Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 4.djvu/45

 ^■IRGIXIA BIOGRAPHY

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has l)eeii a most successful and important one. lie worked for four years for Thomas & Oliver, tobacco manufacturers and dealers of Richmond, 1866 to 1870, then formed the firm of James N. Boyd &; Company and en- gaged in business for himself as dealers in leaf tobacco, buying and exporting. This firm is still an important factor in the tobacco trade, Mr. Boyd having alv^ays re- tained his interest, and since the incorpo- ration of the firm in 1896 he has been its efficient president. As he increased in busi- ness experience and power he extended his activities and has become one of the leading business men of this city. He is president of the Planters National Bank of Richmond, director of the Virginia Trust Company and the Southern Biscuit Works of Richmond, and formerly a director of the Virginia- Carolina Chemical Company of Richmond and the Southern Cotton Oil Company of New York, and has unofficial connection with many Richmond and Virginia enter- prises. He is well known and highly re- garded in business circles, and in club life is equally prominent. While his parents were both members of Centenary Methodist Episcopal Church, of Richmond, Mr. Boyd and his immediate family are members of All Saints Protestant Episcopal Church, of which he is a vestryman.

Eollowing his early war experience of 1865, Mr. Boyd, in 1870, enlisted in Com- pany F. First Regiment Virginia Militia, serving for four years. He is a member of the First Regiment Association, the Busi- ness Men's Club of Richmond, a director of the Police Benevolent Association, member of the Westmoreland and Commonwealth clubs of Richmond, the Country Club of \'irginia and Richmond Chamber of Com- merce. A Democrat in politics, Mr. Boyd, although deeply interested in all that per- tains to the public good, has never accepted public office.

^Ir. Boyd married, January 10, 1877. ]\Iil- dred Coles, daughter of John R. and Eliza- beth (Coles) Edmunds, of English descent. Children : Elizabeth, residing at home ; James R. N., a civil engineer, now residing in Cali- fornia ; \'irginia Nalle, married Asa E. Phil- lips, a government engineer of Washington, D. C. ; Richard E.. a buyer of leaf tobacco, residing in Richmond ; IMildred Coles, mar- ried John C. Hayes, a tobacco manufacturer associated with the American Tobacco Com-

pany in Richmond; John W'., secretary and treasurer of the James N. Boyd Company, (incorporated) of Richmond; Mary E., re- siding at home. The family residence is No. 117 West Grace street, Richmond.

William David Bowen, M. D., D. O.

There are four distinct branches of the family of Bowen to wdiich Dr. William David Bowen, of Richmond, Virginia, be- longs, which were founded in America by four brothers who immigrated to this coun- try from their native land, Wales, settling in Pennsylvania, eastern Virginia, Missis- sippi and Georgia. For one hundred and forty-seven years the Bowen homestead at Long Acre, Washington county. North Carolina, has been in the possession of the family, the old property now owned by Dr. William D. Bowen. At this place was born his great-grandfather. John Bowen, and the homestead has been the birthplace of the succeeding generations of his line, including himself.

William Bowen. grandfather of Dr. Bowen. passed his entire life in this com- munity, attaining the age of eighty years. He married Rhoda Respess, and had issue: Henry Hunter, of whom further ; Langley, \\'illiam J. ; George W., married Mary Oden ; Elizabeth, married Horace Oden ; Rhoda. married Giles Cutler; Sallie, died un- married.

Henry Hunter Bowen. son of William and Rhoda (Respess) Bowen. was born on the homestead at Long Acre. Washington countv. North Carolina. February 11. 1823, and died on the eighty-fourth anniversary of his birth. 1907. His lifelong calling was that of farmer, and he was a member of the confederate force that fired the first shots on Fort Sumter, serving from that time until the final surrender at Appomattox, once be- ing taken prisoner by the federal forces. He married Ann Latham Boyd, born at Long Acre. Washington county. North Carolina, in 1824. died in 1892. daughter of Zachary Boyd and his wife, Mary (Latham) Boyd, her father a native of that place, a farmer and physician. Children of Zachary and Mary (Latham) Boyd: Winifred, Ann Latham, of previous mention, married Henry Hunter " Bowen, Mary, Elizabeth, Zachary. Thomas and Caswell. Henry Hunter Bowen and his wife were the par- ents of: Cornelia, married Cleophas B.