Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 4.djvu/604

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VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

residents of Fluvanna county. Children : William Tell, now president of the board of health of Richmond; Roberta, born De- cember 7, 1862; St. Julian, of further men- tion ; R. P., born April 8, 1868 ; Martha, born August 30, 1870; A. C, born September 10, 1872.

St. Julian Oppenhimer. third child and second son of Abraham and Sarah Eliza (Jones) Oppenhimer, was born January 29, 1866. at Fork Union, Fluvanna county, Vir- s^inia. When he was eight years of age his I)arents moved to Richmond, Virginia, and in the private schools of that city and the Locust Dale Academy, in Madison county, lie prepared for college. His classical edu- cation was completed in Richmond College, and having made choice of medicine and surgery as his profession, he entered, in 1891, the Medical College of Virginia, at [■Richmond. In 1893 he was graduated with honors and given his degree of Doctor of Medicine. He then pursued a post-gradu- ate course of study in New York City and served as interne in the Post-Graduate Hos- pital of that city. He then returned to Rich- mond and established offices at 514 West Grace street, where he has since been con- tinually engaged in medical and surgical practice. With the desire for thoroughness and advancement characteristic of his race. Dr. Oppenhimer devoted special study and attention to surgery in later years and has established a high reputation in that branch of science. He is local surgeon for the Chesapeake & Ohio railroad, as well as for a number of corporations of the city, where accidents are freqvient. and since July, 1913, has been police surgeon for the city of Rich- mond. His practice has grown with the years and has reached most generous pro- portions and keeps hirrt* busily occupied. His brother. Dr. William Tell, also an emi- nent physician of Richmond, ranks with his brother in public esteem, the brothers being regarded as leaders of their profession in the city and state. Dr. Oppenhimer is a mem- ber of the American. Tri-State and Virginia State Medical associations, taking interest in the work of all and profiting by associa- tion with the most advanced thinkers and investigators of the profession in nation and state.

He married, in Richmond, Virginia, June 7, 1900, Ellen Wise Mayo, born in that city, December 7, 1875, daughter of William Car-

rington and Margueritta Mayo, and grand- daughter of Governor Henry A. Wise, of Virginia. Children : Ellen \\"ise, born March 11. 1901 ; Catherine Sargent, Decem- ber 8. 1903 ; Martha Anderson, June 30, 1906; Ann Latimer, May 8, 1908; St. Julian Jr.. June 9, 1909; William Mayo, May 30, I9L3-

Colonel Charles S. Morgan, born in 1799 on a farm near Morgantown (now in West Virginia), and died in Richmond, Virginia, in 1859. was a lineal descendant of Morgan Morgan, who built Morgan's (or Bunker Hill) Chapel, m Frederick county. Virginia.

He took his seat as a member of the Vir- ginia house of delegates in 1820, just twenty years of age, and after two years in the house became a member of the Senate, serv- ing until 1832, having in the meanwhile served as a delegate to the famous Virginia reform convention of 1829-30, of which Alon- roe. Madison and Marshall were the daz- zling galaxy. Here at thirty years of age, Morgan distinguished himself by such bril- liant speeches that all predicted the advent of another great Virginian. During these years he had become interested in prison reform. After retiring from the Senate on March 21. 1832. he assumed the duties of the office of superintendent of the Virginia penitentiary on the 23rd of the same month, and began a period of twenty-seven years of service in that office, in pursuit of noble aims and humane instruction to the criminal classes of the state.

Every overture was made to him to fol- low a political career. When his brother, William E. Morgan, retired from his seat in Congress on account of ill health, Mr. Morgan was urged to become his successor. Later, he was urged to accept a diplomatic career, going abroad. All he refused, be- lieving that he could use his life best in elevating the state's criminals. When he took charge of the penitentiary it was stricken with disease, principally cholera. For some time it was closed as a hospital. Morgan fell a victim to the disease, nearly losing his life. With the exception of two, the convict-mechanics had died, yet with Christian fortitude he put his hand to the wheel and in years developed a fine penal institution. He took charge in ^larch, 1832. and with December following he submitted a most remarkable report to the directors.