Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 4.djvu/619

 VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

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York State liar Association, and llie liar Association ot tlic City of New York. He is also a member of the University Club, the Southern Society of New York, and the So- ciety of the Virginians of that city.

Benjamin Harris Tatum, M. D. l'>orn in FrankHn county. Virginia, of (Hstinguished family connections. Dr. Tatum, since 1896, has been located at Clifton Forge. Alle- ghany county, Virginia, where he holds high rank as physician and citizen. He is a son of Dr. Benjamin Harris Tatum, born in Powhatan county, Virginia, in 1834, died in Danville, Virginia, 1880. Dr. Tatum Sr. was a graduate of Jefiferson Medical Col- lege, Philadelphia. Pennsylvania, class of 1858, devoted his skill for four years as sur- geon in the Confederate army, then for the remainder of his life practiced the healing art in the counties of Powhatan and Franklin. He married Mary C, daughter of Achilles and Martha Moorman, sister of Captain Richard Moorman, an officer of the Confed- erate army. Children of Dr. Benjamin H. and Mary C. (Moorman) Tatum: i. Sally Hill, born at Callands, Pittsylvania county, Virginia, in i860; married W. L. Becker, of Roanoke, Virginia, and he survives v/ith children : Mary Claiborne, Benjamin Harris, Lewis and Sally Hill Becker. 2. Anna Dickerson, born in Callands, Virginia, in 1862; married John H. Ferguson, of Tay- lor's Store, Virginia. 3. Achilles Moorman, born in Callands, in 1865 ; now a merchant of Roanoke, Virginia. 4. William Pryor, born at Callands. in 1868; now a merchant at Newcastle, Virginia ; married Gertrude Jones. 5. Benjamin Harris, of further men- 4;ion.

Dr. Benjamin Harris Tatum was born in Franklin county, Virginia. July 25, 1870. He was educated in primary, grammar and high schools of Franklin county, finishing his classical study at Halesford Academy, in the same county, which he entered in 1885. Bearing his father's full name, he also adopt- ed the same profession as his life work, preparing at the University of Maryland, entering the medical department in 1889. He was a graduate M. D., class of "91," pur- sued post-graduate course at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, 1895-96, locating in the latter year at Clifton Forge, Virginia.

During the twentv vears Dr. Tatum hab

practiced in Clifton l-'orge he has each year added to his reputation as a skillful and hon- orable physician, and has, as a result, ac- quired a large clientele. In 1903 he was apjKjintcd a member of the State Board of Health and for five years served as one of the efficient members of that board. He is a member of the American and N'irginia State Medical societies and has contributed valu- able articles to the medical journals. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, has served upon the official board of Clifton Forge church, is a member of Newcastle Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, member of the Junior Order of American Mechanics, member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, and in political faith is a Democrat.

Dr. Tatum married, November 28, 1893, Rosalie Eva Carper, born in Newcastle, Vir- ginia, December 16, 1872. daughter of Flem- ing B. Carper. Children : Rosalie Eva, born October i, 1894, deceased; Mary Olive, born January 12, 1897, died February 10, 1906; lienjamin Harris (3), born October 24, 1898, died July 2"], 1907.

Thomas James Wilson, Jr. Descended paternally from a race of professional men and following in the choice of the legal pro- fession the example of his father and grand- father. Mr. Wilson has, as commonwealth attorney for the city of Clifton Forge, Vir- ginia, achieved prominence in his right.

Through paternal lines Mr. Wilson de- scends from the noted Claiborne family, an •ancestor being William C. Claiborne, the first governor of Louisiana and United States senator from that state, another an- cestor was Nathaniel H. Claiborne, con- gressman from Virginia. Thomas James (2) Wilson is a son of Thomas James (i) Wil- son, grandson of George W. Wilson, and great-grandson of Thomas W^ilson and his wife, who was a Miss Edmondston.

George W. Wilson, son of Thomas Wil- son, was a practicing lawyer of Botetourt and for many years was clerk of the courts of that county. He married Susan M. Clai- borne, of the famed Southern family of that name, one of the brothers, Robert Claiborne, after serving four years as a private in the Confederate army, practiced law in St. Louis, Missouri, and was there elected judge. Another brother, William C. Clai- borne, was wounded at the battle of Antie-