Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 5.djvu/336

778 He then began his railroad career in the transportation department of the Southern Railroad. In 189S he entered the employ of the Norfolk & Western Railroad, in 5s'or- folk, and is now manager of the inter- change of freight between the Alerchants' and Miners' Transportation Company and Norfolk i*v; Western Railroad. He is a mem- ber of St. Paul's Episcopal church. Mr. Lane married. April 10. 1904, Emily Gay Baker, daughter of Richard Henry Baker, a prominent lawyer of Norfolk, granddaughter of Judge Richard Henry Baker, and de- scendant of Henry Baker, who came from England in 1632 (see Richard Henry Baker record). Mrs. Lane's mother, Annie (May) Baker, was a daughter of Judge May, of Petersburg, Virginia.

James Edward Sebrell. There are few men in Virginia to whom the title of "grand old man" could be more appropriately ap- plied than to James E. Sebrell, now at the age of eighty-two years, cashier of the People's Bank of Courtland, district deputy grand master of Masons, ex-county treas- urer, ex-commissioner of accounts, ex-legis- lator, ex-recorder, in fact ex or past official of about all public and fraternal offices of the county, a veteran of the Confederacy and now as always, an active, living, vital force in the community. Age has but rip- ened his judgment and cleared his brain and although at an age when most men have closed their earthly accounts, or are incapa- citated, he is daily at his post and trans- acts a volume of business that would re- flect credit upon a man half a century his junior. He springs from an honored ances- try, but his own life is the best warrant for perpetuating his name and fame and hand- ing down for the perusal of future Virgin- ians.

James Edward Sebrell was born in South- ampton county, Virginia, January 3, 1833, son of William Jones and Mary 'Virginia (Butts) Sebrell The Sebrells were French Huguenots who fled from their native France to escape persecution and death, seeking asylum in England. Later they came to York county. Virginia, a later branch settling in Southampton county, where the town of Sebrell is named in the family honor.

William Jones Sebrell, father of James Edward Sebrell, was born in Southampton county, Virginia in 1803, died there in 1857.

He was a farmer all his active life and for several years was sheriiff for Southampton county, a man of influence and integrity and held in high popular esteem. He married Mary Virginia Butts, born in the same county, in 1813, died in 1840, daughter of Captain Edward Butts.

James E. Sebrell obtained nis early and preparatory educational training in private schools, his classical education at Randolph- Macon College, Boydton, Virginia, being a graduate of the latter institution, A. B., class of 1853, A. M. 1855. For twelve years after graduation he taught the higher branches at Newville Academy, Sussex county, Virginia, then began a term of eleven years' service as instructor in the Sebrell school. His career as a teacher was marked by efficiency and the high quality if students who went out from under his instruction to enter higher institutions of learning were the best evidences that his heart was in his work and that intelligence, as well a,; ambition, directed his efforts. He closed that chapter in his life's history as a teacher, when called into the Confederate service, which included a period of military duty as sergeant-major in the Eighteenth Virginia Regiment of Heavy Artillery, being on duty in the defense of Richmond until the evacuation of that city by the Confederates and in field duty until General Lee's surrender, April 9, 1865. In 1865 he entered into the mercantile business in Sebrell in which he continued until January, 1892. In 1873 he was elected treasurer of Southampton county, and continued his residence in Sebrell until 1S92. He served as county treasurer for thirteen successive years, being at the close of each term re-elected, through no effort of his own. His record in office was his only argument for re-election and amply did it convince the voters. From 1892 to 1904 he was commissioner of accounts of Southampton county. In 1904 he was elected cashier of the People's Bank of Courtland, Virginia, a position he yet holds. He has therein added to his mental equipment long years of experience and in all that pertains to banking, law, usage or practice, he is the peer of any of his contemporaries in the state.

During these years. Air. Sebrell has filled many other positions of trust and honor. In 1887 and 1888 he was a member of the Virginia house of delegates, serving on committees, county proposition, banking and en-