Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 4.djvu/417

 VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

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father's assistant until the retirement of the latter, then became manager of the busi- ness, and continued its head until 1877, suc- ceeding as proprietor in 1873. ^^^ '^^77 l"*^ severed his connection with the Mossing- ford business and located in Danville, estab- lishing with partners a general store on lower ]\Iain street. He continued in suc- cessful business until 1905, when he became proprietor of the store at Dan River Cotton Mills. After four years there, failing health caused his withdrawal. He was one of the charter members of the National Bank of Danville, was for several years first vice- president, and on the death of P. R. Jones, succeeded to the presidency of that reliable financial institution. A wise and careful executive, Mr. Overbey has attained promi- nence in the financial world, and is rated one of the safe and sane financiers of his city. He is a Democrat in politics ; was appointed magistrate, and twice elected member of Danville common council, serving as presi- dent of council during his second term. In religious faith he is a Presbyterian, and for many years has been an elder of the Dan- ville church, and a strong pillar of support. Mr. Overbey married (first) January 20, 1876, Sarah E. Shepherd. He married (sec- ond) April 30. 1895, Mamie Cabell Echols, born in Rockbridge county, Virginia, July 28, 1874. Children of first marriage: Wil- liam D. and John E.. both now engaged in business in Danville. Children of second marriage : Mary C, born April 20, 1896, now a student of Ward Belmont College, Nash- ville, Tennessee; Daniel Alonzo (2), born March 17, 1902; Virginia E., and Mar- garet L.

George Douglass Meriwether, M. D. The

first Meriwethers to come to Virginia were Nicholas Meriwether, from Wales, his wife Elizabeth, brother Francis, and Joan Meri- wether, either sister or wife of Francis. This Nicholas known as "Welsh Nicholas" is first found recorded in Virginia, April 22, 1655, at which date he was twenty-four years of age and clerk of Surry county court located "at South warke." He was probably the first clerk of the county which was set oft from Isle of Wight in 1652. He was a large seller of land patents in the dififerent coun- ties and both he and his brother Francis seemed to have come to Virginia with ample means and to have been men of unusual edu-

cation for their day. They were gentlemen of high social standing and held large landed estates. Francis Meriwether left no issue. All tracing to the early Virginia Meri- wethers are all sprung from Welsh Nicholas and his wife Elizabeth (supposed to have been Elizabeth Woodhouse) who survived him. Nicholas Meriwether died December 19, 1678; the date of Elizabeth's death is un- known. Nicholas and Elizabeth Meriwether had six children, of whom Nicholas {2) was the eldest.

(II) Nicholas (2) Meriwether was born in Surry county, Virginia, October 26, 1667, died in Goochland county, Virginia (now Albemarle county) in 1744, his will being probated November 20, of that year. He moved to James City county while yet under legal age, married there at age of twenty- one, resided at St. Peter's parish. New Kent county, in 1693, moving to St. James parish in Goochland county in 1738. He was ves- tryman, burgess, justice, coroner, sheriff and clerk of court, holding all these offices in New Kent county. He was, if not the larg- est land owner in Virginia, among the larg- est owners, providing for his children lib- erally during his lifetime and devising a large amount by will. Out of this large estate was carved the smaller estates. "Castle Hill." "Turkey Hill," "Plachalorem," "Kinlock," "Belvoir," "Music Hall," "Clover Fields" and "Cicmont," owned and held in all but one instance by descendants of Nicholas (2). Nicholas (2) Meriwether married Eliz- abeth Crafford (also given as Crawford), daughter of David Crafford, "gentleman," of "Assasquin," St. Paul's parish, New Kent county, Virginia, who survived him and was named in his will as one of the executors of his estate. They had nine children, four of whom were sons, David being the youngest son and fifth child.

(III) Colonel David [Meriwether, son of Nicholas (2) Meriwether, was born in James City county. Virginia, in 1690, died Decem- ber 25, 1743. He inherited 1600 acres from his father and lived the life of a \^irginia gentleman planter. He married Anne, daughter of George Holmes, of King and Queen county, Virginia, who died March 11, 1735. They were the parents of six sons and two daughters.

(IV) Major Thomas Meriwether, eldest son of Colonel David and Anne ( Holmes) Meriwether, was born in 1714, died in 1757-