Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 5.djvu/533

 VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

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street, Richmond, with her three children, one, Marie, having died July 14, 1903. The others: Otto, born January 27, 1897; Peter, born February 18, 1898; Dorothy, born April 9, 1903.

Robert Johnson Marks. Mr. Marks came to the \'irginia Railway and Power Com- pany in 1904 as an expert on gas production after an experience in this line of about fif- teen years, all of which were passed in the South. With this company in Norfolk he now is associated in responsible capacity, his decade of service in its employ a record of able and faithful performance of duty. The years of Mr. Marks" life prior to his en- trance of the field in which he is now an authority, gas production, were passed as a merchant in the East and as a rancher and cattle raiser in the West. For ten years he has been a resident of Norfolk, Virginia, affiliated with her fraternal, religious, busi- ness and social interests.

Robert Johnson Marks is a native of Bal- timore county, Maryland, where his father, James Kelso Marks, born in 1828, died in 1902, made his home. James Kelso Marks became the owner of fertile and valuable farm land in Baltimore county, Maryland, and there passed his life in successful agri- cultural pursuits. He was a Democrat in politics, and a member of the Presbyterian church. At his death his farm property fell to his eldest son, James Kelso Marks, Jr., who continued its management. Children of James Kelso Marks and his wife, Matilda (Johnson) Marks ; James Kelso, Jr., married Elvina Schurtzer; Robert Johnson, of whom further ; Eliza, married Fred Smith ; Ma- tilda.

Robert Johnson Marks, son of James Kelso and Matilda (Johnson) Marks, was born in i860. After a public school educa- tion he finished his preparation for the work of life by a course in Saddlers' Business Col- lege, of Baltimore, whence he was graduated in 1 88 1. For a few years he was associated in mercantile dealings, in 1885 going west to Montana, remainding for five years, from 1885 to 1890, engaging in ranching and cat- tle raising in that state and in Idaho. Dur- ing this period he began exhaustive study of the subject of the production of gas, re- turning East in 1890 and assuming charge of a gas manufacturing plant at Annapolis, Maryland. From this place he went to

Greensboro, North Carolina, then to Lex- ington, Kentucky, during all of this period continuing his study of the most modern methods and conducting experiments along lines of original thought. In 1904 Mr. Marks accepted his present position, superintend- ent of the gas plant of the Virginia Railway and Power Company, and has since been a resident of Norfolk. His value to this com- pany has not been measured alone by his all inclusive knowledge of his profession, but by the diligence he has shown in its service, his loyalty to its interests, and his faithfulness to the trust reposed in him.

Mr. Marks became a member of Merrick Lodge, No. 31, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, while in Lexington, Kentucky, and is a member of the Benevolent and Protec- tive Order of Elks in Norfolk. Like his father, he is a Democratic sympathizer, and a member of the Presbyterian churcli. Mr. Marks is a man of quiet life and habits, in many ways a close student, and the deep scientific knowledge upon which is based his professional usefulness and prestige is real- ized and appreciated by those with whom he is associated. He is a director of the Ocean Park Realty Corporation, and direc- tor of the Larchmont Realty Corporation. Robert Johnson Marks married, in 1891, Eflie Flanagan, of North Carolina, and has one son, Robert Johnson; Jr., born May 6, 1894. Robert Johnson Marks, Jr., was edu- cated in the public schools of Norfolk, for two years attended Norfolk high school, subsequently took a course in Saddler's Business College, and is now associated with his father in business.

Herbert Jones. Restonica, eldest daughter of James (2) and Maria P. (Hansle) Wood- ward, was born August 10, 1859, and died November 17, 1892. She married, February 27, 1884, Herbert Jones, born August 22, 1859, who survives her, a resident of Nor- folk, and head salesman for the Wasseo Flour Company.

Herbert Jones is a son of Rev. Richard H. Jones and a grandson of Abraham Jones, the latter a large contractor for his early day. He erected many buildings, and among his numerous contracts was placing the turf on the grounds of the fort at Old Point. He was a devout churchman, very charitable, and aided in all good works. He married a Miss HofTman, of Suffolk county, Virginia.