Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 4.djvu/392

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VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

daughter of Thomas J. and Rosalie E. (Jen- nings) Xeale, the former a ship builder of Newport News. Virginia, the latter deceased. Children: Edward Campbell, born in Rich- mond, January 20. 1902; Albert Gallatin (3), July 26. 1903.

Paul Beverly Wocdfin, A. B., LL. B. Paul P)everly Woodfin, A. B., LL. B., a promi- nent citizen of Waynesboro, Virginia, was born January 8, 1883. at Montgomery, Ala- bama, a son of the Rev. Augustus Beverly Woodfin. A. B., D. D., and of Mary Belle (Abrahams) Woodfin, his wife. The Rev. Dr. Woodfin was a native of Richmond, \Mrginia, where he was born March 21, 1838, and was educated at Richmond College and there gained his degree of Bachelor of Arts. He later took a course in the South Baptist Theological Seminary, from which he grad- uated with the degree of Bachelor ^of Divin- ity. Howard College later conferred upon him the honorary degree of Doctor of Divin- ity in recognition of his distinguished serv- ices to the community and religion. He be- came at various times pastor of churches in Ml)ile. Alabama; Montgomery, Alabama; Columbia. South Carolina; and of the First Baptist Church of Hampton, Virginia, in which latter place he remained twenty years. He was appointed to. and held the position of chaplain of the University of Virginia. He retired from active life in 191 1 and re- sided at Atlanta. Georgia, until his death, on December 24, 1913, at thfi home of his son. G. W. Woodfin. It was Dr. Woodfin who was largely instrumental in effecting the consolidation of the college for women in Richmond with Richmond College, and, indeed, the actual merger was consummated in his room in the Richmond Hospital, where he was confined by illness. He was by nature an active and energetic man, and even in his retirement held the position of vice-president of the board of trustees of the Baptist Orphanage at Salem, Virginia, and was a member of the board of education of Richmond College.

Paul P>. Woodfin was educated in the academic de|)artment of Richmond College, graduated therefrom with the class of 1904, and received the degree of Bachelor of Arts. Immediately thereafter he took a position as school teacher, which he held for two years, but having chosen the profession of law he abandoned his position at the end of

this period and entered the law department of Richmond College, graduating with the degree of Bachelor of Laws in 1908. While in college Mr. Woodfin took an active part in the life of the institution and distinguish- ed himself in an "all round" manner. He played for two years on the baseball team and for three years on the football team, he was a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha fra- ternity, the Mu Sigma Rho Literary Society and during the season of 1907-08, was presi- dent of the senior law class. In 1908, the year of his graduation from the law school, he was admitted to the Virginia bar, and thereupon located himself at Waynesboro, where he has since resided. He is now serv- ing his fellow citizens in the capacity of city treasurer. Besides his public and legal asso- ciations. Mr. Woodfin is connected with the business interests of his adopted town. He is a member of the Blue Lodge Masons and a past chancellor of the Knights of Pythias. Mr. Woodfin is unmarried.

William B. Walton. The name of Wal- ton is found very early in Virginia. The records of Hanover county are lost, but a private paper preserved shows that George Walton was there, June 22, 1635. John Walton received grants of land in West- moreland county in 1654 and 1666, and was living there with his wife Elizabeth in the latter year. John Walton received a grant of two hundred acres of land in Accomac county in 1638. Robert Walton, of Rappa- hannock county, sold 560 acres in 1666, and held a power of attorney for Nicholson An- drews, of London, in 1663. Edward Walton was in York county in 1671. The records of Goochland county show purchases of land there in 1 731 and 1738 by William Walton. Thomas Walton purchased land in St. James parish, on the Fluvanna river, in Goochland, September 15. 1741. There are multitudes of other records showing land grants in var- ious sections of the colony in early days. William Walton was in Richmond county Avith his wife, Mary (Leftwich) Walton, and had children. Daniel and Mary. Samuel, John and Thomas Walton received legacies by will in Richmond county, in 1702. George \Valton. signer of the Declaration of Inde- ])endence, was a son of Robert W^alton. of Cumberland, whose will, recorded in 1749, gave lands to children John, Robert, Sarah and George. Sarah was the wife of Thomas