Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 4.djvu/267

 VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY.

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board of visitors of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute at Blacksbiirg, from which he re- signed when elected second auditor of Vir- ginia, the position he now (1914) holds.

Mr. Page, while learned in the law and skillful in its application, also possesses literary ability of a high order, which would have brought him fame had he devoted himself to literature instead of the law. He has that aptitude for happy expression that marks the writings of his brother, Thomas Nelson Page, and has published a number of stories and essays, the latter especially dealing with the historical period of the Virginia colony, and with economic sub- jects. He is a member of the college fra- ternity, Phi Beta Kappa, founded by his ancestor, Governor John Page, at William and Mary College. In recognition of his scholarship and legal and literary distinc- tion, Rosewell Page was elected a member of William and Mary College chapter of the beforementioned fraternity. At the Univer- sity of Virginia he was a Delta Psi. In poli- tical faith he is a Democrat, and influential in the state councils of his party. His club is the Westmoreland of Richmond. He is a member of the Protestant Episcopal church, has served as a delegate to diocesan councils many times, and in four of the gen- eral conventions of the church has served as deputy or supplementary deputy from his diocese.

Mr. Page married (first) in 1887, Susan Dabney, daughter of Edward W. Morris, of Hanover county. He married (second) January 15, 1898, Ruth, daughter of Rev. Robert Nelson, D. D., a missionary of the Protestant Episcopal church to China for thirty years. Children, all by second mar- riage: Anne, born June 15, 1899; Rosewell Jr., August 9, 1902 ; Robert Nelson, August 24, 1905.

Captain John Lonsdale Roper. The true value of a man to the community in which he lives is not always apparent, neither is it easy to determine just what the true value is. Reckoned in dollars and cents, some men would be accorded the highest value, and others the lowest rank, yet the first may have simply lived off of his community, grown rich from it, and added nothing save to his own fortune. The latter may never have accumulated a dollar, yet his enter- prise, brains, initiative and influence may

have developed unthought of resources, opened new fields of enterprise and added immeasurably to the public good. So to the men who create and develop, build and expand, cause capital to work for the good of all, would we award the garland of praise. This record deals with Captain John Lons- dale Roper and his sons, men who have "done things," and whose labors have been so directed that Norfolk has benefitted as well as themselves, and the great resources of hitherto inaccessible localities developed to the great benefit of many communities. They have caused "two blades of grass to grow where but one grew before," and there is good authority for classing such men as "public benefactors."

The Ropers came to Virginia from Penn- sylvania, the ancestor, Richard B. Roper, coming from England and settling in Mif- flin county, that state. He married Esther Ann Reynolds, of Philadelphia, and gave to his adopted state two sons, William Bryhan and John Lonsdale ; also a daughter, Mary Matilda, who married John B. Mc- Williams. and had a son Arthur. William Bryhan, the eldest son, married Ellen Elder- blute and had a son, Lonsdale G., and also two daughters, both deceased. William Bryhan served in the Union army, was an artist and at times indulged in sketching whenever in camp.

John Lonsdale Roper, the yotingest son of Richard B. Roper, was born in Green- wood, MifHin county, Pennsylvania, Octo- ber 9, 1835. His father died when he was an infant in arms, and he grew up in his native village under the guidance of his excellent mother. He attended school until thirteen years of age, then became clerk in a general store. He passed the years of his minority in this manner, gathering little else than valuable business experience. The "gold fever" of 1849 ^^^ ^^o^ pass his locality by, but raged there with as great intensity and deadly effect as elsewhere. He, how- ever, remained at home until twenty-one. then converted what he could into cash and set out for the El Dorado of dreams. Cali- fornia. The party he joined went via the isthmus, and finally arrived at the gold fields. Young Roper had expended his cap- ital in transportation and arrived with little beyond courage and a strong body. He did not succeed as he hoped, but found gold in sufiicient quantity to enable him to return to