Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 3.djvu/387

 PROMINENT PERSONS

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tcr-general with the rank of colonel, and was present at the Appomattox surrender. His wife was a daughter of Col. Hamilton Rogers, who won his military title through militia service prior to the war between the states. Col. F'airfax in 1852 became owner c f the famous "Oak Hill" estate in Loudoun county, long the residence of James Monroe. Henry Fairfax attended a private school in Loudoun county, and while his father was absent in the army, worked on the home farm. He entered the Virginia Mili- tary Institute in 1867, and graduated in 1871. After leaving the Institute he was chainman with an engineering corps in Pennsylvania, after which he was em- ployed in the eastern states, the west, and the middle west. In 1879 he accepted railroad contracts in Tennessee, soon after- ward moving his headquarters to Roanoke, Virginia, and until 1887 was active in his profession in Virginia and West Virginia, executing contracts, among others, for the Norfolk & Western Railroad, the East Ten- nessee & Western North Carolina Railroad Company and other roads in the south and middle west. His first public service was as a member of the finance committee of the council of Roanoke City, Virginia. In 1890 he was elected to the Virginia state senate as the successor of Hon. Henry Heaton. who represented Fauquier and Loudoun counties. He served for eleven years as state senator. As chairman of the senate committee finance, he won much distinc- tion. Loudoun county chose him as its representative in the constitutional conven- tion of 1901-02, in which he was a mem- ber of the committee on taxation and finance. His colleagues on this committee, appreciating his superior talents, deferred

greatl}' to his judgment, and at the time of the convention's adjournment he occupied the chairmanship of the committee. Mr. Fairfax was subsequently appointed to the state corporation commission, of which he was a member until his resignation in Octo- ber, 1905, and his retirement from public life. He conducts a stock farm at his estate, "Oak Hill," in Loudoun county. His stock is of the highest grade and bear a wide reputation. In his manners and bearing Mr. Fairfax displays unaffected courtliness and dignity. He married, June 4, 1896, Eugenia Baskerville Tennant, of Richmond, Virginia, and has issue.

Zimmer, William Louis, born July 7, 1852, in Atlanta, Georgia, son of Rev. William T, Zimmer, of Swiss ancestry, and Julia Ellis Nimnio, his wife. Rev. William I. Zimmer prepared for the law, but later graduated from the Theological Seminary of Virginia, and was ordained a clergyman of the Prot- estant Episcopal church, became the first rector of St. Philip's parish (now the Cath- edral parish) of Atlanta, Georgia. His son, William Louis Zimmer, entered the Univer- sity School of Richmond and Episcopal High School near Alexandria, then took a course in engineering, but at the age of eighteen years took a bank clerkship in letersburg, Virginia. He became assistant cashier, held that position for several years, then resigned to engage in business as senior member of Zimmer & Company, which firm he organized in 1885 for the manufacture and exportation of tobacco, and in 1902 was incorporated with Mr. Zimmer as presi- dent. He was a director of the Petersburg Saving and Insurance Company, served as councilman, chairman of the board of police