Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 4.djvu/366

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VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

Charles City county, and there passed his life. He was clerk of the courts of Charles City county, a member of the Methodist Protestant church, and politically an "Old Line Whig." He married, in 1838, Tabitha Rebecca Graves, daughter of Edmund V. and Mary (Southall) Graves, all of Charles City county. Children of Edmund T. Chris- tian : Edmund Turner, George Llewellyn, of whom further ; Richard Langhorne, John Douglas. Margaret Ann, Elizabeth Armi- stead, Robert Seymour and P>enjamin Thomas.

(ieorge Llewellyn Christian was born at P>alfours, Charles City county, Virginia, April 13, 1841. He obtained his classical education at the Taylorsville and North- wood academies, both located in Charles City county, and in 1861, with all the ardor of his youth and race, he espoused the cause of his native state, enlisting in the Second Company, Richmond Howitzers, First Regi- ment Virginia Artillery, as a private. His company was one of the hard fighting organ- izations of that hard fought, grand Army of Northern Virginia, and in all its battles Sergeant Christian participated until May 12, 1864. On that day, at the great battle of Spottsylvania Court House, in the ■■P)loody Angle," he was badly wounded, losing one foot entirely and the heel of the other. This closed his military career, but he left behind him an untarnished record as a good soldier. Carrying this tangible evidence of his valor in actual warfare, Mr. Christian began a fresh battle of life, enter- ing the law department of the University of Virginia, and prosecuting vigorously the study of law under that great teacher, John B. Minor. He was admitted to the Rich- mond bar in 1867 and at once began the practice in that city. That year, 1867, may be taken as the beginning of his career as a professional and business man in Richmond, which covers a period of half a century, which it is hoped is by no means terminated. He was admitted in due season to the bars of the state and Federal courts of the dis- trict, and for eleven years. 1867-1878, he was successfully engaged in and firmly es- tablished a lucrative practice in the various courts. From 1874 to 1878 he was a mem- ber and president of the common council of the city of Richmond, and in the latter year was elected judge of the Hustings court of Richmond. 1 le spent five years on the bench.

then in 1883 when the re-adjuster party re- moved all the debt paying officers, of which he was one, he resumed the practice of his profession as the senior of the firm of Chris- tian tK: Christian, attorneys, and yet con- tinues head of the well know^i legal firm, Christian, Gordon & Christian. In 1892 he first appeared prominently in business life, serving as president of the Chamber of Com- merce from 1893-95. In 1893 he was chosen president of the National Bank of Virginia, and in 1904 president of the Virginia State Insurance Company. These responsible positions he has filled with honor ; and to his wise executive ability, his legal mind and training in a great measure, is due the pres- ent high standing of these important cor- porations. Not alone in war, profession or business, has Judge Christian proved the versatility of his talents. In the world of literature, professional and secular, his name is well known. In connection with his part- ner, Frank W. Christian, he established and edited in 1884. "The Virginia Law Journal," which he continued through a series of six- teen valuable volumes. As chairman of the history committee of the Grand Camp of X'irginia, United Confederate Veterans, he wrote and published several pamphlets on the causes and history of the war, which later were collected and published in perma- nent form in a work entitled, "The Confed- erate Cause and Conduct in the War be- tween the States." He is a member of the Confederate Veterans of Virginia, and of the United Confederate Veterans, serving in both organizations on the history com- mittee, and doing all in his power to pre- serve a true history of the war, to which he dedicated, as proof of his devotion and valor, three years of his life, and wMth his blood marked one of the great conflicts of that war. He is a member and was president of the Virginia Bar Association, and at a re- cent meeting read a strong paper on "Roger P.rooke Taney." He is a member of and was also president of the Richmond City I'ar Association. He is a Democrat in poli- tics, uniformly supporting the candidates and principles of the party. His clubs are the \\'estmoreland and Commonwealth of Richmond.

Judge Christian married (first) April 21, 1869, Ida, daughter of Adol]:)hus Alorris. jiublisher and bookseller of Richmond, and liis wife, Caroline (McCreary) Morris. He