782
VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY
a daughter of Richard and Ann Booker
(Jeftries) Whitfield, of Richmond, the for-
mer a native of England. The eldest child
of Andrew H. Christian, Richard H., died in
1872, without issue. Edward, the second,
married Helen C. Palmer, and died in 1899,
leaving issue. Frank \V., the third, was an
able and successful lawyer of Richmond,
where he died in 1908. He married Bessie
Palmer, and left issue. Annie J., the only
daughter, is living in Richmond, unmar-
ried. George W., died in infancy, and An-
drew H. Jr., is the subject of this biography.
Andrew Henry Christian Jr., youngest
child of Andrew Henry and Mary (Whit-
field) Christian, was born November 29,
1859, on his father's estate near Peters-
burg, in Chesterfield county, Virginia, and
was a small boy when his parents removed
to Richmond. Here he grew to manhood,
received his education, and passed the re-
mainder of his life. His business career was
begun in a subordinate capacity with the
Richmond Paper Company, and he was
raised through many grades of service to the
presidency of the company, which position
he filled with great ability and efficiency
during the last fifteen years of his life. He
was also president of the Southern Railway
Supply Com]3any, and in both companies
was the dominating spirit. His energy and
enthusiasm were infectious, and he gathered
about him in sub-official places a corps of
assistants who were his devoted admirers
and who were bound to him by ties stronger
than those usually existing between em-
ployer and employee. He was at one time
president of the Westmoreland Club of
Richmond, and a hereditary member of the
Society of the Cincinnati of the state of
Virginia. He was a communicant of St.
Paul's Protestant Episcopal Church and
chairman of the civics committee of the
men's association. He was in all things the
kindly, considerate gentleman, and is well
described by Sir Philip Sidney's definition of
such a one, a man of "high erected thoughts,
seated in the heart of courtesy." It was
through his efforts that the Society for Bet-
terment of Housing and Living Conditions
in Richmond was organized, and he raised
a fund to carry on the work. He was the
leading spirit in the organization, which
has meant much for the general health of
the people of Richmond. In early business
life he was an active and influential worker
in the Cliamber of Commerce, and chairman
of the inland trade committee. He was for
about fifteen years one of the most useful
and active directors of the First National
Bank, in which he never lost his interest.
No citizen of Richmond took a deeper or
more active interest in the advancement of
the commercial interest of Richmond than
he. In religious and social work he had
always taken a deep interest. In its early
days he was president of the Young Men's
Christian Association of Richmond, and did
active work on the board of the Laurel Re-
formatory for Boys. He was justly gener-
ous and open-handed in assisting every good
cause of charity, and was active in all work
connected with St. Paul's Church. In so-
cial circles he had maintained the position
of his family, and his home was the center
of refinement and happiness.
Mr. Christian married, in Richmond, Sep- tember I, 1890. !•" ranees Williamson Archer, daughter of Major Robert S. Archer and his wife, Ann Virginia (Watson) Archer, of Richmond, the latter a near kinswoman of Dr. Silas Weir Mitchell, of Philadelphia, who often visited at the Watson home at Sixth and Franklin streets, Richmond. Ma- jor Robert S. Archer was for forty years a partner of his brother-in-law. General Toseph R. Anderson, in the Tredegar Iron Works. His wife was a granddaughter of Dr. George W'atson, of Richmond, who oc- cupied the old home, above named, in Rich- mond, and was in his day a distinguished surgeon. Major Archer was a son of Dr. Robert Archer, a surgeon of the Uniteo States army, stationed many ye'ars at Fort- ress Monroe, where his son, Major Robert S. Archer, and his daughter, Sarah, !Mrs. Joseph R. Anderson, were born. Major Archer died at Richmond in 1901. aged sev- eiitv-four vears. Children of Andrew Henry Christian Jr. and his wife. Frances William- son (Archer) Christian: Archer, died in Richmond, November 14, 1909, aged eigh- teen years. Andrew D.. born July 8, 1892. a graduate of the law department. Univer- sity of Virginia, class of 1913 ; Virginia \\'at- son, born February 15, 1894.
Charles Fox Broadwater, \\hen the ves- sel commanded bv Captain Charles Broad- water anchored in the harbor of "Belle Haven." now Alexandria, Virginia, it marked not only the arrival of the first vessel to make that harbor but the coming to .\merica of the first member of this line
