Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 5.djvu/261

 VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

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mittee of Fauquier county ; member of the state Democratic committee, and in 1892 as a member of the \"irginia World's Fair com- mission. Colonel Gaines is oiie of the strong men of his party, and in every public trust has proved his usefulness and integrity. He was a vestryman of the Protestant Epis- copal church, and junior warden of the par- ish. He belongs ,to many organizations, social, political, professional and fraternal, occupying official position in many of them. Colonel Gaines married.- November 15, i88-2, Lizzie Taylor, daughter of Dr. Wil- liam Harris, of Pennsylvania, son of Dr. Harris, who was first surgeon-general United States navy. Children : Alary Fc^ster, mar- ried Joseph .A. Bell, of Charleston. South Carolina: William Harris, born in W'arren- ton. \'irginia, educated in public schools and the University of \'irginia, was deinity clerk of United States courts at Alexandria, Virginia, now a practicing attorney in that city ; Elizabeth Taylor, a graduate of W'ar- renton Seminary.

James Garratt Jeter. In 1891 Professor Jeter was elected principal of Covington's schools, at that time employing two teachers instructing sixty-three pupils. In 1906 he was elected superintendent of public instruc- tion for Alleghany county, and as such now has general supervision over the Covington schools that now employ twenty-two teach- ers instructing eleven hundred pupils in all grades, including a high school that ranks with the best in Virginia. During all this development from an ungraded school to the present modern system. Professor Jeter has been the ruling, guiding spirit and to his untiring efforts, wisdom and progressive- ness, the gfreat advance in educational ad- vantages for the youth of Covington is due. The population of Covington increased a.s extensive pulp and paper mills, iron works, etc.. were established in the town, but the schools have kept pace with the increase in population and there is no child in the town but can be provided with a seat and instruc- tion in any of the grades. Too much praise cannot be given Professor Jeter for his great work for the cause of public education and there is no one in all Covington that would deny the value of his service.

James Garratt Jeter was born in l-'ranklin county. Virginia, .\ugust. 1862, son of Wil- liam P. Jeter, and grandson of Henry G. Jeter, of Bedford county. Virginia. Wil-

liam P. Jeter was born in Bedford county in 1844, and after a full and useful life as sol- dier, sherifT and farmer, yet resides in his native county. He was a soldier of the Con- federacy and after the war ended located in Franklin county, where he became a pros- perous farmer and served the county for twenty years as high sheriff. He married Sail)- A. Meadows, born in Franklin county, X'irginia, in 1846, daughter of Rev. Benja- min Meadows, a clergyman of the Baptist church. Her brothers, John Ouincy and William Meadows, were soldiers under "Stonewall" Jackson, and Peter Jeter, a lirother of William P.. was killed in battle v.'hile serving in the Confederate army-.

James Garratt Jeter began his education in the public schools of Franklin county, and after exhausting their advantages attended Captain W^illiam E. Duncan's Mathematical and Classical School at Halford, finishing a three year course. He then entered the "National Normal University" at Lebanon, Ohio, whence he was graduated Bachelor of Science, class of 1888. At the "Normal" he developed the teacher's instinct and when released from preparatory training of that valuable institution, at once began teaching in Franklin county. In 1891 he began his work in the Covington schools, as heretofore noted, and from that date until the present has been at the head of the educational sys- tem of that town as principal and since 1906 as superintendent of schools for Alleghany county. He has attained high reputation as an educator, has written, lectured and in every way promoted the cause of public edu- cation. For the last eight years he has con- ducted a summer normal school at Cov- ington, is a member of the Virginia Teach- er's Association and is a frequent contrib- uter to the educational journals. For many years he has been a member of the official board of the Methodist Episcopal church in Covington, is an Odd Fellow, and politic- allv a Democrat.

Professor Jeter married, in June. 1896, Anne Maria Smith, born in Franklin county, A'irginia, in 1865, daughter of Rev. Horace P. Smith, a minister of the Presbyterian church. Children : James Garratt, born in 1898: William Horace, born in 1900; Neville Camlin, died age four years ; Anne Maria, born in 1906. All born in Covington.

David Stone Hicks. .-\s mayor of Law- renceville. the capital of Brunswick county,