Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 4.djvu/601

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VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY


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ried and left issue: William, Richard, James, Francis, Robert Sale, Sarah. Amy, Rebecca. His maternal grandfather, Robert Scott, born in Scotland, also settled in Caroline county, married and had issue : Richard, Thomas, Samuel, i\nn I^.,- who married Rob- ert Sale Peatross ; Martha, Belle, Polly.

Robert Sale Peatross, youngest son of Robert Peatross, of Wales and Virginia, was born in Caroline county, Virginia, in 1805, died aged about seventy-three years. He was a farmer of Caroline county all his life and a local preacher of the Alethodist Episcopal church ; a man of godly life, highly esteemed. He married Ann E. Scott, born in Caroline county, where she died in 1848, daughter of Robert Scott, of previous mention. Children: Annie C married Charles T. Wortham, of Richmond, whom she survives, now in her eighty-fifth year ; Sue M., died unmarried ; Mary F., married Dr. R. T. W^ortham, of Caroline county, both deceased ; Robert O., deceased ; Ella, deceased, married T. C. Williams, of Rich- mond ; Richard Warner, of further mention ; Louis and Thomas, died in boyhood ; W al- ter S. and Samuel C, both also deceased.

Richard Warner Peatross, of Danville, Virginia, son of Robert Sale and Ann E. (Scott) Peatross, w-as born in Caroline county. \"irginia, at the homestead farm, October 28, 1839. He grew up at the home farm and w'orked hard as a boy. He ob- tained his early education at home and in private schools, later he entered Emory and Henry College, at Emory, Virginia, whence he was graduated in 1861. He espoused the cause of the Confederacy wdth all the ardor and enthusiasm of his nature, was mustered into the service on the day of the first battle of Bull Run, served first in the Thirtieth Regiment, \'irginia Infantry, and then in the First Regiment of Engineer Troops, and surrendered wath the Army of Northern Virginia at Appomattox Court House, hav- ing passed through the war without a seri- ous injury. For eighteen months following the year 1865 he taught school in Hanover county, Virginia, and during this period read law, a profession for wdiich he ever cherished an ambition. He was admitted to the \'irginia bar after due examination, and in 1867 located in the city of Danville, there began the practice of his profession and so continued, honored and respected. He

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served for several years as city attorney, and since h'ebruary, 191 2, has served as judge of the corporaticjn court of Danville.

During the war he was at many severe battles including Shar])sburg, Malvern Hill, l-'redericksburg and (iettysburg. The battles of his legal career have been legion, and have been fought with commendable zeal and courage and good success. He is a member of local legal associations ; is a member of the Masonic order, the Tuscarora Club, Main Street Methodist Episcopal Church, and is a Democrat in politics. Dur- ing his long life in Danville, covering nearly half a century, he has borne his full share in the de\elopment of that city, displaying his public spirit in many ways. While he has confined himself closely to the practice of his profession, he has aided in the estab- lishment of many Danville enterprises, nota- bly Randolph-]\Iacon Institute, a school for young ladies, and at present is interested officially and as a stockholder in some of the leading corporations.

Judge Peatross married, April 3, 1873, i" Prince Edward county, Virginia, Sallie R. Redd, daughter of Frank D. and Ann E. (Watkins) Redd. Children: Frank R., died December 14, 1913. aged forty years; Ella, died in infancy : Warner, died in infancy ; Hunter, resides in New York City ; Garnett, a traveling salesman; Lisbeth, married Bar- nett Lee. and resides in Danville ; Richard \\'arner (2), a graduate of the Massachu- setts Institute of Technology, class of 1914, and now with the Texas Power and Light Company, and located at Dallas, Texas.

Dr. J. Harry Martin. The biography of Dr. J. Harry Alartin, of Roanoke, Virginia, furnishes an inspiring example to the youth of our land of what a boy with the neces- sary amount of energy and ambition, and animated by high ideals, can do in making a name and place for himself and becoming an important factor in advancing the inter- ests of society and the state. Aspiration, involving intelligent, faithfid and earnest work, is the key wdiich unlocks the riddle of his life. He is the son of James O. Mar- tin, a veteran of the civil war, and an ex- pert machinist.

Dr. J. Harry Martin, inventor and manu- facturer, was born in Franklin county, Vir- ginia, March 24. 1870. He acquired a sound, practical education in the public schools of