Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 5.djvu/587

 VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

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Men's Christian Association and the charity known as "Sailor's Rest." For many years he has been affiliated with the Masonic order, and has always retained his member- ship in Unity Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, of \Vakefield, New Hampshire.

For the past fifteen years, ever since the retirement of Mr. Swinerton from the hotel business, he has been in a position to in- dulge certain tastes, unusual, but not the less creditable on that account, in one, the better part of whose life has been devoted to business activities, and the practical affairs of the world. For many years, in- deed, he has taken an intense interest in botanical subjects generally, and made a pro- found study of the various American repre- sentatives of the great class of cryptogams, especially those orders embraced in the popular term, ferns. During the compara- tive leisure enjoyed by him of late years he has done much collecting and is now the possessor of an herbarium containing a large selection of ferns and flowering plants from Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, New England and Canada. He is an hon- ored member of several learned societies, such as the American Fern Society and the Luther P>urbank Society of California. This taste for botany is. perhaps, but the strong- est manifestation of an universal fondness for nature in all her aspects, as exhibited in him in his tastes for the wholesome outdoor sports of hunting and fishing, as well as for all open-air occupations. Such tastes are perhaps the surest pledge of a wholesome, normal nature, such a nature as Mr. Swin- erton has displayed in every relation of his life. The fundamental virtues are fostered, simplicity, candor and a tranquil mind are called to life and developed by intimate con- tact with our universal mother, and he can- not stray very far along the paths leading to our modern psychological Gehenna who does not fail to heed the adjviration to.

Let the mnon shine on thee in thy solitary walks And let the misty mountain winds be free to blow against thee.

Mr. Swinerton married (first) June 17, 1884, Mary R. Stevens, of Greenfield. ^las- sachusetts, a daughter of Henry P. Stevens, of New York City. Mrs. Swinerton's death occurred June 12, 191.^. Mr. Swinerton mar- ried (second) September 22, 1914, Annie H. Newton, a daughter of Christopher Newton. o'' Greenfield, Massachusetts.

David George Wilson, D. D. S. Dr. Wil- son, a North Carolinian by birth, adopted Richmond, Virginia, as his home in 1898, and has since resided there continuously, engaged in a lucrative professional prac- tice. He is a son of the Rev. Edmund H. Wilson, born in Wake count}-. North Caro- Inia, and dying there at the age of sixty years. He was a soldier of the Confed- eracy, was one of the crew of the ironclad Mcrriuiac in her historic fight with the Monitor, serving in the engineering force. He was also a soldier of the Thirty-first Regiment North Carolina Infantry, fought at Point Lookout and was at the battle of Seven Pines. He was once held a prisoner by the Federals, but passed through the perils of war unscathed. He was a man of education and piety, an ordained minister ot the Baptist church, and ranked among the able men of that holy calling. He mar- ried and among his children was David George.

Dr. David George Wilson was born in Wake county. North Carolina, March 30, 1870. His father owned and operated a farm in the county, and here the lad grew up. He obtained a good education at Buies Creek Academy and at Business College, afterwards teaching four years in the pub- lic schools of W'ake county. He next took a course at Turlington's Institute at Smith- field, North Carolina, coming to Virginia in 1S98, and entering the University College of Medicine at Richmond (dental depart- ment), whence he was graduated D. D. S., May I, 1901. He at once began the practice of his profession in Richmond, locating his offices at No. 1 14 North Fifth street, where he is well established in public favor. He is a member of the Masonic order, W^ood- nien of the World, Order of the Golden Seal and Royal Arcanum. He is a licensed preacher of the Baptist church, and is chor- ister of the Sunday school of the congre- gation. Dr. Wilson married Jane Pierce Jennings, of Hanover county, Virginia. Three of the children of Dr. Wilson died in infancy. One daughter, Georgia May, is living, born February 20, 1907.

Joseph Thomas Buxton, M. D. ; Russell Buxton. The name of Buxton is of English origin, and is found very early in New Eng- land, where .Anthony Buxton appears as early as 1637 in the town of Salem, Massa- chusetts, when he received a grant of five