Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 5.djvu/165

 VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

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he purchased and remodeled a house, re- siding there at the present time. He is a vestryman of the Episcopal church, and since September, 1913, has been a member of the town council. The subject with which Mr. Jones is most concerned, with the exception of his professional and busi- ness interests, is education, and he is an earnest exponent of the most modern and advanced methods in public school instruc- tion.

Dr. Jones married, in Chatham, \'irginia, I 'ecember 12, 1899. -^laria E. Pannill, born in Northampton county, Virginia, Septem- ber 7, 1878. daughter of David H., born in Halifax county, Virginia, died October 25, 1909, and Augusta (Roberts) Pannill, born in Northampton county, Virginia, Decem- ber 26, 1854, now a resident of Chatham. David H. Pannill was for a time an attorney of Chatham, during the war with the states taught school, and after his retire- ment to the country spent more than ten years on an exhaustive history of the Army ol Northern Virginia, a task most congenial to his scholarly mind. Children of David H. and Augusta (Roberts) Pannill: Maria E., of previous mention, married Dr. James David Jones: David Henry, a resident of Martinsville, X'irginia : Augustus Hunter, lives in Toronto, Canada ; William Banks, resides in Albemarle, North Carolina ; Samuel Roberts, lives in Martinsville, Vir- ginia. Dr. and Mrs. Jones have children : James Marion, born October 15, 1900; Stuart Pannill, February 9, 1902 : George Washington, August i, 1903; Mary Hunter, May 28, 1905. All four are students in the public schools of Chatham.

Charles Miller. For sixty-five 3'ear-- a resident of the city of Richmond, Virginia, to which city he came a lad of sixteen vears. fatherless and fresh from his German home, Charles Miller in his life exemplified the value of those characteristic German traits, thrift, industry and perseverance. He was not blessed with influential friends or abun- dant capital when beginning life in a strange country, but was handicapped by lack of experience, a strange language and environ- ment. But this handicap he quickly over- came by a willingness to learn, a quick mind, retentive memory, obliging disposition and a determination to succeed. He began as an humble employee in the meat market

kept by a German, a Mr. Heckler, but five years later, on arriving at legal age, estab- lished a business of his own, beginning again in a humble way but constantly ex- jjanding. He continued in successful busi- ness for over half a century, prosperous, in- fluential and honored.

Charles Miller was born in W^eidenberg, (iermany, November 4, 1829, died in Rich- mond, \'irginia, July 5, 1910, son of Fred- erick and Frances Miller. Frederick Miller was a shoemaker of Friedrichstadt, a town in Prussia in Schleswig on the Eider, where he died in 1843. Two years after his death his widow came to the United States with lier children, landing in New York City, where she remained. Two of her daughters, 'i'heresa and Frances, died in Germany, a third daughter, Christine, married and died in Wisconsin, leaving a large family. A fourth daughter, Catherine, died in Rich- mond, \'irginia.

Cliarles Miller was educated in excellent German schools which he attended until his sixteenth year, when with his mother and s'sters he came to the United States in 1845. The family remained in New York City, but Charles came to Virginia, locating in Richmond, where he found emplovment with a Mr. Heckler, a butcher. He remained v.'ith him five years, acquired an excellent business training, a good knowledge of the language, made many friends and saved suf- licient capital so that on arriving at legal age to transact business for himself he was well equipped. He began business at 314 Sixth street. Richmond, in a small shop, prospered from the beginning and as busi- ness needs demanded, enlarged his quarters. He continued in business there for over fifty years, finally retiring with a generous com- petence.

During the war. 1861 to 1865, he served with the local forces for the defence of Rich- mond, but his life with that exception was devoted to private business and to the up- building of the Sixth Street Lutheran Church, of which he was a member and a strong pillar of support. He was a Demo- crat in politics, but took no active part in public afl:'airs. He was a good man, up- right, generous and helpful, devoted to his family and had many friends, whom he loved to entertain with true German hos- pitality.

Mr. Miller married, in Sixth Street Luth-