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 VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

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association. He is a Democrat in politics, and has ever taken a lively interest in all that concerns the public welfare. In 1881-82- 83 he represented his ward in the common council ; in 1885 was a member of the Demo- cratic State Committee, and in that year was elected a member of the state legisla- ture. He rendered efficient service in both legislative bodies and was connected with the progressive measures of that period. As a boy he served in the home guards of Dan- ville, and from 1882 to 1886 was major of the First Regiment, Virginia National Guard. He is fond of the social side of life and of outdoor recreation, enjoying both as a member of the Westmoreland and Com- monwealth clubs of Richmond and the Country Club of Virginia. In religious faith he is a Presbyterian, belonging to the Second Church in Richmond.

Mr. Patton married, February 27. 1889, at Richmond. Nannie Leary. born at Edenton, North Carolina, daughter of Thomas H. and Elizabeth (Wagener) Leary. Thomas. H. Leai-y, born in Edenton, North Carolina, was a lawyer, first of Edenton, later moving to Easton, Pennsylvania, then to Richmond, Virginia, where he died in 1883. His wife died in 1899. Children of James D. and Nannie (Leary) Patton, born in Richmond: Nannie, born April 16, 1890; James Dod- dridge (3), December 13, 1892, now engaged in mercantile business in Richmond.

William Perkins Parrish, M. D. The de- scent of the Parrish family, represented in professional circles in Chatham, Virginia, by William Perkins Parrish. M. D., is Irish, he being of the fifth American generation. The name has ever been proudly borne in its Virginia home, and was honorably ac- quitted in the heaviest fighting of the Mexi- can war and war between the states. The first two generations of this line in Vir- ginia were resident in Culpeper county, farming being the family occupation. Cap- tain \\'ilson Parrish was born in Pittsyl- vania county, Virginia, and attained an age of seventy-four years. He saw active ser- vice in the Mexican war. and throughout his life was a farmer. He married a Miss Wells, of Pittsylvania county, and had chil- dren, among them Joseph AL, of whom fur- ther.

Joseph yi. Parrish. son of Captain Wilson Parrish. was born on a farm in Pittsvl-

vania county, Virginia, in 1823, died in 1897. As in the three preceding generations of his line agriculture was his calling, his death occurring on the home farm. The outbreak of the war between the states found him a soldier in the army of the Confederacy and he served during the entire war, although for thirteen months his services were lost to the army by reason of his confinement in a Union prison at Elmira, New York. Re- leased from this place of detention and the war at an end he returned to his fertile acres, cultivating these until his final sum- mons called him from earthly activity. He was ever an ardent worker in the ranks of the Democratic party, and although high political office was neither his desire nor his lot, his efforts were none the less valuable because of their disinterested devotion. He married a cousin, Elizabeth Parrish. born in Pittsylvania county, Virginia, died Feb- ruary 18. 1890, aged sixty-three years, daughter of Thomas A. Parrish, and had children: I. Martha A., deceased; married Montgomery Hubbard, and was the mother of five children, of whom four survive, re- sided on a farm in Pittsylvania county. 2. Virginia, died unmarried. 3. Thomas F.. deceased ; was a merchant of Danville, Vir- ginia. 4. Julia F.. died unmarried. 5. Wil- liam Perkins, of whom further. 6. Sallie. unmarried ; lives in Chatham at the home of her brother. William Perkins, he and she the only survivors of the six children of Joseph M. and Elizabeth (Parrish) Parrish. Dr. William Perkins Parrish. son of Joseph M. and Elizabeth (Parrish) Parrish, was born on the old Parrish homestead, six miles from Chatham. Virginia, September 2, 1866. After obtaining a public school education he became his father's assistant on the home farm, there remaining until he was twenty-two years of age. He then entered Baltimore College, now the Univer- sity of Maryland, and was graduated M. D. in the class of 1891. beginning his active practice in Chatham. For five years he was so engaged, then associated with another physician, a connection which was later dis- solved. Dr. Parrish continuing in inde- pendent and prosperous practice at the pres- ent time. His reputation as a skillful and reliable physician is unsurpassed, and to his necessary professional attributes he adds a personality so pleasing as to justify the term ideal in the resulting combination.