Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 4.djvu/363

 VIRGTXIA BIOGRAIMIV

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corporations. The fact that he was of South- ern birth, had rendered distinguished serv- ice in the Confederate army, and was sym- pathetic with Southern customs and habits, made him especially valuable to the enter- prises with which he was connected. These points in his favor, coupled with a nature of push and progressiveness, and intensified by his years of association with the Northern railroad builders and magnates, enabled him to advance rapidly in every line of activity he entered. He was president of the Citizens' Bank of Norfolk, director of the Norfolk National Bank, director of the Norfolk Bank of Savings and Trusts, and at the time of his death was president of the Ghent Resi- dence Corporation, vice-president of the Norfolk & Portsmouth Traction Company, and general superintendent of the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad. President Harry Wal- ters, of the latter company, began his rail- road career under Mr. Serpell on the Pitts- burgh & Connellsville railroad, and would never consent to the latter's retirement from the Atlantic Coast Line. "Come around to the office when you feel like it, or don't come at all," Mr. Walters would say when refus- ing point blank to accept Mr. Serpell's resig- nation, which was frequently submitted until he saw it was useless. About five years prior to his death he withdrew as far as possible from business life, failing health notifying him that his years of activity were numbered. He was a man of most lovable disposition, was the soul oi business honor, generous, charitable and public-spirited. While he was one of the most prominent men of Norfolk, he never accepted a public office, but did all in his power to advance the industrial and commercial development of that city. He was a member of many business, fraternal and social organizations, a warm friend of church, educational and philanthropic institutions, and aided all with his advice, experience and means. He was a good citizen, a true friend and neighbor, a loving husband and a devoted father.

Mr. Serpell married, September 14, 1869, Georgianna Clarke, born June 25, 1841, in Prince George county, Maryland, daughter of Robert and Alethea (Cheney) Clarke. Children : i. Alethea, now a resident of Nor- folk. 2. Nqra Latrobe, now a resident of Norfolk. 3. Jane Deakins, married, January 30, 1904, Chaplain B. R. Patrick, United States navy ; children : Bower Reynolds,

Goldsborough S., Jane Clark, Elizabeth Withers, and Alethea Cheney. 4. Alice, married Dr. E. C. Taliaferro (q. v.). 5. (joldsborough, married, January 4, 1912, Susan Watkins, who died in 1913. 6. Gulelma, a resident of Norfolk. 7. Nell Louise, married, November 16, 1904, Stock- ton Heth Tyler ; children : Goldsborough Serpell and James Hoge (3). 8. Albert Clark, married, February, 1906, Achsa Maria Dorsey. Miss Alethea Serpell is the regent of Great Bridge Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, gaining admission to that society through the patriotic service of her great-grandfather, Captain Leonard Deakins.

Richard Gordon Simmons, M. D. Richard Gordon Simmons, M. D., a distinguished citizen and physician of Roanoke, Virginia, is a member of a family whose name has been associated with the history of Mary- land for many generations. His first ances- tor of the name was Abraham Simmons, who came over to the then British colony with Cecil Calvert, deputy governor of Maryland for his brother. Lord Calvert, and landed at St. Mary's in the year 1669. He had four sons, Samuel, Richard, George and James, and two daughters, Elizabeth and Eleanor. Of these children, James is known to history as the owner of the famous Tanneyhill Mill, which supplied the revolu- tionary army with flour. He was Dr. Sim- mons' great-great-grandfather.

Dr. Richard Gordon Simmons was born April 4. 1865, on Carroll's Manor, Frederick county, Maryland, a son of Richard Edwin and Theresa Ann (Kinzer) Simmons, and a grandson of Major James and Rebecca (Shekel) Simmons. Richard Edwin Sim- mons' father, was a large and successful planter of Frederick county, and a graduate of the Landen Military Institute. Dr. Sim- mons received his education, first at the local schools of his native place, both public and private, and later at the Western Mary- land College at Westminster. Maryland. In the year 1883. he removed to Roanoke, \'ir- ginia, to accept a clerical position in the em- ploy of the Shenandoah V^alley Railway, in which he continued for two years. During this time, however, he came into close contact with Dr. Koiner, then chief surgeon for the Shenandoah Valley & Nor- folk & Western railway, and in 1885 became