Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 5.djvu/506

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VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

the important part acted during all its pro- ceedings by Mr. Parker. He was strongly attached to the people, who appreciated his worth and his sterling honesty, as did all his associates. He was a member of three im- portant committees in the thirty-seventh general assembly, and never failed to stand by the people in defence of their rights in every contest. He was admitted to the bar in 1873, and practiced his profession until within a few months of his death, which oc- curred July 25, igo6. For four years he was county judge of Scott county, and as soldier, teacher, lawyer, legislator and judge, he passed through life without a stain upon his reputation. He married, in 1865, Mary E. Burke, of Rock Creek, Wayne county, Ken- tucky, and they were the parents of eight children.

Luther M. Parker, eldest son of Judge James C. and Mary E. (Burke) Parker was born April 29, 1877, ^^ Somerset, Pu- laski county, Kentucky, and attended the public schools at Helenwood, Tennessee, and also a private school. In 1893 ^^ enter- ed American University at Harrison, Ten- nessee, where he continued two years, and was subsequently for two years at the State College of Kentucky. In 1897 he entered the employ of the Centennial Exposition Company at Washington, District of Co- lumbia, as an inspector in its concession de- partment. In 1898 he was appointed private secretary to R. W. Austin, United States marshal of the eastern district of Tennessee, and eight years later became secretary to Colonel T. T. Knox. In 1909 he was appointed adjutant and inspector, with the rank of cap- tain, at the Soldiers' Home of Virginia. He is a member of the great Masonic brother- hood, affiliating with Monitor Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, of Phoebus, Virginia, and is a member of the Hampton Roads Golf and Country Club, the Virginia Yacht Club, Senior Assembly German Club, and is also affiliated with the Knights of Pythias. He was a member of the Republican execu- tive committee of Knox county, and was sergeant-at-arms of the noted convention of 1904, which nominated McKinley and Roose- velt for president and vice-president respec- tively. He was secretary of the Republican executive state committee. Mr. Parker is much interested in historical subjects, in which he is widely read, and recentl}' pre- pared a paper to be read before the Daugh-

ters of 1812. He is a member of the Congre- gational church, and endeavors to exemplify his principles by his daily walk and conver- sation.

Walter Herron Doyle. The Doyles were long seated in Wexford, Ireland, from whence came Walter Herron Doyle, son of John Edward and Mary Hite (Fitz Gerald) Doyle. John Edward Doyle came to the United States at the solicitation of his uncle, Walter Herron, who was a large land- owner and rope manufacturer of Norfolk. He owned many slaves and with them per- formed much labor at his rope walk, which was a very large one. Among the nine chil- dren of John Edward and Mary Hite (Fitz Gerald) Doyle was Walter Herron Doyle, named after his great-uncle, Walter Her- ron, of Norfolk.

Late in the seventeenth century Sir Wal- ter Herron, a gentleman of means, came on a visit to America, landing at Norfolk, Vir- ginia. Here he became acquainted with a Mr. Plume, proprietor of a large rope walk, whose only daughter he married. Their location was called Plumesville, and from them Plume street in Norfolk received its name. This rope walk was one of the sights of the borough of Norfolk, extending at great length, where the slaves engaged in its operation and sang as they weaved the rope. Many ships came to this port for sup- plies of provisions, and were largely out- fitted with ropes supplied by Walter Her- ron. The present St. Vincent's Hospital of Norfolk was built by him. Having no chil- dren of his own, Mr. Herron brought over several relatives from England, including his nephew, John Edward Doyle, as above mentioned, who became associated with him in business. About this time Mr. Herron's residence was destroyed by fire, and he im- mediately erected a handsome dwelling on the same site, which in 1800 was considered the finest residence in Norfolk. It stood at the terminus of a street, surrounded with beautiful grounds, with large conservatory and gardens. On the death of Walter Her- ron, John E. Doyle inherited his business and handsome pro])erty. The family resi- dence, however, fell to his adopted daugh- ter. Miss Ann Behan, of Wexford, Ireland, whose name was changed by the adoption to Ann Herron. Just as she was preparing for a visit to Europe, a plague of yellow