Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 5.djvu/575

 VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

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August 21. iS6i. in luiltimore, Maryland, where he was educated, and as a youth served an apprenticeship in the printing office of the John Ryan Type Foundry, in his native city. In 1882 he engaged in business on his own account, making a spe- cialty of newspaper and magazine printing. To this he devoted himself most assidu- ously, and in 1888 his health failed on ac- count of over work. \\'hile recuperating he was invited to go to Hampton, Virginia, to help organize the Hampton Young Men's Christian Association. In September of 1888 he visited Hampton, accepted a call as general secretary of the Young Men's Chris- tian Association, returned to Baltimore, and disposed of his business, and on October i. 1888, was in charge of the association at Hampton. In i8qo Mr. Gumming purchased the Hampton "Monitor," a weekly news- ])aper, and re-entered newspaper work. In 1902 he established the Newport News "Ad- vance," which was published at his printing ofifice in Hampton. Subsequently the two papers were combined in the "Monitor-Ad- vance," and m 1903 Mr. Gumming began the publication of a daily newspaper in Hamp- ton, which continued for seven months, long enough to satisfy the editor that Hampton would not support a daily paper. In 1896 he engaged in the real estate and insurance business, still continuing the pub- lication of his paper, but sold out the news- jiaper and printing office when the "Daily Press" of Newport News entered the field. He first began making a specialty of city subdivisions in August, 1897, when he pur- chased a large tract, which was sold oft' in city lots, and his enterprise was marked with success from the first. A year later he opened a branch office in Phoebus, Virginia, and, seeing the necessity of advertising that section, purchased the entire plant of the \\ est Point "Virginian," which he moved to Phoebus. There he began the publica- tion of a weekly newspaper, called the Phoe- bus "Sentinal," making the first issue, March 4. 1899. Through his executive abil- ity and influence the Phoebus Business Alen's Association was organized in his office, and the Bank of Phoebus was also organized in his ofifice, where were held the meetings of this association, which resulted in the incorporation of the town of Phoe- bus, in which Mr. Gumming took an active part. He has taken an active interest in

every movement looking to the development and uplifting of Hampton and the surround- ing country. In January, 1907, he disposed of his insurance business in order to give his entire time to the development of a pro- posed railroad connecting Old Point and Washington, and to look after his interests in the Peninsula Pure Water Gompany, of which he was president, and the Public Service Corporation of Virginia (which sup- plies Hampton with gas), of which he was vice-president. The financial panic of 1906- 07 swept away the financial agents of all these companies, and Mr. Gumming again resumed the real estate business, handling only his own properties. He is interested in agriculture, and has a large farm on the outskirts of Hampton. His winter home is on South King street, in Hampton, while the summers of the family are passed at his country place on Ware river in Gloucester county, \'irginia. He is now guardian of the heirs of the large estate of the late James S. Darling ; has served several terms as a member of the Hampton town council, di- rector of the Bank of Phoebus, and treas- urer of the Young Men's Christian Asso- ciation. He has been superintendent of the Hampton Presbyterian Sunday school, chairman of the Givic League of Elizabeth City county, secretary and treasurer of the Hampton Educational Association, and sec- retary' of the Greater Hampton Association. He is interested in sports of all kinds, and is secretary and treasurer of the Deal's Island Ducking Club, Incorporated.

Mr. Gumming married, in Hampton, Vir- ginia, October 14. 1891, Grace Darling, born May 28, 1870, in Hampton, died there, April 4, 1913. Children: Grace Darling, James Sands Darling, Mary Frances. Frank Darl- ing. Daniel Randolph, Hamilton, William McLean.

George Conquest Anthony, D. D. S. Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, son of an English father, through his mother, Eliza Jane Arnold (Conquest) Anthony, Dr. An- thony traces descent to old \'irginia fami- lies, also of English descent. One of his ancestors, William Whittington, whose name appears on records preserved in the British Museum, was a captain of horse in the English Army of Virginia in 1664. An- other ancestor, Bartholomew Mears, served as a gunner on the Accomac Galley in war