Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 5.djvu/203

 VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

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garet (Lyne) O'Donoghue. and has chil- dren, all born in Alexandria : Martin Dono- hue. Jr., born June 5, 1907; Paul Lyne, born April 6. 1909: and Catherine O'Donoghue, born Xoveniber 28, 1913-

John Samuel Flory, Ph. D. It has been the ])rivilege of John Samuel J'lory, Ph. D., to be closely associated with Bridgewater College, Bridgewater, Virginia, in four ca- pacities, as a student, a professor, vice-pres- ident and president. It is in no way in dis- paragement of Dr. Flory's abilities as an educator or as an executive to state that his efficiency as the head of Bridgewater College, his present position, is greater than had he not been there enrolled as a student or had not taught in that institution. While a member of the undergraduate body he became imbued with the spirit of tender re- gard for Bridgewater that joins her sons m a common brotherhood ; as a professor he saw more clearly the needs of those he taught and acquired deeper sympathy with the purposes of the college ; and thus bound to Bridgewater by filial devotion and anx- ious care, when raised to official position he has found inspiration to wise and fruit- ful direction, and for four years has served her well as president.

Dr. Flory is a descendant of a Pennsyl- vania family, the line having been planted in Virginia in 1785 by John Flory, who came from Pennsylvania to Rockingham county, Virginia. He married Elizabeth Garber, and from them descend those bearing the name in Virginia. John Samuel Flory is a grandson of Samuel Flory, and a son of Daniel Flory. Daniel Flory was born at Cross Keys, Virginia, in 1833, died in 1901. His occupation was that of farmer, and he was engaged in the cultivation of the soil during his active life. His religious beliefs and those of his family being in opposition to war and bloodshed, he took no part in the war between the states, remaining true to his principles in the face of severe criticism. He married Susanna, born in Timberville, Virginia, in 1832, daughter of John Wamp- ler, his widow surviving him to the present time. Children of Daniel and Susanna (W'ampler) Flory: Joseph Frederick, a farmer; Isaac Long; Ann Rebecca, married John H. Hoover; Mary Catherine, married Julius A. Miller; John Samuel, of whom further.

John Samuel Flory, son of Daniel and

Susanna (Wampler) Flory, was born near Broadway, Rockingham county, \'irginia. March 29, 1866. In his youth he was a student in the district school and also spent three years in the Broadway Graded School, where' he completed the high school course, at that time winning a Peabody Medal. In September, 1888, he entered Bridgewater (College, remaining there for two sessions, ai:d in 1890-1891 attended the Ohio North- ern University. Throughout the three fol- l(jwing years he was a student in Mt. Mor- ris College, there receiving the degree B. Lit., in June, 189-I, and from that year until the spring of 1902 he was professor of Eng- lish language and literature in Bridgewater College, which institution in June, 1902, conferred upon him the degree B. A.

In the fall of 1902 Mr. Flory entered the L'niversity of Virginia, where his record was a brilliant one, in the making of which he called into use scholastic talents of high order, achieving remarkable distinction. In 1903 he was the winner of the Kent De- scriptive Essay Prize and the Cabell Schol- arship, the last being annually awarded to the man who is regarded by competent judges as the best general student in the school of English literature. During the session closing in 1904 Mr. Flory was as- sistant in English literature, editor-in-chief of the "University Magazine," and assistant editor-in-chief of "College Topics," and final president of the Washington Literary So- ciety. He was awarded the medal for the best essay published in the "University Magazine" during the year, and was further honored by election to the Raven Senior Society, this organization open only to members of the graduating class, as the name indicates, membership therein being a coveted prize and awarded solely upon qualifications of scholarship. Upon the publication, in 1905, of his thesis, "Literary Activity of the Church of the Brethren," Mr. Flory was awarded the degree of Ph. D. by the University of Virginia, his thesis a work of three hundred and fifty pages. Dr. Florv has at different times contributed articles to the journals of the Church of the Brethren, papers over his name also appear- ing in the "Southern Historical Magazine," ''The Sewanee Review," etc.

In 1905 Dr. Flory returned to Bridge- water College in his former capacity of pro- fessor of English language and literature, and was elected to the vice-presidency of the