USA > Virginia > Virginia and Virginians; eminent Virginians, executives of the colony of Virginia, Vol. II > Part 25
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This contingency arose when the proclamation of President Lincoln called upon Virginia for her quota of troops to enforce the laws and crush out the rebellion.
Judge Blow, together with many other members of the convention similarly pledged, considered that an unnecessary and unconstitutional warwas about to be invoked, and that, in a question of arms, the place of Virginia should be with her southern brethren, and he voted for and signed the Ordinance of Secession.
In 1861 he joined the army of Virginia as lieutenant-colonel of the 41st regiment, and served as such until its reorganization in 1862.
In 1870 he was elected by the legislature judge of the 1st judicial circuit of Virginia, in which position he served for two terms, or sixteen years, and then resumed the practice of his profession.
JUDGE DAVID TUCKER BROOKE.
Judge Brooke was born in the city of Richmond, Virginia, on April 28, 1852. He is a son of Henry Laurence Brooke, who was born in Staf- ford county, Virginia, and who died in March, 1873, aged sixty-six years. His mother was Virginia Tucker Brooke, born in Jefferson
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county, died October 7. 1864, aged forty-seven years. His elder broth- ers, St. George T. Brooke and Frank J. Brooke, served in the late war, C. S. A., and the first-named was severely wounded at Haws Shop.
Judge Brooke attended the Loudoun school at Middleburg, Virginia, Virginius Dabney principal, until 1870, then the University of Vir- ginia, sessions of 1870 and 1871; taught school in Stafford county, Jefferson county, and at Norfolk nine years; studied law under the late Tazewell Taylor in Norfolk, was admitted to the Bar in 1874, and prac- ticed in Norfolk city until elected to the Bench. He is present judge of corporation court, Norfolk city, having been elected to fill vacancy in January, 1884, and re-elected for another term in 1887.
He married in Norfolk, April 7, 1880, Lucy Borland Higgins, of that city. Their children are named : Ley Drummond, Eloise Minor, Henry Laurence and Mary Walton. Mrs. Brooke is a daughter of Ignatius Higgins, who was born in Norfolk, and died there in 1855 of yellow fever, aged thirty-five years. Her mother, whose maiden name was Jane Drummond, was born in Norfolk, and died in 1869.
FRANCIS DE CORDY,
Who has been an honored resident of Norfolk since 1835. was born in New York City, December 20, 1814. His father was Thomas David De Cordy, his mother Anne Brooks, daughter of Francis Brooks of Norfolk, Virginia, and Jane Selque of Philadelphia. His ancestors were Huguenots, religious refugees from France, who came to the colony of New York in 1685.
In New York City, August, 1837, Francis De Cordy married Mary G. Schuyler, born in that city, in August, 1819. She was the daughter of Peter Schuyler, whose father was Peter Schuyler of the renowned Knickerbocker family. Her mother was Eliza White, daughter of the Rev. White, a Presbyterian clergyman of New York.
The record of the children of Mr. and Mrs. De Cordy is: Robert C., died in infancy; Robert (., 2d, volunteer engineer, United States service, on flag ship " Philadelphia," died in 1863; Francis, jr., deceased ; Victor C. and Gordon, Frances G. and Rosalie. Gordon married Catharine Putnam, of Rochester, New York, a daughter of Israel H. Putnam, who was a grandson of Israel Putnam of Revolutionary fame.
After Mr. De Cordy came to Norfolk in 1835 he engaged in business as master ship joiner, which occupation he followed until 1864. Since that date he has been a merchant, dealer in coal, at 11 William street. Ile was mayor of the city of Norfolk, 1870-2.
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HON. GRIFFIN FAUNTLEROY EDWARDS.
The ancestry of the subject of this sketch is thus traced: In early colonial days Dr. Richard Edwards came from London to Virginia. His son Thomas married Sarah Ingram. Their son Thomas married Elizabeth Fauntleroy. Their son Griffin married Priscella Lee. Their son, LeRoy Griffin Edwards, born in Northumberland county, Virginia, in 1804, died in Norfolk county, in August, 1866, married Fannie W., daughter of John Robins, of Norfolk county, Virginia, whose father was of Gloucester county. Their son, Griffin Fauntleroy Edwards, was born at Deep Creek, Norfolk county, Virginia, September 16, 1843.
He went to school in the village of Deep Creek until twelve years of age, then to the Union Male Academy, at Harrellsville, North Carolina, for two and a half years, then one year to Mr. C. Morris, at Norfolk. In January, 1861, he entered Emory and Henry College, in Washington county, Virginia. In June 1861, the entire body of students withdrew from the college to enter the army, and he joined Company E, 61st Vir- ginia regiment; was detailed clerk to Gen. H. B. Davidson, commanding post at Staunton, Virginia. In November, 1863, he rejoined his regi- ment, and was appointed sergeant-major; in the latter part of 1864 was appointed regimental adjutant. Serving with the regiment in Mahone's division, he received a gunshot wound through right shoulder near Farmville, Virginia, April 7, 1865. He had two brothers in ser- vice, John Robins Edwards, first lieutenant Company A, 3d Virginia regiment, Pickett's division, and LeRoy Bushrod Edwards, a private in the same company. Both served until made prisoners in battle of Five Forks, April, 1865; they were held prisoners until after the close of the war.
Returning to his home, Griffin Fauntleroy Edwards qualified as deputy for his father, who was then the clerk of the county and circuit courts of Norfolk county. After his father's death in August, 1866, he was elected to the office (in November, 1866) and served until removed March 19, 1869, by the military governor of Virginia, for refnsal to take the iron-clad oath. In 1870 Mr. Edwards was appointed commis- sioner of accounts for the city of Portsmouth, which office he has ably filled ever since. In the sessions of 1879-80 and 1880-81 he was a mem- ber of the Virginia legislature. In 1882-3-4-5-6 was superintendent of the public schools of Portsmouth. While clerk of courts, Mr. Edwards studied law, and he has been continuously in practice since 1869, except when public official duties prevented.
He married at Portsmouth, October 6, 1869, Isabel Bilisoly, who was born in Portsmouth. They have one son, J. Griffin, and have buried one son, Carl, died May 22, 1879. Mrs. Edwards is the
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daughter of Joseph A. Bilisoly, who was a son of Antonio Bilisoly, born on the Island of Corsica. Her mother is Eliza, daughter of John Ben- son, Esq.
CHARLES GRICE ELLIOTT,
A resident and honored citizen of Norfolk since 1867, was born in North Carolina, at Elizabeth City, March 8, 1840. His father, who died May 20, 1852, at age of thirty-eight years, was Gilbert, son of Peter Elliott, of North Carolina. His mother is Sarah A. Elliott, nee Grice, still living at Oxford, North Carolina. His wife, whom he married at Oxford, North Carolina, in March, 1867, was born in Franklin county, that State, Jean- nette Tunstall Cooper, daughter of James Crawford Cooper, of Oxford, and Lucy ( Williams) Cooper.
Mr. Elliott went to school in Elizabeth City to Rev. E. M. Forbes, a Protestant Episcopal Church school. At the age of fourteen years he began clerking in a mercantile store, at the age of seventeen years was deputy clerk of the county court, and so served until, at age of twenty- one years, he entered the Confederate States Army. In 1866 he was a farmer. From 1867 to 1887 was a merchant at Norfolk, member of the firm of William W. Gwathmay & Co., cotton factors, and at one time president of the N. & P. Cotton Exchange. Since 1887 he has been con- nected with the railroad that is now the Chowan & Southern, as its treasurer. He has been a member of the Norfolk common council for twelve years, and president of the same two years, and is now president of the Board of Harbor Commissioners of Norfolk and Portsmouth,
He volunteered in 1861, for service in the 17th North Carolina regi- ment, C. S. A., and was appointed assistant adjutant-general in Martin's Brigade, Hoke's Division. He was captured at Roanoke Island, paroled in two weeks, and served until the close of the war.
THOMAS E. ELLIOTT
Was born in Northampton county, Virginia, August 20, 1834. He is a son of J. T. and Margaret (Downs) Elliott, both now deceased, and a grandson of Rev. J. T. Elliott. In Norfolk, December, 1858, he mar- ried Mary Eliza Davis, who was born in Norfolk, the daughter of Miles Davis, who still lives in Norfolk, now eighty-eight years of age. The children of the union are six: Alice Louisa, Thomas E., jr., Maggie Virginia, William, Edna and Rebecca.
Mr. Elliott attended school in his native county until he came to Nor- folk at the age of fourteen years. He was two years in the lumber business, one year in the commission business, then on January 1, 1850, engaged in his present business, hardware, railroad, steamboat
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and mill supplies. For three years he was clerk for Allen, Rose & Capp, then was made their head clerk, purchasing supplies and acting as gen- eral manager of their business. He left this position in 1861 to enter the Confederate States Army, in the Norfolk Artillery Blues, in which he saw constant and honorable service until made prisoner at the fall of Petersburg, April, 1865. In that last struggle at Petersburg, he had the honor of firing the last five rounds the Blues ever fired, after all the infantry had left. He was sent as prisoner of war to Point Lookout, and held there until released after the surrender of Generals Lee and Johnston. Returning to Norfolk, he engaged again in the business he still follows, establishing the firm of Taylor, Martin & Co. On the re- tirement of Mr. Martin the firm name and style became Taylor, Elliott & Watters. For about twenty years these two firms in succession carried on one of the largest hardware businesses in the State of Vir- ginia. Mr. Elliott is now conducting the business in his own name.
MICHAEL GLENNAN.
The subject of this sketch, owner of the Norfolk Virginian, and at present postmaster of Norfolk, was born at Maynooth, County Kildare, Ireland. At Norfolk, November 6, 1879, Rev. Fr. Matthew O'Keefe solemnized the marriage of Michael Glennan and Mary Elizabeth Kevill, the bride born in Norfolk. The issue of the union is four children : Ed- ward Kevill, Mary Belle, Michael and Alma.
Mr. Glennan came to Virginia with his father in childhood, and at- tended school in Norfolk, then for a time in Brooklyn, New York. On returning to Norfolk he was, in 1857, employed as mailing clerk in the office of the Southern Argus, so serving until the outbreak of the war. After that he served for a time as orderly for Gen. W. P. Taliaferro, who was then in command of the Virginia forces at Norfolk. He was after- wards refused enlistment in Virginia troops on account of lameness and youth. In November, 1861, was connected with the quartermaster's department, at Wilmington, North Carolina, and in 1862 was attached to the 36th regiment, North Carolina State Troops, as quartermaster's sergeant. The regiment was stationed along the defences of the Cape Fear, with headquarters at Fort Anderson. Later the regiment was stationed at Fort Fisher, where he served as post quartermaster's ser- geant, and at times as acting quartermaster. As such he participated in the battles of Fort Fisher, and was captured at the fall of the fort, Jannary, 1865, and imprisoned at Governor's Island, New York Harbor, until paroled latter part of March, 1865. Reported at Greensboro, North Carolina, and was there surrendered with General Johnston's army, April, 1865.
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After the war Mr. Glennan taught school in Portsmouth, Virginia, until January, 1867, when he became connected with the Norfolk Vir- ginian as its business manager, and of which he afterwards became owner. He was for several years a member of the State Democratic Executive Committee, and chairman of the Democratic party of the 2nd Congressional District. He was one of the delegates at large to the Democratic National Convention in 1880. In 1875 Mr. Glennan started in the columns of the Virginian the agitation of a national celebration of the surrender of Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown, and the erection of the monument in commemoration of the event. The move- ment was successful and a magnificent monument now adorus the historic field of Yorktown. In consideration of his services, Mr. Glennan was selected by Governor Holliday the commissioner to represent Vir- ginia at the Centennial celebration. He is now the president of the Irish Catholic Benevolent Union of the United States, succeeding Hon. A. M. Keilly, of Richmond, Ex. U. S. Minister to Austria.
GOODRICH HATTON.
The founder of the Hatton family in Virginia was Lewis Hatton, an English ship-owner, who settled on a large tract of land in Norfolk county on the north side of the western branch of the Elizabeth river, now known as "Hatton's Point." He was engaged in privateering during the war of the Revolution, and died in 1784. Goodrich, subject of this sketeh, is descendant in the fourth degree of lineal consanguinity from this Lewis Hatton, who was great grandfather of Goodrich's father, Edward Alexander Hatton, who was born at Portsmouth, June 6, 1830, and married Susan Rebekah Nash, who was born at Ports- mouth, October 26, 1830. Their son Goodrich was born at " Waverly," the residence of his grandfather, in Norfolk county, May 8, 1862.
He was educated at the Norfolk Male Academy and at the University of Virginia, graduating from the last named institution with degree of Bachelor of Law in the year, 1883. He began practice as attorney and counsellor at law in Portsmouth in September, 1883, in which he still continues.
ROBERT MORTON HUGHES.
Robert Morton, son of Judge Robert W. Hughes, was born in Abing- don, Virginia, on September 10, 1855. He was first educated at Wil- liam and Mary College, where he took degree as Bachelor of Arts, in 1873, then went to the University of Virginia, where he took degree of Master of Arts in 1877, and where, also, he studied law. He is now en- gaged in practice in Norfolk ('ity.
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At Williamsburg, Virginia, February 19, 1879, he married Mattie I .. Smith, and their children are two sons: Robert Morton, jr., born April 24, 1880, and Sydney Smith, born September 12, 1884. Mrs. Hughes was born in Williamsburg, the daughter of Sydney Smith of York county, Virginia, long a resident of Williamsburg, where he held several offices of trust, and died in October, 1884. Her mother's maiden name was Virginia Bucktrout.
Robert W. Hughes, father of Robert M., United States District Judge, was born in Powhatan county, Virginia, on June 4, 1821. The mother of Robert M. is Eliza M., daughter of Charles C. Johnston, member of Congress 1831-3, and granddaughter of Judge Peter Johnston, of Abingdon. She was born July 2, 1825. Her mother was a Preston. and her paternal grandmother, Judge Johnston's wife, was a Miss Wood, whose mother was a sister of Patrick Henry.
WILLIAM WALLACE HUNTER.
The founder of this family in Virginia, great grandfather of the sub- ject of this sketch, was JJames Hunter, born in Londonderry, Ireland, in 1764, came to America from the Island of St. Christophers in 1783. died March 8, 1821, was a merchant and member of the firm of Allison & Hunter. James Hunter and Miss J. Rodgers were married February 28,1783.
His son William Frayze Hunter, grandfather of William Wallace, was born February 15, 1787, and died November 15, 1822. William Frayze Hunter and Henrietta Louise Andre were married July 10, 1810.
William Henry Hunter, son of William Frayze, and father of William Wallace, was born November 15, 1814, and died March 4, 1882; at time of his death was Clerk of the Courts of the City of Norfolk, Vir- ginia. William Henry Hunter and Eliza Frances Wallace were married May 25, 1837.
William Wallace Hunter was born in Norfolk, on January 24, 1840. He attended school at the Norfolk Military Academy, and entered the Confederate Army in April, 1861. He was made prisoner at Roanoke Island, North Carolina, in February, 1862. and paroled until Septent- ber, 1862, from which time till the close of the war he was in constant service in the Army of the Confederate States. After the close of the war he went to New York, and engaged in the cotton commission busi- ness, member of the firms of Daney, Hyman & Co., of New York, and Hymans & Daney, of Norfolk. From these firms he withdrew in 1878, since which time he has resided in Norfolk. He has been city treasurer of Norfolk since July 1, 1885, and is now serving his second term of three years.
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In Norfolk, October 20, 1880, Rev. N. A. Okeson, D. D., united in marriage William Wallace Hunter and Sophia E. Grandy. The bride was born in Norfolk, a daughter of C. W. Grandy, who was born July, 1808, and died March 18, 1874, and An D. Grandy, nee Dozier, who died March 15, 1882.
Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Wallace Hunter have one son, Charles Grandy Hun- ter and one daughter, Henrietta Lonise Hunter. They have buried one daughter, Kate Wallace Hunter, born January 6, 1883, died March 26, 1884.
WILLIAM M. JONES
Was born in Greensville county, Virginia, on January 21, 1840, theson of Mordecai Jones, now deceased, who was a son of John Jones, of Brunswick county, Virginia. The mother of William M., Martha R. Gregg her maiden name, still lives in Greensville county.
William M. finished his edneation at Randolph-Macon College, where he was graduated in 1860. The following year he taught school, then entered the Confederate States Army in the "Greensville Guards." He was appointed assistant quartermaster, and so served around Peters- burg until the close of the war. From 1865 to 1871 he taught in the Wesleyan Female College, and since 1871 has been engaged in his present business in Norfolk, a member of the firm of Jones, Lee & Co., commis- sion merchants. Mr. Jones is chairman of the school board of Norfolk, and treasurer of the board of city water commissioners.
In Nansemond county, Virginia, December 23, 1868, he married Pattie J., eldest daughter of Capt. Patrick H. Lee and Joanna Rawls, his wife. Mrs. Jones was born in Nansemond county, where her parents still reside. Her father served in the late war, captain in the 13th Virginia Cavalry, C. S. A.
The children of Mr. and Mrs. Jones were born in the order named: H. Lee, now deceased; Willie M .; A. Celeste, R. Paul, R. Virginia: Pattie J., deceased ; Pattie J., 2d, deceased; Richard A. and Harry P.
WILLIAM G. MAUPIN,
Was born in Portsmouth, Virginia, on July 11, 1820. He is a son of George W. Maupin, who died in 1825, and a grandson of Gabriel Man- pin, of France. His mother's maiden name was Ann Moffat; she is no longer living. His wife, whom he married at Petersburg, Virginia. December 10, 1844, was born in Petersburg, Anna, daughter of James and Ann ( Dawson) Foley, both now deceased. The chil- dren of Mr. and Mrs. Maupin are nine, born in the order named : Wil- liam G., Anna M., James F., Matilda E., Griffith, Samuel D., Aline, Ruth, George W.
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Mr. Maupin attended school in Portsmouth and Norfolk. At the age of fourteen years he began business in a mercantile establishment, and followed merchandising for twelve years. After farming for two years, he returned to a mercantile life, which he has followed ever since. In 1873 he went into his present business, wholesale dealer in Maine ice. He has worthily filled the publie offices of city treasurer, councilman and justice of the peace.
HON. JOHN NEELY
Is a son of John Neely, whose family was of Scotch-Irish extraction, settled in Sontheastern Pennsylvania at an early date. His mother's maiden name was Bayly, the family, originally from England, early seated in Virginia. He was born in Montgomery county, Maryland, on September 30, 1841. He studied with his father and elder brother, in Virginia and at St. Joseph, Missouri, until sixteen years of age, then obtained appointment as naval cadet at Annapolis, but failed to pass physical examination because of defective eyesight. He then taught school for a time, reading law meanwhile. He commenced practice in Aecomack county, Virginia, at Accomack C. H., where heremained until 1885, in which year he removed to Norfolk, his present place of resi- dence. He was several years commonwealth's attorney for Accomack county, and represented that county two terms in the House of Dele- gates.
He married at Accomack C. H., December 13, 1866, Mary V. Ray- field, of Accomack county. They have two daughters, Ethel and Eliza- beth. Mrs. Neely is of a family settled in Virginia many years ago.
GEN. RICHARD L. PAGE.
Richard L., son of William B. Page, and grandson of Mann Page, of Gloucester county, Virginia, was born in Frederick county, Virginia, in December, 1807. His mother, whose maiden name was Ann Lee, was also a Virginian, a sister of Gen. Harry Lee (known as " Light Horse Harry"). His parents have been many years dead. The wife of General Page was born in Norfolk, Alexina, daughter of Richard and Elizabeth (Calvert) Taylor, both now deceased. They were married in Norfolk. November 4, 1841, have three living children, William B., Elizabeth C .. and Walter T., and have buried three, Ann Lee, Richard L. and Alexina.
General Page was educated first in a school at Berryville, Virginia. afterwards by private tutors in his family, after which in Alexandria, Virginia. In 1824 he entered the United States Navy, as midshipman ; was promoted to commander, and served on several vessels. In 1861
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he resigned to tender his services to his native State, and when the Vir- ginia forces were turned over to the Confederate government he was appointed captain, C. S. N. He was assigned as ordinance officer at the Norfolk Navy Yard, and built and commanded several forts at mouth of Nansemond river, commanding also the naval forces at Savannah. When Norfolk was evacuated by the Confederates he was appointed commandant at Charlotte, North Carolina. In 1863 he was commis- sioned brigadier general, and assigned to command of the outer defences of Mobile Bay, with headquarters at Fort Morgan. When that fort was surrendered, August 4, 1864, he was made prisoner and confined at New Orleans, Fort Lafayette (New York), and Fort Delaware, Pennsylvania. Released in September, 1865, he returned to Norfolk, where he devoted himself to farming for six years. He was then appointed superintendent of the public schools of Norfolk city, which office he filled for nine years. General Page has now retired from active pursuits, and is living his re- maining years in Norfolk, honored and loved by all its citizens.
HON. WILLIAM H. PETERS
Was born at Portsmouth, Virginia, on May 12, 1816, the son of Henry Peters, who died in 1825, aged about forty-four years, and Martha Peters, nee Meredith, who died in 1841. He went to school in Ports- mouth, and at the age of sixteen years entered the United States Navy Yard at Gosport as clerk, and continued there until May, 1855, filling the position of commandant's secretary most of the time. In June, 1855, commeneed a mercantile business in which he continued until the secession of Virginia, when he was appointed paymaster in the navy of Virginia, and ordered to duty at the Gosport Navy Yard, in charge of the pay department of that establishment.
Continuing there until Virginia joined the Confederacy (when he was succeeded by a paymaster of the Confederate navy), he was then ap- pointed, by Governor Letcher, commissioner to report on the public property taken possession of, in the name of Virginia, in and around Norfolk, including the United States navy yard at Gosport. This duty performed, he was appointed Confederate States naval store-keeper, by President Davis, and took charge of the stores in the Gosport yard. He continued there until the station was evacnated by the Confederates, May 10, 1862, when he proceeded with such stores as could be removed, to Charlotte, North Carolina, where he remained on duty until Sep- tember, 1863. He was then appointed navy agent, and assigned to duty in the blockade, with headquarters at Wilmington, North Caro- linn, having charge of the steamers of the navy department engaged in running the blockade, and of the purchase and shipment of cotton, on
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goverment account, from Wilmington and other southern ports. The duties of this difficult position he discharged until the fall of Wilming- ton, and the close of the war.
He then resumed mercantile business at Portsmouth and Norfolk. In 1879 he became president of the Citizens' Bank of Norfolk. a position he still holds. In Portsmouth, Virginia, May 16, 1838. . Mr. Peters married Mary A. Reed, of that city. The record of their children is: James H., married Susan Sadler, of North Carolina ; Carrie V., married Dr. J. Buxton Williams, of Oxford, North Carolina; William R .. married Mary Freeman, of Portsmouth; Laura B. (now deceased ), married Dr. Edward M. Watts: Mattie R., married JJudge Legh Rich- mond Watts, of Portsmouth; Washington and Mary, still living at home.
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