Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 5.djvu/273

 VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

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terms in the Mrginia house of delegates, and refused nomination for Congress. For many years he was district counsel for the Norfolk & Western Railroad Company. For a considerable number of years he was a member of the board of trustees of Emory and Henry College, and his death occurred at Roanoke, November 15. 1897. He mar- ried Mary Ann, daughter of Dr. Thomas and Priscilla Breckenridge (Chapman) Fowler, and granddaughter of Isaac Chap- man, of Giles county. Virginia. Dr. Thomas Fowler was a direct descendant of the Eng- lish Fowlers, there having been a lord may- or of London, and an English Episcopal bishop among them.

Colonel James David Johnston, son of Hon. James David and Alary Ann (Fowler) Johnston, was born in the town of Pearis- burg. Giles county, ^'irginia. September 16. 1869. His preparatory education was ac- quired in the private schools, grammar and high schools of his native county, and he then entered Emory and Henry College Upon leaving this, he became a student at Randolph-Macon College, at Ashland, Virginia, and from there went to the law department of the University of Virginia, from which he was graduated in the class of June. 1893. the degree of Bachelor of Laws being conferred upon him. He at once es- tablished himself in the practice of his pro- fession in Roanoke. Virginia, and since that time has been actively identified with the lesral profession in a variety of capacities. His ability was soon recognized, and he rose 1,'ipidly in his profession, and received many important commissions. He is counsel for the Norfolk & Western Railway in Giles county ; was one of the organizers and a director in the People's National Bank of Roanoke, until its consolidation with the National Exchange Bank.

In July, 1901, he was elected a member of the city council of Roanoke, was presi- dent of this honorable body in 1903, and served until 1904, when he was tendered re- election, but refused to serve another term. Since the fall of 1908 he has been president of the Roanoke Anti-Saloon League, and has been active throughout the state and before legislative bodies, and one of the most in- fluential men in securing the passage of the pending State Enabling Act. He is vice- president and director of the Yost-HulT Company, one of the leading implement firms of Roanoke, and a director of Hix-

Palmer Company and the Roanoke Iron and Bridge Works. Mr. Johnston is a member of the Young Men's Christian Association of Roanoke, and has been a director in it. He was one of the founders of the Young Men's Brotherhood of the Trinity Methodist Church, and is steward, and a member of the board of trustees of the church. He is a fluent and eloquent speaker, and was the orator at the unveiling of the Giles County Confederate Monument, August 8, 1908, arid the Tazewell Memorial Celebration, July 3, 1911.

Colonel Johnston was a member of the stafif of Governor Mann. He is also a mem- ber of the board of trustees of the Medical College of Virginia. While at college he was a prominent member of the Kappa Sig- ma fraternitv. and organized chapters at the College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, V^irginia ; and at Randolph-Macon, .Ashland, Virginia. He was elected as a delegate to four national conventions of the Kappa Sig- ma fraternity — Baltimore, St, Louis, New Orleans and New York City.

Colonel Johnston married, June 7, 1913, Elizabeth Sinclair, a daughter of Judge Stafford G. and Ruth (Drewry) Whittle, of Martinsville, Virginia. He has traveled ex- tensively, both in this country and in Eu- rope, and is a charming conversationalist. He is fond of outdoor sports of various kinds, and in them finds his chief form of recreation. In connection with this he is a member of the Roanoke Country Club. At the centennial celebration of the organiza- tion of Giles county, held May 12, 1906, Colonel Johnston was one of the most popu- lar orators of the day, and his oration won well merited applause.

Joel Cutchins Rawls, M. D. A graduate M. D. since 1909, Dr. Rawls in the five years he has been practicing compressed into that short period an experience in two southern states, Florida and Virginia, his medical educations having been obtained in a third state, Maryland. He is. however, of Vir- ginia birth and family, Nansemond county, the family seat. A resident since 1912 he has rapidly established in public favor as an honorable and skillful practitioner.

Dr. Rawls is a grandson of Randolph and Christie Rawls. of Nansemond county. Vir- ginia, the former a farmer of Dutch ancestry. He is a son of Robert Rawls. born in Nanse- mond county. Virginia, in 1844, yet a farmer