Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 5.djvu/315

 VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

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ir.er, born in 1828, and his wife, Margaret ( Hawkins ) Hammer, of Elkton, Virginia, and a son of James A. Hammer, born in Elkton, Virginia, in 1852, a farmer, mayor of Luray two years, and magistrate, and during the last years of the war of 1861-65 was registrar of vital statistics under Con- federate government. James A. Hammer married Alice Broyles, born in Luray, Vir- ginia, in 1852, daughter of Perry and Mary ( Berry) Broyles, the former dying at the great age of ninety-two years. His son, Henry F. Broyles, was a soldier of the Con- federacy, twice wounded in battle. James A. and Alice Hammer were the parents of f(.'Ur sons : Virgil of further mention ; Dr. Loring Hammer, a graduate of the Medical College of Richmond, now practicing at Lu- ray, \'irginia ; Oscar and Herbert, now en- gaged in cultivating the paternal farm.

Dr. V^irgil Hammer, son of James A. and Alice (Broyles) Hammer, was born in Elk- ton. Rockingham county, Virginia, July 10, 1877. He obtained his early and preparatory education in the public schools of Elkton and the high school of Luray, graduating from the latter in June, 1897. He then en- tered William and Mary College, continuing during the years 1897 ^"d 1898. He entered the Medical College of Richmond, Virginia, in October, i8g8, and on May 10, 1901. was graduated M. D. He at once began the prac- tice of his profession in Luray where he is well established as an honorable and skill- ful physician. He is a member of the Vir- ginia Medical Society and keeps in close touch with the advance in medical know- ledge through his association with that body, and the publications devoted to the profes- sion. He is a Democrat, but in both politi- cal and religious faith broad and liberal- minded.

Dr. Hammer married. May 10, 1904, Angle Pearl, born in Page county, Virginia, August 29, 188,^, daughter of Thomas and Blanche H. Qiidd) Bradley. Child, Virginia Blanche, born in Luray, Virginia, March 28, 1905

Robert Edward Lee Watkins. The Wat- kins family of \^irginia, of which Robert E. L. ^^'atkins, attorney, of Franklin. \'ir- gmia. is a twentieth century representa- tive, sprung from an English ancestry that fled from England during the period known as the "Cromwellian." It is one of the many families, who for conscience sake, left home and native land that they might enjoy liber-

ty of religious thought and worship. Why nations should drive away their noblest men and women rather than allow them freedom in religious thought, is one of the mysteries and in this respect England and France and Germany have really sinned against them- selves, to the everlasting benefit of the United States and some countries of Eu- rope, notably Holland and Switzerland. The founder of the Virginia family Thomas Wat- kins, left a posterity that have ever been patriotic sons and daughters of Virginia and among the foremost in the advancement of the communities in which they lived. On the maternal side, R. E. L. Watkins descends from the revolutionary patriot, Peter Moore, of Southampton county, Virginia, his mother Rebecca Moore, being a lineal descendant of the old soldier.

Darden John Watkins was born in the Isle of Wight county, Virginia, 1838, died in i8q2. He served three years in the Con- federate army. 1861-64. first in the cavalry of Mahon's brigade, later in a Virginia regi- ment of infantry. He was wounded in the leg in a skirmish with the Federals and was honorably discharged. After the war he located in Franklin where he successfully engaged as a merchant during the remainder of his life. He was a member of Gillette Camp. Confederate Veterans and prominent in the social and pul^lic life of Franklin. He married Rebecca Moore, born in Southamp- ton county, Virginia, in 1858, who yet sur- vives him. She is a daughter of Harrison and Mary (Gay) Moore and a descendant of Peter Moore, a revolutionary soldier of Southampton county.

Robert Edward Lee Watkins. son of Darden John and Rebecca (Moore) Wat- kins, was born in Southampton county, \'irginia, December 27, 1868. He obtain- ed a good preparatory education in the public schools of Franklin and Suffolk Military Institute, attending the latter in- stitution two years. He then entered the academic department of William and Mary College and after three years there, 1889-90- 91, entered the law department of the Uni- versity of North Carolina, whence he was graduated class of 1895. He was admitted to the North Carolina bar 1895, later was admitted to the Virginia bar and located at Franklin, where he is now successfully en- gaged in the general practice of his profes- sion. He is a member of the bar association and has been admitted to all state and Fed-