Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 5.djvu/789

 VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

1 103

est of these was George Washington Parke Custis, who was then six months old, and another was Eleanor Parke Custis, who be- came the wife of Lawrence Lewis. Upon the death of the father General Washington said he would rear the two youngest chil- dren as his own. The younger, George W. P. Custis, married Mary Lee, daughter of Colonel William and Anne (Randolph) Fitz- hugh, and their daughter. Alary Anne Ran- dolph Custis, married Robert Edward Lee^ With her brother, Eleanor Parke Custis went to live at Mount \"ernon, which was her home until her marriage.

Henry Llewellyn Daingertield Lewis Jr., studied under private tutors, in William Mc- Donald's private school at Berryville, and in \'irginia Military Institute, and received the training which can only be received in a refined cultured atmosphere at home. He helped with the operation of his father's farm as a young man, but business life had many attractions for one of his energy and enterprise, and in his twenty-second year he came to New York City to engage in business. He became a clerk in the banking and brokerage house of Gilbert, Lewis & Gilmore, remaining there two years. He then became a member of the firm of Lewis & Littleton, bankers and brokers. He sub- sequently became a member of the firm of Lewis & Vredenburgh. bankers and brokers and members of New York Stock Exchange, remaining with them five years. He has since engaged in brokerage business on his own account and has been very successful in this enterprise. He is a man of keen business sense and stands well in the circles where he is known. Pie is well known socially and is much sought by the musical directors of many city churches on account of his fine voice, which has received great care and attention. He has been an enthusi- astic student of music and has taken great pleasure in cultivating his wonderful gift. He takes pride in the record and honors of his many distinguished ancestors and few can claim lineage from so many old and honorable families of the Old Dominion. He belongs to the Southern Society and the Virginians of New York City and takes an active interest in their proceedings. Politi- cally he is a Democrat.

Walter Washington Foster. Walter W'ash- ir.gton Foster, of Richmond, V^irginia. was

born February 22, 1857, at Norfolk, Virginia, a son of Joseph G. and Mary A. (Brown- Icy) Foster. He attended the public schools of Norfolk, and at the age of sixteen years started out to learn the art of photography, ii' the studio of D. H. Anderson, of New York. W'hh a natvu^al artistic sense and a keen interest in his work, he made rapid advancement, and accjuired a thorough knowledge of all details pertaining to the photographic business. In 1881 he estab- lished himself in a studio at Richmond, and fiom that time to the present has continued at the same location, and during this time has acquired a very high reputation for u'ork. He is known everywhere south of \\'ashington, and his studio is one of the best equipped in the state of Virginia. At the present time Air. Foster is giving much attention to painting in oil, and his reputa- tion as an artist in this direction is very high. Mr. Foster is deeply absorbed in his work, and has given very little attention to other matters. Many of the engravings in this work were reproduced from photo types made by Mr. Foster. In disposition lie is modest and retiring, and he has never sought any part in the direction of public alTairs. He is an active member of the Christadelphian Church of Richmond, and is affiliated with the Masonic fraternity, a member of Highland Park Lodge. No. 292, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and has attained the thirty-second degree in Scottish Rite Masonry. In Masonic circles he is highly esteemed, and is known for his fidel- ity to the broad fraternal principles of the order. These principles guide the conduct of his daily life, and thus he is esteemed out- side of Masonic circles for his manly worth and large-hearted sympathy. He married, February 21, 1877. Carrie' P. Hughes, a daughter of Josiah and Sallie (Ellyson) Hughes, of Richmond. They are the par- ents of two children: i. Dr. Walter Brown- ley Foster, at present head of the health de- partment of the city of Roanoke, Virginia, a position which he has held with credit and honor. He married Clara Crenshaw, and they have three children : Gwyn Harrison, Constance and Jean T'oster. 2. Nellie Vir- ginia, wife of Arthur W. Orpin, who is an able assistant of his father-in-law in the photographic studio. Mr. and Mrs. Orpin have two children : Helen R. and Walter Foster.