Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 4.djvu/571

 VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

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untiring patience she ministered to those whose sufferings she knew so well how to relieve. She was exceedingly fond of flowers, and to her is due the credit of bringing the first lilies of the valley and the first Silesian rose bush to Lynchburg. Mr. and Mrs. Dornin were the parents of a number of children, among wdiom was Thomas Ber- nard, of whom further.

Thomas Bernard Dornin, fourth child of William and Marie Rosalie ( Boudar) Dor- nin, was born in Lynchburg, Virginia, June 20, 1824, died November 5, 1912. He re- ceived his education in the schools of Lynchburg, and among his teachers were the famous "Aunt Owen," Tudor Yancey and John Gary. The first business position he held was in the office of Richard Tyree. Being possessed of a wandering spirit he went to Missouri to try his fortune in the West, making the long trip over the rough country roads When the Mexican war broke out he enlisted in Company E, Third Missouri Mounted Volunteers, and went with them to the front, but hostilities were concluded before his command reached its destination. Shortly after his return to Mis- souri he joined a band of adventurous spirits, E. N. Eubank, of Virginia, being one of them, about to take the overland route to California in search of gold, the gold fever being then at its height. They left Bowling Green, Missouri, in 1849, ^^^ made the long and dangerous journey in a "Frairie Schooner." drawn by two sturdy oxen, one of w^hich succumbed long before the comple- tion of the journey. They met with many adventures, and saw wondrous sights in this then unknown and uncivilized region before finally reaching their destination. In his latter days Mr. Dornin enjoyed talking of this trip, and always found attentive listen- ers to his graphic description of the bound- less prairies, the great canyons of the Yel- lowstone, the spouting and streaming gey- sers and the mighty Rockies. They had little or no trouble with the various tribes of Indians they encountered, but had al- ways to be watchful as they found them treacherous and thievish. A Navajo squaw gave Mr. Dornin a basket so closely woven it held water without leaking. They saw great herds of wild horses and buffaloes, and once, when on the verge of exhaustion and nearly overcome with thirst, they came upon a post near the trail which bore the inscrip-

tion "Dig five feet and find ice"; this they did, were refreshed and able to continue their journey with renewed vigor.

They found their first gold at Feather river and believed themselves in California, but many long and weary miles lay between them and their goal. After a year in the mining camps of California, with varied success, he returned East, by way of San Francisco, the Isthmus of Panama and New Orleans. In New Orleans he sold his gold dust, realizing about five thousand dollars, and finally reached Lynchburg, Virginia, possessed of considerable more capital than when he left, and richer by far in experience. Shortly after he engaged in business as a dealer in hardware in Lynchburg, in which line he was very successful, enlarging the scope of his business from time to time until it became one of the leading enterprises of the city. In addition to this, during the sixties, Mr. Dornin acted in the capacity of superintendent of the city water works, a position he filled with marked fidelity.

In 1875, during the memorable revival at Centenary Methodist Church, conducted by Dr. Leonidas Rosser, when large num- bers united with the church, Mr. Dornin was the last convert of the meeting. He then joined Court Street Methodist Church, and for a number of years he was one of its most active and energetic Christian workers serving in the capacity of steward from the time he joined up to almost the time of his decease. He was not only instrumental in building up the church with which he was connected, but he created a great interest among members of the various other churches in the city, hence his work was wide-spread and far-reaching. He was also greatly interested in philanthropic work, being one of the organizers of the Open Door Mission, of the King's Messengers and of the Rescue IMission, the latter the pre- decessor of the Florence Crittenden Home. Mr. Dornin identified himself so thoroughly with the needs of others that his place of business became a veritable rendezvous for all who were in trouble, as well as for his personal friends. Not only did he live this beautiful life of righteousness, but he did what to him was more difficult, he overcame his natural timidity and spoke always and everywhere for the Savior he adored. While to him charity was much broader than alms- giving, still he rendered substantial aid to