Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 5.djvu/612

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VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

a son of Alvin Claytor. He was a captain in Colonel Febriger's regiment in the War of 1776, and his son, Robert Mitchell Clay- tor, served in the War of 1812 with the Vir- ginia forces. Robert Mitchell Claytor mar- ried Julia Graham, a member of the famous Graham family of Rockbridge county, Vir- ginia, a line prominent in church and state, active in peace and in war, and especially helpful to the cause of education. William Graham was the first president and recog- nized founder of Washington College, Lex- ington, Virginia, (now Washington and Lee University), standing as a monument to the generosity and patriotism of a Graham. His remains were first interred in St. John's churchyard, Richmond, Virginia, but re- cently were removed to Lexington, Virginia. Michael Graham was a soldier of the Revo- lution, serving with troops from Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. His son, Michael Graham. Jr., great-grandfather of Dr. Alfred Burwell Claytor, was born in the fort at Harris Ferry, now Harrisburg, his parents having taken refuge there to insure safety from Indian attack.

Robert Burwell Claytor, son of Robert Mitchell and Julia (Graham) Claytor, was born in Bedford county, Virginia, in Octo- ber, 1830, died November 15, 1913. He was a merchant of Bedford City, Virginia, and during the war between the states, 1861-65, served in the Confederate army, holding the rank of Captain of Artillery, Tenth Virginia Battalion, General G. W. Custis Lee's Divi- sion. He was a man of ability, serving worthily his day and generation. He mar- ried Mary Clarinda Bell, born in Liberty, Virginia, in 1845, daughter of Alfred and Mary (Lowry) Bell, and a descendant of James Bell, who came to Augusta county, Virginia, from city of Philadelphia, Pennsyl- vania, in 1740, his father coming from the north of Ireland. There was a large family of Bell Brothers, James being the original settler in Augusta. The other brothers later settled in Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee, one of the Tennessee Bells, John, running for the Presidency of the United States in i860 on the Whig ticket, "Bell and Everett." Both the Bells and the Grahams trace to ancient Scotch lineage. Mary Clarinda Bell descended through Captain James Bell, an officer of the Revolution under Lafayette at Yorktown. His son, James Bell, of Pros- pect Hill, Virginia, was a magistrate of

Augusta county from 1796 to a short period before his death in 1856, and as such suc- ceeded to the office of high sheriff as the oldest magistrate shortly after the adoption of the state constitution in 1850. He was president of the county court for many years, served in the legislature, was a long time influential member of the church, a man of vigor and enterprise and highly en- dowed intellectually.

Alfred Burwell Claytor, M. D., son of Robert Burwell and Mary Clarinda (Bell) Claytor, was born in Bedford City, Virginia, December 16, 1869. He obtained his pre- paratory education in the public schools of Bedford City, and for two years was a stu- dent at Bellevue High School of Bellevue Heights. From 1888 to 1890 he was a stu- dent in Washington and Lee University, but in the latter year entered the medical de- partment of the University of Pennsylvania, whence he was graduated M. D., class of 1894. After receiving his degree Dr. Clay- tor served as interne and assistant surgeon at St. Luke's Hospital, South Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, then for eighteen months was in surgical practice at Bethlehem, Pennsyl- vania. After two years as physician and surgeon with the Longdale Iron Company he settled permanently in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the year 1900. He has established a successful practice in that city and is held in high esteem by his profes- sional lirethren. He is a member of the Philadelphia and State Medical Associa- tions, and at various times has contributed articles to the medical jotirnals. He is a member of St. John's Lodge, No. 115, Free and Accepted Masons, Philadelphia, Rich- mond (Virginia) Chapter, Sons of the Revo- lution, and is a communicant of the Protes- tant E])iscopal church. Dr. Claytor is un- married.

Thomas Burton Snead. Thomas Burton Snead, a leading attorney of Richmond, was born March 10, 1878, at Etna Mills, King William county, Virginia, a descendant of one of the oldest Virginia families. There were several early immigrants bearing this name among whom was Charles Snead, who brought seven persons into the colony, and received a grant of 1933 acres of land, Octo- ber 20, 1666. A Charles Snead received a grant of 833 acres between the Rivanna and James rivers, near the Forks, in 1755. Sam-