Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 5.djvu/538

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VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

Lemuel Hoskins Sclater. The career of Lemuel Hoskins Sclater, late of Hampton, Virginia, is well worthy of emulation. Early in life he planted himself on the sure founda- tion of an unimpeachable credit, and on straight-forward, sober, honest, truthful methods in dealing with his fellowmen To these qualities he added prudence, self-de- nial, fortitude, tenacity, singleness of pur- pose, and a stubborn devotion to the end in view. He surrendered very little to the al- lurements of politics, believing business in- terests should have the foremost place. In- dustry was favored rather than speculation, and he would employ the means at hand rather than wait for something to turn up. The family from which he claimed descent was one of the old ones of Virginia.

\\'illiam Sheldon Sclater was the owner of an extensive plantation in York county, Virginia, near Land's End, and a man of large affairs. He had children : John, James, William Sheldon and Catherine Mary Frances.

James Sclater, son of William Sheldon Sclater, was born in York county, Virginia. He served as a soldier of the Confederate States of America. He married three times, and by his second wife, Jane Hoskins, he had children : Lemuel Hoskins, Mary Jane, William Sheldon, John M., Francis Howard, James, and Laura Virginia.

Lemuel Hoskins Sclater, son of James and Jane (Hoskins) Sclater, was born in York county, Virginia, August 7, 1842, and died April 15, 1899. His education, which was a sound, practical one, was acquired in the public schools of his native county, and those of Elizabeth City county. Upon its completion he went to Richmond, Virginia, and there commenced learning the drug business with Pursell, Ladd & Company, remaining with them vmtil the outbreak of the Civil war. when he organized the Rich- mond Howitzers, and was in active service until the close of this momentous struggle. During its progress he was wounded once, and was discharged with the rank of ser- geant. He served under the famous Captain McCarty and Dr. Palmer.

In' 1865 he came to Hampton, Virginia, and in 1867 established himself in the hard- ware and drug business on the present site of the Lee-Patterson Hardware Company, in North Queen street. Later he removed to the store now occupied by Booker, as a

hardware store. There he carried on a very prosperous business, devoting the one side of the store to hardware, the other to the drugs, and amassed a sufficient fortune to enable him to retire altogether from busi- ness pursuits in 1892. He had purchased a homestead on the river and had had a fine residence erected upon it, which was remod- eled and enlarged in 1893. The location is an ideal one, the house large and commod- ious, and it is furnished throughout in an artistic manner. The grounds are beauti- fully laid out, and run down to the river. Mr. Sclater was interested in a number of business enterprises, and was a stockholder and director in the Bank of Hampton and the Citizens" and Marines' Bank of Newport News. He gave his staunch support to the Democratic party, and for a time served as a member of the town council. For a period of thirty years he served as a vestryman of St. John's Episcopal Church, and was a member of the Masonic fraternity for many years. He was prominently identified with every project which tended toward the pub- lic welfare, and supported such measures generously.

Mr. Sclater married, December 7, 1869, his cousin, Kate Sidney Sclater, a daughter of William Sheldon and Anne Virginia (Lee) Sclater, and a sister of Laura Vir- ginia, Richard Arthur, Thomas Robertson, John Boiling and William Sheldon, the fourth. William Sheldon Sclater, father of Mrs. Sclater, was a rich and prosperous farmer of York and Elizabeth City counties. Lemuel Hoskins and Kate Sidney (Sclater) Sclater had children: i. Jennie Hoskins, born in 1871 ; married, December 6, 1893, Edgar E. Montague, and had children : Edgar S., born March 4, 1895 '■■ Laura Vir- ginia, born November 10, 1896; Katharine Sidney, born March 4, 1905. 2. Lemuel Hos- kins. jr.. born February 14, 1873, died June 25, of the same year.

Charles Eugene Borden. Charles Eugene Borden was born at Goldsboro, North Caro- lina, April 2^, 1861. His father was J. C. Borden, of Goldsboro, North Carolina, and his mother before marriage was Miss Mary Caruthers, of Alabama. In early youth he went to Wilmington. North Carolina, and continued to reside in that city until 1901, when his elevation to a high official position