792
\"1RGINIA BIOGRAPHY
tain Henry and Susan Preston (Lewis)
Massie, was born July 4, 1816, in Bath
county, Virginia. His father conveyed to
him property known as "Rock Hill," con-
sisting of eleven hundred and fifty acres and
situated within the boundary of a county
just then being formed, known as Alle-
ghany county. He continued the rural mode
of life followed by his ancestors, and farmed
this large estate. He finally made his home
near the town of Charlottesville, Virginia,
and there died April 22, 1878. at the age of
sixty-two years. He married, March 23,
1841, Susan Elizabeth Smith, a native of
Savannah, Georgia, born February 5, 1822,
died November 25, 1887, at Copeley, Albe-
marle county, Virginia, only child of Charles
Bolton Smith, of Savannah, Georgia, and
his wife, Caroline S. R. (Thomson) Smith,
of St. Matthews Parish, South Carolina.
To Mr. and Mrs. Henry Massie were born
eight children: Henry Lewis, O. S. P. 1887;
Caroline Thomson, the widow of James
Pler-sants, grandson of Governor James
Pleasants, of Richmond, Virginia ; Sarah
Lewis (Lulie). O. S. P., 1878; Thomas, O.
S. P., 1863 ; William Russell, mentioned at
length below; Susan E., O. S. P., 1868;
Charles Philip, O. S. P., 1863; Eugene Car-
ter, mentioned below.
(VIHi \\'illiam Russell Massie. son of Henry and Susan Elizabeth (Smith) Massie, and of the eighth generation in direct de- scent from Alexander Massie, the founder of the family in this countr3% was borri Feb- ruary 24, 1852. in Orange county, \'irginia. When he came of an age to attend school he was sent to those of Albemarle county, whither his father had moved in his early childhood. The new home of the family was in Charlottesville, the seat of the famous University of Virginia, and the boy went to two of the best known schools of the place at different times, those of W. R. Abbott and H. W. Jones. After complet- ing this more elementary portion of his studies, and having adequately prepared himself for college, he matriculated in the law school of the Universitv of \'irginia. an institution whose reputation draws stu- dents from all parts of the United States, and, indeed, from the rest of the world. At the age of twentv-three he began the prac- tice of law in Richmond, Virginia, and re- mained there for three years. Then in re- sponse to a belief that an opportunity in his profession awaited him in the west greater
than at home, he removed to Chillicothe,
Ohio, but remained there for a year only,
then returned to Virginia. On his return
to his native state, he entered the banking
business, and has continued in this ever
since. Mr. Massie has been eminently suc-
cessful in banking, and has come to fill a
very important position in the financial
world of Richmond. He held for some time
the position of cashier for the Union Bank
of Richmond, but in 1896, after an associa-
tion of two years with this concern, with-
drew and in connection with a number of
other prominent men founded the banking
firm of Hobson, Massie & Leigh. It is from
the inception of this concern that Mr.
Massie's prominence in the business world
has dated, for with the great growth of the
house, its principals have come more and
more into the notice of the industrial and
financial leaders of that region, and, indeed,
are now recognized as such themselves. Mr.
Massie's reputation is an enviable one, and
he is regarded as one of the most substan-
tial men of business and affairs in the city,
his integrity is recognized as unimpeachable
and his ability of the very first water. But
Mr. Massie does not confine himself entirely
to the duties involved in the management of
his great banking business, a tendency only
too prevalent among the successful business
men and financiers of this day and genera-
tion, and whereby their sympathies and
understanding is woefully narrowed. On
the contrary, he gives generously of both
time and attention to many of the depart-
ments of the life of the capital city. He is
a member of the Democratic party, and
takes a keen interest in all political ques-
tions, whether these involve issues of
national or local import, and watches with
an intelligent eye the whole political field,
alike regarding the great social and eco-
nomic movements which fill with both
threat and promise the age we live in, and
the insistant questions of city policy, which
it is the duty of a democratic people to be
ever alert to. 'Sir. Massie is also a promi-
nent club man in Richmond, and a member
of the most important clubs and societies in
that city, among which may be mentioned
the Commonwealth Club, the \\'estmore-
land. the Country Club, the Hermitage, the
Golf Club and many others. His religious
affiliations are with the Episcopal church,
of which he is a devoted and active member.
He and Mrs. Massie attend St. James'