Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 4.djvu/384

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VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

county, Virginia, the two families unrelated. Children : John Lewis, of whom further, and Sallie Elizabeth, died in infancy.

(V) John Lewis Thomas, son of John William and Sallie Elizabeth (Thomas) Thomas, was born in Portsmouth, Virginia, April 2. 1877. The public schools, the Ran- dolph-Macon Institute, and the University of Virginia are the institutions in which he received his education, and he finished his course at the last-named university in 1902. In January, 1903, he was admitted to the bar and established in independent practice, con- tracting several business connections to in- sure an income until his practice attained dimensions that warranted his giving it his entire time and attention. This growth was forthcoming in a short time, and Mr. Thomas gained honorable position at the bar and excellent reputation among an in- fluential clientele. In December, 1912, he was elected to the office of police justice of the city of Portsmouth, Virginia, and as- sumed the reins of authority, January i, 1913, on this date entering upon a four-year term. The two years that he has passed in this position have fully shown his fitness and ability. Confronted from day to day by all types of humanity, from the hardened criminal to the novice in wrong-doing, in all ages from tottering seniles to unbearded youths, women frequently interspersed, Mr. Thomas has no easy task in distributing jus- tice and in discerning the right. Rigidly strict in dealing with those who choose their course, he goes to the same degree of kind- ness in redeeming to society those unfor- tunates whom circumstance has made out- casts. Although his time in office has been short, it has been ample for him to perform many good works, and it has been his privi- lege to intercept several youths upon the threshold of a life of crime and to establish them at the beginning of careers of useful- ness. Through him can be made the final effort of rescue and redemption, and with his duty clear he has not shirked his respon- sibility, cooperating with the societies en- gaged in such work with good results, the promise certain that his efforts will be con- tinued. He has always adhered to the Dem- ocratic party. Lie is a communicant of the Protestant Episcopal church (Trinity). His fraternal order is the Masonic, and he is a member of Portsmouth Naval Lodge, No.

100, Free and Accepted Masons, and Mt. "Horeb Chapter, No. 11, Royal Arch Masons. Mr. Thomas married, June 21, 191 1, Elea- nor, born in 1884, daughter of Charles Arthur and Chassie Belle (Martin) Abbitt, and has one daughter, Sallie Eleanor, born Decem- ber 13, 1913.

Frank Talbott. The title "native son" may surely be applied to Frank Talbott, secretary and treasurer, of Danville, Vir- ginia, as his breath was first drawn in that city and his entire business life has been spent in the public service of the city. His work in public office, church, Sunday school and Young Men's Christian Association has been continuous, valuable and well appre- ciated. He is a son of Thomas Jefferson Talbott, who, when little more than a boy. ran the first engine over the Richmond and Danville railroad, and grandson of James Talbott. of Talbott & Sons, the early loco- motive builders of Richmond. Virginia. The Talbotts are one of the old and prominent families of Virginia, distinguished in public and civil life.

Thomas Jefferson Talbott was born in Richmond, Virginia, in 1832. died in Dan- ville. September 18. 1894. He grew up in the city of his birth and was associated from boyhood with his father, the early locomo- tive builder. He was an expert in machin- ery of that description, and was at the throt- tle of the first locomotive that ran over the Richmond and Danville railroad, Talbott & Sons being the builders of that engine. Dur- ing the war 1861-1865, he served as engi- neer and in 1874 located in Danville, being then twenty-five years of age. From that date until his death he was a manufacturer of tobacco, as member of the firm Pace, Tal- bott & Company, one of the first firms of that city. He was prominent in official and business life of Danville, president of the Tobacco Board of Trade, president of the city council and helpful in many ways in the development of Danville. He married Mary M. Pace, born in Danville in 1841, died there May 21, 1891, daughter of Green- ville T. Pace, born in Henry county, Vir- ginia, 1810, died 1876. a woolen goods manu- facturer and later a tobacco manufacturer. Greenville T. Pace was three times married and had three children : John R.. of Dan- ville, now deceased; James B., now living