Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 5.djvu/637

 VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

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a number of important business interests, but is in essence a professional man, and to this portion of his work gives the major part of his time and attention. He belongs to three orders, the Masonic order, the Knights of Pythias, and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

Dr. Catlett married Elizabeth Mickey, a daughter of Colonel Henr\ Clay Mickey, a prominent farmer of Albemarle county, Vir- ginia. Mrs. Catlett was educated at the Misses Masons School, Washington, D. C. To Dr. and Mrs. Catlett has been born, 1897, a son, Clay Mickey.

James Van Allen Bickford. James V^an Allen Bickford, a real estate operator of Hampton, is descended from one of the most ancient New England families. The American ancestor was John Bickford, born in England about 1612. He first ap- pears of record in this country, July 20, 1645, when he purchased an estate at Oyster River, now Dover, New Hampshire, and he continued to be a taxpayer there until 1672. He was admitted a freeman in 1655. Most of his descendants are the progeny of his eldest son, John, who lived near Dover from 1662 to 1672, was taxed in Dover in 1675, and died before November 8, 1697, when an inventory of his property was made.

Selwyn Eugene Bickford, a descendant of this family, was born in 1830, in Lowell, Massachusetts, and died in 1884. He was educated in the public schools of his native town, and when the Civil war commenced he enlisted as a soldier of the Union army, and was made lieutenant. He continued in the military service until the close of the war. after which he engaged in the mercan- tile business at Hampton, Virginia, carrying stocks of dry goods and furniture. He was also, for many years, until his death, clerk of the courts. He was a past master of St. Tamany Lodge, No. 5, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, of Hampton, a member of the Royal Arch Chapter at Portsmouth, and of the commandery at Hampton. He was a past chancellor commander of the local lodge. Knights of Pythias, a charter member of Wyoming Camp, Improved Or- der of Red ^len. and commander of the Grand Army of the Republic post. In re- ligion he adhered to the Episcopal church, and in politics was always a Republican. He

married Caroline Matilda Van Allen, daugh- ter of James Van Allen, of New York state. The}' had three sons: Selwyn Eugene, of Hampton, James Y.. of further mention, and Charles, who died in infancy.

James Van Allen Bickford, second son of Selwyn Eugene and Caroline M. (Van Allen) Bickford, was born December 31, 1876, in Hampton, where most of his life has been passed. He attended public and pri- vate school?, was a student at William and Mary College in 1893, entered Virginia Mili- tary Institute in the following year, and was graduated in 1896 with the degree of Civil Engineer. He was very shortly thereafter employed by the Newport News Shipbuild- ii'g (S: Dry Dock Company as draftsman in their shipyard. The development of this section was forseen by Mr. Bickford, and he resolved to participate in the same and gather his proportional share of the emo- luments to be derived. In 1890 he engaged in the real estate business in Hampton, im- mediately achieved success, and soon added the trade in sand, gravel and builder's sup- plies. For the last fourteen years he has been manager of Buckroe Beach, a summer resort maintained by the railroad company. Mr. Bickford is a man of broad mind and keen intellect, genial in disposition, court- eous and afiable in manner, and commands the loyal devotion of a great multitude of friend. Mr. Bickford served in the Virginia state militia and was appointed. August 3, 1905. as first lieutenant and adjutant of Third Battalion, Seventy-first Regiment In- fantry of Virginia; appointed March i, 1907, aide-de-camp of P"irst Brigade, Virginia Vol- unteers on General Vaughn's staff ; was ap- pointed chief of signal corps, Virginia Vol- unteers, 1912 and still active in state militia. He was appointed by Judge C. W. Robinson commissioner of taxes for the Wythe dis- trict for 1915. He is a member of the Bap- tist church, and of Kappa Alpha, a college fraternity. In politics he differs from the ])recepts of his forefathers, and is active in the local councils of the Democratic party. Mr. Bickford is very active in the social life of his home town, and is affiliated with most of the fraternities there existing. Mr. Bick- ford is a member of both the Greater Hamp- ton and Business Men's associations. He is a member of Monitor Lodge, No. 57, Ancient Free and Acce])tcd Masons, of Phoebus ; of St. John's Chapter, Royal Arch Masons ;