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 VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

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two years of the war between the states \vas a courier for Major-General Lee. He mar- ried Annie E. Doyle, born in Brunswick- county, Virginia, 1854, and they were the parents of four children : Walter Lee, died at the age of five years ; William Meade, of whom further, Richard Irwin, a dentist of Blackstone, V'irginia; Marie Plummer, wife of Emmett Magee. of Danville, Virginia.

(IX) William Meade Stith. D. D. S., was born November 16, 1874, on his father's farm in Brunswick county, Virginia, lived in the county some twelve years, then went with his parents to Memphis, Tennessee, where they resided some five or six years. \\ hen they returned to \'irginia and settled at Clarksville, and in these places he attended pviblic school until twenty years of age. He subsequently entered the Aledical College of \'irginia, from which he received the degree of D. D. S., in 1900. In the same year he located in Petersburg, Virginia, where he engaged in the practice of his profession, and has merited and won an excellent standing in the community, both as a prac- titioner and as a man. His present offices are located in the Petersburg Savings & In- surance Company's Building. For fourteen years he was professor of operative dentis- try in the Medical College of Virginia, and this fact alone testifies to his mastery of his profession, and his standing with his con- temporaries. Dr. Stith is a communicant of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, of Petersburg, in which his family also worships. He mar- ried, at Petersburg, October 22, 1908, Emily Virginia Townes, a native of that city, daughter of Waverly W. Townes, who died in 1907, and his wife. Dena Lee (Griffin) Townes. now residing in Petersburg. Dr. and Mrs. Stith are the parents of two chil- dren : Dena Lee, born August 27, 1909, and William Meade. February 14, 1912.

Thomas Hume. Grandson of a Baptist minister of Portsmouth, son of a merchant of this city and a veteran of the civil war, Thomas Hume continues the connection of his line with the city of Portsmouth, Vir- ginia, through his business interests here and his association with the civil adminis- tration in the capacity of city auditor. Elected to this office in 1898, Mr. Hume has served under the mayors of Portsmouth who have held office since that time, and

there is now no department of his admin- istration concerning which Mayor Hope has less care, for Mr. Hume's length of service and his proven ability assure an efficient discharge of his important duties.

Thomas Hume is a grandson of Thomas Hume, long a minister of the Baptist church in Portsmouth, who was the father of three sons, Thomas, John H. and Richard Greg- ory, of whom further. Richard Gregory Hume was educated in the public schools, and after finishing his studies became a mercantile clerk, being so engaged when war broke out between the North and South. He at once enlisted in the Confed- erate States army, serving throughout the four years of the war without sustaining in- jury of any kind or suffering imprisonment. At the close of the struggle he returned to Portsmouth, and successfully maintained a book and stationery store during his active years. He was a Democrat politically, and a member of the Baptist church, his quietly ordered, useful life gaining the approbation of all who knew him. He married Sarah, daughter of John Nash, and had issue : John N., Thomas, of whom further; Richard Gregory, Jr. ; Sarah, married F. L. Thread- craft, and has children : Lucretia and Georgie.

Thomas Hume, son of Richard Gregory and Sarah (Nash) Hume, was born in F'ortsmouth, ^^irginia, in 1874. After at- tending private schools and Norfolk Acad- emy, he completed his studies in Pantop Academy, near Charlottesville, Virginia. He began business life in the city of his birth as clerk in the Bank of Portsmouth. This position he resigned after a short time, subsequently establishing in independent mercantile dealing in the city, a line in which he continued until 1898, when he was elected city auditor of Portsmouth. The sixteen years that he has administered the duties of this office have taught him all that can be learned regarding its administration, and in addition to his high qualifications for j)erforming the difficult work in connection therewith, he is honorable, dependable and upright in all his dealings with his fellows, virtues that make him the ideal public ser- vant. He is a Democratic sympathizer, and fraternizes with the Benevolent and Protec- ti\-e Order of Elks. His church is the Pro- testant Episcopal.