Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 4.djvu/582

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VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

pool, England. July 25, 1815, died in Nelson county, Virginia. November 18, 1888. He was a lad of but sixteen years when he im- migrated to the United States, settling in I'redericksburg, Virginia, where he entered mercantile dealing as a clerk. Upon his re- tirement from active participation in the movements of the business world he took up his residence in Nelson county, Virginia, where he died. He married, November 8, 1842, Charlotte M. Cocke, of Albemarle county, \'irginia, daughter of Dr. Charles Cocke. Her father was a prominent and well loved physician, honored in professional and public life, at one time a member of the \'irginia senate. Children of William and Charlotte M. (Cocke) Gordon: Sallie, mar- ried Thompson B. Maury, of New York City ; Charles, a cotton broker of Houston, Texas ; S. Lenox, died aged fifteen years ; Agnes S., born in 1849, died in 1899; Wil- liam Fitzhugh, died in Texas m 1879; Basil 1)., a civil engineer of Greenville, Miss- issippi; Bennett Taylor, of whom further; and R. Walker, died in 1899.

Bennett Taylor Gordon, son of William and Charlotte M. (Cocke) Gordon, was born on his father's estate, "Huntly," in Nelson county, Virginia, February 6, 1855, and there lived until he was eighteen years of age. acquiring a general education and as- sisting in the management of the home farm. For the four following years he was a clerk in a Lynchburg, A^irginia, pharmacy, at the expiration of that time enrolling in the law department of the University of Virginia, soon after his graduation being admitted to the bar. He became a practic- ing lawyer of Lovingston, Virginia, when he was a young man of twenty-seven years, and has there since retained his residence. His practice was general in nature until 1891, when he became commonwealth's at- torney of Nelson county, of which office he was the incvmibent for fifteen years. In 1901 and 1902 he was a member of the Consti- tutional convention for his county, and in 1906 was raised to the bench of the Twenty- ninth Judicial Circuit, holding his place thereon to the present time. Judge Gordon is known among his professional brethren as a man of exceptional talent, which his never-failing energy has ably seconded to produce a lawyer and judge perfectly versed in legal lore, an advocate direct and force- ful, a judge to whom specious presentation

means little unless founded on legal fact. He is a member of the Protestant Episcopal church, and affiliates with the Masonic order.

He married, at Charleston, South Caro- lina. November 2y, 1884, Annie P. Parker, born in that city, daughter of Captain Ed- ward L. Parker, deceased, a captain in the Confederate States army, and his wife, Emma ( AlcCord) Parker.

Alfred Chambers Ray, M. D. Among the eminent clergymen of the Methodist Epis- copal church in Virginia, none were more highly gifted, cultured, or useful than Rev. George Henry Ra}-, D. D., father of Alfred Chambers Ray, M. D., of Ashland, Virginia. Among the strong men of that church of the people, he was a leading and a striking figure, and when gathered to his fathers he bore with him the loving regard of thou- sands to whom he had ministered, and left behind him a record of pious devotion to the cause of Christianity that will long endure.

Rev. George Henry Ray. D. D., was born in the District of Columbia, in 1832, and died in Ashland, Virginia, March 18, 191 1, son of James Enos Ray. He was highly educated at Randolph-Macon College, Washington and Lee University, later tak- ing advanced courses in divinity and finally becoming an ordained minister of the Meth- odist Episcopal church. South. His learn- ing, piety, fervid eloquence and devotion led him onward and upward, and as pastor of leading churches in Richmond, Norfolk, Petersburg, Lynchburg, and other cities of Eastern Virginia, he accomplished great re- sults for his Master's cause. He was hon- ored by his alma mater with the degree of Doctor of Divinity, stood high in the councils of his church, and was honored alike by clergy and laity. He married \Trginia Chambers Scott, born in Lunenburg county, Virginia, in 1843, and died in Baltimore, in 1904, daughter of Edward Chambers Scott, her mother a Miss Moore. She had sisters, Lucy, Hettie and Hannah Scott. Rev. George Henry Ray had a brother Alfred who entered the Confederate army, serving in a Maryland regiment.

Alfred Chambers Ray, M. D., son of Rev. George Flenry and Virginia Chambers (Scott) Ray, was born in Nottoway county, Virginia. August 2, 1874. Fie spent one year in the public schools of Ashland, \"irginia.