UC-NRLF i *C Ifl fi2b •^^' "'/ ^-t^ '.* '(,1 •?.,{' -v . *,.},. ' !/ vTl STU DENTS OF THE University of Virginia. A Semi-centennial Catalogue, WITH BRIEF BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. BALTIMORE : Charles Harvey & Co., Publishers, COR. SOUTH AND GKRMAN STS. ^^f COPYRIGHT. JOSEPH VAN HOLT NASH. d878. PREFACE. of the first half of CATALOGUE was apparently finished in 1875, at the end century the existence of the University THISBut when at that time the manuscript was placed in the hands of Captain Joseph Van Holt Nash, who had undertaken to publish the work, it was found to be far from complete. Captain Nash thereupon with true devojion set to work and with indomitable perseverance, perfected the work, spending money, time and labor without stint in the difficult task. To him, therefore, the friends of the University are deeply indebted for the improved form and completeness of this memorial of their Alma Mater. Nor must it be forgotten that venerable Alumni, seated in the highest seats of honor, and of young men just entering upon life's career, soldiers with a glorious record in the annals war, and diligent workers in peaceful pursuits, old pupils cast by fate upon distant shores, and happy sons of Virginia who have never left their native land—all have cheerfully and promptly aided in the great work. But for the efficient assistance thus rendered by kind friends, and the indefatigable efforts of Captain Nash, the publication would have been impossible. University of Virginia. 1878. SCHELE DeVERE. THE READER is respectfully requested to remember, that the volume before him contains ten thousand names and over a hundred thousand statements of facts. Errors must needs occur in a compilation of this nature. The com- pilers are willing to take their share of the responsibility, but not more than their share. A few mistakes may be credited to the printer, who has always to bear his burden. But the majority of errors will be found upon investigation not real errors, but misapprehensions, that can be retraced to the persons who furnished the information here presented. Many wrote of kinsmen and friends, unconscious of the bias that changed a Colonel into a General or an Assistant Surgeon into a Others relied too on frail in to Surgeon. much memory, and especially questions relating the early years of the University, mistook dates and forgot first names, or confounded brothers and namesakes with each other. Even where former students gave an account of themselves, memory did not always serve faithfully, and many a letter contained the strange statement, was at the I in or overlooked that "I University, believe, 1835 36." Nor must the fact be not a few letters have ap- peared, written by men who claim to have won honors at the University and to be most warmly attached to the Institu- tion and their old teachers—but who, upon inquiry, are found never to have been entered on the University Record. the of students offered Even names an occasion for apparent errors. Some have changed their family name in after-life, others dropped or adopted Christian names — an eminent Western statesman, anxious to be correctly recorded, wrote that he had thus changed his first name three times in his life. The Matriculation-Book constantly shows certain names to assume new in e. the Field of a Feild in the the Thomson a shapes subsequent years ; g., one year becomes second, Thompson, and the Sampson a Samson. Where there are such countless sources of possible error, great indulgence will, it is hoped, be practised and much allowance be made for apparent mistakes. Finally the compilers beg to state that no statement in this volume is made upon their own responsibility. When no voucher could be obtained, either from the owner of a name or a trustworthy friend, a blank has appeared preferable to a doubtful statement. 979119 ABBREVIATIONS. iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiimiiiiiiiiiiii The first date is that of the year of birth. The dates following the names indicate the years beginning the sessions which were attended. Degrees taken at the University are distinguished from those taken elsewhere by bolder type, and being placed on a line with the student's name. iitiriiiiiiiiujiiniiiiiiiiiuiiiiiiiii Ass. —Assistant; B. A. —Bachelor of Arts; B. L.—Bachelor of Law; B. Ls.—Bachelor of Letters; B. Sc. —Bachelor of Science; C. E.—Civil Engineer; C. and M. E. —Civil and Mining Engineer; S. A. — States C. S. N. —Confederate States Coll. — C. Confederate Army ; Navy ; College ; d. —died or dead; Instr. —Instructor; M. —Member; M. A. —Master of Arts; M, D. —Doctor of Medicine; M. C. —Member of Congress; — Prest. — Prin. Principal ; President. Mr. JEFFERSON'S PET. ifT WAS a bright, sunny day, such as the Indian summer is apt to brin^ t© Jour favored' in the little town of a solemn was its 11^ land, when, Charlottesville, meeting held by. fr.c<st: ' influential citizens. They had assembled to consult about the expediency 6T reviving a^ modest country school, known under the somewhat ambitious name of the Albemarle Academy, which had originally been endowed out of the spoils of the old church establishment, but was no longer able to support itself. The worthy men who had taken the matter in charge, partly with a view to the needs of that portion of the State, which was growing rapidly in wealth and intelligence, and stood sadly in want of a good school, partly with an eye to their own interest, were much at a loss how to organize a satisfactory scheme. They were on the point of abandoning the plan, when one of them descried afar ofi" the tall form of a horseman rapidly coming down the public road that led from an eminence called Carter's Mountain in the village. He was superbly mounted on a thorough-bred horse, and managed it with the perfect ease of a consumate rider who has been familiar with horseback exercise from child- hood up. As he came nearer, the stately proportions of his frame became more and more distinct, and even the fire of his clear blue eye could be discerned under his broad-brimmed hat. He was clad from head to foot in dark gray broadcloth of homely cut, while his noble open countenance was rising with a firm and self-poised expression from an immense white cravat in which his neck was swathed. Fast as he came, it was evident that nothing escaped his attention : here he noticed an open panel in a farmer's fence, and there the leaking gutter of a townsman's house he cast a at ; searching glance every horse or ox he met, and courteously returned the greeting of young and old. As he was recognized by the anxious men in council, they rose instinctively from their seats on the court-house green, and an expression of welcome " relief rose to every face. When one of them said, let us consult Mr. Jefferson," he received no reply: he had only uttered what was in every man's heart at the same moment. So they invited their illustrious neighbor, who had but a short while before exchanged the White House, with all its high honors and severe labors, for the ease and comfort of his own Monticello, to join their council and to aid them by his advice. He dismounted with the of alacrity youth, carefully fastening the reins of his horse to the railing, as he had tied him to the palisades of the President's house in Washington, after riding there on horseback to his and inauguration ; unscrewing the top of his cane, he opened its three parts, which formed the legs of a stool, and seated himself on the ingenious contrivance, one of the many results of his own inventive skill. Then courteously acknowledging the honor done him by his friends and neighbors, the ex-President listened attentively to their arguments, now and then in throwing a judicious question so as to elicit the most important facts, and then gave his Great opinion. was the astonishment of the good men of the village when he rejected STUDENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA. their modest plans, and spoke of them with a harshness little in keeping with his usual urbanity. But greater still was their surprise when he continued, and now urged them to convert their paltry academy at once into a college, and to do something that might redound to the credit not only of their good county of Albemarle, but of the State of Virginia. This was so far beyond the range of their vision, and the plan seemed to them so much above the means of the youthful commonwealth—especially with old William and Mary College rising before their mind's eye in all its prestige of ancient fame and ample means—that they could not at once enter heartily into his views. Still, Mr. Jefferson's words were law to his neigh. ;iib?s thfc^n', < and; when he suggested a way in which an endowment might be obtained, by subscriptipns in .t^ie adjoining counties as well as in their own, and indorsed his view by .^le/ilging himself at once to a considerable sum, they hesitated no longer, and, in their official capacity as trustees, on the spot drew up the necessary resolutions. It was no new thing, however, with Mr. Jefferson, this idea of a great college for his native State. As far back as the year 1779, when he was called upon by the General Assembly of Virginia to prepare a code of laws, he had incorporated in it, with the reluctant consent of his eminent co-laborers, not only a provision for a university, but, what is far more re- markable and interesting, by the light of modern progress, a complete scheme of free common schools.