Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 4.djvu/166

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\'ir(l\ia biography

syphilis in the American negro attracting wide attention.

He is a member of the Masonic order and the Knights of Pythias, his college frater- nity, Phi Pi Sigma, his clubs the Westmore- land and Commonwealth of Richmond. He is a communicant of the Centenary Meth- odist Episcopal Church, and in politics is a Democrat. Dr. Murrell married, May 15. 1907, Gertrude, daughter of G. Harvey and Mary (Pollard) Clarke.

Preston Belvin. One of Richmond's native sons, and one who was born prior to war times is the subject of this sketch, Pres- ton I'elvin.

The name of P)elvin has long been promi- nent in manufacturing circles of the south, and particularly prominent here in the city of Richmond because of the fact that John Allan Belvin. father of Preston Belvin, was for many years the head and brains of the largest furniture and lumber comoany in the state of Virginia. John .-Mian Belvin was born in Gloucester county, Virginia, died in Richmond, July. 1880, at a very advanced age. PTe was a son of John Aaron Belvin. who was born in Gloucester county. Vir- ginia, and lived to a very advanced age. He was considered a very rich man for the times, and when past middle age married the beautiful Miss Dobson, of England. By this union there were three children, all of whom, however, are now dead. John A. Belvin was a manufacturer in Richmond all his business life and was the first president of the Mechanics Institute. He was an in- telligent, forceful man, and always lent a willing hand to all movements of a public- spirited nature. He was quite old at the breaking out of the civil war, but neverthe- less joined the Confederate army, serving in the Plome Guards and giving active service whenever called on to do so. He married Margaret Ann Durham, of Richmond, daughter of John Durham, also of Rich- mond, who was a well known manufacturer here all his life, and her mother was Marv Till, a ereat-granddaughter of General An- thony Wayrre. Mary Till was born in Au- gusta county, Virginia. John Allan Belvin had twelve children, of whom six are now living as follows: IVIinnie, Rose, ^^'inchester Durham. Charles Edward. Preston, \\'illiam Wayne.

After recei^•ing 1 thorough preliminary

and collegiate education, Preston Belvin as- sociated himself in business with his father. He therein secured the requisite training which has since been so essential in the con- duct of the business. Upon the death of his father in August, 1880, Preston Belvin assumed entire control of the business, and successfully conducted the same until 1893, when a fire destroyed the entire plant. At that time the factory was located at the present site of the freight depot of the Sea- board Air Line Railway. Eor a short per- iod thereafter, Mr. Belvin discontinued as a manufacturer, took up the study of law and entered into the publishing of "The Legal Journal," which he sold out two years later, and immediately identified himself as a partner with large publishing houses of New York City, issuing an extensive line of school books. This in turn he sold out and established the present company in 1896. This is the old and well-known con- cern formerly located at Ninth and Main streets. Another fire totally destroyed this plant in December, 191 2, and the present commodious building was erected this past year at the corner of Marshall and Hermi- tage streets, and is the largest building devoted to the manufacture of school fur- niture and supplies in the LInited States. Over one hundred employees are herein given employment.

Preston Belvin was peculiarly fortunate in securing a thorough schooling in his young boyhood. He attended preliminarily both the Squires School, Strauthers and Norwood, comjileting courses in these, and then entered Richmond College. He subse- quently completed a course at King Col- lege at Bristol, Virginia, and finally at Poughkeepsie, New York. He is known among his associates as a hard worker, and a man with an active brain, and that the result of his thinking has been beneficial, especially in a commercial way is attested to by the fact that his well known inven- tions, the Old Dominion Patent Heat and Ventilating System is in use all over the civilized world, as is also the Virgo Plate Blackboard, manufactured of wood pulp. He and his corporation own many other valuable patents and trademarks.

Mr. Belvin has found time to prove his citizenship and patriotism ; politically he was the founder and president of the Pow- hatan Club, which was undoubtedly the