Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 4.djvu/431

 VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

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and supported, with courageous determi- nation, such legislation as he thought just and necessary. Mr. Powell for several years was president of the Wytheville town coun- cil, and is now librarian of the court of ap- peals at Wytheville.

He is a gentleman of high standing in the community, and is granted in full measure the honor and respect of which his fine sense of honor and his unimpeachable rec- ord are worthy. He stands for the best in citizenship, for forty-four years has upheld the loftiest traditions of his profession, and in right thinking and acting has passed a busy and useful life, leaving behind him a record of service and accomplishment. In fraternal circles he is prominent, his order the Masonic, and he is past master of Wythe Lodge. No. 221. Free and Accepted Masons, jjast high priest and past district deputy of the chapter. Royal Arch Alasons, and mem- ber of Knights Templar, of Alarion, \^irginia. He is likewise past commander of ^^'illiam Terry Camp, Confederate Veterans, of Wytheville, Virginia.

Mr. Powell married, November 9, 1871, Sarah Ann Jones, born in Orange county, Virginia, January 29, 1846. daughter of Fer- dinand and Alildred (Goodwin) Jones. Their children: i. Mildred Gertrude, born in Rich- mond, Virginia, in 1872 ; married Thomas M. Carter, of Mississippi. 2. John Norment, born in Columbia, Virginia ; a successful practicing attorney ; married Frances, daughter of Judge John H. Fulton, of Wythe county, Virginia. 3. Ferdinand, born at Columbia, Virginia ; a graduate in civil en- gineering, for a time claim agent in the rail- road employ, now deals extensively in lum- ber ; married Margaret Hayes. 4. Mary Claughton, born in Columbia, Virginia ; un- married. 5. Annie Marian, born in Columbia, Virginia; graduated A. B. at Sweetbrick Seminary, A. M. at Barnard College (Co- lumbia University, New York), now oc- cupies the chair of English at Farmville Normal School. 6. Junius Le Vert, born in Columbia. Virginia, now an attorney of Washington, D. C.

Aubrey Alphin Houser, M. D. An instruc- tor and at the same time a student, Dr. Houser, a graduate of the Medical College of Virginia, and now a prominent physician of Richmond, Virginia, descends from a viA-21

family long resident in Botetourt county, Virginia.

The first ancestor of the family of whom we have definite information was Matthias Sommers, born 1729, died 1819, son of Michael and Elizabeth Sommers, of Baden- Baden, Germany. Matthias Sommers emi- grated to this country, accompanied by his wife, Barbara (Brindell) Sommers, who died subsequent to the year 1823, and settled in the state of Pennsylvania. Their children were : Matthias, who accompanied his par- ents from Germany, married Rachel Maphis ; Catharine, of whom further ; Barbara, mar- ried David Maphis; Jacob, married Eliza Hager.

Catharine Sommers, eldest daughter of Matthias and Barbara (Brindell) Sommers, married Jacob Brown, son of Jacob and Matilda (Fetzer) Brown, who moved from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Virginia, and they were the parents of fourteen children, among whom was Jacob, of whom further. Jacob (2) Brown, third son of Jacob and Catharine (Sommers) Brown, married Ellen Northcraft, and among their children was Mary C, of whom further.

Mary C. Brown, eldest child of Jacob (2) and Ellen (Northcraft) Brown, married John Neal Marks, brother of- Mrs. General Green, grandmother of J. E. McMurray.

Samuel Brown, seventh son of Jacob "and Catharine (Sommers) Brown, married Susan Kellar, and among their children was Sophia Brown, of whom further.

Sophia Brown, eldest child of Samuel and Susan (Kellar) Brown, was born March 29, 1823, married, August 20, 1839, Emmanuel Houser, and their children were : Jacob Samuel, born and died in 1841 ; Joseph, killed at battle of Seven Pines, May 21, 1862; Mary E., married William Harvey; George Brown, married Mattie Mays; Otho Kane, married Laura Alphin; Sophia S., married Dr. Charles Wellington Hardin; William Oscar, of whom further ; Sara Virginia, mar- ried Stanton Garland ; Warren, unmarried.

William Oscar Houser, fifth son of Em- manuel and Sophia (Brown) Houser, was born in Botetourt county, Virginia, four miles from the present farm. He has fol- lowed the occupation of an agriculturalist all his life, as did his father before him. He married Julia Ann Alphin, born in Bote- tourt county, Virginia, within six miles of