Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 3.djvu/155

 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

five years old his family removed to Charles City county. When he was fifteen, his father died, and the care of his mother and her younger children devolved upon him. He had been well taught by his father, and he now gave his nights to studying civil engineering. He was thus occupied when the civil war broke out. He enlisted in Company D, Third Regiment Virginia Cav- alry, and as captain commanded it for three years, receiving one severe wound, and two of minor importance. After the war, he en- gaged in business, and at various times was elected sheriff, treasurer, and surveyor of Henrico county. He was elected as a Demo- crat to the fifty-fifth congress, in 1897, and has been re-elected to each succeeding con- gress until the year 191 1. He married, Kovember 20, 1869, Mattie R. Wade, of Charles City county. His address is Rich- mond, Virginia.

Langston, John Mercer, born in Louisa ccunty, Virginia (born a slave but emanci- pated when six years old), of mixed descent, December 14, 1829; attended common schools in Ohio ; was graduated from Ober- lin College in 1849, and from the theologi- cal department in 1852; studied law in Elyria, Ohio, was admitted to the bar in 1855, and practiced in Ohio 1855-1867; ap- pointed inspector general of the bureau of fieedmen, refugees and abandoned lands in 1868; moved to Washington, D. C, and practiced law ; dean of the law department of Howard University ; appointed and com- missioned by President Grant a member of the board of health of the District of Co- lumbia in 1871 ; appointed by President Hayes minister resident and consul general to Haiti, and charge d'afifaires to Santo Do-

mingo; elected vice-president and acting president of Howard University in 1872; elected president of the Virginia Iviormal and Collegiate Institute in 1885 ; took active part in recruiting colored troops during the civil war ; especially the fifty-fourth and fifty-fifth Massachusetts and Fifth Ohio (colored) regiments; filled several township offices in Ohio ; twice elected a member of the council of Oberlin, and member of the board of education for twelve years ; pre- sented credentials as a member-elect from Virginia to the fifty-first congress, and was seated after contesting the election of Ed- ward C. Venable, September 23, 1890; served until March 3, 1891 ; declined to make a contest in the fifty-second congress, for which he was the Republican candidate, and declined a renomination to the fifty-third congress; died in Washington, D. C., No- vember 15, 1897. He wrote, a book entitled "From the Plantation to the National Capi- tol," which is reviewed in William and Mary Quarterly Historical Magazine III. p. 282. From this it appears that Langston was- probably descended from Gideon Langston,. an Indian who attended the Indian School at the college in 1754.

Lassiter, Francis Rives, born in Peters- burg, Virginia, February 18, 1866; son of Dr. Daniel W. Lassiter, of Huguenot de- scent, and Anna Rives Heath, his wife. He graduated from several academic schools, and attended the University of Virginia,. 1883-84, graduating from various of its schools, including the law, receiving the B. L. degree ; was admitted to the bar in Suf- folk county, Massachusetts, in 1887, and to the Virginia bar in 1888. He engaged in practice in Petersburg, Virginia ; member of