Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 5.djvu/514

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VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

four years followed the banners of the Southern Confederacy. The first year he spent in helping to lay out the fortifications around Richmond, that masterly line of de- fences which helped to make General Lee famous as an engineer before he achieved his world-wide distinction as a soldier. From 1862 to 1865, Mr. Bolton filled var- ious positions in the engineering department of the Confederate army, holding a com- mission as lieutenant in the First Regiment of engineer troops. After the war he took up his residence in Richmond, surveyed, located and constructed the Clover Hill Railroad; built a long and difficult tunnel under the city of Richmond ; also one under Gambles Hill, the same city ; located a large portion of the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad through \'irginia and West Virginia; was resident engineer of the Louisville, Cincin- nati & Lexington Railroad ; then division engineer of the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad Company and chief engineer of the Southern Railroad Company. He located and planned the canal around the cascades of the Colum- bia river. Oregon. More recently he has helped to build various railroads in Virginia and other states. At this writing he is president of the Charlottesville & Albemarle Railway Company, and of the Charlottes- ville Canning Company ; chief engineer, de- signing and constructing additional water supply for the city of Charlottesville ; was formerly a director of the Jefferson National Bank, now director of the People's National Bank, of the same city. Mr. Bolton is a public-spirited man and devotes some of his time to serving on boards of trust, such as the school board of Charlottesville and the board of the Miller Manual School. Some of his leisure hours he devotes to writing for engineering journals.

Mr. Bolton is an Episcopalian both by birth and from preference. He has served on vestries in Richmond, Virginia ; Green- ville, Mississippi ; and Washington, District of Columbia ; and is now a vestryman in Christ Church, Charlottesville, Virginia. His advice to young Americans is to be honest, sober, persevering ; to have faith in divine Providence, and to regard duty as the watchword of life.

Mr. Bolton has been married twice. His first wife was Lizzie C. Campbell ; his sec- ond. Alma A. Baldwin. He has four chil- dren, all of whom are now living-. Two

children by first marriage: I. Belle Cambell, married J. Thompson Brown, professor in Winthrop College, Rock Hill, South Caro- lina; children; Channing B., Lizzie C, J. Thompson, Jr., and Belle C. 2. Lizzie Hazle- hurst. married W. Allan Perkins, an attor- ney of Charlottesville, Virginia ; one child, Lizzie Hazlehurst. Two children by sec- ond marriage : 3. Cecile B., single. 4. Channing Aloore, Jr.

Matthew Overbey Nelson. Danville, Vir- ginia, is the largest "bright" loose leaf tobacco market in the world, as it is the original market for this grade of tobacco, there being ten warehouses in the city de- voted to its sale at public auction. Of these Acree's Warehouse is the largest, not only in the city, but in the world, fifty-six thou- sand feet of floor space being devoted to the handling of the vast stores of wealth con- signed to Acree's for sale. At the head of this mammoth establishment is Matthew Overljey Nelson, chief manager. He is not only an expert judge of leaf tobacco but a thorough-going efficient business man, well versed in every detail of tobacco warehouse management. Mr. Nelson is a son of Howell Stephen Nelson, grandson of Matthew Nel- son and descendant of a prominent \'irginia family.

Matthew Nelson was born in Prince Ed- ward county, Virginia, in 1763, died in 1840. He moved to North Carolina late in life. He was a soldier of the war of 1812, and a man of strong character. He married Mar- garet Stevens, also born in Prince Edward county, \'irginia, who bore him children : Thomas. Matthew, Ruffin, Major. Howell Stephens, all deceased.

Captain Howell Stevens Nelson, son of Matthew and Margaret (Stevens) Nelson, was born in Person county. North Carolina, May 31. 1832, died in Mecklenburg county, Virginia, November 27, 191 1. He became a landowner of Person county, remaining there until twenty-one years of age, then returned to the family home in \'irginia, Mecklenburg county. He there purchased land and prospered, becoming one of the largest farmers of the county, also taking active part in political affairs, as chairman of the Democratic county committee ; a railroad station and post-office. Nelson, near his home, being named in his honor. He was a captain of state militia, and when the