NYPL RESEARCH LIBRARIES I I I II II I 3 3433 08230930 7 \ \ Men of Mark in Virginia Ideals of American Life A Collection of Biographies of the Leading Men in the State LYON G. TYLER, LL.D. President William and Mary College Editor-in-Chief VOLUME I. Illustrated with many Full Page Photo-Steel Engravings MEN OF MARK PUBLISHING COMPANY Washington, D. C. 1906 5~ 447HB Copyright, lgo6 by Men of Mark Publishing Company MEN OF MARK IN VIRGINIA LYON G. TYLER, LL. D. EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ADVISOEY BOARD PROF. E. C. GLASS Lynchburg City Superintendent of Schools HON. ARMISTEAD C. GORDON Staunton Chairman Virginia State Library Board ; Late Rector University of Virginia S. H. HANSBROUGH Winchester President Shenandoah Valley National Bank EPPA HUNTON, JR Richmond Attorney-at-Latu HON. J. T. LAWLESS Norfolk Ex-Secretary of the Commonwealth DR. A. J. MOREIIEAD Salem President Roanoke College S. S. P. PATTESON Richmond Attorney-at-Laiu JAMES G. PENN Danville President Commercial Bank HON. ROBERT R. PRENTIS Suffolk Judge Circuit Court GEORGE A. SCIIMELZ Newport News Banker HON. J. HOGE TYLER East Radford Ex- Governor LYON G. TYLER, LL. D Williamsburg President William and Maty College PREFACE In so far as history is chiefly an account of the deeds of prominent and leading men, biography is its natural handmaid and companion. Sometimes measures, critical in their effect upon history, have turned upon mere ties of relationship; some- times traits sometimes a upon hereditary ; upon question of birth ; and often upon environment and local associations. No other State in the Union has furnished greater men, or has had in the annals of modern times a more distinguished part than has the Commonwealth of Virginia. In the opinion of many she was the most influential State of the Union in the American Revolution, and for half a she was the century succeeding ; certainly leading State of the Southern Confederacy in the War between the States. Yet hardly in any other country have the wants of the public been less liberally met, hitherto, in the matter of biographies. The design of the present work is to afford a comprehensive list of biographies of the men who now represent the intelli- gence and energy of Virginia. Suppose that for each generation in the past history of Virginia such a series of books as this plan contemplates, had been published; what a magnificent fund of information would have been provided for the historian ! How the dark places in our history would have been lighted up ! Accuracy of statement would have supplanted the numerous and absurd legends and myths which too often have obstructed the avenues of truth ! Works like the present are liable to three faults: that of giving undue prominence to insignificant names; that of over- some men of and lack of wise in looking high repute ; proportion selecting adequately from the different fields of human enterprise. is that It difficult to avoid such faults ; and the editor has no idea this work is entirely free from them. Conscientious effort has been made, however, to reduce to a minimum these faults. Much of the difficulty in preparing these biographies is found in the lack of accurate information as to personal statistics. Some very eminent persons are parsimonious of detail, seeming V1 PREFACE to assume that their deeds and proceedings are known of all men. There are some who will not answer the questions to which replies from them are necessary, if biographies are to be accurate in presenting facts and interesting in emphasizing essentials. such be Perhaps people may divided into three classes : the very busy people who postpone an answer till they shall be less busy a date which never comes the over-modest ; people, to whom it is really distasteful to appear in print; the very conceited people who gratify their instincts of self-applause by declaring them- selves "unworthy of a place" in a list of biographies entitled " Men of Mark." But for the cordial cooperation which has been so generously accorded us in securing material for this work, we are grateful. Several instances may be cited of the value of a knowledge of personal statistics such as are given in these biographies. When Dr. E. D. Neill, in 1884, wrote his excellent work entitled " Virginia Vetusta," it was known that John Rolfe married three times. His first wife was a lady whom he had married in Eng- land before he sailed for his second wife Virginia ; was Pocahon- tas, who was converted to the Christian faith and baptized under the name of Rebecca; his third wife, who survived him, was Jane, daughter of William Peirce, Captain of the guard at James- town. His son by Pocahontas was Thomas Rolfe, who had a daughter named Jane. Why was she not named Pocahontas or Rebecca? Dr. Neill was inclined to believe that Thomas Rolfe named his child Jane, because he was the son of Jane Peirce, the third wife of John Rolfe. Now had Dr. Neill known the fact (which is abundantly proved by the wills on record in the clerk's office of the old eastern counties of Virginia) that it was a custom of our ancestors to name the eldest daughter after the he not have himself on record as step-grandmother', might put favoring the view which he advocated. In Bacon's Rebellion, several members of the council, who were attached to Governor Berkeley by very close official ties, gave their support to the young rebel. Among them Hon. Thomas Swann was perhaps the most conspicuous. The explana- tion is simple enough, when it is learned that Swann's son, Samuel Swann, afterwards speaker of the North Carolina PREFACE Vll assembly, married Sarah, daughter of William Drummond, one of Bacon's most prominent adherents. Everything about George "Washington, the Father of his Country, is interesting to the American people, and volumes have been written about the Washington family. But no one has sought to explain how he came to be named George, although that name does not occur anywhere among his ancestors of the Washington name. Yet there can be no doubt that it was conferred upon him to preserve the memory of his descent from Col. George Keade, Secretary of State, a character in our history of whom until twenty years ago little was known. In this collection of biographies, emphasis is laid upon the principles, methods and habits which have contributed most to success. This is a feature which distinguishes this work from those in some respects like it. A due regard to the experience of the men whose biographical sketches are now published, suggests valuable thoughts concerning the strengthening of sound ideals in American life. These sketches certainly show that persistency in effort directed to a single end, is the most important of all the elements entering into a successful career. This was eminentl}7 true of the great Virginians who have figured in history; and indeed it is true of all great men everywhere. Nothing was so characteristic of Washington as the one high purpose which he cherished and in which he succeeded that of freeing his country from British oppression. The second principle which it is hoped these sketches illus- trate is the value of a clean life. Avoidance of bad habits, of profane language, and of evil associations, and the consecration of mind and soul to clean, pure and open methods of action and thought, are promotive of success, not only from the Christian standpoint, but from the point of view of business, and in all professional pursuits. It has been the purpose of the Advisory Board and of the publishers to have these volumes contain the names and lives of such Virginians only as may be characterized as clean men, whose word is as good as their bond, and who only know graft, the taint of modern life, as a thing sternly to be denounced and avoided. The old-fashioned virtues of industry and economy have lost Vlll PREFACE none of their force, we believe, with these modern Virginians; and the line is sharply drawn between these virtues and that niggardliness of spirit which blunts the intellect and benumbs the warmer instincts of the soul. Finally it is clearly shown from the examples of human energy here described, that the career of this grand old Com- monwealth of Virginia is not a closed book. Its present aspect is one of hope; and the breeze that blows from the future to which all eyes are directed is crisp and fresh, and instinct with the spirit of new victories and new triumphs in all the wide range of human activities. No State is more blessed with natural advantages than is Virginia; for nowhere are the rivers more numerous or broad, the valleys more beautiful, or the climate or and it is that the men more generous equable ; only necessary of the coming generation shall not fall behind the ideals of the men of the present generation, who by their self-sacrifice in have youth, and their resolute faith and effort in later manhood, raised the Commonwealth from the dust in which she was left exhausted by war, and have won for themselves personally com- cases extended fortable homes, competent estates, and in many fame and reputation. It is hoped that the names which appear in this first volume will commend themselves to the public. The selection has been Board made by the editor with the concurrence of the Advisory and the Men of Mark Publishing Company. It should be said, members however, that biographies of the editor, and of several vote and of the Advisory Board, are included, not by their own and the desire approval, but in deference to the suggestion urgent of the publishers.