Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 3.djvu/244

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VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

Denver, James W., was born in Winches- ter, N'irginia, in 1818. He received a public school education, emigrated in childhood with his parents to Ohio, removed to Mis- souri in 1 841, where he studied law and was admitted to the bar. He was appointed captain of the Twelfth Infantry in March. 1847, and served in the war with Mexico till its close in July, 1848. Removing to California in 1850, he was appointed a mem- ber of a relief committee to protect emi- grants, and was chosen a state senator in 1852. While a member of this body in 1852. he had a controversy with Edward Gilbert, ex-member of congress, in regard to some legislation, which resulted in a challenge from Gilbert, that was accepted by Denver. Rifles were the weapons and Gilbert was killed by the second shot. In 1853 Mr. Den- ver was appointed secretary of state of Cali- fornia, and from 1855 to 1857 served in con- gress. He was appointed by President P.uchanan commissioner of Indian affairs, but resigned, and was made governor of Kansas. Resigning this post in 1858, he was reappointed commissioner of Indian aflfairs, which ofifice he held till March, 1859. In 1861 he entered the Federal service, was made brigadier-general, served in the west- ern states, and resigned in March, 1863. Afterward he settled in Washington, D. C. to practice his profession as an attorney. John W. Forney, in his "Anecdotes of Public jMen" savs : "Gen. Denver, while in con- gress, as chairman of the committee on the Pacific railroad, in 1854-55, presented in a conclusive manner the facts demonstrating the practicability of that great enterprise, and the advantages to be derived from it."

Minor, Benjamin Blake, born at Tappa- hannock, Essex county, Virginia, October

21. 1818. son of Dr. Hubbard Taylor and Jane (r)lake) Minor, grandson of Col. 'I homas and Elizabeth (Taylor) Minor, and of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Aldridge) Blake, and great-grandson of Thomas and Alice (Thomas) Minor; he attended Bristol College, Pennsylvania, during the sessions of 1833-34, the University of Virginia, 1834- 2,J, graduating in several of its schools, and subsequently entered William and Mary College, graduating in moral and political science and law in the class of 1839; prac- ticed law in Petersburg, Virginia, 1840-41 ; in Richmond, 1841-43; owned and edited the "Southern Literary Messenger," 1843-47; V. as principal of the \'irginia Female Insti- tute, Staunton. 1847-48, and founded the Home School for Young Ladies, Richmond, 1848; originated the historical department of the Society of Alumni of the University of Virginia, in 1845 : the same year was vice- president of the commercial convention at Memphis; in 1847 was a chief factor in the revival of the Historical Society of Virginia of which he was made a life member: was made a corresponding member of the his- torical i^ocieties of New York and Wiscon- sin, and secretary of the African Coloniza- tion Society of Virginia and of the Virginia Bible Society, which antedates the Ameri- can Bible Society ; resumed the practice of law in Richmond in 1848 and the same year was the mover and author of the memorial tc the \'irginia legislature that led to the erection of the Washington Monument on Capitol Square ; was commissioned lieuten- ant-colonel of the Nineteenth Virginia mili- tia; was a warden, register and diocesan delegate of St. James' Church, and one of the founders of the Richmond Male Orphan Asvlum ; on July 4. i860, he was elected