Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 3.djvu/184

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\'IRGL\IA BIOGRAPHY

his preliminary educalioii at the Staunton Academy, then entered Washington College, now Washington and Lee University, and afterwards was a student in the University of Virginia, and subsequently pu'^sued a course of study in law in the law school of Judge Lucas P. Thompson, in Staunton, and was admitted to the bar. He engaged in a general practice of his profession in his native city, but this not being entirely to his liking, he turned his attention to journalistic work and became interested in "The Staun- ton Spectator," of which he was the co- editor and co-proprietor for almost twelve years, up to i860, when he was appointed to the office of commissioner in chancery of the circuit court presided over by Judge "'hompson, and he has also served for many years as the commissioner of accounts of Augusta county, and clerk of the supreme court of appeals of Virginia, at Staunton. In 1865 he was elected a member of the Vir- ginia house of delegates ; represented Au- gusta county in the constitutional conven- tion of 1867 which framed the constitution of Virginia, known in Virginia history as "the Black and Tan convention ;" represented Augusta county in the state senate in 1869, serving as president /to fcin. of that body. He also served as president of the board of visi- tors of the Institution for the Deaf, Dumb and Blind, at Staunton, now known as the Vir- ginia School for the Deaf and Blind, and as president of the board of the Western Lu- natic Asylum at Staunton, now known as the Western State Hospital. He was the author of the "Annals of Augusta County," and of several historical addresses, the most no- table being that read before the seventh annual congress of the Scotch-Irish in America at Lexington, in June, 1895, on the

"Scotch-Irish of the Valley of \'irginia." In recognition of his historical work, Wash- ington and Lee University conferred upon him the degree of Doctor of Laws. Mr. Waddell is a member and elder of the Pres- byterian church, and in politics was a W hig before 1861 and a Democrat after 1865. He married (first) Virginia AlcClung; (second) I.aleah Dunwody.

Ruffner, William Henry, born at Lexing- ti n. \'irgini;i, P'ebruary 11, 1824, son of Henry Ruffner and Sarah M. (Lyle) Ruff- ner, his wife. He was graduated from \\'ashington College, whn his father was president of the institution. He took special scientific courses at the college and at the University of Virginia, and prepared for the ministry at Union (Virginia) Theological Seminary, and Princeton Theological Semi- nary. He was chaplain of the University of Virginia, 1849-51; and held a pastorate in Philadelphia, 1851-53. His health failed in the latter year, and he abandoned the minis- try. He was a strong advocate of educa- iiDii, and was elected superintendent of pub- lic instruction in Virginia, and immediately devised a public school system so satisfac- tory that he was required to prepare a school bill, which he did and which was passed in July, 1870. He devoted himself to school or- ganization, using the "Educational Journal," of which he was editor, as the official organ of the educational department, and estab- lished graded schools and normal institutes. After the plan which he drafted for the or- ganization of the projected Agricultural and Mechanical College at Blacksburg, was de- veloped the present Virginia Polytechnic In- stitute. He twice declined a college presi- dency, l)ut. when superseded in office