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 8
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In his paternal line Mr. Faulkner is descended from Jacob Faulkner, who emigrated to America from the North of Ire- land about 1700, and settled in Essex county, Virginia. On his mother's side he is descended from the illustrious family of the Harrisons in Virginia, who have given many distinguished statesmen and soldiers to the republic, including a signer of the Declaration of Independence and two presidents of the United States; and whose progenitor in Virginia was Benjamin Harrison, clerk of the council, and member of the house of burgesses in 1642.
Mr. Faulkner grew up in the village of Boydton, Virginia; and obtained his early education at the Boydton high school. He then attended Richmond college, from which he went to the University of Virginia, graduating in 1895 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts, and in 1898 with that of Master of Arts. He pursued post-graduate courses at the University of Virginia from 1898 to 1901 in the English language, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Latin and Greek; and received the degree of Doctor of Philosophy from the university in 1901. Later he spent about fifteen months in Germany attending the universi- ties of Berlin and Leipsic.
He was an assistant instructor in modern languages in the University of Virginia during the sessions of 1894-1895. From 1895 to 1897, he was principal of the Episcopal academy of Houston, Virginia. Later he was professor of modern languages in Henry college, Texas. From 1898 to 1900, he was Latin and Greek master at the Episcopal high school, near Alexandria; and in 1902 he was elected adjunct professor of Teutonic lan- guages in the University of Virginia, a position which he now (1908) holds.
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He is a member of the Beta Theta Pi college fraternity.
In 1905 Mr. Faulkner married Miss Eugenie Moore, daugh- ter of Mr. and Mrs. L. Bruce Moore, of the University of Vir- ginia. She died on January 1, 1906.
The address of Mr. Faulkner is University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia.
CHARLES WESLEY FENTRESS
F ENTRESS, CHARLES WESLEY, was born May 12, 1856, in Princess Anne county, Virginia. His parents were James and Virginia Anne Fentress. His father was a farmer and lumber contractor for the United States navy. For a time he held the office of overseer of the poor, and for a number of years that also of overseer of the public roads of Prin- cess Anne county. The first ancestors of the family emigrated from England at a very early date and settled in Princess Anne county, Virginia.
During boyhood the health of Charles Wesley Fentress was very delicate. His chief interests lay in the line of horseback riding and shooting. Until sixteen years of age his early life was passed in the country. As a boy he was trained to work. Certain portions of the work of the farm were allotted to him and he was taught that honest toil carried with it no disgrace but that his success depended upon the amount of enthusiasm which he infused into his efforts in every undertaking whether of hand or brain.
The attainment of an education was attended with great difficulty. Having to fight for his own living his early educa- tion was largely acquired after his tasks were completed. For a time he attended Professor Webster's school in Norfolk, Vir- ginia, but the death of his mother obliged him to leave. His reading had been largely confined to books by standard authors. About 1872 he entered the grocery business as a clerk for his brother. This experience brought him to the attention of Caleb Dowley who persuaded him to enter into business with himself. In this business Mr. Fentress continued after the death of Mr. Dowley.
Among the influences which affected the character of Charles Wesley Fentress should be mentioned the honest, upright stand- ard maintained by Mr. Dowley, and also the early necessity which caused Mr. Fentress to take an active interest in his work.
Mr. Fentress is engaged in the wholesale provision business, and he holds, or has held, the following named positions: A
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directorship in the City National Bank of Norfolk, Virginia, the vice-presidency of the Atlantic Trust and Deposit company, the presidency of the Board of Trade and the Business Men's association, the vice-presidency of the Cold Storage and Ice company, the vice-presidency of the Baltimore Refrigerating and Heating company, and a directorship in the Seaboard Fire Insurance company. Politics have had no charm for Mr. Fen- tess; and, though often solicited, he has uniformly declined to stand for political office.
Mr. Fentress is a master Mason, a member of the Knights Templar, of the Mystic Shrine, of the Norfolk Board of Trade and Business Men's association, and of the Virginia club. He is a Democrat in politics and a Methodist in religion. His amusement and relaxation are found in gunning, automobiling and billiards; of the latter he is especially fond.
To the young Mr. Fentress suggests that country life, its influences, and the necessity of work in early years thereby oc- casioned, are great factors in the maturing of manhood.
On October 25, 1881, Mr. Fentress was married to Sou L. Bayton, who died in May, 1883, daughter of Reverend T. J. Bayton, of the Virginia Methodist Episcopal conference, Norfolk county. On November 20, 1889, Mr. Fentress was married to Effie Eley, daughter of Captain H. S. Eley, of Virginia, and a member of a very old and prominent family. Of this marriage five children have been born, all of whom are now (1908) living.
His address is Colonial Avenue, Norfolk, Virginia.
WILLIAM MORRIS FONTAINE
F ONTAINE, WILLIAM MORRIS, scientist and educa- tor, was born in Louisa county, Virginia, December 1, 1835. His father was James Fontaine, a farmer of Hanover county, and his mother was Juliet Morris.
Professor Fontaine's earliest ancestor in Virginia was the Reverend Peter Fontaine, son of the Reverend James Fontaine, who was a Huguenot refugee from France after the revocation of the Edict of Nantes. Reverend Peter Fontaine came from England to the colony of Virginia in 1715, and settled in King William county.
Professor Fontaine's youth was spent in the country. As a boy he was fond of outdoor life and hunting, and enjoyed excel- lent physical health. Up to 1854 he was instructed by a private tutor. In that year he entered Hanover academy under Pro- fessor Lewis Coleman, who later became the occupant of the chair of Latin in the University of Virginia. Here he remained until 1856, when he matriculated in the University of Virginia, from which he graduated in 1859 with the degree of Master of Arts. In 1860 he began the active work of life as a teacher in Hanover academy with Major Hilary P. Jones, where he re- mained until the beginning of the War between the States. With the breaking out of the war he entered the army of the Confederate States, in which he served until 1862 as second lieu- tenant of artillery; then to 1864 as second lieutenant of ordnance with Jones' battery of artillery; then to the end of the war as first lieutenant of ordnance with Anderson's division in the lines at Petersburg, and on the retreat, closing his army experience at Appomattox April 9, 1865.
The end of the war led him to the conclusion that the South needed the development of its material resources. He therefore determined to study mineralogy and geology, and, going to Europe, he became a student of these subjects in the Royal School of Mines at Freiberg, Saxony, then the best known school for applied science. Here he remained during 1869-1870.
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In 1873 he was elected to the professorship of chemistry and geology in the University of West Virginia, which position he held until 1878. In 1879 he was called to the chair of natural history and geology in the University of Virginia, and has continued to occupy it up to the present time (1908).
Professor Fontaine occupies distinguished rank as a scientist, and is the author of a number of papers and books dealing with the subjects of his studies. Among them are "Resources of West Virginia" (1876), in collaboration with M. F. Maury; "Report PP. Second Pennsylvania Geologic Survey" (1880), in collaboration with I. C. White; "Monograph VI., United States Geologic Survey" (1883) ; Monograph XV., United States Geologic Survey" (1889) ; "Bulletin of the Potomac For- mation, United States Geologic Survey"; Various papers on geologic subjects and on fossil botany, published in the "Ameri- can Journal of Science"; in the "Proceedings of the United States National Museum," and in the "Annual Reports of the Director of the United States Geologic Survey."
He is especially distinguished in the scientific world for his knowledge of fossil botany, in the study of which he has found many new plants, and has determined the geological age of various formations in different parts of the United States.
He is a fellow of the Geological society of America and a member of the Huguenot society of America. In political creed and association he is a Democrat, and has never changed his party allegiance. He is affiliated with the Protestant Episcopal church and is unmarried.
Biographical sketches of Professor Fontaine have been pub- lished in "A History of the University of Virginia " (Lewis and Company, New York City,) in "Who's Who in America," for 1908-1909 (A. N. Marquis and Company, Chicago), and in a work on "Men of Science in America," edited by J. McK. Cattell, the editor of "Science."
His address is University Station, Charlottesville, Virginia.
LUTHER AUGUSTINE FOX
F OX, LUTHER AUGUSTINE, D. D., minister, and for the past twenty-six years college professor, was born at Randleman, Randolph county, North Carolina, Au- gust 3, 1843, and is the son of Alfred J. and Lydia Fox. His father was a minister of the Gospel, an energetic man and a clear thinker.
The Fox family was founded in this country by David Fox from Germany, who settled in North Carolina in 1750.
In childhood and youth, Luther A. Fox was healthy and vigorous. He was reared on a farm and during summer vaca- tions performed such tasks of manual labor as are usually as- signed to youth. To this he attributes the vigorous health he has uniformly enjoyed.
He was graduated at Roanoke college, Virginia, in 1868, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. Early thereafter he began the active work of life as a Lutheran clergyman in North Carolina. He had, from childhood, looked forward to the min- istry as his life-work, and no influence was brought to bear upon him to affect his choice of a vocation. He has served churches in Roanoke, Virginia; Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, and Waynesboro, Virginia.
In 1882, Dr. Fox was elected professor of philosophy in Roanoke college. In this position he has done, and is doing, most faithful and efficient work. For a large part of the time since the date above named, he was acting-president of the col- lege, as the president was absent most of the time in the interests of the institution, and Dr. Fox was called upon to serve in his stead. The college has conferred upon him the honorary degrees of A. M. and D. D.
Dr. Fox regards private study as the most potent influence in shaping life, and thinks that the thorough mastery of a few works on systematic theology, such as Knapp's "Systematic Theology," Neander's "Church History," Cousin's "History of Philosophy," and Sir William Hamilton's "Metaphysics and Philosophy," has been very helpful to him.
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As a writer Dr. Fox has been successful. In 1890 he pub- lished a work entitled "Evidences of a Future Life;" and he has contributed many articles to the "Lutheran Quarterly."
He believes firmly in education, and thinks that "a collegiate education is of great importance in any sphere." A total abstinence from strong drink, a thorough devotion to one's voca- tion, and genuine piety, are necessary, he thinks, to true success. And he adds: "One's aim should be to serve God by rendering the best service to humanity."
On September 9, 1869, Dr. Fox married Etta Glossbrenner, daughter of Bishop J. J. Glossbrenner. They have had four children, all of whom are now (1908) living.
The address of Dr. Fox is Salem, Virginia.
LEWIS GINTER
G INTER, LEWIS. If, as has been said by the poet Pope, "The proper study of mankind is man," biography must be a most valuable addition to the sum of human knowledge.
Among the " Men of Mark in Virginia " whose lives are deemed worthy of record, there is perhaps not one the story of whose efforts and experiences in business is more full of encour- agement to those who in the face of difficulties begin and con- tinue the battle of life, or whose benevolence after the achieve- ment of great success furnishes a better example for imitation than does the life of Lewis Ginter.
The subject of this brief biography was born in the city of New York on the 4th day of April, 1824. His family was of old Knickerbocker stock, and though he afterwards became, not only by residence but in heart and soul, a Virginian, he always re- ferred with satisfaction to his Dutch lineage as the rock from which he was hewn. Mr. Ginter came to Richmond, Virginia, in the spring of 1842, and began there at the age of eighteen his business career, which, despite many vicissitudes, was crowned with success unparalleled in his community, and rarely equalled if at all surpassed in the whole South.
His first business enterprise was as a merchant, dealing in a general assortment of fancy furnishings, in a store of his own on East Main street, nearly opposite the old St. Charles hotel, that is, just above the present site of the Main street depot of the Chesapeake and Ohio railroad. Under his energetic manage- ment his trade so flourished that he was compelled a few years later to secure a larger storehouse on Main street between Twelfth and Thirteenth streets. He there formed a partnership with Mr. John F. Alvey, and later, taking into the firm Mr. James Kent, they began to do a wholesale business with village and country stores and retail houses in Richmond, which grew into one of the most extensive of its kind in the South. In about two years Mr. George Arents, a nephew of Mr. Ginter, bought out the in-
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terest of Mr. Kent, and the new firm of Ginter, Alvey & Arents did a great business during the fifties in linens, white goods, and woolen fabrics of various kinds. They dealt directly with the factories, and in pursuit of this trade Mr. Ginter made frequent visits to the Irish and Saxon mills of Europe securing the most expensive grades of goods, many of which upon arrival in Rich- mond were repacked in attractive boxes and wrappings of Mr. Ginter's own design.
With remarkable business foresight Mr. Ginter foresaw and predicted the great financial panic of 1857, and, acting upon his convictions, he purchased horses and buggies and sent collectors out simultaneously and persistently month after month to gather from his customers all the cash he could, and this he put aside to meet the coming crash. As a result of his foresight and prud- ence the financial storm of 1857 passed harmlessly over his firm, which continued its career of prosperity until the breaking out of the war in 1861. When the business was finally suspended be- cause of the war, Mr. Ginter and his partners had more than a quarter of a million dollars due them in outstanding accounts, of which the greater part was never paid. For these accounts Mr. Ginter never presented a bill, but when his debtors volun- teered to pay, he settled with them on such terms as were agree- able to the debtor, and never asked for interest.
At the outset of the war Mr. Ginter, who had cast in his lot thoroughly with the community in which he lived, disposed of his business and entered the Confederate army. He served to the end of the struggle with high credit. He was first a quarter- master under General Joseph R. Anderson, but in 1862 was ap- pointed commissary of General Thomas' brigade of Georgians. Patient, polite and kindly, he soon became one of the most popu- lar men in the brigade, and specially won the attachment and interest of the men, because he never lost an opportunity to get into a battle, and was known in the brigade as "the fighting com- missary." After the battle of Cedar Run in August, 1862, he volunteered to serve in the place of Captain William Norwood, who was disabled by a wound, and thus participated in the battle of Second Manassas and other battles of the campaign into Maryland that year. On the second day of the fight at Manassas
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in August, 1862, when the Federal forces seemed about to break through the division of General A. P. Hill, Major Ginter, with great presence of mind, rallied the men and led a counter charge which drove the enemy back. Several of his superior officers who witnessed this gallant action sought to procure his promo- tion, but, with the modesty which always characterized the man, he discouraged the effort, and after the war he more than once interfered to prevent some admiring friend from using this in- cident in an address.
After the war, accepting the inevitable cheerfully, Major Ginter began to look for a new opening. The destruction of business in Richmond, and the desolation of Virginia, discour- aged him from beginning his new career among his old friends. He turned his face towards New York, and, associating with himself John H. Colquitt, formerly one of his clerks in Rich- mond, he became the head of a banking house on Wall street. The disastrous results of the panic of 1873 led to the failure of this banking house, and Major Ginter again found himself practically penniless and out of employment. To a friend who expressed sympathy for him he returned his cordial thanks, and said, " True, it is not the most cheerful prospect I ever saw; but I trust I may get at work soon and settle everything satisfac- torily." Thus past fifty years of age he was about to begin life afresh.
After a close investigation of conditions, he returned from New York to Richmond in 1874, and with Mr. John F. Allen formed a partnership for the manufacture and sale of smoking tobacco and cigars under the firm name of John F. Allen & Com- pany. In his travels at home and abroad Major Ginter had ob- served the increasing consumption of cigarettes made of foreign tobacco, some of which were even then being manufactured and sold in New York city. There seemed to him no reason why the delicate and fragrant bright tobacco leaf of the "Golden Belt" of Virginia and the Carolinas should not be as desirable as the foreign article for cigarettes as it was for plug and smoking. His thought was quickly followed by action, and thus came from a small beginning the manufacture and trade which eventually opened up a great world market for the bright tobacco grown in
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what is known as " The Golden Belt of Virginia and the Caro- linas."
At the Centennial exposition in Philadelphia, in 1876, he made a very attractive display of cigarettes and bright smoking tobacco, which greatly enlarged the interest in those articles. The extraordinary good taste which Major Ginter always had served him well in this business, and he was probably the first manufacturer ever to use artistic lithographed labels and attrac- tive packages for tobacco of any kind. The fine quality of the goods and the exquisite manner in which they were put up caught the market, and the business grew very rapidly both at home and abroad, and all sorts of testimonials in the way of letters of praise and in the form of medals were sent to the firm.
In 1881 Mr. John F. Allen withdrew from the firm, the name of which had sometime before been changed to Allen & Ginter, and Mr. John Pope was received into the partnership. The trade of the house increased so rapidly that in 1888 the establishment was incorporated.
When in the winter of 1889 negotiations for the formation of a trust of the five great cigarette manufacturing houses of the country appeared to be coming to a head, Major Ginter posi- tively refused to go into such a combination, and would only agree to the formation of a corporation to take over absolutely and pay for the business bought. His decision in this matter was referred to when the American Tobacco Company in New York was charged with conspiracy, and Major Ginter's stand was praised far and wide.
To carry out his views, he and his associates secured from the legislature of Virginia a charter for the American Tobacco Company, which was passed by both houses and signed by the governor, but was later rescinded by an act of repeal. Advised by counsel that the charter was good and could be maintained, he declined to have the company organized under it, and later secured a charter from the state of New Jersey, which was anxious to grant it. A little before his death, Major Ginter re- ferred with regret to the loss which had been thus inflicted upon Richmond and the commonwealth. The state would have re- Vol. 5-Va .- 8
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ceived taxes to the amount of two hundred thousand dollars annually, it is said, had not the charter been rescinded.
Of the American Tobacco Company he was the first presi- dent, but in a few months resigned in favor of a younger man ; he, however, held the position of director practically until his death. The company was capitalized at twenty-five millions, and of this capital stock Major Ginter personally owned origin- ally about three and a half millions.
When the great fire in January, 1893, destroyed the Allen & Ginter factory at Seventh and Cary streets, with a loss of some two hundred thousand dollars, hundreds of employees, chiefly young women, were thrown out of work. Without any delay, the business was moved to one of the company's factories at Twenty-fifth and Cary streets; telegrams for new machinery to be shipped by express were gotten off that day, and numbers of mechanics of all kinds worked day and night to get the new place in shape, and within ten days regular work was resumed, saving the employees the suffering which would have followed the dreaded delay of months in rebuilding.
The success of the American Tobacco Company was such that Major Ginter became the wealthiest man in Richmond, and, indeed, in all Virginia. His income was proportionately great, and, although he lived in great elegance and affluence, he seemed to regard his wealth rather as a trust than a mere means of self gratification. He became almost a universal benefactor, and his great powers for business were heavily taxed by the appeals that were made to him to aid meritorious enterprises of all kinds. Besides numberless smaller companies, he took a very large in- terest in the Richmond locomotive works, which he held to the time of his death.
For a long time he had advocated some cooperative plan for building a first class hotel in Richmond, but failing to get the cooperation which the merits of the plan deserved, he under- took, with the aid alone of members of his own family, to build the Jefferson hotel, and that important addition to the welfare and attractiveness of Richmond is a monument to his public spirit and good taste. There would never have been a Jefferson hotel except for Lewis Ginter.
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In a trip that he made to Australia about 1887 or 1888, he observed how many of the business men of Melbourne had country places to which they went every evening after the day's work was done, and he formed the idea of planning such an ar- rangement near Richmond. He bought up hundreds of acres of land on each side of Brook Turnpike, laid it out in a most liberal way with broad avenues, had the land elaborately tile drained, put down sewers, built water works, macadamized the roads, planted miles of hedges and thousands upon thousands of shade trees. So spacious and comprehensive was his suburban work that a distinguished divine from New York on seeing it ex- claimed, "Why this man worked like a Pharoah." He has left indelibly impressed upon the face of Henrico county evidences of his broad, liberal and refined spirit, and coming generations will enjoy the benefits which have flowed from his wise and generous nature.
The combination of wisdom and gentleness and strict in- tegrity which characterized Major Ginter gained for him the affection of his friends, and the devoted loyalty of his employees. Attractive in face and in figure, quiet and dignified in bearing, genial and kindly in manner, it was deemed a privilege not merely to be his friend, but also to serve him.
Socially Major Ginter was a most delightful person. He was the soul of hospitality, and seemed to enjoy without stint the entertainment of his friends, a pleasure in which he indulged himself most liberally. Among his constant visitors were several of the most distinguished clergymen of Richmond, who appeared to be among his most cherished companions. Though not a professor of religion at any time, Major Ginter, whose affiliations were with the Episcopal church, was a genuinely religious man, and paid the greatest respect to all that belonged to the worship of God. He took the greatest pleasure in build- ing and decorating a Baptist church for the negroes in Henrico. He caused to be erected in this church tablets bearing the Lord's Prayer and the Ten Commandments, and at the dedicatory ser- vices of the church he attended in person, and in some remarks which he made on the occasion asked the deacons of the church that they would cause the Lord's Prayer and the Ten Command-
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