Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 3.djvu/270

This page needs to be proofread.

\'IRGIXIA BIOGRAPHY


fore the surrender <if the entire army — and was paroled a few days afterward. Return- ing to Norfolk in 1865, Dr. Nash again en- tered civil professional life, and soon re- gained a good practice. He gave special at- tention to plastic surgery and gynecology, and was the ])ioneer of such work in his city. He was a member of the Norfolk Medical Society since its organization, and several times served as president. He be- came a member of the Virginia State Medi- cal Society, was formerly its president, and was an honorary fellow. He was a member of many other societies and had an extended reputation. Dr. Nash was married, in Feb- ruary, 1867, to Mary A., daughter of Nich- olas Wilson Parker, of Norfolk, Virginia, and his wife, Elizabeth Boush, a representa- tive of one of the oldest families of south- eastern \'irginia.

Saunders, Fleming, born in Campbell county, \'irginia, July 18, 1829. a son of Judge (general court) Fleming Saunders and Alice Watts, his wife, and a descendant of John Saunders, a native of England, who died in York county, Virginia, in 1700. Fleming Saunders was prepared for college at the New London Academy, matriculated at the University of Virginia, from which he was graduated in the class of 1S52 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. He pursued the study of law at the same institution for one year, then, as his father's health had be- come imjiaired, he abandoned his legal studies in order to take charge of the exten- sive plantation. He was an old-line Whig, and opposed to secession, but cast his for- tunes in with those of his state when the latter seceded, and at once enlisted in tlic Confederate arm v. His career as soldier


was characterized by the thoroughness evi- dent in all that he undertook, and after the surrender at Appomattox he received the personal commendations of Generals Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson. At the close of the war he resumed his agricultural duties. Mr. Saunders married. July 30, 1874, Mary Gwathmey.

Coke, Richard, born in Williamsburg,

\'irginia, March 13, 1829, son of John Coke and Elizabeth Hankins, his wife ; was educated at William and Mary College ; studied law, and after admission to the bar removed to Waco, Texas, and practiced his profession. He served as a private and afterward as captain in the Confederate prmy. In June. 1865. he was appointed dis- trict judge, and in 1866 elected judge of the supreme court of Texas. A year later, Gen- cial Sheridan removed him, on the ground that he was an impediment to reconstruc- tion. In 1873 he was elected governor of Texas, and in 1876 was reelected. Elected as a Democrat to the United States senate, he resigned the governorship to take his seat in the senate, March 4, 1877. In 1833 he was elected for another term, to expire March 3. 18S9.

Taylor, William Henry, M. D., born at F'ichmond, \'irginia. May 17. 1835, a son of William Taylor and his wife, Emeline Pearson. W^illiam Taylor, who was in the commercial business, was for a time recorder of Richmond, later a member of the city council, a member of the state legis- lature, and treasurer of Henrico county. Dr. William Henry Taylor commenced his edu- c.ilion in various schools of his native city,

in(l in 1854 matriculated at the Medical Col-

lege of \'irginia, from which he was gradu-