Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 3.djvu/431

 PROMINENT PERSONS

379

Willcox, Thomas Hamlin, born in Am- herst county, Virginia, October 4, 1859, son of Captain Thomas W. Willcox and Martha A. R. Claiborne, his wife. He attended the schools of Charles City county, and the Vir- ginia Polytechnic Institute, from which he graduated in 1877. His first employment was as deputy in the clerk's office in Charles City county, and he afterwards served in a similar capacity in Norfolk. In 1884 he be- gf.n the practice of law, being highly suc- cessful therein. He was elected common- wealth's attorney in 1886, reelected for three successive terms, and in 1894 was elected judge of the corporation court, but resigned after one years' service in order to devote his entire time to his profession — law. He represents large business interests, and is regarded as one of the most successful law- yers in the state. Mr. Willcox married, Oc- tober 14, 1885, Mary Cary Ambler.

Byrd, Richard Evelyn, born at Austin, Texas, August 13, i860, son of Colonel Wil- liam Bvrd and Jennie Rivers, his wife. His family is the ancient Virginia one of West- over, and in the war between the states. Colonel William Byrd was adjutant-general of Texas. At the close of the war, he made his home in Winchester, Virginia, and prac- ticed law. Richard Evelyn Byrd obtained his preparatory training in the Shenandoah Valley Academy, and then entered the Uni- versity of Virginia. After a classical course he studied law at the University of Mary- land, at Baltimore, and graduated in 1882. He practiced at the Winchester bar, and was elected commonwealth attorney of Frederick county, and was also commis- sioner of accounts for the circuit court of Frederick countv. master commissioner in

chancery, and special examiner of records for Frederick, Clarke, Warren, Page and Shenandoah counties, and for the city of \\'inchester. He was state committeeman of the Democratic party, and served in the legislature, where his brilliant talents made him speaker of the house of delegates. For the last few years he has practiced law in Richmond. He is a deep student and a learned scholar and is held in general high regard. Mr. Byrd married, September 15, 1886, Elinor Boiling Flood, sister of Hon. K. D. Flood.

Braxton, Allen Caperton, born at Union, Alonroe county, West V'irginia, February 6, 1862, son of Dr. Tomlin Braxton and Mary Caperton, his wife, of King William county, Virginia, and a grandson of the Hon. Allen T. Caperton, United States sena- tor from West Virginia ; a descendant of (ieorge Braxton, Esq., who settled at Cheri- coke. King William county, in 1690. His education began with private instruction at his own home, after which he was a student at Pampatike Academy. At the age of six- teen years he commenced to be self-support- ing as a teacher in the family of Judge Pat- ton, of the supreme court of West Virginia. He also worked on a railroad for a time, and then became a civil engineer and book- keeper. He then studied law and was ad- mitted to practice at Staunton in 1883, and two years later was elected commonwealth's attorney and city attorney of Staunton, two successive terms, 1885-1889. In 1901 he was elected to the Virginia constitutional con- vention, was chairman of the committee on corporations, and member of the judiciary and final revision committees. He particu- larly distinguished himself for the ability