Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 4.djvu/100

 VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

(III) Rev. Dr. Theodore M. Carson, the ildest son of Judge Joseph S. Carson, was born in Winchester, Frederick county, Vir- ginia, in 1834, died in Lynchburg, Virginia, in 1004. He was an M. A. of Dickinson Col- lege. Carlisle. Pennsylvania, and after his ordination into the ministry spent the first four years as chaplain in the army of the Confederacy. At the close of the war, and after several previous charges, he was for thirty-three years rector of St. Paul's Church, at Lynchburg, Virginia, where he attained high position in the church, and at his death was president of the standmg committee of the Diocese of Southern Vir- ginia, also dean of the Convocation of South- ern Virginia. Rev. Dr. Carson was a scholar of broad culture, a preacher of in- tense inspiration, and a minister of meas- ureless sympathy, and during the years of his life, passed in such faithful devotion to the cause he had espoused, he became the in- strument of infinite good in the service of the Master. He married, in i860, Victoria Ellen, daughter of William and Ann (Wat- ers) Allison. William Allison was a mem- ber of an old Irish family, born in Ireland, and after coming to Virginia made his home in Richmond. His wife was a native of Maryland, and they were the parents of a family of thirteen children, the eldest, James head of the firm of Allison & Allison, the youngest Victoria Ellen, of previous men- tion, married Rev. Theodore M. Carson. Children of Rev. Dr. and Victoria Ellen (Al- lison) Carson are : Joseph Preston, of whom further; Maud Lee, born in 1866, married Professor W. M. Lile, dean of the law de- partment of the University of Virginia.

(IV) Joseph Preston Carson, son of Rev. Dr. Theodore M. and Victoria Ellen (Alli- son) Carson, was born at the Preston home- stead, "Solitude," Montgomery county, Vir- ginia, August 2, 1862. His youthful edu- cation was obtained in the schools of Win- chester and Lynchburg, and after a course in the Episcopal High School at Alexandria, lie matriculated at the University of Vir- ginia, being in the class of 1882. Soon after graduation he became an analytical chemist with the firm of Allison &' /Mlison, in 1883 taking up residence in Richmond, where he has since remained. For ten years he was associated with the previously mentioned firm, during that time pursuing legal studies at the University of Virginia, and in 1887

gained admission to the bar. He has made steady advances in his profession and now occupies a responsible position in legal cir- cles, but has not confined his labors to this field, being at this writing connected with several large business interests, and presi- dent of a widely extended company of man- ufacturing chemists, in Richmond. With the responsibility of the afi'airs of this latter cc'mpany and the exactions of his law prac- tice. Mr. Carson's existence is a busy one, a fact that detracts little from his enjoyment, for he is of vigorous nature, finding in close application to his business an agreeable satisfaction that comes only with labor well done and duty thoroughly performed.

Mr. Carson, although he has never sought or held political office, is a staunch Demo- crat in both state and national politics. While a member of many of the social organizations of Richmond, his recreations are sought in outdoor pleasures, and he is a director in several hunting and fishing clubs in the state. Mr. Carson is a Royal Arch Mason, belonging to Lodge and Chapter, and is a vestryman of the Protestant Epis- copal church. His residence is the hand- some estate of "Dundee," Chesterfield coun- ty, Virginia.

He married, in Richmond, Virginia, April 18, 1900, Catherine Valentine, born in Rich- mond, Virginia. December 17, 1873, daugh- ter J. J. Montague, her father a native of Prince Anne county, Virginia. He also was a soldier in the Confederate States army, serving during the entire war, and is now vice-president of the Planters' National Bank of Richmond. Mr. Montague married Catherine Warren, a native of Virginia, who died in 1909. Children of Joseph Preston and Catherine \'alentine (Montague) Car- son are: Theodore Montague, born Febru- ary 10, 1901, now a student in Richmond Academy ; Catherine Warren, born May 24, 1903; Joseph Preston Jr., born April i, 1905.

Milton Buell Coffman, M. D. The first mention of a Coffman in the records of Au- gusta county, Virginia, is under date of May 21, 1747, when Martin Cofifman was ap- pointed one of the appraisers of the estate of Abraham Drake. On November 20, 1770. Elizabeth Cofifman is named administratrix of Henry Cofifman, and ten days later the estate of Henry Cofifman was appraised by Abraham Bird, Jacob Miller, etc. William