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 22
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Dr. Ross has special tastes for reading and literature, and the works he has found most useful are Shakespeare, Burns, Milton, Moore, in poetry; Scott, Dickens, Thackeray, Cooper, in novels; and Gibbon, Prescott and Macaulay in history; and biog- raphies and books of travel. Among his contributions to cur- rent literature may be mentioned: "The History of Spinal Injuries Without Fracture," " Tetanus," "A Manipulative Mis- take," " Internal Hemorrhoids," " The Congeners of Phagadena, and its Treatment with Turpentine."
In religion Dr. Ross is identified with the Episcopal Church and has been a vestryman in St. Paul's for nearly twenty years. In politics, he is a Democrat, who has always supported the party platform, except when William J. Bryan was nominated by the Democratic party in 1896, at which time he voted the Republican ticket. He will also vote against Mr. Bryan in 1908.
Dr. Ross's favorite exercise consists in driving and horse- back riding, and his favorite amusement is chess. His ex- perience in life induces the advice on his part to young men always to take counsel with " a good man and true " before en- gaging in any important business.
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GEORGE ROSS
His biography has been published in the "History of the University of Virginia," Lewis Publishing company, (1904).
On February 26, 1863, he married Annie Elizabeth Beckham, of "Auburn," Culpeper county, Virginia, and by this marriage three children were born to him, of whom only two survive.
His address is Richmond, Virginia.
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PANNILL RUCKER
R UCKER, PANNILL, of Martinsville, Henry county, Vir- ginia, for years president of the Rucker-Witten Tobacco company, chairman of the board of supervisors of Henry county, was born at Lynchburg, Campbell county, Virginia, on the 13th of May, 1867. He is the son of George McDaniel Rucker, a dry goods merchant of Lynchburg, and of Mrs. Susan Maria (Pannill) Rucker. Of his father's family, Ambrose Rucker and Benjamin Rucker were colonial justices of the peace for Amherst county, Virginia, between 1761 and 1768. In 1775 they were both selected as members of the county committee for Amherst county, who were chosen as twenty-one "of the most dis- creet, fit and able men of the county." Mr. Rucker's descent is in a direct line from Ambrose Rucker. His mother's family, the Pannills, trace their descent from one Painell, whose name is found on the battle roll of Battle Abbey. The name was after- ward changed to Pannell, and then to Pannill. He came to Eng- land with William the Conqueror. The family sided with the king in the war against Cromwell; and as a consequence the two brothers who had taken an active part in the civil war, emigrated to Virginia on Cromwell's accession to power. One of these settled near Norfolk; and the other, from whom Mr. Rucker is descended, settled on the Rapidan and changed his name to Pan- nill, while the Norfolk branch retained the earlier spelling, Pan- nell.
In his boyhood, Pannill Rucker was strong, vigorous and hardy; fond of outdoor sports. He attended the public schools at Lynchburg and the Moravian school at Salem, North Carolina. From his early years he was taught to do some work in the tobacco factory, even in his school days. His first position in business was at Penn's Store, Virginia, in the tobacco factory of G. Penn and Company. After a few years there, he organized, in 1893, the Rucker and Witten tobacco company, and from 1893, to 1905, he was president of that company. Since 1906, Mr. Rucker has given much of his time and attention to stock-
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PANNILL RUCKER
raising and agriculture; and he also has a wholesale grocery and a retail drug business.
Mr. Rucker has served two terms as a member of the Mar- tinsville town council. In 1905, he was elected chairman of the board of supervisors of Henry county, and he still fills that posi- tion.
On the 16th of February, 1898, Mr. Rucker married Miss Frankie Stevens, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin F. Stevens, of St. Louis, Missouri. They have had three children, of whom two are living in 1907.
Mr. Rucker is an Odd Fellow. He is a member of the West- moreland club of Richmond, of the Orinoco club, of Danville, Virginia; and of the Twin City club at Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
In religious belief and church relations he is identified with the Protestant Episcopal church, and is a vestryman of Christ's church of that denomination, at Martinsville. In his political relations, he is identified with the Democratic party; and he has never swerved from allegiance to the principles and the nominees of that organization. In 1900, he was a delegate from the fifth Virginia district to the National Democratic convention at Kan- sas City, Missouri.
He finds his favorite exercise and recreation in horseback riding and hunting. To the young people of Virginia he com- mends : " ambition, carefulness in details, and promptness in the transaction of all business."
WILLIAM BOWER SIMMONS
S IMMONS, WILLIAM BOWER, soldier and jurist, was born in Botetourt county, Virginia, August 29, 1838. His father was Anthony K. Simmons, who was for many years justice of the peace under the old county court system. The earliest known ancestors of the family to locate in this country came from the Palatinate in the early part of the eigh- teenth century.
In early life William Simmons lived on his father's farm and during vacations assisted in cultivating the land. In the country schools he prepared for Roanoke college, at Salem, Vir- ginia, which institution he attended for some time but from which he was not graduated, as he left at the opening of the Civil war and, in May 1861, enlisted as a private in company A, 28th regiment, Virginia volunteers. He was in active military ser- vice until June 18, 1864, when he was permanently disabled by a wound and was obliged to return home. He then engaged in teaching preparatory schools in his native county, meanwhile studying law. In 1870 he was admitted to the bar and from the first he has been successful in the practice of his profession. Of the books which have helped him most he names works on history and philosophy and later those pertaining to the law.
He never sought public office but has served as a member of the county board of supervisors, and was judge of the county court from 1873 to 1892 with the exception of one term, when a change in political sentiment caused his defeat.
Judge Simmons was married March 28, 1872, to Miss Sue Graybill. They have had nine children, of whom four are living. Their eldest son, James Edmond Simmons, was a volunteer in the Spanish-American war; was mustered into service May 20, 1898, and died in the United States military hospital at Jackson- ville, Florida, on the 8th of the following October.
Judge Simmons is a prominent Mason and has held impor- tant offices in that order. In politics he has always been a Demo- Vol. 5-Va .- 20
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WILLIAM BOWER SIMMONS
crat. His religious affiliation is with the Baptist church, of which he has long been an honored member. At this writing (1908) he is in active practice of the law.
His address is Fincastle, Virginia.
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Sincerely, Richard L Simpson
RICHARD LEE SIMPSON
S IMPSON, RICHARD LEE, doctor of dental surgery, from 1903 to 1905 a member of the Virginia state board of dental examiners, and since 1905 professor of dental surgery, crown and bridge work, in the University college of Medicine at Richmond, was born in Fincastle, Botetourt county, on April 21, 1873.
His father, J. Charlton Simpson, of Scotch-Irish descent, was a builder, and was exceptionally fond of the study of mathe- matics and mechanics. His mother, Mrs. Sarah Elizabeth (Backenstoe) Simpson, was of Spanish descent. She died when he was quite young, but the loving care and influence of his foster mother, Mrs. J. F. Hickok, was an encouragement and inspiration to earnest effort, and in large measure accounts for his success in life.
As a young boy, he attended private and public schools at Fincastle. He was fond of books rather than of sports. Draw- ing, wood-carving, and the contriving of little mechanical devices and appliances, in his boyhood gave him keen pleasure.
From 1889 to 1891 he spent two years under Professor Charles B. Tate, at the preparatory school Montvale, Virginia. A scholarship from this school made practicable his attendance at Washington and Lee University at Lexington. Virginia, 1891 to 1892, and he there distinguished himself by his work in physio- logy.
For the next year, he taught a public school at Laymantown, Virginia. For the three full sessions following, 1893 to 1896, he was a diligent student in the dental department of the University of Maryland, at Baltimore. During this course of study, he won three first prizes and three second prizes, in the seven prize con- tests open to him, one of them for the highest class standing in a class of fifty-four members.
Beginning the practice of his profession at Fincastle, in 1896, he continued actively the study as well as the practice of dentis- try ; and in papers and discussions before various dental societies
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RICHARD LEE SIMPSON
he did much to arouse discussion and to stimulate interest in the practical problems of dentistry, illustrating his papers and dis- cussions by demonstrations as clinician on many occasions. Cer- tain of his professional papers have been widely published; and one of them was recently translated and published in a French magazine, in Paris.
In 1907, at the centennial of Maryland university, the hon- orary degree of A. M. was conferred upon Dr. Simpson.
Among Dr. Simpson's inventions in dental surgery and prac- tice may be named the following : a composite crown pin ; a system of chisels and pluggers ; a gold casting device; a system of crown- ing teeth, known as Simpson's hood abutment; a method for mak- ing anatomically banded crowns (the hat brim method) ; a method for overcoming the spheroiding of molten gold; a method for making anatomically perfect shell crowns; and a method for making accurate saddle-bridges.
Dr. Simpson has devoted much time and study to experi- ments testing the physical properties of dental metals, and the physical laws which govern dental structures, both natural and artificial.
On February 28th, 1901, Dr. Simpson married Miss Elma Walker, daughter of William T. Walker, M. D., and Mrs Fannie (Holladay) Walker.
Dr. Simpson is identified with the Presbyterian church, and in 1897 was ordained a deacon in the Presbyterian church of Fincastle, serving until 1905, when he removed to Richmond.
In politics, he is a Democrat. He is a Mason. He is a member of the Xi Psi Phi fraternity.
Dr. Simpson was one of the organizers of the Southwest Virginia Dental society, and was its first secretary and treasurer. He has served as president of the Virginia State Dental associa- tion ; and he has been active in that organization since he began to practice dentistry. He is a member of the Richmond City Dental society; and of the Virginia Chemists' club.
Dr. Simpson's address is 1 South Third Street, Richmond, Virginia.
ROBERT MADISON SLAUGHTER
S LAUGHTER, ROBERT MADISON, M. D., physician, surgeon, and author, was born February 15, 1857, on a farm in Madison county, Virginia. His father, Thomas Towles Slaughter, M. D., physician and surgeon, practiced con- tinuously for sixty-four years, and was noted for sterling integrity and modesty. His mother, who was his father's second wife, was Julia (Bradford) Slaughter, a woman of high intellec- tual attainments, character and ideals, was a strong influence in his life, especially on the intellectual side. His is a distin- guished ancestry. His triple great-grandfather, Robert Slaugh- ter, married Frances, daughter of Colonel Cadwallader Jones, and settled in Culpeper county, Virginia, about 1730. The line of descent is through his double great-grandfather, Robert Slaughter, who married Mary Smith; his great-grandfather, James Slaughter, who married Susan Clayton, and his grand- father, Philip Slaughter, a distinguished soldier in the War of the Revolution and citizen of Culpeper county, who married secondly Mrs. Elizabeth Brock (nee Towles). On the maternal side, his great-grandfather, General John Stricker, was a captain in the War of the Revolution and a general in the War of 1812, and an original member of the order of the Cincinnati (he has the original certificate of membership, signed by General Washington) ; his grandfather, John Bradford, of Baltimore, Maryland, was a lineal descendant of William Bradford, of distinguished English ancestry, who settled in Harford county, Maryland, very early in the eighteenth century.
He was reared in the country and was healthy, robust and active. Heredity, environment and personal preference united in giving him an early interest in medicine and a fixed and unalter- able desire to follow in his father's professional footsteps. He had no youthful tasks involving manual labor, but voluntarily did some farm work when not at school. He had to overcome some difficulties to get his education, particularly the professional part of it. He acquired his primary and preparatory education,
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ROBERT MADISON SLAUGHTER
1869-1876, at Locust Dale academy, Madison county, under A. I. Gordon, A. M., a noted instructor of that day; he was then a student of the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, 1877-78, going thence to the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Balti- more, Maryland, where he was graduated M. D., in 1879.
Immediately following his graduation he began practice in his native county, and from the start met with most flattering success. In 1884, he removed to Fairfax county, where he has since practiced, and by his ability and success has become widely known. From 1895 to 1900, he was attending physician and sur- geon to the Alexandria, Virginia, hospital, and since 1894, has been a member of the state board of medical examiners, four times nominated by the Medical society of Virginia, and four times appointed by the governor, and his services on the board have been of inestimable value to the people of the state and highly commended by his professional brethren. He has been vice-president of the Medical society of Virginia, and since 1903, treasurer; has been president of the Fairfax county Medical society, president of the Medical society of Northern Virginia and the District of Columbia for two terms-1905-1907-and is an honorary member of the Piedmont (Virginia) Medical society. He is now engaged in writing, as he can find time, " The Medical and Surgical History of Virginia," and in preparing sketches of deceased distinguished Virginia physicians for a Cyclopedia of American Medical Biography to be published by Howard A. Kelley, Baltimore, Maryland. In politics he is an independent Democrat. He voted for Palmer and Buckner in 1896. He is a member of the Protestant Episcopal church.
The strongest influences in his life have been, in the order named, home, private study and contact with men in active life, especially members of his profession. He has that ardent love for his profession, without which no man can do his best as a physician.
He advises the young to take advantage of all opportunities to improve themselves, and young physicians, to seek hospital experience, and he urges upon all the cultivation of sound prin- ciples and correct habits.
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ROBERT MADISON SLAUGHTER
On September 3, 1884, he married Fannie Chichester Innis; four children have been born to them, all of whom are now (1908) living.
His address is Theological Seminary, Fairfax County, Vir- ginia.
JOHN REDD SMITH
S MITH, JOHN REDD, was born in Martinsville, Henry county, Virginia, May 19, 1872, and his parents were James M. and Corinna Smith. His father's family on all sides was of old Virginia stock, his grandfather, John Redd, having been a major in the Revolutionary war, and a member of the Virginia legislature, voting for the resolutions of John Taylor, of Carolina, in 1798. His father was a supervisor of the county and commissioner of the same; generous, impulsive and kind-hearted.
In his childhood and early youth the health of John R. Smith was frail, but he loved outdoor sports; and though his early life was passed in the town, it was a country town, which was free from the temptations of the great city. He had no regular tasks, and he did nothing more than was required of a school boy, the son of parents in moderately good circumstances.
He attended Rufner's institute, Martinsville, Virginia, and from 1892 to 1895 was a clerk in the offices of the Norfolk and Western railway at Roanoke, Virginia. At the end of this time, guided by his own inclinations, he matriculated at Washington and Lee university, and studied law, graduating, after a two year course, in 1897, wth the degree of Bachelor of Law.
The same year he began the active practice of his profes- sion in Henry county, and, in 1899, so great was his popularity that he was elected commonwealth's attorney of his county for a term of four years. At the end of this time he was reelected, in 1903, for a term of equal duration. When this term expired he was again reelected, defeating the ex-judge of the court before whom he had appeared as prosecutor and who was the nominee of the Democratic primary.
In politics he is a member of the Republican party, to which he has steadily adhered from the beginning, and in religion he affiliates with the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.
His chief form of relaxation is supervising a farm distant two miles from his office, which he visits usually by walking.
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JOHN REDD SMITH
He attributes his failures, such as they are, to his failure to do his entire duty as a man; and the lesson to young men is to be regular and conscientious. To elevate American ideals and to promote true success in life he advises that every young man should be impressed with the feeling that he is a part of the greatest government the world ever saw. The young man should be true to himself, and just to his fellow-men; he should frown upon the debauchery of public office and see that the ballot box, the tie that binds him to the government, is kept absolutely pure, and never hampered by prejudice, ignorance or injustice.
The address of Mr. Smith is Martinsville, Henry County, Virginia.
WILLIAM ALBERT SMOOT
S MOOT, WILLIAM ALBERT, of Alexandria, Virginia, merchant and banker, was born in the town where he still resides, on the 30th of August, 1840. His father, James Egerton Smoot, was a farmer who married Miss Phoebe Cavaly Lowe.
His early life was passed in the country; and he knew a healthy, active and sturdy boyhood. On the death of his father in 1849, the family returned from the country to Alexandria in 1853 where for two or three years he attended the county school. He entered the private school of Mr. Caleb Hallowell, from which he was graduated in 1857, having given especial attention to the mathematics of the course. In August of that same year he began the active work of life as a clerk with the firm of Fowle and Company, at Alexandria, Virginia. For half a century Mr. Smoot has been identified with the business life of Alexandria.
At the outbreak of the Civil war he served (without pay) for about a year in Company A, 17th Virginia infantry, Con- federate States army. During the rest of the war he served in Company H, 4th Virginia cavalry, known as the " Black Horse Troop." He was one of the sixteen who were detailed with Lieu- tenant Smith of the Black Horse troop for special service. Dur- ing the war, from 1861 to 1865, he was wounded seven times in different engagements and skirmishes.
After the war he took up mercantile life in his native town, Alexandria. He has interested himself in the business and social life of the city. He has served for many years as president of the Columbia fire engine company of Alexandria.
On the 24th of April, 1866, Mr. Smoot married Miss Eliza- beth E. Parrott. They had one daughter who survives her mother. On the 15th of October, 1873, Mr. Smoot married Miss Betty Carter McGuire. They have had three sons, one of whom died in infancy.
Mr. Smoot is a communicant of the Episcopal church and has served as vestryman and warden of Grace Church, and later of Christ Church, continuously for forty-one years.
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WILLIAM ALBERT SMOOT
He is president of the Avondale Railroad and Plaster com- pany of Nova Scotia. He is a director in the Alexandria National bank. He has been for several years commander of the Robert E. Lee Camp Number 2, Alexandria, Confederate Veterans. From June, 1895, to October, 1896, he was grand com- mander of the grand camp of Confederate Veterans of the state of Virginia.
He finds his favorite form of exercise and relaxation from business in visiting his farm, " Caledon," on the Potomac river, and inspecting the farm, its crops and its stock.
Mr. Smoot's devotion to the interests of his state at the time of the Civil war; his long and continuous service in the business life and in the social and church life of his city, as well as his prominent identification with several of the most important financial enterprises of Alexandria, have rendered him a man of mark in the life of his section of the state.
ROBERT GOODE SOUTHALL
S OUTHALL, ROBERT GOODE, of Amelia, Amelia county, Virginia, attorney and counsellor at law, was born on the 26th of December, 1852, in the town where he still resides. His father, Dr. Philip Francis Southall, was a physi- cian; and before the war he served as one of the county justices of the peace. His mother was Mrs. Eliza Jane (Goode) Southall. His earliest known ancestor in America was Colonel D'Arcy Southall, who came from England and settled in Henrico county, Virginia, about 1720.
His early life was passed in the country. He attended the schools near his home, and later was a student at the Washington academy, in Amelia county, where he was fitted for the Univer- sity of Virginia, at which institution he took courses of study in law for two years, receiving the degree of B. L., in 1876.
He began the study of his profession at Powhatan court- house, where he read law with Major Dance. Later he held a position in the Nottoway county clerk's office and continued to read and study law in the office of W. H. Mains. He began to practice law in Amelia county.
Mr. Southall has always been actively identified with the interests and the work of the Democratic party in his state. He has represented his state in the National presidential nominating conventions, of 1884, 1888, and 1896. He was elected to congress in 1902 as a Democrat from the Fourth district and served two terms. He is affiliated with the Protestant Episcopal church.
Mr. Southall's influence has extended far beyond his native town, and his professional business and social relations are with Richmond almost as closely as with Amelia. He is a member of the Westmoreland club, of Richmond.
ALBERT WILLIAM STAHL
S TAHL, ALBERT WILLIAM, naval constructor, United States navy, was born in New York city, on May 12, 1856, son of Jacob and Henrietta (Gerecke) Stahl. His par- ents were born in Germany but emigrated therefrom and settled in New York city where his father carried on a merchandising business.
The first twenty years of his life were passed in a city en- vironment during which he prepared for and was graduated from Stevens Institute of technology, at Hoboken, New Jersey, receiving the degree of mechanical engineer, in 1876. He then entered the United States Naval academy, at Annapolis, Mary- land, where he remained from 1876 to 1880, and was graduated at the head of his class as cadet engineer, United States navy.
From 1880 to 1883, he was on duty as one of the engineer officers of the United States steamships Despatch, Galena, Quinnebaug, Lancaster, and Nipsic, principally in the Medi- terranean, attached to the European Naval station. On his re- turn to the United States in 1883, he was promoted to assistant engineer, United States navy, and after about six months duty at the bureau of steam engineering, he was, by order from the Navy department, transferred to Purdue university, Lafayette, Indiana, where he filled the chair of mechanical engineering from 1883 to 1887.
In the latter year he was appointed assistant naval con- structor, United States navy, and assigned to special duty until 1889, during part of which time he was assistant instructor in naval architecture at the United States Naval academy. He was then transferred to the Union iron works, San Francisco, Califor- nia, acting first as assistant inspector of the naval vessels being constructed at those works, and later was placed in full charge of the work. While filling this assignment he superintended the con- struction of the San Francisco, a four thousand ton cruiser; the Monterey, a four thousand ton monitor; the Olympia, a six thousand ton cruiser, afterwards employed by Admiral Dewey as
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