Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 5.djvu/666

 VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

ried Sally Cannaday, and had one child, 'rempie. ii. Bessie Beulah, married Theo- dore Cox, and is the mother of Stearnes Cox. iii. Thomas Lewis. iv. Kittie Blanche, v. Jake Henry, became the wife of Charles Bauserman and the mother of Virginia Bauserman. vi. Hannah, married Charles Edward Bush, and has children : Edward, Thomas, Albert, Kitty Blanche, and an infant daughter unnamed, vii. Sally, Mrs. Charles Edward McKemy. 2. Lewis Patrick, of further mention below. 3. Thomas F., mentioned below.

Lewis Patrick Stearnes, senior son of Or- ren Darius and Temperance (Ward) Stearnes, was born December 31. 1849, in Franklin county, Virginia, where his youth was passed, under the instruction of private tutors. In 1867 he entered the service of the Virginia & Tennessee Railroad, now the Norfolk & Western, beginning as assistant to a station agent, where he gained experi- ence as telegraph operator and express agent, and in 1871 was employed by the Southern Express Company in Georgia. In 1873 'i^ returned to the Norfolk & Western Railroad, with which he continued about seven years. For four years following 1880 he was engaged in the hotel business in West Virginia and Kentucky, and in 1884 became station agent of the Chesapeake &. Ohio Railroad, and the following year re- turned to the service of the Norfolk & West- ern. In 1890 he removed to Newport News, where he had charge of the coal business of the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad, and after twenty-four years retired, in August, 1914. Mr. Stearnes is a man of excellent business capacity, and not long after his arrival in Newport News he became interested in the Citizens Marine Bank, of that city, in which he is now a director, and is also a director of several small corporations. He is a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church, and is ever striving to aid his fellow-man. With broad sympathies and generous impulses, his quiet, charitable actions have assisted many in maintaining a good standard of citizenship. He is a member of the Order of Heptasophs. and was at one time affili- ated with the Masonic fraternity. In 1893 Mr. Stearnes was appointed collector of customs at Newport News by President Cleveland, and served two terms in that office. In 1895 he was a member of the Democratic state committee of Virgfinia, and

in 1901 was elected to the lower house of the state legislature, in which he served three and one-half terms. He married Cyn- thia Bentley King, daughter of Thomas S. and Matilda (Davidson) King, of Pulaski county, \'irginia. Children : Lila Pearl, married Hon. Clarence Welmore Robinson (see Robinson) ; Mary Patton, married Pro- fessor Edwin Feller ; Lewis Bentley, mar- ried Patrick Cabell Massie.

Thomas Franklin Stearnes, second son of Orren Darius and Temperance (Ward") Stearnes. was born October 6, 1859, in I-'ranklin county, Virginia, and attended a jjrivate school in Dublin, Pulaski county, Virginia, under the tutorship of Professor George W. Walker. In 1873, when in his fourteenth year, he entered mercantile life in a general store at Big Lick. Roanoke, Vir- ginia. In 1881 he went to Lynchburg, Vir- ginia, as corresponding clerk in a commis- sion house, and three years later entered the Commercial Bank at Lynchburg, as book- keeper. His industry, ability and trust- worthy character soon advanced him to the position of teller, and later cashier, in which capacity he continued until 1897. In that year he removed to Newport News, where he became assistant of his brother, Lewis I'atrick Stearnes, above mentioned, who had charge of the coal business of the Chesa- peake & (Jhio Railroad at that point. Mr. Stearnes is a very energetic, efficient and capable business man, and is today ranked among the wealthiest citizens of Newport News. He is a man of genial nature, wel- comed in every social circle, and a valuable aid to any enterprise with which he becomes associated. He was reared in the Protest- ant Episcopal church, is a member of the Royal x\rcanum, and in politics follows the footsteps of his ancestors, who were ever associated in the councils of the Democratic party. He married, November 11, 1890, Fanny Dickerson Tignor, daughter of Thomas W. and Elizabeth Ann (Carter) Tignor. who were married December 4, 1853. Mr. and Mrs. Stearnes had one daugh- ter, Tempe. born March 16, 1893. died May 25. 1898.

Hollis Burke Frissell, D. D. Hollis Eurke Frissell, D. D., principal of the Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute, Hamp- ttm. Virginia, is descended from one of the early American families, planted originally