Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 3.djvu/194

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oi Cien. Rolierl E. Lee. lie was professor cr mathematics in the University of Virginia from 1865 to 1896, when he resigned. Dur- ing 1870-73 and 1886-88 he was chairman of the faculty. It was due almost entirely to his efforts that Leander McCormick, of Chicago. Illinois, donated the great telescope to the university, and that $75,000 was added to the endowment fund by the alumni, and he also secured $70,000 for a natural history museum.- He was the author of many valu- able scientific works.

Crocker, fames Francis, born in Isle of Wight county, \'irginia, January 5. 1828, son of James Crocker and Frances Hill (Woodley) Crocker, his wife. He was onlv six months old when his father died. He attended a classical school in Smithfield, Virginia, and in 1850 was graduated from Pennsylvania (Pennsylvania) College, as valedictorian of his class. He taught school. Jind was professor of mathematics in Madi- son College. He studied law, and was ad- mitted to the bar in 1854. In 1855 he was elected to the house of delegates from his native county. In 1856 he removed to Portsmouth, where he practiced law in part- nership with Col. David J. Godwin. In 1861 he entered the Ninth Virginia Infantry Regiment as a private, and was made ad- jutant: was desperately wounded at -Mal- vern Hill, and in Pickett's charge at (Gettys- burg was again wmuided and taken prisoner, and confined in F"ort Johnson. After the war he resumed law practice. On Januarv I, 1901. he became judge of the court of hustings in Portsmouth, and declined a re- election. He was a member of the board of visitors of William and :\Iary College. He has written various historical narratives re-

lating to the civil war, and genealogy. "Gettysburg — Pickett's Charge," "My Per- sonal Experiences" etc. In all the aspects of life — as a gentleman, a scholar, a soldier — Judge Crocker is respected and admired.

Bagby, George William, born in Ikicking- ham county, \'irginia, August 13, 1828, died in Richmond, Virginia, November 29, 1883. He was educated at Edgehill School, Prince- ton, New Jersey, and at Delaware College, Newark. Delaware, leaving the latter at the end of his sophomore year. Subsequently he studied medicine and was graduated at the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania. In 1853 he became editor of the Lynchburg (Virginia) daily "Express," .ind was for some time the Washington cor- respondent of the New Orleans "Crescent," Charleston "Mercury." and Richmond "Dis- patch." From 1859 he was, until its sus- pension near the end of the war, editor of the "Southern Literary JMessenger," and at '.he same time associate editor of the Rich- mond "\Miig," and a frequent contributor to the "Southern Illustrated News." From January I. 1870. to July I, 1878, he was state librarian of Virginia. He lectured fre- quently, and met with success as a humorist in many parts of Virginia and Maryland. He was the author of many humorous ar- ticles published under the pen-name of "Mozis Addums." His sketches were col- lected and published by Mrs. Pagby, as "The Writings of Dr. Bagby" (3 vols., Richmond, 1884-86).

White, John Jones, who served as profes- sor of Greek for many years in Washington and Lee University, was born in Nottoway county. Virginia. November 7, 1828: at- tended the private schools of his neighbor-