Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 4.djvu/262

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MRGIXIA BIOGRAPHY

degree of Doctor of Medicine. From this date his advance to the head of his profes- sion has been at once rapid and sure and he is now one of the stafif at the King's Daughters' Hospital in Staunton. He is also occupying at present the office of coroner of the city. He is president of the Augusta County Medical Society, and has, indeed, held all the offices in connection with it. lie is also a member of State and American Medical associations, liesides his profes- sional connections. Dr. Parkins is vice-presi- dent of the Mount Clifton Orchards Com- pany and has several other business inter- ests.

Dr. Parkins married, April 19, 1899, Ger- trude .Alby, a daughter of John W. and Au- gusta v. Alby, granddaughter of Judge David Fultz. Mrs. Parkins' father was a leading business man in Staunton prior to his death in 1895, his business being cloth- ing; he served the city in the capacity of councilman for many years ; he was also prominent in musical and church circles and was the conductor of the choir in the First Presbyterian Church there for a long time. His musical ability has been inherited by his daughter, Mrs. Parkins, who is now a mem- ber of the choir of the First Presbyterian Church. To Dr. and Mrs. Parkins has been born a daughter, V^irginia Parkins, now a student in the Mary Baldwin Seminary of Staunton.

Willie Thomas Pace. The Pace family of Virginia is an old and honored one, own- ing large i)lantations and many slaves prior to the war. 1861 to 1865. W. T. Pace, of Franklin, X'irginia, is the possessor of an interesting document, dated June 23, 1831, the marriage contract between his grand- father, William C. Pace, and Elizabeth Reeves Chapel, involving 2,000 acres of land. William C. Pace was a wealthy planter and slave owner of Southampton county, and officially connected with the Virginia militia. On the maternal side W. T. Pace descends from the Sebrell family, many of whom were soldiers of the Confederacy.

John James Pace, son of William C. and Elizabeth Reeves (Chapel) Pace, was born at the home plantation in Sussex county, Virginia, near Littleton Plank Road, in 1839. and died January 18, 1867. He was a farmer during the few years of his adult vears, and during the war between the states

served in Captain Harrison's Company A, sharpshooters of Sussex county, attached to the Forty-first Regiment Virginia Infantry, Mahone's brigade. He married Eugenia Briggs, born in Southampton county, Vir- ginia, in 1845. and died in 1902, daughter of Bennett and Maria (Sebrell) Briggs. Mrs. Pace survived her husband and married (second) Maximilian Herbert, of Ferry Point. Norfolk county, Virginia.

W^illie Thomas Pace, son of John James and Eugenia (Briggs) Pace, was born on the ancestral acres in Sussex county, Vir- ginia, also the birthplace of his father, March 18, 1866. He was educated in the public schools of Sussex county, and resided in that county until 1881 when he removed to Southampton county and was a clerk in his uncle's store until March, 1885. He pur- sued a commercial course at Saddlers Busi- ness College in Baltimore, 1885, from whence he was graduated in 1885. In that year he located in Franklin, Virginia, where he has since pursued a highly successful mercan- tile career as bookkeeper, partner and pro- prietor. He began business life in Franklin as bookkeeper for C. C. Vaughan, continu- ing two years. He then spent one year with the Camp ^Manufacturing Company, and one year with Pretlow & Company. On Janu- ary I, 1890. he formed a partnership with J. E. Gilliam, and as "Gilliam & Pace" con- ducted a successful general retail hardware business until February, 1893. He then pur- chased Mr. Gilliam's interest and has since conducted the business under his own name exclusively. His business consists of a gen- eral line of shelf and builders' hardware, paints, oils, roofing, and all the detailed lines connected with a modern retail hardware store of the best class. He has won honor- able distinction in the business world and is rated one of the successful men of his community. His standing in Franklin is best evidenced by the fact that in addition to building up a successful mercantile busi- ness, he has been recorder and for twenty- three years treasurer of the town. He is interested in the church and fraternal life of the town, is a member of the official board of the Methodist Episcopal church, regent of the local Royal Arcanum, and in political faith a Democrat.

Mr. Pace married. March 28. 1888, Meta Goodman Parker, born July 12, 1865. daugh- ter of Goodman and Sarah (Thatch) Parker,