Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 4.djvu/41

 \ IK(iXIA BIOGRAPHY

gation to greater activity and renewed ef- forts in the Great Cause. His personality has pervaded and enveloped all branches of the activity of the church, its organizations have felt his aid and influence, and with but little of its work has he been unidentified. Rev. Mason has been true to the highest ideals of the Christian ministry, has literally spent himself lavishly, and in so doing has won the unquestioning co-operation, the firm support of officers and people of his church.

He married, at Alexandria, \'irg'inia, in 1875, 1-i-icy Mason Ambler, born in Fauquier county, \ irginia, and has had six children: Anna, died aged three years; Randolph Fitzhugh, a teacher and clay modeler of Richmond ; John Ambler, an engineer of Ilaltimore, Maryland ; Lucy Randolph, un- married, connected with the Richmond Young Women's Christian Association ; Landon Randolph (2), a concrete dealer of Portland, Oregon ; Ida Oswald, married Taylor Ikirke, a banker of Alexandria, V^ir- ginia.

Edward Everett Holland, M. C. The Hol- land family has been identified with the county of Nansemond for many generations. I'ishop Meade mentions Henry Holland as a vestryman of the Upper parish of Nanse- mond in 1748 when the erection of a new church at Suffolk was ordered. The pro- genitors of Edward E. Holland were plant- ers of the county and men of high stand- ing. He is a great-grandson of Job, grand- son of Zachariah, and son of Zachariah E. and Ann Scott (Pretlow) Holland.

Edward Everett Holland was born in Nansemond county, Virginia, February 26, 1 861. He was educated in Richmond Col- lege and the University of Virginia, obtain- ing his professional education in the law department of the latter institution. He was admitted to practice at the Virginia bar in 1882 and at once located in Suffolk, Virginia, where he has since continuously practiced his profession in the county, state and fed- eral courts of the district. He has gained distinction in his profession, has been also one of the active business men of his city, and has devoted much of his time and ability tc the public service of his city, county, state and nation. Since 1892 he has been president of the Farmers" Bank, of Nansemond, Suf- folk ; is a director in several local companies, and has other interests of importance.

A Democrat in politics, his public service began with his election to the chairmanship of the executive committee of the Nanse- mond County Democratic Committee in 1883. Later he was elected a member of the state executive committee. In 1885 he was elected mayor of Suffolk, serving two years. In 1887 he was elected common- wealth's attorney for Nansemond county, holding that important position continu- ously through successive re-elections until 1908. As commonwealth's attorney he added tc> his fame as a lawyer and rendered valu- able service in the administration of justice. In 1908 he was elected state senator, serv- ing until called higher by his election as representative from the Second Virginia Congressional District to the Sixty-second Congress of the United States. He took his seat in that body March 4, 1911, serving his term with acceptability to his constituents, who returneil him to the Sixty-third Con- gress by a large vote. The forgoing shows a continuous public service of thirty years, but does little more than indicate the value of this service. He has met every circum- stance and condition of his public career openly and creditably, has given his best thought and action for the public good and sunk personal feelings and desires in the welfare of all. Strong in debate, eloquent in speech and of tireless energy he is one of the useful, reliable members of Congress, respected alike l)y friend and opponent.

Mr. Holland is a member of the County, State and American Law associations, trus- tee of Elon (North Carolina) College; a member of the ^lasonic Order and also of the Knights of Pythias and Independent Order of Odd Fellows. His college frater- nity is Beta Theta Pi. his clubs, Westmore- land, of Richmond, and \"irg"inia Club, of Norfolk. Virginia.

In religious connection he is a member of the Christian church. He married, No- vember 26, 1884, S. Otelia Lee, daughter of Patrick Henry and Joanna (Rawles) Lee. of the ancient and honorable Lee family, of Virginia. She died in 1S94, leaving two children : Lee Pretlow, Ixirn September 2, 1885. and Elizabeth Otelia Lee.

Captain Carter Braxton. Captain Carter Braxton, like so many of the rising men of Virginia today, is a member of an eminent family of the "Old Dominion," which suf- fered such reverses in the civil war that its