Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 5.djvu/799

 VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

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died in 1884. He was a farmer and furniture manufacturer, serving after the close of the war as postmaster of Hillsville, Virginia, United States marshall of Carroll county and deputy sheriff. During the war, 1861- 65, he served as a private in Lieutenant Newber's Pulaski company, I'"iftieth Regi- ment, \'irginia Infantry, Confederate States army, and was engaged at Chancellorsville, Gettysburg and many other battles of the war. He married Polly Gillespie Smith, daughter of Gabriel and Allsie (Dickens) Smith, born July 4, 1850. in Carroll county, Virginia, yet survives her husband.

Gabriel Wise \\'orrell obtained his early and preparatory education in the primary, grammar and high schools of Carroll county. He enlisted in 1901 in Troop F, Eleventh Regiment, United States army, and for nearly three years he served with that famous cavalry regiment attaining the rank of sergeant. While in the service he traveled with his regiment around the world and saw sixteen months service in the Phil- ippines. On account of ill health he was transferred to hospital service at Manilla and with Troop D served at Fort Houston, Texas. At the expiration of his term of en- listments in 1904, he was honorably dis- charged.

In 1907, Mr. A\'orrell entered Milligan College, North Carolina, from whence he was graduated Ph. B., class of "11." The following year he located in Radford, an independent city of Montgomery county, where he founded, edited and published the "Radford Record," which in August, 1912, was merged with the "Radford Advance," with Mr. Worrell sole editor and manager. The "Advance" founded in 1888 was incor- porated in 1907, merged with the newly established "Advance" as the "Record-Ad- vance" Company in 1913, reincorporated as the "Record-Advance" Companv, publish- ers of the "Radford Record." Mr. Worrell is secretary and treasurer of the latter com- pany, editor and manager of the paper, hav- ing been vice-president of the old corpora- tion. Fully equipped by education, talent and experience for the editorial position he occupies and a Progressive in political sen- timent, he is the recognized leader of the Progressive party in Radford. He is chair- man of the Radford Progressive Club and has been hotly engaged in a civic battle with the party in power ever since coming

to Radford. He has received and dealt heavy olows and has been obliged to defend himself from physical violence. On Decem- ber 16, 1913, the charges he had preferred i.gainsl the secretary and treasurer of the State Normal School were heard before a special committee of the board of trustees in the mavor"s office in Radford, Mr. W'or- rell being represented Ijy E. Lee Tinkle, his attorney, the defence by Richard Evelyn Byrd. This is only one of the attacks the "Record" has made on those in power in Radford and Mr. Worrell has in the short time he has directed the paper rallied to his standard many influential friends.

He has taken an active interest in the var- ious departments of Radford life, is a mem- ber of I. N. Ingalls Camp, Sons of Confed- erate Veterans, first lieutenant of Company M, Second Regiment National Guard, a company he assisted in organizing, is a director of the Radford Board of Trade, member and secretary of the Good Govern- ment Club, is a potent element of strength in the cause of civic righteousness in Rad- ford and to no man does it owe its strength more than to its fearless, energetic young secretary, the vigorous, able champion of good government.

George Morgan Jones has place among men of interest to Virginians by reason of the qualities of brain and character that gave him leadership among the merchants who built up the business interests of Vir- ginia after the Civil war, and because of his I'road conception of the obligations resting upon childless men of wealth. His life story thus publicly recorded will serve both as an example and a warning, and simple justice demands that his memory be rescued from false impressions.

By blood Mr. Jones was a representative of that large class of well-to-do land and slave-owning people who from the earliest years gave strength and backing to the bril- liant men whose names are a j^art of Vir- ginia history. He was of "the people," — not the mass upon whom the demagogue plays at will, but the thinking men of character upon whom statesmen rely for the enforce- ment of their policies.

He was born on the 4th day of May, 1824, the son of Wharton and Nancy (Wood) Jones, at "Pleasant V^iew," his father's home on Teremv's Run, in Page countv (then