Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 5.djvu/478

 VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

and Delia ; Catherine Noel, married Thomas Smith Allison, and has one daughter, Mary ; Mary, married Richard R. Sanders ; Roberta, married George Sanders ; Martha, married James Sudduth ; Belle, married Oscar Lynn ; Elizabeth, unmarried ; John Brady, of whom further.

Besides the services of George Washing- ton Grayson to the Confederate cause in the years from 1861 to 1865, this line of the family was represented in that conflict by his brother. A. Bennett Grayson, a soldier of the Seventeenth Regiment Virginia Vol- unteer Infantry, killed in the battle of Wil- liamsburg, Virginia. There was still an- other brother. John W. Grayson, who did not participate in the war; he died in Jeffer- son City, Missouri. So did this branch of the family send its full quota of men in patriotism and courage to the front, while the record of General John Breckenridge Grayson, United States and Confederate Stales armies, reflects further credit upon the family name, already so rich in memor- ies of devoted service to country.

John Brady Grayson, son of George Washington and Mary Elizabeth (Brady) Grayson, was born in New Baltimore. Vir- ginia, May 14, 1871. and in his youth at- tended the public schools of New Baltimore and Scottsville. After leaving school he was first employed as clerk in mercantile houses in the place of his birth and in War- renton, and in 1894 entered the United .States Railway Postal Service. In 1903 he embarked in mercantile dealings in Warren- ton, a venture that from its inception seemed marked for success and in which he has prospered, his establishment holding posi- tion among the foremost in the place in point of favor with the public. Since 1907 Mr. Grayson has been postmaster of War- renton, appointed first by President Roose- velt, reappointed by President Taft, and holding office under President Wilson, his term to expire, July 8, 1914. His tenure of office was distinguished by no extraordi- nary incident, and the able manner in which he fulfilled the duties of his office brought general public satisfaction. Mr. Grayson affiliates with Mt. Carmel Lodge, No. 133, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, of Warrenton ; Warrenton Chapter, Royal Arch Masons ; Warrenton Lodge. No. 27, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of which he is past grand ; and the Royal Ar-

canum, of which he is past grand regent. His political party is the Republican, and he holds membership in the Baptist church.

Charles LeGrand Kirk. Charles LeGrand Kirk, a worthy representative of one of the oldest Scotch families, now identified with one of the leading industries of Richmond, was born August i. 1857, in Troy, New York. His father, John Moore Kirk, was a native oi New York state, for many years, engaged in the clothing trade at Rochester. New York, He served as first lieutenant in the old Thir- teenth Regiment New York Volunteers, tliroughout the Civil war, and was with General Grant at the battles of the Penin- sula and Manassas, and all of that noted general's campaigns thereafter. He was severely wounded in action, and never re- covered from the effects of his injury, which caused his death at the age of forty-eight years, in Rochester. His wife, Cleopatra (Churchill) Kirk, also a native of New York state, survived him, and died in 1898 at the age of sixty years. They had five children, of whom three are now living, namely : Ida M.. wife of John H. Acker, of Roches- ter ; Charles LeGrand, of further mention; Henry K., of Rochester. Two daughters, Lillian and Ella, died in early life.

Charles LeGrand Kirk was one year old when his parents settled in Rochester, where he grew up and was educated. At the early age of fifteen years he became identified with the manufacture of shoes, entered the cutting room of E. W. Wright & Company, of Rochester, with whom he continued sev- eral years, following up the various branches of the work, and earning steady promotion until he became a foreman. Subsequently he was employed in that capacity by Cowles Curtis & Company, large shoe manufactur' ers, continuing four years, after which he engaged in the business of manufacturing on his account, as junior member of the firm of Weaver, Thomas & Kirk. This concern conducted a very successful busi- ness for a period of three years, when its plant was destroyed by fire, causing a very heavy loss. Mr. Kirk then removed to New York City, where he established a factory, which was ultimately removed to Lynn, Massachusetts, one of the great seats of the shoe industry in the United States. He located at Richmond. Virgina. February 19, 1900, becoming superintendent for the firm