Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 5.djvu/670

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VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

surrender, then returned to his farm, where he yet resides. He was twice married; his first wife, Sarah (Kite) Brown, bore him four sons, two of whom survived, namely : William W., born January i, i860, married Alice Majjette, and has children, Lester and Cecil; Rev. James Richard, A. M., Ph. D., born March 25, 1862, married Floy Rinker, and has a daughter, Ruth ; he is an eminent minister of the Baptist church, located at Stanleyton, Page county. Virginia. His sec- ond wife, Sarah Elizabeth (Bickens) Brown, bore him four sons : Abner Franklin, born October 11, 1866, a civil engineer, married Martha Matilda Marshall, and has a son, Paul ; George Woodford, of further men- tion ; Rev. Wade Bickers, born April 28, 1870, died February 28, igo6, was also a minister of the Baptist church, he married Mollie Bruce, and left a daughter, Margaret ; Rev. Lester Alexander, D. D. LL. D., born September 15, 1873, an eminent minister of the Baptist church, and president of Cox College, Atlanta. Georgia, he married Ethel Hardy, and has children, Ethel and Lester Alexander (2).

. George Woodford Brown, M. D., of Wil- liamsburg, Virginia, was born in Culpeper county. Virginia, at his father's farm, De- cember ID, 1868. His early education was obtained in the public school, his prepara- tory at Jefifersonton Academy, his collegiate at the University of Virginia. He then taught in A^irginia four years, then began the study of medicine. He later entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Balti- more. Maryland, whence he was graduated in class of 1893. He spent the following year as interne at the City Hospital, Balti- more, then began private practice in Madi- son county, Virginia. Later he moved to Middlesex county, Virginia, and there be- gan specializing in nervous diseases. He gained notable distinction in treating this class of patients and continued a specialist in Middlesex county until 191 1, when his prominence in the care and treatment of the insane brought him forward as a candidate for superintendent of the Eastern State Hos- pital, at Williamsburg, not. however, through any effort of his own. He was ap- pointed in that year and has since devoted all his energy, learning and skill to those un- fortunates temporarily or permanently be- reft of their reason. IJnder his management the percentage of cures has been raised, and

the wisdom of his appointment is every- where apparent. He delves deep into the causes of insanity, the best methods of care and treatment, bringing to his aid all modern thought or discovery. He is a member of the American Medico-Psychological Asso- ciation ; the Medical Society of Virginia ; the Tide W^ater Medical Society, and keeps in closest touch with his brethren of the profes- sion through these societies and medical literature' devoted to his special class of patients. He is a member of the Masonic Order, the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, Knights of Pythias, and in religious faith is a Baptist.

Dr. Brown married, June 19, 1895, Joseph- ine, daughter of M. S. and Susan (Garnett) W^atts. Children : Thelma Josephine, born May 26, 1896; Lucille Woodford, April 12, 1901.

John Morton Fultz. Among the sons of Virginia who have gone beyond her borders in pursuit of a chosen career and who, in their adopted homes, have brought honor to their native state, there are many who have made Philadelphia the seat of their activ- ities. Among these is John Morton Fultz, secretary oi The Philadelphia Electric Com- pany. While his paternal ancestors settled at an early date in Albemarle and Augusta counties, Virginia, and there bore worthy places in the professions, through his mother he descends from that distinguished Penn- sylvanian whose name he bears, John Mor- ton, a signer of the Declaration of Independ- ence, whose memory is kept green by a tab- let in Independence Hall, Philadelphia.

John Morton, the signer, did more than afifix his signature to the immortal docu- ment. When the day of trial came for the great question of independence, the Pennsyl- vania delegation to the Continental congress on the fourth of July, 1776, stood four in favor and five against the weighty question. But when the final vote was taken but five of the delegation were present — Franklin, Wilson, Morton. Humphreys and Willing. Franklin and Wilson voted for. Humphreys and Willing against. John Morton voted "Yea" and thus the vote of Pennsylvania was recorded in favor of independence through his high, disinterested courage. And it took a high courage, for he lived in a section hostile to independence, and every pressure was brought by his neighbors to