Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 4.djvu/689

 VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

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fully and f.'iirly perfonncd. all with credit to the name they have borne and the state that has given them birth. Samuel Pannill VVimbish, son of Abram Wimbish, was born at Green Hill. Campbell county, Virginia.. died about 1889. He devoted his life to the upbuilding of a wholesale grocery Inisiness, of which he was in active charge until just l)rior to his death, the house that he founded bearing his name to the present day, a strong, active project of his creation which does ample credit to his business sagacity and stability of organization. He fought in the Confederate army throughout the four years of that memorable struggle, and al- though twice wounded, each time was ab- sent from the action of his regiment for but a short time. He married Betty, daughter of Edmund Townes, of Townesville, (jran- ^■ille county. North Carolina. Her father was an extensive planter and large slave- holder, the town of his residence having been named from the family, members of which had been pioneers in the locality, all prominent and wealthy personages. Samuel P. and Betty (Townes) Wimbish had three children : Edmund Townes, of whom fur- ther ; Samuel Pannill, Jr., died in infancy; Evelyn, unmarried, lives with her brother, Edmund T.

Edmund Townes Wimbish, son of Samuel Pannill and Betty (Townes) Wimbish, was born in Lynchburg, Virginia, Octol)er 5. 1870, and when a child was brought by his parents to Danville. Virginia, where he ob- tained his education. Early in life he en- tered the business founded by his father, succeeding the elder Wimbish in its pro- prietorship, and conducts the same at the present time. The wholesale grocery firm of S. P. Wimbish is one firmly established in Danville, owning a large storage and warehouse on the track of the Southern Railway, the business of the house also util- izing a large three-story building on Crag- head street. The trade of the firm extends over an area about one hundred miles in radius, this territory being covered by sales- men who further the interests of the con- cern throughout this country. The reputa- tion of the house of S. P. Wimbish is of the highest, their splendid facilities and ample accommodations making possible a speedy and prompt handling of orders desirable in all cases and particularly urgent in some. Expansion is steadily taking place within

the firm and Mr. W imljish's progressive ])olicy and accurate business acumen in the coming years will doubtless widely extend tlie influence of his business and add mate- rially to its importance as a local source of supply. Mr. Wimbish has ever held and championed Democratic convictions, and is a member of the Episcopal church.

Lee Whitfield Staton, M. D. A native Virginian, Dr. Staton descends from Reuben Staton, the emigrant from Berlin, Germany, who settled on Staten Island, New York, where his descendants yet reside, and where the niale forbears of Dr. .^taton were born, including his father.

Joseph Robert Staton was born on .Staten Island, New York, Noveml)er 16, 1816, died at Lynchburg. \'irginia, July 6, 1886. Pie came to Virginia early in life, and became a A'essel owner and merchant of Lynchburg, where the greater part of his life was spent. He married Louisa J. Harris, l3orn in 1815, died September 12, 1875 Three of his eight children are deceased: William M., who died in i8gg, was a Confederate veteran, having been one of the bravest of Mosby's many brave men; Benjamin Franklin, also a Confederate veteran of Charlotte county. died in 1900, aged fifty-four years; Octavia, died aged fifteen years. The living children of Joseph R. Staton are: Joseph Robert (2), of Richmond ; Edward C, of Richmond ; Emma E., married Henry E. Boyd, whom she survives, a resident of Richmond ; George A., of Port Richmond, Staten Island ; Dr. Lee Whitfield, of Richmond.

Dr. Lee Whitfield Staton was born in Scottville, Albemarle county, Virginia, No- vember 8. 1856. When he was fourteen years of age his parents moved to Lynch- burg, Virginia, and there he completed his public school education, graduating from high school. He attended Bryant and Strat- ton's Business College at Baltimore, and then began study at the College of Physi- cians and Surgeons at Baltimore. He con- tinued his studies in medicine at the Uni- versity of Kentucky, Louisville, and was graduated M. D.. June 26, 1879. He began practice in Lynchburg, continuing there two years. In 1887 he entered the United States government as surgeon of marines. Later he located in Richmond, where he is surgeon of the Marine Hospital and engaged in private practice, specializing in rectal diseases and