Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 5.djvu/479

 VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

of Thatcher & Company, who conducted a factory at the State Penitentiary. Mr. Kirk is now manager of the Virgmia Shoe Com- pany, a very successful concern of Rich- mond, with whose organization and estab- lishment he was actively connected. He is a member of the great Masonic fraternity, and also a communicant of Holy Trinity (Protestant Episcopal) Church, of Rich- m.ond. He is an enthusiastic golf player, and has been identified with various or- ganizations for the promotion of this health- ful and manly sport. He was three times elected president of the Hermitage Golf Club of Richmond, is a member of the Com- monwealth Club of that city, was four years vice-president and two years president of the Country Club of Virginia. He has been twice president of the Virginia State Golf League, and is at present president of the Middle Atlantic Golf Association, an or- ganization comprised of the country and golf clubs of Wilmington, Delaware, Balti- more, Maryland, Washington, D. C, Nor- folk. Hampton and Richmond, Virginia. In these various associations Mr. Kirk is brought into contact with many of the lead- ing and most aristocratic citizens of the various states, and his election to the posi- tion of leadership in the various organiza- tions testifies to his standing and popularity. He married, in Rochester, New York, De- cember 31, 1895, Edith Charlotte Griswold, a native of Connecticut, who was reared in Rochester. She is a daughter of the late H. P. Griswold, for many years a leading dentist of Rochester, and his wife, Belle Griswold, who now resides in that city. Mr. and Mrs. Kirk have a daughter, Beatrice Griswold, born March 30, 1896, now the wife of Horace K. Dickson, a prominent lumberman of Norfolk, Virginia.

Charles Jackson Billups. The paternal ancestors of Charles Jackson Billups, fun- eral director of Richmond, Virginia, came from England, his great-grandfather settling in Mathews county, where his son Richard was born. Richard Billups became a wealthy planter, owning many slaves and was largely interested in vessels and shipping trade. He married Mary Elizabeth Risbee, also born in Mathews county.

Lafayette Washington Billups, son of Richard and Mary Elizabeth (Risbee) Bill- ups, was born in Alathews county, Vir-

ginia. I\Iay I. 1824. died in Richmond, Vir- ginia. July 14, 1893. He became an expert cabinetmaker and was for several years en- gaged in business in Portsmouth, Virginia. He located in Richmond in 185 1, working at his trade, also as an undertaker for ten years for others. In 1861 he established in business for himself as undertaker and funeral director, continuing alone until joined by his son, Charles J., a few years prior to his death in 1893. During the war between the states he was employed by the Confederate government and was also captain of a company of home guards. He was an upright, honorable man, well known and respected. He married, in Portsmouth, Virginia, in 1851, Elizabeth Frances Glenn, of North Carolina, who died in 1904, aged seventy-six years, daughter of Dr. Thomas Washington Glenn, born in Virginia, and his wife, Penelope (Jones) Glenn, born in North Carolina. Children : Walter, George and John, all died in infancy ; Mary Alyce, residing with her brother in Richmond ; Charles Jackson, of whom further.

Charles Jackson Billups, only surviving son of Lafayette Washington and Elizabeth Frances (Glenn) Billups, was born in Rich- mond, Virginia, May 15, 1863. He was educated in the city public schools, and is a graduate of the high school, class of 1880. He immediately engaged in business with his father, in the undertaking line, at 1 5 14 East Franklin street, and on the death of the latter in 1893 succeeded him in the busi- ness. He is now well located and estab- lished at 1505 East Main street, and worth- ily conducts the business established by his father in 1861. Mr. Billups is a prominent member of the Masonic order, holding the thirty-second degree, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite ; belongs to lodge, chapter and commandery of the York Rite, and to Acca Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He holds numerous other fraternal member- ships, including the Knights of Pythias, In- dependent Order of Odd Fellow's, Druids, Royal .Arcanum, Heptasophs, Woodmen of the World, and the Junior Order of Amer- ican Mechanics. He is a communicant of Leigh Street Baptist Church, and a member of the Rotary Club of Richmond.

Mr. Billups married (first) in 1890, Lillie P. Figg, who died in 1891. He married (second) February 19. 1896, Lettie Lee Scott, of Pittsylvania county, Virginia, born