Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 4.djvu/465

 VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

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United American ]^Iechanics, in which he served in the capacity of treasurer, and was a lifelong Democrat of the uncompromising sort. He married, in Mathews county, Vir- ginia, February 9, 1859, Keturah Ann For- rest, born Feljruary 9. 1837, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Knight) Forrest. John Forrest was a very successful farmer, and a soldier in the war of 181 2. He married (first) Harriet Morgan, who bore him the following named children: John, James Tyler, Delaney Hatterson, Henry, William, Harriet, Emily Jane, Mary Shepherd, Eliza- beth, John Thomas, Sarah. He married (second) Elizabeth Miller, who bore him the following named children : Rosana Alildred, Almira, Keturah Ann, aforemen- tioned, Susan Francis. He married (third) Pamela Ann Parrott ; no children. Chil- dren of Mr. and Mrs. Brownley: i. Evelyn Marshal, born January 15, i860; married, December 8, 1880, George G. Brooks; chil- dren : \'ernon Asbury, born July 3, 1882, received his education in the Portsmouth public schools, graduating from the high school, later graduating in medicine from the Richmond Medical College, is now practicing in the city of Portsmouth, Vir- ginia, and stands high in his profession ; Olive Blanche, born April 27, 1884, also a graduate of the Portsmouth high school, and of the State Normal School of Farm- ville, married, December 27, 191 1, Harley Edward Doran ; Kate Lucile, born April 10, 1892, also a graduate of the Portsmouth high school ; Evelyn Brownley, born De- cember 16, 1896, a graduate of Portsmouth high school, and now a student at the State Normal School at Farmville, Virginia. 2. John Henry, of whom further. 3. Herbert Russel, born September 9, 1865 ; commander of boat in the government service ; married, June 19. 1901, Rosa Gayle ; children: Russel Gayle, born September i, 1905; Dorothy, born March 18, 1914. 4. Emma Edwards, born September 20, 1868; married, April 20, 1892, Charles Everette Smith; children: Everette Gilbert, born February 11, 1893; Rosser Jefiferson, April 4, 1896; Alvah Thomas, January 22, 1898; Forrest Brown- ley, January i, 1901 ; Muriel Virginia, June 20, 1907. 5. Roland Beedsoe, born August

6. 1871, died June 19, 1875. 6. Marion Estelle, born November 12, 1874; married, September i, 1906, Earnest Ralph Wilson.

7. Jefferson Leroy, born June 13, 1877, died

June 20, 1877. 8. Rosser Forrest, born Febru- ary 12, 1880; an electrician in the employ of the General Electric Company.

John Henry Brownley was born in Mathews county, Virginia, November 28, 1861. Fie received his education in the schools of ]^Iathews Court House. In 1880 he came to Portsmouth, where he obtained a position in a mercantile house as clerk, remaining for a few months. Later he se- cured a position with M. Umstadter & Com- pany and Peter Smith & Company, learn- ing, through application and faithful service, every phase of the dry goods business, so that when in 1899 he and David Baker Ames formed the firm of Ames & Brownley his contribution of business wisdom and experi- ence was of great importance. The year following the organization of this firm Mr. Hornthal was admitted to the partnership and his name was added to the title under which they conducted their business, which was of vigorous and rapid growth. To such an extent did its dimensions increase that incorporation was deemed advisable by the members, and Ames, Brownley & Horn- thai, Incorporated, is now known as one of the most substantial and reliable mer- cantile houses of Norfolk, a reputation that has been gained through years of faithful observance of public requirements and a business policy that has been unswervingly correct in all particulars. In 1912 Mr. Brownley served as president of the Retail Merchants' Association of Norfolk, his election to the leadership of the association manifesting the popularity into which he came during his connection with the busi- ness interests of Norfolk. He is also a member of the board of directors of the Norfolk Chamber of Commerce, and a member of its finance committee. His re- ligious denomination is the Methodist Episcopal, and he is a steward and chair- man of the board of Ghent Church, of Nor- folk.

Mr. Brownley married, April 20, 1889, Eliza J., daughter of W'illiam L. and Jane (Stokes) Diggs. Children : John Wlnfield, W'illiam Jefiferson, Mary Gill, Nellie Chris- tine, Charlotte Stoakes and Martin Latham. Of these six children John Winfield and Charlotte Stoakes are the only survivors. John W^infield Brownley was born in Ports- mouth, Virginia; was educated in Randolph- Macon College and Cornell University, in