Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 4.djvu/261

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iiently for the practice of his profession, being actuated not less by business reasons than through deference to ftie wishes of his mother, who always retained a sincere love for the Confederate capital, near which her son was born, and where she was indeed an angel of mercy to the sick, wounded and dying soldiers. A lawyer of recognized abil- ity and admitted to practice in all state and federal courts of the Richmond district, ]Mr. Kelley has won a generous patronage and built up an influential clientele. Learned in the law, and skillful in the application, he has had a very successful career. He early entered political life and in council, on the stump, or in legislative halls, he has been a power in his party, and an admitted leader. He is a ready debater and a polished orator, having few equals, these qualities forcing him rapidly to the front ranks, both in poli- tics and at the bar.

He was a member of the Richmond Demo- cratic city committee, and for six years, 1899-1905, represented that city in the Vir- ginia house of delegates, serving the last two terms as chairman of the ranking com- mittee and floor leader. In 1900 he was Democratic presidential elector for the third \'irginia district, and for four years repre- sented that district on the state Democratic executive committee. In 1908 he was presi- dential elector-at-large. In 1905 he found it necessary to devote more time to his law business and in consequence withdrew from political life beyond taking part in campaign work. During the years enumerated, Mr. Kelley was a member of the Capitol Build- ing and Enlargement Commission, under whose supervision the improvements to that ancient historic state house were carried to completion. Air. Kelley is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Knights of Columbus, and the Ancient Order of Hibernians, and is a Roman Cath- olic in religion. He is unmarried.

Thomas Moorman Parkins, M. D. Dr.

Thomas Moorman Parkins, a distinguished physician and prominent citizen of Staun- ton, Virginia, comes of Quaker ancestry on his father's side and old Virginia stock on his mother's. His paternal grandfather was Nathaniel Parkins, a farmer and miller of Frederick county, Virginia, and one of the organizers and the first president of the Valley Turnpike Company, which built the

famous old turnpike and toll road between Winchester and Staunton, Virginia.

John Henry Parkins, father of Dr. Thomas jM. Parkins, was a native of Frederick county, Virginia, where he was born in 1829. He was a farmer and for many years the agent for the McCormick reaper in Western Virginia. In 1876 he was selected by Cyrus H. McCormick to take charge of the exhibit of reapers at the Centennial Ex- position in Philadelphia. He later gave up his agency for Mr. McCormick and estab- lished a foundry in Staunton at the close of the war in partnership with a Mr. Nelson, the firm taking contracts for all kinds of iron construction. Mr. Parkins took an active part in the civil war and served in Imboden's command, where he was in charge of the commissary department. He married Ella Moorman, a daughter of Thomas Terrell and Rose Belle (Alartin) Moorman, of Lynchburg, Virginia, where she was born. Mr. Moorman was descended on the maternal side from the old Virgmia family of Clarke, a representative of which was a member of the Virginia house of bur- gesses in pre-revolutionary times, the legis- lative body which enjoyed the distinction of being the first in America of which the mem- bers were freely chosen by the people. Air. and Mrs. Parkins Sr. died respectively in the years 1901 and 1912, and to them were born seven children, as follows: i. Nathan, a graduate of the collegiate and law depart- ments of the University of Virginia and a practicing lawyer of Washington, D. C, until the time of his father's death, when he returned to the home place and has since resided there and conducted the farm. 2. John Henry, Jr., now a chemist in the state agricultural department at Richmond, Vir- ginia. 3. Rosabelle, now Mrs. Ernest Kee- see, of Richmond. 4. Christopher V., a farmer of Augusta county, Virginia. 5. and 6. Mary E. and Berta, both residing on the home place. 7. Thomas Aloorman, of whom further.

Dr. Thomas Moorman Parkins received his general education at the Augusta Alili- tary Academy at Fort Defiance, Virginia, where he remained ten years, from 1876 to 1886, after which he remained at home until the year 1891. when he entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Baltimore, Maryland. From this institution he gradu- ated with the class of 1894 and obtained his