Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 3.djvu/14

 4 superseding Governor Pierpont; in 1869, as a Republican, he was defeated for governor by Gilbert C. Walker. He was afterward appointed United States district attorney for the eastern district of Virginia by President Grant. He resigned in 1872, and resumed the practice of his profession. In 1875 he removed to Washington City, and became United States attorney for District of Columbia. He held this post till 1879. While Wells was a military appointee, and therefore looked upon as an alien by the people of Virginia, they had a kindly regard for him because of the general friendliness of his conduct.

Walker, Gilbert Carleton, born in Binghamton. New York, August 1, 1832; educated in various colleges, lastly Hamilton College, graduating in 1854, and winning the first prize for oratory. He subsequently studied law. He became the recognized leader of the young Democracy of Tioga county, New York. He removed to Chicago, Illinois, where he became prominent at the bar. On account of his health he settled in Norfolk. Virginia, in 1864, where he was in active leader in financial and manufacturing affairs and was president of a bank. In 1869 he became candidate for governor, in opposition to the Republican nominee. Being elected, his rigid enforcement of law and order won for him the title of "Political Savior of Virginia." He established a well organized free school system, enforced rigid economy in public expenditures, and secured the reorganization of the state debt and the re-establishment of the public credit. When he retired, he was unquestionably the most popular man in Virginia, and the one term principle alone prevented his re-election. He was elected to congress from the Richmond district in 1874 and again 1876. During his four years of congressional service, he was a principal member of several important committees—the Pacific railroads, revision of the laws, expenditures of the state department, and education and labor. In 1881 he located in New York City, where he secured a large law practice, in association with Gen. B. F. Tracy, and was known as a popular and effective orator. He was also a very handsome man and an excellent speaker, he died in May, 1888.

Kemper, James Lawson, born in Madison county, Vrginia, June 11, 1823, son of William Kemper, a descendant of John Kemper, a member of one of the twelve families from Oldenburg, Germany, seated by Gov. Spotswood upon his lands at Germanna, Virginia. He was graduated from Washington College, and became a lawyer. He was a captain of volunteers in 1847, commissioned by President Polk. He served ten years in the legislature, being speaker two years, and a number of years chairman of the military affairs committee; was president of board of visitors of Virginia Military Institute. He was made colonel of the Seventh Virginia Regiment on May 2, 1861, and was promoted brigadier-general in May, 1862. He took part in many battles, and was desperately wounded while leading his brigade in a charge at Gettysburg. After he had sufficiently recovered, he was placed in command of the local forces in and about Richmond, and so served until the close of the war, meantime being promoted to major-general. After peace was restored, he resumed law practice in Madison county. He took an active part in opposition to the