Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 5.djvu/382

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VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

he was a farmer, conducting operations of an agricultural nature with excellent suc- cess. He married Elizabeth Nichols, a native of Pittsylvania county, one of their eight children, Washington, attaining an age of more than eighty years, following the occupation of his father. Of another of their sons, David Samuel, further mention is made.

David Samuel Motley, son of David and Elizabeth (Nichols) Motley, was born near Chatham, Pittsylvania county, Virginia, January 3, 1831, died April 5, 1862. His occupation was farming, but at the Southern call to arms he left his home and farm, and enlisted in the Confederate army, being im- mediately sent to the front. He was the possessor of an extraordinarily strong phy- sique, but the abuses of exposure and in- sufficient nourishment" completely broke his health and he fell victim to a fever that caused his death, adding another name to the long list that during those four years died neither from sabre-thrust nor bullet- wound. He married, in 1850, Elizabeth Watson, bora near Chatham. Pittsylvania county, October 7, 1829, died January 31, 1905, daughter of Shimei and Mary (Far- thing) Watson. Her father was a native of Pittsylvania county, a farmer, and died about forty years of age, the father of nine children, one of whom, Shimei H., died in 1914, and W^illiam R. is living in Charlotte county at the present time, 191 5. Both were soldiers in the Confederate army during the war with the states, Shimei H. serving through the entire conflict, being taken pris- oner at the battle of Gettysburg, and was a successful farmer of Pittsylvania county up to the time of his death in 1914. Children of David Samuel and Elizabeth (Watson) Motley: i. James Abel, born September 27, 1851, manager and one of the principal stock- holders of the firm of Benefield, Motley & Company. 2. Mary Frances, married Wil- liam H. Moore, a farmer of Surry county, Virginia, a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. 3. David Pendleton, born December 10, 1854, died April 18, 1873. 4- Phoebe Ann, born February 6, 1857, mar- ried A. M. Jeffries, of Culpeper county, Vir- ginia, .and at her death was survived by three children, two daughters and one son. 5. Benjamin Shimei, of whom further men- tion is made. 6. Elizabeth, born August 2, 1861, married John W. Owens, who died in 1886, survived by his wife and two sons.

Mrs. Owens making her home in Danville, Virginia.

Benjamin Shimei Motley, son of David Samuel and Elizabeth (Watson) Motley, was born near Callands, Pittsylvania county, Virginia, March 13, 1859, and was reared on the home farm at Weal, in that county. His father's death occurred when he was three years of age and he aided his mother on the farm until he was sixteen years old, during that time obtaining an education in the pub- lic schools. At that age he went to Dan- ville and was there first employed as office boy by Estes i^ Wooding, remaining in that service in different capacities for nine years. At the end of that time he associated in general merchandising with his brother, J. Abel Motley, vmder the firm name of J. A. Motley & Brother. This firm transacted business for one year, when it became Mot- ley & Taylor, so continuing for five years to be succeeded by Motley & Mitchell ; a house that traded until 1895. I" that year Mr. Motley purchased the hardware depart- ment and formed the firm of E. S. Motley & Company, which was successively changed to Motley & Ley, and Traylor, Peterson & Motley. In 1900 the business became the Piedmont Hardware Company, and four years later Mr. Motley bought the retail branch, and in November of 1904 incor- porated the B. S. Motley & Company, of which organization he is president, treas- urer and general manager. This firm occu- pies two buildings on different blocks on Main street, Danville, its line being hard- ware, machinery, mill supplies, cutlery, roof- ing, paints, etc., all lines being complete, only the goods of the most reputable manu- facturers being handled. The trade mark of the firm is "Everwear" and with this they stamp goods bearing their personal guaran- tee ; and have a special line of paints and varnishes bearing this as its sole designa- tion. The business is an important one and representative among many institutions, sturdy, strong and successful. Mr. Motley is a director of Benefield, Motley & Com- pany, Inc., and the Phoenix Loan and Sav- ings Company. His church is the Mount Vernon Alethodist Episcopal Church, hold- ing a position upon the board of stewards ; his political creed is summed up in "good citizenship, applied to every need of munici- pal life," a belief in which one cannot go far astray. For six years he was a member of the school board, and because of his high