Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 4.djvu/517

 VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

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was born in Isle of Wight county, Virginia, and owned a large plantation, cultivated by many slaves. Children of Wallace and Margaret (Tynes) Kilby : i. Carrie Spots- wood, born November 16, 1868, died in 1912; married, October 21, 1896, Guernsey Brown, and had a son, Wallace Kilby, born October 19, 1897. 2. Wallace R., born August 7, 1871 ; was educated in the i)ublic schools, Suffolk Military Academy, and Bryant and Stratton Business College, of Baltimore ; in 1903 he began lumber dealings, associated with the Nansemond Lumber Company, and at this time, in connection with his lumber interests, he is president of the American Harness Company and of the Roberts Drug Company ; he married, December 10, 1907, Delila Miller, born April 18, 1881, and has one child, Fonsia Delila, born November 14, 1913. 3. Clinton IMaury, born November i, 1874; married, June 10. 1912. Jean Graham. 4. Blanche, born July 23, 1877, married, De- cember 5, 1901, G. Lloyd Bell, born August 17, 1874. 5. Bruce Tynes, born 1881, died 1903.

(IV) Judge W^ilbur John Kilby, son of John Richardson and Martha Jane Louisa (Smith) Kilby, was born in Suffolk, Vir- ginia, April 18, 1850. After obtaining in- struction in private schools, he entered Ran- dolph-Macon College, afterward attending the University of Virginia, at which institu- tion he was a classmate of Lyon G. Tyler. Following his graduation from this institu- tion he was admitted to the bar, and began the practice of law in partnership with his father, the firm name John R. Kilby & Son. This association continued until the death of the elder Kilby, and to the guidance and teaching of his father Judge Kilby owed much of the sound knowledge, of the well- balanced judgment, that subsequently made him a power upon the bench and a public servant strong and dependable. Upon the death of John R. Kilby in 1878, Wilbur J. Kilby continued in legal practice alone, re- taining the old practice of the firm and add- ing to it through rapidly increasing legal reputation. He early entered public life, and from July i. 1883, until January i, 1886, was president of the Suffolk council, resign- ing this important municipal office to accept a position on the bench of Nansemond county, qualifying for the judgeship, De- cember 31, 1885. For eighteen years he filled this place with dignity and efficiency,

his decisions just and adequate, every opin- ion supported by a deep and profound famil- iarity with law and precedent. He retired from office on January 30, 1904, when the county judgeships were abolished by the constitutional convention.

The present fire-proof clerk's office at Suff'olk is due almost entirely to the tireless efforts of Judge Kilby in presenting the need for such a structure and in advocating the necessary appropriations, and after its erection had been ordered his interest con- tinued until it was definitely decided and planned that the building would be a credit to the city and county. At the time of his death Judge Kilby was examiner of records for the Second Judicial District of Virginia, which comprised Nansemond and South- ampton counties and Norfolk City.

The artistically planned and beautiful Cedar Hill Cemetery was long his special care, and of this place he was superintendent at his death, November 6, 1907. In this position he found full opportunity for in- dulging his love of the beautiful in nature, and his suggestions and directions did much to increase the attractiveness of his city, while his work at Cedar Hill Ceme- tery took from that place many repelling features and substituted things pleasing to the eye.

Judge Kilby was a trustee of Randolph- Alacon College from 1883 until his death, and for twenty years had been treasurer of the ^lethodist Episcopal church, also taking active part in other phases of church work, on occasion representing his congregation as a delegate to conference. He was an authority on all matters of local genealogy and family history, and was often consulted on such topics. By nature a student and scholar, he took peculiar interest in this line of study, and his mind was a storehouse of much that was interesting and valuable in relation to the history of Suffolk and vicin- ity.

Judge Wilbur John Kilby married (first) September 5, 1876, Harriet Lanetta Brown- ley, born October 2^, 1855, died November 27, 1887, daughter of Joseph and Catherine (Howerton) Brownley. gf King and Queen county. Virginia. He married (second) January 23. 1889, Mary D. H. Finney, of Suff'olk, born November 12. 1850. daughter of Dr. Crawley Finney. Children, all of first marriage: Bradford, of whom further;