Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 5.djvu/294

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VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

these, much older than Thomas A., served in the Alexican war, and from 1861 to 1865 was a soldier in the Union army. The wound received by Thomas A. Harris, here- tofore mentioned, was caused by a rifle ball which struck his foot, breaking every bone in that member. The wound was received while on scouting duty for General Robert E. Lee. His brother, John Harris, was badly wounded in the neck in battle, while Chailes, a member of the Ninth Virginia Cavalry, and the other brothers escaped serious in- jury. King Poole, a brother of Mary _E. (Poole) Harris, a cavalryman of the Ninth Virginia Regiment, was killed in battle. \V. B. Poole, of the Scranton (Pennsylvania) International Correspondence Schools, and \^'. M. Poole, also relatives, served in the same cavalry regiment.

Dr. William A. Harris, of Spottsylvania, was born at the home farm eight miles from Spottsylvania Court House, December 28, 1877, son of Thomas Addison and Mary Elizabeth (Poole) Harris. He attended public school until he was fifteen years of age, then was a student for two years, from 1892 to 1894, under Professor George Jenks, an Englishman, and from 1892 to 1898 stud- ied under Professor George Rayland, M. D., of Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore. In the" fall of 1898 he entered the Medical Col- lege of Virginia, whence he was graduated Doctor of Medicine, class of May, 1901. He was president of his class. After obtaining his degree Dr. Harris located in Spottsyl- vania, where he has since been in continu- ous general practice. Learned and skilled in his profession, and held in highest regard as a physician, he is no less highly regarded for his public record as an advocate of clean, honest political methods and for his interest in road and highway improvement. Good roads is a gospel he ever preaches, and his agitation of this too often neglected depart- ment of local government has brought excel- lent results. He is chairman of the ways and means commission of Spottsylvania county, secretary of the board of public roads for the county, chairman of the dis- trict school board, and in July, 1912, was appointed by Governor Mann, member of the board of visitors of the Virginia Poly- technic Institute. For three years he was coroner of the county, and is its present health officer. This record of public service marks Dr. Harris as one of the progressive

men of his community, and one whose leadership it is wise to follow.

He is associated with his brethren of the profession in the Rappahannock Valley Med- ical Society, and is not an infrequent con- tributor of valuable articles to the medical journals and papers. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and for ten years has been a member of the Benevo- lent and Protective Order of Elks, and the Woodmen of the World, also holding active membership in the Automobile Association oi \'irginia, Fredericksburg (Virginia) Motor Club, and Fredericksburg Camp, Sons of Confederate \'eterans.

Dr. Harris married, June 3, 1901, Dora Crismond, born in Spottsylvania county, Virginia, April 8, 1875, daughter of J. P. H. Crismond, who for twenty-live years was county clerk, and his wife, Sarah J. (King) Crismond. Children: Joseph Addison, born January 22, 1903; Virginia B., February i, 1906; Dorothy Crismond, May 30, 1908; all born at Spottsylvania.

Edmund Waddill, Jr. An able, impartial jurist, Judge Waddill, in the fifteen years he has sat on the bench of the United States court, eastern district of Virginia, has gained the respect and confidence of the Virginia bar. Prior to his elevation to his present liigh office, he had been a member of the Henrico county bar, county judge, and United States district attorney, and in these positions had proved the quality of his at- tainments and his fearless devotion to his duty. Moreover, he had by the suffrage of the voters of the third congressional dis- trict of Virginia, occupied a seat in the national congress, and here proved his value as a maker of laws as hitherto, and after- ward he was their administrator.

Judge Edmund W^addill was born in Charles City county, Virginia, May 22, 1855, son of Edmund and Mary Louisa (Red- wood) Waddill. He was educated in the public schools, obtaining a good education, to which later he added a course of legal instruction. Meeting all the requirements, he was admitted to the Virginia bar in 1877 and began the practice of law in Richmond, Virginia. Three years later, in 1880, he was elected judge of Henrico county, serving as such three years. In 1883 he was appointed United States district attorney for the east- ern district of Virginia, serving two years.