Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 4.djvu/594

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VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

ical matters, however, were not neglected by him, and he served as presidential elector on the Democratic ticket of 1892. The excel- lent work which Mr. Prentis had been doing had not remained unnoticed, and in 1895 he was chosen as being the most suitable man for the judgeship to be filled by the legislature. He was reluctant to abandon his extensive and lucrative practice, but yielding to the solicitation of his friends he ultimately gave his consent, and has now for many years ranked as one of the ablest judges on the bench. In the fall of 1900 he was a strong candidate for the supreme bench of Virginia, but was defeated by an- other distinguished judge, the Hon. Staf- ford G. Whittle, chairman of state corpora- tion commission. In 1901-1902 the judicial circuits were redistributed, and Judge Pren- tis was reelected to the circuit bench. Judge Prentis identifies himself with the people at large, and joins with them in attacking prob- lems involving the common welfare. He is a Democrat from conviction and principles. Political mistakes and errors of judgment may be attributed to him by some; dishon- esty and unworthy motives by none. There is no fear that on any issue involving a prin- ciple he will place himself in a doubtful posi- tion — that he will allow himself to be divert- ed from his course by either the lures or the threats of any class as opposed to the whole. He is a man of ideals and the fact is recog- nized — ideals of civic government and civic development toward which he endeavors to lead the way by such steps as may be prac- ticable in the changing conditions of the times. Of attractive personality, Judge Prentis is democratic in his intercourse with men, without a sacrifice of dignity. In his more intimate circle he is genial, responsive and unreserved. His friendships are many, and highly cherished. Judge Prentis mar- ried, January 6, 1887, Mary Allen Darden, of Suffolk, who died in 1904. They had one child who is also deceased.

George Withy Hayes, M. D. This branch of the Hayes family of X'irginia has been seated in Isle of Wight county for several generations and there Dr. George Withy Hayes, of Franklin, \'irginia, was born. He is a grandson of Timothy Hayes, a soldier of the Confederacy, Mahone's brigade, and son of Captain William Riddick Hayes, born in Isle (^f Wight, \'irginia, in 1866. Captain

Hayes was a seafaring man engaged, how- ever, in navigating the waters of V^irginia and the Carolinas. Timothy Hayes married Lavinia Darden. of an old prominent and wealthy Isle of Wight family, her father owning a plantation of one thousand acres and many slaves. Captain William R. Hayes married Elizabeth Withy, born in Isle of Wight county, Virginia, daughter of Captain George Withy, who came from England to Boston, Massachusetts, thence to Norfolk, Virginia, son of Charles Withy, of Berkshire, England.

Dr. George Withy Hayes, of Franklin, Virginia, was born in Isle of Wight county, Virginia, January 8, 1889, son of Captain William R. and Elizabeth (Withy) Hayes. He acquired a good preparatory education in the public and private schools at Frank- lin, Virginia, and Franklin Military Acad- emy, winning high honors and distinction as orator, and essayist at the latter institu- tion. He was lieutenant of his company, prize orator and medalist, and prize essay- ist, his themes being "The Destruction of San Francisco," and "Honesty is the Best Policy." After finishing a four years' course at Franklin Military Academy, he entered in the fall of 1906 the Medical College of Virginia, whence he was graduated Doctor of Medicine with the class of 1910. From June, 1910, until October, 191 1, he was in- terne at the Hospital of St. Vincent de Paul at Norfolk, Virginia, then located in Frank- lin, Virginia, for the private practice of his profession.

He is a member of the Virginia Medical Society; Southampton County Medical So- ciety, of which he is assistant acting secre- tary ; Virginia Southside ^Medical Society, of which he is vice-president, and has on various occasions prepared and read papers of medical value before these associations of learned men. He has been a member of the Franklin board of health for two years, and is deeply interested in this place of civic regulation of the public health. His college fraternity is Phi Beta Phi. He is a mem- ber of the Baptist church, the Woodmen of the A\"orld, and politically a Democrat.

Dr. Hayes married, November 15, 191 1, Miss David Kathleen Holland, daughter of D. A. and Josie (Saunders) Holland, of Franklin, \'irginia. Both Mr. and Mrs. Holland are natives of Virginia and de- scended from old \'irgfinia families.