Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 5.djvu/649

 VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

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One of his sons, Abram Rorer, removed to Virginia under the colony-head of Harmon Cook; later merchant and extensive land- owner on the waters of Tomahawk, Pittsyl- vania county, and whose daughter Abram married. It is related that it was the early mfatuation of young Abram for the lovely daughter that induced him to join the col- ony and follow the venturesome fortunes of his future father-in-law. Of this union there were born four sons : Rudolph, Charles, David and Abram. The last was the grand- father of Rorer A. James. David Rorer studied law and early in life located in Iowa, where he achieved eminent success and rep- utation as a lawyer, jurist and author. He became a distinguished member of the su- preme court of that state, and a national authority, with the publication of "Rorer on Judicial Sales" and other standard law- works of his pen. The other sons were substantial and prosperous farmers of their native county, Pittsylvania.

Angeline Rorer, daughter of Abram Rorer the second, and the devoted mother of Rorer A. James, was remarkable for her strong and practical mind and well-nigh un- erring judgment and clear and accurate memory, even to her last moments at the ripe age of ninety-two years. With the husband and father absent from home so much, attending to his widely scattered pro- fessional calls, it was mainly to her lot that fell the responsible duties of bringing up seven sons and daughters, who lovingly call her memory blessed, and nobly did she at all times discharge her sacred obligation.

Rorer James received his primary educa- tion under private tutors until he reached the age of fourteen years ; then two years in a local public school, after which he served one year as clerk in a general mer- chandise store, and was a student of Roa- noke College for one session. The next ses- sion he taught a public school, following which he entered the Virginia Military In- stitute, where four years later, in the class of 1882, he was graduated as a "star" or "distinguished" graduate. Upon graduation he was offered an assistant professorship in his alma mater, a year later the oiTer was renewed; but each time he declined the honor, preferring a more active career.

Soon after leaving the \'irginia Military Institute, he formed and became a member of the firm of James & Terry, tobacco manu-

facturers at Brosville, Virginia, which busi- ness he followed with varying financial suc- cess until the fall of 1886, when he entered the University of Virginia, and took the Bachelor of Law degree in June, 1887. He at once began the practice of his profession in the city of Danville, and in i88q was elected a member of the house of delegates from the city of Danville and the county of Pitts}lvania. Two years later he was re- elected and served as chairman of the com- mittee on schools and colleges of that body. He declined to stand for the house again; but two years later was elected to the senate from the district composed of the counties of Henry and Pittsylvania and of the city o.' Danville by the largest majority ever given a candidate for any ofifice in that dis- trict.

It was during his term as senator in 1898 that at the request of the leading citizens of Danville he purchased, at public auction, the "Danville Register," and two years later acquired the "Evening P>ee." He had a keen fondness and aptitude for politics ; but believing that the newspaper field without office would afiford ample room for the satis- fying of this taste, and especially that he could better serve his party and constitu- ents as a fearless and impersonal journalist, free from the swerving temptations of the ofifice holder, he declined, in convention as- sembled, the unanimous re-nomination of his party to the senate, which was easily equivalent to election. Since then he has asked for no public office.

Soon after graduation from the University of Virginia he was appointed a member of the board of visitors to the Virginia Military Institute b}' Governor Fitzhugh Lee, which position he resigned when he became a can- didate for the legislature ; and because he was still a member of that body declined a reappointment to the same board tendered him by Governor Charles T. O'Ferrell. He served two years of a four-year term on the board of fisheries, and resigned when Gov- ernor Swanson offered him choice of ap- pointment on the board of visitors to the University of Virginia or the Virginia Mili- tary Institute. Following the dictates of his heart he accepted the latter, and was soon elected president of the board, which high position he still holds, and which honor it is known he values more highly than any m the gift of his congressional district. He