutional convention of 1901- 1902, they conferred this high honor upon Mr. Moore, and he served through its long and laborious session with creditable distinction, although he belonged to the Republican minority. Mr. Moore has always been a Republican, and is faithful to the tenets of his party. His ability and his tact have made him a leader in his party; and in 1902, President Roosevelt, recogniz- ing his merits, appointed him United States attorney for the
314
THOMAS LEE MOORE
western district of Virginia, for a term of four years. Mr. Moore has given complete satisfaction in this high office, and has gained universal esteem as an impartial and fearless prosecutor.
As a man, he possesses many attractive qualities, being genial, gentlemanly, and courteous. He is popular with his fellow-citizens; prompt, punctilious, and conscientious in the discharge of duty. He is an effective public pleader, possessing a ready delivery, and being very forcible in the presentation of his arguments. He is also noted for fairness and professional courtesy.
Mr. Moore is a hard worker, and has little time for recrea- tion, but hunting is the sport which he most enjoys and finds most helpful as a mode of relaxation.
On December 23, 1886, Mr. Moore was married to Edmonia Evans Hines. They have had eight children, of whom six are now (1908) living.
Mr. Moore resides in Roanoke, Virginia.
Truly
yours
JOHN W. MORGAN
M ORGAN, JOHN W., of Riverton, Virginia, has spent nearly his entire life in the country. When he chose his life-work, his practical knowledge of things per- taining to the farm convinced him that there would be both suc- cess and profit in the raising of poultry for the city market. He began on a small scale, and by giving the enterprise his best at- tention and by adopting methods that were up to date and tho- rough, his business increased steadily.
Mr. Morgan makes a specialty of duck-raising, and is the owner and proprietor of Morgan's Mammoth Duck Ranch, at Riverton, Virginia. This ranch has an annual output of about 50,000 fowls; convincing evidence of the success which Mr. Mor- gan's untiring personal attention and supervision have won for the business. The Mammoth Duck Ranch also supplies the mar- ket with more early spring ducklings than come to it from any other center of poultry-raising in the state.
A visit to this duck farm is most interesting. There one sees the best breeds of these fowls, raised and cared for according to the most modern ideas and by the best scientific methods. The best sanitary conditions prevail throughout; and to them is due the small percentage of loss that it yearly experienced.
In politics Mr. Morgan is a Democrat, and he has never changed in his party allegiance. He has not found time, how- ever, nor has he had the inclination, to engage actively in poli- tics.
His address is Riverton, Virginia.
JOHN BOOKER MORTON
M ORTON, JOHN BOOKER, was born August 31, 1847, at Burnsides, Botetourt county. His parents were William B. Morton and Margaret Elliott his wife. His ancestors numbered among their blood connections many of the old families of Virginia-the Mortons, Flournoys, Michaux, and Woodsons. William B. Morton, his father, was a planter, of a bright, genial and sociable disposition, who enjoyed life and was very popular among his neighbors. His son, the subject of this sketch, was brought up in the country, and was a strong, hearty, robust boy. His father, though a slave holder of means, insisted upon his sons, of whom he had seven, doing systematically some sort of manual labor, and so John Booker Morton was never an idler. He attended the private schools of his county, and was thinking of going to college, when the war came on and much retarded his education. There was not much schooling in Virginia during the war, and towards the close of hostilities he was a member of the home guard. When peace was restored he attended Hampden-Sidney college from which he was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Science.
As a child, Mr. Morton was strongly impressed with the writings of John Bunyan and Richard Baxter; and, thus in- fluenced, his inclination turned to the service of the church of God as a profession. He studied for the ministry at the Pres- byterian Union Theological seminary, and was ordained in 1874. Since that time he has been the pastor of churches at Lexington, Georgia; Sparta, Georgia; Fernandina, Florida; Tarboro, North Carolina; and Pulaski, Virginia. On account of failing health he resigned the last named pastorate in 1907, when he was given the title of pastor emeritus. In all his stations of duty he has been earnest, industrious, conciliatory, and sympa- thetic. He has exhorted men to a life of purity and godliness, has set a good example, and has made many converts. He has taken an active part in the general affairs of the Presbyterian church, having frequently served as moderator of his synod as
319
JOHN BOOKER MORTON
well as of his presbytery, and he has three times represented his presbytery in the general assembly of the Presbyterian church.
In his youthful days at college he was a member of a Greek letter fraternity, but since that time he has only cared for mem- bership in temperance societies, by which so much real good among men has been done. He was at one time chaplain of the Good Templars of the state of Georgia.
In 1903 King college, Georgia, conferred upon him the degree of D. D. but for conscientious convictions he felt it his duty to decline the honor.
On December 1, 1875, he married Sallie Sims. They have had two children, both of whom are now (1908) living: Miss Lillia Lynn Morton, A. B., now instructor in Latin and German in Sullin's college, Bristol, Tennessee; and Rev. Ernest Sims Morton, recently a missionary to Japan, but returned to this country because of his father's illness and is now minister of Stonega Presbyterian church, Stonega, Virginia.
The address of Reverend John B. Morton is Bristol, Tennessee.
Vol. 5-Va .- 16
CHARLES EDGAR NICOL
N ICOL, CHARLES EDGAR, lawyer and for many years circuit judge, is the son of Aylett and Mary Jane Wil- liams Nicol, and was born at Brentsville, Prince Wil- liam county, Virginia, February 22, 1854. His father was of German extraction, a lawyer and farmer, a man of intelligence and fine reasoning powers, and at one time judge of Prince Wil- liam county, He was also colonel of militia. Judge Nicol's mother's lineage is English. She was an intelligent and cultured woman, and, although she died when her son was only eight years old, she left the impress of her life on his character.
There is a tradition in the family that one of the paternal ancestors was a general on the staff of Frederick the Great and on account of a rupture with his majesty emigrated to America.
Charles E. Nicol's health in childhood and youth was per- fect, and these early years were spent amid rural and village surroundings, where he performed every kind of manual labor on the farm; and it is his opinion that " the vigorous health, consti- tutional fearlessness, and independent disposition of Virginians " are justly attributed to the life which the large majority of them lead in their early years.
In his youth, Charles E. Nicol's tastes led him to the study of history and language. His education was not without its difficulties, as he had to work and economize in order to support himself while it was being pursued. His education was received in academies in Rappahannock county and in Richmond college, where he graduated in Latin, Greek and French and was awarded the magazine medal of the Mu Sigma Rho society. In 1875, he attended the law school of the University of Virginia, for five months, obtained a certificate of proficiency in international and constitutional law, and also received the debater's medal from the Washington Literary society.
He entered active life in 1874, in the capacity of a teacher, meanwhile studying law privately. He was admitted to the bar in 1875, and has ever since been engaged either in the practice of
321
CHARLES EDGAR NICOL
his profession, in the legislature, or on the bench. His selection of the law as his life-work was of his own personal choice, unin- fluenced by others.
Judge Nicol has been largely engaged in general practice in the courts of Virginia, and Washington, District of Columbia, while a part of his time has been given to corporations, and to matters involving millions of dollars in connection with the set- tlement of the estate of Dr. Thomas W. Evans of Paris, France, who left property in Paris, New York, and Philadelphia.
Judge Nicol served in the house of delegates for three terms (1879-80, 1881-82 and 1893-94). In 1893, he was elected judge of the eleventh Judicial circuit of Virginia. In 1903 he became judge of the sixteenth Judicial circuit which position he resigned on March 4, 1907, since which time he has been engaged in prac- ticing law.
Judge Nicol's recreations are horseback riding, driving, walking, swimming, and chess. He has given no attention to athletics or modern methods of exercise since his college days.
Judge Nicol's advice to young Americans is, " to persist in some chosen occupation, to lead a simple life, to eschew bad habits and associates, to form regular habits of work and exercise, to cultivate faith in God, and an earnest purpose to perform every duty, however simple and humble, to the best of their ability." Brief sketches of his life may be found in Herringshaw's En- cyclopedia of American Biography, in the History of the Univer- sity of Virginia, Richmond College magazine (1894), and in the Virginia Law Register of November, 1904.
In religious preference, Judge Nicol is a Baptist; in politics, a Democrat. In both he is staunch and unswerving.
On November 17, 1880, Judge Nicol married Marie Louise Bander. They had six children, all of whom are now living. After her death he married, on August 3, 1908, Mrs. Florence DeCusac Nash.
The address of Judge Nicol is Manassas, Prince William County, Virginia.
CHARLES TRIPLETT O'FERRALL
O 'FERRALL, CHARLES TRIPLETT, lawyer, congress- man, governor of Virginia, was born near Brucetown, Frederick county, Virginia, October 21, 1840. His father was John O'Ferrall, a farmer and hotel proprietor of Morgan county, Virginia, now West Virginia. His mother was Jane Lawrence. John O'Ferrall was clerk of Morgan county, justice of the peace, sheriff of his county, and served several terms in the Virginia legislature. He was a man of courage and firmness, of sound judgment and warm friendships, and from him Governor O'Ferrall inherited a robust and sturdy independ- ence of character, which has had no little influence upon his career. On the intellectual and moral sides, also, he was greatly influenced by his mother, with whom, after the early death of his father, he was brought into the tenderest relation as protege and adviser at once. Though the death of his father deprived him of a regular academic education, he made up for this to a large degree by private study and reading, especially by reading the lives of distinguished men and discussions of questions of the day, and such books as would train one for usefulness in public life. In this respect, Governor O'Ferrall is a self-made man; and his long and honorable career in congress shows what a man can do in spite of adverse circumstances, and well illustrates the proverb that every man is the architect of his own fortune.
On his father's side, Governor O'Ferrall is of Irish descent, his family having come from Ireland about the latter part of the eighteenth century. On his mother's side, he is of English and Scotch-Irish ancestry, being descended from the Greens and Campbells. His maternal grandfather, Dr. John Green, was a distinguished physician and Methodist minister. Governor O'Ferrall has been twice married. His first wife was Miss Annie E. McLain, of Mississippi, to whom he was married February 8, 1865. His second wife was Mrs. Jennie W. Danforth, whom he married January 12, 1881, and who died June 14, 1908. He has had seven children, six of whom are now living.
323
CHARLES TRIPLETT O'FERRALL
Governor O'Ferrall began life as deputy clerk of the circuit court of Morgan county, Virginia (now West Virginia). When the death of his father left the clerkship vacant two years later, the youth of seventeen was appointed by the governor to fill the vacancy. Thus, we find him, at an age when most boys are totally dependent upon their parents, making his own way in the world and helping to maintain his widowed mother and her family. At the age of twenty-one, he entered the Confederate army as a private. He rose through various grades until he be- came a colonel. Later on, he was put in command of all the cavalry in the Shenandoah Valley. In the service of his state and of the cause that she as a state espoused, this gallant young man spent four of the best years of his life. He was wounded several times, and was once left for dead on the battle-field.
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.