Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 4.djvu/593

 VI RCn N I A BIOGR AFl I Y

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Knii^hts of Pythias; Junior r(kT of United American Mechanics, for which he has l)een a (k4eg-ate to the state convention.

Dr. lluf^hes married IHorence Starrett, of N'inton, Virginia, who is a memher of the Eastern Star Order, 'i'hey have one chikl, Thomas Jefferson, Jr., l)orn December 12, 191 I.

Judge Robert Riddick Prentis. True l)iog- raphy has a nobler purpose than mere ful- some eulogy. The historic spirit faithful to the record, the discerning judgment un- moved by prejudice and uncolored by en- thusiasm' are as essential in giving the life of the individual as in writing the history of a people. This is especially true of those whose influence is far-reaching. A careful study of the life, character and services of Judg'e Robert Riddick Prentis, of Virginia, will enable, not only the student of biog- raphy, but every thinking citizen, to build wisely, in the present, for the future. He is a descendant of a family which has held a prominent place in Virginia for many gen- erations, and which has especially distin- guished itself at the bar and in the field of statesmanship.

(I) William Prentis, great-great-grand- father of Judge Prentis, is thought to have come from Norfolk county, England, and settled in Williamsburg, Virginia, about 1725. He married Mary, a daughter of John and Mary Brooke, of York county, Virginia.

(H) Judge Joseph Prentis, son of Wil- liam and Mary (Brooke) Prentis, was one of the most distinguished ancestors of the present Judge Prentis. He succeeded George Wythe as a member of the noted Virginia convention of December, 1775. He was also judge of the first admiralty court, in Vir- ginia, in 1776, and later was for some time a well known member of the legislature ; speaker of the house of delegates, 1788; member of Patrick Henry's privy council, 1779; and judge of the general court from 1789 to 1809. He married Mary, daughter of John Bowdoin, of Northampton county.

(HI) Hon. Joseph Prentis, son of Judge Joseph and Mary (Bowdoin) Prentis, was of Suffolk, and was also a member of the bar. He was a member of the convention of 1829-30, and was for many years clerk of Nansemond county. He married Susan Caroline, daughter of Robert Moore Red-

dick, and granddaugliter of lion. Willis Riddick, of Nansemond.

(IN) Robert Riddick Prentis, son of the lion. Joseph and Susan Caroline (Riddick) Prentis, died at Charlottesville, on Novem- ber 21. 1 87 1. He was educated to follow the legal profession, but preferred other call- ings, lie served as proctor of the Univer- sity of Virginia for some years, was for a time clerk of .Mljemarle county, Virginia, and was collector of internal revenue during the war between the states. He was noted for his love of justice and strict integrity. He married Margaret -Ann WliitelTead, a woman of noble ideals.

(\') Judge Robert Riddick Prentis, son of Robert Riddick and Margaret Ann (Whitehead) Prentis, was born May 24, 1855, while his father was in office as proc- tor of the University of Virginia. He was still very young at the time of the death of his father, and many duties and responsi- bilities devolved upon him which might well have proved a burden to one by far his senior in point of years. They but served as a stimulus to the young man, and steeled his nerves to perform the work in a masterly manner. His early education was obtained at the Oak Grove Academy, and the school conducted by Major Horace W. Jones, in Charlottesville, Virginia. The death of his father interrupted his educational studies for the time being, and he accepted a posi- tion as clerk in the clerk's office of Albe- marle county. He was obliged to assist in the support of his widowed mother and the younger children of the family. In spite of these disadvantages he managed to enter the Law School of the University of Vir- ginia, wdiere, in 1876, the degree of Bach- elor of Laws was conferred upon him, he having performed the remarkable feat of cjualifying for this in one session. He at once commenced the active practice of law, being thus occupied in Charlottesville from 1876 until January, 1879; one year in Nor- folk ; then in Suffolk, Nansemond county, Virginia, until 1895. I" Norfolk he was associated in a partnership with the Hon. John Goode ; he was the partner of the Hon. A. C. Withers, in Suffolk, from 1880 to 1883, and was the mayor of Suffolk from 1883 to 1885. He held high rank at the bar of East- ern Virginia, and devoted the greater part of his time to his professional labors. Polit-