Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 4.djvu/498

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VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

1865. son of J. \\'. and Ella W. Flood. After ])reparatory courses in Appomattox and Virginia schools he entered Washington and Lee University, and went from thence to the University of Virginia, being gradu- ated Bachelor of Laws in the class of 1886, and was admitted to the Virginia bar, Sep- tember 15. of the same year. He com- menced practice in Appomattox, and in 1887 was elected to represent his county in the lower house of the legislature. He served with distinction during his first term, and in 1889 was rewarded by his constitu- ents with reelection. In 1891 he was elected state senator for four years, and in the same year was elected commonwealth attorney for Appomattox county. In 1892 he was presidential elector on the Cleveland-Steven- son ticket ; in 1895 he was reelected state senator and also commonwealth attorney ; in 1896 he was the unsuccessful nominee of his party for Congress; in 1899 he was again elected state senator and commonwealth at- torney, his terms expiring in 1903. but he re- signed these positions and took his seat in Congress in 1901. Mr. Flood was the author of a bill passed in the Virginia legislature in 1900. providing for the submitting to the people of the state the question of holding a constitutional convention. He also succeed- ed in having this made a party issue with the . Democratic party at its convention in Nor- folk in 1900, and the people of the state voted to call a constitutional convention of which, in 1901-1902, he was a member. His services in this office were of inestimable value, his legally trained mind offering solutions to many problems that confronted the framers of a new constitution.

In 1900 Mr. Flood was the successful can- didate of his party for Congress from the Tenth \'irginia Congressional District, tak- ing his seat in the Fifty-seventh Congress on March 4, 1901. He has been successively elected to succeed himself, his congress- ional career covering the Fifty-seventh to the Sixty-third Congress inclusive. This record of continuous service, extending over nearly thirty years, is one rarely equalled in length or value of service by a man of Mr. Flood's age. During ten years of this period he was serving both as state senator and as commonwealth attorney of his native county.

Since beginning his public career, wnen but little over legal age, Mr. Flood has suf-

fered ])ut one defeat at the polls, being the unsuccessful candidate for Congress in 1896. His endorsement by his home county has ever been abundant and emphatic, he is an honored son, and with the people who have known him longest his standing is the best. The Tenth Virginia Congressional District has no dearth of able men, nor is the Democratic party without ambitious, capable men, but so valuable have been ]^Ir. Flood's services, and so worthily has he represented the district, that his return each term has been almost a foregone conclusion. He serves on important committees, being chairman of the committee on foreign af- fairs, has the prestige of length of service and familiarity with legislative procedure, and possesses the friendship, respect and confidence of the party leaders. He is a member of the board of visitors of the Uni- versity of Virginia and belongs to many associations, clubs and societies, political, fraternal, professional and social.

Congressman Flood married, April 18, 1914, Anna V. Portner, of Manassas, Vir- ginia.

Lee Pretlow Holland. Long resident in Nansemond county, Virginia, the family of Holland has in that time occupied honor- able position in that locality. That the fam- ily is an old one is proven by the fact that Gabriel and Richard Holland arrived at Berkeley, Virginia, February 8, 1621, on the ship, "Supply," with fifty others, leaving England. October 5. 1620. Gabriel Holland was one of thirty-one signers to the answer of the general assembly in Virginia to the Declaration of the State of the Colony in 1624. and also was one of the signers for the incorporation of Henrico county and the incorporation of college plantations. In 1748 Henry Holland was a vestryman of Sufifolk parish, Nansemond county, Virginia.

Edward Everett Holland, son of Zacha- riah Everett and Ann S. (Pretlow) Holland, grandson of Zachariah Holland, and great- grandson of Job Holland, was born in Nan- semond county. Virginia. February 26, 1861. His advanced education was obtained in the University of Richmond and the LTniversity of Virginia, in which latter institution he prepared for the practice of law. He was admitted to the bar in 1882. and at once be- gan practice at Sufifolk, Virginia, where he has since been a legal practitioner. He was