Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 5.djvu/281

 VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

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funeral service of Mr. Portlock attested the high esteem in which he was held, and the bereavement felt in the community by his death. The following is an extract from the remarks of Rev. W. S. Long, pastor of the Providence Christian church:

I first met Brother Portlock in the year 1889, during the pastorate of Brother R. A. Ricks, who was serving Providence Church, Our friendship began at once, and when I came here as his pastor last September he greeted me kindly and extended to me what I most needed, a hearty, manly friend- ship which cheered me. For months I have been in his company almost daily and have thus had a good opportunity to know his worth as a man, and now that he is gone his memory is embalmed in my heart, a precious legacy. The people of God have this sweet assurance that the very moment in which any Christian's life shall close will be that which shall give his whole earthly existence its greatest capability of benefitting the race and promoting among men the knowledge of the Lord our Savior. No Chris- tian can desire more. Every Christian is sure that he shall not have less. No man dieth unto himself. Not by himself, not to himself, not for himself. The Christian dies unto the Lord. His death consecrates his whole life with all its influence to the Lord whom he served. He leaves that life and that influence to work for his Lord when he has gone, and when he goes to be forever with the Lord, enjoying the double immortality of perpetual influence on earth and everlasting work and happiness in heaven.

William Nathaniel Portlock. William Na- thaniel Portlock, eldest son of Franklin and Eugenia Herbert (Tatem) Portlock, was born on the farm that he later owned, the old Portlock homestead. May 7, 1854. died June 17, 1910. He was a student for several years at Bethel Military Academy, located in the hills of the Blue Ridge in Piedmont, \'irginia, which academy has had as its [uipils men who have figured prominently in the affairs of the state.

On July I, 1887, he was elected clerk of the circuit court of Norfolk county, an office which he held for seven years, and at the same time he served as deputy in the courts of Portsmouth City for a period of six years, and was also commissioner in chancery, commissioner of accounts, and treasurer of Norfolk county and Portsmouth ferries. Pie afterwards entered the law department of the University of Virginia, was admitted to practice in all courts, and at once established himself in the practice of his profession in the city of Norfolk. He attained a high de- gree of success as a councillor. He was elected to the Norfolk county circuit court judgeship, January i, 1892, and seldom missed a session of his court, over which he

presided with conspicuous ability, and he was reelected to the same position, without opposition, in the year 1898 and served until November, 1909, when he resigned from the bench, on account of failing health. Judge Joseph T. Lawless was appointed as his suc- cessor. Many important cases were tried before Judge Portlock and he always won the highest encomiums from the bar by his fair and fearless rulings. He possessed a comprehensive knowledge of law and its principles, and his impartial decisions as judge gained for him the confidence and esteem of the citizens of the county. In 1901 he was nominated by acclamation and elected without opposition to the constitu- tional convention from Norfolk county con- \ cned at Richmond, Virginia, taking his seat as a member, June 12, 1901. He represented his county with distinction. Although at times in a hopeless minority he became ex- ceedingly popular in that body by his marked ability in debate and his uniform courtesy. The of^cial census of the state demonstrates that he represented in the con- stitutional convention a larger and more powerful constituency than any other mem- ber of that body. He was a member of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity, and has always evinced an interest in its personnel and welfare. From boyhood until his death he always enjoyed the confidence and esteem of the people of his county, who conferred upon him many positions of trust and emol- ument.

Frank Livingston Portlock. Frank Liv- ingston Portlock, youngest son of Franklin and Eugenia Herbert (Tatem) Portlock. has a record of public service in his native county that extends over a period of a quar- ter of a century, continuing at this time in his relation to the United States depart- ment of agriculture as local agent of the farmers' cooperative demonstration work. Elarly in life a follower of the pedagogical profession in Norfolk county, he afterward filled the offices of road commissioner and road engineer, the former for eighteen years, the latter for four, and is now associated with the Federal department of agriculture in the capacity above mentioned. During this time he has contracted numerous pri- vate business relations, has dealt extensively in real estate, and. both through his private interests and his public offices, has acquired a most intimate and accurate knowledge of