Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 4.djvu/48

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VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

legislator he has favored progressive legis- lation, while as speaker he won the respect of friends and foes by his fairness and con- sideration. His public and professional career has been above reproach, and the name of Byrd. honored in Virginia, through three centuries has been worthily ui)held by this twentieth century scion.

This record of a busy professional and official life would be incomplete did it omit to refer to Mr. Byrd's literary tastes and work. The literary ability of the second William Byrd. of Westover, seems to have bridged the generations and reappeared in his descendant. He has written a great deal editorially for the Virginia papers, and is a lover of the works of Shakespeare, Scott, Dickens and George Eliot and of the Bible. His style is clear, vigorous and con- cise, his deductions logical and his argu- ment strong. He introduced carefully pre- sideration, and before the Bar Associa- tion of Maryland and Virginia has read I)apers of deep literary and professional value. Just at the height of his physical powers, Mr. Byrd's services to the state are by no means ended, but the years hold for him nothing but even brighter promise of usefulness. Like all the Byrds of earlier generations, he is a member of the Episcopal church. He also holds membership in the Westmoreland. Commonwealth and Coun- try clubs of Richmond.
 * )ared and worded bills for legislative con-

Mr. Byrd married, in Martinsburg, West Virginia, September 15, 1886, E. Boiling Flood, daughter of Major Joel W. Flood, of the Confederate army, and Ella (Faulkner) Flood, his wife, daughter of Hon. C. J. Faulkner, of Martinsburg. Children : Harry Flood. Richard Evelvn, Thomas Boiling Byrd.

John Wilkins Brodnax, M. D. Himself eminent in his profession. Dr. Brodnax de- scends from an illustrious Virginia family that numbers in its list of sons statesmen, jurists and many eminent physicians. Among the latter may be mentioned Dr. Robert ^\'alker, a graduate of London, Edinburgh and Paris. General W. H. Brodnax was a statesman of high repute. Judge Henry Power Brodnax was a jurist of high stand- ing. Hon. Merriwether Brodnax was a member of the Virginia legislature, and the list could be indefinitely prolonged. The

family is early found in Virginia, being de- scendants of ]\Iajor John Brodnax, a refugee cavalier officer who came from Kent, Eng- land, and whose will is recorded in York county, Virginia, date 1657.

Dr. John Wilkins Brodnax was born in Petersburg. Virginia, March 21, 1864, son of Dr. Robert Walker Brodnax, and grand- son of Hon. Merriwether Bathurst Brodnax. The latter was born 1799. died 1832; married Ann Eliza Walker.

Dr. Robert \\'alker Brodnax, son of Hon. Merriwether Brodnax, was born January 12, 1S27. and died June 10. 1886. He studied at the University of Virginia and graduated in medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, and became a most eminent scholar and man of deep learning. He was a man possessed of all the graces of character that make "nature's nobleman," yet withal was most modest and unassuming. He married Cor- nelia A. Batte, daughter of Alexander Wat- son Batte. born 1780, died 1853. and his wife, Elizabeth Spenser.

Dr. John W. Brodnax was educated in the public schools. McGuire's University School and the Medical College of Virginia, receiv- ing his degree of Doctor of [Medicine in 1891. Prior to taking up the study of medicine he had been a student of art, and all his life an ardent student of anatomy. He pursued art studies under the great sculptor, E. V. Val- entine, of Richmond, at the Art Students' League and the Academy of Design, New York. His love of anatomy led him to the study of medicine, that profession being his personal preference. For over twenty years he has been a teacher of anatomy, having been professor of that branch at the Rich- mond Art Club, the Laiiversity College of Medicine, and associate professor of the Medical College of \*irginia. Still art has for him a strong attraction, and one of his favorite relaxations is in using the artistic knowledge and skill he possesses. He has actively engaged in practice in Richmond since his graduation and has a clientele of influential patrons. He is a member of the Upsilon Chaj)ter of Phi Rho Sigma, Rich- mond Academy of Medicine, the ]\Iedical Society of Virginia. Chesterfield County Medical Society, the Southern Medical Asso- ciation, is first vice-president of the Coro- ner's Association of Virginia, and secretary of the Anatomical Board of Virginia. In 1891 Dr. Brodnax was appointed coroner of