Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 2.djvu/348

 PROMIXEXT PERSONS

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Waddcl, JameSy born in Xewry, Ireland, in Jul}, »739. He was an infant when his parents timgrated to this country, settling in scviith western Pennsylvania. He was educated under Rev. Samuel Finley. b«icanic an assistant teacher in Rev. Robert Smith's academy in Pequea, Lancaster county. .:ftcr- ward cniig:rated to Virginia, and, under the influence of Samuel Davies, studiea for the ministry, and was licensed to preach in i/6i. The next year he became pastor of Pres- byterian churches in the northern neck of Virginia; removed to the Tinkling Spring church, Augusta county, in 1775, *^lso preached in Staunton, and in 1785 settled on an estate in Louisa county, where he sup- plied vacant pulpits and was principal of a classical school. He became blind about 1787, but continued his labors without in- terruption, writing as well as preaching with great industry. Before his death, he ordered that all his manuscripts be burned, ?nd his eloquence has become a matter of tradition. The sketch of Dr. Waddel as "the Mind preacher" in William Wirt's "British Spy." was written in 1803, when Dr. Wad- del was old and infirm, has been been ac- cepted as almost authentic, though it has been questioned how far the author gave himself the license of fiction in his descrip- tion. Dr. Waddel's biographer, Dr. James W. Alexander, says: "Mr. Wirt stated to me, so far from adding colors to the picture o' Dr. Waddel's eloquence, he had fallen below the truth. In person he was tall and erect, his mien was unusually dignified, and his manners graceful and eloquent. Under his preaching, audiences were irresistibly and simultaneously moved, like the wind- shaken forest." James Madison, who had been his pupil, said: "He has spoiled me

for all other preaching," and Patrick Henry classed him with Samuel Davies as one of the two greatest orators he had ever heard. Dickinson College gave him the degree of D. D. in 1792. One of his daughters mar- ried the Kev. Archibald Alexander. He

died in Louisa county, Virginia, .September 1;. 1805.

Trimble, James, son of John Trimble, was one of the early pioneers of Augusta county. His father lived on Middle river, not far from Churchville, and seven miles from Staunton. Here, in 1764, they were attacked by Indians headed by a white man named Dickson, who had fled from Virginia to escape punishment for crime. John Trimble was killed, his home burned, four horses v.'ere taken and loaded with the plunder of the dwelling: and young James, who was only eight years, and his half-sister, Mrs. Estill, were carried oflF into captivity. Capt. George Moffett, brother of Mrs. EstiH, started oflf in pursuit with eighteen white men, overtook the savages, killed six of them, and rescued his kins-people. James Trimble figured extensively afterwards as a pioneer, and was father of the late John A. Trimble, of Ohio.

Robertson, James, born in Brunswick county. Virginia. June 28, 1742, of Scotch- Irish descent. His parents removed to North Carolina when he was a youth, and he received little or no education. When he was seventeen, he went with Daniel Boone's third expedition to the west. He discovered the Watauga river valley, planted some corn, and then returned to North Carolina, after losing his way, and being saved from death, by hunters. The next spring he led sixteen families to the valley, and they

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