Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 5.djvu/342

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VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

a daughter of Richard and Ann Booker (Jeftries) Whitfield, of Richmond, the for- mer a native of England. The eldest child of Andrew H. Christian, Richard H., died in 1872, without issue. Edward, the second, married Helen C. Palmer, and died in 1899, leaving issue. Frank \V., the third, was an able and successful lawyer of Richmond, where he died in 1908. He married Bessie Palmer, and left issue. Annie J., the only daughter, is living in Richmond, unmar- ried. George W., died in infancy, and An- drew H. Jr., is the subject of this biography. Andrew Henry Christian Jr., youngest child of Andrew Henry and Mary (Whit- field) Christian, was born November 29, 1859, on his father's estate near Peters- burg, in Chesterfield county, Virginia, and was a small boy when his parents removed to Richmond. Here he grew to manhood, received his education, and passed the re- mainder of his life. His business career was begun in a subordinate capacity with the Richmond Paper Company, and he was raised through many grades of service to the presidency of the company, which position he filled with great ability and efficiency during the last fifteen years of his life. He was also president of the Southern Railway Supply Com]3any, and in both companies was the dominating spirit. His energy and enthusiasm were infectious, and he gathered about him in sub-official places a corps of assistants who were his devoted admirers and who were bound to him by ties stronger than those usually existing between em- ployer and employee. He was at one time president of the Westmoreland Club of Richmond, and a hereditary member of the Society of the Cincinnati of the state of Virginia. He was a communicant of St. Paul's Protestant Episcopal Church and chairman of the civics committee of the men's association. He was in all things the kindly, considerate gentleman, and is well described by Sir Philip Sidney's definition of such a one, a man of "high erected thoughts, seated in the heart of courtesy." It was through his efforts that the Society for Bet- terment of Housing and Living Conditions in Richmond was organized, and he raised a fund to carry on the work. He was the leading spirit in the organization, which has meant much for the general health of the people of Richmond. In early business life he was an active and influential worker in the Cliamber of Commerce, and chairman

of the inland trade committee. He was for about fifteen years one of the most useful and active directors of the First National Bank, in which he never lost his interest. No citizen of Richmond took a deeper or more active interest in the advancement of the commercial interest of Richmond than he. In religious and social work he had always taken a deep interest. In its early days he was president of the Young Men's Christian Association of Richmond, and did active work on the board of the Laurel Re- formatory for Boys. He was justly gener- ous and open-handed in assisting every good cause of charity, and was active in all work connected with St. Paul's Church. In so- cial circles he had maintained the position of his family, and his home was the center of refinement and happiness.

Mr. Christian married, in Richmond, Sep- tember I, 1890. !•" ranees Williamson Archer, daughter of Major Robert S. Archer and his wife, Ann Virginia (Watson) Archer, of Richmond, the latter a near kinswoman of Dr. Silas Weir Mitchell, of Philadelphia, who often visited at the Watson home at Sixth and Franklin streets, Richmond. Ma- jor Robert S. Archer was for forty years a partner of his brother-in-law. General Toseph R. Anderson, in the Tredegar Iron Works. His wife was a granddaughter of Dr. George W'atson, of Richmond, who oc- cupied the old home, above named, in Rich- mond, and was in his day a distinguished surgeon. Major Archer was a son of Dr. Robert Archer, a surgeon of the Uniteo States army, stationed many ye'ars at Fort- ress Monroe, where his son, Major Robert S. Archer, and his daughter, Sarah, !Mrs. Joseph R. Anderson, were born. Major Archer died at Richmond in 1901. aged sev- eiitv-four vears. Children of Andrew Henry Christian Jr. and his wife. Frances William- son (Archer) Christian: Archer, died in Richmond, November 14, 1909, aged eigh- teen years. Andrew D.. born July 8, 1892. a graduate of the law department. Univer- sity of Virginia, class of 1913 ; Virginia \\'at- son, born February 15, 1894.

Charles Fox Broadwater, \\hen the ves- sel commanded bv Captain Charles Broad- water anchored in the harbor of "Belle Haven." now Alexandria, Virginia, it marked not only the arrival of the first vessel to make that harbor but the coming to .\merica of the first member of this line