Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 4.djvu/62

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MRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

an educational system which he felt com- petent to inaugurate. Accordingly, when only twenty-six years old, he was made superintendent of schools in Roanoke county.

It might be supposed that a task of such magnitude and responsibility of supervising ninety schools and inaugurating an entirely new s\stem would have taxed the powers and energy of. so young a man, but Mr. Stearnes instead of finding his duties too onerous, added to them the practice of the law. his new profession becoming of great value in connection with the superintend- ency of the county schools. The year 1892 marked his choice as county superintendent, and 1896 the beginning of his legal practice. He continued these double labors until 1906, and was then made secretary to the state board of education, his office dating from April first of that year. Here his learning and grasp of the situation generally so im- pressed his colleagues that by their unani- mcuis vote he was elected, January i, 1913, suj>erintendent of public instruction for the state of Virginia. On February i, 1914, the people of the state confirmed this choice by electing Mr. Stearnes to the same office for a term of four years, without opposition. Mr. Stearnes has served in every capacity in the public school system of Virginia, ped- agogical, legal and administrative, and in all has acquitted himself, not merely with credit but in so able a manner as to win the ad- miration of the great community which he serves and of educators everywhere. He is now entering upon the duties of the state sui)erintendency with his customary vigor and judgment, and it seems certain that an era of great development, along the lines of the best modern and scientific theories, awaits the schools of the state, under his cJipal)le direction. Mr. Stearnes has the ad- vantage, not always possessed by strong men, of having won the intelligent co-oper- atiim on the part of his coadjutors on the board of education, and the appreciative support of the people of Virginia, as shown by their unanimous ratification of his ap- pointment to the superintendency. Mr. Stearnes is now a resident of Richmond, where he has a handsome home in West- hampton. He is an active j)articipant in the life of the community in many of its as- pects, is a member of the Masonic Order and of the Roval Arcanum, of which he last

year was the grand regent. He is also a member of the Westmoreland Club.

Mr. Stearnes married, December 27, 1888, in Richmond, Virginia, Mary Elizabeth Ar- nold, a native of Charlotte county, Virginia, where she was born December 4, 1865. She is a daughter of the Rev. Joseph D. and Elizabeth (Mosely) Arnold. Mr. Arnold is now a resident of Waynesville, North Caro- lina, and was for many years a clergyman of the Methodist church, that state, but is now retired from active ministry. His pres- ent wife is a sister of Chief Justice Walter Clark, of Raleigh, North Carolina.

To Mr. and Mrs. Stearnes have been born three children, as follows: Bessie Arnold, born August 19, 1890; John Lewis, who died at the age of eighteen months in March, 1893; Reaumur Coleman Jr., born April 8, 1901. Air. and Mrs. Stearnes are members of the Presbyterian church, attending the Second Church of that denomination in Richmond. They are rearing their children in that faith.

Reaumur Coleman Stearnes is a very }oung man to have achieved the position which he has in the community and state, hardly yet the very zenith of his power ; so that taking into consideration the success- ful nature of the first part of his career and his abilities, together with the unusual de- gree of support and appreciation with which his eft'orts have been favored, there seems every reason to predict a brilliant and splen- did future for him, a future in which his powers shall have ample scope to carry out the great aims which he has in view for the development of education and the extension of culture throughout his state.

Decatur Axtell. The traditional story of three brothers of the name of Axtell who emigrated to America in the earliest colonial times appears to have been verified in the history of the family. Nathaniel Axtell, in New Haven. Connecticut, in 1639, "intend- ing to go home." made his will dated 27th of January. 1640, but died in a few weeks, before embarking from Boston, according to Sa\age, his will indicating he was un- married. Daniel .Axtell, Charleston. South Carolina, one of the landgraves of that col- ony, whose will was pro\-ed in London 2nd of July. 1680. Walter Needham. M. D., being appointed attorney to serve as executor in place of his widow. Rebecca Axtell, execu-