Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 5.djvu/814

 VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

he was almost alone the builder of the Rich- mond & Danville Railroad, the controlling center of what is now an immense system of railways. He was its first president, and during life its most earnest advocate. He passed away at an early age, and with him perished inuch of worth and genius. His idea of the Richmond & Danville Railroad was scoffed at by newspapers and many in- dividuals, as utterly chimerical, but he per- severed, and the soundness of his judgment has been long since justified. Mr. Tunstall entered upon the practice of law at an early age, and was at once accorded the place due his ability and worth, and was elected to the legislature at an unusually early age. He immediately sprang into public notice, and all predicted for him a brilliant future. The early death of his youthful bride caused him great sorrow, and for a time seemed to cloud his life, but in the passage of time his bereavement receded, time softened and mellowed the severity of the blow, the en- ergies of his character and the astonishing vivacity of his nature re-established him, and he became an important figure in his part of the state. He was successful as a lawyer and a politician, and was among the most genial of social companions. He loved the excitement of forsenic discussion, and was always impressive, often very happy in his efforts before a jury. Bold and aggres- sive, but perfectly courteous to his adver- sary, with much information, with ready repartee, with strong and pleasing elocu- tion, he never made an enemy of a political opponent, or of anyone else. There was nothing of bitterness in his nature, and strife and discord were far from his desires. His varied accomplishments, his witty and en- chanting conversation made him the life of every circle in which he moved, but his powers were not alone of a light and super- ficial character ; he had much sound sense and talent for important affairs. His early demise caused him to be almost forgotten by the present generation. This is too often the case with worth and genius, and such is life. We follow each other like the billows of a troubled sea. As one bursts, another takes its place, and its predecessor sinks for- ever in oblivion. A writer said of him:

A plain headstone, much stained by the ravages of time, marks his last resting place in the family graveyard. It is simply inscribed with the date of his birth and death. The place is quiet, and its

solitude with the tall trees surrounding it and their dark shade, together with the boxwood planted there long ago by the hand of affection, and now grown very large, impressed me with feelings of deep solemnity, and called up many a memory of the past. 1 was carried back to my own boyhood's happy days when first I saw Mr. Tunstall. It was on the streets in Danville a few days after his first marriage with the beautiful Miss Goneke. I never saw a more interesting couple. They were in the flower of youth. She was a happy bride, and he no less happy with ample fortune, with decided talent and numerous friends. Perhaps at that time neither had ever felt a sorrow or shed a tear, and they may well have thought that for them, at least, life was formed of sunny years. While musing at the grave of Tunstall the recollection of many other friends came to mind. Stuart, with his amiable temper and fine analytical intellect; the accomplished, facetious, ingenious and eloquent Taliaferro, the most inter- esting and eloquent advocate I ever heard; Gilmer with his great energy and power of labor and mind; and glowing, genial, gifted, glorious Flournoy, with a soul as big as the courthouse he often electrified with his declamation — all came to mind, and I be- stowed upon the memory of each, all I had, a trib- utary tear. Alas, they all now sleep their last sleep.

Colonel William Risen. Colonel William Rison, of Danville, Virginia, born August 24, 1813, in Chesterfield county, was a de- scendant of the Freeh Huguenots (name originally spelled Raison), son of John and Jane (Foster) Rison, and died May i, 1902, in Danville, which had been his home since 1856. Colonel William Rison was one of the most remarkable men ever reared in that section of the state. As a youth he gave such marked evidence of his business quali- fications that Colonel William Tunstall, clerk of the court of Pittsylvania, employed him in his office as scribe. Here he served eight years as deputy clerk of the county court. This careful training under the close supervision of William H. Tunstall laid the foundation for Colonel Rison's life work, which was afterward performed in Danville. Virginia, in which city he made his home from 1856 to 1902, the time of his death. For twenty-seven years he was clerk of the corporation court of Danville, and no can- didate was able to defeat him in the contest for election to that position. His last elec- tion occurred after he had passed the age of seventy-five years, and he continued in the service until about a year before his death, when the infirmities of advancing age com- pelled him to resign his duties. This was done in the exercise of his own discretion and not because there was any question or even a hint relative to his efficiency, which