Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 3.djvu/208

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VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

court. Thomas H. Barnes was a student at Kinsalc Academy in Nansemond county, Virginia; Buckhorn Academy, Hertford Academy, North Carolina ; matriculated at the Universily of Virginia in 1849, study- ing there three years ; then took up the study of medicine at the Medical College of X'irginia, and graduated with the class of 1853. In 1854 he commenced the active practice of his profession, with which he was occupied until 1888, at the homestead where he was born. He was for a long time chairman of the county Democratic commit- tee, and was for many years a member of the house of delegates and the senate of Virginia. He was of imposing height and dignity in bearing, and was known as the "tall sycamore of Nansemond." For a long time he served as a member of the board cf visitors of the Medical College of Vir- ginia, and that of William and Mary Col- lege. He was a delegate to the constitu- tional convention which assembled in Rich- mond in 1901, was chairman of the commit- tee on county government, and rendered excellent service in the deliberations of this body. In his earlier years one of his chief recreations was found in fox hunting. He never married.

Williams, John Langbourne, born July 13, 183 1, in Richmond, Virginia, son of John Williams, who was brought up in England, of Scotch-Irish descent, came to America in 1820, where he married Sianna Armistead r^andridge, daughter of William Dandridge, and granddaughter of Bartholomew Dan- dridge, a member of the house of burgesses and brother of Martha Washington. John L. Williams was educated in private schools and at the University of \'irginia. from

which he graduated with the degree of Mas- ter of Arts in 1S51, having been distinguish- ed in the school of mixed mathematics. He taught school for a year at Loretto, Essex county, \'irginia, and practiced law for a few years in Richmond, where he subsequently went into the banking business. During the civil war he was a member of the firm of Lancaster & Company, financial agents of the Confederate States. After the war he founded the banking house of John L. Wil- liams & Sons, of which he became senior partner. His firm had a large share in many of the large financial operations in the south ; in the establishment of the Georgia (S- Alabama Railway, the S. A. L. Railway, and in building and organizing city railways and manufacturing industries. He never held public office, but took a deep interest in the welfare of the community. In politics he was a Gold Democrat, and was an active and interested member in the affairs of the Protestant Episcopal church, belonging to what may be called the conservative, or Virginia school. He was for years a dele- gate to the diocesan council, and was a deputy to the general convention of the church which met in San Francisco, Cali- fornia. He was devoted to the classics, and c'eemed by many to be one of the best informed authorities upon the English clas- sics in the state. He was always a wirm friend of the University of Virginia, where he educated his sons. In many ways he showed his afifection for his alum muter. having presented to her many valuable gifts, which include contributions to her library and the portraits of Chief Justice Marshall and Commodore Matthew F. Maury. To him also is due the completion of the capi- tals of the pillars of the rotunda, which was